#MyTravelMemory with Celebrity Cruises

For me personally, there’s no such thing as a bad holiday. So when looking back and reminiscing, it’s difficult to pinpoint the best of the best. But if I had to choose just one, it’d be Gran Canaria back in 2014.

To give you some background, 2014 didn’t have the best of starts. It started with a cancer scare. I’m usually so happy-go-lucky, and after such a shocking and nasty experience, life suddenly became all the more precious.

I love a city break as much as the next person, but a few months later after being given the all clear, I needed a holiday that was slower paced – to relax, and at the same time celebrate me getting past the big c.

I went with my then boyfriend and we ate wonderful food, drank wonderful wine, swam, lounged around by the pool, travelled to nearby towns, and went on long walks. There were laughs aplenty which was just the medicine I needed. Especially that one time we walked and found the most perfect, serene beach which was virtually empty of people. We couldn’t understand it. Then we came across a whole mass of people – all OAPs and naked – and suddenly understood why people avoided walking that far along the beach! Still to this day, I can’t erase the memory of an old and very naked man bending over to get something from his cool box… We walked further along the beach and were so glad we did, as here the sea was the bluest blue and we came across some sand dunes, the views from the tops of which were out of this world.

Although it wasn’t Italy, we embraced dolce far niente (the sweet beauty of doing f all). We had no set plans, just relaxing, treating ourselves and doing whatever we wanted. It was the trip that revived me and gave me my vim back. I’d never felt so alive as I did that particular week. And for that very reason, Gran Canaria will also be one of my fondest memories.

You can read more on my trip to Gran Canaria here

I now invite you guys to join in and reminisce with me! What travel memory do you hold most dear? Please share your blog post links in the comments below as I'd love to read all about your travel memories! #MyTravelMemory

The above is my entry for Celebrity Cruises latest competition where bloggers are invited to write about their favourite holiday memories in order to win a 7 night cruise,  or runners up prizes of restaurant vouchers (both very much up my street!)

A British girl in Paris: Part Une

If you can, cast your minds back to the start of December. I arrived at King's Cross ready for the 8am Eurostar crossing, bundled in so many layers that I felt like the michelin man. I stepped off the Eurostar late morning to a dark, drizzly, and absolutely freezing Paris. Being far too early to check in, we left our bags in our hotel's reception (a stone's throw away from Gare du Nord station) and went exploring to build up our appetite for lunch. A long walk later, we made it all the way to Notre Dame where we sheltered from the weather a while. I could spend hours in Notre Dame.

Outside, Notre Dame was looking pretty festive with it's Christmas tree and lights.

Hunger finally caught up with us and we stopped at Le Depart de Saint Michel (1 Place Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris, France), where we enjoyed a goat's cheese salad, snails, and boeuf bourguignon all washed down with a carafe of red wine.

By then our room was ready so we were able to check in and warm up for a bit.

The cold really took it out of us so we had a relatively easy first day. That evening we walked from the Arc de Triomphe right down the Champs-Elysees which had the prettiest Christmas lights and shops with the most incredible festive decorations. We found Laduree but the store had already shut by then :(

We finished up the day at the Champs-Elysees Christmas market which has the nicest atmosphere when you go at night. It's always interesting looking at the different craft stalls but a dilemma and a half deciding what to eat / drink. We settled for chips and then hot chocolate / mulled wine to warm our numb fingers. I liked my Christmas market cup so much that I washed it up and took it back to the UK with me as a keepsake!

I was in Paris exactly a month before all the atrocities happened in Paris. It was a huge shock and it's times like these that I despair for humanity. Namely the selfish few who feel no compassion and take pleasure in the suffering of others with no thought to the friends and families of those killed. It disgusts me. My heart goes out to the people of Paris <3

Until next time... stay tuned for Paris - part deux!

* full marks to those of you who got my SATC reference in the title!

A few days in the South of France

With France just over a hour away by plane and lots of low cost airlines out there, a few days in France won't eat up your budget or your holiday allowance. I tend to visit Paris and the South of France the most. Paris... because it's so convenient by Eurostar. And the South because I have my own place there. It's a sharp contrast to the bustle of the city, but there is something about the country air that is therapeutic and puts everything into perspective. Earlier in 2014 I went ahead and booked those plane tickets. Fast forward a few months to earlier this week... Martin, Mols and I set off to London Stansted airport to begin our French adventure.

We couldn't have asked for better weather. Everyday sunshine and temperatures in the late 20s or early 30s. In-between visits to the supermarché to stock up on essentials, we lounged in the garden, played pétanque, went on long walks, ate a LOT of cakes, had BBQs on a daily basis, and adopted our neighbours' cats. Here's a little photo diary of our time there:

We discovered the most beautiful sparkling cider from Normandy:

And were mesmerised by dragonflies down by the river:

Me looking very hot and bothered after a 3 mile walk...

Flowers we collected for our table that night:

Much cake was eaten:

I was way too excited about finding massive macaroons in the supermarket (who knew those existed?!!)...

... and finding my favourite flavour of sorbet

I love French houses. The brickwork is always so rustique and dreamy

Even the paving beneath your feet is awesome:

Homely touches in our little maison. Including a picture I brought back from Paris, towels from Matalan, and a milk jug gifted to us by a craftman in Limoges who also kindly gifted us plenty of crockery too

Our gold fish consume anything and everything that hits the water. Including pesky hornets:

Purchases included a French magazine, Oreo hot chocolate for back home, and a new pair of heels

I will never tire of France. Next on my bucket list: Avignon and Dijon.