Itinerary: 5 Weeks in France, Italy, Greece & Turkey

After I graduated from university, I went to Europe for five weeks with my best friend. This was a really diverse trip because we chose big cities and small towns, did day trips and squeezed in quick stops as well as taking more time in some places. We travelled by train, ferry and cruise ship and spent three weeks travelling independently and then two weeks … Continue reading Itinerary: 5 Weeks in France, Italy, Greece & Turkey

Sailing around Capri & The Blue Grotto

I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It was the happiest day I had in five blissful weeks of exploring France, Italy, Greece and even a little Turkey. In fact, it was the best day I have ever had while travelling. We spent half the day sailing around Capri, including a visit into the famous Blue Grotto – the experience I had most been … Continue reading Sailing around Capri & The Blue Grotto

The Gelato Diaries: France, Italy & Greece

If there was a day during our trip from Paris-Athens that we didn’t each gelato, it evidently wasn’t worth remembering. Gelato, sorbet and on one occasion, plain old ice cream, was an essential party of our daily diet because this is what you do when you’re it’s summer, you’re in Europe with your best friend and you’re twenty years old. Sorbet at Berthillon, Paris On my … Continue reading The Gelato Diaries: France, Italy & Greece

Riomaggiore: Cinque Terre’s most colourful village

Cinque Terre is famous for it’s brightly-coloured buildings, but Riomaggiore takes the (rainbow) cake. The punchy colour scheme in Vernazza, the vivid blue sea and the colour-coordinated umbrellas in Monterosso and the popping pastels in Manarola are no match for the colours of Riomaggiore. Shades of sunshine yellow, bright orange and watermelon pink punctuated by forest-green shutters shine even brighter against the brilliant blue sky.  Bright bunting strung across … Continue reading Riomaggiore: Cinque Terre’s most colourful village

Rome Itinerary

Why I failed to fall in love with Rome

It’s one of the world’s most dreamed about destinations, but Rome & I have never quite seen eye to eye. Despite the promises of la dolce vita, I find it hard to relax in Rome. I imagined myself strolling through sun-dappled piazzas with a gelato in hand as vespas whizz by. I daydreamed about stumbling along remnants of ancient history around every corner. I’ve visited … Continue reading Why I failed to fall in love with Rome

Hipmunk City Love: Best Boutique Hotels in Florence

I love staying in accommodation with a difference, and unless you’re on a million-dollar luxury budget, I think the best way to stay in an authentic, memorable place is to look for a boutique hotel or B&B. With less rooms, no corridor mazes, and much more local flavour, staying somewhere a little different will make the moments spent inside your room just as memorable as … Continue reading Hipmunk City Love: Best Boutique Hotels in Florence

Postcards from Vernazza, Cinque Terre

We broke the “real” traveller’s cardinal rule for Cinque Terre. We didn’t hike any  of it. It wasn’t planned that way, but that’s how it worked out. I lugged my hiking gear through Europe for naught, but I regret nothing. We spent our first couple of nights in the nearby seaside village of Levanto, which was an unexpected delight and is now my ultimate relaxation … Continue reading Postcards from Vernazza, Cinque Terre

5 Places I want to re-visit

 I didn’t fall in love with most of the places on this list when I visited for the first time. I’m not expecting to love every city or country I visit, but I think part of the reason I didn’t “get” it was to do with having not enough time, the weather, or other external factors in my life that didn’t really have anything to … Continue reading 5 Places I want to re-visit

Naples: Slow pizza & quick crooks

Our Roman tour guide had a strong distrust of any Italians who lived south of Rome, and it is a sentiment echoed by many Italians throughout central and northern Italy. We’d heard rumours that the mafia in Napoli had the city under its thumb, taunting citizens by cutting off the garbage collection and letting putrid trash pile up in the streets if the local government … Continue reading Naples: Slow pizza & quick crooks