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Mickela Mallozzi, Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi; Ryan van Duzer, Duzer TV; Josh Washington, Matador Network; and Nathan Fluellen, World Wide Nate
Now that TBEX is over what am I suppose to do? Less then 45 days ago I had no desire to attend TBEX. My introduction to the Travel Blogger Exchange started in April during a trip to Aruba when I met my dancing sister Mickela and furiously sold me on the benefits of attending throughout our trip. After Aruba I had an inclination to attend but I wasn’t totally sold. They say strength is in numbers because on my recent trip to Jordan seven of my colleagues shared their enthusiasm for TBEX and I was 3/4 sold on attending. The nail in the coffin finally came when I found out a few companies I’ve worked with in the past were also attending. I’m excited yay yay, I going to TBEX but now I need a flight, hotel and most importantly a ticket. Doing things last minute has its penalties unless you have the determination to overcome adversity. Long story short everything came through and I was on my way to TBEX. I’m glad I went with no expectation because TBEX exceeded my colleague’s sales pitches.

Rob, Stop having a boring life; Teri Johnson, Travelista TV, Matthew Karsten, Vagabond Expert; David Digregorio, South Africa Tourism; Kat Reese, Spark Loft Media; Cailin O’Neil, Travel Yourself
During my weekend in Toronto, Canada, (BTW is not one of my favorite countries to visit due to immigration giving me a hard time upon every visit) I experienced a travel blogger homecoming! I graduated from Tennessee State University, a historically black college and we have a huge homecoming culture of visiting Nashville to reconnect with friends and family and TBEX felt the same. Seeing people I’ve met around the world on different trips and reconnecting with hugs, kisses, smiles and laughs were pretty awesome.

Liz and Jessie are amazing bloggers I met on a trip to Jordan. As you can see I’m wearing my hatta that I picked up on the trip.
We’re never far away with social media a phone grab away so the conversation is never taken up by what have you been up to; you already know. It was exciting to introduce my friends to each other, connect companies with bloggers and network with new faces. But most importantly we partied like its “1999″ and in those moments bonds are forged!!! The chain of events that started on Friday evening with the opening night party at Roy Thompson Hall and this party won me over from the start with free food, wine, beer and deserts. In a couple of hours I reconnected with everyone and was introduced to new faces that would soon form the Poutine train.
The Poutine Train crew (if you want to know what Poutine is click here)
Mickela Mallozzi Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi
Ryan van Duzer Duzer TV
Kelly Ferro Trip Films
Patricia Serrano Fresh Traveler
Courtney Scott Let’s Roam with Courtney Scott
Ashley Castle Travel with Castle
Lisa Cohen Make Me Hungry
Gareth Leonard Tourist 2 Townie
Kate Thomas Travel with Kate
Kristen Sarah Hopscotch the Globe
Juliana Broste Traveling Jules
Jessie Festa Jessie on a Journey
*If I left you off the Poutine Train roll call please forgive me*
After a long day of networking the Expedia Viewing party on Centre Island turned it up a notch (Play the video) and we danced like Jaggar lol! The after party hosted by Matador Network at Easy & the Fifth was #EPIC, we dance from the time we stepped into the building but the vivid memories that continuously loop in my head are dancing to “Jump on it” and entire Poutine Train singing Bohemian Rhapsody with the same conviction as Freddie Mercury.
The poutine train choo choo’d into Sunday sharing beers on a beautiful breezy afternoon greeting new comers to the table with a chant of “Ole Ole Ole” followed up with “Andele andele moma E.I. E.I., uh ohhhhhhhh what’s happening now” a verse from Nelly’s “E.I.” and concluded with “Hoops there it is” and ode to Tag Team and the actually name of the sports bar.
Somehow? Thank you Sweet Baby Jesus, after everyone dispersed I found myself amongst three beautiful women having a sexy Italian dinner at La Bettola di Terroni with my angels: Lisa, Kate and Ashley!
If TBEX were a film it couldn’t have been written any better and now I’m living vicariously through tagged photos and videos feeling warm and fuzzy inside looking forward to the next TBEX homecoming. I don’t think I would want time machine but I’d rather have a re-live button so I can hit the repeat button on demand. Until a genius figures out how to make that happen TBEX is over, now what?
When I was headed to St. Kitts I was full of excitement to hike Mt. Liamuiga, volcano, zip line, do an ATV ride and golf the St. Kitts Marriott Resort’s world championship golf course but when I landed my excitement began to shrink. Tropical storm Ernesto was viscously bringing the rain as I went through customs and finally arrived to the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino. Check out the webisode to see how I managed to make the best of this trip!
I had the pleasure of being a guest on The Intersection with Jeff Johnson and Elsa M. and the topic of the show was “Going Global without Going Broke: Traveling on a Budget”.
Escape to New Orleans is a 4-part web series exploring the Crescent City with co-host Christen Rochen of Diva and Dorks. We hoped in a brand new 2012 Ford Escape and spent four fun days going off the beaten path hitting up the neighborhoods of Magazine street, Frenchman street, Treme and Oak street. Check out Day 1 as we spend the day shopping at Re:Fresh and Magazine street boutiques. Turn in each week to discover new reasons to escape to New Orleans! The web series is presented by Essence magazine and sponsored by the 2013 Ford Escape.
I’m on Jetblue flight in at John Fitzgerald Kennedy Airport, NYC buckled in my seat headed to Liberia, Costa Rica. Random thoughts of what adventures await me are constantly running through my head as I strategize, which free snacks I would over indulge and which movies will I watch on the five-hour direct flight. After five Linden’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, three Quaker fiber crisps, one King Nut Fancy Nut Mix and four Arizona Iced Tea’s, we’re close to landing.
The San Fermin Festival aka Running with the Bulls is taking places in two week July 6-14, 2012 and if you plan on going and have a desire to attend check out the webisode of my experience Running with the Bulls. The festival is all day celebration which starts with the run at 7am then leads into an entire day of partying and fun! You got to love the Spaniards!!!
Three months ago I never heard of the Island of Yap and now I’m visiting this gem I would call paradise. Yap was made famous by the sailor David O’Keefe who made a fortune helping the Yapes people transport stone money from Palau. Palau, 300 miles southwest of Yap is were the Yapese would carve stone money out of limestone. This post is just a sneak preview to the many adventures to share from Yap!!!
Traveling around the Costa Rica the term “Pura Vida” is thrown around with the frequency of a broken record but the discover of its meaning escalates with every minute. The moment I passed thru gates of the Palms Residence Club I knew I reached the pinnacle of Pura Vida. The Palms Residence Club, located in the Guanacaste region is one of those places you surrender your passport to the staff and hope they never tell you to leave.
Today I woke up and the air was different today. I got up early and had a delicious breakfast literally on the Atlantic Ocean. During my delicious buffet style breakfast I sat and reflected on the road trip ahead of me today. We are about to escape the cape with a road trip to Cape Point.
My time in the bush came to an end but the adventure continued. We flew Federal Air back to Johannesburg and connect to the most beautiful city I’ve visited, Cape Town. The bush was a great experience but I was excited to finally make it to the mother city. I’m a Pisces and I carry a natural affinity to cities that touch a body of water.
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