TRAVEL JOURNAL

TRAVEL JOURNAL For Football and FUN

A Naples resident since 2016, when his job moved him and his family from Massachusetts, Felipe Pereira is an outgoing internal audit manager who volunteers as the international relations director for the Brazilian Federation of American Football. He uses his marketing savvy locally through a social media campaign, Live with Felipe, where he spotlights Naples-area business owners. Currently working for Generali, a large insurance company based in Italy, he audits six North American locations and assists in Brazil, where he was born. Over the course of his career, which launched in 2006, he says, “I have traveled to over 30 countries, some for work and some for pleasure.” A devoted family man to wife and high school sweetheart Keriann and their two young kids, Mila and Julian, Pereira appreciates the local lifestyle. “Naples has the perfect combination of everything that I need—weather, beautiful beaches, a calmer way of living,” he says. This globetrotter’s last flight was in March 2020, and his first international trip will be to Paris, for work. He also plans to visit Hamilton, Ontario, in November for the Canadian Football League Grey Cup (their version of the Super Bowl). —Christina Cush

TRACY HOUSTON/LET ME BE CANDID

Clockwise from top: Lisbon, Portugal; Egyptian pyramids; the Fullerton Bay Hotel; St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. NI: Did you and your family take any pandemic road trips?

Pereira: We did a day trip to the Miami Zoo, which was a lot of fun.

Where have you been that you would like to revisit?

My last semester in college, I studied in Sydney, Australia, and lived there for about six months. The place is beautiful, the people are nice, and I had a great time there. Also, I spent one weekend in Rome during a work trip. Walking around Rome, there’s so much history that you get wowed everywhere you look. I want to revisit and spend time at the Vatican.

Is there a city you believe to be underrated?

One city that I have been to over a dozen times is Lisbon, Portugal. The history, the people, the food‚—it does not get the attention it deserves. Many people travel to Paris, London, Barcelona, but forget Lisbon. It’s a welcoming city, deep in history and delicious food.

What’s on your travel bucket list?

Egypt, Morocco, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Japan are at the top.

What’s your next stop in the U.S.?

I ’ v e v i s i t e d 4 0 s t a t e s , b u t N e w O r l e a n s , L o u i s i a n a , a n d N a s h v i l l e , T e n n e s s e e , a r e i n t e r e s t i n g . I h a v e h e a r d p o s i t i v e t h i n g s a b o u t N e w O r l e a n s , a c i t y r i c h i n c u l t u r e a n d e x c e l l e n t f o o d . N a s h v i l l e , i f y o u e n j o y c o u n t r y m u s i c a s m u c h a s I d o , i s t h e p l a c e .

Have you gone on a foodie trip?

Going back to Portugal, two of my cousins joined me for a five-day trip based on a list of restaurants and sightseeing places created by a resident co-worker. The list suggested small local restaurants and what dishes to eat. There were a lot of cod dishes, and it was the best week of eating I have had.

Do you have a favorite hotel?

The Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore. This five-star hotel is beautiful and has an awesome infinity pool by the Singapore River and amazing views of the city skyline. It used to be the General Postal Office Building and was redeveloped to be a state-ofthe-art hotel.

Is there a spa you’d recommend?

I was in Cavan, about 75 miles from Dublin, Ireland, staying at a four-star hotel called the Farnham Estate Spa and Golf Resort. It was in the green and peaceful countryside. They had an amazing spa, which is wellknown in Europe.

What are your travel essentials?

I always have a Gillette Mach 5 razor to shave my head and look fresh, Beats headphones, a few football jerseys from teams around the world, Calvin Klein cologne, and workout gear.