I have been hearing how amazing Croatia is since I traveled to Greece in 2009. When I visited the Greek Islands I met a few travelers who had been to Croatia and they kept saying “If you think Greece is beautiful, you have to visit Croatia.” At the time, I couldn’t imagine a place more beautiful than Greece. Now, I can finally say I understand. 

Dubrovnik was magical, even despite the 150+ stairs we had to walk up to get to our AirBnB. Something about a city still surrounded by medieval walls, feels like a page straight out a fairytale. Add in the CRYSTAL clear blue water and small streets to get lost in, and you are transported. As we arrived after 8 pm, we just got settled into our AirBnB and went to find some food. The next day would be our first day to explore.

Day 1

Both Claire and I wanted to walk the city walls which gives you a great birds-eye and 360 degree view of Old Town. It’s also a great way to get your bearings. This was recommended by many bloggers and seemed like a great way to spend a few hours. It was beautiful, but definitely a work out. Besides the many stairs you encounter on your 2 km trek around the city, you also have to deal with the heat and humidity. I was a sweat bucket by the end of it. But like I said, the views were worth it!

Next: Cliff Jumping…yeahhhhhh…..I did that. I had been told by Shay that we had to go to Cafe Buza (which means ‘hole in the wall’) to do some cliff jumping, and after walking the wall, we had a good idea about how to find this Cafe. There are actually 2 Buzas, Buza I and Buza II. Not sure which one we ended up at, but let me tell you. What. A. Rush! It was much higher than it looked and man, the adrenaline! Claire got brave and did it twice. Me, I settled on just once. All I needed was some photo proof, which I got. Once was enough!

For those who don’t watch Game of Thrones (like myself), Dubrovnik is actually a location used for the show. Claire is a big fan, so we of course had to visit the Castle which is King’s Landing in the show (so I’m told). This also meant we were in store for more stairs. But again, the view was worth the trek.

Then we took to wandering the streets, window shopping, chatting and just getting lost. This is one of my favorite things to do. No real purpose, just exploring and people watching. After having a drink we stumbled upon a symphony. As we really had no other plans, we thought why not! I don’t usually listen to classical music, but I have an appreciation for all music, and we were not disappointed!

Day 2: My Last Day In Europe!

For my last day with Claire, and in Europe, we decided to rent a kayak and venture out on the water by ourselves. We got to see what Dubrovnik looked like from the water, and it was just as beautiful. Between walking the stairs to our room and going kayaking, I pretty much got a full body workout during our stay in Dubrovnik and by the end, I was definitely feeling it!

Following kayaking we headed to the other Buza Cafe to get in little more swimming before we went back to get ready for dinner. 

ClaireBear – Thank you for an AMAZING time. I’m so happy that everything worked out so we were able to meet up and travel together. I can’t wait until our next adventure. Love you bbgirl!

Europe – You are beautiful, interesting and I can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to have a small taste of what you truly are. Until next time m’love..stay stunning!

Now I’m off to the UAE for some R&R and to visit with my family!

‘Till next time…

Ciao!

-A<3

La Vie Est Belle means “Life is Beautiful”, and you can’t help but live this saying in the French Riviera. 

I met my friend Claire in Nice after flying from Switzerland. I’ll be honest, all I knew about Nice and the surrounding towns was that celebrities often visit the Côte D’Azur on holidays. Other than that, I was going off what Claire had told me. I’m always up for visiting a new place and Claire was set on Nice and some of the surrounding towns.

I was nervous about visiting Nice following the terrorist attacks on July 14. Claire quickly reminded me that you can’t live in fear that something is going to happen. You might as well never leave your house, and if you’re worried about terrorist attacks, Europe isn’t the place to be traveling right now. Her exact words were “We can’t let them win.” She coulnd’t have been more right. 

Claire and I decided to have Nice as our home base for 5 days, and rented a car for the first 2. We wanted to visit Cannes, Grasse, St. Tropez, Eze, & Monaco, so we decided to do these while we had he car, and it was such a good idea! Claire did an incredible job maneuvering the French roads, and not to mention the French drivers.

After Claire picked me up at the airport and we settled into our AirBnB, we headed out for dinner at La Merenda. It was recommended in Claire’s Lonely Planet book and it didn’t disappoint. I still dream about the fruit salad I had for dessert.

The next day we drove to Grasse, Cannes & St. Tropez. Grasse is famous for it’s perfumeries, Cannes is of course known for the Cannes International Film Festival, and St. Tropez is the travel destination for Hollywood’s most famous. I have never seen so many massive yachts in my entire life! This also meant we were on the lookout for Claire’s future husband. 🙂

Day 2 was spent visiting Eze & Monaco. Tuts and hunt continued at the Monte Carlo Casino and the Monaco Yacht Club. We also made a pit stop to take some pictures of the stunning view on the way there.

While strolling the Promenade des Anglais, we came across the memorial for all those who lost their lives on July 14. It truly was a heartbreaking and sobering moment. It’s so hard to believe that something actually happened. Besides the memorial and the obvious presence of the French Military, there was really no evidence that a terrible attack took place just 2 short months ago. 

What I learned was this: hug your loved ones, and tell them EVERY SINGLE DAY how much you love and care for them. Life is this precious and short thing, so fill your life with happiness and laughter. It’s too short to waste.

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We spent the remainder of our days being lazy on the beach, stuffing our faces with French pastries and enjoying the beautiful city that Nice is. We also came across an impromptu street drag show and ended up dancing in the street to “It’s Raining Men!”

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​You can’t not fall in love with the Côte d’Azur. It is the the perfect place to be reminded that la vie est belle.

Now I’m off to Croatia! My last stop in Europe!

‘Till later…

Ciao!

A<3

Over the years, my family has hosted 4 exchange students. 2 from Germany, 1 from Japan, and 1 from Switerland. Of the 4 we’ve kept in contact with 2, Kristian (from Germany, and my German big brother), and Salome (from Switzerland). Last year Salome and her boyfriend Beni were traveling through the US and Canada, and they stopped in Edmonton before heading to Vegreville to visit other families that Salome stayed with. I met up with then for a bit and caught up. It was then that they extended the invite to me to come visit them if I was ever in the neighbourhood. Well, having 2 days to kill before I met up with my friend Claire in the south of France, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to take them up on their offer. 

Salome and Beni live in Olten, which is a small city just 30 mins away from what seems like everything. 30 mins from Bern, 30 mins from Basel and also close to Zurich. So I flew into Basel from Budapest to meet up with Salome. She met me at the train station and showed me around Basel before we caught the train to Olten. 

The following day, on recommendation from Salome and Beni, I took the train to Thun to explore while Salome was in class. What a beautiful little village on a river. It has so much character and I immediately knew my Mom would have loved it here. Following that I met Salome in Bern (her hometown) and she showed me around. It’s a smaller city with a homey feel like Edmonton. Had it not been so expensive, I probably would have stayed longer.

Salome and Beni, thank you so much for your hospitality and showing me around Switzerland. I truly wish I could have stayed longer, but as always, now I have an excuse to come back!

‘Till later…

Ciao!

-A<3

Budapest was never really high on my “To Travel” list, and to be honest, I really don’t know why. Paul had been to Budapest last year and raved about how beautiful (and cheap) it was, but for some reason I was never drawn there. As I had a few day before heading to Switzerland, and my mom suggested Budapest following Prague. Mainly because it’s cheap and I could get there easily by bus or train. Just like that, Budapest was the next on my list. 

Traveling from Prague, at first I decided to take the bus. Unfortunately, I was 3 mins late and missed it and Flixbus wouldn’t use the money I spent towards a new ticket (don’t even get me started). So I bought a train ticket instead. Considering it was a 6 and a half hour ride, it went by fairly fast.

Upon arriving in Budapest, I took the metro and made my way to my hostel where I met Rita & Ines. Both from Portugal and traveling via train throughout Europe for 2 weeks. They were on their last night in Budapest, so I tagged along for dinner and they showed me a few ruin bars (abandoned buildings that have been converted into pubs/clubs) and shared their insight into what the city had to offer. 

The next day (you guessed it) I went on the walking tour and got to see how beautiful Budapest really is. Having experienced a little of what Budapest’s nightlife had to offer, I was really amazed by how much the city changed during the day. One thing our tour guide said was to always look up when walking through the streets of Buapest, you never know what Angels will be smiling down at you. The buildings in Budapest were often adorned with angels, so it was definitely fitting. 

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The following day I decided to wander around on my own. I was unusually drawn to the Parliament building, so that’s where I started. On my way there, I stumbled upon the “Shoes On The Danube.” This is a memorial to the Jews who were shot into the river by militiamen in Budapest during WWII. Then I took the #2 tram along the river and caught a boat ride on the Danube.

Shoes On the Danube​

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Budapest really is a sight to be seen…so what are you waiting for?! Buy your ticket and see for yourself..don’t just take my word for it.
‘Till later…

Ciao!

-A ❤

I can never get it right. I either spend too many days in one place, or not enough. Prague is a city in which I definitely did not allocate enough time. I arrived by bus to the Main Train Station at 8:45 pm. By the time I walked to my hostel it was 9:30 pm, and I wasn’t up to being social. I got settled, FaceTimed with Sidney, then Shay, did some laundry and called it a night. I stayed at Hostel Downtown, which I really liked. The only downside was that my room was on the main floor, RIGHT beside the stairs and reception desk, and also faced the very busy street so it was NOISY! Thank god I had earplugs to at least dull the noise. 

The next morning I (once again) went for the Sandemann’s Free Walking Tour that started in Old Town Square, just a 10 minute walk from my hostel. I have seen my fair share of squares, piazzas, platz’, cuadrados and fyrkants on my trip, but this was different This was busy, yet inviting at the same time. I even got a really nice view of the Astronomical Clock as I walked across the square to join the group.

Our tour guide Karel took us through Old Town, New Town and the Jewish District. He was an authentic Czech, who was so enthusiastic about his city and it showed throughout the entire tour. Every corner you turn around in Prague, there is something to be seen. On the tour, I met Kelsey. Another solo female traveler from Australia who was 5 months into her year long travels. We talked about where we had been, where we were headed, favorite places (which really is everywhere), and so much more. We even found out that we were both staying at the same hostel! Following the tour, Kelsey and I decided to stick together and walk to Charles Bridge, the famous John Lennon Wall, the Dancing House, and then back to Old Town Square to watch the Astronomical Clock strike 4 pm. Needless to say, my feet were KILLING me when 4:30 rolled around. We headed back to the hostel to relax for a couple hours before we met up again for dinner and the marionette show.

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There is still so much I wish I would have had the time to see. But I guarantee I’ll be back!

‘Till later…

Ciao!

-A ❤

Nearing the halfway point in my travels, I’ve started to get a little homesick. I miss Paul, my friends and family, sleeping in my own bed, proper pillows, certain food, and just the feeling of home. So, having my mom come and spend 10 days with me was just what I needed.
Lots of people might hate the idea of 10 straight days with their mother. I, on the other hand, love it. My mom and I are very close. She isn’t just my mom, she’s one of my best friends, and traveling through Europe with her has been awesome!

Because we rented a car, my mom didn’t want to stay in big cities, otherwise we would likely have to pay for parking. On top of that, my mom prefers the local experience. We both flew into Munich, picked up our rental and headed to our AirBnB just outside of Munich. As we had a little time to kill before we could actually check in, and we were both kind of hungry, we drove into Munich to see what we could find for food. 

Back in 2004, my whole family (Mom, Dad, brother and I) did a EuroTrip of our own. So, this was not our first time visiting Munich. I remember seeing the Glockenspeil (but it was at night) and eating at the Hard Rock Cafe, which was right beside the Hofbrauhaus. My brother should remember Munich very well (or maybe not), as it was the city that gave him his first hangover! I mean when you go to a place that serves beer by the litre and then a frathouse that has beer on tap….of course you’re going to overindulge. 

So we decided to retrace our steps from 2004, visit the Glockenspeil and have dinner at the Hofbrauhaus!

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The following day we drove to Hallein, a small town just outside of Salzburg where we stayed for 3 nights. On the way stopped to visit the Herrenchiemsee Palace, which is a smaller and much more elaborate version of Versailles that was commissioned by King Ludwig II but never finished because he ran out of money! Our next day was going to be a busy one, so we just walked around the Old Town Hallein, had a bite to eat and called it a night!

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​Salzburg & The Sound of Music Tour

We started our day with a Historic Walking Tour of Salzburg. It wasn’t too bad, but I did find myself to be a little bored. My experience with the free walking tours was substantially better that this one that we paid for, but it still wasn’t too bad. Following the tour, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed to meet up with our Sound of Music Tour. 

If you know me well, you know that I love the Sound of Music. My dad and I used to watch this every year at Christmas and I know pretty much all the words to all the songs. If we were going to Salzburg, a Sound of Music Tour was a must! Well, we were not disappointed with this one! We visited the location where they filmed all the backyard scenes, including the scene in the row boat where Maria and all the children fall in the water. We also saw the Gazebo where Liesel and Frank sing “I am 16 Going on 17,” the long stretch of road when Maria is running to the VonTrapp House singing “I Have Confidence”, the garden where part of “Do Re Me” was filmed, and the little town of Mondsee which has the church where Maria and Captain VonTrapp get married. From a distance, we also saw the Mansion that was used for the shots of the front of the VonTrapp House, and the Abby where Maria was a nun. It was a great tour, and seeing all the original locations was so awesome!

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Keltenblitz & Salz Welton

This had to be one of my favorite days! My mom watches Rick Steeve’s Europe, and one of the things that Rick said is a must-do when you’re in Austria and the Salzburg area is to go on the Keltenblitz. The world’s longest toboggan ride. Conveniently enough, we were less than a 10 minute drive from the Keltenblitz. We decided to make a day of it and also visit the Salt Mine (Salz Welton) while we were in the area as well!  How it works: You’re taken to the top of the mountain on a gondola, have a short walk through the restaurant that’s up there, down a few stairs and you get to the start of the Blitz. Essentially, it’s just a tiny little car on this track (which I’m surprised doesn’t fall off) that you’re strapped into with a seatbelt. There is a long handle between your legs that you push forward to go faster, or pull back to brake. And that’s it! My mom and I both agreed that something like this would NEVER fly in Canada. It would be in violation of so many safety regulations. Luckily, we weren’t in Canada! IT WAS SERIOUSLY SO MUCH FUN! All I can say is, you HAVE to go on the Keltenblitz if you’re in the area! It was so much fun we rode it 3 times and probably could have gone 3 more times! Mom will tell you that we had to go a 3rd time cause she lost her cardigan on the first ride down and we needed to get it, which is true, but secretly I think she just wanted to go down for a 3rd time. 

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After our Keltenblitz adventures, we went for a tour of the Salt Mine. I wasn’t aware, but Salzburg’s wealth came from the salt that was mined in the alps surrounding the city. Salt used to be currency, and worth a lot! I finally understand the phrase “worth their salt.” So we went on a tour of one of the old mines that has been shutdown and converted to a tourist attraction. 

You get all dressed up in these ridiculous outfits. Mostly to keep you warm and prevent your clothes from getting ruined, and then you take a little trolley ride into the depths of the mountain. My favorite part was the wooden slides they have that you ride down to get to the next part of the tour. One was 50 feet long! It was great fun.

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​Hallstatt & the CRAZY narrow Austrian Mountain Roads

Our next day was a travel day on to the next destination. We were headed for a small village just outside of Lienz. We decided to stop in Hallstatt, a small lake village on the way there. On a whim, we rented a little electric boat, cruised around for an hour and got some pretty awesome views of the town from the water.

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After our boating adventure we had to drive to our AirBnB. Having taken a detour to visit Hallstatt, we didn’t know that the roads we would have to take to get to our accommodations would be the back country, side of the mountain, can only fit one vehicle roads! It was both the scariest and funniest driving experience my mom and I have been through. Not to mention, we were driving a manual!

There were times when we would come to a hairpin turn around the side of a mountain, on a road that only had enough room for one vehicle and you couldn’t see what was coming towards you. It also didn’t help having several roadside memorials with statues of some pretty creepy looking dead Jesus’. I’m not kidding, these were EVERYWHERE! At one point, we had to backup for a tractor, and another time, we came around the corner to see a big truck coming our way. Mom started screaming and let Jesus take the wheel.  We managed to make it in one piece and are damn proud of ourselves for driving those crazy roads!

The rest of our trip was spent exploring small towns and villages you normally wouldn’t pencil into your trip. We saw Lienz, Reith, Seefeld, Innsbruck, Romanshorn, Rothernburg and a brief visit to Zurich. 

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​I love my Mom, and the last 10 days have been incredible. So many laughs and so many memories. I can’t wait until our next adventure.

‘Till then…

Ciao!

-A<3