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I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep this up, but for now I'm trying to avoid trips that require getting on an airplane. Which means that if I do want to travel abroad, I look for places just across the border. So when I received an invite to visit Essen and...
I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep this up, but for now I'm trying to avoid trips that require getting on an airplane. Which means that if I do want to travel abroad, I look for places just across the border. So when I received an invite to visit Essen and Duisburg in the Ruhr Region in Germany, I couldn't say no. The Ruhr Area is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you're planning a city trip to Germany. But it's really worth it. What makes it especially interesting is that there are many places to visit only a short distance away from each other. Essen to Duisburg is only a twenty minute drive. And also cities like Cologne, Dortmund...
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It had been a long day and I was hungry. Very hungry. And even with all the fancy food that's available in London, when you're looking for something comforting, what's better than a good old (well, preferably fresh actually) pizza? Pizza Rossa Londoners love pizza....
What year did I just walk into? I was expecting to see 17th century artwork, not real people walking around as if they had just stepped out of a painting. What I learned later on was that they were hosting a special event to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the...
What better way to spend a Sunday morning than reading a newspaper and drinking a nice flat white at one of London's best coffee shops? With so many independent cafés to choose from, I'm glad there's a London Coffee Guide that lists the best ones in the city....
Isn't it interesting to see how people - of all ages - are drawn to water? Turn on a fountain in the middle of the city on a summer's day and they'll be tempted to jump in. This water installation at the South Bank by Danish artist Jeppe Hein is called...
I once did a wine tasting course together with a friend and my sister. We thought it was a good idea to learn 'how to impress people in a restaurant when ordering a bottle glass of wine'. To be honest, I don't remember much about it, except that it's fun to drink a...
And so it happened that I ticked three dishes off Time Out's 100 best dishes in London list...all in one afternoon. I was meeting our guide, or actually guides, at Old Spitalfields Market. I love this part of London. It's where I get my hair done, enjoy...
It might be pouring while I'm writing this, but there's no denying... summer is here. I had signed up for Blogshop at Home this weekend which means I was tied to my computer most of the time in an apartment without air-conditioning. So I was really...
Trying to get a table at a restaurant with a celebrity chef that doesn't take reservations during the day is nearly a mission impossible in London. You could of course wait in line for about two hours. But since an empty stomach brings out the worst in me, I try...
Only foodies will understand that I already knew two months ago where I was having brunch on Sunday. At Duck & Waffle. Even though they're open 24 hours a day, it's still fairly difficult to get a reservation. Especially at times when...
Lily Vanilli is not your ordinary bakery. First, it's only open on Sundays. Second, celebrities and big brands love her. And when I asked the guy behind the counter which cake he recommended, he asked me if I liked beetroot and courgette. We're talking cakes here,...
London has a lot to offer, but what it doesn't have is a beach. Not that the UK is famous for its sunbathing weather (or that I'm the sunbathing type for that matter), but there are few things as relaxing as a walk on the beach. One of my intentions for this year was...
The Dutch may not be world-renowned for their food, but just like any other expat I do have this craving from time to time for snacks from home. Raw herring with (raw) onions, stroopwafels (syrup waffles), erwtensoep (split pea soup), hutspot (mashed...
Let's start with the most touristy photo you can take in Copenhagen, so we can tick that box. Tick! Okay, moving on. As I mentioned in my previous post the only true way to explore Copenhagen is on a bike and that's exactly what I did last Monday. The sun was...
Is there anything more fun than watching other people? Silently observing what others are doing, the way they passionately move their hands when they're trying to make a point, quickly checking their hair in a mirror when they think nobody's watching or...
I don't know how other bloggers do it. Having a full-time job, a social life, traveling...and then still finding the time to blog according to a fixed schedule? After doing the A Beautiful Mess Blog Life e-course, I'm now trying to blog more regularly. But after...
Are Scandinavian cafes the new black? Seriously, they're everywhere. You might remember my visit to Fabrique and Nordic Bakery which sort of started this new obsession with anything Scandinavian. And I found a new place to add to the list. When my friend came to visit...
Outdoor dining doesn't really seem to be a London thing. The weather might have something to do with it. But then again, in the Netherlands (same depressing climate) terraces pop up everywhere as soon as we feel the first warm ray of sunshine. Luckily I found...
Someone clearly wasn't paying attention when deciding how to name this house in Hackney. Thomas Sutton, founder of the Charterhouse school (a boarding school in Surrey) was the neighbor, but never lived in the house named after him. So what makes Sutton House worth a...
Oops, I did it again... So much food, so much coffee. Having friends over for the weekend is great and all, but my idea of showing them the best of London means showing them the best brunch and coffee hotspots. Or in this case, places I haven't been to yet, but that...
If you're going to San Francisco...You better make sure you get a good night's rest. So why not stay in a boutique hotel that made it to Condé Nast Traveller's Hot List 2014 (the best new hotels in the world)? Hotel Zetta opened its doors only a year ago and it's just...
The question for me when I started planning my trip to San Francisco was not so much what to do, but rather where to eat. Right before I left, Condé Nast Traveller dedicated a whole feature on the new foodie capital of America, and they were right. Farmers' markets,...
Do you also have a list of places that you've never been to, but for some reason just know you're going to love? For me San Francisco has as long as I can remember been on top of that list. There was just something about it that made me fall in love with it... From a...
The British Library is not just like any other library. It has treasures! And good ones too. They're so good that unfortunately you're not allowed to take photos of them. But take my word for it: it's worth the visit. As the national library of the United Kingdom, the...
Living in London sometimes feels like you're on a (foodie) trip around the world. French macarons, Scandinavian pastries, Indian curries, Peruvian ceviche and even Dutch pancakes...it's all here. You soon start to appreciate each country's talents. And when it comes...
In my one year in London I still haven't spotted any 'real' celebrities. Which you'd think shouldn't be that difficult. After all, this city has so many of them. The problem is: they keep moving around! And since I have better things to do than chasing them in my free...
I love living in South London. And no...you don't need a passport to get here as some North Londoners keep suggesting. It's true that you'll find more of the famous London landmarks and attractions north of the river, but the south has plenty to offer as well. Such as...
More food? Yes, yet another Scandinavian bakery in London that I have to share with you. They're just too pretty, charming and delicious! After I blogged about Fabrique and their cinnamon rolls, people told me I really needed to try Nordic Bakery too. So when I was in...
I skipped breakfast on purpose. 'Cause let's face it... I'm me. If I'm gonna visit a food market there will be too many yummy things I won't be able to resist. What I hadn't anticipated was that the bike ride to Brockley Market would take me a bit longer than Mr...
Anyone up for a little science experiment? Oh, and did I mention it's with food? With the Science Museum and Museum of Natural History just around the corner, you can see where The Ampersand Hotel got the idea for this month's afternoon tea theme. I may not have been...
With so many hotspots in the city, my computer is filling up quickly with all the pictures I want to share with you. But then it would be nice if I would also actually publish them, which I totally forgot to do with this post (it was the end of the year, don't judge)....