I love Italy, and this was my third visit to Rome. I highly recommend visiting this beautiful city (and all of Italy – from the top to the bottom of the heel is amazing).
There is a saying about Rome – that if you lived there your entire life there, you would not see everything. For historians, this is a mecca. For everyone, its majestic.
This time, my prerogative was to see my friends, but I managed to slip in some cultural sights too – Saint Peters and several beautiful fountains and streets.
Amazing sculpture
St Peters
Inside St Peters
Le Swiss Guards
I walked from my hotel (on via Cola di Rienzo) over a bridge to the Spanish steps. Then to the Trevi fountain. It was packed with tourists so I recommend to go early!
About twenty years ago, I met a lady – Roberta, in India. Immediately I felt comfortable with her company. She is one of my tribe. We have kept in touch over the years and I have seen her on my visits to Rome. Meeting again was like no years had passed and we shared stories, about our friends, our travels and Netflix recommendations. It was just as we had seen each other yesterday.
Also I had another dear friend there – Giovanna. I wanted to catch up with who was in Rome for three months and is originally from Colombia. We met in flamenco classes in Madrid. She is very interesting person. Trained phycologist and wonderful dancer too. I was with her and her family for Christmas for 2017 in Colombia.
On my second visit to Vienna, I had an epiphany, I don’t holiday. I mission. My first visit was to ice skate. And see as much as I could…. this included – eating the World famous sacher torte – a very rich chocolate cake – invented by Austrian Franz Sacher in 1832 for Prince Wenzel von Metternich.
On that first visit, I indulged in a horse drawn cart ride through the city. The driver kept leaning back to share secrets about the city – but frankly I could only understand every second or third word (there was a lot of smiling and nodding in response). Also I visited a couple of art galleries, trouped through the beautiful streets, shopped just a little and ate my way through the city.
My second and further visits were slightly more relaxed, but still at 100 mile per hour.
The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is certainly a beautiful thing to see. The horses are from Slovenia originally. They were instrumental in battle and are very nimble. Photography is strictly forbidden and the staff very quickly stop any happy snappers.
Vienna’s ice rink is in front of the parliament square – the Rathaus – a beautiful building. And the primary rink is right in front. Ice paths circle around beautiful sculptures and trees.
Ten visits to Amsterdam for King & Queens day warrants its own special place. Each one was unique and perfectly exhausting.
The tradition for this time is to wear orange (this comes from the L’Orange royal family). For 90% of the population, its not a good look. And being a ginger, its definitely not the best colour for my tepid complexion.
Take a ukulele clubbing! (Pete is a litte pissed off – he had broken his wires… three times. Ahem)
King’s Day carnival is held on 27 April (his official birthday – Queen’s day was the pre-cursor for this and shuffled to the last weekend of April, but after the Queen’s abdication the new King set it to his birthday). More then a million people tumble into the streets and onto the canals to paint the town orange at one of the world’s biggest street parties. You can see live jazz, techno, R & B and other sorts of music displays on the streets.
If you’re a history buff like me, or just like a bit of old stuff, then you’ll definitely want to add Athens, Greece to your travel bucket list. This ancient city is packed full of stunning sights, delicious food, and unforgettable experiences.
First up, let’s talk about the food. If you’re a meat lover, then you’re in for a treat. Greek food is renowned for its lamb dishes, and they did not disappoint. I had the pleasure of trying some of the most succulent and flavorful lamb I’ve ever tasted, slow-cooked to perfection with herbs and spices. Whether you’re trying a traditional gyro, souvlaki, or kleftiko, you’re in for a mouth-watering treat.
Now, onto the sights. You simply cannot visit Athens without checking out the Parthenon on Acropolis. Side note: The Acropolis is the high hill that the Parthenon was built on. This ancient temple is one of the most iconic landmarks in Greece and is a must-see for anyone visiting Athens. Below the structure, the Acropolis museum resides in parallel, many of the carvings have been preserved inside – away from environmental damage, and it is easy to see how the structure may have been in its heyday. At night, the Parthenon is lit up like a magnificent jewel.
But the Acropolis is just the beginning. Athens and the surrounding islands are full of museums and artefacts that will transport you back in time. From ancient pottery to intricate sculptures, their museums do an excellent job of showcasing the history of Greece.
One of my favourite experiences in Athens was visiting the National Archaeological Museum. I spent hours wandering the halls, marvelling at the ancient artefacts on display. From the intricately designed golden masks of Mycenae to the awe-inspiring statues of ancient gods and goddesses, the museum was a treasure trove of history and culture.
Now for the real fun, if you have time, jump on a ferry to one of the many islands. I visited the Island of Hyrda and enjoyed a beautiful Mediterranean lunch at the Ostria Restaurant, serving fresh seafood.
I hired a quad bike which was a hefty little power horse. Initially, I was quite nervous and started out like a little old granny, putt putt putting around the roads to various historic sites. By the end of the day, my confidence had grown somewhat and I was now hooning around the place with my hair trailing behind.
As someone who loves to learn about the history and different cultures, Athens was an absolute dream come true. The city is full of rich history, stunning architecture, and delicious food, and I can’t recommend it enough. So if you’re looking for your next travel destination, make sure to add Athens to your list – you won’t regret it!
I stayed with a lovely guy – Yannis through Airbnb. He is a gracious host and has two adorable cats. You can find his home here: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/2948623?source_impression_id=p3_1679402729_KDwxTFZtqEIkFAWi
Budapest is a beautiful city steeped in history, the city was named as such in 1873 with the convergence of three neighbouring cities – Pest, Buda and Óbuda.
Besides the beautiful Parliament Building, which is positioned on the river in the Pest side of the city, there is an abundance of beautiful buildings to see there. The best viewing of the Parliament Building is from across the river from the Buda Castle.
Without doubt a visit to Budapest is not complete without a visit to the New York New York cafe – touted as the most beautiful cafe in the World. And when you visit you will probably agree.
New York New York Cafe Ceiling
The Central Market Hall is very interesting, you will find an assortment of fresh food and oddly shaped salamis (Hungarians really love salami), as well as traditional clothing.
Note that nothing much is open on Sundays, so you might want to buy a snack for breakfast on Saturday to tide you over until you can find a restaurant.
I wasn’t aware at the time, but Budapest has an extensive thermal spa pool (Széchenyi) and is apparently quite well known for it. So definitely pack your swimmers for this visit! There are three pools outside and indoors there are fifteen smaller mineral pools that are known for their remedial benefits (however the smell might put you off a little). Towels are available for hire, so if you can, take one along and also a swimming cap.
We stayed at the Corinthia Palace. Breakfast is quite amazing – but as it should be for 30€ per person!! That does include à la carte and the largest breakfast buffet I have ever seen. Chefs cook fresh pancakes, waffles, bacon etc which can be washed down with a glass of bubbles.
You can also find one of the World’s most stunning church’s – St Stephen’s Basilica, definitely worthy of a visit. It’s ornate Neoclassical interior is stunning and it is very easy to spend several hours admiring the craftsman ship.
I truly love Madrid and have visited several times. One trip I went for a week to attend Flamenco and Spanish classes. The Flamenco class every day for three hours. Some girls dance for six or more! It’s hard work.
The Flamenco school had several rooms and the class that I was in had about nine students. All stamping away in rhythm. The room had a wall of glass that would fog up and eventually start dripping from condensation. Our teacher would stand in the corner with a cane, first demonstrating the steps to take and then tapping her cane to the beat to keep us in time.
Public transport is very cheap in Madrid – it’s only a couple of Euros to get from the airport to the centre. Wear comfortable shoes because you will do a lot of walking.
One of my favourite hotels is the Vincci Capitol Hotel – the location is excellent (next to Callao metro) with modern decor. It features a roof top terrace overlooking the city with sun lounges. My bedroom was fantastic – mood lighting options included ‘relax’ and ‘awake’ as well as being adjustable. There is a beautiful bar with a view of Calle Gran Via – its easy to just watch the traffic snake through the city.
The best shopping area in Madrid is Chueca. There are several shops brimming with clothes, shoes and furniture. One a visit in 2007, I bought a side table but the shop couldn’t provide shipping so I schlepped it back myself. I’d like to mention that the table’s top is glass and I was totally expecting it to be smashed to smithereens – but was very pleasantly surprised to unwrap it unscathed.
A visit to Museum del Prado is a must – it houses an extensive collection of Goya, Diego Velázquez and Rubens. The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (founded in 1744) has a great collection of sculpture, modern art and a truckload of religious relics. The Royal Palace is an amazing building with over 3000 rooms! A stroll through the gardens is very relaxing.
Madrileñas speak very rapidly so you might find them to be one of the more difficult Spanish accents to understand.
I visit Paris at least once a year. The Marais is a wonderful place to stroll around and the Musée d’Orsay is one of my favourite museums in the world.
From London, the Eurostar is the best way to get there. It used to run from Waterloo but changed to Kings Cross in 2007. And it is very reasonable to go just for a day – taking an early morning train and returning in the evening.
I have stayed in the Latin quarter which still hangs on to its bohemia roots. (Stay away from the night life on Champs-Élysées – unless you enjoy trash.)
Do visit Château de Versailles – its a train ride from centre of Paris. There is a walking hall of mirrors inside and the most beautiful Orangerie. Its quite nice to boat around the impressive man made lake.
My favourite restaurant – Chez Paul is in the Marais and was recently featured in ‘The Marvellous Mrs Maisel’ – which pissed me off a bit as now everyone knows about this hidden gem. (Be impossible to get in now.)
Coincidently, a friend of mine – Gwen (who lives in Amsterdam) texted about this amazing French restaurant she had found – my Chez Paul! I’ve been going for more then fifteen years! I even took my nephew there! And bless him, he decided to be adventurous and order the ‘moelle osseuse’ (I thought it would be mussels… er no. Tis bone marrow).
I’m still trying to work out how the French make such amazing omelettes! Always light and fluffy. Best in the World!
I was last in Paris May 2018 for my birthday. We went to see a show at Lido on Av. des Champs-Élysées – and yes do refer to my initial comment about trash on this avenue.
My next visit is May 2019 to see Anoushka Shankar.
