After a while there was Grooveshark and it was wonderful! I can’t remember how many playlists I had but there were a lot. And with experience came wisdom. So I started organizing my favorite tunes into playlists for every mood, decade or style. However, until now I never organized them by country…

Roman Holiday Playlist

…I don’t know how I missed this opportunity, but here I am making amends on this oversight. And since I’ve been dying to visit Rome for a while and I love Italian music ever since I was a kid, my first try was “Roman Holiday” playlist. Image visiting the Italian capital in the company of Adriano Celentano, Eros Ramazzotti or Albano and Romina. I’ve put together a playlist with songs starting from Dean Martin’s That’s Amore to Fedez’ Italiana, so there’s something in there for every taste. Save it and enjoy it in Rome, Milan or anywhere on the planet!

PS: There’s a really special tune featured here. Franco Califano’s Io PerAmarti was one of my grandfather’s favorite songs and he was instrumental in my love of music and in my life.

When in Paris Playlist

Another place I’ve never been to, but am dying to see is Paris. And my playlist for the city is filled with romantic music that will take you from the Eiffel tower through the Champs Elysees and into the Parisian cafes. Can you imagine strolling through Paris without La Vie en Rose or Joe Dassin? I couldn’t!

A little trivia on the topic: when I was in high school I hated French. So my mom asked her French teacher friend to tutor me. She knew I was into music and art and so she got to me through that. She talked to me about French painters and we would sit on the carpet going through records of French music. And I fell in love with the culture and the language!

New York, New York Playlist

Now this one was easy After two European capitals, I couldn’t miss on such an international metropolis like New York. And with Frank Sinatra’s tune as a no-brainer, I got myself up to a good start. I think the city has such a rich culture and an interesting mix of styles that putting the playlist together was a breeze. I’d love to take it on a spin through Central Park, Manhattan, all the breathtaking museums and every landmark in between.

And you bet there are A LOT of Sex and the City tunes in there.

Another piece of trivia: Frank Sinatra, alongside Elvis Presley, was another musician I was introduced to by my grandfather. He loved music so much and I like to think I got that from him.

Summer Trip Playlist

Do you know those vacations when you drive to the seaside with your windows rolled down belting out every song on the radio? Well, I do that every summer. And it’s not just on my way to the seaside. Either we’re on a weekend getaway in the mountains , or on our way to the countryside, there’s something about a summer trip that makes me want to sing.

So, making a little use of my boyfriend’s taste in music too, I’ve put together a playlist with the most summer-spirit-perfect-to-sing-hits. How could you resist singing along on Girls of Summer or Crazy in Love? But we went way beyond that and through every genre that will make you move in your seat like you’re partying on the beach.

Take it to The Slopes Playlist

Adriana is not just into sports, but music too. With quite a few music festivals under her belt, she’s the perfect person to put together a playlist to take on the slopes. It’s the right mix to get you going fast and furious on that powder white

Now, these are just 5 playlists to get you started. Tell us what do you like to listen to when you’re traveling or what other playlists would you like us to add!

You might remember that our first post on the blog was about last year’s Christmas. My boyfriend and I decided to spend the holidays with my brother so that’s how we first visited Amsterdam.

It was love at first sight, we liked everything about it! And we liked it so much, that we decided to come back this year. Only this year we went as tourists, not visiting family. We traveled with our friends and we preferred staying at a hotel. So I’ll have new tips on planning, budget, and things to see. Let’s start!

Transportation

If you’ve ever been to the Dutch capital, you know that there are no low-cost airplanes landing on Schiphol. However, KLM has really decent prices, especially if you plan in advance. Two months in advance tickets, from Romania, are around 100 euros – not bad at all! Service is always impeccable and you have a meal included.

Trams, Colorful Cars, Boats on Canals

Our first flight was at 6:00 a.m. (horrible waking up, but so worth it winning an extra day) and we received an omelet sandwich and a mini-muffin. On our return flight, which was at 20:45 p.m. we received spinach and tomato pasta – delish! Drinks are also included.

When we got there we opted for OV cards that we charged as we needed. They can be used on trams, buses, and trains so they are really handy. You can also opt for tickets available for a number of days, depending on your stay and how much you want to walk versus take the tram.

Hotel

Now here’s where we really lucked out! We had a bit of trouble finding the right place for us. We looked on Booking, Airbnb, you name it. When all hope was kinda lost, I stumbled upon XO Blue Square Hotel. It’s advertised as a 4-star hotel, and it’s not far from that, we loved it!

Advice: don’t go through Booking. For some reason, prices are higher than on other traveling sites (such as Vola, where I found the offer). We booked the room directly from the hotel and chose the non-refundable option to save some $$.

The rooms were spacious and very clean. I am not sure how often they clean your room because you have the option to request it daily. You just hang the “clean my room” sign on your door and it’s done. The best part? The coffee machine in the room! The coffee supply was updated every day (free of charge) and you had your coffee every morning with the press of a button.

Food

As we stayed at the hotel this time, with no kitchen available, street-food was our best friend. Unfortunately, I didn’t take enough photos of it but here’s what I liked:

Street Food

We had a good, inexpensive “American hot dog” in front of Rijksmuseum. With sauerkraut and fried, crisp onion, I don’t think it’s exactly American, but it was good and did the trick when we came out starving from visiting the museum.

Wok to Walk

I loved Wok to Walk. It was this tiny place with two burners where they prepared your dish in front of you. You just had to choose the type of noodles that came with vegetables and egg. Then add any extra toppings (meat, mushrooms, nuts, etc) and sauce and there you had a delicious box of (too much) food. There’s always a line and just one table where you could actually sit to eat, but it’s totally worth it.

Dutch Delicacy

Our favorite place to go is Dutch Delicacy. This cheese store that doubles as a cozy place where you can also grab a bite, and maybe a glass of bubbly, is to die for. I had the pulled chicken sandwich, that at 6 euros is such a great option for lunch. My boyfriend had a spicy chicken and vegetables one that was just as good. But what I liked most was the pine nuts and caramelized onion bread one of our friends had. So good!

La Place

I really wanted to eat at La Place. I read about it as having pretty good food and reasonable prices. So when we went to Bataviastad for a day of shopping, I was so happy they had a La Place there. I really liked how they had several types of food you could choose from, cooked right in front of you. It was so hard to choose but we went for salmon bagels, fried potatoes, a banana smoothie and the best apple and cranberry pie ever served with vanilla sauce.

Dutch Waffle

We had them several times and, honestly, you can’t visit Amsterdam without having one. I like it freshly cooked, with Nutella and whipped cream, but you can customize it any way you want.

We still didn’t try the raw herring with onions and pickled cucumber. Somehow whenever we remembered we wanted to try one, there wasn’t anything nearby. Next time.

Fun Fact

Did you know that the marijuana-based products sold in most “tourist” shops do not contain THC, so it’s practically impossible to get high on them? I didn’t know until I accidentally stumbled upon this information while researching for the trip

If you are planning a trip to Amsterdam, stay tuned. I will be back with a new list of things to see and places to go. Let me know in the comments section below what else would you like to read about.

It was April when I saw the Alps for the first time, in Val Thorens, France. Also, it was the first time skiing or better say, learning the basics.

Never ever before had I put the boots on, so imagine I didn’t know how to ski, to snowplow or just to stay up with the ski on. I was pretty excited and in 4 days I was trying the red slopes.

I could have taken beginner lessons in Romania, cause one may say “Why’d you need so many km and ski runs?”. But I don’t regret a second.

Learning parallel skiingLearning parallel skiingOn the slope in Val ThorensOn the slope in Val ThorensSlopes of the French AlpsSlopes of the French AlpsValThorens Alps MountainsValThorens Alps Mountains

Val Thorens is the highest mountain resort in Europe, so snow is guaranteed from late November to late April. If you’re an expert over 600 km of linked piste slopes await for you in the entire ski domain, in Les 3 Vallees. Otherwise, you can stick with Val Thorens’ 150 km.

Tyrolean traverse at over 3.000mTyrolean traverse at over 3.000mFrench AlpsFrench Alps

How to get to Val Thorens

Nearest airports are Chambéry, Geneva, Lyon.

I had a flight through Geneva and then I took the train to France, to Moûtiers village. From here, shuttle buses run pretty often to Val Thorens resort. Quite a trip, a car from Geneva would have been more comfortable.

Moutiers, France

Ski pass for a week (Val Thorens only) is 250 euro.

150 km of runs: 8 black, 30 red, 29 blue, 11 green (the green code is for the easiest runs, you’ll probably find it only in France).

Gondola Ride

Should I stay or should I go up?

Accommodation in Val Thorens

We booked an apartment, more like a studio in the heart of the resort. In this area, you find a lot of hotels and apartments for groups. While not very fancy, the mountain cottage style and the people make it pretty enjoyable.

Val Thorens Resort from My Terrace

Resort tips

The resort is vivid and full of cheerful 20 plus skiers and snowboards

Get in the mood for the party and enjoy the apres-ski at La FolieDouce.

The spa centre is quite large and all you’ll need to relax your muscle; go there at least one time during your stay

Carrefour market is perfect for a budget trip.

Party at La foliedouce

Why I love it?

I loved it for the fresh atmosphere. For those who can stay up on their feet later in the evenings, you have lots of parties and fun activities. Ok, I suppose I loved it also due to the fact that it was my first time skiing and my first time at this altitude – up to 3.000m!

I was there on April 20 and mostly all ski runs were open and in a good condition. The fact that you can ski so early or late in the season is a big plus. And don’t forget the prices are lower when the season ends.

After coming back from England, I wanted to dedicate an article just to British food. And that’s because I think it still has a bad reputation that is not accurate anymore. There might have been a time when the British cuisine meant fish and chips, Sheppard’s pie or breakfast made up of sausage and beans. But that’s not the case anymore.

My boyfriend and I are not the types of travelers who go for haute cuisine. We love to explore each new destination by sampling the street food as well as local restaurants or pubs. And as much as possible I like to order dishes that you don’t find on every menu like pizza or grilled chicken.

And that’s exactly what we did in England too. We didn’t go for fish and chips but tried the curries instead. And as I said before, there wasn’t one thing that I tried and didn’t like. But when ordering something I think you have to keep in mind what you usually like. Another trick is to not always go for what the waiter recommends. They don’t know what you like. They might recommend something spicy when you might hate hot food. Instead, ask how the dish your eyeing is prepared and try to figure if it’s what you expect.

And now let’s dive into the culinary trip we took through Horsham and London!

A dream came true at Deliciously Ella in London

I have been following Ella Mills ever since she was Ella Woods and she had just started her blog. While she is vegetarian and I am not, this is what I love about her. That she doesn’t focus on a concept, but rather on promoting healthy living, without judging.

So after the Royal Botanical Garden, the second thing I really wanted to check off my list of things to see was one of Ella’s delis. And so we did. I actually chose to celebrate my birthday here, as I was so excited about it. We went to the Seymour Place one, as it was closer to Oxford Street, where we spent our last day in London.

Energy balls – Falafel, curry, avocado spread and sweet potatoes – Lunch for two – Deliciously Ella – Seymour Place, London

Of course, I wanted to try everything but since prices aren’t quite low I had to pace myself. When we went, lunch and dinner where a bowl around 12 pounds where you would choose 4 of any of the dishes available. I had falafel, a sweet potato dish, a courgette curry and an avocado spread plus a mint tea. My boyfriend chose a savory muffin, a bean curry, a quinoa salad and a cold-pressed juice. He loved the salad and my curry but he wasn’t really crazy after so many veggies.

We also took home four of the energy balls that were so delicious and much bigger than I imagined. I loved our little dinner there and the leftovers made for a great brunch the next day.

A hip experience at Borough Market

Looking back I might say we came a bit unprepared for what Borough Market is and can offer. Although crowded with people and traders, I loved the atmosphere and don’t regret making a priority out of it.

Mushrooms at Borough Market

Fresh seafood at Borough Market

However, we should have done our homework better. There are so many options in terms of food. From fresh seafood to exotic dishes, you can choose anything you could want.

Slow cooked veal with tzatziki and BBQ sauce Paella at Borough Market

Kid goat kofte with tzatzki and salad

We chose well, considering we had no clue what we were doing. We ate at Gourmet Goat, a place promoting goat meat and milk, with a heavy Mediterranean influence. I had a kid goat kofta with tzatziki and fresh chilly salsa (6.8 pounds) and my boyfriend had slow roast veal with tzatziki and smoky BBQ sauce (7.8 pounds). It was delicious, although a bit more expensive than you would expect out of street food. But we understood that Borough Market offers more than just street food, so we really enjoyed it and recommend the experience.

The Jug Black Pub in Horsham

Our very first dinner in England was at The Black Jug in Horsham. My boyfriend wanted to be safe (and full) and chose a classic burger (12.95 pounds). I, however, was still feeling queasy from the trip and chose something lighter: a cauliflower and sweet potato curry that seems to no longer be on the menu.

The Black Jug – Horsham

We were both more than satisfied with our choices. While the burger was well cooked and delicious (I couldn’t resist taking a bite), the curry was hearty without being heavy. So flavorful and yum after a long day on the road. I am still thinking of recreating it sometime soon.

Horsham Food Market

I talked a bit about the Horsham Food Market in my previous article about the city. What I didn’t mention is what I ate there and how it was.

My first choice was a burrito where the line seemed to say that the food was worth waiting for. Unfortunately by the time I got to order they didn’t have much food left so I had to think of something else.

Corn fritter meat box – Ginger Rookes, Horsham Food Market

Brown Bread – Horsham Food Market

Brown Bread – Horsham Food Market

I chose a corn fritter meat box from Ginger Rookes‘ stand. If you wonder what that is, it’s a box filled with a corn fritter covered in pulled meat and slaw. It was delicious and more than enough for me. Can’t remember how much I paid for it, but it wasn’t a lot.

Of course, I couldn’t pass by Brown Bread with their sweets and bread covered tables. I came back to the hotel with a delicious apple pie (my boyfriend’s favorite),  a spicy bread pudding and a satisfying brownie. Worth every penny!

Indian food at Darchini in Horsham

My boyfriend’s colleagues recommended we eat at Darchini if we want good Indian food. When we arrived, the restaurant didn’t look like much. Not a lot of people and the decor was a bit dated.

But the staff was most friendly and welcoming! They went out of their way to make us feel comfortable, taking our coats and allowing us time to decide.

I had the Korma chicken (6.5 pounds) which was divine! Best dish I had in my life It was chicken cooked in a ground almond and coconut curry sauce. My boyfriend had Rajasthani chicken (7.95 pounds). It was sweet and sour and very good, but he liked mine better, ha! We also shared a Tibet naan with crushed pineapple in it – to die for (2.75 pounds) and pilau rice (2.5 pounds). Before we left we were offered a digestive drink and chocolate, on the house. We loved our dinner there and we’re still dreaming of going back someday.

Prices were not bad either, but unfortunately, photos don’t do it justice as the lighting was not that good.

Questionable design at Beefeater

While in Horsham my boyfriend picked up a nasty flu that forced us to stay in for an evening. So we decided to eat for once at the hotel’s restaurant.

Fish & chip croquette, fishcake, cod & crab biteS mothered Chicken Melt – Beefeater, Horsham

Since neither of us had an appetite we shared a Smothered Chicken Melt that was pretty good and a starter that consisted of fish and chip croquette, smoked haddock and Cheddar fishcake and cod & crab bite. It was served with peas and mint mayo. And this is where the questionable design comes in. The dish was delicious but I wasn’t the only one to notice the funny plating.

Girly lunch at Ask Italian in Horsham

Not a great photo, but great pasta!

While I get why some people feel uncomfortable dining on their own, I don’t have this problem. As my boyfriend was at work, I had lunch on my own. And on one of the days, I felt like spoiling myself a bit.

So I went to Ask Italian and had a lovely raspberry lemonade (2.5 pounds) and a pasta dish with spinach that doesn’t seem to be on the menu anymore. I also took the city’s newspaper and went through it while waiting for my lunch. And I must say it wasn’t as bad as you’d think.  The food was good and the experience refreshing.

I lied – I did order something I didn’t like.

Cheese sandwich – The Cafe, Horsham

On our last day in Horsham, while waiting for my boyfriend to pick me up from the hotel, I wanted a quick lunch. The hotel’s restaurant was crowded so they suggested The Cafe, right around the corner. I ordered what seemed the lightest thing on the menu: a cheese sandwich with fries.

I actually expected a grilled cheese sandwich or at least some toast. What I got was maybe the saddest looking lunch ever. Just plain bread, buttered with some shredded cheese and something like an onion chutney. It wasn’t horrible, but it was far from delicious. However, it did the trick and kept me full for quite some time.

So you see, British food is nothing to be afraid of. There are so many places to chose from and so many good options in every menu, it’s really hard to miss. I actually read an article saying that London is one of the European capitals with the best food and I believe it.

Now it’s your turn. Leave us a comment below and tell us where did you eat well in England and where you didn’t!

Winter is coming, some may say, and I’m dreaming of white powder, high mountains, cool ski resorts, and large slopes.

I am not that winter fanatic as you may think. I’m not ashamed to admit, I don’t like winter and cold. I’d go for a sweltering day than a freezing cold winter. But the mountains landscape and the adrenaline rush you get on the slope it’s different. We have a few options for skiing in Romania, but in Europe, nothing compares to the Alps.

Italian Alps: Breuil-Cervinia

This is the Italian side of Matterhorn: that beautifully pyramid shaped and sharp mountain climbed by professional alpinists. You probably know it from your Toblerone. And to be honest, this is more photographed from Zermatt, from the Swiss area, rather than Breuil-Cervinia.

Breuil-Cervinia it’s one of the highest resorts so here’s a good option for the long ski season. Also, going here for the summer glacier skiing and snowboarding sounds pretty cool.

Matterhorn seen from the Swiss sideMatterhorn from Plateau Rosa, Cervinia

The awesomeness of the resort is that Italians share Matterhorn mountain and a large ski area with Switzerland. So you can stick with the Italian ski area or you can go nuts on both Cervinia and Zermatt.

Ski from #italy to #switzerland. . . . #italy #switzerland #ski #skitrip #dreamtravel #traveller #travelshot #slopes #3000m #alps #matterhorn #matterhornglacierparadise #paradise #video #skivideo #ontheslopes #mountains

A post shared by Adriana Coroiu (@adryanne27) on Mar 20, 2017 at 11:13am PDT

Just make sure you check the ski lifts program and get back in time in Italy. Consider queues and bad weather conditions when the ski lifts which connect both areas are closed. Otherwise, you’ll spend so much money and hours in the cab coming back.

Matterhorn and the Alps from Italian Side

Between these two resorts, I recommend Breuil-Cervinia for accommodation, especially due to the price value. Also, I’ve heard the food is more delicious in this Italian region, Aosta Valley.

How to get there

The closest airport is Turin Airport and you have good bus transfers from there. Anyway, Geneva and Milan’s airports are a good alternative, if you are fine to add an extra hour driving. Milan runs a lot of low costs, so we took this option and rented a car.

Ski pass and domain

200 km of snow fun: 72 ski runs in Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche and 78 in Zermatt. Here’s the ski map.

You can take a full pass for 6 days in Cervinia for 220 euro or pay 290 euro for the stretched Italian – Swiss ski area. Ski pass tariffs in 2017 for BreuilCervinia here and for BreuilCervinia Zermatt here. As Cervinia offers a lot of options, I have combined the tickets and took only 2 days in Cervinia& Zermatt.

Tip: Zermatt has more ski runs for experts and stunning panoramic views. However, if the weather is not good, you may not fully enjoy the combi ticket all the days.

In Zermatt, you can go up at Matterhorn glacier paradise (3.883m) and also take a train that runs through the heart of the ski domain and stops at Gornergrat platform (3.089). Do not miss this!

Mountain train to GornergratZermattGornergrat Train in ZermattMatterhorn Glacier Paradise 3.883m

Zermatt ski resort and Swiss AlpsSki lift in Zermatt

Accommodation

You can stay in the heart of the resort, in Breuil – Cervinia (see picture below) or in Cielo Alto. You’ll save some money but spare some minutes walking to the main ski lift, to the main restaurants and supermarket. Cielo Alto means 5 min drive with your car or with the bus (1 euro) or simply walk for about 15 min, or even better, jump on your ski or snowboard from the backyard. 

I’d say this is a great option for large groups, as there are many apartments to rent. And you can start your day on a quiet black slope.  Accommodation for 7 days at 140 euros – 150 euros (in March) it’s a good deal.

Ski Resort tips

Food: try baked polenta, pasta, and pizza. Aosta Valley offers a wide range of local products, and I know you’re thinking of delicious types of cheese, prosciutto, and other dry hams.

Ham Goodies from Aosta Valley

Prosciutto and Dry Ham Goodies from Aosta Valley

Not a place for huge after-parties and long night dancing, the average age is probably 35 +. A lot of grandpas and grandmas (I mean 60 yrs old, not joking!!) which you’ll envy and you’ll wish to be like them 30 years later. However, Friday late evenings, after 10 pm, are known for pub-crawls.

Apres-sky and a good meal (around 15 – 20 euros, reservation recommended) at Chalet Etoile, Plain Maison. At least have a hot tea break here. The view is enchanting with the Matterhorn reigning over.

Great for intermediate and advanced intermediate, but lots ski runs are large and off-piste skiers have a good playground for their own!

View from CimeBiancheSki lift to FurggsattelUp to the peaks

Why I loved it?

You can’t get bored on the mountain! I loved the mix of options, the shared Cervinia and Zermatt ski area, and the fact that I could get up to 3800m.

Plus, I’ve read here that: “if you ski continuously for 4hrs every day for 6 days you would not do the same run twice.”

Group holidays can be really fun. Or mind-numbingly hard to plan and execute, especially if the travelers are worlds apart in terms of interests, with only but a few things in common.

After more than one holiday with 5 to 12 people involved, I am sketching a user’s guide for all friends out there planning a trip together. You might want to read this out loud when you get together with your friends and start planning a vacation together.

Questions to Ask BEFORE You Decide Where to Go

First things first: where to go? Ask some pesky questions before you decide on a destination. Trust me, it can save a lot of time and arguments. Here we go:

Who visited what continents/countries/cities? Is someone willing to compromise and visit a city they’ve already seen? If yes, in what formula – will they want to join the group for the whole trip or just a couple of days?

Is there a good time for everyone to go on holiday? Laugh all you want, but some of us turn into monsters if subjected to really hot temperatures (yes, I’m talking about me, remember my article on Malta ?). Or…some might be able to get away from the office only during certain months and only for a limited number of days.

Also, some of your friends might prefer budget-friendly holidays while others might want to splurge on lengthy holidays and enjoy the perks of a luxurious destination.

Talk about these, be honest with each other and try to understand everyone’s expectations. Especially if this is your first trip together.

Use Collective Maps While on Group Holidays

One member of the group wants to go to an art museum. Another one wants to see the city by bike. A third might want to wander through the neighborhoods and catch a glimpse of a temporary exhibit hosted by the museum the with the first member of the group. Another might want to go shopping and try out all the culinary delights the city has to offer.

You get the idea. Different people have different interests and moods. And if the group is a large one, juggling all of these becomes a burden. And a potential source of conflict. Why not try to prevent it all?

I visited Barcelona and Valencia with four other girlfriends in September. No, I did not go with Adriana, in case you were wondering but do check out her great article on art & architecture in Barcelona, I was surprised to see how many streets/sights I missed while in the Catalan capital. Our group was very diverse: we had a foodie, a sporty one, a shopping lover and a museum-loving introvert. And to top all of that, two of us had already visited Barca before and knew we wanted to see/experience different things, but still get together for lunch and for evening walks. We only had 4 days in the city and needed to get organized. We used an online tool to help us map out all of the things we wanted to see/do,

Tripadvisor has this great maps tool to help.You can create and share a map and each member of the group can customize it by adding venues/top attractions to the map.

Group Holidays: collective maps can make or break your trip. Use them wisely.

This way:

Every member of the group adds value and insight into what is worth seeing.

Every voice is heard. No one can own the conversation or dominate the group schedule

You can group interests in the same area of the city and….divide and conquer. People who want to check out modern art can go see the latest exhibit while foodies can roam the surrounding streets in search of the best tapas/churros/sangria out there. And they can get together later in the afternoon to go see/do something everyone is interested in. Win-win, everyone is happy, right?

You might be able to do something similar with Google maps, take your chances. We used Tripadvisor as it already mapped some of the most important attractions in Barcelona that the majority wanted to visit. Feel free to experiment with any collective map out there.

But since my boyfriend had to go to Horsham with business and I just tagged along, I thought I should make the most of it. So I went ahead and researched on Instagram, Pinterest, the web – you name it – to find out all the “hot spots” in this little old town.

As it turned out, at first sight, there wasn’t really much to be done there. But I did stumble upon a museum, a duck farm (and I LOVE ducks) and a weekly food market so it all seemed good in the end.

I didn’t get to check out everything I wanted though. The duck farm was actually outside the town and another dairy farm I was interested in was also kind of far. However, I adored this little British town. From its dreamy gardens, huge park, adorable houses and friendly people here is why I fell in love with Horsham.

Horsham City CenterSt. John The Evangelist Church – HorshamHorsham City CenterUnitarian Church – Horsham

The Bear – HorshamBeautiful Garden – Horsham

The Hotel

I arrived at Luton Airport, London, at about 10:00 a.m. Then had to wait for an hour to take a bus that would take me to the Gatwick Train Station where I would take a train to Horsham. All this was a bit overwhelming, especially since I traveled alone. It didn’t help that every time I asked someone if I was on the right platform, or where I should take the train – almost no one had a clue. But around 14:00 I finally arrived at the small hotel we had booked: Premier Inn Horsham Hotel.

I simply adored this place! First of all the bed was high enough that I couldn’t reach the floor with my feet. I am a short person, but still, this hasn’t happened to me in a while. It might have been that I was exhausted, but that mattress and those pillows seem like a dream to this day. Needless to say, the first thing I did was take a quick nap before heading to pick up my boyfriend from his office.

The Buildings

I am such a huge fan of architecture, it’s one of the first things I notice and gaze at when visiting a new place. And Horsham had a lot to offer in this respect. From classy houses with neat little gardens, lush with greenery, to bigger, elegant mansions everything looked so typical of what you’d expect in a British town, in the best way possible

Beautiful House – Horsham, EnglandGorgeous Houses and Gardens – Horsham, EnglandAdorable Colored Doors – Horsham, England

English Houses – Horsham, EnglandBeautiful briBeautiful Brick Building – Horsham, Englandck building – Horsham, England

I roamed the streets for 3 days and never got bored. I took countless photos of windows draped by spring flowers, doors in wild colors and gardens that never ceased to amaze me.

Horsham’s Food Market

As I was saying in my London article, one of the first stereotypes you hear about England is that their food is really not good. I beg to differ.

I too expected to adapt to a diet of fish and chips or different pies. But I was surprised to have so many options and not once go wrong with my choices. There’s a strong Indian influence with flavorful curries available even in pubs. But burgers and pasta are just as great.

Pastries – Horsham Food Market

Sweets – Horsham Food Market

However what I loved most about Horsham was its weekly food market that takes place every Thursday. Food trucks there make it very difficult to choose between pulled pork sandwiches, tacos or exotic dishes. And you will also find art sellers, vinyls and vintage music tapes and all sort of nick nacks that make for lovely presents for those at home. The only downside is that usually, the most popular dishes are the most delicious too. That means they are sold out in no time. So if you’re not there early, you might not get to choose.

A walk in the Park is a must

I was never aware of how hugely popular parks are in the UK. Or how good they are at gardening for that matter. But every day I had to go through Horsham’s central park in order to get to the town center from our hotel. And I loved it!

Horsham Park – EnglandSee? She was just fine after dropping from the tree.Horsham Park – England

Human Nature Garden – Horsham Park , EnglandHuman Nature Garden – Horsham Park , England

One day I witnessed a “ferocious” fight between two squirrels, that ended up with one of them falling from a tree in a bush. She was fine, but I was left amused for the whole day. Another evening while I was showing my boyfriend what he’s been missing while working all day we bumped into another couple enjoying a romantic stroll in the park: a duck and her drake.

You could also have tea or lunch there at The Conservatory Cafe. I still regret not stopping by for an afternoon pick me up there.

Horsham Museum and Art Gallery

It’s the only museum that is actually in Horsham, so a visit there it’s a must! Just kidding, but if you have some time it’s definitely worth a visit.

The museum offers over 26 galleries to go through. They depict scenes from traditional British homes, curiosities, personalities from Horsham and pieces of vintage British fashion, among others.

Royal Family Memorabilia – Horsham Museum

Watercolor Painting – Horsham Museum

Vintage English Decor – Stuffed birds and an elephant’s foot

Oil Painting – Horsham MuseumCostume & Textile Collection – Horsham Museum

They also have an old barn with old agricultural machinery on display. What I liked most was the museum’s garden. I was lucky enough to see it in spring when everything was coming to life. But I bet it’s just as beautiful in summer and autumn too.

Wisteria in Bloom – Horsham Museum GardenHidden Gem Dragon – Horsham Museum GardenBeautiful Details – Horsham Museum Garden

Cherry Blossom – Horsham Museum GardenSundial – Horsham Museum GardenSpring Flowers – Horsham Museum GardenEnglish Garden – Horsham Museum Garden

Like most museums in England, this one also is free and the staff is so friendly! They will be more than happy to give you tips on what else it there to see in Horsham and London too.

St. Mary’s Church

A short walk from the museum, on one of Horsham’s most beautiful and colorful streets, is St. Mary’s church. I’d say it doesn’t really matter if you’re a religious person in order to enjoy a short stop here.

The building is beautiful and the huge stained glass behind the altar took my breath away. A lovely lady at the entrance offered to either give me some materials to read while I walked around the church or give me a tour herself. Of course, I took the guided tour. She seemed to have a lot of beautiful stories to tell, and I was not mistaken. She was so nice that in the end, suggesting I got married there. I had to let her down and tell her I live many miles away. Though a destination wedding someday doesn’t sound like a bad idea, ha!

Hidden gems of Horsham

Special mentions on my list of things to do or see in Horsham would be:

Talbot Lane – Horsham, England

Pretty Things Cafe – Horsham, England

Causeway Street – Horsham, England

A walk through Swan Walk – A small shopping center with a few brands such as H&M or Marks and Spencer. You can also find books and great natural shops with all sorts of nuts, seeds, and herbs.

Waterstones – you will find lots of good titles, stationery, and gifts with great deals. They also have chairs and sofas where you could enjoy a read. Plus on the second floor, you can also grab a tea or something to eat. A lovely place for bookworms out there.

Pound Land – If you are not from England, and it’s your first time visiting you might be just as excited about Pound Land as we were. As the name suggests, everything there is 1 pound. We stocked on Cadbury treats to bring back home.

Causeway Street – It’s the beautiful street that takes you from the Museum to the Church and it’s probably the most photographed street in the town, thanks to its colorful houses.

Pavilions in the Park – If you are a sports addict then this is the place to go. Plus if you’re staying at the Premier Inn Hotel, then you will be right across the street from this center that offers among others, a great swimming pool, gym and sports classes.

So if you’re ever in the area, make sure to stop in Horsham. It’s such a lovely, charming English town, with lots to offer for a small place. I am still dreaming of it and hope to return soon!

You fancy modern art? Then I don’t need to tell you that Barcelona is the city of great artists. Gaudi, Dali, Picasso and Miro worked here and you’ll be amazed to see their works even in public spaces.

A city-break in Barcelona is enough for a few inspiring visits in different quarters of the city. Nowadays you can sense the artsy style in many corners, on buildings architecture, public sculptures or on the streets walls. Designers and local artists’ studios spread throughout the city and some street artists constantly mark their distinctive style on the walls.

Medieval Street in BarcelonaGothic Church in El Raval

Graffiti Girl FaceElOtrograffity on shop shutterBL2A BarcelonaMontjuic Barcelona

Catalan modernism and Gaudi

In L’eixample district you’ll find many modernist buildings and you can even follow ”routa de modernisme” sign. Check the colored mosaic and tiles, a clear Moorish influence, natural shapes as branches and bones, and fancy column shapes.  Add a mix of stone, iron, stained glass and ceramics. After all, this is what I call modernism.

Modernist Building, Entrance DetailModernist Building in L’eixample Barcelona

Catalan Modernism in L’eixampledistrictBarcelona Building with balconies

Modernism Route Barcelona, Pavement Pattern

Barcelona’s distinctive architecture style, Modernisme is a Catalan modernism style usually explained as Catalan art nouveau. I am not going to lecture here, but 9! buildings in Barcelona are part of Unesco World Heritage Sites.

Take a day or at least half a day to enjoy Gaudi’s masterpieces. His signature is in many places around the city, from ParcGuell, Casa Batllo, LaPedrera to his most beloved SagradaFamilia or Palau Guell. The house where he lived 20 years is located in ParcGuell and is also worth visiting.

ParcGuellParcGuellColumnsLizardParcGuellCollage with mosaics BarcelonaGaudi House in ParcGuell

Save some money if you want to dive into his imaginative world. Namely, the entrance fees to SagradaFamilia and the houses designed by him range from 15 EUR to 23 EUR and require online booking. But you will not regret one penny. Other beauties are Hospital de Sant Pau and Palau de la MúsicaCatalana, close to the Gothic quarter.

Modernist buildings and Casa Mila BarcelonaCasaBattlo Barcelona

Inside Casa BattloBarcelonaCasaBatllo view to the interior gardenEntrance to the Elevator Casa BatlloSagradaFamilia Entrance View

Modern art in Barcelona – Picasso and Juan Miro

I loved Barcelona even before going there, but Juan Miro Foundation and Montjuic area have a special place in my heart. I’m bias, for sure, but do you imagine a full mansion with surrealism paintings, beautifully colored lines and shapes, on a hill?

In addition, a large sculpture of Miro is in a park close to Plaçad’Espanya: Woman and Bird. The artist has left marks in the city and it’s highly possible you’ll walk on his colored mosaic circle of the pavement in La Rambla, close to the Mercat de la Boqueria.

Juan Miro paintingView from Juan Miro FoundationJuan Miro Fundation – Woman Sculpture

Juan Miro Woman and Bird Sculpturemosaic Juan Miro in La Rambla

To move on, Picasso is another acclaimed modern artist in Barcelona. The museum is in the Gothic quarter and emphasis his evolution toward a cubist, his blue period, reinterpreted Las Meninas painting and a collection of ceramics. First Sunday of the month is free to access, but book online before!

Otherwise, you can admire his work in the street on the upper part of the building called CollegiArquitectes, in the square of Le Catedral. These drawings represent Mediterranean Festivals.

Picasso Museum Barcelona : Picasso in the streets

Dali should be also mentioned here, the works of this Catalan surrealist reside in Barcelona, but Teatre – Museu Dali is in his hometown, Figueres, an hour away from the city.

CaixaForum Barcelona

Initially, a textile factory, now an art gallery sponsored by La Caixa Bank, the building itself is a modern piece of architecture. With this in mind, good temporary exhibits are hosted here and the entrance fee is only 4 EUR. I was lucky enough to enter to Warhol. Mechanical Art, about the pop artists that worked with advertising materials and American stars. In addition, I attended a quite different exhibit:  The world of Giorgio de Chirico. Dream or reality. Briefly, Chirico’s paintings are complex, he is all about strict lines and an architectural perspective.

CaixaForum Andy Warhol expoAndy Warhol Judy GreenChirico paintings

Public Art and Sights along the seaside

You are in Barcelona, so let’s be honest, you’ll want to go to the beach at least if you travel between May and October.

From Port Vell, there are only a few minutes to Barceloneta beach and there’s more to explore if you go north toward Parcdel Forum. As a matter of fact, that’s more than a 5 km walk and further away than the Olimpic port, you’ll encounter joggers, rollers, skate parks, quiet beaches.

One of the tallest buildings in Barcelona, W Hotel, a modern building with a sail shape is close to Barceloneta beach. Homage to the Swimmers, Homage to Barceloneta, Peix, the gold fish designed by Frank Gehry lie along the seafront.

W Hotel Barcelona beach view

National History Museum Barcelona

Once you reach Parcdel Forum you have a new, contemporary square, with high buildings, a space for conventions and events and a beautiful blue façade building for the Natural History Museum.

Street Art in Barcelona

This city is a large canvas with murals and street art, on walls and on shop’s security shutters. Hence, keep the eyes wide open in El Raval, Poble Sec and Sant Antoni districts. I’m going to mention just a few spots:

Hot air balloon façade close to Sant Antoni Market. This is actually the oldest building in the Eixample district and it’s called la Carboneria.

Tribute to Juan Miro, a huge mural in Miro’s style, designed by SIXE.

North-west of parcGuell is an alley with graffiti walls. If you visit ParcGuell, reach the top for the view and for this alley.

Typography on cans is a style you’ll see almost on every quarter. Chef Love is using mainly Catalan or Spanish words, and his messages are rather positive. You can check Me_Lata on instagram.

Agora Juan Andres Benitez, 2 min away from Rambla del Raval, is an open space for social debates and a small cooperative. Grafitti works that surround this area are representative of this story: Juan Andres Benitez, a gay businessman died beaten by the police officers.

Agora Juan Andres Benitez BarcelonaAgora Juan Andres Benites Graffiti Detail

Gothic

I started this post thinking about modernists and street art, but I cannot finish without mentioning the gothic footprint. In essence, the other great landmarks of Barcelona are Gothic. Despite the hordes of tourists, the medieval streets unfold historic buildings in Barri Gothic and La Ribera. At least, check La Catedral (The Cathedral), MuseuD’Historia (History Museum), PlaçaReial (Royal Square).

History Museum in BarcelonaPlacaReialBarcelonaElCatedral in Barcelona

El Born area is small, nice and surrounded by small art shops. On one side you have El Born CCM, a cultural space in a restored former market with excavated city ruins. It’s free to visit and it hosts a worth-to-check exhibit with ceramics. Then you can take a stroll on the Passeigdel Born, the little boulevard, and end with Basilica Santa Maria del Mar.

El Born CCM Barcelona

Other great places to check:

MNAC, Museu Nacional D’art de Catalunya. The building, National Palace, is huge and you should check it at least on the outside. It’s standing proudly on the hills of Montjuic and seems a Roman basilica, with a large dome.

PobleEspanyol. A village replica with all Spanish architectural home styles, close to Montjuïc Fountains and  National Museum of Catalan Art.

MACBA Museu D’art Contemporani

Museum of Design

Whenever I’m visiting another country I love to emerge in the local culture. I find there’s no better way of doing that than indulging in the local cuisine. Ok and probably visiting museums and stuff… but I love food so for me, that’s one of the priorities. Thassos was no exception. Greek food is so good! And that’s why I’ll take you on a gastronomical tour of the island.

Greek cuisine is rarely sophisticated or pretentious. It’s simple, flavourful and delicious! I could live on tzatziki with pita, fried calamari or musselssaganaki. Usually, when we go to Thassos we have our favorite restaurants that we have to check off the list, but this time we explored a little and I was pleasantly surprised.

1. Giorgo’s Tavern (George’s Tavern) – Limenaria

We probably had our best dinner here. It’s quite popular on Trip Advisor, so it’s best to either book a table in advance or go earlier. We went at 6 and it was perfect. Although it doesn’t look like much, just a regular blue tavern, with traditional dishes, George’s Tavern is a delight.

I loved that it played Greek music so slowly in the background. It made for a very relaxed atmosphere, with people talking to each other without having to raise their voices in order to cover the music.

This trip we opted to choose several starters and one main dish to share in order to sample more options. At George’s Tavern, we went for the usual tzatziki, grilled bread with olive oil and oregano and a Greek salad. To these, we added fried calamari, served with chips – absolutely delicious and grilled cheese. The cheese wasn’t necessarily my favorite, but my boyfriend loved it, so it really depends on what you crave at the moment.

Also, this was probably one of the cheapest meals we had on the island, except for the 2,5 Euros gyros you find everywhere, so a totally winning combo.

2. Agorasto’s – Kinira

We went to this restaurant simply because it’s perched somehow upper on a hill with a breathtaking view over the sea and a neighboring island. We didn’t regret it!

Whether at sunset or sunrise the view is spectacular. You get to enjoy your meal on a beautiful terrace, decorated with bougainvillea contrasting the white wood of the balcony. Once we were seated I thought it would take for a really crapy meal to disappoint me with that view, but fortunately, it wasn’t the case

The dinner was exquisite. I ordered some simple fettuccine with tomato sauce and basil. I really appreciated the fresh and sweet tomatoes. My boyfriend wanted a chicken with mustard sauce that was good, but not necessarily the best option in their menu. We also chose to share a grilled pepper stuffed with cheese and a spicy cheese dip served with chips made of fried phyllo – so good!

And since we loved it so much here we decided to come back for breakfast. However, we were a bit disappointed by the lack of options. It was either a 10 Euro per person open bar that seemed a bit expensive and with not too many options. Or anything from the menu that was tailored more for lunch or dinner. So we chose tzatziki with grilled bread, a Greek salad and cheese croquettes, all delicious. Such a great start for the day.

3. Pizza Pub Mama – Potos

When in Greece my first choice would never be pizza. Partly because you can find it anywhere and also because there are so many traditional dishes to enjoy that pizza would seem like a waste of opportunity.

However because my boyfriend really craved pizza, on our last day we asked around and got to Pizza Pub Mama. It was supposed to be really good especially being baked in a pizza oven – and it really was. I especially liked that they had some “Greek” options such as gyros pizza and a lot of options that included feta cheese.

I went for a vegetarian one while my boyfriend had Pizza Mama, they were both delicious and not expensive.

4. TavernaGiorgo’s – Kinira

There are a lot of Giorgos in Greece so make no mistake, it’s not the same tavern as the one mentioned above. This one was located right at the end of the street where we stayed. So we went there twice when we were too tired to figure out something for dinner.

The food was good and so were the prices. We had tzatziki and they were actually the first to suggest grilled bread with olive oil and oregano since they didn’t have pita. That’s where we picked up the idea and asked for it at all the other restaurants. We also had a Greek salad, delicious gyros and really good calamari that went so well with Mythos beer.

Unfortunately, we always went there late at night so the photos don’t really do justice to the dishes. that’s why after a few failed attempts, we stopped taking photos and just enjoyed the food.

5. Leonidas Tavern – Aliki Beach

We ate here before and I remembered they had delicious grilled octopus so of course, that was my first choice. It was a bit chewy-er than I remembered, especially for 12 Euros. I also had toast there in the morning (toast bread, ham, and cheese), we shared tzatziki and a really good baked feta with tomatoes and pepper.

A couple of years back I also had moussaka there. Although by anyone else’s standards it might have been great, I found it too greasy. But then again that’s the case with any moussaka you have in Greece if you ask me.

6. Beautiful Alice – Aliki Beach

Lunch here was nothing spectacular, but it was the only place that had pita bread, go figure. To understand why this is a big deal, pita bread is a traditional option for bread in Greece. So not being able to order in any restaurant was a bit strange and disappointing, but not a tragedy by far

I had grilled gilt-head bream fish that was tasty, my boyfriend had chicken schnitzel with a white mushroom sauce that was really good. We also shared tzatziki and Greek salad.

Beautiful Alice – Tzatziki, Greek Salad and Pita BreadBeautiful Alice – Schnitzel with Mushroom White Sauce and FriesBeautiful Alice 2

7. Skidia Tavern – Kekes Beach

We loved Kekes Beach so much and having the lunch with a beautiful view of the sea was the best way to end our trip to Kekes.

As usual, we shared a Greek salad, tzatziki, and a gyros portion – and we were stuffed. The best thing? Desert on the house: a traditional semolina and cinnamon cake that I vaporized in minutes. Thank God my boyfriend didn’t want to share it!

8. Elena’s Tavern – Panagia

Two years ago we had an impromptu dinner here and one of our friends had skewered goat meat. I thought it was fantastic so I had to order it this time. It was still good, but not as good as I remembered.

My boyfriend ordered a gyros portion that was generous and tasty and we called it a night. If in Panagia you can give it a try, but I wouldn’t cross the island for it.

9. Gkoumas Pastry Shop – Potos and Panetteria – Panagia and SkalaPotamia

All Greek cakes are to die for! Whether they’re made of phyllo and drenched in syrup, made of semolina and spiced with cinnamon or soft, silky custards – once you taste them you’ll be hooked.

Well, Gkoumas is a famous pastry shop in Potos, the only place on the island where you’ll find the Politikos cake. Made of a semolina cake base and a masticha custard, powdered in cinnamon, this cake is perfection on a plate! I went to Potos twice just for it and I never regretted a bite

On the other hand, there is Panetteria. With at least 2 locations on the island (not sure if there are others too), it’s pretty hard to escape the temptation of stopping by and dropping 20 euros on boxes filled with syrupy, nutty treats. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you twice you need to give it a try.

10. Special mentions

During our previous vacations in Thassos, we visited a lot of places and tried a lot of dishes. Though I cannot give an accurate update on them based on this year’s trip, since we haven’t checked them, I would still encourage you to give them a try.

Paradise Beach Restaurant

Not to be mistaken with the beach bar situated at the other end of Paradise Beach, this restaurant used to have the best mussels saganaki I had. We also tried gyros and pizza here and I highly recommend it, especially since this is my favorite beach ever!

Hotel Dyonisos – Golden Beach

The first time we set foot on the island we asked the owner of a charming beach shop in Golden Beach where we could eat well. He recommended 2 options. For fast food, Palude, for anything else Dyonisos.

We had a lot of lunches and dinners there and we enjoyed it every time. Add to that the perfect view of the sea and there’s not much else you could ask for. Tip: listen to your waiter’s recommendations and order the bifteki with homemade tomato sauce!

Zorba’s – Limenas

We passed through Limenas a couple of times and we never stayed long enough to explore it. But, accidentally we discovered a lovely little restaurant where we had lunch twice. Given the chance, I would definitely go back.

There are so many places where you can eat well in Thassos! I think it’s safe to say that you can’t really go wrong, whatever you choose. Whether you grab gyros to go, experience a traditional meal at a taverna or try something more international at a hotel restaurant – everything is fresh, light and delicious.

But what I love most is the way Greeks serve their meals: no particular order, each meal arrives at the table once it’s ready and the food is always shared so that you can experience more at once.

P.S.: Make sure to check my other article to see the best beaches on Thassos. I have updated with the latest discoveries after our trip, this year.

Malta is a 316 sq km Instagram perfect archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. It lies south of the island of Sicily, Italy, and has close ties with the United Kingdom, the French and, of course, Italy. It’s a must see for those who love beaches and clear blue waters, but also those who enjoy digging up history tidbits. But let’s start the trip at the airport.

How you get around Malta (transportation)

I landed in Malta on July 4th at 9 PM and was pleasantly surprised to find a very well-organized taxi pickup point.

You just need to tell the cashier the region of your destination (and hand in the payment, of course) and a taxi driver will pick you up in a matter of minutes. We stayed in Bugibba, a zone within St. Paul’s Bay in the Northern Region, very close to its current capital city, Valetta. The trip was 20 euro for 4 people, a reasonable price for the 30-minute long drive. During the following 3 days, we paid 2 euro/bus trip, but you can also get the 7 days pass and maybe even save a few euros. The bus is the most important means of transportation on the island, both locals and tourists use it, it is dependable and has good AC. More info on public transport here.

Beware of heat waves in June- July

And the next morning the heatwave hit. It hit me, not Malta, Malta felt it way ahead of me, with temperatures rising up to 35-36 degrees Celsius under the shade. But let’s set one thing straight: there is NO shade in Malta unless you are indoors. Locals we talked to were also concerned about it and kept recommending we visit either in Spring (April or May) or November-December. But we were already there so I needed to get over the hot temperatures and try to enjoy the islands.

And I did enjoy Malta so I want to share with you some of the places that are worth your time and some that you might want to avoid.

I enjoyed taking photos of small icons guarding house doors, blossoming trees full of vibrant colors you most probably would like to Instagram.

We ate local finger-licking good food and tried an energy drink made out of malt (way better taste than the sugar loaded versions).

Try the rabbit, please! And the veal stew. And the ftira (local flat bread) and beware of the pastizzi at the local street food joint, Quick intro: before fast food, Maltese ate these as a consistent snack. We tried some made with chicken meat and cheese and, even if the meat was a little too raw for our taste, none of the four of us complained of hunger until late in the afternoon. Affordable, easy to find at every street corner, they could easily help you if you are on a budget.

Mighty Malt, energy drinkMaltese veal specialty

We discovered the historical capital city of Mdina with its narrow streets and peaceful houses. And I shot my new summer wallpaper.

I preferred Mdina, the old capital city the now famous 1 sq km Valetta, the official capital city. The later one

Shadowy street in Mdina , the old capital city of Malta

provided an astonishing view of the Mediterranean Sea from its gardens, but it was quite busy, with hordes of tourists cramming in to get that one perfect shot.

In comparison, Mdina, also known as CittaVecchia or CittaNotabile, is a walk down memory lane. 4,000 years of history lay upon its cobbled streets, with local and artisan shops hidden in small shadowy rooms and hills to explore and roam through.

And yes, I found one narrow street framed by the tall yellow buildings bathed in the warm sunset light to be the perfect wallpaper. Don’t you agree?

Why can the Maltese speak so many languages? Because it’s in their DNA.

While visiting their cathedrals I read on Maltese history and how their identity and ultimately their fate was determined by different nations/conquerors. The five islands were led in time by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, French and British. Quite a mouthful, right? Well, imagine your grandma being able to speak English, Italian and a little bit of French without formal training as second languages. It’s possible as the owner of the Airbnb apartment we stayed in told us.  And just think about it this way: they are so close to Sicily that they do their grocery shopping there (better prices). And they gained their independence from Great Britain quite late, in 1964!  Our very amiable host said it best: we had to get along with them all. We just had to.

We strolled around the sea cliff, rode a ferry and gazed at an amazing sun sinking into the sea.

What a romantic view! Perfect for romantic getaways and long walks/talks. It seemed like we actually had more time on the clock and everything that seemed urgent at home was now cast away.

The Mediterannean Sea was as blue as you could imagine.Ferry to Gozo is fast and cheap.Amazing sunsets are almost guaranteed on any side of the island.

I discovered Caravaggio’s life story and his close ties with Malta Knights. He was one of them.

Caravaggio, best known for the introduction of chiaroscuro and his influence on Baroque paintings, was not only an amazing painter but also quite a feisty knight and an eternal wanderer. He ended up in Malta after he was sentenced to death for killing another man in a duel. A  brawl led to a death sentence for murder and forced him to flee to Naples and head to Malta in 1607. He painted here some of his major works including a huge Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (the only painting to which he put his signature). But only one year later he fled Malta imprisonment after yet another brawl in which he injured an aristocratic knight. Quite a temper, this Caravaggio! But his paintings are mesmerizing and manage to capture the psychology within the scenes he painted. And that is considered one of the founding fathers of the modern art as we know it.

 And now for the what-to-avoid chapter

Full disclosure: I am not a fan of crowded spaces. So even if these two beaches are on almost all top 10 to see in Malta, I would recommend avoiding them.

The Red Beach

We wanted to check out the famous red sand beach in Malta as we had never seen red sand before. We were quite disappointed: not only was the beach a long trip from Bugibba, it was also very crowded at 4 PM when we reached our destination. And very few and expensive alternatives for drinks/ice-cream to freshen up.

The Blue Lagoon

Yes, the infamous young and naked Brooke Shields movie was filmed here. Yes, the waters are as blue as you see them in the videos/photos. But the beach is just 3 meters wide. Unless you wake up at dawn and secure a spot very early, you will most probably end up lying on an uncomfortable rock with steep stairs to climb down towards the very salty water. A piece of advice: if you do decide to go, take your swimming slippers and goggles with you.   one view can make you forgive and forget all of Blue Lagoon’s shortcomings.

Despite all of the above, I must admit that one view can make you forgive and forget all of Blue Lagoon’s shortcomings. Just check the photo below – no filter, I swear!

Other useful info:

Even if buses are the main way of transportation, check their schedule and plan your trips around the islands carefully to make sure you catch the last bus home.

 Almost everything is 30 minutes away. The country is so small (316 sq KM!) you can travel anywhere you like. Some people recommend leasing a car (approx 28 euro/day) to enjoy the freedom, but beware that they drive on the right and you’d need to adjust to that.

Power outlets are British so do yourself a favor and bring an adapter.

Bring swimming slippers and do not forget swimming goggles. Otherwise, the salt in the seawater will make it impossible to take a dip into the clear blue waters.

Have you been to Malta? If yes, share some of the must-see spots I may have missed in the comments section. If no, please remember, visit in the winter. Otherwise, remember to wear sunscreen! as Baz Luhrmann might say.