Life Abroad

The Mountain Village of Monchique, Portugal

2013-01-04T07:41:00.000-05:00

During our time in Portugal, we drove north from Odiaxere to the mountain village of Monchique. Monchique is famous for its spas, honey, and firewater (aka moonshine). After parking our rental car we meandered down to the town square. We enjoyed an espresso and cappuccino in the blazing hot sun, while watching a sculptural water feature that looked like a water mill. Then it was time for some shopping! I picked up this rustic leather satchel, and we had a great time looking at all the gorgeous cork and leather items for sale.

The store below sold honey and firewater created by the families of Monchique. Behind every type of firewater was a picture of the gentleman who made it. All the products were certified and regulated by a special agency, and packed a punch – 75% alcohol! Yiiikes.

Chris and I saw the beautiful old church perched atop a mountain, and decided to take a walk up to it and see if we could get a tour of the inside. We made our way up the cobbled empty streets, some of which had built-in staircases…

We passed an antenna made from a soccer ball ^^^

When we reached the top of the hill, a few middle-aged men were lounging around outside, eyeing us suspiciously. One of the men motioned for us to follow him – I was a bit hesitant, and didn’t really want to follow a stranger into an abandoned church that had a spattering of graffiti on it…but Chris convinced me to follow along. Inside, the man and his family (with many young children), were living as squatters. They slept in a loft-type area above the courtyard, which was filled with vegetable gardens and chicken coops. The man generously allowed us to tour the abandoned church that was beautifully derelict.

When we finished exploring the church, the man led us back out through his home. In a small corner was a little store. We bought a few lemons, clementines, and piri piri peppers that were hanging on the wall. The man was happy to have sold some produce, and we were happy to have met him and been invited into his unique home. This was definitely a highlight of the trip. We ate our tiny clementines in a cork grove just outside the church, before making our way back down to the town.

We had a bit of a difficult time finding a place to eat lunch. We didn’t want to eat at a tourist spot, which seemed to be abundant in the main square. When we’d go to a non-tourist spot, they would refuse to serve us or even come to our table to take our order. It definitely felt hostile at times. Finally we found a family-run restaurant, where we enjoyed olives, cod, french fries, and pork. Of course, we had chocolate mousse for dessert – which is so typical in many of the Portuguese restaurants! Yum.

Sagres Sunset

2013-01-03T13:30:00.001-05:00

On our spontaneous trip to the “end of the world”, Sagres, we caught the sunset. It had been raining on and off during our afternoon around the fort, and a final bout of rain cleared out all the other people around us. When the rain finished, it was time to watch the sunset, alone, overlooking the ocean for as far as the eye could see. It was one of those surreal moments where everything just came together, and we got to see the beautiful colours change by the moment across the sky.

Lagos Marina

2012-11-23T22:09:00.000-05:00

Lagos marina looked so peaceful when we drove by, that we had to stop and get out to explore. We walked down to the beach and got our toes sandy. It was a bit chilly, but we were the only ones for miles. Some more upscale seafood restaurants were nestled in the dunes, which we eventually visited a few nights later. Chris even tried the sea bream, and he’s definitely not a seafood lover. But when in ~~Rome~~ Lagos!

Have a great weekend!

Sagres, Portugal

2012-11-22T14:14:00.000-05:00

Sagres is a city in the South of Portugal, on the Westernmost tip. The old navigators and explorers, like Henry the Navigator, used to call Sagres and the nearby Cape St. Vincent the “end of the world”. After our unsuccessful hiking trip, we decided to hop in the car and head West. When we came across Henry the Navigator’s old navigation school, we had to go inside. The navigation school and surrounding fort were enormous. We spent the rest of the day walking around, exploring the different buildings, and marvelling at the beautiful cliffs and expansive ocean. No wonder they called Sagres Point “the end of the world”.

The picture below is of Cape St. Vincent, the Westernmost tip of Portugal. I thought it was beautiful how the sun managed to peek through on a very cloudy day to illuminate the cliffs in gold.

While the weather was less-than-ideal for a day of sight-seeing, I thought it perfectly suited a trip to Sagres Point: cloudy, moody, dark, with the sun peeking through at times creating the most wonderful colours and vistas I have ever seen. It was dark one moment, and then sparkling gold the next. We saw rainbows, got caught in downpours, and watched as the clouds shifted by the minute. Just wait til I show you the sunset…

An Unsuccessful Hike

2012-11-22T09:54:00.000-05:00

At the Quinta we stayed at in Portugal, there were numerous little books regarding what to see and things to do while in the Algarve. One of the books was called “Let’s Walk”, and provided nice little half-day walks/hikes around Portugal. It was written in the late 90s, and provided colourful descriptions of land-marks and things to see. After reading the book one evening over a glass of wine, we chose “A bygone era” and planned to embark early the next day. The hike was supposed to take us through small rustic farming villages. Interestingly, the only land-marks in the book included “derelict” and “semi-derelict” farmhouses. How were we to know which house was derelict and which one was only semi-derelict?! That was our first clue that this may be a difficult task. We parked the car at the designated stopping area, a small gravel patch next to a highway. We set-off down the highway, careful to walk on the nearly non-existent shoulder while Portugese cars whizzed by without moving over. Yikes. After a ten minute walk down the highway, we reached a smattering of white-washed homes. According to our trusty guide-book, there should only have been a semi-derelict farmhouse there. Uh-oh. I guess things had changed since the 90s. Now there were about seven brand-new white homes. We took our chances and cut-across an empty farmer’s field of clay-ish soil to a small creek-bed. After jumping down the embankment, into the very shallow, nearly dried-up creek, we began searching for the trail that would lead us into the “bygone era”.

No such luck. The trail that was once there was now entirely shrouded with cacti and thistles, making it nearly impossible to get through. Chris tried, and his clothes are now ripped to prove it! We searched and searched for some semblance of a trail, and after about 30 minutes, decided to cut our losses and head back to the car. If the “start” of the hike was this challenging, there was no way that this guidebook was going to take us successfully through a 2 hour hike. On our way back to the car, we marvelled at the peaceful landscape. Back towards the car, we found a little cork grove. We had no idea that Portugal was a main exporter of cork – you can buy anything made of cork in Portugal…base-ball hats, purses, loafers, postcards…the list goes on and on. It looks like the cork is just sheered off the sides of trees, about half-way up their trunks. While the hike proved unsuccessful, it was an adventure that we experienced together, and served an important lesson: don’t rely on old guidebooks!

Grotto Grotto

2012-11-21T08:35:00.000-05:00

In Lagos, we happened upon a small boat down by the marina. A man beckoned us toward him, and offered to take us on a boat-tour through some of Lagos’ most beautiful grottoes. For only 12,50 each, we had to do it. I’m so glad we did – it quickly became one of my favourite things we did on our Portugese adventure. While our guide spoke little English, he did point out various names of sea-stacks as we puttered past.

In the picture below, the sea-stack was called the “wedding cake”.

In the picture above, the sea-stack was called the “battleship” or “submarine”. Definitely looks like it, eh?

The colour of the water inside the grottoes was shockingly blue, and the golden cliffs glimmered at the time we went for the tour – around 5:00pm. It was gorgeous, and I’m so glad we did it. I love being out on the water any chance I get, and this was no exception. The cliffs and sea-stacks of Lagos were some of the most beautiful vistas I’ve ever seen on my travels.

Mornings at the Quinta

2012-11-19T08:02:00.000-05:00

For the majority of our trip, we rented a beautiful farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills in the South of Portugal, in a little town called Odiaxere (O-de-ah-sher). I’ll post more on the farmhouse (quinta) later, but for now, I’d like to share what our mornings were like. On the back terrace, smelling the clean air, listening to the cow-bells ringing across the hills. Sometimes we’d hear a rooster crow, but mostly, it was just cow-bells. We’d make dark roast coffee, chop up some fresh pineapple, and scramble up some eggs, bacon, and onion. We’d read in the hammock. Snuggle in blankets. It was perfection.

Lovely Lagos

2012-11-17T22:23:00.001-05:00

Odiaxere, the little town where our farmhouse was located, was just a ten minute drive into Lagos. We ventured into Lagos to spend the day exploring on a particularly sunny, hot morning. Being low-season, there were hardly any tourists around at all, which felt kind of amazing. We were able to see how people in Lagos live when the crowds of European tourists head back home. I should add, however, that there were quite a few touristy things about Lagos, like gift-shops, English signs, and menus printed in at least 10 different languages. That suited us just fine, since it seemed like we were the only tourists around. We drank some fresh pineapple smoothies from a little bar, bought cured fish and sardines in vintage packaging from a cute boutique, and admired the white-washed buildings.

We took a boat-ride through the famous Portugese grottoes, and then retired to a cliff-top cafe terrace for multiple espressos and cappuccinos to enjoy by sun-set.

Discovering a Castle: Santiago do Cacem

2012-11-17T21:48:00.001-05:00

After a whirlwind visit to Lisbon, we headed back to the airport to pick up our rental car. We vowed to come back to Lisbon one day and give it the amount of time that such a vibrant, historic city deserves. When we booked our rental car online, the total came out to roughly $50. Not bad! However, after going through the insurance forms, GPS rental, and all the little add-ons required, the total ended up being over $300 at the wicket. We left feeling more than a little shell-shocked at the price. Darn those tricky rental car companies.

Before going to Portugal, we had heard that: a) renting a car was an absolute must, b) Portugese drivers are much more aggressive than those in Canada, and c) that car break-ins happen in the blink of an eye. Needless to say, we approached the prospect of renting a car with a hefty dose of caution. Chris is an excellent driver, and navigated the wonderfully maintained highways of Portugal with ease. Even living in the Netherlands, I always thought that European drivers were better drivers than those in North America. Portugal was the same experience: while some cars went at crazy-high speeds (160km/h), and passed other cars on winding mountain roads with blind curves (cray), most of the drivers were fine. We noticed that our rental car had pretty weak lights though, so putting on our high-beams was essential in the evenings, and the Portugese drivers were quick to remind us to turn them off!

Initially we had planned to take the scenic, coastal route from Lisbon to Lagos. Armed with a horrible map, we decided to just go down the highway. While on the highway, we saw signs for a castle in the town of Santiago do Cacem. “Let’s turn off here and go check it out!” I suggested. Chris was game. We followed the signs into the village, but then couldn’t seem to find the castle. Then we looked up. There it was. We followed the winding roads up to the hill-top, at the highest peak of the village. Parking beneath orange and lime trees (!!!) we got out to explore.

We spent a while walking along the castle walls, having the entire place to ourselves. Chris enjoyed telling me about how the archers and guards used the small holes in the walls to peek through and shoot at any intruders coming up the hill. The castle was built around 1217 in a typical Islamic rectangular style. It is now a National Monument. A woman from the nearby church allowed us to come inside, however, and we spent some time marvelling at the beautiful architecture and signing the guest-book with visitors from around the world. Then it was time to head back onto the road – sometimes random little pit-stops like this are the best though, aren’t they?

Lagos at Dusk

2012-11-14T14:46:00.000-05:00

At the end of our day in Lagos, we watched the sun fall down over the cliffs. It was beautiful. We did a little walk along the beaches, separated by jutting cliffs, connected by blasted-out tunnels. Then we found our way up to the cliff-tops to explore and take in the views. I fell in love with Portugal’s rustic, rugged, stunning beauty that evening. So peaceful. A few people were out admiring the views as well. We collected pink and purple sea shells, admired the cobalt blue water juxtaposed against the red and gold rocky cliffs, and were on the lookout for the spiky cacti standing guard along the dirt paths.

A Day in Lisbon

2012-11-11T08:10:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, in a surge of spontaneity, my boyfriend and I decided to book a flight somewhere and go on an adventure. Going to the supermarket is an adventure with this man, so I knew a vacation with him would be something I’d never forget. I’m not sure how we ended up settling on Portugal, but we did, and we booked it on the spot. We took the red-eye from Toronto to Lisbon, via the Azores, on Sata International Airlines. Roughly nine hours later we were in Lisbon, dazed and excited to explore. Prior to leaving for our holiday, we had heard numerous stories about tourists getting ripped off, mugged, or having items stolen from their cars. Our only experience with any of the above (thankfully), was when our taxi-driver charged us double the rate from the airport to our rental apartment, and charged an extra fee for “luggage”. At that point, we were too tired and anxious to drop our bags and explore to care.

We stayed at the Lisbon Serviced Apartments in Bairro Alto, which we found through hours of scouring Trip Advisor. There was no concierge on-site, but rather a small phone outside that was answered 24/7. The apartment was clean, decorated with Scandinavian elements (which obviously, I loved), and in the middle of the vibrant and youthful Bairro Alto neighbourhood. Instead of napping right away, we pushed through our grogginess and set off to explore Lisbon with no plan in mind and just a crumpled vague map in hand.

One of the first things I noticed were the beautiful tiled buildings. Entire city blocks were covered with gorgeous elaborate tiles and wrought-iron balconies. The colours were gorgeous. The streets, made of stone tiles, glimmered in the sun-light from centuries of foot-steps smoothing them down. We popped into a small restaurant in Bairro Alto for lunch, and inadvertently tried two very traditional Portuguese dishes. I had the Bacalhau à Brás, a dish that originated in Bairro Alto. It’s a codfish dish made of shreds of salted cod, onions, and matchstick fried potatoes with scrambled eggs. I had no idea what I was ordering when I pointed randomly to the dish on the menu, but was pleasantly surprised with the casserole-type dish. Chris had the Cataplana – another traditional dish made of pork and clams. We quickly realized that when a restaurant brings you bread, butter, cheese, and olives, you have to pay for it, and are totally free to wave it away if you don’t want it.

With full bellies we set off to explore the city. In November, roasted chestnut stands line the streets of Lisbon, giving off a wonderful smelling wood-smoke. Of course we had to try some for 2 euros! They weren’t our favourite snack though, but were interesting enough to keep us reaching into the little paper cone.

We did some shopping on the main shopping street in Lisbon, listened to some violin players with dreadlocks, and sampled some traditional cherry liqueur, Ginjinha, out of chocolate shot glasses. We soaked up some sun in the main square by the harbour, watching as the trams rattled past. Afterward we watched the sunset over the city while listening to some street musicians, before finding our way back to the apartment (through not-so-safe neighbourhoods, I may add). Of course we stopped at a grocery store to pick up some wine (I could not believe that wine cost less than 2 euros!), and had a great night tapas-hopping throughout Bairro Alto, making friends with a nurse and a pilot from Atlanta, and eating way too much cheese. A perfect night, indeed.

Happy Weekend!

2012-05-18T13:23:00.000-04:00

Enjoy your (long) weekend! I’ll be spending time outdoors with family, bike-riding along canals, and trying out some new recipes from this book. Have a good one!

photo from Johnson Canyon on our trip out West

Wonderful Whistler

2012-05-17T13:11:00.000-04:00

While a quicker route to Vancouver would have been to cut straight through the mountains, stopping in the Okanagan Valley for the evening, we decided to drive up to Whistler instead. Site of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Whistler hosted many of the skiing and snowboarding events, and is often called one of the world’s best ski resorts. We stayed at the Pan Pacific hotel, right in the hear of Whistler village, and had dinner at Ric’s Grill. I tried the blue rare ahi tuna and was pleasantly surprised by the spicy wasabi and ginger rub!

The next day was spent sipping cappuccinos at the base of the hill, watching skiers and snowboarders take the lift up the mountain. I was amazed and impressed by the tiny skiers, some as young as 2 years old, who would zip down the hill with no fear and impeccable technique! Whistler is an interesting blend of people – wealthier families with ski chalets who drive up from Vancouver to hit the slopes, mixed with young twenty-somethings from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand who work in the resorts and snowboard throughout the season. Whistler Village has great little shops, world-class restaurants, and beautiful accommodations. I can just imagine how bustling and vibrant the village must have been during the Olympics!

An Unexpected Landscape

2012-05-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

When I planned my trip out West, I naturally expected to see snow-capped mountains and tall evergreen forests. What I didn’t expect to see were rolling hills dotted with desert-like shrubbery, tiny cacti, and tumbleweeds. Just before entering Lillooet, British Columbia, driving along the Caribou Goldrush Trail, we were smack-dab in the middle of cowboy country. It felt like being in Arizona or New Mexico! I had no idea that such a unique landscape would be sandwiched between the snowy Rockies of Banff and Whistler. What this trip made me realize is how vast, diverse, and unique each area of Canada is. From the lobster harbours of the Eastern Canada, to the desert-like landscape of Eastern British Columbia, and the snowy bits in between, our country’s landscape is as unique as the people that inhabit it. Driving along this stretch of highway, inhabited largely by First Nations people, was especially interesting for me since I studied Aboriginal law last year. To read of land claims in our property class, and then drive through those very areas, was eye-opening and put everything into perspective. Canada is So. Beautiful. I’m clearly a proud Canadian, eh?

Canadian Wildlife Spottings

2012-05-16T09:16:00.000-04:00

I was so surprised by the amount of wildlife we saw while travelling across Alberta and British Columbia! Keeping my eyes peeled for all the animals turned out to be one of my favourite parts of our trip. From the big-eared, wide-eyed deer grazing at the side of the road, to the prairie dogs (as many as 20 of them) popping out of the holes near a rest-stop (a la “whack-a-mole”), it was fun to check the guide-books and tick off which animals we saw. The elusive moose and black bear were never seen, unfortunately! Next time hopefully :)

Mountain Sheep (above) in the Banff National Park

A herd of Elk in near the Banff Springs Golf Course

Tiny little red squirrel near Johnson Canyon

Prairie dogs (or ground squirrels) somewhere along the road

Lovely Lake Louise

2012-05-15T08:58:00.000-04:00

We said goodbye to Banff and drove to lovely Lake Louise, Alberta. On our drive, we passed under a few wildlife highway overpasses in the Banff National Park. Put in place along the TransCanada highway, these overpasses (and many underpasses), allow animals to safely cross the roads, cutting down on animal-vehicle collisions. Unfortunately we didn’t see any animals passing as we drove under, but I can imagine that seeing a family of bears or deer crossing above you would be quite the sight!

The turquoise blue waters of Lake Louise were frozen over when we visited, but it was still a breathtaking sight to see. Since it’s a major tourist attraction, I would recommend visiting before 11am or after 5pm to avoid the tour buses and crowds. We spent the afternoon having lunch at the Chateau Lake Louise, which offered a yummy gluten-free menu and unobstructed views of the lake.

I think Lake Louise is the perfect afternoon stop, if you’re traveling near the Banff area. In the summertime the views are amazing, and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a magical hotel (I felt like it was something out of Beauty and the Beast!) to enjoy a cuppa.

Beautiful Banff

2012-05-14T11:30:00.001-04:00

After flying from Toronto to Calgary, we drove directly to Banff, Alberta. Banff is a beautiful town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, and is home to the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel (pictured above). The hotel, styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle and built in 1888, is located in the Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We spent an evening at the Banff Springs, swimming in the outdoor heated pools (even though it was freezing outside!), and enjoying coffees at the Waldhaus pub. I loved exploring the vast hallways of the old hotel, which truly feels like a castle retreat in the Canadian wilderness.

The next morning we took a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain. Looking down through the glass of the gondola, we spotted bear paw tracks (the black bears were just coming out of hibernation while we were out West, causing people to caution us more than once about their presence). At the top of the mountain, we walked from peak to peak across a wooden pathway, as snow fell softly around us. It was so quiet up there, and with 360 degree views of the mountains, it was easily one of the prettiest sights I’d ever seen.

On our way out of Banff, we spotted an elk nestled in the forest near the Banff Springs golf course. As we slowed down the car, and I began snapping shots, more and more heads turned. There were about 50 elk laying down in the forest, camouflaged in such a way that it made it difficult initially to discern how many animals there were. We were astounded by the size of the herd, and by their calm yet powerful presence. From the beautiful elegance of the Banff Springs hotel, to the harsh beauty of the mountains filled with wildlife, Banff was the perfect place to start our Western Canada adventure.

Across the Country

2012-05-12T16:05:00.001-04:00

I just got back from a beautiful and relaxing vacation across Western Canada. After finishing my first year of law school, a week of stunning scenery, delicious meals, and new places to explore was bliss. It’s hard to believe that the last time I posted was back in February. Reading cases and the scenery at the library don’t make for good blog posts though :) I’ll be back this week with more on our trip, including the amazing wildlife I saw, my thoughts on Vancouver, and the prettiest hotel nestled in the mountains.

Happy Mother’s Day to my sweet Mom, and all the other mothers out there. No one can make me laugh like my Mom, and I’m so grateful to get to talk with her every evening, and learn from her constantly.

Only in Holland

2012-02-07T13:45:00.000-05:00

A perfect way to enjoy the winter in the Netherlands - on an ice-cold terrace sipping a toasty cup of hot Chocomel (a wonderful syrupy hot chocolate drink). A Dutch friend of mine had tagged this photo on her Facebook page, and I couldn't help but marvel at how the Dutch are masters at enjoying life. It's freezing cold? No biggie, we'll just build an ice-patio and serve our customers outside! All seasons, if it's sunny, the Dutch are out and enjoying the weather. In a land plagued with lots of rain, I guess taking advantage of the dry days is a necessity.

photo via leiden.vandaag.nl

more travel palettes

2012-02-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

More travel palettes today, this time from Paris, Malta, Cuba, and Mallorca. I’m loving the Paris palette for my living room, but there’s something so graphic about the blue and green of Mallorca that would look great with a fresh white sofa.

travel palettes

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Since I’m always trying to infuse the feel of the places I’ve been into my everyday life, I thought I’d create some travel palettes from some of my favourite destinations. Isn’t it interesting how the colours of each city are so distinct? I remember visiting Cinque Terre in Italy, and marveling at the beautiful pink, yellow and turquoise buildings. Amsterdam also had a colour palette of its own – mostly darker, earthy tones. I especially loved the black brick buildings there. I’m thinking of a picking out a travel palette for the next time I re-decorate…I’m kind of drawn to the Munster palette, since I’m loving all things mustard these days.

Do you connect colours to certain places? What would you say is the “colour” of the place you live? I’m thinking Toronto is red, grey, and navy blue.

have a relaxing weekend

2012-01-27T13:26:00.001-05:00

This weekend I’m making home-made gluten-free pizza with spinach and mushrooms and watching Crazy, Stupid, Love. I’m also looking forward to wandering around the St. Lawrence Antique market on Sunday morning, and finishing the latest John Grisham novel.

Hope your weekend is relaxing and productive (and that you don’t get too much snow!)

[ photo via ]

Quintessential Cottage Country

2012-01-23T22:15:00.001-05:00

Quintessential Cottage Country – that’s how National Geographic Traveler magazine described Muskoka, Ontario, when it included it in its “Best of the World: Must-See Places for 2012” list, which was featured in the Nov-Dec 2011 issue. The article describes Muskoka, a place I am very familiar with, as “the heart of Ontario’s cottage country.” I grew up visiting the cottages of friends in Muskoka, which is a 2.5 hour drive north of Toronto. Later, in University, I worked for two summers as a live-in nanny to a family who summered there. It was, without a doubt, the most picturesque and relaxing way to spend the summer. Even the drive up to Muskoka, often dead-locked on the highway with other Torontonians trying to make it up to their cottages for the weekend, held the promise of something great. Visiting Muskoka is the archetypical Canadian way to spend a summer – boating, having bonfires, and relaxing on the dock in a Muskoka chair. There’s so much to do in the 2500-square-mile area, which is dotted with lakes, waterfalls, and rivers. I was so happy to see that it made the National Geographic list – it’s such a mixture of old-school charm and high-end real estate, chic shops, and some of the best resorts around.

When I was a nanny, my days were filled with children’s sailing, tennis, and golf lessons at the nearby country club. Afterwards, we would go swimming in the lake, make friendship bracelets on the hammock, and collect wild blueberries that hung to the rocky cliffs. Those were magical summers, and every year I try to make it a point to visit up there. Port Carling is a great town to visit – lots of nice patios and independently-owned shops. You can venture there by boat or by car, and easily walk the little town in an afternoon. Tours of the lakes, and the gorgeous cottages that dot them (ahem – that’s a boat house in the photo above, not the actual cottage (!!)) can be purchased through Lady Muskoka Cruises, or the traditional Segwun steamship. Resorts like Taboo and Touchstone offer great amenities, like infinity pools and modern décor, while the traditional Windermere House has been a favourite place for families visiting Muskoka for decades. If you’re traveling with children, there’s even a Santa’s Village amusement park that operates in the summer!

My favourite time of day in Muskoka is the early morning, when the boats haven’t begun their rides on the lake, and the sea-planes have not yet landed. The water is glassy and black, and occasionally a loon will cut through it as it floats by, creating ripples that spread across the surface. Sitting on the dock in the early morning, bundled up in a sweatshirt with a cup of coffee, is such a peaceful time. And at night, it seems like you can see all the stars in the galaxy – I’ve never seen stars as bright as those up in Muskoka. So while I’ve heard some grumblings about National Geographic’s inclusion of Muskoka on its recent travel list (i.e. “oh no, our real estate prices will go up! it will become more expensive to find accommodations than it already is!”), I think it’s great that Muskoka was included – everyone should get the chance to experience the slow-paced, sometimes luxurious, way of life that Muskoka has to offer.

Photo Credits: 1 2 (clockwise from top left):3 4 5 6

Inside Alcatraz

2012-01-22T23:10:00.001-05:00

With the start of the new primetime show Alcatraz, which I watched for the first time tonight on Citytv.com, I started thinking back to my trip to The Rock last December, and how I never posted any pictures from Alcatraz on here. Visiting San Francisco last year, I knew that the one “must-see” for me was Alcatraz. Even though countless locals had told me to skip The Rock, as it was too touristy to be worth the ticket price, I knew I desperately wanted to go.

We booked our tickets in advance, through the Alcatraz Cruises website, since we had heard that tickets sell out quickly, especially on weekends. Tours run from 9:10am to 1:55pm, and then there are night tours which begin at 4:20pm on some nights. A night tour would definitely be a fun (and eerie) option, and if I’m ever lucky enough to be back in San Francisco one day, I will be sure to book one. We ended up going on the morning tour though, at 9:10am, figuring it would be less crowded when exploring the island.

Ever since watching the Shawshank Redemption as a kid, I have had a fascination with prison movies - for me, listening to the audio tours at Alcatraz was a treat. So many stories lie behind the bars at Alcatraz, and the history of the island and those who lived on it (other than the prisoners) was so interesting to listen to. The children of the guards and prison staff actually lived on the island, and took the boat across the water to go to school each morning. Can you imagine what that must have been like?

I found our trip to Alcatraz to be eerily wonderful, and it was definitely a high-light of my time in San Francisco. It was a rainy, dreary day, and a thick blanket of fog covered the city. I remember being astonished at the beautiful vegetation that covered the island now, especially the wonderful succulents hugging the rocky cliffs.

Here are some helpful tips for visiting The Rock:

- We stayed on the island for about 2 hours. Coupled with getting on the boat and waiting times, the whole excursion took us about 3 hours. If you’re super interested in the island, you can stay as long as you’d like, with the last departure being 4:25pm.

- If you’re looking for a fun “experience” while at The Rock, ask to be locked up in D Block, in one of the solitary confinement cells. The “guard” will lock you (and fellow brave tourists) in “the hole” in complete darkness. Seriously, I thought this would be fun. Unfortunately, after we were left in there a leeeetle too long, I started to get nervous! I guess it makes the experience feel more authentic?? Think twice about doing this if you’re a chicken like me :)

- Bring some food and drinks with you, which you can eat on the dock. Food is prohibited on the grounds of Alcatraz, but after a morning of exploring, we were glad to have packed some granola and bottled water.

- It’s slippery! If you’re there on a damp day like we were (and let’s face it, San Francisco commonly has these wet weather days), make sure to watch your footing. The pathways are a bit rugged and kind of slick, so wearing good walking shoes with some grip on the bottoms is a good idea.

- Bring photo ID when picking up your tickets (it’s required), and leave the bulky backpacks or luggage at home (they’re prohibited).

- Do listen to a walking tour. It was so interesting to hear, through their own words, the stories of some of the individuals who lived and worked at Alcatraz. It’s guided in a way that makes the crowds spread out and creates a steady, even-paced flow of people, so you never feel like you’re in the way of others, or that you can’t see something.

Anybody watching Alcatraz the tv series? I’m not sure what to think about it yet… Seems a bit far-fetched for my liking, but it’s definitely cool to see the scenic shots of San Francisco and Alcatraz.

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-09T07:26:00.002-05:00

We celebrated 2012 at my friend's new condo – drinking Niagara wines, playing hilarious board games (like Taboo and Things in a Box), and snacking on a wonderful spread put out by Courtney. We rang in the new year with funny hats and scenes of Time Square in NYC.

2011 was an interesting year for me. So much happened, it was definitely one of those transition years. I graduated from my MBA program and started law school. I moved to Toronto full-time, and decorated a cute little studio apartment. I made new friends and got to spend lots of time with my sweet niece and nephew. I learned to knit (thanks Yvonne!), cycled from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario with my Dad, and worked at some amazing organizations (like Big Brothers Big Sisters).

2012 is sure to be exciting (at least I’m hoping it is!). My resolution? Be kind to those closest to me, for at the end of the day, they are all that matter.