browngirlsfly

Despite two invitations to visit friends in Europe, I came to the sad realization today that a trip across the Atlantic is not going to happen for some time.  To help me express my pouties in a constructive manner, today’s WindowSeat Wednesday will feature a few of my aerial shots over France, Germany, and the Alps.

We grew up on the East Coast, flitting about NYC, Philly, DC and all the hot spots in between. While Crys still prefers the cosmopolitan ways of New York, I (Chelle) am definitely a Cali girl at-heart.

With dramatic bluffs that drop into endless Pacific Blues, Redwoods that reach to infinity and perfectly temperate weather (can you say trifecta?), the Bay Area is my kinda place.

Here’s some eye candy from last week’s jaunt to San Francisco and visual justification for my heart’s refusal to board the Red Eye back to Chicago with me.

It’s WindowSeat Wednesday and in honor of my recent return from the Left Coast, I thought I’d share a couple of my aerial shots of interesting places along the route between Chicago and California.

My annual pilgrimage out West is long overdue and those Pacific blues are yanking vigorously on my heart strings. A few hours and wheels go up. But, am I putting the finishing touches on my Rick Steves issued carry-on bag? No, that would be too much like right. LOL! I’ve found something much more stimulating — California Dreamin’ (gotta love YouTube) and mentally planning my excursions for what little time remains between corporate meetings and business dinners.

Before snapping back to reality, I thought I’d share the 1968 footage of brown boy Jose Feliciano bringing some serious Boricua soul to the song first released 3 years earlier by the Mamas and Papas. I never really liked the original, but Feliciano’s re-interpretation is a-whole-nother story. His version really does put theirs to shame. Watch his video below.

Mrs. P from Chicago recently contacted BrownGirlsFly with a burning travel question: How can she, a self-proclaimed golden-aged traveler, venture somewhere new and exciting without the fear of leaving her comfort zone? We discussed 5 very practical ways to boost her confidence and push past the fear. Here’s the upshot of our convo.

At the end of a trip, one of my favorite things to do is read a travel memoir or novel set in the city that I just left. With the scenery fresh in your mind, the authors words spring to life and you connect deeply with the characters and their environment. Here are five memoirs revolving around soul searching, self discovery, love, and other matters of the heart.

Bad Boys, Bad Boys … Whatcha Gonna Do? Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

Everybody loves a bad boy … until, that is, he does something horrible that impacts you directly and personally. In recent weeks, quite a few bad boys and girls of travel have emerged. Here are some juicy tales about the airline industry reps, passengers, pranksters, terrorists and scammers who been doing things that make us shake our heads, giggle and blow a gasket all at the same time.

We are avid Indie film aficionados — documentaries, political satires, even the occasional Hollywood-formula films — have a way of giving voice to the voiceless and teaching us just as much about ourselves as the world around us. Here are five films which have left an indelible mark on the BGF girls.