Paradise in Poland

Happy Monday, friends! How did we get here again so quickly? I hope you enjoyed your weekend! Sebastian and I spent our time biking around town, hanging out in parks, eating way too much ice cream cake, lighting sparklers, and celebrating birthdays with our friends. And as my friend told me... we successfully entered the realm of quarter of a century.

...So I figured we'd start out the week by looking at some pretty pictures!

While visiting Poland, we snuck away to a little piece of paradise - the family cottage. This is a cottage that Sebastian's dad helped build when he was young. A little home away from home to go, relax, and spend time with family. It's the cottage that was built with love. And continues to be maintained with just that - everything you see here is all taken care of by Sebastian's grandmother.

It's filled with lush greenery and flowers galore. Among the gardens, you can find lettuce growing, strawberry bushes, tomatoes, and herbs. All to be picked straight from the garden to enjoy devour.

And that view. There's just something about being next to a lake that immediately calms you. The water was cool, and crisp. And you can even catch a few pike, if you're lucky.

Some of my fondest memories from our trip come from this little place. It's where more than twenty of us got to get together to eat, drink, and dance the night away. And trust me when I say, the back patio turns into a wicked dance floor.

A Day In Gdansk

Planning our trip to Poland began over a year before we actually boarded the plane to get there. So, as you can imagine, there was a whole lot of anticipation. And build-up. And maybe even some expectations even though I told myself not to.

And the truth is, I really didn't know what to expect. And it certainly wasn't what happened.

Since this was my first time in Europe, I was expecting to be blown away by the history, the architecture, and the overall feel that you get when you're there. And oh boy, was I ever. And on the other hand...I also expected myself to be incredibly nervous - like, stuttering my words, sweaty palms kind of nervous - because I'd be meeting Sebastian's family (other than his parents and brother) for the first time ever. I mean, there was a whole lot of pressure there, not to mention a language barrier to jump over.

And let me tell you - I met some of the most warm, welcoming, and incredible people I have ever had the chance to get to know. People who I can now call family. I look back at my time in Poland and yes, the architecture was thousands of years old, things that changed the world as we know it happened there, and that feeling in the air? It's something I couldn't even begin to describe.

But what I will think about the most - is the people. Is my family. We cheered together, we danced together, we ate epic meals together, and oh yes, we drank together.

And you want to know what else we did? We went on a pirate ship together. Trust me when I say that you don't even know how excited I was. I literally turned into a pirate.

See for yourself, if you'd like...

Rome's Colosseum and The Roman Forum

Where do I even begin? The Colosseum is one of Rome's most famous buildings and enduring monuments to ancient Roman culture. It is un-freaking-believable.

A few years ago, I went on a road trip to Vancouver, B.C. It took 5 days to get there. And that was rushing through it - Canada is a massive country, to say the least. I drove back home through the U.S. and detoured just so I could see Mount Rushmore.

I was picturing something magnificent. Huge. Incredible. And after watching way too many movies, I imagined one of the mouths to open wide to reveal a secret cave. I finally drove up, parked the car, and hurried out so I could lay my eyes on the wonder that is Mount Rushmore. I felt a rush of disappointment. I thought it would be bigger. More spectacular.

The Colosseum? Nothing like that. Not even a little bit. It's bigger in real life. It's more incredible than you could ever picture it to be. Even after seeing hundreds of photographs.

On our second day in Rome, Sebastian and I took a tour of the Colosseum and The Roman Forum. Our tour guide was a funny Italian archaeologist who joked about his height, his pony tail, and assured us he wasn't gay. Even though there would be nothing wrong with it if he was. (Most Americans think he is because he carries around a messenger bag, but as he said "It's what Italians do.":) 

Have a look at our photos if you'd like! 

An incredible view from inside. Imagine the wood floor across the entire area, covered in sand, as it would have been originally. From this view, you can also see the underground area, where a variety of animals, such as lions or tigers, would pop-up onto the main arena from a trap door. (Archers would be ready and waiting just in case they decided to attack the Emperor.) For the Romans, it was all about the show. 

It's also unknown how many people actually died while fighting here. By the time the gladiators made it here, they were already incredibly famous and loved. In which case, people wouldn't want to see them die. Although, I'm sure some did anyway. Some of the Emperors were on a serious power trip.

Imagine this as it once was. Much like your modern day stadium. Packed with 50,000 people cheering for their favourite gladiator to win. (And for more bloodshed...)

Looking out on the Arch of Constantine. (From here...)

This section of the Colosseum was rebuilt after the collapse. You can tell because they used brick to re-build it, instead of concrete.

Before the Colosseum existed, a power-hungry Emperor named Nero burned down Rome so he could steal the land for his own and then build his massive empire. Where you now see the Colosseum, used to be a giant swimming pool that was used for Nero's enjoyment. The swimming pool was then removed and the Colosseum was built for the people of Rome. The pool's removal also explains part of the reason why the Colosseum collapsed; the foundation underneath wasn't as solid. 

You can also see small holes on the outside of the Colosseum in this photo. The cause of these holes are actually from the metal clamps that held the marble in place. What you're looking at is actually the "skeleton" of the Colosseum. 

All I could keep thinking about while touring around this massive amphitheatre was... if I thought it was this amazing right now, imagine how mind blowing it would have been in its prime. Before the soft ground caused the one side to collapse. Before the metal clamps were stolen and it was stripped of its marble exterior. (Thanks, Middle Ages. Pffft.)

Now, onto the Roman Forum...

Just standing outside doors that are over 1700 years old. No big deal.

And now you know how I got that awkward sunburn that I told you about.

The Emperor's private arena. 

So much excitement!!! I whole-heartedly recommend booking a tour if you ever go to Rome and check out The Colosseum (and/or the Vatican). My head was filled with so much information during that three hour walking tour... and I know it's impossible to regurgitate it all back to you. Seeing where the chariots rode, where executions took place, how the Romans lived, and imagining what their daily lives were like... along with imagining what the insane Emperors were really like, was surreal. 
It was a day filled with nostalgia and amazement.

...And as soon as we got home, we watched "The Gladiator" to re-live it all over again. (Do yourselves a favour and watch it! It had been years since I did and I forgot just how good it is. Russell Crowe is phenomenal.) 

Can't wait to show you more! 

Exploring Rome

As we boarded the plane to head to Rome, I was filled with excitement. (Which also could have been from the adrenaline that was pumping through me after being sent back through security right when we were about to board our plane, then having to go back through it all again in hopes that it didn't leave without us. But that's a whole other story...)

I didn't really know what to expect when we landed, but the anticipation was killing me. We arrived late at night, and shuttled into downtown by bus, and were greeted by the hustle and bustle of the city.

We tried to quickly orient ourselves with our surroundings with the help of a map, and with no help from the locals, who so eagerly told us to go in the complete wrong direction. Luckily, I - and by I, I mean Sebastian, can tell when people are bullshitting us and we found some nice policemen to help instead. (Be warned, fellow travellers!)

Even though we arrived late at night, we were eager to see the city. We wined and dined, and explored as much as we could.

The only way I could possibly explain how I felt about our experience in Rome is that... I was in awe of its beauty, and I was completely fascinated with its history. There is so much to do and see, and you will most definitely need a new pair of feet by the end of it.

But it's totally worth it.

(I apologize in advance for the length of this post, and the amount of photos used. But c'mon! Cut me some slack. It's incredibly difficult to choose a select few from the hundreds taken. Soooo I did pretty good:)

We're Engaged!

Sebastian and I are happy to announce that we're engaged! On June 18th, he proposed in the city he was born in as we walked along the longest wooden boardwalk in Europe, which extends over 500 meters into the Baltic Sea.

The weather in Poland wasn't completely ideal while we were there, most days we needed sweaters, and even umbrellas... but this day, the sun was shining without a cloud in the sky. We walked hand-in-hand right down to the water, where he got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him. I was completely taken by surprise and couldn't imagine a more perfect proposal. We are over-the-moon with excitement!

Our Euro trip was absolutely amazing and without a doubt, exceeded any expectations I had. I can't wait to let you all in on the details! (I only have ohhh... 1500 photos to sort through, so please bear with me:)

My Dream Vacation

I had the wonderful opportunity to guest post on Karissa's blog, Tragic & Lovely a couple months back and thought I would share this dream vacation with those of you who may have missed it! The timing couldn't be better since I'm gearing up to go on vacation... we leave tonight! This was back when Europe seemed so far away and of course, I didn't know that I would actually be venturing to Italy myself!

Hope you enjoy!...

Although, I’ve never been to Europe (yet – I’m going to Poland in June!), I just know I will absolutely love it – the people, the culture, the history! Everything about it absolutely fascinates me and I just want to hop on a plane and soak it all in. My only fear is… I won’t want to come back!

One dream vacation of mine is to travel to Italy. I yearn to go and gaze at the gorgeous buildings, learn about the different cities, speak with my hands, attempt to speak the language, oh, and eat and eat and eat.

But have you ever thought of experiencing Italy in a completely different and new way? Trust me, once you hear about this – you’ll want to book right away.

Imagine this: Travelling to Sicily, Italy and seeing the best of it. The way no regular tourist does. You’re travelling deep into the lesser known areas of this Mediterraneon island and your main source of transportation is your bicycle. Riding across seaside salt pans and through charming Italian towns, appreciating its true possibilities.

So how does it all work? An amazing company called Butterfield and Robinson. You book with them and they provide everything. (I mean, everything!) Hotels, great meals, amazing wines, the routes, experienced guides, a few insider secrets, and most importantly, the bikes!

You travel with a group who are just as excited about this adventure as you are! Meeting new people and making friendships that will last a lifetime. But don’t worry – they understand that if you’re travelling with someone, sometimes you need some alone time, so each trip offers the opportunity to dine independently from the group. And while all the routes are meticulously planned out – it’s your choice whether to follow them or not! Talk about flexibility! (They also do trips for families!)

My favourite part is having the expertise of their guides. 24/7. They show you the way, and handle all the logistics. Not having to worry about translating menus or signs, getting awesome recommendations on stores from the people who know best, insider information right from the source… where do I sign up?

They offer trips in Asia, Africa, North America, Latin America, France, Italy, and the rest of Europe. But for the sake of my hands, and the length of this post – I’m going to give you a snapshot of their Sicily, Italy trip. The one I’ve had my eye on.
It’s activity level is rated moderate (out of easy, moderate, and challenging – so don’t worry if you’re a beginner – there’s something for everyone) and this is how each day would go:

Day 1 Descend into Modica, famed for its Spanish baroque architecture and distinctive (not to mention delicious) chocolate
Day 2 After a morning cheese-making session, enjoy coastal riding—andperhaps a dip—before dinner at one of Italy’s top tables
Day 3 Visit magnificent Greek temples below the city of Agrigento withthe expert guidance of our friend Michele
Day 4 Unwind from a day of glorious biking on the grounds of a five-starresort, an oasis in the island’s western countryside
Day 5 Opt for the B&R Century Ride to the Tripani salt pans, with aboat ride to the island of Mozia
Day 6 Breakfast in Mazara del Vallo, then addiu in Palermo

The whole purpose of the trip is for you to really enjoy everything – so be sure to stop and smell the roses, taste the wine, indulge in a siesta, chat with the locals, and really take in the sights. All that with the security of having 24 hour support. No rushing, no pressure, no limits. It’s all about you, after all. Exactly how your next getaway should be.

Do you have your next trip booked? What’s your absolute dream vacation?

P.S. Make sure to keep checking back daily! I've scheduled posts for the next couple days and starting next week, I have some seriously awesome ladies who will be guest posting while I'm away! You're going to love hearing what they have to say! xo

(Photos via Butterfield and Robinson)