Food and Travel Inspiration: from Washington, DC and beyond, follow me as I eat and travel around the globe.
Jessica van Dop DeJesus grew up with the best of both worlds: the tropics of Puerto Rico and the nature of upstate New York. She has spent most of her adult life abroad, first as a United States Marine Officer, then as a graduate student, and subsequently as a civil servant. Whether is business or leisure, she loves to travel and discover new cultures. Work has taken her as far as Okinawa, Japan a
A quick Nederlandse Vrijdag post! I passed my class 💪🏽 I left the classroom feeling so proud of myself that I cried. Learning Dutch hasn't been easy for me, so I’m super proud of myself. This is just the start; now I have to start the intermediate-level courses in the fall. Also, shoutout to my teacher, Ellen at , she’s amazing. It’s great to have a teacher who you can tell loves her craft. Bedankt 🙏🏽
01/06/2026
When I think of my friend Charles McCool , I think of the word he coined, “funness.” If there were a word that could describe Charles, it would be fun. How he would show up at travel media events in his bright Hawaiian shirts and laid-back style. He had a casual way of working the room and making friends with everyone; he captivated us with his fun stories about his travels and his crazy luck at winning random prizes. Not only did he win two cars, but he also won a few giveaways at our DC Travel Blogger Meetups, where we got to know him not only as a great travel writer but as a friend. Our hearts dropped when we heard that Charles had suddenly passed away earlier last month at the age of 61. Another heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life can be. We had dinner with Charles and Julie last year in Brussels, and he looked so full of life with many plans ahead. Sending his wife Julie and his children my love and thinking about all the times of funness we had together throughout the years 🙏🏽
So proud of la mini who finished her advanced swimming course! I was so impressed that she confidently jumped into the pool and “dragged me to shore”. I was a grown woman when I learned to do this! Also, I’m so thankful that we have the resources and time for her to spend the past four years honing her swimming skills. Qué orgullo 🥹
For my friends in Brussels with Dutch-speaking kiddos, check out Swimmove at the VUB. They have an excellent children’s swimming program.
Where to have lunch in Pozzallo, Sicily. My friend recommended we head to Pozzallo in the southeast coast of Sicily to have lunch at a family owned seaside restaurant. You must order the crudo platter of fresh Sicilian seafood to include tuna and the gambero rosso. Can’t wait to go back!
21/05/2026
Planning a trip to Malta? Discover how to get there from Sicily by ferry, the best boutique hotels in Valletta, top historical sites, and where to eat.
✍🏽 by eat.well_travel.more
Malta Travel Guide: The Perfect Itinerary for Couples Malta Travel Guide. Discover how to get there from Sicily by ferry, the best boutique hotels in Valletta, and where to eat.
16/05/2026
Sicily has a special place in our hearts. Our first trip here was ten years ago, when I was pregnant with la mini and on vacation. Two years ago, we celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary in Noto with our dearest friends, and part of the story was a tasting at 🍷
This past week, we were back in Noto at Feudo Maccari to learn more about the wine process, and it felt like a second home. I’m hoping the Moretti family will adopt a 47-year-old 😂 Grazie & Alberto & Orietta, and the whole team for all the hospitality ❤️
