Flamencos in Seville

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Back in 2016, I had a shit load of airline miles and an amazing friend who loved travel like I do. What did we do? Booked a free week in Seville, Spain for tapas, manchego, flamenco dancing and mas vino! It was the longest I had stayed in a place for a city trip and I was so excited to see what Seville had to offer.

I love Spain. When people ask what I prefer, Spain or Italy, it is always a hard decision but I always answer Spain. The main reason always falls back on the cultural impact every city in Spain offers. A prime example is the Giralda Tower, part of the Seville Cathedral, that has a twin in Marrakech, Morocco. This gorgeous tower fills up the city center and gives amazing views of the city from the top. And for you Americans out there, inside the Cathedral is the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

Something that can’t be put into pictures is the Alcazar of Seville. It blew our minds. For close to ten euros, you can be exposed to the historical evolution of the city within the very walls of the Alcazar.

Deep in the Parque de Maria Luisa is the Plaza de Espana where you fall back into Cinderella times. I kept expecting that broad to run out of the main building, lose a shoe and make her exit via pumpkin and mice…all while speaking Espanol, of course. We didn’t see any Disney princesses, only gorgeous fountains, bridges and cute little boats to take you around the plaza.

Other than UNESCO sites and parks to admire, Seville hosts a variety of charming streets, cafes and landmarks to behold. This post only covers the top three but you can easily get lost, like we did, for days eating delicious tapas and drinking the very fine Spanish sangria. Other than eating your face off, you MUST see a flamenco show. Most of them don’t let you video during the event but it’s an experience worth having.

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The teeniest country / island you’ll ever see: Malta

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It is no surprise that Game of Thrones tagged this country as one of its hot film locations; with everything from fun in the sun to casual strolls in majestic cities, this place is picture perfect for everyone. I had the immense pleasure visiting this little beauty for my first time in 2015 and instantly felt at ease in its warm, inviting landscapes and ancient city streets. I am going to let the pictures tell the story in this article because it’s one of those places where pictures actually do it justice.

Sliema

Usually, I recommend to always hire a car when traveling to new places. But in Malta’s case, you can easily use public transportation or taxis if you don’t feel comfortable driving on the left side of the road. The buses are from anywhere to 1.50 to 3 euro, depending on the time of year and the entire island can be reached within two hours. On my first stay, Sliema was city of choice as it was across from Valletta and offered lower hotel prices. Sliema also has a lot of excellent shopping and restaurant choices if you are interested in a small city trip.

Valletta

Valletta
Valletta
Valletta
St John’s Co-Cathedral
Upper Barrakka Gardens

Valletta has everything for you culture fanatics out there. I love to see the colorful windows pop out of the otherwise tan, sandy exterior of the city. It also has some lovely churches, such as St. John’s Co-Cathedral that are must see’s when visiting the city. When there, you must take time to visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens for the amazing views of the city and ceremonial cannon firing every day at noon and 4pm.

Marsaxlokk

In 2017, I had the great fortune of returning to Malta with my boyfriend for a long weekend. It was his first time and I couldn’t wait to show him my favorite parts of the country. We chose to stay in the adorable fisherman’s village, Marsaxlokk to gorge ourselves with fresh fish and teeny boats. We walked to St Peter’s Pool for an afternoon of jumping and swimming in the Mediterranean.

Blue Grotto

I have mixed feelings about the Blue Grotto. While it is beautiful, I find the price of 8 euros a bit high compared to other sites in Malta. However, if you only have a long weekend for Malta, then I would recommend to go out. The water is insanely gorgeous but the trip is usually very rushed through.

Mdina

St Paul’s Cathedral

Mdina is our last stop on mainland Malta but is certainly not our least favorite. You can spend half a day here and easily get lost in its back alleys. Mdina is known for glass blowing and I had to jump at the opportunity for my own piece of this gorgeous art. If you are a collector, then be sure to check out any of the local glass blowing shops for your own souvenir.

Gozo

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St George’s Basilica

On my first visit, we had an extra day to visit one of the islands off Malta, Gozo. We took the ferry for 4.65 euros, roundtrip, and just waited to have our minds blown.

Ggantija Temples are older than the pyramids of Egypt and just as powerful to see. In addition to that, you can see breathtaking views of the island and sea all while getting your cultural appetite satisfied.

Azure Window

My favorite place in Malta is Azure Window. Sadly, this arch collapsed due to rough winds and is no longer visible. It doesn’t change the views of the crystal blue waters, the pink and purple colors of the sea and the rocky landscapes above the water. Sorry, not sorry, for the picture overload but this can not be missed when visiting Malta.

 

To finish, not a lot of people think to visit Malta because it is so far below the rest of mainland Europe. But, Malta has become a favorite spot for (especially) my boyfriend and I to discover new places every time. This island is so affordable and welcoming to all sorts of people.

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Iceland: For the weekend or longer

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When you think of Iceland, majority of you will imagine this picture: snow, ice, gray, cold, a winter wonderland. While this is exactly what awaits you on this post’s destination, Iceland has so much more to offer. We will look at hot spots for a weekend getaway as well as longer stays for the lucky ones who have the pleasure of more time in this amazing country.

Weekend in Reykjavik and the Golden Circle

Number one tip for this quaint city: be prepared to spend some money. Just to put it in perspective, you’ll spend 34% more on consumer goods than in places like Paris, London and Berlin. Best you know this going in and not think about it. My trick here is to withdraw the amount of cash you want to spend on food and drinks per day and don’t go over that spend. All of the stores accept credit cards, typically not American Express but welcome to Europe. Tip: Check out the duty free store in the airport on your way out. They have some nice selections of wine, beer and spirits that will save some bucks out in the city. However, if bar drinking is your cup of tea, then make sure to hit up the happy hour. Every place has different time slots but it’s usually between 5pm-8pm.

After you’ve done your shopping, just take a walk in the city! The websites will give their top 5 or 10 things to do and see but if you just take the afternoon to walk, you’ll see all you need.

Hallgrímskirkja church is more impressive from the outside than the inside but be sure to go up to the top for the gorgeous city views. The Tjörnin lake is a gorgeous spot to watch the birds (if you’re into flying rodents) and people watch. All can be found easily by foot!

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The Blue Lagoon is on everyone’s list…and it should be. It’s a pricey attraction but worth the trip out. You’ll certainly have your ideal time to go but if you are not picky, I recommend going as soon as you land as it is closer to the airport and saves you a journey back out. Book online first!

Now, let’s get to my favorite part of any trip: the food. Reykjavik is full of tasty spots for a delicious meal: both quick and the long haul. Since budgets were in play, we opted for one fancy meal and filled the rest of our options with “quick” meals. Here are my top 3 must eats:

  1. Saegreifinn – The Sea Baron– This delightful little spot in the harbor is a MUST. You will not find a more delicious bowl of lobster soup…get whatever you want as long as you pair with the soup.
  2. Ramen Momo— Delicious ramen for a great price! Tiny little spot so either be patient or take it to go. It is also close to the harbor so lots of outside options to sit with your ramen
  3. El Santo— I seek out the best Mexican restaurants in every city and this one did not disappoint. They have everything from tacos and burritos to nachos con guacamole!!
Gulfoss Waterfalls
Strokkur geyser
Pingvellir National Park

After your day or two in the city, I am sure you ready for the Golden Circle. I hope you are packing proper ski clothing; not because you’re skiing, but because the weather is so unpredictable in Iceland. Wet jeans suck and could potentially send you home with some cold or flu thing that no one likes. Don’t think about being pretty; just focus on being warm and dry. Do them in any order you wish but the sights to see are Gulfoss Waterfalls, Strokkur geyser and the Pingvellir National Park (you drive through it so if you’re pushed for time, just enjoy the view from the car).

Longer than a weekend?

Lucky you! Get in your car and head west towards Vik to see black sands, Jokulsarlon, some epic waterfalls and amazing hot pots along the way. It is a much different vibe the further you move from Reykjavik but don’t think the pricing changes…it is still expensive. If you go to Vik, there are only like two restaurants in the city but be sure to make a reservation!

Jokulsarlon
Diamond beach
Vik black sands

Seeing is free…just dress warm!!

We all know I like to do something on the extravagant side on these trips and this was no exception. We decided to try out ice climbing on the Sólheimajökull glacier courtesy of Mountain Guides. We also had a lesson on how the glaciers are melting at an extraordinary rate which got me into pure save the glacier mode. The picture on the left depicts how much of the glacier has melted just over the last decades. I encourage all of you to watch the Netflix documentary, Chasing Ice. 

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From Vik and the Jokulsarlon beaches, you can make any other travel arrangements that suit your needs. Other destinations to keep in mind are the West Fjords. We drove through them but with the ice and snow was a bit difficult. This is a place I would like to visit in spring/summer when the weather is nicer and we easily drive through the mountains.

Websites to follow:

http://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/

This website will let you track the northern lights and where to best see them

http://www.road.is/

This helps you track the weather conditions for your journey through Iceland.

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Amalfi Coast: Heaven on Earth

So there is this place where words don’t do it justice. Its entire being is an emotion; an emotion that you can’t explain until you see it and will stay with you forever. Travel bae extraordinaire and I crossed off this ultimate summer holiday in true sister fashion- no expense or experience spared. The route was planned for ten days to cover the best spots on the coast: Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri and finally, Positano.

Naples

Because I am selfish and can fly anywhere in Europe for cheap and no jet lag, we chose Naples as our meeting point. The first two days would be filled with pizza, gorgeous sunsets and walking the streets. I have a lot to cover in this article and while Naples was lovely, it wasn’t the highest mark of our trip. Let’s take one more minute to remember the amazing pizza and continue.

Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius 

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The most stunning view from Naples is Mount Vesuvius and we just knew we had to conquer it. We left Naples to continue our journey south for some hiking, more food and cultural immersion. Because we toured the coast in the middle of August, our decision to climb the active volcano was not only highly logical, but probably saved us from heat stroke.

Fun story: we took our rental car up the already long, windy pre-mountain to reach the base of where you actually hike. We thought we were pretty active hikers doing it this way but on the way up we saw a young lady doing that walk too! She ended up being in our group for the hike and never lost a step. When it was over, we offered her a ride back down the mountain, which she happily accepted. Wherever you are, I hope you know you’re a rockstar.

Price: 6,50 euro

Time: Around 3-4 hours depending on your speed

Pompeii

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From the top of Mount Vesuvius, you can see the iconic archeological city, Pompeii. This city was buried under ash and pumice after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and is in immaculate condition to visit. We booked our tickets prior to entering to cut down on the waiting time for entry.  The price is 17 euros and well worth the investment if you are a human being with any sort of emotional range. It was stunning to see how these people lived during that time and even more amazing how so much was preserved after the eruption.

 

Sorrento and Capri

The second half of the trip is when we kicked it up a notch. We still wanted to keep it close to the city center (because I hate driving Italian cities) so we chose a bed and breakfast from booking.com. Set up on one floor of an apartment building, we were welcomed by a lovely family to welcome us into their air conditioned home. Francesco was very accommodating and gave us all the tips to see and do in the city– like buying shoes and leather goods!

But the highlight of us staying in Sorrento was the easy access to the island, Capri. Thanks to Francesco, we took the quick, cheap mode of transportation via ferry. For 12 euros (one way) you can be in Capri in forty minutes. And what a view when you arrive…

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We walked around a bit before we picked a beach to park on for the rest of our day. Capri has some beachy sands but in order to save some money, we opted for the rocky beach (we rented out chairs anyway so it didn’t matter). Most of the time, you need to make a reservation to have place on the top beaches or it fills up first thing in the morning.

 

Positano

Here is where we blew all of our money: Positano. This gorgeous cliff side city is reason enough to become a millionaire and become of those featured on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” My sister booked this hotel because the three nights here added up to the rest of the nights combined. She asked for a room on the upper level so we could have a superior view…and boy, did we!

 

Everywhere we walked, we had another version of the same amazing view. We found ourselves getting lost in the magic as we walked down the cliff to the beach. Please enjoy these photos while you wish you were there, as I am doing now.

The highlight of our stay was our epic private boat rental for half a day. My biggest tip for this is to make sure you reserve before you arrive. We got very lucky to find a service that had a cancellation so we could go out. We loved our time on the boat and felt like the Kardashian sisters having a typical Tuesday. For a luxurious experience and a private tour of the coast, I highly recommend booking this excursion.

At one point, our driver took us to local spot to jump from the cliff, which we naturally did before taking turns jumping off the boat into the Mediterranean…well I jumped, my sister Olympic dove in perfect form. Just look how clear is the water…

Our last night, we had dinner at a restaurant we stumbled upon with even more amazing views of the city. I can’t recommend one place to eat because everything is fresh and amazing. Be ready to eat a lot of fish and pasta without feeling guilty! And don’t skimp out on dessert either.

Long story short: Go to Amalfi Coast. You’re going to spend money on this trip but just make sure you splurge on the things you really want to see and lay low on everything else. This is one of the life changing trips to make…don’t miss it!

 

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Morocco: Marrakesh in 48 hours

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Marrakesh is the ultimate city trip getaway– Why you ask? It has everything. Good food, culture, excellent prices, walk able, easily reached with Ryanair in Europe and relatively safe. My boyfriend and I had had enough of the cold, rain, clouds and shit weather in Western Europe and decided to seek out the sun in Northern Africa.

Hotel / Transportation

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We always skimp out on the hotels when possible because we don’t typically travel to hang out in our hotels the whole day (Now, ask me that again when we go to Agadir and I’ll be singing a different tune). In Marrakesh, we looked for a central Ryad for our stay and were super thrilled to find Ryad Hamza next to the Jemaa el-Fnaa. It was super charming and exactly what we wanted; central, quiet location and included breakfast! Now, if you are a traveler who likes the extras of room service, daily cleaning, etc… then book a hotel. We discovered ryad’s are like hostels and airbnb’s combined– bare minimum, excellent pricing and local feels. We loved it. We also opted to have ryad pick us up for 15 euros and we were happy we did. The location of the ryad was left turn, right turn, right turn, left, right, left, left and all on foot. If we didn’t have someone pick us up, we would have never found it.

Cooking Class

This was something new for us both and we absolutely loved the experience. We booked a four hour cooking course with a local dada (chef in Moroccan) to prepare a traditional lunch at La Maison Arabe.  And what is better, we left with the recipes of each dish we made and a small gift from our dada herself!

Cultural Musts

With only 48 hours in a city, it’s near impossible to see everything. Instead of researching what to see, we ask around to people on what we should see. The votes were in: we could not leave without visiting Bahia Palace and Majorelle Garden.

Majorelle Garden
Majorelle Garden
Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace

Even though they are on the opposite ends of the city, you can make it on foot within an hour. If you are a cultural traveler, you can easily see many other hot spots along the way. We opted for hitting up the street food vendors for some delicious chicken and lamb kebabs! You can also see how neighborhoods prepare food; there is one underground oven with a cook who has been working the oven for decades. People pay to have their meals cooked using this amazing technique.

Hammam

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In Morocco, the art of the hammam is very traditional and intimate part of the culture. In the spirit of this cultural city trip, we opted for a personal experience versus a public bathhouse. Le Bain Bleu can be found deep in the souks; you’ll need to look to the streets for small signs that point in the general direction or try your luck asking for directions. Just make sure the person you ask doesn’t expect money because they all do and will ask you for some form of payment at the end of their “hospitality.”

Shopping

The grand finale was to buy a carpet. After dabbling around in Turkey and other markets around Europe, I was ready to take my haggling skills to the ultimate test. A few things to keep in mind:

  • First things first is to determine the carpet style you want. After the welcome tea is served, they will bring out a few different types for you to choose. Once you pick your style, then the show begins.
  • Don’t let on to the one you like right away. Keep your poker face on. Be sure to narrow it down to three or four that are all possibilities before making a final decision.
  • When you find a few you like, ask them for the lighter test. They should use a lighter to prove the quality of the material.
  • Make sure they give you the first price. Once you have the price, make your counter offer at least 2/3 lower. They will act offended and like you aren’t serious but it’s all part of the dance.
  • They will only go about 5 or 6 rounds with you so when you are going up on your price, don’t make big jumps. You shouldn’t ever pay more than 50% of the original offer.
  • Always have a little cash on you. Usually, they will offer you a lower end price but ask for an extra cash incentive just for them as a tip. It is never more than 20 bucks so make sure it’s on you.

And finally, enjoy your rug and the overall experience!

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Athens: Perfect City Trip Location

Parthenon

I love Greece. My first trip to Greece sparked a love for this country, this culture, this everything that I didn’t know a person could have for a place. Athens provided my first insight into all Greece has to offer and I was hooked. My friends and I came up with a brilliant plan that instead of exchanging Christmas gifts, we would take a city trip somewhere new. It is never a bad idea to give the gift of new things! So off we went to Athens, Greece for a weekend getaway in the middle of November.

Getting to/from Airport

The cheapest mode of transportation to get to the city is the direct train. It takes around 40 minutes and brings you right into the heart of Athens.  You can buy the tickets at the airport and is 22 euros. It takes forever and you’ll need to account for that 40 minutes when you return to the airport. A taxi is no more than 50 euros, depending on the time of day.

Lodging

2016-11-27 19.43.25As usual, I hunted on booking.com for the best deals in the center and I couldn’t help but choose a place that promoted a view of the Acropolis! However, upon arrival and seeing the size of the city center, we quickly realized that 90% of the city has a view of this magnificent ruin. I recommend not using this filter as a way to choose your hotel; use other specifics that are important to you.

Perusing the City

Roman Agora
View of Acropolis
Parthenon
Site at Ancient Agora
Hadrian’s Library
Temple of Zeus

Usually, I do not promote buying city passes as I don’t think you get the bang for your buck. In this case, we opted to try it out when we bought tickets for the Acropolis. Without the pass, the cost is 10 euros for entry (in winter); the cost of the pass is 30 euros. Here is what you get:

  • Entry to Acropolis (Parthenon, Citadel, Theatre of Dionysus)
  • Hadrian’s Library
  • Ancient Agora
  • Roman Agora
  • Archaeological site of Lykeion
  • Temple of Zeus

If you are going to see the city for Ancient Greek sites, then the pass is truly a cost savings investment. However, the cheap side of me has to point out that the majority of these landmarks are out in the open and can be seen and photographed from behind the barrier. If you are on a cost savings trip, or if your main goal is to eat, drink and be merry. Then skip the pass and just see the sites from the outside.

 

Food

Greek food is my ultimate favorite (When it comes to European food. Don’t get me started on my love for Indian and Mexican cuisine) thanks to the plethora of lamb, feta cheese, olives, wine, dolmades….I can go on and on. Our first night in Athens, we searched for the coziest wine bar in town and toasted our weekend adventure and our Christmas present to each other. The main street of the city is loaded with restaurants, but these guys are the annoying ones who come up to you on the street with menus and special discounts to eat there. We didn’t want anything to do with that. We found a delightful restaurant in the Plaka district, a place loaded with locals and cute restaurants on steps.

Athens is a place I can not wait to visit again. It’s a true walking city and the perfect weekend getaway location!

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Spanish Island Hopping: Mallorca

 

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Every year, once the sun starts popping up in every country other than Belgium, I look to affordable places where I can escape for the weekend. We started the 2017 season in Mallorca, mainly thanks to the incredible pricing provided by Ryanair. As this was a new place to explore, I did my normal planning (nothing) for this three day get-a-way.

 

Location
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We totally messed up here…totally eff’d it, to be honest. I did not research different areas and to what groups of people they attract so when we got off the bus from the airport to MTV’s Jersey Shore (take deep breath), I hung my head in despair. Magaluf is southwest of Palma and is probably the grossest place on the island. Brits take over this area to get super wasted, lose their self-esteem and underwear all while yelling into the wee hours of the morning. The air smells like vomit and bad decisions and there is not an ounce of morality anywhere near. It’s college all over again.  So unless you’re Snooki or looking for a place to black out, stay anywhere else but here.

Transportation

Because we were staying in a shit hole, it made the decision to find a mode of transportation all the easier. We found a scooter rental shop that was exactly what we wanted for the day! For 50 euros, we had unlimited mileage and insurance included too. We took our little scooter through the Spanish mountains to cutesy little towns for lunch and for sightseeing. The Serra de Tramuntana is a mountain range along the west coast of the island and is stunning. We had such a gorgeous ride through this Unesco heritage site. We didn’t ride the whole thing but just enough to understand why everyone raves over Mallorca.

There was this charming rock watch tower along the road with views of the bluest water and miles of landscape to make any photographer swoon.

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We found the most charming little village tucked away behind civilization that offered the best paella EVER. We popped off our helmets, grabbed a seat and used our best broken Espanol to order food and vino rosso to quench our thirst and hide from the heat.

 

While the scooter rental didn’t require a reservation, the boat rental did. One of our favorite holiday activities is to rent a boat and see the area from the water; he loves water and I love the sea breeze. We rented a small boat for four hours and only paid 100 bucks! Seriously, we were in love with Mallorca prices. Just look at that water…it’s so blue!!

 

Summary

We want to redo Mallorca now that we know a little more about this amazing island. Have you ever botched a trip before? Let me know what you did to salvage the holiday!

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South Africa: I Bless the Rains

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Extravagant trip 2017 led us away from Europe down to the bottom of a new continent. South Africa was certainly uncharted territory so we didn’t know what to expect. We decided on this itinerary: Capetown, Cape Point, Kruger National Park and Stellenbosch. (Again, I am not going to take you throw a day by day schedule because ours changed due to weather. Make sure you book activities that can be easily rescheduled.)

Capetown

We flew to Capetown direct from Amsterdam arriving late at night. As most of you know, I love to book on AirBnB when possible and SA seemed to be the perfect location for the majority of our stay. I found this charming one bedroom flat in Greenmarket Square with security system downstairs and a terrace facing out on the square. Every morning, the square filled with tents of vendors selling carved wooden figures, bowls, jewelry and other African treasures. While it was charming to walk through, the early AM wake up call was not.

Bo-Kaap
Waterfront
Greenmarket Square

Two areas we spent the most time were the Waterfront and Bo-Kaap. Bo-Kaap was a very trendy neighborhood with colorful buildings…cool enough for a few pictures but we headed to the Waterfront for lunch. The waterfront had many little shops, a shopping mall with food courts, a ferris wheel and several restaurants. The weather wasn’t all that great but we decided to take an hour boat ride around the pier for 60 rand (that’s 5 bucks, y’all).

Table Mountain

Did you know it is one of the seven natural wonders of the world? And we almost didn’t go up Table Mountain. It was so windy the majority of our stay in Capetown, except for one day. Some tips here:

  1. Go early. Everyone has to buy tickets online before you go but it doesn’t give you priority pass to skip ahead. We waited for about 45 minutes before we could go up.
  2. Check the website before you go to make sure it is open.
  3. If you go at a busy time by car, go ahead and park at the bottom of the mountain and take the free shuttle up. There can be a long queue to the top and you’re only lucky to get a spot closer to the entrance

 

Boulders Beach & Cape Point

Boulders Beach
Cape Point
Shabs on the road

Had the weather been perfect and we did everything we originally planned, we would not have had time to visit here…and what a shame it would have been! Seeing these little penguin buddies so close to us on the beach was one of the coolest experiences. The drive from Capetown to Boulders Beach was about 45 minutes and halfway to Cape Point. The beach to Cape Point was another 30 minutes drive with an entry fee of 105R (about 8 bucks) per adult. The walk to the point took us about an hour and a half each way, including photo stops along the way.

Kruger National Park

Going on safari was something both of us wanted to do since we booked the trip–and we went all out. We flew direct to Mpumalanga International Airport for our three day excursion with Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve on the Dulini River Lodge. When booking through the Sabi Sands, you tell them the dates you are traveling and they send details on available lodges; we hit the jackpot!

I am afraid to share too much about this amazing place because I do not want to take away anyone’s first experience. If you are a first time safari goer like we were, then don’t look any further than Sabi Sands. We saw everything: the Big Five, zebras, hippos, giraffes, cheetahs…everything we wanted. The staff were beyond accommodating to ensure we had the best time. I would recommend the following:

  • If you are flying to Kruger Park, fly into the Mpumalanga International Airport. They arrange a private car to bring you direct to the lodge, which is about an hour and a bit. The alternative is taking something comparable to an airplane shuttle that brings you within minutes to your lodge. But, you will take-off and land up to three times, depending on where you stay.
  • Leave a tip before you go. They leave envelopes behind but not in a well seen location. They strive to offer five star service and exceed every expectation.
  • Dress for the weather. It was funny to see some girls wearing shorts in the morning when it was very cold. Oh, and bring a hat.

Stellenbosch (oh, and shark diving…)

What a way to end our trip: drinking wine in this unreal location. My sister booked our final hotel at Majeka House (the picture of me is from our balcony). She chose three wineries and we attacked them like this:

  1. Lunch (and wine) at Babylonstoren
  2. Wine tasting at Grand Provence Heritage Wine Estate
  3. Finale and (wine) dessert at Delaire Graff
Babylonstoren
Grand Provence
Delaire Graff

Shark Diving

Last, but not least, my sister had the brilliant idea to go cage diving with sharks. We decided to save it for last in case, well, you know…

She booked our excursion through Marine Dynamics. We arrived at 9AM to a little breakfast spread and sizing session (that’s another classic story) before we headed out to our whip for the day. We had about 25 people on our boat and six people could go in the cage at a time. Each group had about 45 minutes in the cage to have ample opportunity to see sharks and other sea life swimming around. The price was 2100R per person (about 175 bucks) and totally worth it. When we got back, we were given a small lunch of soup and bread to warm us right up.

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Cote d’Azur: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

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When I want to book an extravagant trip abroad, there is only one person who I ask to join–my sister. In 2015, we decided to rent a car and explore the French Riviera. It was our first holiday where we both had jobs (paying jobs, that is) and couldn’t wait to make reservations in nice restaurants, not worrying if we should split an entree or dessert in order to pay the bill. We had four days and our itinerary was set: Nice, Monaco, St. Tropez, Cannes.

Nice

Our first day was set exploring Nice and relaxing on the beach. The pictures do not deceive, the beach was uber rocky…but free in most places. My sister used up some hotel points for our stay at Le Meridian right on the coast. I mentioned this was our fancy trip, right? Because we felt like the Kardashians sitting on our rooftop bar watching the sunset over the Mediterranean every night.

There is not a whole lot to “sight see” in Nice but we jumped at the opportunity to take our very own motorized life size hot wheel through the streets on a GPS guided tour. This service was quite nice (get it? HA!) as we drove in the hills for some gorgeous views of the city below. However, we later found ourselves off the designated route and on the busy main streets of Nice.

Monaco

I collect countries. I like to tick them off my list and get a magnet for my trophy wall. I was so excited when I found out that we were close to Monaco; naturally we wanted to rub elbows with the celebrities or maybe the royals inside the casino. The drive from Nice to Monaco was absolutely stunning. We stopped a few times along the way in smaller towns to have lunch and just soak in the scenery.

But when we got to Monaco, we stayed a total of 10 minutes–long enough to get my trophy and to see the infamous casino. Maybe it’s for you? It wasn’t for us. Half of the city/country was under construction and a glass of wine was something like 1000 million thousand euros. Don’t get me wrong…it was beautiful and we were glad we went. But, we headed on back to Nice to lay on the rocky beach and do sea activities. You should be sorry we didn’t take any pictures during parasailing…sigh, it will haunt me forever.

St. Tropez

We had one destination in mind: Club 55. My sister knew of this place before we landed in the French Riviera and was on our must do list. We arrived early that morning to pick our spot close to the sea. We pulled in our rental Peugeot and tossed the keys to the valet who parked it next to a Mercedes and Lamborghini. We paid 60 euros for two lounge chairs and umbrella; a bit on the pricey side but hey, it’s the French Riviera. We also follow the travel rule to fully experience the things on your must do list. We sat there all day and watched the yachts come and go…oh, and sending pictures to our friends back home.

Cannes

Do you have a million dollars to spend in a day? Then, grab my sister and head to Cannes. The city is quite small with the main activity being shopping. And when I write shopping, I mean the Gucci, Prada, Dior shopping. No Zara and H&M’s to be found here! In fact, I was afraid we would be charged a fee just to step foot on the pristine boardwalk. We had a nice stroll through the town; my sister looked like she grew up there with me fumbling behind her taking pictures inside movie cut-outs.

 

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Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople

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I had the immense pleasure visiting Istanbul before it got all crazy and America decided it wasn’t safe anymore…and by America, I mean my mother. But it is fabulous. I have visited a handful of times and while I have the flexibility to piece the city together over several trips, I would highly recommend a first timer give this immaculate place at least four days to capture the culture of the city. So let’s dive in, shall we?

I am not going to piece this city together by day. Why? Because I could do any one of these on any given day. I could also spend all day at one of these places and not think twice. So we will look at the highlights and I’ll let you piece together your own holiday.

Hagia Sophia

Let’s talk about the picture at the top of the page for a minute. Hagia Sophia is one of the most important buildings in Istanbul; that isn’t just my opinion, it’s Google’s. Once a church, then later a mosque, the interior is a shrine to the historical significance this city possesses.

 

Blue Mosque 

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Ladies, this is where you need to bring a cover for your head. This is an active mosque and you need to be prepared to respect the Muslim culture if you plan to enter this holy place. I never took photos of the inside because it is considered a holy place to those who worship inside. But it is spectacular; rooms in the back for women to worship while the men have the space in the front of the mosque.

 

Basilica Cistern

Lots of people claim the 20 Turkish Lira is too much for entry to this underground cistern but I found it fascinating. It is a stone’s throw from Hagia Sophia so to me, it’s a shame not to go. There is a lot of history behind it but all in all it’s a super cool, and by cool I mean the temperature is cool, place to step back in time.

Galata Tower

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Galata Tower is an icon of the city skyline. You can walk up to the top of the tower and get a view of the old town and the Bosphorous; which is great timing because that leads us to the inevitable water cruise.

 

 

Scenes from the River

I have used two methods to cross the Bosphorous; water taxi and a night cruise. The water taxi takes you to one location on the Asia side of Istanbul for a price of 5 TL. Follow the water taxi link to find ferry pricing and destinations. If you want to do a more formal cruise, I did a night cruise that took us up and down the Bosphorous for 15 TL. Between us? I did both and the water ferry does the job for a third of the price. I wouldn’t spend money on the authentic cruise.

Food

I love Turkish food. Love it. Crave it when I leave more than anything else. If you like spicy food, make sure to eat all the Adana you possibly can. And sweets? Baklava; but only from this neighborhood: Karakoy. It is the hippest area in Istanbul with the best tiny spots to get a coffee and baklava.

Grand Bazaar

This is where I win; bargaining. Be ready to do some serious shopping inside the Grand Bazaar, and have fun! Plates, bowls, scarves, leather goods, food, jewelry, spices, turkish delights, ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE can be found inside. Don’t buy at your first location. Get a feel for the pricing inside before you start tossing out the cash. You’ll find the same stuff at each store.

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