Carolina Herrera and SCAD FASH

Last fall SCAD, a/k/a Savannah College of Art & Design, opened a fashion museum that has promised to host international fashion exhibitions, lectures and more. One of the first big featured exhibits was Carolina Herrera's Refined Irreverence showcase of 99 designs and this weekend seemed like the perfect time to see it before it ends at the end of the month.

It was exciting to see everything from the basic white blouse, day wear to formal wear to bridal wear. The exhibit covers over three decades of design and features designs worn by Angelina Jolie, Renee Zellweiger, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, of course Carolina Herrera and more.

One of the things I loved most was being able to get up close to see the detailed work.

If you happen to be in or near Atlanta, it is worth carving out time to see this exhibit.

What Happened to those "Lazy, Hazy,Crazy" Days of Summer?

Life just keeps speeding up with some days full of excitement, others with too much to do, lots of good times, too many emotions, changes and through all of it, celebrations of summer.

There haven't been too many nights for sitting on the front porch to watch fireflies or much time for summer reading yet though I've almost finished The Promise of a Pencil and I've really been inspired by it. Have you read it? I'm just getting around to organizing my summer book list so if you have suggestions please pass them along.

Meanwhile here are some of the things we've been doing over the last few weeks. 

Watched my son and daughter-in-law in a special military salute during the Braves game

Took an evening tour of the Center for Civil and Human Rights Museum, a place everyone should visit

Took my granddaughter to camp 

Attended the Rosie the Riveter Conference. We are pictured with Fran Carter (age 95), the founder of the organization

Walked through the Vineyards in Midtown Atlanta!

Found time for a Girl's Night!

Said goodbye to a friend headed to law school. Hello Chicago!

Went to New York to celebrate my college friend's marriage and had a blast meeting friends that I've heard about for decades

Celebrated the 5th annual PRO BONO & COMMUNITY SERVICE WEEK. Incredible!

Took time to remember one of my mentors. Esther was the "Queen of Pro Bono"

Discovered contents from my one of my grandmother's old purses; a real time capsule - the deposit slip is dated 1978

Spoke at a conference in Detroit with some of my closest friends

Enjoyed seeing my son and his family have some great times together before my daughter-in-law's deployment. We won't see her again until January 2017

Enjoyed seeing a friend in Buenos Aires but I'll save details about this trip for a future post!

Puebla...or Oaxaca?

I knew that I wanted to spend a couple of days exploring another part of Mexico but I was having trouble trying to decide on the next city to explore. After considering many factors, my final decision was Puebla Mexico and all I can say is WOW.

Unfortunately work has been busy so there wasn't much time to plan my trip and with only two and a half days to spend sightseeing, I needed to be prepared. Before my flight I sifted through multiple travel blogs and sites gathering up as much information as possible, printing off some material so that I could read and study some things on the flight. Thankfully I'd managed to make a hotel reservation so at least I had a room once I arrived. 

My hotel was a gem. It was nearly 10 p.m. by the time I finally got to the hotel but the front desk was waiting for me with a brochure and a map of the city that listed every major museum, park, church, art district or historic site. It didn't matter that my notes were spotty and I was unprepared. The hotel's brochure made my trip planning simple. Thank you Hotel Colonial de Puebla!

Did you know that Puebla is one of the 5 great colonial Mexican cities? The city was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 and it is easy to see why just walking around the city. The city is famous for it chilies en nogado (my favorite), mole poblano (my second favorite) and Talavera pottery but I'll save the food and art for another post. In this city you will see examples of art/architecture from the Renaissance period as well as one of the finest examples from the Baroque period to be found in all of Mexico. One of my favorite places was the Biblioteca Palafoxian, a public library that was founded in 1646. The library contains roughly 42,000 texts, the oldest of which dates back to 1473. 

And just in case Puebla couldn't keep your attention, the city of Cholula is just a 15 minute cab ride away. This area has been inhabited for more than 3,000 years and is home to a pyramid that is over 2,000 years old with a base that is larger than any pyramid in the world. 

Traveling to Puebla was also interesting because I traveled alone. I don't speak Spanish, I'm often directionally challenged and I was a little nervous about managing things on my own but there was no need to worry. People were so nice and friendly. Instead of talking with a travel partner I was forced to spend a lot of time listening and people-watching. Twice while walking the streets I overheard English and once was especially interesting. I overheard a man say, "If I didn't know better I would think I was in Europe!" After hearing his comment I stopped to agree with him and learned that he is a professor from a California university who was visiting the city to map a student trip for the next semester (those lucky students)!

My next few posts will focus on a few of the highlights of this trip and believe me, it is going to be hard deciding where to start. 

Where are you planning to visit this summer?

Art for Earth Day

I'm a little late getting my post up but had to share a few colorful and creative examples of recycling.

While in Isla Holbox, Mexico I spotted several items that had been repurposed. One photo I can't find was a wall of canning jars so if I find it I will add that photo this post. The jars were painted and mounted on wood frames and had a single seashell mounted on the front of each jar. It was a beautiful wall that made a striking impact as you entered the hotel reception area.

I hope you enjoy these examples. Let's keep reusing and repurposing!

Seen at a hotel in Holbox, Mexico

Parking lane dividers in Holbox, Mexico

Seen in Holbox, Mexico

Recycled boat in Holbox Mexico

Holbox Mexico and its Unexpected Treasure

Two weeks ago my son and his wife held their wedding celebration in Holbox. It was such an adventure to have members of our families from 4 continents fly into Cancun, make a two hour drive to the city of Chiquila and then take the ferry to the beautiful island of Holbox.

Before meeting my daughter-in-law I'd never heard of Holbox but these days it seems like it's making headlines regularly as one of Mexico's best kept secrets - a real paradise.

There are a few things to know before you go to Holbox.The ATM never has any money available so you have to bring cash. No big banking here. It's a safe place. We were told that if anyone commits a crime, one can expect to face public humiliation and then banishment for life. I'm not sure if that is true but it makes for a good story. There are no cars on the island which means there are no paved roads.  Even in the rain, you get around by riding in taxis that look like this.

But there is GREAT food, lots of friendly people, a town if you want to be around civilization but plenty of quiet at the beach if you want to leave the noise behind. The best part about Holbox is the natural beauty. You really do lose track of time.

It was great having a big group come together to celebrate the marriage of son and daughter-in-law and we made the most of our time with dining on the beach, rooftop happy hours, shopping, swimming, visiting and taking in the beauty of this island.

Half price cocktails every day from 5-6 AND THERE IS A POOL ON THE ROOFTOP!

Hammocks over the water. Just right for reading and napping

So many great shops!!!

Fresh catch of the day at Raices

But one of the best moments for me was spending time with my granddaughter Miah and having time to visit.

Miah: Jojo, we are on vacation and it is beautiful here but not everyone here lives in such a beautiful place.
Me: You are right, Miah. What made you think about that?
Miah: When we were driving here we passed a lot of houses and I could see inside. Some of the people don't have beds.

I was deeply touched by her thoughts. There are many treasures to be found on Isla Holbox but I think I found the pearl.

Thank you Miah.

Hotels - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I enjoy various types of hotel experiences but every now and then unexpected and sometimes memorable things happen. Maybe the hotel I booked wasn't quite what I was expecting or somehow things just went wrong.   Most of the time these adventures end up being part of my vacation story because they can be both remarkable and memorable. For instance my kids still talk about the family vacation when we were staying outside of Boston and ended up in a room with soaking wet carpet and ants.  The most memorable part of the story was that the manager of the hotel was mad about having to move us. So strange.

Then there was the time we were staying at the historic Hilltop House Hotel in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and the staff kept talking about the ghosts. The hotel was amazing and had the most extraordinary views but my kids were terrified. None of us slept a wink but we've never forgotten being able to stay in a haunted hotel. Apparently they have closed this hotel and what a shame.  It is a beautiful location with lots of history (and ghosts)!

From the Portfolio Photoseek website

Then I had my own fear of ghosts when traveling to LA.  I was trying to stay at a reasonably priced hotel near where we were holding a conference and I was so excited to have found the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel.  It is a beautiful and a lot of exhibits so that guests can learn more about the history.  If you love old Hollywood there's lots to enjoy.  And they have ghosts.  Not just one, but many, and after hearing that the Black Dahlia walks the stairwell, that was it.  I moved every piece of furniture in front of my door to block out any unwanted guests and of course I never slept that night either.

India was one of my most favorite places to visit. Ever. In India our accommodations covered a range of places - from home stays to a 5-star, depending on the city.  But there was one place we are not likely to ever forget - Don't Worry Chicken Curry.  It is the scariest place I've ever stayed. The location of the hotel was creepy, the hotel was not at all what it appeared to be on the website (the website has been revised I see) and the staff was insulting to our guide.  Scary, creepy, poor accommodations and rude. Worst. Hotel. Ever.  And I was ever so thankful we made it through the night. Again, no sleep.

Soggy towels, no toiletries, air conditioning out of order and this was the toilet paper provided. It was too scary to open the window so we toughed it out but it was scary!

This fall while in Morocco we stayed in the strangest place. Nice but strange.  Most of our trip we stayed in gorgeous riads but then there was one hotel we stayed where we could be close to the sea.  We got an upgrade when we checked in and it sounded great, but it had the strangest decor. The place had a living room, a bar, a balcony, multiple rooms but all with the weirdest decor. I couldn't stop taking photos.

It's wonderful when everything on a trip goes as planned, right?  After all, it is a vacation and a time to relax and enjoy. But over the years I've learned that some of these weird hotel adventures add to the travel memories and sometimes make the trip even more memorable.

I'm very grateful for TripAdvisor.  I'm a level 5 contributor and I'm always grateful to travelers who share their experiences - good and bad. What travel forum do you use when you plan a trip?