Hello, mi gente! Your girl here! I’ve spent the past few Covid- filled months pensando, trying to figure out how to best use a travel blog when travel is off the table for so many. Do I continue writing about fashion, comida, and places as if nothing happened? Do I ignore the current state of America, with its racial reckoning? No puedo. For me, it’s a no, because it would be tone deaf. What I CAN do is speak to how travel intersects with current events. How travel has helped me grow and evolve around the very issues we are talking about today. That is relevant. Y es possible, that my perspective might help you guys think about these issues as they pertain to you and your travel experiences, the ones that have been and the ones to come.

Y con eso, I’d like to tell you all about a few of the travel experiences that I’ve had that have shaped me, 8 of them in total. Some helped me see the world differently, some helped me see myself differently. All were impactful. Let’s jump right in, shall we?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”
-Margaret Mead

1. D.C. Experience

Ok, tengo que confesar, I was 35 years year old when I finally got to see DC with my own eyes. I know, I cant believe it either. It had been a long time coming, si te soy sincera, I’d been wanting to visit since middle school… when I first fell in love with history. The reason for this particular trip to the nation’s capital was education. A friend and I wanted to give our kids some real world homeschool learning about the most important city in our country’s history. When we arrived, I expected to be in awe. What I didn’t expect was to be in my feelings the entire trip. No lo pude explicar, I couldn’t explain it at the time, but I felt some type of way when I walked up the steps of the Supreme Court, and when I stared at Lincoln’s Monument, and when I looked up at the cupola of Capitol Hill. I was shaken to the core. Now, after some introspection, I think what hit me was how these places don’t just symbolize the laws that were written there, or the important historical figures who roamed the halls… they also represent the ACTIVISTS who fought for those institutions to grant them full and equitable rights. Over the course of our history, disenfranchised members of our country picketed and marched on DC’s streets to be heard. The LGBTQ+ community marched to be granted the right to marry whomever they want, women marched for the right to vote, and the African American community marched for equal rights as citizens of this country. People, ordinary people, bonded together under common cause and brought about change by just exercising their first amendment rights. Eso es muy significante! Even when we have “no power”, we are a FORCE if we unite and demand our voices to be heard. And even beyond than that, with our vote! I left DC emboldened; more dedicated than ever to use my voice, to fight for what I think is right, and to use my power at the polls. It was such a life changing experience for me.

“I support the Indigenous People anywhere on the planet.”
-Edward James Olmos

2. First Nations Totem Poles, Stanley Park, Vancouver.

The summer of 2017, my little familia and I enjoyed a trip to the Canadian city of Vancouver. The place is gorg! Like, I could live there, cien porciento! We made it our goal to explore all of it and ended up taking an entire day to have a bike adventure around Vancouver’s Stanley Park. You see, Stanley Park is the city’s playground! Tiene de todo: beaches, family friendly bike paths, playgrounds, wooded hiking trails and even TOTEM POLES! Yea, you read that right! Totem Poles. There was a section near the Brockton Point Visitor Center strictly devoted to showcasing totem poles that represented Canada’s First Nations. First Nations is another way to describe the Indigenous Peoples of the area. Yo no sabia, I didn’t know, that we would stumble upon such artistic beauty… in fact, I was stunned by them. I had always wanted to see totem poles in person. I’m ashamed to admit that my first impulse was to pose alongside the beautiful poles instead of learning about them. They were there for a reason. Canada wouldn’t be Canada without it’s First Nations, and this installation of traditional totem poles had a reason for being there besides just being pretty. They were there to showcase and celebrate the first inhabitants of the land. They were there to illustrate the important part of Canadian culture and history that those First Nations represent. They were the primary settlers of the Americas and their stories matter. Their culture matters. Their art and storytelling matters. They helped shape both Canada and the US and had their lands stolen from them, the least we can do is honor them.We can also fight for their culture to be preserved, for their land to be held sacred, and for their children to be given free and ample rights. The indigenous of the world deserve our utmost respect, and in a small way Vancouver showcased that. By putting up those totem poles, Stanley Park reminds it’s visitors to look back and give honor where it’s due. After my initial excitement, I sat and stared at the poles for a long while. I decided that day to become more informed about the native cultures around me, the ones who went before us and the ones who are still fighting for their lands… and their rights. It’s the least I can do.

“Pride: When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.”
– Barack Obama

3. Chicago Pride 2018

Pride Month! Es una celebracion filled with rainbows and “love is love” and music and joy. Well, maybe in bigger, more diverse communities. Unfortunately, where I live in Florida… pride month is just June. The LGBTQ+ community is not celebrated in my town, they aren’t even acknowledged. In the greater Tampa area, un poquito mas, but mainly during the Pride parade and on specific streets of the city. Bigotry is still pretty widespread, not just here, but everywhere. So many closed minds abound in our country. That’s why when El Marido and I went to celebrate our 13 yr. anniversary ( June 25th) in Chicago 2 years back, we were overjoyed to see that the city did not hold back for Pride. From the airport all the way to our hotel on the Gold Coast we were met with visual representations of the camaraderie with the queer community. The city of Chicago, AS A WHOLE ASS CITY, stood with and behind their LGBTQIA peers. Now maybe that’s a gross exaggeration, but deveras que that’s the vibe I got. Everybody was talking about Pride: the waiters at our restaurants, the concierges at our hotel, the uber drivers we rode with, the people we overheard at bars. Fue increible! It was like a Pride utopia, where the people that are so often overlooked or just willfully ignored were seen and cheered for. I’ve never wanted to move to a city more. I was touched. And then I realized that I couldn’t just go home with a lovely memory and do nothing. I could help make pride special in my community too. That could be my take away. So yea, that’s been a goal of mine. To listen to and better support the Queer community in Tampa and to be more vocal in general about fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community all over the country. Chicago pride 2018 fanned that flame.

“A people without the knowledge of their past history origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
-Marcus Garvey

4. Buachaille Etiv Mor, Scotland.

This time last year, I was driving on the winding roads that cut through the Scottish Highlands, huge smile on my face, Braveheart music blasting out of every window. Imagínate, I had spent a year planning that very moment, desperate to see the wild bits of Scotland with my own eyes. Para me, it was about beautiful scenery and a chance to use my imagination; I could almost see the clans marching through the moors. Pero, para Mi Marido, it was something else entirely. See, for him it was like coming face to face with himself, his history, his people, his land. He was hella quiet while he drove us to Buachaille Etiv Mór. Thankfully, I had the good sense to prod him and force him to talk about what he was feeling. He shared that all the stories about his ancestors finally felt real; they were coming to life in right in front of him. That feeling only got more pronounced when we arrived at our hotel in Glencoe and learned about the local clan and the massacre that happened at their settlement in 1692. For him, having a real life depiction of who his ancestors were, how they lived, what they did… it informed his own history that day to some extent. Those ancestors and their ideals, their passions, their customs were a part of him and his upbringing. Sometimes subtly, and sometimes very obviously. Hablamos mucho de esto since then and we’ve both come to see how important it is to really SEE your roots, both literally and figuratively. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s imperative that we know and OWN the way we are shaped by our history. We’ve gotta call out the horrible shit that we (and our people) have benefited from, and keep close the amazing resilience and traditions that make our family line special. Both things! We can’t for one second, change history, but we can use it to grow. Mi Marido’s experience in Scotland jump started my own look back, y yo todavia estoy procesando…

“Haitians are being punished for being the first Black nation that helped and taught many countries how to get their freedom. Through the years, Haiti is being punished for the liberation of many slaves around the world. Unfortunately, that’s why they don’t want Haiti to prosper.”
-Werley Nortreus

5. Labadee, Haiti Cultural Tour

Haiti is the most beautiful place that I’ve ever visited in my whole life. Full stop. It’s the only place that I’ve ever been que me dejo sin aire…took the breath right out of me. It’s the type of island paradise that you dream about, or see in movies. Picture lush vegetation, sparkling turquoise waters, pristine white beaches, and mountains kissing the shore. Bellisimo. But what if I told you, that despite all the lovely things I just listed, the most beautiful thing about Haiti is the Haitian people themselves? Yep, the Haitans and their spirit. Cuando fuimos a Haiti hace 2 años, we had the privilege of taking a cultural tour away from the main touristy area of Labadee. The merchants, guides, and artisans shared with us about the island and its people, and how they grow what they need to survive. They told us about how much Haiti has to offer. They told us about how hard they work; how much they love their island. They were proud, that was clear. What was also clear though, was how little they had (in terms of material wealth) and how limited their opportunities for advancement were. No te miento, it immediately pissed me off that these amazing people, and the rest of the island couldn’t seem to catch a damn break. They couldn’t seem to break the cycle of poverty that they were in. What I didn’t understand until later was WHY! The why is heartbreaking. Ever heard about the slave revolt of 1791? So, long story short, the enslaved Africans on the island of Haiti liberated themselves by revolting against their French “masters”. They fought and actually took back the island that they were brought to as slaves. It took 13 years but they eventually freed themselves and drove off the French completely. Sounds perfecto, right? Pues si, por supuesto, it is* the ONLY successful slave revolt in modern times! And no! Because while the slave revolt stands as a showcase of black strength and resolve, the rest of the world decided to make the nation of Haiti pay for daring to think that Black people could run a country on their own. The consequences have been truly sad. Haiti went from being the richest colony of the French empire, to the poorest country in the western world. The island STILL suffers ripple effects because of that revolt. Trade relations, Diplomatic connections, monumental debt (to France), and lack of financial investment stunted the potential of the island. Infuriating, no? Yea, Yo pienso igual. I’m not sure of the best way to help the island that I fell so in love with but my time in Haiti taught me to both applaud and SUPPORT those who fight for their freedom. It’s not enough to support racial equality with your outspoken word, you also need to do it with your actions… with your resources… with your money. Equality will prosper when those who are in positions of wealth and power back the efforts of the freedom fighters on the front lines. Hopefully then, the story of Haiti wont repeat itself. Hopefully then, people of color will be free from all forms of oppression AND be thriving.

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”
-Maya Angelou

6. One Night in America’s Melting Pot

Last summer, I had one glorious night in my favorite city in the world, NYC… home. Todo empezo with a Broadway show, Freestyle Love Supreme (so damn good). Mi prima and I attended the Hip hop based improv show and left feeling so hyped, that we decided to walk towards home instead of fighting the ridiculous Times Square subway crowds. Caminando en Nueva York es una experiencia in itself, right, but at night it leaves an even bigger impression. Night is when New Yorkers come out to play, especially Saturday nights like this one. People of all colors were out en masse building a sort of melanin rainbow; languages swirled around me creating a symphony of cultural dialects. It is something you can’t really experience in any other city, at least not to that degree. On our way towards the Lower East Side, a WICKED long way away, we gabbed and looked for a place to eat. The options were plentiful AF. Ethiopian, Italian, Pakistani, Spanish, Peruvian, Irish. It seemed like every country on the planet was represented, which I happen to find emocionante! I giggled, in fact. After sipping some wine at a bistro, we walked into The Village. Saturday night meant that the crowds were lit… and multicolored for a different reason. The fashion that I saw… aye, mi madre … inspirational! It was loud, vibrant, eccentric, unapologetic, not unlike the people that I witnessed enjoying the area. The LGBTQIA community was out there living their best lives. Now, for NY that was just another Saturday night, but for me that shit was mind blowing. People living their truth freely for everybody to see? Yea, central Florida has a long way to go. After the village, we hit Washington Square Park (so much damn walking) and stumbled upon two fascinating displays of music. En un lado, there was a Bomba circle, with a group of Latinos jamming out on conga drums and Afro Cuban beats. On the other, a group of Indian teens dressed in traditional garb dancing to Indian Hip Hop that was coming out of a loud speaker. Both had huge crowds (at 2 am, mind you) and both felt like a damn party. My smile grew 3 sizes as I danced along. We ended our evening getting some food at the Waverly Diner 4 am, and got to witness even more diversity. The club goers, punk rock musicians, and late night city dwellers joined us for eats, and I just chuckled. In one night, I got to envision a true “melting pot” of society where people of all colors and cultures and lifestyles coexisted. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. One that I’d love to repeat over and over. I want America to become more like that night and I’m gunna fight to make it possible.

“Almost everything will work again if your unplug it for a few minutes… including you. “
– Anne Lamott

7. Blue Ridge Mountain Retreat

Quiero ser sincera, I’m a recovering extrovert. Or better said, an extrovert that is slowly morphing into an introvert. As I age, I realize that people just don’t bring me the energy that they once did, and I need my alone time to higher and higher degrees with every passing year. Actually, maybe it’s that people shouldn’t provide me with my dose of energy at all. That shit should come from within and should be a muscle I flex daily. Over the past few years, El Marido and I have devoted at least one of our annual trips to quiet serenity, to getting away. Alone time es lo mismo as self care time. When you give yourself a minute to unplug from the world, everything becomes less muddled, more clear. It’s like when you play in the water at a lake. While you are in the water, things might be fun but the water around you is in motion… you can’t see the bottom, or anything underneath the surface. Your being in the water stirs up all the dirt and debris around you and that makes it even less transparent. When you step out of it and just sit for a second, you notice the stillness come back. The water is less agitated and over time becomes more and more see-through. Es los mismo para nosotros. When we get away from “our lives” for a quick second, we allow for everything to slow down and suddenly truths become more evident. I’m talking about our gifts, our true passions, our goals, the things we need to change, the people who deserve our energy and those who don’t. We can even better see the actual things that bring us joy, which is so important because if we can spot those things, we can make them priorities. My favorite place to “unplug” has been the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia. For several years, we have rented a cabin up there, y cada vez que voy, I come back a changed woman. Something about the trees surrounding my cabin, the birds chirping, the shadows dancing through the branches, the mountain views, and the isolation… just heals my soul. After the first time, I was hooked. Now, self care trips are a friggin must. I’d like to think I’m a better person because of them. Thank you Blue Ridge, for starting a trend.

“This is not a partisan debate; it is a human one. Clean air and water, and a livable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving this crisis is not a question of politics. It is our moral obligation. “
-Leonardo DiCaprio

8. Hiking Through Olympic National Park

Ok, so I’m just gunna be straight up with you guys, I wouldn’t exactly be mistaken for a “nature lover” by most people. Ha! But it’s not because of the nature itself, it’s because of my very valid fear of wild animals. 🙂 The trees, and mountains, and rivers, and beaches… all that I can get down with. Or, por lo menos, I’ve made an active attempt to enjoy more of. So flash back to 2017, we took a family trip to the Olympic National Forest. I knew it was worth seeing but the idea of marching my happy ass through dense forests scared the hell of out me. I’m so glad that I opened myself up to the experience, though, because the area is otherworldly. It’s that beautiful. So many different types of ecosystems exist on Washington’s Puget Sound too; lakes, beach, rainforest, snow capped mountains… it’s enough to excite all kinds of nature enthusiasts. Now, if I’m honest, algo me pasó when I hiked through the Hoh Rainforest, something other than just fascination. I started to learn, through the use of the educational markers and what I saw with my own eyes, just how old this habitat was. Just how important it was to the creatures of the area. This rainforest has been there for thousands of years and its essential to Washington’s wildlife. It is currently a UNESCO site and is therefore commercially protected but that isn’t the case for the rest of the area, or the state, or the country, or the world. A veces, it takes standing in the middle of something to recognize it’s importance. That rainforest, this Earth, is undergoing a crisis right now and it’s in our power to stop the damaging effects of Climate Change from destroying our planet. I know I sound really dramatic when I say that, but that doesn’t make my words any less true. Climate change is scientific fact, this we know. The way human beings are changing the whole Earth around us is catastrophic. I had been learning about the effects of Climate change before this trip, that I will say, but experiencing the great outdoors personally really brought the concept home. I’m aware that as one person, or one family there’s not any one thing we can do to affect huge correctional change, I know that. BUT a person can do a bunch of little things like: recycle, conserve water, limit waste, lower fuel emissions to help the environment. AND if that person got a bunch our her amigas to join her, then even better! AND if she voted for leaders who are actively trying to reverse the negative effect of climate change, even better than that! Verdad que si? So yea, I guess I am a Nature lover. I hope you become one too. We got a planet to save.

Thank you for taking this trip down memory lane with me. It’s been a pleasure to share with you todo lo que he apprendido. All the things I’ve learned have shaped me or propelled me forward, and for that I’m super thankful. That’s why travel is so important, friends. It pushes you past your comfort zone and presents you with new information and new people and new insights. It makes you better. Y eso es nuestro objectivo! That’s the whole point of growing up, no? Growing older and growing better!

Sending you lots of Cuarentena hugs,

Joana