Beach Babies

Two years ago, I was so incredibly fortunate to become an auntie. The moment I held my niece Kendra, I realized a whole new level of love that exists. Since then, I have become an auntie again, this time, to a sweet little boy named Maxx. They are a constant source of joy, amazement, and laughter in our family, and we cannot imagine our lives without them.

One of my favourite things to do is spend a day with them, watching as they learn and discover new things about the world. Last weekend we took a trip to the beach. It was Maxx’s first visit, and he absolutely loved it. Running freely on the sand, watching the seagulls, and dipping his feet in the lake brought endless smiles and giggles.

There are few things as beautiful to me as the beach. From the colours of the water, sky, and sand, to the smells and sounds that accompany it, I am a true beach lover. I’m happy to pass this love down to my niece and nephew, who, by the looks on their faces last Sunday, show me that they too will forever be beach babies.

Niagara Wine Country

At Vineland Estates Winery, Vineland Ontario

Since a friend of ours was visiting from Mexico City last week, we decided to take full advantage of all the beauty nearby and take a trip to the vineyards in the Niagara region. Instead of going to the bigger wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we ventured into aptly named Vineland, to check out some of the smaller establishments.

Our first stop was Featherstone, a beautiful white farmhouse set atop rolling hills of vineyards. Although they weren’t serving food (food service ends on Labor Day), we enjoyed a wonderful tasting, especially of their authentic green apple-infused white wine! Yum!

The grapes of Featherstone

After that it was off to Vineland Estates, one of the largest wineries in Vineland. We loved how grand and decadent it was, and while it definitely didn’t have the rustic charm of Featherstone, it still felt intimate and quaint.

Vineland Estates Winery

The last stop on our quick winery tour was Ridgepoint Winery, also in Vineland. Again, this was a smaller winery set away from many of the others. It was charming and small, and the staff was extremely friendly during the tasting. Although they weren’t serving food, they did compensate by giving us free tastings of their wine. It was so interesting to see the unique blends of grapes that each winery produces, and how they vary so drastically between places. The ice wines were especially delicious too, and which are unique to Niagara.



I couldn’t help but think of how beautiful the scenery was, especially since most of the trees are changing colours here. Next time I’ll be sure to bring my DSLR camera so that I can snap some better quality pictures. Also, how amazing would it be to have a wedding at a winery? Such a beautiful backdrop!

  

Amsterdam's Twin

 Did you know that Amsterdam is one of Toronto's twin cities? Gabriel and I discovered this while walking near the Toronto Harborfront. We came across a bridge that looked very Dutch and modern. It turns out, it's called the Amsterdam Bridge, and Amsterdam actually has its very own Torontobrug as well! What a coincidence that I've lived in both of these great cities. Which one do I prefer? Amsterdam. Which one do I think I will most likely live in the future? Toronto. I would say they're definitely not identical twins, but it's nice to have a piece of Amsterdam here in Toronto.

Goodbye Summer

With the arrival of autumn, it is only fitting that I pay a little homage to my summer of 2010. Filled with so many new experiences, challenges, decisions, and surprises, I don't want to forget a thing. My summer 2010 consisted of:
- Discovering Toronto's cafe and restaurant scene. The Dark Horse Espresso Bar on Spadina Avenue quickly became my favourite place for a hand-made Italian-style coffee and gluten-free walnut cookie. Other favourites include Bier Markt, Peter Pan's Bistro, the Horseshoe Tavern, and Jump.

-  Moving into, cleaning, re-painting, furnishing, and living in a new apartment in downtown Toronto. I don't think I'd ever experienced that big of a task ever, but I loved every (almost) minute of it! Best companies to deal with = Crate and Barrel, the Lifestyle Shop. Worst company ever = The Art Shoppe. Boo.

When all else fails, buy furniture at IKEA and assemble them to impress your boyfriend :)

- Learning how to cook ribs! Woohoo! I also loved creating meals using the fresh herbs from our little patio herb garden.

- Meet-ups in the city with my closest friends, including dinner parties, cocktail hours, impromptu shopping trips, and long walks through the city.

- Discovering, and falling in love with, the St. Lawrence Market. Falling even more in love after discovering that on Sundays it hosts an antique fair. And falling even more in love after noticing that on Saturday morning over 50% of the stalls sell gluten-free goods!

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- Rekindling my Kentucky spirit (I grew up there) with a trip to the Fort Erie race track for some good old horse-betting fun. Winning almost $50 on a horse named "Gabby's Victory" sweetened the afternoon.

 

- Following the world cup during our time in Miami, and watching the Netherlands reach the final, was a defining moment of the summer. My family and I celebrated by having a lovely Dutch breakfast of pannekoeken and koffie. Yum.

 

 - Exploring all that Toronto has to offer, including a trip to see the Terracotta Army at the Royal Ontario Museum. A late-night stroll through the dinosaur exhibit and the bat cave (eek!) made the trip a great one. Other favourite Toronto excursions include Toronto Island, the Caribbean Harborfront Festival, Pusateri's in Yorkville, and visiting the Kensington Market.

 

 - Strolling the streets of South Beach, Miami, and loving the hot and humid weather. Dinners of Lean Cuisine, elaborate Argentinian lunches, and bike rides along the boardwalk...

There is so much more that happened this summer, I could go on and on. 

I'd love to hear what moments stood out during your summer...

Weekend Recap

Since I’m back at school now, I’m not living in Toronto anymore. While I miss living with Gabriel in his beautiful condo, I have to say that I do not miss the hustle and bustle of the city life. Amsterdam is about the biggest city I can take without feeling like I need to flee to the countryside!

This weekend I took the train to Union Station to visit with Gabriel for the weekend. We had a great time catching up about his trip to Holland for a friend’s wedding, and enjoying the crisp fall-like weather. In between yummy ham and egg breakfasts, Pumpkin Spice lattes at Chapters, and watching missed episodes of Jersey Shore (gasp, yes we are addicted to that embarrassingly trashy show!), we were totally caught up in the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) buzz. Tiff started on September 9, and finished today. Since the Tiff Bell Lightbox (its headquarters) is close to Gabriel’s condo, it seemed that wherever we went, some type of Tiff event was going on. We didn’t see any celebrities, but we did see the red carpet and its resident reporters lined up waiting for the stars.

Yesterday afternoon we met with friends at Bier Markt, a Belgian bar/restaurant, near the St. Lawrence market. Being gluten-free, I had to order wine, but enjoyed watching Gabriel and our friends drink ridiculously large Spaten beers. Over a charcuterie board and some Canadian poutine, we enjoyed the last little warmth of summer. In the evening, we met with Gabriel’s best friend, Christian, who is here visiting from Mexico City! This time we went to the other Bier Markt on King West for a late dinner of steak, frites, and spinach. The city was abuzz with Tiff madness, and it seemed like all of Toronto was rolling out the red carpets! Fun!

As I sat on the train as it chugged slowly out of the city and through the countryside, I couldn’t help but notice how all the leaves are quickly changing to warm hues of yellow, red, and orange. As much as I love the summer, I’m thrilled with the advent of autumn. Are you looking forward to it?

Why I am a terrible traveler

There are few things in life that I love more than travel. In the past few years, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to a variety of continents and countries, and have enjoyed every minute of it. Well…maybe not every minute. You see, I’m really not a good traveler. I’m not one of those people who can “rough it” by traveling 20 hours by bus and have stomachs of steel that allow them to eat any type of local cuisine. As much as I wish I were that type of traveler, I’ve come to terms with the fact that, despite my intense love for it, I am a terrible traveler!

Reason #1

I have always had extreme motion sickness. Even a short 1 hour car-ride can make me feel extremely nauseous and dizzy, and often ends up with me pulled over at the side of the road with a plastic bag. It seems crazy, then, that I enjoy traveling to far off destinations! Luckily I have managed to cope with my motion sickness, and have gotten it down to a science. That isn’t to say, however, that I haven’t had my fair share of motion sickness mishaps. Like the time I took a motion sickness pill too late, and ended up having to be dragged in a near comatose state through London’s Heathrow International Airport. Or the time I was so woozy from Gravol that I purchased a scarf made of Alpaca fur in Chile, only to later realize that I misread the price-tag as $15 when it was really $150. Oy.

So how do I cope with this problem, and still enjoy traveling?
- I always take a Gravol (Dramamine works for me too, but is only available in the U.S.) one hour prior to departing on a flight. However, I always wait until the airline begins pre-boarding with first-class and special needs passengers to take the pill. That way I’m not stuck in the airport feeling extremely drowsy if my plane is unexpectedly delayed. I also make sure to buy the Gravol gel tablets, which are tasteless.

  
- After four hours in flight, I re-take two Gravols, which will last me for the duration of the flight. This is especially useful on flights from Canada to Europe, which take roughly 8 hours.

- I don’t read, write, or look down when in moving vehicles, including planes!

- I always request seats at the front of the plane, in front of the wing. I find that sitting in front of the wing has less of those subtle side-to-side movements that make airplane travel so daunting for the motion-sick prone.

- About a half an hour prior to departure, I put on a pair of “Sea Bands”, which were originally created to help sea sickness. They are just small wristbands with a ball that presses down into the inside of my arm. These Sea Bands are a lifesaver, and usually do the trick by themselves when traveling in the boat or by car. For flights, Gravol + Sea Bands = a no-fail combo. When I arrive at my destination by plane, I usually keep my Sea Bands on for the cab ride to the hotel.

Sea Bands need to be worn with the ball pressing into the inside of your wrist, a three-finger’s length down from your wrist.

Reason #2

For years I have known that I’ve had a very finicky stomach. It was only until this past summer that I discovered my allergies to gluten and wheat. Coupled with my lactose intolerance, this has made for some difficult travel situations. No wonder my trips to Italy were always soured by horrible stomach aches! Pizza, pasta, bread…. oh no! If you consider my Cuban hospitalized experience, my Italian food poisoning nightmare, and my stomach troubles in South America, you may be wondering why I continually volunteer to travel around the world.



Here’s how I cope with gluten-free, fragile-stomach issues while traveling:

- I always bring some high-protein, low-salt food for my in-flight meals. You never know what the airline will feed you, and taking all of those motion-sickness pills on an empty stomach is never a good idea. Hummus with corn chips, cut veggies, almonds, and some apple sauce are quick snacks that are easily packed away.

 
- All-inclusive resorts or hotels where breakfast and lunch are included are to be avoided! I’ve done that before, and have always felt that the selection was not intended for people with dietary restrictions or those with weak stomachs. There is nothing worse than feeling trapped at a resort, with no food, for seven days. I have since vowed to only travel to places where I can freely choose from a variety of restaurants.

- In case I’m traveling to a country where the food is particularly spicy or hard-to-digest, I always have tons of snacks in my suitcase to tide me over until I can find a place that serves food I prefer. Do I wish that I could fully immerse myself in the cuisine of a place, eat at street market stalls, and be an adventurous foodie? Of course! It sucks having to pass on a great meal in favor of eating bland granola back at the hotel. But what I miss in culinary experience is well worth it, since I am healthy and am able to enjoy other aspects of the culture. Plus Gabriel has a stomach of steel, so I can delight in watching him try all the local cuisine.

Reason #3

I’m 6 feet tall and have always had a hard time cramming myself into the miniscule seats in airplanes. My knees are always jammed in there, and it just generally makes for a very uncomfortable and claustrophobic journey.

How to deal:

- I always request “Bulkhead” or “Exit Row” seats when traveling. Bulkhead seats are generally right behind first class, or are the first row of the plane (when there is no first class, like on lower-cost carriers). Exit row seats are my best friend, and even though they cost an extra $60 on some airlines, I will gladly pay the price in order to ensure that I can comfortably stretch my legs.

Typical Bulkhead seating

- When Bulkhead or Exit Row seats are unavailable, I select aisle seats. Aisle seats allow at least one leg to stretch out in the aisle, which can alleviate the feeling of cramped claustrophobia. While I am by no means very claustrophobic, when crunched up like that I can’t help but feel a little agitated. Aisle seats also allow me to get up frequently to stretch, walk to the bathroom, and get things out of my carry-on. Standing up every hour or so alleviates the pain in the knees, and has helped immensely during long journeys.

- I try to avoid airlines that pack people in with no regard for personal comfort. While I usually always fly Economy, some airlines are positively wonderful compared to others. The worst airline (for a multitude of reasons) is Delta. Never have I ever seen an airline cram so many passengers, with so much luggage, into one small plane before! The crew was rude, the food nonexistent, and I literally could not sit flat-footed at my seat (since my knees hit the seat in front of me). Other sardine-like airlines include Air Transat, Ryanair, and Easy Jet. I guess this is the price you pay for having a cheap flight! Some of my favourite (and also cost-effective) airlines, were Air Cubana, Icelandair, Lufthansa, and Latin American Airlines. Great leg-room makes a big difference on a 13 hour trip.

Despite my motion sickness, dietary restrictions, and height issues, I am always happy and excited when I have a new trip planned. I guess one forgets the negative aspects and tries to block them out. There are always ways to deal with these types of issues, and the important thing is to find what works best for you, and to stick with it. There were times when I was absolutely miserable while traveling, because of these issues, but I always remembered that the pain/sickness would eventually pass, and I made sure not to let it ruin my travels. Even though we may not all be hearty travelers physically (though we probably wish we were), adjustments can be made, and I’ve found that most people around the world are happy to help accommodate you, if asked politely and with respect. After all, no one likes to see a traveler in their country suffering!

What are some travel-related problems or issues that you have experienced? Or are you one of those people who can go anywhere, eat anything, and not feel any discomfort??? I’d love to hear…

My 24th Birthday

On August 31st I celebrated my 24th birthday! Ahh it seems old, transitioning from early twenties into mid-twenties territory. Eek! After celebrating with family, Gabriel took me to The Sultan’s Tent Moroccan restaurant in Toronto. Situated near the St. Lawrence Market, The Sultan’s Tent is a beautiful dining experience. After being seated in tents draped with red, gold, and orange fabric, you are served a four-course meal of various Moroccan dishes. This was my first time trying Moroccan food, and I have to say that I absolutely loved the depth of the taste and aroma of the food! Halfway through our meal we were treated to a belly-dancing show. Afterwards the belly-dancer pulled a few people up to let them try out dancing…since it was my birthday, I couldn’t say no! It was a wonderful evening, and the staff was very attentive to all my gluten-free dietary restrictions!

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Yesterday my life-long bestie Courtney came up to Toronto to visit. After a long day of shopping on Queen St. West, lunching at the Peter Pan Bistro (an amazing historical landmark restaurant in Toronto) and catching up, we ventured to the world famous Horseshoe Tavern to watch Kim Churchill play. We loved the dingy dive-bar, and how it had been there since 1947. Even the Rolling Stones have played there! Kim Churchill did not disappoint. The crowd was absolutely loving his music, and we couldn’t resist buying a CD to support him!

Aussie Kim Churchill

   me and Court at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto