This weekend

This was our first weekend without visitors for a long time. Luckily my mom is coming to visit tonight! We got a bit lonely without company. Thursday night we went to our friend and ex neighbour's birthday (Peter). On Friday Brandon was supposed to go skydving but it was too hazy. I went to wait with him at 10 am then left in time for the most fun stagette/ bachelorette/hen party ever! The first third of the day was spent completing a photo scavenger hunt around Dubai. There were 4 locations. At each location we had to take a picture with a theme. For example, at the Burj Khalifa, we took a picture to represent 'lunatic' in honour of Tom Cruise who climbed the Burj Khalifa for Mission Impossible. We also had a challenge at each location and at the Burj we had to find a look alike of any member of the Cruise family. We had to make it back to our starting point by 3. We were rushing by the end and made it back just in time. We then had a whole bunch of snacks and voted on our favourite photos. My team came in dead last!
Here are a couple of the pictures:
The first is 'paparazzi' at the hotel where Kim Kardashian stayed (Atlantis) and the second is 'Beat the Beat' at the beach (this was Jershey Shore themed of which I know nothing)
Later we went out for dinner and dancing. We mostly loved the horse lamp! We also had another obstacle course challenge walking through Dubai in heels :)
The ladies who put together the stagette did so much work! Each team had a bag with snacks, water, a cd of thr bride to be's fave music and our clues. They hand made the envelopes!!! I hope to be able to recreate this event someday

Christmas Vacay: Part 2

After the Maldives, we spent a day at home doing laundry and repacking for a slightly colder location: Italy!

We were very excited to meet Marin there:

We met up with Marin at a hotel near the Duomo in Florence. It was fun to be in a place that celebrates Christmas for Christmas (minus the lack of open food establishments)

Above: A beautiful sunny day in Florence by the river. About to go and see the fake David.

Brandon was an expert map reader. I think it helped that he had played some climbing assassin video game set in Florence prior to the trip.

Enjoying a Peroni overlooking the city by the fake David. (Note: Brandon is not standing by the fake David in this picture. This is Pinnochio)

A behind the scenes photo of Brandon reenacting the aforementioned climbing assassin video game.

Then we took the train to the lovely Cinque Terre. These towns had experienced floods in the summer so we weren't able to visit all of them. The colourful buildings on the cliffiside were as quaint and unique as I expected.

There were some real fisherman.

Some climbing on the rocks near our hotel.

Some beautiful sunsets. These were while we were waiting for the train between the towns.

After Cinque Terre, we made a quick pit stop in Rome. I don't have any good pictures from that day, sadly. We also visited Pisa and tried to make the most creative "holding up the tower" photos. These included some handstands and kicks.

The best part of Italy was definitely the food. I wish I had some pictures of it just to remember the deliciousness. Our first hotel had the BEST breakfast. I must have had at least 3 helpings each morning. Between the most flavourful pizza and pasta, I was a very happy eater. I miss that food everyday.

Christmas vacay: Part 1

So a long time ago we had a Christmas break. For the first week Brandon and I enjoyed a Maldives getaway! We had heard it was a nice honeymoon destination. It is also an expensive honeymoon destination. So we picked the cheapest hotel possible complete with our own adjoining room with complete strangers. Highlights included:

1. The 14 hour delay in Qatar.

At least we caught up on the newest Mission Impossible set in Dubai

2. The seaplane ride. This would not have happened if we weren't delayed in Qatar...

3. Chilling on the beach.

4. Crab races! Brandon cheered the loudest. After this we also enjoyed karaoke with a family of three.

5. Our favourite pastry chef: Sheik Mohammed (this is the name of the ruler of Dubai as well).

6. Tiger beers and Settlers of Catan for two

7. Sunsets

Even though there were a few hilarious downs, the trip was still totally worth it. The scenery of the Maldive is unbeatable as was the company.