Ultimate Guide to Fruits and Juices of Colombia – with 32 Stunning Pictures

Ultimate Guide to Fruits and Juices in Colombia @DownshiftingPRO

If there is one thing that my mother misses and my dad pined for, it was the fresh fruits and juices of Colombia.  Whether a sweet guanábana or a bittersweet lulo, there are so many juices to savour. In this tropical country, there is a huge abundance of fruits from which one garners tropical juices be they made with water or milk. 

Making juices with milk instead of water may seem like a foreign concept to most but adding dairy creates a richer flavour which may surprise your palette. Drinking your vitamins is not uncommon in a vegan or vegetarian diet and Colombia has adopted “smoothie” variations for years. My aunts are now making juice with almond milk to avoid lactose. This worked just as well if not better!

Fruits and juices in Colombia. DownshiftingPRO

The variety of fruits juices in Colombia is due to the biodiversity of the climate. There are three mountain ranges crisscrossing the country with cool mountain top and hot, humid valleys. This variance in temperature creates the perfect environment to grow fruits. Experience farming techniques lend itself to successful cultivation of mangos, curubas, moras, bananos and cherimoyas.

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The Stunning Botanical Gardens in Bogotá Colombia

Botanical Garden in Bogota DownshiftingPRO Margarita Ibbott 1
Guide to the Botanical Gardens in Bogota Colombia - @DownshiftingPRO
Botanical Garden of Bogota

I was expecting beautiful tropical flowers and exotic trees – it was the Botanical Gardens in Bogota afterall. I was surprised to see flowers I would more likely find in North America. The large pumpkins in February were the best surprise because of the joyful expression on my aunt’s face when she saw them. For my mother, it was the roses. To see roses in February is never expected. There are many treasures in the Botanical Gardens in Bogota (Jardin Botanico de Bogota Jose Celestino Mutis) the least of which are the brand new pavilions which were still closed off to the public but should be inaugurated later on this spring.


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Take a Cooking Class in New Orleans – #NOLA

Apron from the New Orleans School of Cooking @DownshiftingPRO Margarita Ibbott
Take a cooking class in New Orleans. Learn how to cook gumbo and maque choux at the New Orleans Cooking School @DownshiftingPRO
Taking a cooking class in New Orleans was the best activity.
I recommend you work it into your New Orleans itinerary

It’s very likely there is one dish or one ingredient or even one cocktail made famous in a city or state. When you are in the United States of America, you will find many regional dishes and takes on local favourites. Just thinking about the countless ways to make barbeque sauce, a lobster roll or a delectable hamburger boggles the mind. By taking a cooking class in New Orleans you learn how to make dishes like gumbo, étoufée, maque choux and so much more.

Savouring regional foods helps you to get to know a destination. The dining experience brings us together, whether it’s in a restaurant or at a cooking class, we love to eat and socialize. Having a chef walk you through a recipe while discussing the historical origins of the meal, make for a happier foodie experience. I learned this lesson the first time I took a cooking class when traveling to Spain.

Take a cooking Class when you travel New Orleans School of Cooking @DownshiftingPRO scaled

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Why buy the Coastal Mississippi Attractions Pass – for the savings! #MSCoastLife #SecretCoast

Coastal Mississippi Attractions Pass @DownshiftingPRO 2
Coastal Mississippi Attractions Pass @DownshiftingPRO 2

Coastal Mississippi Attractions Pass

Known as the secret coast, Coastal Mississippi is beautiful. The sunrises and sunsets alone are spectacular! It is all beaches in small towns, with quaint shops and fancy casinos.  You’ll find luxury accommodations alongside family-friendly activities.  Linked for 62 miles along the Gulf of Mexico and overlooking the Mississippi Sound, Coastal MS spans three counties with 12 cities.  Everything you are looking for in a Girl’s Getaway, couples retreat or family vacation. All reason enough to buy a Coastal Mississippi Attractions Pass so you save on planning time and money!

Coastal Mississippi - Counties and Cities - Evacuation Map at the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi, MS_ @DownshiftingPRO -
Coastal Mississippi

Within Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, you will find a variety of activities from outdoor adventure, nature walks, a science/space museum and a very impressive art museum focused on one very interesting artist.  Since there are so many choices, you may want to consider buying a Coastal Mississippi Attractions Pass so you can cover the whole region for a fraction of the price.  At $45 you can see eight outstanding attractions and visit every county. 

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16 Essential things to pack for travelling

Essential things to pack for travelling @DownshiftingPRO

There are standard packing items and then there are essential things to pack for travelling. Whether e-reader or shot glass everyone has their own version of ‘must-haves’ for travel. What’s yours?

Ultimate Guide to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama

Jet Ski and Parasailing tours are available in Gulf Shores Orange Beach Alabama DownshiftingPRO
Ultimate Guide to Gulf Shores Alabama
The Ultimate Guide to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

UPDATE TO THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH: I recently returned to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and wanted to update the activities which were available on your next visit to the area.

Although a well-established family vacation spot, you can also do a lot of fun and challenging things here as a couple or a girl’s getaway. During this visit, we were able to challenge ourselves by ziplining, making fragrant body products as well as created our own jewelry. We also decided to do a bit of shopping which included purchasing bras so we could add them to the collection hanging from the rafters at Flora-Bama. Clearly, you’ll need to read more to see what that is all about!

All new updates will be in BLUE! I know these additions will be helpful in planning your visit to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama.

 

Ultimate Guide to attractions in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama.

When you think of the Gulf of Mexico, you are more likely to think of a stay in Florida, Texas or Mexico but there are hidden gems that are family-friendly and waiting for you to discover.  If you want to go where the sunshine is bright and the seafood is outstanding, there is no better place than the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama.  Although the shoreline is only 32 miles long, it is some of the softest sand you have ever walked on. I kid you not, it reminds me of icing sugar (it is that fine). This area is very compact but has much to offer. Here is an ultimate guide to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.

What’s Great about Stratford Festival’s Little Shop of Horrors

Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors at the Stratford Festival 2019

Little Shop of Horrors

Something that occurred to me as I came home after seeing the Stratford Theatre Festival’s production of Little Shop of Horrors is that musicals transcend the qualities of most stage plays. It begs the question: What’s Great about Stratford Festival’s Little Shop of Horrors?

Okay, hear me out.

What's Great about Stratford Festival
Audrey II in the Gift Shop of the Avon Theatre

I like musicals. Musicals are a cool, fun way to tell a story through an unconventional sort of medium. Because of constant singing, there’s an emotional disconnect of sorts. So long as the characters are singing and dancing, you can tell even a grim, morbid tale with glee and joviality.

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