My Photography Wanderlust

Merida MX Series #1…Getting to Know Merida

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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My Photography Wanderlust

Merida MX Series #2… Yucatán’s Enchanting Cenotes

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 natural pit or sinkhole formed from the collapse of limestone bedrocks. Once you are in the water, you are dazzled, even spellbound, by the colors and the sparkles of the cave and the water. Doing this one time is just not enough….

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My Photography Wanderlust

Merida MX Series #3… The Mayapán Ruins and Mayan Culture

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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Art Destinations Artist Spotlight Arts/Culture

The Perez Art Miami Museum… Getting to Know Two Latino Pioneer Artists

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 caught my attention. Both are by deceased Latinos artists who are not as wel known yet have made significant contributions to the art world. The following is a little about Marisol Escobar and Carlos Cruz-Diez——both pioneers in the Pop Art and Optical Art movements. 

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Book Reviews How-To Tips Reinvent Yourself

Self-Care:  How Best to Manage Stress and Anxiety in this Post-Pandemic Era

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 to build a wellness plan for me in this post pandemic era. Here is what I have learned …

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My Photography Wanderlust

A Visit to the Lakota Sioux Tribe Reservation at the Badlands National Park

I recently came across an article about the Lakota Sioux tribe and immediately experienced a flashback of a group project that took us to a reservation in the Badlands National Park near Rapid City, South Dakota in 2019. Driving through the Badlands was a photographer’s dream, especially for an urban dweller. Meeting and learning so much from this American Native tribe was a phenomenal experience and one I would love to repeat.  Here’s why….

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Art Destinations Arts/Culture

Art Fairs in NYC …. Going Wild in 2022

May 5-12  was New York City Art Week. As expected, there were plenty of art fairs and gallery openings for anyone who wants to be inspired or learn about what today’s contemporary artists are creating.  I managed to attend three art fairs, all of them interesting and over the top with all kinds of messaging from climate change to reproductive rights, nuclear proliferation and just fun pieces that range from the peculiar to the outlandish.   I am happy to share the venues and photos of what seem to be trending these days….
 

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My Photography Wanderlust

Visiting Cuba: Is Now a Good Time?

Good news for Cuba, President Joe Biden on June 1 of this year has finally gotten around to revoking a series of restrictions on flights to Cuba that were imposed by Donald Trump allowing US airlines to fly to all of Cuba’s airports. Unfortunately, this falls short of fully reinstating the Obama administration policies towards Cuba.  A bit disappointing for folks who would like to travel freely to the island. I was fortunate to visit Havana, Cuba in 2017 when President Obama had lifted US restrictions, allowing travelers to independently travel to Cuba without being part of an authorized travel program….

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Art Destinations Arts/Culture

The Dallas Art Museum… A Perfect Day Trip for Art Lovers

If you are planning to be in Dallas for a day trip or longer and you are looking for how best to use your time, let me suggest visiting the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center.  Both amazing institutions are part of the Dallas Arts District, one of the largest in the country.   The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is also one of the top ten largest museums in the US having one of the most comprehensive art collections that reflects the entire globe and, surprisingly, admission is free all the time.

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Wanderlust

Eight Magnificent Cities to Visit in the South Region of Spain –Costa del Sol

Back then, before we knew what the word COVID meant and the disruption that it caused the world, I had taken a 12-day road trip through La Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun or Sun Coast) a region in the south of Spain comprising of  coastal towns and communities along the coastline. We visited eight cities….loving its people, its culture, and its history. I plan to go back to Spain and travel to the northern side of this awe-inspiring country in the near future.   If you are interested in traveling to Spain, here are my favorite places with tips and photos to hopefully inspire you to GO soon….

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