Cultured Black Pearl follows the travel musings of a solo female traveler. Enjoy the intimate journey across land and sea, one destination at a time.
Be inspired, engaged and entertained by authentic, immersive experiences, travel tips, GPS-enabled travel guides, and more on the blog.
A big thanks to many of you who aren’t comfortable commenting publicly but send emails in private asking for advice. You motivate me to keep sharing, and I’m glad you are here!
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Safe travels!
latest from my travel blog…
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Traveling while Black: Detained in New Zealand
New Zealand started off with a bang!
A few years ago, I met a lovely guy in Santorini who insisted I add New Zealand to...
A long walk in the park: Lincoln Memorial
My heart raced. I’d been here many times, but not like this. The stroll down Pentagon Row under the pale moonlight rekindled a series...
Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport – Hotel Review
Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport exceeded expectations
My international flight into Bali landed in the middle of the night. It was hot and...
Things to do and see in Barbados
No sleep in Barbados!
The longest work week fell upon me. Working 18 hour days was for the birds. The busy season never seemed to end...
Cooking Couscous Stuffed Zucchini
Back in the kitchen with another Blue Apron recipe. This time I'm making Couscous Stuffed Zucchini with Goat Cheese and Summer Squash Salad. The...
Where to stay in Athens, Greece: Crowne Plaza
Looking for a budget-friendly hotel while in Athens? Then check out the Crowne Plaza in Athens City Center. It’s the perfect choice for affordability,...
Simple Hiking Tips for Every Season
There are several good hiking tips in the blogosphere. In this post, I focus on seasonal hiking tips:
Seasonal Hiking Tips for Summer
Hike before...
The Carlyle Penthouse • South Beach Miami Hotel Review
The Carlyle Hotel in South Beach Miami is in an amazing location.
Located in the center of South Beach on Ocean Drive right across from...
Uganda Travel: Sipi Falls Things to Do
Making fresh coffee in Sipi Falls, Uganda
Time to get away from the city and explore the mountainside. So, I headed to Eastern Uganda for...
How you can legally travel to Cuba + Trump’s Cuba Policy...
With travel rules to Cuba constantly changing, many confused American travelers are unaware of how to legally travel to Cuba. In this post, I explain...
Barong and Keris Dance: Balinese Cultural Dance
Check out the Barong and Keris Dance while in Batubulan village. The Barong represents a good spirit and is a mythological animal. The dance...
Videos from my solo trip to Bali
I’m back from wonderful Indonesia. It was an amazing journey. Here are a few videos of Bali, Indonesia from my solo female trip. Enjoy...
Where to stay in Cartagena, Colombia
I might be a bit of a snob. But in the best way, I promise!
At some point, I got a taste of the suite...
Basque Style Cod and Freekeh
Basque Style Cod with sweet pepper, tomato sauce and Freekeh is my latest Blue Apron creation
basque style cod
Blue Apron continues to expose me to...
Sunsets & Strolls: Santorini, Greece
Sunsets, strolling, and cheese! My fondest memories of Santorini.
Roaming free through the towns of Santorini resulted in one of the most rejuvenating experiences of...
Mystique: Luxury Collection Hotel
The luxurious Mystique hotel was a warm welcome after sailing hours across the sea from Mykonos. Possibly more attractive than the view is the luxurious affiliation...
The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana Hotel Review
The week before Christmas I had the bright idea to get away to Punta Cana. I'd never had a desire to visit the Dominican...
Seared Cod & Summer Succotash
Seared Cod & Summer Succotash is simply irresistible. This Blue Apron recipe doesn’t call for much seasoning yet packs a punch full of flavor....
Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort
Even before arrival, Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort staff were working to ensure my arrival was perfect, memorable, and unique. To start, they worked...
Blissful nights at Hotel Spiwak: Cali, Colombia
Recently, I had a chance to stay at Hotel Spiwak while in Cali on my Colombian vacation. I loved the hotel! It was centrally...
Solo Female Travel in Kyoto (and Osaka + Tokyo)
Outside of cherry blossom viewing, my solo travel to Kyoto included a flexible itinerary.
Yearning to...
By Night in Havana with Meiby • Arts Immersion Experience
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VbNsyMDFw8]
The decision to spend Christmas in Cuba came as a shock to many friends...
Conrad Bali (a Hilton Hotel review)
Mixed reviews for Conrad Bali made me question staying at this Hilton property during my vacation...
W Bali Seminyak: Hotel Review
W Bali Seminyak Villa was beyond marvelous!
Arriving to such an astonishing and tranquil scene after a...
Bali: spiritual travel journey
The journey was long but the arrival was plenty. After a twenty-eight hour flight from...
I’m packing my bags for the following destinations, up next: Home in NYC
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