If your making you way to Machu Picchu or the Sacred Valley, you will probably pass through Cusco.
Cusco is a vibrant city with lots to see and do, as well as a great place to start your andes adventure.
To make the best of your visit, here are a couple tips to get you started:
The altitude is higher then what most are use to. Spend your first day taking [.....]
Figuring out what bring on vacation can be hard. Here are some ideas of what to bring depending on your vacation.
Caribbean Vacation
- Clothing (Shorts, TShirt, Tank Tops, Long Pants (just in case), light sweater (for those nights at the beach)
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, deodorant, etc.)
- Medicines (Immodium, Bandages, Pepto, Tylenol/Advil)
- Bug Spray and Afterbite
- Money (check your destinations currency)
South American Adventure
- Clothing (Bring both warm and cooler clothing - different altitudes can range in temperature)
- Sunscreen, Hat
- Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, deodorant, etc.)
- Medicines (Immodium, Bandages, Pepto, Tylenol/Advil)
- Bug Spray and Afterbite
- Money (check your destinations currency)
- Travel guide
[.....]
Today I went to my first ever Fan Expo in Toronto. What an experience! Where else can you see Wonderwoman and Iron Man hanging out, Anime characters mingling with Marvel Heros and Predators getting along with humans? Well apparently at Fan Expo you can see this and more. The event is huge and the turnout was amazing.. at least 100,000 plus people were there many dressed up as their favourite super heros. There was tons of stuff to buy, chances to meet your favourite celebs and lots of picture [.....]
Checked out buskerfest this year for the first time and loved it! Great for people of all ages and will definitely put a smile on your face. Theres tons of performers, musicians, vendors and even samples! (one of my favourite things). Admission is by donation and all proceeds go towards Epilepsy Toronto. Go for a great time and for a great cause.
Here are some of my highlights.
For more about Buskerfest, you can check out [.....]
I visited London, England for a course, but also got the chance to do a bit of exploring. London is a great place, with lots of history and culture.
While I could write forever on all the things to see and experience, here are some of the highlights you should check out.
High tea at the Corinthea Hotel Enjoy a lovely tea selection in a beautiful, classic setting
Sunday Organ recital @ Westminister Abbey We came upon this by chance and what a pleasant surprise! [.....]
So it's been a couple weeks, and I couldn't let another day go by without writing about the carnival. Great times! This year, was even better then ever with more gorgeous costumes and tons of energy! We started around 10am and I swear the time just flew by. I usually just stay until the end of the parade, but this year we were getting right into all the action and didn't leave until 10pm. Great times for sure and can't wait to do it again next year. Here's [.....]
Went camping to Killbear this recently and loved being surrounded by wilderness and beautiful scenery, right on Georgian bay.
While I definitely loved our camping experience and being surrounded by great friends, it may not be for everyone. Just a couple things to think about before you head out there:
- For August, the water was pretty cold. Not sure if its normal up here, but was a wee bit on the chilly side.
- Not all campgrounds allow radios/music. So if you [.....]
It's July, it's summer and we can finally get out without being bundled up in several layers of clothing. As we try on the clothes from summers past we realize, damn... These don't fit anymore. Instead of going and feeling sorry, there is a lot of stuff you can do to enjoy some summer fun and get into shape.
How about this?
- Instead of driving to the store, try walking or taking your bike. Not only does it give you a goal, but is good on the environment.
- Call up a friend to play tennis.
- Gather up a group and play a sport. Nothing like a good game of baseball, soccer or even volleyball to get you motivated and [.....]
We spend all year waiting for it, and it's finally here... Summer.
There's so many things to do in Toronto and only a couple months of summer to enjoy. So how do you make the most of your summer? Here's a couple things you will want to check out.
- Listen to a concert at the outdoor Molson Amphitheatre - Take a boat ride to the Toronto Islands- Take a stroll along the Harbourfront - Check out a game at the Rogers Centre (on nice days, the dome is fully open) - Enjoy a street festival (and there are many!) - Have a dog? Check out Woofstock- Bike or rollerblade along the beaches - Have drinks on a patio downtown - Take in the Honda Indy
What [.....]
Happy doggies everywhere, people chatting, vendors at every corner and shows that entertain... Must be Woofstock.
Took the Whiskey to Woofstock today and he had a blast! Tons of vendors everywhere, freebies (you know how much I love freebies), dogs everywhere to meet. For a puppy this is huge! I loved the #purina experience, was really well put together. Loved the free goodies and toys, and everyone was so nice to Whiskey! #Petsmart was also giving out doggie ice cream with kibble sprinkles...too cute! Plus they had [.....]
Such a big world, and such little time!
There's so many places in this world to check out its hard to figure out where to start. So how do you start to narrow down a destination? Here's a couple things to think about:
- What type of trip am I looking for? Do you want to lounge in the sun, climb mountains or check out historic sites?
- What's your budget? Determine a range of how much you're looking to spend, as that can effect whether you do a road trip or a trip to Bali.
- When are you going? A destination can be less desirable in rainy reason or hurricane season.
- Is [.....]
Went to TBEX today for the first time and learned a lot!
Started with a session about Blogging, branding and dollars. Gave me a lot of insight into more ways to maybe get a few bucks from my blog, other then advertising. My eyes are wide open now. Any freebies send them my way? I love samples.
Then checked out one about Facebook Contests and how to basically set one up easily on Facebook. I learned that Canadian legal around contests and privacy is a lot stricter then it is in the US. Great for the average Canadian, but maybe I need to read up a little more on this whole legal thing...
Lunch was included = happy Christine
Lastly checked out [.....]
It's been a busy week and i'm very happy to announce that there is a new addition to the family... a puppy! As some of you may know, I lost my dog in November to a brain lesion. It was a hard time and a heart breaking experience, as anyone who has a lost a pet can understand. Its like losing a member of your family. It took me awhile to even think about another dog, and at the same time missed the companionship and unconditional love a dog [.....]
The Gateway to Machu Picchu
If you are heading to Machu Picchu, chances are you will pass through Aqua Calientes. We stayed in this tourist town for a couple days, as we checked out the Machu Picchu Area. Its a vibrant city with lots of restaurants, stores and touristy things to do, plus the train station is right there so you can get to Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu all from the same area.
The hotel we stayed at Taypikala was beautiful. Located on the [.....]
An experiment in agriculture.
Moray is a place definitely worth a visit. In your trip to Peru, you will come across many ruins, however this place is very unique and sets itself apart from the rest. Moray was originally an experiment in agriculture and how crops respond to different conditions such as altitude. The Incas purposely tried different combinations to see which altitudes work for which crops. As a result they had more insight to help with their farming. This is brilliant especially for [.....]
Remnants of a fortress, with a bustling market.
No visit to Urubamba area is complete without visting Pisac. Home to a huge fortress, you can spend hours exploring this once strong fortress and taking in the gorgeous views.
We hired a cab that day to take us to the Pisac and the surrounding areas. We were so happy that we did because we could go at our own pace and it wasn't that expensive (we got a whole day from 9am-5pm for $120).
[.....]
In our recent trip to Peru, we decided to start off in Ollantaytambo. It was a lower altitude (great place to acclimatize), and seemed like a place to catch up on some relaxation. Located in what's known as the Sacred Valley, this smaller town is surrounded by beautiful scenary and a pleasant place to start an adventure.
We stayed at a nice boutique-like hotel called the Hotel Sol.The service was great and we just loved our room. We had our own patio overlooking the river and the [.....]
Ahhh Peru. I heard it was beautiful, but once you visit you realize it's much more then that. There is so much to see and do in this vibrant country!
We travelled to the area of Cusco, famous for its proximity to Machu Picchu. We started off in Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) to acclimatize, visiting the ruins and the Pisac market. Starting off somewhat relaxed really helped us to get use to everything. The scenary was gorgeous, the mood relaxed, the food flavourful and fresh, and the people so friendly! [.....]
It's been a busy 4 months and time has just flew by!
While everyone was making New Years resolutions this year, I decided "hey, this is the year to travel a bit", and that I did. In the last 4 months, I have been to:
- Jamaica
- New York
- London, England
- Peru
Sure, thats quite a bit, but the experiences I have had along the way have been amazing. Along with great company and my handy travel journal, got tons of stuff [.....]
