in Guest Post
01 October 2014
Guest Post Crazy
SO
It's been a mini hiatus from this page - buuuuut I'm here!
Well, not exactly here. But over there.
You know? On Marielle's blog?
Yep - I'm guest posting over there today!
A little bit about my move over here and a few (or a lot) of realizations that it wasn't everything I'd hoped it was.
But don't worry, there's a happy ending.
Find me over there --> HERE
30 August 2014
Expats Takeover: A Quick Guide to Edinburgh
Hello readers! I am right in the mix of that little move to London - you know, the whole 'expat blogger' thing? Well, I've decided to finally give truth to the title, and am on my way over.
While I am currently figuring out life across the world, I've got a few of my favorite bloggers stepping in for me to keep this page up and running - enjoy! - Caity
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. I write about my life as an expat in Scotland, my different travels and any other life related things that inspire me.
WHERE TO STAY
WHERE TO EAT
I have to be totally honest with you that every time I head to Edinburgh I try to satiate my sushi cravings (which St Andrews lacks immensely). I once tried 3 different sushi restaurants in less than a month.
WHAT TO SEE
The best way to get a quick view of Edinburgh is to take a tour!
OTHER TIPS?
Edinburgh is an amazing city full of amazing things to see and experience. While I don't have time to discuss them all, here are a few things you might look forward to experiencing when visiting Edinburgh.
Camila @ The Things I Am Crazy For
29 August 2014
Expats Takeover: Top Three in Paris
Hello readers! I am right in the mix of that little move to London - you know, the whole 'expat blogger' thing? Well, I've decided to finally give truth to the title, and am on my way over.
While I am currently figuring out life across the world, I've got a few of my favorite bloggers stepping in for me to keep this page up and running - enjoy! - Caity
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Hi everyone! I'm Jess and I blog at Stamp in my Passport. I'm a recent college grad living in Florida and I write about travel, cooking for one, books and decorating my first apartment.
I was fortunate enough to spend a semester studying abroad in Paris. It was such an amazing experience. Croissants and café au lait every morning and afternoon strolls through the park. A lot of friends were studying abroad across Europe at the same time and when they came to Paris on their free travel, they always asked where I suggested they should visit.
If you should ever find yourself in Paris here are the three places that should be at the top of your list (in my opinion):
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Photo Credit: Lauren Knight, Harding in Paris Director
The D'Orsay
If you love the muted colors and soft lines of Degas, Renoir, and Monet, then you will want to make a beeline for the D'Orsay for an hour or two. In my opinion, if you can only make it to one museum on your trip, this should be it.
Forget the Louvre and Mona Lisa.
Montmartre
Home to the street artists, young people and Sacre Coeur, this neighborhood is worth the long metro ride.
The views of the city below are beautiful and there are lots of cafes and shops to visit. At any given moment you'll also find street performers and can enjoy the free (or cheap, if you are nice and leave a tip) concert.
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Versailles
If you would have a little extra time and need to get outside of the city limits, hop on the RER (commuter rail line) to Versailles to be transported back in time to the height of French royal glamour. If the weather is nice and you want to avoid lots of people, opt for the tour of the grounds over the inside.
And don't forget to wander off to visit Petit Trinanon.
A list of all of the foods I suggest you try as well, would take up a whole post unto itself.
Let’s just say I would suggest that you make room for second lunches and second dinners just to fit all of them in.
And don’t forget to pack a few muumuus to conceal your growing waistline.
A list of all of the foods I suggest you try as well, would take up a whole post unto itself.
Let’s just say I would suggest that you make room for second lunches and second dinners just to fit all of them in.
And don’t forget to pack a few muumuus to conceal your growing waistline.
28 August 2014
Expats Takeover: My English Bucket List
Hello readers! I am right in the mix of that little move to London - you know, the whole 'expat blogger' thing? Well, I've decided to finally give truth to the title, and am on my way over.
While I am currently figuring out life across the world, I've got a few of my favorite bloggers stepping in for me to keep this page up and running - enjoy! - Caity
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(A view on a blustery day visiting friends in the countryside.)
My English Bucket List
2. Climb Scafell Pike in the Lake District.
3. Go on a pub crawl.
4. Stay at a traditional English B&B.
5. Go to the Farne Islands off of the Northumberland coast and play with the baby seals.
6. See Durham Castle.
7. Visit Whitby Abbey.
8. See where Shakespeare lived (Stratford-upon-Avon) and catch a show at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) while you are there. (I lived in Stratford for a little while so I can make many suggestions specific to the town for you.)
9. Attend a service at Westminster Abbey, London (it's free).
10. Eat afternoon tea.
11. Visit Oxford and the Bridge of Sighs.
12. See a Premier League football game.
13. Take a stroll along Brighton Pier.
14. Take a tour of Windsor Castle.
15. Go to Beachy Head.
16. Enjoy a soak at the Thermae Bath Spa.
17. Take a walk in the bluebell woods (early spring only!)
18. Tour the Tower of London.
19. Have tea at Cornwall's Tregothnan Tea Estate.
20. See Hadrian's Wall.
21. Take a ghost tour of York. (England's most haunted town.)
22. Listen to Evensong at King's College, Cambridge.
23. Go surfing in Cornwall.
I look forward to meeting Caity in person soon!
Find Amanda here --> Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Bloglovin'
26 August 2014
Expats Takeover: My 10 favourite things to do in Stockholm
Hello readers! I am right in the mix of that little move to London - you know, the whole 'expat blogger' thing? Well, I've decided to finally give truth to the title, and am on my way over.
While I am currently figuring out life across the world, I've got a few of my favorite bloggers stepping in for me to keep this page up and running - enjoy! - Caity
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Hey! I’m Van, a German girl living and travelling through Scandinavia.
I
blog over at Snow in Tromso and while
Caity is moving to London and getting settled,
I’d like to take you on a trip to
Scandinavia, namely to Stockholm in Sweden!
I spend one month in this city this year to do a Swedish course and used
my free time to explore the city and its surroundings. There are a lot of
things to see and do in Stockholm and it’s easy to get lost in the selection
process. Whether you are a shopping, museum or nature enthusiast, this city has
got it covered.
So to help you get the most out of your stay in Sweden’s capital,
I thought I’d present you today my 10 favourite things to do in Stockholm!
Globen is a newly built event hall where you can either attend a Mando
Dio concert or watch an innebandy game (for everyone who is not familiar with
innebandy: it is the Swedish version of hockey).
However that’s not all.
The
area around Globen was remodelled a few years ago and you can now shop till you
drop in the nearby shopping mall. Don’t forget to eat an ice-cream at
Ben&Jerry’s while you are there and if that is not adventurous enough for
you, then how about Skyview?
You can get to the top of the Globe Arena with a
special gondola made of glass and enjoy a view on Stockholm from above!
Östermalm is a neighbourhood in the East of Stockholm that offers you
everything from French restaurants, Gucci stores, theatres and a lively
boulevard where you can occasionally meet members of the Royal Family on their
shopping trips.
But that is not all!
If you are looking for French cuisine,
fresh exotic fruits, Swedish reindeer meat or Italian wine then you have to
visit Östermalm's Saluhall, the oldest and most beautiful market hall in
Stockholm.
After you had a feast there, you have to burn the calories of course
and what is better than a promenade along the pier or even better, in the
woods?
You can do both in Östermalm.
Just stroll along the boulevard at the
waterside and then go and explore the island of Djurgarden. Djurgarden is
connected to Östermalm by a bridge and after crossing it, you can either enjoy
one of the many museums that are situated on the island or you just hike
through the woods where encounters with the Royal Family walking their dogs are
not unlikely.
The Vasa Museum is the home of the biggest preserved item of the world:
The Vasa ship. It was built in the 17th century and sunk on its
maiden voyage.
Construction mistakes and an excessive load of bombs lead to the
disaster and about 30 people died.
The Vasa is the only ship that still exists
of that century and was rescued in the 1960s. You can see the whole original
ship in the museum plus a few exhibitions on life on board, naval warfare in
the 1600s and the preservation work of course.
There are 7 floors so that you
can see the ship from every possible angle and you can also watch a film about
it that is shown in 16 languages.
And let’s be honest, when was the last time
you saw an item that was that old?
Södermalm, or Söder as Stockholmers call it, is a young and hip
neighbourhood in the south of Stockholm.
It is a former working class district
that is now popular among young families and hipsters. You can still see some
working class apartment houses there but also some cute, little, typical
Swedish houses.
If you are into fashion then this is your must-see “sight”. Get
some inspiration on the street or go on the hunt for cute vintage items in one
of the many second hand boutiques.
If you get hungry, try some kebab or a
falafel at a snack stand that you can find at every corner.
And if you are not
into shopping, watch a movie at the Victoria Cinema that was built in the 1930s
and has not lost any of its 30s charm.
If you want to know what Stockholm looks like from above, visit
Kaknästornet.
It is the TV tower of Stockholm and also the highest building in
Sweden. For an entrance fee of 6€ you have access to the elevator that brings
you to the top of the tower.
There you have a stunning view on Stockholm and
its surroundings.
After you took dozens of pictures, have lunch or a cup of tea
in the restaurant where you can enjoy the view while you’re eating.
This is the biggest archipelago of Scandinavia and consists of 30000
islands. How amazing is that?
The islands themselves consist of bare rocks and
woods and while most of them are uninhabited most of the time, there are also
quite a few people who live in the archipelago all year round.
In winter these
people use hovercrafts and in summer ferries to do grocery shopping or take their
kids to school.
It is an adventurous life out in the Baltic Sea and while you’re
staying in Stockholm, you can easily do a day trip to one of the many islands.
Just take the ferry and enjoy a day of sunbathing and pick-nicking - 2 hours
away from the buzz of the big city.
This is where the King and Queen of Sweden live.
The castle is situated
outside the city centre of Stockholm, about 10km further west in a little
village called Bromma. It is surrounded by a beautiful park and Lake Mälaren
which makes it the perfect destination for a sunny summer day.
You can walk
through the park for hours and enjoy the little pond, the little Chinese castle
and of course the beautiful landscape.
The main castle is open to the public so
you can enjoy the beautifully decorated rooms in there as well.
And after a few
hours exploring and walking through the area, how about some marzipan cake, or
princess cake as it is called in Swedish, and a cup of strawberry tea?
Skansen is an open-air museum on Djurgarden, the island in Östermalm
that I have already mentioned.
You can get to know Swedish architecture,
Swedish animals, Swedish traditions and handcraft, Swedish food and life in 19th
century Sweden here.
You can easily spend a whole day in this museum taking
pictures of cute little Swedish houses, watching how Swedish handcraft is made
or what life in former times was like, trying Swedish food at the market place
or just sitting at the fire on colder days.
In summer you can catch a glimpse
of a bear and of reindeers, wolves and elks all year round. You can also inform
yourself about the Sami, the indigenous people living in Lapland.
And at the
end of the day, try a traditional Swedish “smörgas” (sandwich) or some
meatballs. Skansen is Sweden in a nutshell and therefore one of the top things
to do when visiting Stockholm.
Gamla Stan is the Old Town of Stockholm.
It is located in the heart of
the city and characterized by dark alleyways, three ancient churches, a
shopping mile where you can buy Swedish souvenirs or handcraft, and many cafes
and restaurants.
Gamla Stan is also the home of the Royal Palace, the workplace
of the Swedish King. You can see him there on several occasions and I was lucky
to see the Crown Princess there on my last visit to Stockholm.
But even if you
are not able to see a member of the Swedish Royal Family, the change of the
guards every day at noon also is worth a visit.
You can of course explore the
Palace’s magnificent rooms too and the ticket also includes a visit to the
Crown Jewels.
And the best place in Gamla Stan is the little island
Riddarholmen, the knight’s isle.
Sitting at the waterside on a sunny day and
looking over to Stadshuset, the town hall, was just my favourite thing to do on
Sundays.
But you have to see that for yourself!
This is my favourite place in Stockholm. Located in Södermalm, this hill
offers you a free and absolutely wonderful view on the city centre.
It is where
Stockholmers go to on summer evenings to drink, barbecue and just have a good
time. It also is a hidden gem that most tourists simply don’t know of.
So if
you are on a budget, this is the place to go! Apart from the hill, there are
also a few footpaths nearby where you can enjoy the woods and a view on the
waterside that is just stunning!
I hope I could give you some useful tips to make the most out of your stay
in Stockholm. It is a wonderful city and I can only recommend you to visit it
one day!
Find Van here --> Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Bloglovin'
25 August 2014
Expats Takeover: Southwest English Towns You Should Visit
Hello readers! I am right in the mix of that little move to London - you know, the whole 'expat blogger' thing? Well, I've decided to finally give truth to the title, and am on my way over.
While I am currently figuring out life across the world, I've got a few of my favorite bloggers stepping in for me to keep this page up and running - enjoy! - Caity
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Born and raised a Texas girl, I moved to England a year ago to pursue a masters degree as well as make this wonderful country my home.
Sound familiar, right?
As a fellow American expat living in England, I thought I’d share with you a few of my favorite cities in the Southwest. No, not the American Southwest. The Southwest of England, aka my adopted home.
England has so much to offer, and one of my favorite hobbies is to explore my own backyard.
I moved here having never visited, which was kind of crazy but oh so worth it. Bristol has the small town feel with all the conveniences of a big city.
I’ll leave you with my favorite quote, one that describes Bristol perfectly.
“I love Bristol because it knows who it is. It's cool and cosmopolitan and it doesn't compete with other cities. Bristol is happy dancing to the beat of its own drum."- Stephen Merchant
Instantly you feel as if you are in a Jane Austen novel. Bath is England’s most romantic city.
It happens to be the home to some of England’s oldest history as well. Visit the Roman Baths, then Bath Cathedral just a few steps away.
The smallest city in all of England, Wells
is the setting for the hilarious movie “Hot Fuzz”.
Although small, Wells is home to my favorite cathedral in England as well as a beautiful medieval palace.
Although small, Wells is home to my favorite cathedral in England as well as a beautiful medieval palace.
Home to one of the four surviving copies of
the Magna Carta, Salisbury is located 20 minutes south of Stonehenge.
It’s local markets and impressive cathedral are must sees on a visit to this medieval city.
It’s local markets and impressive cathedral are must sees on a visit to this medieval city.
Just 8 miles southeast of Bath, this tiny
town is commonly nicknamed “Little Bath”.
While the architecture is similar, the atmosphere of Bradford-on-Avon is completely different.
Off the beaten track, this town is perfect for capturing true English village life.
While the architecture is similar, the atmosphere of Bradford-on-Avon is completely different.
Off the beaten track, this town is perfect for capturing true English village life.
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