The {Happy} Travel Bug

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park | Vancouver | Canada

2018-10-11T14:37:00.000-05:00

Usually when I visit a city for second time, I try to see new things. However, there are certain places that I go back to again and again. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of those places.

The view from the bridge is beautiful. We were there on a cloudy day, but even then it was gorgeous. This is a coastal rainforest area so there might be rain, but it brings amazing trees and green, green, green everywhere.

There are usually lots of people on the bridge, so you have to move along or hold everyone up. I've only been in the summer, so I'm not sure of crowds during other times of the year.

After you cross the bridge, you walk into the living rainforest. For me, it's just magical. I love to walk through shady forested areas. Being surrounded by nature in that way makes me happy.

Notice my owl shirt that I wore especially for this occasion. :) There are actually owls and other birds in a section called Raptors Ridge. It's an educational program where they bring different raptors in daily during the summer.

There are several others parts to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park that I will be highlighting in the next few posts. But I highly recommend a visit if you are in the Vancouver, Canada area. Have you ever been? What is one of your favorite nature walks/trail?

If you are a subscriber and reading in an email, please click on a picture to bring it up in my website. Thanks and happy travels!

Fabulous lunch in Alghero | Sardinia | Italy

2018-07-14T21:59:00.002-05:00

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I love good food, but when it comes with a beautiful view even better! Angedras Restaurant in Alghero, Sardinia did not disappoint.

Just sitting on the old city wall with a cocktail and some amazing olive oil, balsamic vinegar and bread was enough for me. I could do that for hours.

But a girl's got to eat, so bring on the food. Disclaimer: this meal was eaten before the majority of my family became vegan and vegetarian.

Lots of pasta, lots of seafood...exactly what your would expect on an Italian island. It really was a wonderful afternoon with the people I love most, a gorgeous location and delicious food. Comment below on your favorite meal with a view. I'd love to hear about it.

I like to include the menu so you can get a better feel for the food offered there. Just click on the picture to make it larger and easier to read. Happy travels!

This post is part of a link-up called Wordless Wednesday. Click here to see all the other great posts.

A Day Trip to Victoria | BC | Canada

2018-06-25T14:11:00.002-05:00

Fifteen years ago I was on an Alaskan cruise that stopped briefly in Victoria, Canada. Let's just say I picked the wrong excursion and we didn't get to see anything that I wanted. I said if I ever got the chance I would come back. Well I finally got the chance this month. We were on vacation in Vancouver and they had a day trip to Victoria that sounded like just what I wanted.

I say sounded, because while I knew there was a bit of travel time, I didn't realize how much. When all was said and done, I still didn't have the amount of time in Victoria that I wanted. Guess I'll have to go back again. ;)

We started off on a bus at Canada Place. Then there was a 40 minute or so drive to catch the ferry. The ferry ride lasted an hour and a half. That's me on the ferry...it was very windy. The views were beautiful though and on the ride back in the evening there was a fairly decent buffet dinner. (extra $$) After the ferry arrived on Vancouver Island, there was another 30 minute drive to Victoria. By the time we had lunch, we only had a couple hours to explore before we left for Butchart Gardens. My recommendation is that you take a seaplane if you have the funds. It cuts off a ton of travel time.

Victoria is a very walkable place. The main hub is this waterfront area in front of the Parliament building...my favorite!

We had lunch overlooking the harbor at Nautical Nellies. I would recommend it...friendly staff, outdoor seating, good food. Now on to my favorite part of this area and an icon for Victoria, the Parliament building.

Funny side story...see those two girls sitting on the grass taking a selfie? Well shortly after this, they asked my husband, who was standing around by himself while I took a million pictures, to take a picture of them. Okay, that's totally normal. But then they asked if they could take a picture of him...and with him. AND THEN they asked him if he was alone and what he was doing the rest of the day. We had a good laugh over that one. That's him below...waiting to be hit on. :)

In case you haven't guessed, I love this building! I've always been a fan of architecture. My brother, who works in that industry, and I have that in common. Another lovely building in this area is the Empress Hotel. We didn't have time to go inside either of these buildings. Saving that for my next visit I guess.

The last part of Victoria we were able to see was Chinatown. After a lovely walk down Government Street, where we bought a Fjallraven backpack for our daughter and got the coolest dipped ice cream at Chocolats Flavoris, we arrived at the gates of Chinatown.

It is a dream of mine to travel to China, but until that time comes, I will enjoy visiting Chinatowns to get a tiny taste of the real thing.

As documented by the Guinness Book of World Records, Fan Tan Alley is the narrowest street in the country and a popular place to walk in Canada's oldest China town. Of course I had to walk down it myself. Very quickly though, because we had a bus to catch to Butchart Gardens.

Have you ever been to Victoria, BC? I am left again wanting a little more time there. Hopefully I will have the chance to get back before another 15 years passes. Happy travels!

This post is linked to Our World Tuesday. Click here to see all the other great travel posts.

I'm a Rebel

2018-05-31T10:45:00.001-05:00

I love to read all kinds of books, including "self help" types. One of my recent reads is called "The Four Tendencies" by Gretchen Rubin.

I'm a fan of Gretchen's work. I also listen to her podcast "Happier" and have several of her other books. The reason I decided to talk about "The Four Tendencies" on my blog though, is that it explains a lot. I am terrible at keeping up with this blog, even though I really want to. It is on my to do list constantly and I'm always coming up with ideas for posts. Never the less, they don't get done. Now if my husband were in charge of this blog it would be excellent. There would be a post done every week. If he sets a deadline for himself he meets it. That's because my husband is an upholder.

He is super disciplined and always meets his goals. I am the exact opposite. I guess it's true what they say...opposites attract. :) Here is a chart of all four tendencies.

Take this quiz to find out what your tendency is. Click here for the FREE quiz! Now tell me in the comments please. I can't wait to hear. Most people are obligers, like my Mom. However, there isn't a single obliger in my family of four.

It would make life a lot easier if there was at least one, but both my kids are questioners.

But that's about family dynamics and not why I stink at regular blogging. As you might have determined ( plus it was the title of this post)...I'm a rebel!

I don't want to do what you want me to, but I can't really make myself do it either. What a mess! So this is my excuse. Thanks for sticking with my irregular posts and supporting me even in my undisciplined ways. I really appreciate all my readers and I want to do better for you. I promise that I will try. I also post on instagram ( @happyhoyt) a little more often. I think because it is easier and takes less time than an entire blog post. Follow me there as well. And don't forget to comment what your tendency is. I want to know if there are any other rebels out there like me. Take care and happy travels.

A Weekend in Minneapolis | Minnesota

2018-02-03T17:58:00.000-06:00

I've been to Minneapolis a few times over the last year and I like it more each time. Here are a few of the things I've enjoyed while there.

Hell's Kitchen is a fun place for brunch. The entire place is decorated like you're in hell. There was a band playing while we were there that really added to the ambiance. But the biggest draw (for me anyway) is the Bloody Mary Bar.

It's a 35 foot long bloody mary buffet basically. You pick your bloody mary mix type, the seasoning you want on your rim and then you load up as much as you want onto wooden skewers to put in your bloody mary. It is a balancing trick for sure.

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center is also a favorite. So many great photo opportunities here.

We were blessed with a beautiful day for walking around. The Sculptures are so fun and interesting. Some you can even walk thru and others make beautiful sounds. We also enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Art Center sitting outside at Esker Grove overlooking the park.

The University of Minnesota offers many fun activities as well. With over 45,000 students there are lots of sports (such as hockey above), restaurants (like in Dinkytown) and even an art museum right on the campus. The campus is built into the city and sits right on the Mississippi River.

Minnehaha Park is a beautiful city park to get away from the urban landscape. There is a waterfall and hiking along with a casual place for food. Great place to take your kids or your furry kids (aka dogs).

Of course we did a little shopping and eating at the Mall of America. I was nursing a broken ankle so my husband pushed me around in a wheelchair. They had them available for rent. The Mall of America is the largest mall in the country. With tons of stores, restaurants and even an amusement park, you could be entertained all day.

Those are just a few of the things we enjoyed during our weekend in Minneapolis. There is a great metro system to and from the airport, as well as, around the city. While we were there I posted a lot of instagram stories. Follow me for live stories everywhere I travel. @happyhoyt

Ever been to Minneapolis? Tomorrow they are hosting the Super Bowl. Justin Timberlake is doing the half time show so I wish I was going to be there. ;) Comment below about your favorite Minneapolis activity or favorite Super Bowl halftime show. Happy travels!

I Broke My Ankle While Traveling

2018-01-22T16:47:00.000-06:00

So I broke my ankle while traveling to The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. I wasn't hiking the mountains or zip lining or any other exciting thing I had planned while there. It was literally as I was leaving my house to catch my flight. I fell down the stairs and heard a snap. I've never broken a bone before so I didn't know that you could actually put weight on it. Once I stood up and was able to walk (with a limp), I assumed I only sprained it. I thought it could be better by the time my flight landed in Colorado. This was my first mistake.

In hindsight, I should never have gotten on the plane. But I love to travel and really didn't want to miss this trip. My husband and I had several fun things planned. Most of those things were active, so I missed them anyway. I just wasn't thinking straight. By the time we landed in Colorado Springs my ankle was so swollen and in so much pain that my husband had to get a wheel chair to get me to the taxi. I had a smile on my face, but the red nose says it all. I had been crying purely out of frustration when I realized that I might have actually broken it. We headed straight to the ER with our suitcases and everything. Long story short...it was broken.

This was what it looked like by the time I arrived at the hotel. Gotta love my flip flop tan. :) The ER had put me in a boot that I could remove. They told me to ice it A LOT! And don't put any weight on it. Thank goodness The Broadmoor had crutches and a wheel chair that I could use. I can't say enough wonderful things about the help they gave me.

It wasn't the vacation we planned, but I enjoyed a gorgeous view from our balcony and even got wheeled to the spa for a facial. No matter how relaxing and beautiful The Broadmoor was, I should not have gone on this trip. All the walking, flying (which is really bad for inflammation and possible blood clots with an injury like this) and going to a medical facility that I wasn't familiar with cost me in the end. My orthopedic doctor said it caused me a longer healing time and rehabilitation once I was able to get home and see him. I learned that my health is the most important thing. That seems obvious, but when faced with missing a long planned trip that I was really looking forward to, things just got fuzzy on what the "right" thing to do was.

It's been six months and I am 95% back to normal with my ankle. It has been a long road to recovery which I will be doing another post on. Have you every broken a bone? Or worse, injured yourself while traveling? Comment below...I'd love to hear from you. Also please share with your friends. I'd love to grow this travel loving community. Take care and travel safe. :)

Alghero | Sardinia | Italy

2017-04-20T15:57:00.001-05:00

Our Holland America Cruise arrived in Alghero, Sardinia, Italy and tendered us to the city walls. I had never heard of Alghero, so I did a little research before we arrived. Seemed to me, the best thing to do was just walk around and enjoy this historical place.

As we arrived, we could see some locals enjoying the beautiful day on their rocky coastline. Not your typical beach, but beautiful, none the less.

Not your typical tree either! But super cool looking!

We spent a lot of the day exploring the ancient wall around the city. The views were gorgeous and the history abundant.

After finding some cool things, like this catapult, along the wall, we headed in to the city streets for some more exploring.

I can't get enough of the unique doors throughout Europe. Usually I don't get to see who lived behind these doors, but in Alghero, I got lucky.

These two lovely ladies were chatting about the day as one was heading home from the store. I couldn't resist asking for a picture. They were so happy! I think they were proud to show off the people of Alghero, not just the buildings.

I just love to explore ancient cities like this. The wall around it keeps it small enough to explore on foot. There are so many exciting details to capture around every corner. It was such a great cruise stop. Even though I had never heard of Alghero, it was one of my favorite stops.

Have you ever been to Alghero? or Sardinia? Leave a comment below and let me know. If not, tell me your dream European destination. I'd love to know! Happy travels...

The Ancient Walls of Alghero

2017-02-02T17:05:00.001-06:00

There are many places in Italy that come to mind when planning a trip: Rome, Venice, Florence, etc. Alghero isn't really one of them. Every heard of it? Well you should get to know it.

As we approached on our cruise ship, you could see the 16th century wall around the city and the beautiful bell tower. I really didn't know what to expect, as I had never heard of this place.

We had to tender in to the island. But it dropped us off right at the city. Perfect for a day of walking and exploring. (more on that in my next post) Those rocky cliffs way in the distance are much larger than they appear.

This is a better idea of their size...massive and powerful. It made for a beautiful coastline as we approached. This is the outside of Neptune's Grotto, an amazing cave discovered by local fishermen in the 18th century.

Once on the island we could see the detail of the 16th century wall. It was so thick, I couldn't imagine anyone blasting through it back in the day. As you can see, there are ways to walk around the city wall at the base, as well as, on top of it. We stayed on top.

You got a real sense of how thick the wall was as you entered the city. I love to imagine all the people in the last several centuries that have entered through this very spot. I am currently reading The Red Tent and I can see Dinah as she cries outside the city wall. Amazing book, by the way, I highly recommend.

I'll end here as we look through the wall at the cruise ship. We were the only ship here that day and it made for excellent exploring. Stay tuned for my next post as we explore inside the city walls of Alghero.

World Vegan Day

2016-11-02T11:08:00.001-05:00

In honor of World Vegan Day, I wanted to give a shout out to my favorite veggie burger and sweet potato fries. These bad boys were consumed at one of my favorite destinations...The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. I have been to the Greenbrier numerous times, but my last visit was the first one as a vegan. I am very familiar with all of their restaurants and was a little concerned that I would have a difficult time. I am so happy to say that wasn't the case. Every restaurant worked with me to provide an amazing meal. Sometimes even fixing things that weren't on the menu so I could enjoy dinner in all the restaurants just like every one else. I hope you all try to eat a more plant based diet for your health, the environment and especially the animals. Happy World Vegan Day!

My adventure in St John | US Virgin Islands

2016-09-08T10:30:00.000-05:00

I've traveled to the Caribbean lots this year. Starting off the new year in Puerto Rico (read about that here) and then heading to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, but my St. John trip was like no other.

To start things off, I rented a jeep that I had to drive on the wrong side of the road. And as you can see above, St. John is very hilly with lots of sharp turns. I felt like a teenager again, really focused every time I got behind the wheel. Plus, I was so proud of myself, which isn't a feeling I usually have after parking my car. ;)

The next thing that made this trip unique is that we rented a house. We used the VRBO website for our stay in Blue Agave. I love that all the houses in St. John have names. I didn't take a lot of pictures of the house, but you can check it out here if you want. Staying in a house was such an enjoyable experience (except for the crazy house manager, but that's a whole other story). Usually I stay in resorts with their own private beaches. There are times, when staying at the larger, all encompassing places, when I hardly leave the resort. But with my jeep and no beach within walking distance, I spent every day exploring the island. I saw more of St. John than I have seen of any other Caribbean island and I loved it. Waking up every morning to amazing views and ending every day with a relaxing dip in the private pool...it was awesome!

Each beach that we visited was unique as well. Some you had to walk quite a distance to get to. Others were right next to the road. Some were totally secluded with no amenities. Others had kayaks, food and beach chairs for renting. ALL were gorgeous!!

Salt Pond Bay was one we had to walk to. There were no amenities, but there was an adorable dog on the sailboat that barked at anyone that swam near. :)

Kayaking at Honeymoon Beach...where you could also rent beach chairs and buy food.

Yes, that is me attempting to get on a tire swing at Oppenheimer Beach . This was as far as I got!

The food was fabulous and accommodating to my vegan lifestyle. This Vietnamese Spiced Crispy Rice Flour Crepe was delicious at the Waterfront Grill. As was this watermelon salad from Zozo's at the Sugar Mill. (below)

I was not in full blog mode on this vacation. I was with friends and wanted to relax and not worry about getting "all the pics". So I don't have any other pictures of my food. I do want to mention Asolare though. The vietnamese summer rolls and Thai vegetable lemongrass curry were amazing. Not to mention the view. It was a fabulous adventure that I would do again in a second.

I'll leave you with this view from our last night...dinner at Zozo's at the Sugar Mill. AMAZING!

Dinner on Holland America Cruise

2016-05-28T21:44:00.002-05:00

I'm always posting about the food I eat around the world. However, since my last post, my eating habits have changed. After doing some research and watching several films like Forks Over Knives and Cowspiracy, I became vegan several months ago. This post by Lauren of Justin + Lauren is a great explanation of how I feel. That being said, these pictures are from a cruise we took over a year ago, so the pictures do not reflect the way I eat now.

I was happy to see as I edited these photos that there are some vegan and vegetarian options. Below are the appetizers we started with.

Greek Moussaka

Gazpacho

Tomato & Mozzarella Salad

Salad

Now I would definitely order the vegetable tagine, but at the time, these were the entrees we ordered.

Veal medallion with vegetables and potatoes

Pesto fettuccine with Italian sausage

Grilled halibut with broccoli

We can't forget about dessert! I would now have raspberry sorbet and the fruit plate. Yum!

Balsalmic Strawberries

Torrone

Berry cobbler

Cherry Mille Feuille

I have always been happy with the food on any Holland America Cruise. I honestly can't wait to take my next one and try all the vegan options.

Pesto Heaven in Santa Margherita Ligure | Italy

2016-02-09T13:48:00.003-06:00

I love pesto! So when I heard that Santa Margherita Ligure was known for some of the best pesto in Italy, I had to have it.

This church was one of the many things my family saw as I dragged them all over the city to find the best restaurant. We were enjoying all the sights, but we were getting really hungry. The market below was very tempting.

My family was getting super frustrated with me. To be honest, I was getting frustrated with myself. But I wanted a restaurant that had pesto pasta, as well as, pesto pizza. Someone told me about it and I couldn't get it out of my mind. When you are the one person in your family that doesn't want to settle, times can get tense. But I am very stubborn and insisted that we keep searching. Thank goodness my husband is so easy going. He convinced the kids to hang in there. And finally, we found what we were looking for.

This little outdoor gem was just what I was looking for. Not only could we sit outside, but they served pesto pasta and pizza. AND it was right next door to a gelato place. Success!

Ironically, after all that my son ordered the spaghetti. :)

But to be fair, he is obsessed with spaghetti and gets it everywhere we go.

We started with a much needed glass of wine and an Italian beer. And then on to the pesto...

So we got the pesto pizza, which I was surprised also had tomato sauce on it. And rather than the plain pesto pasta, we went with Trenette alla genovese, which was flat spaghetti with pesto sauce, potatoes and green beans. The walk all over town was worth it. We sat back with our wine, our pesto and our delighted full bellies. Well, not too full to enjoy a little....

Chocolate gelato. I mean, can you ever be too full for that!?

New Year in Puerto Rico

2016-01-17T11:31:00.000-06:00

2015 was one of the most challenging years of my life. So I decided to start 2016 off with a last minute family trip to Puerto Rico...and I'm glad I did. What a great way to kick off a brand new year!

We knew we wanted a warm destination, but with our passports expiring in the spring, our choices were limited. Make sure you check passport regulations for the country you want to visit. For example, to travel to Mexico, your passport can't be expiring within six months of your trip. But to travel to the Bahamas, you can go anytime up until your passport expires. And Puerto Rico is best of all (for US citizens), you don't even need a passport.

Not only does the new year bring a fresh start, but it also brings our wedding anniversary. What a beautiful place to celebrate marrying the most amazing man I know. We made reservations at Agua Viva, which was a recommendation from several people. It means Jelly Fish, hence the coolest lights ever. We loved it: food, atmosphere and the service.

As this trip was meant for relaxation, we booked a larger resort close to Old San Juan and with its own private beach. The Caribe Hilton did not disappoint.

The beach service was fantastic with food and drinks, as well as, a Starbucks right on the beach. I had never seen that before, but I was more interested in the Pina Coladas and Mojitos. :)

Did I mention that this was the view from our balcony? Every morning I sat there and drank my coffee while enjoying this fabulous view.

I took this picture with snapchat (add me: swagtasticmama) of the Old San Juan fort wall. We walked along the wall to dinner one night. I loved the history and beauty of this place.

Puerto Ricans celebrate the Christmas season well into the new year. So we were witness to A LOT of celebrating. They seem to love a good celebration. I caught these "kings" heading out into the street party right outside the Princesa Gastro Pub where we were having dinner. It was part of the Three Kings festival which was happening in a few days. It was interesting to take in some of the local culture in this way.

Speaking of local culture, I ate lots of Mofongo. It is made with plantains and it is yummy. This one has chicken and shrimp in a garlic sauce sitting on top of the Mofongo.

Our final night we had dinner at Oceano Restaurant. As you can see it is located right on the beach with stunning views of the sunset. The food and service was also wonderful. Our son is obsessed with calamari, so we pretty much order it whenever it is on the menu. This was the best calamari we had ever had. It was cut into steak strips instead of rings and served with cilantro aioli and mango chili sauce. Delish! And we ended with the best key lime pie I can remember eating. Fabulous night!

I leave you with the Pina Colada I'm having at the hotel. Turns out, the Caribe Hilton hotel is the birth place of the Pina Colada. So, of course, every night I felt obligated to enjoy one at the outdoor bar area. The weather was perfect as my husband and I talked about the last year and the challenges we powered through. We sipped our drinks and smiled as we knew 2016 was starting off in a fantastic way. Whether you were traveling or home, with family, friends or your wonderful self, I hope you are starting 2016 off in a way that you want. My love to you all! :)

Portofino | Italy

2015-10-13T20:18:00.001-05:00

After my long hike to Portofino, I was ready to sit down and have a drink. I was so thirsty, that I opted for a cold soda instead of wine...that's really thirsty people! The rest of my family was feeling the same way. So we grabbed a table and each ordered a soda. The drink was refreshing and the people watching was great, but the waiters were so rude. When I asked for the restroom he actually started yelling at me in Italian because I couldn't understand his English. To top off the event, our bill came. It was $60 with tip for our FOUR sodas. Portofino is not a cheap place, folks.

I really wish my Portofino experience hadn't started in such a negative way. I tried not to absorb that negative energy the waiter put off. It knew it had nothing to do with me. He could have just been having a bad day. But I would have liked it better had he been kind. Nevertheless, I was in a beautiful place, so I decided to brush off those feelings and enjoy it.

Castello Brown is a former castle turned museum on this hill overlooking Portofino. The 1991 movie, Enchanted April, was filmed there. The tour desk on our cruise ship did not recommend going inside, so we just admired from afar.

The Museo del Parco di Portofino was a strange strange sight to see. Not only was there a rhino hanging in the air, but these strange bright pink animal statues on each post. (not shown)

PORTofino was aptly named. What a gorgeous port!

I throughly enjoyed walking around and taking in all the colors of Portofino. The buildings, the boats and the beautiful colors of nature. There are also several stores if you are into high end shopping.

Dior, Pucci and Gucci are a good example of the stores in Portofino. It fits the expensive theme of this place.

I love the way they have used all the old buildings to house modern stores. Such a great juxtaposition of old and new.

Overall, I thought Portofino was a very beautiful, very expensive little Italian village. I'm curious to know if any of my readers have actually stayed in Portofino and what you thought? Please comment below.

Hiking to Portofino | Italy

2015-09-19T17:36:00.000-05:00

When our cruise ship stopped at Santa Margherita, Italy, we had many excursions to choose from. Our final decision was to hike to Portofino and back, while enjoying both cities and the views in between. And what views those were!

The walk took a little over an hour and was easy at times, with a few moderate spots along the way. We got an idea of what it would be like as we viewed the northern Italian coast from our cruise ship balcony. Gorgeous!

After we disembarked and took off toward Portofino, I couldn't resist this shot of the cruise ship. You just don't think about how huge it is when you are on it. It's impressive from the shore.

The views just got better and better as we hiked. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

The first part of the hike was along the road and then we headed into the hills for the second half.

It was a very nice trail through the hills with pavers and handrails to keep things safe.

This was my favorite picture of the day. (That's why I made it my opener :)) Imagine spending your summer in this Italian home. Waking up in the morning with a cup of coffee and that view. Taking an afternoon dip in the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea. Stunning!

We passed many homes, hotels and beautiful buildings. But the most surprising thing we passed were gates like the one below.

Why would it be surprising to pass this gate you ask? WELL, it wasn't along the road, it was along that trail we were walking on. I just couldn't imagine walking up this hill, along a little path to get to the entrance of my home. Very Italian chic, but very inconvenient.

I was very excited to see this church in Portofino because it meant my hike was nearing the end. I must admit that I was very hot, tired, thirsty and ready to sit down. Which is exactly what I did, to the tune of $10 for one Diet Coke, but more on that in my next post about Portofino.

As soon as we arrived in Portofino, I knew that I would not be hiking back to Santa Margherita. I would be taking the ferry. My husband, who runs 10 miles for fun, thought he would hike back and see who could get there fastest. Sounded good to me, as I sat comfortably on my bench waiting for the next ferry.

Turns out, taking the ferry back afforded me lots of great pictures of the coast line. It was fun to see the area I had just hiked from a different point of view.

I made it back to Santa Margherita just in time for some delicious pesto pasta, pizza and gelato. More on that coming soon. Oh, and I beat my husband back. That's important! ;)

This post linked to Amaze Me Monday, Travel Photo Monday, Through My Lens, Inspire Me Wednesday, Travel Photo Thursday & Blue Monday

What I Ate Wednesday

2015-08-20T16:32:00.000-05:00

Just like every morning on our Mediterranean cruise, we started with room service breakfast on the balcony. Not a bad way to start any day.

Then we were off to explore Monaco, Eze and Nice. It was going to be a big day of exploring, so we loaded up on breakfast, pretty much skipped lunch and ended the day with dinner in the main dining room. Vacation eating can be a bit different. Do you eat the same on vacation as you normally do at home?

We do not tread lightly on our vacation eating. Especially cruise meals that have already been paid for in the price of the cruise. We're talking four courses if possible. So enjoy...

I started with the Mille-Fuelle of Duck Pate. It was duck liver pate between puff pastry with a grilled pear on top. I love pate, but this wasn't my favorite. I would have preferred a baguette instead of the puff pastry. Not bad though.

My son had chilled Alaskan Crab legs. He loved them. They were good, but I like my crab legs served warm. Once on an Alaskan Cruise we had these chilled straight out of the water. Hard to beat that.

My daughter, who always gets the fruit, went with the Pineapple Boat dusted with toasted coconut. Not much to say about this. It was what it was.

We tried all three of the soups they were offering. From left to right: Chilled Blackberry, Dutch Pea and Duck and Sausage Gumbo. The winner was the Dutch Pea. It was the perfect thickness and had just the right combination of vegetables with meat. The chilled blackberry was more like a dessert than a soup. I was most disappointed with the gumbo. We lived in Louisiana for several years and this is not what I would call gumbo. Not thick enough and missing all the yummy bits of sausage.

The Arugula salad was light and refreshing with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing. Now on to the entrees.

My daughter got the cajun chicken caesar salad. The jalapeño cheese was a nice touch along with the cajun chicken and garlic dressing.

My son went with his usual meat choice...cracked pepper tenderloin with grilled shrimp. They were sitting on green beans and spinach. It was gone in seconds!

Every night you can order basics like this salmon, vegetables and potato side. That is what my husband went for on this night. Basic, but tasty.

And I went with the Maple-lacquered duck breast. On a trip to London many years ago, I had duck for the first time and was in love. This duck was really good, but nothing has ever lived up to that meal I had at Maggie Jones in London.

Dessert time!!! What would you pick?

Another choice from the basics menu. There was always a cheesecake option and my husband decided to go for that. I don't really care for cheesecake, so I didn't bother with this one.

A brownie hot fudge sundae was shared by all. Can't go wrong here.

I had the chocolate-espresso souffle with raspberry sauce. It was yummy, but lacked the espresso kick I was hoping for.

Another Wednesday, another great day of food. Thanks Holland America!

This post linked to WIAW

Nice | France in the French Riviera

2015-07-20T18:07:00.000-05:00

This was my first glimpse of Nice as we came in on an excursion with our cruise line. The plan was to do a sight seeing drive thru the city and then get off the bus and tour a french flower market on foot.

As we drove thru the city, I was surprised to see this Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the middle of Nice. Turns out, it was built in honor of a Russian Czar's son who died there.

The bus dropped us off on the boardwalk right next to the pebble beach of the French Riviera. I was imagining something a little more glamorous. I try not to have expectations about a place, but sometimes I can't help it.

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson has ties to France? He was minister to France from 1785-89.

Turns out we were late for the flower market, so they were already setting up for the evening outdoor dining. Our tour guide decided to do a walk around the old town for all those interested and we thought that sounded like a good idea.

The outdoor cafe was lovely with all the fresh seafood and adorable little dogs.

This area looked like the perfect place to spend the evening with friends, family, food and French wine.

Off we went to explore the old town with all of its beautiful buildings and history.

I have a fascination with old doors and Nice provided several. This one in the middle with the marker over it has been there since 1623. The owners initials, religion and the year are all marked in it.

We passed a few stores with their goodies on display, like these bath salts and colorful soaps. I could have stood there and smelled them for hours, picking just the right one.

Couldn't resist this picture of someones laundry hanging out to dry. When you live in the middle of these old cities, you must be prepared for all the tourists constantly wondering around. I guess you just get used to it and hang your laundry for everyone to see.

We didn't have long in Nice, France. But it was a "nice" day none the less. Sorry, couldn't resist.

This post linked to Friday Postcards, Amaze Me Monday, Mosaic Monday, Inspire Me Wednesday & Weekend Wanderlust

Eze | France

2015-06-09T13:21:00.000-05:00

As I travel around the world, there are some places that I just fall in love with. Eze was one of those places. Until I booked this excursion on our Mediterranean cruise, I had never heard of Eze, France. It was included on an excursion with Nice, which I was very familiar with. You hear so much about the French Riviera, of which Nice is a part, but this centuries old town of Eze, not so much.

If I had to pick one word to describe Eze, it would be charming. It was easy to get lost in all the tiny little walkways, and that was okay. It is the kind of place I want to get lost in.

I think this little guy below had the right idea. Just immerse yourself in the historical walls of the medieval town.

The only thing I don't like about booked cruise excursions is that you are on their time frame. I wanted to spend so much more time in Eze. Every one of these doorways called to me. There will definitely be a future trip here for my husband and I. What a romantic little getaway!

Another thing I loved about Eze was that it wasn't touristy. I had just spent the morning in Monaco, where all the shops were so over done with tourist junk. The shops in Eze were authentic boutique type shops.

You can't look at this picture and not want to plop down at one of those tables...can you?

The history nerd in me was going crazy with all the historical details that were still in place. The rock mosaic floor above and the water/sewer line in the streets below.

Even knowing that it wouldn't smell very nice, I would LOVE to go back in time and see this town as it was when things like this were actually being used.

We ended our walk through Eze at it's church. Every medieval city had one and the town was usually centered around it. I really liked the light and airy feel of this one. After a quick look around the church, I ventured outside and came across this open gateway below.

I took the open invitation and found this medieval cemetery.

Rather than have sad thoughts of those buried here, I thought how wonderful it was that they were able to spend part of their lives in this charming historical town. Here's a little video I took while there.

This post linked to Travel Photo Thursday, Friday Postcards, Weekend Wanderlust, Amaze Me Monday, Mosaic Monday, Travel Photo Monday, Blue Monday, Inspire Me Wednesday &

Monte Carlo | Monaco

2015-05-17T09:48:00.003-05:00

The first stop on our Mediterranean cruise was Monaco. Unfortunately it was raining when we arrived. Even with the clouds, we had a fabulous view from the balcony in our room.

We made guesses on how much that giant yacht cost. What's your guess? The opera house below is part of the famous Monte Carlo casino. This is another shot I took from the balcony as we waited out the storm.

Just as we were about to get off the ship, the storm picked up and they actually closed the gangway. That has never happened to me on a cruise before. But as you can see below, they opened it back up and I ventured off in the rain. Thank goodness the aquarium was selling these ponchos. They made a killing that day!

Cruise ships have a great location when they port in Monaco. You can walk right off the ship and up the hill to see many great things.

Our first stop was Saint Nicholas Cathedral where Princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier are buried.

Just a few more steps and we were at the Prince's Palace.

To be honest, it wasn't my favorite palace. I did however, enjoy the statues surrounding it. Especially when I caught a bird on her head. It's the little things that entertain me. :)

The square surrounding the palace was very busy and colorful.

And there was a fabulous view from here. You could even see the cruise ship and just how far we had come on foot...in the rain.

Great place to get some family shots.

As usual, I enjoyed the history of the place. These walls and lanterns were amazing! 1533!

You might recognize this walk and the chocolate shop below from the latest season of The Amazing Race. I LOVE that show! It was so cool to watch them race thru the same places I had been.

We walked around the tiny pedestrian only streets looking for a spoon for my collection. The shops were mostly touristy and the workers were not the friendliest of people. :(

It finally stopped raining and we were able to walk back down to the cruise ship. Turns out the walk is thru a beautiful park that we didn't get to enjoy on the way up.

I mean look at this view below. This walk is completely free. In fact, other than the rain poncho and the souvenir spoon, we didn't spend any money in Monaco. Pretty good for one of the most expensive places there is.

Of course there is so much more to see in Monaco, but we had an excursion to France that afternoon, so we had to head back to the ship. I was really happy with what we could see just walking straight off the ship. It was beautiful, economical and easy...even in the rain. Here's a little video recap.

This post linked to Amaze Me Monday, Mosaic Monday, Travel Photo Monday, Blue Monday, Do Tell Tuesday, Inspire Me Wednesday & Travel Photo Thursday

Dinner in the Vista Dining Room | Holland America Line

2015-03-10T10:32:00.000-05:00

My family loves to eat! We couldn't wait to get to the Vista dining room on the first night to pick our favorite table at the back of the ship. Menus in hand, we were ready to go.

We like to try lots of different things, so we order accordingly and share. If someone doesn't want to share, then we just order two of that thing. My son thinks this is the most awesome thing. As a teenage boy, he eats more than all of us. And being able to order as much as he wants without worry of the price thrills him.

My daughter got the fruit medley with minted low-fat lemon yogurt. YUM! She loves fruit and was very pleased.

Next up was the prosciutto ham with cantaloupe and arugula. These are all the appetizers, by the way.

I decided to try the salmon-red bell pepper terrine. The pink stuff is horseradish beet aioli which sounded interesting to me. And it was just that...interesting.

The last of the appetizers was my son's frog legs. They were served on a risotto cake with a tomato-garlic concassee. He loves meat of any kind and can now add frog to his list.

If I ever see an unusual item on the menu I like to give it a try. This chilled pear, cucumber and melon gazpacho sounded intriguing. The base is pineapple juice flavored with basil, mint and rice wine vinegar. There was also a hint of jalapeno pepper. I enjoyed it...would be great on a hot summer day.

Can you guess whose this is? That would be the teenage son who loves meat. He downed this prime rib with green beans, carrots and a potato.

My daughter settled on something much lighter with this penne fresca. Both my kids LOVE pasta and always have, so this was a hit.

I am always up for a good fish. This was my rainbow trout with pasta and zucchini. I don't care for fish skin, do you? Tell me in the comments. So it made it a little cumbersome to eat, but it tasted great. I especially liked the capers and tomatoes on the top.

Lastly, my husband went with the eggplant cannelloni parmigiano. Very delicious! We ended up trading half way because I liked it so much. Now, on to desserts, yes, plural. :)

What would you order? I went with the lemon torte. I love chocolate, but I also love the refreshing taste of lemon after a meal. And it was so pretty.

My son is obsessed with the crumbles that they serve every night. So he went with that. It isn't listed on the menu, but we have been on enough Holland America Cruises to know about it, so we asked.

My husband went with the apple strudel. He loved it. I'm not really a fan of apple strudel in general. But the warm vanilla sauce was delicious.

My husband is a chocoholic and since he was sharing his strudel with our daughter, he asked if there was anything real chocolatey hiding in the back. They brought him this chocolate concoction below. It was sugar free and I could tell. He enjoyed it, but said it could have been a stronger dark chocolate taste.

Not bad for our first dinner on the ship. Stay tuned for many more dinners to come, including some in port with views like the one below. I seriously took this picture while having seafood in an outdoor cafe for lunch. Heaven!

This post linked to What I Ate Wednesday

Our Signature Suite on Holland America Cruise Line

2015-03-08T10:33:00.000-05:00

Recently I've been sharing our time in Barcelona with these posts. But did you know our time there was leading up to a Mediterranean Cruise with Holland America?

My daughter and I spent several days pre-cruise in Barcelona, which I highly recommend. My husband and son flew in on the day of the cruise and met us right on the ship.

We were staying in a Signature Suite and I thought I would show you around.

Our queen size bed had night stands on both sides with ample storage.

There was a sofa that slept one person, along with two chairs and a coffee table. I could have done without one of the chairs. We kept having to move it to get out on the balcony. Since the Signature Suite only sleeps three, we had an inside cabin across the hall for our kids. This room was just for me and the hubby. :)

I loved all the light that streamed in from the windows and door. The desk and TV area overlooked the balcony.

Here is a better view of that area. There was a DVD player and you could order DVD's from a "menu" and have them delivered to your room.

I love when rooms come with a separate vanity. And the make-up mirror is the icing on the cake. So much better than trying to do your make-up in the bathroom. Am I right?!

Every morning we ordered breakfast to be delivered to our balcony. What an amazing way to start the day! All included, by the way. Our balcony consisted of a table with two chairs and two lounge chairs with ottomans. We spent a lot of time out here. If you can spring for a room with a balcony DO IT!

The entrance to our room was rather large with the bathroom and full length mirror on one side and several closets on the other. You could also drape this area off for some changing privacy if needed.

Our bathroom consisted of a jacuzzi bathtub with a handheld shower nozzle and there was also a separate shower right next to it. Lots of options.

I love this part of the bathroom. Two sinks, two medicine cabinets and lots of storage. Fabulous!

At night, our very helpful stewards would turn down our bed and put a cute little towel animal on it.

I've made a short video of the room as well. Check it out and subscribe to my YouTube channel. :)

It was a fabulous cruise that had stops in Spain, France, Monaco and Italy. Stay tuned for many more posts on all that PLUS all the food we ate along the way.

This post linked to Blue Monday

How to NOT Overpack

2015-02-12T11:12:00.000-06:00

How someone packs says a lot about them. Do you procrastinate or pack a week in advance? Do you shove everything in a bag not thinking about how it goes together or do you try on every outfit? Do you look up weather where you are going? Or do you even know where you're going?!

I am one of those organized packers that starts a week in advance. I lay out all my ideas for outfits, and yes, I try them all on, including shoes and jewelry. I actually make a daily schedule for trips that are longer than a week and I plan what I will be wearing each day. I HATE to overpack! I allow myself one miscellaneous outfit, just in case. I get excited about finding something new to help me organize my suitcase. My husband is the exact opposite. This picture above describes us perfectly. After 22 years of marriage I have finally let it go and don't worry about his methods.

I recently bought a sheet of these from a local store. I like to fill out the top and give them to my kids to help them pack without my help. It is a good reminder to read through before you zip up that bag for good. I recently watched a video on YouTube about how to not overpack from Ingrid Nilsen. I liked the way she organized her things so I decided to share it with you.

I want to know what kind of packer you are. Please comment below and share. Thanks!

This post linked to Do Tell Tuesday

Basilica Santa Maria del Pi | Barcelona, Spain

2015-02-05T13:11:00.002-06:00

Of course you have heard of la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, but there are other cathedrals that you should visit as well. One of the more well known ones is the Cathedral of Barcelona (easy to remember).

On the day we visited, there was a line to get in. Not near the line la Sagrada had, but a line, none the less. After waiting for some time, we found out that you can't wear shorts into the cathedral. Bummer! So we decided to come back another day with pants on...never happened. Anyway, since we couldn't get into the cathedral we had more time to explore the Gothic Quarter where it is located. And guess what we found? The Basilica Santa Maria del Pi

This beautiful church had no line at all and a very small entry fee, but most importantly, we could wear our shorts.

So in we went, thru the giant front doors. I love the little door within the big door. It's like the "people/doggie" door for God's house. ;)

While I explored the entire church, my daughter sat down in the chapel (below) and took a break.

There were many parts for me to explore. This church, built in the 14th century had many "side chapels". At least that is what I call those parts on the side of large cathedrals that each have their own alter or design.

Correction to the picture: It is the Santa Maria del Pi NOT Mar

Just beautiful! And I had the place to myself. Couldn't believe it!

I love to imagine all the people that have been baptized here in the last 700 years.

This was one of those photo fails that I ended up liking. I didn't think there was enough light for the first pic, so I increased that for the second pic. But I ended up liking them both. The one in the shadows looks sadder in the face. It is the same statue...isn't that crazy!?

I love stained glass windows! There were many in the Basilica Santa Maria del PI, but my favorite was the circle one at the back of the church.

Pictures just don't show the emotions of the colors streaming in thru the light. This picture above shows the window from the outside and the inside. I love the beauty hidden within.

Correction to the Photo: It is the Santa Maria del Pi NOT Mar

I loved having the church all to myself, but I could have used some company as I headed down into the crypt. It's now used to show videos about the history of the church.

My last stop was a little church museum that had some relics on display. The picture below tells about them.

I was so happy to stumble upon The Basilica Santa Maria del Pi in Barcelona. Sometimes the best made travel plans don't work out for some reason (no shorts in the cathedral) and you just have to have an open mind to new things you didn't plan on. In fact, some of my best travel discoveries have been made this way. How about you? Comment below and let me know. Or just comment about whatever, I love to hear your thoughts.

This post linked to Travel Photo Thursday, Mosaic Monday, Travel Photo Monday, Blue Monday, Inspire Me Wednesday , TPThursday & Amaze Me Monday

10 Travel Beauty Tricks

2015-01-24T09:15:00.000-06:00

Everyone wants to look their best as they exit the plane. And after traveling across the entire ocean~ that can be difficult. I have been writing about my trip to Spain, which was a very long trip from Chicago, including a layover in London. My number one key is to sleep. You feel better, and with a little help, you will look better as well. Check out this video from the YouTube channel Polished about 10 travel beauty tricks.

Which trick was your favorite? Any special tricks of your own you want to share in the comments?

Take care and safe travels...

La Rambla & the Gothic Quarter | Barcelona | Spain

2015-01-05T13:21:00.001-06:00

One of the most popular things to do in Barcelona is take a walk down La Rambla. It is a tree lined street that connects the Catalunya Plaza (where we stayed at the Olivia Plaza Hotel) all the way to Port Vell at the statue of Christopher Columbus.

It is very busy and very touristy. Were it not also beautiful, with the trees and gorgeous buildings, it would not have been one of my favorite things to do.

But with street lights and water fountains that look like this, I can ignore all the people peddling silly things and just take in all the beauty.

Not only is the Boqueria market on La Rambla, but the Gothic Quarter is connected to it as well. Just head down a side street and there you are, checking out buildings like the one above. The Gothic Quarter is the oldest part of Barcelona, dating back to Medieval times.

The kind of old where buildings have these markings on the side. Wish I knew what it said...

I seriously considered staying in the gothic quarter since I am such a history nerd. The thought of staying somewhere that had such history excited me. However, I was traveling with my daughter and with streets like these above, I just didn't feel good about us walking around at night. I ended up loving our hotel and it's location on the Plaza Catalunya, so I feel like I made the right choice. The gothic quarter was awesome to explore and just get lost in (which was easy to do). Somehow we always managed to find our way back to the hotel.

When I saw this mosaic tile fountain I knew we were getting close. It was so strange how we always ended up on that street after exploring the gothic quarter. It was my landmark, and a beautiful one at that.

After all that exploring a girl's gotta eat. Many of the restaurants in Barcelona are set up like this one. All the different tapas (or small bites) are on display for you to pick from. They look pretty, but I wasn't very impressed with the taste on many of them. Maybe I was just bad at picking out the good ones. Speaking spanish and being able to ask questions might have come in handy. So I've explored and filled my belly, now it's time for....

Just kidding!!! It's just that I had never seen a whole store devoted to condoms. I had to take a picture. I wasn't daring enough to go in, besides, I was traveling with my daughter, remember.

So we've reached the end of la Rambla with Christopher Columbus. I know a lot of people about to embark on cruises get dropped off here for a few hours before the cruise takes off. My advise is don't spend all your time on la Rambla. Head down some side streets and explore the Gothic Quarter. There are many interesting things to discover.

This post linked to Amaze Me Monday, Mosaic Monday, Travel Photo Monday, Through My Lens, Blue Monday