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For a European city trip in the off-season, Athens is the perfect destination. I always struggle to decide where to go in October or November for a decent chance at good weather. Turns out that Athens is the answer! A few days of 20-25°C sunshine quickly made me...
For a European city trip in the off-season, Athens is the perfect destination. I always struggle to decide where to go in October or November for a decent chance at good weather. Turns out that Athens is the answer! A few days of 20-25°C sunshine quickly made me forget we were already wearing winter coats back home. It was my first time visiting the Greek capital, and during that time I explored the many different neighborhoods with their interesting, iconic sights and great food. In this post, I’m sharing my top tips for the best things to do in Athens, along with some practical tips for getting around the city and my favorite boutique hotels. 1. The...
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There's something to be said for exploring a city unprepared. You don't know what to expect, what's waiting for you around the next corner, and you'll be more excited when you stumble upon that hidden gem. I'm afraid I'm not that kind of person. I often wish I...
Bloggers love breakfast. Just look at their Instagram feed and you'll see more eggs benedict than steak frites. Why? Well, to start with we prefer daylight to take our photos and you're not going to get much daylight during dinner when sunset kicks in around 4.30pm....
Blenheim Palace is a bit of a movie star. It starred in The Royals (with Elizabeth Hurley as queen of England), in The Young Queen Victoria, Cinderella, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Just to name a few. Add the fact that Sir Winston Churchill was...
The biggest challenge for a travel blogger is to write about a place you know very well. That might sound strange, but it's because you lose the ability to see what makes it so special for someone who's seeing it for the first time. That feeling of...
There was one building that I really wanted to visit during the Open House London weekend: The Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Last year I'd seen Kelly share pictures of the building on her blog and it looked amazing. Since I had a million other things to...
In a city as obsessed with fashion and beauty as Paris, the importance of a good beauty sleep should not be underestimated. So where do stay when you're visiting the city for the weekend? For my recent trip I was looking for a modern, luxurious hotel in an...
When was the last time a hotel elevator ride made you laugh? At Story Hotel in Stockholm they've thought about all the little details, including how to tell on which floor you are. Second floor: 'My name is Luka, I live on the second floor' (remember this song)....
Back in March, a friend suggested to get tickets to visit Highclere Castle, better known as Downton Abbey. I knew Downton Abbey was serious business in (and outside) the UK, but being among friends I thought I could speak freely, saying that I would love to join...
I’m in Stockholm! This city is just as fun and beautiful as I’d hoped, I love it! One of the reasons I got so excited about visiting Stockholm is that Sweden - or Scandinavia in general - is hot in London. No longer associated with IKEA and Swedish...
There's a difference between my photos B.B. (before blog) and A.B. (after blog). A typical Jacintha photo before I started blogging was black & white, lots of contrast, and definitely more 'raw' than pretty. I started doing a bit of urban exploring before I...
Now that's an entrance designed to impress! Even though the history of Eltham Palace goes back centuries (it was an important royal residence between the 14th and 16th century), it were the millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld who in the 1930s turned it into...
Resizing photos for your blog is probably something that every blogger struggles with. I know I do! Everybody is so obsessed with megapixels when they buy a new camera. We want more, more, more! Resulting in beautiful photos...and huge file sizes. All those pixels are...
London is a city full of temptations when it comes to food. And if it were up to me, I would eat it all. I love the food scene in London, but after two years of indulging in afternoon teas, brunches and eating out, I'm now really trying to live a healthier life. I'm...
Until recently the only way I knew Osterley was as one of the many stops on the Piccadilly line to Heathrow. It's when you know you're not in zone 1 or 2 anymore because you're above the ground (and can use your phone). I never thought any of these stops would be...
Looking back on my years at the University of Amsterdam, I was pretty lucky to study in interesting historic college buildings. I spent most of my time in the East India House, which was the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the 17th century....
Whether I'm traveling for work or for fun, I never leave home without my camera. But on a business trip it's not always ideal to also carry a heavy DSLR camera with you. So I've been thinking about maybe getting an extra camera. One that wouldn't be as bulky, but...
We arrive in Saint Martial Entraygues in the afternoon and I'm instantly smitten. I'll be sleeping here? In my own tree house?! Not just any tree house, but one in the middle of a forest with an incredible view over the Dordogne river. And with a comfortable...
Since we were already spending enough money in Iceland, we decided that we would splurge on one night at a luxury hotel. And I knew exactly which one: the ION Hotel. With its interesting, modern architecture in the middle of Iceland's typical moon-like landscape, it...
If there’s one thing I was expecting from my trip to the Dordogne Valley, it was to eat great food and drink amazing wine. We’re talking about France after all. And I wasn’t wrong. In these four days I was surrounded by an overload of du pain, du...
With all the traveling I've been doing lately, you'd think I want to sleep in my own bed when I'm in London. True...But then, I don't get breakfast in bed when I'm at home. And even though I've been living in this apartment for over a year, my bedroom just doesn't...
Once upon a time there was a politician / writer - also known for being the son of Britain's first Prime Minister - who wanted to build a summer villa in London. Not just any villa, but a Gothic castle that would be a theatrical experience to visit. Sir...
There's fashion. And then there's Alexander McQueen. There are art exhibitions...And then there's Savage Beauty at the V&A in London. Savage Beauty has raised the standard for all future V&A exhibitions to come. It's now been two days since I visited the...
I'm not gonna lie. When I travel I appreciate a bit of luxury. Well, let me rephrase that, I like to travel in style. I love design boutique hotels and they often come with a certain price tag. But at the same time I don't want to spend my entire travel budget on a...
I was not going to miss it this year! The first time I heard about it - I had just moved to London - it was after the fact. The next year I had already booked a trip to Madrid. So no, no matter what, I would not miss it this year. For someone who wishes...
I never seem to have enough time to really explore Berlin. And this weekend was no different. But what kind of travel bloggers would we be if we didn't try to get the most out of the little time we had. I'd done my homework - I may even have created a little map...
Ever since I started sharing my travels on this blog, I've become more selective about the places I want to stay at. If the hotel doesn't inspire me to take nice photos, then I'd rather spend my money on something else. By now I kind of know where to find...
Two weeks ago the coolest thing ever happened. Harper's Bazaar featured me on their website as one of the '17 travel accounts to follow on Instagram'. I love Instagram - it's turning into a serious addiction - but at the time I only had around 1500 followers. Don't...
Extravagant royal parties and the execution of one of its hosts. That's basically what the Banqueting House in central London is known for. Since I'm a sucker for a happy ending, I wasn't really interested in the death part, but more in seeing where the...
One word of advice: if you're going to treat yourself to an afternoon tea at Sketch, skip the brunch, food market and dinner plans. It was all a bit much. But when foodie friends from Holland are visiting, you just have to be a big girl, stop complaining, and start...
If there's one thing I love doing on a sunny Saturday in London - well, apart from having brunch obviously - it's combining a visit to Broadway Market with a walk along Regent's Canal. There are many farmers' markets I like in London, but Broadway Market is the...