Category: My Life

You’re the Best, Budapest

 

Hello Budapest,

IMG_0844As you may not know, I make it a mission to blend in wherever I go, even though standing at 5’10” its pretty hard to do. But in places like London, Milan, even Cologne, I blended in pretty well. You didn’t realize I wasn’t a local until I opened my mouth and you heard my “American Midwestern Accent”.

Well, in Budapest, as soon as I stepped onto the plane at LHR to BUD, I received stares, glares, and anything else you could think of. The stewardess even asked me “so what brings you to Budapest?”. I stumbled a bit with my answer, other than the famous baths, I knew nothing of the city. All I knew was that I was meeting one of my best friends there and we were prepared to see what Budapest was about.

 

 

Night 1 was definitely interesting. We stayed in Buda, which to my knowledge is the older part of the city, its separated by a river and once you make it to this side its a pretty steep hike to the top. Buda is home to many museums, castles, and cathedrals, as well as the occasional gothic-style architecture that makes you think you left the 2000s and stepped into Dracula’s lair.

 Aah, don’t fret, Dracula is Romanian, so technically not his lair but definitely a cousin whom was twice removed.

It was also the night Hungarians celebrated St. Stephens day.  There I was thinking it’s completely normal to greet every American with fireworks… This party was not for me, I was the girl who showed up uninvited… but I had my dancing shoes on and I was going to dance!

Walking around Buda felt a lot like being transported into a portable time capsule. While everything was  somewhat modern, there were so many remnants of the past. Like these vintage Houdini posters for a  magic show that was held at the shop we refused to go into. (Sorry not sorry, those flyers did not look very welcoming)

Actually, now that I think about it. The statues didn’t look very friendly either but I assume that’s the point. Cool to look at, but don’t touch! Fear invoked, good job.

 

One thing we thoroughly enjoyed was visiting the Gellért Baths. A must if you plan on visiting!

 

 Welcome to the vibrant and hip side, Pest. I feel like once we moved to our Airbnb in Pest our attitudes changed immediately. Moving to Pest reminded me of spending the summer at your Gran’s house, then a week later your cousins show up. Pest = Cousins. It was so refreshing and felt less vampy. Even the people hosted more smiles on their face.

After being acclimated to the change in culture, the days and nights were filled with adventure, fun, and lots of Rośe.

All in all it was a great trip for us. Thanks for keeping it weird Budapest, we’ll be back 🙂

 

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Ciao

 

 

R.I.P Anthony Bourdain <3

I write this with such a heavy heart. It is so sad to see someone with so much life meet their end in such a tragic way. Anthony, not only sparked my interest in travel with his life, but his passing has moved me to start writing again.

I remember watching Parts Unknown and living through his adventures. I knew one day that would be me stepping off the plane and connecting with the locals and immersing myself into their culture. That day has passed and I’ve been able to meet so many beautiful souls, and I feel as though my journey is just starting.

 

I wanted to write this post to the one beautiful soul who helped me see the world before I knew there was one outside of the U.S. Thank you Anthony, I hope that your soul is free and wherever you are there is good food & better people.

 

If you or someone you know is battling with depression, please know you’re not alone and help is out there. I have suffered with depression and I know that it’s not easy. No matter how much light there is in the world, there always seem to be a dark cloud approaching. I don’t know where I would be without my support system, they help me chase way those grey skies, it’s some things I can’t do alone. Not everyone has a support system or knows how to reach out because they think they’re alone. You are not! You are strong and you will be okay, its time to talk to someone!

Below, I listed the links for websites that provide you with the resources you need to help you with those dark clouds.

 

United States National Suicide Hotline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

International Association for Suicide Prevention

http://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres

https://www.befrienders.org/need-to-talk

I also found a list on IBPF.ORG with a list of numbers to call around the world, which can be found by clicking this link ,  or reading below:

Argentina: +5402234930430
Australia: 131114
Austria: 017133374
Belgium: 106
Bosnia & Herzegovina: 080 05 03 05
Botswana: 3911270
Brazil: 212339191
Canada: 5147234000 (Montreal);
18662773553 (outside Montreal)
Croatia: 014833888
Denmark: +4570201201
Egypt: 7621602
Finland: 010 195 202
France: 0145394000
Germany: 08001810771
Holland: 09000767
Hong Kong: +852 2382 0000
Hungary: 116123
India: 8888817666
Ireland: +4408457909090
Italy: 800860022
Japan: +810352869090
Mexico: 5255102550
New Zealand: 045861048
Norway: +4781533300
Philippines: 028969191
Poland: 5270000
Russia: 0078202577577
Spain: 914590050
South Africa: 0514445691
Sweden: 46317112400
Switzerland: 143
United Kingdom: 08457909090
USA: 18002738255

 

Love ❤️

Angela

 

 

What They Don’t​ Tell You About Traveling

This shit is exhausting. Like, seriously. You don’t hear that though. You just hear about the places and the cool things that happened there. What travelers don’t tell you is that the actual traveling part sucks. It’s time to call BS.

I travel for work and leisure. My job is sending me to 5 different states all within the span of 1 week, that’s only 7 days! You do that math. I love my job but after this contract is up, consider me Houdini because I’m disappearing. Actually, consider me Nefertiti because I’m a Queen. ha.

I’m asked so many times “how I get to travel so often”, and how people would love to trade places with me. No baby, you don’t want to.

There was a trip where I went from Chicago, IL, USA – Bonn, Germany – Milan, Italy – Marrakech, Morrocco – Agadir, Morocco – Essaouira, Morocco – Marrakech, Morocco – Madrid, Spain – Bonn, Germany – Chicago, IL, USA-  Miami, FL – The Bahamas – St. Thomas – San Juan, Puerto Rico – Grand Turks – Miami, FL – Chicago for a week & a half  then back to Bonn, Germany.

Sounds like a lot, right? But on Instagram it looked like I was living the dream. A little like this :

 

 

But I wasn’t.  I can’t even begin to tell you how tired I was after that month. I was sluggish. I just wanted to sleep, every day, all the time. Your body needs time to heal after all of that. Honestly, I still haven’t really sat down since then, and that’s my own fault. It illustrates so differently on social media, but if you were to bump into me after any of my extensive trips you would see the bags under my eyes and how I turn every outing into something I can walk into with yoga pants and t-shirt.

It illustrates so differently on social media, but if you were to bump into me after any of my extensive trips you would see the bags under my eyes and how I turn every outing into something I can walk into with yoga pants and t-shirt.

And when I’m traveling for leisure, I usually need a vacation from my vacation. Ha. I’m not even joking.

It’s just funny that I write for a travel blog, I travel for work, I travel for fun, yet I only share the surface about traveling. I want when I write to feel like I’m talking to Muneek, Dean or one of my other close friends. I want it to be candid and raw and real.

And all my friends know that I’m a bit of a drama queen, so sometimes when I talk I just go a little overboard then dial it back down and say ” I still wouldn’t trade it anything else” and that’s true.

Yeah, I’m tired as hell, I don’t feel like unpacking, don’t feel like packing, don’t feel like taking a taxi to the freaking airport, don’t feel like paying for an upgrade to get out of sitting in that damn middle seat, don’t feel like putting my phone on airplane mode, and I don’t feel like searching for wifi so I can use WhatsApp.

But as soon as I step off that plane I go from DRAMA QUEEN to Woman of the The World, and I am so grateful for every opportunity and every piece of land that I get to walk on. I just had to complain a little before.

All jokes aside, I do realize how blessed and favored I am to be in this situation. Which is why you don’t hear me complain about it. I don’t take any of this for granted, at all. I just wanted to make light of the situation and tell you ( my readers) that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

 

 

Ci sentiamo, Ciao ❤

Birthday in Cancun 

It’s my birthdayyyyyy, I can fly to Cancun if I want to!

It’s only right to celebrate your birthday in Cancun at a 5-star resort! Because where else would I spend my birthday? Don’t answer that.

I travel a lot. But rarely do I travel to 5-star luxury resorts where everything is all inclusive! Maybe 24 will be that year for me *cheers to luxury* haha.

I’m only slightly kidding.
We flew United, cautiously, and headed to Cancun from Ohare. The flight wasn’t that bad, honestly. A little less than 4 hours and a 20-minute cab ride to the hotel to be greeted with Moët and a few other surprises unbeknownst to me 🙂 it was worth it.

I just wanted to share a few pictures/videos from my vacay as I’m not sure when I’ll post again about Cancun.

 

 

 


 

 

 Thank you, Mommy! 💗💗💗

Where Should I Move?

First: Sorry for using a selfie as a featured image. I know it has nothing to do with the post, but I ran out of images. Ha.

I’m at such a weird crossroad in my life. I know that I want to leave the States, but I also know that I want to be smart and right now I should be patient and make the most out of my days here.

“I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me. ”

-Tracee Ellis Ross

So with that being said, I am creating something beautiful out of this space I’ve been given. Creating art, making money, dismantling my flaws, reinventing myself and being still. But just because I am still, does not mean that I am not planning my future. I will be moving in the fall of this year… I’m just not sure where!

 

I could go back to Italy and finish out my Italian courses. Go to Portugal and learn Portuguese and live out that fantasy. Go to Spain and focus on my writing and find muses to finish out this collaborative book that Muneek and I started. Or go to Germany and obtain my Master’s.
Oh, then there is always Morocco. 🤔

Who tf knows? Help.

Travel Highlights of 2016

2016 was one for the books. I traveled a lot, my job sent me to some awesome new cities, I got a boyfriend, I lost a boyfriend, I started my blog :), I interviewed some wonderful women, and did I mention that I traveled a lot?

This year has also taught me a great deal about myself. 2016 was the first time in a long time that I actually craved something stable. I wanted some place to call home, I got tired of hopping around from city to city. I didnt have luck in finding that one stable thing, but it helps me to know that thats one of the things I’m looking for in the future. Dont worry, Im still going to travel its just time for me to start figuring out who/where/what I want to be in the future.

Anyways,

Here is a highlight of my 2016.

 

Wednesday Women: Mandi

bonneville salt flats
Meet Mandi, a free-spirited traveler who broke away from the norms of society and started creating her own path.
I was born and raised in LA, the extent of my traveling growing up was a day trip to the beach.  I grew up living pay check to pay check and never could I ever dream that one day travel would be my future.
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What inspired/inspires you to travel? 

Right before the summer of 2005 I was living a hum drum life.  Working with people I didn’t like, in a  job I hated.  I was stuck and didn’t even know it at the time.  Long story (that you can read about on my blog), but I happened upon an extra plane ticket, used it to go to Portland Oregon, met amazing people and had the time of my life.  I came back home a completely different person and that’s when I realized there is a whole world out there that I want to see and amazing people who I want to meet.
 

Where is your favorite destination to date?

 I am starting small, so I haven’t traveled abroad yet, as of now I would have to say Portland will always hold a very special place in my heart.  I fell in love with the people and the wackiness of the whole city.
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How do you prefer to travel? Solo or With a group? Why? 

SOLO!!!  I get to do what I want, when I want!  Plus, I love wandering around new locations on my own.  There is something about getting wonderfully lost in a foreign place all alone.  Now that is heaven!
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Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman? 

#YUP– Society wants us to think that women are helpless and shouldn’t travel on their own.  Instead they should be having babies behind a white picket fence while their husband goes to work and makes the 9-5 money.  This is 2016 people!  Do you think the news is gonna do a story on a 32-year-old man who traveled abroad by himself and wandered into some trouble?  Nope!  But if that 32 year old was a woman…well then STOP THE PRESSES!  Why is she alone?  She shouldn’t be traveling alone, what is wrong with her?  Does she think she’s invincible?  She must be stupid!  Do yourself a favor and don’t watch the news folks or read those stupid headlines that say “American woman killed in Moscow while couch surfing.” *insert rolling eye emoji here* 
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How do you plan your trips?

I usually have one main location that I know I want to hit and then I couchsurf around.  I only stay in a hotel if I need a day or two just to myself, to take a breather.  Other then that I am couchsurfing my little ass off!
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When is your next one?  

I am currently wandering around the East Coast until November and then I am gonna go see REAL WINTER WEATHER.  Being from LA, winter to me is 3 random rainy days somewhere between November and January.  I wanna see a white Christmas gosh darn it!
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Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers?  

GO!  Travel!  Do it!  I promise you it’s worth it!

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Want to learn more about Mandi?
Website/Blog: Hardly Grown Up 
Instagram: @MandiWanders

Bernard The Traveler Interview

Hey guys,

So I had an amazing opportunity to be interviewed by Bernard from Bernard The Traveller for his Wednesday interview series. In the interview we talk about all things travel and how I became such an avid traveler.

 

Check it out here !!!

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Traveling with Scoliosis

Ciao,

Before I dive into the tips about traveling with scoliosis. I feel as though I should tell you a bit more about me and my health. I was diagnosed with scoliosis about 11 years ago and had two high degree curves which resulted in me needing to have a corrective surgery. While my posture and overall health benefited greatly from the surgery, my spine is not 100% straight and often when traveling I host moderate level pain in my back. I can’t always fly first class ( sucks, I know) but I have found a few airlines that have comfortable seating which allow my pain to lessen, especially for long hauls from US to Europe. Below you will find my favorite airlines for long hauls ( over 4 hours) and tips while in flight that helps me with my pain. I hope it helps you as well!

My Favorite Long Haul Airlines 

  1. Turkish Airline: I flew from Turkey to Chicago, an 11 hour flight, and was amazed at how comfortable the seating was. It also helps that they provide you with blankets and a pillow, since I forgot mine! Often when I am flying I have to position myself in the most awkward position because after the third hour my back cramps heavily. With TA, the seats in economy are extremely spacious and I had enough space to move around in my seat and not disturb my neighbor.
  2. AirEuropa: I love flying AirEuropa but ONLY when its an AirEuropa plane. You know how you can book a flight, but its serviced by a different plane? This can happen on an AirEuropa flight, so make sure to check your itinerary! Once, my flight was serviced by a LOT! plane, and while the service was great, the plane was not so comfortable. The reason why I love AirEuropa’s fleet is because even in economy the seats are extremely spacious and allow you to recline your back and legs… Turning your seat into a little bed for your travel.
  3. AirBerlin: The seats are okay, the food is pretty good, the service is great and the isles are big!

 

Tips to make the best of your flight

I am not a doctor! But these tips have worked for me and I noticed a difference in the amount of pain that I experience when traveling. Feel free to try them at your own risk.

 

  1. BRING A SMALL PILLOW – I usually place the pillow in between my seat and the middle part of my back. It helps because my ribs are twisted from the scoliosis, so I still have a slight hump in my back. The pillow helps me fill in the gap on the rib that is normal.
  2. DRINK LOTS OF WATER – Water will help alleviate the cramping in your back and muscle tension.
  3. STRETCH!!! – I know you don’t want to be that awkward person walking up and down the aisle, but you have to be. I usually try to stretch at least once every hour, if you experience more cramping than normal I would say stretch every 30 minutes.
  4. BRING TYLENOL – Or whatever pain reliever that you use. Sometimes even with the mentioned tips I still have a lot of pain, and I have to bring in extra help.
  5.  NO HEELS –  I’m guilty of wearing heels on shorter hauls but never a long one. We need ALL the support we can get, and while I’m not trying to lug around a fancy pair of orthopedic shoes,  I will wear my comfiest sneakers. Heels are cute, but they don’t help us in this case.

 

I will continue to update this list as much as possible! If you have any tips that you would like to share feel free to comment or you can email me at she@shewentwear.com.

 

Best,