Stopping for some grass to eat whilst on horseback. There is a brown horse called Charlie and a white horse called Tim.

Horse Riding in Bled, Slovenia

travel

The Build Up

Wanting to experience something different whilst in Bled, Slovenia I proposed the idea of Horse riding to Irfan. Excited to become the next John Wayne he agreed it was an excellent idea.

“You’ll ache so much” people warned us.

“You won’t want to do anything the next day, so make sure you have time to recover.” others advised.

Blissfully ignorant to the aches and pains of riding a horse, Irfan and I continued to live in the dream. The dream that we would be galloping around the mountains on our beautiful mustangs, reins in one hand, cowboy hat in the other, and slow-mo trotting in amongst the trees.

I had booked the experience online with 3GlavAdventures prior to leaving the UK. At just 50 Euros each for over an hour of riding we would have been silly not to have booked the experience. I found the adventure company via random Google searches. The reviews looked good, the prices were reasonable, and the horses looked well cared for. With no booking fee to worry about I booked it and paid the invoice a few days later.

Communication before the activity was great. We were both notified by text as to when the driver would come and collect us. When he was running late we received another update. The driver that came to pick us up was chatty and friendly, and turned out to be the son of the farmer that owned the horses.

He transported us up towards the mountains that formed the backdrop to our walk into the centre of Bled until we reached a small farm.

Jumping out of the car we were greeted by the owner of the horses. He encouraged us to say hello to the horses so that they knew who we were before straddling their backs and whisking them uphill.

Shortly after arriving another couple arrived to complete our party of 4. Knowing that the riding group was small which was a relief. With just 4 of us taking part it was nice to know that the two instructors would have their full attention on us if anything were to go wrong. Now came the horse assignments.

Irfan was given Tim – Tim was an elderly grey with lazy tendencies and a handsome head of white hair. He was also notoriously stubborn, strong willed, and would remain at the back of the line throughout the journey.

I was assigned to Charlie – Charlie was a big brown beauty with a tendency to stop and eat anything and any given time. If you let him have his head, the chances were that he would be bending down to find food.

Charlie the brown horse in Bled Slovenia being ridden in a yellow top

Time to Ride

Without any teaching we were hoisted up onto the horses. Instinctively (and i’m sure thanks to watching many movies with horses in) we all grabbed the reins, tapped the horses side with our feet and began to walk out of the farm.

Whilst exiting the farm we were instructed on how to turn the horse by pulling the reins one way or another. Having ridden this path many times it was highly unlikely that the horses would decide to go off course, or be diverted by our terrible riding skills.

Entering the main road locals and tourists stared at us. Children waved, and cars slowed to allow us to pass. Ten minutes or so later we approached a steep rocky hill. We all seemed to stare at our horses for a moment in fear that we may fall off backwards. “You’ve got this Charlie” I encouraged him.

Our trusty steeds made it up the steep pass and onto the small town road. As we all began to feel comfortable the horse leading the group began to trot. Our horses followed and the results were hysterical. The other girl in our group let out a little scream, Irfan and I clung on for dear life, and the other guy nervously laughed as we all bounced up and down.

We were given a quick lesson on how to rise up in the saddle and fall back into the saddle. This was not easy.

Stopping for a drink

Following our little uncontrollable trot we wound up in a huge lush green field. The horses knew that this was feeding time. We gave the horses their heads and they all began to feast. Nearby stood a small restaurant, and out of it came a smiling woman with a silver tray. Approaching us without a second thought she raised the tray beside me offering me a shot.

Despite not being a lover of alcohol I took the shot in good spirit. I was definitely allergic to the berries at the bottom of the glass, but not wanting to offend I drank the fruit concoction. “Nazdravyeah” (not the correct spelling) we all said attempting to sound Slovenian.

Handing the glasses back to the lady it was time for us to move on. We continued out scenic walk up to a small lake. Here, the leader of the group jumped off his horse before offering to take photographs of us all. This was unexpected but appreciated. After all, there’s only so many pictures you can take of the back of a horses head.

The leader jumped back on his horse and led us up a small pathway and then down into a shallow stream. The thought of our horses navigating the rocks and slippery surface was scary. Once again reassured Charlie as the others reassured their horses. Luckily for us they were all sure footed and to reward them we stood a while in the cool stream and allowed the horses to cool off and take a drink.

Back We Go

The stream had sufficiently cooled our horses down but now it was time for some more sight seeing. We had been riding for a while now, and the stirrups were beginning to ache our feet. It was also becoming clear that our bottoms were bonier than we first thought, and why cowboys seem to walk with their legs so far apart.

This was that aching feeling that we were warned about.

Exploring through the trees up in the hills we all became a little cocky and begun taking selfies here and there. Everyone managed to keep hold of their phones, but decided that horse riding was best done with two hands on the reins.

The horses completed a loop of the undergrowth before heading back to the lush fields. This time we were to walk through the fields without stopping for a a snack. Charlie and Tim however had clearly not agreed to this plan and both begun fighting for their reins to be let loose. Being the push overs that we are, Irfan and I let the reins go and allowed them another quick snack before catching up with the rest of the group.

The road back was beautiful and sad. Heading back to the farm meant that our time with Charlie, Tim, and the others was almost up. We could have spent another hour and a half at least riding through the hills. The roads were clear so we all had another go at moving a little faster. We had still not perfected the rise and fall motion, but it was fun trying, if not painful.

The end is Neigh

Arriving back at the farm we dismounted our horses. “Oh my gosh” exclaimed the other two riders holding their knees. Still atop of my horse I looked at them confused. There was nothing wrong with my knees… I jumped down from Charlie. “Ouch my knees!” I joined in. Somehow our knees had all begun to ache. This was extremely strange as the only pain we had felt throughout the whole journey was in our butts and our ankles!

We all stood on the ground a while and stretched our legs to relieve the aching. We now believed that we would ache the next day, but not from using our muscles, instead it would be from the bouncing and our bones clattering against the saddle.

We had all formed a bond with them over the past few hours and notably sad to be leaving them. Whilst the incredible father and son duo de-saddled the horses and took two of them inside Irfan and I stayed a while longer to stroke and thank the horses (as you do) for being gracious hosts. An adorable stable kitten came to say hi as the horses were allowed to run freely around the farm fields.

It was time to go. We reluctantly got back in the car and drove away from this incredible place. As we stared back out of the window Tim dropped to the ground and began happily writhing and rolling around on the cold grass putting on a mini show as we departed.

We were dropped back at our hostel and were left wanting to take up horseriding as a permanent hobby.

Overall Experience

The entire experience was fantastic and really made an impression on us. Bled is beautiful, but even more so when being seen from horseback.

The horses were well cared for, the price was fair, and the owners were friendly.

Booking the riding was made easy by excellent communication, and the spot of wine made for a very uplifting afternoon.

We would definitely do this again.

A whirlwind tour of… Belgium

1 week, holiday, itineraries, itinerary, travel, whirlwind

Country: Belgium

Time spent: 2 nights and 2 days

Places Visited: Bruge and Brussels

Friday: Hoping to spend as much time as possible in Belgium we set off on the Eurostar on Friday night from London St. Pancras. With French border control in a pleasant mood I was able to obtain a brand new stamp in the passport. Begging is required.

We arrived promptly in Brussels Midi Station. Feeling tired and ready for bed we headed straight for the metro. A short ride later we were in Louise, and (overestimating my map reading skills) headed down the Long main road towards the hotel… Or so I thought.

Louise by night was a pleasant walk. Charming street lamps, modest nightlife, and high end shops made the walk bearable.

45 minutes of walking later it was clear that I had made a mistake. What should have been a 5 minute walk had taken us 2 miles in the wrong direction. With help from a couple of friendly local women we were put back on track and finally arrived at our hotel – Beau Site.

The man on the reception desk was entirely helpful and welcoming, just what we needed after having dragged our bags around the city. We jumped in the lift, went in the room, took one look at the beds and crashed.

The walk that should not have taken 45minutes.

Saturday morning: Rising early we sat down to a big breakfast before setting out on foot to explore Brussels.

Taking our bags with us to save having to go back to the hotel, we grabbed the tram to go and see the Royal Palace of Brussels and it’s gardens.

With the temperature soaring we lingered just long enough to take in the scenery, some selfies, and sun rays. We then crossed the road and began exploring the surrounding gardens. The gardens were lovely. The statues were interesting, the ducks were swimming in the ponds, and the trees offered shade in the sweltering heat. Approaching the Government Office we made a left and headed for St Michael’s cathedral.

St. Michael’s Cathedral is free to enter with the option to make a donation if you would like to. The interior architecture is a beaut. Walking around you can see why it has taken a decade to renovate. The stain glass windows, statues, and gothic style walls are well worth heading inside for.

If you prefer to observe from the outside take a seat on one of the benches in the park opposite and take in its immense size.

Saturday afternoon:

By the afternoon Brussels had become rather busy and London-esque, we decided to walk to the Central Station just 3 minutes away and head to Bruges.

With trains departing regularly to Bruges there is never any rush to make the next train. We grabbed a quick snack for the journey and hopped aboard the 50 minute train.

Arriving in Bruges it was clear that we had two options. Taxi or bus. Not wanting a repeat of Louise we opted for a taxi to our hotel ‘Hotel de Pauw’ for 14 euros.

The hotel stands opposite a small church which made navigating there was easy. We checked in, dumped our bags, and started exploring.

Strolling down the river we came across a giant blue whale made from recycled plastic by fluke. The whale is a sad yet true poignant reminder of how our oceans are being destroyed by plastic pollution.

We found ourselves sitting and staring at the whale for a good twenty minutes before continuing on our way towards the market town.

Saturday evening:

The market square is the perfect place to spend a half day shopping, eating, and exploring. The road leading to the tower are full of restaurants and so we sat down to an early dinner/late lunch.

Feeling full we continued down the road towards the market square where we were greeted with an impressive view of the tower.

We spent to rest of the evening looking around. Walking under the tower gives you an insight into just why Bruges has its UNESCO status. The history museum (the pictured building on the left with the flags) is great for all ages. We even discovered a virtual reality gaming room if you walk straight through the museum to the other side.

After buying some souvenirs we continued to explore the surrounding streets until we needed up in another square. During the summer months free concerts are held in Bruges. Luckily today was one of those days so we grabbed a bench, enjoyed the music, and soaked in the wonderful buildings surrounding the stage. Eventually the heat got the better of us and we headed back towards the river to chill out and then onto the hotel for a well earned sleep. As we walked through the town there was a notable quietness. It seems that everyone hangs around the main square. This wasn’t a problem, but it was eerily silent.

Sunday morning:

With an early check-out time we rose early and filled up on yet another continental breakfast. With no solid plans for the day I nabbed a couple of bread rolls to feed to the ducks on the river on the way through.

We checked out, took one last look at our church across the road, and went to wake up a little more by the river.

With the swans and ducks of Bruges fed, we decided to head back to Brussels. The quick bus ride back to the station gave just enough time to plan what we were to do in Brussels until our 8pm departure back to England.

We finalised our plans on the train to Brussels. We were going to see the Royal Palace.

After the quietness of Bruge the centre of Brussels was a shock to the system with people flying everywhere. Not wanting to hang around in crowds we marched out of the station and followed the signs for the palace.

There it was! A ten minute walk from the station. Whilst you can go into the palace we opted to admire it from the outside instead picking a nearby restaurant for lunch.

Despite being an obvious trap for tourists we were pleasantly surprised by the reasonable prices and large portions. Belgians sure do make an excellent club sandwich!

With our time short we used our last hours people watching, art scanning, and statue observing., before heading back to Midi-Station to await the Eurostar home…

And of course, I asked for a passport stamp!

I hope your time here is equally as lovely.

Bruges:What is it good for?

Quite strolls down the river
Leisurely bike rides
Chocolate shops
Beer experiences
Architecture
Chilled town vibes

Brussels: what is it good for?

Busy city vibes
History tours
People watching
Shopping
Chocolate shops
Museums

Thailand, Vietnam – Mini Reviews: The Good And The Bad

2 months, a month, backpack, backpacker, beaches, destination, holiday, itineraries, itinerary

Howdy!

After having spent a few months exploring the popular, and not so popular, sights of Thailand and Vietnam it’s time to help you all in choosing where you want to go. Whilst I’ve only included a few reviews, we travelled more of the countries and I would strongly recommend you do too!

Whilst in both countries, the big kid on the left and I purposely chose to visit some destinations that weren’t in your average itinerary. The destinations on this list can be visited in depth if you allow a month and or so in each country.

Below you can find the following mini reviews.

Thailand: – *Ayutthaya – *Bangkok – *Chiang Mai – *Chiang Rai – *Chumphon – *Lopburi – *Phuket

Vietnam: – *Dalat – *Ha Long Bay – *Ho Chi Minh – *Hôi An – *Phong Nha

Happy travelling!

Berlin: Things to know before you go

1 week, 2 months, 3 months, a month, architecture, backpack, backpacker, backpcker, couples travel, destination, europe, holiday, home, itineraries, itinerary, long weekend, return, review, shock, travel, volunteering

Getting in:

Flying into Berlin is a pain free, quick, and easy process that is truly reflective of that good old stereotypical German efficiency .

Shame about the train stations… The train stations that baffle and bewilder many a tourist ruin the efficiency illusion in an instant and, if you don’t speak German, will have you wishing that you had listened more in German class (if you even had the option to learn it).

Unless you have arranged a pickup, I strongly recommend that you research the route to your chosen destination BEFORE you get on the plane. If you are staying in Berlin then you will probably find that the S Bahn is your best option. Type your route into google maps and print it before you leave home. Google maps has a tendency to be rather incredible without shoving your stupidness in your face.

When to go:

Berlin is a city that can be visited all year round with no real limitations to activities due to weather conditions. Just bare in mind that if you want to climb a tall building (because there are so many here) to get a great view, this is not going to happen when it’s poring with rain or foggy outside.

Remember that Sunday afternoons and public holidays can be quieter, with many museums and shops being closed.

Money:

The currency is Euro. Berlin can be expensive in and around popular tourist sites. Despite this, it is easy enough to find cheap food if you venture into the suburbs. Kebab shops, burger stops and chippies are never more than a five minute pace away.

Getting around:

The Sbhan is the easiest way around the city. If underground trains aren’t for you then grab a map and explore on foot. Many attractions are close to each other so you shouldn’t have to walk too far between sights. Typical to most European cities, Berlin’s inhabitants do fall prey to telling tourists that “it’s too far to walk” and that they should “take the train because it’s faster and easier”. At least once I challenge you to ignore the nice citizen and go on foot to see if it really is too far. And if come back and it was too far… Well, I’m sorry and I’m sure you made memories that made it worth it anyway right!?

Things to do:

Reichstag dome – Tickets must be purchased online in advance of your visit or you will be refused entry. Allow 15-20 minutes to get through the quick security checks before you enter. Upon entering through the mini airport security you will be transported by an elevator up into the huge dome that sits on top of the reichstag. Audio guides are free and automatically feed you information as you scale higher and higher into the sky. If you are scared of heights you may want to think twice as the majority of the dome is glass, so not looking down is not really an option!

Brandenburg Gate & Around – The gate is situated near some of Berlin’s other main sights and is usually tourist heavy. Before heading here have a walk through the Jewish Monument situated a ten minute walk away. Both the gate and the monument make a big impression at night when the lights come on.

History:

It is almost impossible to go to Berlin and not learn a little about the history it possesses. Going down to see the remaining wall is an interesting visit along with Checkpoint Charlie (be warned that it gets very crowded with tourists), and free museums such as the Topographie des Terror (a highlight of our trip).

Not so central – Venturing out of the centre is highly recommended. Just in the train and explore outer Berlin for some spectacular sights and entertaining things to do. Parks, museums, and more are easy to find.

A place to stay:

If you are looking for a decent place to stay then Plus Berlin Hostel is great. The hostel is by far the biggest hostel I’ve ever stayed in, and with a swimming pool, family friendly rooms, common rooms, restaurant, gardens and even its own art exhibition,it’s as though this hostel made love to a hotel and produced this huge beast. Staying in a dorm here was strange. The rooms were cleaned daily with cute chocolate pieces left on your pillow. Fresh towels were on the foot of the bed when you came back from a days adventures ( see! Just like a hotel right). The pool was a great addition. On one of the days when it was raining we opted for a swimming session which was totally worth it. The food was reasonable for dinner, and the all you can eat breakfast buffet was delicious. Every smart traveller knows – get up a little later and make the buffet a brunch instead of a breakfast for optimum money saving.

Extras:

Vibes- The general vibe in Berlin is a friendly yet equally standoffish vibe. Kind of like London but with less rushing and more chit chatting. An example of the humour and lightheartedness of Berlin was when I asked a guy if he would take a photo of us. He joked saying that he could not… I didn’t get the joke and stood apologising for even asking, embarrassed. My boyfriend, the comedian, and his friend found it hilarious and laughed at my expression.

Bears, green men, and red women-

If you really pay attention to your surroundings you will notice things that people often miss. Sadly for the unobservant (and I’ve asked around) many people return from Berlin having not seen a single bear statue. Considering its significance here it is sad that they have not one photo or memory of seeing one. Sadly, these same people also have no idea what I’m taking about when I ask them what they thought of the traffic light people. They stare at me blankly… “There are entire shops dedicated to the little people inside the traffic lights! How could you miss them?!” It turns out they just weren’t looking hard enough. Therefore, my recommendation is to pay close attention.

Overall thoughts:

Berlin for me is a standard city of art, culture, history, business and pleasure. Personal preference sways me to feel no real urge to return. A controversial feeling I am aware. Personally, having seen Potsdam, Dresden and Bonn I find that I prefer these smaller jewels for reasons of which I’m not quite sure. But why does it matter? Make up your own mind and get to travelling!

5 Things You Learn From… Travelling With Your Boyfriend

1 week, 2 months, 3 months, a month, backpack, backpacker, backpcker, beaches, couples travel, destination, holiday, itineraries, itinerary, long weekend

Before jumping aboard the “couples travel” train I was quite against the idea of exploring with anyone other than myself. Why exactly? I’m not quite sure. I guess there is a common misconception that travelling alone means that you have more freedom of choice. I have learnt from travelling with a partner that this is (thankfully) not necessarily true, and that travelling with a partner can actually cause you to end up going to places you love that you had you been alone wouldn’t otherwise have gone to.

Here is what traveling with him has taught me:

1) You should always, always, always pack an extra day bag. Our first trip away together was to Rome. It was a dream for the following reasons. Whilst we explored… A) I carried my stuff. B) He carried his stuff. The end.

By the second trip away together however, we had obviously got comfortable with each other because well, let’s just say that if I have to carry his stuff because he forgot to pack a spare bag AGAIN then there will be trouble.

Now every time we plan a trip and start packing my first conversation with him is “have you packed a spare bag” to which his answer is usually “na, I’ll just carry my stuff in my hands”… (what he means is, “no i’ll butter you up and you’ll be carrying my stuff before you know it”

Enjoying the Berlin Wall museum… Bagless

2) When he suggests going to somewhere you think you will hate you should just say yes and go along. The most notable examples here are Disney Land Paris and Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

Dead set against going to Disney I moaned as he pressured me into coming with him. (By pressured I mean that he bought tickets and I thought meh it’s free why not.) When we arrived at Disney Land I absolutely transformed into a huge child. It became less about him geeking out, and more about me wanting to have a photo taken with Mickey Mouse and watch the princess show. Our time there was nothing short of FUN. Possibly the most fun ever.

The Olympic Stadium also hadn’t appealed to me. Being the supportive girlfriend that I am I said yes. It’s only fair that you both get to see things you enjoy right? Although it wasn’t quite as thrilling as Disney World I had to admit that the stadium was an impressive site, and I left there happy to have seen it in the flesh.

Disney For Life

3) You will become a pro at masking your embarrassment (usually to do with his bad habits) and, at lying to other travellers to cover your partners back. I won’t go into too much detail here, but when your sharing a dorm in a hostel and your other half blocks the toilet, in one of the coolest and cleanest hostels ever, because “the plumbing is different than England”… you will find yourself pretending you know absolutely nothing about it. “Yea I know it’s gross, it was like that when we got here” you will say to the desperate, tired travellers who really need to pee but can’t. Your boyfriend will smile at you in solidarity, and you will never speak of it again. Until the next blockage. (Or you decide to write about it in your blog) – sorry Irfan ❤️

An embarrassment free day at the Elephant Nature Park.

4) You will always end up playing the role of 1) the head of logistics 2) linguistic guide and, 3) chief ideas generator.

“I’m taking you somewhere” he will say beaming from ear to ear. You will arrive in the country of his choice and await his instructions on where to go from the airport. Only to be greeted with “how are we getting to the hostel?”

This truly is when you realise how much you like them, because if you didn’t you would probably just walk away and make your own way there without them.

Being the loving person that you are you will get your phone out, google maps the data right out of your phone, walk up to random strangers and ask for directions in your best GCSE level French – all whilst he tags along behind you until a solution is found.

Note that he WILL make the trip excellent. He just won’t make the journey from the plane to the hostel an easy process.

Sometimes getting lost leads to the Louvre!

5) You learn how to live with them.

For couples that don’t already live together, travelling with a partner is an excellent test of whether or not you would survive/ put up with/ work well living together. Whether you are travelling for a weekend, a month, or longer seeing how you both cope in stressful situations is a great indication of how you will function as time goes on.

Lucky for us we have found that travelling together is no issue as long as you give each other space sometimes. Whilst on our travels we have met every kind of couple. The ‘glued at the hips’, the ‘I’ll go my way and they’ll go theirs’, the ‘this relationship only works at homes’… We have seen it all.

I’m not saying that we are ‘couple of the year’ (although we come pretty close) but one thing we have definitely learnt is that when you respect each others boundaries and let each other do their own thing, travelling together is easy and fun.

Tips: Exploring Thailand? had enough of staying in dorm rooms? Treat both yourselves to a private villa when in Thailand by staying Villa Varich in Chumphon.

Vietnam: Separate motorbikes, same shared experience.

Happy travels.

Travel Fashion That’s So Bad You Just Have To Try It Out

backpacker, destination, fashion, holiday, long weekend, travel

Ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you that fashion is not something I consider as a priority. That’s why when I’m travelling I’m more than happy to embrace local dress or copy the ‘quirky backpackers’ in the hostel’s fashion choices. I look like an idiot in many a photo, but I strongly recommend you try these fashion ideas out whilst exploring… Here are some tried and tested items.

When in… South East Asia:

Printed trousers (also known as ‘Gap Yah Pants’) – These are the epitome of backpacker fashion and scream “I have a care free attitude’ to all the non shoestring budget travellers. They’ve got zero stretch, making the most basic activities hard, but who cares when you look this cool ?!

Hippy Head Scarf/Wrap – So you were at the vegan hostel for a night and now you think you’re a Greenpeace representative? You bought a cool hippy scarf and you’re ready to show the world how organic you are with your head wrapped in a multicoloured cloth. Yeah, it will probably never see the light of day after your trip… but it makes an excellent sweat band in the ridiculously humid temperatures. Plus you look like a lovely free spirit.

When in… South America :

Never before worn hiking boots – There’s always that one backpacker that’s hobbling behind the rest of the gang because they didn’t wear their boots in. Despite the pain they will carry on because they look super outdoorsy and adventurous. If you’re nice you’ll give them the blister plasters your mum told you would “come in handy”.

When in… any country in the world:

Universally accepted alcohol advertisement shirts – When I went to Tanzania advertising the local beer ‘Tusker’ (hilarious as I wasn’t even old enough to drink yet). It may have been the elephant on the front, or the slogan “baada ya kazi” (enjoy your drink) written on the back that made me so compelled to buy it. Regardless, I bought it, and 8 years later I still have it, along with multiple other beer shirts from other global locations. The funny thing is. I don’t drink beer. Weird right?

Bracelet heaven. Forgotten what your wrists look like? Me too. When you get bored of buying magnets for your eclectic fridge it’s time to switch to bracelets. The best part is being able to tell a story about your travels to all those who admire them. The worst part is when you lose one or it falls off. When my Tanzanian bead bracelet snapped in a hostel in Germany I may have had a little cry in the middle of the dorm 👀.

When in… Europe:

The borrowed life guard jacket – All you need to know is that I borrowed one, did a slow motion Baywatch run down the beach, had a photo, pretended to be a life guard, freaked out when a kid hurt himself and thought I could help him, and gave the jacket back. Why wouldn’t you get one?

Socks and sandals – You know it’s a bad look when people would rather see your bare feet than what you are currently displaying to the world… Let me just clarify one thing. I do not endorse this look. Especially if you have sandals that go in between your toes. How do you even grip the shoe??? Anyway, if you are a wearer of the sock and sandal. I salute you for your courage, but I do not applaud you.

Whatever your quirky travel fashion choices are, continue to embrace them as I continue to observe, laugh, and join in!

Croatia, Dubrovnik: Seeing It All – 4 day Itinerary

architecture, backpack, backpacker, beaches, croatia, destination, europe, holiday, itineraries, itinerary, long weekend, travel, Uncategorized

Dubrovnik, Croatia:

A practical blog with practical advice.

Scroll down for the itinerary.

But first… The practical stuff –

Getting in: Arriving in Croatia was a complicated mess of passport control, unoccupied help desks and tourists eager to get into the country before the other tourists. Luckily the airport is small and getting lost in it would require considerable effort on your part. If you are staying in or near the Old Town then work your way (unaided by no one other than equally baffled tourists) to the bus ticket shop.

The shuttle bus takes you down the beautiful coastline from a great height. Eventually after fretting over your drivers ability to drive on the edge of a cliff you will gain an incredible view of (cue Game of Thrones music) King’s Landing!!!! – I mean, The Old Town. At 40 croation kuna for a one way ticket this is the best way to head into town from the airport.

When to go: April was a strange time of year. With not many tourists around it was great to be able to walk round without having thousands of people pushing you out of the way or photobombing every shot. In the evenings however the atmosphere in Lapad, Gruz and other surrounding areas was non existent. The locals were all at home and, the tourists seemed to have gone to bed. Perhaps summer is the better time to experience night life.

Money: Anything within the walls of the Old Town is expensive so we ventured a little outside of the vicinity for cheaper goods. Most places accepted Kuna and Euro. When paying with Euro we learnt to expect to receive change in a well calculated (yet highly confusing) mix of Euro and Kuna.

Getting around: Bus tickets can be purchased on the bus for 15kuna or at a ticket shop. We were tipped off that if you buy the ticket from a shop the price is 12kuna. Score! Money saved!!

The transport staff were notably miserable I’m sorry to say. We found no word of politeness from any transport staff. Whilst we knew that they owed us nothing, it was still a shock to be grunted at every time we jumped on the bus.

If you were slow entering or exiting the bus you would be either left behind or shut in the bus doors ( I was shut in the doors no fewer than two times ).

Fun Activities and things to do:

Walk the walls – If stairs are your thing then head for the walls and keep walking up. You will need to pay to do this and your fitness will need to be at a good level to get up the never ending steps. If you don’t fancy climbing your way into an asthma attack then opt for staying at ground level and following the wall around from the lower levels.

Cable Car –

How Long: Fast and Furious – If you intend to take day trips to Montenegro or Bosnia ( p.s. 1 day in Bosnia is not enough) then consider 5-6 days. If you are just intending to stay in Dubrovnik then 4 days in perfect.

Slow and Steady – If you tend to spend an hour or two a day people watching, or drinking a bottle of wine at dinner then you may want to add a day onto the fast and furious itinerary.

***************************************

4 Day ITINERARY

Day 1. Arrive midday to see the old town lit up. Find somewhere on the Main Street for dinner before heading to your hotel. The further away from the main street, the cheaper the food – is a good general rule to go by.

Day 2. Grab a bus to Pile gate, walk around the back of the fortress and jump aboard the cable car. You can spend a good few hours exploring up here. Have breakfast in the restaurant before looking around the museum taking selfies and staring into the distance. Head back down before lunch and walk to the old town. You can spend the entire afternoon and evening here trekking in and out of the hidden alleys. Gasp at the Game of Thrones locations, walk the walls and marvel at the curious items in the museums. In the evening you can stay in the old town or head to Lapad for a quiet meander and a drink.

Day 3. Islands are on the itinerary for today. If you want to see a few then opt for the three island tour. A less common (and less rushed idea) is to grab a boat to Lokrum island. Lokrum is a beautiful diverse island full of peacocks and rabbits. Wear your swimming costume under our clothes if you intend to swim in the mini cove on the island. Stroll around the monastery, botanical gardens and park before scrambling through the rock pools. You can also find the Iron Throne which is somewhat of a hidden gem as there is little advertisement to suggest it is even on the island! Following your visit to Lokrum head to the old town to revisit any areas you missed on the previous day.

Day 4. If you aren’t planning any onward travel or day trips use today to take the three island tour or a day trip to Cavtat. Enjoy the Game of Thrones Scenery, the crystal blue waters and, the historic fortress. Have an incredible time in Dubrovnik.

Bon Voyage!

Destinations At a Glance: Europe Mini Reviews

1 week, a month, architecture, backpack, backpacker, backpcker, beaches, destination, europe, holiday, home, itineraries, itinerary, return, review, travel, Uncategorized

Hello!

If you’re planning your next holiday or backpacking trip in Europe then take a look at my brief overviews of the places I’ve been.

Some travel advice can be all waffly with more information than you really need. The whole point is that YOU find your own way and do what YOU want to do.

You can save the images, or you click the location from the list below to read the full blog.

So without further chat, here are the good and the bad about the places I’ve been…

(Updated every time I venture out)

Here you can find the following mini reviews and links to my full reviews:

Bosnia & Herzegovina – Mostar – (Read the Mostar blog)

Belgium – Ypres, Bruges and Brussels full blog

Croatia – Dubrovnik, Lokrum,

England – Windsor & Eton, Oxford

France – Paris,

Germany – ‘German Tour’ blog for wider Germany, and Augsburg blog

Hungary – Budapest (Read the Inside Budapest and Outside Budapest blogs)

Italy– Rome,

Poland – Kraków

Portugal – (see separate ‘Portugal, Itinerary‘)

Slovakia – Bratislava

Slovenia (full Slovenia blog here and Horse riding in Bled )

Spain – Majorca

Watch this space for more Europe Mini Reviews.

Germany: All over the place

1 week, a month, architecture, backpack, backpacker, destination, europe, holiday, itineraries, itinerary, travel, Uncategorized

Beer, nature, history, art, fashion – you name it Germany has it.

Germany is frequently overlooked as a backpacker destination, with many heading there for nothing more than Oktoberfest or it’s renowned beer gardens.

I’ve complied a quick list of the main attractions that I have visited during my time there.

Destinations below are: Berlin, Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dresden, Frankfurt, Meißen, Potsdam.

For visiting Augsburg check out this blog

BERLIN

Thing to see and do:

The Reichstag building is beautiful, combining old and new architecture. It provides amazing views of the city. If you can tear your eyes away from the architecture of the building itself. You must register on the website here to get in.

Checkpoint Charlie is an interesting place to peruse around. This historical landmark will usually be manned by people in military uniform.

Street Art is everywhere. It’s easy to spend half a day looking at the many pieces of art.

Topographie des Terrors is a necessary trip if you are interested in history. This was a memorable stop during our time there.

Berlin Wall – no need to plan for this. You will 100% bump into the wall when aimlessly wondering around.

Eating and drinking is much pricier here than other parts of Germany. Set a good budget so you don’t over spend.

Getting out of Berlin to see the rest of the country is super easy with the SBahn.

BONN

Thing to see and do:

Drachenfells and Schloss – hike up the big hill or grab the tram and get ready for spectacular forest views and a view of the mini Disney lookalike castle.

Feeling Outdoorsy? Bonn is the place to go. There are trees aplenty and lots of places to hike around in the great outdoors.

Quirky Accommodation – Basecamp Bonn is where it’s at. Ever wanted to sleep in a converted car? Or a train? or maybe a Chinese tour bus? Check them out here.

Botanical gardens and the zoological museum are another couple of nice laid back activities during your time in Bonn.

Overall, Bonn is super chilled so you may just want a couple of days wind down time here.

COLOGNE

Thing to see and do:

The Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is unmissable. If you are arriving by subway you will be greeted by it as soon as you emerge from the underground. It is stunning to look at, outside and in. Entry is free.

The River Rhine is a lovely backdrop to the city. Take a ride on it or walk down it at your leisure.

Partying is easy in Cologne. The nightlife is booming and there are many local festivals. Be sure to check the German calendar before you go. I still have no idea what festival we were celebrating whilst I was there but we had a laugh.

Eat, eat, and eat some more. You will never be without naked good in Cologne.

DRESDEN

Thing to see and do:

One of my top destinations in Germany. Very beautiful and historic.

Frauenkirche Dresden is a giant feat of gothic style engineering that should not be missed. Visit at night to see it beautifully lit up.

The Dresden Zwinger is impossible to miss. The grounds are huge and a few hours should be spent walking around it. The gardens and walls are well kept and well worth visiting

Siempre Opera House is stunning. If you have the cash and time I would recommend getting inside under the beautiful ceilings.

Markets, museums and more – Dresden is full of things to see and do. Allow a couple of days minimum here.

DÜSSELDORF

Thing to see and do:

Düsseldorf is another really chilled place to visit for when Berlin’s fast face gets the better of you.

Film Museum – as a film lover I was keen to visit here and it was not disappointing. Check out the website to see it’s diverse exhibits and take an hour or so to stop by. Well worth the money!

Rheinuferpromenade is a lovely chilled place to take a walk down the river. Start from parliament and stroll down from there.

The Rhine Tower is recommended for those unafraid of heights. To enter you will need to buy a ticket when you get there which varies depending on the time you arrive. Allow between £5-£12.

Shopping on a high-end budget is definitely doable here. Get the credit card out for some expensive brand shopping.

FRANKFURT

Thing to see and do:

(Altstadt) Frankfurt Old Town is enchanting with it’s Römer (old town hall). Take a seat to admire the old buildings and grab lunch.

Street Performers seem to be everywhere here, and they were all generally pretty good. Allow a few hours to get swept up in the random entertainment that the streets provide.

Beer is really good here. I’m not a beer lover but I enjoyed it here. Hard not to after the twentieth gulp from the GIANT glass.

MEIßEN (MEISSEN)

Thing to see and do:

Fairytale territory – This tiny town is a lovely day excursion from the cities. Peaceful and friendly with lots of little places of interest like the Dom Zu Meissen below.

Comfy shoes needed – Although it is small, you will need comfy shoes to navigate the cobbled streets. Have fun getting lost here in the bending streets.

Markets and the river – Not too bountiful on this front, but if there is a market then do stop to take a look before heading to the river.

POTSDAM

Thing to see and do:

We did a day trip here. It’s a quick train ride out of Berlin (around 45 minutes) so nice and easy.

Sansoucci Park – This park is massive and with plenty to explore including Sansoucci Palace. Allow a day here and bring snacks.

Botanical Garden – flowers within a beautiful building. What’s more to say.

New Palace – tickets are cheap and the building is just another example of Germany’s impressive gothic architecture. Extend your day by booking to go inside.

As I explore more of Germany I will update this post. Hope you have a fabulous time there!

TravelJems

Explorations for me. Recommendations for you.

couples

Horse Riding in Bled, Slovenia

A whirlwind tour of… Belgium

Thailand, Vietnam – Mini Reviews: The Good And The Bad

Berlin: Things to know before you go

5 Things You Learn From… Travelling With Your Boyfriend

Travel Fashion That’s So Bad You Just Have To Try It Out

Croatia, Dubrovnik: Seeing It All – 4 day Itinerary

4 Day ITINERARY

Destinations At a Glance: Europe Mini Reviews

Germany: All over the place

BERLIN

Thing to see and do:

BONN

Thing to see and do:

COLOGNE

Thing to see and do:

DRESDEN

Thing to see and do:

DÜSSELDORF

Thing to see and do:

FRANKFURT

Thing to see and do:

MEIßEN (MEISSEN)

Thing to see and do:

POTSDAM

Thing to see and do: