Tag: travelblogger

15 Reasons to Visit Venice

  1. Getting lost is the BEST way to explore
  2. Try to visit in Spring or Autumn as these are the best seasons to explore.
  3. It will be weird to not see cars but you won’t realise this till you head back to the airport
  4. There are 417 bridges in Venice. I dare you to try and cross them all. The Rialto bridge is one you need to both walk over and sail under. 
  5. Factor in the cost for a Vaporetto pass as this will help with your exploring. It will save your achy feet and really you have to see Venice from the canals as much as possible.
  6. Every corner, bridge and canal is a picture perfect moment so get ready to get snapping. 
  7. Don’t just stay in Venice get out and explore the other islands in the lagoon like Burano, Lido and Murano
  8. You can hire bikes and ride around Lido (fun fact this is where the Venice Film Festival is held) 
  9. A Gondola ride is going to be pricey but where else can you do this? Surely the experience far outweighs the expense. 
  10. Visit Burano to see the amazing coloured houses and eat the ‘s’ shaped cookies this island is known for 
  11. When in St Mark’s Square ensure you go up the Bell Tower. You get to see a different side of Venice and the lagoon 
  12. As frustrating as wet shoes will be experiencing Acqua alta is soo interesting to witness. Ovs not ideal for the locals though and there is a lot of working being done to minimise it. It has also been said to be one of the reasons people move out of Venice 
  13. You need to buy a carnival mask in Venice even if you aren’t there during carnival 
  14. Try to eat away from the St Mark’s Square as it is pricey in this area. You will have just as beautiful buildings to look at a few streets back
  15. Get up early or stay up late and visit some of the more touristy sights so you can marvel at the magic of the city on your own. 

Sacré-Cœur


Of all of the amazing places in Paris the Sacré-Cœur is one of my favourites. If you haven’t been there I almost demand you get on a plane to Paris right now.  Seriously get onto the easyjet website and book up your flight.

Whilst it’s known as Sacré-Cœur the official name is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris and your can find it in Montmartre. I have stayed in this area on my last two trips to Paris and have stood and stared for many an hour at this amazing Basilica.

It was built between 1875 and 1914 on the place where Saint Denis (the first ever Bishop of Paris) was decapitated for his faith. Which sounds barbaric now but then again we’ve obviously not learnt from history as you would have thought people would have stopped killing other people for their faith- that’s a post for another day!

The Sacré-Cœur is beautiful inside and out. It is free to go inside and is open from 6am till 10.30 pm every day. There is crypt underneath the basilica however according to the website is currently closed. You are also able to climb the Dome of the Basilica. Entrance is outside to the left (you also can also access the crypt at the same place).

I would thoroughly recommend climbing the 300 stairs to the top of the Dome. The views are spectacular and you see more of Paris then you could imagine. You also have the Eiffel Tower in sight which is certainly high on the list of ways you should see the tower. The walk up isn’t too challenging but it is steep and narrow in some places and you just need to take it at your own pace. Honestly once you see the views you will forget about the steps . After that bit of exercise you also earn yourself a pain au chocolat #winning.

There is an admission charge and the opening times do depend on the season.  So do check when planning your visit. One thing to note is there is always a lot of people trying to put thread bracelets on you for money. This is quite off putting but as long as you say no they generally go away but it is quite annoying.

Visiting this beautiful place has to be on your list when visiting this stunning city.  If I’ve not convinced you enough with my words then I shall let my pictures do the talking…

Globetrotters- Introducing Desi 👋

Our first Globetrotters interview is with the lovely Desi. I’ve got to know Desi on Instagram and let me tell you her Instagram feed is INSANE! Not only has she been to so many beautiful places but her shots cause some serious travel envy whoops I’m mean inspo! 😂 The gal has a way with her camera that seriously just transports you so you feel like you are there seeing it for yourself. Links will be below for you to follow/tweet/like but please don’t hold me responsible if you find yourself booking up a trip after seeing her accounts. 

So without further ado let me introduce you to Desi … 


My name is Desi, a Bulgarian Social Media Manager who has been living in London for the past 7 years. I first started traveling when I was 16 visiting neighbouring countries like Greece and Turkey. But it wasn’t until I spent 6 months in Poland (as part of the Erasmus exchange program) that really got me into traveling and exploring new places. Nowadays, if I’m not on the road I would be on the streets of London, visiting new exhibitions, trying new restaurants and best of all meeting new people. 

What is your favourite type of trip/holiday?
I was born in a mountain city surrounded by beautiful nature so I grew up loving and respecting the mountain, but at the same time I love exploring big cities. I love the energy of a buzzing city, observing the people, trying different food and yes, I’m a sucker for museums. It is important for me to learn more about the culture and the country where I’m traveling. 

My favourite type of trip is the one I can plan myself and would preferably combine both city exploring with a few days of adventure in the nature. 

Where is the best place you’ve been? And why? 
Iceland, for its jaw-dropping landscapes, towering mountains and black sand beaches. Also Reykjavik blew me away with its nightlife and music scene. Seriously, this country is stunning! 

Tell us the funniest story from one of your adventures?

You see, in Bulgaria we do things quite differently 🙂 We nod to say ’NO’ and shake head to say ‘YES’. I know it’s crazy! Of course, that led to some pretty funny and sometimes uncomfortable situations when I started traveling in my student years. For example, I was partying in a Polish club when someone offered me a drink, I politely refused by nodding, completely forgetting it was the other way around outside Bulgaria so the guy came up with drinks I didn’t even want. I have learned my lesson now and I tend to adapt to the situation so I switch to the ‘Bulgarian’ way when I go back instantly. 

What is your favourite photograph from your travels? 
Gosh they are so many, but the one that really brings me great memories is the photo my friend Karen took of me 3 months ago and now is also my Instagram profile picture too. The photo is from the Sahara Desert in Morocco. We did yoga in the desert that morning and watched the sun rise. Morocco treated us very well and I really love this country. 


If you could go anywhere in the world right now where would it be? And why? 
That would be New Zealand. I have been wanting to go this country in a very long time. There are some of the most diverse environments on earth, from beaches and rainforest to mountains, lakes glaciers and even volcanoes. I am also a huge Lord of the Rings fan so that would be my dream trip. 
What is the best piece of travel advice you could give?
1. Take a spare battery for your gear and a portable battery for your phone. When you are on the go you want to have your devices ready to use so its best if you invest in spare batteries.
2. Choose the people you travel with wisely: it’s all too easy to get swept up in a “we should totally do this” moment – only to despair once you realize your travelling tastes aren’t compatible.

For more from Desi check her out here

IG: @thecuriousdesi

Twitter: @DesiKadyova

Snapchat: desi.ka

My Little Kitchen

One of the best things of being away is doing things that you don’t normally do. On our recent trip back to Australia my partner and I got up at 5am each morning and went for a walk along the golden Gold Coast beaches. At home we would always enjoy a lie in but the sun is up so early in Queensland we didn’t want to waste a second. We would then on our way back home stop and have breakfast. I’m not going to lie one of those breakfast dates did happen at Macca’s. Don’t make that face- we were on holiday and hotcakes are my WEAKNESS!

But then on one of our ‘breakfast dates’ we came across a lovely little place called My Little Kitchen. Located just off the beach in Broadbeach it had a beach vibe and decor to suit.

My sister and her husband opted to join us on this morning so we all had high hopes of a yummy breakfast. They had a small selection of tables outside with a bigger area inside. Obviously most people opted for outside which is what we did. They boasted great coffee but as none of us drank coffee I can’t comment on it. What I can comment on is there amazing smoothies!

I had the Very Berry Blast and it was possibly the best smoothie I have ever had berries, yogurt, almond milk and ginger. The right pick me up for early mornings. I could literally dink this smoothie every day of my life.  The deliciousness didn’t stop there. We tried a few things off the menu- my partner and brother in law had the eggs beni, my sister had the DIY breakfast board and I had the Caramel Belgium Waffles. All are thoroughly recommended and were delish! For a look at other things they have on the menu you can find here http://www.mylittlekitchenbroadbeach.com.au/mlkmainmenu

It was so good that I also had lunch there the very next day. We had tapas which isn’t on their online menu.  I am not sure if that is a regular lunch option or not but it was available when we visited. We had the most amazing squid and prawns. Team those up with the smoothie mentioned above and I would be set for the rest of my life. Almost 2 months on and I still am thinking about them.

On both visits the service was great and welcoming. The only down side is that the bathrooms are shared with a hotel next door and it all just felt a little odd. Other than that the decor was relaxed, great artwork (by a local artist) on the walls which is also for sale and the food played to all the senses.

For the Gold Coast the prices were reasonable however the exchange rate to pounds did push it into the higher breakfast bracket. Another issue that we found in both Australia and NZ is that some places add on a public holiday surcharge to bill and this can range from 10%-20%. As we were away from the 23rd December to 10th of Jan we did seem to have a hell of a lot of public holidays. Something to bear in mind if you are travelling to these countries over the festive season.

If you find yourself on the Gold Coast then make sure you do stop by its a great little find and trust me you won’t regret it.

 

For more info – http://www.mylittlekitchenbroadbeach.com.au/