Get to know… This is My Happiness

So, Jenna from This is My Happiness, what do you blog about? Travel with a focus on culture, art, and authentic travel experiences.

Favorite late night snack? Dark chocolate and red wine: yum and yum!

Best food discovery? Vegetarian restaurants in São Paulo, Brazil. There are many and they are very good. My favorite is a cute one called Alcaparra. After weeks of eating Brazilian food with my in-laws, the buffet of unusual vegetarian dishes is always so welcome! If you travel to Brazil, don’t be fooled into thinking that Brazilian food is boring because there are many other options.

One thing you can’t leave the house without? My i-Phone 4s. I just got it in November, but I am totally addicted to it.

Sipping a little coconut water

Plane, train, car or boat? Train! For me, traveling by train is rooted in my early travels through Europe and the 1.5 years I lived in the Czech Republic, where I took the train all the time.

Carry on or checked bag? Depends, but usually checked. I don’t want to bother anyone on the airplane with my bag, and I don’t like it when people bring too much on the airplane.

What kind of luggage do you prefer? Small pack/suitcase with wheels. I have to carry my kids so I can’t carry a big backpack, too.

Do you ever get tired of packing? Yes and no. Packing for kids? Yes. There is too much to remember. Packing for myself? No because I love to make outfits.

Favorite place you have traveled to? Florence, Italy, but there are many close seconds—England, Indonesia, the coast of California, Prague.

Dreaming of going to next? Portugal. I have never been but really, really want to go.

One thing you search out on your travels? My first priority is finding less-known places. I also look for ways to experience the culture and learn about history.

Best travel advice? “Sometimes you have to get away without your kids.” After having my second child, I realized the truth in that statement.

Worst travel advice? “You’re a parent now. Take your kid to Disneyland.” Nothing against Disney, but…

Favorite jet lag trick? Tylenol PM. I take a half dose on the plane to help me sleep and then take it at the destination if I have trouble adjusting to the time change.

Biggest travel pet peeve? I don’t have many because I try not to let myself get annoyed by people, but I really don’t like talking on airplanes. I don’t like chatting with the stranger next to me, and I can’t stand people having loud conversations when everyone else is trying to sleep!

Most embarrassing incident while traveling? I honestly haven’t had many! One I always remember is showing up at a hotel in Rome to find out that it was about 10 times more expensive than we had understood over the phone. Luckily the owner gave us a big discount, so we stayed.

Uluwatu

Most beautiful sunset/sunrise? The sunsets from the coastline of Bali are incredibly beautiful.

Most amazing accidental discovery? The cafés in the Netherlands because it was so cold when we were there that we kept having to go indoors. We loved the vibe of every one of them, and the beer, coffee, and sweets were always fantastic. Spending time in them every day gave us a better understanding of local life in Amsterdam and Haarlem.

And finally…sweet or savory? Sweet all the way, baby.

Jenna runs This Is My Happiness, a blog about culture, art, and travel, and writes for the new website Travel Mindset, launching in early 2013.  She enjoys writing about what makes places unique in an effort to provide a deeper look at travel destinations, especially California, Brazil, and Italy.  You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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walking on travels: keep traveling, keep moving forward;
take your kids walking on life’s path to adventure

Get to know… This is My Happiness written by Keryn Means

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