The Travel Seven: Nicole Marie Richardson
Name:
Nicole Marie Richardson
Home City/Country: Jersey City, NJ | USA
Occupation: Digital Project Manager
Website/Links:
NicoleMarieRichardson.com
Passport Stamps Include: Over 30 countries and territories on five continents including: Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Namibia, Peru, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, Vatican City. My life goal: To visit 100 countries in my lifetime.
1. My best travel memory so far is… Falling for a complete stranger in Swakopmund, Namibia. Swakop is the perfect place for romance so we took advantage. We walked along the beach collecting shells. We watched the fog roll in off of the Atlantic Ocean. He showed me around the city at night and took me to Jetty 1905, a restaurant named after its location at the end of a jetty that extends nearly 1000 feet over the ocean from the shore. I was trying not to get too caught up because I knew it was temporary, but my endorphins were doing their work and I was swooning despite myself. It's something I will never forget.
2. My favorite hotel & why… Costa Rica's Kioro Resort & Spa in Arenal sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Until 2010, it was the country's most active volcano, spewing copious amounts of lava, gas, and ash on a regular basis. All the rooms have balcony doors that open up to face the volcano and the view is STUNNING. Watching the fog roll in or the beautiful blue sky frame the volcano is worth the danger of a potential eruption.
3. My must-haves on any flight are… First, I only have a bag whose combined length, width and depth doesn’t exceed 60 inches–the maximum size that most airlines allow for carry-ons. I also have my own blanket and pillow, and I bring thick, comfy socks to walk around on the plane with, so make sure you don't mind getting them dirty. I bring actual paperback books because an eBook will never last a 15-hour flight. Last, I bring earplugs and an eye mask to block out unwanted sounds and sights.
4. When I’m on the road, I absolutely hate… Cramped legs, Chatty Cathys, smelly farts, and motion sickness!
5. My dream destination or vacation is… My dream vacation is my honeymoon. I would like to take a month to relax on the beautiful beaches in the Maldives, explore India's Taj Mahal, Lotus Temple, and other sites, and then finish in Palolem Beach, Goa. It would be the perfect mix of romance and exploration!
6. The three things I can’t travel without are… Because I'm an OCD freak I MUST have an itinerary that I've researched and thought through multiple times! I also must have my passport and I've got to have my camera to capture all the amazing experiences and memories.
7. The top lesson I’ve learned while traveling is… The top lesson I've gained from traveling is that more people should travel with their children. I can’t tell you what a difference I think this made for me! When I see certain friends and family that never left Harlem their mentality seems small and closed. It’s important to show your kids while they are young that the world is a big place and that they have access to it all! Seeing how other communities across the country and the world live will open your little ones up to different languages, foods, music and art. Kids can’t learn everything from a text book, sometimes you have to see it and experience it to really get an understanding. You can’t honestly say reading about the pyramids is the same as seeing them first hand!
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