Mexico, especially in Yucatan Peninsula, is like no other place I’ve ever been before. The turquoise blue, crystal clear water of the Mexican Caribbean is truly stunning and the many miles of soft white sand, dotted with tall tropical palm trees is a dream come true for anyone visiting.

I had a great time in Cancun. The beaches were breathtaking, the weather was perfect and the entertainment was top-class. There was always something to do, some friendly local to talk to, or some delicious local cuisine to be sampled! I was never bored. Between relaxing on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world (in my opinion!), exploring the surrounding small towns and attractions in my rented jeep, and immersing myself in the culture, I knew I had found a place that I could confidently say was my newfound favorite corner of the world.

During my time in Cancun, I drove away from the glitz of the hotel zone and got to really know the heart of the city. The city center area was very poor and run-down. I began to wonder ‘where all those tourist dollars going?’ I really enjoyed exploring the local areas and getting out of the hotel metropolis. I like to blend in and live like a local when I travel, as it gives me a more rounded and realistic representation of a culture and its people. I like to eat in local restaurants, talk to local people and get to know the culture, by getting to know the people who created it. And in Cancun, that’s exactly what I did, and I loved it!

Cozumel, an island off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, close to Playa del Carmen, was spectacular. It had the best of both worlds; quiet island life with sunbathing iguanas on deserted beaches and bustling tourist centers with a multitude of shops, restaurants and bars. I enjoyed exploring the island and sampling the local delicious food, especially the islands famous seafood (the fish tacos were amazing!). It was refreshing to take a break from the intense Mexican sun by relaxing with a cold drink under the shade of a palapa roof and simply watching the world go by…well at least the world that existed on this small island.

Above all else, it was the Mexican culture and the people that really captivated me. The culture is colorful and lively, and the nations pride is displayed for all visitors to see. Music, dancing, food, handmade crafts and art are everywhere, as a representation of their rich history and culture. The physical landscape of the Yucatan is also colorful and rich. Birds and flowers in every color imaginable, dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. Bright green fields and trees grow thick and lush under the Mexican sun and the waves of the stunning turquoise blue seas never stop rolling. I felt like I really was in a tropical paradise!

Everywhere I went in Mexico, I was received with a smile. The people of Mexico are happy and positive, with a great sense of humor. They enjoy their life, even if they don’t have a lot of money or possessions. They ‘work to live’, not ‘live to work’. This really touched me, since I come from the USA, a culture of consumerism, where often those with the most, are the least happy. It was refreshing to see how those with little can still live a rich life. During my time in Mexico, I was happy to be surrounded by these positive and happy people. I rejoiced in the simple pleasures of strolling barefoot down the beach during an incredible sunset, or sipping on a cold beer while watching a small crab emerge from her hole in the sand. It was an amazing vacation.

I would love to return to Mexico some day soon and explore more of its vast, diverse and beautiful country. I was left with nothing but positive, happy memories from my time there and I know I will return again some day soon.

Boston is not as overwhelming as larger cities like New York or Chicago, but it has all the things you’d expect in a big city – culture, museums, great restaurants, and more – while retaining a small town atmosphere.

I was born in Boston (Medford exactly), went to high school in nearby Somerville, and attended University of Massachusetts Amherst.  Boston’s education opportunities attract smart citizens whose projects foster intense innovation.   It was wonderful for me to meet so many people that are driven, ambitious, and filled with inspiring ideas.   Boston inspires innovation and provides great resources to help make your ideas a reality.   I also liked living in a city with a small-town feel.  It’s a great place to visit and a better place to live and raise a family.

Low crime rates, a good public transport system, a new highway system, top hospitals, and some of the best schools around make Boston a great place to settle down.  In fact, parenting Magazine voted Boston the No. 1 city in their 2012 Best Cities for Families List.  The third annual report examined 36 sets of data and ranked 100 cities using nearly 4,000 pieces of data.  According to parenting Magazine, “Offering urban life with a focus on education, Boston is a classically great town in which to raise a family.”

If you’re a four-season type of person, you’ll like Boston’s weather.  Cold and snowy in the winter, it’s not far from major ski resorts.  Those who like the warmer, summer months will enjoy the Boston Harbor Islands, a group of 34 narrow islands spread across the harbor where visitors can explore, hike or swim.

Leave the history books at home and take the kids to Boston’s Freedom trail, a 2 ½ mile trail where history comes alive — the trail passes 16 historic sites, including Revolutionary War landmarks like the Paul Revere House and the Bunker Hill Monument.

There’s lots more for kids to do in Beantown – from watching sea lions at the New England Aquarium, spending the day at the Boston Children’s Museum or Museum of Science (with over 400 interactive exhibits, an IMAX theater, and a planetarium) to taking in a baseball game at historic Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Soxs since 1912.

Adults will enjoy Boston as much as the kids.  Fans of the television show Cheers should pay a visit to Cheers Boston, and beer-lovers will enjoy a tour of the Sam Adams Brewery, which is home to the Boston Beer Museum.

Make sure you stop at Faneuil Hall Marketplace (also known as Quincy Market), an indoor-outdoor market that will delight shoppers and diners.  And for the outdoor enthusiast, Boston has many parks and the nation’s oldest botanical garden, Boston Public Garden, famous for its Swan Boats.

Since Northern Italy had just received a heavy first snowfall, we figured that hitting the ski slopes would be the best thing to kick-start the vacation. Madonna Di Campiglio happened to be an elegant town used as a base for ski vacations by a great number of visitors. With over 9 miles of cross-country ski trails, skiing in the powdery snow among the ‘Dolomites’ was a unique experience.  The nearby Adamello-Brenta natural park has lovely hikes in the valleys area in the midst of alpine vegetation and great lakes – an excellent option for those who are not into skiing. If outdoor activities are becoming too much, stop for a grappa and relax at one of the many taverns and bars in this mountain town.

Christmas Market in Bolzano

Bolzano, about two hours drive away, is the castle basin of Europe with over four hundred in the nearby surroundings! Once we got to know about the Christmas Market in Bolzano (the biggest Christmas market in Italy), we could hardly wait to go there and experience Christmas like we had never done before. When we arrived in the heart of the city, we found a beautiful Piazza Walther that was gorgeously lit and full of goodies and attractions for both adults and children alike like carriage tours, puppet theatres, music, Christmas tree decorations, handmade crafts, tasty local foods, and much more!

After a physically exhaustive week, the final few days in Italy were spent relaxing in the Romanesque town of Verona. The enchanting tourist trails of Romeo and Juliet in the city are a must for the Shakespearan fans. But, we opted to enjoy Verona in perfect traditional Christmas style… so we immersed ourselves in the full spirit of Christmas in Verona by enjoying the many small markets.

Christmas market, Piazza Bra, Verona

The most famous and largest is the Santa Lucia Christmas market held in Piazza Bra, you can’t miss the huge illuminated shooting star that seems to be flying out of the Arena and landing in the Piazza. Impressive too is the Nativity Exhibition held in the famous Roman Arena. The exhibition hosts incredible nativity scenes from all over the world.

After an eventful vacation, we bid goodbye to beautiful Northern Italy with the hopes of returning once again in the future.