Why It's OK to Dislike Solo Travel

There are tons of blogs that hardcore advocate for solo travel. They'll tell you it's the best thing since sliced bread. They'll tell you that you're missing out on one of the greatest experiences ever in the history of your life and that you're a terrible person if you can't go on a trip alone to be one with yourself. Sound familiar?

Don't listen to them.

It's a perfectly natural feeling to be hesitant about traveling alone. We're human. We need interaction. We need to feel like we belong to something or someone in most facets of our lives. Travel is no different.

I've traveled alone to a couple of places. I'm traveling mostly solo through Zambia right now. I did not know anyone when I arrived a month ago. I even have a solo trip coming up this weekend to Cape Town, South Africa. I am going alone because:

1. I've always wanted to go;
2. There's a long weekend so I don't have to use any vacation days; and
3. I'm already in Zambia, so why not? 

But is this my preference? No.

I like having someone to talk to when sightseeing and to have a drink with, to people watch and laugh with, and frankly, someone who's inherently built-in to take my pictures (Not kidding!).  I like sharing the overall experience of traveling with someone. 

Does this invalidate any of my other experiences or make me a less-experienced traveler? No, it doesn't. 

Now, I'm not saying that there is something wrong with solo travel. Quite the opposite. I think solo travel is perfectly fine if that's your cup of tea. You should absolutely do it without apologies. But I refuse to be discouraged because it's not my shot of tequila.

I'm also not saying that you shouldn't travel alone because you're scared to. If this is your fear, my suggestion is to conquer it head on and to take a weekend trip to a nearby destination to see if you can. You may actually like it. But if it turns out that you don't, don't beat yourself up. There are plenty of other people out there who feel the same way you do. 

How do I know that I don't like solo travel? Because I've traveled solo. 

Now if your fear or lack of desire to travel solo is keeping you from traveling and living your life...then, we have a problem. 

12 Cocktails to Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Today we think of Mardi Gras as a crazy party scene on Bourbon Street in New Orleans where people are drinking themselves silly and girls are lifting their tops to earn beads.  But did you know the earliest recording of 'throws' (items that krewe members throw to parade-goers) was way back in 1870? New Orleans has been up to Mardi Gras tradition for a long time! There's no better way to celebrate than by with these traditional New Orleans cocktails.

1. Hurricane

One of the most popular New Orleans drinks, the Hurricane is made with rum and is sweet and strong in flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz White rum
• 2 oz Dark rum
• 1 oz Lime juice
• 1 oz Orange Juice
• 2 oz Passion fruit juice
• .5 oz Simple syrup
• .5 oz Grenadine

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice.
2. Shake, and strain into a large Hurricane glass filled with fresh ice.
3. Garnish with an orange half-wheel and a cherry.

2. Sazerac

Named for the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of Cognac brandy that served as its original main ingredient, the Sazerac is New Orleans' most famous whiskey cocktail. 

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Rhy whiskey
• 1 sugar cube
• Peychaud's bitters to taste
• Absinthe, Herbsaint or absinthe substitute
• Lemon twist for garnish
  
  Instructions: 

1. Chill an old-fashioned glass by filling it with ice and letting it sit while preparing the rest of the drink.
2. In a mixing glass, soak the sugar cube with Peychaud's Bitters and muddle to crush the cube.
3. Add the rye whiskey and stir.
4. Discard the ice in the chilled glass and rinse it with absinthe by pouring a small amount into the glass, swirling it around and discarding the liquid.
5. Dump the whiskey mixture the absinthe-rinsed glass.

3. Frozen Daiquiri

Who doesn't love a classic frozen daiquiri?

Ingredients:

• 3 oz light rum
• 1 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup or superfine sugar

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender with 1/2 cup cracked ice. 
2. Blend until frothy and serve in a large cocktail glass.

4. Ramos Gin Fizz

This drink is perfect when you want a little fizz in your cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Gin
• .5 oz Heavy cream
• .5 oz Fresh lemon juice
• .5 oz Fresh lime juice
• .75 oz Simple syrup
• 3 dashes Orange flower water
• 1 Fresh egg white
• Club soda

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients except the club soda to a shaker and shake vigorously without ice.
2. Open the shaker, fill with ice and shake again.
3. Strain into a Collins glass.
4. Pour a little bit of club soda back and forth between the empty halves of the shaker to pick up any residual egg white, and then pour into the glass.

5. Creole Bloody Mary

This Cajun take on this recipe is if you like your Bloody Mary with an added kick.

Ingredients:

• 1 (46-ounce) bottle vegetable or tomato juice
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon or lime juice
• 1/4 cup liquid from jar of pickled okra or jalapeños
• 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning blend
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 1 teaspoon celery seeds
• 1 1/2 cups plain or pepper-flavored vodka
• Garnish: Lemon wedges and celery stick

Instructions:

1. Shake all ingredients with ice in a shaker until chilled.
2. Strain over fresh ice in 2 12 oz. glasses. Sprinkle lemon pepper lightly over both drinks.
3. Garnish, if desired.

6. Pimm's Cup

While this cocktail began in England in the 1800's, it was perfected in New Orleans and has been a staple ever since.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Pimm's No. 1
• 3 oz Sprite, 7 Up or ginger ale
• 1 Cucumber slices
• 1 Strawberry, hulled and cut into quarters
• half an orange slice
• 1 Lemon slice
• 6 Mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients to a highball glass filled with ice and stir
   
   *To mix things up a bit, you can replace the Sprite, 7 Up or ginger ale with Champagne.

7. Absinthe Frappe

Never tasted Absinthe? Start with this cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Absinthe
• .25 oz Anisette
• 1 Mint sprig, for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a cocktail shaker add the absinthe and anisette.
2. Fill with ice and shake well until chilled.
3. Strain into a julep cup filled with crushed ice.
4. Top with additional ice and garnish with the mint sprig.

8. Cafe Brulot

Ingredients:

• 1⁄3 cup orange curaçao
• 1⁄4 cup brandy
• 10 whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 orange, quartered
• 3 cups strong black coffee
• 3-5 tbsp. sugar
• Peel of a lemo 

Instructions:

1. Simmer orange curacao, brandy, cloves, cinnamon sticks, orange and lemon peel in a heatproof saucepan over medium/high heat.
2. Using a match or a lighter, ignite and cook, swirling pan until flames die out.

9. Hand Grenade

It's blasphemous to go to New Orleans without getting a Hand Grenade.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 1 1/2 oz grain alcohol
• 1 1/2 oz melon liqueur
• 1 1/2 oz rum
• 1 1/2 oz vodka

Instructions:

1. Stir ingredients together in a Collins glass filled with ice cubes.
2. Add water and sugar if desired, to taste, and serve.

10. Vieux Carre

Translated to mean "French Quarter," this cocktail packs a powerful punch. Be ready.

Ingredients:

• .75 oz Angel's Envy Rye whiskey
• .75 oz Cognac
• .75 oz Martini sweet Vermouth
• 1 tsp Bénédictine
• 2 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a rocks glass.
2. Fill with ice and stir.

11. French 75

This is a classic cocktail, prime for brunch participation.

Ingredients:

• .5 oz Lemon juice
• .5 oz Simple syrup
• 1 oz Gin
• 3 oz Champagne

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients except the Champagne to a shaker and fill with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a Champagne flute.
3. Top with the Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

12. Brandy Milk Punch

This cocktail's potency will sneak up on you!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz brandy (Bourbon is also commonly used)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
• 3 ice cubes
• cracked ice
• freshly grated nutmeg

Instructions:

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the brandy, milk, and sugar with 3 ice cubes and shake until frothy.
2. Strain into a double-old fashioned glass with cracked ice. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve.

Try one (or more) of these cocktails and you'll be earning beads in no time!