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Style Blog Travels: Boating in Capri

26 July, 2017 Nelia 2 Comments

Before our trip to Italy this summer, I told le bf that we are definitely, 100%, non-negotiable renting a boat as soon as we get to Capri. Mostly, because one of my happiest memories in life involved boating in Capri and I wanted him to experience the joy of cruising around this beautiful island with me. He wasn’t psyched about navigating an unfamiliar boat in an unfamiliar area, but as I said – non-negotiable. Spoiler alert: he ended up loving it! If you’re into swimming, beautiful views, wind in your hair and sun in your face, then you too must rent a boat in Capri the next time you find yourself on this gorgeous island – it truly is the best.

While doing my boat research, I stumbled upon Capri Boat Banana Sport company and I am happy to report that they were professional, well-organized, and affordable – would hire them again without hesitation. Renting a boat for 2 hours cost us EUR 90 (each additional hour is only EUR 30, and the all-day rate is EUR 220), the staff was very helpful, walking us through the ins and outs of operating and anchoring their boats, as well as giving us a bit of background info about the island’s best sights along the way, before taking us to our boat. It was such a straightforward process, that both le bf and I immediately felt at ease.

Boating in Capri is very easy, even for inexperienced boaters – there is no reef to worry about, the water is fairly calm, there are plenty of spots where you can drop anchor and go for a swim, and the island itself isn’t very large, so you can cruise around without worrying about getting lost. As long as someone in your group has a driver’s license, you’re all set. There are a lot of stops to make along the way, so you may need more than 2 hours to finish the trip, but it was just enough time for us.

After our boating expedition, which included swimming, going through the Faraglioni arch, and just the overall feeling of being truly alive, we returned our ~~yacht~~ boat, and headed to Terrazza Brunella for lunch. We had a reservation, so we took the funicular to the center of Capri from Marina Grande – the quickest way to get to the top. This wasn’t our first time at Terrazza Brunella, and once again we were not disappointed – the food was top-notch, as was the service and the views.

Post-lunch we did some window shopping along Via Camerelle, but somehow I was able to walk away empty-handed. The store that really caught my eye on this trip was Wonderland, which carried a great selection of vintage bags and accessories. The shop itself is very cute, so check it out if you have time.

Because our boat to Sorrento was departing early, we didn’t have time for a visit to Anacapri, but having visited it in the past, I was ok with skipping it. We took the funicular back to Marina Grande and headed to our dock, sunkissed, with salt in our hair, and bellies full of clams. On our way back to Sorrento, le bf told me that boating around Capri was a highlight of our trip for him, and I couldn’t agree more.

Have you been to Capri before? What are you favourite activities on the island? Share in the comments.

More photos after the jump!
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Style Blog Travels: Sorrento, My Love

19 July, 2017 Nelia Leave a Comment

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast of Italy have a very dear place in my heart. Perhaps predictably, the love affair began with Under the Tuscan Sun, and grew deeper each time I visited Sorrento and the vicinity. I loved it so much, I even got married there! Well, after missing it for 5 years, I finally returned to one of my favourite places in the world to celebrate my 5-year wedding anniversary this summer.

If you’ve never been to the Amalfi Coast, I highly recommend Sorrento as your home base in the area. All other must-see towns are very accessible from Sorrento by boat, bus, or car, and compared to Positano and Capri, there are a lot more affordable options for lodging. Yes, Sorrento is definitely touristy, and gets quite busy in the summer, but for me, the crowds don’t detract from its charm and beauty.

Getting There:
Getting to Sorrento is fairly simple. The closest airport is located in Naples, from where you can either take the ferry or the local Circumvesuviana train. When travelling from Rome, we usually catch a train from Termini station to Naples (just over an hour), and then grab a Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento (under an hour). I recommend taking the Campania Express train instead of the local commuter one – the former is air-conditioned and has very few stops (though it’s slightly more expensive), while the latter does not have air-conditioning and can have some sketchy characters on board (try to stay close to other tourists and hold on to your bags).

Where to Stay:
On this visit, we stayed at Casa Evelina Airbnb, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It was super affordable, with modern, stylish, well-appointed rooms, and located just steps away from Piazza Tasso, and minutes away from the Circumvesuviana train station (and breakfast was included too!). In the past, I’ve stayed at Palazzo Januzzi, and Maison Tofani – both are quite nice, but definitely pricier than Airbnb (use this link to sign up and get $50 off your first Airbnb booking). If you’d like to splurge on a fancy hotel with a view, the Bellevue Syrene is a lovely place, and is definitely on my list of hotels to check out on my future visits.

Where to Eat:
Trattoria Da Emilia is my personal go-to and I’ve eaten there many times over the years. The small seaside restaurant has been a Sorrento mainstay since 1947 and serves simple, but delicious dishes like Spaghetti with Clams (my fave!!!) and Caprese Salad at the picturesque Marina Grande. The service is quick, the location is perfect, and the entire menu is super affordable. For a fancier meal, head to Grand Hotel La Favorita’s rooftop restaurant, where both the views and the food are excellent. If it’s on the menu, try the handmade Eggplant Scialatielli – I am still dreaming about it. On this trip we also had a meal at the Michelin-starred Il Buco, not our favourite meal in town, but still quite good (my lobster risotto was delicious, while le bf’s pumpkin soup was just so-so). Whatever you do, don’t eat at the Piazza Tasso restaurants, these places are ok for a drink and some people-watching, but the food will most likely disappoint.

What to Do:
Apart from visiting the nearby towns and Pompeii (just a couple of Circumvesuviana stops away), Sorrento’s beaches are perfect for an afternoon of relaxation. Since you’ll have to pay for a lounger and an umbrella, get there early and stay for a while. Leonelli Beach is my favourite, with a nice sandy beach, and decent food (I especially like their fresh strawberries with lemon juice and sugar!). There’s a small stretch of free beach nearby, but it gets really crowded.

Shopping in Sorrento is pretty good, there are lots of great souvenirs to bring home – from limoncello and lemon chocolates to spices and ceramics to custom-made sandals. Shop around to find the best deals and avoid buying the “Made in China” souvenirs – there’s plenty of local artisans to support instead. If you’re smitten with Sorrentine cuisine, you can take a cooking lesson at the Quanto Basta Cooking School. The school was located near our Airbnb and was always packed with people, and the atmosphere looked really fun. Since we had a cooking class booked in Cinque Terre, we didn’t end up taking a class in Sorrento, but will definitely do it next time we’re in town. In the evenings the main street gets closed down to car traffic, and you can stroll along Corso Italia alongside locals and tourists, eating gelato, and enjoying the weather. It’s the best!

One thing to note, there’s plenty of stairs, hills, and slippery cobblestones in Sorrento, so make sure to bring comfy flats and get ready to do some legwork. If you find yourself near the beach and dreading the trek up to town, there’s a public elevator you can take instead of walking. There’s a nominal fee to use the elevator, but it may be worth it if you’re really tired or in a hurry.

If you’ve never been to Sorrento, I can’t recommend it highly enough, even if for a day or two. As touristy as it is, Sorrento is a charming town with breathtaking views, great food, and an unbeatable Amalfi Coast location. Have you ever been to Sorrento? Share your thoughts in the comments.

More photos after the jump!
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Style Blog Travels: #FordConnections at Langdon Hall

18 June, 2017 Nelia 1 Comment

A few days ago le bf and I set off on a mini road trip in a brand new 2017 Ford Edge Titanium as part of the Ford Positive Connections program aimed to help bring people together on Best Friend’s Day (which also happens to be my birthday!) through a fun curated trip. First stop? Toronto Premium Outlets, because what’s a birthday weekend without a little #treatyoself?! With a few purchases from Saks Off 5th, J.Crew and Nike outlets piled up in the trunk, we jumped back into the car, and took the scenic route to Cambridge, Ontario. We drove by parks, farms, and fields, while the cooled leather seats kept us nice and comfortable, and the SYNC 3 system played my fave road trip playlist (mostly BSB, because I obviously have a great taste in music). Before we knew it, we were pulling into the picturesque Langdon Hall.

Since this was le bf’s first time at Langdon Hall, we did a quick tour of the property before settling into some comfy patio chairs with celebratory cocktails. With conversation flowing, the view of Langdon Hall’s main house in front of us, and the soft afternoon light in our faces, it was exactly what we needed after a few hectic weeks of all work and no play in the city. The next day, after a leisurely country table breakfast and a little R&R time by the pool, we packed our bags, checked out of our beautiful room and headed to Downtown Cambridge.

Back in town, we discovered that Cambridge was one of the filming locations for the Hulu show The Handmaid’s Tale (a current fave!). The bridge where the protest scene was filmed, the infamous hanging wall – both are super recognizable and we were so excited to have unexpectedly stumbled upon it. Needless to say, we were totally geeking out. After taking a million photos, we walked over to the nearby auto show, drooling over the vintage Ford Mustangs from the 60s and 70s (next year’s birthday present, perhaps?). We grabbed a couple of delicious Portuguese donuts from Malasada World, and hit the road.

The ride back to Toronto felt quick and easy, and since we had our Ford SUV for the weekend, we drove it from the house to Bar Isabel for yet another birthday celebration. It handled beautifully in the city, just like it did in the countryside. Le bf especially loved the car’s Personal Safety System that alerted us whenever another car was moving nearby unsafely, which came in handy a few times in the busy downtown Toronto. My favourite Ford Edge feature was definitely the cooled front seats – perfect if you like to drive with windows down, while keeping the rest of your body nice and cool.

Once the weekend came to an end and it was time to say good-bye to “our” Ford, I felt a little sad but very thankful for a lovely weekend of re-connecting with le bf and exploring new places together. I guess it’s never too soon to start planning our next road trip this summer!

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Style Blog Travels: 5 Things To Do in Vegas

3 April, 2017 Nelia 1 Comment

Going to Vegas but not sure what to do other than gamble and walk the strip? Here are some of my fave things to do and see in Las Vegas from my March trip with Expedia Canada as part of the #BigWorldExplorer program.

1. Get Down at the Backstreet Boys Concert

Let me get to the chase…if you were relatively young (or perhaps young at heart) back in the 90’s, then you MUST GO TO THE BACKSTREET BOYS CONCERT IN LAS VEGAS while you still can…or be forever incomplete. Sorry (not sorry) for yelling, but as someone who was obsessed with this iconic boyband back in the day, I have to say that this concert will be in the highlight reel of the best days of my life…and probably more than that.

My equally BSB-obsessed friend Karen and I were super lucky to score front spots in the GA pit (thanks to the Amex pre-sale Platinum “Beat the Line” tickets!) at their concert in March, and it was LARGER THAN LIFE. They sang (really well), they danced (dad moves aplenty), they wore silver boots and sparkly jackets, they brought Lance Bass up on stage to serenade him…and they gave it their all (they had to give). Kevin sang to me for a full minute, making me super uncomfortable (yet excited at the same time)…I got to touch Brian’s hand twice and AJ’s once…and it will all be forever seared into my brain (and the shape of my heart?). Yes, I am a thirty-something who lined up for a few hours to ensure that I had a front and centre spot, squealed like a teenager when the “boys” were near our side of the pit, and sang every lyric to every song (except for one) at the top of my lungs…and I just want you to know that I regret NOTHING. Forget about other Vegas performances and go see BSB at Planet Hollywood…your inner 90’s teen wants it that way.

2. Visit The Neon Museum

I’ve been to Vegas a couple of times before, but for whatever reason I haven’t visited The Neon Museum until this year…and I highly recommend you make the trek. Full of cool signs and marquees, and with a knowledgeable guide at our side, this tour was fun, educational, and perfect for Instagram. Buy your tickets online (spots tend to sell out quickly), wear sunscreen and a hat as you’ll be in full sun for most of the tour, and pay a few extra bucks to visit the Neon Boneyard North Gallery at your own pace and see even more rescued signs.

3. Drive Out to Seven Magic Mountains

Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains has become one of Vegas’ most-instagrammed locations, and with good reason – seven towers of (highly-photogenic) colourful boulders in the middle of the desert, surrounded by mountains, and open to the public free of charge – I ended up going twice! The installation is located 30 minutes outside of Las Vegas and will be on view until 2018, so if you’d like to visit Nevada’s own Stonehenge, then you have a year to do so. Word of advice – if you don’t want a bunch of strangers in the background of every photo you take, then going at the crack of dawn Mon-Thurs is your best bet. Any other time, expect crowds.

More after the jump!
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Travel: 5 Things To Do in Lisbon

4 January, 2017 Nelia Leave a Comment

As I am starting to plan my travels for 2017, I look back on our most memorable trip of 2016 to Portugal. To tell you the truth, I went with low expectations, but at the end of the day, I ended up falling in love with the beautiful country, its people, food, and crafts. Compared to a lot of other European countries, Portugal is still very affordable, so if you are looking for a new place to visit this year, I suggest you add Portugal to your itinerary. Today’s post is about beautiful Lisbon and some of the places you can visit while there. A post about my Algarve faves is coming soon.

1. Eat

Lisbon’s foodie scene was definitely a pleasant surprise. Nearly every single meal we had during our trip was a smash hit. There’s a plethora of delicious options at the admittedly touristy Time Out Market; the Piri Piri chicken from the Miguel Laffan stall was my personal favourite, but other restaurants were great too according to my friends and fellow travellers (just watch out for aggressive table stealers).

For a fresh take on ceviche, A Cevicheria is a must-visit. You won’t be impressed with the quantity of food at this tiny resto, but you will certainly love every bite.

For creative sushi, make sure to stop by Sushic (original or at Palacio Chiado). We ate there twice, trying various chef’s platters, gorging on buttery tuna tataki, and other delicious seafood. Just make sure to avoid the Tom Yum soup – it’s overpriced and totally not worth it. There are other options to try at Palacio Chiado (more hit and miss), but I’d recommend it for a quick casual lunchtime stop.

Fabulas is another great lunch spot with a charming patio, and a menu full of freshly-prepared Portuguese specialties like the super delicate codfish cakes. Despite its central location, this place is definitely not a tourist trap. Also, once they run out of a certain dish, they won’t make more, so go early.

As much as we wanted to make it to Pasteis de Belem to try their iconic pastries, we weren’t able to make it there this time, but we did make up for it at Manteigaria. Obviously, we can’t compare the two, but out of all the pasteis de nata that we’ve tried on this trip, the flaky, freshly baked custard tarts from Manteigaria were by far the yummiest.

If you’re craving a sweet cold treat, whatever you do, do not go to Amorino – it’s just not worth the calories. Go to Mu or Santini instead – their gelato is so much better! Also, paletas from PizPireto are incredible! We randomly found their amazing paletas at a gourmet store near A Cevicheria, but apparently they also have a shop just outside of central Lisbon.

For traditional Portuguese steak and chips, a couple of locals highly recommended Solar Dos Presuntos. And while I loved my steak, this place got mixed reviews from the rest of our group (they found it too pricey and not particularly memorable), so read other reviews before you go. Honestly though, I don’t think we had a bad food experience in Lisbon (apart from terrible gelato at Amorino and mediocre pastries at A Padaria Portuguesa).
More after the jump!
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What I Wore: South Beach

13 January, 2015 Nelia 2 Comments

south-beach-miami-clover-canyon-3
It feels like -27 outside, and I am questioning all of my life choices that brought me here, to Toronto where the air hurts my face on a daily basis. So if you need me, I’ll be here, daydreaming about Miami, and the South Beach, and sunshine, and warm sand, and anything but snow and extreme cold alerts. Stay warm out there, Toronto.

south-beach-miami-clover-canyon

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Style Blog Travels: 5 Things To Do in Miami

9 January, 2015 Nelia 4 Comments

A couple of months ago, le bf and I packed our bags and took off on a week-long Miami vacay. We were set to arrive on the last day of Art Basel, and had very little idea as to what we would actually do in Miami once we land. I had no time for research, and so we set off with no preconceived notions about the city, with that Will Smith song stuck in my head. Now that we got to experience a bit of what Miami has to offer, I thought I’d share my newfound wisdom…aka the top 5 things we loved about Miami, and you may too. Feel free to let us know which places are on your must-do list!

Wynwood Walls
I’ll be honest, I learned about Wynwood Walls from Instagram, and all of those photogenic outfit pics of various bloggers, posing in front of the coolest graffiti I’ve ever seen. So, being a fashion blogger, I knew I had to make the trip to see (and pose in front of) those beautiful walls. And so we went, we saw, we posed, we photographed, and we loved it. Honestly, whether you’re a blogger or not, you’ll love Wynwood Walls. It’s a grungy area to be sure, but it’s inspiring all the same. Once you’re done admiring the pretty walls and doors, you can take a short cab ride over to Miami’s Design District, where you can do some high-end shopping, before grabbing a table on Mandolin’s lovely sun-soaked patio. Their kefte and saganaki are delicious, while the unsweetened iced-tea is super refreshing.

Versace Mansion aka The Villa by Barton G.
As a fashion lover, I knew I had to check out the infamous Versace Mansion while in Miami. There’s obviously a sad backstory to the mansion and those infamous front steps, but it’s basically a historic sight and a must-visit while in Miami. We made a dinner reservation, and arrived without high expectations. Mostly, we just wanted to check out the mansion itself, so the dinner part was just an aside. But when our meals arrived, we were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved the food. There are mixed reviews online, but everything we ordered was delicious. And as a bonus, we got to sit facing the beautiful courtyard, with that magnificent pool and infamous tiled floor as our view. We also had an unexpected dinner companion running around our feet – a Versace cat. We were told that on the day Gianni was shot, a cat arrived at the steps of the mansion, and since Gianni believed in reincarnation, the cat was allowed to stay, with its offsprings now enjoying the privilege of being Versace Mansion inhabitants.