Jenn is a freelance writer, and Professional Foodie living in Saint Augustine, FL with her husband, Roberto, a black cat and a blonde dog. She has a cooking blog call The Leftover Queen. When she is not writing about food, she likes to travel. Travel is the one way a person can really get to know them self. One of the healthiest ways to understand one’s self and all its abilities and limitations is to go to some place that is different from what we are used to. It will challenge the traveler to navigate through the streets of his destination and sometimes the murky waters of the soul. There is nothing like travel. It is always an experience that one will always learn something from, it is the ultimate teacher. It gives each traveler the gift of a new perspective and new understanding about the world. It can be at once awesome, frustrating, humbling and inspiring. Sometimes our journeys do not lead us where we want to go, but where we are supposed to go. We are given the opportunity every time we travel to learn the lessons about life that we can learn in no other classroom but the vast world, and all its people, animals and plants have to teach us.

Arlene is  Jenn’s Mom!!!

Something is changing at Travel Close Up!! Jenn, aka The Leftover Queen, has passed the torch to me. Not really a big change when you consider that I am her MOM! My name is Arlene.

I too have the travel bug and I too now live in Florida – by way of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and finally to the sunshine state.

One day about two and a half years ago, I decided to just quit my job, sell my house and hop on the auto train. That has had to be the most spontaneous thing I have EVER done – and I have never looked back. NO REGRETS.

I love the newer more laid back lifestyle. What’s not to love about palm trees, sandy beaches and sunshine? The big bonus is discovering that it is never to late to reinvent yourself and follow your dream.

I love to write and I love to travel so it seemed a natural fit to do a travel blog where I could write AND travel. Many times while traveling along a highway by car or train, I like to stare out the window at the houses- grand and not so grand- passing me by. I would wonder who lived in those houses and in my mind make up scenarios of who they were , maybe a family with small children, maybe an old grandpa just living alone. Were they happy, sad, lonely. When you travel close up, you have the chance to meet some of these people and learn their stories and just maybe along the way make a difference. I know for sure I am changed. Funny thing is while we are all different, we are much the same.

While I will offer tips and suggestions as I reach a destination, my goal for this blog is to share some of my experiences with people and places as I explore my world both near and far.

Hopefully, you will feel free to share your ideas and opinions as well.

So, for now, welcome aboard, dear reader, welcome aboard.

Ciao, Arlene