One of my post pandemic resolutions is to wander one day during the week preferably the weekend to explore all that my local areas has to offer and share my experience with you all. This weekend I was back at the Huntington to explore the desert gardens in deference of the heat and drought in California and along the way stepped over to the lily ponds and the Chinese gardens for a spot of shade and cooling.

“Paris a universe whole and entire unto herself, hollowed and fashioned by history; with her towering buildings, her massive cathedrals, her grand boulevards and ancient winding medieval streets – as vast and indestructible as nature itself.” – Anne Rice. She is that elegant lady quintessentially young with a story to tell only if you had the time to linger, listen and experience.

Travel up the California Coast with wandering Veena to explore the towns along the route to the Central Coast. Spend some time in beautiful Moonstone Beach and enjoy wine tasting with us in Paso Robles the up and coming alternative to Napa Valley. A great break from the humdrum of every day life almost exactly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A pear shaped emerald which sparkles against the beautiful blue of the Indian Ocean Sri Lanka is small in size but mighty in it’s offerings. Come spend an unforgettable 4 days with wandering Veena as we savor the sights, sounds and smells of this island nation.

Cape Town with its beautiful landscape and complex culture , race and legacy is a poster child for the “Rainbow Nation”, a term originally coined by Desmond Tutu and reinforced by Nelson Mandela. Come spend 2 days with me as we discover all that this part of South Africa has to offer.

Cape Horn that legendary southern most tip of South America where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans collide. Historically one of the most treacherous of sea routes is now traversed for pleasure by cruise ships and adventurous souls like myself. This rite of passage earned me the title of “Cape Horner and the right to wear a gold loop earing and eat with a foot on the table.” Not sure why ancient sailors would want some of these things but you can perhaps earn them virtually as you come with me on this legendary journey.

“We drove in and got to see the Old Town from above which was just beautiful, and we just kept getting amazed at every turn – The water, the beaches, the city, it is all so stunning! “-Cara McLeay. Let’s enjoy exploring the old town and the outskirts of Dubrovnik, it definitely confirms why this charming location is known as the Pearl of the Adriatic.

“...what thrills me about trains is not their size or their equipment but the fact that they are moving, that they embody a connection between unseen places.” ― Marianne Wiggins. Life outside the windows of the train is a microcosm that is at times thrilling and at times sad.

The Floating Islands in Peru are man made islands created from reeds that float on lake Titicaca a fresh water lake located approximately 12000 feet above sea level. The Uros people pre-date the Incas living in their humble reed huts surviving on fishing and weaving and now tourism.

“In any library in the world, I am at home, unselfconscious, still and absorbed.” – Germaine Greer.

Of course The Huntington is more than a mere library. It’s an art museum, a botanical garden, a wedding photo shoot venue, a place to go enjoy high tea or wine with your gal pals. Come enjoy a walk through some of the gardens blooming with color or soothing in serenity while we enjoy the re-opening after the pandemic hiatus.

Cesky Krumlov is a fairytale medieval town in the Czech Republic halfway between Prague and Vienna. With it’s twisting alleys built around the Cesky Krumlov castle and the River Vtalva running through it; its like a place that time forgot. It’s a great destination for an unplugged weekend.

Claude Monet, founder of the impressionist style of painting lived and worked at Giverny a small town about 50 miles outside of Paris, France. He created beautiful gardens here that are the subject of many of his famous paintings. His gardens are perhaps as much of a masterpiece as his paintings. Visiting Giverny is like walking in a Monet painting most particularly the famous lily pond with its Japanese bridge.

Ho’i Hou Ke Aloha means Let us fall in love again in Hawaiian. For me it was love at first sight of the beautiful island of Kona which seems to have a little bit of something for everyone.

The Alhambra is an ancient palace, fortress and citadel located in Granada, Spain. It is recognized by the iconic red walls and beautiful carvings on the walls in the Moorish style. Surrounded by tinkling fountains and beautiful gardens it’s designed to appeal to all your senses. A visit to Spain would be incomplete without visiting Alhambra but be prepared to beat your step count for the day.

A beautiful night, an expert guide, a private showing of pre-Colombian artifacts at the Larco Museum in Lima, Peru. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the garden restaurant before we began our tour. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Lima but in the meantime come for a virtual tour with me.

Antoni Gaudi left a unique architectural footprint in Barcelona Spain. He was a pioneer in his field using color, texture, and movement in ways never before imagined. His works, both finished and uncompleted, stand as testimony to his genius.

The Mosque Cathedral of Cordoba an architectural allegory ~ a rare example of religious tolerance which allowed for the co-mingling of the symbols of Islam and Christianity under one roof preserving the beauty for centuries to come.

Portugal is one of these enchanting places that you need to see and feel. “The fado is not meant to be sung; it simply happens. You feel it, you don’t understand it and you don’t explain it.” – fado singer Amália Rodrigues

Saint Petersburg, situated on the Neva River, at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea is one of the most exciting destinations you will visit. A visit to this city does come with a warning label because it will spoil you for subsequent destinations.