Ljubljana, Slovenia

First of all, greetings! I know it's been a while since I last posted but here I am once again, excited to share my traveling adventures in Slovenia. I have to admit that Slovenia wouldn't have been anywhere near my radar had I not met my sweet friend Tanja 9 years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We stayed at the same hostel and since she had been in Rio longer than I had by the time we met, she offered to show me around and we ended up striking a fast friendship as we bonded over our love of travel. We kept in touch over the years and finally when I had an opportunity to visit her, I did not hesitate hence why I am in Slovenia.

I landed a couple of hours ago and Tanja decided to show me around the capital city Ljubljana (in English it's pronounced: loo - bee - aa - nuh), before the onset of jet lag. It's such a pretty city with a good vibe, we walked around and I got to try some traditional dishes and snacks. We also met up with one of her friends and hang out for a bit before jet lag checked in. I can't write much because sleep is calling my name and I am about to answer, watch out for more updates because the next few days will be filled with fun adventures thanks to Tanja:)

Apostle Islands, Wisconsin

I have to admit that I had never heard of the Apostle Islands before until picturesque photos started popping up on my Facebook. This really piqued my interest and once I shared the photos with my husband, it was a wrap! we unanimously decided that this was going to be our next trip.

The Apostle Islands is an archipelago comprised of 22 islands found on Lake Superior (the largest fresh water lake in the world) in northern Wisconsin. Many of the islands have campgrounds which are seasonally occupied but the largest of the islands which is called Madeline, is the one that is inhabited all year round. The islands are well known for their reddish tinted high cliffs and naturally formed arches that look so pretty! aside from the natural beauty, there are also tonnes of activities to be found in the area especially if you enjoy being surrounded by nature.

To get to the Apostle Islands, we made our way to Bayfield which is a small city that acts as a gateway to the islands. We decided to start with Madeline Island which is like a small town unto itself and to get to it we had to cross over by ferry. Ferries run every 15 minutes as they transport people back and forth at a cost of $16 per person, if you choose to take your car with you that will cost you extra. Yes, you can get on the ferry with your car, bike or by foot.

Madeline island is quaint and you can easily check it out within a day. Depending on your interest, you can choose to: rent a scooter or bike and ride around the island, go for a swim at the public beach or explore the walking trails around and camp out for the night. We walked around for a bit just to get a feel of the island, it was scorching hot so we took it easy with some cold drinks and ice cream to cool off. By the way, the original Native American tribe that occupied and continues to occupy this territory is the Ojibwe so in many places you will see signs written in English Ojibwe.  

We spent half a day at Madeline Island before heading back to our hotel to rest up. On the second day of our trip, the plan was to take a kayaking tour on Lake Superior to check out the famous red cliffs and caves of the Apostle Islands. We made our way to the designated meeting area where we met our guide and the rest of the group that was going to be on the tour. The guide had warned us that the water was going to be a bit choppy because of the strong winds and this made me so nervous but we were assured that it was still safe to go ahead with the tour. 

Kayaking on Lake Superior was quite the experience and we got to see some really pretty sites, at times I was scared when the water got rough but thank goodness my husband has more experience than I on the water, so I was in good hands. 

That's it folks! we had a good adventure and I am so glad that I got out of my comfort zone to do this. I am terrified of water and I am not a swimmer so kayaking on such a huge lake was intimidating and scary for me but I did it. We are back home now and I am already planning for the next adventure so watch this space for what's next.

Out and About in Miami

Today being the last full day of our stay in Miami, we decided make good use of our time and check out as much as we possibly could. Since we are staying in downtown it has been very convenient in terms of moving around because we are centrally located so access to various areas of interest isn't too bad. Here is how we spent our day:

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

This was once a winter villa for a wealthy business man named James Deering in the early 1900s but it's now been converted into a museum that's open to visitors. I will not pretend that I know the whole history of the villa but from the little that I read online I thought it would be interesting to check it. The surrounding gardens are so pretty and well maintained plus they serve as a good background for photo shoots, we actually came across several. The museum/villa was alright and for both of us, the gardens were the main highlight. It is definitely worth checking out while in Miami, online tickets are required prior to your visit and they cost $18/adult. The museum and gardens are open Thursday through Monday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Downtown Miami/Bayside Marketplace

Bayside Marketplace is an open air shopping complex located in downtown Miami. Here you can find restaurants, bars and even take boat rides. I think it's a huge tourist trap but still a fun visit.

South Beach

This neighborhood is well known for it's nightlife, beaches, hotels and restaurants. We took a stroll along the famous pedestrian street of Ocean Drive which was packed with people (for a minute there I even forgot that we are still dealing with a pandemic). 

After walking the whole length of Ocean Drive and briefly checking out the beach, we made our way to Espanola Way which is another street worth checking out. It was much quieter than Ocean Drive and really pretty with trees lined on each side of the street. We got to enjoy some really good Cuban food and Mojitos at a restaurant named Havana 1957 before deciding to call it a day.

That's it folks! It was quite an eventful fun day despite the hot weather. I kid you not we have been showering 3 times a day because each time we step out to do something, we end up all sweaty and sticky and have to get back to our hotel room to freshen up before heading back out again. Despite the heat this had been a nice mini vacation and I am looking forward to more trips during summer. Do check back for the next trip update.

Bienvenido a Miami!

Hola! we decided to spend a long weekend in Miami to celebrate my husband's belated birthday while taking advantage of the holiday weekend which grants us an extra day. The last time I was in Miami was years ago so this was also a good opportunity for me to refresh my memory of the city. We got here last night and today was our first full day so of course I had to make sure that we maximized our day by checking out as many places as possible. Without further ado, this is how we spent our first day in the city.

Started with cute photos with the Miami skyline in the background.

Coral Gables

This is such a pretty and chill neighborhood where you can see Spanish and Mediterranean architectural influences. It is also home to the famous Biltmore hotel which was once one of the most famous resorts in the country way back when.

Coconut Grove

This is an upscale neighborhood that was founded in 1873 and is full of the cutest boutiques and side walk cafes where you can chill and people watch while enjoying some bites. The neighborhood also represents people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Little Havana

As the name indicates, this is a heavily Cuban influenced neighborhood where most of the action is centered along Calle Ocho (eighth street). Along this street there are various restaurants from different Latin American countries, cigar shops, fruit stands etc. Little Havana used to be a regular neighborhood that tourists didn't venture to but now it's become so touristic which you will see by strolling along Calle Ocho.

Little Haiti

This is an overlooked neighborhood where most tourists don't really venture to but we decided to check it out. As the name indicates, the neighborhood has a heavy Haitian influence so if you are interested in learning about Haitian culture, this will be a good start. We walked around a bit then stoped at a local restaurant where we had some really delicious Haitian food before heading out.

Wynwood 

This neighborhood is well know for its colorful murals and is home to various art galleries, retail stores and open air street art installations. You can chose to pay $10 to get into Wynwood Walls which is like an outdoor museum featuring some cool murals or walk around the neighborhood and check out the numerous murals adorning most walls.

That's it folks! first day in Miami went really well. It was hot but at least the humidity wasn't overwhelming plus we spent most of our time in an air-conditioned car driving around so that helped tremendously.  Tomorrow is another adventure filled day so watch out for the next post and remember......