If you were to ask me why we keep going to Hotel Oberschwarzach in Saalbach, Austria for our skiing holidays, I would just show you this picture. It pretty much sums up all of the things that I love about this magical place, and why we haven't looked anywhere else to ski for the past few years! Why Saalbach?The village of Saalbach is quaint enough to not attract excessive amounts of tourism, but still lively and well-kept enough to make you feel comfortable and safe while skiing. It's our slice of family paradise! A couple of hours from the major cities of Vienna and Munich, as well as Salzburg, your skiing holiday can be added on to a cultural excursion or city shopping spree. There is a massive Saalbach "Ski Circus", meaning that one lift will take you up the mountain from your doorstep (if staying at Oberschwarzach, at least!) and you can ski to the bottom of the other side of the mountain or to the next mountain over, and then take a different lift up. This leaves you with almost endless options for different runs with various difficulty levels, and you could ski the Alps for weeks and not do the same run twice. Ideal Weather & ConditionsIf you love to ski, this is the place for you! Even if you aren't so keen on hurling yourself down the slopes, there are plenty of options for other winter activities such as snowshoeing, tubing and winter carriage rides. Rental of equipment is also super simple in the large selections of sports stores which are just a short walk down the road! In the winter and spring we love variation of sunny and snowy weather, and in our latest trip with Ryan's family, we had so much beautiful sunshine and I almost had to be pulled off the slopes at the end of the day! When I lived in Dubai, my mom used to tell us, "enjoy the fresh air while you can"... and when we were in Austria we would breathe more deeply for those few days before we went back to the heat. I would even sometimes stick my head in the fridge for minutes at a time on arrival to our place in Dubai, to my father's dismay (he pays the electrical bills!). But, there is something healing and pure about the fresh mountain air that makes me believe that it truly is the best medicine.
Our Second HomeWhen you move around a lot, there isn't really a constant place that you can call home... but the welcoming environment at this place and the format of their homey hotel rooms made me miss it as if it was home when I wasn't there! Sharing the skiing experience and Christmas with Ryan's family alongside my grandparents meant that every meal was like a celebration. Ryan's sister Kiley is hilarious and such good friend to both of my siblings, we were the loudest table by far. But also the most fun table! I am so grateful for how accommodating Oberschwarzach was and how fantastic the winter experience continually is. Summertime?Visiting Oberschwarzach in the summer definitely does not disappoint either... well, I am biased as I worked there last summer as the horse riding instructor, but also enjoyed the hotel in the summer for around ten years! Stay tuned for my summer experience in Saalbach fending for myself & trying to keep kids safe and happy on horses!
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Vienna's Christmas Market Express Tour!I've realized that I say that I love a lot of places. Which I do. But as far as cities go, I'm pretty sure that Vienna is my favourite. I have an obvious bias due to my Austrian heritage, but objectively speaking, Vienna is definitely at least the most Christmassy city to celebrate in. I will drone on about the Christmas markets for days and days after visiting, simply because of their charm. I don’t know if it’s the smell of evergreen, the crisp air or the abundance of delicious glühwein (mulled wine) and punch, but just thinking about the markets give me shivers! So being able to share these dreamy markets with my boyfriend, Ryan and his family was such a treat. It was something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. My uncle and mom helped me organize almost a condensed “walking tour” of Vienna for one day, and we tried to hit all of the hottest winter spots! We left from the Hilton Vienna, where they were staying, and walked past the University of Vienna to the Rathaus, or town hall to show the largest Christmas Market in Vienna. This year, there was a huge ice skating track, which I would have LOVED if I hadn’t just flown from my horse’s back a couple of weeks before! Across from Rathaus is also the Burgtheatre (National Theatre). We walked a little bit farther to the Natural History and Art History Museum to another big Christmas Market: the Museum Quarter. This is also super close to the popular Maria Hilfer Strasse, the biggest shopping street in Vienna. Our favourite English movie theatre is also the Haydn Kino! Every year my family has watched the new Star Wars movie that was coming out at Christmas, and this year was no exception- Ryan and his parents also love Star Wars so we watched the latest movie, the Rise of Skywalker! Ideally we would have also gone to see the Schoenbrunn Castle, which was previously the summer residence fo the Emperor and Empress of Austria, but by lunch it was pouring rain! After Star Wars, we trekked backed to the hotel in the very ~festive~ downpour and I went back to my grandparents’ cozy apartment. Visiting Vienna with Ryan’s family was so lovely… but Christmas in the mountains and skiing with them was even better! We’re visiting Saalbach in my next post... Thanks for reading!
November was a lot of firsts: first time assistant directing a play, first time at an actual showjumping horse show, first time going back to Dubai after leaving in 2016, and first time having a sip of champagne (on the plane!)
Champagne on the plane
My family surprised me with a trip to Dubai during American thanksgiving weekend for my birthday. I was elated. A weekend on the beach was something that I hadn't enjoyed since I lived there! We were slightly isolated from the busy city on the edge of the Palm on the Rixos resort, the only all-inclusive resort in Dubai.
This meant unlimited buffets, drinks (virgin still for me, as the drinking age is 21 in Dubai), fantastic free workout classes, pools and a spa to enjoy. To fully enjoy the weekend ahead, I made sure to cram schoolwork the week before and on the plane to make sure that I was completely stress free during the trip. Between my TOK essay and history reading, the Emirates staff (somehow) became aware that it was my birthday, and brought me a beautiful gluten free cake, and glass of Dom Pérignon champagne. By far the best economy class experience ever!
Always munching...
Our Single Excursion
I met up with my best friend for brunch at the Common Grounds Café and "Charlie's Angels 2" at the VOX cinemas (I am notorious in our friend group for choosing trashy chic-flicks to watch at the cinemas!).
The resort had been extremely accommodating of my gluten free needs, so I was very surprised when the place we went for brunch was not so friendly. Although the menu conveniently marked GF items, I was less than impressed with a set of slightly greasy and salmon sashimi tacos doused in mayo and avocado (which I love, but the texture combo was a bit much). However, my sister's eggs benny looked incredible, and I had a glass of their kombucha which did not disappoint! The meals at Common Grounds were pricey and medium-sized, and if I were to go again I would recommend either a breakfast or salad meal. Back to reality!
I was definitely not looking forward to leaving Dubai. The amount of memories that came back from childhood were almost overwhelming. I would give anything to be a kid again but I guess I'll say the same about being a 18 when I'm older... living through a pandemic teaches you to appreciate every moment and experience.
Even though everything that is good about life, is still here. The sun still sets and rises. Where to go?
Queens University & Brunch at Pan Chancho Bakery
Honestly, Kingston has been one of my favourite universities since I first participated in their volleyball camp back in grade 6, which not only fuelled my love for the game but also the campus. I do have a bit of family bias for Smith as my dad is a pretty proud alumni of the school, however that does not reallllyyy play a big part in the decision-making process....
The campus itself has a traditional yet modern approach to architecture, and is quite beautiful. The dining halls are also extremely modern and accommodating to dietary needs. The school of business is central and also (in my opinion!) has the most beautiful building and community vibe, showcasing their own Starbucks. The small class sizes and group project emphasis was also a definite upside for me. A family favourite dinner location is the fancy Chez Piggy in downtown Kingston, within walking distance from the campus. However, a highlight for me on this trip was their coffee shop branch, the Pan Chancho Bakery!
McGill & Baked Alaska at Bar George
McGill is what some call the "Harvard of Canada", having an international reputation which compares to the ivy leagues. Their campus is also extremely beautiful, with a real brick-wall college feel. The arts program offers International Development, as well as politics courses that sparked my interest, and although class sizes are larger, the vibrancy of the city and resources available make up for the lack of intimacy.
The Verdict
So... Queens or McGill?
Montreal was vibrant, exciting and artsy- all things that I love. I feel like my theatre opportunities would be bountiful, however it is a large city. And I don't speak french... I loved the close-knit feel of Queens and the small but lively town of Kingston. The programs of both of the schools have great reputations and resources, but I do think that I commerce degree with a minor in drama would be the most useful for the arts management type of work that I am interested in doing later in life. For now, I'm not too sure exactly what I want though. Any notes about either schools would help! Stay tuned for November: my birthday- AND an all-inclusive resort in Dubai! Stay safe xx Aimee
I love going home to Grandma and Grandpa's beautiful 10 acre property in small town Ontario. What I love even more, is spending Canadian Thanksgiving with the family. Although I currently live in England, going back to my Canadian roots for University is basically a given. It's home, even if I've only actually lived there for two years (and haven't had to face an East Coast winter!)
The highlight of my October was visiting Canadian universities - so in this post I'll be giving you what I thought, where I applied, and were I'm going next year!
Thanksgiving was fantastic, and besides an ungodly amount of turkey, we also discovered a way to reduce food waste through a family favourite recipe - Potato Peel Chips!
I put my own spin on the recipe and made them tonight for my family, but with sweet potatoes instead- so we have a sweet, spicy and crispy chip (yum!!). Rosemary Sweet Potato Skins
Toronto (UofT, Ryerson University)
The first universities that we visited were the closest to home: University of Toronto and Ryerson University. I ended up applying to only UofT's Trinity College for Social Sciences and was accepted into Woodsworth College. That being said, I was impressed by Ryerson's innovative approach to hands-on learning and ideal location in downtown Toronto. I ran into a friend from when I lived in Victoria at the UofT tour, and she was with her boyfriend who was studying at Ryerson.
He told us that although UofT had a stellar academic approach, Ryerson led in terms of media and the arts with their practical journalism course... which, now, looking back seems to be something that I wished I had looked at more seriously! Leña Restaurant
My aunt (@whatlooklikes on instagram!) really knows her way around the restaurants on the East Coast and suggested that we try Leña in downtown Toronto, an Argentinean restaurant with an upscale twist. The decor was beautiful- a blend between chic and modern, but definitely did not upstage the plates that came our way.
My mother enjoyed their Atlantic Salmon, but I would definitely recommend the Roasted Cod in a herb pesto paired with a tangy artichoke and white bean stew... incredible! I also stole some skinny fries from my Dad's Ribeye Steak which sealed the deal.
My Toronto University experience was very positive overall, and I know that I would be happy at either of those colleges... but I didn't end up accepting their offers/ applying (although the thought of eating at Leña more often definitely made it a more difficult decision!)
Stay tuned to see the rest of my University trip to Kingston and Montreal... and where I'm going next year! September. In IB student world, the beginning of year two is a scary time. Between first drafts of the daunting "extended essay" to having a tangible countdown to exams, there is little room to breathe. But there is always room for feminist theatre (and donuts!). The Crosstown Donuts in Shoreditch were amazing. To look at, I mean. There were no gluten-free options, so I never actually had one. But I'm sure they're great, if you can tolerate gluten.
If I had done one thing differently about my senior year, it would have been to go to the Globe more often. I think that a very slim number of people in our population actually understand all of Shakespeare's language. However, there is something to be said about the atmosphere of the plays, fantastic acting and an enjoyable performance despite the difficult language. Almost as impressive as the show itself, was our pre-show dinner: Asian street food (I know, sounds adventurous, but it was the very food-safe bowl of Pad-Thai from Pad+Sen at the Southbank Food Market). I hadn't had Pad Thai in months and it was flavourful, light and delicious- perfect! Dessert didn't disappoint either- my foodie friend recommended Galeta's gooey Salted Caramel Brownies, which were anything but light. Regardless of my over-full belly, I had no regrets. Besides the rather expensive canned water that I decided to buy at the theatre. My mouth is drooling. Oh well, too bad there's a virus loose in London, which doesn't really mix well with open food markets. No Pad Thai today... WRONG. Here's the recipe a la Southbank and courtesy of founder Tan!
**I don't know where we can find this pad + sen pad thai sauce! Luckily, Seasons and Suppers has a fantastic 40 DIFFERENT pad thai sauces for us to try out... so although it might not be exactly the same, we're getting closer! Back to Shakespeare... Shakespeare turns out to be theatre, As I Like It!After a short (and well-needed!) stroll along the Thames, we wrestled our way to the front of the standing area of the Globe to lean over the front of the stage. As You Like It featured a refreshing gender-bent cast featured energetic Jack Laskey as Rosalind (who looked adorable in a traditional Victorian gown), and feisty Bettrys Jones as Orlando. As it was my first time watching a Shakespeare play, I was caught off-guard by the joyful and epic nature of the speech and song. Looking back, the requirement of understanding what they were saying was secondary to the action, relying on mainly theatricality to convey the story. In hindsight, all of Shakespeare's plays when viewed in a modern-day setting remind me of Gecko's The Wedding , which I had the pleasure of seeing at the Barbican in January with my IB class. More on that in January's post. Thanks for making it to the end of my September- go and make yourself some Pad Thai and let me know how the sauces turn out! |