Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, RebeccaWanderlusting

Touring Chichen Itza & Cenote Ik Kil

On June 18, 2018 By rebeccawanderlustingIn International Travel, MexicoLeave a comment

Seeing Chichen Itza while I was in Mexico was non-negotiable for me. So much so that I booked the tour when I booked my flights so I could work the rest of the trip around that activity. The tour shuttle was scheduled to pick me up at 7am, so I got up super early to get ready and run to the lobby for coffee and a sweet roll. I was the first to be picked up, so William, my tour guide for the day, gave me the pick of the seats in the van. He gave me the rundown of what we were doing that day and then started off towards the next hotel. There were ten other people on the tour with me, and I soon found out that I was the only English-speaking participant. This was only a problem in that I only understood every third or fourth word of everything William said. Luckily, he didn’t say a whole lot during the two hour drive to Chichen Itza. This post could also be entitled “The One Where I Didn’t Learn Enough Spanish Like I Should Have and Got In A Tiff With The Tour Guide”.

The Mayaland Hotel is the gateway to Chichen Itza and also happens to be a beautiful oasis of a resort. The ticket stand/gift shop for Chichen Itza is just to the side of the hotel, so we all piled out and milled around for awhile. There was another tour group waiting for their guide to the ruins and somehow, without me knowing it, I was pushed into that group. This was ultimately for the best, because they were an English speaking group, but at the time, I was a little concerned because all of my things were in the other bus and I wasn’t quite understanding if I was with them for the rest of the day. Off we went down the path to the ticket counter, where I discovered I didn’t have the right ticket, because I was switched around between the two groups. I was annoyed but determined not to let it ruin this tour that I was looking forward to, so I ran back to the trailhead, bought my ticket and ran back. I got stamped in, and followed Carlos, our Chichen Itza expert down a path that was lined with vendors selling straw hats and blankets and trinkets.

Carlos (pictured above) led us through each exhibit of the Mayan culture, including a cenote that would have provided most of the water to the old city and a replica of a typical home with a thatched roof. We kept walking, past yet more vendors who yelled over each other to exclaim to us how low their prices were. The group moved through the tree-lined path into a clearing, where the majority of the ruins sat. It took my breath away. I had waited to see this for so long, and I was just so grateful to finally be there. It was so beautiful.

Carlos gave us some time to take it all in and take all the pictures we wanted. Once we all gathered back around him, he went on with his tour, pulling laminated photos out of his backpack to illustrate his points. The Temple of Kukulkan (the main pyramid associated with Chichen Itza), named for the Mayan feathered serpent deity, stood in the middle of all the other buildings. Carlos walked us over there and showed us how if we clapped in the right place in the right way, the sound would ricochet off the building and replicate the sound of the serpent’s wings. It did sound like how I can imagine a winged serpent might sound, if I’d ever heard such a thing. In the midst of him showing the other buildings, we got stuck in a rain storm that came and went pretty quickly, but there was no shelter to speak of so we quite literally just weathered the storm. Carlos showed us the ball court and a few other points of interest, and then we started the walk back to the hotel for lunch.

I met a really nice couple from South Carolina on the tour, and we sat down to lunch together. The hotel’s dining room was set up in stations that were mostly self serve. There a traditional Mayan cuisine, tacos, a salad bar, “international foods” (sliders, pizza, hot dogs) and dessert. I hit the taco station first and got a chicken taco with pineapple and a bowl of the Mayan cuisine which consisted of rice, beans, peppers, and Adobo pork and a Mexican Coca Cola for good measure. It was a fantastic meal in a beautiful setting. The courtyard we sat in was so pretty, and there was a peacock wandering around the diners.

The group I originally started with took a lot longer touring the ruins, so I spent an hour looking through the gift shops and buying some souvenirs for my family. Finally, I ran into my original guide, who basically apologized (“sorry, we just get so many tourists”) for passing me off and then loaded us all back onto the bus to head to Cenote Ik Kil. It was just a little ways down the road from Chichen Itza. We were allotted an hour to swim, and were to meet back at the bus, so we all hurried off to make the most of the time. It was set up like a theme park, with turnstiles, ticket takers, rent-by-the-hour lockers and changing rooms. I got a locker and changed into my swimsuit. The cenote was set into the ground, and it took approximately sixty steps to get to the bottom. The vines hung down from the top of the crater and it was dark and mossy toward the bottom. There were four ladders lined up to climb in and out of the water on one side and a staircase that went upwards for the more adventurous guests to jump from.

It doesn’t look very high, but once you got up towards the top…it was pretty high. I made a beeline for the stairs and jumped in right away, I had to or I would have lost my nerve. It sure felt high once I was in the air. Once I was in the water, I paddled around happily. What a beautiful place for a swim! I felt something brush against my foot, and noticed these fish swimming around everyone – they looked like little sharks. I swam over to the ladder and waited my turn to pull myself out, all the while anxiously looking around me for the pseudo-sharks. I pulled myself up and decided the best course of action would be to jump again, but from a higher stair. There was a little girl putting everyone else to shame, but climbing up to the top stair and jumping in over and over again, putting grown men to shame as they jumped from the lower stairs. It was amazing. I swam up until it was almost time to leave, and then I ran back to my locker to grab my camera to get some good pictures. It really was one of the most magical places I’ve ever been.

I could have stayed there all day, but I had to meet the group back at the bus. Everyone fell asleep for the ride home, and of course I was the last one to be dropped off. After one last awkward interaction with William, our bus driver, I was home free. I showered and got ready for dinner, which consisted of the semi-authentic Italian food. The food wasn’t so good, but I made it taste better with lots of wine. I finished my last night in Mexico in the outdoor bar, where a live band was playing. I settled down into a comfy chair off to the side and ordered a mojito to enjoy with the music. It had been a long day, but it truly was one for the books. This trip had been incredibly healing and enlightening and wonderful; I was glad for every moment leading up to it and every moment there.

Have you ever toured Chichen Itza? What company did you use and did you enjoy the experience?

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

On May 10, 2018 By rebeccawanderlustingIn International Travel, MexicoLeave a comment

Well, well, well… look who finally decided to show up. Me.. I know, I’m sorry. These past few months have been a little rough in more ways than one, but I’m happy to report that I’m much happier now than I have been in a while. Thank goodness! So let’s get down to business. The plus side of not being active on the blog is that I’ve had a lot more time to get myself back to my normal self. The downside is that I have SO MUCH to catch you up on. So, I’ll start with my trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico back in January, here goes:

I booked an all-inclusive trip to Playa Del Carmen via Expedia on my 28th birthday after a rough day and a bottle of cheap wine. A month and a half later, I was heading to the airport bright and early on a Saturday morning. When I arrived in Mexico, it felt like a world away from the frigid city I had just come from. Everything was warm and vibrant, and there were palm trees everywhere. A few steps outside the airport, my amazement at the scenery was abruptly interrupted. Men and women in polo shirts jumped out at me from every angle, offering tours and taxis and timeshares. I made a beeline for the Super Shuttle stand to hop on the bus that would take me to my hotel.

I was grouped with four older travelers (two couples, its seemed), They were very talkative, but also super negative; grumbling about everything from the traffic to the suburban scenery. When the driver got in the front seat, he told us to buckle our seat belts, and one woman replied “Why? Because you’re such a bad driver? I know you people like to drive fast”. Oh lord. I sent up a silent prayer that he knew I wasn’t with these negative nancies. Another small mercy: I was the first one dropped off. I was staying at the Grand Riviera Princess, which was in a line of other resorts along the coast. A gentleman greeted me with a clipboard to assist in check in. He asked me my name and marital status, which tripped me up a bit – literally. I tripped. After making my signature clumsy first impression, I worked my way over to the front desk where they offered me a glass of welcome champagne. They gave me a map of the hotel grounds, a schedule of events and my all-inclusive wristband which I was cautioned never to lose.

I was told I needed to make reservations for dinner each night or I wouldn’t be able to eat, so I made my way to the reservation desk and chose the seafood restaurant for my first night. It sounded fancy, and I wanted to get dressed up for my inaugural meal. I bought a Free People maxi dress for the trip and I was very excited to wear it out. Unfortunately, it was wasted on a sub par Mahi Mahi in a glorified snack bar. Not one to wallow in a bad situation, I drank enough house wine to make the food taste good and ordered dessert for good measure. Afterwards, I went back to my lovely room and sat on the porch with my free mini bar beer to read “Big Little Lies” (the PERFECT beach read, by the way).

On my first full day in Playa Del Carmen, I woke up early and headed to the breakfast buffet as soon as it opened – eager to properly start my vacation. Again, the food was kind of meh, but they did have an impressive variety of breakfast delights. I ate what looked halfway decent (fruit, bacon and toast) and then headed to the beach to walk along the shore. I’ve always loved being by the ocean, so despite the cloudy skies, I was just so happy to be there. The hotel staff was grooming the shoreline and there were few other people out and about, so I had the beach mostly to myself. I spent the rest of my morning relaxing and reading. It’s so rare that I take a vacation that’s purely calm, no rushing around to see the sights, so this was perfect.

I decided to hop on the shuttle to downtown Playa Del Carmen to explore for the afternoon. The line was long to get on the shuttle, but I snuck on and sat in the front seat – one of the perks of traveling alone. When we got off the shuttle at 5th Avenue, we had to walk through a jewelry store to get to the pedestrian-only main drag. The shuttle driver had warned us that there would be a lot of solicitors on the street; that they’d see our wristbands and say “oh do you remember me? I was your waiter last night at the Grand Riviera”. Even though he told us this, I was still taken aback by the intensity with which they offered me tours and souvenirs. I made my way up and down the street, popping into stores but not really buying anything. It was crowded and hot, so I ran into the nearest restaurant to get some lunch.

The restaurant was completely open to the street, so the sunshine streamed in. I picked a table slightly in the shade and ordered a locally-brewed pilsner and some arrachera tacos. The tacos came with the spiciest salsa I have ever tasted. They were delicious, and so was the pilsner. It was such a nice break from the bustling street that I lingered a while, people-watching and slowly sipping my beer.

After lunch, I was more interested in eating some more than buying souvenirs, so I stopped at a cute little gelato store and got a gelato bar dipped in chocolate, white chocolate and sprinkled with nuts. It was so delicious. I had walked down 5th Avenue to each end and back again, so I grabbed a coffee and headed back towards the meeting point for the shuttle back to the hotel.

Once back at the hotel, I changed back into my bathing suit and laid out by the ocean to read and drink cocktails like a drunken slug. The hotel had waitresses taking orders from all of the loungers on the beach, and I got promptly ordered mojito. After some liquid courage, I left my things on my chair and attempted to go for a swim. I stubbed my toe as soon as I walked into the sea (typical), but, despite the new pain in my foot, I bravely moved further in and dunked my head under. The water was warm enough, and I jumped around in the waves for awhile, enjoying the beautiful beach.

I spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool, drinking mojitos and making new friends at the swim up bar. I met a couple from Marengo, IL, which isn’t too far from my hometown. I was wearing my Bears hat, so I was immediately pegged for a Chicagoan. I also met a couple from Canada that I wound up spending a good amount of time with, chatting about travel, politics and the difference in our separate countries’ health benefits. It was weird banter for the poolside setting, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. We parted ways and I ran back to my room to change for dinner. This time, I was headed to the one Mexican restaurant on the hotel grounds. The food was significantly better than the night before. I ordered a grapefruit/lime/tequila concoction that was better than any other drink I’d had on this trip, or ever. For dinner, I couldn’t decide between the shrimp tacos and the steak, so I got both (yay – all-inclusive!) and it was all so good.

I stopped by the hotel bar to take in the salsa lessons happening on the dance floor. There was such a fun mix of people participating and the music was so festive. I stayed and watched for a while, too beat to join in. Either way, it was nice to sit in the warm night air and enjoy the scenery. I slowly made my way back to my room to get ready for bed, and to my delight Hombres Misterios was on TV. I fell asleep quickly, which was a good thing, as I had a full day tour the next day. Mexico had already made an impression on me, and I was excited to see more of it.

Have you been to Playa Del Carmen? What was your initial impression?

Niagara On The Lake, Ontario

On November 10, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Canada, International Travel1 Comment

We had a few hours to kill before we had to head back to the Toronto airport after checking out of our hotel in Niagara Falls, so we drove the twenty or so minutes to Niagara On The Lake. It was probably one of the best decisions we made that whole trip. The drive was gorgeous. The road ran along Lake Ontario, which could be viewed through the orange, yellow and red leaves of the autumn trees.

We passed about fifteen wineries, both large and small, on our way into town and we vowed to stop into one on our way back out. We didn’t really have a plan in mind for once we arrived, so we just kept taking turns that we thought would lead us to the lake. We finally made it to a park on Lake Ontario, with a gorgeous gazebo and a path that led along the shore.

We walked along the path a ways. The Toronto skyline was faintly visible across the lake, which provided us with a nice bookend for the trip. It was a beautiful day for a walk along the lake, but we were limited on time, so we hopped back in the car and started driving again. This time, our random choices took us past a cute boutique hotel, a beautiful golf course and through a neighborhood of beautiful lake houses.

Because we had not destination in mind, we wound up on our way out of Niagara on the Lake, towards the airport. We were heading out a different way than we came in and I was so worried we would miss out on all of the beautiful vineyards in the area. Luckily, we spotted Jackson Triggs Winery up the road and jumped on the chance to check it out.

The tasting room was set in between rows and rows of vines, which were a perfect emerald green in the sunshine. We went in with the intention of only splitting a flight of three wines between us, but wound up sharing two flights. We tried a Brut, a Sauvignon Blanc, a White Blend, a Merlot, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Red Blend. They were all excellent, made more so by the wonderful woman pouring for us, who was knowledgeable about the wine and super nice. We ended up leaving with a bottle of the Merlot, which was to be saved for a special occasion.

We had to get the rental car back to the airport by 4:00pm, which made us very early for our 7:45pm flight. This ended up being a blessing, because as soon as we walked into the airport, we were hit with the news that our flight was cancelled. We ran to the United Guest Service desk to see if we could get on another flight, where they informed us we had been re-booked on a 9:00am plane the next morning. She took one look at our faces and offered to give us stand by tickets for a flight that boarded in 40 minutes. We dropped off our luggage, ran through security and customs and made it to the gate with minutes to spare. Our guardian angel at the guest service desk must have called ahead because we had tickets waiting for us. Once we were actually on the plane, I had a moment to reflect on our vacation, and what a wonderful trip it was.

Have you ever been to Niagara On The Lake? Did you stay overnight or just visit?

Adventures at Niagara Falls and Beyond | RebeccaWanderlusting

Adventures in Niagara Falls

On November 7, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Canada, International Travel1 Comment

Niagara Falls is an easy hour an a half drive from Toronto, making it the perfect day or weekend trip from the capital city. The town surrounding Niagara Falls is full of hotels, chain restaurants and kitschy attractions like mini golf, wax museums, and fun houses. We were staying at the Four Points by Sheraton, which was connected to two other hotels by a mall and casino. We checked into our room and walked directly back out of the hotel to see the falls. This was my first time seeing this natural wonder and to say I was excited would be an understatement.

The hotels were situated on a hill above the scenic path opposite the falls, so we walked down the steep sidewalk to get there. It was misting when we started walking down, but despite the cloudy weather, I was jumping for joy when we first saw it. It was beautiful. The sidewalk runs parallel to the falls, and there is a large welcome center/gift shop/food court on the side near the larger horseshoe and the entrance to the Hornblower boats and another gift shop on the other side. The main drag (with all the kitsch) is closer to the Hornblower side.

We didn’t want to go on the boat tour in the rain, so we bought our tickets for the next day and then went in search of some dinner. This proved to be a difficult task in this neck of the woods on a Monday evening. We stopped into Niagara Brewing Company for a beer and a snack so we create a game plan for the evening.

We ordered a cheese plate that featured local cheeses and fruit and contemplated our next move. It was rainy and we were surrounded by restaurant chains and tourist attractions. We decided to lean into the kitsch. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped into gift shops, and took pictures with the wax museum statues and the haunted house monsters. We took a wrong turn somewhere and somehow ended up in a very seedy area with deserted restaurants and broke down motels. Running through the empty parking lots in the pouring rain, Mike gave me a look I knew well. It said “why do I let you lead me into these situations”. Once we were finally back within the very warm and dry lobby of the collective hotels, we let the bright lights of the casino lure us in.

We decided to gamble $10 each. Mike lost his right away, but I kept winning and splitting the winnings to bet more. It was thrilling, but I can only spend twenty minutes max in casinos or I’ll gamble my life away so we moved on to Shoeless Joe’s (as I said, really leaning into the kitsch) for dinner. The food was meh and the atmosphere was meh, but it did the trick. We decided to be a little bit fancy and headed to the top of the Hilton Niagara Falls for a nightcap and a view of the brightly lit falls. We got martinis and stared out the window for quite a while, rebuffing the very sweet waiter’s frequent offers for a refill. Once our glasses were empty and we had our fill of the view, we headed back to our room to sleep.

The next morning, we got an early start to fit in as much as possible on our last day in Canada. After a quick breakfast, we walked back down the path from the hotel to the falls and straight to the line for the Hornblower boat. They run every fifteen minutes, so we were able to get on-board fairly quickly. As we moved through the line, we were given short sleeved ponchos to protect against the spray of the falls. The boat was fairly full, with most of the crowd up top. We chose to stay on the bottom level. Once we got going, there wasn’t a bad view to be had: the first waterfall was to the left, the small skyline to our right, the second falls ahead of us and the bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada.

As we pulled up to the first set of falls, the wind brought the mist into the boat and we were soaked everywhere the poncho didn’t cover before long. Being that close to the falls was exhilarating, and the combination of morning fog, mist and circling birds made it feel like an Alfred Hitchcock film. The boat moved on and mike and I clung to the railing, taking in the views and approximately 1,000 photos. The second portion of Niagara Falls was a different experience entirely. The boat could only get so close because the current was strong, but we were certainly close enough to feel the force of it and, again, get soaked through. We weathered the spray to get a glimpse of the falls up close. It was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever had the pleasure of beholding. No photo could do it justice, but I’ll try:

Everyone else on the boat was comically running back in forth, trying to get the best view and the best selfies. The boat stayed put for awhile, allowing everyone to take it all in. Once we started heading back, I kept my eyes fixed on the falls. Once we docked, Mike and I decided to check out the Journey Behind the Falls experience, which was on the other side, near the horseshoe. The tickets were sold within the welcome center, which also was the entrance to the experience. It started with a hallway of informational posters detailing the history of the falls, which led to the elevator down to the tunnels. Once off the elevator, we were handed two more ponchos and directed to an overlook that was positioned right next the falls.

It was the best view from the Journey Behind the Falls by far, as the other overlooks just included the running water passing over the holes in concrete walls that separated us and the waterfall. It was a cool experience, but perhaps not quite worth the entry fee, which was $14.

We got a quick, cheap lunch from the cafeteria and slowly, slowly made our way back to the hotel. We were due to check out at 1pm. The sun had finally come out, changing the water of Lakes Ontario & Erie from dark gray to a brilliant turquoise. It was absolutely stunning. I stopped every couple of feet to take photos, which made our progress back to the hotel even slower. I found it so hard to leave, but we had to head home. Niagara Falls will forever be one of my favorite views of all time.

Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? Were you on the American side or the Canadian Side?

Exploring the Neighborhoods in Toronto | RebeccaWanderlusting

Exploring Neighborhoods in Toronto

On November 1, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Canada, International Travel1 Comment

When we were in Toronto, Mike and I wanted to explore their different and diverse neighborhoods. So between being shameless tourists at CN Tower and Casa Loma, we biked, walked and took the train around the city. It was probably my favorite part of our time there, getting around and getting a feel for each area. I wish we could have gotten to more of the neighborhoods in Toronto, but I think we were able to see a good amount given the time that we had.

Bloordale Village

We came to the Bloordale Village neighborhood solely to check out a bookstore called Monkey’s Paw, which I heard was really cool. The store specialized in rare and unusual books and had everything from old medical texts to books of maps to beautiful editions of classic novels. They have a book vending machine that spits out old books for a $2 (CAD) coin. It’s amazing and Mike and I each got one. We were intending to move on to the next neighborhood, but the store next to Monkey’s Paw, Zebuu, drew us in with it’s colorful prints and cozy home goods.

From there, we were hooked by each store we passed. We stopped into a record store that Mike really enjoyed called Dead Dog Records. They had an excellent selection of well-kept albums from all imaginable genres. Next door to this records shop was a heavenly thrift shop called Ransack the Universe. This store had mountains of old books, cameras, records and jewelry that were perfect for rummaging. Once we had our fill of the shops, we stopped into Duffy’s Tavern for a beer and some lunch. The restaurant had an oak bar that ran the length of the wall with plenty of bars on tap and football and soccer games on the TVs behind it. We split and order of poutine (yum!) and BLTs.

Distillery District

The Distillery District is a pedestrian only neighborhood with cobblestone streets and beautiful old brick buildings. Mike and I walked in and out of the stores and galleries, all of which were a little pricey but they had some really cute stuff! There were a few that I really liked, including a clothing boutique called GotStyle and a gift store called Black Bird Vintage Finds. There were quite a few wedding photo shoots happening while we were in the neighborhood, especially by a an iron sign that said LOVE with love locks all over it. It was so dang cute.

After making the rounds, we decided to move back to Spirit of York for a flight of house-distilled vodka, gin and aquafit. The distillery was very chic, all copper, chrome and glass inside. We chose two leather chairs to sink into and taste test our spirits. They were very flavorful and light, but I still had to chug water after each one. I’m not yet sophisticated enough to drink straight gin.

Kensington Market

Mike and I biked to Kensington Market from Bloordale Village, along main streets and through a gorgeous neighborhood with tree-lined streets. Originally, I was opposed to this idea, but Mike convinced me that it would be fun to try out Toronto’s bike share (much like Chicago’s Divvy Bikes). I ended up loving it, which made me wonder why I’ve never done it before. Regardless, we were able to return our bikes near Kensington Market, where we were instantly hit by the smell of nagchampa. We turned onto one of the main streets of the neighborhoods and entered a colorful world of thrift stores, head shops and cafes. It was reminiscent of Haight Ashbury in San Francisco. We stopped into a cafe there called Fika for some caffeine, and I tried their Canadian Spiced Latte, which was flavored with cardamom and mint. It was delicious, and the cafe was gorgeous. We took our coffees to go and strolled through the crowded streets. I have to say, this neighborhood’s street art was on point. Each alley wall was covered with colorful depictions of people and places

Among the secondhand stores and jewelry stalls (which were fun to browse through, but kind of blended together after a while) were some true gems. There was The Organic Press, a juicery that also sold beautiful potted plants and ceramics, and Paradise Bound, a record store that also sold Japanese art. These among others are a solid reason to visit this neighborhood and immerse yourself in it’s crazy, colorful vibes.

Leslieville

Leslieville was my favorite neighborhood of the trip for good reason. Their cute boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants were a dream to pop in and out of. We started off the day having breakfast at Lady Marmalade’s, a cute, brightly-lit cafe that served breakfast and lunch. I had the bread pudding of the day, which was apple cinnamon (dessert for breakfast, hooray!) and Mike had the huevos migos. The food was excellent and the coffee was served in mismatched cups and saucers. We sat at a table by the window and the sun was nice and warm, creating a cozy, golden atmosphere that was hard to leave. The rest of our time spent in Leslieville had a similar effect. We walked up one side of Queen Street and down the other on orange leaf covered sidewalks. Good Neighbor was the first shop we went into and it set the bar pretty high for all the others. It marketed itself as a general store, selling a little bit of everything (including, but not limited to: clothing, home goods, paper goods and jewelry). I loved their Up North brand, which had the warmest looking knit hats.

We went to Queen books next, which was a beautifully curated and whimsically decorated wonderland. Each display was so thoughtful and the staff picks (something I totally judge bookstores on) were spectacular. I wish I could say we bought something, but we had too many books in our luggage already. There are two Arts Market storefronts in Leslieville, and we went into them both. They are collectives of local art and antiques and they are both amazing. I particularly loved the feminist enamel pins and the plastic dinosaur planters. We went into a few more stores before our parking meter was up, but the standout of the day was Brika. I loved everything they had in their beautiful shop, especially their prints and paper goods (am I the only one who will buy ten planners in a year because they’re each so great??). I left with a cute pair of earrings and the info for their online store, which does indeed ship to the States.

Have you explored the neighborhoods in Toronto? Which is your favorite?

Tourists in Toronto | RebeccaWanderlusting

Being Tourists in Toronto

On October 28, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Canada, International Travel4 Comments

We arrived in Toronto with slight hangovers from a friend’s wedding the night before and a list of places we wanted to see. The first orders of business were: greasy food to cure us, checking into our AirBnB, and deciding on which attractions we wanted to see first.

Because it was on the same street as our Airbnb (just down a ways), we decided to start with the Hockey Hall of Fame. Mike was very excited about this excursion and I was equally as happy to check it off the list (hockey’s not really my thing, despite Mike’s best efforts). The walk down Front Street gave us a great view of the cityscape, and the weather was perfect for wandering.

The Hockey Hall of Fame was situated in the lower level of a mall, tucked into the back near the food court. The entry fee is $19, which is a fair enough price for the amount of memorabilia they have. The standout feature was the Stanley Cup, which was proudly displayed in a beautiful room with a stained glass ceiling. They also had some really fun interactive games and exhibits, including a game where you got foam pucks shot at you as you try to defend your goal.

We exited through the extraordinarily overpriced gift shop and made our way further down Front Street to the St. Lawrence Market, which was much more my style. The market is housed in a huge, brick building and in large tents across the street and is only open on the weekends.

We went inside the building and were immediately hit with amazing smells ranging from fresh baked goods to fruits to coffee to cheese. Each stall presented a fresh new product and experience and it was so fun to walk up and down the aisles. We played with the idea of getting ingredients for dinner to cook at the Airbnb, but we didn’t want to have to run back there to drop the items off.

The cheese and wine in particular were very tempting to me, but my favorite stall was Eve’s Temptations – a bakery that sold beautiful tasty treats. I especially enjoyed their macarons (we tried chocolate caramel and cassis). Nearby to the St. Lawrence Market and Hockey Hall of Fame is the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium. We tried to tack these onto our first day of exploring and just couldn’t swing it; we were so tired.

The next morning, we woke up early, grabbed coffee from the cafe next door, Atlas, and headed over to Casa Loma via public transit. We hoofed it uphill from the train station and up a few flights of stairs to get to the castle. Like the staircase, the entry fee is a little steep at $27 per person, but it came with the guided audio tour which was cool. I will say, if you’re going to visit Casa Loma, do so during the week because it gets super crowded.

While I liked exploring the rooms (especially the library) and learning the history of Casa Loma, my favorite part of the tour was the North Tower. We had to climb two spiral staircases to get to the top of it, but the view was well worth it. I think it may be the best place to view the skyline in Toronto. We really wanted to go down through the tunnels and anunder the castle, but unfortunately it was closed due to a haunted house they were setting up.

On our second night in Toronto, we walked over at dusk to the two neighboring attractions: CN Tower and the Aquarium, and bought a dual ticket for both. The dual ticket is only available online but gives a pretty significant discount, so we bought them in the lobby of the CN Tower before heading up. The elevator to the top is preceded by posters noting facts about the towers construction and a photo-op in front of a green screen. The elevator shoots you up to the top of the 1,800 foot tower at records speed, causing your ears to pop as you look out at the city through the glass walls.

I only kind of wish we came during the day, just so we could see more of the city, but the view at night was still stunning. There are two levels from which you can get a 360 degree view of Toronto and a glass floor to scare the crap out of you. It took some cajoling to get Mike to stand on it, and even then he could only walk quickly across (scaredy cat).

Once we got our fill of the view, we hopped back on the elevator to exit through yet another gift shop to walk next door to the aquarium. I’m not usually one for visiting aquariums on vacations, but I have to say, this one was kind of amazing. Each tank and exhibit were laid out so nicely and there is a tunnel through their large aquarium that you can walk through and walk under sharks. SHARKS!! I walked through twice, it was so cool.

We had so much fun exploring and exclaiming over each fish and critter. The jellyfish exhibit was particularly entrancing. We sat for awhile watching them glide up and down in their tank. We left once we realized it was 9pm and we hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so we walked over to KitKat Italian Bar and Grill. The romantically-lit restaurant was the perfect spot for our impromptu dinner date. They had Montelpuciano wine on their menu, which is one of my favorites.

Mike ordered ribs and I ordered their special pasta for the evening, which was a roasted red pepper agnolotti with artichokes and eggplant. The food was spectacular and exactly what we wanted after a long day walking around. We lingered over the food and wine; the servers were so kind and attentive. It was a wonderful way to end our day of exploring Toronto’s top attractions.

Have you been to Toronto? Which attractions should not be skipped?

Trip Planning: Toronto, Ontario

On October 17, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Canada, International Travel, Trip Planning3 Comments

We’re going to Toronto, Ontario next week! I have never been to Canada and I am so very excited for this trip. It seems like it has been such a long time in the making that it’s almost hard to believe that we are finally going. A couple of years ago, Mike and I were supposed to be heading there in the Spring, but life happened and we weren’t able to make it work. Now, I can confidently say that this trip is happening! (I hope I’m not jinxing myself!) This will actually be our first trip out of the country together, which we just recently realized when we both realized we need to renew our passports.

We booked this trip back in August and have been planning bits and pieces ever since. Our plan is to spend two nights in Toronto and one night at Niagara Falls, another first for me! I am actively trying not to do too much research, because I think we are both in need of a slower-paced vacation. I am using my first vacation days earned at my new job (that I started in February) and let me tell you, I need them! Not because I dislike my job, but because we have been so dang busy!

With that in mind, here’s our little (to me anyways, as you know I do like to over-plan) Toronto, Ontario to-do list:

The Royal Ontario Museum
Casa Loma
Massey Hall
The Hockey Hall of Fame
CN Tower
St. Lawrence Market
Toronto Island
The Monkey’s Paw Bookstore
& These Neighborhoods: Leslieville, Kensington Market, and The Distillery District

As far as packing goes, I will be sticking to my typical travel capsule wardrobe, plus some warmer items as it is supposed to be a little on the chilly side while we’re there. I’ll be bringing sweaters and scarves and my warmer jacket to accommodate the temperature.

We will be staying right downtown in a beautiful Airbnb, which I saved a bit of money on by purchasing a Airbnb gift card through Raise. I know I’ve mentioned them in previous posts, but I have been using this online marketplace quite frequently to save money on larger purchases (like vacations… or new clothes). If you’re interested in trying it out, use my promo code WANDER20 to receive $20 off a purchase of $40 or more. The Airbnb we’re staying at is pretty central to everything we want to see, so I’m excited to be able to walk most places.

After spending a few days exploring Toronto, we’re renting a car and driving down to Niagara Falls to stay the night. We are planning on doing ALL of the touristy things (boat tour, hike behind the falls…). I can’t wait!! From there, we’ll drive the rental car back to Toronto Airport and head home, hopefully refreshed and happy.

Have you ever been to Toronto, Ontario?? Feel free to suggest your favorite spots and recommendations in the comments!

Copenhagen Card, Copenhagen, Denmark, RebeccaWanderlusting

Copenhagen Card: Worth It or Not?

On December 28, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Denmark, International TravelLeave a comment

On my recent trip to Copenhagen, I decided to invest in the Copenhagen Card, a city pass that included many attractions and museums. In my original planning for the trip, I thought the card would be an invaluable asset to exploring the city. Plus, the fact that it might save me some money on this tightly budgeted adventure didn’t hurt!

In addition to covering the entry fee for many museums, tours and palaces, the Copenhagen Card also works as a public transportation pass and includes discounts to restaurants and attractions that aren’t included in the card. I ordered my city pass through the website, and opted to pick it up from the visitor center once I arrived in the city, saving the $8 shipping fee.

In total, the seventy-two hour Copenhagen Card cost $89, which I thought I would easily earn back, and then some, with all I wanted to accomplish there. Though I had very high hopes, it turned out to be kind of a daunting task. I had three full days in the city, and wound up going to 2 museums (one, the Copenhagen Contemporary, was not included in the card), 2 palaces, the Round Tower (I visited twice because it was the best place in the city to see the sunset), Tivoli Gardens (the Copenhagen Card only covered the entry fee, the rides and food inside the park was extra), and going on the canal boat tour.

These attractions, combined with the exploring on foot and enjoying the cafes and architecture, completely filled my time in Copenhagen. Here is the breakdown of the attractions I entered using my Copenhagen Card for and their actual entry fees:

The Canal Boat Tour: 80Dkk ($11.25)
Tivoli Gardens: 150Dkk ($21.10)
SMK Art Museum: 145Dkk ($20.40)
Round Tower (twice): 50Dkk ($7)
Amalienborg Palace: 75Dkk ($10.55)
Christianborg Palace Ruins: 50Dkk ($7)
Christianborg Palace Reception Rooms: 90Dkk ($12.66)
Bus to Norrebro: 24Dkk ($3.38)

Total: $93.34

So, was it worth it? Financially, yes, just barely. And it was awfully convenient to use the Copenhagen Card to get in everywhere and to get on the public transportation. Though I could have taken advantage of the public transportation more, I should have taken into consideration how much I would want to walk around.

There were also a couple of attractions that were included that I wish I could have seen, like Frederiksborg Castle, The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and The National Museum. The truth of it is, I felt like having the Copenhagen Card put a lot of pressure on me to run around and do as much as possible.

Instead of giving into the pressure, I did the opposite, and spent a lot of my time in Copenhagen aimlessly wandering and exploring the beautiful streets and neighborhoods. The end result was a really great trip, tinged with a small amount of guilt that I didn’t do/see enough. Overall, Copenhagen was an amazing city to visit, and I’ll just have to see the things I missed the next time around.

Have you had any experiences with city passes like the Copenhagen Card? Did the end up being useful, or a hindrance?

Christianborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark, RebeccaWanderlusting

Last Night in Copenhagen

On November 27, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Denmark, International Travel3 Comments

My last night in Copenhagen encompassed everything that I loved about this beautiful city. I visited one of the historic palaces, strolled down the main shopping street, had the best meal of my whole trip, and spent my last couple of krones on a glass of wine enjoyed al fresco.

After a delightful lunch at Atelier September, I walked over to Christianborg Palace via the Royal Library Gardens. The library it’s surrounding gardens were gorgeous, but also swarmed with kids playing Pokemon Go (which had just come to Europe). I walked next door to the palace, which was decidedly less crowded.

Within Christianborg palace, there are a few different areas to explore, all of which were included with my Copenhagen Card. I chose to check out the ruins beneath the palace first, taking the stairs down to view the foundations of castles past. The ruins were a lot larger than I thought they would be, sprawling out beneath the palace with paths weaving through. There were plaques accompanying the landmarks in the ruins and small interactive installments.

To contrast the dark basement of the palace, I went to the reception rooms next, where I donned little blue slipcovers over my shoes to walk around like royalty. The reception rooms were very grand, almost dripping with opulence.

As I wandered from room to room, I seemed to be going at the same pace as another woman, who asked me to take her photo as she shoved her phone in my hands, in each room we entered. She would switch up her poses, then snatch back her phone and walk away. This went on for a few rooms before I had the good sense to skip a couple of rooms and get ahead of her. I couldn’t help but laugh when I passed her again and saw she had roped someone else in to snap some photos as she posed looking pensive on a velvet bench.

My favorite room at Christanborg was the library, of course, but I loved how bright and colorful the whole palace was. After I was done exploring Christianborg, I walked back to my hostel via Stroget, the pedestrian shopping street. I wanted to do some window shopping and browsed along Stroget, and its side streets to look for souvenirs for my family.

After an hour or so of commerce, I sat down at the Victoria Bar in a beautiful square for a cider and some reading. It was another beautiful day in Copenhagen, and I was happy that I got to spend much of it outside. After my drink, I went back to the hostel to rest up and choose a restaurant to go to for dinner.

After reading many glowing reviews and ascertaining that the prices weren’t too crazy, I decided to try Mon Amour, a French restaurant in the Latin Quarter of the city. It was a small, intimate restaurant with a thoughtful menu and a great wine selection. Though the prices were pretty decent, it was still a bit of a splurge for my budget. But it was 100% worth it.

I ordered the Veal Scallopine and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and was extremely happy with my choices. Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned; I savored each bite. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Mon Amour, and I have no doubt that if it was located in Chicago, we would visit it frequently.

After dinner, I took one last wander around city. Copenhagen and I had gotten off on the wrong foot when I arrived, but I had truly fallen in love with this city. I stopped at Europa café for a glass of wine, leaving my last krones on the table. Despite the late hour and it being a weeknight, the streets were still bustling with people. I sat there contently, people watching and writing for a while before going back to the hostel.

Street musicians played as I walked, and I thought back to the exhibit I saw at the Copenhagen Contemporary, about the band, the National singing their song “Sorrow” over and over. I was sad I had to leave and there was a line in the song that I kept repeating in my head as I walked: “I don’t wanna get over you, I don’t wanna get over you…”. I wanted to hold onto the feeling that I developed over this trip, keep it in the little pocket in my purse to pull out when I’m sad or frustrated or uninspired. That night, I packed up and went to sleep, satisfied with my trip and (mostly) ready to head home.

Norrebro Neighborhood, Copenhagen, Denmark, RebeccaWanderlusting

Exploring the Norrebro Neighborhood

On November 9, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Denmark, International Travel1 Comment

I had read that the Norrebro Neighborhood was a fun, hip place to explore so I headed there on my second morning in Copenhagen. I took the 6A bus from downtown, which only took about fifteen minutes. When I got off at the stop that Google Maps had instructed me to, I was a little confused. There was nothing around. No shops, no cute cafes, just warehouses and residences.

I popped into a coffee shop for a latte and to take advantage of their free Wi-Fi. Of course I should have found more exact directions before I left the hostel and took the bus to an unfamiliar neighborhood, but I was too excited to get going to sit down and think about practical things. In the coffee shop, I discovered that the main hub of Norrebro was just a half mile walk away, so I headed in that direction.

I was instantly happy when I arrived in the neighborhood and immediately spotted a cute café, called Sebastopol, for more coffee and a bite to eat. I sat outside in the cobblestone square and people watched while I drank my coffee. This was exactly how I pictured I would spend my time in Copenhagen.

The women of this beautiful city make me want to throw my Ventra Card (public transportation in Chicago) in the river and buy a bike and some flowy dresses. The basket of bread and croissants I ordered (and finished off, I might add) was probably unnecessary, but I rationalized that it would give me the energy I needed to walk around. After I reluctantly peeled myself out of my comfy chair and paid my bill, I started to wander the neighborhood, popping into the very trendy clothing stores and thrift shops as I went.

The stores that I liked best were: Urban Room, a cut clothing and home goods store with beautiful posters and fancy undies, Mondo Kaos, which sold gorgeous vintage dresses with accessories to match, and Baan Suan, really beautiful and practical clothing and jewelry. There were plenty of others that were fun to browse through, but those were the ones that stand out to me.

In between the stores were plenty of cafes, bars, sweet shops and restaurants. Everyone I passed was super stylish and I was so glad I wore something decent that day. After hours of zigzagging through the neighborhood, I wound up at BRUS, a brewery/restaurant with craft beer and cocktails on tap.

I ordered the BRUS Cocktail (when in Rome…), which was a tastier, fancier gin and tonic. They had picnic tables set outside around the restaurant, which is where I sat to enjoy my drink and do some more people watching. The people of Copenhagen gave me some major fashion goals.

I decided to head to the SMK National Gallery from Norrebro, which had me wander back through the neighborhood one last time. My favorite thing about Norrebro is that wherever there was a free space along a wall, people had tables of antiques and used goods set up. It made exploring the neighborhood like a treasure hunt through an antique store.

Plus they had actual great antique stores throughout as well. The walk also took me along the three rectangular lakes in Copenhagen, named Sortedams So. It was a beautiful walk and I passed many other pedestrians and bikers and picnickers enjoying the beautiful day.

The museum itself was housed in a huge building with a sprawling lawn behind it and a pond in front. I arrived there in the late afternoon and the museum closed at 5pm, so I rushed in to see as much as possible. The entry was included in the Copenhagen Card, but my bag was deemed too big, so I had to store it in their cloak room. It was actually a relief not to have to carry that clunky thing around for a while.

I started at the top of the main building and work myself through the works of European Art from the 1300’s to the 1900’s. My favorite paintings were the works of Johan Christian Dahl, whose paintings of Danish landscapes were gorgeous, and the Picasso and Mattisse paintings, of course.

I would have loved to take more time walking through, but I did get through most of the museum in my two hours there. They have a whole other building dedicated to modern art that I wish I had more time in, but that side of the museum was amazing and whimsical in its displays. The two buildings are connected through indoor bridges on the higher floors and a walkway of sculptures on the main floor.

If you plan on visiting the SMK, I would recommend setting aside a few hours to take in all the amazing art there. After the museum closed, I headed back towards downtown, this time on foot. Each new area I was exploring in Copenhagen was making me love the city more and more.

Which neighborhoods in Copenhagen have you explored?