Tulips in Amsterdam

Every year I have promised myself that I will book a weekend away to Amsterdam to see the tulip fields in bloom and finally, after four or five years, this year I did it! I booked a two night mini break at the very end of April, as the best time to visit the fields is usually mid April to the end of the first week of May. Unfortunately this year, unseasonably warm weather meant that the tulips were flowering a week or two ahead of schedule (typical!) and were likely to be cut down a few days before my trip, but I did a little research online and found some farmers fields which were taking tours and would still have some fields in bloom, so all was not lost after all!

We took a direct Eurostar from St Pancras and arrived in Amsterdam at lunch time. After a little confusion on the trams, I got my bearings and headed out of town to the hotel. We stayed at the XO Park West hotel, which was pleasant, if a little out of the way, but the tram stopped right outside so it wasn't difficult to carry our luggage. The first thing we did on arrival was book our tour to the tulip fields the next day and then had a walk around Amsterdam, wandering through tiny streets and over bridges, admiring the canals and the pretty architecture. We found a sweet little Italian restaurant for dinner by chance, which served good food and must have been known by the locals as a table was never free for more than a few minutes and most of the time there was a queue. After dinner we stopped by the supermarket for some snacks for the hotel room and of course some Tony's chocolate and stroop waffles to take home as gifts! By the time we got back to the hotel we were exhausted from all the walking and travelling and had an early night.

The next morning we took the tram into Amsterdam and found a cafe for breakfast, before picking up some sandwiches from the mini mart and going to join our bus tour. The bus took us to the farmers fields first and we were told interesting facts along the way. About an hour later we arrived at a huge tulip farm, where we could see that some flowers had already been headed but there were a couple of fields still in bloom and we were taken to a sea of pinks and reds. After a brief explanation of flower bulb farming, we were able to take pictures in the fields and then were taken inside to watch a video about the history and cultivation of tulip bulbs. 

The next stop on our tour was Keukonheuf gardens, a huge garden with thousands of flowers which is only open for a few weeks a year, during which time it houses the most impressive displays. We had our picnic in the garden and walked round, taking so many photos along the way. We even went inside a windmill! When we got tired of walking, we sat down and had a cup of tea before making our way back to the bus. I think everyone must have been tired out from walking around the gardenas the bus was very quiet going back!

By the time we returned to Amsterdam we were pretty tired so we picked up a quick dinner and then decided to walk to the tram station we usually changed at, so that we could visit Anne Frank's house en route. We found the house which is now a museum and the front has been enclosed in a glass building, which I believe was to protect it from development. However the side of the house is still visible and was quite moving. The museum tickets were all sold out and even at nearly 9pm there were still queues outside, so I would recommend booking tickets in advance if you want to go inside.

We eventually got back to the hotel by around 9.30 and packed our cases before heading to bed, absolutely exhausted!

The next morning we decided to indulge in breakfast at the hotel, as our return train was not until 3pm and it had not been easy to find somewhere the previous day. The hotel breakfast was so good! It had the usual hot and cold food you'd expect plus a fresh omelette and pancake station and plenty of fruit and pastries, so we filled up and then checked out to make our way home.

We arrived at the station early and sat having a cup of tea whilst waiting for our first train, as there still aren't direct return services. Although the first train was nice it ran slow and we ended up having to run to make our connecting train in Brussels, reaching the check in just minutes before it closed. By the time we returned to St Pancras we were both exhausted but had enjoyed our mini break away. I would like to return to Amsterdam, but when the direct return train services are in place, so I don't have to worry about missing the connection!

Birthday celebrations in Rome

Last week was my mum's 60th birthday and we organised a few surprises to celebrate. 

A couple of days before her birthday she was given an early gift, a travel guide to Rome - she was surprised to say the least! The next day we took her to London for a family dinner at the Ivy restaurant on Kensington High Street followed by cake at the hotel. 

Our flight was quite early from Gatwick so we had to be up at 5am and off to the airport. We arrived in Rome about 12 and by the time we reached our hotel it was just gone 1pm. We were lucky that our rooms were ready early and we had been given complimentary upgrades, so we settled in and unpacked before venturing out to explore. 

Our first stop was the Piazza del Popolo where we stopped to look at the towering Egyptian obelisk of Sety I, brought to Rome in 10BC by order of Augustus. There are lions on each corner which look more Sphinx like, which I found interesting. Im not sure when these were carved though.

We then made our way to the Spanish Steps, took a few photos and climbed to the top where we took in the views. we walked around a little more before heading back to the hotel to change for dinner.

After freshening up we sat and had a drink and snacks in the hotel bar, before venturing out again in search of the trevi fountain. It took us about twenty minutes to find it, almost hidden away between small unassuming streets, a beautiful sight. It was very busy as to be expected, but we were able to take photos and enjoy the surroundings before heading for dinner and walking back to the hotel for an early night, as by now we were exhausted! 

The following morning was my mum's actual birthday and I delivered some '60' birthday balloons and a couple of banners to her room and we went down to breakfast. The hotel had a nice breakfast with lots of choice, hot foods, pastries, cakes, fruit, fresh juice, yoghurts and a huge tea selection.

After breakfast we all took a walk to the Villa Bhorgese. It was a pleasant walk from our hotel and although it was raining, it was nice to walk around the parklands and the big lake.

Our next stop was back in to the city centre for a leisurely walk around. We happened to be near to the Trevi fountain so we decided to revisit it in the day time. I'm glad we did as it was worth seeing twice to take it all in, athough it was of course much busier in the day time. We stopped for a birthday muffin and cup of tea at a cafe and then walked back to the hotel. 

Back at the hotel we all got ready and went for a drink in the bar before going out for dinner. Unfortunately we forgot to pack the small birthday cake we had meant to bring with us, but we'll be enjoying it at the weekend anyway! It was then back to the hotel for a hot chocolate in the bar and off to pack for the flight home the following day. 

Menorca September 2018 - Part 2

The following morning we were up bright and early again, this time getting in a short stroll to the beach to admire it whilst it was completely empty. Fortunately the grey skies and rain clouds were gone today and it looked set to be a beautiful sunny day. 

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we returned to our rooms to get ready for the morning's activity - paddle boarding and kayaking! After lugging all the equipment down to the beach, which strangely seemed like it was much, much further away than it had been earlier that morning (a paddle board is much heavier than it looks!), we navigated through the crowds and got them into the sea. Initial apprehension quickly dissolved and once we were out a little and away from the crowds swimming we had so much fun. The kayak was apparently difficult to 'steer' and standing up on a paddle board on the rough sea was harder than I'd imagined; we laughed so much as the kayak went off in the wrong direction and each time a wave knocked us off the paddle boards just as we had got our balance. 

After a morning at sea we returned to the hotel for lunch and a rest on a beautiful Balinese bed by the pool with drinks in hand before the next adventure we had planned later that afternoon - a snorkel boat trip across the coast! This was the thing I was most looking forward to on the trip and I had been so disappointed when I arrived to be informed by several skippers that they were not taking bookings as the weather would not be good enough to go out. Fortunately the hotel's own boat was taking bookings and we were assured that the weather looked set to be perfect for Thursday - they were right! 

We set off early afternoon and started by visiting a few of the nearby beaches and our skipper gave us lots of interesting information about the local area and the history. We then zipped along the bays before arrived at our first snorkelling point. Our skipper threw in a handful of fish food to draw out the fish and we jumped in, snorkel masks and underwater camera in hand. It was amazing to see so many fish and the diverse life on the ocean floor. I had never been snorkelling before so it was breathtaking and felt a little surreal swimming in the crystal clear water. 

After about half an hour we got back on the boat and enjoyed more beautiful scenery and even went through a few caves, before mooring at our second snorkelling point. Here the skipper told us that you could swim through two of the dark caves to find tiny secluded beaches. I wasn't brave enough as the tunnels were dark and not much bigger than you, but my boyfriend did and liked it. I waited for him at the entrance and when he swam back out I spotted a little black and orange fish, hiding between the similar coloured seaweed in the rocks. I felt like the scuba diver from finding Nemo who takes photos of the fish - except my camera had run out of film so unfortunately I couldn't get a photo! When I got back I looked online and am fairly sure the fish was a type of Blenny. 

Eventually I was too cold to stay in the water any longer so we got out and enjoyed a light lunch on the boat before taking a super speed journey back to our hotel. It was such a nice afternoon and felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Unfortunately after I got back to the hotel and taken a shower, I began to feel 'land sickness' which is apparently something some experience after travelling, most commonly at sea. This meant our dinner plans were a little dashed and after a quick dinner I had to go straight back to my room for an early night.

The following morning we were due to depart at noon, so after breakfast we packed our cases and spent the last of our holiday relaxing by the pool. It was such a relaxing break and the hotel was lovely, but next time I would stay longer!

Menorca September 2018 - Part 1

This time last week I was in sunny Spain for a short break. It feels like much more than a week ago though as I've switched from summery dresses to jeans and a jacket and the weather has turned grey and rainy, I am longing to go back!

We flew out on Tuesday morning and arrived at our hotel, the Lago resort in Cala n Bosch, in the early evening. We checked in to the hotel and found our room, which was an apartment style suite with a view over the marina. The sun was just beginning to set and the journey had been long, so we just unpacked and took a walk around the marina next to the hotel to find somewhere for dinner. The marina was packed with plenty of restaurants and such a variety of cuisines that there would be something for everyone. As we had booked directly with the hotel, we were also given 10% off several of the restaurants around the marina and we ended up picking one with pretty string lights all around on the harbour front. The staff were friendly, the service was quick and the food was good so we ended up returning the following two nights!

After dinner we returned to the hotel to get some rest so we could be up early. The next morning we started our day with breakfast in the hotel restaurant, which had an impressive buffet of traditional breakfast foods with some Spanish specialities and menorcan delicacies. There was even prosecco for guests to enjoy - why not when you're on holiday! 

Unfortunately the beautiful clear and sunny skies of the previous day had disappeared, replaced by an unusual all day downpour. As we had planned a few activities that did not depend on the weather, we decided to go ahead with those and put off our other plans in the hope that tomorrow would bring better weather. 

So, after a quick trip to a convenience store to pick up an umbrella, we boarded a bus from outside our hotel to go to the nearby town of Ciutadella. The bus journey took about 20 minutes and only cost 1.95 euros per person each way. Ciutadella is a beautiful old town with stunning architecture and meandering streets a plenty. We first came across an exhibition in an old, ornate building which housed  a number of 'curiosities' - from paintings to silver whistles. Next, after a short stroll via several shoe shops (there were so many selling pretty shoes and traditional menorcan shoes that it would have been rude not have had a quick look!) we found the Catedral de Santa Maria de Ciutadella which had beautiful stained glass windows and close by was a pretty courtyard garden which I think was connected to the cathedral in some way. Before heading back we purchased some traditional menorcan cakes from a small bakery. They were like a soft and doughy iced bun, but seemed to be filled with custard or creme patissiere; very tasty! We then made our way back to the bus stop via the harbour and the pretty ballerinas store (which were started in Menorca).

Once we go back to the hotel, we made lunch with a delicious fresh baguette and local cheese we had picked up in Ciutadella and then got changed ready to head to the beach which was just a minute or two from the hotel. The beach was very clean with white sand and the sea was a real turquoise blue. It was still raining but nobody seemed to mind as the beach was still full and plenty of people were swimming in the sea. We braved the sea too and spent about an hour 'surfing' the waves and having fun before returning to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We got dressed up and took some photos in the hotel and by the harbour and after dinner we played cards in the hotel lounge until 11pm.

Monaco 2017

This time last week I was just arriving at my hotel in Monaco for a short break. We arrived at the airport in Nice late afternoon and took the bus to our hotel. We stayed at the Columbus hotel and it was lovely. The room was spacious with gorgeous views over the princess Grace rose garden, mountains and across the sea. There was a pool in the garden which we used a couple of times (but even with the gorgeous weather it was still a bit chilly!) and a small gym and a bar. 

The view from the room:

By the time we had arrived and unpacked it was already 8pm so we decided to just take a walk around the area and grab a bite to eat. 

The following morning we ate breakfast in hotel. There was a great range of pastries, cereals, fruit, hot food and even a tasty chocolate cake, so we were well fed for the day ahead. 

We took a walk to the Palace and had a look inside, before enjoying some ice cream in the sun. We then walked on through the pretty palace gardens to the Oceanographic museum and then looked round the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married. We returned to the hotel for lunch on our balcony which we had picked up from the supermarket and a quick dip in the pool. 

After lunch we went to the animal garden we had walked past the previous evening. It was apparently started as Prince Rainiers private animal collection many years ago, but there are now plans to turn it into a petting zoo. We thought it would be home to small animals and birds but to our surprise there was a rhinoceros being kept there. I was pleased to read online after that the plan is for the rhinoceros to be moved to a larger, more suitable home and in recent years Prince Albert has worked with the born free charity to enable leopards which were being kept there to be released into the wild. 

Next we took a look inside the collection of classic cars which are on display just around the corner. It is the Prince's private collection of cars and has everything from formula one race cars to Victorian coaches. One of my favourites was a pale blue fiat with wicker chairs and no roof - very sweet but not so practical in British weather!

We struggled to find somewhere to eat on Sunday night as there were not many restaurants open and the ones we did find were expensive. Eventually we found a 'bar' with outdoor seating and an extensive menu and I ordered a tasty pizza and then went back to the hotel for an early night as I was so tired from all the walking. 

On Monday, after breakfast we took the bus to Nice. We walked around the antique market and found a stall selling vintage pin badges for a euro each and picked up a couple of Monaco and race car theme pins which made for nice and inexpensive souvenirs. I also found a sweet vintage pearl necklace in very good condition which I was pleased with, as I had been looking for a replacement.

We then went up to the fountain and found a spot with a view over the promenade to eat the picnic lunch we had brought with us, before taking the bus back to Monaco. 

When we got back to Monaco we took a walk up to the exotic gardens, although it was more of a hike than a walk, we had to climb so many stairs to get there! The exotic gardens are home to a wide variety of cacti and succulents and being so high up have breathtaking view over Monaco. 

On our way back we picked up a bottle of wine in the supermarket and took a takeaway back to our hotel to eat on the balcony as we were too tired to eat out. 

On Tuesday we got up early to catch the bus to Eze, to visit the Fragonard perfume factory. It only took 15 minutes to get there and we took a tour of the factory, spent a little time in the factory shop picking out some treats and then took the bus back to Monaco. 

For the afternoon we decided to visit the famous casino in Monte Carlo. I wasn't so keen to visit as I had read bad reviews online about rude staff and an underwhelming interior, but I was pleasantly surprised. The lobby was ornate with beautiful frescos on the ceiling, marble pillars and a pretty butterfly display cascading down in the centre. We were even approached by a member of staff who informed us about the tours which were running and the additional area we could look around without paying the entry fee for the main part. After a quick look around and some photos, we spotted the cafe which was surprisingly reasonable for the location and so beautifully decorated, with panels of the walls covered from floor to ceiling in roses, so of course I had to take a couple more photos the roses as a backdrop! 

After our ice creams we then went for a walk to look for the beach where we paddled in the sea. Along the way we seemed to pass a footballers walk of fame with their footprints cast in the stones which was interesting. 

That evening we went out for dinner again and all too soon we were heading back to the hotel to pack. We had such lovely weather and it was a really relaxing trip even though we packed so much in.