Florence

Tre Giorni a Firenze 

    I usually write a huge blog post on my recommendations, but this time it will be a little different. When going through this set of photos from one of my favorite cities, I decided to leave this as a simple photo Diary. I really hope you enjoy this photo journal I'm sharing with you all!

I hope Florence's magic, through these photos, will spark an idea to go to Italy for your next adventure!

Tell me, have you ever been to Florence? Do you plan on heading out there someday? If you need any recommendations on where to eat, drop a comment down below! I'd love to answer any questions you may have!

A Different Way to Explore Cancun

Cancun, Mexico

Let me just say this. As I continue to explore Mexico, I fall more and more in love with its vibrant and spicy culture, its hard working people and its architecture and design. I now understand why many of its inhabitants love their country, despite what the media tell us.

Last summer I was fortunate enough to head to Mexico City with my mom and Klaas. This year I was able to explore more of this awesome country with my mom and sister, Amanda. It was a different dynamic but amazing nonetheless. Inside jokes were made and tears from laughter shed.

Here are some of my favorite moments from the trip and my recommendations!

If you plan to visit Cancun during June, be prepared to pack an umbrella. Cancun's raining season generally runs from May to October.

My family and I only had time during June to make this trip, but we didn't let the water stop us from stepping outside and discovering the non resort area of Cancun.

I was a bit skeptical that I wouldn't get the full experience of Cancun, having booked an airbnb outside the hotel zone, but I soon learned staying outside the hotel zone would breed a richer Cancun experience.

Pik Nik 

We stayed in an area that was just a few blocks away from several local shops, cafes  and restaurants, which was a plus! Most of the restaurants had a Mexican islander theme, an aesthetic birthed by Yucatan or Mayan culture.

I don't think have to explain how yummy the food was at Pik Nik. We were in taco heaven. If you’re in the area, be sure to check it out. It had such an authentic feel, the food was great and the service was spectacular. The owner opened up shop early just to keep us out of the rain. He readily made us food and served our drinks. BONUS: There was chips and salsa!

Parque Palapa

This park was about a 10 minute walk from our apartment, and I am so glad it was there. There were so many food vendors! It was food heaven. You could smell the sauteed vegetables and meats being cooked, tortillas being rolled and flipped and local children running around and playing.

Everything was CHEAP! If you are looking for cheap eats and local culture, you have to head over to this park. We went a couple of times, and on our last night there was a huge community gathering and local music playing, while kids begged their parents for churros or any other sweet that was being sold. Don't be fooled by those photos above, those were taken at 8:00 am on our way to church. Trust me it is a much more vibrant scene in the evening!

Church

Of course we couldn't miss out on church. Even if you aren't religious it’s always nice to see how the locals gather as a community to share their common interests. In this case, their love of God.

I loved being able to join my mom and sister for mass. It was such a small yet beautiful church, and the priest was pretty chill, too.

Mercado 28 

I had read a lot of rave about this market. Basically it’s a covered market with TONS of vendors. If you get a chance to visit, you should! Everything is so colorful! It's an experience for sure.

The vendors sell a variation of the same things, but it's really fun when they don't have the same prices.Cool thing about this market is that you get to HAGGLE, one of my favorite things! My mom had so much fun, too! Though you have to remember that some of the things they sell are actually handmade, so don't haggle too hard. They deserve some profit!

Just be prepared to deal with aggressive vendors. Keep in mind that aggressive does not equal dangerous. When I say this I mean they will try to  sell you anything and everything and call you their "amigo/a" to get you to enter their tent to shop.

And of course, there is FOOD! Food stands and proper restaurants. There will also be people playing some awesome music. Be sure to tip them!

Walking around Cancun Neighborhoods 

I think the best way to explore a new city is by foot! I absolutely loved discovering all of Cancun’s rustic beauty. There were so many picture-worthy streets filled with plants, super chill dogs and again, COLOR.

Another thing, I noticed while walking around the town was that there are so many old school beetles! Which I am obsessed with. Seriously, you have to get out and know all of Cancun, not just the touristy areas.

Playa Delphines 

Okay, so although you should explore the lesser known neighborhoods of Cancun, you can't skip out on the amazing beaches ( the main purpose for being there right?!)

We spent a whole afternoon at Playa Delphines, the most known beach in Cancun.

When we stepped off the bus it was breathtaking. I had read about the beautiful blue ocean water and the white sandy beaches, but actually seeing it had me dropping my jaw! Sooo pretty. Even if you don't spend a whole day sunbathing like we did, you still have to check it out.

That same beach is where you can find the Cancun sign. There is an organized line to get a photo in front of it! Yay for organization.

Renting a Palapa - If you spot a palapa stand by and a man will come over and tell you the palapa is 300 pesos to rent for the day. If you buy food though from the restaurant, you won't have to pay that fee.

We ended up going with an organization that was tip based. Look for blue lounge chairs and yellow umbrellas with the corona label, and there will be men lingering around usually with buckets full of drinks. You can ask them where the kiosk to get the blue chairs is. You will have to leave some form of ID, but don't worry it's a safe organization.

Isla Mujeres 

If you are in Cancun, you MUST take a day trip to Isla Mujeres. I don't think my pictures do it justice, but seriously GO.

To get to the island you must take a boat or a ferry. We went with a guided tour. Don't feel pressured to go with a tour, honestly you will have so much more freedom going on your own!

Again, the boat ride to Isla Mujeres was magical! My goodnes the water was heavenly and some of the prettiest colored water I have ever seen. Amanda and I got to kayak, which was pretty fun. Mostly we ate and lounged with all the other tourists on the tour ( there wasn't too much time to explore). That's why I don't recommend tours! Your time is always limited.

Fortunately, we had time to explore Playa Norte on the island! My favorite part of the tour! We only had an hour (boo!), but my mom, Amanda and I made the most of that hour.

We quickly started exploring the busy streets of the island. Remember if you go during summer time, you are most likely going to find the streets flooded with tourists!

There were tons of scooterists and many tourist on golf carts! I've heard this is the best way to explore the island. If you have time, you must look into it! Just within an hour, Amanda and I were enchanted by the busy vibrant streets.

There were so many vendors. It was a big party. Oh and they had shaved ice, or what I grew up calling them, raspas, one of my favorite childhood treats!

If we had more time, I'd have so many more picture of this lovely island.

The pastel colors contrasted with the dark ruby reds or the deep aqua hues fascinated me. I wanted to take pictures in front of everything!

I took the opportunity to take some pictures of Amanda in front of the pretty buildings. How pinterest and instagram worthy is this photo?

Y'all. Just visit Mexico.

 

Chichen Itza

My goodness, this is another MUST do thing when in the Yucatan. Mayan culture at its finest! The summer before, I got to witness the grandiosity of the Aztec's Teotihuacan, and this time I experienced the Mayan's world wonder.

Again, try and visit this landmark on your own! There are tons of blogs out there that will tell you how. Again, we fell into the trap of doing a guided tour. Had Amanda and I not escaped the walking tour around the pyramid, we wouldn't have had time to take photos!

My mom loves a good walking tour loaded with history facts. So if history is your jam, she recommends doing a guided walking tour when visiting this world wonder.

Cenote Ik Kil

   There are so many cenotes in the Yucatan region! This was one of the ones we visited because it was only a 15 minute drive from Chichen Itza and was included in our tour guide package. Unfortunately, we only had one hour to hang out. Ugh. Wish I could have had more time. I decided to just observe it from the top! Everybody was enjoying themselves, it looked like so much fun!

 

Valladolid 

This old spanish town was also in proximity of the cenote and chichen itza! I'd recommend taking a visit. We weren't there for long, but it was very enchanting. Walking around the main plaza was great! It has so much Spanish influence in the architecture.

It was a very tranquil town I'd go back to and explore a bit more!

So many fun memories made in Cancun and its surrounding areas. I have to say don't have any hesitations about going to Cancun or exploring Mexico. The media loves to make Mexico seem like a dangerous place, but as long as you’re smart and not engaging in risky behaviors you will enjoy all the amazing culture Mexico has to offer.

Tips

If you are arriving late into Cancun, know that a taxi is the only way you will be able to get to your hotel/airbnb/hostel. The Ado bus (the local public transportation) stops running at around 10pm. Cab fare will generally be about 40 USD from the airport.

Use the public transport! It’s soooo cheap and very efficient. You can pay for your ticket upon entering the bus terminal, so make sure to have change with you at all times.

Yes, UBER is available in Cancun. It's actually illegal to use it due to the Taxi Union there. We didn't have any trouble, but know that if you are caught using/riding with Uber, there can be a fine you will have to pay.

Yes, you CAN haggle with the Taxis! It's pretty awesome that you can do that! So do engage in exercising your haggle skills.

PS.

The rest of the time in Mexico was spent in Tulum, read more about it on my Tulum blog post!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

If you are looking for your next european destination, you must consider this amazing city! It is filled with so much life. You'll see endless canals and of course tourist using them as backdrops for their new instagram posts. Don't worry about having to wait in line to sneak a picture in front of one because there are loads around the city! It isn't called the city of canals for nothing!

As I arrived at the Schipol Airport, I knew I would be having a great time in Amsterdam. The Dutch were very welcoming.

Though, be warned, Dutch people can be blunt at times, but don't take this as them being rude. This is really just an aspect of their culture. They don't tend to beat around the bush like us Americans, so do keep that in mind!

If you do decide to stay in Amsterdam for a bit, I promise you will not regret it!

First things first, where to stay!

Iris Hotel

Our hotel view.

I sat on the windowsill every morning just to get a glimpse of a morning sight in lovely Amsterdam.

Can't rave enough about this cute little hotel gem.

I loved this little hotel we stayed at! It was honestly one of the cheapest and decent ones we could find. I will say, Amsterdam is EXPENSIVE. Be prepared to lay down some cash for your stay.

Also, If you cannot deal with the European size of rooms, then don't stay here! It was a tiny room, with hardly any walking space. That was probably the only flaw this hotel had. Everything else was exceptional! They had a cute patio out in the back and a dining room for breakfast & lunch.

Klaas giving me a little wink as we started our Amsterdam trip.

The building was old and quaint. It was an authentic Dutch/European building. It was three stories, with steep and narrow staircases. It was basically a playhouse, but I still enjoyed staying there.

The service was great! The girls at the front desk were so accommodating! Plus, it was close to the city center were most things are poppin'.

The Streets of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is easily one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It definitely displays a Nordic vibe, with doses of hipster atmospheres here and there.

Important: the dutch love using their bikes to get places.

Amsterdam is deemed the bike capital of the world. Coming in second is Copenhagen (one of my other favorite cities).

The dutch use their bikes like Americans use their cars. It is one of their main modes of transportation, so expect many cyclists!  Please stay out of their way, or you will hear their bike bells ferociously ringing, which translates into "get the hell out of the way!" Just fyi.

Don't get me wrong, you will definitely see cars and trams, but the city was not originally built for cars.

The best way to get around in Amsterdam is by foot or bike! Either one you choose, you have the right of way!

Canals, canals, canals. I wasn't lying about how many there are throughout the city!

Then there are those neighborhoods that look so picture perfect. This one house/building was probably one of my favorites that lured my attention. Those red shutters against the charcoal-colored brick created such stunning contrast, I just had to get a photo of it!

And like any other city, there is always a hustle and bustle aspect. Of course, I was fascinated by this.

There's much to see in this city, so you'll need a satisfying meal to get through the day. 

Bruincafe 't Centrum

Location: Rembrandt square

When I say this was the best sandwich I've ever had, I truly mean it. These puppies were full of flavor and so fresh. They where definitely worth the 7 euros!

Klaas and I stumbled about this cute little cafe as we walked around the city center. You can probably never go wrong with any of the local cafes with outdoor seating, but I highly recommend you stop by this one for their sandwiches!

They also have delicious pancakes! Don't expect traditional pancakes, the Dutch like theirs large and flat! It's more like a crêpe. Nonetheless, it's fantastic.

Pannenkoek or pannekoek is the dutch spelling for pancake!

They also had delicious cappuccinos served with a Biscoff cookie, yum!

And of course their table settings were instagram worthy.

This was round two at this cafe.

Bloemenmarkt

(The Flower Market)

Any step you take, Amsterdam will have you turning heads, whether it be the interesting people, the amount of tourists, the "adult" stores (sex shops), the coffeehouses (weed shops), the cheese shops, the endless bike racks, or the amazing amounts of flowers and tulips being sold (my favorite head turner).

If you are heading to Amsterdam in the Spring, you cannot miss this market even if you tried. At least, I hope you don't miss it! You can find it on the street Singel and close to the tram station Koningsplein.

So many vibrant flowers to look at, take pictures of, or actually buy!

Ah, I fell in love and immediately told Klaas we had to go into the shops.

Heineken Experience

So if you follow me on snapchat, you might have vicariously experienced the "Heineken Experience" with me. Basically, it's an interactive tour about the origins of the Heineken beer company. I literally had no expectations, I was just excited about the free beer-- which is funny because I don't drink much.

As a heads up, I highly recommend buying tickets at a Tourist Ticket Shop. You can find one outside the Rijks Museum. Buying your ticket at one of these places will allow you to have a fast pass, basically cut in line. Buy it. Waiting in line kills time you could be using to explore the city more!

I won't go into much more detail about the Heineken experience because surprises are a good thing. All I'm saying is 3 free beers and a whole lot of fun, DO IT!

Here's a grainy picture of Klaas and I.

 

Rijk's Museum

Rijk's Museum is a well known museum in Amsterdam. The Dutch Art displayed in this museum gives an overview of dutch history from the middle-ages and beyond. It is very touristy, but if you are interested in Dutch history then this is a place for you!

Klaas and I in front of the Rijks Museum.

The Museum is massive and so beautiful. Though, I can't say it's a favorite of mine.

Don't look for any modern sculptures or paintings here! You'll have to look elsewhere.

Although, this wasn't my kind of Museum, I still found the Dutch history found in this maze of a museum insanely interesting! I think I might have enlightened Klaas about his own culture. Maybe not.

I Amsterdam

You can't really say you visited Amsterdam if you don't get a picture with the I Amsterdam sign! I mean, yes, you can, but why not make it fact?

There are two places you can find this sign! One is right outside the Schipol Airport, and the second is outside the Rijks Museum.

Can you find me among all these humans?

Oh look, there I am.

Anne Frank Huis

Visiting the Anne Frank house was at the top of my list, and I scheduled a whole Sunday morning around it. I'm glad I did. I didn't believe Klaas when he said "there will be long lines, and we will need a whole morning for it." 

Plan to definitely spend the morning waiting in line. You will easily spend 2.5-3 hours standing (depending on the day and season you visit). There are little shops around, so if you are with someone, trade off and take line breaks. This will help make waiting in line doable.

Once you are in, you are taken back to history class to relearn about the events during WWII (1939-1945). You are taken behind that famous bookcase that separated the Franks and Van Daans from a Hitler controlled Germany and death.

It was an emotional experience for me. 

Make sure to visit the Anne Frank Huis on your Amsterdam trip.

Screaming Beans

Favorite coffee shop in Amsterdam!

They had the best hot chocolate. This may sound odd, but my favorite part of the hot chocolate was the whip cream. Usually I ask for every drink sans whip cream, but for some reason I asked for it. No regrets with that choice. America definitely deprives us of authentic, natural-tasting whipped cream.

Final thoughts on Amsterdam

Loved, loved, loved, the city. I was a happy, clog-wearing bumble bee. I couldn't have had a better start to my spring break vacation.