Travel with Anda

Charming Barcelona

November 2, 2016

“Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe, taking each other’s hands and reaching for the sky in the open air concert back in 1988. Barcelona, such a beautiful horizon. Barcelona, like a jewel in the sun. The song gives me the shiver every time I hear it. And I just can’t keep my mouth shut. Can anyone? I have visited Barcelona in October 2016 and from what I could see in 2 days, I can say that the capital of Catalonia is absolutely gorgeous. In this post you will find my 2-day itinerary, however I feel obliged to say that two days are just not enough. If you decide to visit Barcelona, take at least 5 days and enjoy the city to the fullest.

How to get from Barcelona airport to the city center

Unfortunately there are no direct flights from Ljubljana to Barcelona so travelers from Slovenia can either take a connection flight through one of the major European airports or drive to Bergamo (Italy) to catch a cheaper direct flight with Ryan air. You can reach Barcelona city center with Airport Express shuttle bus called Aerobus, which goes to and from the airport every 5-10 minutes (until 1 a.m.) and costs 6€ one way and 10.20€ for a return ticket. It stops at 4 locations and you can take a metro or taxi from there to your hotel. If you want cheaper options check them out here. The most comfortable option is by taxi which takes around 20 minutes (make sure you add around 10 minutes when returning because city traffic can be heavy). It will cost you around 30-35€ plus a couple of surprises in the end: 3.10€ airport fee (no matter which direction) and 1€ per each piece of luggage. Unfortunately Uber hasn’t reached Barcelona yet in 2016.

Accommodation

There is no mild way of putting it, so I’ll just shoot: hotels in Barcelona are expensive. I thought I would catch some good deal in October since the summer season was over but it turned out that there is always some trade show or big event going on to fill in the gap. So unless you are ok with staying in hostels (the ones with private bathrooms vanish in a blink of an eye) be prepared to pay at least 150 € per night for a descent 2 star hotel. I stayed in Ibis Sagrada Familia which is located less than 500 meters from the famous Gaudi masterpiece and the metro station so I can say I made a good choice. If you want to save 15 € use this link for your booking.

2-day Barcelona itinerary

I visited Barcelona on business and since I only had 2 days to explore the city, I did a quick research to make the most of my short visit. A big help here was Barcelona Turisme which offers plenty of useful information on their web page. My original plan was to see Sagrada Familia, feel the pulse of La Rambla Street, peak into Picasso museum, see some Gaudi’s artwork, catch some vitamin D on the beach and visit Camp Nou . To cut things short, here are 5 things you need to see in Barcelona. I had no idea how much time I would need for all of that so I decided to take the Big Bus Barcelona (hop on hop off bus) to see if anything else would catch my attention. As many times before this proved to be a very good decision.

SAGRADA FAMILIA

I decided to see Sagrada Familia first, since it was only a short walk away from my hotel. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família as it is officially called, is more than a piece of art. You can almost get scared of the “stone mountain” for a moment, if you don’t know what to expect behind the corner when the giant suddenly appears in front of you. Its creator, the famous architect Antonio Gaudi took over the constructions in 1883 and his successors have been building it ever since. If you look carefully at the details of the exterior you will soon get the idea why the construction is taking so long. Make sure you walk round and round as the façade is very different from both sides. I haven’t seen it from the inside because the waiting time was too long, but judging from the photos I can easily imagine this could be a never ending story (although the anticipated completion is in 2026). The entrance fee to basilica is 14.30€ (or 18.30€ with audio guide). There is however one option to see some of it for free if you enter the underground crypt left from the main entrance at the time of mass. I was surprised to see that Gaudi himself is buried there. Indeed a nice way to remember and honor the Master.

CAMP NOU

The blue line of Barcelona Big Bus stops right in front of Sagrada Familia so I took it from there to Camp Nou, the European biggest football stadium. Oh my. Even if you are not a football fan, do stop there. At least to see the giant from the outside and peak into their official store. You will probably walk out with at least a small ball. The entrance fee to the stadium and museum is 23€ per adult, which is quite a lot, especially if you have a large family of Barca fans with you. The experience is very unique though and I can only imagine how it must feel like if you are a true Culé. To walk through the same gate Messi walks in. To see the locker room where Neymar gets naked. To sit in the broadcast booth where the reporters scream like they are fighting for their lives when someone scores.

PARK GUELL

Those who are more into art and architecture will probably hop off 2 stops after Sagrada Familia to see Park Güell, Barcelona’s second largest park, designed by Gaudi. I vaguely remember seeing this wonderful park during one of my previous visits and since I didn’t have time to do it all I decided to skip it this time. It was actually a smart decision because I almost ran out of time to see everything in my schedule. Plus you can see Gaudi’s work all over Barcelona if you do some homework and open your eyes.

VENETIAN TOWERS AND MUSEUM OF NATIONAL ART

I switched from blue to red line of Big Bus Barcelona at Plaça de Francesc Macià, one of the most transited points of Barcelona, crossed by Avinguda Diagonal. If the blue line seems a bit long and not so eye catching, I believe the red one is something everyone should experience. Be sure to hop off at Plaça d’Espanya, make a selfie in front of the majestic Venetian towers and walk up towards the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya for breathtaking views of the city. At first I thought I would take the funicular towards Montjuïc but after having such luck to see the Barcelona from MNAC on a clear sunny day I decided to skip the ride and rather enjoy the moment up there. Just sit, relax and watch the city.

From there you can walk (or hop on the bus) all the way to the Olympic stadium which was built for 1992 Summer Olympic Games. The red route which continues towards Barcelona port becomes even more spectacular from there on. On one side you can see the city from above, while suddenly the sea view opens on the other one. If you are with kids you will probably want to visit the Aquarium, which is also a good starting point to walk around Maremagnum center to have some sea food in one of the numerous restaurants nearby.

BARCELONA BEACH

I saved the beach part for the next day. The green line of Barcelona Big Bus looks relatively short on the map so I hopped off at Parc de Diagonal Mar, just before the bus would turn back, and decided to walk along the beach towards the famous sail shaped W hotel which seemed to be the end of something. Oh boy what a walk that was. The coastal area of Barcelona is simply beautiful. The sandy beach is wide and very long with hardly any natural shade, however it is full of bars and umbrella spots to rest under. Make sure you grab one of the delicious natural freshly squeezed juices and enjoy them while watching the sea.

GOTHIC QUARTER AND PICASSO MUSEUM

At first I thought I was just walking along famous Barceloneta beach and only later when I checked the map I realized I had passed at least 7 beaches. Yep, I walked them ALL, but it was really worth it. There is also a very nice part in modern architecture style and fancy bars around Port Olimpic. So it just doesn’t get boring at any point. I was too tired to walk so I took the red line again towards the Gothic Quarter to see Picasso Museum. The entrance fee is 11 € per adult (or reduced 7€).

I am not sure where the Gothic Quarter ends but if you head north towards Placa de Catalunya (one of the main squares) you will soon spot the top of the magnificent Barcelona Cathedral, which was built around 15th century. The building is simply brilliant. As is the rest of the city all the way from famous La Rambla Street, the magnet for all tourists, to Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, another 2 Gaudi’s masterpieces. Just make sure you take a map because you can easily get lost in those narrow streets of the old city center.

So there you go, I hope you got an idea “how to visit Barcelona”. You can check the rest of the photos in my Facebook album. As far as the food is concerned, you have to try the paella (some kind of risotto with chicken and seafood, spiced with yellow…) spanish olives and tapas, small snack bites which you can grab on any corner. And have I mentioned sangria, the sweet red wine with chopped fruit and a sip of brandy? If you like these kind of drinks and can’t say no to “just one more”, I suggest you wait with them until the evening, when the streets of Barcelona cool off. And start the night tour which I will leave to your imagination.

Hotel review: Smart Selection Hotel Bristol (Lovran, Croatia)

Europe Hotel reviews

October 6, 2016

Lovran is a small coastal town, located in the east coast of Istria peninsula, just a few kilometers south from more famous Opatija. It lies less than 30 km south from Slovenia-Croatia border crossing Jelšane and around 2 hours’ drive from where I live, so I visit the place quite often, however avoiding the crowds in summer season. I almost always stay in Smart Selection Hotel Bristol.

Location and parking

The hotel is very easy to find, as it is located on the coastal side of the main road, but still conveniently settled away from the traffic noise. It has a few parking lots in front of the hotel (extra charge), however not enough for all guests during the high summer season. There are also some parking opportunities down the street, if you feel like taking the chance and do some walking. Good luck though, there are many other guests in other hotels thinking the same way you do 🙂

Rooms

The hotel offers standard and premium rooms in red vintage décor with all the basics necessities. If you are staying for more than 1 night I advise you to book a premium room which offers more space. Especially if you need a big bed, like I do. You know, for chasing bad guys in your dreams.

Do yourself a favor and book a sea view room, you won’t regret it. It doesn’t cost a fortune and it is definitely worth the breathtaking view when you open the curtains in the morning. Not to mention you can enjoy warm evenings with a glass of wine on you balcony.

The beach

Smart Selection Hotel Bristol is situated as close to the beach as it gets in Lovran. You need to take a few stairs to access a small private beach, shared with 2 other villas which are a part of Remisens hotel group. It is really very small and not too comfy (stone paved), so I recommend you to rent a sunbed or walk a bit left or right from the hotel if you prefer graveled beach. Although Lungo Mare beach offers a very nice long stroll along crystal clear water, it is mostly stone paved, so do expect crowds in small sandy bays. This is why I always visit Lovran during spring and autumn. And I love it.

Hotel facilities

The hotel was built in renaissance style with light yellow stylish façade and it is surrounded with lots of greenery. It offers a very nice terrace where you can enjoy breakfast or dinner. Breakfast choice is very good, but for dinner I would advise you to visit some local restaurants in Lovran old town. I am not saying dinners in Smart Selection Hotel Bristol are bad (honestly, I haven’t had any), I just prefer to change the atmosphere in the evening and try some local seafood. So far I haven’t been disappointed.

Dogs allowed

The hotel is pet friendly (surcharge), which is one of the reasons I have been choosing it for the last 2 years. However the Lungo Mare beach does not offer a lot of “dogs allowed” spots. I usually take my Sky to hotel beach, but this has never been a problem because we are almost always alone there. And she is a 2 kg Chihuahua 🙂

Anda’s rate: 8.5 from 10

Bottom line: I love Smart Selection Hotel Bristol for the location, breathtaking sea view, good breakfast choice and friendly staff. The price performance is also very good. I just can’t imagine myself there during summer, as I am more of a sandy beach person. If anyone from the management is reading this: a pool would be a very good idea!

North Atlantic coast with a spice of Canada

Destinations USA

September 18, 2016

Let me start by saying “Kids, don’t try this at home”. Do your homework. Plan. Calculate. Re-calculate. And plan again. Because we didn’t. All we knew was that I wanted Boston, Vermont, Maine, Nova Scotia and shopping. And that he wanted Ottawa, Quebec and some peace on Earth. I would do the planning and he would be the driver. Sitting on the couch and looking at Google maps, the plan seemed doable but on a very tight schedule. So finally we agreed to skip Nova Scotia, add Cape Cod and to improvise in between.

Well, in reality this improvisation made our summer 2016 statistics brutal: 14 days, 13 hotels, 4 countries and 7.200 km. And yes, we stuck to the original plan: 1 driver. It was tough and sometimes hard. For the driver. But for me it was pure pleasure. What can I say, I just love the USA 🙂

But first, shopping

After landing in Boston late in the evening we drove up north towards Manchester, NH to start my next day 12 hour shopping in Merrimack Premium outlets as early as possible. The beauty of shopping in Northern Atlantic coast countries is zero sales tax for clothing. So you can imagine I did the best I could. And I got my first Michael Kors bag, yaaaay 🙂

Tips: 1. You can check my USA shopping guide here. 2. Skip Kittery Premium outlets in Maine. A total waste of time. 3. There is no Ross Dress for Less in Northern Atlantic coast. Instead look for TJ Maxx or Kohl’s. Not quite like Ross but still some very good deals.

Montpelier, Vermont

Have you watched TV series Scandal, where Fitz shows Liv a house in Vermont that he had built for her, where she could cook her marmalade and they would grow old together? Well, I thought Vermont would be romantic. And to some point it is. Starting with its capital Montpellier, a cute town with lots of historic buildings, churches and the famous State House with its golden dome. Montpellier’s serenity somehow reflects the whole state – almost as if the time had stopped here. Seems like everything is running slowly and as if the capitalism has found its way around Vermont. For us one day was more than enough.

Tips: 1. Do visit the inside of the State House, it is very impressive. Guided tours are free. 2. If you fancy Italian food go to Sarducci’s by Winooski River and have some minestrone for a starter. Oh. My. God. I can still taste it in my mind.

Ottawa

I wasn’t prepared for Ottawa. So it took my breath away.

We were lucky to arrive to Parliament Hill a few moments before the changing of the guard (the ceremony starts every summer morning at 10 am, as I later found out), which somehow coincided with Canada’s Prime Minister passing by, rushing towards his daily obligations. What a glorious moment, listening to the sound of pipes from the marching band and seeing the crowds applauding and photographing Mr. Trudeau, who is obviously a very popular guy. And a cute one, may I add.

There are no words to describe the architectural wonders which surround the Parliament Hill. My English is not that good so I won’t even try. Instead rather check photos in my Ottawa, Ontario album on Facebook. And plan a trip to Ottawa. It is definitely one of the most beautiful capitals in the world and all traveler’s must.

Tips: 1. Park far away from Parliament Hill, because empty spaces are hard to find and very expensive. 2. Walk up the Napean Point to catch a marvelous panoramic view of the Parliament Hill, Alexandra Bridge and Gatineau. 3. If you have time drive up north to Montmorency Falls, where you can take the cable car for 12$ or zip line for 25$ if you are in the mood for some adrenalin.

Quebec City

To reach Quebec City from Ottawa, you can either take the highway directly or make a pit stop in Trois Rivieres, a very cute town by “le fleuve Saint Laurent” (Saint Lawrence River). We decided to spend the night there, taking the afternoon off, walking through the lively center and blending in with the locals. It was well worth it, the atmosphere in the streets was fantastic, restaurants were full of people and the food was fantastic.

Quebec City is another charmer. When entering the downtown from Grande Allee you are first greeted by Porte Saint-Louis gate and the ramparts which take you back to the 17^th century. After that it just keeps getting better and better. Until you reach your ultimate destination – the one and only Chateaux Frontenac, magnificent hotel which was built in 19th century to promote luxury tourism and is nowadays recognized as the most photographed hotel in the world. Keep calm and take pictures. I think I made at least 100 photos of the “monster” and I just couldn’t get enough of it. Check more photos in my Quebec City Facebook album and enjoy.

Tips: 1. Try to avoid visiting the city on weekends if you want to make a decent selfie on Terrasse Duferin. 2. Citadelle was closed for renovation when we arrived, so we just took a walk through the park. The park is nice, but Citadelle didn’t seem anything special, so if you are in a rush, you can easily skip it.

Maine

It took us the whole afternoon to reach Bangor, which was our pit stop before entering Acadia National Park in Maine. There are practically no restaurants of coffee shops all the way to Skowhegan, where you can finally find Walmart, McDonalds and some similar fast foodies. And don’t expect any Starbucks here as well.

Acadia is a must for all Maine travelers. You can get the entrance ticket for the park in Hulls Cove Visitor Center or simply buy it online. It costs 25$ per car and it is valid for 7 days. I say this is a bargain, especially if you plan to stay there for a few days. You can read more about Acadia in my post 5 things to do in Maine.

Tips: 1. You might consider visiting Acadia in autumn. I can imagine the colors of nature to be even more beautiful in October. You won’t swim in the Atlantic anyway. 2. If you need any groceries, it is the safest to stock up in Walmart at Acadia Crossing (Ellsworth) before entering the Mt Desert Island, or you can visit IGA store in Trenton. We didn’t find any other food stores on the island.

White Mountains, New Hampshire

Romantic covered bridges, hundreds of hiking trails, lakes, scenic railroad and miles and miles of unspoiled nature. New Hampshire was a very pleasant surprise and I wish we had taken more time instead of one day detour on our way from Maine to Cape Cod.

We decided to take the White Mountains loop, unfortunately skipping the north Mount Washington part because of unstable weather forecast. Starting from Conway, which is a very lively and picturesque town with a vintage Railway station, we drove up to Cathedral Ledge for a spectacular view of the hills, mountains and the beautiful Echo Lake which is also a popular swimming destination. To catch a clear view of the lake walk through the woods to the right for about 100 meters, it is really worth it. After that we stopped at Glenn Elis falls, which takes about 10 minutes of easy walking – watch your step because it can get slippery. The waterfall is not huge, but it’s nice and still worth the stretch. If you are into golf and want a taste of luxury you can visit the fabulous Mount Washington resort, which is located Bretton Woods and can be seen from the road. Or you can just stop at the designated area and take a few pictures of the white beauty like we did.

Tips: 1. There is a 3$ parking fee almost everywhere you stop. 2. If you want to visit Mt. Washington be prepared for some severe weather changes. The entrance is 28$ per vehicle plus 6$ per adult. And keep in mind the road is only open until 6 pm. 3. If you need a place to stay after you are finished with the loop, I recommend Laconia, a very charming town with some beautiful pieces of architecture and a church which has been made into a restaurant with a bar. How cool is that?

Check more photos in my White Mountains Facebook album.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Do yourself a favor and don’t go all the way to Provincetown and back in one day. We did. And he is still pissed off 🙂

Actually this would make a nice one day trip if you were stuck in some hotel for a few days, wanting to stretch your legs and do some sightseeing. But if you want to feel the real pulse of Ptown (this is how the locals call it), play some golf, see a lighthouse or two and go for a swim, then you might consider sleeping over. Though I am not sure if you can just crush in, at least not during the summer, because it can get quite crowded and expensive.

Ptown reminded me of Key West. It is crowded with tourists, full of restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and very nice old lively painted houses. You can walk or drive up to Pilgrim monument to catch a scenic bird eye view of the town and the ocean. The admission is 15$ per car and it includes one adult pass.

Tips: 1. If you are into lighthouses, like me, then visit Nobska lighthouse south from Falmouth. Just don’t get excited when you see those turquoise sandy beaches. They are all private. 2. The other one which I found even more charming was Cape Cod Highland lighthouse which is located on the cliff, very close to Ptown. If you have time ask the guides to show you how to reach the beach beneath – unfortunately I had a clock (i.e. a very tired driver) ticking over my head.

For more potos check my Cape Cod Facebook album.

Boston, Massachusetts

We saved Boston for the last 2 days of our road trip. All I can say is that I fell in love with the city instantly. Ottawa is magnificent, Quebec City is charming but Boston is both. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit because I obviously love the USA but this is one of the most beautiful cities I have seen in my travel career. Although it can get messy sometimes, in terms of safety (based on FBI crime data, Boston is not one of the safest communities in the USA) and air quality alerts, I could easily imagine myself living there and working as Leonardo DiCaprio’s assistant while filming The Departed. The only thing that bothered me was a really heavy traffic throughout the day. So I guess I will stick to my lovely Slovenia for a while 😉

The first day we took a hop on hop off bus tour to catch the glimpse of the city from “the top” and drove towards Salem to see the Witch Museum as it was starting to rain in the afternoon. Though it is interesting to hear the history of Salem’s “witchcraft”, the entrance off 11$ per adult is totally overrated. Fortunately Boston made it up big time for this little failure. We saved the walking tour and a boat ride for the next day and got very lucky with the weather. I guess the witches owed us that.

To find more about Boston, check my post 5 things to see in Boston or simply click through my Facebook album Boston at a glance.

So this is it. I am almost as tired after writing this travelogue as I was after the road trip. But it was well worth it. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line, I am always happy to help!

5 things to see in Boston, Massachusetts

Trips & Tricks USA

September 11, 2016

Being one of the oldest cities in the US and the capital of Massachusetts, Boston is the city of rich history, culture, education and economy, which attracts over 20 million visitors per year. It is one of those cities which you can easily fall in love with – and honestly, I don’t know why I waited so long to finally see it.

Located in the North Atlantic Coast, Boston is easily accessible from Europe with direct flights from most bigger Airports (flight back from Boston to Paris takes less than 7 hours) and if you love to travel to the USA as much as I do, I suggest you put it on your “to do” list right away.

The easiest way to “catch” the city within 2 days (I visited Boston in the end of our summer 2016 road trip) is to take one of the hop on hop off buss tours, which usually include a free 45 minute Boston Harbor cruise (you don’t have to do it on the same day). The second option is to rent a bicycle through Bike share program, The Hubway for as little as 6$ per day. However, Boston downtown is walkable so if you are not in a rush and have basic orientation skills, I suggest you take it easy and enjoy your walking tour.

Tip: The cheapest parking garage we found was at TD Garden Arena and it costs only 10$ until 6 pm (after that they charge per hour). But that is only during weekends, when there are no NBA games or other events. It is also very convenient if you are taking the hop on hop off buss, which stops right across the street.

1. Copley Square with the fabulous Trinity Church

The fact itself, that Trinity Church has been proclaimed as one the 10 most significant buildings in the USA by the American Institute of Architects, should tell you that this is something you need to see. Even though I am not religious, I have kind of a crush on churches in an architectural way and I am telling you, this one truly deserves its reputation. Its beauty also reflects on the inside, with richly colored interior and magical windows arts. The admission is 7$ for adults but keep in mind you are not allowed to take photos of the interior.

Tips: When you walk around the church you can see its reflection in the glass building across the street, which offers you a perfect photo opportunity. Copley Square is a very nice spot to hang around; you can stop and rest at a small fountain, chilling your legs in the water, with a view of another beauty – the Old South Church. Here you will also find the Boston Public Library, which is one of the most popular things to see in Boston.

2. Freedom Trail with Bunker Hill Monument

The monument can be seen from Charlestown Bridge and it is a final destination of the “must do” Freedom Trail. This is around 4 km long path through Boston downtown, passing 16 historical locations and ending in Charlestown. Most of the sites on Freedom Trail are free, only the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House and the Paul Revere House charge admission. We didn’t walk the trail exactly by the book, since we didn’t have much time to explore and honestly, we are not that much into history. Instead we just spotted some interesting points on our way. We did however want to see the Bunker Hill Monument because the reviews said you could see the whole Boston from up there. Well, you CAN, once (if ever) you manage to catch your breath. There are 294 stairs to reach the top. No elevator. Hot like hell inside. And crowded. But do it. You will feel like a champion and you will get to see Boston from above for free.

Tip: If you book Old Town Trolley tours, the Old State House entrance is complimentary.

3. Public Garden

Actually I am not sure where Boston Common ends and Public Garden begins, but I chose the latter because of the Swan Lake and because it was more green and less crowded. Boston Common is the oldest park in the US, reminding a lot of NYC’s Central park, only smaller. With some interesting spots, like Frog Pond where people walk on the shallow water during summer or ice skate during winter, it is a perfect place for families with children or for catching Pokemons. Boston Public Garden offers boat rides and some very nice spots where you can enjoy the view of skyscrapers from a distance, have a small picnic or read a book. And yes, you can see squirrels. In fact, if you are lucky and not too pushy, you can actually touch them by offering them (or pretending to offer) some small nuts, raw fruits or vegetables.

4. Beacon Hill

In Beacon Street, north from Public Garden you will ran into a famous bar, known for the sitcom Cheers, which ran in the late 80’s. Actually the bar was initially called Bull & Finch pub and only its exterior was used for the series’ establishing shots – no interior was ever used for the shooting and the downstairs pub doesn’t resemble the famous Cheers bar in any way. However the place has been successfully attracting tourists and you definitely need to take a selfie there if you ever saw this show.

Beacon Street is the beginning of Beacon Hill, one of most expensive neighborhoods in Boston. The federal-style row houses rise along very narrow streets with brick sidewalks and vintage gas lamps. Beacon Hill is also home to Acorn Street, second most photographed street in the US and a beautiful Massachusetts State House, which rises at the top of the hill.

5. Boston Harbor

Lying on the North Atlantic Coast, Boston is a major seaport and the oldest continuously operated industrial and fishing port in the Western Hemisphere. So it is only logical to take a stroll to Boston Harbor along the Atlantic avenue, which offers some very good hotels, restaurants and beer/coffee spots. Boston Harbor cruise (21$ or free with hop on hop off bus tours) takes around 45 minutes and offers a nice view of Boston skyline. If you are into history and appreciate some light humor, you might want to take the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum tour (26$ per adult), where the tour guides, dressed up in colonial style, use humor and audience interaction to recreate the atmosphere of tension between the colonies and “mother” England.

Other things to see in Boston

Actually it is not easy to recommend 5 things to see in Boston because the city offers so much more. However, if you only have a day or two like we did, I dare to say this is the best way you can enjoy it. If you are sports enthusiast, I am sure you will want to hop off at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, or see a basketball match with Boston Celtics at TD Garden Arena. If you are traveling with children, you can drive to Salem and see the Witch Museum or see the New England Aquarium in Boston Harbor.

Tip: Check the rest of Boston photos in my Facebook album.

Boston, I will be back!

Like I said, I will definitely come back to enjoy the city, see Cambridge with its famous Harvard University, enjoy the panoramic views from Boston Skywalk (though I am pretty sure Boston looks much better from the ground) and probably take the Whale Watch tour from New England Aquarium. See you soon! 😉

Hotel Review: Sea Breeze Motel, Acadia (Maine, USA)

Hotel reviews USA

August 22, 2016

We ran into Sea Breeze Motel by a pure coincidence when we picked up HotelCoupons book somewhere along the way on our Atlantic coast road trip. The stops on our road trip weren’t scheduled ahead due to the changing weather, so we were depending on our travelers luck.

Location

When visiting Acadia National Park in the summer (in our case July) you have to be very lucky to find a descent accommodation for a reasonable price. And Sea Breeze Motel is definitely one of them. It is located in the Mount Desert Island, following Bar Harbor road, just a mile north from Acadia National Park Visitor center. The location is very nice, hidden from the main road with lots of privacy (except of the nosiness of the other guests of course) and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The rooms

We got the last available room with king size bed, unfortunately not with an ocean view, but later we were actually glad because the pine tree view offered more privacy and provided a nice afternoon shadow for our small porch.

Based on the internet reviews and being used to the poor quality of USA low budget motels, I expected a dump, because all the other available accommodations in Mt Desert Island were at least twice as expensive. But to my big surprise the room was very cozy, spacious and clean. In-room bathroom was divided into toilet and a shower (no bath, but who needs bath anyway), with all the necessary toiletries and lots of clean towels. The bed was large and comfy, and there were also 2 small sofas, a fridge and a coffee table in the room, with coffee blender and basics as well. The only worrying thing was the carpet, which was very soft, but presented a potential problem for an allergic like me. Fortunately we were outside most of the time and since I was tired from our Acadia adventures, I had no problem sleeping like a baby.

The Facilities

The motel has about 30 rooms, majority overlooking the ocean, and they also have one penthouse, which I am sure offers even more privacy and spectacular views. If you want to enjoy its comfort, I guess you really need to make an early reservation. The reception is small but cute and provides a lot of useful information about things to do in Acadia. You can check some of them here as well. There is free wi-fi throughout the area.

One of the coolest amenities of Sea Breeze Motel is the outside pool overlooking the Atlantic, with sunbeds and also 2 gazebos where you can sit, relax and enjoy the serenity of Acadia. I could easily spend another night there.

Anda’s rate: 8.5 from 10

Bottom line: Sea Breeze motel offers all the comfort you need when visiting Acadia National Park for a day or two. Don’t expect a luxury and bring your groceries as they don’t offer breakfast. If they did, I wouldn’t mind giving them a 9.

5 things to do in Maine, USA

Trips & Tricks USA

August 15, 2016

When you browse for things to do in Maine, USA you will see that most of them relate to Acadia National Park. Honestly, I didn’t feel the need to prove the contrary, because our summer road trip schedule was so tight, we didn’t have time to explore the whole state. Acadia National Park lies on the North Atlantic coast, half way between Portland (the capital of Maine) and border with Canada, on Mt Desert Island which you can easily reach by car, taking Bar Harbor Road from Trenton. While I can confirm that Acadia is really beautiful, I also have to warn you that accommodation during July and August (which is considered as high season due to very nice temperatures) is very expensive, so unless you don’t care about your budget, try to plan your vacation a couple of months ahead. We couldn’t do that as we were on a road trip, “going with the flow”, but we were quite lucky to catch the last available room in Sea Breeze motel, which we found on Hotels.com app.

Ok, enough introduction, let’s jump to five things to do in Maine, before this post turns into a novel 🙂

1. Acadia National park

I already mentioned Acadia is a must so I will add my 5 top spots here in case you are in a rush and don’t have more than one day to explore the Mt Desert Island.

Cadillac Mountain

I will tell you a very short anecdote here. I don’t know when and how I got the impression that the peak of Cadillac Mountain (with an elevation of 470 meters) was only reachable on foot, by a quite challenging trail. So I convinced my boyfriend to prepare for this hike by taking a long rest after lunch, pack 2 liters of water, wear trekking shoes and loads of sunscreen and drive towards the starting point. To our big surprise, after following the signs for about 20 minutes, we reached the peak by car. Literally. 🙂 Our disappointment was soon compensated with marvelous views of the ocean and serenity which embraces you when you make just a few steps away from the parking spot. Just sit there and enjoy. And repeat.

Sand Beach

Park on a designated area and reach the Sand Beach within 2 or 3 minutes by foot. Yep, Acadia is very accessible, you can be as lazy as you want and still see most of its top spots. The beach is very beautiful, at least for my standards, however don’t expect to take a long swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Or any swim at all, unless you are one of the bravest. The water is cold as ice, even in summer. The beach is quite wide, so if you are not in a hurry, do take a towel, umbrella (sun can be very hot) and a good book.

Ocean Path Trail

If you are up for some hiking and making selfies on the rocks, you should take this trail, which offers amazing views of already mentioned Sand Beach. The trail is not very demanding, however do wear some sneakers because it can get quite slippery. Again, if you are in a hurry, you can see similar views by just taking a few steps off the road (you can literally leave the car almost anywhere by the road, just make sure you don’t block the traffic).

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a very charming and picturesque harbor town with lots of things to do for everyone: from shopping souvenirs and local stuff, eating delicious snacks or real food, taking daily trips by boat or just lying in one of the parks, reading a book or watching people. Possibly from a cannon, like me 🙂

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Although most of the “happening” and scenic stuff lies in the East part of Mt Desert Island, the West part is also worth passing through. At least drive to its southernmost point, Bass Harbor Head, where you can take a stroll down the rocks to catch a postcard view of the lighthouse. There are 2 paths leading towards the lighthouse – make sure you take the left one down the stairs.

Moving on to other things to do in Maine, we still have 4 to go…

2. Bangor

This might come as a total surprise to those who have visited Maine as I am pretty sure Bangor is not on any “must see” list. However Bangor somehow has a soul and is definitely worth a stop for lunch or dinner if you are passing by. We stayed there one night before entering Acadia and we had one of our best dinners ever. The restaurant is called High Tide and it actually lies on the Brewer part of Penobscot riverbank (Bangor is on the other part of the river) and serves the best jambalaya in the world. The entrance to Bangor is also impressive with nice churches welcoming you while crossing the bridge.

3. Fort Knox

After leaving Acadia and heading towards the south, you will soon spot a very glorious bridge which takes you to Fort Knox fort. Penobscot Narrows Bridge is very impressive and it also offers the Penobscot Narrows Observatory – the first bridge observation tower in the USA and the tallest public bridge observatory in the world. Fort Knox, which lies just a few minutes away, was built in the middle of 19^th Century, however it never saw a battle as it was built too late. Nevertheless it is worth a visit, if you read about its history and imagine the battles which were fought during that time between British and USA soldiers.

4. Lighthouses

Lighthouses are my weak spot and Maine coast is full of them. I already mentioned the one in Acadia which was my favorite but it certainly doesn’t end there. If you continue south from Fort Knox through Camden hills (which also has a pretty nice state park from where you can see Penobscot bay) you will reach Owls Head lighthouse within one hour and a half. We had some problems finding it, as GPS got a bit crazy but if you follow the maps, it is actually not so hard to reach. The lighthouse is 2 minutes’ walk from the parking spot and you can actually climb the stairs to reach it from the inside. It offers a nice view of the Penobscot bay as well. There is supposed to be a very popular lighthouse in the capital of Maine, Portland, but we didn’t visit it as our schedule was too tight. I am sure Portland would be on my “5 things to do in Maine” list as well, if we had taken the time.

5. Lobster Roll

Don’t bother searching Google maps – lobster rolls are for your mouth only. I believe I already mentioned once or twice that I am not very picky when it comes to food. I don’t pay much attention to local “must eats” and I don’t mind traveling to a country without tasting its local cuisine. I read a lot about lobster rolls and I thought “oh well, just another American snack drowning in mayonnaise, let them have it”. Until my boyfriend had one. And the rest is history. We were both hooked in a second, ending up eating at least one lobster roll per day, until the very last day of our trip. Luckily McDonalds was advertising the campaign “our Lobster roll is back” on every corner, with a promise: “Made from real Atlantic lobster”. We said we’d give it a go and we weren’t disappointed. It actually tasted as good as others, for only 8.99$ a piece. And with only 290 calories may I add. What a winner, yummy!

So this were my top choices for what to do in Maine. You are welcome to check other photos in my Facebook album. Keep in mind that we were on a road trip, and we only had 2 days to make the most out of it – 1 day for Acadia and the other one for passing by Atlantic coast towards New Hampshire. But honestly, as much as I loved Acadia and lighthouse spots, I believe 2 days were more than enough 😉

Things your dog should never eat

Chihuahua corner

July 6, 2016

You know that feeling when you are having a meal and suddenly you spot a headline which makes you wanna puke? Happens to me all the time. However this time I am talking about a specific topic, related to sharing the food with your dog. So in this case vomiting would actually be the only right thing to do. If you can teach your dog to do that.

My dog Sky thinks everything I eat is gold. She keeps on staring at me with those deep brown “feed-me-mommy” eyes so I can hardly resist giving her a small piece of my meal in the end. She eats everything – from healthy bites like apples, carrots, yogurts and protein bars to “main stuff” like risotto, fish, macaroni and potatoes, as long as it comes from my plate. The only thing she doesn’t want is dog food. Actually I bet if I ate those stinky kibbles she would change her mind about them as well.

I am not a very organized and strict owner, however when it comes to feeding my dog I try to stick with three things:

She gets her breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening, always at approximately the same time. (Which is actually when I wake up and when I have dinner. I mean, I am not a robot, right?)
If she gets snacks during the day, I cut down her meals proportionally. (She is a Chihuahua and she’s a lady so she has to look good and keep fit.)
She always gets food after I finish eating. Just so she knows who is the master. (I am just playing tough. The truth is that it hurts like hell when she sits beside the table looking up like the most starving creature in the world).

But those are just educational measures. There are far more important things you should consider when feeding your dog. Like all those DON’T-s which should be crossed out of your dog’s menu for good. Like avocado, which I almost choked on yesterday when I saw the headline.

So I did a quick research on the internet and some of the information came as a big surprise to me. Especially since I thought I was doing my dog a healthy favor! So I am really thankful I did a little digging for my little treasure before it could be too late.

I found these key DON’T-s that you guys should delete from your pet’s diet. They are in a random order, and I underlined the ones which sound most dangerous:

Avocado

This one knocked me over. I eat avocado almost every day and Sky loves it. It is supposed to be rich in all kinds of nutrients. For humans, at least. But the fact is that avocado contains persin which can be toxic to dogs when eaten in large amounts. Persin is in the leaves, seed, and bark and the fruit itself. It can cause upset stomach, breathing difficulties and fluid buildup in the chest.

Mushrooms

Not all the mushrooms are health hazard, but are you really an expert to tell them apart? Some are only dangerous when mixed with other ingredient. On top of that the signs of mushroom poisoning can take a few days to show up. So it’s complicated. Rather avoid them all.

Raw eggs

We all know there is a chance of food poisoning from Salmonella or E. coli if we eat raw eggs. The same goes for dogs. And there are also potential skin / coat problems because raw eggs contain enzyme which interferes with the absorption of some B vitamins.

Raw meat and fish

Raw meat and fish can contain bacteria, that causes food poisoning. Some fish species (like salmon or trout) can contain a parasite that causes “fish disease” also known as salmon poisoning disease. The disease can be fatal within 2 weeks if not treated immediatelly. The first signs of illness are vomiting, fever and big lymph nodes. That doesn’t mean you should deny your dog a fish – just cook it thoroughly.

Persimmons, peaches and plums

The seeds from persimmons as well as the pit from a peach or plum can cause inflammation of the small intestine in dogs or intestinal obstruction. I was surprised to learn that peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to humans and dogs. So even though it looks cute, don’t even think about letting your dog play with them.

Chocolate

I know dogs are crazy about chocolate. I mean who isn’t? Unfortunately chocolate contains theobromine. Sometimes even licking it can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea. It can also cause abnormal heart rhythm, seizures and lead to death. And remember: the darker the chocolate, the more toxic for your dog!

Grapes and raisins

From unknown reason grapes and raisins can cause rapid kidney failure. Even a very small amount can make a dog ill. Usually the signs are repeated vomiting and diarrhea, followed by dehydration and lack of appetite. Death from kidney failure may occur within three to four days!

Macadamia nuts

Did you know that only six macadamias are enough to make your dog ill? The nuts contain some toxic things (not yet established) which lead to muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis, vomiting, elevated body temperature, and rapid heart rate.

Onion and garlic

Onions and garlic can destroy dogs’ red blood cells, causing them to become weaker and move around less. Dog will get tired and reluctant to move. His urine will become orange to dark red. In severe cases he will need a blood transfusion.

Salt

Eating too much salty food can lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. It may even cause death.

Xylitol

This popular sweetener which contributes to maintaining healthy teeth with humans is unfortunately not good for your pet. It can cause dog’s blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure, just in a few days. So be careful where you leave your chewing gum, candies or even some diet foods which are sweetened with xylitol.

Coffee/caffeine

Caffeine can be fatal in large quantities. And not only coffee, caffeine can also be found in cocoa, chocolate (which is already a don’t), colas and energy drinks. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations and even death. And there unfortunately is no antidote 🙁

Milk and Cheese

Milk, cheese, ice cream and other dairy products contain sugars and fatty components that dogs don’t have the enzymes to break down. So if your dog eats too much of this stuff, he might suffer from gas, diarrhea and vomiting. And we all know the feeling when your dog farts, right? 🙂

Bacon and fat trimming

Yep, you heard me. Her majesty, the Bacon. And all the fat you cut from meat that you don’t want to eat. Well, if it’s not good for you it shouldn’t be good for your dog as well. Foods which contain a lot of fat can lead to pancreatitis which leads to problems with digestion and nutrient absorption.

Kitchen shelves

Not literally, but your dog can easily get poisoned from what is on them. Baking powder, baking soda, spices … and also raw yeast dough (the one which is waiting to be baked) can become toxic while fermenting in a dog’s stomach.

At last but not the least, use your common sense and follow this very simple rule: Don’t feed your dog with anything that is bad for you. You know, like raw potato, fish and chicken bones which can get stuck in the throat… And do I need to say anything about alcohol? No, because if you are reading this article, you are a responsible pet owner. And I like you for that 🙂

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