A Greek Island Escape

I've just returned home from a really lovely, relaxing family holiday in Greece. Sometimes when I see the beauty of the Greek islands, I wonder why I'd ever want to travel further afield to more exotic places.

We visited the island of Kos, probably one of the most popular of the country's 277 inhabited islands. The reason why I love Greece is because it has a bit of everything: gorgeous beaches, vibrant hubs with restaurants and shops and plenty of history and architecture. In Kos you can actually visit the Tree of Hippocrates, where the Greek father of medicine used to teach his pupils. It's apparently stood there for over 2,000 years!

In Kos there's also an opportunity to go island hopping, as there are lots of other islands close by, dotted across the glittering Aegean Sea. We went out for a full day on a boat trip, where we got the chance to explore a small, traditional Greek community and swim in the crystal water. We even saw dolphins from the boat - I didn't even know there were dolphins in Europe?! 

You can also go on a day trip to Bodrum in Turkey, as it is only a short boat ride from Kos. We didn't get around to that as we were too busy trying (and failing) to tan our English skin....

Another highlight of the holiday was riding around on a tandem bike! We got to rent out this beauty for the entire day for just $5. Everything, including food and local drinks, was really reasonable but the bike hire was a real bargain. We were staying in Lambi and it's really bike friendly - they have cycle lanes down the main road and the beach road, straight into Kos town. 

It was so much fun, we got the technique down pretty quickly and I'm definitely looking into hiring a romantic tandem for the wedding!

But the main reason we went on holiday was to celebrate my Mum and Dad's 30th wedding anniversary. They made it all the way to their Pearl, which is pretty incredible! To celebrate we drove up into the hills, to one of the island's best restaurants, to soak up the spectacular sunset view - I'll do a separate post about that!

Every Greek island is different and I'd like to explore them all! Next on my wishlist is Skiathos and Santorini... 
What's your favourite Greek island? Any recommendations? J x

City Break in Lisbon

This month Rik and I had the pleasure of exploring Portugal’s capital city in our “mystery getaway.” I was so captivated by the thought of a European mystery getaway, I knew I had to buy it straight away. There are so many parts of Europe I have left on my list to visit, and this would make it so much easier than picking somewhere! Budapest was high on my list, and I also would have been happy with Prague, Dublin or Barcelona. In the end we were given Lisbon, which I felt rather indifferent about – but after a wonderful, sunny few days I’m glad we got the chance to stay in a city I probably would have never bothered to visit.

We were so lucky with the weather – even though it was early March it was gorgeous and hotter than expected. Rik even got sunburnt! We weren't so lucky with the hotel... as it was a mystery we had no control over the flight times or accommodation, so I did expect the worse. But I have stayed in better hostels than this Lisbon "hotel!" A few weeks too late, I've just found about the Hostel Geeks website which features 5 star hostels around the world. There's one in Lisbon which I really wish we could have stayed in, it looks awesome!

On the first day we did all the touristy stuff – first we climbed the excessive hills of the city’s streets to reach the beautiful Castelo de São Jorge which looks knowingly over Lisbon. The views were incredible on that clear day. Then we took a ride on the tourist tram route through the city, noticing every cobbled street and piece of laundry which was hanging out of the apartment windows. We finished the afternoon relaxing on a park bench, before heading out for dinner and finding a spot with an idyllic view – a view so perfect that I knew I recognised it, and soon matched it up with the front cover of my guide book!

Tram Selfie

Stopping off at a stunning viewpoint on the way to the castle

Which brings me to my next point. On this trip I had a rude awakening, and learnt to never 100% trust a guidebook! I’m one of those travellers who LOVES to grab the guidebook and consult it at every turn. I memorise it on the plane journey and decide exactly what attractions we are visiting and where we are eating for lunch and dinner every day, according to the location and description. But Lisbon and Lonely Planet rumbled me this time. I chose a bar with a ‘stunning rooftop’ view for before dinner cocktails, followed by dinner at a Portuguese restaurant offering local food at local prices. We got lost looking for this rooftop bar, only to arrive and to be told it was shut on Mondays (not what it said in the book). So then, feeling very annoyed we jumped into a taxi to take us to our second stop – the restaurant. After arriving at a “road” which was simply a set of stairs, we walked up and down it twice and couldn’t see a hint of the place we were looking for! Tired and hungry with aching legs, we settled for another nearby restaurant which didn’t disappoint! This is where we ate alfresco and found the best view in Lisbon with the castle lip up at the top of the hill:

So I have learnt my lesson and next time I won’t rely heavily on guidebooks and other travel advice. Sometimes it’s better to be spontaneous, get lost in the backstreets and see what you discover. The following day we headed for the suburbs and the beaches, where I was pleasantly surprised. Just 20-30 minutes out of the city you’ll find Carcevelos, a huge surf beach with crystal blue waves and white sand. I didn’t think our city break could turn into a beach holiday so rapidly, but it did! We also got the chance to meet up with my friend Luke from uni, who is living in Portugal at the moment so that was lovely too.

Before we flew home we did something cheesy and locked our love away in Rossio square. I love all the lover’s padlock stuff, and I’ve always longed to go to Paris to leave our mark on the bridge (even though I’ve heard about the negative effects this is having on the architecture). This was a little different – it was a temporary structure, spelling out the word LOVE and asking for donations for the special padlocks which go towards a Mozambique-based charity. As we were celebrating our anniversary, it was the perfect excuse to join in with the cheesiness! Even though it won’t stay there forever as it was like a temporary art exhibition, we have the memories and photographs to cherish and I don’t have the guilt of knowing I have contributed to ruining the city’s structures.

It might not be as popular as Rome, Venice or Amsterdam, but Lisbon is definitely a city break destination which should be on your radar. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it!

Top Things to do in Amsterdam that don’t Involve Smoking Weed

Last year I went to Amsterdam – a choice that baffled some of my friends who couldn’t understand why I’d want to go when I don’t smoke weed. “Will you try it? You have to while you’re there and it’s legal,” people said.

Yes, Dam is known for its liberal nature, but it if often overlooked as one of the most beautiful European cities. I wanted to go on a girly city break for a nice holiday, to see the sights and explore. I was tempted to try my first spliff but I thought if I’m not interested in it at home, then why should I be on holiday? (Plus I figured it’s not the best time to try it in a strange foreign place – I know some first timers who have had bad experiences! Plus it’s not as easy as buying some weed, there’s whole menus and different ways of smoking or eating it and it’s just too complicated!) 

While many Brits heading for the Dam only visit for one obvious reason, there is so much more to do in this city than sitting in coffee shops and getting high.  Yes there’s weed everywhere and the red light district but it is in fact a city steeped in history and unique culture, and surprisingly has a romantic atmosphere. There is so much to see and do that sometimes a ‘short break’ simply isn’t enough.  For people who aren’t interested in getting high, here are the absolute must-dos in Amsterdam which don’t involve smoking weed:

Get On Yer Bike

Bicycles rule the road in Amsterdam (along with the streets, the parks and the canals) so travel around the city like a local on two wheels. The bikes chained up everywhere are permanent features which add to the allure of the gorgeous cityscape.  You’ll come across a bike rental shop every few minutes in the city so no need to worry about finding a bike – just enjoy the ride! If you feel apprehensive about joining the army of cyclists in the street, enjoy a leisurely ride around Vondel Park instead.

Visit Anne Frank Huis 

Amsterdam is full of interesting museums, but if you only have time to squeeze in one then the Anne Frank House is a must.  Bringing the story of Anne Frank and her diaries to life, the museum gives an unparalleled emotive experience like no other.  Imagine visiting a museum about the First World War located in a real life trench on the frontline – this is the immersive experience achieved at Anne Frank Huis.  As the very building the Frank family hid from the Nazis in for two years, and the same location Anne wrote her world famous diary, this museum puts you in the shoes of the girl who became the symbol of the Holocaust.

The museum has a set route for visitors to follow, telling the story along the way with quotes, photographs, videos and artist impressions of how the top secret hiding place used to look.  One of the most harrowing moments is stepping into Anne’s old bedroom, which still has intact the original posters and drawings Anne decorated the room with herself.  The Anne Frank Huis is an unmissable part of Amsterdam, but be prepared to queue – average queue time is 2 hours!

See the Sights by Boat

Amsterdam boasts more canals than Venice, and what better way to see them and the beautiful sights of the city than by boat or barge.  There are countless boat tour companies to choose from, all offering similar tours around the veins of the city.  Decide whether you’d prefer a day or night time cruise as these will both offer a different perspective.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the smooth ride whilst learning about the history of Amsterdam and its canals.  Alternatively, you can event rent your own boat and have a go at navigating the canals yourself.

I have nothing against tourists taking advantage of the marijuana situation in Amsterdam – in fact it really adds to the vibe of the city rather than spoiling it. (For example it transforms the usual binge drinking Brits-on-tour into mellow holiday makers having a cool time). But it certainly isn’t the first and only reason to visit the Dutch capital, and I hope it doesn’t mean people overlook it as a romantic or charming city break destination.

This blog is a revised version of an article I written originally for BBM Live magazine here: http://www.bbmlive.com/visit-amsterdam/

Travel Blog: Fiji

30/9/13

I don't know where to start because it has been quite eventful already, and we are still only a few days in.

• We have met a French guy called Pierre. (Yes, really)
• We have stayed on deserted islands that are more remote than you could ever imagine.  The first island we stayed on looked like the island from Lost.  And it kind of felt like we were stranded on the fantasy island too! It was back to basics - only 8-10 other guests, from all over the world, and we ate fish that had been caught fresh by the Fijian staff.  Spear fishing too, not the lazy modern way!  It also felt like we were staying on some form of retreat or ashram, as meal times were so structured.  The sound of drums summoned us three times a day, to eat whatever the locals had made for us. (Heads up - a LOT of pineapple).
• And yesterday, whilst lying in my hammock on our beautiful, secluded beach, Rik asked me to marry him.  I wasn't sure if he was serious at first, but it turns out he was and now we are engaged.(!!!!!!!!)

• Also, we touched a shark!! Maybe it was only a small, harmless, reef shark but STILL. I touched a shark. Unfortunately no photos, because as I have mentioned before, I was silly enough not to invest in a waterproof camera.

So I'm lost for words in Fiji! As I write this, I am at our second shipwreck island of the Yasawas, just outside our beach bure watching the sunset over the calming ocean.  It could definitely be labelled paradise.

We also have this amazing little bathroom in our bure. It is outside, at the back of the hut, almost like a shower garden. I absolutely LOVE it. I would love it slightly more if it dribbled hot water instead of freezing, but hey. I'm not a complainer.

Our beautiful shower garden!! Getting naked outside was an experience

There isn't much else to report on from the first half of our Fiji trip.  It is so relaxed, but for some of our travelling companions "Fiji Time" got very irritating.  Apart from lots of snorkelling, and exploring a cave, there is not much else to do but relax.  Or this kind of malarkey:

For more exciting and adventurous travel, check out my next blog post with the Feejee Experience.  Our main activity on the islands was climbing the huge mountain behind one of our resorts.  It was the hardest trek of my whole year - I was not expecting it in Fiji! New Zealand, or Australia, yes.  But no, it was this rock climbing affair, 900m above sea level that nearly defeated me.  Nevertheless, as always, the view was more than rewarding.