Wednesday 25 October 2017

Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is so incredible that I have visited not once, but twice. I stayed in the town of Niagara during my first overnight visit. Then I returned a second time with family and ended up staying in Niagara-on-the-Lake which I much preferred.

The Main Attraction
Obviously the main reason for visiting this region is to see the falls. The volume of the water flow is just surreal and it is definitely one of those things you have to see in person to understand the power of Niagara Falls. Luckily, we were on the Canadian side of the falls, which has much better panoramic views than the American side. I took the Hornblower Cruise on both occasions and I would highly recommend taking the boat tour if you visit. It brings you up close to each of the three waterfalls and immerses you in the mist of the Horseshoe Falls. They give you ponchos for a reason! We stood at the front of the top deck both times and the feeling of the mist hitting us was kind of exhilarating. We also got to meet Adam Sandler the first time we took the cruise. Life made.

Trip to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake

Trip to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake

Trip to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake

Sunday 22 October 2017

New York, New York

A visit to the Big Apple has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and our trip back in August was unforgettable for a number of reasons. Not only did I finally get to see all the famous New York landmarks in person, but I also got the chance to see my favourite band Coldplay live in concert. It really was special.

Getting There:
We saved some dollar by taking the bus to New York, rather then flying which worked out far more expensive. Our budget-conscious decision may have been easy on our pockets but it was not a smooth journey by any means. Unfortunately we faced countless problems with Greyhound the minute we boarded our bus in Toronto and it's safe to say that I will not be using their services again. A stressful 17 hour bus journey, however, did not dampen our spirits and we left our overtired and hangry selves behind as soon as we stepped out of the bus station on 8th Avenue.

New York
View of  the Statue of Liberty from Staten Island Ferry 
Where We Stayed:
Finding decent, budget-friendly and central accommodation in New York can be tough. We stayed in an Airbnb on Staten Island which was a little far out but the low price made it worthwhile. Getting to Times Square from our apartment involved a shuttle bus, ferry and subway ride but we spent the best part of our day out exploring, so the journey didn't phase us too much. Besides, the free commuter ferry provided us with a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline, so we couldn't complain! I would advise anyone who is on more of a time constraint to stay in Brooklyn or Queens to cut down on travel time.

Wednesday 8 February 2017

Edinburgh

My boyfriend and I recently took a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland and I have been dying to blog about it ever since.
We visited shortly after the Christmas holidays which was perfect timing. We stayed in the Alison House Hotel in Newington which was only a 20 minute walk from the centre. We were so impressed by this guesthouse and I loved the Georgian-style decor. We were a short walk away from the Abbey pub where we ate a full Scottish breakfast every morning... We couldn't help ourselves. A further 10 minute walk from the Abbey brought us right to the centre.

Attractions: We packed a lot into our trip but the first sight we took in was the stunning Edinburgh Castle. Luckily enough the sun was shining and the sky was clear so we had an incredible view of the city.
Edinburgh
Views from Edinburgh Castle
After visiting the castle, we popped in to the Scottish Whisky Experience on Castlehill. I really enjoyed this tour (and that is a big statement coming from someone who doesn't like whiskey). During the first part of the tour you are fully immersed in the whiskey distilling experience on a relaxing barrel ride. Then we met our guide who talked us through the  various regions of Scotland while showing incredible footage of the scenery. And of course we got to taste some whiskey. Whether you're a whiskey lover or not, I would definitely recommend taking this tour.

Edinburgh
They weren't all for me I swear...
We also decided to see the Edinburgh Dungeons. This tour was quite expensive but we had such a laugh doing it, so I think it was worth it in the end. We were brought around the dungeons by various 'scary' characters.. Be prepared to get involved and volunteer - they seemed to enjoy picking on me and my boyfriend! I would describe this attraction as more funny than scary although there were a few moments that I almost jumped out of my skin from fright.. They like to creep up on you.

Because we visited at the start of January, we caught the last few days of the Christmas Markets and they really were magical. We warmed ourselves up with hot drinks and got endless amounts of pic n mix and crepes. Then we relaxed in the cute and cosy bar with some mulled wine.
Edinburgh
Stunning lights at the Christmas Markets

Restaurants and Bars: As mentioned above, if you are looking for somewhere cheap and cheerful for a filling breakfast, go to the Abbey. We went there every morning and I am almost certain that the staff knew our orders by heart.. Also, a restaurant I would 100% recommend is Civerino's. They are a small laid-back pizzeria with huge hipster vibes, serving New York style sourdough pizzas. Their pesto pasta was to die for. We gravitated more towards cocktail bars at night time. We visited the Sky Bar which is open to the public on the first Thursday of every month, providing amazing views of the castle. However their menu was quite limited and we couldn't see the castle due to the lights reflecting on the window *cries.* However we did come across the Dragonfly which was one of my favourite cocktail bars by far. They served really creative cocktails and their seating upstairs was so comfortable with a relaxed atmosphere.
Edinburgh
Sipping bellinis in the Sky Bar
Edinburgh
Dragonfly concoctions
I loved everything about Edinburgh. The architecture was beautiful and the people were so friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be back and hopefully next time I will climb Arthur's Seat!
                                     

Tuesday 10 January 2017

Zadar, Croatia

Zadar Croatia
Following my short trip to Zadar in  August, the time has come to write a slightly belated blog post. What better time to write about sunny Croatia as I sit here wrapped in blankets while drinking hot chocolate in January..
So my boyfriend and I set out in mid August and flew directly to Zadar with Ryanair. Our flight was only €50 which was incredible value and as we were only going for a week we squeezed all of our belongings into carry-on suitcases. The struggle was real. We arrived late enough that evening and got an inexpensive shuttle bus to the Old Town where we were staying.

We had booked accommodation in the Sea Organ Apartments as they had received positive reviews and were also quite cheap. On arrival, we had to meet with one of the owners in the Old Town who kindly walked us to our apartment and also gave us ideas of what to do during our stay, First of all we were so impressed with the location of our apartment. It was a few metres away from the promenade and was very close (but not too close) to the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun, the main attractions of Zadar. Second of all the apartment itself was comfortable and very well equipped. They had everything we needed.
The Old Town of Zadar had a buzzing atmosphere and was packed with tourists. The old cobble streets and restaurants certainly ooze Italian vibes, not to mention the amazing pizza and pasta dishes on offer. On our first day we strolled along the promenade, browsed markets and explored the lively squares and streets. The first evening was spent sitting at the Sea Organ watching the most beautiful sunset I had ever witnessed, This surreal sight is accompanied by the calming sounds of the Sea Organ as the waves hit the steps. This seems to be an evening ritual for both tourists and residents of Zadar, as crowds gathered here every evening. So we decided it was going to be our ritual too!
Zadar Croatia
The Famous Sunset

We planned to do a few day trips during our stay and a trip to Nin's Lagoon was our first one. Because Zadar isn't necessarily a 'beach destination', with only a stony town beach, we decided to hop on a bus to Nin. The weather was beautiful and the shallow water and sandy beach makes this a suitable location for families.
Zadar Croatia
Nin's Lagoon
Another trip that we were both very excited about was Krka National Park. Similar to Plitvice except much smaller, slightly cheaper and comes with the option to swim in the lake. We booked with an agency and got a student ticket for €60 including transport from the Old Town, lunch, entrance and a guided tour around the park. We did a loop around the park taking in the incredible sights of the waterfalls and enjoyed a nice refreshing dip in the water at the foot of the fall. The swimming area was really packed and I would definitely recommend bringing swimming shoes because the surface is very slippy and uneven. If you go to Zadar, do not leave without paying this park a visit - you won't regret it!
Zadar Croatia
Krka National Park
Our final, and rather eventful, day trip was to Saharun beach on the island of Dugi Otok. This place looked like paradise and we couldn't miss out. We got a taxi to the port and got a Jarodlinija ferry to Brbinj which took about 40 minutes. Then from there we hoped to get a shuttle bus to the beach. I say 'hoped' due to the fact that our bus never actually made it to the beach. Instead it burst into flames while we were going over a hill. Luckily we all made it out alive and had to make our own way to the beach. Might I add that this was the only bus on our side of the island... Talk about a disaster! In the end, the stunning Saharun beach was 100% worth it. I had never seen water so turquoise blue and clear. We were lucky enough to bump into other 'survivors' of the bus journey and we walked miles until we came across a town where we managed to get a ride back to the ferry. It was during this moment that I witnessed the pure kindness of Croatian people.
                                     Zadar Croatia
                                     Zadar Croatia


One of my favourite things about Zadar was their restaurants and bars. If you are doing a walk along the promenade, I'd recommend making a pit stop in Restoran Fosa for some lunch or dinner. You will find it near the sea gate when as you come towards the end of the walk. The views are amazing and the seafood is even better.
Zadar Croatia
Restoran Fosa
Also Restaurant Bruschetta was another favourite, which serves Italian cuisine and specialises in.. yes you've guessed it.. bruschetta! More amazing views from this restaurant and the staff were so friendly. Just make sure to book in advance as it's quite popular.
The Garden Lounge was the best place to chill both night and day and they make incredible cocktails. Their pina coladas were to die for. They have the comfiest seating as well and the open terrace provides beautiful views of the city wall and harbour. They also have a raw vegan menu which I didn't get a chance to try but heard it's great.
Zadar Croatia
The Garden Lounge

Zadar Croatia
Greeting to the Sun

Last but not least, a day in Zadar is not complete until you take a visit to the Greeting to the Sun. The solar panels collect power during the day and then when the sun goes down the light display begins. It's like an outdoor disco with music provided by the Sea Organ. It can be quite packed during the evening with people trying to get the perfect snap, but the best time to go is around midnight when it's more quiet.