Manhattan, New York City, New York

Live from New York, the Greatest City in the World

During the decade after I left my heart in New York City (back in 2007), I continued to dream many different variations of a dream of my inevitable return. Flash forward to last January, when a steal of a flight deal from YVR to NYC finally led me to start spreading the news that I was leaving on a (commercial) jet plane to the Empire State for Round 2!

Here’s a summary (with snapshots) of my adventures in New York during the first two weeks of March 2019.

Check out my Instagram posts and Instagram stories for more highlights from my trip.

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edinburgh-balmoral (1)

Discovering Harry Potter Magic in J.K. Rowling’s Edinburgh

The wizarding world of Harry Potter is significantly informed by Edinburgh. The Scottish capital was where British author J.K. Rowling wrote the novels in her iconic series. When speaking of her special connection to the city, Rowling has said, “Edinburgh is very much home for me and is the place where Harry evolved over seven books and many, many hours of writing in its cafes.”

From the cafe where the story of the boy wizard was conjured up to the hotel where the mischief was managed, J.K. Rowling’s influence can be found on every corner of Edinburgh. She drew much inspiration from the sights and streets of the Royal Mile and beyond. Today, Harry Potter fans can make the pilgrimage to Edinburgh and visit the very spots that inspired the adventures of the boy who lived.

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Gaudi's Park Guell in Barcelona Spain

Gazing at Gaudi’s Masterpieces in Barcelona

The city of Barcelona is characterized by the unusual, unique, and undeniably radical creations of Antoni Gaudi. The Catalonian architect was the best known practitioner of Modernisme, Catalan’s Art Nouveau movement. Some of the hallmark qualities of Gaudi’s highly imaginative and one-of-a-kind style include the use of stone and iron materials, ceramic and stained glass detailing, and a focus on vibrant hues and reflective lights.

Several of Gaudi’s works throughout Barcelona, from buildings to parks, have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites for their artistic and cultural significance. Many of these are accessible for visitors to marvel over, including the essential core four of Park Guell, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, and Sagrada Familia.

Here are a selection of photographs of Antoni Gaudi’s masterclass works in Barcelona, Spain.

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skogafoss waterfall iceland

Chasing Waterfalls in Southern Iceland

There is no place in the world like Iceland. The Nordic island is a showcase for all of Earth’s most stunning and surreal natural wonders, from volcanoes and glaciers, to hot springs and black sand beaches. In fact, it’s almost like setting foot on a whole new planet, but likely for us all, Iceland is immensely accessible for vast exploration.

One of the defining features of Icelandic geography are the abundance of waterfalls, of which there are over 100 across the country.

Want to go chasing waterfalls throughout Iceland? Here are a selection of photographs of the cascading fosses as mentioned.

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vodka joyride in iceland

A Joyride Through Iceland, Barcelona, Edinburgh & London

During the end of April and the beginning of May, I went on an epic journey around Europe with three friends. After cultivating the art of solo travelling over the past three years in London, Paris, and Italy, I was curious to experience the travel life with a group of other worldly-curious and like-minded ladies.

Our travel troupe, Vodka Joyride (don’t worry, no alcohol was consumed during the road trip portion of our adventure) departed from Vancouver to explore Iceland, Barcelona, Edinburgh, and London over the course of two action-packed weeks.

Here are some of the many highlights from our travels…

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