I celebrated my Birthday this past September in Malta. It was one of the countries that was open for travel without any covid restrictions. Having known a couple of people that have visited and raved so much about it, I quickly added it to my bucket list. The city has an active night life for those that are looking to party, however after our evening dinners my friend and I enjoyed drinks and Hookah. Airport: Malta International Airport (about 30 minutes from St. Julian's (20 Euro) Where I stayed: Hugo's Boutique Hotel. This hotel is an Adult's only, centrally located as well as affordable. It also has a rooftop pool and bar area. Currency: Euro Language: Maltese and English (there was never a language barrier) Getting around: Taxi or City bus. It was fairly reasonable taking a taxi to most places Top things to do: Blue Lagoon, If you're a Game of Thrones fan, you have to see where King's Landing was filmed. The boat trips are a must and just walking along the city. If you're thinking about planning a trip I would advise going when the weather is warm so you can take advantage of the boat trips. Even in the latter part of September it was still warm and enjoyable. The people are extremely friendly and because many black British people travel there for holiday, they are use to seeing people of color.

I have lived in Turkey for over a year. The country itself has so much to offer and should be on everyone's bucket list. This is my second visit to Cappadocia. The first time, was with a group and due to the weather, the hot air balloons did not go up( give yourself a few days, just in case). I new that prior to leaving Turkey I wanted to try to visit it again so I embarked on a solo trip back to this gem. Living in Izmir, my flight was roughly an hour. I arranged for transportation both to and from the airport (it was less than $50). The airport is close to an hour from the city and if you're riding with others, it may take awhile to finally get to your hotel. Besides the hot air balloons, Cappadocia is known for their cave hotels. I knew that I wasn't going to be spending much time but still wanted the experience. I opted to stay at the Amber Cave Suites which was centrally located to restaurants and cute shops. A couple days prior to going, I looked into hiring a private photographer and was so glad I did. The morning of the shoot, they picked me up in a vintage Ford and we literally chased the balloons as they were soaring. It was truly one of the best experiences that I have ever been on. It costs roughly $150 just know that the USD goes a long way in Turkey. The cost of living is extremely cheap in Turkey and you really get more bang for your buck. As a vegetarian, I have never had any problems with restaurants not accommodating me. Even if they cook you up a plate of vegetables, you will be extremely pleased. I'm sure everyone that travels has seen the photos with the Turkish rugs. Gallerie Ikman is worth visiting just to say you entered this infamous store. I've gone twice and my experience has always been great. Turkish people are wonderful. They will go out of their way to ensure that you have great experience.

I visited Cairo Egypt in August 2020 (yes during a pandemic) and I will have to tell you it was the best experience. I currently live in Turkey and booked my accommodations with a local travel agent. Living in Turkey I flew Egyptair from Istanbul. The flight itself was a little over two hours. As this was my first International flight since covid, I was pleased with the cautionary measures the airline had taken to keep us safe. Upon hour arrival in Cairo, we were welcomed by Kareem our travel coordinator. He greeted us before passport control and I'm glad he did, because the one thing we forgot to do was get a visa. The visa was around $25 and was easy to purchase. The entire process was less than an hour for arrival, customs and retrieving our luggage. Exiting the airport all I could do was exhale as I honestly was still in disbelief that I was there. Where I stayed: The Conrad Hotel . The hotel overlooked the Nile River, the staff were welcoming and the food and drinks were great. Must See: The Egyptian Museum, Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Great Sphinx of Giza and Pyramids of Giza. I hate to sound selfish but the one thing about traveling during a pandemic that I am grateful for, is not having to worry about the long lines. There was never an issue with long lines or waiting to get that perfect picture. The Pyramids were breathtaking. I honestly couldn't believe it was real. Included in our package was the tours, transportation and private security. I'm not sure if this is with everyone or because we were military, but I felt extremely safe there my entire time. I only wish I was able to stay longer, as I would have loved to see more.