Ex In The City

EX Rated City Guides - Making the Journey to Extraordinary!

Ex in the City has evolved as I have. At first it was just about divorce and divorce and divorce. Lots of readers, lots of great sharing.  Exile was the first healing stage, but as I moved myself through the stages of "ex", explore became the next stage of growth.  I love to travel. It has always been my greatest energizing passion but traveling alone is a different experience. Expecially for a women as Tina Turner says "of a certain age" without the need or desire of a man by their side.  So, I reached out to a group of writers, offered a small payment and asked for women around the world to submit "EX" rated articles - outlining places for women to go in cities around the world when they were in Exile, Express, Exorcise, Explore or Exhale.

These mini city guides highlighting places from Singapore to Dallas, are written by authors from all around the world and offer ideas for cafes, gardens, hotels and activities for women making that exciting journey from EX to EXtraordinary.

In the articles, the authors provided ideas of where to go as you move from a breakup to a reinvention of a new you. Those in EXile, can learn about parks or secret gardens where women alone are safe and alone. For EXpress, find places that support expression and creativity - art museums, poetry readings or even knitting or kickboxing classes. EXplore guides you to internet cafes that allow pets, pottery classes for women only, dance halls or karaoke bars that don't require a partner, single cruises. Express may lead you to a country dance hall, or a karoake bar and Exhale a spa or special hotel that serves high tea. You get the idea. :-)

The EX-Rated City Guides you will see on www.exinthecity.com are written by incredible women authors from all over the world. It has been my huge pleasure to hear their stories. Talk about grace under pressure. From Singapore to Nashville,  the City Guides are not, I repeat NOT singles guides. They are places to go to enjoy being an EX on the road to EXtraordinary~ Today I have the following EX Rated City Guides for:

Amsterdam, Baltimore, Bangalore, Boston, Dallas, Delray Beach, Ft Lauderdale, Honduras Bay Islands, Houston, Indianapolis, Kuauai, Langkawi, Maldives, Montreal, Nashville, New York City, Newport Beach, Orlando, Penang, Pondicherry, Richmond, Sedona, Singapore, Puerta Valleta, Vancouver, Washington, DC.

Some have been featured - many more to come.

So.. if anyone reading is willing to "take on" a city anywhere in the world - and share its secrets with your Ex in the City girlfriends, please send to margaret (at) sixtyandme (dot) com. As I mentioned, there is a small payment offered, but the joy is hopefully in sharing YOUR special city with other women in transition after a sad divorce or breakup. You can also mention and promote your blog, website or other social media channel.  So hopefully its a win for everyone. 

Life goes on. Thank you for sharing it with us. 

EX Rated Barcelona

With its many wonderful neighborhoods, you have a chance to Explore in Barcelona. Begin with the Gothic Quarter, a unique medieval area in the heart of town, still intact, where you will lose yourself in history. No map necessary (it does not help anyway), as every 14th Century archway will inevitably bring you back to the present.

A celebrated example of Gothic architecture is the Cathedral of Barcelona, built at the end of the 13th Century; admission is free and if in need to Express yourself, join the groups of people who gather at the entrance and join hands to dance Sardana, a part of Catalonian folk tradition. For a wow Experience visit Sagrada Familia (Holy Family), Architect Gaudi’s incomplete masterpiece cathedral, (begun in 1882), depicting the entire bible carved in stone described by some as Art Nouveau run wild. Go to www.sagradafamilia.org for information on tours, events, donations and more.

If this is too much Expressing for you, head to the Picasso Museum housed in two palaces on a Medieval street. It contains most of Picasso’s works arranged in chronological order giving you a sense of the development of his ideas and trends.

Looking for Excitement, a funicular will take you across the port up to Montjuic from where you will have uncomparable views of the city and perhaps a photo or two to make your ex.... jealous!!! While in the area, visit Pueblo Español or Spanish Town, built for the 1929 World Fair, it is a re-creation of the different villages that make up Spain.

If you are still in a period of Exile the promenade along the marina old port, will give you the privacy you crave while dining al fresco in one of the many restaurants. Order the tender broiled seabass, perfumed with olive oil and served with Aioli potatoes. It is a Catalonian specialty.

The rest of the day why not Exorcise. Trendy designer boutiques line the streets of the elegant Passeig De Grácia. Get yourself a new wardrobe or perhaps a new look. Everyone needs a special something for their self-esteem.

After all the adventures, it is time to Exhale. Cathedrals are not the only landmarks in the city; head to a xampanyeria or champagne bar to savor on the Spanish version, Cava. It is bubbly and even considered as good as its French counterpart.

Though there is so much more to see and Experience, what makes Barcelona so special is its people. Whether you want to be alone and regroup, or you want to be part of the magic of the city, you will find the right atmosphere just for you. You will go home Exorcised, and with a new outlook on life.

Sheila Keller - Co-wrote a book and with  passion for travel decided to get into travel writing. Accepted to write travel postcards for International Living as well as a column in a Barcelona publication. Accomplished my first dream, now working on the second one: travel writing.