Dutch Tulip Gardens
Month: April 2014
Day 113
Amsterdam
Day 112
Flourless Banana Pancakes
Ingredients:
2 cups ripe bananas (about 1 /12 large bananas)
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon chocolate almond butter
pinch of salt
coconut oil for frying
Instructions:
-Mash the bananas using a fork
-Whisk in the eggs, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon, chocolate almond butter and salt
-Heat the oil in a pan on medium low and spoon approximately ¼ cup per pancake
-Cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until it feels slightly firm
Adapted from Living Healthy With Chocolate
Sweatshirt Weather
H&M Sweatshirt, Charlotte Russe Skirt, Target Socks, ASOS Booties
Sweatshirts and I have never really gotten along. They’re so comfortable to wear, but I always feel like a giant blob whenever I throw one on. Perhaps it’s my inner Arizonan acting completely dumbfounded that they could actually be fashionable! But I found experimenting with proportions and shape was the key to offsetting the boxy look of such a big shirt.
Day 111
Sicily
Italy will always have soft spot in my heart. After an adventure-filled week in Croatia, I was ecstatic for a relaxing stay in Sicily. I met up with my friend Jami in Rome, where we explored for a day before jumping on the night train to Sicily. Although night trains normally have a bad rep, we had a wonderful experience and one I’d suggest to everyone. I mean, when else do you get to wake up to breakfast in bed in the view of the Italian countryside?
We stayed in On the Way Hostel for our first few nights where the adorable owners baked us fresh breakfast every morning. We spent these days exploring Palermo and nearby areas. We visited the botanical gardens where we had so much fun swinging on vines and smelling flowers. The local markets were bustling with fruit, meat, pastry and vegetable vendors. The GIANT 6 foot swordfish lying on the tables never failed to startle me.
Monday morning we got a rental car and moved into the flat we rented on the outskirts of the city. Having a car made all the difference on the trip. The next day we woke up first thing and drove to Taormina, on the other side of Sicily where I got to do a shipwreck dive. We explored the adorable shops and made a day adventure of exploring nearby cities. Taormina’s colourful shops, rolling hills and beautiful ocean had just the charm we were looking for.
The next day we found my ancestral village of Lecara Friddi, tucked away in the mountains. We spent a few hours in the city talking to locals, taking pictures and exploring its charm. Afterwards, we threw out our plans and drove to explore.
After a few hours we ended up in an old, abandoned village in a valley. It was suuuuper creepy but there were beautiful horses guarding to keep us company. Jami and I both love photography so the day was filled with cool opportunities to shoot.
All in all, the trip was incredible. Though we had our fair share of obstacles in the beginning of the trip, we had so much making the most of Sicilian culture. Until next time Italy.
xx
Croatia
Visiting Croatia’s been on my bucket list for some time now, and saw my Spring Break as the perfect chance to experience it. When my friend Joe shared the same interest, we booked our tickets and the rest was history. When I arrived in Split I didn’t know what to expect. Though April is the start of spring weather, the country’s high season doesn’t pick up until May. Nonetheless, the unique Dalmatian landscape of caves, mountains, beaches and cities offered plenty to do!
We spent our first few days island hopping on Brac and Hvar where the pebble beaches met the stunning turquoise water of the Adriatic Sea. We met some Spanish travelers and a group of friends on both rides who made great company both days. Besides our new friends, very few visitors (and restaurants) were around so we made the most of the wonderful weather and lounged on the beach.
Joe and I rented a car in the early morning so we could drive to Plitvice National Park. Despite the weather in Split, as we drove through the mountains it started to snow. We were so scared we wouldn’t survive the 6-mile hike in our ill prepared shorts and T-shirts. Luckily, the snow stopped once we arrived and we were able to enjoy the stunning waterfalls.
The Croatian people were incredible too. When I pictured Eastern Europe I imagined very traditional society filled with foreign lingo and few tourists. Boy was I wrong to judge! Everyone I met genuinely wanted to help me enjoy their country to the fullest.
On our last day we headed south to Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik’s tourist industry has exploded since becoming a major filming spot for Game of Thrones. The city’s old town is encased in a thick wall that allows visitors to walk around they city and get a unique perspective on the town. Though we were only there for a day it was easy to see it’s charm.
Overall, Croatia was a huge success. I met some incredible people and was reminded once again how great the power of travel is.
Day 110
Day 109
Heading back to reality in London Town. Thanks for the trip of a lifetime Croatia and Sicily
Savor Away 