There are perhaps four things you should know about me and this newsletter.
The first thing to know is that I’m a Colombian immigrant. Much to my chagrin, I do not possess the rolling accent, sun-kissed skin, or lustrous hair that one expects of a Colombian woman (i.e., Sophia Vergara). I immigrated here as a baby and then proceeded to grow up in the Midwest, doubling down when I attended college in Indiana. In other words, I’m about as Colombian as Olive Garden is authentic Italian. And yet, my Colombian heritage plays a major part in my career as a travel editor and journalist.
The first time I booked an international trip abroad sans family was to Colombia. The first major byline I had was a story about Colombian food for Food & Wine magazine. The one place I always recommend when asked about a favorite destination is, you guessed it, Colombia. All of this is to say that Colombia will pop up in this newsletter on more than one occasion. I hope you’re here for it.
The second thing you should know about me is I started my own women’s travel publication called Unearth Women. I divulge all the details of how Unearth Women went from a wine-fueled idea to an international magazine in this post. Because I’ve always been a multitasker, I’m also a senior editor at Fodor’s Travel, which is to say you’ll often see me sharing stories from Fodor’s.
The third thing to know is I am a published author. My first book is a women’s travel book called Wanderess, published by Penguin Random House, and my second book is a travel memoir from HarperCollins titled Call You When I Land. So, I know a thing or two about travel — particularly women’s travel — and I’m excited to share that with you in this newsletter.
I look forward to taking you on this journey with me.
Nikki Vargas
Founder, Unearth Women
