My first time to Dubai did not disappoint! My husband and I booked in at Atlantis, The Palm. It was magnificent. I wasn't sure what I would think of all the opulence associated with Dubai, but our room was classy and our stay was just right. The accommodations were so stellar! I was 5 months+ pregnant during the trip, so I really enjoyed the 5 star amenities! Atlantis, The Palm is unlike any other resort I've visited. Why? There are so many reasons. What separated it for me initially is the whole place is ocean-themed. There is a HUGE aquarium full of all manner of exotic creatures smack dab in the middle of the hotel! It's called the Lost Chambers and takes you through underwater passageways giving you a peek at the history of ancient Atlantis. It was fun watching the kids mash their faces against the glass to try to kiss big fish, sting rays, sharks, etc. And I have to admit, I was doing the same thing as I always trying to 'Find Nemo!' ;-)

Atlantis offers an array of marine, entertainment, and dining attractions. You have probably seen pictures in magazines of the magnificent waterslides at the world renown Aquaventure Waterpark. The slides and wave pool are invigorating and the lazy river is relaxing. I enjoyed just lounging by the main pools too. You will definitely want to take a dip in the water. Dubai can be very hot!

There are a couple dozen dining destinations housed within the resort. You will definitely not go around hungry!! In fact, pack some pants with elastic waistbands because the buffets are off the charts if that's yo thangggg! Famous restaurants like Nobu and Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen will tempt your senses! My favorite dishes at BSK include the chargrilled octopus and cauliflower and parmesan salad. My husband really enjoyed his steak too. The vibe is bustling but not too crazy. It's a good spot for a date or even to bring the kids. You can also pick up one of his cookbooks on your way out the door!

During my two week Northern Italy adventure, I spent several nights in Lake Como. This was easily one of my favorite places. I had the gist of Como... but wasn't aware I would fall in love with it so much!  Lake Como is known for classy, tasteful, European opulence, and majestic mountains along the Swiss Alps that plunge straight into the water. I was hoping I might spot some James Bond set locations, and if I was extra lucky, thought I might see the handsome, George Clooney gallivanting around. Well... my husband and I DID spot a villa from Casino Royale... and we did eat dinner at a couple restaurants George and Amal Clooney are known to hang out... but unfortunately no Ocean's Eleven sighting! If you're interested in the ins and outs from an American travel writer's perspective, click on this link.

After wandering around Como for a day or two... shopping, eating pasta and gelato, and seeing the sites like the Gothic Como Cathedral, my husband and I took a ferry to Bellagio, which is sometimes called Europe's prettiest town. We had lunch at an elegant outdoor eatery, Bilacus Ristorante, and explored the famous gardens of the Villa Melzi. Bellagio was incredible- but I must say the ferry ride out there was equally as tantalizing! We opted to take the slow ferry out, and the fast ferry back. This was a great way to see all the sites... including Casino Royale's, Villa del Balbianello! 

I would postitively recommend eating dinner, or at least having a cocktail, coffee, or tea at Villa d'Este. Sitting there having my tea (it would have been a dirty martini if I wasn't pregnant) I felt like a princess, merely by being there! Click on this link to see what I mean... and I need not say more! You also ought to consider dining at Il Gato Nero. This is another spot the Clooney's are known to frequent. I had the most delicious onion soup to start, followed by scallops with pine nut cream. The server brings your own personal bread basket with about a half dozen choices (fresh baked bread is my weakness... more than chocolate cake for sure!). Both culinary destinations are in Cernobbio. 

Konnichiwa! Hello! Good afternoon from Tokyo! There are so many great ways to soak up the size and scope of Tokyo's cityscape that's home to more than 13 million people! We chose to have a sky high elegant lunch in one of Tokyo's tallest buildings and then did an afternoon cruise on Tokyo Bay. If you're looking for the newest, highest point, Tokyo SkyTree is your destination. You can get some of Japan's most famous sushi while you're there too! Unfortunately I am off the sushi at the moment (4.5 more months) since I'm preggers.... But we did eat some amazing Japanese signature teppanyaki cuisine, crazy cool street food, and Japanese sweet treats.

You must go to Shibuya Crossing while you are in Tokyo. It is said to be the busiest intersection in the world! Make sure to take the train here! Ya gotta ride the subways like a local! I was so impressed by the subway system there. Incredibly organized, orderly, clean, etc. And the Japanese people are absolutely lovely if you need some help getting around!

I imagine you may want to get a little retail therapy in while you're in Tokyo. Harajuku and Aoyama are the main shopping districts in Tokyo. Harajuku skews younger and Aoyama skews high end. If shopping isn’t your thing, or you broke the bank just buying a plane ticket to Tokyo, you don’t have to spend too much... there is so much to see in these neighborhoods. Fabulous cafes to sip your tea and watch the people go by. My favorite shopping neighborhood was Daikanyama. It is a bit more hipster and reminds me of my old neighborhood in New York City, the West Village. It is actually often called the 'Brooklyn on Japan's capital.'  I would 100% recommend spending some time there. There are lots of cute coffee shops and cafes. We found a quirky place for dinner where if you wanted you could sit on beds that were lining the walls!  If you're in search of the quirkiest, most outlandish fashion finds... just go bopping around was in Takeshita-dori. This is where the teenagers make their fashion marks with bright colors and zany styles. If you want to get as authentic as possible, make sure to check out the posh boutiques and second hand shops along the side streets.

Because the art of sumo wrestling is such a foreign concept to me, I knew I had to squeeze in a session to at least watch these gigantic athletes slap and pound each other. Unfortunately our trip did not coincide with one of the handful of tournaments they have every year. If this is a priority for you... make sure to go to this website to plan your trip around tournament dates! Visiting a sumo stable for practice is thrilling too. I made my way to Ryogoku to observe a sumo wrestling practice. It was so cool! Lots of slapping themselves and taunting one another. The training equipment they use seems archaic.... massive water jugs, hammer weights, etc. I got to meet a few of the stars and snap some pics. I will say it was incredibly HOT in there. Pack lots of water and make sure you whisper once you take your seat. These practices are taken VERY seriously and you don't want to be rude. Also be sure to take off your shoes when you walk in the building.

The biggest seafood market in the world… Tsukiiji Market. Locals and tourists alike flock to the fish on a daily basis. Massive is an understatement. The equivalent of aound US$15 million of seafood is traded daily. Early in the morning it looks almost like a symphony of bustling merchants, trucks, forklifts, handcarts, ice, and seafood of all kinds. The jazz gets going before the rooster crows in the morning… so a lot of out of town-ers make a special trip to come watch the tuna being tossed and auctioned off as the sun rises… and then have sushi and freshly shucked oysters for breakfast! If raw ain’t yo thang…and neither is dried fish or seaweed… you can opt for savory Japanese rolled omelettes, called tamagoyaki. Some even come on sticks! I ate a lot of those while I was in Tokyo! I also tried charred baby octopus on a skewer. I usually LOVE octopus... but I have to admit... it was GROSS! The outer markets around the main Tsujiki Market are really cute too. I bought a couple pottery pieces, a bowl for my mom and a little holding tray for my husband. Tsukiji Market may be a must see stop for travelers to Tokyo, but it’s a legit working space. So watch out for all the workers and their heavy equipment! Or you’ll be tuna on toast!