travel diary Archives - Page 2 of 7

bloomzy / September 6, 2017

24 Hours in Oslo, Norway | A Travel Guide

It can be pretty tough visiting a new city, or country. You’re not sure where to eat, what to see, or even where to stay. Well I’m here to change all of that with my handy guides! They’re full of tips, tricks, and the best places to go. So stop worrying about how you’re going to make the most of your time in a new place; here are my recommendations for spending 24 hours in Oslo, Norway!

24 Hours in Oslo, Norway

The best banana bread in town!
- Is found at Supreme Roastworks, alongside some pretty superb coffee too. It makes for the perfect breakfast.
Walk along Grünerløkka
- The latest trendy area in Oslo is somewhat akin to London’s Shoreditch. You’ll find a variety of independent stores, designers, coffee shops and restaurants.
Coffee stop!
- Grab some caffeine to go from Tim Wendelboe – the coffee is high quality, as is the well thought out interior of this popular spot.
Architecture fans will love…
- Oslo City Hall. Tours do run but only during certain parts of the year. However you can wander in freely and walk around the gorgeous interiors.

Have Lunch in Aker Brygge
- One of Oslo’s newest developments, the harbour side district is full of restaurants, cafes and shops.
Take in some modern art at Astrup Fearnley
- The museum is also conveniantly located in the Aker Brygge district.
Take a boat around the Oslo Fjords
- Littered with beautiful islands, stunning landmarks, and enviable Summer houses, the Oslo Fjords shouldn’t be missed. Tours run throughout the day, and start from the port in front of Oslo City Hall. Times depend on season.
Vippa for dinner!
- Vippa is Oslo’s leading street food market, and you’ll find friends, couples and families enjoying a variety of cuisines alongside the sea front.

Hints and Tips for 24 Hours in Oslo:

Stay in an Airbnb
- You can choose something that suits your personal style, and it’s much more affordable than a hotel. We stayed in Inga’s stunning apartment.
Free wifi & charging in the streets
- Look out for the smart benches littered across the city. They have USB charging ports, and free wifi!
It’s expensive, but…
- Yes, Oslo is expensive but you can get your tax back on a variety of goods including clothes, homeware and food. Just ask for a tax form when purchasing your goods, and get your tax back at the airport.
Alcohol
- Spirits & wine are only sold at Vinmonopolet stores. Everything else is available in supermarkets, but isn’t sold after 6pm on a Saturday, or at all on a Sunday. However restaurants and bars serve as normal.

Well there you have it, my travel guide to 24 Hours in Oslo, Noway!
And don’t forget to check out the my other 24 Hours In… guides.

bloomzy / May 24, 2017

Danish Design Heaven at Aarhus City Hall | Denmark Guide

Aarhus City Hall | Rådhuspladsen 2, 8000 Aarhus C | Map

You know you’re an architecture geek when you base your holiday around a building. Ok well I didn’t base my whole holiday around seeing Aarhus City Hall. But it was definitely number one on my to-see list!

Aarhus City Hall

Stepping inside, I felt like I was walking into a film. Or perhaps an episode of a classic tv show. That’s the only way I can try to get across how magnificent the interior is in Aarhus City Hall. Every single detail of the building has been thought out meticulously. Right down from the gleaming gold of the banisters, to the delicate flowers adorning the walls of the marriage ceremony room. It was like stepping into Danish design heaven.

Built by Arne Jacobsen, the city hall represents Danish architecture and design at it’s finest. The building may be over 75 years old, but Aarhus City Hall is timeless.

How? When? Where?

Although the main floor is open to the public, naturally you can’t just wander around the whole of the city hall. Luckily guided tours are offered in both Danish and English, for around £9 (80DKK). These tours take place on Saturday mornings at 10-11:00 and 11:30-12:30. You’ll be able to see rooms and halls that are usually restricted to the public. And if you’re lucky – and there isn’t a wedding scheduled – you’ll be able to go into the beautiful marriage room, which is covered in hand painted flowers (matching every season). Of course some parts of the city hall are still restricted to staff only, however the tour allows you to see a side of the city hall not open to the public. It’s definitely not to be missed, whether you’re an architecture geek or not.

Don’t forget to check out more of my Denmark travel posts.

bloomzy / May 5, 2017

A Rainbow of Art at ARoS | Aarhus Travel Guide

I couldn’t decide where to start when it comes to gushing about my recent holiday to Aarhus, Denmark. The city captured my heart, and my camera (duh, I’m a blogger). So after much deliberation, I decided that my Aarhus travel guide should start at the beginning of my trip. And if it also happens to be the most colourful part, well that’s a bonus.

Aarhus Travel Guide

You may ask me “where?” when I mention Aarhus. But for fans of the Danish life, you’ll recognise it as Denmark’s second largest city – after Copenhagen, naturally. And it just so happens to be European Capital of Culture 2017. So after falling in love with Copenhagen, I decided to see what else Denmark had to offer. And with a title like the capital of culture, Aarhus seemed the perfect place.

My first stop in this new city, was the famous ARoS art museum.

ARoS

ARoS is one of the main attractions at Aarhus, and you can understand why when you notice the ‘Your Rainbow Panorama‘ at the heart of the city’s skyline. But it isn’t imposing, nor is it ghastly against the traditional red roofs. In fact it’s beautiful. Of course it’s open to your own interpretation, but to me it felt like it was saying everyone is welcome in Aarhus. However whilst it may be incredibly Instagram friendly, there’s much more to ARoS than Olafur Eliasson’s colourful masterpiece.

The museum really does feature a panorama of art. For a city that isn’t exactly on the top of the art critics list, I personally loved the installations and exhibitions currently on show. The quality of artwork and artists featured is some of the best I’ve seen. ‘No Man is an Island – The Satanic Verses’ features some big big installations, and they are certainly impressive. Yet it was ‘THE GARDEN – End of Times; Beginning of Times’ that won me over. Not only is it incredibly immersive – without becoming a novelty – but it features some thought-provoking messages, such as man’s relationship with nature.

If you’re in Aarhus, the ARoS art museum is a must visit for any culture fans.

Don’t forget to check out more of my travel posts.

bloomzy / February 17, 2017

Living Like a Local | Slovenia Travel Diary

Hello & Hvala – Slovenia Travel Diary

Whether it’s foregoing a rain coat, or getting rid of a gigantic backpack, we all try to avoid looking like a tourist when we travel. Not only for safety, but because we want to experience a country like a local. Well, at least I do anyway. I don’t mind doing all the usual tourist sights when I visit a new city. But I also want to eat where the locals eat, visit the galleries hidden down side streets, and while away my day in the little coffee shop that only the coolest “millennials” know about.

It was this – among other things – that led me to me saying yes, when my friend invited me to join him for his birthday party in Slovenia.

Living Like a Local – Slovenia Travel Diary

I was lucky enough to travel with a big group of friends this time, which meant plenty of laughs, and some new travel companions. We all hopped on a plane from London, and in less than 2 hours we were in Trieste, Italy. Wait, what? Well my friend’s hometown is actually right by the border of Italy. The neighbouring villages/towns in Slovenia reminded me of a mix of Italy and the region around the French Alps. Lots of cute cafes, local food, mountains, sun and sea. The perfect combination!

I’ve not travelled to Eastern Europe, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of Slovenia. I really enjoyed my trip though. Maybe it was because I got to spend time with my friends and with my Slovenian friend’s families. It felt comfortable, and casual. With no pressure to “make the most of the holiday” or anything like that. Highlights included: home-cooked meals, as well as trying local delicacies in some well-loved restaurants. Tip: be prepared to eat a ton of meat! We were chauffeured around some of the prettiest sights I’ve ever seen. I tried a lot of homemade alcohol (…yeah). And we partied. What better way is there to spend a holiday with friends?

In a way it felt like Slovenia was a home-away-from-home. I’ll definitely be going back, and I’ll be taking my ~~thanksgiving~~ eating pants with me!

Don’t forget to check out more of my travel posts.

bloomzy / February 13, 2017

Old Friends & New Beginnings | Cyprus Travel Diary

Old Friends & New Beginnings – Cyprus Travel Diary

Friendship is a funny thing. There are the acquaintances you meet once a year, the work colleagues, close friends, uni friends, best friends… The list goes on.

My recent trip to Cyprus was for a university friend’s wedding. This urged me to get in touch with some old friends who were also invited. You see even though we all live in London – albeit it opposite ends – we hadn’t seen each other since we graduated. I believe that friendships last the test of time, and that you don’t need to see someone everyday in order to stay friends. If you can meet someone once in a while, but it feels like nothing has changed, and you pick up exactly where you left off…well that’s ‘real friendship’. Still, part of me wondered whether the “banter” would be the same. Would we still get each other, especially with us all being at different stages in our life?

Old Friends – Cyprus Travel Diary

Weddings are always emotionally charged, but this one was different. We laughed, we even shed a few tears (read: I shed a few tears) – thanks to a beautiful ceremony/reception, and the father of the Bride’s speech. But more than that, it felt good to be amongst people I’d spent 3 days a week with for almost 4 years. It was as though things had never changed, although in actuality things had changed a lot.

New Beginnings – Cyprus Travel Diary

Seeing old friends made me realise just how far I’ve come in the past few years. I’ve moved to a new city, had some wonderful experiences, and created some awesome memories with the people closest to me.

It also got me thinking about where I’ll go next. What’s in store for little ol’ me? Maybe I’ll finally get round to planning my own wedding (I know, I’ve been lazy). Perhaps I’ll do that whilst flying around the world and creating some new memories. Whatever happens, I know that I’ll be doing it with some of the best friends anyone could ask for.

Don’t forget that you can also check out my Cyprus Travel Guide.

bloomzy / November 7, 2016

Naples to Sorrento | Italy Travel Diary

Travelling with a friend for the first time is always a bit daunting. The most difficult task being, where do you go? You may have conflicting views as to what makes the perfect Summer holiday. One of you may be a city type, the other a beach type etc. etc. You both want to make the other person happy, but ultimately come to a compromise.

So when Eva and I decided to take a short break together recently, we spent a lot of time deciding on the perfect location. Oddly enough, it wasn’t because we couldn’t agree, but because we had too many places we wanted to visit together! Finally though, we decided to pay a visit to ancient Napoli, and the gorgeous Sorrento.

Naples to Sorrento… Why?

One of the things that cements mine and Eva’s friendship is our love of culture. I knew this wasn’t going to be a sit down and chill by the pool holiday. Oh no. This was a get up and go, and travel across Italy kinda holiday. The kind where you pop in and out of museums, art galleries, bars and restaurants all day. But that’s fine, because I’m all about cramming in as much as possible. Naples itself has a lot of history, and I was eager to explore it.

Naples to Sorrento… How?

The trip from Naples to Sorrento is relatively easy, and incredibly inexpensive. It costs around €4 for single ticket from Naples main station (Napoli Centrale). Sorrento was the last stop, so we were able to sit back and enjoy the ride, albeit it a very hot one. The journey is beautiful, passing Pompeii (Mount Vesuvius) and the coast. I’d happily do it again just for the scenery.

Would I go back?

The streets in Naples are lively, and filled with stories. However my favourite places were the old town – stunning. And Piazza Vincenzo Bellini – amazing nightlife. Not to mention, the food is great. Fresh seafood, pasta and pizza (try a ‘deep fried pizza’) is easy to find. Whilst the prosecco and bellinis were the best I’ve ever had. I’d go back just for them!

Sorrento on the other hand is a little too touristy for me. If you don’t mind putting up with overcrowded streets full of tourists, then go for it. Because Sorrento is genuinely beautiful. In all fairness, we did go during peak season. I’d love to go back at a quieter time of year, to experience it a little differently.

Thoughts on Living Danishly | Copenhagen Travel Diary

Thoughts on Living Danishly

I’ve been staring at my screen for a while now, wondering how exactly I’d write this post. It’s pretty personal, and a tad emotional. I don’t really do that much on here, but every now and again I do indulge myself…

I kind of always knew I’d like Copenhagen. Admittedly I’m a Skandiphile. I love Scandinavia, right from the food, down to the design. But I’d never been before. My trip to Copenhagen last month was either going to make or break my love for our Northern European cousins.

Thoughts on Living Danishly

Ever since I came back from Denmark, I’ve had a bit of an ache in my chest. Falling in love with a country/city is one thing. But to fall for the culture, way of life, and people is another. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to up sticks and leave London. But Copenhagen certainly has left room for thought.

I remember a very specific moment from my trip to CPH. We were cycling back from Superkilen, and on this particular day the main road had been closed. Families had come out into the street with their children, and there were thousands of people. We had to get off our bikes at one point because there were so many people. Families, friends, all were socialising together. Children and adults alike were drawing on the street in chalk. There were drawings of Copenhagen’s skyline, pokemon, loved ones, you name it. It was so wonderful to walk through all those people, and feel the sense of community.

Personal Reflection

With everything that’s been going on lately in my life, I’ve done a lot of personal reflection. What I want in the next few years. Where I want to be.

I’ve been reading ‘The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country’ by Helen Russell. After seeing tons of people reading it in Copenhagen, I decided to give it a go myself. I was curious to learn more about Denmark, Danish people, and their way of life. Was it really as wonderful as it seemed? Well I won’t ruin the book for you, but it’s certainly opened my eyes to a new way of living.

Life can be pretty hectic in London, and whereas I love it, sometimes it can be tiring. It’s also become a little old as of late. Part of me yearns for new discoveries. New life lessons. Somewhere less hectic, and a bit happier.

Maybe living Danishly for a while wouldn’t be such a bad thing? Who’s to know. I guess for now, I’ll watch this space.