Krakow – Poland

On 22/04/201625/07/2016 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, lifestyle, photography, Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I visited Krakow from the 1st April to the 3rd April. The city is not very big but the centre has retained much of it’s historical architecture and features. The currency is the zloty (PLN) and £1 (GBP) is equal to 5.40 zlotys.

Where I stayed
Quality System Hotel
Supposedly it was a 3 star hotel, it was 20-25 minutes away from the city centre and it felt more like a 2 star hostel. The room I stayed in was an en-suite but the room was too cramped and decorated with unnecessary furniture that would be best removed to allow for more circulation space.

What I did
Wawel Royal Castle
It must be a trend in Eastern Europe for Castles to be a mix of architectural styles. The castle is mostly of gothic architecture but traces of Danish and Eastern influences are also present. The Castle is also home to Smok Wawelski, the Wawel Castle dragon which periodically breathes fire and has a fantastical legend associated with it.

Walking tour of the Jewish District
Unfortunately for me I paid 56 zlotys (£10.40) for a walking tour of the Jewish District only to discover that there were free walking tours that also covered the same location we went to, so if you visit Krakow make sure to look out for the free walking tours.

Klezmer- Hois
Klezmer-Hois is a vintage restaurant that echoes the spirit of pre-war Kazimierz (Jewish District), its tables are covered in lace, and artwork inspired by the shtetl (Jewish town). The restaurant is also the haunt of Leopold Kozłowski a famous musician and actor in the movie Schindler’s list, and he just happened to be in the restaurant at the time I visited, such luck.

Klezmer-Hois, Jewish District, Krakow, Poland

Inside Klezmer- Hois, Jewish District, Krakow, Poland

Leopold Kozłowski at Klezmer-Hois, Jewish District, Krakow, Poland

Other things in the Jewish Quarter

Old Synagogue, Jewish District, Krakow, Poland

The best for a Zapiekanka, Jewish District, Krakow, Poland — The bes place for a Zapiekanka, Jewish District, Krakow, Poland

Memorial Stone at Krakow Jewish District, Poland

Replicas of old Jewish Shops, Jewish Quarter, Krakow, Poland

Outside The Singer Restaurant, Jewish District, Krakow, Poland

The Empty Chair Memorial Monument
The square is the actual place SS soldiers made selections. The memorial monument is dedicated to all the Jewish people who were put through the inhumane process and for most met their death during the holocaust.

Chair Monument, Jewish District, Krakow, Poland

Schindler’s Museum and Factory
The walking tour ended outside the Schindler’s Museum, I had watched the film before visiting Krakow and I really wanted to see the museum, but I chose not to go in because the actual factory had not been preserved but it had been turned into a museum. I personally did not want to see the exhibition but the entrance fee is inexpensive at 19 zlotys (£3.50).

Schindler Museum, Krakow, Poland — Schindler’s Museum, Krakow, Poland

Rynek Underground
The original Krakow is 4 meters below ground and Rynek museum gives you the opportunity to go underground and walk along the old streets. It is a new museum but I found it lacking in content, however I appreciate that for those interest in archaeology it would be fascinating. Entrance to the museum is inexpensive at 19 zlotys (£3.50), this museum would be great for a rainy day. Note that the museum’s entrance is on the opposite side of the ticket office.

Inside Rynek Underground, Krakow, Poland

Insdie Rynek Underground, Krakow, Poland — Inside Rynek Underground, Krakow, Poland

The Cloth Hall
I loved this building and best of all it was home to an indoor market selling cool wares and souvenirs. It is also the location to ticket office and entrance to Rynek Underground.

The Other Sights and Things in Krakow

St Mary's Basilica, Krakow, Poland — St Mary’s Basilica, Krakow, Poland

Saint Peter and Paul Church, Krakpw, Poland — Saint Peter and Paul Church, Krakow, Poland

What I ate
Pierogi Mr Vincent
I highly recommend Pierogi Mr Vincent in the Jewish district, it is a small restaurant with only 6-8 tables but the squeeze is worth it. Pierogi is a simple but hearty meal of dumplings, I tried the cabbage, onion and Mushroom and the Spinach pierogi and they were delicious I ate the whole plate quickly. For dessert I had the apple and cherry pierogi and they were also scrumptious, especially the apple on that just melted in the mouth. My meal was very cheap at 27 zlotys in total (£5).

Yummy Pierogi from Pierogi Mr Vincent, Krakow, Poland

Zapiekanka
A long baguette with a base of mushroom and cheese which can be topped by various combinations. It was very good and at 7 zlotys (£1.30) for a basic Zapiekanka it was worth trying. The best Zapiekanka are said to be found in the Jewish district.

Cupcake Corner
If you want something sweet other than a savoury pierogi, I highly recommend Cupcake Corner, the Reese’s peanut butter cupcake I ate was very good.

Reese's Peanut butter cupcake from Cupcake Corner, Krakow, Poland — Reese’s Peanut butter cupcake from Cupcake Corner, Krakow, Poland

My Review of Krakow City
My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

Culture = 7/10
Krakow is a little city that can be explored in 2 days or 3 days if you also include a trip to the salt mines. It has a rich history even though a big chunk of it is steeped in blood from the holocaust. This is a great city to learn more about the holocaust and of course visit Auschwitz which is 1 hour away.

Attractiveness = 6.5/10
The beauty of the city is concentrated to the small centre, outside of the centre felt like any other European city.

People/Friendliness = 3.5/10
I did not find the people of Krakow particularly welcoming, I found this unusual considering that large number of people who emigrate from Poland. I am sure this will change as a more diverse set of people continue visiting the country.

Food = 8/10
The Pierogi and Zapiekanka are so delicious, food is so cheap you can eat very well for a reasonable price.

Affordability = 8/10
If you want a cheap holiday this is the place to be, a good meal at a restaurant will cost approx £10.

Vibe = ?/10
I couldn’t really determine the vibe as I felt so uncomfortable with the people I met, tourism from people of colour is clearly new to Poland so people are still apprehensive.

Overall = 6/10
At this point I have no desire to return to Krakow, however I am pleased I visited the city and got to experience Eastern European culture.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

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Budapest – Hungary

On 20/04/201605/09/2017 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, lifestyle, photography, Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and certainly one of the most beautiful cities I have been to, it was also a great introduction to Eastern Europe. The name comes from the the two main parts of the city divided by the River Danube Buda and Pest.

I visited from the 30th March – 1st April 2016. I spent a day and a half in the city and I wish I had stayed much longer, I would recommend visiting for 3-4 days to truly get a feel of the city.

The currency is the Hungarian forint (HUF), and £1 (GBP) is approx HUF 400.

Where I stayed

Wombats Hostel
The hostel is very central and one of the best I have stayed in, the room was spacious with a bathroom which is a big plus for a hostel in my book. The breakfast was also good, it was typical European breakfast buffet but also included an option for toasted sandwiches.

What I did

As I was only in the city for one day I bought a hop on hop off city bus ticket for HUF 5000 (£13) this also included a cruise along the River Danube. It was a very good choice as I got to see a lot of the city and learn some of its history along the way.

Fisherman’s Bastion
This sit atop a hill and offers stunning views of the city, as you approach the area you are immediately met with a sight of white stone and Mattias church which wouldn’t be out-of-place in a Disney film, the beautiful white stones are crowned with beautiful ornate tiles of various colours.

Fishermans Bastion, Budapest, Hungary — Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest, Hungary

Fishermans Bastion, Budapest, Hungary 2 — Matthias Church Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest, Hungary

Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest, Hungary 4 — Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest, Hungary

View from Fisherman Bastion, Budapest, Hungary — View from Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest, Hungary

House of Terror
While I did not visit the museum, I loved the building and how the word ‘TERROR’ was carved and illuminated on the building. The museum is worth a visit to learn more about the atrocities carried out during the Nazi occupation of the country.

Heroes Square
A large square with monuments commemorating the Hungarian founding fathers and the fallen soldiers of war who died unknown.

Statues on Heros Square, Budapest, Hungary

Museum of Fine Art
An impressive gold decorated building. Whilst most people were drawn to the monument and seven figures on Heroes Square the Museum of Fine Arts building was my first call, it drew me in like a moth to a flame.

Museum of Fine Art, Budapest, Hungary 1 — Museum of Fine Art, Budapest, Hungary

Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary — Museum of Fine Art, Budapest, Hungary

Museum of Fine Art, Budapest, Hungary 2 — Museum of Fine Art, Budapest, Hungary

City Park and Castle Vajdahunyad
The City Park is next to Heroes Square and is also where the Castle Vajdahunyad is located. The castle is an eclectic mix of architectural styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. It was initially made from cardboard and wood, but it became so popular that it was rebuilt from stone and brick between 1904 and 1908. Today, it houses the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, the biggest agricultural museum in Europe.

Castle Vajdahunyad in the City Park, Budapest, Hungary

The entrance to Castle Vajdahunyad, Budapest, Hungary

Part of Castle Vajdahunyad, Budapest, Hungary

Part of Castle Vajdahunyad, Budapest, Hungary 4 — Part of Castle Vajdahunyad, Budapest, Hungary

Part of Castle Vajdahunyad, Budapest, Hungary 2 — Part of Castle Vajdahunyad, Budapest, Hungary

River Danube Cruise
With the temperature in the 20s and blue skies the day was perfect for a cruise along the river, it took about 1hr 30mins to complete the circuit, and it offered the best views of the impressive parliament building.

The Parliment Building, Budapest, Hungary

The Parliment Building, Budapest, Hungary 1 — The Parliment Building, Budapest, Hungary

View from the River Danube, Budapest, Hungary

St Stephen’s Basilica
An impressive cathedral sitting in pride and place on St Stephens Square. The architecture is simply stunning. I really wish I had the time to go inside, I will make sure to go in on my next visit.

St Stephen's Basilica, Budapest, Hungary — St Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest, Hungary

St Stephen's Bascilica, Budapest, Hungary — St Stephen’s Bascilica, Budapest, Hungary

Other Sights of Budapest

The food I ate

Goulash
The national Hungarian dish is the Goulash, a meaty and heart stew. As I am a pescatarian, I opted of a mushroom Goulash which was delicious. My meal cost HUF 3500 (£9) inclusive of a glass of wine.

Kürtőskalács
Kürtőskalács (“doughnut”) is doughnut batter wrapped around a hot rod to get the spiral effect. I paid HUF 990 (£2.50) for my cinnamon Kürtőskalács and it was worth it.

Kürtőskalács Shop, Budapest, Hungary — Kürtőskalács Shop, Budapest, Hungary

Kürtőskalács, Budapest, Hungary — Kürtőskalács, Budapest, Hungary

Hungarian Perec (Pretzel)
The Perec is rather large and looks very appetising, however it was far too salty for me. I could only eat a couple of mouth full before I had to throw it away, a shame because I was expecting a buttery sweet/salty taste rather than just salt thankfully I only paid HUF 400 (£1).

My Ratings of the City

My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

Culture = 8/10
I have given the city an 8 even though I spent a short amount of time there, there was loads to do and even much more I didn’t do that I am planning my next trip back to the city. The City has bath houses, museums, theatre production and so much more.

People/Friendliness = 6/10
Well, I didn’t really feel any warmth from the locals I met, I met indifference. I was concerned about going to Eastern Europe as generally the region is not as exposed to other cultures as the rest of Europe but as a lone black woman I felt safe in Budapest.

Attractiveness = 8.5/10
This City is beautiful, I was really impressed with the beautiful architecture and history. I am certain this city has inspired many folk tales.

Food = 8/10
The Hungarians love paprika and it can be found in virtually everything, I like paprika so I was happy. Normally the vegetarian option of many national dishes tend to leave much to be desired but the mushroom Goulash I ate was very delicious.

Affordability = 9/10
If you want a cheap holiday this is the city to be, a good meal at a restaurant will cost approx £10. I spent £50 for the two days I was there and that included doing all the touristy things.

Vibe = 8/10
Budapest has an amazing vibe, history, and a new unexplored kind of vibe. Paris and London need to watch their backs, because Budapest is coming for the best tourist destination crown.

Overall = 8.5/10
I loved this city and I will certainly be returning to it, the vibe, affordability and food are definitely things for which I will return.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

Edingburgh – Scotland

On 16/04/201616/04/2016 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, lifestyle, photography, Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I went to Edinburgh in August 2015, mainly for the annual Fringe festival. It was my first time going to the festival and my first time in Scotland. I arrived during the opening week of the month-long festival and stayed for 3 nights from the 6th-9th August 2015.

Cost of My Trip
My flight from London Stanstead to Edinburgh airport cost £59 and my stay at Baxter’s Hostel cost £130, so in all I paid £190 for my flight and accommodation.

The weather
Even though it was August the weather was still chilly averaging about 16 degrees and windy, I was unprepared so I had to buy a scarf and a light jacket for extra warmth. The weather in London at the time was about 21-22 degrees and I assumed it would be the same in Edinburgh but I was very wrong.

Where I stayed
I stayed at Baxter Hostel which was centrally located. The staff was amazing, from the outside it doesn’t look like much but it is cool, clean and breakfast (scrambled eggs and toast) was made fresh for you everyday by the staff.

What I did
I went to Scotland mainly to visit Edinburgh and experience the Fringe festival, so most of my activities centred around going to shows and watching street performances. But I did also explore the city and beyond.

Edinburgh Castle
This castle is truly impressive, it sit proudly up high overlooking the city like a guardian. The only downside about going to visit the castle are the hordes of people there, it is a big tourist attraction. The entrance fee is £16.50 for adults.

The Scott Monument
This was one of the most favourite part of my trip, the impressive Gothic structure dominates Princes Street, a popular shopping district. Located next to Princes Gardens it is a great place to visit and take some time out eat lunch, bask in the sun, sit and think or just get some fresh air. The best part is that admission is only £4, there are 287 steps to the top which offers a magnificent view of the city.

The Scott Monument, Edingburgh, Scotland — The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland 1 — The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland

Inside The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland 1 — Inside The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland

Inside The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland

View from The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland 2 — View from The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland

View from The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland

Me on The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland

St Giles Cathedral
As a lover of old architecture, especially churches and cathedrals, I fell in love with St Giles Cathedral. It is not as grand as some other cathedrals I have visited but there is a special air about the place that pulled me in. There is no entrance fee and it was great for me to practice my photography skills.

Entrance of St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland

Stainglass windows of St Giles Cathedral, Edinburg, Scotland — Stain glass windows of St Giles Cathedral, Edinburg, Scotland

Inside St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse is the home of the Her majesty the Queen in Scotland, entrance fee to the palace is £12 for adults.

The gates of The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland 1 — The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland

Firth of Forth River Tour
For £20 you get a 24 hour hop on hop off bus tour of the city and a tour on the Firth of Forth river which included a visit to Inchcolm Island. The tour on the Firth of Forth river which goes along the Edinburgh and Fife coastlines alone is worth paying the £20, I went on a dry day and it was very beautiful and calming and I even got to see some seals.

The Forth Rail Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland

Seal on the Firth of Forth River, Edinburgh, Scotlnd — Seal on the Firth of Forth River, Edinburgh, Scotland

Seals basking on an Island on the Firth of Forth River, Scotland

Inchcolm Island, Edinburgh, Scotland — Inchcolm Island, Scotland

Inchcolm Abbey on Inchcolm Island, Scotland

The Harmonium Project
The Fringe Festival opened with a large, free, public outdoor event which saw a spectacular digitally animated artwork projected onto the front of the Usher Hall, set to music. The Harmonium Project, outside the Usher Hall celebrated Edinburgh’s relationship with architecture, learning, music and its role in developing technology. I was very pleased I went along and witnessed the display.

The Harmonium Project, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland

Walking around
Doing what I love best when visiting a new city is to walk and explore and find new and exciting things. See below some of the sights and things I discovered.

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland — Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland

Bank of Scotland Building, Edinburgh, Scotland

St John's Church Edinburgh, Scotland — St John’s Church Edinburgh, Scotland

St John's Highland Church, Edinburgh, Scotland — St John’s Highland Church, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland

Fringe Shows and Events
There were so many street performance and shows, and I managed to get free tickets for two shows and both were very good.

View this post on Instagram

Another amazing street #Performance I was privy to see at the #EdinburgFringe #EdinburghFestival in #Edinburgh #Scotland they were so good but I didn't get the name of the group. #instagood #iphonevideo #travel #travelbug #travellog #traveladdict #explore #experience #wanderer #wanderlust #nomadspirit #seetheworld #jetset #globetrotting #citybreak #streetperformance #instavid #instagood #adventurer #adventures #lifestyle #livegood #livecolourfully #folkmusic I had to repost

A post shared by Jennifer Edwards (@lifeofjaed) on Aug 19, 2015 at 3:00pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Should I go see more of this performance by #NoName at the #EdinburghFestival #EdinburgFringe it looks like it will be captivating or the next one I will post??? #Edinburgh #Scotland #travel #travelbug #travellog #lifestyle #livegood #wanderer #wanderlust #jetset #globetrotting #seetheworld #explore #experience #instapic #instagood #iphonepics #livecolourfully #Performane #dance #citybreak #nomadspirit #adventurer #adventures #adventuretime

A post shared by Jennifer Edwards (@lifeofjaed) on Aug 8, 2015 at 8:14am PDT

A Yurt, Fringe Festival Venue 2015, Edinburgh, Scotland

Fringe Festival 2015, Edinburg, Scotland

Fringe Festival 2015, Edinburgh, Scotland — Fringe Festival 2015, Edinburg, Scotland

My Ratings of the City

My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

Culture = 8/10
There is so much to do in Edinburgh during the festival but even without the festival there are loads to do in the city which includes, museums, galleries, hiking, theatre and of course comedy shows.

People/Friendliness = 8/10
Scottish people are friendly and I find them more welcoming than the English, I can say that as I have spent all my life in England.

Attractiveness = 9/10
Edinburgh is a very attractive city with the perfect combination of history and innovative architecture. If you love historic architecture Edinburgh is the city for you.

Affordability = 7/10
Edinburgh is affordable, my benchmark is London (my home) and I did not feel I was paying more that I would pay at home.

Vibe = 8.5/10
The vibe was excellent, I was on my own but did not feel alone, there was so much happening it was truly amazing. However please note that I visited the city at a time when the city is most alive and bustling.

Overall = 8.5/10
I really loved this city and if the weather was warmer I would love to relocate to the city. The city affords a good lifestyle.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

Santiago de Cuba – Cuba

On 13/02/201613/07/2017 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, art, lifestyle, photography, Travel, Uncategorized1 Comment

Santiago de Cuba is only 16 hours away from Havana via Viazul (the Cuban intercity coach service) however it felt like a world away from Havana. The cost of the Viazul from Havana to Santiago de Cuba was CUC51. You will need ID to book your ticket so make sure you take it with you, also the route from Havana to Santiago is very popular so it is advisable to book 24hours in advance.
Havana is where my trip began in Cuba and you can read about it in my previous via this link. We stayed 3 days and 2 nights in Santiago de Cuba.

The city was devastated by Hurricane Sandy and it was still recovering from the aftermath, with many buildings destroyed and in disrepair. This is one of the reasons I believe the Cubans we met in Santiago De Cuba were a little more aggressive in selling you their wares or services. The worst offenders were the taxi drivers who were very persistent adopting a hard sell and stalk sales pitch.

Apart from those selling service or wares there are also young people who go around trying to befriend foreigners in the hopes of a tip or a hookup. We unfortunately encountered one such young man within 10mins of leaving our Casa particular on the first day in the city and it took 2 hours to get rid of him.

The Weather
The temperature in Havana was a manageable 27 degrees for a British person like me, Santiago de Cuba on the other hand was HOT, the first day was a sweltering 37 degrees at the highest point

Where I stayed

Hostal Atardecer
This wasn’t great but it wasn’t bad either, the lady in charge of the Casa (Yulia), was very lovely and made us feel very warm and comfortable. The breakfast was good and Yulia did her best to give us tips on things to do in the city. We paid CUC74 for 2 people for 2 nights and this included 3 lots of breakfast.

Hostal Atardecer, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Hostal Atardecer, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 2.jpg — Hostal Atardecer, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Hostal Atardecer, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — Hostal Atardecer, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

What I did

Balcón de Velázquez
This is a balcony overlooking the city facing seawards. It is great place to hide from the hot afternoon sun. It is literally just a balcony with a small shop selling souvenirs, therefore I suggest taking a packed lunch and some snacks along with you in case you want to spend some time there. Entrance is free but if you want to take pictures it is CUC1.

Balcón de Velázquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 4.jpg — Balcon de Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Balcón de Velázquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 5.jpg — Balcon de Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

View from Balcón de Velázquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — View from Balcon de Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Balcón de Velázquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Balcon de Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

View from Balcón de Velázquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — View from Balcon de Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Casa de Diego Velazquez
The museum is the oldest building in Cuba and it is very well-kept. This museum is home to some of the best antiques I have seen anywhere. The French, Italian, Dutch and mostly Spanish influence are clear and evident. The only annoyances were the museum attendants that persisted in taking you around the museum so that you would tip them. However do not let that put you off the museum is too beautiful to pass by, I cant recall the exact entrance fee but I know it is less that CUC5.

Casa de Diego Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Casa de Diego Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Inside Casa de Diego Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — Inside Casa de Diego Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Inside Casa de Diego Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Inside Casa de Diego Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Courtyard of Casa de Diego Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — Courtyard of Casa de Diego Velazquez, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Basilica del Cobre and Castillo del Morro
We organised a short excursion with Cuba Tour to Basilica del Cobre and Castillo del Morro, the tour costs CUC18 per person and included the hire of a classic car to the attractions and back to the city centre.

On the way to Basilica del Cobre and Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — On the way to Basilica del Cobre and Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Me in the classic car on the way to Basilica del Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Me in the classic car on the way to Basilica del Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

The first stop was to Basilica del Cobre a beautiful red dome Cathedral some 18 km north from the centre of Santiago de Cuba. The drive to Cathedral was so lovely that the hot afternoon sun became a distant memory as the wind lapped against our faces as we drove along. The cathedral is truly magnificent, it sits atop a hill overlooking the town below like a guardian. We were very lucky that at the time we went it was quiet and peaceful, which allowed us to really take in the views and feel reverence for the place. The drive to and the Cathedral itself was well worth the price of the excursion.

Basilica del Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Basilica del Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

View from Basilica del Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — View from Basilica del Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Inside Basilica del Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Inside Basilica del Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

After the cathedral we drove to Castillo del Morro, a fort some 8 km south of the centre of Santiago de Cuba. Leading up to the fort were stall selling souvenirs, trinkets and such like there is also a restaurant and a bar. It was very calming being in the fort looking over the water and feeling the cool sea breeze. Like with many historical buildings in Cuba the fort is very well-kept. Entrance fee to the fort cost CUC4.

Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

View from Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — View from Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

View from Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — View from Castillo del Morro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Museo del Carnaval
It was interesting to go to this museum to see the history of the carnival in Santiago de Cuba and to see costumes used in past parades. The city holds an annual carnival festival every July. It was free to go inside the museum but to take pictures was CUC3 and an attendant followed you around to make sure you didn’t take any pictures, don’t mind this as the museum is still worth a visit.

Museo El Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Museo El Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Museo El Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — Museo El Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Jardin de los Helechos
It was worthwhile going to the mini rain forest on the outskirts of the city. The garden started out as a hobby by the owner Manuel G.Caluff in 1976 and has grown through love and care into one of Santiago’s most famous attractions. Entrance to the garden is only CUC3.

Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 2.jpg — Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 3.jpg — Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 4.jpg — Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Frog in Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Frog in Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Me in Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Me in Jardin de los Helechos, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Truck taxi
To get to the Jardin de los Helados we decided to travel like the locals. Unfortunately we couldn’t figure out which local bus to take, although it was very likely that we wouldn’t have been let on board anyway. However we did manage to get on truck taxis to take us there and back. We later found out that foreigner are normally also not allowed on the truck taxis. Lucky for us though we had two separate guys who didn’t mind foreigners. We did pay over the odds for our fare but for us it was still way cheaper than taking a tourist taxi. We paid CUC5 (CUC2.5 each) there and CUC2 (CUC1 each) back, the first guy certainly ripped us off.

Me in the Truck Taxi, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Me in the Truck Taxi, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Truck Taxi, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Truck Taxi, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Paseo La palcita Show at Parque Céspedes
Parque Cespedes is the main square at the centre of the city and we happened to come across some people setting up for the closing ceremony of Paseo La Placita. The festival is held every year as a closing ceremony for summer. The show was amazing with salsa dancers, Afro-Cubano song and dance and other forms of entertainment.

Paseo la Placita performers, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Paseo la Placita performers, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Paseo la Placita performers, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — Paseo la Placita performers, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Paseo la Placita Afro- Cubano performance, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Paseo la Placita Afro- Cubano performance, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Paseo la Placita Salsa Dancers, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Paseo la Placita Salsa Dancers, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Paseo la Placita young performers, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Paseo la Placita young performers, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Paseo la Placita musicians, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Paseo la Placita musicians, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Walking around
We walked around and explored the city, aimlessly wandering was a great way to discover the city’s unique and quirky character.

Classic car on the street of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Classic car on the street of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Scalinata di Padre Pico, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Mural of Virgen de Regla at Malecon, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Mural of Virgen de Regla at Malecon, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Boat at Malecon, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Boat at Malecon, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Food and Drink

Breakfast
We paid an additional CUC5 each morning to have breakfast at the Casa and it was worth it. Cuban breakfast is the best.

Casa Micaela
Casa Micaela was one of the best restaurants we ate at, in Cuba, I say this because it served wholesome food for a very reasonable price and not surprising it has a good rating on Tripadvisor and it is recommended in most travel books. We ate there every night we stayed in Santiago de Cuba. A meal with a drink was about CUC8.

Casa Micaela, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — Casa Micaela, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Meal at Casa Micaela, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Meal at Casa Micaela, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

El Baturro
El Baturro is a cool bar and I had the best Mojito I tried a Mojito in Cuba. The atmosphere was chilled and nice.

El Baturro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba 1.jpg — El Baturro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

El Baturro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — El Baturro, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Hotel Casa Granda
We avoided this Hotel’s bar because it looked too plush and also we felt we would be surrounded by tourists only. However we went there and it was very nice, we sat on the balcony overlooking Parque Cespedes, a great place for people watching and the drinks were not much more expensive than the local bars.

Hotel Casa Granda, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — Hotel Casa Granda, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

View of Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncio from Hotel Casa Granda, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — View of Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncio from Hotel Casa Granda, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

View of Parque Cespedes from Hotel Casa Granda, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.jpg — View of Parque Cespedes from Hotel Casa Granda, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Review of Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba although not as beautiful or bustling as Havana has its own charm, I am sure it was even better before Hurricane Sandy came along. Nevertheless it is still worth the visit with many things to do mostly around the city, I would recommend hiring a car so that you can get around easily. If I ever go back to Cuba I will return to this city.

So what next
Next stop is Sancti Spiritus in the middle of the island.

Do you want to find out what we did in Sancti Spiritus and how it compared to Santiago de Cuba and Havana? Then follow my blog to find out more and you will be notified as I upload more posts.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

Havana – Cuba

On 08/11/201513/07/2017 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, art, lifestyle, photography, Travel1 Comment

I went to Cuba for two weeks and went to four places on the island; Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad and Vinales. I also attempted to go to Sancti Spiritus however that is a story I will tell in the following series of posts. I will do four further posts on Cuba over the next four weeks one for each place that I went to.

Cost of trip
My return flight from London to Havana via Madrid cost £585 and it took 15 hours in total, there are direct flights from London to Havana that cost around £900 and take 10 hours.
I paid £114 for all my accommodation over the two weeks, however I will specify further in the following posts.

Currency
There are two currencies in Cuba one is Cuban Peso (CUP) for locals, the other is the Convertible Peso (CUC) for tourists. there are 24 CUP’s to 1 CUC. Tourists can use the CUP, but it is mostly used by Cubans to pay for their rations, their electricity and water, to buy food in the markets and from stallholders in the streets and to eat or drink in ‘peso’ bars and restaurants. Basically, as a tourist, you do not have to worry at all about the Cuban peso.

The Convertible Peso is a closed currency, which means it cannot be purchased outside of Cuba. You can change your money at the Cadeca (Money Exchange Bureau) at the Airport on landing in Cuba or at your hotel.

If you reside in the UK you should take Sterling; clean, untorn bills with no writing on them, in £10, £20 or £50 denominations. Please note that Scottish notes are not acceptable. Canadians should take Canadian dollars and if you are from a European destination that uses the Euro, then take Euros. The exchange rate varies on a daily basis, however it is approx 1.5 CUC’s to £1.

Havana

I went on this trip with my current housemate but Cuba is very safe for lone travellers, however it was nice having someone else there to share the experience with. Our trip started in Havana in which we stayed 2 nights before moving on to Santiago de Cuba.

The Weather
We went to Cuba from the 6th to 18th October 2015 which is during the hurricane season however the weather in Havana on the first two days was blue sky and sunshine with the weather being 27 degrees both days.

Where I stayed
We had decided from the beginning of our trip to only stay in Casa particulars as we felt we would have a more authentic trip, also Casa Particulars are a fraction of the price of staying in hotels. Casa particulars are similar to bed and breakfasts in their operation, the only difference is that most times the Casa Particular also serves as the familiar home, so you get to mingle, chat and live with Cubans.

When booking a Casa particular it is advisable to book one recommended in the travel books or otherwise lookout for the sign below which is the state approval for an abode to operate as a legal Casa Particular.

Casa Particular sign In Cuba. Arrendador Divisa — Casa Particular sign in Cuba. Arrendador Divisa

Havana Vedado- Ada Colonial
Our first stay was in Ada Colonial which was an impressive Casa particular we managed to book online from the UK via Travel Republic. The exterior is not a reflection of the well-kept and nicely decorated interior. The owner was lovely and greeted me with a big hug and a kiss, a pleasant surprise for a stiff British girl like me.
The room was humongous and it had an en-suite with a large jacuzzi bath that four people could have comfortably fit in. The shower was the best of all the Casas we stayed in, there was hot water and the water pressure was good.
Ada colonial was the most expensive Casa we stayed in, at CUC105 for two nights for two people but it was worth it to start of the trip in a great place.

The room we stayed in at Ada Colonial, Havana, Cuba

The ensuite bathroom of our room at Ada Colonial, Havana, Cuba

Living room of Ada Colonial, Havana, Cuba

Dinning room of Ada Colonial, Havana, Cuba

What I did

Havana Plaza Vieja
The square was quiet, peaceful and very beautiful, it is also a great place to visit as there are many bars and restaurants on the square, also it is a great place to just sit and people watch. The square is also home to a memorizing and somewhat sexual statue called Viaje fantastico which is of a naked woman wearing high heels riding a cockerel whilst carrying a fork.

Statue by Roberto Fabelo called Viaje fantastico

Walked around Havana Vieja
Aimlessly wandering, getting lost and finding new things if you have read my previous blogs is one of the things I love best when travelling. We walked around Havana Vieja away from the touristic hustle and bustle and found ourselves on quiet streets with the locals. The buildings had the charm of French or Spanish colonial influence, the colours of the tropics and dilapidation all rolled into one. I have never seen crumbling and old buildings so beautiful anywhere else I have been.

Meet two Cuban salsa teachers
We meet two salsa teacher who took us to Sociedad Cultural Rosalia de Castro where they kindly gave us a list of things we should do and also not do. The Museo de la Revolucion was highly recommended but it turned out that the ladies were club promoters and they kept recommending that we go back that evening to Sociedad Cultural Rosalia de Castro as the Bueno Vista Social Club were performing to celebrate their 50 years anniversary. Not swayed by their sales pitch to buy tickets for the evening event we left to make our way to Museo de la Revolucion.

Sociedad Cultural Rosalia de Castro, Havana, Cuba

Museo de la Revolucion
Entry to the to the museum costs CUC8, cameras are allowed however all bags must be checked into the cloakroom. The Museo is a beautiful white stone building. It took some damage during the revolution with some 130 bullet holes riddling the front entrance at the peak of the revolution. The exhibits take you through the history of the revolution, giving you insight into some of the goings on during the troublesome time. You can also learn about the revolution heroes such as Che Guevera and Fidel Castro. Mosts of the exhibitions are written in Spanish but it was easy to get the gist.
The wall of cretins was a humorous piece caricaturing the people credited with enabling the revolution through their bankrupt and immoral policies the wall depicts Fulgencio Batista, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush Snr and George W. Bush, Jr.

The inside of Museo de la Revolucion, Havana, Cuba

Dome of Museo de la Revolucion, Havana, Cuba

Me at The Museo de la Revolucion, Havana, Cuba

Me in a Jeep at Museo de la Revolucion, Havana, Cuba

Wall of cretins Museo de la Revolucion, Havana, Cuba

Walked along Malecon (Havana Harbour)
We walked along Malecon during the late afternoon which was nice and relaxing, on the way we meet another traveller named Jessica who joined us on our walk to enjoy the beautiful views of the harbour.

Primerva by Rafael M.San Juan, Malecon, Havana, Cuba

Centro Havana
Centro is a district of Havana that has many historical places to visit but is also the down town area of Havana. The area was not as clean as other areas we had been to and many of the buildings were dilapidated but they had a certain charm and beauty to them. Whilst walking around and taking pictures two local women separately warned us to put our cameras way as we would be mugged otherwise. It wasn’t until we left the area that we read in our travel book that Centro Havana is an area to be weary of due to tourist muggings. I didn’t feel unsafe walking around Centro Havana until the women approached us, I didn’t feel any air of hostility from those in the area.

Iglesia Del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Centro Havana, Cuba

Walked Vedado
Vedado is one of the wealthy districts of Havana and it is very evident when walking around the area, the houses are grand and impressive remnants of Spanish and French colonial rule.

Iglesia Metodista Univeritaria del Vedado, Havana, Cuba

Hotel Havana Libre
This hotel is not as impressive as you would imagine, it took us ages to find the hotel as we kept getting lost. However we felt it was worth the visit to see one of the places Fidel Castro had made his head quarters during the revolution. It is worth going to, to see an important piece of Cuban history but I suggest making it part of something else you are doing; like walking along Malecon.

Food and Drink

Breakfast was included in the price of our stay in the Casa, Cuban breakfast is very nice and large, due to the size of breakfast we didn’t need to eat lunch. The best bits about breakfast were the fruit salad and coffee, Cuban coffee is like silk very smooth and rich. The tropical fruit salad usually consisted of melon, guava, banana and papaya it was a good way to start the day.

Casa Ada Colonial breakfast, Havana, Cuba

Esquinas Trattoria
The restaurant is not far from Museo de la Revolucion, the pizza was delicious, huge and only CUC4. The Mojito I had at the restaurant was also the second best I had in all Cuba and believe me I had load of Mojitos.

Bar Montserrat
Bar Montserrat is a very cool bar near the Capitol building, with amazing cocktails, good food and live music, the bar is popular with Cubans and tourists alike.

Review of Havana
Havana set a very pleasant tone for the rest of the 12 days we would spend in Cuba, staying in Ada Colonial in Vedado which is akin to Manhattan in New York or Chelsea in London was very nice , meeting the Cuban salsa teacher and Jessica also left us on a high after the first two days.

What next?
The next stop was Santiago de Cuba in the south of the island.

Do you want to find out what we did in Santiago de Cuba and how it compared to Havana? Then follow my blog to find out more and you will be notified as I upload more posts.

Lauterbrunnen – Switzerland

On 24/10/201525/10/2015 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, lifestyle, photography, TravelLeave a comment

I visited Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland in December 2014, it was part of a mini tour of Europe through Topdeck. The overall trip lasted 12 days and we visited 6 countries, 2 of which we used in visiting Lauterbrunnen in the Swiss Alps.

The weather
The trip took place in December therefore it was very cold. I need all the layers I could physically wear.

Where I stayed
I stayed in Schutzenbach Camping & Backpackers, it was so cool, quaint and surrounded by mountains. The cabins were basic with only bunk beds in them. The bathroom facilities were in another building two floors up, however the beautiful surroundings compensated for this and the cold morning air was a nice wake up call.

Schutzenbach Camping & Backpackers, Lauterbrunnen Switzerland — Schutzenbach Camping & Backpackers, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Cabins at Schutzenbach Camping & Backpackers Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

The surrounding of Schutzenbach Camping & Backpackers, Lauterbrunnen Switzerland — The surrounding of Schutzenbach Camping & Backpackers, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

What I did

Jungfraujoch
The Jungfrau Experience at €150 is expensive but it is very worthwhile, it takes two hours to reach the top of Jungfraujoch, which is the official top of Europe. The views are breathtaking, the scenery idyllic and it will have you wanting to build your own Olaf whilst singing ‘Let it go’.

Once you reach the mountain there are several shops and restaurants to keep you occupied, my favourite shop was the Lindor chocolate shop naturally.

Jungfrau, Switzerland — View from Jungfrau train, Switzerland

Klein Scheidegg
On the way up to Jungfrau is the town of Klein Scheidegg. On the return journey back to Lauternbrunnen I and some friends stopped in the town to have lunch and look around. We found a nice restaurant to eat lunch and a teepee tent to have a warming glass of hot wine.

Drinking hot wine with friends in a tippee tent, Klein Scheidegg Switzerland — Drinking hot wine with friends in a teepee tent, Klein Scheidegg Switzerland

Hot wine at a tipee tent in Klein Scheidegg, Switzerland — Hot wine at a teepee tent in Klein Scheidegg, Switzerland

Horner Pub
We went for several drinks at the Horner pub, it appears to be the main pub in Lauterbrunnen as the pub got rather busy for the little village. The locals were friendly and did not mind the invasion of young tourists. The bar lady was very lovely and beer was reasonably priced.

What I ate
I tried a fondu which was really good, however the cheese was a little stronger than I am used to.
I also had a decent meal at the Restaurant Eigernordwand in Klein Scheidegg.

As previously mentioned, there is Lindor shop at the top of the mountain, the selection is extensive and the price for the chocolates is much cheaper there. I bought and ate loads of the delicious chocolate.

In and around Lauterbrunnen
The following pictures were taken in Lauterbrunnen or on the way to Jungfrau or leaving Lauterbrunnen.

My Ratings of Lauterbrunnen

My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

People/Friendliness = 8/10
The locals were rather friendly and welcoming considering we had invaded the little town. Some of the locals even came and had drinks in the bar at the Schutzenbach Camping & Backpackers.

Attractiveness = 9/10
Lauterbrunnen is one of the most beautiful place I have been to, the scenery really is picture perfect like a postcard or a painting, there was something magical and fairytale like about the place.

Food = 6/10
The Swiss food i tried was decent but Swiss chocolate is much better it is sublime.

Affordability = 5/10
Switzerland is expensive, it is a rich country and this is reflected in the prices of things.

Vibe = 8/10
Being in the mountains in December the vibe was magical and festive.

Overall = 7.5/10
I truly enjoyed my visit to Lauterbrunnen, you should definitely consider it as a bucket list destination, being on the top of Europe is an experience I will forever cherish. I cannot imagine visiting Lauternbrunnen in any other season but winter. The fluffy white snow made everything so magical.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip, leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

Venice – Italy

On 23/10/201525/10/2015 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, lifestyle, photography, TravelLeave a comment

I went to Venice in December 2014 as part of a mini tour of Europe thorough Topdeck.

The weather

For December the weather was pretty mild, it was chilly but dry.

Where i stayed
I stayed in a the fantastic Hotel Ambaciatori which is just just 10mins away by bus from the centre of Venice.

What i did

St Marks Basilica
The Cathedral is truly amazing with its ornate features on exterior and interior of the building. The Cathedral is one of the city’s most iconic and famous landmarks. The pictures I took do not do it justice as the day was very cloudy and grey.

Gondola ride
A trip to Venice is not complete without a ride on a Gondola down the famous canals. A Gondola ride can be expensive as prices start from €80 for 40mins and can go up to €100. Luckily as I was part of a tour group I only paid €25 for a 30mins ride.

Lace making demonstration
I watched a lace making demonstration at a Burano lace school, they still make lace in the traditional ways. Whilst I wasn’t so interested in the lace making, I loved the building and architecture.

Ceiling and lights at a Burano lace school, Venice

Il Genio di Leonardo da Vinci Museo, Venice
This was a fascinating museum showcasing some of Da Vinci’s work. It is well worth the visit to see some of the machine and works by one of the greatest artist and inventor that ever lived.

Walking around
I just loafed around with my friends enjoying the sights and sounds of Venice. It is very easy to get lost in the City but it is also easy to find a central point to help point you in the right direction.

BEFeD Brew Pub
BEFed is an amazing pub, I went there for a night out with friends and we had such a good time. There was no pretentiousness, the beer was ridiculously cheap at €12 for a jug of beer and you get free monkey nuts. The shells of the monkey nuts end up all over the floors and make for a great slip resistance.
However the female toilets were rather peculiar, see the picture in the bottom right had corner below.

My Ratings of Venice

My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

Culture = 7/10
Venice is a rather small city, nevertheless it has loads to offer with museums, St Marks Basilica and gondola rides to keep you occupied.

People/Friendliness = 7/10
The Italian people I came across were rather pleasant, they were friendly and welcoming.

Attractiveness = 6.5/10
Venice is not as attractive as I thought it would be, perhaps my view is coloured by the fact that when I went, the weather was rather grey and dull and it made the city feel a little drab.

Food = 7/10
I ate at a local restaurant, I particularly liked the seafood risotto I had.

Affordability = 7/10
Venice is pretty affordable in my opinion. Everything was reasonably priced.

Vibe = 7/10
Venice had a nice historical vibe, it felt like a city I knew because of books and films. The narrow canals, bridges and streets make for a very throw back in time feel.

Overall = 7/10
I truly enjoyed my visits to Amsterdam and I would definitely be going back to visit. The say that a people make the place and the Dutch people certainly made both my trips to Amsterdam very memorable and special.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

Oslo – Norway

On 02/10/201525/10/2015 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, art, lifestyle, photography, TravelLeave a comment

I went to Oslo, Norway in March 2015, it was my second Northern European country to visit and my second trip to Scandinavia.

How long I stayed
I stayed 3 days and 2 nights, I arrived Friday afternoon and left on Sunday afternoon.

The weather
It was March and the weather was as still very cold, it wasn’t more than 4 degrees and the Saturday was overcast making it feel even cooler.

The cost of trip
A return flight from London Stanstead to Oslo Rygge cost £40 return, it would have been £20 but that is a story for another day. 3 days and 2 nights stay at the hostel cost £53, so in all flights and accommodation cost £93.

Where I stayed
I stayed at the Oslo Hostel Central, the hostel was in a good location, being 5 mins walk to Akershus Fortress and Oslo Harbour and 10mins walk from the Oslo central station and Oslo Opera and Ballet House. The hostel was clean and the staff friendly.

What I did

Oslo Cathedral/ Oslo Domkirke
I was privy to watch a youth choir rehearsing for a show, they sounded amazing and truly angelic. Oslo Cathedral/ Oslo Domkirke is gorgeous and I loved the internal decor.

Oslo Catherdral - Oslo Domkirke — Oslo Catherdral/ Oslo Domkirke

Inside Oslo Catherdral - Oslo Domkirke — Inside Oslo Catherdral/ Oslo Domkirke

Oslo Ballet and Opera House
I felt like a child at a candy store, I loved that Oslo Ballet and Opera House felt like one giant piece of interactive sculpture. You can walk up the sides onto the roof, the roof has different levels, falls and surface textures to play with. I went there twice, once during the day and the second was at night the view of Oslo were amazing and I got some amazing pictures of the city and of my shadow against the building.

View from Oslo Opera and Ballet House at Night

My shadow on Oslo Opera and Ballet House

Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress sits overlooking Oslo harbour. Akershus Fortress was the first place I went to when I arrived in Oslo, it was a happy accident as I had thought I was going to Old Aker Church but I had misread the map and ended up at the fortress. I visited during early evening, it was quiet and peaceful, a very good place to unwind, I felt serene watching the sun set over Oslo harbour. Entrance is free to the fortress and guided tours can be organised.

Old Aker Church
Old Aker Church is the oldest building in Oslo and was built in the 1100s. A quaint little church that sits high up, the views from the grounds over Oslo are pretty amazing. It is very peaceful, spiritual and a good place to sit and reflect. There are graves on the grounds but I didn’t mind them and I spent an hour there.
I walked from the hostel to the church, the hostel was central located and it took about 30mins to walk there and the same back.

Astrup Fearnley Museet
Astrup Fearnley Museet is one swish gallery, beautifully situated on Oslo bay the modern architecture sits in and compliments the bay area very well.
There is a cafe in the gallery that over looks the harbour, I recommend having lunch there, although it is a little pricey.

Eyes by Louise Bourgeois in the Astrup Fearnley garden, Oslo

Spalt by the late Franz West on Astrup Fearnley Gardens, Olso

Snow white and the seven dwarfs, Astrup Fearnley garden, Oslo

Museum of Contemporay Arts/Museet for Samtidskunst
No entrance fee is payable to get into The Museum of Contemporay Arts/Museet for Samtidskunst. The main reason I went to the museum was to see the works by Louise Bourgeois. It was worth the visit as there were other contemporary artist such as Karl Holmquist who I discovered.

Louise Bourgeois's Cell VIII, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo — Louise Bourgeois’s Cell VIII, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo

Louise Bourgeois's Quarantania, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo — Louise Bourgeois’s Quarantania, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo

Louise's Bourgeois, Fee Couterie, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo — Louise’s Bourgeois, Fee Couterie, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo

Installation, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo

Karl Holmquist, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo

The Royal Palace/ Kongehuset
The Royal Palace/ Kongehuset is very clean lines and no drama, you are treated to great views of central Oslo from the palace. The best time to visit is around 1.30pm as the changing of the guards takes place at this time daily.

The Royal Palace/ Konghuset, Oslo — The Royal Palace/ Kongehuset, Oslo

View from The Royal Palace/ Kongehuset, Oslo

Me at The Royal Palace/ Kongehuset, Oslo

Just walking around
I walked everywhere in Oslo and I came across many things that made me stop and take a picture.

What I ate
Norway is expensive for eating out generally but you can also find inexpensive good quality food. It was recommended that I try whale meat, however I couldn’t bring myself to try it.

My booking at the hostel included breakfast which was served buffet style. The breakfast was very good with a variety to choose from. Cheekily, as I knew food is expensive in Oslo and as I was on a budget, I made packed lunches at breakfast.

As with Stockholm (read my post on Stockholm) I found a good Sushi and Thai restaurant where I ate most of my dinners. The sushi selection and pad Thai were delicious.

Pastel De Nata
The coffee shop across the road from my hostel did a good deal on coffee and cake for £4 The coffee was good and the cake even better.

My Ratings on Oslo

Culture =7/10
Oslo was an interesting city, I loved the museum and galleries, there is also The City hall and The Nobel Peace centre to explore.

People/friendliness = 5/10
The people in Oslo were even less friendlier than in Stockholm. Perhaps the northern chill gets into their bones.

Attractiveness 6.5/10
Unfortunately for Oslo I went to Stockholm first and so I was forever comparing the two cities. I found Stockholm to be the more photogenic of the Scandinavian siblings. Nevertheless it is not to say that Oslo is not a beautiful place it is, but her sister just got more of the looks.

Food =7/10
My motto is good grub is good grub. I didn’t eat any traditional Norwegian meal but the food I had tasted good.

Affordability = 4.5/10
Compared to London my home city, Oslo is expensive but with careful planning you can have a relatively inexpensive trip like I did.

Vibe =6.5/10
Oslo has a vibe of pride, the Norwegians love their country/city and their country/city loves them back. It also has a chilled vibe which is good for a main city.

Overall = 7/10
Oslo was an interesting place to visit, I loved Akershus Fortress, Old Aker Church and playing on the Oslo Opera and Ballet house. It was a good experience and served to quell part of my desire to visit Northern European countries. At present I have no desire to return but I am grateful I have been.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

Stockholm – Sweden

On 29/09/201525/07/2016 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, art, lifestyle, photography, Travel1 Comment

I went to Stockholm Sweden in February 2015. Sweden was the first Northern European and Scandinavian country I visited.

How long I stayed
I stayed for 4 days and 3 nights, I arrived on a Friday afternoon and left Monday afternoon.

Cost of Trip
My flight from London Stanstead to Stockholm Skavsta cost £32.35 return. I then paid approximately £22 for a return coach using the Flygbusssarna service to get from Skavsta to Stockholm City centre. The cost for a 3 days and 4 nights stay at a hostel cost £44, so in all I paid £98.35 for my flight and accommodation.

The weather
February was very cold whilst I was there the weather was no more than 4 degrees but it was sunny and dry so it was pleasant to walk about. I wore my thickest coat, I need a hat, gloves and two pairs of socks. Sweden is cold during winter, very cold.

How I got around
Even though it was winter and snow was everywhere, I walked all over the place mostly. I enjoy walking as it is a good way to find new places and things that may otherwise be missed. I did also take the metro and local bus which was relatively cheap. For £6 you could buy a pass that allowed you 4 single journeys on the buses, tram and metro.

Where I stayed
I stayed at the City Backpackers Hostel, this hostel was very good, it was clean and the amenity spaces were fantastic. The hostel is centrally located and situated at the end of Drottninggatan (Queen Street), the longest shopping street in Stockholm.
There is one quirky rule in the hostel; no outside shoes can be worn past the reception areas, but it is really safe to leave your shoes in lobby area or simply take of your shoes and carry them to your room.
Lest I forget there is also a sauna in the hostel that is free to use, so I recommend you pack swimwear if you are going to stay here. After a long day walking in the cold it was very nice to unwind in the sauna.

What I did

Stockholm Walking Tour
I went on three city walking tours, with the Free Tour Stockholm group. They offer three tours a day on specified days of the week. No booking is required and no fee is paid, just turn up and walk and listen to the tour guides. At the end of the tour, there is an opportunity to give a tip. The tour lasts between 1.5 hours to 2 hours dependant on which tour you go on. I really enjoyed the tours and found them a great way to learn about Stockholm.

Stockholm Moderna Museet/ Museum of Modern Art
Moderna Museet/Museum of Modern Art holds modern and contemporary art, it is located on the island of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm. The Entrance fee to the museum was £9.50. I saw pieces by artist such as Michael Elmgreen, Louise Bourgeois, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder.
Without a doubt my favourite piece was Louise Bourgeois’s spider, that took pride and place at the main entrance. I spent nearly 4 hours in this museum, it is not a large museum but it is filled with amazing pieces of art that require time to be studied.

Alexander Calder - The four elements — Alexander Calder – The four elements

Louise Bourgeois - Spider — Louise Bourgeois – Spider

Art in Modena Musset — Art in Moderna Museet

Robert Rauschenberg - Monogram — Robert Rauschenberg – Monogram

Andy Warhol - Moderna Musset — Andy Warhol – Moderna Museet

The Royal Academy of Fine Arts/Konstakademien
The Royal Academy of Fine Arts or Konstakademien, is in central Stockholm and is located in the former Sparreska palace. Entrance to the museum costs £8. It is well worth the visit, especially if you like sculptures.

The Kaknas Tower/Kaknastornet
The Kaknas Tower/Kaknastornet is the hub of all TV and radio transmission in Sweden. The 155-metre tower offers fantastic views of Stockholm and the city’s surroundings. There is a viewing gallery, café, restaurant, sky bar and a gift shop in the tower. The entrance fee to go up to the viewing tower is relatively inexpensive at £4.50. It took about 45 minutes to get from the city centre to the tower using both buses and the metro.
A visit to the tower was well worth the trip, however it was very cold and windy on the viewing platform that standing was even a problem. I had to psyche myself up to take my gloves off to take pictures as the wind chill made my fingers feel like they where going to fall off if left exposed. The views of Stockholm were lovely, white blankets of snow complimented the clear blue sky.

Gamla Stan
Gamla stan (The Old Town), until 1980 was officially Staden mellan broarna (The Town between the Bridges), it is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden.
Gamla stan is a lovely area and my favourite part of Stockholm, I loved the old richly painted unique north German architecture. Gamla stan is home to the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, the narrowest street in Stockholm, Riddarholm Church, and The Nobel Museum.

Saint George and the Dragon statue, Stockholm

Kaffekoppen and Chokladkoppen, Stockholm

City Hall/ Stadshuset
The City Hall/ Stadshuset is one of Sweden’s most famous buildings, and one of the Stockholm’s most visited tourist attractions. The City Hall/ Statshuset is also the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet held on 10th of December each year.
I spent about an hour or so just walking around the area, it was peaceful and I wished I had brought lunch with me, for it was a great location for sitting and reflecting.

View from Stadhuset Stockholm — View from Stadshuset Stockholm

Me posing on the grounds of Stadhuset Stockholm — Me posing on the grounds of Stadshuset Stockholm

Walking Round
I enjoy walking around in order to find new things and I am not deterred by the weather. Luckily for me Stockholm was cold but dry; see below for some pictures of my discoveries.

What I ate
Eating out in Stockholm can be expensive, however there are several restaurants and places you can eat at inexpensively. I didn’t try any Swedish food, also as I had recently given up eating meat I couldn’t try Swedish meatballs.

I had breakfast at the hostel which was reasonably priced at £5.50, breakfast consisted of a cereal, a waffle or a sandwich roll, yoghurt and fresh fruit orange juice, tea or coffee.

Vapianos
I had a meal at Vapianos, for a pizza and a drink I spent £9, which is really good in my book.

Cupcake STHLM
Cupcake STHLM sell really good cupcakes, what I really liked was that the cupcakes were not too sweet, I am assuming this is due to the high tax on sugar in Sweden. The cupcake shop I went to was in the Skrapan mall in the Gotgatan shopping district.

Kungshallen
Kungshallen/ Kings Hall is a food court to get good quality inexpensive food. I visited twice and had two meals, one meal was Turkish and the other was Mexican, both meals cost £7 each, the meals were good and value for money.

Thai and Sushi
I found a little Sushi and Thai restaurant that was on the same road as the hostel I stayed in. The restaurant is a small family run restaurant but the food was very good, so good that I ate there thrice during my trip. A meal consisting of a sushi selection and a Thai green curry and rice cost £7, excellent value for money. Sweden was the first country I came across where Thai and Japanese food were being sold together but it really works.

My Ratings of Stockholm

My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

Culture = 7/10
Stockholm is a beautiful city with so much to offer, the museums and galleries even though they require an entrance fee are worth visiting.

People/Friendliness = 5.5/10
Swedish people are very attractive but I found them to be a little cold generally.

Attractiveness = 8/10
Stockholm is most definitely an attractive city and is ideal for photography enthusiasts. Everything felt very clean and fresh except for Gamla stan of course that had a more rustic lived in feel.

Food = 7/10
I ate loads of good food in Stockholm, I really liked the cup cakes from Cupcake STHLM, I wish they would open a branch in London and The food from Sushi and Thai was also superb.

Affordability = 5/10
Compared to London, Stockholm is expensive, I found it an anomaly that I had to pay to get into galleries and museum. Stockholm is expensive but with careful planning you can have an inexpensive trip.

Vibe = 7.5/10
Stockholm’s vibe is very functional and clean. The Swedes have a very good lifestyle, they are practical and it reflects in the city and resonates all round in the air. It is very hipster and cool.

Overall = 8/10
I had a very good time is Stockholm, it was the first trip in 2015 and it really inspired me to keep on traveling. I would definitely go back to Stockholm but during the summer, I am curious to see what the city is like during summer. All in all a great city and a wonderful experience.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

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Paris – France

On 27/09/201525/07/2016 By TravelbyjaedIn architecture, art, lifestyle, photography, Travel1 Comment

I have been to Paris twice, the first time was in August 2013 and the second time was in December 2014. This post mixes my experience during both trips. I will try to specify below the trip each experience relates to.

How long I stayed
August 2013- 1 day, 1 night
December 2014- 1 day 2 nights

The weather
August 2013- the weather was very warm and it was sunny all day as you will see in the pictures below.
December 2014- the weather was mild and I didn’t need gloves or a hat. However it rained non-stop.

Where I stayed

August 2013- Comfort Inn Saint-Pierre Hotel
Being Naive I assumed a hotel near the main station and some what centrally located would be ok. Well whilst the hotel was ok, the area around Gare du Nord is not. The only word I can use to describe it is as is…scary. I would not recommend that a single female book a hotel around the main station as I felt very unsafe.

December 2014- B&B La Villette
This was a nice clean 3 star hotel , the breakfast was very good but again I did not like the area. I had no choice about this hotel as it was part of a Topdeck tour holiday I was on. I wouldn’t recommend walking around or going out around the hotel as a tourist late at night.

How I got around
I did buy a metro pass but I like walking so I walked everywhere. The metro pass was really in expensive and costs £10, which gave you 10 single journeys to travel all over Paris.

What I did

The old Grand Palace of Louvre and the museum
The palace is impressive, beautifully preserved and a stunning piece of architecture. The historic palace buildings wrap themselves around the magnificent modern glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum. The old and new work together in harmony and is testament of how historical and new architecture can compliment each other.
This area and it is a must see if you ever decide to come to Paris.

One my first visit I did not go in the Louvre as I was on a day trip and being an artist I take my time when I go in to galleries, I would have spent the whole day viewing the pieces. Even though I am yet to go to the Louvre museum, I recommend if you do go to Paris, going to the Louvre Museum should be on your agenda, as it is the home of the famous Mona Lisa and a truly magnificent museum with some of the worlds best pieces of art.

The Old Grand Palace and Louvre Museum, Paris

Arc De Triomphe
After my visit to the Louvre Palace, I walked to the Arc De Triomphe, where I decided it would be a good idea to run across the most notorious roundabout in the whole of Paris if not France. I later found out during my second visit that the French government does care about tourist and public safety and had built a safe subway for access to the Arc De Triomphe, removing the need to run through Parisian traffic. I seriously had believed running across the roadways the only way to get across to the Monument, might I add that I wasn’t alone in my daredevil act of taking on Parisian motorists. Running across the Arc De Triomphe roundabout is not recommended.

Eiffel Tower
After visiting Arc De Triomphe, I walked to the Eiffel Tower but I decided not to go up the tower, should I have decided to wait to go up the tower, I suspected I would be writing this blog from the queue even now. If you wish to climb up the Tower I suggest you get there as early as possible to avoid the very long queues.
After taking several pictures and selfies trying to get the iconic tower as I wanted it, I left. During my second visit to Paris I went to the tower at night and it was even more impressive lite up. Paris is not titled the city of light without just cause.

River Seine cruise
This was one of my favourite part of my trip, I love boats and being on the water. I went on the river cruise during my first visit to Paris in August and the weather was perfect.
A river cruise is great way to see any city and Paris is no exception. The cost of the cruise was €23 and that included a waffle with Nutella and strawberries and a drink. The waffle was very tasty too. The cruise was an 1hr and half long, I highly recommend this.

Moulin Rouge
During my second trip in December 2014, I decided I wanted to go to the Moulin Rouge, not for a cabaret show but to see the iconic building to take some pictures. It was also on the way to Mont Marte and Sacre Coeur so it was a good detour.

Monte Marte
After taking several pictures of Moulin Rouge, I headed to Monte Marte the artist quarter, where my kindred spirits reside. Unfortunately the artists of Monte Marte only really come out during summer so the area was rather quite.

Sacre Coeur Cathedral
This beautiful Cathedral sits at the highest point in Paris. An impressive functional Cathedral, there were a number of people praying as I walked round, it was very sombre, but in a good way. The little gift shop is offers good value on religious trinkets if you are that way inclined.
The view from Sacre Coeur even on the damp grey December day was still impressive, Paris looked so chaotic but peaceful at the same time.
The garden of Sacre Coeur is also very beautiful and idyllic perfect for asking that all important question.

The Grand Palace/ Le Grand Palais
I can’t ice skate, heck I can’t even shuffle, therefore whatever I did on the ice for the time I was at The Grand Palace was very undignified. However the experience and atmosphere made it very memorable and worth all of the €25 to cling to side of the rink. I did build up courage enough to go one full circuit without clinging to the sides but that took every ounce of strength and determination. If you are going to Paris during Winter I highly recommend this.

Notre Dame
What a cathedral! It’s everything I imagined and more it sits very impressively on the banks of the River Seine and was beautifully lite up for the festive period.
During my first visit in summer I took some amazing pictures from a boat on the River Seine. Notre Dame is an amazing feat of gothic architecture and it free to get into.

Christmas market
The stalls had the festive spirit in abundance, the cute stalls lined both side of the Champs Elysees, and were wonderfully lite. The snack food and especially hot wine make walking though the different stalls even more pleasant.

Sampling hot wine at the Christmas Stalls

What I ate

Standard Restaurant
I tried french onion soup but I really disliked it and I definitely will not be trying it again.
I also tried some snails, this surprisingly I liked, it could be due to fact that the part of Nigeria my parent are from, giant snails are a delicacy so I had eaten snails on many occasions. The food at the restaurant was ok, simply ok.

Standard Cafe
Le Petit Josselin had been recommended for its savoury crepes. The Crepe was lovely and at £10 for a lunch menu that included a savory crepe,a desert and a drink it was well worth it.

Market food

During my summer trip I bought some sausages and chicken from a Farmers/ antique market on my way to the Eiffel tower however both were gross. The chicken had not been seasoned not even with salt and the sausage was far to rich for me.

Laudere

Laudere is dessert and sweet heaven. The cakes and macaroons were divine and worth every Euro. You must go there, French sweets/ desserts have no competition in my book.

My Ratings of Paris

My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

Culture = 8/10
Paris is a city of culture there is so much to do and see, with so many museums, theatres and places of historical significance you will have loads to keep you occupied.

People/ friendliness = 4.5/10
Well the Parisians were stylish as expected but a little too cold for my liking. I felt unable to approach the locals for help and when I did manage to get someone to help, it felt like i was a bother.
The Parisians are not the friendliest is all I will say.

Attractiveness = 8.5/10
Paris is a beautiful city, a very proud city with the architecture to match. Being a city girl, i thrive in the chaos of a city and Paris certainly had enough chaotic charm.

Food = 7/10
Of the 7 points the 5 goes to the desserts at Laudere. Perhaps it was the food or restaurant I ate but I found french food to be rather average. If i was scoring desserts alone it would probably be a 8.5 if not a 9.

Affordability = 7/10
As a Londoner there are not many places I find expensive as I am used to being ripped off. Paris was affordable in my opinion, the most I spent on an activity was £25 euros and that was to ice skate in The Grand Palace.

Vibe = 7/10
Paris has a chic and cool vibe. I could also sense that it would be very romantic and there are so many locations to make ones partner feel special.

Overall= 7.5
Paris is a beautiful city with lots to do and see.A day trip is fine as a taster but I recommend a three-day weekend trip to really get a feel and experience some of the things Paris has to offer. Paris should be on your bucket list of cities to visit, even if it’s for the cakes.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

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