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!

Dance Review: What the Body Does Not Remember

13/3/15 - The Lowry, Salford

Fierce, visceral and relevant. If I had to describe this Ultima Vez revival in three words those would be my chosen ones, which is quite an achievement for a work which debuted 28 years ago. It is difficult to believe that this piece was made in 1987, before I was even born. The gripping choreography, the experimental and physical way of working with bodies must have been ground-breaking, as I still find it utterly compelling today.

Wim Vandekeybus is the ultimate movement experimenter, and to think that this piece was his first work – well it’s understandable why he’s had such a long and impressive career. Each scene slowly builds into a perfectly timed crescendo, with dancers hurling bricks, throwing themselves into one another and writhing around on the floor. Every action involves a huge risk, and every dancer executes each movement with a powerful intention. The intention in their bodies is real – it is not performed deliberately as part of their act, in fact none of What the BodyDoes Not Remember feels like a dance performance created to please the audience. The dancers’ intention is real, as if they don’t move exactly when they need to or exactly as rehearsed, they are likely to get hurt.

Aside from the dramatic and thrilling aspects of the performance, it is equally as enjoyable to notice the more stripped back side of Vandekeybus’ choreography. Subtle humour is included in most sections, and best of all the set didn’t include wings. Dancers strolled off stage, casually undressed and collected props at each side of the stage which are usually hidden from view – further establishing bodies purely as vehicles for movement, and breaking down the barriers of performance.

There are two duet sections which stand out for me – the first is primal, animalistic, aggressive and provocative. The final scene includes a number of duets with one dancer on the floor and one in a standing position, the standing body manipulating and intimidating the body on the floor in what seems like a million different ways. Bodies stomp and jump ferociously around their prey, as the audience is transfixed by every intense movement.

Personally I really enjoyed watching the female dancers in this piece. They are just as strong as the males, performing all the same movements, risking just as much and executing just as much power and control. Strong and fierce, I believed they could do anything on that stage.

For me, I’m not sure anyone has really pushed the boundaries of dance and physical theatre like Wim Vandekeybus. His first piece, nearly three decades on, holds more standing and is more impressive than anything I have seen recently. That includes Jasmin Vardimon’s Park, which I watched at The Lowry the week before. As much as I enjoyed it – I love her political and social messages which are entwined with powerful yet intricate choreography - overall the work seemed to lack coherency and structure, the meaning and intention getting lost in parts. With Ultima Vez each scene or section has a clear ending and a new beginning, and you are so captivated by what the bodies on stage are doing that it doesn’t really matter why. But of course, delve deeper, and you will always find a satisfying interpretation.

The revival of What the Body Does Not Remember is currently touring the UK – catch it while you can.

Hello March!

So, I have a very exciting month ahead and I just had to vent my happiness about it all!
Of course, it's the start of spring but it's doubtful we'll see any sunshine anytime soon. Nope, I'm excited because there's an amazing line up of dance theatre at The Lowry and I'm off to Lisbon for a city break with the fiancé. 

First off, next week I'll be seeing Park by Jasmin Vardimon and I can't wait. The last - and only - piece of hers I have seen was 7734, and it pretty much left me stunned so I hope the dance theatre company can thrill me again. Watch the trailer and stuff here.

Then it's time for me and Rik to jet off on a well deserved break (we haven't been abroad together since our year of travelling - I know it's scandalous). We actually booked a mystery getaway so we didn't choose Lisbon but I'm pretty happy with the destination. Neither of us have been before so it will be a nice adventure, and hopefully it will be a bit warmer than it is here in Manchester.

No words can describe my excitement for the next performance I have tickets for - What the Body Does Not Remember by Ultima Vez. I love Utima Vez, I studied them at university and have seen my friend perform with the company in London. But this work is significant as it was the debut piece of choreography from Wim Vandekeybus in 1987. 25 years on, it is still wowing audiences worldwide and I see him as the forefather of physical theatre. Check out dates and more info about the UK spring tour here: http://ultimaveztour.co.uk/ 

I'll definitely be reviewing this theatre duo - maybe together so I can compare - so check back to see if my expectations are lived up to.

Happy March! x

A Day Out in Liverpool...

Recently I've really been getting into the spirit of Sunday Funday.
Knowing you're in work the next day just makes a whole day of drinking and silly antics even more fun, like you know you shouldn't be doing it!

Well yesterday we decided to head to Liverpool for the day, which is only 40 minutes on the train from Manchester. I love being in a different city for the day, and Liverpool is a really nice place to spend the day. So a bunch of us boarded the train at 11.30am with a bottle of prosecco in hand and proceeded to make friends with everyone around us!

So the real reason we were going to Liverpool is because in case you didn't know, I'M GETTING MARRIED. I try to keep it on the down low on the blog so I don't turn into a Bridezilla and start posting a million things about DIY invites and the trendiest wedding colour schemes (there's plenty of other blogs for that) but it is actually the reason we took a trip to the European Capital of Culture.

We were scouting for a wedding band in Scouseland. And where did we go to vet our entertainers you ask? None other than the most famous club in the world - the Cavern Club. Graced by everyone from The Beatles to Queen, it's a venue on every Liverpool tourist's list. It was really cool actually, and even though we descended on the underground cave at about 2.30pm, it was absolutely rocking out and it felt more like midnight or the early hours of the morning when the party is in full swing. It was pretty surreal - like you enter the Cavern Club and you enter a completely different world where time plays no part whatsoever.

So if you're ever in the city on a Sunday afternoon, it's definitely worth checking out. The band we went to see were great, I can picture them playing at our wedding and getting everyone dancing all night long. Now we just need to see if we can afford real rockstars who have a regular set at the infamous Cavern Club...

Aēsop – Skincare Brand Branches out to Selfridges Manchester

I hadn’t heard of the skincare brand Aēsop until recently when it popped up in the beauty department of Selfridges. The small concession caught my eye immediately, with natural open shelving offering rustic charm and beautiful simplicity. The utilitarian brown bottles are also easy on the eye, stripping down to basics and removing the unnecessary frills of most modern skincare packaging.

When I delved a little deeper into the brand, I found out that Aēsop was established in Melbourne and I was instantly hooked! Since 1987, the apothecary-style products with anti-oxidant properties have been sold in Australia and it wasn't long before the brand took off worldwide. However, you’ll only find them in the coolest cities…Paris, Tokyo, New York, London – it made sense to move onto Manchester.

I've tried quite a few of the skincare products now and I've loved every single one. My Mum is a skincare junkie and literally spends hundreds of pounds on the stuff every year. So I’ve always had a chance to try out the best in that field, from Elemis to Gatineau, and I have to say Aēsop reminds me of the botanical smell of Liz Earle. As soon as you use a product the natural smells of mandarin, parsley seed, rose petal or aloe vera have the power to freshen up the skin (and your mind).

One of the best smells I find is the parsley seed, and lucky for me there is a whole Parsley Seed collection. Brimming with anti-oxidants and other extracts of goodness, the range is suitable for all skin types which makes it an easy choice. Afterwards it’s impossible for the skin not to feel refreshed and moisturised, and ready for whatever the day throws at it. In fact, it’s recommended for ‘city dwellers’ who crave a quick fix of exfoliation and hydration.

But there are also a range of products designed especially for certain skin types. Personally I struggle with an oily T zone and am partial to the odd dry patch too, so I fall under ‘combination.’ That’s why I chose the Amazing Face Cleanser (I’d buy it just for the name) the B & Tea Balancing Toner and the Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream. I love the moisturiser because it is lightweight and never leaves any shine or residue like many other moisturisers I have tried.

But as much as I do love the skincare (they also have a hair and body collection which is in my list to try next), Aēsop is so much more than its products. The brand is big on quirky design, and each store or concession is bold and completely unique. It has a flagship store in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda (where I used to live) which is basically a ramp leading to an old underground car park – this was the start of its architectural ambitions.

And rather than selling out to the big guys like other beauty companies, Aēsop prefers to stay independent and small – they don’t have any garish global marketing campaigns or tricks up their sleeve. Most people know about it through recommendations and word of mouth – it’s almost like being in the cool, cult skincare club if you know about Aēsop.

Aēsop’s Founder Dennis Paphitis also seems like a cool guy. In an interview he said, “I was horrified at the thought of Aesop evolving into a soulless chain. I've always imagined what we do as the equivalent of a weighty, gold charm bracelet on the tanned wrist of a glamorous, well-read European woman who has travelled and collected interesting experiences.”

So yes I love the products themselves but I think it’s everything else that’s integral to the brand that makes me love Aēsop more. For instance on the website it states: We advocate the use of our formulations as part of a balanced life that includes a healthy diet, sensible exercise, a moderate intake of red wine and a regular dose of stimulating literature.

It's like they had me at hello.

**I would just like to point out that unlike other bloggers, I HAVE NOT been paid or compensated in any way for this review. I've done it simply because I feel the need to write about how awesome Aēsop is.

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/

Public Contemporary Dance + Celebrating Women = Love

Yesterday was International Women's Day, and I was thrilled when I realised as part of the celebrations, Manchester Town Hall was hosting a free dance performance.

Ubidanza, an Italian dance company presented Principesse which is choreographed entirely on a stairway.  The dancers used the ornate staircase in the beautiful building to perform the unique work.  The images look so much more powerful thanks to the architecture of the performance space.

The enchanting performance was well received by the audience, many of which were just intrigued passers-by from Albert Square or in the Town Hall for other reasons on a Saturday afternoon.  Femininity was portrayed with playful sounds and movements, gold stilettos and a long sequence of air kisses.

I really enjoyed the live dance performance, but most of all I enjoyed that it was free.  Events like this are the key to getting more members of the public enjoying the delights of contemporary dance.  And of course, I absolutely loved the Women's Day theme and the fact that Manchester City Council have a wealth of events celebrating women across March. 

There was another great celebration of women on display at Manchester Town Hall - a statue exhibition.  It was shocking to learn that out of the 640 listed statues in the UK, only 15% are women; and most of these are monarchs or mythical creatures.  This misrepresentation is highlighted in the Town Hall, where crafty women have hijacked the numerous bustiers of men.  Using crochet masks, they have transformed the successful men into amazing women from the Greater Manchester area who made profound achievements and often haven't received the recognition they deserve.

The collection of women through history include the first woman to be allowed to study at Manchester University, a novelist who had her books burnt, suffragettes, a boffin who figured out the answer to the Rubik's cube and one of the first women to swim the English Channel.  Here are a few snippets:

   
Thank you Manchester City Council - more free dance in public spaces please!

Click here for more information on events throughout Manchester celebrating International Women's Day.