Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 16

{{unknown}}The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

{{unknown}}

The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

On Being Jewish NOW

On Being Jewish Now: Essays and Reflections from Authors and Advocates

An intimate and hopeful collection of meaningful, smart, funny, sad, emotional, and inspiring essays from today���s authors and advocates about what it means to be Jewish, how life has changed since the attacks on October 7th, 2023, and the unique culture that brings this group together.

On October 7th, 2023, Jews in Israel were attacked in the largest pogrom since the Holocaust. It was a day felt by Jews everywhere who came together to process and speak out in ways some never had before. In this collection, 75 contributors speak to Jewish joy, celebration, laughter, food, trauma, loss, love, and family, and the common threads that course through the Jewish people: resilience and humor. Contributors include Mark Feuerstein, Jill Zarin, Steve Leder, Joanna Rakoff, Amy Ephron, Lisa Barr, Annabelle Gurwitch, Daphne Merkin, Bradley Tusk, Sharon Brous, Jenny Mollen, Nicola Kraus, Caroline Leavitt, and many others. On Being Jewish Now is edited by Zibby Owens, bestselling author, podcaster, bookstore owner, and CEO of Zibby Media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Artists Against Antisemitism (@theartistsagainstantisemitism)

A Mother���s Fight by Shirin Yadegar

Fleeing Iran with my family was a decision born out of desperation, a leap into the unknown, grasping for safety amidst the rising tide of antisemitism. As a Jewish Iranian woman, my mother sought sanctuary for my brother and me in the United States. Becoming  a mother of four daughters, I always thought my girls would grow up free from the shadows of hatred that had darkened my homeland. Yet, the events since October 7 have stirred the embers of old fears, igniting a flame of sorrow and anxiety that wakes me at night. 

My eldest daughter, Eden Yadegar, a junior at Columbia University, stood before Congress with a resolve that left me breathless. Her voice, strong and unwavering, testified to the surge of Jewish hate on college campuses. Watching her, my heart swelled with pride and trembled with fear. Pride in her bravery, her ability to stand tall against a wave of darkness. Fear for the dangers she faces in her unyielding quest for justice. Should we bring her home for her safety? Hire security to shadow her? Transfer her to another school? Her voice was and continues to be a beacon, illuminating the terrifying reality that Jewish students face daily���a reality that my other daughters know all too well.

Bella, my freshman at USC, had her mezuzah torn off her dorm door. She was jolted from sleep by the haunting chants of ���Intifada revolution��� outside her window. These acts of hatred are not mere vandalism; they are wounds inflicted upon her soul, attempts to erase her identity and silence her spirit. Each incident echoes with the same venomous intent that drove us from Iran, reminding us that no place is immune to the scourge of antisemitism.

My middle schooler, Lily, came home one day with tears in her eyes, the image of swastikas graffitied on her school walls etched into her mind. For a child her age, these images are a brutal assault on her innocence. Seeing her struggle to understand why such malice exists in the world breaks my heart and stirs a deep-seated rage within me. It is a stark reminder that the hatred we fled from can rear its ugly head anywhere, even in the supposed safety of American schools and culture.

Camille, my 11-year-old, saw and heard the atrocities of October 7th: babies burned alive, women raped and killed in front of their families. These horrors are too monstrous for any child to comprehend. She wrestles with nightmares about a world that seems both cruel and incomprehensible, while I grapple with shielding her from this harsh reality without hiding the truth. Her questions pierce my heart, each one a reminder of the innocence shattered by a world filled with hatred.

As a mother, my instinct is to shield my daughters, to envelop them in a cocoon of safety and love. Yet, as a journalist, I am driven to speak out, to shine a light on the darkness and give voice to those who are silenced. This balance has never been more precarious. The pain of seeing my children face the same hatred my family once fled is indescribable, but it fuels my resolve. I must be their pillar of strength, showing them that fear may grip us, but it cannot silence us.

Night after night, I wake in sweats, my mind plagued by the uncertainty of what tomorrow might bring. The fear and uncertainty for Jews in America gnaws at my peace, leaving me restless. In these dark hours, I find strength in my daughters’ resilience and in my own voice. I stand on my platforms, not just as a mother, but as a warrior of words, amplifying the cries of our community, sharing the struggles of my daughters, and calling for justice and understanding. This is my daughters��� generation���s fight and I will be here to support and encourage their voices. We will not be silenced. 

My journey is one of pain and fear, but also of courage and hope. As a mother, I strive to protect my children from the world’s hatred while empowering them to stand tall and proud of their Jewish identity. Our story is a testament to the enduring spirit of those who, despite facing relentless adversity, continue to fight for their right to exist and thrive in peace. We are the voices that will not be silenced, the lights that refuse to dim.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eitan Chitayat (@eitanchitayat_words)

Shirin Yadegar is a mother, journalist, publisher and TV host. Her magazine, L.A. Mom Magazine and talk show ���Moms Matter��� have turned into a war room since October 7th in order to amplify the truth. Before becoming a mother, Shirin received her M.A. from USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism and worked as a researcher and writer at the Los Angeles Times and Managing Editor of the Beverly Hills Weekly. Shirin currently serves on the board of WIZO, Shero���s Rise and Visionary Women. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zibby Owens (@zibbyowens)

Contributors

Abby Stern
Ali Rosen
Alison Hammer
Alison Rose Greenberg
Alix Strauss
Aliza Licht
Alli Frank
Alyssa Rosenheck
Amy Blumenfeld
Amy Ephron
Amy Klein
Anna Ephron Harari
Annabelle Gurwitch
Barri Leiner Grant
Bess Kalb
Beth Ricanati
Bradley Tusk

Brenda Janowitz
Cara Mentzel
Caroline Leavitt
Corie Adjmi
Courtney Sheinmel
Danny Grossman
Daphne Merkin
Dara Kurtz
Dara Levan
David K. Israel
David Christopher Kaufman
Debbie Reed Fischer
Diana Fersko
Eleanor Reissa
Elizabeth Cohen Hausman
Elizabeth L. Silver
Elyssa Friedland
Emily Tisch Sussman
Harper Kincaid
Heidi Shertok
Ilana Kurshan
Jacqueline Friedland

Jamie Brenner
Jane L. Rosen
Jeanne Blasberg
Jennifer S. Brown
Jenny Mollen
Jeremy Garelick
Jill Zarin
Joanna Rakoff
Jonathan Santlofer
Judy Batalion
Julia Devillers
Keren Blankfeld
Lihi Lapid
Lisa Barr
Lisa Kogan
Lynda Loigman
Mark Feuerstein
Nicola Kraus
Noa Yedlin
Rebecca Keren Jablonski
Rachel Barenbaum
Rachel Levy Lesser

Rachelle Unreich
Rebecca Minkoff
Rebecca Raphael
Renee Rosen
Rochelle B. Weinstein
Samantha Ettus
Samantha Greene Woodruff
Sharon Brous
Shirin Yadegar
Stacy Igel
Steve Leder
Talia Carner
Toby Rose
Zibby Owens

ABOUT ARTISTS AGAINST ANTISEMITISM

Artists Against Antisemitism is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by a group of leaders who
believe in spreading light to offset hate. The Founding Author team is made up of contemporary
Jewish women writers from the U.S. but their extended community is for everyone: artists,
creators, and supporters of all types both Jewish and non-Jewish.

Their mission is to raise awareness of antisemitism, promote education about Jewish history and
culture, and work to help build a kinder, brighter, more understanding future.

Anyone who wants to stop the rise in hate crimes, prevent more antisemitic attacks, and help the
Jewish people through this wave of hatred are welcome.

On Being Jewish Now: Essays and Reflections from Authors and Advocates

The post On Being Jewish NOW appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

BRAVE-ish Nearly ONE! Niver’s August News 2024

August News 2024 with Lisa Niver & We Said Go Travel:Thank you for all of your support! I am now writing for both Booking.com and Reader’s Digest. My first Reader’s Digest article had over one million views in four days. I went on a magical adventure to walk with Polar Bears and watch 1000s of Beluga Whales with Churchill Wild. I have a brand new class, TRAVEL WRITER 101 so you can start to travel like me. See below for links for all of that as well as my new podcast episodes and videos. I appreciate that so many people have showed up for my events, watched my videos, been excited for my awards and of course read and reviewed BRAVE-ish! NOW IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE! Ready to transform your mindset and embrace a Brave-ish life? “Join us for an unforgettable evening with the inspiring and motivating award-winning author Lisa Niver, hosted by Adira Hadassah. We���re celebrating the 1st birthday of her empowering memoir, Brave-ish, on Thursday, September 19, 2024! Don���t miss this opportunity to meet Lisa, hear her incredible journey, and get your very own signed copy of Brave-ish. It���s more than just a book���it���s a guide to courage, growth, and living life to the fullest.Mark your calendar, bring a friend, and come celebrate with us. Let���s make this night one to remember! My new class: Travel Writer 101 on Udemy. Read my interview about my journey back to teaching. I now write for Booking.com. Read my article: How Early Should I Arrive at the Airport? Navigating airport arrival times for seamless domestic and international travel. Booking.com: Wheelchair Assistance at Airports: How Does It Work, and How Do You Arrange It? I now write for Reader’s Digest. If You Fly Through This Airport, Be Prepared to Walk 2+ Miles to Your Gate Reader’s Digest: What Are the White Trails Behind Planes? I loved being at the GRAND OPENING of the Barnes & Noble in Santa Monica. Buy a copy of Brave-ish there or any bookstore near you! For Women’s Equality Day 2024, I shared my Ms. Magazine article about BRAVE-ish! Thank you to THE FEMALE QUOTIENT for bringing BRAVE-ish to AdWeek NYC on your book-SHE-lf! Thank you to all of the TV shows, podcasts and people who have interviewed me. Did you know I have over 75 links on my press page about my BOOK!! Check them all out HERE!

Do you LOVE my book BRAVE-ish? PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW!! Click here to go directly to rate or review BRAVE-ish on Amazon–but you can do anywhere you bought your book! THANK YOU!!

You can find my book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Simon & Schuster, Post Hill Press, Target, Walmart, BookShop, BAM! and wherever you get your audiobooks! People always ask me where is it best to buy my book. I recommend you go into or call your favorite local book store and ask them to order it for you and pick it up IN THE STORE! You never know what other treasures you will find. Any bookstore can order my book because my publisher is Post Hill Press and it is distributed by Simon and Schuster. My friend in New Zealand just ordered my book to her local store! Brave-ish is available all over the globe!

Learn more about my events: click here and my articles here Recent PODCAST episode: Navigating the Freelance Writing World THANK YOU for watching my podcast! It has now been seen and heard in 49 countries on 6 continents!

WATCH my podcast, “MAKE YOUR OWN MAP: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE?” on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Podcast,  Google Podcasts, Audacy, Audible, Anchor, Pandora & iHeart Radio

THANK YOU to Goodpods for recommending my podcast!! WOW! I absolutely LOVED walking with Polar Bears with Churchill Wild. See my videos here and more photos coming soonest! WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to��my video channel on��YouTube where I have over TWO MILLION views on YouTube! (now at: 2,193,000).

Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 4,370 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe! For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media: CLICK HERE

Find me on social media with over 150,000 followers. Please follow  on TikTok: @LisaNiver, Twitter at @LisaNiver, Instagram @LisaNiver and on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com.

My Podcast: “Make Your Own Map!”

Inspired by Fortune Cookies:

Embrace your inner courage���small steps toward bravery lead to extraordinary journeys.

For nearly a year, I have been hoping and praying for the hostages from Oct 7 to come home. Both the DNC and RNC have had speakers focused on the tragedy that happened in Israel and is ongoing. #BRINGTHEMHOME Read this article from my Rabbi 321 Nights of Suffering.

Do you love audiobooks? My memoir, Brave-ish, is available on all audio platforms! Did you know that authors have to audition to narrate their books?

The post BRAVE-ish Nearly ONE! Niver’s August News 2024 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

The Importance of Feminist Mentors and Representation & BRAVE-ish

Today is Women’s Equality Day. The History of Women���s Equality Day

At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 and passed in 1973,  the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as ���Women���s Equality Day.��� The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world���s first women���s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women���s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women���s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women���s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.

Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971 Designating August 26 of each year as Women���s Equality Day

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States;

and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex;

and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights;

and WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women���s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women���s rights took place. 

Thank you Ms. Magazine for publishing my article, “���Brave-ish��� Shows the Importance of Feminist Mentors and Representation“

As a high school student in Los Angeles, I took a women���s studies elective with Joannie Parker. She was a teacher at Westlake School for Girls, and wrote a grant to start this program���the first of its kind in a California high school. She held major leadership positions at the California Abortion Rights Action League, the National Women���s Political Caucus and the National Organization for Women.

She also played a prominent role as the writer and facilitator of California���s state-level Title IX, and as a board member in the Council of Women in Independent Schools. She brought incredible speakers to our Women���s History Week���including Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Maya Angelou. She read to us from Ms. magazine and made us believe that we could be the president���of a company, or even a country.

Some years later, Ms. Parker and I went to lunch, where I told her I had written my first article for Ms. magazine. She was so proud. 

I also called her in 2016 when I was invited to the United Nations for a project called Champions of Humanity. She always believed in each of us as her students and the future. Parker not only believed that I could be a writer, but that I was always a writer; I just needed to believe it myself.

In September 2019, it was my honor to attend the United Nations General Assembly 74 as media on behalf of Ms. As I sat in the meeting for ���Gender Equality: From the Biarritz Partnership to the Beijing+25 Generation Equality Forum��� with U.N. Women, I kept thinking about the impact that Joannie Parker had on my life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@lisaniver)

This year, she would have turned 90. Her teaching inspires me every day to do more and to do better. I wish I could call her to tell her that my memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, will be published on Sept. 19, 2023.

Please enjoy this except from Brave-ish about my first visit to the United Nations.

The next time I was in New York, I stopped by the office of the Ogilvy PR team to thank them for sending me to Dublin. While I was there, I met the account director for the United Nations project called Champions for Humanity. They were looking for influencers to help them raise awareness for the first ever World Humanitarian Summit, which was designed to address how humanitarian assistance is given to refugees around the globe. They invited 20 of us to the U.N. to learn more about their project, and they wanted us to use our social media feeds to raise awareness and promote humanitarian action.

That was how, a few weeks later, I walked into the lobby of the New York Headquarters of the United Nations, and heard an overhead announcement say, ���The Security Council is now in session.��� 

After years of participating in Model United Nations in high school, I could not believe that I was at the actual U.N. I felt a bit like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, as though I had simply clicked my heels and magically wound up somewhere that I had always wanted to be. 

I entered a conference room that had been set aside for our group and was delighted to see my name in lights on a little screen in front of my microphone, just like the ones used by the diplomats. I felt honored to be included and recognized as an expert.

When you go to medical school, you get a diploma and a license, and you do a residency, and there are all sorts of steps to be credentialed as an expert along the way. But for a travel blogger, how do you know you���re doing well? How do people differentiate you from someone else? At the United Nations, countries come together to solve the problems of the world. It seemed like confirmation that I had reached a new level of visibility and expertise.

Excerpt from Post Hill Press

It was my honor to be part of the Ms. Magazine book event at Vroman’s Bookstore Ms. Magazine at the Skirball Cultural CenterMs. Magazine honored at Take The Lead Conference Ms. Magazine at the Global Women’s Rights Gala

The post The Importance of Feminist Mentors and Representation & BRAVE-ish appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

321 Nights of Suffering: Bring Them Home

Shabbat Shalom. Please read these words from my Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Stephen Wise Temple:

If you saw it you would understand. The heartbreak. The utter heartbreak.

Right before she begins her speech at the DNC with her husband, Jon, at her side, she hears tens of thousands of people chanting ���Bring Them Home.��� Rachel Goldberg puts her hand on her forehead and then collapses on the lectern, her body convulsing as she begins to cry. Jon gently helps her stand and says to her gently, ���You���ve got this.��� And then, ���let���s go.���

She starts to speak: ���At this moment, 109 treasured human beings are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. They are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. They are from 23 different countries. The youngest hostage is a one year old, red-headed baby boy. And the oldest is an 86 year old mustachioed grandpa. Among the hostages are eight American citizens. One of those Americans is our only son. His name is Hersh. He���s twenty-three years old.���

She tells us that��Hersh��is a happy-go-lucky young man who loves soccer and music and is obsessed with travel; his room at home filled with atlases and travel books.

If this impassioned��plea��by Jon and Rachel on behalf of their child, and the rest of the hostages, doesn���t open your heart, I can���t imagine what would.��

Bringing our hostages home is an issue that, no matter our politics, every American should be fighting for, along with every person of conscience in the world.

Jon referenced this directly when he said, ���We are heartened that both democratic and republican leaders demonstrate their bipartisan support for our hostages being released.���

At last month���s RNC gathering, Orna and Ronen Neutra, the parents of��Omer, age 22, another Israeli-American being held hostage in Gaza, spoke. There as well we heard the convention participants chanting in one voice, ���Bring Them Home.���

Empathy should be bipartisan and, yes, empathy should extend to the innocents in Gaza who suffer mostly because of the intentional cruelty of the Hamas regime. 

Jon and Rachel powerfully demonstrated  their own empathy by acknowledging that the agony they feel is not unique. It is shared, of course, by the families of the other hostages. This agony is also experienced by millions of others in the region, Israeli and Palestinian alike, who are affected by the awful war initiated by the terror attacks of October 7. The tens of thousands of Israelis who have had to evacuate their homes. Gazan families who desperately seek safety in the middle of a war zone. Survivors of the Nova music festival who struggle with the horrific trauma they witnessed. Soldiers who are asked to do hard things so that terrorists might be brought to justice, hostages might be rescued, and whole communities might be kept safe.

So much agony on every side. As Jon put it: ���There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East. In a competition of pain, there are no winners. In an inflamed Middle East, we know the one thing that can most immediately release pressure and bring calm to the entire region: a deal that brings this diverse group of 109 hostages home and ends the suffering of the innocent civilians in Gaza.���

We need to bring Hersh and Omer home, now, along with��Kfir��and��Ariel,��Carmel��and��Liri����� every last one of them. This includes the dead so that we may bury them properly.

An exhibit to raise awareness for the hostages being held in Gaza on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 20, 2024. (Jacob Magid/Times of Israel)

It���s been far, far too long. 

The masking tape on Jon and Rachel���s shirts made this clear; noting exactly how many days have passed since the hostages were taken: 320.

Almost a year since these sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, and grandparents were stolen from their lives and their families. Almost a year of unimaginable agony.

Our broken hearts must remain open. We must hold on to our capacity for empathy. 

This week���s Torah portion, Eikev, points the way:

���Cut away the thickening about your hearts and stiffen your necks no more. For the ETERNAL your God is God supreme and Sovereign supreme, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who shows no favor and takes no bribe, but upholds the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, providing food and clothing. You too must love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.��� (Deuteronomy 10:16-19)

Our Torah calls us to stop being hard-hearted, stubborn, and stiff-necked; to see the pain of the orphan and the widow, the agony of the stranger, of the other. 

These verses remind us that empathy is divine; a Godly attribute which, as God���s creations, we can actually hope to attain.

We can do this. We are capable of seeing the agony of the other. We can cut away the ���thickening of our hearts��� and love even the stranger. 

And then, regardless of race or religion, political affiliation or ethnic background, we will someday experience justice, liberty, and peace together.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Yoshi  

The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage who was kidnapped by Hamas at the Nova music festival, spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Rachel Goldberg-Polin talks with CNN’s Jim Acosta about an emotional moment on stage.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by We need you! Help us bring Hersh home (@bring.hersh.home)

THE JERUSALEM POST: “DNC stands in support as parents of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin plead for deal“

THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: “Chanting ���Bring them home,��� tens of thousands applaud Goldberg-Polins��� speech at DNC” ���We���re also profoundly thankful to you ��� the millions of people in the United States and all over the world who have been sending love, support and strength to the hostage families. You���ve kept us breathing in a world without air,��� said Jon, who, like his wife, wore ���320��� written in black marker on a piece of white masking tape stuck to his shirt, a number they have painfully updated each new day that their son has spent in captivity. With the gratitude came a stern message: ���This is a political convention, but needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue,��� Jon said to further applause from the crowd. There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East. In a competition of pain, there are no winners,��� he continued. ���In our Jewish tradition, we say��� Every person is an entire universe. We must save all these universes.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by World Jewish Congress (@worldjewishcongress)

The post 321 Nights of Suffering: Bring Them Home appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

{{unknown}}The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

{{unknown}}

The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Pasadena Magazine: Pesto Takes Flight

Thank you to Malina Saval and Pasadena Magazine for this print article about Pesto Takes Flight.

In the bustling world of culinary delights, few dishes evoke as much passion and cultural significance as pesto. Originating in Genoa, Italy, this basil-based sauce has captivated taste buds and inspired culinary adventures worldwide. Its precursor, called moretum, stretches back to ancient Rome, where people crafted it from garlic, cheese, herbs, and vinegar.

For years, my friends Captain Marco and Julie Fortezze have tantalized my taste buds with their special Genovese pesto during my visits to Italy. Yet, until a few years ago, savoring this culinary masterpiece required a pilgrimage to the heart of Genoa.

Enter the innovative initiative that has revolutionized the way pesto traverses the globe. In 2017, the Genoa airport, in collaboration with the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (Enac), allowed travelers to carry up to a pint of pesto in their hand luggage. Passengers simply declare their savory cargo at security, undergo a scan, and make a small donation to Flying Angels, a charitable foundation.

This endeavor has rescued a staggering 40,000 jars of pesto from potential oblivion. The symbiotic relationship between gastronomy and altruism is further exemplified by Flying Angels Foundation, established in 2012. Having facilitated over 2,200 life-saving flights for children, the foundation’s impact transcends borders, spanning 10 million miles and nearly 400 circumnavigations of the globe.

Meanwhile, the Palatifini Cultural Association supports Genovese pesto’s inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. With the World Championship of Genovese Pesto al Mortaio (pesto made with a mortar) attracting aficionados from around the world, the Palatifini Cultural Association extols pesto as a “healthy, natural, and democratic” sauce embodying centuries of tradition and innovation.

Pesto’s versatility shines through in its myriad variations, from sun-dried tomato to spinach and walnut. Beyond its exquisite taste, pesto offers a plethora of health benefits. Basil provides essential vitamins and minerals; olive oil heart-healthy fats; and pine nuts, protein and nutrients. The Genovese believe that the best pesto/basil is from the area called Pra and that the youngest, smallest, basil leaves produce the tastiest pesto.

Genovese pesto’s cultural heritage underscores the importance of preserving traditional culinary practices amidst a rapidly developing gastronomic landscape. While its origins lie in Genoa, pesto’s global appeal has cemented its status as a beloved culinary staple, cherished in kitchens worldwide for its vibrant flavor profile and versatility.

PESTO -GENOA -ITALY

Photograph from Getty Images In the May/June 2024 print issue of Pasadena Magazine, I had a second print article about Icon of the Seas–click here to read Whatever Floats Your Boat!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pasadena Magazine (@pasadenamag)

Discover how Genoa's famed pesto spices up the world and saves lives with every jar. https://t.co/4uPbQ16HUp

: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/fZmQ9lBIpg

— Pasadena Magazine (@PasadenaMag) May 28, 2024

The post Pasadena Magazine: Pesto Takes Flight appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Brave-ish Midwest Book Review and MORE reviews

THANK YOU to Midwest Book Review for this superb review of my memoir, BRAVE-ish! I hope you enjoy my book too. It is available in print, digital as well as an audiobook where I am the narrator.

“Inspired and inspiring, articulate and descriptive, “Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty” by Lisa Niver is a deftly crafted and inherently fascinating read that is part travelogue, part memoir, and part self-help.” Midwest Book Review

“Lisa Niver’s��Brave-ish��is a page-turner and inspiration for anyone who finds themselves at rock bottom in mid-life. Through both grand adventures and small, life-savoring gestures, Niver pieces herself back together after heartbreak and hardship. Readers will have the great pleasure of traveling the world through Niver’s stories and will be cheering her on. Don’t miss this book full of heart, adventure, and, of course, courage!” — Christie Tate, A��New York Times��Best Selling author of��Group��and��BFF, a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick

“Niver is a master at being humble, an everywoman with fears and challenges, while taking her readers around the world in quite a powerful and magical way. Her drive and persistence is not only inspiring, but an honest glimpse into what it means to be human: to learn, take joy, and find the people, places, and purpose she needs to grow.With her signature zest, wonder, and grace, Niver takes us on her journey of self-discovery, inspiration, and perseverance. Brave-ish is so much more than a memoir…it is a guide to growing with both humility and curiosity, and shows us the power of inner strength, friendship, community, and drive. This is a beautiful memoir about finding self, about slowly moving past trauma, and about the immense influence that travel has to heal and inspire. This book? Pure magic.” — Dr. Jessie Voigts, WanderingEducators.com

���Brave-ish��is an invitation to confront the unfamiliar, to discover resilience in openness. Lisa Niver���s memoir is not only a revealing journey into her own experiences but also a reflective look at the adventurous spirit that resides within us all. It appeals to anyone drawn to the unknown and serves as a poignant reminder that often, the most significant adventures are those that take place within ourselves.��� — Literary Titan

���Niver has the reader ride a wave of up and down emotions included with action and adventure that would rival any of Hollywood’s movies. Surviving a disastrous, abusive marriage that she did not see until it almost caused her demise. Being brave enough to get out from under the abuse, she starts and new life and thrives��� Niver wants to be fearless after fifty and tries things that would make a seasoned professional squeamish and any woman over fifty clinging to the safety of her bed covers. Her courageous behavior clearly indicates that is fearless. Niver���s story shows us her portrait of life and her philosophy of life.��Brave-ish��is a story of survival that speaks to any woman and lets them see what can happen if you let go of your fears, expectations, and perceptions.��� — Nonfiction Book Awards

���Lisa Niver, author of��Brave-ish, is the heroine of her own story and if this weren’t her own story, it would be a wonderful fiction/fantasy novel; but the truth is it’s not imagination. At its core it’s a story of survival and growth after near tragedy.��� — Nonfiction Book Awards

“A memoir that is an inspirational travelogue guaranteed to get the most timid individual net surfing exotic locales, Brave-ish is a unique journey of discovery and independence. There are moments that will have the reader ready to come to the author’s rescue, and there are times when they will cheer her next little victory. This memoir is a guidebook for people who feel they “can’t do” or “don’t have the guts” and need to see that you don’t have to get it all right at once….baby steps!” — Benjamin Franklin Awards 2024

“Niver���s global travel exploits had me simultaneously chewing my fingernails and cheering her on as she challenged herself to greater and riskier feats in search of self. Compelling and engrossing. A must-read for fans of��Wild��and��Eat, Pray, Love!” — Alka Joshi, International Best Selling author of��The Perfumist of Paris,��The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and��The Henna Artist, a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick

MORE REVIEWS at https://lisaniver.com/brave-ish-reviews/ GET YOUR COPY

The post Brave-ish Midwest Book Review and MORE reviews appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

#9 on the Top 100 Travel Lifestyle Websites

Thank you to Feedspot for naming my site, We Said Go Travel, #9 on the 100 Best Travel Lifestyle Blogs and websites for 2024. I am honored to be included among these amazing content creators. 100 Best Travel Lifestyle Blogs and Websites in 2024

The best Travel Lifestyle blogs from thousands of Travel blogs on the web and ranked by traffic, social media followers & freshness.

TOP 10 Travel Lifestyle Blogs1. Two Monkeys Travel Group

A travel blog about luxury and adventure travel. Also covers articles about Visa Applications for Filipinos. Kach Howe is the publisher of Two Monkeys Travel Group, a Filipina travel blogger & entrepreneur.

2.  Nomadic Matt���s Travel Site

At Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site, learn how to make your dream trip a reality with daily tips, advice, and tricks on how to travel the world cheaper, smarter, and longer.

3. The Blonde Abroad

The Blonde Abroad is an award-winning solo female travel & lifestyle blog featuring travel tips, packing guides, budget tips, fashion, festivals, and photography from around the world.

4. The Planet D Adventure Travel Blog

An adventure travel blog that features travel tips, travel advice, travel inspiration and photography that will help you plan your vacation. Dave and Deb have visited over 115 countries on all 7 continents since 2007, and in that time they have become the leading source of detailed city guides, personal travel tips, inspiring stories and so much more.

5.Goats On The Road

Turn travel into a lifestyle! A blog by Nick & Dariece. We are digital nomads, remote workers, and traveling abroad since 2008. We’re here to help you make money online (from home or abroad) so that you can be your own boss, live a freer lifestyle, and spend time doing things you enjoy.

6. y Travel Blog | Travel more. Create More Memories

A travel blog sharing travel tips on how to travel more and travel around the world. We share family travel tips and travel destinations as we travel with kids. This blog is all about informing and inspiring you to travel more and create better memories.

7. Bucket List Journey | Travel Lifestyle Blog

Traveling the world in search of Bucket List worthy experiences. Thousands of unique bucket list ideas on this blog.

8. La Jolla Mom | Luxury Travel and Lifestyle Blog

La Jolla Mom is your guide for things to do in San Diego and La Jolla, from fun events and luxury hotels to the best beaches and kid friendly restaurants.

9.  We Said Go Travel

We Said Go Travel is a Passport to a Global Community. Get inspired by travel stories from Lisa Niver, author of the award-winning memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

THANK YOU FEEDSPOT! What an honor to be #9 in the top 10 with these fantastic websites. See the entire list of 100 here!

Learn more about LISA and We Said Go Travel: Meet me at one of my upcoming events, read my award winning memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, listen to my award winning podcast, Make Your Own Map. Watch my videos on YouTube where I have over two million views. Find me on social media at @LisaNiver. Thank you for all of your support.

See the TOP TEN LIST in Jan 2024 and July 2024

The post #9 on the Top 100 Travel Lifestyle Websites appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Grateful for BRAVE-ish Publicity and Press

I am deeply grateful to all of the people who have championed my memoir. My book has been promoted by so many people around the planet. See all my press on this link and see below for when I was featured on Reads By Aileen, Fearless Fabulous YOU, The Perfect Positivity Show, Zoo Logic and Travel Classics. THANK YOUReads By Aileen Instagram Live Interview

An inspiring chat with travel expert and author of Braveish, Lisa Niver. Hear about traveling to 102 countries, 6 continents, community, writing and being brave.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aileen Sabanal (@readsbyaileen)

Travel Expert Lisa Niver On Being Brave-Ish & Fearless After 50 – Fearless Fabulous You!

Travel influencer and writer, Lisa Niver, has lived on the road for much of her life, from working cruise ships to hostel-hopping in Asian. But it was her 50th trip around the Sun that made her decide to make a ���50 in 50��� bucket list to step outside her comfort zone and try new things on her own after her divorce. 

I call it her ���Now or Niver��� moment.

Listen Podcast

Special Guest Lisa Niver The Perfect Positivity Show

Lisa Niver, author of Brave-ish, is a talented and inspiring writer. Her book showcases her courage and resilience, encouraging readers to embrace their own bravery in the face of challenges. Lisa���s writing style is captivating, drawing readers in and keeping them engaged throughout the entire journey. Her ability to share personal experiences and insights in a relatable manner is truly commendable. Lisa Niver was a joy to interact with and this is by far one of my (Michelle���s) favorite episodes!

Listen Podcast

Brave-Ish Author Lisa Niver On Zoo Logic

I joined Dr. Grey Stafford from Zoo Logic to discuss my new book, Brave-Ish, and also shared my experiences in eco-tourism, as well as, other adventures around the world and the importance of facing one���s fears.

Listen Podcast

Travel Classics Conference Website: BRAVE-ish by Lisa Niver

The post Grateful for BRAVE-ish Publicity and Press appeared first on We Said Go Travel.