Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Angelique Kidjo
Q. Where is the most romantic destination?
A. I love Rome. I had a chance to perform in a play for a couple of weeks there and was able to discover the whole city thoroughly. I walked all over the city hand in hand with my husband. You see more than 2,000 years of history in such a beautiful setting. Also, the food is amazing!
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. New Orleans. This city is so amazing, because the African roots of the music are very present. Jazz Fest is one of the best music festivals. I also have a weakness for crawfish!
Salvador de Bahia (Brazil). This is a dream place for musicians. The music is present at every corner with the amazing tradition of the samba reggae and axe. Bahia has been so important in the history of Brazilian music. Many artists like Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso come from there.
Rome. But I already spoke about this one.
Cotonou (Benin). This is a fun city, because of its people and the kindness and goodwill. But maybe I am a little bit biased. One warning: If you go there, taxi drivers will want to show you the Angelique Kidjo house on the road to Benin. It is just an urban legend. I never owned a house there, but it has become a landmark that people now use to give directions!
Paris. I started my career there, so I have many memories and a bunch of friends. There is a true love for African music there and when I started to sing in small clubs the audience reacted positively. I just hope this passion stays alive. It is important to keep on listening to diverse music.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. I always travel with a lot of stuff. My husband is always complaining that the suitcases are too heavy. I have all kinds of creams. I also always carry a small smart device that allows me to check the weight of my suitcases. That is very useful for me so I don't have problems at the airports.
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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow "Go Away With..." on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.)
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