Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
“I’m Black and I grew up in the South, so I can only say that I’ve heard certain countries aren’t friendly to minorities,” said “Walker” actress Kearran Giovanni. “But honestly, I’ve felt unwelcome in places within my own country my whole life so nothing can shock me at this point. It wouldn’t stop me.”
“I may be biased but I swear every time I go to Puerto Rico, I keep finding new things to see and do,” said “The Time Traveler’s Wife” actress Natasha López. “If you are staying in the San Juan area you must visit El Yunque National Forest and Old San Juan.”
“I had a beautiful childhood in California and my parents worked very hard and provided a lot of opportunities for us,” said Mariel Molino of ABC’s “Promised Land.” ” Because of this, some of the kids in our community would sometimes ask me if my parents were drug dealers or in the Mexican Mafia. It took me some time to be proud of my heritage. I wanted so badly to be all American – whatever that meant – because it would mean we wouldn’t stick out.”
“I’ve been very fortunate to have worked both in Mexico and the United States,” said Cristina Rodlo, star of Netflix’s horror film, “No One Gets Out Alive.” “Honestly, the biggest difference is the budget. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same.”
“I am very lucky to have never faced racism in my life, though I have seen it,” said actor Jesse Posey. “Selena did face racism, but she also faced the troubles of being a big star. And piling those two on top of each other must have been a great challenge.”
“I love camping,” says “The Vanishing” actress Lily Anne Harrison. “I’m from Oregon, so I love anything that takes me outside. I grew up appreciating the outdoors. Also, I just love the adventure of an RV trip.”
“We were able to enjoy our two-week honeymoon in Thailand without any complications,” says “Never Have I Ever” actress Richa Moorjani. “I don’t know when we’ll be able to travel again and I’m just so thankful we had the ability to go and witness some of the beauty of Thailand before coming home to a different reality (with the pandemic).”
Best known as Isabelle Lightwood in “Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments,” Mexican-Lebanese actress Emeraude Toubia says she thinks her television alter ego would have been a great travel companion. “She would be so fun,” says Toubia. “I am more of a stay at home and watch a movie kind of girl. But Isabelle would definitely drag me out of bed to explore and have a fun time.”
“Paul Bowles’ ‘The Sheltering Sky’ really had an impact on me in high school,” says “Breakthrough” and “Homeland” actor Sam Trammell. “The story of an American couple traveling to north Africa and then continuing into the desert without a solid plan and the impromptu thread of the narrative (of) following your heart and gut. The descriptions of Morocco and the desert were so vibrant. It was very much of an escape for me. And it made travel and exploration feel like deeply important tasks for the soul.”
“Every album we write is influenced by the location we’re in,” says James Hunt of RÜFÜS DU SOL. “It’s kind of inherent in the process of creating music to draw upon the immediate vibe, personality and feeling of a place.”