LISTEN HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KL9mRus19o
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Yalla its the weekend!
Nothing like an ol' school tune to get me in the weekend mooood... #nodiggity
Budapest – Things to see, food to eat, bars to visit and THE place to stay
As I am sure you have heard, Budapest is one of those great
cities which has everything on offer – great nightlife, authentic cafes,
history & culture as well as great spots to chill and hang out during the
day.. what more could one ask for on a holiday?! PLUS, being in the south east
of Europe its hot during the summer – BONUS. I visited Budapest for 48 hrs
during the summer of 2013 and these would be my top tips on where to go, what
to see, where to stay, and most importantly, where to drink.
Take a trip to Buda, however I wouldn’t recommend staying
there. On our first day we ventured across the river, over the famous bridge
(which is weirdly modeled on Hammersmith bridge?!) and up on the cable cars to
the top of Buda. There you will find all the old cultural sites of the city
(the hill is conveniently named Castle Hill…) including Matthias Church,
Fishermans Bastion, The National Gallery and the Royal Palace. This definitely fills
a morning.. take your time to mill around as there is plenty to see and plenty to learn
about the history of Budapest. Its walk-able, but if you’d rather ride in style
there is the number 16 bus which goes back and forth, dropping people off at different
destinations. Also, still on the BUDA side of town you can venture up to Citadella,
located beside Castle Hill. A Hungarian fortress essentially, but worth a visit
if you have time.
Visit the baths! We went to two whilst we were staying, one
in Buda and one in Pest. The Gellert baths are a good 30minute walk from Castle
Hill, still in Buda. This was my first ever experience of the Roman ‘baths’ and
it definitely was not what I was expecting.. in my mind I thought it would
resemble some large scale spa, with beautiful baths, comfy sun beds and clean
floors. Sadly the Gellert baths resembled something like a public swimming pool
– the kind of place you would get a verruca if you weren’t wearing flip flops.
And to add insult to injury, they were expensive too! And all you got to
experience was 3 swimming pools, a hot tub and a wooden bed, which gave you splitters. On the plus, the drinks were cheap which somewhat numbed the pain!
Day two, low and behold we were back at another set of baths, this time in Pest
named Széchenyi, with a hangover to add to the experience. Larger and busier
than the other set of baths, I was hopeful that this might be a more
pleasurable experience, however changing rooms cost extra, the massage room was
nowhere to be found and NO sunbeds! Disaster! Even though it was a great experience
and im sure with a clear head, it could have been more fun – however at the
time, due to the cost and the other factors, I must admit it wasn’t the best part
of my trip!
There are plenty of beautiful parks in Budapest where, when
sunny, it’s the perfect place to kick back and relax which a drink or two. By
Szechenyi baths, there is a beautiful park with a large lake and fountains - ducks potter about on the banks and always
appreciate bread (or anything for that matter!). Near to this park is Hosoktere
Square AKA hero’s square containing the Millennium Monument. This is a monument dedicated not only to the founders of Hungry but also to other historical
Hungarian figures. There are also various Art Museums dotted around the square.
Where to stay – I couldn’t recommend the Connection
Guesthouse more if I tried! It was by
far the best place we stayed during a trip around Europe. Cheap, cheerful and
right in the center of the action! The rooms were large with TV’s, a mini bar,
a clean and spacious bathroom and proper bed linen (including soft pillows –
essential). The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about directions, good
restaurants in the area etc.
The nightlife is mainly in PEST – here are a few of my
favorites:
- · Szimpla
- · Godor Klub
- · Kisrablo
- · A38
Budapest is a great night out and you’re always guaranteed to
meet a mix of interesting people from all over the world.. Not as swanky as
places like Ibiza, Budapest has more of a raw, grungy feel to it and most of
the clubs/bars are in old ruins around the town. GUARANTEED FUN 100%! And be sure to try a 'swimming pool' if you head to Szimpla!
Top Tips:
- · Make sure you always buy a ticket before you get on the metro. Police or ‘watchdogs’ patrol the underground ready to catch those who are ticket-less. They are dressed in normal clothes too making them different to spot and are also extremely power happy and relish in catching you out!
- · If you have time, head to the Budapest House of Parliament, however if not, they are visible from castle hill.
- · Try to eat in the non-tourist parts of town – they really jack up the prices where they can.
Bon Voyage x
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Margot Robbie's BIG hair change.. DOOPELGANGER?!
A buddy of mine just sent this to me.. Spoof?! I think someone has been spending too much time on Photoshop..
 |
| Margot Robbie with her golden locks |
Left:: Margot Robbie and her new brunette look Right: Me
Top 10 things to do in Krakow - POLAND
Wawel Castle - The Wawel Royal
Castle and the Wawel Hill constitute the most historically and culturally
important site in Poland. On a sunny day it’s a beautiful walk, and hosts
stunning views of the town below. Definitely worth a visit..
Kazimierz – also known as the
Jewish Quarter is full of small winding streets, little parks in squares and beautiful
Synagogues. All the synagogues are unique and worth a visit, even if they look
small and worn from the outside, it’s worth peeking through the doors to see
whats in-store. There are also plenty of local watering holes and eateries in
this part of down, which are less tourist and in-expensive.
Main Market Square – this is the
main tourist hub of Krakow. Full of bursting cafes, ice cream parlors and
chocolates shops as well as some of Krakow’s most well known monuments. If you
are stopping for a night in Krakow it is always handy to be staying near this square!
Cloth Hall – situated in the middle
of the market square, cloth hall speaks for itself. This narrow long hall houses
a vast amount of stalls from local garments, to tourists tit bits, to specialized
foods, and even furry pieces.
St Mary’s Church
– also situated in the Main Market Square, however this was sadly closed during our visit due to
renovations. However, from what I have seen the interior is a palette of rich colours, large beautiful windows and gothic architecture.
Florian Gate – one of the last
remaining entrances to the city. Make sure you pass through this impressive
gate on route to the main square.
Wawel Cathedral – this also sits
upon Wawel Hill with the castle and is definitely worth a visit whilst you’re
in the area. Its Poland’s answer to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Schindlers Factory – a museum
dedicated to wartime experiences in Krakow. The museum takes up the sprawling
administration building of the defunct plant at 4 Lipowa street, in the city’s
grim industrial district of Zablocie on the right bank of Wisla river.
Ingenious exhibitions combine period artifacts, photos and documents with
multimedia and set-piece arrangements in an attempt to create a full-immersion
experience. If you don’t have time to visit Auschwitz, I would highly recommend
crossing the river and making a pit stop at this museum.
Auschwitz – if you are staying in Krakow for
more than 48 hours try and visit Auschwitz. Only a 2 hour trip away, it gives
you a real idea of how life was in Poland during WWII. Even though it is an
emotional rollercoaster it is also an educational experience, one that you will
never forget.
Hazelnut Vodka – the local favorite
– goes down a treat! Be sure to buy stacks of the stuff before you head home!
To add – we stayed in a hostel
called MAMA’s. Situated just off the main square it is in the perfect position
for tourist attractions, bars and restaurants! The hostel is clean and the staff are
friendly and considering the location its reasonably priced. 4 STARS. We also went to a bar called ALCHEMIA which is
situated in the Jewish Quarter. Next to the university, it is always packed full
of young people drinking the local hazelnut vodka and beer. The bar isn’t overly
fancy, and trainers are appropriate footwear. Old school vibes, cosy and warm,
with vintage deco, it is definitely the best place to start your evening.
Krakow is a walking city - due to the size it is easy to get around on foot. Alternatively, rent a bike and ride around in style.
Bon Voyage x
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
10 things to do and see in Vienna
Stephansdom church – go in the back door and climb the tower to see
panoramic views of Vienna. Take a trip inside to see the amazing architecture
of this gothic church.
Hofberg – International congress and events center.
Beautiful architecture and amazing landscapes, it’s the perfect place to
meander through on a hot day.
Albertina Museum – housing great artists like Michael Angelo,
Picasso and Rembrandt.
Schönbrunn Palace - The palace and gardens illustrate the
tastes, interests, and aspirations of Vienna.
Prater Amusement Park - Vienna’s local theme park housing an
assortment of rides including a huge wooden ferris wheel (Riesenrad), built in
1897.
Time to feed – take a visit to either Kleines Café, Café Sacher
or Café Pruckel and try local delicacies such as flakey apple strudel, caramelized
crepes or platters of local cheese!
Belvedere Palaces – two magnificent palaces, the upper and
the lower, built in the 18th Century. The palaces with their extensive
gardens are considered to be one of the world’s finest Baroque landmarks.
The Rathaus Building –also known as City Hall, this is not
only an extremely impressive gothic building but in the square in front, you
can find small markets, or exhibitions.
Danube Island – a man-made island on the other side of the
river Danube, this is the place to be if you are a sport enthusiast. This is
where the roller bladers and skate boarders hang out and the island has a lot
more sport activities on offer, you can even swim in the river during the
summer! It is not as pretty/cultural as the rest of Vienna but you can still
find some good bars and restaurants, especially running along the river bank.
The Danube Tower – the tallest tower in Vienna offering 360
views of the city and its surroundings. If you don’t want to just look at the
view, you can dine in two revolving restaurants or even bungee jump off the
side!
I would always suggest this in any small city that you just
wonder, its always the best way to get a feel for the place and an idea of city
life. Its easy to meander from one side to the other of central Vienna – this
way you get to stumble across small markets, cute parks and local eateries. This, I think is the best part of Vienna, every corner you turn is just as idyllic as
the last.
Bon Voyage x
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