Close up of blossom on a tree
Oregon, USA

Three Days in Portland Oregon

I arrived into Portland on the Coast Starlight Amtrak train, having left Sacramento the night before. The train had chugged through the snow-capped mountains of Northern California and Southern Oregon all through the night until we finally pulled into Portland's Amtrak station in a haze of drizzling rain the following afternoon. I was spending three… Continue reading Three Days in Portland Oregon

peacock mural from Ladybird movie
California, USA

What to do in Sacramento, California

What is there to do in Sacramento, anyway? Despite being the capital city of California, it tends to be completely off the radar to visitors to the Golden State. It makes sense, kind of... LA has the dazzling lights of Hollywood, San Francisco has its hilly roads and hippy history, and San Diego has its… Continue reading What to do in Sacramento, California

yellow building in Lisbon Portugal
Europe, Portugal

One evening in Cascais (It was pitch dark and I still loved it)

How do you spend only one evening in Cascais? What some people don't realise is that when you're a crew member of a ship you're technically not getting paid to travel the world; you're getting paid to work, and the travel is a bonus. On the day in question that we arrived in Lisbon, sailing… Continue reading One evening in Cascais (It was pitch dark and I still loved it)

colourful mural on a Chelsea street corner
New York, USA

Four Days in NYC: The One Where I Got by with a Little Help from my Friends

I touched down in New York City some time around 9am on a March morning, feeling rather frazzled after a sleepless flight spent sitting behind two babies who were clearly not big flying fans. I had four days in NYC, and it was going to be a very different experience to the last time I… Continue reading Four Days in NYC: The One Where I Got by with a Little Help from my Friends

artichoke basilles pizza in Chelsea NYC
New York, USA

Food, Glorious Food! 9 Places to Eat in New York City

I am no expert on places to eat in New York City...but I do have some faves, pals. Prepare for your mouth to water profusely, with ten places to eat in New York City. New York is the city that never sleeps, and as such there are thousands and thousands of options for food across… Continue reading Food, Glorious Food! 9 Places to Eat in New York City

Brighton Pavilion from the front
England, Europe, UK

Five Things You Have to See on a Brighton Day Trip

A Brighton day trip is the perfect get-away from London- in fact, so perfect that people often call it 'London by the Sea.' The Sussex seaside city is a haven for hippies, the 'gay capital' of the UK, and pretty much an anything-goes kind of place. I once saw a man in full 17th century… Continue reading Five Things You Have to See on a Brighton Day Trip

New York, USA

Iconic New York City: Tavern on the Green, Central Park

I'll start by saying if you're after the Tavern on the Green in Crawley, you're in the wrong place. This Tavern on the Green is located in Central Park, attracts a rather different kind of clientele, (no offence, Crawley Tavern), and is basically a whole different kettle of fish. My NYC pal declared 'If we're… Continue reading Iconic New York City: Tavern on the Green, Central Park

colourful houses and an orange tree
Europe, Spain

Palma de Mallorca Things to Do – the surprising gem of the Balearic Islands

Palma de Mallorca is the capital of Spain's Balearic Islands, located in the Mediterranean Sea not far from the coast of Catalonia. While the island itself is renowned as a hotspot for German and English holidaymakers, I hadn't really heard much about the capital city- but it's a hugely intriguing places. If you're after the… Continue reading Palma de Mallorca Things to Do – the surprising gem of the Balearic Islands

winter in florence
Europe, Italy

Florence in Winter • A day trip from Livorno

Florence at any time of year is exquisitely beautiful. Its streets are filled with elegant architectural masterpieces holding artistic treasures galore. But Florence in winter, even in the freezing cold bleak midwinter, has a special kind of magic about it.  I was rather on the sad side when I realised that that day when we… Continue reading Florence in Winter • A day trip from Livorno

the sailors church in Marseille
Europe, France

The Magic of Notre-Dame de la Garde- the ‘sailors church’ in Marseille

Not only is Notre-Dame de la Garde a stunning landmark- which can be seen from pretty much anywhere in the city- but it's also the official 'sailors church' in Marseille. The inside is an absolute nautical treasure trove.  From just about any spot in the French city of Marseille, it's possible to spot the silhouette… Continue reading The Magic of Notre-Dame de la Garde- the ‘sailors church’ in Marseille