usa – 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.

Spokane: Keep it Kind of Gross

Hello Pals,
Spokane (pronounced Spo-Can), means “Children of the Sun” in Salish Native American. It is the birthplace of Father’s Day (USA.) It’s slogan, ‘Keep it Kind of Gross‘ is a way of “hanging on to the things that make us who we are.” It’s about letting the city grow on you, taking everything in before you make a judgement – and that’s exactly what I did.

If you would like to know “How to let Spokane grow on you.” click ‘read more’