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Ashley Wanders

Europe Portugal Tips

7 Reasons Why I Love Lisbon (+ My Top Travel Tips)

Nov 08

Lisbon Funicular Continue Reading

6 Comments
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Edinburgh Expat Life Scotland

25 Telltale Signs You’re an Expat in Edinburgh

Jul 02

Edinburgh Castle Continue Reading

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Edinburgh Scotland Tips

61 (Awesome) Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

Jun 13

Victoria Street Edinburgh Continue Reading

4 Comments
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Edinburgh Musings Netherlands

On the Road Again: My 2018 Travel Plans

May 05

Amsterdam Canal Continue Reading

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Bosnia

7 Reasons I Fell So Hard for Bosnia

Mar 06

Mostar Bosnia Continue Reading

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Edinburgh Expat Life Italy Musings Netherlands Turkey

Highlights, Lowlights, and Lessons: 2017 in Review

Dec 23

Lake Ohrid Macedonia Continue Reading

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Edinburgh Scotland Tips

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh? Read This First

Dec 12

Edinburgh New Year's Eve Continue Reading

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About Me

About Me

I've spent the better part of the last decade pursuing my biggest passion: travel. After visiting 40-odd countries, a stint living abroad, and building a career through travel, I've realized I don't want to live my life on other people's terms.

While this blog focuses on travel and expat life, it's ultimately about my journey to create an unconventional lifestyle centered around travel. (And I hope it inspires you to do the same.) Read more here.

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My Latest Travels

Turkey, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy

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  • You had me at baba ganoush, pomegranate, and mint 😍🤤⠀ ⠀ @babaedinburgh is one of my favourite new Edinburgh restaurant finds of 2018 - which I first went to in January (where has the year gone?! 😱).
  • “You shouldn’t travel there - it’s too dangerous.” How many times has someone said that to you? 🤔⠀ ⠀ I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard this phrase over the years, but people really took their ridiculousness to a new level when I said I was going to #Istanbul last year. “There’s too much terrorism!” “It’s not safe for women!” 🙄⠀ ⠀ Instead of letting these people (and all the sensationalized news reports) scare me into cancelling my trip, I reached out to an expat in Istanbul (thanks again @katrinkasasha ☺️) - someone who truly knows the city and was able to give me an unbiased perspective of the current situation and political climate (along with insider tips 🙌🏼).⠀ ⠀ As always, all the naysayers were wrong. Istanbul wasn’t dangerous or scary or filled with terrorists. I had an incredible time there - and it’s now one of my all-time favourite cities in the world.⠀ ⠀ Moral of the story: trust your intuition and reach out to expats or locals if you need some reassurance or impartial info/tips about the destination you’re visiting. Most importantly, don’t let ignorant naysayers and the fear-mongering media influence your decisions when it comes to travel. 🙉🖕🏼
  • When I was boarding my flight to Alberta last month, it felt... weird. Before that trip, I hadn’t explored a new destination in Canada (outside my home province) in nine years! NINE 😱⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ After nearly a decade of travelling internationally as much as I could, I guess it’s about time I discovered more of Canada. Although, this was my third time visiting Alberta, so I should probably start exploring more of the country BEYOND this province 🙈 ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s easy to see why I keep coming back, though 😍
  • Alfama streets 🥰✨
  • “There’s no leaving Edinburgh, no shifting it around: it stays with you, always.” - Alan Bold⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m not sure if truer words have ever been spoken 😭❤️
  • One thing I often take for granted living in the Niagara region is having nearly 100 wineries on my doorstep. 🍷⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’re visiting Niagara on the Lake, be sure to go beyond the big names and check out some of the smaller, family-owned wineries like @ravinevineyard and @smalltalkwines (two of my favourites).⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And if you're keen to get off the beaten path, head to Twenty Valley, another wine-producing region set against the stunning backdrop of the Niagara Escarpment. This is where you’ll find Niagara’s true hidden gems - and the best wineries in the region (at least in my opinion 😬). I’ll save my favourites from this area for another post because there are too many to list here. 🥂⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ P.S., Stratus (pictured here) is quite pricey, but they have a beautiful back patio that’s perfect when you want to sit and nurse a glass (or bottle 😉).
  • I’m a huge sucker for a good viewpoint, and Lisbon has an overwhelming amount of them (seriously, just type “miradouro” into Google Maps when you’re in the city and see how many pop up near you).⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Miradouro das Portas do Sol in Alfama (pictured here) is a popular one for sure, but I mean, just look at that view 😍
  • Where my seafood lovers at? 🙋🏻‍♀️⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’re visiting Edinburgh (or Scotland in general), you’re in for a treat when it comes to fresh, quality seafood.⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A few of my favourite seafood spots in Edinburgh are White Horse Oyster Bar (£1 oyster happy hour most weeknights), The Ship on the Shore (pictured here), Ondine, Cadiz, and Fishers in the City 🦀🐙
  • Reason number 4537 I love Lisbon: the way everyone gathers around the Tagus River at dusk.

Seriously, though..

“The sight of the huge world put mad ideas into me, as if I could wander away, wander forever…” – C.S. Lewis

  • You had me at baba ganoush, pomegranate, and mint 😍🤤⠀ ⠀ @babaedinburgh is one of my favourite new Edinburgh restaurant finds of 2018 - which I first went to in January (where has the year gone?! 😱).
  • “You shouldn’t travel there - it’s too dangerous.” How many times has someone said that to you? 🤔⠀ ⠀ I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard this phrase over the years, but people really took their ridiculousness to a new level when I said I was going to #Istanbul last year. “There’s too much terrorism!” “It’s not safe for women!” 🙄⠀ ⠀ Instead of letting these people (and all the sensationalized news reports) scare me into cancelling my trip, I reached out to an expat in Istanbul (thanks again @katrinkasasha ☺️) - someone who truly knows the city and was able to give me an unbiased perspective of the current situation and political climate (along with insider tips 🙌🏼).⠀ ⠀ As always, all the naysayers were wrong. Istanbul wasn’t dangerous or scary or filled with terrorists. I had an incredible time there - and it’s now one of my all-time favourite cities in the world.⠀ ⠀ Moral of the story: trust your intuition and reach out to expats or locals if you need some reassurance or impartial info/tips about the destination you’re visiting. Most importantly, don’t let ignorant naysayers and the fear-mongering media influence your decisions when it comes to travel. 🙉🖕🏼
  • When I was boarding my flight to Alberta last month, it felt... weird. Before that trip, I hadn’t explored a new destination in Canada (outside my home province) in nine years! NINE 😱⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ After nearly a decade of travelling internationally as much as I could, I guess it’s about time I discovered more of Canada. Although, this was my third time visiting Alberta, so I should probably start exploring more of the country BEYOND this province 🙈 ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s easy to see why I keep coming back, though 😍
  • Alfama streets 🥰✨
  • “There’s no leaving Edinburgh, no shifting it around: it stays with you, always.” - Alan Bold⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m not sure if truer words have ever been spoken 😭❤️
  • One thing I often take for granted living in the Niagara region is having nearly 100 wineries on my doorstep. 🍷⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’re visiting Niagara on the Lake, be sure to go beyond the big names and check out some of the smaller, family-owned wineries like @ravinevineyard and @smalltalkwines (two of my favourites).⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And if you're keen to get off the beaten path, head to Twenty Valley, another wine-producing region set against the stunning backdrop of the Niagara Escarpment. This is where you’ll find Niagara’s true hidden gems - and the best wineries in the region (at least in my opinion 😬). I’ll save my favourites from this area for another post because there are too many to list here. 🥂⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ P.S., Stratus (pictured here) is quite pricey, but they have a beautiful back patio that’s perfect when you want to sit and nurse a glass (or bottle 😉).

Come say hi on Instagram!

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