Month: October 2020

Heyyy friends! Today we’re gonna be exploring London!! 

London has a plethora of sights to visit, but we’re going to start in the heart of it all… Buckingham Palace. 

Buckingham Palace is a beauty, inside and out. One of my favorite things to experience was the Changing of the Guards Ceremony. The changing of guards occurs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from August to May, and everyday in June and July. 

This ceremony is when the group of soldiers currently protecting the palace are replaced by new soldiers. Lasting a span of 45 minutes, 1,500 soldiers, 200 horses, and over 400 members of the Massed Band take part in this formal ceremony. 

Watching soldiers in their red staple uniforms is thrilling. The poise, the seriousness, the perfection… it really is extraordinary. 

Another visit must be made to the London Eye. The good news is, you can kill two birds with one stone, for this one. The London Eye is basically a ferris wheel that gives you an aerial view of the city. It’s been named the #1 visitor experience for the past decade and is a short ride that allows you to take in the city, all at once.

After your little joyride, you can walk the famous Westminster Bridge towards the Big Ben. The architecture of the buildings is breathtaking, and the bridge overlooks the Thames River! It makes for a great photo-op:)

Another similar bridge is the Tower Bridge. Now, I truly felt like I was in a movie walking through this one! The views, the vibes, the energy… truly immaculate.

 

I saved the best for last… duhhh! If you have the time to make a day-trip just outside the city of London, I HIGHLY recommend a trip to Windsor Castle. Personally, this was my favorite part of the trip.

A second home to the queen, this castle is kept more private. While they offer tours, a very limited amount of rooms are open to the public for viewing. One of our most memorable tours was the tour of the kitchen. Did you know the chefs make about 50 extra servings of food during state dinners, in case of a spill? This was more common a few decades ago, as they didn’t have an elevator and spills are more likely when using the stairs. 

Excuse my random facts, but learning about the castle was quite fascinating. If you’re more of the exploring type, the views from the terrace are beautiful as well. The open space ahead of the castle highlights the magnificent architecture. The Castle also makes their own dairy, and therefore, their own ice cream! This ice cream was probably the best ice cream I had on the trip and I would go back just for it.

I hope you enjoyed the inside scoop🙂 You have now spent ~a day in the life~ with me, in London!

 

Obviously, I couldn’t have just one blog post on NYC… I mean c’mon… it’s the BEST CITY in the world!

Last time, I walked you guys through some of my favorite things to do in the city; however, they were quite touristy and had a lot do with Times Square and Central Park. Today, we’re traveling to Brooklyn… a gem in disguise, if you will:)

In the city, you must walk EVERYWHERE to really feel like a real new-yorker. Nothing is ever too far… it’s just a little whiles away. Therefore, the only real way to experience Brooklyn is by walking the Brooklyn Bridge to enter the borough.

In order to beat the crowd, you should walk the bridge in the morning or later in the evening. Despite being a tourist attraction, thousands of New Yorkers use the Brooklyn Bridge as a mode of transportation — either biking or brisk-walking it in order to get to-and-from work.

My favorite time to walk the bridge is during sunset so that you can watch the sun dip under the horizon, with the skyline in the background. If you’re planning a trip to Brooklyn, I would recommend walking the bridge into Brooklyn around lunch time. This way, you can enjoy the sunset on your way back into Manhattan, and get the ‘city life’ experience once it gets darker outside and the skyscrapers light the sky.

Once in Brooklyn, there are a plethora of places to explore… but first food.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about “Brooklyn Pizza”. Yes! Brooklyn Pizza is in fact amazing! You can’t go to Brooklyn and not eat pizza… it just doesn’t work that way.

Di Fara Pizza is known as the best pizzeria in New York City — and it does not disappoint!! The wait to eat here can be crazy (all of the time), but as thousands attest, “it is well-worth the wait”.

Once you’ve stuffed yourself with some New-York styled pizza, take a trip to DUMBO. Named for being “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”, DUMBO is one of liveliest places in Brooklyn.

You can visit the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Aside from its astonishing views, the park sets up weekly events in the summer to bring the community together. This includes Movies With a View. Every Thursday of July and August, the Brooklyn Bridge Park sets up an outdoor movie. Now it’s not just a movie… it’s a party. They even hire a DJ and food vendors to set up, until it’s dark enough to start the movie.

I was fortunate enough to experience this a couple years ago. I watched Wonder Woman and they had Smorgasburg for food. To say this experience was phenomenal is an understatement. Truly one of my favorite memories from the city:)

While the movie with a view is quite amazing, there’s still plenty more to explore. You’re probably gonna want to document your trip to Brooklyn, and what better place to do that than the “Photo Spot” of Brooklyn. Famous for the way Brooklyn’s red brick buildings, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State building can be captured all in one picture, this street is a true beauty.

You can also visit Brooklyn’s famous flea markets to try and find a vintage buy, or take a stroll along the water. The views are beautiful as Brooklyn overlooks Manhattan. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can visit Jane’s Carousel. It’s nearly a century-old, and has been refurbished and encased with a glass cube around it. The good news is that you can still ride it and it makes for some cool pictures!

I hope you can go out and explore these beautiful sites in Brooklyn, one day! For now, I’ll just reminisce my past trips:( You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ in Brooklyn!

Today we’re going back to Costa Rica since we only got to explore La Fortuna last time!

We’re gonna be starting off in Manuel Antonio, a small oceanside village. You can explore a wide variety of activities from their National Park to their water sports!

If you plan on visiting the Manuel Antonio National Park, I highly recommend getting a guided tour! During their peak tourism season, they only allow 600 people into the park, at a time. But don’t worry! With a tour guide, they are able to get in line early in the morning and save you a spot! It’s completely worth it:)

Once inside, you can walk around and explore the rainforest. The biodiversity is breathtaking — you can find up to 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds! Some of the most popular animals you can encounter include sloths, iguanas, monkeys, and snakes. You can even enjoy some hiking, while taking in the breathtaking view!

Once you’ve hit your adventure maximum and just want to relax on the beach, you can head over to the extensive coast. Because the number of people allowed into the park is so limited, the beach is rather spacious and uncrowded. Fortunately for me, I wasn’t too lonely as a couple of iguanas decided to share our spot in the shade!

Personally, I spent a lot of time at this particular beach. It was rather relaxing and calming. All you could hear were the waves crashing, feel the heat beating your skin, and smell the crisp ocean air. It was amazing. To say I returned to my hotel burnt, is an understatement.

Aside from the National Park, you can also spend some time walking around the village and doing some shopping at their shops. I found they have an extremely unique jewelry collection as they incorporate a large variety of stones and beads into their designs. It made for the perfect gifts:)

You can also take part in some sports including surfing! I’ve always wanted to learn and I saw this as my shot. They have surfing lessons available right at the beach and can have you riding a wave in about 2 hours! Unfortunately for me, my below-average beginner skills were no match for the people who had grown up surfing in Costa Rica:(

For good eats, my favorite restaurant was El Wagon. Their specialty is pizza
(which was very good), but my favorite item on the menu was their strawberry-banana smoothie, hands down!!! I went back the next day just for a smoothie…

But jokes aside, the ambiance was phenomenal. From their mosaic tiled floors, to the gorgeous view of the rainforest, to their rocking chairs at each table. It was lovely. The vibes at this restaurant screamed Costa Rica.

If you have any additional time during your trip to Costa Rica and have already explored La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, remember to give San Jose a visit! San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and the perfect city to close out your trip!

Filled with monuments, museums, and amazing architecture, it’s a beautiful place to walk around. The perfect mix of urban development and historic architecture is breathtaking!

You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ with me in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica! I hope it brought some more insight to the different attractions encompassed in this small, but beautiful, country:)

Next up, we’re going to New York City! City trips have always been a staple in my childhood as we live about an hour away.

I feel like you can never go wrong with NYC. I love experiencing the holiday bustle, spending a summer day walking the streets, and getting dinner with some friends and a skyline view.

Some of my favorite things include exploring the streets and walking around, while trying new foods! My sister and I try to find the most unique dessert shops during each of our trips, and honestly, they never fail to please. We once walked 36 blocks to find a crêpe place… it was worth it:)

If you ever find yourself in SoHo, I MUST recommend the Dominique Ansel Bakery. It’s nothing short of the cute little bakery of your dreams. Filled with creamy goodness, the warm sweet scent hits you the moment you walk through the door. Famous for their cookie shots, you can expect the line to go down the street. Served exclusively after 3pm, these shot glass-shaped cookies filled with milk are well worth the wait. The warm cookie melts in your mouth while the milk adds the perfect blend of cold.

If you’re a foodie, you must seek out a location for Smorgasburg. Smorgasburg is essentially a street filled with food vendors, offering the best foods of all cuisines. It’s truly a foodie’s dream. You can spend hours just going around, convincing yourself that you must try each food because it just looks so good. They typically set up somewhere with a nice view, some music, and loads of food. As expected, it’s very easy to get carried away. Personally, I’ve visited their locations by World Trade Center and Brooklyn. They never disappoint.

When visiting NYC, there are some touristy locations that should definitely be on your list to visit. This includes Times Square… duhhh. I would recommend seeing it at nighttime, but walking around during the day is extremely lively too. There are always street vendors set up; street artists ready to spray-paint a NYC skyline,  sketch your portrait, or dance for you; and of course the people dressed up as Disney characters. This used to be

even more special before the Toys-R-Us in Times Square shut down (sad) — their Ferris Wheel is missed. Visiting the M&M Store is super cool as they have a plethora of flavors, colors, and sizes offered — something you don’t see at your local grocery store.

Walking around Central Park is incredibly special as well — especially in the fall. My family has spent countless days biking, walking, boating, and laughing in Central Park. In the summers, they have boat rentals for you to enjoy some time at the pond, model sailboat racing, and a Bubble Man who religiously stands by the Bethesda Terrace. We rent row boats almost every summer, and take in the beautiful view that Central Park offers. They also almost always have a model sailboat race at Conservatory Water, which is interesting to watch. And of course, the Bubble Man. This simple, yet super cool concept has always amazed me. He uses some soapy water, rope, and two sticks to create the most mesmerizing bubbles. As you can expect, I have spent quite a few dollars trying to get the perfect bubble.

If you couldn’t tell, I LOVE the city and can probably talk about it for HOURS!! With the countless places to explore and new foods to try, you can never be bored. You have now spent ~a day in the life~ in New York City. I hope you love it as much as I do:)

We’re back and better than ever! Today I’m taking you guys to one of my favorite places ever… Costa Rica!

When you think of Costa Rica, the first thing that may come to your head may be their beaches. You’re not wrong — their beaches are amazing. I’m more of a tropical beach person myself, however, my favorite place in Costa Rica is their rainforest.

That being said, we’re starting off in La Fortuna. La Fortuna is a small town, but it is located at the center of geological wonders. This includes the Arenal Volcano.

The Arenal Volcano is an active (but resting stage) volcano, surrounded by hot springs at its base. Most resorts in the area are close enough to the volcano to have the hot springs in their resort — usually connected to their pools. Although Costa Rica is warm enough without pool heaters, these natural hot springs were amazing to experience. It was quite surprising to feel how hot these springs could actually make the pool water… there were times when I had to take a break because I was sweating in the pool!

Aside from the breathtaking views, La Fortuna hosts a plethora of
hiking opportunities. Along the hiking trails, there are even opportunities to

walk the hanging bridges and zip-line across peaks. My family decided to take on an adventurous challenge and took a day to rappel down waterfalls, cliff jump, and white water raft. To this day, I greatly cherish these memories as it is something I’ve never

experienced before. Rappelling down the side of a cliff with a mere rope tied around my waist brought on a weird thrill. These experiences were magnified due to the wildlife that flourishes here. From tropical flowers to sloths and iguanas, I guarantee there is much to see.

If you’re still missing the water while in the rainforest, you can journeydown to the Catarata Fortuna (La Fortuna Waterfall). This beautiful waterfall requires a hike down 500 steps, but it is all worth it! Make sure you bring your camera and a swim suit — after the short hike you’re gonna want to go swimming in this cool water.

I’m not sure if the hot springs had spoiled me, but the water at this waterfall was quite chilly compared to everything else! Nevertheless, it was beautiful and definitely a must… just watch your knees as you navigate through the slippery stairs to get there!

Now that we’ve got the activities in La Fortuna covered, lets tackle the food aspect! Personally, I loved the unique cuisine they served — especially the Gallo Pinto.

Costa Rica is known for their coffee. With numerous plantations throughout La Fortuna, coffee beans are one of their major exports. Capitalizing on their world-famous coffee, it is very easy to find a coffee shop to regroup in. My favorite coffee shop was located right near there plantation. Sitting by the window, you had the view of a beautiful plantation with the Arenal Volcano in the background… it sounds surreal.

Along with their coffee, you can’t miss their chocolate-covered coffee beans! They’re a real treat — and even make for a thoughtful souvenir for friends:)

You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Hope you enjoyed!