Adventures – A Pursuit of Life – Barefoot& High Heeled

Nature And Horse Riding At Spruce Hill Resort In BC

I have been lucky enough to ride horses plenty of times in my life. Although far and few between, it is always an activity that I thoroughly enjoy. Except for that one time when I was riding a horse and it starting bucking and I jumped off. FYI – your not supposed to jump of a bucking horse.

Being at a resort located in the middle of a working ranch with horses roaming free around the property, only served to make us want to hop on one and enjoying a leisurely afternoon in the company of one of the most beautiful animals out there.

I though it was very cool that upon checking into Spruce Hills Resort when were en route to our room, the horses that were freely strolling around walked straight up to us basically demanding a bit of attention. I was hooked right off the bat.

It is such a stunning and secluded feeling area, perfectly pristine for a horse ride. We booked in for an afternoon trail ride through the forest.

From the get go the horses were super chill. Which is exactly what I like. I was having flashbacks of the not so chill horses I have been on in the past.

There is something so soul soothing about being in the middle of nature on the back of a horse. Not gonna lie, I felt cool as heck.

My horse’s name was General, he was so obedient, and loved being told he was a good boy. I couldn’t help but continually tell him what a good boy he was, as he was soaking it right up and turning his ears and head towards me every time I said it.

What a relief that he was so obedient. I mean, I am pretty good at controlling a horse, but I ain’t no horse whisperer.

Well there was that time in South Africa, when I got to try my hand at it. I was locked in a training ring with the horse whose name was Dougal, and it was my job to get him to submit to me. Ummm, can you say adrenaline rush?! With him running in circles around me in this small ring, kicking and bucking, and me trying to maintain my classy composure while also not falling over from being dizzy, and keeping my eyes locked on him, praying that he would submit and not kick me. In the end, I won the battle of who’s going to control who. What in incredible, heart pumping, and unforgettable experience. So yes, I suppose you could say I have dabbled in horse whispering once upon a time.

This afternoon however was so relaxing, and I fell in love with my horse. My only problem was that the horse in front of me was having a bit of gas issues, and I happened to be downwind of them.

Seriously, he was letting them rip, left, right and center. Geez, com’on! Give a lady a break why don’t yah?! I wasn’t sure how many more times I could hold my breath. Alas, can’t win them all can we, those fresh farm smells will get yah.

Due to a sighting of a mama bear and her two cubs we had to cut our ride a bit short. It’s the time of year where bears are fattening up for winter, so there are plenty of run ins to be had. As we all know, you don’t want to mess with a mama bear. So turning back was the only way.

Once back at the barn, we decided what better way to finish off the excursion then to give the horses a good brushing. You always gotta return the awesome energy bestowed upon you.

An absolutely fab way to spend an afternoon. I truly didn’t want it to end. That’s okay though, all good things must come to an end – and I will absolutely be back for more. Until till next time….. Giddy Up!

Blissful Seclusion On A Beautiful Beach In Mallorca

The beach is always the perfect place to unwind, relax, and get some good grounding done. Except when it’s the middle of summer in Mallorca and the beaches are jam packed. It becomes a bit more hectic and a little less relaxing. I am always on the hunt for a new and less touristy place to explore, and so I was pretty excited when I came across Son Real.

In the North Coast of Mallorca there is a place called Son Real. There you will find a public finca and a nature reserve. The area itself has a rich history, and has very interesting archaeological remains. From the finca you can walk on the marked trails for approximately 30 minutes and reach some very beautiful secluded beaches.

There are kilometers of near empty beaches, with turquoise blue water and incredible coastline views. It is pure relaxation for the soul. It felt so incredibly good to go for a swim in the water, just me and the sea(and probably a few fish). There were the odd couples or families, but really minimal.

The coast is lined with trails where you can walk to estate houses that include a museum and interpretation center. This is the perfect place to take some beautiful photos, the area is naturalistic and has quite a few birds.

It was luxury being able to enjoy the empty beaches, it took me away from the tourist packed areas on the rest of the island. It pays to get off the beaten track sometimes, and there are always special places tucked away that are not your typical tourist destination. That is what adventure is all about.

The excursion rocked my little world. If you visit Mallorca and would like a different experience then I would absolutely suggest checking out the public finca of Son Real and enjoying some of the nature reserves pristine and historical areas.

Sightseeing In San Francisco

Previous to this trip, I never really had San Francisco on my bucket list. Once arriving there, the energy and landscape of the city was already screaming to me – How the heck was I not on your radar?! Yes I was instantly enamored with this dreamy city.

Sprawling along the coastline of various islands, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop. The city is extremely picturesque. I really felt the pulsing of awesome energy there as well. I always find it amazing that every place in the world has an energy of it’s own, some feeling very high, this being one of those places.

I really had no idea how many awesome things I was going to see and do around the San Francisco area. There is way too much to fit into a few days, but one must get in as much as they can.

Here are a few highlights of my sightseeing adventures

Clearly you can’t not go see the Golden Gate bridge. It’s kinda one of those things not to be missed, and not really possible to miss. She sits there proudly in all her glory.

It was such a great feeling even just driving across the bridge, then the view from the other side was just spectacular.

The redwood forest at Muir Woods was a super high energy magical place. It engulfs you. Muir woods has been a federally protected national monument since 1908. Here you will find some of the oldest trees in the world, ranging between 600 – 800 years old, the oldest at Muir wood is 1200 years old. I learned that Red Woods can actually live up to 2200 years old, and reach heights of 300+ feet. Just walking through it makes you feel so energized, and the air smells so pure and exhilarating. Oxygenating your cells to the extreme.

Of course I had to get in there and hug a couple of those bad boys. As you do, or should I said, ‘as I do’.

Let’s not forget you are right next door to world class wine regions, so a wine tasting tour is also a must. Off to Sonoma it was. I have indulged in wine from the Sonoma area a few times in my life, and once or twice in my life I had said I would like to visit the California wine region. Prior to this I had no idea it was in such close proximity to San Francisco. What a nice surprise.

The town of Sonoma is quite pretty, one of those ideal quaint touristic towns.

The region itself is stunning. Immaculate vineyard after immaculate vineyard. We managed to visit a couple while on our tour.

The first stop was the Robledo Family Vineyard. Beautiful spot, with a divine Sauvignon Blanc.

I would have to say I really like the Highlands Winery, its a boutique winery, and the gentleman whom makes the wine does it out of real passion. You can taste it in all his blends. Superb.

No trip to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to Alkatraz. The world renowned island and prison that held some of America’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone. Every 30 minutes there is a full ferry transporting tourists to Alkatraz. I was so intrigued to learn more about this place.

Once again there was an undeniable energy to the place, eery energy as well. We had a nice audio tour of the cells.

With the history of Alkatraz and the people that have came spent time in there, and the conditions they were in, it was pretty full on to visualize.

Imagining what life was like for the inmates and the staff and their families that lived on the island, was something else. To say the least.

There are some pretty spectacular views from the island as well.

Even when you are leaving, you leave through a tunnel.

But before you go, make sure you stop and smell the flowers.

I did also thoroughly enjoy getting a lift on a cycling taxi. I love supporting the locals that are doing something different. Getting paid to stay fit – not a bad gig if you ask me.

It’s safe to say the San Francisco area is full of energy of all types. A very high energy area. It was truly an awesome and unforgettable trip that I will not soon forget, and is absolutely on my list of places to return. Yes, if you ever get the chance, get on over to San Francisco and experience its awe for yourself. Any and all of these activities would be highly recommended for your sightseeing pleasure.

3 Highlights Of A North Vancouver Island Road Trip

Random and spontaneous adventuring has always been in my blood. It’s just what I do. At times a planned trip is where it’s at, or it’s just what has to happen. Even in those circumstances, I like to leave room for the unexpected and unplanned. Some of the best adventures of my life have been when I turned down that random road, bought that last minute ticket somewhere I never heard of, or simply seized the moment.

Upon arriving to Vancouver Island the only plans I had were to get from Comox to Port Alice. I booked a car rental with National Cars at the comox airport, and decided I was going to hit the road of open adventure with no real time frame. Just go with the flow kinda day.

With that kind of open mindset, the trip that is normally 3 hours, turned into 7 awesome hours, of ‘Me time’ adventures. It was exactly what my spontaneous adventure loving soul was yearning for.

Vancouver island has always been a favorite destination of mine to visit, it is such a beautiful place with endless things to see. I am sure you could travel and explore for a year straight and still not discover all the hidden treasures.

Here are a few treasures that I came across on this little road trip filled with random and unplanned pit stops.

The sandy beach shores of Campbell River

With Campbell River sprawling down sandy and driftwood covered beaches, it is a stunner of a place. Resorts line the beach shores, and the fresh sea air is a sweet treat to inhale – that is, if you enjoy the smell of salty sea air.

There are ports for the boating enthusiasts, and cherry blossoms setting the scene.

I really enjoy the small quaint feeling of Campbell River, it feels free and open. I am sure that changes in the summer season, but in comparison to a city on the shores, it will still maintain a somewhat relaxing mellow charm I am sure.

I also made a coffee stop at this cafe called Fogg Dukkers.

It is full of rustic charm, with the water as the backdrop. Lined with picnic tables and a bonfire, it’s is a beauty of a place to enjoy some RnR while sipping on a fine cup of java. I am a lover of great coffee, and this was some pretty tasty coffee.

I decided this was the perfect stop to take myself on a lunch date, so I grabbed a table for 1, and dined with my coffee and veggie wrap, while soaking in the beautiful view.

Stop in at a Cable Cookhouse in the village of Sayward

Built in and around 1970, the Cable Cookhouse is a steel framed building bolted to a cement base. The entire walls are wrapped with used logging cable. The weight of these walls is a massive 26 tons.

They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and desserts. It has been a popular stop for tourists, and locals for many years. It is truly full of character. They have some seriously old and rusty tractors and such in the back, as well as a totem pole that was also built by the original builder.

There is a patio to enjoy the warm summer weather in the season, and they even have ‘Pooh Howses’ in the back, which I got a kick out of.

Check out Telegraph Cove

Telegraph Cove was an old sawmill town established in 1912, it had deteriorated to the point where everything had to be restored and rebuilt. Everything has been restored and rebuilt, with an 800 foot long boardwalk and dock surrounding the old village put in. It was created into a resort in 1979, and has grown to welcome upward of 80 000 tourists a year.

There are so many activities on offer here, from whale watching, to fishing trips, and onward to grizzly bear tours.

I love historical places, and when things have an antique feel to them. However , this little visit I paid was before the season even begins, so it was completely empty. I love seeing places in that state though, it gives you a chance to really take it all in with no distractions or hustle and bustle. I enjoyed a nice stroll around though, I can imagine it’s pretty amazing when it comes to life, and I would love to come back in the summer and stay in one of those old houses.

Spontaneous adventures always bring you to places that you otherwise would never have discovered. Each of these spots made my road trip that much more interesting , and that much more memorable.

Before I reached the beautiful destination of Port Alice, I made sure to pop in to Port McNeil to check out the world’s largest Burl.

I never even knew what a burl was prior to this, but I learned that a burl is an abnormal tree growth. I suppose like a tree tumor. Who would have thought?! You really do learn something new every day.

For me, successful trips always stem from open mindedness, and not being too rigid on my plans. Just loving life everyday brings endless awesome adventures. So get out there and see what you unexpectedly come across, and don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers.

It Was A Walk In The Bush

February in Northwest Territories usually means -30 degree Celsius temperatures, and 10 layers of clothing to protect from the very real potentials of frost bit and freezing to death. However this year the weather has been so unpredictable and up and down, every week we have something else. Lately it even go in the the plus temperatures. Of course that’s pretty awesome if you want to go on a nice bush hike and be out in nature. Not sure if its best for the environment up here though.

That being said, it was an absolutely stunning and warm day, so I decided the best way to spend it would be hiking out in the bush, and seeing what mother nature had on offer this particular day.

The surroundings themselves are absolutely beautiful. Winter wonderland is the exact description I would use.

The snow was pretty deep in lots of area’s, every time I would take a step, it would go straight over the top and straight into my boot.

Just your typical ‘Snow booter’, no big deal… Scoop that right on out and keep trucking along. Ok, well it was a bit of a chilly deal after the 10th one, not gonna lie.

The scenic view kept changing, which kept the walk enthralling.

We are so lucky in this area of the world that one of the most sought after medicinal mushrooms in the world grows wild. The Chaga mushroom.

There is an ample supply of birch trees here, in which host the Chaga mushrooms. Chaga mushrooms have the highest number of antioxidants of any food, incredible immune boosting properties, anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-viral and cholesterol lowering effects to name a few. It is a powerhouse of a healer, that’s for darn sure.

When your out on the land here, it’s always prime time to do some Chaga hunting.

We were not super successful this day, but we did find some. There are times you find a area covered with Chaga. Even finding a nice chunk is awesome, and you can cut it off and take it to make some super healing tea. Yum! Health taste’s so good.

I also came across a spruce tree that was oozing with sap.

Alright, well perhaps I should say it had oozed with sap, as the sap was hard. When I was a child growing up in the bush, I spent quite a lot of time out on the land a lot. I always loved chewing on spruce sap, I called it tree gum and/or bush gum. It is also full of healing qualities and vitamins, as it comes straight out of the tree, it kinda like tree blood.

I was pretty excited when I found the sap, and straight away cut a piece off and tucked right in.

I love the taste! It definitely has an earthy taste, similar to a tea, however I love those types of flavors. I suppose because I grew up with them, so my pallet is accustomed to them. Of course a few beautiful flashbacks from my childhood came flooding in – which was absolutely wonderful in and of itself. This day had proved a be a massive success, and probably one of the best ideas ever.

Let’s not forget one very important detail. Being a lover of grounding and tree hugging, there was absolutely no way I could be out there without giving a tree a hug.

The energy exchange is undeniable, and the healing benefits are amazing. Nature always fills my soul.

After a couple hours of adventuring around, we decided to head back and end this nature filled day the only way that seemed to be the cherry on top. A good ol’ bonfire.

Not before taking in the spectacular sunset though.

It was such a fabulous day out in pure blissful nature, it was too great not to share.

What can I say, don’t underestimate the soul soothing, energy topping abundance of a day in mother natures playground. Get out there and go bask in it. Heck yes to being awesome in nature!

Chasing Beauty In The Northwest Territories – The Land That Doesn’t Disappoint

Well it’s official. It is mid October, and there is snow everywhere here in the Northwest Territories. Winter has come early this year. Not that I am complaining, I do love the snow. Especially when it’s accompanied by favorable temperatures. Although, the up and down, above and below zero game, makes things messy, wet, and slick. You never know what your going to get. Yes, the pro’s and con’s to everything in life.

Just before the snow flew, I went out on another day of adventuring. It’s just what I do. No matter where in the world I am. Trust me though, the snow ain’t gonna stop this lady from adventuring. It simply creates more various adventure opportunities. Particularly in the NWT.

The week prior to this I went to Twin Falls Gorge and enjoyed the epic ambiance of Alexandra Falls.

This time, we went the opposite direction. We cruised out to the little community of Kakisa, which is about 1.5 hours North of Hay River, NWT. With a population of about 45 people, I don’t mean little lightly.

The primary reason of driving out there was to visit Lady Evelyn Falls. Which is located just 5 km away from Kakisa. Obviously I had to take a little cruise through the quite little community since I was in the area. Lady Evelyn Falls are closed for the season. Well the campgrounds are.

You can still walk in and see the falls. It was quite cool being in the area when everything is totally shut for the winter. A completely empty campground. Not a soul to be found, other then a couple of birds that is. Funny enough though, I wouldn’t have any problem camping in that weather. Get a nice warm fire going, a couple extra layers of clothes, and your laughing. Or perhaps I am just a die hard?! Ahh well, next summer.

Don’t forget to heed the warning before you embark on your waterfall adventure.

I guess it depends what a high level really means? Thanks for the warning though!

Lady Evelyn Falls are quite a bit smaller then Louise and Alexandra Falls at the Twin Falls Gorge, however she is not lacking in pure stunning beauty.

It’s almost a calm feeling and smooth flowing energy when you are around them. As opposed to the powerful high energy feeling you get at the Twin Falls. It’s not hard to get down beside them, but we didn’t go for it that day. It was a beauty of a pit stop, and well worth the drive in itself.

After we took in our fill of Lady Evelyn Falls, it was time to start driving back in the direction of Hay River. Not without keeping our eyes peeled for more pit stop adventures to be had along the way. I absolutely love having no plans sometimes. I truly believe in the journey along the way, and when you are open to receive whatever awesomeness is out there, you get exactly that. More awesomeness. Not without a few bumps in the roads at times. I mean trust me when I was crossing Africa alone with that mentality, there were some bumps. However, it always turned out amazing or with a big ol’ forehead swipe of ‘phew’ , and definitely added to my story.

There was this awesome little lookout point that we pulled into. You stand tall on the rocks, and take in the spectacular Northern view.

It’s total Northern landscape as far as the eye can see, and it’s absolutely wonderful.

It is so unique, and as you progress up North towards the Tundra, you have less and less plantation. The changes are dramatic, and the beauty just continually morphs, yet never becomes less. Looking into this bliss, makes a person want to bring a canvas and paint it. Maybe I will wait for warmer weather though.

Don’t forget to lick a tree while you are there.

Not far up the highway from that look out point, we pulled into McNallie Creek, where sit’s another one of mother natures dazzling gem’s.

There is a day use area, and once again, another set of little waterfalls flowing into a bowl shaped ravine. With the icicles forming on the edges of the water, you can see winter is well on it’s snowy and cold way. If you keep your eyes peeled when you are there, you can see cliff swallows nesting in the walls as well. Which we didn’t see that day…..

The depths of the water at the base does appear fairly deep. I have been told that people do enjoying jumping in there in the summer.

The paths around the area are great if you feel like frolicking in the bush.

The colors were magnificent, and even though there was a chill in the air, after a bit of walking you don’t even feel it. You get warmed up by the incredible setting. Nothing compares to being in nature, it gives you such an uplift and flow of awesome energy. And particularly in the North. It’s a very special place that I will never stop boasting about.

That was a whole day of absolute pure bliss. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in one day. The majestic Northwest Territories once again did not disappoint. It seems as though she is the land of endless waterfalls.

While you wait to check the NWT off of your bucket list, don’t forget to explore your own back yard. There are always beautiful places hidden around every corner – where you would least expect it.

Palette Adventures in Golden, BC

Adventure and fine dining. Two things that go together like me and wine. Meant to be. One of my absolute favorite destinations ever, is Golden, British Columbia. Literally, I just love that place. The energy there is fantastic – as well as the natural charm. With the green river flowing through it, the majestic mountains surrounding, and the small quaint size of it. I just cant get enough.

Golden has loads of activities on offer from, cycling, hiking, white water rafting, paragliding, and so on and so forth, I intend on spending quite a bit of time around there this summer. Endless excitement for my little adventure loving heart.

This time around, it was a weekend road trip with one of my long time gal pals.

Even though it was raining, it didn’t stop us. I am a damn trooper, it takes a lot more then that to stop this gal. There is nothing like hitting the open road, cranking your tunes, and laughing with one of your nearest and dearest. It’s always a nice change for myself as I do tend to do a sufficient amount of solo travel. It’s not my fault I like spontaneous adventures, and I don’t always have the time to wait for anyone else to join. Besides, ‘me time‘ rocks too!

Obviously aside from physical activities, Golden does offer a fine little culinary scene. One I also need to explore more of. I ever so graciously received a gift certificate from Tourism Golden for The Island Restaurant, an establishment in which I had not yet had the pleasure of being acquainted with. I love trying new things! Clearly. I think that goes without saying.

The Island Restaurant is a beautiful log building, and the location was prime with a patio that was over looking the river. It has such a warm and inviting atmosphere that draws you right in.

Mother nature decided to be a gem and hold up on the rain for us so we could enjoy the splendid patio ambiance.

Yes, I was already in my happy place with the way things were progressing – and it was about to get a whole lot happier when the vino started flowing. Anyone who know’s me, know’s that wine is a hobby of mine. It’s an art, one that I like to enjoy.

Before I decided on the bottle, we were offered a sample. A generous one at that. She said these two mixed together would taste the equivalent of Summers night. So off I went to experience it.

Wait it was a bit difficult, so I tried another route.

Yup, sold! Pretty darn delicious. Bring on the Summers Night.

Clearly I am a total class act, 100% of the time.

The service was top notch! Super charismatic, and above and beyond. Right from the get go.

We were having the best time ever. Having an awesome person taking care of you, always takes the experience way up as well!

Since you can’t live on Vino alone, it was time to begin our culinary journey.

I decided to try the Elk for my Entree. I like to keep things as local as possible no matter where in the world I am, so I figured you can’t get much more local then Elk. It was served as an Elk patty plated on top of rosti potatoes and roasted vegetables.

With a side of salad, and a pastry stuffed with cheese.

The Elk had a very interesting flavor to it. I mean the flavoring they added was great, but the meat itself has quite a different taste to me. I am not sure I would be ordering Elk myself again anytime soon. However, everything else I had was ridiculously good.

Natasha went for the Mozzarella & Grape Quasadilla.

She also loved hers, and couldn’t resist in finishing every last bit.

Clearly we had to top it off with dessert, and went for the Apple pie. Freshly baked and perfectly delicious. Party in my mouth. Ok, that was the wine.

Looks like someone was enjoying their vino

I can tell you one thing, if you come hungry, you absolutely will not be leaving hungry. They take very good care of that. Perhaps I should have worn sweat pants…..

I was also treated to a tour by the chef. I always love a behind the scenes look at things. We even hung out with the owner for a bit.

The whole experience was so much fun, it was hard to leave. ‘No, I don’t want to go!’

Although I did leave in the end, and I know one thing for a fact, well two things actually. Firstly, I am going to be back in Golden in no time. Secondly, I will be visiting The Island Restaurant again. It has the view, the ambiance, the service, and the cuisine. Everything you could ever ask for in a culinary experience. When you wake up in the Golden area, don’t miss out on the chance to heighten all your senses.

Tunes, drinks, and epic times at Agua Bar

Live tunes, cold drinks, amazing people and an epic atmosphere. Sounds pretty darn awesome doesn’t?! That’s because those things are awesome! Agua Bar in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, is exactly where it’s at if those are things that are up your alley. Agua Bar has it all.

That’s actually a fish tank in the window, and looks really cool when you are beside it. You know, makes sense as Agua translates in English to Water.

One of my absolute favorite water holes for years now – and for good reason.

Agua has been around for about 11 beautiful years. It makes Palma a better place. Even though Palma is generally ridiculously amazing, Agua is the cherry on top.

Throughout the week they offer lots of various excitement for you to enjoy. Monday’s are flip night, where you can try your luck at a coin toss to see if you can call the throw correctly to nail yourself a beverage on the house. Thursday’s are ladies night, where the ladies can indulge in free wine & cava, from 7 – 10:30. Wine & cava not your thing? Well in that case you can instead receive 50 percent off any other drink your little heart desires. Friday and Sunday are the famous ‘Open mic nights‘, and then there is Charity Saturdays, where the generous, thoughtful and awesome guy’s who run Agua, Rich & Lee, will donate 50 cents from every drink purchased throughout the night to a charity. So you can drink with a cause and not feel guilty about being a party animal.

Care for a shot?

When in Palma, I frequent Agua bar on Friday and Sunday nights to take in their open mic nights. There is always some incredible talent to enjoy, and loads of Agua bar locals. Music feeds the soul, and makes my little world go round.

Why not have a little listen for yourself.

The famous open mic nights are exactly that, so that means they are pretty popular and the place fills up. Everyone wants to either hear or be part of the epic jam sesh’s.

You could say Agua is almost like a small community, its a place where everyone knows your name, and everyone just happens to be awesome. I am sure you agree that it’s rare and rad to find a bar that’s pretty much rammed with cool peeps. That would be Agua’s magnetism. It attracts exactly what it is. If you are good to the bar, they are just as good to you.

One of the best things ever is the ‘went for a pee card‘. If for whatever reason you have to leave your drink, all you gotta do is grab a card and pop it on your glass. It works like a freaken charm. Being such a kick ass establishment, its totally legit, and no one tampers with your drink. Not many bars you can say that about now-a-days.

Trust me when I say, no matter what day you go to Agua bar you are always guaranteed to have a damn good time. I have had many endless great times there.

It has some pretty sweet decor, show casing all the amazing classics all over the walls. The place is warm, inviting, and air conditioned in the summer. Let’s not forget Palma is hot as hell in the summer, so why not go cool down in Agua. Good ol’ Agua, just consistently checking all the boxes. It’s definitely a bar not to be missed in Palma. It will reel you right in – just like it did me. The first time I visited it, magic happened, I felt right at home, and the rest is history.

Sooo, see yah there this weekend? What are you waiting for?! Whether your there to play or just to listen, it will rock your socks off. Yup, that’s my kinda Jam.

Toronto reunions, beer tasting, and being awesome.

Hello Toronto! At least that’s what I said upon arriving to the big city from Spain last week. Little did I know the reunions and beer tasting about to ensue, leading up to Blissom, a sweet ass blogging/writing conference happening at Blue Mountain Resort(my reason for being in Toronto) – were gonna be as fantastic as I imagined, if not a bit better. Knowing that this conference was something that I couldn’t miss, I just freaken went for it. I booked my tickets from Spain, a hotel room, and hit the bright blue skies. Jet setting across the Atlantic. It’s always a bit sad to leave Mallorca, but my love story of where I call home, belongs to both Canada and Mallorca. I was also darn excited to touch my true home soil. As per always.

After I arrived to the big city, I grabbed my car rental and headed straight to the hotel. Possibly straight was not the best description, as coming from driving on the island roads of Mallorca to the freeways of Toronto – was a bit of a shocker! Let me just say, I needed a day of it to get my barring’s and survive it all. Pinch me please! After which however, I did nothing less then rock that freeway driving.
Now guess who just happened to be waiting for me at the hotel?!

It was none other then my beautiful mother.

I can’t imagine a face I would be more happy to see at that moment. Seeing your mother’s face always give a sense of home. My mother and myself never get to travel together. Even though it is just Toronto, it was exotic to us, simply because we were there together, and it isn’t the NWT or Alberta. It’s new stomping grounds, that we never stomp on together, on the other side of our rather large country, with wine and laughter waiting to be tapped into.
Literally no jet leg could bring me down from the cloud nine of this awesome occasion, and the vino was flowing from the get go. In reality, we all know it’s not hard to twist my rubber wine loving arm.

Things were of off to a phenomenal beginning(who doesn’t love a happy beginning), and within a very short period of time, it was about to be taken up even higher. Approximately an hour after the festivities began, a long lost travel buddy of mine gracefully arrived. Tanya!

Her and I met and traveled in Panama 10 short ass years go. At least it feels short. It’s amazing how 10 years can feel so short. Isn’t it just?! We had the best times ever, some of the best of my life in fact.

This was another reunion of epic proportions. One of those beautiful friendships that feel as though no time has passed, as you just pick up exactly where you left off. I was super excited that her and my mother were getting to meet also.
So with the party so far being a massive success, and just when I was thinking ‘Wow, this night is rocking my world, I don’t think it could possibly get better.‘ Long behold, it got better.
A couple hours later, my fabulous aunt flew in from Arizona to join the party.
Three’s a crowd?? Well alright then. How about we make it 4 shall we? We laughed, we sang(maybe I exaggerate a tad), we drank wine, and then right in the middle of it all, my jet leg kicked in – and I passed the freak out pretty much mid laughter. As Tanya’s description was the next day, ‘One minute you were laughing, and the next minute I look over and you were sleeping’. Oops! But I am not surprised, and it’s a pretty entertaining story if you ask me.

Believe me, I gave it my best shot. An 8 hour time change(plus layovers) kicks an awesome women’s ass. No matter how awesome you are. I think I was entitled to be the first one to hit the hay. Beauty sleep is important, and I don’t wanna look my age if I don’t have too. Plus, there ain’t nothin’ quite like laughing yourself to sleep. Sounds pretty therapeutic if you ask me.
The next morning after a hearty ‘let’s soak up last nights wine party’ breakfast, it was time to hit the highway and get going on the next leg of my adventures. Which was, heading to Blue Mountain with my long lost travel buddy accompanying me on yet another travel experience. Although we did get a little side tracked along the way…… As any good travel buddies do.
Creemore, Ontario. A historically set quaint little village. Something like a little postcard. Alright, well I know postcards are pretty much the same size. So I suppose I mean – like your average size, picturesque postcard.

So dang cute. Seriously. I love anything historical.

Being an avid cyclist, I was stoked to see this! Every town/city should get some of these bad boys.

Aaaand,

Every restaurant should have there own garden. That’s the definition of fresh food right there.

I also have a real soft spot for Autumn. The colored leaves added the stunning rustic ambiance to the already antique feel.

I was loving life. As if that is any different than usual. I was particularly enjoying this experience though.

I was loving life even more when we stopped to take a tour of the local brewery. Creemore Springs.

They fire brew their beer in an authentic copper kettle, and also use water from the local springs. Talk about fresh brew! For a little town, and a little brewery, they pump out some crisp and tasty brewski!

The staff were absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable and welcoming. The staff that work there, really DO enjoy working there. That was apparent to me from beginning to end, and I am a huge fan of people doing things they love. When I see it, I know something right is being done, and it brings joy directly to the ticker in my chest. Life is too short to not love what your doing. Might I add, there are 80 employee’s at the brewery. That creates opportune employment in the community. Loving it. That’s my stamp of approval. Stamp, stamp, stamp. Stamps all over the show.

It’s a small brewery so the tour doesn’t take long. However, for a small place, they do have a broad little array of beers.

I was quite surprised at the volume of people that were coming and going during our time there. Which I am obviously not doing a good job of depicting in these photos. The establishment itself is fantastic. I must say. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Let’s not forget to grab a souvenir.

That was a massively impressive pit stop, but I was happy to finally arrive to Blue Mountain and my hotel.

Ummm, hello big welcoming bed!!

Sprawling out on this was sure to be exactly what the travel doctor ordered.

Not before Tanya and I went for a good one on one dinner sesh, put on the ol’ laughing pants type catch up. 10 years later, and the only thing that changed is we are not as shiny and sweaty as we were in the hot humid weather. Oh, and maybe I don’t have that sun kissed glow at the moment either…. Darn. Time for a vacay I guess!

Everything so far on my trip was spectacularly awesome. Better then I expected. I am lucky, and when you love life, it loves you back. I was ready. Ready to attend the most incredible blogging/writing conference I have had the pleasure of attending yet.

Heck yes to being awesome and making the most of every awesome experience. I highly recommend it to everyone.

C’an Joan de S’Aigo, Palma’s historical ice cream parlor.

History, Coffee, Ice Cream, and your typical Spanish pastries. Sounds pretty darn delightful doesn’t it? Well, it was – and you probably should have been there.

Being Saturday afternoon after a busy week of being awesome. My energy was lagging a tad(even though it comes naturally, it still can take it out of a person) and it was time for an awesome caffeine fix and a historical Palma experience. Combining a new experience with a coffee, which just so happens to be two of my absolute favorite things – was sure to be a winner.

Ca’n Joan de S’Aigo, the oldest Ice Cream parlor/cafe in Palma. Founded in 1700, located in the old town(obviously, where else would it be – clearly not the new town), and it has managed to maintain its charm, flavor, and clientele ever since.

The popularity of this fine establishment is not to be under rated.

There was a continual line up at the door, and the turn over is so fast that we had to grab the only dirty table that was open. The gentleman serving us was quick to clean it up though. The place is buzzing, very local, and full of energy.

I must say, they really have maintained the place over the last 3000 years. That is lineage and dedication if you ask me.

The menu is small, and contains very typical Spanish delights. Really, its not big at all, very easy to hold, maneuver, and has 4 sections, covering 4 different languages. I am pretty sure they even had Gibberish in there.

Ta-daa, behold: the menu.

Being known for their home made ice cream, you have a nice array of flavors in which to treat your palette and your waistline. From almond, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, down to cava, and onward. Served in little glasses, its sure to please you. They also offer take out containers of the creamy cold stuff too, for nothing less then your take away pleasure.

Yup, she was loving it. Ice creamy happy place written all over her.

Besides the ice cream, they have a wonderful selection of Spanish pastry’s. Not a place to visit if your on a diet. Cakes, pastry’s, croissant’s, freshly made carb heaven. They also offer full cakes for take away. Perhaps you want to be the most popular guest at a party?? Well here’s your chance. Go on then! Get in there.

Top that off with a coffee, and your loving life. Are you drooling yet?

Not to mention the prices are ridiculous. Absolutely. Ridiculously good! Seriously, there is not much on the menu that goes over 2 euros. So I would say, you get a real historical bargain.

Would you look at that empty little cake plate. I would take that as a clear indication that it was so darn delish – it got gobbled right up.

Throw some fabulous company into the mix…….

Meaning mine of course.

Kidding! I was actually the lucky one to be in the presence of these fine ladies. Although as you can see behind us, they also had some very exquisite nude art on display. Nothing like appreciating a good nude art piece over coffee and cake. Not sure when it dates back to though.

With all of the above, its safe to say, you got yourself just another pretty exceptional must try Palma experience.

The magic just never ends in Mallorca.

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