When I went to London I met several amazing people. The first night I went out I went to a concert in Brixton. The artist performing was Etta Bond, and the crowd was mostly black. That night, I met a very handsome very kind young man. He was born in Morocco. We exchanged information, and promised to keep in touch. The next day my friends and I toured the city. We saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, and the River Thames. That night we went to a local bar called “Cirque” in Shoreditch. At the bar, I met two men, one from Eritrea, one from Guinea. One thing you have to realize about London is that most of the black people are either from Africa, or Jamaica, so the potential for meeting black people is very high, and the people you’ll meet are not Black Americans, rather other brothers and sisters of the Diaspora. The third night I went out, my friends had trouble getting into a club, and the young man that I met the first night came to meet me and take me on a tour of the city. We went to a local bar to grab a drink, and then wandered around Soho looking at the beautiful Christmas lights hopping on and off double-decker buses, and taking in the romance of the city. It was beyond romantic. After taking in the sights he asked what was the one thing I had yet to do, that I wanted to experience. I told him that I wanted to taste Afro-Caribbean food. He said he knew the perfect place. We stopped by my flat to change my shoes and he took me to an Afro-Caribbean restaurant where for the first time I had curry goat and jerk chicken. The night was a dream. The next day I got on my plane back to Los Angeles having experienced the best that London had to offer.

Costa Maya is a port city, and most of the activities are at the Port. I didn’t take my children, but had I, we would have found about a 1/2 day worth to do at the port. There are a lot of shops, selling just about everything a tourist would want or need (shot glasses, purses, shoes, country themed regalia). In the middle of the port, performers presented the “Dance of the Flyers,” which is great for all ages. Men dressed in bird costumes climb a 30 meter pole and glide to the ground. It draws a huge crowd, and gives the audience a lesson in history and an undeniable thrill. The bars serve cheap drinks, but even better are the waiters in the beach. You can order food and drinks right on the beach sitting in a beach chair in the sand. Tourism is a large part of the economy. Traveling While Black: Costa Maya is a tourist destination, so it’s a melting pot. The locals are Latino/Hispanic, so it’s helpful, but not necessary to speak Spanish. Costa Maya is a TWB friendly destination, as some of the locals are Black Latinos. Costa Maya is for sure within the diaspora.

The beautiful Cayman Islands is a place to go for ultimate relaxation. It’s a sleepy, retirement country, and super safe. It’s a British country, so the currency is different, as are the customs. There is a strong Black presence, and it’s warm and welcoming. The history and authenticity to be discovered could sometimes be overshadowed by the tourist effect, but it is definitely seen and felt if you go with an eye and a heart toward it. But like all other stories of the past, you must pick your narrator in order to discovery the story that includes you. One version of Cayman history is that of Christopher Columbus’ last voyage, while the other story, the truer story, is that the early inhabitants of Cayman came from Africa and Europe - some by choice, some the victims of shipwrecked slave ships. Those ancestors were known as “free coloreds.” Still others came from Jamaica, bringing enslaved Jamaicans with them. Our presence is felt so strongly.

??Honduras?? ... I definitely arrived with my public defender lenses on. How could a country so beautiful be a nightmare for so many...women and girls, especially? By the end of our tour of the beaches and countryside, I’m sure Nelson, our guide, was over me and all my questions about the legal justice system, and how the country protects its women. When we exited the port, there were several tour guide options. Many tour companies will approach you as you’re walking through the port area. We selected Nelson’s at random - the price was reasonable, his group was friendly, and the van was clean and air-conditioned. I learned so much about this beautiful place, and the locals didn’t even laugh as I practiced my Spanish. The people range is beautiful browns, from Hispanic light brown, to African dark brown. Honduras is most definitely a part of the diaspora. Honduras is a somewhat dangerous country, but Roatán is the safer, touristy area. It’s a small island off the coast of the mainland. Even on Roatán, there are armed guards walking up and down the beaches. The tourism keeps the country alive. Buy as many souvenirs as you can. The locals are so grateful. I left Honduras with a heart full of love, and a fair share of despair. In spite of that, I will definitely return to the beautiful country of Honduras.