White Antler & Co.: seeing the sights

Showing posts with label seeing the sights. Show all posts

wish for sun

For those of you outside of Canada, you may not have heard about the deep freeze sweeping the Great North.

It's so bloody cold that the Internet keeps crashing. I don't know if that's even possible, but it's happening.

The temperature at the moment is -28°C with wind chill, which is -18° in Fahrenheit. How crazy is that? We've been experiencing this arctic cold since Monday and it won't be letting up until next week (according to the Weather Network, so maybe that's true and maybe it isn't).

The heat is blasting, I'm snuggled under my blankie (when it's this cold, it's no longer a blanket, but a blankie. Soon I'll be in the fetal position and sucking my thumb. When I'm this bone-cold, all bets are off!), sipping some hot chocolate and it's still chilly!

I'm really dreaming of Venice right now. Those couple of days I spent there when it was so scorching hot that my gelato was melting faster then I could eat it; the sights and sounds of summer everywhere! How far away those blissful days are now.

{images: my flickr}

let's go countryside

When I was 10, my mom, my brother and I went to England. Among the many places my aunt and uncle brought us, we went to the Lake District. It was simply beautiful. Beau-ti-ful. It was my first taste of the English countryside. As far as countrysides go, the Lake District might be the best first taste you can have.

I consider myself a city girl, but I can't deny that the countryside enchants. I dream of living in a charming cottage with a red door; vines climbing up a house with painted window panes and window boxes filled with delicate flowers, a thatched roof and maybe a pond with some ducks quacking about. And of course, tracts and tracts of land.

{photo credit: a trip guide}
{etsy shop dreamyphoto}
{the chive}
{geordies and pubs and sheep, oh my!}

the spritz

Once upon a time, I lived in a world where spritzes weren't the quintessential aperitif. In retrospect, it was a sad life.

Then I went to Italy and discovered that a simple mix of Campari (or Aperol) and white wine could really brighten my day. Not that my days needed much brightening; I was on vacation in Italy, for crying out loud.

Personally, I prefer the Aperol Spritz to the Campari. It's less bitter, smells refreshing, and the colour of the drink, topped off with an orange slice really makes it the summer beverage. It has become the cocktail that reminds me of laid-back summer days and terraces on bustling streets. A spritz would mark the end of another day in Italy, but it also represented a great evening (and meal) to come.

It's a tradition I'm definitely bringing to Canada.

For a spritz, you'll need:

1 part white wine or sparkling wine

(I opt for Prosecco, just 'cause it's Italian)

1 part Aperol or Campari

(you can also try fizzy non-alcoholic bitters to add some bubbles if you go with flat white wine)

And that's it, folks! Just that easily, you can be sipping on a spritz, just like they are wont to do in northern Italy.

An Aperol spritz in Venice near Piazza San Marco

Campari spritz at Il Calandrino in Padova

{photo credit: my flickr}

nothing but love for padova

Just going to go out on a limb and say best cappuccino ever.

But tomorrow will probably bring even better cappuccinos.

{photo credit: my flickr}

when in rome...

In a little over a month, I will be on my merry way to Padova, Italy! It's not Rome, but you get the idea. I'm so excited to explore a completely foreign piece of the world. I was navigating the streets of Padova on Google Maps, and looking up some main attractions.

Ah Google, the wonders you do.

Prato della Valle

Piazza della Frutta

Piazza delle Erbe

Piazza del Duomo

Piazza degli Seignori

And that's just for Padova. I still need to check out Verona and Venice.

{photo credit: this guy's flickr}

{google maps}

stop and see

When I was using my dad's old Nikon, it was like an event. I would pack everything up and make my way to the nearest scenic place and walk around taking it all in: the colours, the smells, the sun, the breeze. Being on the lookout for a good picture will make you appreciate little things you didn't even know you should be appreciating.

My little exploration into the world of SLR cameras turned into a slight obsession. Rob decided to save me from the hours of research and ensuing panic-stricken returns to the store to exchange one model for another 8 times before I settle on a model by surprising me with the Canon T3 Rebel for my birthday.

I haven't gotten the chance to explore the world through the eyes of my Canon as much as I would have liked, but there are going to be a lot of picture moments this summer.

the force is with me

We went to the world premiere of the Star Wars Identities exhibition.

It was FAN-TAS-TIC! I'm not the biggest Star Wars fan (first time I watched Star Wars, I had the choice to watch all six episodes in order), but I love the whole culture that surrounds this phenomenon - the movies are pretty good, too.

But back to this exhibition: It was fun! You pick a race, shape your character by your upbringing, choices, surroundings, and you get to see a ton of props and costumes from the movies. Best of all, got to meet my buddy R2D2!

The exhibition is on until September 16, so if you find yourself in Montreal before then and looking for something fun and nerdy to do (always!), make your way down to the Montreal Science Centre. On that note, may the force be with you.

Yes, folks, those are Jaba the Hut's eyes
...and our reflection.

the spirit of america

I don't have words to express how much I loved my weekend in Boston! A city I've wanted to visit for several years now, I thought I would be a little let down from such a long build-up. But Rob planned it in such a way that I could not be disappointed. The trip itself was a well thought out surprise. There was a top secret re-proposal with a decorated hotel room, some champagne all set to Bruno Mars's Marry You, which he pulled off with two of the coolest people who joined for the weekend. The whole time we were away, I felt like a little kid filled with excitement and anticipation. I couldn't have asked for a better Boston.

I'm shipping up to Boston to find my wooden leg!

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came.


It's a beautiful night, we're looking for something dumb to do. Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you.

The spirit of Massachusetts is the spirit of America.

The spirit of the red, white and blue.

made it to the chive

Quebec was featured on The Chive today. In HQ. Good for us!

Quebec City - I can tell because of the Chateau Frontenac in the back

one day...

I will travel to a faraway, secluded land and wake up to a breathtaking view and the fragrance of flowers all around.

Picking a Paradise

Renovations, engagement party, WEDDING... I barely know where to start! There's just so much going on. My first challenge: find a resort for our wedding. That's right, baby! We're getting married in some beautiful tropical paradise. It's going to be fantastic! I've finally narrowed it down to a couple of resorts. But it's tough choosing one because you have to say no to so many potential spots. I think it's list-making time...

Here's a few of the resorts we've eyeing

NOW Larimar - Punta Cana


Bavaro Princess - Punta Cana

Azul Sensatori - Riviera Maya

They're all SICK! Some resort websites aren't as amazing as others, but when you look at the pictures on Trip Advisor, they all look very similar. I guess I'll have to do some more research, and if that fails I'll just go with my gut. Either way, it's a week away with friends and family and, oh yeah, I'll be getting married!!!

St-Sauveur

It's not the kind of place you want to go to every weekend (mainly because it's an hour drive from Montreal), but every once in a while it's really great to spend a warm sunny day walking around Les Factoreries - the outlet centre in St-Sauveur. The shops are bright and colourful and full of goodies. And when you're done with the outlets (e.i., cannot spend another penny!), you can head on over to the Saint-Sauveur village to take in the sights.That's how I spent my Saturday, and I'm really glad I decided to go before the summer's end!