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.
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Safe travels!
latest from my travel blog…
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Roasted Eggplant Pitas and Farro Salad
Roasted Eggplant Pitas with Tomato, Cucumber & Farro Salad, my latest Blue Apron creation
something new
Blue Apron exposed me to delicious vegetarian meals and spices...
Things to do in Cali Colombia
Going back to Cali, Cali, Cali!
Had a blast in Colombia for a trip that wasn't planned. Cali reminded me of San Diego. It was safe and...
CDC promotes healthy travel at the New York Times Travel Show
CDC promotes healthy travel at the New York Times Travel Show. Stefanie Erskine, M.P.H. shares 5 healthy travel tips in the short video above.
Staying healthy...
San Felipe de Barajas Castle
Some part of me blames Disney for creating a false perception of what a castle truly looks like. The illusion in my head resembled...
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....
Periods, Snorkels and Sharks in Diamond Head Crater
My longest flight at the time (nearly 15 years ago) was to Hawaii. My mother and I embarked on a getaway to the Big...
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...
Why I’m not going back to Punta Cana
A few days in and I knew for sure I was enjoying Punta Cana. Then, the shit hit the fan in the most literal...
Traveling while Black in Jerusalem
After a 10-hour flight (the longest so far for my husband Will) our journey to Jerusalem started upon arrival in Tel Aviv. Out of...
Rosario Islands: Worth the hype?
Having been on many beaches across the world, most of which have been private, I’ve turned into a beach snob (but in the best...
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...
Things to do in Cartagena
Located off the Caribbean coast of Colombia is the lovely town of Cartagena. Its old charm hasn’t flooded with tourists yet, so, I highly...
Ports of Call Resort Turks and Caicos
Ports of Call Resort, located in the heart of Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos, was a great stay for my recent trip to...
Touring Eiffel Tower
From New York to Paris!
It didn’t matter that we’d flown all night, lacked sleep, and couldn’t check into our rooms. The W was not...
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...
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...
GPS Guided Travel Article: Turks and Caicos (Free Promotion)
gps guided travel article apps
Have you ever read a travel article and wished you could take it with you as a guide or itinerary...
How to make the most of a 4-day layover in Paris
The Parisian experience is one to be had. It's overwhelming to take in with only four days to spare, but doable! When my eyes...
Fun Things to Do in Bali for Solo Travelers
There's plenty of sightseeing in Indonesia. Here's my short list of 5 fun things to do in Bali as a solo female traveler.
Padang Padang Beach
On a...
I’m going to Punta Cana
I'm going to Punta Cana and can't wait!
My travel plans for November were all over the map thanks to storms throughout most of the...
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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