Here I am...

So, here I am… I’ve just spent 3 weeks in South Africa (about a month ago) and 3 days in Beaver Creek at the Bon Appétit food festival (1 week ago), and I’m already wondering when my next trip will take place. Its official: I’m travel obsessed! The only thing that I love more than traveling (except for my husband, family and friends off course) is eating local food while traveling!

I got my deep love for traveling from my dad. He took my mom on a few exotic vacations like Mauritius , and when I was 13, he decided to take our family of 4 to Europe for 3 weeks. Mom thought it was too expensive to take my brother and I, but my dad felt that we were old enough to really appreciate Europe in all its wonder. During the 3 weeks we spent time in Italy (Rome, Venice, Marina de Carara, Pisa, The Dolomites), Spain (Malaga , Torremolinos, Seville), Paris, Munich, Salzburg, Oberammergau etc. I was hooked! Not only were the seeds planted for a need to travel and explore, but this trip also gave me a greater appreciation for world history, different cuisines, languages and my dad. I’m so grateful to him for deciding to take us on this life-changing trip, because little did he know that this would be our final big family vacation – a few months later, he died in a car accident. When I think about my dad and great times, this trip always ranks right up there!

We traveled like typical tourists - we drove a lot, walked for miles, used shocking pronunciation and just generally annoyed the locals by getting lost and standing in the way of their every day lives as we tried to find our way in their amazing cities. It was sometimes embarrassing (come on – we were teenagers) but mostly, it was exhilarating. The things we did and saw were just not something that most South Africans ever get to experience in their lives. We were blessed and I was thankful. I was ready to see more of the world…as much as I could…the travel bug bit me…not a small dainty teaser, but a big scream-worthy bite. So I decided to use every single cent that me dad left me, to travel to as many places as I could.

I have traveled all over most of Western Europe and to a few exotic places like Mauritius , The Bahamas and Mexico , and there is still so much left to see. After I finished University, I moved to London for 2 years and ended up staying almost 7 years. My husband and I now live in America and I fully intend on traveling throughout this amazing country, as much as our dollars and few vacation days will allow us to. (Thank goodness I married a fellow travel lover!)

By writing this blog, I’m not hoping to change people’s lives, I just thought I’d share some of my favorite travel moments, tips, foods, recipes and perhaps inspire a few people to visit other countries, try other cuisines or to even become a tourist in their own.

I’m on a culinary expedition!