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Wanderlust
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Reinvent Yourself
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Arts/Culture
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Serving Humanity

Visiting Africa Series #3: Dakar, the Gateway to Western Africa

My Photography Wanderlust
Upon arriving in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, you are immediately taken in by a uniquely contrasting society. A developing country that became independent from France in 1960, blessed with amazing sites, cuisine, customs and history, yet with its fair share of struggles in building a robust economy for its people. The city of Dakar is home to a beautiful coastline with a historical role in what is known as the African Diaspora…..
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Merida MX Series #6: Merida’s Doors…Their Beauty and History

My Photography Wanderlust
The magic of opening a door that could lead to something entirely different never escapes me and is why I am so fascinated by the architectural designs of doors from all over the world. I am drawn by the intricacies of both new and older colonial style doors on homes, churches and buildings. In Mexico, doors represent both protection and pride as well as an invitation to come in.  Walking through Merida’s streets photographing so many captivating doors, I could not help wandering about the history and cultural elements that built this unique craftmanship…
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Downsizing in Your 70s Without Becoming a Minimalist

How-To Tips Reinvent Yourself
Owning is owing, having is hoarding”. This quote by Úrsula Guin has been on my mind lately. Over the last six months, I’ve been thinking hard on how to downsize what is 30+ years of collecting, storing and holding onto things. It is a bit overwhelming to come up with a system of how best to do this while managing a business and the rest of my life. Guess what? I have less than 6 months to make this happen…
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Visiting Africa Series: Traveling through North and West Africa  

My Photography Wanderlust
Africa, the mother continent of the human race where the first human skulls were discovered. A continent so misunderstood, yet rich in its history and culture as it merged with its many colonizers. Its vast resources, its people and natural beauty are unmistakably one of mystery and exoticism. A place so captivating in furthering our exploration and understanding of our humanity. So fortunate to have visited Morocco, Senegal, and Ghana — three very distinct countries that make up the 54 that represent Africa. Fourteen days later, there are too many experiences and discoveries to share. Here is my best
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Visiting Africa Series #2… Mystical Morocco

My Photography Wanderlust
First stop in Morocco is the city of Casa Blanca; this country’s economic and business capital. Upon entering the city of Casa Blanca, all those romantic notions and imagery of an ancient city from watching the movie (Casa Blanca) immediately disappears. This city is a powerhouse, a huge metropolitan center similar to any urban American or European city with its fair share of traffic jams and pedestrians. Much less exotic than some of its sister cities, yet worthy of a visit even if you don’t get to ride a camel. Here’s why….
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Merida MX Series #5…Merida’s Timeless Architecture and Real Estate Bonanza

My Photography Wanderlust
If you are a lover of architecture, an architect or maybe an urban planner, you will easily fall in love with Merida’s 18th century colonial homes and buildings heavily influenced by both the Moorish and Mediterranean designs of that period. One of Merida’s most pleasing attributes is the preservation and restoration of what remains of a once colonial empire with a dark past. A real estate bonanza for those who seek to retire in a foreign country or invest. It certainly crossed my mind….
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Visiting Finger Lakes Luscious Vineyards and Frontlake Views

My Photography Wanderlust
Somewhere in the world, the harvesting of grapes is happening. In the USA, just about every state has vineyards that make for a great opportunity to visit with friends and enjoy the tasting of wines, whether it’s Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel or Riesling. I personally lean more toward a robust, dry red. This is my third visit to the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York to drink wine and enjoy the area’s rustic scenery and it never disappoints. Actually, there is more than just tasting wine that makes this region attractive for a
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Merida MX Series #4: Hacienda Living… Yucatan’s Gilded Age

My Photography Wanderlust
If you travel to Merida or through the Yucatan Peninsula, you learn quickly about the role of haciendas and their contributions to the world. The architecture of Mexican haciendas, along with the Mayan culture and Yucatan’s natural resources, is both captivating and wondrous. Their historical past in the early 1900s and restored beauty are unquestionably intriguing and worthy of a visit. Here’s why….
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The Armory Art Show… A Place for Inspiration and Art Lovers

Art Destinations Arts/Culture
If you are looking for inspiration, escapism, or altogether a different visualization experience, the Armory Art Show usually doesn’t disappoint. I have not been to the show since pre-pandemic and was please to know that the show has been moved to the Javits Center, shifting its schedule to early September. The show is unconventional and eye-catching, fostering emerging art trends and new up-and-coming artists of every continent, all in one place to see…    
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Merida MX Series #1…Getting to Know Merida

My Photography Wanderlust
I arrived in Merida for the first time for a 10-day visit to connect with a friend and to venture on my own. Driving from the airport to my destination, you get to experience a hidden gem of an old colonial city that has been through its fair share of economic struggles and is slowly becoming a place that is timeless and exceptionally gifted. This is a seven-storytelling series on the magic of Merida, Mexico rated as one of the best cities to travel to in 2022.
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Merida MX Series #2… Yucatán’s Enchanting Cenotes

My Photography Wanderlust
In Merida, there are tours to reach many of the Yucatán cenotes within an hour’s drive. I had planned to go to at least two cenotes, although I only managed to get to one. My friend highly recommended the Hacienda Mucuyche Cenote, which did not disappoint. Mucuyche is one of the most developed cenotes for tourism, having everything from a gift shop to a restaurant, a bar, a swimming pool with lockers and many other amenities. Frankly, done of that matters once you climb down and you come face to face with the mystery, magic and beauty of this
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Merida MX Series #3… The Mayapán Ruins and Mayan Culture

My Photography Wanderlust
There are over 200 archaeological ruins throughout the Yucatán peninsula. In close proximity to the city of Merida, there are at least four Mayan ruins that you can do a day trip. The Mayapán ruins are less than an hour from Merida and are pretty impressive, as it was once considered the capital center of Mayan civilization in all of Yucatan. The ruins are quite extraordinary, allowing you to visualize what this community looked like in its heyday and to experience how Mayan culture persists to this day….
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Film Review: We Feed People …Chef Jose Andres, a World Traveler of a Special Kind

Film/Theater Review Serving Humanity
More than a decade ago I came across an article (in one of those flight magazine)  about this Spanish chef, an upcoming food entrepreneur who immigrated to the US known for his introduction of Spanish cuisine, tapas (shared small plates) and the art of molecular gastronomy.   Besides noting Chef José Andrés’ many accomplishments, what mostly stuck in my head when reading this article, was his immediate commitment to volunteering at a Washington DC soup kitchen upon his arrival.   Over the next 12+ years, with a growing portfolio of 30 enterprises, we get to experience in this newly Emmy nominated
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The Perez Art Miami Museum… Getting to Know Two Latino Pioneer Artists

Art Destinations Artist Spotlight Arts/Culture
It’s been several years since I visited the Perez Art Miami Museum (PAMM) and on my recent trip to this amazing city, I stopped by to reconnect.   This is truly a unique institution with a mission of serving international contemporary modern artists of the 20th and 21st centuries committed to advancing a more inclusive, humane society.  The museum is constructed on a  20-acre museum park on the Biscayne Bay surrounded by spectacular views of skyscrapers on one side and the ocean on the opposite side.  Once inside this uniquely designed building, there were several new exhibitions, of which two
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Self-Care:  How Best to Manage Stress and Anxiety in this Post-Pandemic Era

Book Reviews How-To Tips Reinvent Yourself
Since the pandemic, my stress levels have made me rethink how I want to live the rest of my life and how best can I manage aging in the healthiest way possible. This of course requires making significant behavior changes as well as being more informed about your body and emotional state of mind.   I recently caught the BA4 COVID strain and even though I am fully vaccinated and boosted, it was indeed a bad flu experience that I would not wish on anyone.  Over the last  6 months, I read several books, magazines and articles on self-care intending
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Shopping For Me

Our feature photos taken by Grizel Ubarry are available for sale as notecards with inspirational quotes. Ideal for scribbling messages of thanks, greetings from your travels or just to stay in touch. These five note cards are beautifully printed on high quality paper packaged in a silk drawstring pouch also perfect as a gift.
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