What's Donita Up To?!

I could be travelling, drinking wine or eating food-somewhere.

[donitastravels]

Beautiful Madrid 🇪🇸 . . . #verdejo #wine #madrid #rooftop #views #travels #wildlyandbeautifully #wanderlust #traveler #cityscape #tuesday #traveltuesday (at Círculo de Bellas Artes) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpRZDnABNHo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vy3doe18dfy7

[donitastravels]

What do you do in Madrid in 24 hours? Eat, sip, walk, shop, photograph, look 👀 up, and take your time. Hasta luego Madrid. . . . #spain #madrid #travels #wanderlust #wildlyandbeautifully #traveler https://www.instagram.com/p/BpP9zYxhlqC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1t5shdir6kyl0

[donitastravels]

Last day in Morocco. Finally better from stomach bug after 2 days of just water and banana and cumin 🤷🏻‍♀️. Today...Ait Ben-Haddou at sunrise through the Atlas Mountains (2200 metres) to Marrakech. Tour thru the Médina and a farewell to some new friends around the world. 😘 Auvoir Morocco 🇲🇦 . . . #travels #morocco @gadventures @merzougaguide @haeyzle @lililinism #wildlyandbeautifully #adventures (at Oudaya Hotel & SPA Marrakech) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpLXkiYhPEd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=136cbsq4q8y4k

[donitastravels]

To live is to travel and be reminded that there is a whole world out there waiting to teach us about culture, history, religions, and how to talk to people the old fashioned way... in person. 😉😲 . . . #quotes #wordsofwisdom #wordstoliveby #thursday #life #travel #travels https://www.instagram.com/p/BpFAaKQBDyk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5q22wn8j92xw

[donitastravels]

Travel adventures...the Sahara Desert 🐪 definately a highlight. . . . #travels #wildlyandbeautifully #saharadesert @gadventures 🙏🏻 @merzougaguide for the 📷 https://www.instagram.com/p/BpElASuhASQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=niuj5rq571fy

[donitastravels]

Life in the Medina, look closely. 🐪 . . . #travels #wildlyandbeautifully #morocco #fes @gadventureslife @gadventures #wanderlust (at Medina, Fès, Morocco) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo_vhTHgfKo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6t0drgwim0ks

[donitastravels]

From a picnic in Paris under the Eiffel Tower to a stroll through Montmartre, and ending with a blind wine tasting at O Château wine bar (@o_chateau ), my quick weekend visit has been tres bien. ❤️ . . . #travels #paris #france #wine #winewriter #travelwriter #wanderlust #eiffeltower #montmarte #wildlyandbeautifully (at Paris, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo46BrRgK8W/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vns617dm5vdm

[donitastravels]

My last day in Champagne was a winner (but of course), Christine coordinated a private tour & tasting of the Champagne Paul Goerg house in Vertus. 👌🏻👯‍♀️🍾 . . . #champagne #france @champagnepaulgoerg #vertus #grandcru #travels #wanderlust #wine (at Vertus, Champagne-Ardenne, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo1uby1gbFY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11x95tghhr4xl

[donitastravels]

What an experience!!!! Restaurant Pierre Sang is tres cool and not just because it’s Korean/French. Why not blind taste food (we do it with wine)?! Set menu (changes every 2-4 weeks) each dish is delivered, you eat, and then they tell you what it is!! Dish 1 Veal (I thought it was ahi tuna) with Asian pear Korean Chile mayo Caper pesto Japanese herb Dish 2 Clam, Yuzu sauce Kimchi pancake Broccoli cream Cauliflower Dish 3 Paris, oyster & shiitake mushrooms Perfect egg Truffle Pickled celery Walnut Dish 4 Hanger steak w chimichurri Mashed potatoes Zucchini/white asparagus like vegetable (untranslatable into English) Spinach Ssamjanj Korean sweet chili Dessert Poached pink apple in Normandy cider Brown sugar Crumble with Camembert . . . #France #pierresang #paris #blindeating #weekend #friday #wildlyandbeautifully #travels (at Signature by Pierre Sang) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo3RcbwgqWV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3623cpdrob6l

[donitastravels]

Harvest 🍇 2018 under cloudy 🌦 skies and autumn 🍁weather provides lush vines alongside the lake. Picture 📷 perfect 👌🏻 . . . #summerland @evolvecellars #october #harvest2018 #okanagan #winewednesday #winelover #bottleneckdrive #motivation #inspiration #colorinspiration (at Summerland, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bof1NjDgvjH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ic9z5cih06l4

[donitastravels]

While in Chicago, I stayed at Public Hotel just north of the Magnificent Mile in a comfortable neighbourhood. It was modern, friendly and their restaurant The Pump Room is by renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, check out the menu at the bar or restaurant - which offers a prixe-fix menu on Sundays for $35usd. And definitely check out all the celebrity visitors over the years in picture frames on the wall downstairs near the washrooms. Jean-Georges also provides to-go style foods in the Library coffee bar just off the lobby, perfect little morning bites (like my 2 hard boiled eggs atop fresh pea sprouts) and free wifi. It was a nice walk to the magnificent mile, and then not far to get to the canals in downtown. 

Definitely take an Architectural cruise on the canal like the Chicago’s First Lady cruises, to learn some history on the city and it’s a great photo opp of all the skyscrapers. 

Here are some good restaurant finds you should also check out while visiting: Untitled Supper Club - very cool space which mixes private booths and tables with a nightclub and lounge feel. The menu had a good selection and portions were a good size with cool cocktails and a decent wine menu. Another good find was The Purple Pig offering up mediterranean style tapas, also a really good wine menu and good vibe. And finally a chill lounge/bar with good food and half price bottles of wine on Tuesdays - Square One Chicago .

Getting around: From the airport the train takes 40 minutes and is $5 to the downtown loop, then taxis (or Uber) are a plenty and well priced making it easy to get around the city. Or walk, as the blocks compared to the map are not too big, you’ll be surprised how quick you will get places!

[donitastravels]

The John Hancock Tower in Chicago, visit the 96th floor Signature Lounge for a free view

[donitastravels]

Chicago!

It wasn't on my radar, but then all of a sudden - friends were returning with praise for this vibrant city. They claimed there was so much to do (in the summer) for activities or entertainment, the food scene was awesome and the city has a great vibe. Well, after meeting a new friend from Chicago - this city got added to my travel list! And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised!

[donitastravels]

Places to go in Las Vegas, Nevada!

A recent girls weekend getaway was made even better by visiting some “off the beaten path” places, which were recommended by friends as well as some on the beaten path that were good finds. Plus staying at the calm and collected Vdara (which is casino free) was a great way to step away from busy vegas each night. The pool during the day is not a club, but still a social place to enjoy the sun. http://www.vdara.com

Hexx Kitchen + Bar  - http://www.hexxlasvegas.com

Was a great find - offering a good food menu but an even better wine list (which is hard to find in the city) at okay prices (nothing is really a great deal in Vegas - especially now for Canadians). Definitely recommend it for the ambiance, service and wines.

Eiffel Tower Restaurant - https://www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas/restaurants/eiffel-tower-restaurant#.Vb663ngZBEI

Now, although busy, very expensive and on the tourist strip, the view is unparalleled. Secret - the horseshoe shaped bar does not require reservations and there are 6 seats which are apart of the bar that face the windows which look right outside overlooking the strip and city. They do fill up fast - but a good secret spot if you can get a seat! This one is high end for prices fyi but an okay wine menu.

The Linq - is a newer outdoor walking mall style area beside the Flamingo that connects right to the High Roller https://www.caesars.com/linq/high-roller#.Vb68QHgZBEI  - which is an attraction I highly recommend. For $30 minutes you ride the most amazing ferris wheel, enjoy a drink and look out over the city, it’s pretty cool and not expensive for the drinks (in terms of Vegas) and the ride itself. Evening rides past dusk are recommended.

Not too far from the Linq is Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar - http://www.guyfieri.com/guy-fieri-restaurant_brands/guy-fieris-vegas-kitchen-bar/ which was pretty good, although expensive. I had the Mac and cheese burger, the cocktail and beers lists were good, the wine not so much, but a good stop in that area.

Firefly  - http://fireflylv.com when you are just craving flavours and good tapas at good prices away from the crowds, this restaurant came recommended by a former local! Take a cab off the strip to this one and enjoy the atmosphere, clientele and food and drink menu - it was delicious!

Herbs & Rye - http://www.herbsandrye.com is one of the very few GOOD cocktail lounges serving up classic handcrafted cocktails. It came recommended by a Vancouver bartender who has Justcocktails.org http://justcocktails.org  - and it didn't disappoint for a good list of cocktails and also the food was fresh and really good!

Also recommended but we unfortunately didn't make it to these ones were Aces & Ales http://acesandales.com as a casual beer place but loads on tap and for dinner The Lotus of Siam thai restaurant http://www.saipinchutima.com who's food is actually chef acclaimed but still a bit of a secret to visitors to Vegas! I’ll be going there next time for sure!!!

[donitastravels]

Out and about with 2 Frenchman and an Italian today from @sedimentarywine Stefano, Eric and Majas :)

[donitastravels]

New friends at SeaTac enroute to #wbc14 #bloodymary #breakfast

[donitastravels]

A hot day and warm evening deserves a beautifully crafted chilled Bernard Baudry rosé from Loire Valley in France. Crisp hints of grass, grapefruit, bright berries and a dusting of minerality. Here's a write up on the wine maker: http://kermitlynch.com/our-wines/bernard-baudry/