'Tabanca' is a Trinidadian creole expression that describes the sad feeling that one may have after a breakup or separation. We have also come to use this word to describe a sad feeling of longing for many other things. It is common to hear someone having a Carnival tabanca, which means that the person is missing Carnival celebrations, and yes judging from this blog post title, I am currently having a very bad case of Summer Tabanca.

As a child growing up in Trinidad, I'd always get excited whenever we went to a beach that had a small cove or that involved a small hike and adventure in getting there. 
 
My sisters, friends, and I were always in desperate search of adventure by the water, and my time in the Algarve region of Portugal reminded me of that never-ending and somewhat unfulfilled quest during my childhood. Filled with coves, caves, hikes, and surprises around every corner, I felt a great sense of accomplishment for my younger self as I explored the South of Portugal.

​How do you know where to go?
 
 Maybe it starts with a recommendation from a friend, or a post you see on Instagram. A cheap flight that you randomly found online, a long layover or a crazy close your eyes, spin the globe and go where your finger lands? Whichever way it may be, I’m sure that somewhere soon after you’d Google.