A few of my favorite shots that I took from Istanbul. The Sea of Marmara is unlike any other blue I’ve ever seen before.
Istanbul Travel Diary
My NOLA Photo Diary
New Orleans is, without a doubt, the most magical city in the United States. I have always wanted to go there, so when the opportunity presented itself, I had to jump on board. I prepped for our long weekend trip by reading A Confederacy of Dunces, which is based in 1960s New Orleans, along with a trusty tourist travel guide, but nothing is better than roaming the French Quarter streets on a balmy afternoon.
We stayed at Hotel Monteleone, a beautiful hotel set on the outskirts of the Quarter near Canal Street. I was initially attracted to this place online because a few of my all-time favorite writers, Hemingway and Capote, were fans of this place back in the day. I can see why – the hotel is magnificent, with high ceilings, chandeliers, and royal rooms, very grandeur. The Carousel Bar in the lobby is a tourist hot spot. I didn’t love that so much but I did take a seat and spin around the bar once with Sazerac in hand, which I quickly discovered I hate.
10 Things I Love About LA
I call myself an LA native, but in reality, I was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and made the coastal move at the youthful age of 5. I grew up in a beautiful bedroom community on the outskirts of Los Angeles called Palos Verdes.
I now reside in the Hollywood Hills. To kick off my travel section, I thought I’d share 10 things I love about the city I call home.
1. Driving down the Esplanade in the South Bay.
My go to way to de-stress is to take a scenic drive. A favorite route of mine is to drive south of the Redondo Beach Pier down the Esplanade, heading towards Palos Verdes at dusk. The way the light catches the Peninsula reminds me why I adore LA, and knowing you’re at the very point where the land meets the sea on the West Coast feels quite humbling and special.