London Love

We really enjoy spending our free time exploring cities around the world, discovering the culture, food and history of the places that we visit, taking photographs and and making memories. Yet, so often we forget just how much is on our door stop (ish..). I have been to London many times for various reasons, but it is SO long since I went as a fully fledged, landmark visiting, snap happy tourist in my own capital. So, during the February half term, we did exactly that!

Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, Churchill's War Rooms, shopping on Oxford Steet, a show on the West End, Champagne at The Shard- we did it all! And coming across the cutest little cupcake shop in Covent Garden that sold delicious hot chocolate and pretty cupcakes made a very welcome afternoon treat. 

Next stop: LAS VEGAS ♥

So tonight I finally began the tedious job of uploading some of my traveling photos. A few [five] months late maybe, but better late than never right?

Looking back definitely bought back all the memories. It some ways it seems a life time ago, yet on the other hand I cant believe five months have passed since we were there exploring, lives packed into our bags without a care in the world but where we were going next and what amazing food we were going to try. And so much has changed since then, it's a little crazy.

I miss the freedom. The independence. The fun and adventure. The food. The excitement of new things. The sunshine..
Someone take me back?

Dreaming of adventure..

I want to go travelling again!

Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen- Benjamin Disraeli

So I'm back from my travels across Europe and it was.. AMAZING! It already feels like forever ago but I still cant believe how much we did and saw in just a month!

From cycling through the parks of Amsterdam, discovering the past of a very rainy Berlin, drinking with new friends in Prague, relaxing on the beautiful Croatian beaches, soaking up the history of Rome, making fresh pasta in Perugia, and having cuddles with Winnie the Pooh, we really did have a range of experiences! And many, many more on top of that!

Day seven of my travels..

Just a quick post whilst I have the time.. Apologies in advance for any typo's- this German keyboard is a little different.

So we are currently in Berlin! Although very soggy and dull (much like home, so I'm told..) we're loving it! Lots of sightseeing and photo snapping, course! Personal highlight so far is cycling along the canals and through the park in Amsterdam and having a picnic. Very different to the sights of the Red Light District there, its fair to say!

Loving the opportunity to try lots of new food too, particularly the Belgian chocolate and waffles we had in Brussles.. Mmmmm :) And to try new things. Such as sleeping in a tiny sleeper coach of a train overnight, containing two sets of triple bunk beds (think chicken shed)?! Certainly different..

Lots of giggles, amazing sights and new opportunities so far, and its only day seven. I can't wait to find out what's left to come!

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move- Robert Louis Stevenson

OHMYGOSH! Its tomorrow!Tomorrow! Tomorrow! TOMORROW!

I've dreamed about actually doing this for years! I've scrimped and saved and I've researched and planned. But now it is actually here... tomorrow I leave for my month backpacking around Europe!! Perhaps not quite for the sake of travelling as the great Louis Stevenson suggests.. But definitely to see and do as much as I possibly can (mostly can afford to..) in the space of 30 days! 
Now usually I'm little miss organised. Too obsessively some would say. But oh no, not this time. Even though it is potentially the most organisation-requiring moment of my twenty years of life. No, this time I'm quite chilled. It was only during the early hours of the morning whilst I lay struggling to get back to sleep that the hundred and one potential problems that could occur raced through my mind.. What if I lose my passport or tickets? What if I get lost? What if I lose all my money? What if we cant find anywhere to stay??! And so on.. But after a few hours sleep I soon returned to my unusually relaxed self.

This was until I started to pack! Slightly late on admittedly, sixteen hours before I'm due to leave for my first train... But better late than never, right? Anyhow, yes MAJOR stress. As anyone who has tried to cram a month of their life into a rucksack will understand, I'm sure! I'm indecisive at the best of times. It takes me forever in a morning to choose what I wish to wear that day, never mind selecting a very few items of clothing to take and wear several times throughout a month, in various weather conditions and hideous amounts of walking!

I must be mad right?? Yeah, I've had that thought several times today!
AAAAAAND in case that wasn't enough, the boy then realised his passport was still at home up north, two hours away from us?!?!?! ARGH!

But, do not fear! The passport is retrieved (thank God!) and I've fiiiinally put an end to my packing. What I've got, I've got. Anything else I'sure I can buy along the way!

And on that note, I say a little farewell for a while now. Hopefully I can get onto my blog and share a few of my adventures with you all along the way, but if not I sure as hell will do once I'm back.

So there we go, WISH ME LUCK!!
(Pretty sure I'm gonna need it...)

Bit of InterRail practice on the train to Leeds

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page- St. Augustine

So the holiday blues are starting to kick in. I’ve been back two days and I already miss the sunshine!

It was a lovely, lovely holiday and I now feel so relaxed from all of the reading and lazing in the sun that I would be practically floating on air if it weren't for the few extra pounds iv put on from the gorgeous all inclusive food! Definite highlight for me was the water ride on our last afternoon; the boy, my brother and myself all clinging onto an inflatable for our lives, as it flung us across the waves, attached to the back of a speed boat. You know the type I'm sure. I cannot remember the last time I giggled so much!

Of course, there were low points too. In particular, an incident involving a Greek doctor’s room and a discussion on my suitability to fly... but I prefer not to dwell on the negatives!

But now it’s back to reality! And my holiday shall just remain a collection of photos, amazing memories, and a very quickly fading tan! The bags are unpacked, the clothes washed and ironed and the souvenirs handed out...
Yet, do not fear. I shall only be in rainy ol’ England for another 8 days [sleeps] and then.... EUROPE! Yes, yes, it has actually come around that quickly! The InterRail tickets have arrived and the train to Dover and ferry to Calais are all booked, along with a few hostels and hotels to get us started. We have a growing book of notes of things that we want to squeeze in to do or see and a map of our planned route with what seems like a hundred trains to catch! The only thing I’ve not even started to do is pack... Eek!
And just in case all of this excitement was not enough for little old me, my Leeds Festival tickets arrived this morning. WaHooooooo!

So all recommendations, tips and advice are welcomed! Obviously my camera shall take pride of place in my bag and I shall hopefully be able to blog every now and again whilst I’m on my travels. But until then, I have lots of planning and [more] packing to finish! As well as my little brothers prom tonight (man I feel so old!).
So until next time, I shall leave you with a little snapshot from our time in Rhodes..