On the 8th day, God made the most perfect and picturesque coastal village: Villefranche-sur-Mer in the French Riviera. One of the best Côte d'Azur destinations among celebrities, travelers, and Europeans seeking sunshine , coastal views and local seafood, Villefranche-sur-Mer exudes charm. Bright sun rays bathe pastel-colored buildings that line cobblestone streets and narrow winding alleys. Each narrow path guides the traveler or local past medieval churches and to open markets brimming with local tomatoes, apples, oranges, among other seasonal fruits and vegetables. We spent the day climbing its winding, ascending, narrow paths upward then descending the same paths directly down the hill to the turquoise Mediterranean Sea—a mesmerizing and jaw-dropping body of water no photograph can truly truly capture.

I am based in Charleston, and I love experiencing and seeing the world in new ways through art and culture. Here, expect some ideas on cultural experiences, yoga spots, and cafes suitable to meet a new friend or fellow traveler, to journal and to get a caffeine fix. Not to mention some tips about travel, sometimes in a foreign, non-English speaking land with only a backpack and passport in hand. I hope this blog explores the transformative power of travel and the beautiful tension between belonging and wandering—between the roots that ground us and the wings that carry us toward new discoveries.

Discover a collection of reflective travel essays that explore the deeper meaning of our journeys—both across the globe and within ourselves. Written from Charleston, South Carolina, these personal narratives blend travel writing with spiritual reflection, examining themes of intentional living, minimalism, and the transformative power of stepping into the unknown. Each essay invites you to slow down, observe the world with fresh eyes, and find meaning in the ordinary moments that make travel extraordinary.

Monaco is a study in contrasts—a tiny sovereign nation of less than one square mile that somehow contains more wealth, glamour, and drama per capita than perhaps anywhere else on earth. Wedged between the French Riviera and the Mediterranean Sea, this glittering principality is a place where superyachts worth hundreds of millions bob in the harbor, Formula 1 race cars scream through the streets once a year, and the Belle Époque splendor of the Monte Carlo Casino still draws high rollers from around the world. But beyond the obvious opulence and the celebrity sightings, Monaco reveals itself to be far more nuanced than its jet-set reputation suggests: It's a place that can feel both wonderfully absurd and utterly enchanting—sometimes within the same five-minute walk.