Cinque Terre, Italy
When one mentions Italy the first city that probably comes to mind is Rome, followed by Venice, Milan and probably Lake como thanks to dashing George Clooney. One of my favourite Italian destinations (and one that is starting to get more popular) is the stunning area of Cinque terre.
Situated a 2 hour train ride north west of the famous leaning tower lies 5 quaint towns culminating the Cinque Terre National Park – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Being a Unesco heritage listed site, cars are not able to access these towns, in fact the only way to get from town to town is via train, alternatively you can walk from town to town and from the takes 8 hours if you do it continuously.
My itinerary was a 3 day one, during the peak of summer in Mid July. The 1st night I stayed in Pisa, from memory the last train from Pisa central to Monterrosso was at 9.30pm and to be conservative I did not think I would arrive in time to make the train. No matter though, it does give you an opportunity to visit one of the most iconic sights in Tuscany being the leaning tower of pisa!
I opted to stay in a bnb (bed and breakfast). I like the homely feel of a family run establishment. It gives an authentic touch which you cannot get anywhere else. We met a kind lady who I believe ran the bnb with a younger member of her family, however upon arrival, she was the only one there and did not speak a word of English. But to her credit… she was able to work the wonders of google translate and my travel buddy and I camped around her desktop and were able to communicate without issue!
Its moments like these – where you face an obstacle (like basic communication) and persist to find a solution that makes travelling such a rewarding experience. It also makes me regret not learning a second language (Doh!). When things are too easy, you take it for granted, you think you are entitled to it. But it’s not until you are in a situation that requires some thinking outside of the square that makes the end result so satisfying – like being able to check in!
After a quick visit to the leaning tower – off we went to cinque terre. To get there just buy your ticket from the train station should cost about €15 one way and takes no longer than half an hour.
*Mamma Mia* – I almost forgot to mention that Italians are the kings of coffee. Get a cappuccino and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Back home in Melbourne “getting a coffee” can last anywhere between half an hour and several hours. The locals in Italy get the job done in about 30 seconds! Coffees are consumed standing up at the expresso bar in Italy. Sit down tables usually attract a price premium (as it is often in place to cater for tourists).
The trains are actually quite modern and are in fact very similar to the train depicted the classic 2004 movie “eurotrip”
Monterosso
Is the largest and most populous of the five towns. It also boasts a proper beach, which due to size gives it a unique advantage over the other towns. I chose to stay one night here being the farthest most town (from pisa) and another night in Riomaggiore the first town, so Sunday would be an intense hiking day. Over the past few years torrential rain has played havoc with the walking trails. In 2011 or 2012 I believe there was some intense flooding which rampaged through some of the towns. As a result , it is common that not all of the walking trails will be open at the same time.
I stayed at B&B Il Parco (which I highly recommend). The accommodation is split into different private villas. As it is situated quite high up the hill, there are some breath-taking views to be had when either early morning or at dusk. The breakfast provided is pretty tasty as well.
I suppose the only thing to be aware of is that is slightly up in the hills, the walk to the main beach and town did take some time, however there is a free shuttle bus which can transport to and from the town centre and specified. Stay here if you want to lounge around in the sun and having a relaxing experience of cinque terre!
Vernazza
I think this is the prettiest of the four towns. Can be found on many a post cards and if you time it right and hike from monterosso to vernaza and dusk you may be lucky enough to see pink skies in the backdrop. The reward for an hour and a half hike can be seen below. Due to poor exposure settings the photo doesn’t quite do the view justice!
Corniglia
Probably the smallest out of the 5 towns towns, due to time constraints didn’t get a chance to explore the town as much as I’d like. Just as colourful as the others and a little less quaint. Not as many tourists seem to spend much time here. After a quick pit stop, we followed the pack and moved onto….
Manarola
Competes with Vernazza as the most photographed landscape amongst cinque terre. There is a path which leads you slightly out of the town to a small park and you can take amazing photos looking back onto the city. If your game there are also some swimming holes for you to cool off and mix it with other holiday makers and locals. Sunbathers can also be found lying of many of the rocks and stairs during the summer months! Strange but I guess you gotta make do with what you have!
Riomaoggorie.
Stayed at Locanda Dalla Compagnia. Wouldn’t be my first choice of accommodation, but if you are struggling to find accommodation it will do the job. Don’t expect anything above the basics and you’ll be fine.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/locanda-dalla-compagnia.en-gb.html?sid=55d90259de8ddce7056c733dd4f99767;dcid=2
Quite a large town with a number of hidden alleyways and paths to get lost it in. Plentiful amounts of decent restaurants with local produce and seafood.
Cinque terre boasts some of the most spectacular scenery that I have seen during my time so far in Europe. Definitely put it on your to do list if you find yourself in Italy. If you are looking for a party vacation probably don’t head here, but if you’re after a relaxing/rewarding weekend away you won’t be disappointed!
JD
Palma, Mallorca
After so much exploration of my other destinations around Europe I was due for a trip away that involved a whole lot of nothing. That destination so happened to be in Majorca one of the Balearic islands in the south of Spain near the infamous party island of Ibiza.
In the UK – Majorca is a popular destination amongst young British teens who run amok in the beachside town of magaluf in the summer time. Often this is their first overseas destination according to the TV show ‘Sun, Sex & Suspicious parents’. When you combine teenagers, sun and booze your sure to end up with an ‘explosive’ trip away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z18a34PliiU
But thankfully I had conducted some research and chose to stay in the main town of Palma city. That particular weekend it was in the peak of summer. Temperatures hovered around 35 degrees during the day and marginally cooler during the evenings. For those who hail from warmer climates, you will know that anything above 30 degrees makes it difficult to get out and explore as your energy levels are instantly drained by the heat. 
The main tourist attraction in Palma City is the cathedral, which you cannot miss. For some reason we couldn’t go inside… but with the combination of the sapping heat, it was actually very relaxing to sit outside the cathedral in the shade with the warm breeze coming across your face and a cool drink in hand. To top it off there was a Spanish guitarist playing beautiful melodies in the background – pretty special in my opinion
Palma has a great vibe about it, there are little side streets all over the town and you can quickly get lost and discover an array of side streets. It came across to me as a relaxation destination for holidays makers. There are some quality restaurants in town and we checked two highly rated restaurants on tripadvisor. The first night we checked out Misa Bar and Brasserie, the chicken here is the signature dish and highly recommended – however I was craving something a little more fancy (see pictures below)! http://www.misabraseria.com/en/location.php
The second night we went to Bunkers which I would describe as a Fusion/European restaurant. The food is delicious, artistically presented and with generous portions to keep the all hungry hippos satisfied! What is most appealing about this establishment is that it is a family run business and it is made to feel very homely with the use of communal tables and an ‘open styled’ kitchen where you can see the chefs work their magic! https://www.facebook.com/BunkerPalma
For those seeking some nightlife I can recommend Titos club which was great fun. Not the cheapest night out.. but it is a very posh club with pumping beats and a beautiful crowd to go with it! The other popular option is the well known club Pacha with multiple locations around the globe.
Yet another place I’ve fallen in love with in Spain…. if only there was a way to stay there permanently! Gracias Mallorca – I’ll definitely be back!
JD
Sail Croatia, Croatia
As an Aussie living in London there is only one recommendation you get when you ask….
“What should I do this summer?!”
The answer?!
“SAIL CROATIA”.
The premise is that a bunch full of antipodeans (Aussies, Kiwis) pack a boat, get drunk, cause some havoc amongst a beautiful island setting and repeat. I thought that sounds like fun, why not check it out.
As I had a week off work I was looking forward to R&R – little did I know I would be more tired by the end of the week!
My friends and I opted for the ‘One way South option’ which took the following route.
Sadly we had to wait for our boat for well over two hour as it had been delayed earlier on, the plus side is that we got comp’d a free dinner later on in the week :D. As a guy coming onto one of the cruises you want to know what the guy girl ratio is to assess what your chances are of pulling.
Being an Asian fella in and amongst a mainly Aussie crowd…well lets just say all the planets would have to align for anything to happen hahaha.
Amazingly the ratio was 18:4……… guys to girls lol. But for what our dear Primorac (name of the boat) lacked in females in made up for in genuinely nice people. I thought we were very lucky to be hanging with some well grounded people who not only enjoyed a good party, but had other goals in life apart from “getting blind…Straya”.
I guess you have to remember that these kind of cruises are luck of the draw and your experience is very much dependent on who you get lumped with. There were no egos, everyone just got along and were really decent people! So rare, these days.
I contrast our boat to a few people from the other boats I encountered who were actual knob heads who’s objective and sole purpose of their European holiday was to “get blind everyday”. I guess in my younger days I could relate, but just another reality check that I am indeed getting old.
The cruise itself
You literally wake up to postcards every morning. Just think emerald waters, eternal sunshine and all around you beautiful islands. The seabreeze is always refreshing and you wake up in the morning and cure your cracking hangover simply by jump off the roof of your boat to “freshen up”. Sounds good? That’s because it is simply awesome!
Activities
I had loads of fun in the rafting activity and also the kayaking, I highly recommend these two activities. A few people from our boats also took the buggy excursion and said they really enjoyed it as well.
I suppose the thing about the activities is that whilst they are fun you sacrifice time to explore the island by day. And with the way the route is structured you its rare have more than a couple of hours to explore each island. So my advice to those taking the cruise, choose your activities, but also think about which islands you would like to check out!
Favourite spots throughout the cruise.
Omis – has a picturesque beachfront and a lovely little old town you can walk through and chill out at. A very small town but one of my highlights of the trip. It was our first top after Split and we climbed the tourist trail and took in some amazing views up top.
Hvar – the most famous of the Croatian island where various music festivals, celebrities and big events can be found throughout the European summer. With unspoilt view (for now), beach bars overlooking the sea and rocking nightlife, tt’s not hard to see why its so jammed with boats/tourists during the summer. This islands also has the best clubs/bars out of all the islands – Pink Champagne was my favourite of the ones i visited.
Dubrovnik – I’m not a game of thrones fan myself but the rustic architecture, cobblestone paths and mountainous views I fell in love with. It was visually the best city of the cruise, though the city walls do a great job of retaining heat during the summer so It can get very hot during the day. If anyone has ever been to Florence during the peak of summer, it’s a similar feeling.
Sail Croatia…thoughts?!
The traveller in me wanted to stay a little longer at each of the destinations, I guess I must remember that the sail Croatia cruise, similar to the Contiki and Busabout tours are known for their parties rather than their educational offerings!
I think if you’re a uni student or just graduated from uni, this is definitely the place to be. There is a Gig emphasis on partying every night and most people are of a similar age (20-25). I’m slightly older than the average age… but luckily I wasn’t the oldest. Just remember that because it is a sail, you won’t be spending as much time on the islands as you think (a couple of hours in fact).
I’d also pay a little more to try and get on the better boats, whilst the Primorac had plenty of charm and character, I would have prefer a room with a little extra ceiling room so I didn’t bash my knees every night whilst trying to sleep. See below our 3 person room lol
I will say the captain and crew on the Primorac went over and beyond in terms of making their guests feel at home. There was always food available (although no one turned up for breakfast) and the chef is happy to take onboard any suggestions to tweak his cooking to your taste. A little bit of background, the salt levels of the initial dishes served were off the charts and could only be described as ‘cholesterol inducing’
I am glad to have done the cruise, I had heaps of fun, got a wicked tan, witnessed some amazing scenery and met some cool people along the way. As a working professional, knowing what I know now I probably would have opted for a private yacht with some close friends, or gone on yacht week which sees you gather a group and sail (either yourself or via paid captain) from split to Dubrovnik. As you are required to sail, the age demographic is slightly older, with the objective to keep up with all the other yachts or be left behind!
JD
Granada, Spain
Known for: The last Moorish state to be reconquered by the Spanish, the super impressive Alhambra, getting free tapas with your drinks!
How to get there
To get to Granada from Malaga it is a short 1.5 hour bus ride away from Malaga and will set you back roughly €13 one way. The bus stop is a little out of town, however one can either get into town by catching a bus (I think costs €2 or thereabouts) or taking cab like I did which will set you back another €13.
A quick history lesson…
Something that I did not know prior to visiting Granada is that much of southern Spain have been influenced heavily by the Moors as they inhabited much of the Iberian coast prior to the reconquistion of Spain in the 15th century. The Emirate of Granada was the last state to be reconquered by the Christians, during the Granada war.
As a result of the Moorish rule, Granda’s iconic Alhambra was built during this time and is today one of the most famous palaces in the world (and the most visited sight in Spain). It was recently a finalist in the New 7 wonders of the world. The grounds are vast, and is split into two main areas…. The royal palace… the nazri palace and generalife (the summer retreat for the royals).
The word Alhambra in Arabic means “the red fortress”. Now this references the clay surrounding the building. Additionally it was said that during the night when torches were lit within the Alhambra it would give the palace a red glow to those looking at the palace from afar.
What makes it so special….
The detail inside is unlike any other palace I have seen before. Firstly, the architecture is very different to other castles/palaces I’ve seen in continental Europe. Obviously being built during Moorish rule, the architecture is Arabic influenced and I think officially known as Nazrid architecture.
There is what I think to be Arabic scripture beautifully carved into one of the many rooms. The decorative arches and windows found all throughout the palace gives in a very ‘aladain style feel to it’. In fact when I first saw it, all I could think about was the prince of Persia game I used to play as a child lol.
There are many interior courtyards with water features and perfectly kept gardens found throughout the royal side of the palace. During the summer, a pop up concert hall is erected within the grounds of the Alhambra and classical concerts performed in the amazing surrounds. I wish I had a little more time and maybe could have experience the concert as it would have been simply spectacular listening to a live concert and have the sunset and Alhambra in the background!
I think instead of boring you with Wikipedia facts it might be more appropriate to show you just how stunning the inside is.
Useful tip on booking……
Now because this attraction is so popular with tourists it is highly recommended to book well in advance. You can only visit the Nazri palace based on pre specified time. The way I went about it was using Spain’s ticketmaster website. The Spanish (as well as being gifted with guitar skills and salsa abilities) have come up with a way whereby if you purchase tickets using a any European bankcard, you can pick up tickets from a number of ATM/cashpoint machines around the city. This is especially useful when you are always running late (guilty!).
Nearby neighbourhoods
Sacromonte
The nearby neighbourhood of Sacromonte is home to the gypsy community in Granada. The area is most famous for the gypsy style flamenco which incorporates traditional flamenco with some less traditional elements such as belly dancing.
Now Granada during the summer can reach temperatures of 40 degrees for days on end. With the extreme heat (and lack of sea breeze) as Granada is set up in the mountains, gypsy families dug caves within the mountains. This way they could deal with the heat by retiring to a natural cool room! Pretty neat huh
To get to Sacromonte I would suggest either cabbing or going on a bike tour ebike tours which can be found on Tripadvisor. The guide we had was so knowledgable and friendly and is to date the best bike tour I’ve been on. It may have something to do with the fact that electronic bikes makes it so easy to cover ground!
As I passed through the street of sacromonte on my ever so easy ebike I noticed that some house had plates on the walls of the houses. It is said the more plates that a house has, the wealthier they are. I guess this lady must be the richest lass in town!
Same Same but different
One of the unique customs in Granada surrounds the humble tapas. Now previously I wrote that san Sebstastian has the best tapas (pinxtos) I have tasted… that still remains, but unlike san Sebastian and like the rest of Spain in Granada, tapas come free everytime you buy drinks!
That’s right people, if you order a round of drinks, don’t be surprised if you find that you’ve scored a decent dinner as well! Though I don’t think the tapas will win any awards… still decent for a €2 beer and a few sides to boot
What better way to finish an epic day in Granada by visting two of the most happening places.
Bellagio
A new chic bar serving up delicious cocktails. Entry is €10 but includes a drink… not bad value if you ask me. If you are planning to bust a move probably not the best place to do it, however I can suggest…
Mae West
Rocking nightclub for the young and free. Two big rooms, various terrace areas rocking party anthems and Spanish pop songs. Good fun! And also includes a free drink on entry.
Accommodation
Granada had some of the cheapest 4 star accommodation I’ve seen… ever. £38/night twin share!? I could have been lucky and scored a sale but that’s insanely cheap! The place I stayed at was the Senator hotel, which was slightly out of town (about a €5 cab ride into the centre square. Not the newest hotel going around but has everything you need in terms of facilities. Be warned though the pool is not included in the price and unavailable during siesta time 2-5pm!
Granada has been spoken highly of by many friends and other travellers alike. I couldn’t’ understand the appeal until I experienced it first hand. The beautiful Alhambra with the mountainous backdrop , friendly locals, hot weather, Free tapas with drinks and the laid back Spanish lifestyle pretty hard to come up with a better formula for a weekend getaway! Once again Espana you’ve done it again another city I’d highly recommend.
JD
Malaga, Spain
Known for: The Airport to fly to, in order to reach Marbella, Antonio Bandereas, Pablo Picasso
Hola from the Andalusia region of Spain. This is my second time to Malaga having visited their early October 2012.
On my last visit, the weather was slightly cooler and less busy as it officially the offpeak season. I met some very cool peeps in my hostel (Oasis hostel for those looking for a good clean place to stay. On the top of the hostel is a uptown chic rooftop bar which you should definitely check out).
I also explored a few of the main sights (moorish castles), went on a walking tour (see below for details), tried some tapas and went on a 2 man pub crawl with one other person who didn’t’ drink at all. A ‘Wild’ holiday you could call it & Real character building stuff lol.
So a disclaimer that this post is kind of boring I’ll admit, but probably useful if you are wanting to get some a rundown of the main sights in Malaga!
One tip I can give is to take the subway into town, it’ll cost you less than €2 and will have you in town in less than 15 minutes (much quicker than the cab). A cab ride into town will set you back €15. To get to the train station from the airport as you come out of arrivals head toward you left and cross the two streets in front of you. There you should see a subway sign.
http://www.gomarbella.com/malaga-airport/trains/trains.htm
Click on the link should you wish to view more detailed directions
Main Attractions
I managed to track down a site which summarised what I thought to be the main sights. Instead of re-inventing the wheel I’ve included the link below.
http://www.spain-holiday.com/blog/photographical-journey-through-malagas-top-15-sights.php
Some of the highlights for me.
Teatero Cervantes:
Antonio Banderasis rumoured to come back to his hometown once a year and this theatre is where it all began for Mr Bandereas. Though he has been away from the big screen for a while now (though I could be completely wrong as I hardly watch movies) he’s still one of the cities favourite sons. Now adays the theatre hosts opera’s and other popular events.
Plaza de Constitution:
One of the main squares in the city centre. The distinguishing feature about this square is the renaissance styled fountain to the left of the square. Now if I remember correctly my walking tour guide mentioned that the fountain has travelled the world more than most of the city’s citizens. It was built in Italy and later shipped to Malaga, however during the first voyage the ship was attacked and the fountain was lost. It was then re-commissioned and ship again to its final destination. Now if anyone goes on the walking tour, please feel free to comment so that I have the story right! I tried googling the history but couldn’t get anything!
http://www.panchotours.com/tour/7/malaga.php
Magaluetta Beach
The City’s local beach. Not the cleanest beach, as the sand is quite dirty but hey a beach’s a beach. Don’t be surprised if you see more flesh than you would at the beaches back home as female beach goers tend to sunbake “euro style” (tops off)
There also a pier on near Magueletta beach which has high street fashion shops as well as quality restaurants to view the sunset.
Malaga is often a forgotten destination as it is the gateway to other popular tourist destinations such as Marbella, Torremolinos and Granada. It’s a town where you can relax, enjoy some good food, weather and mix in and amongst the local crowd. Once again Spain has another city that I would happily come back to!
JD
Riga, Latvia
Known for: Having a currency stronger than the British pound ) GBP
This week see me in Riga, the capital of Latvia in eastern part of Europe. Sadly this city has been hotspot for Brits who visit this city for their Stag do’s / Bucks parties as alcohol is quite cheap and local women are drop dead gorgeous. I had also read that the Latvians aren’t as found of Brits, as the Brits are of their women and as a result some bars do not allow tourists in (Even if you are of the Asian persuasion in my case lol).Unfortunately for me, I was stuck in a plane with at least 3 different stag groups. One of the groups were extremely rowdy, trying to create what they called a “party atmosphere” with their slurred northern English accents, unfortunate looks and lack of respect of other people. One of them even had the nerve to tell a Latvian man to his face “we’re going to F*** up your town something stupid this weekend …”. There were also young children within earshot of this bell end. For those don’t know what a bell end is… check it out on urban dictionary 😛
I don’t normally speak negatively about places/people but this kind of behavior has to be publicly shamed and discouraged. I’m all for stag do’s but being a public nuisance is a different thing altogether.
Plane ride aside I quickly (along with my travel crew of 3 other people, Ann, Ada and Kev) navigated our hotel in the city of Riga. My initial perception of Eastern European cities was one of war torn cities in the rebuild stage…(damn that Eurotrip movie!) however to my surprise Riga City’s centre was very clean, modern and quite pretty with the mix of old and new architecture throughout the city. As we landed on a Friday night, the locals we passed were extremely well dressed and you could have easily been mistaken into thinking you were in Paris or Stockholm or some other cosmopolitan city.
Our Friday night landed us in McDonalds satisfying our hungry bellies (yes Big Mac’s tastes the same in Riga as it does in London and Melbourne!) and chatting about why the local kids we’re staring through the window at us. We deduced that it was either
a) They thought PSY and his crew were in the house and wanted us to “Gangnam style“ (so 2012)
b) A little curious – as not too many Asian peeps pass through the city.
c) Combination of both!
The Following day we took a bike tour around the city to see the sights both around the city centre and also the surrounding suburbs to see the “Real Riga”. The bike tour was more bike ride than tour so I cannot unleash too much trivia knowledge for you this time round! The one thing that was explained is that Art Noveau is very popular in Riga, so much so the city centre (Albert street) is a UNESCO heritage site celebrating the collection of Art Noveau buildings. I think the distinguishing feature of this art style is the decorative pieces on windows & balconies which differ from traditional architecture. Ok you got me… I got no idea on art… but at least I tried right?!
The other main site is the Freedom monument which pays tribute Latvia’s independence from Russia (Geez I hope I remembered that correctly!) Sitting atop the monument is ‘Milda’ holding three rings representing the three regions of the country. The Opera house is another landmark building in Riga. It is a majestic building which sits next to one of the city’s park and on a summers day it is a popular venue for newlyweds (wedding photos) and sunbathers/people watchers alike. We watch about 3 different newlyweds take photos in the same spot within an hour!
We also managed to eat some traditional Latvian grub which was described to us as pork and potatoes! Nonetheless we tried the local food at a traditional “pub” which had let’s just say a very unique atmosphere to it (smelt too much like tinkle for my liking!) but the locals there were HUMONGOUS! I guess the pork and potatoes must work after all.
The nightlife in Riga is surprising diverse and we didn’t come across any stag groups at all. I’m guessing they must have been busy exploring the seedier side of town! Riga has numerous hole the wall bars and some very plush clubs. We checked out “The Club” (original name right!?) I must add this place had THE BEST music I have heard in a club for awhile and it was good the ENTIRE night. It played commercial house/party anthems… the kind of songs where everyone has heard it on the radio and probably know the words too. We met a few locals, who were very friendly, but the music was kind of loud (and damn catchy!) so we figured it was more fun to speak a little less and dance & drink a little more!
After a serious zumba-type workout we slowly stumbled back to our hotel… but something was a little different with the night sky… it still looked like 9pm! Either way it was a good opportunity to take some panoramic photos (at 3am) and some selfies for good measure!
After almost missing breakfast the following morning what better way to recover from a slightly boozy night but to head to the local beach!
Jurmala is the town’s local beach with its own outdoor beach bar and some of the best beach shore I have seen in Europe. The water was a tad murky but it was too cold to swim anyway! To get there it’s a short 20 min train ride of the city’s central station (near the opera house). Ticket costs around £1 one way. Almost everyone who catches this train is a local so it’s fun mixing in and amongst the local crowd. Turns out the day we went it also coincided with big cycling event which gave the beach town an awesome buzz.
Riga has opened my eyes to how beautiful and underrated Eastern Europe is. Of course when people think Europe its more the western countries in the spotlight, but for those who have time and are a little curious definitely check out Riga! I hear the neighbouring country of Estonia is just as pretty and I one day hope to check it out for myself.
Paldies!
JD
San Sebastian, Spain
Known for: Tapas (pintxos), Real sociedad,
Ola from San Sebastian’s Spain situated in the north east of España which also extremely close to the French border (as many people fly to the nearby town of Biarritz and then catch a bus toward the township).
FOOD / PINXTOS
The main attraction of San Sebastian is the food, the town has several Michelin starred restaurants however budget constraints did not allow me to scope out those restaurants this time round. I instead checked out the numerous pintxos bars (tapas bar) and gorged myself on snack sized dishes of culinary perfection. One thing I can say about Spanish food is that it is very diverse. They have a vast variety of food options on their menus, including fresh seafood, chicken & beef kebabs and foie gras.
Some of the ‘signature pintxos’ from the area included mushroom risotto, beef steak (tender and juicy) and a simple yet sublime calamari dish.
It’s an uncomfortable feeling at the end of each meal after having stuffed your face with as much food as you can, but I’m sure my taste buds were loving it at the time! Even the solo traveler would love this concept as they would be able to sample numerous dishes without filling up too quickly.
Drink sizes follow suit and are ample amount to give you a flavour for the local drinks without overdoing it too. The pintxos staff work up quite a sweat serving loads of customers streaming constantly, but they manage to get to everyone in a speedy and efficient manner which is a spectacle in itself and they do it with a smile on their face the whole time.
MORE THAN JUST FOOD
By some stroke of luck, that weekend the town was holding a music and culture festival where various performances “popped up” throughout the town, ranging from reggae to big band to even a full on opera performance(which I checked out for the first act and left because I was falling asleep lol). It’s great to see that live music is well alive and was very grateful to have experienced it during my stay.
SUN AND SURF
Part of me was really looking forward to some sun, surf and sand. After booking this trip well in advance (6 months!) I was hopeful that I’d return to London looking like a bronzed Korean pop star.
I’ve realised that as an Australian I have never ever surfed. Don’t get me wrong I love the water (after all I’m an Aquarius) and a good beach, however back in oz the closest surf beach was over 2-3 hours away so it’s one of those things I put off till later…. Sadly it will have to wait a little longer. While the town has one of the most scenic bays and surf beach within a 5 minute walk of each other, the weather was not on our side this time round. San Sebastián is renowned for its surf scene and pro surfers pass through the town fairly regularly.
La Concha bay is one of the prettiest bays I’ve ever seen, I could only imagine a populated sand shore on a hot summers day, with the aqua waters crashing softly whilst sun bathers lay there trying to achieve their perfect tan. There are also other H2O related activities (when the sun is out) jet skis, kayaking etc.
If the weather is not so great whilst you are travelling to San Sebastian I HIGHLY recommend paying a visit to the only spa and relaxation centre in the town called La perla.
This unique spa centre offers the usual gym and spa facilities you would expect from a decent establishment, however they differentiate themselves but having salt water spa pools and a salt water ice bath as well. They have different pools which have spa jets targeting different areas of your body. It also backs on to the beach, so if you feel like taking a refreshing dive into the ocean that’s an option too!
A 5 hour pass will set you back about 35 euro…. But it’s worth every cent 🙂
If the weather is on your side I would also recommend hiring a bike to cycle around the town. The city centre (old town etc) can be explored by foot, but to cover the city fringe areas and the various lookout points its far quicker (and easier on your feet if you cycle) just remember . A day’s bike hire is around €15 but you will get to see a lot more this way.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE WALKING:
Mountain Igeldo is the mountain furthest away from the old town and has the better view of the bay and the city, you can take a cable car there or sweat it out like we did and walk up the hill lol.
There is also a dated theme park atop of the mountain. And by dated I mean 1990’s
Monte Urgull Closer to the old a 20 min hike a castle awaits at the top, a steep and scenic walk, although views are blocked by the treetops, but a good way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the ever so busy old town.
BLOOPERS
With every trip I encounter my fair share of bloopers, luckily this trip they were all concentrated in the first few hours of me being there!
Faulty GPS (again) this time the gps on my phone told me we were roughly three kilometres from our hotel. So why not take a cab…. Off we went, loaded our bags, “Hotel Silken please” I asked in my best Spanglish accent.
The driver gave me an confused/irritated look and pointed to the building 20 meters to the right of the taxi and began unloading our bag lol with this I sheepishly retrieved my bag and laughed all the way to the reception of the hotel. In the picture the hotel is the building just behind the buses!
- After successfully finding the hotel we grabbed a quick bite to eat from the pinxtos bar across the road from our hotel and the bus station. We finished our meals and paid for the delicious food. I strangely however thought it was okay to leaving the premises and take my drink and the glass with me lol… luckily my mate Kevin reminded me that I may have to return it to its rightful owner.
- Lastly somehow I managed to lose my camera charger somewhere along the way. I searched high and low but to no avail, but back in London I ordered a new one (original!) online conveniently, The only supplier of original canon chargers online hail from…. Spain how ironic!
Gracias San Sebastian for your delectable pintxos, picture perfect beach and musically talented citizens, this has been one of my most enjoyable and relaxing trips in a while and a destination I would most definitely visit again.
JD
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Known for: Towns on cliff faces, Breath-taking scenery, Crazy drivers, Tasty food
This week sees me travel to Italy for the second time this year, but this time to the Amalfi Coast. For those not too familiar with the area, you may have heard of famous volcano – Mt Vesuvius and the nearby town of Pompeii which was covered in ash/molten rock in 79AD I believe? Basically the Amalfi coast is a spectacular coast line which starts in the quaint and friendly town of Positano, and stretches all the way passes several towns and finishes in the urban streets of Salerno.
Pompeii and Sorrento:
After catching the “red eye” flight, the first flight of the day that leaves London at 6am I arrived a few hours in the 3rd largest Italian city in Naples. Unfortunately due to time constraints I chose to skip this town and head straight toward Pompeii. Traveling with my friend and his sister we backed our Asian driving skills and equipped ourselves with a car (The good ‘ol trusty fiat) and a gps in search of Pompeii.
Lesson learnt: Italian drivers are crrazzzzzy drivers!!
After pulling out from the rental hire car spot we were tasked with trying to turn left from the right hand lane. Sure this sounds simple enough for all those countries not in the commonwealth, but for us folk who are used to driving on the left hand side of the road and a right hand drive car, this was especially nerve racking. Let me illustrate
Ideally this is how you should turn left (on the left). In Naples it look more like this (right) lol. The blue car represents the car we were in. Chaos reigns and the bravest individual turns first lol. Eventually, we made it after about 10 minutes giving way to all the crazy Italian drivers and waiting for a clear passage (well as clear as it could be)
Having reached Pompeii about an hour later we explored the ruins of the city. The site itself is humongous and it’s hard to conceive that a prosperous town (it had its own amphitheatre! ) such as Pompeii was decimated in a matter of moments. I would have liked to explored more of the ruins and learnt about the history, but as fate would have it we were on a fairly tight schedule. After a quick 1 hour tour of the site, off we went back toward the first night stop in Sorrento.
50 minutes later we arrived in the vibrant town of Sorrento. The town is predominantly all tourists, as this is the closest port to the popular island of Capri. It is very clean and in most stores you will see the word ‘limoncello’ throughout the town.
Limoncello is a lemon liqueur famous throughout the region and the citrus fruit grown locally. The lemons look like they are on some “fructose steroids”! They are humongous. It is consumed chilled and by chilled I mean the alcohol is stored in the freezer so it is very refreshing on a warm day. Since I have been in London for the past year, 19 degrees is hot in my books!
Unfortunately the hotel we were staying it is quite far away from Sorrento town centre. The GPS to this point had been in great getting us to where we needed to get to, however finding this hotel seemed to be an issue as the GPS would tell us that we had reached the hotel several times however we found ourselves outside abandoned churches and down little streets that just seemed odd.
With each turn the GPS told us to go down, the roads got progressively narrower and narrower until BOOOMMMM…HISSSSSSSSSSs…. “lucky we got the added insurance ey!” I commented at the busted tyre.
I suppose it was a blessing in disguise because after playing charades with a friendly Italian man he informed us that the roads would only get narrower meaning that we would have got stuck sooner or later!
10 mins later and a calm head my friend and I managed to change the tire in quick smart time.
A special shout out to Dad! Thanks for teaching me / forcing me to jack up the car for you on several occasions throughout my teens, it came in very useful this time.
After that hair raising encounter we returned back to the town centre in Sorrento, enjoyed the beautiful sunset, and tucked into some delicious seafood pasta. Not a bad way to end an eventful day.
The Isle of Capri. (Pronounced caar-pree)
Just as a side note I’ve noticed that there seems to be a love affair between Americans and the country of Italy, I haven’t figured out why, but I’ve been told it has something to do with Rick Steves. If anyone knows why please comment, I’m just curious :o)
But I digress, the second day was a full day tour to the island of Capri. The Island of Capri only has if I recall like 13,000 full time residents yet more than 2 million people pass through every year.
One of best known sites of Capri is the blue grotto, where it was said to be Julius Caesar and Tiberius private pool back ancient roman times.
In fact they enjoyed living in Capri so much the Roman empire was ruled from Capri for a period of time. To get into the grotto itself you board a tiny row boat, duck your head and let your boat captain pull you through the entrance. 
Once you are in, the sunlight gives the water this luminous & emerald/sapphire glow which is quite special indeed. If you look carefully you can also see plenty of fish swimming about too.
There is a beautiful lookout point (Monte Solaro) at Anacapri where you take a scenic 15 min chairlift up to the summit and marvel at spectacular views. From the summit you can see the famous Faraglioni – three towering rocks that are on most Capri postcards and tourist campaigns.
The Augustus gardens are also worth checking out and yes there are more beautiful viewpoints to see when you get there. There are a few public beaches about too for those sun lovers. Be careful though as the beaches are pebble beaches! I’ve only listed a few of the places we checked out, but if want to get a little more detailed information about the place I’ve placed the link below. http://www.capri.com/
For such a small island there is so much on offer! A burning question which I forgot to ask was – do capricciosa pizza originate from Capri? I guess I’ll never know lol
Ravello/Positano
Next stop was the charming town of Positano with its every so friendly locals, and labyrinth like streets. This picturequese towns lies on a cliff face is a sight to behold on a clear day. As the sun sets over the mountains the town starts to light up and the panoramic view is simply stunning. The drive into the town is like something out of a movie.
The road is a one way street which takes you from the top of the mountain to the city centre, passing restaurants, shops, mechanics along the way. The road is wide enough for one small European car, and you are so close to the buildings you could quite easily steals someone’s lunch if you put your hand slightly out of the window!
The hotel we stayed at was a charming and welcoming family run establishment. When we arrived we greeted the lady at the desk with the standard “Ciao” and introduced ourselves and mentioned that we had a booking. She smiled warmly and commented “I know, I’ve been expecting you”. Talk about impressive customer service.
One of the towns we stopped off at was the quaint town of Ravello. The main attraction of this town are the two villa’s. We visited the larger of the two (villa Cimbrone) which sits atop yet another cliff face and overlooks the ocean.
Apart from being slightly motion sick on the way to the town, from the sharp turns as a result of my friend thinking he was a rally car driver, it was a great way to start the morning. We stopped off for lunch at an ex-Michelin starred restaurant with a marvellous view. In the afternoon we took to the pebble beach in Positano and sleep the rest of the day away! The relaxing pace of this trip truly was fantastic 
Mt Vesuvius
Only the final day we decided to visit Mt Vesuvius. After an epic 3 hour drive (yes we got lost) traversing through impossible roads, cows and climb
ing the mountainous roads to the top of Vesuvius national park, we thought we had reached the summit. Until we realised we had only reached the entrance to park lol. We then embarked on a hike to the top of the volcano top glimpse into the crater. Apparently this is still the only active volcano in Europe, but is considered dormant, (otherwise we’d be toast!) so its active but not exploding I guess.
It was a bit misty that day which was not ideal, but the crater was huge so it is hard to comprehend what the area would have been like when it was shooting out molten rock.
An action-packed 4 day weekend away to the Amalfi coast was exactly what just what the doctor ordered. There is so much variety and if you cannot find something you enjoy along the way, I’d be very surprise. Amazing food, breath-taking scenery, life threatening traffic, chapters and chapters of history. This could be a few of the reasons as to why the Americans love Italy so much!
JD
Stockholm, Sweden
Destination: Stockholm, Sweden
Other names: N/A (or if anyone knows please feel free to comment)
Known for: ABBA, Tennis talent, Good looking people, IKEA, Nudie Jeans, a Swedish House Mafia
Ah Stockholm, legend tells of a city where blond haired, blue eyed GQ and Victoria Secrets Models roam the streets, in a picturesque city and probably one of the world’s most liveable too. This weekend was an excursion to explore unofficial capital Scandinavia!
Attractions
Usually the way I like to approach weekend excursions is to pack the days full of sightseeing and understanding the history of the city. A few people I know often ‘wing it’ and stroll through the city. I have tried this before and while it is very relaxing it does not provide any context to appreciate the historic sights and buildings you pass by. So I try to get on a city tour of some sort at the very least and the best tours are usually the Free walking tours. They are free in that there is no set amount for the tour, but if you think the tour was worthwhile (normally they are very information and fun) a tip will be graciously accepted.
I managed to get onto a walking tour with an excellent guide who explained the history of Sweden, how it territory once included Norway and Finland as well. He went on to speak about the Swedish Royal family throughout the ages including the most recent princess who married her gym instructor!
We were educated about other interesting facts including the concept of ‘Stockholm syndrome’ which refers to a phenomenon where hostages empathise with their captors and take their side. This actually happened in a bank central Stockholm back in the 70’s.
The city itself is extremely clean and sits on a number of islands. It has a charming old town where ‘hole in the wall café’s and souvenir stores can be found on every corner. One of the main attractions in the old town is the Nobel Museum, dedicated to one of Sweden’s most famous personalities, Alfred Nobel (Creator of the Nobel Prize).
I had always heard of the Nobel peace prize and the prize for economics but did not realise that there were 5 prizes in Alfred Nobel’s original will (Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace). Being the inventor of dynamite and unlucky in love he was set to leave a large fortune behind, it wasn’t until his own brother was killed in an explosives accident and a French newspaper mistook his brother for himself, that he realised what the world thought of him. Labelled the “merchant of death” as many lives had been lost through the use of his invention, Alfred wanted to leave his mark on the world for the better, hence the creation of the Nobel prizes which is awarded to those who brought the greatest benefit to mankind. Famous recipients include Marie Curie, Mother Teresa, Martin Luthor King, Albert Einstein just to name a few
The other placed we checked out was Skansen island. Unfortunately the number 1 attraction on trip advisor ‘Vasa museum’ was under renovation so I checked out the open air museum instead, which is HUGE and a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon in the Scandinavian sun.
Nightlife
A quick google search of Stockholm nightlife warned visitors about how difficult it can be to get into nightspots, especially for guys. Glad to say playing it safe and packing an extra pair of shoes and blazer granted us entry into two of the swankiest clubs in town! Ambassadeer Club & Berns Hotel.
Both highly recommended – just an FYI entry is usually £20-£30
Below is a link to pictures from nightspots in Sweden. I can confirm that the girls and guys do look just as good in real life!
Http://stureplan.se/bilder/nattklub/
Swedish Myths & Legends!
MYTH: Everyone is Sweden is good looking and 6ft plus. Women look like Scarlet Johansson and the men look like Thor (Chris Hemsworth – even though he is Australian lol).
RESULT: Fact, on a whole Swedish people are definitely trendier, well groomed and fashion forward. Thier natural beauty are very easy on the eyes. I would say 8/10 people could easily become fashion models in other countries.
Height wise the average height of Swedes is noticeably higher than say Spain or Portugal so yes I’d say that this is fairly accurate (generally speaking). I also noticed the split of brunettes to blondes is roughly 50:50 and not 100:0 as I once thought lol.
MYTH: Sweden is ridiculously expensive.
RESULT: Fiction, I would say it’s slightly more expensive than other “liveable cities”. Alcohol is an exception, as it is highly taxed (a round of top shelf gin and tonics (3 drinks) cost £50/$75), however that was probably more my own fault for buying the most expensive drink in the poshest club in Stockholm. Food is reasonable and of very good quality as well. Swedish designed clothes are apparently cheaper here as well (although to be honest, I had ran out of money by Sunday lol so this could be seen as hypocritical). A Big Mac meal and Mc Flurry cost 80SEK / £8 / $12
Having missed breakfast on our last day, on a count of arriving home at 4am and spontaneously singing Peter Andre’s mysterious girl, there was definitely a feeling of not enough time and unfinished business in Sweden. I’m very sure I’ll be back again! Stay beautiful Stockholm I’ll see you real soon!
JD
Meribel, France
Bonjour from Meribel, France This is the first time in almost a year that I have been able to have a week off without the stress of trying to find a job. Goes without saying I was really excited for this trip, more so to have some time off work and recharge
This post is dedicated to the spectacular scenery of the French alps. I highly recommend getting a 3 valley pass if you go, as there are a tremendous amount of runs you can navigate down and the queues for the lift are minimal, at least when I went
A Big Thank-You to my good friends Tak and Michelle, for organising the trip, although battered and sore at the end of the trip, one of the highlights over here that’s for sure!
The JD Chronicles 
