The toss of a coin - Heads for Milan, Tails for Barcelona..

What do you do if you can't decide where to go? After a cheeky look at the cheap flights with Ryanair, I managed to convince Ian (he didn't take much persuading) to plan another city break for October. We have always had a few places in mind but no where in particular, so we came up with an idea. Heads or Tails. 

It sounds crazy (& a little nuts) but we have decided to let fate control our next trip. If the coin lands on heads we'll be sightseeing in Milan and visiting Lake Como, if it lands on Tails we will be soaking up the sun in Barcelona. Then when we are there, the coin will help us make decisions about what to eat, where to go and what to see. 

Read More

Beauty of the Canary Islands | Tenerife

For the last three years Ian and I have headed to the largest of the Canary Islands - Tenerife, to relax in the sunshine and enjoy Europe's best waterpark. I've had family there for over 16 years and it has always felt like my second home. Despite the tourist destination it has become (thanks to super hot weather all year round) there still lies so much beauty on the island. 

I couldn't not share some of the beautiful photos we captured..

 

 The best ice cream! This little place sits just past the harbour and has lots of different flavours. I have to have Ferrero Rocher every time (combined with Kinder Bueno above). Ian had the same but with chocolate - yummy!

 I really like this photo of a little family paddling on the beach in the evening sunshine. 

 Los Giganties is one of the most beautiful parts of Tenerife, with a stunning harbour and huge cliffs. On our last day we did a Jet Ski Safari (bucket list checked!) and it was an amazing experience. We got to visit Masca bay and go snorkelling before I got to take over the driving back to the harbour (poor Ian).

Read More

Temple bar, Book of Kells & Kilmainham Gaol | Dublin, Ireland

Advice from a friend and Trip advisor told us we had to visit Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison which now hosts as a museum. Many leaders of the Irish rebellions were held, imprisoned and killed there, playing an important part in Irish history. We took a bus from the city centre and it only cost a couple of euros each to get into the Gaol itself. The tour was amazing and our tour guide taught us all about the conditions the prisoners had to face. We were shown the execution holding room and the  courtyard where the Irish leaders were executed by the firing squad. It was quite eerie but both me and mum are obsessed with anything to do with crime & punishment!  After the tour we had tea and cake in the cute little cafe at the top of the museum to warm us up before heading outside into the cold! 

My mum thought it would be a great idea to head over to the Irish Museum of Modern Art, which was just over the road and was free to enter. We knew it might have some strange paintings and models but we just didn't get anything, especially the cat cut in half with barbed wire?! We spent the next twenty minutes having an awkward look around, trying to appear like we were really interested (to be polite) before heading outside to get the bus back into the city centre. 

We decided to have a walk around the Temple Bar area and stumbled upon the Temple Bar pub, the traditional and well-known pub in the heart of the city. We fell in love with the Irish music and it felt so christmassy! The food was gorgeous - we had sweet chilli chicken skewers and home-made farmhouse bread and stayed for ages, soaking in the atmosphere and people-watching. In the evening, after some souvenir shopping, we headed over to Lanigan's again for drinks before packing our things ready to check out the next day.

We decided to make the most of our last morning in Dublin and headed to Trinity college to see the Book of Kells. It took me a while to get my head around what the book actually was - it's a gospel manuscript handwritten in the 9th century by monks and is famous throughout the world. Although neither of us are religious it was interesting to see and something we could definitely tick-off our bucket lists. The Old Library adjoins the museum which showcases 200,000 of the libraries oldest books in it's oak bookcases. 

We took a walk around a Christmas market, did a bit of shopping and then headed back to Temple bar which, as many visitors of Dublin have, we'd fallen in love with. We loved listening to the traditional Irish music whilst enjoying our last Pint of Guinness!

Our tips for a short stay in Dublin

• If you have a student card keep it on you as you can get into many attractions at a much cheaper price.
• Visit the Guinness Storehouse early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
• The atmosphere in Temple bar is just as amazing during the middle of the day - plus it's much less crowded.
• Plan your bus routes before you go - we were sent in all directions by locals.
• As in any major cities, there are still beggars, particularly near O'Connell St.
• Filling up on a meal at lunch time for cheaper will stop you spending so much money on dinner later on.
• Take the guided tour at the Guinness storehouse, it's well worth the wait.

Read More

Guinness storehouse & exploring the city | Dublin, Ireland

I decided to surprise my mum with a citybreak to Dublin for her Christmas present back in December (well it started as a surprise until I had to tell her weeks before planned because she'd decided to book a concert at the exact same time - doh). Ryanair provide super cheap flights at £60 return for both of us and I managed to book a lovely little hotel right in the centre of the city for £60 for the whole stay too, so overall it was a pretty cheap break away.

We arrived early on Wednesday morning in the pouring rain quickly managed to buy return tickets for the airport bus (10 euros each) which dropped us off a couple of minutes walk away from our hotel just off O'Connell St. We stayed at the Clifton Court Hotel right in the heart of Dublin. We discovered why the hotel had been so cheap - there were workmen building a new bridge across the river right outside our bedroom window, but it really wasn't as bad as we thought. 

I actually fell in love with the hotel, it was perfect for a two-night stay. The main reason I booked this particular one was because of Lanigan's, the cosy little pub that sat underneath the hotel. Each wall and the whole ceiling were covered in posters, souvenirs, books and all sorts that made each nook of the bar unique. The pretty fairy lights and christmas decorations that decorated the place made the atmosphere feel so festive. 

We couldn't check in straight away, so we decided to leave our bags at the hotel and head straight to the Guinness storehouse. There were plenty of buses that headed the right way so we jumped on one for a couple of euros each and arrived at Thomas St. within ten minutes. We showed our student cards and managed to get in for just 13 euros each (including a free pint of Guinness!) We hadn't planned to join a guided tour but just got there in time, along with an American family and a couple of Australian travellers. We'd definitely recommend taking the tour, it brought the factory to life and we learned so much more than we would have by just reading the information boards. After learning about how Guinness is brewed, we we taught how to pour the perfect pint before taking it up to the Gravity bar which gives a  stunning panoramic view across Dublin, where we could even see the beautiful Co. Wicklow mountains.

We decided to walk back in the hope that we would stumble on a traditional Irish pub for something to eat as we were starving. We came across some stunning architecture on the way, before settling in a little Irish pub called . It was very pricey but the food was gorgeous and my mum fell in love with her home made Guinness bread. 

After our late lunch we decided to head back to check in at our hotel and sort things out before heading downstairs to Lanigan's for dinner. We didn't fancy venturing far as it was so cold outside and raining like crazy. We weren't too hungry so shared a panini and chips which was really yummy for 5.90 euros, before having a few drinks and heading to bed as we were so tired. 

Read More

Notre Dame, the Lourve & the padlock bridge | Paris, France

Saturday was our last whole day in Paris and so we decided to visit the typical touristy sights that everyone recommends that you do. We took the metro to Notre dame first which we thought was stunning. The detail was incredible and I really love the Gothic feel and gargoyles. I can't remember it but I must have watched Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame when I was little and it's made me want to dig it out again. Stood outside on the steps, we both became immersed in watching a French man sneak up on passers-by with a horrible scary mask on to prank them, we wasn't sure if he was a street performer or just doing it for a laugh but it was fun to watch. We headed inside and although neither of us are religious, we enjoyed learning all about the famous cathedral. We both wrote a prayer each and added it to the millions already placed in the prayer box by people from all across the world.

It started to rain as we left but we headed to the gardens on the south side of the cathedral and watched as a pair of Newly weds had wedding photos taken to the backdrop of Notre Dame - pretty cute. We took a walk around and luckily managed to stumble upon one of the famous padlock bridges - or lovers lock bridge as it's sometimes known. There is an old tradition that you and your partner will stay in love forever if you jointly place a padlock onto the bridge and throw the key into the river. It was amazing to read so many of the inscriptions on locks of all different shapes, colours and sizes. We bought one ourselves from a shop nearby and added our own. Who knows how long it will be there but it will be something we'll always remember.

Edit - the first time I tried to throw the key into the river it landed on the railing edge - awkward! We had to try and drag it back so we could throw it over again - awkward and not so romantic! 

Even though it was pouring it down, we headed to the Louvre and see the famous  Mona Lisa and other impressive pieces of art. We had to queue for quite a while but it was well worth it once we were inside. We showed our passports meaning we could get tickets for free and Ian wanted to head straight to the Mona Lisa. We got as close as we could and then headed around to look at lots of other exhibitions. After lots of walking we decided to head back to our hotel and pack ready for our flight home the next day.

Travel tips

• Visiting the Lourve - if you're sure you want to visit it's worth booking online so you don't have to stand outside in the freezing cold queue.
• Take your passports if you're from the UK and aged 18-23 and you can get in the Lourve for free!
• Buy a padlock/marker pen at home and take it with you, it's surprising how few shops actually sell them near the bridge.
• Make use of the free coat/umbrella closet at the Lourve so you don't have to carry it around with you.

Read More

Eiffel Tower, exploring the city & a new hotel | Paris, France

For my 21st birthday back in July I was lucky enough to be treated to a trip to Paris by my boyfriend Ian, we were both really excited and I couldn't be more thankful. 

There was just one teeny tiny problem.. leaving Ian to book the hotel was probably not the best idea! Seeing 'close to centre of Paris', 4* rating and low price prompted him to get us two nights in a fancy business hotel in... ORGEVAL! 

Orgeval is another city just on the western outskirts of Paris, whereas the airport and Disneyland were of course, on the eastern outskirts. Because of a mix up with flights we decided to stay longer in Paris and so decided to stay in a cheap hostel (which you can read about here) for the first couple of nights and then move to our other hotel later on. We woke up early on the Friday ready to take the journey to our other hotel and luckily our Paris Viste passes covered us to get to Poissy station, which was the nearest station. We then had to get a bus - with all our luggage - to the hotel, but we discovered that they only ran once an hour! Luckily there was a taxi rank nearby so we jumped in to save time so that we could make the most of our day. We checked in to our luxary room (compared to our previous hostel) and after attempting to get a bus back to the station, gave up and grabbed another taxi. 

Luckily we made it from Poissy station back to Charles De Gaulle which brought us out straight at the Arc de Triumph. By this time it was freezing cold and had started raining so we ended up having to spend 10 euros on an umbrella - well worth it! We took a walk down the Champs Elysees, gazing at all the beautiful shops and buildings. The food was quite expensive but we stumbled upon a tiny baguette shop that had a sheltered place to sit outside so we enjoyed our food whilst people (and pigeon) watching. 

We headed towards the Concorde before heading through all the pretty back streets towards the Eiffel Tower. It took us ages to find the tower.. We saw a group of children on a school trip, Ian decided to follow them because they must be going to the Eiffel Tower (even though they looked french..). We kept going around and around until Ian turned around randomly and saw it straight behind us! We took lots of photos and decided to head up - choosing the stairs over the lift. It only cost us 3.50 euros each (less than the bottle of coke which Ian paid 5 euros for at the top!) It was well worth the walk and we could see across the whole of Paris - it really was a beautiful view. We really didn't feel the romantic thing as much as we thought we would though as there were people everywhere. I really was hoping someone would propose in front of us though! 

It was still freezing when we came back down but we took a walk along the river and Ian suggested we went in a museum not far from the Eiffel Tower. After a wander around (wouldn't recommend but we did get in for free with our passports) it started to get dark so we took the metro back to Charles De Gaulle and headed to Mcdonald's (again). 
Later on we decided to head back to the hotel and this time managed to get the bus, although we had to wait for half an hour), our bed and shower felt like a huge luxury that night. We also watched a bit of Friends in French which was so funny!

Tips for travel

• No signs - there are few signs towards the Eiffel Tower so use a map to stop you getting lost in the back streets of Paris (unless you want to explore!)
• Take a drink up the tower - 5 euros is a hefty amount to pay for one bottle of coke.
• To go right to the top - you need an extra pass, with an extra price tag.
• Ask taxi prices - before you get in.
• Beggars - there are plenty of beggars especially on the Champs elysees so just be mindful.

Read More

Disneyland, parades & princesses! | Paris, France

Visiting Disneyland was my utmost important part of going to Paris and we couldn't wait to spend the day surrounded by our favourite characters, it was so magical.

We took the metro to Nation before getting on the RER A that took us straight to Disney, we could use our Paris Viste passes too which meant we didn't have to pay any more. We decided not to buy our tickets in advance, hearing that with our passes we could get 20% off on the door. On arrival we wasn't sure where to buy them so spoke to a lady in the tourist information shop and she told us she had a few tickets left at 40% off - meaning it would only cost us 35 euros each instead of almost 60 euros! We were so lucky!

The park felt so Christmassy and everything was so detailed and made us feel like we were in a real disney film. It was so quiet too and we barely had to queue for anything. We spotted a few characters straight away - Winnie the Pooh and Mary Poppins! 

We headed to It's a small world first and I absolutely loved this ride, although the song stuck in our heads all day afterwards. Other favourites were Pirates of the Carribean, Thunder Mountain, the Haunted House and Peter Pan's flight. The only one we weren't keen on was Space mountain as it hurt our heads too much! We enjoyed getting lost in the Mad Hatter's Tea Party Maze, although everyone kept following us but we couldn't get out, so we ended up getting everybody lost. We really enjoyed going up into the castle and looking out onto Frontier land and I definitely felt like a Princess! Ian loved Autopia, where he could drive an electric car on a track - it was his first proper driving experience ha ha. 

We ate at The Lucky Nugget and although they messed up our order to begin with (& brought Ian a mushroom burger which he was not impressed with) we enjoyed the cheeseburgers and fries in the American west saloon style restaurant. 

Our favourite part of Disney was the parade, where all the characters come together to sing and dance along Main St. It brought back so many childhood memories and I really just wanted to take part! After the parade it started to get dark so we decided to head back to our hostel - grabbing a subway and MacDonald's on the way back. On our last metro ride back to the hotel a young french guy tried to jump on to the train at the last minute and got stuck between the doors - it was so scary! Ian and another guy had to force the doors open to get him out but then they shut again on his head. We really thought that the train was going to start moving with his whole body hanging out but luckily he managed to get on at the last second. The French are crazy! 

Read More

Lost in Paris | Paris, France

We arrived at Paris CDG after flying on the tiniest aeroplane and found our way through the huge airport, picking up a tourist map as we went. The signs for the train station were quite easy to follow, but we soon started to regret taking so many bags! We purchased two Paris Viste passes for 60 euros each which would give us unlimited access to trains and the Metro for five days, perfect for our stay.

 After Rome, we were quite good at working out the metro systems (so we thought) and figured out we needed a train to Gare Du Nord. The metro ended up being so much more confusing than we first thought and although I had written down directions to the hotel, we just couldn't seem to get the right district. I had my first experience as a proper foreigner when I tried to get directions from some barmen who could barely speak a word of English. We ended up going back and fourth before being sent in the complete wrong direction by a tourist information desk! Eventually after many more metro rides we made it to our hostel, a little after being told to be really careful because it's a pretty dodgy area eek! 

The hostel was ok.. we knew we would be getting what we paid for and as long as we were safe we knew we would be able to manage. When we arrived at the front of the hotel there were gangs of French men hanging around which was quite scary. At first we felt really intimidated by them but then one of them helped us find the entrance so we felt much more at ease. As we were starving we dropped our bags off and headed straight to Mcdonald's (one we'd stumbled upon on our many metro journeys) before heading back for an early night to plan our next day. 

Our first hostel experience 

Tips for travel

• Look out for the free city/metro maps you can pick up at the airport
• Watch out for ticket touts in the metros - they try and give you 'free' metro passes and then expect money for them - just ignore them!
• Ask people if they speak English first - we learned this the hard way after blabbering on to people who looked very confused! We didn't realise how many people spoke little English so made sure to ask them first.
• Pickpockets - I was quite wary in the metro stations about my bag as it had everything important in it, especially as we were looking like complete tourists.
• Plan ahead with train tickets - buying the Paris Viste passes saved us a lot of time and money buying separate tickets.
• Ignore 'helpful' people in the street, a lot of them are scams. Just go with your gut instinct and if it doesn't feel right ignore them.

Read More

Hong Kong Highlights | Hong Kong

1. Soho District:

Soho is located in the Central district and is often referred to as the entertainment hub, a little sister to that of New York and London. It is acceptable to stand out in the streets to drink as the clubs and bars are so small and so often the streets are full of people. We chose an upstairs bar and people-watched through the open windows. We were entertained by a couple of street performers which eased the fact our drinks (vodka & coke) cost over a fiver each! A woman we met told us that the great thing about the Chinese culture is that everyone is welcome, you can be 18 or going on 80, be out partying and no one would batter an eyelid. Overall it was a really good night out, if you have a bit of money to spare.. If not, go for the ambiance anyway!

 2. Ocean Park
Ocean Park has everything; attractions, animals and rides. The cable cars are a must-do and they definitely lived up to expectations, although not if you're easily scared of heights. It was quite cloudy when we went up but we could still see for miles. Seeing the Pandas was a personal highlight as they are one of my favourite animals! You could easily take your time and spend the whole day here, it's easy to get to by bus and really cheap to get in. If I visited again I'd definitely do the Dolphin experience where you can swim with them.

 3. Lantau Island (Giant Buddha)
We visited Lantau island on our first day in Hong Kong which we reached by the ferry which was part of the fun and was so cheap. There's a coach that takes you up the mountains ($40 ish) and there's markets, temples, cable cars and lots of little shops to explore.

 4. Victoria Peak
This photo doesn't do the view from Victoria Peak any justice (it was quite a cloudy day with no sunshine!) but it really is amazing. The tram ride up was scary - an almost vertical hill straight up to the top that literally pushes you back into your seat - not for the faint-hearted, but well worth the view from the top. They've made a bit of a tourist thing out of it and at the top there's market stalls, lots of shops and food courts. You can also pay extra to go up to a higher view, but as it was cloudy we didn't bother. We were also told it's amazing at night when all the buildings are lit up and this would be a definite must-do next time.

 5. Happy Valley Races
I' love this photo, I think it really sums up Hong Kong in one moment. One of my favourite evenings we had was at the Happy Valley Races. It was recommended to us by locals and although we were hesitant at first we decided to give it a visit. Held every Wednesday evening, it's the only place that allows you to gamble in the city. The atmosphere was so good  and being surrounded by tall skyscrapers was so surreal. There are beer tents, McDonald's and a comedy stage to keep you entertained between races.  Its $10 to get in (about 90p) and there's no minimum bet so we bet $10 on each race just for fun - and won!

 6. Stanley
Stanley is a beautiful part of Hong Kong and a place to get away from the bustling, busy city. It reminds me of Cornwall, with the rock pools, beaches and little fishing boats. There's lots to do with bars, restaurants, shops and entertainment. My favourite part was the market and we bought lots of typical Chinese touristy bits for our classrooms for next to nothing.

7. Victoria Park
Victoria Park is the Central Park of Hong Kong. As nearly everyone in Hong Kong lives in apartments and have no gardens, these big open spaces become a communal outdoor space for everyone. People read, chat, do yoga, play football and despite this, it's still really relaxing and peaceful. We were lucky enough to stumble upon this part of the pretty park and sat and enjoyed a bite to eat.

 
8. Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is often referred to as the Times square of Hong Kong, with its huge billboards,  back to back transport and people everywhere. The rusty old trams cost pennies and are worth a ride and the sky walkways allow you to get a real snapshot of the district. The shopping mall's enclosed within the tall skyscrapers are also a must see, unless you are easily tempted by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Prada and Tiffany's!

*Times square, Central park and Soho... Hong Kong is the sparkly little sister of New York *

Read More

Causeway bay & Stanley | Hong Kong

On the Saturday we decided to visit two parts of Hong Kong that really interested us; Causeway bay and Stanley. We managed to find a bus stop near by that headed straight to Causeway bay (mainly by luck) and it was really busy and bustling - almost like being right in the centre of London or New York. We jumped on a tram which like old fashioned toy trams and made for a bumpy ride. We had a wander around then tried to find a taxi to Stanley which was near impossible and so spent ages walking around trying to find one. 

Walking towards the smaller side streets we stumbled upon Victoria Park, a beautiful green outdoor space full of flowers, ponds and pretty things. It was so unusual to see such a big open space surrounded by tall buildings. We sat down at a dainty little cafe and had some fries and a drink whilst people watching before heading on a taxi hunt again. Luckily, Kelly led us to the hotel she had stayed at last time she came which thankfully had a taxi stand and it only took 20 minutes or so to get to Stanley.

Causeway Bay, Victoria Park

Arriving in Stanley was surreal as I'd never have imagined Hong Kong to have beaches or little villages, but that's exactly what Stanley is, almost like a little Cornwall. We had a walk through the old market, full of patterned fabrics, souvenirs and lots and lots of clothes and we bought a few bits and pieces. We had a walk along the front of the beach and it was such a pretty area away from the bustling city. There was a gorgeous temple full of shrines and brightly coloured fabrics and we watched as people prayed and lit incense sticks to burn. 

Stanley beach, the Seafront, Inside the temple, People praying

A while later we decided to head back to the apartment, but accidentally ended up queuing at a Taxi stand that wasn't actually a taxi stand.. so after an hour or so wait we decided to brave the buses, before ending up stuck in traffic on a bus for over an hour! Eventually we made it back to Cyberport and stocked up on sweets, chocolate, cheap alcohol to take back (90p for 500ml of 35% alcohol!) and lots of Mcdonalds! Our crazy taxi driver taught us some Chinese all the way back to the apartment too which was fun!

What we learned...

• It's worth checking bus routes - it'll save you so much money and they're quite easy to understand.
• The tram only costs $2 and you can get off whenever you want (get on at the back and scan your metro card off at the front when you leave).
• Haggle in the market - don't be afraid to ask for a lower price, if they say no tell them you'll look elsewhere (most shops sell the same kinds of things)
• Victoria Park is well worth the visit, particularly on a sunny day and if you're feeling claustrophobic!
• Keep a notebook to write down bus numbers and the names of places your going to/from as it's easy to get confused.

Read More

Ocean Park & Pandas | Hong Kong

One thing I couldn't wait to do whilst in Hong Kong was see the Panda's! They have always been one of my favourite animals and I like the fact that not everyone has seen them up and close.

Early in the morning we managed to take the bus to Aberdeen (with our OAP bus passes it only cost us about 30 pence!) and then took a short taxi ride to Ocean park ($28). It cost around $32 for entry which we thought was good for a whole day. Originally we were tempted by Disneyland, but heard that it's better for families with younger children and doesn't match up to Paris or America, so we were happy to settle  for Ocean Park.

Ocean Park is a mixture of animals, rides and attractions but we mainly wanted to see the animals and ride the cable cars. We saw pandas, red pandas, arctic foxes and lots of other animals Then we went on the cable cars which were amazing, despite it being quite cloudy the view was incredible. They go across the edge of cliffs and it really is quite scary (not recommended if you're scared of heights!)

We had a wonder around 'old Hong Kong', a small street that was made to show how the country looked when it was under British rule. It had the iconic red phone box and big London bus, mixed with Chinese symbols and flags and was really interesting.  Afterwards we headed to the gift shop before taking the bus back to Central. 

Old Hong Kong, view from the Cable cars, Alligators, Kelly writing on the 'wish wall'.

Back at Cyberport we got a few bits of shopping and picked up lots of chinese sweets/chocolate and I had this gorgeous haagen daaz ice cream wafer - I nearly cried when I found out they don't sell them in the UK!

As it was our last night we were taken out by Andrew & Winnie, who were kindly letting us stay with them, to a gorgeous outdoor restaurant in Causeway bay. It was a Thai, called 'Spices' and it was so lovely to sit outdoors with candles and good company. For starters we had spring rolls and I was dared to try the Pork neck, which I ended up loving -  it was delicious. For mains we had a gorgeous sizzling Tikka Masala and for desert we had rice balls in coconut cream and mango with sticky rice - both so yummy.

What we learned..

• The food is quite expensive at Ocean Park - if we'd have known we would have took some food with us (you don't get searched and a lot of people seemed to have picnic food).
• The cable cars are not for the faint-hearted!
• It's worth taking the bus - it's so much cheaper than a taxi.
• Swimming with dolphins at Ocean park is quite cheap - I would definitely do this if I went back again.
• The IFC mall is incredible, it's like no other shopping centre I've ever seen. 

Read More