Showing posts with label Lifestyle Blogger. Show all posts

Mel's Life: Greece

I spent a little over a week in Greece and it was pretty amazing. I'm tired af but it was totally worth it.  Every corner I turned I was met with a little surprise, whether it was a cafe, chic restaurant, or a piece of ancient history it was always exciting to see. Everyone we encountered were so hospitable and kind. We had many local adventures with folks who swept us off our feet and took us on a tour of Greek night life.  (Sooo many shots...maybe too many)

As with every place I go, I definitely want to venture back to Greece. There was so much I did not get to see especially as a nerdy history buff.

I probably should've wrote this when I fully recovered from jet lag but here we are...

Enjoy the pics! 

 


 





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Yum: #SipandSnack with SkinnyPop

Summer is winding down but that does not mean that we can't still treat ourselves. I tend to gravitate to lightweight snacks during the summer months. There is nothing worse than being hit with after meal fatigue in 90 degree weather (ugh)! However, I do LOVE a summer cocktail. SkinnyPop has created a great popped and paired tasting menu, that pairs five delicious popcorn flavors with a refreshing summer cocktail. My personal summer go to has been the Moscow Mule paired with the SkinnyPop's original popcorn. It is the perfect snack for flipping through magazines on my balcony in the evenings.


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Mel's Life: #Auckland

In February, I headed to Auckland for a bit of R-n-R. It was my first 15 hour flight but I drank got through it like a champ. The free flying half bottles of Australian wine may have made the skies a wee bit more friendlier and Qantas my new favorite airline. We stayed at the Auckland Hilton, which is centrally located and a quick walk to the popular Queen Street. The first couple of days were rainy and overcast which lead us to the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. This museum is stunning, I wish we could've enjoyed a cuppa but the cafe was ridiculously crowded. We took in The Māori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer, which featured over 100 portraits of Māori chiefs and leaders.

After a couple of days in Auckland, we headed for Waiheke Island. The was one of my favorite parts of my trip to New Zealand. The picturesque island is filled with wonderful wineries and sheep! We stayed at the Gorgeous Inn, a cute little cabin with big scenery. I recommended it if you are ever staying in Waiheke. We took a half day wine tour to sample some of the offerings of the local wineries. My favorite spot was Thomas' Bach. Needless to say I left for Sydney with a suitcase full of delicious wine. Over all I really enjoyed my trip to Auckland, the people are friendly and the food is exquisite. I hope to make it back to New Zealand to explore other areas. We headed for Sydney after, I will dedicate another post to my time in Australia.














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Mel's Life: #Brazil

Last week, I went on a whirlwind tour of Brazil and loved every minute of it. My cousin and I flew to Manaus, Salvador, and Rio all within 6 crazy days. I must admit we saw absolutely nothing in Manus as we flew in at night and left at 4 am the next day. The one day that we did have to explore the area we crashed hard and spent the day in our hotel (lame but necessary).

On Friday, we flew out to Bahia! I was most excited about heading to Bahia because of the rich cultural history. Bahia is the home to the largest population of black people outside of the continent Africa and it is apparent immediately. I felt like I was returning home in a sense because everything felt very familiar. The music, the food, and the overall vibe of the city is reminiscent of the Caribbean. My cousin and I were in awe at how much the people of Salvador were able to save culturally from the clutches of colonialism.

After taking in Salvador, we set our sights on Rio de Janiero. We arrived around noon in Rio and hit the ground running. We headed straight to the famed Escadaria Selarón steps, after walking up the stairs we built up a pretty hefty appetite. We grabbed lunch at a cute restaurant and indulged in Brazilian steak (o-m-g soooo good).

The next day we went to see the Christ Redeemer statue. I wasn't expecting the statue to be so massive, I was a little taken aback. In photos, it does not appear to be so large. The vantage point at the statue is absolutely stunning, you can see Rio's beauty from every angle. Did I mention it was blazing hot? To take a break from the relentless sun we concluded our day at  Ipanema beach (where the water is cold and the food delicious).








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Mel's Life: Baltimore

Two weekends ago the BF and I headed to Baltimore's Inner Harbor for a bit of R&R. I have never really hung out in Baltimore and thought it would be the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. We stayed at the RL Hotel, which I can honestly say was one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in, right down to the decor. The hotel is located within walking distance to the Inner Harbor's main attractions and they also provide free bikes to explore a little further if your feet are weary. 

hotelrl.com
We grabbed breakfast at Miss Shirley's and then headed out to sightsee. I know I am super lame for not taking pictures but it was delicious. Later on we headed to Federal Hill to dine at Bookmakers. If you are in Baltimore and love cocktails you should definitely head over Bookmakers. I had the Milano Mule and it was all the yum. (I know I know...no pictures...i'll try harder next time)



We concluded our weekend sailing the Inner Harbor and it was perfect. If you're in the DMV and want a mini vacation definitely head to Baltimore. It is a beautiful city with a ton of historic charm. :)




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Mel's Life: New Old Camera

I got a new camera in June. I have been admiring mirrorless cameras since they hit the market. I liked that they were more travel friendly than a traditional DSLR camera and still took great images. As an amature "photographer" I did not need all the bells and whistles of a pro cam but I needed a step up from a point and shoot camera. I decided on the Samsung NX300. It is one of the best mirrorless cameras out. It takes clear and crisp images as well as HD video. I also love the design of the camera itself, its a modern take on a vintage camera. The only thing I wish the NX300 had is a view finder but the moveable touch screen display isn't bad at all. If you are in the market for a new camera but do not want a DSLR I'd highly recommend this camera. 



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