Category: Travel Diary
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The Day of the Tulip 🌷
I could not have picked a better day for my visit to Keukenhof Gardens. Slouching around Amsterdam on Thursday in the endless, pouring rain, I’ll admit it was hard to stay positive at all times. But yesterday? Blue skies, sun, and even a chance to remove my coat! Keukenhof is a sprawling manicured garden filled…
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Sunflowers, Stroopwafels and Stripper Poles
The queue for the Van Gogh Museum this morning was pretty streamlined considering it’s the home of some of the best ever works from this Dutch icon, the museum itself perfectly set up for a seamless experience. I first headed to the lockers with my bag. These were fully digital and very secure, only opening…
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To Zaanse Schans and Beyond
I stayed up later than I’d planned last night meeting and chatting with all the amazing girls in my hostel dorm, but even so, drifting off to the calming sounds of the nearby church bells, I still knew that despite the exhaustion and early start, today would be a good one. Just how good I…
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Hallo Amsterdam!
I idly watched tiny droplets of moisture licking at the plane’s wings as cotton wool clouds and sparkling sunbeams made way for a sea of green and grey, followed by a seemingly-endless taxi along the runway and a painless passage through Immigration. Almost as soon as we’d left the UK, I was here, in Amsterdam…
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Cape Safari & Falls – Days 9-10
Last night I slept in a tent again, this time across another land border in Botswana’s Chobe National Park. This game drive into camp was a little more back to nature than the much tamer Kruger. The ride was an incredibly bumpy one, loose sand flying as we barrelled along what vaguely resembled a track…
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Cape, Safari & Falls – Days 8-9
We turned off the main road onto a dirt track, then a smaller dirt track, listening to the clattering scrapes of bare tree branches against the truck’s mental frame and canvas roof covering. We started our day with a tour of a local village, about as rural as it gets… Upon arrival, we were met…
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Cape, Safari & Falls – Day 7
Saturday morning saw us departing South Africa in search of new pastures. The journey there however was not without its own unique complications… Our guide Melissa’s answer? Welcome to Africa. Arriving on the second lot of transfers from our hotel in Johannesburg from the night before, we were met with a bit of a panic.…
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Cape, Safari & Falls – Days 3-6
3.30am. Blurry eyed I reach around for my phone to stop it from making that terrible jingly noise. I’m not ready to wake up yet. And yet Kruger National Park awaits, our step over to the wild side. My time in Kruger can only be described as magical, and I have been sad to leave…
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Cape, Safari & Falls – Day 2
My heart melted as I fell more and more in love. The penguins were plentiful and just as precious as I’d expected. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Day 2 of my tour of Southern Africa saw us rising early once again and taking the scenic drive down to Cape Point, right at…
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Cape, Safari & Falls – Day 1
Most introductions out of the way from the night before, Monday was the big one. Our first activity as a tour group. I’ve had my eye on Contiki’s Cape, Safari and Falls trip for quite some time, so to finally be here is super exciting. And our first full day together kicked off to a…
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Hello Cape Town!
DAY 1 And so it began, a simple train journey to dear old London. For that night I would embark upon a new international adventure – this time to the wilds of South Africa and beyond…. The journey to the airport and getting through the airport are always the parts I tend to get most…
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Reflections on Portugal
My time in Portugal has come to an end, almost as soon as it began. The past week has gone so quickly, but it really has been relaxing despite unusually poor weather for the time of year. Particularly grey and cloudy, Thursday morning was the slowest yet, and I was more than happy to take…
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Sun, Sea and Shopping
On Tuesday we went to the coast, to Vila Nova de Milfontes. A town and civil parish in the municipality of Odemira, it offers cute shops, cocktails and cafés aplenty, and a beautiful stretch of beach. The blue sky is reflected perfectly in the clear, sparkling waters, which look nothing but inviting – despite actually…
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The Angels of Nirvana and a Visit to Ourique
My first afternoon at Nutshell Cottage was a largely relaxing one. My auntie and I sat in the garden for a while catching up over a light lunch, before taking a short afternoon walk down a pebbly and dusty lane that had had the car practically bouncing several hours prior, talking all things travel as…
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Olá from Portugal 🇵🇹
Driving through Lincolnshire, my anticipation builds, slowly. Once the thrashing rain subsides, the greying sky morphs into something from a children’s storybook, or a particularly striking painting. I gaze up at the fluffy, cotton wool clouds, perfectly formed for maximum comfort against their stark blue backdrop. I smile, contented, knowing that I will soon be…
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Costa Rica Day 10 – Farewell Jaco
Today was the day I departed Jaco to begin the long journey home. I’ll definitely miss both this place and the people I’ve met and been travelling with along the way, but at the same time I don’t recall the last time I felt so exhausted, pushed almost beyond my physical limit. One of the…
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Costa Rica Day 9 – Manuel Antonio National Park
No hangover was going to stop me from visiting the Manuel Antonio National Park on the penultimate day of my travels in Costa Rica. We entered along a wide track, where we spotted a gorgeous sloth hiding high in the trees and an unusual reptilian-looking creature right by the side of the path. The walk…
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Costa Rica Day 8 – Crocodiles and Karaoke
I awoke once more to the sounds of the rainforest. It’s something I think I’m going to miss when I leave. We got on the road pretty soon after breakfast, bound for our second and final beach destination, Jaco. A short drive away, we made our first stop – a tree planting activity – before…
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Costa Rica Day 7 – Back to Nature
I awoke to what sounded like thunder, but what in reality was just the wind. I also felt a little cold, something I almost wouldn’t have believed was possible whilst staying in Tamarindo. Welcome to Monteverde, I supposed. After a quick breakfast, it was time to set out for the first activity of the day.…
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Costa Rica Day 6 – The Road to the Cloud Forest
A slow morning re-sorting my luggage and relaxing by the pool with a book was exactly what the doctor ordered. The warmth of the sun in the crystal clear sky dulled slightly by a gentle cooler sea breeze, it was easy to relax, though a little energy would later be required for the first stop…
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Costa Rica Day 5 – Sea Turtles and Sunsets
Our first full day in the beach town of Tamarindo – and, thanks to the previous night’s antics, the one morning I didn’t wake up early… Even so, I still managed to fit in a little shopping, and was in plenty of time for the long-awaited catamaran cruise. The walk to the beach gave us…
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Costa Rica Day 4 – Chocolate and Chilling
Another early start saw us sadly bidding farewell to our beautiful La Fortuna hotel. But, with chocolate and beaches on the horizon, you couldn’t say it was all bad! The Rainforest Chocolate Tour was a fantastic experience – very informative, very funny, very hands-on, and led by a man who can only be described as…
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Costa Rica Day 3 – Facing a Fear
Despite a relatively heavy night, I awoke around 5.30am to the deafening sounds of nature. I remember being stirred in the night by what sounded like a short rainstorm, but these sounds are different – chirping, whooping, clicking. A reminder of just how in amongst nature we actually are. A light breakfast (with a brief…
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Costa Rica Day 2 – Chasing Waterfalls
What a jam packed event our first day as a group was! Setting off for La Fortuna, I couldn’t have quite known what marvels would be in store. First, we stopped off by the roadside at a pretty waterfall, and I also managed to slip in my first part of souvenir shopping at one of…
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Viva Costa Rica! A Day in San Jose
After a several-year involuntary hiatus, I’m back! Welcome to travel in my 30’s. Yes, I have finally arrived in the Central American land of Costa Rica for the very first time, starting my journey in the bustling city of San Jose. I’m not exaggerating when I say I have waited so long for this moment,…
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A Weekend in London
Oh London, how I’ve missed you… There’s always something to do or see in this iconic English capital, and this visit was no exception. I can’t count how many times I’ve stepped out of King’s Cross Station to the buzz of crowds, London buses, black cabs and the beautiful clock tower of St Pancras –…
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Hello Chester (Pt.2)
Chester Day 2… The day of the zoo. Hey, that rhymes! Just as with the city itself, I haven’t visited Chester Zoo for several years. Arriving this morning, I had high hopes I’d love it as much as I expected to – and it did not disappoint. Chester Zoo was born from one man’s dream…
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Hello Chester (Pt.1)
It isn’t quite Japan, but it will do. When plans get derailed, you have two choices. 1. Wallow and be miserable2. Try to consolidate and make the best of it I did the latter, which is how I found myself in the historic English city of Chester – a land known for its Roman roots…
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A Weekend in York
We said we wouldn’t do it, but deep down we both knew that wasn’t the truth. That’s how within minutes of checking in to our hotel for the weekend after a short drive from work, we ended up in none other than Wetherspoons – and with vodka… Oops! And thus began a weekend in the…
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Longleat Safari Park
Finally, the day has come – but also gone again in a flash. Longleat is somewhere I’ve wished to visit for many years after first seeing it featured on BBC documentary series “Animal Park”, but never got round to as it’s so far from home – by British standards, anyway. Unfortunately, due to the current…
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A Stop at Stonehenge
Some people come to England from overseas to see this iconic landmark, and yet in all my 28 years of living here, today marked my first ever visit to the mighty Stonehenge. As written on Wikipedia, the stones are set within earthworks in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age…
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A Little Jaunt Around Southern England
Here I was at the beginning of the year, contemplating travel post-brexit. Who would ever have known back then that this would be the least of my issues? So far this year Covid has claimed Costa Rica, Africa and Portugal from me, and while I know I should probably just be grateful for mine and…
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Prague Day 4
It’s roughly 5am and I’m woken with a start. Bang! Bang! A whistling wind soars and screeches, whipping through the room. Bang, bang. The glass bedroom door is still banging against the glass wall its attached to, a dangerous game. I slip out of bed and wrestle with the now open balcony door to get…
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Prague Day 3
First on day 3’s agenda was crossing the river for a visit to Prague Castle – and finally, we actually got the tram successfully. Third time’s a charm, right? Prague Castle surprised me, having more free areas than I expected, with expansive paid-for areas too. There are a number of packages to choose from, and…
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Prague Day 2
Day 2 in Prague started out with waking to dazzling sunlight and clear skies – the perfect backdrop for a new day of adventures. Beginning in a museum that actually caught and retained my low attention span, we were transported into a world of wonderment. The Illusions Art Museum is rather inconspicuous if you’re not…
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Welcome to Prague
I’m in Prague! How exciting! But before all of that, I need to introduce you all to someone very special, so without further ado, meet Bunny. My traveller bunny and I used to go everywhere together when I was a kid, but as is often the case with growing up, he was eventually stored away,…
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A Weekend in Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle, home of the Geordie in a region of England particularly close to my heart. I’ve been trying to plan a trip to the North East for a while, ever since I bid farewell to my home in Sunderland back in 2013 actually, and finally I made it. Arriving late Friday night the plan was…
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A whole week down…
Ending yesterday’s adventure in Königswinter, I cleaned off a few vodkas and Jagers in a cool Irish bar I found whilst once again escaping the wrath of the Christmas market. My first “night out” – if you could call it that – was a nice way to round off this trip and all it has…
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A Dream Come True
Word of advice: Cologne on a Saturday night at Christmas is mental – and not in a good way. Surviving a mere hour before giving in, I retired at a record 7:30pm. On a Saturday. It may not have been very sporting and certainly not how I would have been a few years back, but…
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Welcome to Cologne
Cologne, a thriving German city with plenty to offer for Christmas. Arriving in Germany by train from Brussels Thursday afternoon I promptly attempted to locate my next hostel in an effort to find at least some temporary relief from the pouring rain. Thankfully, it was only around a 10 minute walk from the station. The…
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Brussels Round 2
I’ve bought a lot of it, but can I replicate it? Am I any good at making it myself? Well, it turns out the answer to that question is sadly a no, but I gave it a good crack, and it definitely could have been worse! Yes, back in Brussels, first on today’s agenda was…
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Belgian Frites???
Departing Brussels for the day, I took the train a short way north to the iconic Bruges, said to be especially beautiful and well known as a popular tourist destination. You can book a day trip with a tour company from the capital, but getting to Bruges on your own is actually very straightforward if…
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Bring it on Brussels
What do you do when you lose your job just before Christmas? Do you stay home, save money and look for a new job or do you embrace the freedom while you have it and do something fun and exciting? Given my love for travel, I obviously went for the second option, and now I…
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A Whirlwind Tour of Istanbul
Well, what can you say about the vibrant city of Istanbul? From the open green spaces showing off grand mosques to the tight and bustling shopping streets surrounding the Grand Bazaar, this isn’t the kind of city I’m used to seeing. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. And while it can feel slightly overwhelming,…
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From Cappadocia to Istanbul
The sunrise was pretty on Thursday morning. No balloons as they depart from further away, but a nice start to the day regardless. Sitting out watching the sun come up, scarf wrapped snuggly round my shoulders as sparrows flitted about and the local cats began to venture, was a peaceful feeling. No sound to be…
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My Cappadocian Adventure – Chapter 2
Well, what a day. Despite only being this morning, the hot air balloons seem to have passed ages ago. The amount of different sights and activities we’ve taken on in these short few hours is immense, so if you want inspiration, you’re in the right place.After breakfast, our first stop was the deepest of the…
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Cappadocia Calling
Yesterday was the day – the day I’d meet my new Intrepid travel crew and depart by bus to the magical land that is Cappadocia. As usual, I was a bundle of nerves as I got ready to head out to the meeting point, and had the biggest hole of dread when the meeting time…
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A day (and a bit) in Antalya
It’s my last international trip of 2019, and I hope to end on a high. So far this year I’ve partied at Fallas festival in Valencia, traversed the Norwegian fjords on a road trip across Scandinavia, and tried to dodge raging thunderstorms in Budapest. And now I’m in Turkey, for the first time since 2013.…
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Homeward Bound from Hungary
29/07/19 It was another dreary morning, but time was of the essence and let’s face it, we were used to it by now anyway. We headed first for the Great Market Hall for some last minute shopping. Located at the end of Vaci Utca, Budapest’s famous shopping street, the market hall is a beautiful building…
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Spa Day
29/07/19 When I booked to come to Budapest during summertime with an aim of visiting the thermal baths, a part of me thought I was crazy. Why would I want to bathe in warm waters when it’s supposed to be 30 degrees outside already? But they’ve turned out to be pleasant nonetheless. Szechenyi Spa is…
Victoria's Voyage 