Costa Rica for Christmas

Instead of taking part in what is regularly the most hectic week of the year, the week before Christmas, a friend and I decided to avoid it all and take off on a vacation.  Looking for a mix of relaxation and some adventure we literally met at a coffee shop at the beginning of December with an atlas and a laptop.  We knew we wanted to go somewhere warm, but not an all-inclusive island getaway.  We wanted to go somewhere authentic where we could experience a new country and new culture.  But with only a week away it needed to be a relatively close flight.

 By the end of the afternoon, plane tickets to Costa Rica were booked.

Now what?  There is a lot to do and see in this country!  I've talked to at least a dozen people who have recently traveled to this Latin American country, none who have stayed in the same city.  The basics of which we came to learn is that instead of looking into the infinite number of cities we could visit, Costa Rica can be split into a few key sections, each geographic region being very different in what is has to offer to the traveler.  While many people visit the Northern Pacific Side we opted to visit the Southern part of the Caribbean Side.

Where most of the culture in Costa Rica has a Spanish influence, the unique part about the Southern Caribbean cities is the mix of cultures.  Along with the Spanish population there is also a large Jamaican population and a growing number of ex-pats from Western Europe.  This mix of cultures makes for delicious food, vibrant cities, and a truly harmonious atmosphere.  'One Love'.

The beauty of this country, you can be sitting on a beautiful beach with the rainforest right behind you. How many other places in the world can you experience both of these natural wonders at the same time? The shot to the right was taken after a morning hike through one of the many rainforests ending up with a swim at a beautiful, hidden waterfall.

I stayed in two different cities on this trip, I plan to make a post on each of them. The first, Cahuita, a small, quiet coastal town.  The second, Puerto Viejo, a larger, energetic, surf city.

Miami: South Beach Society

Lucky enough to be treated to another work trip, this time I was in a much warmer climate; Miami, Florida. Although there was a lot I enjoyed about Miami (the SUN, the night life, the ocean...) my favourite part of the trip can be summed up into two main streets: Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road.

Ocean Drive:
Ocean drive is essentially the eastern most street in South Beach, right on the ocean. It's riddled with outdoor bars, art deco shops, and restaurants. (Specifically, we started our adventure at about 10th ave & Ocean Drive and walked for roughly 6 blocks.)

The best part about the restaurant scene on Ocean drive is its European feel.  Lots of outdoor seating so you can enjoy your meal in the warm weather, and people-watch! There is also a hostess standing outside each of the eateries to try and convince you come in and try their special of the day. (If you've ever been to Little Italy in New York its also very similar).  To top off this wonderful evening, after our (rather large) meal, we walked through a few galleries/art deco shops. This photo is now my inspiration for my stairwell at home!

Lincoln Road:
This outdoor shopping area puts all Toronto 'outdoor malls' to shame!  Cleverly nicknamed 'The 5th ave of the South' this pedestrian road is enclosed by boutique shops, brand name stores, restaurants, cafes, bars, theaters...you name it, it's on Lincoln road.  I spent so much time in this area I ended up eating both my lunch and dinner in this district. Just like Ocean drive, the restaurants offer most of their service to outdoor seating.  Of all the restaurants we checked out, Meat Market was hands-down the best. (We actually sat indoors at this place).  The decor was stunning, the wine selection was superb, and the food was fantastic! The only thing I didn't like about Meat Market....was my bill at the end of the evening.

London: Liberty

I was in London last week on a quick business trip and couldn’t resist the chance to get a few hours of shopping under my belt.

I absolutely love the cosmopolitan nature of London and the glamorous shops throughout the city.  Each time I’ve been to London I’ve made time to visit Harrods, the world famous department store.

On this particular visit I was staying in West London on Regent street.  When I told my driver how excited I was to go back to Harrods and Top Shop in Knightsbridge, he asked if I’d been to ‘Liberty’ yet.   Not only had I never been there, but I’d never heard of this store before. He asked me a bit more about my favorite spots in London and after a quick conversation he was convinced I’d love Liberty.  It was only a few blocks over and he strongly suggested I start my afternoon off there instead.  The local’s know best right?  Off to Liberty.

 I’m so glad I made the decision to go to Liberty instead.  For starters, the exterior of the store is stunning. Constructed on Regent Street in West London the store was built over 100 years ago using the timber of two ships.  Inside the building, winding staircases and five floors  beautifully display the collections. Best of all, the store is anything but cluttered or busy (Harrods on the other hand is like being at Grand Central Station during rush hour). Liberty’s collections range from very expensive designer pieces (Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney etc.) to fashionable & affordable brands (Heidi Klum’s new swimwear line).  More than simply another women’s clothing store, most of the floors in Liberty are actually dedicated anything but clothing.  Unique stationary, fabrics, fragrances, china, exclusive coffee table books (I could go on forever).  

 

For any ‘fashionista’  visiting London I’d definitely suggest checking out this store.  Harrods is a fantastic tourist spot, but the only thing most people can afford from this UK hotspot are items from the gift shop.  If you want to get someone an authentic, chic souvenir from London, I think they’ll surely appreciate something from Liberty much more.

Halifax: A 'Cheesy' City

I headed out East this week for a work trip, mostly full of meetings and driving.  It's not my first time out East, I've been around Nova Scotia before with family. I've seen the token tourist places, and even the not-so-token tourist places (one of my grandfather's houses is actually now a museum, how's that for making one feel old!?!?) I didn't even consider making a post after my trip because I didn't think there would be the time for me to really discover anything new.

Favourite find on this trip.  Obladee.

It's a small but trendy wine & cheese bar on Barrington St in downtown Halifax.  I was there on a Tuesday night and the place was packed! I can only image the crowd on a Friday evening.

They offer a vast selection of wine by the glass (or bottle) and an amazing selection of cheese and charcuterie. We let our waiter bring over a platter of  his personal favourites.  (Tie in to my last post: one of the recommended cheeses was goat gooda!)   The customized cheese board was perfect for our group of 4 as a late night snack.

By the very different crowd I saw at Obladee you could tell this place is appealing for many different types of nights. It's a great spot for after work drinks with co-workers, a great place to go on a date, or an awesome spot for a night out with your group of girlfriends. I wish there was a place like this closer to home.

The best part, prices were more than reasonable.  : )

A Day at Kensington Market

I love to travel.

It doesn’t have to be anywhere exotic, not even further than a few street blocks over, but more than anything I love to explore new areas. Since it will be a costly venture to book a plane ticket every few weeks, I decided exploring different areas in my very own city of Toronto would feel just as rewarding as when I get to explore during my travels far away.

Would you believe I have lived in Toronto my entire life, and never been to Kensington Market!?! Well, now I’ve been. If you’ve visited this area of the city I don’t need to sell you on what a fantastic day out this will prove to be. If you haven’t, you should! (Map included) And I’ve got a few suggestions based on my weekend adventure.

Suggestion 1: If you don’t need to take a car….don’t. Parking is sparse and streets are crowded. Plus, if it’s nice enough to walk around the market for the afternoon then biking or the ttc will do just fine.

Suggestion 2: Do any grocery shopping for the week AFTER you’ve visited Kensington market, you likely won’t need much at your local Metro once you’ve spent the afternoon here. My favourite spots include My Market Bakery which had a fantastic selection of fresh breads (go early in the day!), Global Cheese which has a vast variety of fresh cheeses (my pick of the week was goat gouda) and Essence of Life Organics which had a great selection of organic fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products....pretty much, any type of food you can think of.  

Suggestion 3: Try a restaurant. There are fantastic Thai, Mexican and Italian restaurants all throughout Kensington market. Most of the places are small and admittedly, look a little dodgy, but the pricing isn’t bad and the food is authentic. There is a listing of all the places to eat on the website.

I can’t wait to spend another weekend here. I think it’s more enjoyable in warmer weather, so my next visit may have to wait until next spring. There are dozens of places I didn’t get a chance to go into so if you have a favourite spot in Kensington, I’d love to know so I can check it out on my next visit.