North America – SarahVation

DUMBO

Hello Pals,

DUMBO is considered one of Brooklyn’s best neighbourhoods. It’s name comes from the acronym for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” and not the 1941 animated film by Walt Disney which is surprising.

There are a few “insta” shots in dumbo that people go there for, but it’s also got so much more than that. I’ve been twice since living in NYC ( nearly 5 months!!)

Before New York State abolished slavery in 1827, DUMBO was home to Brooklyn’s free black community. Brooklyn sits upon the unceded ancestral land of the Lenapehoking people. I honour the generations of displaced and enslaved people who built the country.

If you would like to know “What do to in Dumbo, Brooklyn NYC.” click ‘read more’

Spending a day on Roosevelt Island.

Hello Pals,

It’s full name ‘Franklin D. Roosevelt Island’ is a bit too wordy so tends to be shortened to simply, Roosevelt. It’s held a lot of different names over the years – Minnahannock, Hog, Blackwell and Welfare. By the 1960’s the city and state saw an opportunity to redevelop the island into what it is today.

The island is a 6.5 km / 4.1 m loop, all paved taking around 1 hour and a half. This makes it a perfect half-day trip while in New York!

If you would like to know “How to spend a day on Roosevelt Island” click ‘read more’

The Capitol aka Washington DC.

Hello Pals,

Washington is the Capital of the United States and is a territory surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. Yes, it’s a political city (looking for a man in finance®, 6’5, blue eyes) it’s also home to the Smithsonian, one of the largest collections holding 21 museums and the National Zoo which are FREE (not pay as you wish, not donations (although appreciated) they are free.

I’ve been to Washington DC twice, once in 2022 (just after Covid so masks may still be in photos) and again in 2024 when my cousin visited. It’s simply impossible to see everything so I recommend planning a basic itinerary from the museums, galleries and monuments below. I suggest looking here for a full list of everything.

Washington DC sits upon the unceded ancestral land of the Nacotchtank people. I honour the generations of displaced and enslaved people who built the country.

If you would like to know “What to do in Washington D.C ” click ‘read more’

Before you go: USA.

Hello Pals,

Before you go to any country you should learn some basics but double check those important things such as Visas and Vaccines.

🛂 VISA Depending on where you’re from, you’ll be eligible for the ESTA – Visa Waiver Program which is USD 25. Check eligibility here.	💉 VACCINES Click here to make sure you’ve got the necessary jabs!
💬 LANGUAGE The United States has no official language but English is the most widely used. Spanish, second. You can read an interesting article about the dialects of American accents here.	💰 CURRENCY United States dollar. Code: USD . Check your exchange here. American paper currency comes in seven denominations: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.

Here’s a list of things you should know before you travel to the USA.

The Mixture in Mérida

Hello Pals,
Mérida is the largest city within the Yucatan and is the capital. The origin of Yucatan is unclear, possibly a result of a loss in translation between the Mayan and the Spanish. I spent four days in Mérida, looking at the Neo-Classic, Neo-Gothic, Baroque and French architecture littered throughout the city. If you’ve got the time, it’s also a great place as a hub for day trips.

If you would like to know how I spent a “few days in Mérida.” click ‘read more’

Valladolid: It’s more than Chichen Itza.

Hello Pals,
Valladolid quickly became one of my favourite places within Mexico, and maybe even took the number one position. It’s vibrant colours, cobblestone streets, food halls and cute cafes – Valladolid has much to offer. It’s rich in history but showcases mostly, as a lot of Mexican cities, the Spanish Influence. If you look out – you’ll still be able to see examples of Maya Architecture.

While in Valladolid, I also managed to spend half a day at Chichen Itza, organising it by myself (okay well a friend organised it and we just tagged along.) You can read about that too.

If you would like to know “How to spend a few days in Valladolid ” click ‘read more’

Jump Into Tulum

Hello Pals,
Tulum has become bustling within the last decade, especially with artists and influencers flocking for the pristine hotels, beaches and cenotes. Originally known as Zama (dawn due to it being one of the first places dawn breaks in Mexico.)

If you would like to know “How to visit cenotes on your own in Tulum” click ‘read more’

Five places to get your vegan food fix on in Playa Del Carmen!

Hi Pals,
Normally, I would do a post on a place itself, but Playa Del Carmen really just didn’t have enough to do within itself. This time, I’m going to recommend fives places to get your vegetarian/vegan food fix on – and believe me, they’re good.

To see my five recommended places to eat in Playa Del Carmen, click ‘read more’

Before you go: Mexico.

Hello Pals,
Before you go to any country you should learn some basics but also double check those important things such as Visas and Vaccines.

🛂 VISA Depending on where you’re from, you may need a visa. Countries who will need a visa, click here (Google Translate Link)	💉 VACCINES Click here to make sure you’ve got the necessary jabs!
💬 LANGUAGE The recognised languages are Albanian, Serbian, Bosnian. Try and learn common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please and thank you here.	💰 CURRENCY Mexican Peso. Code: MXN. Check your exchange here.

Here’s a list of things you should know before you travel to Mexico.

Cancun; stay a day.

Hello Pals,
The first translation of Cancun was Kankun – “nest of snakes,” although I cannot find a definitive answer as to why – perhaps it’s related to the mangroves that used to surround Cancun.

If you read blog posts or forums on Cancun, people will either list day trips for you to do (so things not in Cancun) or tell you just to fly in and get out.
I think that like anywhere, you need to give it a few days to form your own opinion. Sure, Cancun is a major tourist destination, but that was the whole point of Cancun it was a government-backed investment.

If you would like to know “how to spend 2 days 100% in Cancun” click ‘read more.’