Avatar blockbuster star shares travel experiences

Reporter: Hello Zoe Saldana. Where have you been?

Yes, I just visited New York, the city where I lived as a child for 10 years before moving to the Dominican Republic and then when I was 16 I went back to New York. Now I live in Los Angeles but I always miss New York. I miss Chinatown, the food is great. My grandmother still lives in New York and I often take her to The Carlyle for champagne.

Saldana, you have traveled to many places around the world. Where do you find the most romantic places?

I love booking a hotel room in Paris overlooking the Seine. It’s amazing, there’s nothing more romantic or relaxing than that. I could spend all day looking at the Seine. I really like the Four Seasons George V and Le Pavillon de la Reine in the Marais. However, if I were with my family, I would rent an apartment on Ile Saint-Louis or Ile de la Cité. It would feel like I was living in my own home in Los Angeles.

Which country do you like to travel to the most?

Japan. As a Latino, I am not an introvert but I really like Japanese culture. Japanese people are very respectful to their peers and elders. Some of my relatives are Dominican-Japanese and I am influenced by Japanese culture. And like New York, Tokyo never sleeps so going there always feels good to me.

So which city have you always wanted to go to?

Paris, always and forever. I first went there when I was 20 and over the years it has remained my go-to city in the world. Strangely enough, as soon as I arrived I felt at home in Paris. I have some great friends here now. I can wander the streets all night long until the sun comes up, get lost, eat, drink and chat with anyone I meet. Every time I visit Paris it feels familiar but also new and exciting.

Where in the world do you feel happiest?

Italy. My husband, Marco, is from Verona, grew up on Lake Garda and studied in Milan. Milan is my favorite city in Italy. As a New Yorker, I love the industrial feel and that is one of the reasons I like Milan. When we are not in Italy, my family and I often choose some destinations in the Caribbean. I think it is important for our children to have a cultural understanding, a way of life. They pay a lot of attention to how we talk, how we eat, how we dance and participate in other social activities.

Tell us about a wonderful place you have been to?

There is a wonderful little restaurant in the Paris 11 district called Paris Paul. It is small and friendly, and the traditional cooking is fantastic. They have duck confit, roast lamb, and some red wine. These are things I would never eat in Los Angeles, but in Paris, these are the flavors I crave.

Thanks for your interesting sharing!

The Phong