Category: Travel

A Long Weekend In Malaga

A Relaxing Weekend

I can’t believe it’s almost been a month since Damien and I went on our long weekend away to Málaga. It was a somewhat impromptu trip, having only booked it all a couple of weeks prior going, but we decided that we both felt the need for a little break and to go somewhere warm where we could simply relax.

I’m pretty much a pro when it comes to planning short trips abroad now and with nowhere specific in mind on this occasion, I decided to go with southern Spain for our best chances of warm weather and affordable flights. Málaga came up best in my search and whilst I had been before a few years ago, it had been for a shoot and so I was excited to visit again, on a non work related trip this time

We arrived in Málaga on a Thursday for the last couple of days in March and then returned home on the Sunday, which was the second day of April. It was definitely a good idea picking Málaga, as the weather over that weekend was just splendid.

I found us the perfect little AirBnb only a very short walk from the centre and right by a few little convenience stores where we were able to buy our eggs for breakfast and wine to drink whilst sat out on the roof terrace. Yes we had our own private roof terrace which was exactly what we’d wanted, a nice open space to sit out and enjoy the sun.

The Sights

Although the main focus of the short holiday was to relax, never ones to sit still for too long, Damien and I of course couldn’t help ourselves from doing just a little bit of sight seeing whilst we were there.

Málaga is actually a lot more beautiful than it’s given credit for and away from the high rise hotels that are situated further down the coast line, the city centre is full of old buildings filled with cute little restaurants and bars.

Speaking of the beauty in Málaga from the top of Mount Gibralfaro we were able to see the most wonderful views of the city. It’s quite a walk in the blazing heat but it’s certainly worth it once you get to the top and also very scenic as you walk through beautiful gardens to get there. Of course once at the top we went in the Castillo Gibralfaro and wondered around the castle ruins before heading back down.

Eating Out

One of the restaurants we visited, as recommended by our Airbnb host, was tiny little traditional Spanish restaurant called El Tapeo de Cervantes. We were told to book beforehand, which was wise as we found it was full to the brim when we arrived and still had to wait for ten minutes or so outside before we could even get in to be seated at our table. But we were glad to find that it was certainly worth the wait.

I didn’t take any pictures in the restaurant as it’s so tiny that you are pretty close to the diners either side of you and behind you, all strategically fitted in on high slim wooden tables and chairs. Although this is something that would in most circumstances irritate the heck out of me, in this instance it only added to the character and charm of the place and I rather enjoyed the atmosphere. The staff were great and I had some of the best tapas I’ve ever had. Opting for fish and vegetarian dishes, each plate we had was delicious and if you do find yourself visiting Málaga I’d definitely recommend this place.

Another evening we decided to take an hour long walk along the beach to a few of the highly recommended local fish restaurants located in El Palo. We stopped off at a bar along the way and watched the sunset before continuing on.

Once we arrived we picked one of the restaurants, Restaurante Gabi. It was no thrills dining at its finest and we took a table outside across from the outdoor fire on the beach, where they cooked the fish. Although quite a long walk to get there it was worth it in the end and the fresh fish was excellent. It certainly seemed popular with the locals and we could see why, as its reasonably priced fresh seafood made the visit worth while.

A Drink With A View

There are of course also plenty of bars to chose from in the centre of Málaga, along with a few rooftop bars. One evening before dinner we went to the roof bar La Terraza de la Alcazaba which has excellent views of the town centre and Alcazaba of Málaga. It’s quite a busy spot but fine if you don’t mind potentially standing. It has quite a young vibe and although the drinks are (expectedly) a little pricer than some of the other bars, it’s worth visiting at least for one, just to see the view before sun down.

Well I think that’s almost everything. I’ll end things here before I run the risk of waffling on too much but we really did enjoy our little trip away to Málaga. Sometimes three nights away is all you need to unwind and relax whilst also having the fun of exploring a different location. Now I can’t believe it’s only two weeks until Damien and I jet off on our next little city break, I plan to be a lot swifter with my upload of that travel post once we return, so be sure to check back soon for more travel adventures. 😀

Samio x

You can watch my Málaga vlog here:

April 26, 2017
The Oslo Story – An Alternative City Break

Why Oslo? And in February!?

I knew we needed to book our girl’s trip in that moment whilst (almost) all together, or else it was never going to happen. We had the dates for when we were all available so all we needed to do was book!

As I grabbed my towel and headed for the door I looked back at Lydia and Hannah who were both still recovering on the bed and said, ‘right’ in a determined manner, ‘I want you to have found flights to where we are going by the time I’m out of the shower’. I naturally left this one to Lydia, the organiser of the group, whilst I quite simply made my demands and left to go and shower, in an attempt to refresh myself in the midst of an ever growing hangover brought on from the night before.

When I returned feeling somewhat better and mostly excited for this still ambiguous trip ahead, the first question I asked was ‘where are we going?’. ‘Oslo’ Lydia joyfully replied. Fabulous I thought, ‘where’s that?’ (Geography had never been my strong point). Lydia giggled, ‘Norway’. Cool! I’d never been to Norway.

The flights were only £35 and Hannah was already reading up on what to do and see in Oslo. It sounded like a great place to visit.

We quickly made a call to Charlotte who sounded even more tender than we did and didn’t seem in any type of mood to talk (our partying the night before had obviously taken its toll on us all). Still, over loud speaker we excitedly bombarded Charlotte with the information we had just found. She sounded somewhat less excited than we did and in that moment I think her agreement of the trip was purely to get us off the phone.

And so it was booked and we were going to to Olso baby! It wasn’t long after our booking that we discovered that temperatures in Oslo can reach as low as minus seven in February (when we’d booked to go). MINUS SEVEN! We could only laugh, as whilst doing our vague, hungover research, along with planning where to stay, we’d forgotten to look up one vital thing – THE WEATHER. Anyway, hey, ho, we had our girl’s weekend booked and later another friend, Sally joined on to the trip and the five of us were really looking forward to our fun weekend away.

The Cost

Now something we’d been repeatedly told before we even got to Oslo was ‘it’s really expensive there’, usually followed by a pitiful look of confusion. Why were a group of twenty something girls going to Oslo for the weekend? Erm, because the flights were cheap. Many often laughed at this reasoning. We did not let it dampen our spirits.

Whilst our airbnb was affordable, upon arrival we did in fact find that, yes, everything in Oslo is ridiculously expensive. Our first round of drinks in Oslo was in a traditional style pub: 3 wines and 2 beers came to the equivalent of £45 and each place we went to thereafter, the price continued to be roughly 8 or 9 pounds for a glass of house red wine. However that said, this did not deter us from heading out on the evenings and a having a good time whilst we were at it.

Of course this meant that food was pricey too and Seven Eleven became our new best friend when it came to eating out/on the go in order to stick within our budget for the weekend.

The Weather

The weather wasn’t actually that bad. Okay, let me rephrase that…We’d brought the appropriate clothing meaning that we didn’t get too cold. So much so, that on the Saturday after bussing it all the way to the Viking museum we decided to walk back. We actually spent a good two hours walking through the snow. It was actually really good fun and we got to see a lot of pretty sights.

The Moral Of This Story

Another little spanner in the works that I almost forgot to mention was that we’d booked our flights to and from the wrong airport. Okay the moral of this story is fast becoming why you should never book a trip hungover and without proper research…BUT we found getting from Torp Oslo airport where we landed, to central Oslo was reasonably easy. We were able to jump on one of the coaches outside to embark on the one and a half hour journey to central Oslo (I know, I know), which cost around £25 each. Somewhat defeating the object of the initially ‘cheap flights’ but whatever. You live and you learn.

And The Icing On The Cake

On the Sunday we were more than ready to head home after our random yet fun weekend in Oslo and after checking out of our AirBnb we took the hour and a half long coach trip back to Oslo Torp airport.

We’d gone through customs, we’d order food and as we sat and waited for our flight details back to Manchester to show up on the board, we noticed a number of flights were being delayed and then cancelled.

A flight delay we could deal with, a cancellation we could not…and after seeing a number of flights being cancelled due to severe fog, our Manchester flight was next to join the list. I’ve dealt with flight delays before but this was the first time for a cancellation and believe me, it was not fun.

It’s exhausting to go through the next 24 hours that followed in detail but in short it included queuing for 3 hours. Having to book new flights for the next day to fly to London Heathrow (the flights back to Manchester were full until Tuesday). Getting in touch with our AirBnb to see if our apartment was still available (thankfully it was) and booking another night. Getting the train back to Oslo centre and checking back into our Airbnb. Waking up on Monday and heading to the central airport to fly to Hamburg and then to London. The girls getting a hire car and driving back from London to Manchester. Me getting off the plane and running through the airport to jump on the Heathrow Express to get to central London in time to make it to my modelling job that same day. I made it (Phew).

In these scenarios I like to say, ‘it could have been worse’ and the main thing is that we made it home in the end, even if it was a little later than expected…and I finally got to go home, home, after a week working in London. My bed had never been more appreciated.

The Round Up

Well. Oslo was an experience to say the least. Was it one of the most random (and at the very end, stressful) trips I’ve ever been on, yes…but was it fun, yes, actually, we had a fun time and didn’t stop laughing for most of it. But as the line goes, it’s not where you are, it’s who you’re with and that was certainly the case for this trip.

I may not have left a piece of my heart in Oslo on this occasion but I am glad I went as my random adventures are all about exploring somewhere different and that’s exactly what we got to do.

Would I go again?
Not in a rush, no. However that’s not to dismiss Norway as a whole, as whilst outside of the city centre of Oslo, we saw some absolutely beautiful sights and if I were to head back to Norway again, I’d love to do more outdoor exploring and take more of an adventure type holiday there. But I’m glad I got the chance to visit anyway and enjoy quite a different girl’s weekend away.

Have you ever been to Oslo or have you ever taken an alternative city break somewhere? Let me know in the comments section below. 🙂

Watch my Oslo vlog here:

March 27, 2017
A Travel Guide To Hamburg

What To Eat, See & Do In Hamburg

Germany is fast becoming one of my most visited European destinations. I’d actually been to Hamburg for the fist time a couple of years ago during the summer but this time I was ready to explore much more of the city and experience Hamburg in winter as something different. My friend Chloe and I decided on the trip at the start of January and after finding flights that suited us perfectly for only £35, we quickly booked our three day city break for the 13th to the 15th February.

Where We Stayed

Superbude

The super cool hotel/hostel Supebude kindly put us up for our two night stay in Hamburg. Located in St Pauli, it’s only a stone’s throw away from a large selection of coffee shops, bars and restaurants, in the super quirky hipster area of Sternschanze. We actually spent a lot of time around the local area and found several great places to eat and drink.

Superbude, labels itself a hostel and hotel, however right away I have to say it isn’t like any hostel I’ve ever stayed in before, as whilst being affordable it is definitely a lot more stylish than most accommodation that falls into the ‘hostel’ bracket.

You know when you walk into Supebude that you’re in a cool spot and all the staff are really friendly. To the right of the reception there’s a cool chill out area with a couple of refrigerators that serve as a self service bar and behind that is the area where breakfast is served. Breakfast was included and we were both pleased with the selection of food on offer. Of course being in Germany it’s the usual continental style breakfast selection but there was plenty to choose from and we left feeling satisfied each morning.

We were also pleased with our room. Whilst being simple it provided everything we needed for our two nights stay. I’m happy as long as my bed is comfy, the shower is hot and overall everything is clean. I’m happy to say that it ticked all the boxes. Chloe and I both had good sleeps and agreed that we’d happily stay at Superbude again.

What We Ate

Eating Our Way Around Hamburg

It’s probably easier to compile a list of things we didn’t eat on this trip than the things that we did. In fact, I can go as far as to say that we didn’t stop eating for the entire three days. This was much to the delight of Chloe who is vegan and has mentioned how she often struggles finding food options when she’s away. We quickly noticed lots of vegan options close by to where we were staying, in Sternschanze. We managed to get our hands on everything from vegan cherry pie, to vegan donna kebab! Even I was in my element with it all and all the food we tried was so, so good!

A few favourites included:

Bullerei – A popular restaurant where we went for lunch on our first day. I had the salmon risotto which I thoroughly enjoyed. They didn’t have any vegan dishes but they made one of the dishes dairy free for Chloe on request.
ElbGold – A cute coffee shop serving great cakes and pastries and even better coffee. We had a vegan apple slice & a vegan cherry pie with coffee. It was all very good.
Cafe Piya – A restaurant on Schanzenstraße where we went for dinner one evening. We both went for the vegan burger and it was really good. The wine was good too.

We also had vegan Currywurst at a fast food place round the corner from our hotel. I unfortunately forgot to take note of the name of the place but it was either on or close by to Schanzenstraße.

What We Saw

Being Tourists

Aside from eating out…A LOT…We also managed to fit in quite a bit of sight seeing too. Although this was my second time in Hamburg, I ended up discovering a whole other side to the city that I hadn’t previously. I learnt that Hamburg is a creatively vibrant and artistic city. On first appearances you don’t see it’s quirks and unique flare but take a walk around an area like Sternschanze and you’ll see unique graffiti on every building. Whilst looking edgy I have to say that it still felt safe whilst wondering around these parts and overall there was a really chilled and pleasant vibe to the city, especially in the area mentioned. It had been Chloe’s first time in Hamburg and the second day into our trip she was already saying how she wanted to come back.

On our first day we took a two hour bike ride around the city on one of the StadtRAD rental bikes. Whilst it was absolutely freezing that day, I couldn’t have thought of a better way for us to explore the city. There are bike lanes on every single side walk, so there’s no need to worry about biking on the road. The hop on, hop off bikes are such an easy way to get around and when you’re done you can just hook them back up at one of the many bike docks around the city.

We also went on a boat tour and a bus tour during our trip but I have to say that the bikes were still my favourite mode of transport and a great way to see everything too. We also did a great deal of walking, which is so easy to do when you’re in a place like Hamburg which is very relaxed compared to other more crowded cities. There’s also a great deal of greenery in Hamburg with parks dotted throughout the city.

One tourist attraction I would recommend is the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in the HafenCity quarter. It’s free to go up and from the viewing deck you’re able to take in the views of Hamburg. Also, if you’re into architecture the building itself is pretty stunning and it cost a pretty penny too, which definitely shows. Even the inside of the Elbphilharmonie impressive, and I’d say it’s worth stopping by if you get the chance.

The Low Down

When we visited: February 2017
Weather: Average minus two degrees – Cold and crisp with blue sky.
How long we stayed: Monday to Wednesday – Two nights
Where we stayed: St Pauli
Accommodation: Superbude Hotel Hostel
Food To Try: Vegan Currywurst (if you can find the takeout we went to on Schanzenstraße), otherwise just look out for Currywurst in general.
Suggestions: Layer up if you’re visiting during the winter.
Recommendations: Go up the Elbphilharmonie, it’s free and you can see great views of Hamburg from up there!
Also, rent one of the StadtRAD bikes and cycle around Hamburg.
Would I go again: Yes!
Would I go again in February: Yes, however I’d love to go again in the summer too.

Chloe and I both loved our three days in Hamburg. I enjoyed myself the first time I visited but it’s the second time around that I really grew to love the city. We both liked the easy going vibe and Chloe has already said how much she is in love with Hamburg after our visit.

If you enjoy good food, street art and a city with a creative vibe, then Hamburg could be just the place for you and I certainly recommend the visit.

Samio x

*Our accommodation was kindly provided by Superbude along with thanks to Hamburg Tourism who organised it also provided our travel whilst in Hamburg.

See more of what we got up to in my Hamburg Vlog:

February 20, 2017
A Weekend In Lisbon, Portugal

Making Plans

It was a dreary day in November and I scrolled through my Twitter feed in search of some mild entertainment. As my eyes flitted down the screen I spotted my friend, L’Oréal, had tweeted expressing how she was keen to go to Berlin again for a city break. This instantly caught my attention! I’d been feeling a strong desire to take more trips in the new year, especially to places I was yet to explore in Europe…Although I knew it would be a long shot that we’d actually end up going anywhere, I thought I’d put it out there that I was eager to go on a city break too. And so without hesitation I tweeted back…Because you never know, right!

I’m often reminded that not everyone is quite as spontaneous as I am, but when L’Oréal tweeted back agreeing that we should make the trip happen, I was on Skyscanner before we’d even had a chance to discuss things properly.

I was happy to see that L’Oréal was just as enthusiastic as I was when we got round to properly discussing our trip over private message. We both decided on January for our time to travel. Then Berlin quickly evolved into Lisbon with L’Oréal’s suggestion and the slightly warmer weather in mind.

Lisbon had never been somewhere I’d thought of going to before, but I quickly got enthused about the idea when I found flights for £40 each, to go over on the second weekend in January. Of course we couldn’t say no to that and so Lisbon was booked and my first trip of 2017 was set in motion.

The Important Stuff

Rather than rambling on too much (more) in this blog post, I’d rather give you the important details that may help/benefit you if you’re panning a trip to Lisbon during the winter…Or any time for that matter. I must admit that L’Oréal and I didn’t do much touristy stuff, with the focus of our trip being on relaxing, eating and generally just hanging out and enjoying the laid back city.

That’s one thing I can tell you, that Lisbon has a super chilled and laid back vibe for a city. You don’t feel in a particular rush to go, or be anywhere and people seem to slowly ease into the day without much rush – that’s how it felt on the weekend at least.

Transport

In terms of transport, the subway is affordable and easy to navigate (if you’re use to the London Underground, you’ll find Lisbon’s version a doddle). We only used the subway once during our weekend, and that was to get us from the airport when we arrived, to Baixa-Chiado – Although I’m sure we’d use it more if we were to go back during the summer and explore more areas. Our tickets cost less than two euro each and were easy to buy from the ticket machines at the subway station.

Accommodation

For our accommodation we stayed in an AirBnb, which we’d actually booked pretty last minute (the week before), although I wouldn’t recommend organising it so last minute during the summer, as you may find many of the best place have sold out. I’ve noticed the AirBnb that we stayed in is already starting to fill up fast!

I’m saying all of this presuming you’ve heard of AirBnb and at least know what it’s all about but I do realise not everyone has used it yet. It’s a great alternative to staying in a hotel, whereby you stay in someone’s home instead. Not to worry if you don’t fancy shaking up with a random family, there are plenty of Airbnb’s available where you can rent the entire home to yourself (like the one we stayed in here)…Overall it generally works out affordable and pretty good value for money. Our AirBnb was excellent and right in Bairro Alto, which is an area I’d stay again if/when I were to go back. Also, if you’re new to AirBnb you can get £25 worth of travel credit if you sign up using my link here…You’re welcome. 😉

The Weather

The weather when we were in Lisbon was thankfully much milder than in the UK! We left England with snow and arrived to blue sky and sunshine. The average temperature was thirteen degrees celsius, which actually felt warm compared to back home. The sky was clear and blue for the whole of our trip and we even managed to eat al fresco for lunch on the Saturday!

The Nightlife

The nightlife in Lisbon is really good fun – from what we experienced anyway. Although we only made it out, out, one night of our trip, which was the Saturday, we found that there were plenty of bars to choose from which seem to get busier later into the evening. Later into the night you’re likely to find groups spilling out onto the streets, with plastic cups in hand giving the city a summer type vibe even in the winter. The only downside to the Lisbon nightlife (and also the only negative thing I can say about the entire trip), is that it’s still legal to smoke in bars over there, so if you’re not use to the smoke it can get a little overpowering! However, after getting over the fact that you feel like you’re back in 2006, you’re likely to get use to it and happily dance away into the early hours, especially when you’ve had a few drinks like I had.

Food

And last but not least…(my favourite) Food…If you’re going for somewhere that’s offering the local cuisine, you’re likely to find a lot of meat, fish and potatoes on the menu, usually with the one vegetarian option of lasagne. The local cuisine is very tasty though if you do happen to try it but not to threat if it’s not for you, there is lots to chose from! Even in the small radius from where we stayed we found a verity of different restaurants, with everything from vegetarian to vegan options, so there really is something for everyone and overall I found the food to be really good!

Also whilst in Lisbon I do recommend you try the Pasteis De Nata, which I insisted on calling a ‘Lisbon Pie’ for the entirety of the trip when I didn’t know the proper name. Whilst in Lisbon someone on my Instagram recommended we try Manteigaria (a pastry shop/cafe selling only Pasteis De Nata), and it was an excellent suggestion!

The Low Down

When we visited: January 2017
Weather: Average 13 Degrees C – Mild with blue sky.
How long we stayed: Friday to Monday – 3 nights.
Where we stayed: Bairro Alto.
Accommodation: Airbnb.
Food To Try: Pasteis De Nata.
Suggestions: Take Comfortable Shoes.
What we spent there: Roughly €160 each on food, drink and transport for the entire weekend.
Would I go again: Yes!
Would I go again in January: Most certainly!

I think it’s pretty clear to say that we both LOVED Lisbon. The people, the vibe of the place, the colourful buildings, the blue sky in January, were all brilliant! We’ve been told by almost everyone that we should visit again in summer, which I would certainly love to do, but I’d also strongly recommend Lisbon for a winter getaway destination too. If you’re from the UK especially, jetting off to Lisbon for a weekend of blue sky and slightly milder weather over January or February, is the perfect way to beat the winter blues. It certainly helped me beat mine!

Have you ever visited Lisbon? What city breaks do you recommend?

Samio x

January 25, 2017
6 Things I Did On My Beach Holiday

I’m back from the Greek island of Kos, after a week away that I can only describe as relaxed, peaceful and self-indulgent. I allowed myself to fully wind down and do a few things that I very rarely get to do…

I Switched Off

I put my phone onto airplane mode for the majority of the trip. By the middle of the trip (and strategically timed on a Saturday), I couldn’t help but check my emails (just incase), as being self employed gives you the fear of missing out on work anytime you decide to ‘switch off’, which is usually never in my case. I did however allow myself to wait to reply to emails after I returned home – any guesses what I’ll be doing today?

I Sunbathed

For the first time in years I actually lay in the sun, not under the shade or wrapped in layers, and I fully let the sun bronze my skin – whilst covered in head to toe factor 50 of course – don’t get me started on skin protection.

I Swam in the Sea

I actually got to do this once whilst still in England over the summer but it had been a long time since I dipped into the sea whilst abroad…and lets face it, it’s always better swimming in the sea in a country that has a much warmer climate than the UK.

I ate a ridiculous amount of cheese

Okay so this is something I tend to do a lot whilst at home as well – hello, my favourite food is pizza! – But I wouldn’t usually opt for cheese with breakfast, lunch and dinner…But there was just so much of it and I couldn’t stop myself. I’m talking edam and cheddar for breakfast, pizza and feta for lunch and after dinner cheese and crackers with blue cheese every night. Yep, I’m going on a dairy free detox.

I Read a Book

I finally got to read the book that I’d meant to finish a long while ago. I’d bought A Little Life for my flights to Cape Town earlier this year and then found myself occupied watching the entire final series of Downton Abbey, along with a selection of old movies on the plane instead…Fast forward to a week ago and I finally picked it back up again and found myself hooked. In fact I found myself crying at the end. Actual tears, which was a bit embarrassing whilst sat in the hotel lobby but I definitely recommend the read, even if it may leave you a little heart broken.

I thought of nothing and did nothing

With an overactive brain like mine, that is somewhat impossible, but I did manage to zone out from the rest of the world (airplane mode definitely helped) and not think about the usual things that may rattle through my brain. I barely thought about my blog and didn’t even feel bad about not posting on social media. Sometimes it’s nice to switch off…It was also nice just being really lazy.

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It’s fair to say I had a great week away. I hope that you have had a great week so far and enjoy a great rest of the week too!

Samio x

October 26, 2016
Sightseeing In Paris

This was my fourth trip to Paris but my first one during my adult life, making it truly unforgettable. I say adult, yet still under 26, making it the ideal time to go and be a tourist because if you’re below this age, you are able to go in a number of the museums and monuments for free or at a discounted price at least. Alas if you are over the age limit for free or discounted entry, do not let this deter you. I urge anyone visiting Paris who is into history, architecture or just fascinated by the famous landmarks, to go and visit as many as you are able to. It’s truly worth it and you will not regret the experience.

When we went: February 2016
Reason for visiting: Surprise Birthday trip for my boyfriend.
Where we stayed: Hotel Vice Versa.
How long we went for: 4 nights and 5 days (arrived Thursday evening, left for the airport around 3pm Monday afternoon).
What we saw: Catacombs, The Louvre (and spent hours exploring inside), Sacré-Cœur (It’s great to visit at night as well as during the day), Notre Dame (went in & went up to the top), Palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe (went up it), Eiffel Tower (went up it).
The weather: Dry with blue skies but quite crisp, so layers were a must.
Would recommend: Visiting the Eiffel Tower (obviously), trying the hot chocolate (Paris do some amazing hot chocolate!) and visiting Palace of Versailles.
Would I go back: Yes! I’d love to go back next time during summertime and chill out in some Parisian coffee shops and bars.
Notes: Everyone we encountered were very friendly. It’s super east to get about on the metro and trams. Although based in a quieter neighbourhood, our hotel was actually in a great location as it was easy to get to many of the main areas from, by metro or tram. I’d recommend you wear comfortable shoes when exploring the city and if you’re visiting during the winter then layer up!

Vice Versa Hotel Reception/Lounge

Inside The Louvre

Napoleon Apartments – The Louvre

Outside The Sacré-Cœur, overlooking the city at night

Arc de Triomphe

Stairs up Arc de Triomphe

View from the top of Arc de Triomphe at night

Palace of Versailles Hall of Mirrors

Looking out from the Eiffel Tower

View from the top of the Eiffel Tower

If you’d like to see more from my Paris trip then you can check out my Paris vlog here:

Samio x

March 7, 2016
My Relaxation Mantra & The Chance To Win A Spa Break

Ideally when I need to relax, I’d like to travel to a remote exotic beach somewhere, or to a picturesque part of the countryside for a weekend but unfortunately that isn’t always doable and so, often other outlets need to be found in order to help me chill out.

For me, when my mind is at peace, I am at peace and there are a few things that I like to regularly do that help me to feel relaxed.

Blog
I get such a satisfaction from writing my blog and when I’m in the zone, working on a post that I’m really enjoying writing, it helps me to de-stress and relax.

Switch off from the Internet & social media
As much as I love (and am addicted) to social media and the Internet, I often find it’s my main distraction from relaxing and if I’m already overthinking, this just helps add to the problem… Although without the internet my blog would not exist, I find that when I switch myself off from it for a short while, I can solely focus on writing without distractions.

Watch a film
At the end of a long day, if I’m too tired to blog and I don’t want to focus on any of life’s distractions, I find that watching a good movie is the ultimate way to prevent me from thinking about any stresses and allow myself to relax.

Listen to music
There are some songs/albums that I can listen to and instantly be transported in my mind to a different place. Usually if I have a long train journey and I want to zone out, I’ll plug in my earphones and let the music take me some place else.

Each of these simple things help me to follow my relaxation mantra – Take your mind somewhere else and just relax. I do at least one of these things on a daily basis to help myself relax, as I think it’s important to have a good balance and to give yourself time to unwind…

But how about winning a spa break to help you really unwind?

Of course nothings beats a trip away and if you’re a blogger and you’d like to share your relaxation mantra then you can be in with a chance to win an awesome spa break for you and a friend with Spa Seekers. All you have to do is share your relaxation mantra in a blog post of your own accompanied by your own image (I created my image using Canva, which is simple and easy to use). Once you’ve created your post, you can then share it on Twitter tagging @SpaSeekers and using the hashtag #MyRelaxationMantra to submit your blog post into the Spa Seekers competition. Make sure you’re quick, as the competition ends on 30.09.2015. Please see the full prize details and Terms and Conditions here. Good luck!

Samio x

This post is in association with Spa Seekers

September 2, 2015
Summer Flashback – Shooting A TV Commercial In Madrid

It’s crazy to think that this time last year I was spending part of my summer in Barcelona sharing a model house with three awesome girls and this time this year I’ve now bought a house with my boyfriend and we are spending our time getting stuck into D.I.Y whilst we renovate it from scratch!

So much can change in a year and I’m so happy with what I did both last summer and what I’m doing now. I do love to look back on old memories though and it’s a funny old thing with modelling/acting work, as often you can’t actually share pictures of what you’re doing whilst you’re doing it because sometimes it takes a while before the images are published or the film/commercial comes out. So whilst I’m reminiscing, I thought I’d share some behind the scenes of one of the jobs I was booked on last year whilst staying in Barcelona…

I was sent to Madrid for four days to shoot a commercial and videos for the Sony Xperia Z3 phones. I was put up in a hotel with two other actors who I actually met back in Barcelona at my casting and I was in the room next door to the girl who I had the same shooting schedule as, which was convenient plus we got on really well.

The days were long (as with most commercials) but I had such a laugh working with the five other main guys in the ad. They were even nice enough to speak in English in front of me a lot of the time (as unfortunately I can’t speak Spanish). Shoots/filming days are always 10x better when you get on and can have a laugh with the people you’re working with. It also a bonus when you’re working in a fabulous location too and on this particular job there were a few…

I loved the architecture in Madrid. There are so many grand/fabulous buildings, it was fun being able to see some of the city whilst we weren’t filming.

One of the days filming was spent at this beautiful location (I forget the exact name) by a fresh water river.

We had this stunning rooftop view of Madrid on another day. The views of Madrid were amazing but by the afternoon it sure did get hot – we went through a lot of ice lollies and bottled water that day.

I had a fun four days of filming with these guys

Finally it was time to head back to Barcelona – Madrid Atocha railway station was pretty cool as it had a mini forest/jungle in the middle of it.

Here’s one of the Sony Xperia videos I featured in here:

And you can check out the full commercial here:

Samio x

July 17, 2015
Happy in Hamburg

The Friday before last I jetted to Hamburg to visit my friend Tara. I’d never been to Hamburg before but if I’m being completely honest, my excitement for this trip wasn’t to explore the city but it was instead to see my friend. I think it’s very true what they say, ‘It’s not where you are but who you’re with’. The company you keep can often make any place better and that’s not to say that Hamburg wasn’t a great place to visit (as I do always love exploring new cities) but my main focus on this trip was on catching up with my good friend.

Tara knows Hamburg well as although she’s from LA, she stops there each summer whilst modelling. This summer was no exception and that is why I’d planned the trip to see her there (as it’s not far from the UK). I was just over for the weekend and joined Tara in the house which she had been staying in throughout June, via Air B&B. The couple she was staying with were so lovely and I was impressed with the place and the great location.

I enjoyed the relaxed vibe of Hamburg and had lots of fun during the Saturday whilst we wondered around the shops. I had such an enjoyable weekend overall, sampling some great food and getting to hang out and catch up with my friend.

Here are some snaps of the weekend…

We spotted Tara’s Gore-Tex ad in a shop window, so I obviously had to get a snap!

$Tara Blanchard Gore-Tex Tarina Modelina$

Time flies when you’re having fun and before I knew it my weekend with Tara was coming to an end. As I packed my bags on the Sunday, I didn’t quite feel ready to leave. Tara had often told be about her love for Hamburg and it made me think that maybe I was now feeling it too. Or maybe I’d just had such a great time with my friend that I felt slightly saddened, as I knew I was going to miss her company.

Until next time.

Samio x

Related posts
Rustic Home Cooking At A Beautiful Café In Hamburg
London Town
My Month In Barcelona

July 3, 2015
A Polka Dot Midi Dress in London

On Sunday I was in London, for the second time in the space of three days. For the bank holiday though, I was purely down for fun rather than castings or work and I was able to take the trip down with my boyfriend, Damien, which made a nice change from going alone.

We headed to London primarily for my auntie’s 40th birthday party, which was taking place that Sunday evening. To make the most of our trip, we caught an early train down and after checking in at our hotel, we then went to the Tate Modern which was only a short walk from where we were staying.

After spending some time looking around the art gallery, we went to Proky’s BBQ, where we both filled up on Porky Burgers, topped with pulled pork, streaky bacon & jack cheese along with a shared side of pork scratchings.

It was overcast on Sunday in London, however it was quite warm and so I threw on a simple polka dot midi dress which I had purchased from River Island last year. Although I’d had this dress for almost a year, this was actually the first time I wore it and I’m surprised I hadn’t worn it out sooner. It’s one of those ‘easy to wear’ type dresses that you can just throw on and it’s nice and loose (which makes it perfect for eating burgers in).

What I wore:
Dress – River Island (Similar Here)
Ballet Pumps – Topshop (Here)
Locket Necklace – George (I think)
Shoulder Bag – H&M (here)

Samio x

May 27, 2015