The Quarter Century Milestone

In September 2013 I turned 25; it was my first Birthday as a Mrs and my husband decided he would take me away to celebrate; so off we went to Paris.

I was rather excited, having ever only been to Disney Land Paris when I was a Kid I was looking forward to seeing the Paris monuments and being in the Parisian culture. This was also another chance for me to cross off this city off my bucket list.

As normal routine we hit the internet to build an itinerary for the few days we would be there to ensure we got the most out of our trip.

So hence forth we set off to Paris on the Eurostar.

What did we do in Paris, I believe we visited all the normal tourist places  - The Eiffel Tower, Arch Di Triomphe, The Louvre, Notre Dame and Champs Elysees, Pantheon; there were a few other places we visited these included the Love Lock Bridge and Pont Alexander III.

Getting around Paris was as easy as the other cities we have visited as they have their own Metro system too. With our travel pass in hand we were ready to see the city.

We had recommendations to visit a Chinese Restaurant called - Dragons Elysees as the food was great and the place itself rather quirky. We ventured out one evening to find the place for dinner, and we weren’t disappointed. The windows have fish tanks in them with big dragon statues;you walk into the restaurant and find yourself walking on top of glass floors being able to see fish swim beneath your feet. I was actually mesmerised by the place, even the décor was spectacular. We were then taken to our seats which were beside the fish ponds that seem to connect around the whole of the restaurant. So cool. The food was amazing, I walked out feeling about ready to pop, would totally recommend anyone who went to Paris and like Chinese food to try it out.

I was quite taken back with the beauty of the Louvre courtyard(?), we didn't however, go into the actual place as the queue was really really long, but just being outside and taking it all in was lovely and made for lovely photos.

The Arch Di Triomphe was also really cool, the architect in the monument itself is incredible and as we were classed as students (25 and under; this is very good for a quite a few museums) we got in free at the flash of our passports. Up we trundled 284 steps to get to the top and the view was incredible. (photos)

Now don’t get me wrong I know the Eiffel Tower is Paris’ most famous monument but if I am truly honest…..I wasn't that overwhelmed with it (in the day anyway). It didn't seem that tall, looked a little shabby and overrated. But this is just my opinion. That fact aside, we spent the few Euros to be able to go up it; we actually walked up the steps rather than used the elevator.The views were really nice, however the few days we were there although dry it was really smoggy so even from the bottom you couldn't see the top of the Eiffel Tower.

However, one of the evenings we went back to the Eiffel Tower as I had read that on the hour there are light displays after a certain time. We ventured over after having dinner one evening, we went to a place opposite the Eiffel Tower called Trocadero.

It gave you a great view of the tower and the surroundings, and we weren't the only ones who thought that as it was packed. It was cold and a little drizzly but we stuck it out waiting for the light show to start, I was so excited as I had read good things about this and was hoping for the Eiffel Tower to be redeemed in my books. As the anticipation started settling in and as the minutes drew closer, my attention was directly focused on the tower. Then like magic bang on the hour the Eiffel Tower became this big sparkling tower of awesomeness, light blinking and flashing all over in various colours. It was awesome; it was redeemed and I will never actually forget it!

Whilst being in Paris we obviously visited the Hard Rock Café so that I could add to my collection once again.

Overall I was able to cross off another city on my bucket list, it was a really nice city and I am glad we went but it is smelly, really smelly and stupidly overpriced. If you do go to Paris make sure to take some pegs for your noses and lots and lots of money for their overpriced food and drinks.

Destination Honeymoon

This blog is going to be about our trip to Roma.

We went to Rome in the July of 2013 for our Honeymoon. Why did we pick Rome? We had received quite a few recommendations from people saying it is a romantic city, there is lots do and see, and for people like us that's good; so it became a top contender on the honeymoon destination lists. And I have to say I am glad we went with Rome.

Once we had decided on Rome, back to Trip Adviser we went to work out itineraries for the 5 days we would be in the beautiful city. With it being two days after the wedding we flew out we tried to plan as much ahead as possible, we managed to do some of this around the last final build up to the wedding.

I have to admit I did keep calling it a 'holiday' rather than our honeymoon, was always corrected. But it was just a holiday after your married, nothing was truly any different as I was still travelling under my maiden name. Glass half empty I know, haha!

Rome was glorious, it was beautifully hot (too hot) most days apart from when there was an almighty thunderstorm which lasted around half hour, then beautiful blue skies and a scorching sun followed the rest of the trip. They also have all these little water stops around the city to fill up your bottles, which I thought was a great idea.

So what did we manage to pack into the few days we were there - Colosseum, Roman Forum, St Peter's Basilica, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Vatican City, Palatine Hill, Sistine Chapel, Piazza Del Popolo, Arch of Constatine, and visited as many other museums and churches we could. Again Rome like the other cities we have been too have beautifully architectural buildings.

Piazza Del Popolo

Trevi Fountain

 St Peter's Basilica

View from the top of St Peter's Basilica

Colosseum

Inside the Colossum

Arch of Constantine

Colosseum at night

Pantheon

There truly was some beautiful places to be seen, when we did go off exploring one day we came across a second Pantheon and a little Plaza that has lovely fountains and lots of lovely little restaurants. Now one thing with Rome is that it can get expensive, we found it wasn't as expensive as some people led us to believe but if you go and eat by any of the tourist places you are going to be lulled into a very high bill. The day we came across the plaza we walked around the restaurants in the open and they wanted near 20-25 euros for a pizza, I refused to pay it. So we ventured out and down an alley or two we came across more native restaurants that weren't so tourist driven, and it was actually a really good meal. So if you do go to Rome please bare this in mind, but other than that the prices were as expected.

Now onto one of my favourite things about Italy, the Gelato. God dam it is the best thing I have tasted, I think I had some pretty much every day, maybe even twice one day; it was hot and I was on holiday (I mean Honeymoon). The good thing about Gelato is that you never seem to be too far from a Gelato shop or stand.

I am drooling just looking back at these. YUM!

Being in Rome I also took the opportunity to ensure we went to Hard Rock so I could add to my glass collection :)

Another suggestion is to see the main attractions like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps at night. The atmosphere is totally different and always seemed more extravagant in the different light. I loved going back at night to see these places in their full glory, and there was nothing better than sitting on the Spanish Steps or along the Trevi Fountain taking it all in whilst the rest of the world went about their business.

I think this pretty much sums this trip up. It was amazing, hot and will forever hold a place in my heart.

From London to Berlin

Hi Everyone, Now on to our next adventure this time we went to Berlin; Germany.

We went to Berlin the first time in February 2013 for my Husbands birthday. It seemed like a cheap place to go with lots of history and culture, perfect.

I won’t talk about the accommodation as that touches a nerve with me still; let’s just say it was awful.

Anyway, so Berlin. This place has so much to offer in terms of being a tourist, the Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Berlin Wall, Reichstag Building, The TV Tower (Fernsehturn Berlin), Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, Alexanderplatz, Berlin Zoological Garden, Charlottenburg Palace, Topography of Terror, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Tiepark Berlin, Altes Museum, Botanical Garden and endless amounts of beautiful buildings Churches, museums and cathedrals. There is so much more but these are the main places that we went too.

 It was cold, no not cold absolutely freezing! Way into the minus figures every night, but we persevered and didn't seem to mind. All the walking around keeps you rather toasty. Berlin like Vienna, also had the U-Bahn systems, so getting around the city was incredibly easy with the travel cards that we purchased, hop on one stop; hop off another.

The people were lovely and polite and I felt so safe walking around the city it’s unreal. Although they obviously mostly speak German as it is a tourist city you are never far from someone who speaks English; at the hotels, restaurants and local shops. Unless you fancy a dab hand at trying to learn the lingo or already know it (not jealous at all) you won’t have any issues communicating with the locals.

One place I do want to bring attention to is a restaurant called Block House, when looking at places to eat on Trip Advisor this was one of the top places to go, and they were not wrong. Block House is a chain of steak houses which are amazingly priced with great food. The main price includes a salad to start which you choose your sauce to have on your salad, followed by your choice of steak, jacket potato and ciabatta bread. It was bloody good, you can pay for extra starters, sides and puddings as you normally would but this was just the right amount. After walking out I was sad that the UK didn't have this chain, but knew right away I would have to come back! And we did, but that’s for another blog!

The second place I would urge anyone to visit is Fassbender & Rausch, what is it you ask. It is the BEST chocolatier I have ever been too. Move over Cadbury World you have major competition. They sell various bars with various cocoa percentages and have counters full of truffles and individual chocolates, they have chocolate statues around the shop and a little café/restaurant upstairs that you can also eat in. You could easily spend a small fortune in there for yourself and other people if you are bringing gifts back. It was just before Valentines that we went so they had a lot of Valentine chocolate on sale in cute little boxes with bows and ribbons. We ended up buying large bars of different cocoa consistencies for ourselves and I also brought back a small box of truffles which I was able to pick out each one. Yet again another reason why I would want to go back.

The first day we were there we went to Berlin Zoological Garden, OH MY GOSH it was incredible. Berlin Zoo is the biggest in Europe and they weren't wrong. It was huge, we spent hours wondering around the place, seeing all the animals which were very will kept and looked after unlike some zoo’s I have been too. The Zoo also had a small aquarium within its vicinity too, I felt like I was in heaven. I have always loved visiting Zoo’s and Aquariums since I was little girl.  Their cat house had lots of breeds of cats that a normal little zoo would never have. I am a huge fan of the Cat Families, Penguins, Giraffes and Sting Rays. No zoo/aquarium is complete without these in my opinion.

The second day we were there we ventured on a walking tour with a Large group of other tourists. It was great, the tour guide was brilliant, stopped at each tourist spot we visited and went over lots of facts and history of the city it was really informative and on a short trip like we were on a great way to see most of the sites in 1 day. The tour lasted around 4 hours by the end of it I ached from all the walking and my toes were just about ready to fall off from the cold. But I would say it was worth it.

The second night we were there for dinner we went to the Hard Rock Café, so a little getting to know me fact. Everywhere I go I like to see if they have a Hard Rock Café so I can bring back a glass for my collection. We had a feast of a meal to celebrate my husband’s birthday with 3 courses and just about felt ready to roll out of the place once we were done; thankfully where we were staying wasn't too far of a walk.

After 3 days it was time to say goodbye to this wondrous city I had fallen in love with and didn't want to leave, until next time Berlin.