Can you guess where we’re going next?

 

Clues:

1. The Fortune Cookie was invented here.

2. It is home to the only moving National Historic monument.

3. Al Capone did some time here.

4. It is built on 43 hills.

5. It is ranked #4 worldwide in terms of the number of billionaires residing within its limits.

 

…

…

…

…

 

Did you guess it? Gabriel and I are heading to San Francisco next week! I’m so excited to visit such a vibrant iconic city. We tried to book hotels this weekend, but we’re feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to decide where to stay. Does anyone know of the best neighbourhoods to stay in? We want someplace that is close to all the major attractions, shopping, and restaurants, but won’t break the bank. We’re also looking for recommendations on things to do, places to visit, and spots to eat. If you’ve ever been to San Francisco, or if you live there, I would really appreciate hearing some recommendations! We’ll be in town for a while, so it will be nice to try out some of your recommendations and experience different aspects of the city that the major tourist sites won’t tell you about!

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The Ultimate Travel Destinations

I’m a TripAdvisor girl. Loyal through and through. I never go anywhere without first researching extensively on TripAdvisor, and love their latest acquisition, SeatGuru. So it’s no surprise, then, when they release their annual “best-of-the-best” rankings of hotels, I’m all over it. This year while looking at their Traveler’s Choice Hotel Awards, I had such a good time drooling over the amazing photos and stories about some of the greatest hotels on this planet, and I was keeping a mental catalog in case the opportunity ever arises to visit some of these locations.

A while back, I wrote about my dream travel destination. I’ve always been fascinated with Moorea, and the beautiful over-water bungalows. I was excited to see that the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa topped TripAdvisor’s “Most Romantic” category, with over 90% of its reviews recommending it. Just take a look at some of the guest photos that have been posted on TripAdvisor, isn’t it breathtaking? Moorea still remains my ultimate dream travel destination, just because it is so unique, has such wonderful snorkeling opportunities, and seems to be a little slice of paradise.

I’ve always been a fan of B&Bs. While they aren’t practical in some situations (like extended stays in pricey locations), I do find that they are often little treats when taking a weekend away to a special destination. We’ve stayed in beautiful B&Bs in northern Ontario and Cinque Terre, Italy. The top-rated B&B by TripAdvisor’s Travelers is Casa Portagioia in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy. It looks like an amazing place to stay for a few days while driving through Tuscany!
 
This semester I’m taking an interesting course called Services Marketing. We talk a lot about the tourism industry, and ways that hotels and airlines around the world are increasing their services to cater to customer expectations. This next category is called “Best Service”, and was won by the Golden Well (U Zlate Studne), in Prague. Prague was one of the cities that I really reaaaally wanted to visit while living in Europe, but never got the chance to. I’m curious to know why the Golden Well ranked the highest in terms of service, and would jump at the chance to visit if ever in Prague.

I was super-excited to see an Amsterdam hotel appear at the top of the list for the most trendy hotels in the world. CitizenM Amsterdam was ranked to be the trendiest hotel, and it really comes as no surprise to me! Amsterdam is such a trendy city, which makes it incredibly intriguing, seeing as all of this “trendiness” is set against a backdrop of 15th century canal homes and old barges. We always passed CitizenM on our way home from Schiphol (Amsterdam’s airport), and I had heard wonderful things about it from a few different travelers. Apparently there are “pods” in each room, with a toilet and shower that are illuminated at night! Sounds like a crazy experience!

If I were to choose, I would still pick the Hilton Moorea to visit. What’s your travel style? An old B&B in Italy, or an ultra-modern hotel in Amsterdam? Perhaps you favor overwater bungalows on a Polynesian island like I do? Or maybe a cultural tour through Prague is more your cup of tea. Have you ever stayed in any hotels that surpassed your service expectations? Do tell!

{All photos from TripAdvisor’s traveler-submitted photos}

P.S. Despite my ranting and raving about TripAdvisor, I’d like to mention that I was not, in any way, compensated or perked for this shout-out. I just am a loyal fan and find that it is one of my most useful tools when traveling!

Some Forgotten Photos from me in Holland…

I was sorting through some old photographs on my computer today, and came across these pictures from when my good friend Yvonne visited me. They kinda cracked me up, since I’m doing such typically Dutch things here, like eating a piece of gouda, posing in front of the Heineken kegs, and biking like a crazywoman through the Dutch countryside. I remember how much fun we had this day, stopping at little towns like Edam, Volendam, and Monnickendam. We even came across a cheese factory, where a woman dressed in full traditional Dutch garb invited us in to sample the gouda! I like to think we got the full experience too, since it rained most of the day (very typical in Holland!)

Here I am about to enjoy some gouda at the Edam Cheese Market…

And of course, the requisite Heineken picture…

 

This picture shows the beautiful canals in Edam…

 

 

We were very excited to find bicycles to rent!

 

Weeee, riding over a cute little bridge in the GOREGOUS town of Volendam!

 

Posing in front of…a windmill!

      

Hope your week is off to a great start! I’ve been busy making hair accessories for a craft show I’m entering this weekend, I’ll post pictures as soon as I can!

Simply White

This past weekend, I visited a beautiful little shop called Simply White. From the moment I entered the door, I was in design heaven! This shop is exactly my taste, and I would have literally purchased everything inside if I could have! It was filled with beautiful white dishes, tiny bird accessories, ceramic owls, and birch bark candles. I particularly liked the silver deer heads and the antique white-washed furniture. I must have circled the store five times (it’s only about 600 square feet!), taking in everything, and seeing something new each time around. The owner, Bren, is so sweet and friendly, and immediately made us feel like valued customers. It’s so important to me, in today’s economy especially, to spend my money at places where I can directly see,meet, and talk with the owners. I guess that’s why I’ve always loved markets too. There is something indescribably special about knowing directly who you are buying from. Here’s a little peak into Simply White:


I loved these flower ornaments. For only $5.99, they are such a great price, and would look amazing on a Christmas tree, or set inside a little silver vase. I love the muted blush pink of the paper flowers.


Wouldn’t it be amazing to live inside an old white home, filled with antique white painted furniture and cozy accessories? This store was seriously inspiring in terms of interior decor, and I immediately wanted to redecorate every room of the condo! Below you’ll see the matching wreath counterpart to the flower balls above. When Gabriel and I were looking to buy a sugar bowl for the kitchen, we actually purchased ours from the same line as the one pictured below. I would love to have the entire set, I think it’s so classic, and it’s surprisingly light. Oh Simply White, I’m sure I’ll be back many times when I’m in need of some inspiration!

  
In case you’re ever in the Niagara region and want to pop by Simply White for a visit, here is the necessary information:

Location: 79 King Street, St. Catharines Ontario Canada
Phone: (905) 708-4784

We're Remodeling!

Last weekend was spent interviewing general contractors, one after another, about the process of remodeling our two condo bathrooms. When Gabriel bought the condo, I initially hated the bathrooms. They were outdated, and to be honest, ugly, but somehow boys just don't see these things! Our plan was to re-do them immediately, but with all the painting, redecorating, and, exploring of a new city that happened this summer, the bathrooms took a back seat. Initially I was hoping for an all-white bathroom, but after seeing the rows of beautiful black and dark gray slate, I may be changing my mind.

Now we're ready to remodel, and since we're newbies, we're definitely not attempting this ourselves. I've been busy searching for new vanities, bathroom shelving, and tiles in order to make the space fresh and modern. Here's a look at what it looked like before we bought it (on my first time seeing the apartment):

Definitely not a fan of the peachy pink patterned tile, granite countertops, and shiny hardware. I've been seriously overwhelmed trying to find bathroom inspiration. I like everything from sleek Scandinavian white bathrooms, to dark slate rooms with crisp white accents. Where do you go for design inspiration? I've been trying to find sites that list photos by rooms, so that I can zero in on just what I'm looking for. So far I've been looking on Decorpad and House and Home, but not much else. Any suggestions or tips? Here are some of my favourite inspiration shots so far. I know, I know, they are all drastically different, but I can't seem to choose a look I like!

{photos via Decorpad}

A Little Update for my Blogging Friends :)

Since I moved back from Amsterdam over a year ago, my little blog has slowed down a bit. I've tried to convert it to a travel blog, and incorporate things about my daily life in Canada in it, so hopefully it is still somewhat entertaining (although I realize that life in Amsterdam is probably a lot more glamorous!). I moved back to Canada to pursue my MBA degree at a great Canadian university. It has been a difficult transition, but was made much easier when Gabriel moved back last February. Since then we've traveled to South America, Las Vegas, and Miami together, and also moved into a fabulous condo in downtown Toronto! I miss Amsterdam though. If you were a reader of my blog before, you know how much I loved the city and everything it had to offer. I regularly read my older posts, just to help remember the little things that we experienced there (I'm so thankful that I wrote a blog while living there, it is like a scrapbook that I will have forever!).

Last year I made the decision to pursue a career in law, and will be *hopefully* entering law school next September. I'm not sure where yet, as acceptance letters have yet to come out, but I am hoping for a great school in Ontario. On October 9th I wrote the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), and let me tell you, it was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. So thanks to the LSAT, and the daily work required by my MBA program, this little blog hasn't been as active as I would like it to be. I still read your blogs daily, but am often unable to comment on them as much as I would like to, and post on my own blog. Blogging is still one of my favourite pastimes, and I'm so lucky for those readers who continually comment and e-mail me, with kind words of encouragement.


Despite the crazy academic environment I have entered, I am still the same travel-obsessed girl that moved to Amsterdam. This winter Gabriel and I have some tentative super-exciting travel plans, and I can't wait to share them with you all. This is also the first year of my university life that I have not had final exams, so this winter will be filled with blogging fun from snowy Canada :)


So there's a little update from here in Canada. Thank you again for all of your support with Life Abroad, it means so much to me!


Enjoy your weekend!



Heather xoxo

{Photos taken at a school event by Fab Formisano}

A Traveler’s Wish List

I know it’s early, but I can’t help but be a little excited for Christmas already. I just found out that I don’t have any final exams this semester (the first time that’s EVER happened to me in my five years of University study), so I’m certain that this holiday season will be ushered in in a relaxed state, instead of the usual fatigue and exhaustive state I’ve been used to. Gabriel was mentioning a few weeks ago how useful it would be to have “wish lists” online made by family and friends, so that he could easily purchase meaningful gifts that they would actually enjoy. As a guy who loathes shopping, it would make the Hanukkah season that much easier for him. This list that I’ve come up with has a few gift ideas that would be perfect for someone who enjoys travel as much as I do, and can double as hostess gifts for all those holiday parties and visits.

 

• Mark Ovenden’s Transit Maps of the World
• Where: Anthropologie
• What: 143 paperback pages featuring colourful depictions of transit maps, complete with pictures and historical data.
• Who: Travelers or city-dwellers
• How much: $25.00

 

• Purl Stitch Throw
• Where: West Elm
• What: Thin blankets that can easily be rolled up into a carry-on bag, perfect for long air-conditioned flights over the holidays.
• Who: Travelers visiting out-of-town relatives, or hostesses of holiday parties
• How much: $47.00

 

 

 

• Molskine City Notebooks
• Where: Moleskine retailers
• What: A guidebook/notebook that gives travelers the opportunity to organize travel plans, keep detailed records, view maps, and jot down amazing travel stories in the blank pages.
• Who: Someone visiting a country or city in Europe, North America, or Asia…or someone who recently moved to a new city and would like to chronicle their time there! I would have loved to have the Amsterdam notebook to keep track of my time abroad.
• How much: $17.95 (found cheaper on Amazon)

 

 

• Saddle Leather Travel Accessories
• Where: Pottery Barn
• What: Leather passport case and luggage tag. Durable and rugged, the leather gets better with age and wear.
• Who: A seasoned traveler who has everything else.
• How much: range from $8 - $38

 

• Owl Place Card Holders
• Where: West Elm
• What: Solid acacia wood owl place holders.
• Who: Perfect for giving to the host of a holiday party, or as a hostess gift when visiting friends or family as a houseguest. These little owls can be easily packed away in a suitcase, taking up minimal room. They are super-tiny but make a cute impact, and won’t compromise your luggage space.
• How much: $9.00

 

• Minox Leica Digital Camera
• Where: Anthropologie
• What: A teensy digital camera that is a replicate of the original from the 1950s. Housed in a wooden case, this camera has tons of great features, like 5 mega pixels and a big LCD screen, that make it a modern twist on an old classic.
• Who: A photography-loving traveler who doesn’t want to be bogged down with a bulky DSLR.
• How much: $298.00

 

This is just a small sampling of the many gifts suitable for travel enthusiasts. There are so many great options, but hopefully these are unique and a bit different than some traditional ideas. What’s on your holiday list this year? Are you even thinking about Christmas yet, or is it just me?

Dutch Interior Design

One of my favourite things to do while living in the Netherlands was visit the homes of our friends and acquaintances. I especially liked house-hunting in Amsterdam, as I loved seeing how the homes were decorated. It appears to me that the majority of Dutch homes are modern, stylish, and effortlessly chic. I absolutely love Dutch interior design, and the mix of the old canal homes with the modern Scandinavian decor. From my time there, I discovered a few major differences between North American and Dutch design.

1) Most of the Dutch homes I visited had large harvest dining room tables. Simple, solid light wood tables with unique modern chairs seemed to be a staple in most homes. Now I've seen this trend coming to Canada more and more, but 2 years ago it seemed very new to me when I saw it in the Netherlands.

2) Hardwood floors! I don't think I ever saw a carpeted floor in the Netherlands, and certainly not in Amsterdam (well, besides the seedy hostel I worked at for a while....). Most of the floors were light maple, left natural, and kind of rustic-looking.

3) White. White. White. There was one particular house that I visited that had mostly white furnishings, mixed with the light wooden floors, and pops of intense colour in her decorations. It was beautiful and simple.

4) Mismatched and modern. You know those catalog rooms from major furniture retailers? The ones that are all matchy and perfectly coordinated? Those don't really exist in the Netherlands, at least as far as I can tell. And that's a good thing!

 5) What I most enjoyed about many of the rooms I saw in the Netherlands was the juxtaposition of old and new items. A gold framed piece of 16th century art would be hung near a modern dining table, and family sterling silver heirlooms would sit next to a funky Swedish lamp. I always loved how these items shared the attention in these homes, most of which were considerably old themselves. There's something so wonderful about seeing a home from the 1500s, with thick white moldings and original flooring, completely decorated with modern pieces.

(all photos from Lille Lykke)