Our Weekend

Isn't it great how, when you're on vacation, all sense of time disappears? We wander through our days here in Miami Beach without the slightest clue as to what time it is, what day it is, and what we're going to do next. 

 This weekend we...

people-watched on South Beach, 

swam in the Atlantic,

watched Uruguay's match at El Rey del Chivito while eating the most delicious Uruguayan steak, 

 

dined at Cardozo in South Beach, 

watched the full moon dance on the ocean while munching on a bag of microwave popcorn, 

got a tad sunburnt, 

and cheered on Argentina in Miami's Little Buenos Aires district as they beat Mexico in their World Cup match.

Cycling to South Beach

Yesterday Gabriel and I cycled down to South Beach. It took us about 1.5 hours, as we stopped frequently for water breaks and to take in some of the beautiful sights of Miami.  We rented our bicycles from Team Iguana for only $15 a day. On the way there we rode through the streets of Miami, but on the way home, we discovered the boardwalk that stretched almost the entire way from South Beach up to North Beach.

Once in South Beach we were just in time for Happy Hour. With all the restaurants on Ocean Drive offering cocktail and appetizer specials, we stopped at a little place for crabs and cocktails. Being a Thursday evening, South Beach was just beginning to get into full swing. Wet Willies and the Clevelander were especially popular. After a quick tour of the beach and surrounding boardwalk, we found our bikes and headed back up along the boardwalk. We passed vendors weaving hats out of palm fronds, peddling leather bracelets, and selling ice cold water. As we reached the bicycle rental shop, the sun was beginning to set over Miami, and the boardwalk was packed with joggers, cyclists, and roller-bladers. A quick dip in the pool and jacuzzi to relax our muscles was just what we needed before indulging in a shrimp, garlic rice, and chickpea salad for dinner. A perfect day!

We're in Miami!

On Monday afternoon we arrived to the humid heat of Miami's airport and were promptly whisked away to Miami Beach. The Spanish-style architecture of the large homes along the water is incredible, and I am in awe of how culturally diverse Miami is! It seems like on any block you can find an Argentinian restaurant, a Brazilian steakhouse, a Mexican cantina, and an Italian ristorante. All authentic. I'm in food heaven! Gabriel, of course, is absolutely loving all this Argentinian and Uruguayan food, and we made sure that our first stop was to eat a chivito, an enormous Uruguayan dish. I have to admit, it was actually way better than the one we ate in Montevideo last January!

Yesterday we watched the Uruguay vs. Mexico match at the Buenos Aires confiteria while we slowly sipped cafe con leches. Although I'm not the world's biggest soccer fan, I really enjoyed watching the match with a packed cafe full of Uruguay fans. The passion for soccer continued down in South Beach, where we ventured to watch the afternoon match of Argentina vs. Greece. We munched on a picada, a platter with various meats and cheeses, while Gabriel drank a Quilmes (Argentine beer), and we cheered on Maradona and his team. I loved all of the Argentinian fans decked out in blue and white, and throughout the rest of the afternoon we could hear celebratory chants for Argentina!

Our afternoon was spent strolling through South Beach's Art Deco district, with Gabriel going on a rare yet successful shopping spree. We finished off the evening with a walk down the deserted beach and some relaxation at the spa.

Bon Voyage!

The G20 Summit is coming to Toronto next week, and in order to escape the massive protests, crazy security precautions, and horrid traffic jams, Gabriel and I have decided to do what we do best: fly away to somewhere beautiful and wait until the whole thing passes.

10 days in the sun, on the beach, and relaxing at the spa are exactly what we have in mind. Throw in some fun trips to eclectic neighbourhoods and world-class shopping, and our trip will be complete :)

I hope to post while I'm there, so please stay tuned for some great travel photos from this destination that I have not yet been to! Enjoy your weekend!

St. Lawrence Market

My love for markets is no secret here on Life Abroad. As you can imagine, living in a new city and exploring its new markets is something that I really enjoy. While last weekend was spent at Kensington Market, this morning we strolled down to the St. Lawrence Market to explore one of Toronto's best markets. Past the massive security fences that have been set up for the G20 Summit, we finally made it to the St. Lawrence Market and Toronto's Old Town. World Cup flags were everywhere on the outdoor patios, and beautiful hanging flower baskets flanked the brick buildings.

Inside the market we were welcomed with vendors selling fresh fish, delicious cuts of meat, and organic veggies. It wasn't our first time there, but as residents of Toronto, we could really see ourselves buying most fresh cheese and produce from the market.

After browsing through the vendors, we went downstairs where we found a Ukranian stall serving up fresh perogies, schnitzel, and European fare. All home-made, we instantly knew what our lunch would be. We ate our cabbage rolls outside on a picnic table overlooking the market square. Yum!

Niagara summer evening

I had a wonderfully relaxing weekend at home, and spent a beautiful summer evening out in Niagara-on-the- Lake with my parents. Between the sprawling vineyards, old stately homes, and lush flower beds, I was in photography heaven!

We enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Grand Hotel on the terrace. Polenta with gorgonzola, caprese salad, and filet mignon. A sweet praline on the stroll back to the car topped off the meal nicely. We were just in time to catch some fireworks over Niagara Falls after driving along the beautiful Niagara Parkway - a winding road overlooking the river which separates New York from Ontario.

Such a lovely summer evening spent out in Niagara! If you're ever in the area, a trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake to tour the shops, visit Shaw theatre, and rent a bicycle for a ride along the lake are a must!

Dark Horse Espresso Bar

 Last week, Gabriel and I visited the Dark Horse Espresso Bar on Spadina Ave in Toronto. Located in ChinaTown, the Dark Horse is a modern coffee house that serves up delicious brews in a loft-like setting. Similar to many of the cafes in Amsterdam, the Dark Horse has large communal tables where you are free to read, work, and people-watch as you sip your coffee. Upstairs you can sit in one of the mid-century modern groupings of chairs as you munch on gluten-free cookies or gourmet bran muffins.

 For the past 4 weeks I have been eating gluten-free, and my stomach and health has improved ten-fold. It's hard, since I am a bread-lover, but it's definitely worth it. I guess one of the advantages of living in a city is that there is an abundance of gluten-free items to choose from at all restaurants and grocery stores. So far, however, I have had a hard time finding a decent-tasting gluten free bread. Any suggestions?

This weekend I am out of the city, and will be enjoying time with my family out in small-town, Ontario. It's definitely nice to clear my head from the hustle and bustle of the city, and to enjoy the slower pace of life here. When I return to Toronto, however, I will be sure to document the G20 summit, as we are right in the security area.

Enjoy your weekend!

Living Downtown

We've finally moved into the new condo in downtown Toronto, and have been so insanely busy cleaning, furniture-shopping, and painting that I have not had a spare moment to even think about blogging. I have to say that I always thought that decorating would be quite easy, but with literally no furniture to use as a jumping-off point, there are so many options that it can, at times, seem extremely difficult! We've managed to purchase all of the furniture for the living and dining rooms though, so that's a good start. In the midst of all the renovating/redecorating, we have managed to sneak out and enjoy the city. I forgot how much I enjoy living downtown. There is so much happening every day, around every corner, that it never gets boring.

Yesterday we decided to take a break from the work and explore a bit of the city. We visited Kensington Market, an area of Toronto just north of ChinaTown. Filled with brightly painted brick homes, vintage clothing stores, retro furniture boutiques, and cute little cafes, we were instantly smitten. We were amazed at the juxtaposition between the trendy new shops and the poorer old homes that were literally side-by-side.

On our way home, we noticed a string of about 20 NYC taxi cabs outside of our condo. A movie was being filmed, and they had transformed our neighbourhood into a New York City city street! Faux Broadway posters were hung up, all the cars had NYC license plates, and NYPD cop cars had been brought in. It was definitely an interesting sight to see, and for a minute, I really felt like I was back in the Big Apple.

After a nice visit with Gabriel's family, filled with gluten-free cake and Argentinian pastries, Gabriel and I took a walk down to the Toronto Harborfront. We watched the sun set over the lake, strolled amongst the sailboats, crossed a bridge donated by Toronto's twin city, Amsterdam, and ate popcorn on a bench as Canadian geese swam by. A perfect end to a perfect day.