London Calling

25.3.14

06.02.14

The home of her Majesty the Queen, tea and fun filled Pubs.

Let me tell you, 5 days is nowhere enough time to see London for all its beauty. So here's the best way to experience London on budgeted time.

The tube is the easiest and most efficient way of navigating your way around the city, with trains arriving every 3-6 minutes. Add 20 Euro to start off with on your oyster card as its hard to find reload booths at certain stations.

For sightseeing we highly recommend doing a Hop-on Hop-off Tour on a Double Decker red bus. To cover all 3 routes all you pay is 20 euro and you can use the voucher over 2 days. As we were staying at the Plaza on The River club and residence, London, they organised our tour and had tickets ready for us which included a discount. On this tour you will have the opportunity to see and stop as most of the famous landmarks in London as well as other smaller attractions.

The Hop-on Hop-off tour is perfect during the winter and rainy months. Providing warmth and cover from the weather as well as providing information about the sites you may have not otherwise known.

Hotel

Plaza on The River club and residence, London

http://www.plazaontheriver.co.uk/

Hop-on Hop-off Tour

http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour-information/hop-on-hop-off.htm

View of River Thames from our Room

Plaza on the River is a very luxurious hotel with very modern amenities. Staff at the hotel are very helpful and friendly. Room service delivers on time and not over priced, close to metro, shops and easy walk to the London Eye.

Driving in oxford street was very exciting

Our walk from the hotel to the London Eye

Trafalgar Square

The London Eye and Big Ben

Big Ben

Driving across Tower Bridge

cleopatra's Needle

Driving to Stonehenge from London city takes about 2 hours.

Chino Latino Restaurant & Bar

All Photos taken by blog Authors

- A.P -

Adventure, Dreams, Experiences, Travel

Ancient Ruins of Pompeii

2.3.14

25.02.14

As an ancient history student in high school there have always been a handful of historical locations in the world that i would love to explore, one being the Mt Vesuvius and the Ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

We left Rome for a day trip down to Naples. The drive was around 3 hours including stops for petrol and food. After arriving at the main gate of Vesuvio National Park, rangers notified us that the park was closed due to unpredictable climate. So we decided to make our way to the excavation site of Pompeii to begin exploring.

You cant begin to understand what the lives of citizens of Pompeii was like in 79AD when Mt. Vesuvius erupted until you visit the ruins. A peaceful sight with haunting memories.

Entry:

(Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis Stabiae, Boscoreale Antiquarium - valid for 3 days)
Full price: € 20.00

Via dell'abbondanza

Ruins of Pompeii

Ruins of Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius in the background

Ruins of Pompeii

Cement cast of pocket holes found during excavation, later revealed to be body imprints of humans and animals during their last moments.

Artifacts found during excavation

Mt. Vesuvius from the Ruins of Pompeii

Amphitheater

All Photos taken by blog Authors

- A.P -

Adventure, Dreams, Experiences, Hotels, Travel

Valentines Day in the City of Love

23.2.14

14.02.14

As midnight struck, we were just returning home from an Ellie Goulding concert. Our first real Valentines Day, and in Paris, the city of love of all places.

We exchanged fancy gifts heartfelt cards.

Valentines Day had begun.

When we woke late the next morning, the whole gang got up to cook breakfast and once we were all ready, we head off to the city.

As we had booked a deluxe room at the Novotel in the city Centre, the first thing we did was get to the hotel and check in. Once that was out of the way, the adventures could begin!

First stop: La Tour Eiffel. We were lucky enough to have reasonable weather. It was overcast but not raining. Walking to the Eiffel Tower from our hotel, we meandered through the park, sampling some authentic street food: a Nutella crepe and a ham and cheese crepe - both were delicious!

We waited in the queue to go up the Eiffel Tower, but the lines were taking much too long, and we wanted to bust another romantic location before sundown.

So off we set again, this time to le Pont Des Arts - also globally knows as the original love lock bridge.

Just after the fourth lamp post on the left was where the love of my life and I shared one of the most special moments of my life. As she locks the engraved vintage padlock directly to the fence, I knew more than ever that this was what I wanted. Standing close behind her, her hand enclosed in mine, we throw the key to our love lock into the river. We promised to each other that we would return to this very spot when we get married.

As the sun started to set, we left the bridge to head back to our hotel, Valentines Day isn't over yet!

All Photos taken by blog Authors

- A.P -

Adventure, Dreams, Experiences, Hotels, Travel

Palais des Nations

18.2.14

16.02.14

The Palace of Nations, Geneva.

From the age of ten i have developed a growing interest in humanitarian work and the education of equal rights around communities in the world. It has been a life goal to visit The Palace of Nations in Geneva. In February 2014 during a trip around the UK and Europe i decided to finally make that dream come true. We made our way from Paris by car to Geneva, along the 7 hour drive we got charged a 120 euro highway toll and a 40 euro charge at the Swiss boarder to enter the country.

Twelve years of anticipation and the experience was well worth the wait. Geneva is truly one of the most peaceful cities in the world, you begin to understand how such a small city is the Democratic city of the world.

Address of The Palace of Nations:
Avenue de la Paix 14, 1211 Genève 10, Switzerland

If you plan to make a visit to The palace of nations we recommend you stay at the following hotel, affordable, clean, staff are very helpful and welcoming, central location and close to shopping and weekend markets.

Hotel Adagio Geneve Mont Blanc
Rue Sigismond-Thalberg 4, 1201 Genève, Switzerland

Helpful hint
Try and avoid going on a Sunday as all shops and The United Nations tours are closed for the day.