Poland through the iPhone

I was recently in Poland for my good friend Sophia's wedding. It was a whirlwind of a trip, with only two days in Kraków, one day in Niepołomice for the wedding, and one day in Warsaw - paired with three entire days of travelling around Poland via every mode of transportation imaginable. In retrospect, I should have planned a longer stay in each city, but I had an amazing adventure through Poland regardless. Sleep is overrated anyway!

While in Kraków, we visited many historic sites from World War II - the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau as well as Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory, among others. We toured the Wieliczka Salt Mine and visited MOCAK, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków. In Warsaw we walked the entire city, using must-see architectural wonders as our guide, which included a stop at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, a fantastic museum. I fell head over heels in love with Poland on this trip: the history, the architecture, the food, and the people - and I hope one day I can make it back here.

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Siesta Key, Florida

I've been vacationing in Siesta Key, Florida for as long as I can remember. A barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, Siesta Key is a funky little beach town on the Gulf of Mexico. My family loves it here, and for good reason: Siesta Key is warm year-round, a convenient 2.5-hour direct flight from Toronto, and the beach was rated the best in North America in 2015 (the sand is 99% pure quartz!). 

This Christmas, we forewent our usual holiday traditions to spend some quality family time in Siesta Key. After such a busy year, I am so grateful I had the opportunity to enjoy a week with no responsibilities. I read three great books (and exceeded my Goodreads Reading Challenge!); enjoyed memorable meals at Captain Curt’s, Clayton’s, and a Taste of Germany; explored Siesta Key Village and Downtown Sarasota; and successfully avoided my computer for the majority of my stay. All in all, a great way to spend the holidays. Happy New Year everyone!