Brooklyn Girl Publishing

This 4th of July weekend I'm heading down to the DC Area for business and pleasure.

While this qualifies as a getaway, I realize I am well overdue for a full-fledged sight-seeing, foodsampling, sunbathing, jetskiiing, take-a-day-off-after-I get-home-because-I-barely-slept type of trip.

In thinking about where I would like to go, I also realize there has to be one of three things involved to make a destination worthwhile:   significant black history, the food, and if there is a beach. If I can get two out of three, I'm good. Three out of three, whoooo hah!

I've been to many U.S.and Caribbean destinations already. Excluding Chicago, I'd like to spread my wings even farther.

THURSDAY TEN SPOT

THE TEN PLACES I'D LIKE TO VISIT

The Chi - Ever since I saw Love Jones, I've been dying to go. The city seems to reek of history and culture, the Queen of Everything is there and our President still has a home here that I must see.

AUSTRALIA  Strategically, I'd like to make this trip when it is the DEAD of WINTER in NY! How cool is it to travel into another season?! Yes, the Caribbean is warm all year round, but another season. Where'd you go? To the Summer? Never been there! Exactly! I'll be sure to check out the Aboriginal history and visit all the tourist traps, but rest assured my friends, I'll be on the beach!

BRAZIL The excuse to be half nekkid on a beach, even moreso than usual, is so enticing! The language is sexy and from what I've had of Brazilian food here in NY, I know I will be in heaven.

JAMAICA Growing up in East Flatbush, I never felt the need to visit Jamaica. I was surrounded by its countrymen, the music and the food. I had my fill. But as I grew older I learned I had distant relatives from the island and most everyone who's gone has given it wonderful reviews. Having just read a Jamaican slave narrative, I am most certain I will visit there very soon.

EUROPE London, Spain, Italy, France and Greece. I want to eat, visit the Vatican,and buy see *sigh* buy the fashion in Italy; see the Louvre andthe Eiffel Tower, and sunbathe on the Riviera in France;visit Buckingham Palace and Wimbledon in London. In Greece, I want to visit the Parthenon, and again swim/sunbathe on the Mediterranean.

AFRICA 

Angola, Soweto, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique. And Botswana, so let us speak about the motherland....    -Stetsasonic

• Cairo, Egypt - In this lifetime, it is a must that I visit the pyramids. One of my Alumni Board Members just returned and was saying how amazing it was to see that the people who built the pyramids looked just like us. Aside from that, the pyramids are one of the greatest architectural feats in the world.

• South Africa

• The Gold Coast where the slaves were shipped to U.S. and Caribbean ports.

DUBAI We have no reason to be in the Middle East. None. At least, I don't. But this is the hotel at dusk. 

Awesome.

THAILAND Food, culture and the beach. I've always wanted to visit, but backed off once the tsunami hit. It's highly unlikely that it will happen again(that's what I tell myself.) Phuket*, I'm gonna do it anyway. (pronounced poo-ket, not phuck-et like I originally thought)

TIFFANY'S Yep, that's right. That is a trip that needs scheduling. It doesn't fit into any of my vacation criteria, but that's okay. I've never been in there and I am sure it will be an adventure. Souvenirs? Yes, one for myself in a little blue bag! :o)

And since we're on the subject of ice...

ALASKA There's a cruise that goes to Alaska in July. Glaciers, moose, and a potential Palin sighting? Not exactly my idea of fun. But if I have to add cold to the mix at any point, this would be the way I'd want to do it.

That's my dime folks!