BUCKET LIST TRAVEL

A Beautiful Beach Town: Episode 1 I'm just a regular gal with an adventurous spirit who likes to day trip to Charlevoix. My first visit to Charlevoix was on the 12th of June, 2014. It was my birthday and the innkeeper I worked for in Traverse City highly recommended visiting Charlevoix for the mushroom houses, shopping, and water activities.  That birthday spent in Charlevoix was magical and since than I've made a handful of day trips back to Charlevoix and each visit gives me a new perspective of what I call "A Beautiful Beach Town" When the snow finally melts and the fragrant scent of flowers sprinkles through the air, it's common knowledge that spring has sprung. The verdant trees brighten the landscape and birds sing from the branches above. The days grow longer as May turns into June. Summer is here and it's time to vacation in beautiful  C H A R L E V O I X.  Nestled between two lakes quaint Charlevoix is especially lovely during the summer m...

Historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium, the present day ISTANBUL is a magical city that strategically lies on two continents; Asia and Europe making it an East meets West wonder. It's the only city in the world nestled on two continents. Scents of exotic spices, baklava, coffee, fresh fish, and flowers fill the air and stray cats roam the cobblestone streets mingling with locals and tourists alike. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, a narrow strait between the Black and Marmara Seas. Istanbul has a remarkable architectural heritage and visitors are mesmerized by its mosques, monuments, museums, palaces, and water fountains. To truly immerse in Turkish culture, a homestay allows you the benefit of getting a deeper understanding of the everyday life of the locals. If you find the right family to connect with you can receive outstanding recommendations of what to do and see in Istanbul and enjoy authentic homemade family meals with your host. There are t...

A world class city is attracting visitors from all over the globe and it's in a desert. D U B A I Largest & most populous city in the United Arab Emirates Located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf  360 sunny days a year 1.2 million residents The world's tallest structure is a mega tall skyscraper known as Burj Khalifa D U B A I Jumeriah Beach with its soft white sand is on the Persian Gulf coast (enjoy some swimming) The Dubai Mall has 1,200 shops all under one roof plus an aquarium, cinema, and ice rink The Dubai Museum contains displays and exhibits focusing on the past and present Camels abound in Dubai, take a desert camel ride DUBAI Drink a Jellab; a blend of grape molasses and rose water topped with raisins and pine nuts Eat a manousheh (flatbread filled with herbs, cheese, eggs, and meat) with tabbouleh salad DUBAI is a world class city in the Arabian desert

My visit to Bermuda was short but those five days spent there with my sweet Mother are still so vivid. We chose to go in March because the price for airfare and lodging was amazingly cheap. This wouldn't have been the case during the busy tourist months from May to September. It wasn't swimming weather but we could still enjoy the pink sandy beaches and breath the salty air from the Atlantic waters. BERMUDA is a British territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. With subtropical temperatures it's free of snow and frigid temperatures. The land of Bermuda is divided into nine parishes. A lot of attractions are centered around the capital city of Hamilton which is a small vibrant city. Front Street is lined with shops and restaurants. Some worthy attractions in Hamilton are the Bank of Bermuda, Fort Hamilton, and Queen Elizabeth Park. St. George on the Eastern end of Bermuda with it's narrow lanes and quaint atmosphere has King's Square. This section of Bermuda has ...

Belgium , a culinary masterpiece where food is at it's finest in Central Europe. Belgium where the land is fertile and the sea beckons, a country filled with mesmerizing cities and villages, lovely architecture, and cultural stimulation. And it's in Belgium where citizens and tourists alike flock to eating establishments to please their palates with beer, beef stew, fresh seafood, pommes frites, waffles and famous Belgium chocolate. Chocolate is synonymous with BELGIUM and for good reason because it tastes divine. One of the reasons why Belgium chocolate is the best in the world is because many of the chocolatiers are run by families who make it by hand using simple equipment and mixing the cocoa beans thinly for a smooth texture. A famous chocolatier name is Neuhaus. In 1857 Jean Neuhaus arrived in Brussels from Switzerland and opened a pharmacy at Galerie De la Reine. He covered his medicines with a layer of chocolate to make it easier to handle. Y...

My roots take me back to Ukraine where my parents are from but Detroit is where I was born. My birth language was Ukrainian and it's all I spoke until I was six years old. I was sent to Ukrainian language school in Detroit and took Ukrainian dance classes and learned how to cook Ukrainian food. It was only fitting that I visit Ukraine one day and the opportunity came back a few years ago when I was invited to teach English to students of all ages in Stryi, not far from the city of Lviv in western Ukraine. Spending over a month teaching three classes per day was extremely fulfilling. My students ranged in age from 4 years old to 70 and each of them left a thumbprint on my heart. These students studied diligently and together we mastered some difficult assignments. UKRAINE:                                                ...

July is the hottest month of the year in Italy. Gelato which tastes magnifico was invented in Italy and is enjoyed year round in Italy but especially in the summer months like July. Gelato which mean frozen in Italian is made of cream, milk, and sugar and flavored with fruit and nut purees. Italian gelato is rich in taste because it has less air and more flavoring than gelato made in other countries. In Italy by law, gelato must have at least 3.5% butterfat. Florence native Bernardo Buontalenti and Sicilian born Francesco Procopio are credited for their discovery of "gelato" and now it can be enjoyed all over Italy from Bologna to Sardinia. Gelaterie is a gelato shop. A gelato vendor is a gelatai. There are many flavors of gelato.....bacio, fragola, limone, stracciatella, and zabaione are a few. When in Italy.....eat lots of gelato. Buon Appetito!