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The Importance of Good Travel Shoes… And Good Friends

October 19, 2015Oyster 21 Comments

I did a study abroad in Europe… but my feet didn’t quite like it. That’s when I learned the importance of good travel shoes… and good friends!

Back then, although I’d done my fair share of traveling, I was still a novice in all things travel packing. I was excited to see all the romantic places I’d seen in the movies. And talk about movies, I also wanted to look just like the dreamy characters that frequented such places. For this reason, my packing strategy was all fairy-tale-chic (or at least my deranged version of it). It included sparkly flats and cute lace tops and flowery headbands (yes, I know, what was I thinking?).

I mean, can you blame a girl? I was promised the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, beautiful mansions and fortresses… I was lured by a fairy tale castle for goodness sake!

Needless to say, it was a bad idea. At first it was all nice and dandy. I walked with fresh feet through the streets of Barcelona. My shoes took me to the likes of La Rambla, La Pedrera, Barri Gotic, Barceloneta, and La Sagrada Familia. It was going well.

But then came Paris. So much walking! It was with much shame and embarrassment that I resolved to wear flip flops to Versailles! The horror!

The real trouble came in Neuschwanstein, the beautiful castle that is rumored to have inspired Disney’s Cinderella castle. This was it. I had reserved what I had dubbed as my “Cinderella Flats” for this event! I was so excited! Little did I know that I had to walk for hours just to get to the castle. “It’s ok! I can do it!” I kept telling myself. My travel companions were very supportive, walking slow when it seemed my feet would give up on me.

The shoes were killing me in every area possible! The back of my feet, the sides of my feet, my poor little toes, the sole of my feet. It was incredible! These shoes may have been designed to keep in a display box and never be worn!

Culprit Shoes Pictured Here

At the end of our Neuschwanstein hike, my feet were so swollen and hurt, I could barely walk. I had two travel companions and one of them wanted so desperately to go to the Hofbrauhaus in Munich and meet up with some guys. I wanted so badly for us all to have every experience we’d envisioned for the trip, that I came very close to giving in and continuing on my trek to losing my feet.

Fortunately, my other travel companion gave me a reality check. “You can’t even walk!” she said. I barely knew this girl before embarking on this trip with her, but today she is one of my best friends! You know you’ve found a good one when she saves you from yourself… now if only I can have her pick my shoes next time. Needless to say, the grand majority of those pairs of shoes ended up in a trash can somewhere between Salzburg and Venice.

Me and My Best Friend

I have yet to learn my shoe lesson. But I am making an effort. Here are a few links comfy travel shoes to give a try and the bloggers who recommend them:

Tieks by Gavrieli, these are foldable flats. Recommended by Legal Nomads;
Toms, I actually bought a pair on my trip to Portland and they have been pretty comfy. Recommended by Travel Fashion Girl;

Do you have travel shoes you swear by? Do share!

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Spring, Don’t Leave Me! – Washington D.C.

October 4, 2015Oyster 31 Comments

It’s raining outside, and the weather is cooling down. It’s Fall.

I do like Fall with all it’s beautiful colors, and the cold lonely feeling it brings with it, I love it! But before I give in to this beautiful weather, and watch as the trees shed the leaves that Spring brought with it, I want to reminisce about the days when they bloomed! I know Spring is long gone, and Summer is the one leaving us now, but Spring brought the bloom, and Fall takes it away!

What better way to reminisce than by looking back at the cherry blossoms of Washington D.C. in all their bloom!

These cherry blossoms aren’t native to Washington D.C., or the United States for that matter. They were gifted to the U.S. by the Japanese as a symbol of their growing friendship.

Every year there is a festival held to celebrate their bloom, and it’s quite possibly the most beautiful time to visit D.C. You have to plan it just right, because it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it type of thing. Let me tell you, on the third day of my trip they had already started to change colors and losing most of the pink flowers!

But if you miss the cherry blossoms, there’s plenty of beauty to go around! The city is decorated with beautiful tulips everywhere! And then there’s the gorgeous Dumbarton Oaks!

The garden wasn’t in it’s full bloom just yet, but I bet it’s drop dead gorgeous once Spring is in full swing!

I fell in love with Washington D.C., and I hope to visit again soon! What do you miss the most about Spring?

Spring, Don't Leave Me! - Washington D.C.

Photo Credit to My Friend Arlene for Taking this Awesome Picture! View from Senator Harry Reid’s Office Balcony!

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The Oregon Coast and Oswald West State Park

September 27, 2015Oyster 15 Comments

Have you been to the Oregon coast? Well, let me tell you, it’s beautiful!

Driving alongside the coast, there’s plenty of places to lookout and take in all the natural beauty.

But don’t just click and go! Pay close attention!

You may find an unassuming spot, with few parked cars, but no big signs saying “this is awesome, come look!” But it is, and if you don’t go see for yourself, you may miss a beautiful (somewhat) hidden treasure!

Oswald West State Park and Beach

It’s almost as if you’ve found a secret garden! The path takes you through a beautiful hike, surrounded by trees and streams. On this particular day it was close to empty, which adds to the feeling of finding a secret beach.

And you know you’ve hit gold when surfers are spotted coming and going.

And when you find the beach, you know there’s nowhere you’d rather be.

It’s almost as if it was waiting for you to arrive all along.

And you’ve arrived at just the right time, because it’s the perfect place to catch the sunset!

Only hours away from Portland, the Oregon Coast and Oswald West State Park are sights not to be missed!

#wishingIwasthere

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Oyster Gets Featured

September 12, 2015Oyster Leave a Comment

Oyster gets featured! It’s been fun times traveling and telling! There’s a big traveling community out there, and it’s great to be a part of it! There’s still a whole world out there and not enough time to see it all and share it all! In the meantime check out blogs where Life is My Oyster has been featured:

Travel fails. Don’t you love it when something goes terribly wrong! Ok… maybe not. At least not in the moment. But how great is it when you can look back and laugh at your most terrible travel fails. Whether you’ve been accidentally maced, almost missed your flight, or even crashed a party, it’s always fun to reminisce! Check out these glorious travel fails at TravellingBuzz.com;

Locals give their tips. If you’re like me, you do your due diligence when planning a trip. That means researching like a mad person until you know all the awesome things awaiting at your destination. And what better than getting tips straight from the locals! Check out insider tips for Seattle, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Huntsville at TravelingNinetoFiver.com.

Do you have any fails or travel tips you’d like to share? Let’s hear ’em!

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My Brazilian Love Story – Rio de Janeiro

September 3, 2015Oyster 17 Comments

I fell in love with Rio long before we ever met!

Let me explain. I grew up on telenovelas (soap operas). Every night I was glued to the TV watching beautiful love stories from Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela. It was awesome! But then there came a time when I tired of the usual poor girl who falls in love with rich guy, and is then antagonized by his horrible family, until one day true love prevails… somehow. I took a break from the melodrama to focus on other things (Roswell, Buffy, and Charmed). Until one day, a magical thing happened: I watched my first Brazilian soap!

Arcos da Lapa

These soaps weren’t like anything I was accustomed to. The usual melodrama was there… but then there was also history, culture, public interest themes, and lots of Brazil! Their transition shots always seemed to showcase a beautiful part of the city, and I fell in love! It was at the top of my travel bucket list ever since.

The Famous Copacabana Sidewalk

Unfortunately, it’s been tough times trying to plan a trip to Brazil. I always seem to get pulled in a different direction. But two years ago, when I was being pulled to Argentina (don’t get me wrong, I wanted to go to Argentina too), I made sure to plan a detour to Rio, even if it was just for four days! And it was just as amazing as I always imagined!

As usual I studied the map meticulously, making sure to know exactly where my favorite characters lived so that I could see the sights they frequented. Every time we walked or drove past one of those neighborhoods, excited I’d tell my mom “look, that’s where Duda lives!” hahahaha!

Favela – Santa Marta

I crammed a million things into my long Brazilian weekend: Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, Beaches, and a Favela tour! The favela was the highlight of my visit… nope not the tour, it was my nighttime rendezvous that did it! While on our Favela tour, our guide let us know that he plays at the samba school of this very Favela, and that we were welcomed to come and watch them practice. That night they were going to rehearse and vote on the songs they would use for their school during the Carnival. He didn’t have to tell me twice! I was in! My travel companions not so much. They were terrified. But I was determined.

I dragged my two travel companions all the way to the Santa Marta Samba School… in the middle of the night. Our guide had said that although Favelas are known to be the most dangerous areas of Brazil, this particular favela had been rid of the drug lords and criminals. I held on to that thought very tightly, as I ventured into what could be the lion’s den.

It was amazing! We watched as cariocas convened into one building in the middle of a favela to dance the night away. There were people from all walks of life and all social classes. Maybe a fight broke out that night, and maybe a month later the news reported the assassination of a samba school vice president. But nothing could come close to ruining the energy and happiness that filled the school that night. It was a true immersion into Brazilian culture. An experience I will treasure forever.

Four days weren’t enough. I still hope to one day check out the scene in Lapa, watch the Carnival, and visit Sao Paolo. Brazil still holds a spot in my bucket list. I still watch the soaps and dream of the day when I get to visit the neighborhoods of my favorite characters!

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