http://urbantravelgirl.com thoughts on black women living globally through international travel Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:23:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_747" align="aligncenter" width="194" caption="These Bateaux Mouches boat rides down the Seine River may feel clichéd, but what a view of Paris! Here I am during a Chicago friend's recent visit to the City of Light."][/caption] So it’s been 4½ months since I first arrived in France, and in many ways, ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2012/04/19/in-an-expat-life-in-france-even-the-small-stuff-is-worth-shouting-about/ [caption id="attachment_734" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Even in 2012, many restaurants in France still close for the midday break or -- like long-standing Chez Fernand in Samois-sur-Seine -- are only open Wednesday through Sunday. "][/caption] When you move abroad from the United States—and even when you move to an equally developed country—the adjustments ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2012/02/29/how-living-abroad-in-italy-years-ago-prepared-me-for-life-in-france-now/ [caption id="attachment_713" align="aligncenter" width="242" caption="The program from the singing legend's Saturday funeral."][/caption] For the past couple days, I’ve been listening nonstop to one of the soundtracks of my childhood: straight-up, good old-fashioned African-American gospel music. And for that, I can thank Sister Whitney Houston, whose Newark, N.J., funeral at the New Hope Baptist ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2012/02/20/thanks-whitney-for-bringing-the-world-to-church/ [caption id="attachment_697" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The "center" of Samois-sur-Seine, a village of just more than 2,000 residents, is quite small. But it's charming, as I'm sure this curious beagle would agree!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_698" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Here's the Samois boulangerie where I go for fresh baguettes and delectable pastries. You'd be hard-pressed to ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2012/01/22/loving-the-%e2%80%98honeymoon-phase%e2%80%99%e2%80%94getting-settled-in-france/ [caption id="attachment_684" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ahhhh... now THIS lovely breakfast-on-the-balcony (at the waterfront Hotel Welcome in lovely Villefranche-sur-Mer) says France to me! I need to think of scenes like these when I start stressing and obsessing about my upcoming move."][/caption] So I’m headed to France in a little over one week, and ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2011/12/20/countdown-to-my-french-departure/ [caption id="attachment_664" align="aligncenter" width="227" caption="I'm all smiles at this charming restaurant in Nice earlier this spring (I was in the south of France visiting a good friend in Villefranche-sur-Mer).  I'm even MORE thrilled to be spending 2012 in this fabulous country!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_667" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="I NEVER tire of seeing the amazing "La ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2011/12/04/enfin-finally-france-here-i-come/ I met Tom Harrow (now the very successful "Wine Chap" in London) when we both were living in Florence, Italy, back in 2004. I'd met Tom through Paula, a Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister and friend who was living in London -- and Paula met Tom through HER soror friend. It's a ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2011/10/16/let-friends%e2%80%94and-friends-of-friends%e2%80%94hook-you-up-on-your-next-overseas-trip/ [caption id="attachment_638" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ahhhh... "Beachfront Bliss," indeed! Here's the view from the Riviera Experience flat I stayed in during my recent solo trip to the South of France. Don't I wish I could sit here forever and contemplate life...."][/caption] I like to think of vacations—especially those that take me abroad—as ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2011/05/01/turn-vacation-time-into-%e2%80%98figure-out-your-life%e2%80%99-time/ [caption id="attachment_628" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ahhh... can't get back to the lovely French Riviera town of Villefranche-sur-Mer next week. Planning my return to this charming place has been a pleasant trip in itself!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_630" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Does this look serene, or WHAT? I'll have a view like this out the window ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2011/03/13/planning-an-international-getaway-is-more-than-half-the-fun/ Ciao, and welcome to UrbanTravelGirl, a blog featuring my thoughts on black women living globally through international travel. I'm a passionate believer in the ability of travel to not only transform the way we see the world, but ourselves.  As an African-American woman, I've developed an even stronger sense of who I ... http://urbantravelgirl.com/2011/02/20/hello-world-2/