Travel: A Day Trip to Mostar

A Day Trip to Mostar

Back in May 2022 me and my boyfriend had a holiday to Dubrovnik in Croatia, this is the perfect spot for day trips and sightseeing. From here we took a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina this included a guided tour of the city and entrance to multiple sights. Below is what I would recommend you do on a day trip to this wonderful country.

Visit an Ottoman House... Part of our tour included a visit to a traditional Ottoman House. These have been preserved as museums showcasing traditional furnishings such as rugs and ceramics. On this tour we received a free drink at the house in the courtyard I opted for a peppermint tea and my boyfriend bad a traditional coffee. The house was a really interesting part of the tour and really painted a picture of the culture and way of life in the past.

Travel: Kotor, Montenegro Day Trip

Kotor, Montenegro Day Trip

While in Dubrovnik another tour we booked onto was a trip to Kotor in Montenegro. This was an excursion booked for our holiday through TUI called The Best of Montenegro with a guided tour of the old town. 

I must admit that we skipped out on the guided tour due to our tour guide having lost her voice and therefore it was difficult to hear the tour. 

Overall these are what we recommend for the day trip to Kotor:

Travel: A Mykonos Getaway

 A Mykonos Getaway

Hotel - Myconian Korali

For our stay in Mykonos we picked the Myconian Korali Hotel, this hotel is rated 5 stars and the service did not disappoint. You are taken care of from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. The hotel upgraded our room free of charge to a Rinia with a balcony and side sea view. This room was spacious and very modern with a bathroom intergrated into the large room with two mirrors and sinks and a giant freestanding bath.

Paris: Notre Dame

The Notre Dame 

One of the sights I was most looking forward to seeing during my trip to Paris was the Notre Dame. After seeing it in photos online over the years I just knew that I wanted to see this stunning bit of architectural history in person.

The day we were there it was amazingly sunny and incredibly busy we opted to go inside and to also pay for tickets to go up to the top to admire the views over the city. We were incredibly lucky getting tickets for this and managed to get the last few so if you are visiting and want to go up to the towers it is always best to book this in advance particularly during the Summer months. 

The Cathedral and its stained glass windows were stunning to view inside and out, as you can tell this trip was a while ago now and I was devastated by the news that the Cathedral had gone up in flames in the April of last year. This building is certainly one of the first architectural sites I think of when I think of Paris and it is a devastating that the history of the building has been lost.

Here's hoping that the reconstruction saves what is left of this once amazing monument so that future generations can have the chance to see this building in person.

The views from the top of the cathedral were fully worth the cost to go up and once this hopefully reopens in 2024 this is a sight I would eefinitely recommend visiting if you are in Paris.

Below are a few of my images from the top of the Notre Dame.

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Travel Bucket List

If you are new to my blog let me introduce you to my love for travel! I love visiting new countries, experiencing new cultures and seeing all the wonderful sights on offer. I wanted to share with you my current travel bucket list with all the countries that I currently would love to travel too! Here is my list:

Singapore

While this one is on the bucket list a trip has been booked to Singapore linked with a trip to Thailand. I am so excited to see the amazing sites of this wonderful country. Part of our plans include visiting the Bay Gardens to see the Super Trees, the Cloud Forest with a one night stay at Marina Bay Sands with access to that famous infinity pool. 

Bangkok, Khao Sok and Phuket, Thailand

Linked with our Singapore trip we will be visiting the above locations in Thailand. Visiting this country has been a bucket list dream for years! Other than the destinations the only specific plan that we have booked is to visit the Elephant Hills in Khao Sok, here we get to meet and feed the elephants with a mixture of jungle trekking and canoeing. Other than that we are looking forward to lots of temple visits, good food and sandy island beaches with maybe a visit to the Phi Phi Islands from Phuket.

Marrakech, Morocco 

Marrakech is another destination that has been on the list for a while with a cancelled trip in 2021 due to Covid. We have rebooked this for 2023 over my 30th birthday and I am incredibly excited to wander the Souks, have a day trip to Essouria, visit the Atlas Mountains and the desert.

Copenhagen, Denmark / Malmo, Sweden

Copenhagen was a trip that is also going to be rearranged after being cancelled due to the pandemic, hopefully for 2023. I am going to be visiting here with one of my close friends and we are planning on having a day trip over to Malmo in Sweden.

Germany

One country that I have never been to is Germany which as it is such a short flight from the UK needs to be remedied. High on my list are Berlin, Stuttgart or Munich. I would be happy to visit any of the three and immerse myself in the culture and history that this country is rich with.

Switzerland

We hope to link a trip to Germany and Switzerland together due to the countries sharing a border. I would love to see the views of the alps and visit the major cities like Zurich or Geneva to get a real feel for the country.

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges is a picturesque city in Belgium perfect for a small weekend getaway. A great small city for wandering the cobbled streets, eating lots of good food and sampling all the Belgian chocolate that you can.

Ljublijana, Slovenia

The capital of Slovenia and one of the more recent up and coming European countries to visit. Known as a green capital with lots of green open spaces in the country that are stunning and a must visit including Tivoli Park and Lake Bled. I would love to explore this stunning country.

Riga, Latvia

A new addition to my bucket list is Riga in Latvia located in Northeastern Europe being one of the three Baltic States another city with lots of culture and good food that I would love to wander around.

Japan

Japan has been the top of my bucket list for years with cost being the only thing keeping me from going. I would love to do a tour of this country visiting Tokyo, Kyoto,  Nara and Hoikkado. There are just so many sights and experiences in this country that I want to partake in including visiting Mount Fuji, taking part in a traditional tea ceremony, experiencing the Japanese Onsens, visit all the insane shops and cafes in Tokyo. There are just so many sights that I want to see in this country and I am hoping for a 2024 visit fingers crossed.

Those are my current travel plans and wishes. Where is on your travel Bucket List? Comment below and let me know.

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Lake Vyrnwy

Lake Vyrnwy

Now that we are out of lockdown I have been slowly ticking off my UK destination bucket list. One of these destinations that I have heard a lot about but have never seen in person is Lake Vyrnwy. The lake is a reservoir in Powys and has become an important nature reserve for habitats and wildlife, with the total walk around the lake equalling 12 miles.

We arrived on a sunny Saturday and decided to walk around the lake to get views of both the dam and the gothic tower stretching out into the middle of the lake.

Farmer's Welsh Lavender

Farmer's Welsh Lavender

Back at the end of August I visited Farmer's Welsh Lavender in Builth Wells with some friends. I had been recommended the spot by a former colleague who had visited and it looked like an idyllic place to go for a day trip, relax and even have a wild swim in the lake.

The farm was a good trip away from where we were in Shropshire and I must admit some of the roads to get to the farm advance warning are quite steep and bendy. However do not let this put you off visiting!

The farm is open year round for visitors however the best time for the lavender is midsummer, when we arrived at the end of August the farm was clearly coming towards the end of its lavender season. However there was still some lavender and a lot of lovely flowers and wild flowers planted around the lake.

Wollerton Old Hall Garden

Wollerton Old Hall Garden 

On a sunny Sunday last weekend I had the fortune of getting to visit Wollerton Old Hall Garden based in Market Drayton in Shropshire. I hadn't heard of the gardens before and like many of us I am sure I have been searching around my local area for new ideas for day trips or days out. 

We were fortunate to be able to visit at such short notice as the gardens are private but open to the public on select days throughout the year, see their website for more information on this. The gardens are set around a 16th Century hall and feature a variety of plant combinations including David Austin Roses.

UK Destinations I Want to Visit

UK Destinations I Want to Visit

Coronavirus is looking like it is here to stay for the foreseeable future and due to this all travel abroad is either being cancelled or advised against. I am aware some people are currently travelling abroad and booking new trips for this year but with the circumstances being what they are I have realised I am not comfortable with the idea of travelling abroad currently.

With this in mind and being an avid traveller who likes to have at least one trip to look forward to a year I have decided to put together a UK Bucket List or as people are calling it 'staycation' destinations that I want to visit in the UK. Below are the destinations or sights that I have never been to that I would love to visit: 

A Day in Bratislava

A Day in Bratislava

Back in November while on holiday in Vienna me and my boyfriend had a day trip to the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava. Being only an hour train ride from Vienna where we were staying made it an ideal day trip destination. If you're planning a trip around a few different countries, I believe these two capital cities are the closest together in the whole of Europe making this an ideal place to start.

While we were only there for a day we managed to pack in a lot of the major sights and we even got to visit the Christmas Market in the centre that happened to have just started for the season.

The city is incredibly easy to walk around and if you do not wish to walk from the train station you can cheaply get a day trip bus ticket for a couple euros. However all the sights are located in or near the main centre so this would just be needed to get to and from the train station. Below is a guide of of the sights we saw and would recommend and the restaurants we ate at on the day. I cannot recommend any accommodation as we did not stop over in the city.

The Best European Cities to Visit After Lockdown

The Best European Cities to Visit After Lockdown

I'm sure a lot of people like myself have had their travel plans this year cancelled or rearranged, this week I should have been sunning it up in Zadar in Croatia a trip which unfortunately could not be rearranged. 

To make myself feel better about this I have been looking back on past holiday photos and reminiscing over memories. I figured I would share with you some of my favourite cities that I have visited and that I would recommend visiting once lockdown is over and travel is a possibility again. After all we can only dream of destinations and plan for future trips currently!

5 Things I Want To Do After Lockdown

5 Things I Want to Do After Lockdown

This post was inspired by Hello Miss Jordan's post 7 Things I'm Going to Do Once Lockdown is Over. 

I like the idea of looking ahead past all the doom and gloom of the current situation and setting future plans and goals that I can look forward to.

Currently I am very much enjoying the break this lockdown is providing me with, I don't think I realised just how rundown I had been feeling and I am incredibly grateful that I am in a fortunate position where I am currently able to work from home. 

Despite the break however I have been very sad to have a lot of future plans cancelled, while I understand it is necessary in the current climate it has definitely taken away the joy of having things booked in advance to look forward to.

With all that being said the 5 things I want to do after lockdown include:

My 2020 Goals

It's that time of year again when everybody sets out the goals they want to achieve in the coming year, so I thought I would share with you the goals that I would like to achieve in 2020. Think of it as an early new years resolution/goal setting post if you will.

1. Complete my Dissertation/University Degree - This is a work in progress currently, I have started and am in the process of completing my dissertation for my BSc degree. Once this is complete I will have officially finished and completed all the work that goes towards my degree. I am of course aiming to complete this to the best of my ability and am hoping for a 2:1 or even a 1st if the overall marks go in my favour.

2. Continue Going to the Gym - Another overlapping goal. I have been going to the gym for the past year but in 2020 I really want to work on the 'gains' so to speak and increase my strength and muscle mass.

Barcelona: Parc Guell

Barcelona: Parc Guell

In February 2019 I got to visit the stunning city of Barcelona, which had been on my bucket list for quite some time due to the stunning Gaudi architechture.

Despite being February the weather was beautiful and sunny and quite frankly not that cold we got incredibly lucky!

I want to take a moment to talk about my favourite sight from this trip and that was Parc Guell.

The outskirts of this park are free to walk around but if you want to see the Guadi architechture including the famous tiled bench that everyone has to get a photo on it is around 8 to 10 euros -if my memory serves me correctly.

The Views Around Amsterdam

Throwback to October 2018 and a long weekend in Amsterdam. Having never visited the Netherlands before Amsterdam was high on my bucket list of city breaks with its picturesque buildings and canals. It's an ideal city to visit where you can get around all of the sights available by foot which is the best way to take in the views.

On our first day in this city we joined onto a free walking tour which gave us an overview of the history of the city and walked us around all the major sights which gave us a fantastic grip on our bearings of the area.

Paris: Eiffel Tower

 

When visiting Paris there is one sight that everyone wants to see and that is the Eiffel Tower, it is a must on the tourist trail of people visiting the area. Being the generic tourist that I am I knew when visiting Paris I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower and go to the top to view the city for the structures fabulous lookout.

The Palace of Versailles

Back in the Summer of 2018 when we had the massive heatwave I had a weeks holiday to Paris, while there we had a day trip to the Palace of Versailles to see the stunning architecture and the sprawling grounds.

Being June time there were massive queues to get in meaning we had to stand in the scorching sun waiting to get in, so if you are planning on going I would recommend booking tickets in advance.

The palace is now classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site having being the royal residence for Louis XIV until the start of the French Revolution.

Riding Bikes in Amsterdam

My last blog post spoke about my fear of heights and overcoming it to try the Over the Edge Swing which happens to be the highest swing in Europe. Amsterdam was certainly a holiday for me not letting my fears hold me back and another one of those was riding bikes on the streets of Amsterdam. While Amsterdam is probably the most cyclist friendly city in Europe I was nervous about taking up the task having not rode a bike for the best part of ten years.

Thankfully I was more than relieved when I realised you could rent bikes with the brakes on the handles like in England. We only had a short amount of time on our last day to complete this activity so we booked the bikes out for an hour and went all around the boat docking areas and up a few of the nearby streets surrounding the station area.

Amsterdam: Over The Edge

I have a massive fear of heights and obtain vertigo when looking down over the edge of any high building or sheer drop. This is a fear I have been working on overcoming as I don't want to let it hold me back from trying new experiences. 

Throwback to October 2018 where me and my boyfriend had a long weekend away to Amsterdam. While we visited many sights in this truly stunning city there was one thing we had decided we were going to do before arriving. This was the Over the Edge Swing located at the top of A'DAM Lookout Tower, at a height of 100 meters it is Europe's highest swing and a must for any thrill seekers taking a trip to Amsterdam.

The Best Christmas Present

Back in December the weekend before Christmas to be exact me and my boyfriend had a mini-break to London. This was to be a trip to see some of his family just before Christmas, little did I know there was a surprise in store.

This family trip was actually a surprise trip to see Wicked the Musical at the Apollo Victoria Theatre!

I have wanted to see Wicked for years after first hearing Defying Gravity covered on Glee and learning of the story behind the show. However when it was local or nearby had just never got round to seeing it and I had never visited London properly before this weekend.

Onto the show and I loved every minute of it the story line being a prequel to the Wizard of Oz and how the wicked witch of the west came to be. It was such an interesting take on the story that everyone would have known as a child. The music was all so catchy I had only heard 'Defying Gravity' and 'The Wizard and I' properly before seeing the show and the rest of the soundtrack certainly didn't disappoint with catchy tunes that had you wanting to sing along.