Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : travel

Five Landmarks on my European Bucketlist

There's nothing more thrilling than walking around old landmarks, discovering the history behind them and trying to picture yourself in the shoes of the people who once walked there. One of the most exciting parts of a holiday for me is sightseeing, learning about the culture and being immersed in a world so much different to my own. Instagram is often filled with exotic snaps from faraway countries, giving the illusion that most of the best landmarks are on the other side of the world, but this isn't always the case. You can travel less than four hours to places like Spain, Bulgaria and Greece and see some pretty amazing sights.

Earlier this year I bought my first ever home and for the last twelve months, I have barely left the country due to saving for a house deposit. Now that one of the biggest financial hurdles is out of the way, I can't wait to get back into travelling and discovering new places. Today I've teamed up with Holiday Gems to give you the low down on some of the best landmarks across Europe and to show you the top five I've picked out for my European bucket list.

Greece - Parthenon

Greece is somewhere that I've always wanted to visit, but never really had the chance. I love Greek history and the food and my friends all rave about it. I'm hoping that the next 12 months will finally allow me to visit some of the Greek Islands and in particular, visit the Parthenon - a former Greek temple that was built in 447 BC and is dedicated to the goddess Athena.

Ibiza - Es Vedra

If you're an avid reader of my blog, you will know how much I love Ibiza and the iconic landmark Es Vedra. I've been to Es Vedra several times, but I love it so much that it will always be somewhere that I want to visit again and again. Es Vedra is a small island off the Ibiza mainland and is host to many myths and legends, according to geologists it is one of the strongest centres of magnetic forces in the world. Whilst you cannot board the island, many boat trips circle it and host swimming sessions around it and it makes for a wonderful day out.

Bulgaria - Rila Monastery

Bulgaria is a newcomer to my European bucket list. I didn't think much about travelling here until I saw that one of my friends had visited and I began Googling it. The country has lots of amazing architecture and the Rila Monastery is just one of the amazing examples. The monastery was founded in the 10th century and is now a World Heritage Site.

Mallorca - Palma Cathedral

I visited Palma when I was quite young and I remember walking by the cathedral, but for some reason, we were quite limited on time and we couldn't spend as much time there as I would have liked. One day I really want to return because it is such a beautiful landmark and Palma is also a wonderful, stylish city.

Barcelona - Sagrada Familia

Barcelona is again one of those places that I've always wanted to visit but never got around to it. So many of my friends and family keep telling me to take a trip there and I'm hoping that I won't let another year escape me without a visit. The Sagrada Familia is a listed World Heritage Site due to it being constructed by world-famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi.

For booking holidays to Spain* or just to learn about the different places in Europe, Holiday Gems can give you plenty of travel inspo.

Do you have anywhere booked right now?

*Collaborative post

The Dakota hotel in Leeds has been open less than twelve months, but it has already become an established part of the city with its sleek, modern design, sophisticated bar and grill and it's close proximity to Greek Street, the bar and restaurant hotspot in the city centre. The hotel boasts 84 bedrooms and is the fourth hotel in the Dakota group with the other three situated between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Just over a week ago, I was invited down to the Dakota hotel in Leeds to celebrate Burns night with them and to take part in a Scottish whisky tasting session with Johnnie Walker and a traditional Burns night supper. With my love of food, whisky and boutique hotels combined, I really couldn't wait to attend.

The Dakota hotel is a boutique hotel with a very modern, yet retro vibe and from top to bottom, it is full to the brim with character. The decor features a lot of greyscale and vintage style artwork, contrasted against abstract furniture and ornaments. All of the rooms come with state of the art televisions complete with Sky TV, a work desk complete with Bluetooth and HDMI connectivity and the bathroom features a rainfall shower with bespoke Dakota hotel toiletries, everything you could need for a luxury, comfortable nights stay in the city.

I was very impressed with our bedroom, it had lots of space to get ready, the plugs were at the side of our bed (which is the first thing I check when I get to a hotel) and the view from our hotel window was lovely as we could see the town hall lit up late at night. There were ample amounts of space to hang your clothes as you're getting ready, great tea making facilities and the bed was firm, yet soft enough to swallow you up and make you not want to leave.

The Burns night event took place in the stylish Salon Prive on the first floor of the hotel. The Salon Prive is one of the Dakota's event spaces, which can accommodate up to 150 people. It featured a glamorous bar with plush seating and the balcony looked over the hustle and bustle of Greek Street. Our welcome drink consisted of Johnnie Walker Black Label and Ginger ale - one of my new favourite drinks. If you love Jameson and ginger ale, you will love the alternative J.W version - Jameson has quite a smooth texture, whereas Johnnie Walker and ginger ale has a lovely kick to it.

Once we had all arrived, we were lead to our tables and talked through the history of Scottish whiskys and were given a selection of the best Scottish whiskys to sample. In between each whisky, we dined on traditional Burns night grub - with vegan alternatives for myself and my husband. I was incredibly grateful and impressed with the level of detail that went into creating my vegan dishes, one of the highlights was my little vegan Scottish haggis tart made with lentils, topped with a layer of 'neaps' and 'tatties'.

With our bellies full of scrumptious food and warm with the feeling of whisky, we decided it was time to call it a day and head back to our room. When we arrived back to our room, the staff had put chocolates on our pillows, turned the radio on to Smooth FM and dimmed the lights, it was created the perfect relaxing atmosphere to end a busy day and helped us gently nod off.

Our night at the Dakota was nothing short of wonderful from the doting staff to our comfortable and sophisticated surroundings. Breakfast in the morning was plentiful and satisfying - I had the most wonderful avo on toast and we woke up with a spring in our step ready to embrace the next day, as well as also feeling that little bit sad that we wouldn't be returning back to our room. Until next time, Dakota.

Rooms are available from £110 per night at the Dakota Hotel website.

Have you stayed at the Dakota before?

*My stay was complimentary, but all views are my own.

Travelling at Christmas when you're spending the festive season with loved ones can be an apprehensive time as no-one wants to miss out on Christmas day. No matter how prepared you are, there's always something that can go wrong when you're relying on different modes of transport and with Christmas being the busiest time of year, you're competing with thousands of other people all wanting to get home to their families too.

Today I've put together a short guide on how to travel stress-free this Christmas so that you can sit back, enjoy your journey and spend more time thinking about the things that truly matter.

Book in advance

When you're travelling at busy times, always book as much as possible in advance so that you don't have to waste time waiting around or miss out due to people queuing in front of you. Booking in advance is particularly important during the festive time as there might be limited services due to restricted opening hours.

Give yourself plenty of time

Give yourself plenty of extra time in between your bookings to allow for any delays that may occur in between your journeys. It may mean waiting around if you're earlier, but it is better than missing your connection altogether.

Check your flights regularly

If you are flying, make sure you check your flights regularly for any delays or cancellations. Ryanair has already announced that they are going on strike this Christmas and with the UK experiencing severe weather warnings regularly at the moment, there's a small chance that flights could get disrupted over the next few weeks.

Research the area you are travelling to

Research the area that you are travelling to so that you can see where will be open around Christmas to avoid any disappointment. Each country or area will have their own Christmas traditions, many places will stay open, but some may have limited open hours or shut entirely so that people can celebrate the festivities with their families.

Have a backup plan

Although the chances of your travels being cancelled are very slim, it's always important to consider the 'what ifs' when travelling at busy, wintery times. Consider having a backup plan if something does go wrong so that you still have a way of spending Christmas with the ones you love.

Have you flown over Christmas before?

Many of us will have suffered from motion sickness at some point during our childhood, but for a minority of people it extends past their childhood and plays havoc in their daily lives. It can be very hard to pinpoint what exactly causes motion sickness and it can vary from person to person and on different modes of transport. I know several people who get sick on planes and boats, but are fine in cars, whereas I tend to feel queasy in cars and feel fine on boats and planes. I remember being plagued with motion sickness as a child and there was one particular road in North Wales that spiralled up the side of a mountain and halfway up we always had to stop for me to get fresh air or occasionally be sick. I spent most of my weekends in Wales as a child so this was a regular occurrence.

Drawing upon my own motion sickness experience, I've put together a few tips on how I've been able to combat motion sickness in the past.

Calm yourself down

If you know that you are prone to travel sickness, you can often get yourself quite apprehensive about your journey and anxiety can aggravate your symptoms. Before you leave home, give yourself a pep talk and make sure you're in the best mindset you can be. Prepare any items you may need for the journey ahead and reassure yourself that you are ready.

Allow time for stops

When you are planning out your journey, where possible, allow time for stops so that you are able to get some fresh air or have a bathroom break if you're beginning to feel queasy. This may extend the length of your journey, but it will enable you to set your mind at rest and feel comfortable for the duration of your travels.

Pinpoint your triggers

Everyone has different triggers when it comes to motion sickness, whether it is a particular type of transport or an activity you are doing whilst travelling such as reading, try to pinpoint these so you can potentially take a different route or minimise the amount of time doing the activity that makes you feel sick.

Dose up on ginger

Ginger is known for its natural ability to reduce nausea, so stock up on your favourite type of ginger food whether it is ginger tea, sweets, beer or ginger biscuits. If you don't like the taste of ginger, you can always opt for ginger capsules that have no aftertaste.

Get acquainted with your pressure points

Acupressure is an alternative medicine technique that is known for its healing powers. The technique involves applying pressure to different trigger points along the body to promote blood circulation. To help ease the symptoms of motion sickness, you can purchase pressure bands that sit on the wrist or apply the wrist area yourself.

If everything fails, medicate

If everything fails, don't be ashamed to seek help as there's lots of treatment available over the counter or from your doctor like this travel sickness medication from Chemist 4 U.

Do you suffer from motion sickness?

*Collaborative post

When you first turn vegan, the thought of eating at a restaurant amongst friends can be daunting. Although most restaurants these days can be accommodating, it's hard to deny that there is still a slight stigma surrounding a plant-based diet and it's something that those transitioning to a vegan diet can find difficult. However, eating out as a vegan is far less harder than it used to be. Gone are the days where you would be served a bowl of lettuce and nothing else, vegan food is now exciting and expanding amongst the culinary scene. For what feels like the first time, restauranteurs are becoming educated on the nutritional benefits of eating plant-based and are now adapting to an ever-growing clientele. In fact, according to a recent article by The Guardian, there are now over half a million vegans in the UK. Although veganism is pretty new to me, I have been vegetarian for over thirteen years and have had my fair share of snide comments when bringing up the 'v' word in restaurants and I cannot count on my hands how many times I've had to put up with a cheese-based meal when I'm lactose-intolerant due to the fact that it was the only vegetarian option on the entire menu, only to feel poorly later on. Since going vegan, I've actually found eating out even easier. More restaurants are taking veganism seriously a) because it is now such a growing trend, possibly even overtaking vegetarianism, b) vegans are known for being stereotypically feisty and if you serve them the wrong products, you will know about it.

Drawing on my experience over the last few months of being vegan, I've put together a guide on how to survive your first meal out as a vegan, to show you it is achievable and not as much as an inconvenience as you may have thought it would be.

Research

The key to having a successful vegan meal out is to research your area, read reviews and hunt out all the venues that may be vegan-friendly. Apps like Happy Cow are a great starting point for any new vegan as they list vegan venues, however with additional research, I've been able to

discover some local restaurants that are not listed, so don't feel that you have to rely heavily on these.

Ring ahead

If you're looking to book a meal at a restaurant and you're unsure if they will cater for your dietary requests, pick up the telephone. Most restaurants are accommodating, especially if they are a higher end eaterie who makes all their meals from scratch.

If in doubt, stick to the high street

The high street these days has a lot to offer vegans from Turtle Bay for Caribbean food to Wagamama for Asian, Pizza Express if you're craving vegan pizza to Wetherspoons if you're on a budget and looking for traditional English grub. Many of these places are great if you're in a hurry or if you are feeling spontaneous and don't want to commit to a booking.

Always double check

To some restaurants and restaurant staff, veganism is rather new so you may have to double check that they understand the term 'vegan' and what it entails. Double checking before you place your order will give you piece of mind for when it does arrive and give clarity to the ones serving you - especially with items such as honey which a lot of people presume are vegan, but they're not.

Don't be afraid to give recommendations

If you see an item on the menu that could potentially be turned vegan, don't be afraid to ask the restaurant if they can improvise. Sometimes they are grateful for the advice.

Improvise with sides

Although side dishes are usually an afterthought, many of these can really easily be turned vegan and can be a saviour if there isn't any vegan options on the menu. Get creative with your sides by jazzing up a side salad and asking what fresh produce they have available.

Relax

Eating out as a vegan isn't as bad as it used to be, so relax and try to enjoy yourself. The more anxious you become, the less willing you will be to eat out in future and discover all the hidden gems that are available to you.

Have you ever had a vegan meal at a restaurant?

The weather is getting colder, the leaves getting crisper and the nights darker. It's the time of year that we all tend to go into our hibernation - tucking ourselves under our blankets as soon as we get home from work and spending all weekend in our pyjamas. It is tempting either to not leave the house when there's a chill in the air or book a trip to hotter climates, but for me, the autumn weather is the perfect time for a 'staycation.' In the UK we're blessed with the most beautiful woodland, which masked with auburn tinted leaves is the perfect setting for a romantic escape or maybe a city break is more your style, places like Edinburgh and York with their cobble paths lit by Victorian-style street lamps looks beautiful this time of year. Here are just five reasons why you should embrace an autumnal staycation this year.

Staying close to home

With the latest controversy surrounding flight cancellations, it is more tempting than ever to stay close to home. But staying close to home has other benefits too, it means you can take more trips on a weekend and still be home from work, if the weather turns nasty you can pack your bags and be in your bed within the space of a few hours and if you are blessed with your own transport, you can pack up and go whenever you feel like it.

Ease the symptoms of SAD

The change of the seasons can be quite troublesome for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and bring on symptoms of anxiety, depression and tiredness, to name but a few. Taking small and frequent breaks can be really good for your health and wellbeing and being close to home means that you can do this at your leisure with very little stress. You can simply book a night at a nearby village or city to give you the feeling of an escape or if you feel like travelling further, you can do that too.

Absorb the beautiful scenery

As mentioned previously, in the UK we have lots of picturesque views. In fact, we have 31 World Heritage sites on our doorstep to explore. It might be chilly outside, but waking up looking over a misty lake or strolling through forest watching the wildlife prepare for their winter hibernation is definitely worth it.

To feast on home comforts

Move over a-la-carte, the autumn is all about home-style comforts. Wholesome pies, plenty of fresh seasonal vegetables and stews and there's no better place to find these than heading to a good old British pub.

Spend time with loved ones

In the summer, most people are going off on their summer holidays or have really busy social lives so the autumn is a great time to regroup your friends and family and spend a little bit more quality time, whether it is cosying up next to a fireplace in the middle of nowhere or going on a long hike. Staycationing means that it is cost-effective and convenient for everyone to meet up.

What do you love about staycationing in the autumn?

When most people think of Coniston, the location that springs to mind is often Coniston in the Lake District. However, on the outskirts of Skipton, deep in the rural North Yorkshire Moors there's another Coniston, Coniston Cold. Situated against the idyllic backdrop of the 1,400 acre Coniston Cold estate and the lake is the award-winning Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa. What was once a small country tea house, has now transformed into one of the UK's most loved country retreats, offering everything that is needed for an escape in the British countryside. Whether you're looking to sip cocktails in an infinity pool or test your adrenaline and driving skills on their off-roading track, have a go at one of the UK's top voted clay pigeon shooting ranges or feast on the estates culinary treats, there's something for everyone. To see what all the fuss is about, I was invited down to the hotel to experience just a few of the things they have to offer.

The Estate

The Coniston Cold estate is over 1,400 acres of beautiful woodland and a 24-acre lake. Open to all day visitors and hotel residents, the estate is wonderful to walk around, especially in the autumn as the leaves are turning gold and amber. It features an array of wildlife from swans to wild rabbits, pheasants and ducklings, as well as the estates' livestock such as cows and sheep. It's a great place to unwind, step away from technology and be at peace with nature - perfect for families and couples alike.

The rooms

The hotel features 71 bedrooms, ranging from classic to superior and luxury bedrooms. Prices start from an affordable £99 and all of which are pet-friendly. During our visit, we stayed in the luxury bedroom which included a balcony overlooking the grounds, a large bathroom and a separate walk-in shower. The room had all the essentials such as hairdryers, tea and coffee making facilities as well as Aromatherapy Associates skin and bath care. The bed was incredibly comfy, the rooms were quiet and we loved being able to sit out on the balcony first thing in the morning and absorb the view.

The spa

The spa is one of the newer additions to the Coniston Cold estate, which was added just over two years ago. It features a wide range of facilities such a 15m indoor swimming pool, a thermal suite which includes a Himalayan salt sauna, indoor bubble pool, sauna and steam room, treatment rooms, a fitness studio, gym, a brasserie and the star attraction, a stunning outdoor infinity pool overlooking the lake. The spa was clean and modern and the treatment rooms were relaxing and inviting, we really enjoyed our few hours relaxing by the pool and our couples massage. The massage took 60 minutes and the staff were really attentive and took the time to ask me what areas I would like them to focus on. In my day job, I spend a lot of time hunched over a computer so my shoulders and neck often get strained, the massage really helped to relieve some of the pressure points and get rid of knots that had built up over the last few months. Our only criticism of the spa and spa area is that the Nourish Brasserie is far too small for such a large spa - it would have been great to have had lunch there before we checked out of our hotel, but they had limited seating and everything was all booked up. The menu caters for vegans, vegetarians and those who are gluten-free, so if you're looking to have a spa break at the Coniston Hotel, it looks like it is definitely worth booking a table.

The food

Despite not being able to get a table at the Nourish brasserie, we were well catered for throughout other areas of the hotel. The Coniston Hotel and Spa has two additional restaurants - The Huntsman Lodge which is catered towards casual dining and the a-la-carte Macleods which is a formal evening restaurant. Although both restaurants primarily serve food which is reared on the estate, they both went above and beyond to cater for our special vegan diets, providing us with our own special menu for both lunch and dinner - this is available on request as long as you notify them in advance. The menu included a variety of risottos, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta as well as some creative desserts such as poached pears and cashew cream. One of my favourite dishes was the salt baked carrots and walnuts - this was essentially just carrots on a plate, but the flavour derived from salt baking them was incredible. It was great to see skilled chefs being able to be creative with vegan dishes, rather than putting together a simple salad and this was very much appreciated.

The activities

There's a whole range of activities available to book at The Coniston Hotel and Spa from clay pigeon shooting to falconry, archery, fishing and off-roading. I was kindly booked on to the off-roading experience on my first day of the visit and falconry on the second, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was really nervous about off-roading as I'm quite an anxious driver, but after a briefing session with the team, my nerves diminished and throughout the course, the instructor helped me relax and enjoy myself. It started out as the activity I was dreading the most but ended up being one of the best things I have done in a long time, I'm even looking to go back in 2018. The falconry experience was also something I was a little bit apprehensive about. Firstly, I was nervous about having a few big birds fly into me and from an animal welfare perspective, I had heard a lot of negative things about falconry in the past. However, after seeing the birds and their keeper it was clear how well they are looked after and cared for. The birds were absolutely beautiful and it was a wonderful experience to be so close to some big birds of prey.

If you're looking for an escape to the country that is a little bit different to your standard spa break, I would definitely consider looking at The Coniston Hotel and Spa, it is somewhere I'm already planning on going back.

Have you been to the Coniston Hotel and Spa?

*This stay was complimentary, however, all views are my own

There's nothing that I love more than visiting old country pubs which feature exposed wooden ceiling beams, roaring rustic fireplaces, cosy fireside chairs and hearty, wholesome home cooked grub, so when I realised that The Vicarage in Cheshire ticked all of those boxes, I knew it was somewhere I wanted to visit.

The Vicarage Freehouse & rooms is a refurbished 17th Century grade II listed pub and hotel, situated in the rural village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire. The hotel features 26 en-suite bedrooms, a snug area, games room, restaurant, bar and library as well as six new stylish signature rooms where you can relax and unwind following an afternoon of walking in the idyllic neighbouring countryside. Rooms start from £145 which includes bed and breakfast.

Holmes Chapel, where the Vicarage hotel resides, is conveniently situated just under an hour away from three major UK cities - Chester, Liverpool and Manchester, making this the perfect pit stop for someone looking to explore the North. An hour away towards the East of Holmes Chapel is also the Peak District National Park, perfect for long walks or simply a romantic getaway where you can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and get lost in the wilderness of the countryside.

Last week I stayed in one of the six newly furbished bedrooms at The Vicarage and I was really impressed. The bedroom had lots of character from the wooden beams on the ceiling, to the old fashioned chest at the bottom of the bed. It had plenty of tea making facilities, a smart coffee machine and large television, as well as a jar of homemade biscuits at the bedside.

What really caught my attention after checking into my room for the night was the huge, decadent bathroom with freestanding Victorian style bath, cosy exposed brickwork and the most beautiful mint green dressers. The bathroom alone makes you not want to leave this hotel - it was luxurious and quite unexpected for a cosy pub in the middle of nowhere.

Once we had showered and dressed up, we headed down the bar area for some pre-dinner beverages and to soak up the atmosphere downstairs. The bar again had ample character from the fabric deer heads above the doorways, dog motifs on the fireplace, gold ornate mirrors dotted around the walls and intricate Celtic style engravings in the ceiling work. It was quite dimly lit, but it all added to the appeal, making it feel cosy and welcoming. It was ever so slightly hipster, but in a way that it was hipster before hipster became cool. Another unexpected surprise was the rock music that played all night - it could be slightly off-putting to some, but for someone who loves her hair metal, I was enjoying the Bon Jovi and Poison ballads playing gently in the background all evening.

After we had mulled around the bar for half an hour, we decided to take our seats for our evening dinner. The menu was quite extensive and had lots of choices for vegetarians, as well as a vast gluten free section. I opted for the Celeriac soup for starter, vegetable Wellington for main and a mouth-wateringly good rhubarb and elderflower cheesecake for dessert, all of which were faultless and full of flavour. My only criticism throughout the evening was the price of wine - I have no issues paying a fair amount for a decent bottle of wine, but I felt that just over £17 for a bottle of Blossom Hill that I could get from my local supermarket for a third of the price was a little bit steep. Needless to say, I still bought and drank it and overall enjoyed being merry, eating good food and listening to a bit of Motley Crue, so much so that as soon as my head hit the pillow that night I was asleep.

I had a really comfortable nights sleep at The Vicarage, despite my initial concerns of being close to the main road (I barely heard it) and I woke up with a spring in my step eagerly awaiting breakfast. Breakfast was served in a beautiful white conservatory attached to the side of the building and it was lovely being able to look outside at all countryside as we dined. Breakfast consisted of a continental breakfast and a hot cooked breakfast - I went for a pot of fresh fruit from the continental side and ordered poached eggs with hollandaise from the cooked menu, which was cooked to perfection.

Overall I had the most wonderful stay at The Vicarage and the staff were lovely and attentive throughout our time at the hotel. Would I stay again? Yes.

Have you stayed at The Vicarage before?

*This was a complimentary stay in exchange for this blog post, but views are my own

For people who love exploring and get their thrills from visiting new places, there's nothing worse than having the feeling of not having your next adventure booked. Holidays are wonderful while you're there, but as soon as you get off the plane or disembark the train, you're hit with the post-holiday blues of not knowing where to go next and when your next break will happen. Travel can literally be an escape from reality for some people, especially those who have hectic careers and rely heavily on adventure to keep their wellbeing in tact. This year has been particularly difficult for me, as I've not been able to travel due to saving for a mortgage, but I'm getting through it knowing that once I have a house I can begin planning my next trips. If you're struggling with the post travel blues, here's a few tricks to tide you over before your next adventure.

Plan your next adventure

If you have enough funds and holiday to take, there's no better time to start planning your next adventure than when you step off the plane. Planning your next adventure early will give you plenty time to prepare and also give you something to look forward to.

Start a travel fund

Saving can be difficult, but when you set your mind to putting away cash for something specific it is a lot easier than you think. Starting a travel fund is a great way to get yourself excited about your next adventure and it is rewarding watching the money total up. Set yourself a realistic time limit and don't be too hard on yourself, then you will be able to reap the benefits.

Become a hometown tourist

When we're dreaming of faraway lands and exotic beaches, it is very easy to overlook what is right in front of us, but sometimes some of the best adventures we can have are right on our doorsteps. Spend time looking at your local tourist office to see what you can do locally and I bet you will be surprised.

Daycation

Taking a day trip is a great way of travelling on a budget and in the UK we are lucky to have so many wonderful places on our doorstep. You can discover some new cities, drive along the coastlines or take walks in many of the UK's national trust sites.

Take up a new hobby

Taking up a new hobby is a great way of learning new things and distracting your mind from thinking about travelling. Why not buy some cooking books and spend time learning about different world food? Or get artistic with some of your old holiday snaps.

Keep yourself busy

When we get bored we are more likely to get nostalgic about our holidays and start feeling down. Keeping yourself busy will keep your mind active and stop it from wandering on to things like holidays. Spend time with your friends or make the most of each weekend by going on long hikes near you.

How do you cope with post travel blues?

Galway is Irelands fourth biggest city and without a doubt is one of the most picturesque cities Ireland has to offer. It is full to the brim with history and culture and has everything a tourist could wish for - from live street music on every corner, traditional pubs, a plethora of high street and independent stores, five star and michelin star restaurants, as well as a charming harbour and shoreline, lined with colourful buildings. The city has captured the hearts of so many that Galway has been announced as the European Capital of Culture 2020. Three weeks ago I was finally able to tick Galway off my European bucket list and here's five reasons why you should consider visiting too.

The History

Galway has a history dating back approximately 800 years and evidence of Galways complex history can be found all over the city. There's so much to see from the Spanish Arch dating back to 1584 to the St Nicholas' Collegiate Church which is Irelands largest Medieval Parish Church and much more exhibited in the free to enter Galway City museum.

The Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter is the heart of Galway, featuring an array of local eateries, bars and independent stores. It is Galway's equivalent of Dublin's Temple bar area - a place that seems very much set up for tourists to experience the Irish way of living, but unlike Temple Bar, the Latin Quarter to me still seems to maintain its authenticity. You can tell it is a place where tourists and locals alike love to visit and there's so much to discover in such a small area.

The Atlantic Coast and Galway Harbour

Walk only five minutes outside Galway city centre and you will be greeted by a picturesque harbour that eventually leads to the gateway to the Atlantic coast. Galway's harbour dates back to the 10th Century and has a strong maritime history. The little beaches that pave the way to the Atlantic, making it's way outside the harbour provide a tranquil way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre and on a hot day, the water is perfect for a little paddle as the majority of it is sheltered by the land.

Claddagh rings

The traditional Irish Claddagh ring originates from Galway and is known as being the symbol of love. The name derives from a small fishing village in Galway named Claddagh and it was the birthplace of the Claddagh ring over 400 years ago. These days you will see Claddagh rings sold all over Ireland, but Galway is the best place to purchase one that is authentic and of high quality. Claddagh rings are so highly celebrated in Galway that they have their own Claddagh ring museum, showing the history of the rings over the decades.

Shopping and buildings

One of my favourite parts of visiting Galway was simply walking around the streets and admiring all the architecture and store fronts. Galway has a lot of olde world stores with beautiful signage like this store which sells a variety of antiques and vintage clothing. All the buildings in Galway have so much character that you cannot help, but stop and stare at them all and take lots of photographs. I can't wait to go back again and explore the city even more.

Have you been to Galway before?

One of my favourite aspects of travel is trying new food, whether it is from a street food vendor or browsing some of the best foodie markets in Europe. There's something about food that really brings people of all cultures together and when you're on holiday, food is one of the best ways to get to know the country you are visiting, by either sampling the local delicacies or speaking to the people who eat it.

Travel has enabled me to try a lot of food that I never thought I would be able to experience and has introduced me to a lot of new flavours. From eating stirfrys and curries in Thailand to eating sauerkraut in Germany, Paella in Spain and even feasting on all the different local delicacies that various parts of Britain has to offer, travelling has really played an influence on what I cook from home and for the better.

I've become more experimental

Since travelling to Thailand back in 2015 and even lesser known parts of Europe, I have become much more experimental with what I eat. When I was in Thailand I fell in love with 'morning glory' which is a stirfry of different vegetables and I love trying all the different curries. Most of my diet these days in now Thai orientated as I love the flavours.

It has made being vegetarian less boring

So many people ask me if I get bored of being vegetarian, but I really don't. The key to never getting bored of a vegetarian diet is learning different cooking methods of all your vegetables and learning how to inject flavour into your dishes - most of which can easily be picked up by trying many different types of cuisines.

I appreciate different cultures

One of my favourite food experiences was visiting the Klienmarkthalle in Frankfurt as it was full to the brim of shoppers sampling different food and market traders boasting about their wares. I was able to peer into peoples shopping baskets and see what people in Germany were picking up as their staple shopping ingredients and I browsed the stalls and discovered lots of different pastries unique to that area. It made me appreciate food that each country has to offer, so much so that it has now become a slight addiction. I try to make myself try lots of food from different countries every month so I can learn more about the culture and why they eat the things that they do.

You don't have to travel far to experience the plethora of cuisines that embraces our planet these days. Most towns have a variety of ethnic stores from Polish supermarkets to Asian superstores and even our own high street supermarkets are becoming much more savvy to world food, incorporating food from all seven different continents into one scrumptious food aisle. So many brands are now coining in on that fact that people want to try new food and have different food experiences.

One of the latest recipes I have cooked is from Thai Taste, a brand which specialises in authentic Thai ingredients and it is a Pumpkin (can be substituted for butternut squash), Galangal coconut curry, which is so aromatic that it reminds me of being back in Thailand. The recipe has been designed by Thai restaurateur Seb Holmes to inspire customers to create restaurant-quality Thai food at home. The recipe is vegan, gluten free and incredibly easy to make, it's perfect for those who want to try new flavours or relive their own travel memories.

Pumpkin, Galangal and Coconut Soup

Serves: 2 (GF/VE)

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1/4 small pumpkin, roughly 50-60kg, peeled and sliced into 2cm by 2 cm pieces (or squash can be used)

8 Thai Shallots, peeled and slightly bruised

1 head pak choy, tough stem removed and leaves sliced in half

2 green birds eye chillies

1 teaspoon Thai Taste chopped Kaffir lime leaves

2 sticks lemongrass

10g Galangal peeled

2 coriander roots

2-3 teaspoons Thai Taste soy sauce

200ml vegetable stock

1 tablespoon of Thai Taste Tamarind Paste

300ml Thai Taste coconut milk

100g Thai Taste rice vermicelli noodles, left soaking for 10 minutes until soft and then refreshed under cold water

10g Thai sweet basil

1 lime, juiced

Method

Firstly, in a small sauce pain bring a little bit of water to the boil and then submerge pumpkin into it. Leave this to simmer and cook gently for 3-4 minutes until soft and then remove from heat.

Next place vegetable stock, 100ml of the coconut cream, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, tamarind, galangal, coriander roots, birds eye chillies, lemongrass, lime leaves, pumpkin, pak choy and Thai shallots into a medium saucepan and bring to simmer.

Once simmering continue to cook gently for 4-5 minutes until all vegetables have softened and flavours infused. Finish by adding rest of the coconut milk and sweet basil and serve into soup bowls lined with vermicelli noodles. The dish should be creamy, salty, a little bit spicy and aromatic with a fresh hint of lime.

Many of the ingredients for this dish can be purchased in jar form from Thai Taste, who gave me some of these products so I could test the recipe out for myself.

What is your favourite cuisine?

Borough Market made the headlines in June 2017 as one of the places in London hit by deadly, unpredicted terrorist attack. The attack targeted people on a Saturday evening enjoying themselves in nearby bars and restaurants at Borough Market, killing eight people. Since the events only eight weeks ago, the market has been steadily rebuilding itself and restoring normality. Borough Market has always been one place I wanted to visit in London and now, more than ever it seemed more poignant for me to go pay my respects and visit the traders whose livelihoods have been temporarily destroyed.

When I visited Borough Market last week, it was a hive of busy tourists and locals soaking in the market atmosphere , feasting on all of what Borough Market has to offer and enjoying their Saturday. It was a place bursting with energy, from the enthusiastic market traders selling their products to the hoards of tourists making the most of every photo opportunity. From the moment I entered the building, I fell in love. It was full to the parameters of foodie favourites from all around the world, as well as catering for so many different dietary requests. The fruit looked colourful and fresh and the scents that filled the air gave me hunger pangs. It was a market place determined to move on from recent events and live life to the full.

I decided to write this post on why you should visit Borough market because there's so much to see and do. Whether you're stocking up for a picnic on a day trip to London or fancy a meal with friends, Borough Market needs to be on your London bucket list.

As Borough market is a quintessential English market place, there's plenty of hog roasts, burgers and meat stands on offer, but one thing that really captured my attention was the plethora of vegan food available. From these juicy mock burgers to hummus stands and vegan curries, there's just so much to choose from which is great for those with dietary requirements and it makes Borough Market the perfect place to visit with friends all of whom have different foodie needs.

Another item that Borough Market has in abundance is freshly squeezed fruit juices. You can get almost any fruit juices from Borough Market from watermelon to your typical orange, pineapple and apple juices. They are great for anyone looking for a morning pickup, lunch time refresher or an evening pre-drinking quencher.

As previously mentioned, the fruit in Borough market is as fresh as it gets and there's vast quantities of it over in the fruit and vegetable market. I was really impressed with the prices of this fruit - my friends and I managed to get two punnets of strawberries for a £1 whereas supermarkets sell just one of them for around the £2 mark. If you live locally London, it is worth visiting the market to stock up on fresh fruit and veggies.

If you're gluten free, dairy free or wheat free, I also stumbled across a lovely bakery in Borough market selling vegan creamed buns in a variety of flavours, as well as gluten free ginger men, to name but a few products. Unfortunately I didn't get the time to sample these, but they are definitely on my radar for my next visit, which I'm planning before the end of this year.

Once we had browsed the market, my friends and I set off to Jubilee Gardens for a picnic, where we sat down and ate some of our foodie findings - pepper Focaccia bread, strawberries, freshly made samosas and a few sneaky buys from M&S.

My visit to Borough market was brief, but very exciting and I was glad that I got the opportunity to visit the hustle and bustle of the Saturday market. It reminded me that life is short and that Saturday's are the best days to go spend quality time with the ones you love and what brings people together? Food, of course.

Have you been to Borough Market before?

The Lake District has always been one of my favourite places to visit - it is quintessentially British with beautiful old Tudor and slate buildings, has the most wonderful views of rolling hills and lakesides and every little village or town that you visit just oozes character, no wonder it was recently given a UNESCO World Heritage status. Windemere, one of the most popular areas to visit in the Lake District is England's biggest lake and Scafell Pike, which attracts thousands of tourists each year is England's highest mountain. The Lake District was also once home to (in my opinion) one of the best children's authors that ever lived, Beatrix Potter. There's so much to do and see in the Lake District, making it the perfect place to visit.

Last week, my husband and I had a week off work and decided to head up to the Lake District for a few peaceful days in the countryside. We visited Ambleside, Windermere and Hawkshead and stayed in the beautiful Yewfield Guest House which was kindly organised by the team at Go Lakes, the Cumbrian Tourist board. We were truly blessed with the weather - it was sunny and warm and the perfect weather for rambling, taking boat rides and eating copious amounts of ice-cream. We arrived at Bowness on Windermere at lunchtime and after browsing a few of the shops, we headed to the lake to catch a boat ride to Ambleside with Windermere Lake Cruises. The boat we caught was one of the older steam yachts, the M.V Tern which was built in 1891. The Tern still exhibits some of the original Victorian features, but now has a modern engine to deal with the vast amount of tourists that catch this boat every half an hour, 364 days a year. Our trip to Ambleside took around 35 minutes and through the duration of the journey, we had a guided tour who told us all about the history of lakes and nearby points of interest.

We disembarked at Waterhead and made our way up to the village. It was a twenty minute scenic walk which passes by a lot of the local farm life and villages, as well as a beautiful Borrans Park, which is perfect for a picnic. Once we got to Ambleside, we had a coffee at one of the many coffee shops and had a quick look around the village, before heading back to the boat and getting back into the car to visit Yewfield.

Yewfield Guest House is a five star vegetarian bed and breakfast on Hawkshead Hill, which is fifteen minute either side of Coniston and Windermere. It is situated on 80 acres of private land which is available for guests to walk around and it is well and truly in the countryside, which is perfect for those looking for some R&R in the peace and quiet. The drive up to the hotel can be a little difficult at times - it is up a very steep, narrow hill, with lots of bends, but once you arrive there's ample parking space and the view from the B&B makes it all worthwhile. Yewfield is priced at £90 per night, which is really affordable compared to other places in the Lake District, so I was excited to see what it had to offer.

I've never stayed in a B&B before - I've always thought of bed and breakfast hotels as quite run down, with very cheap furniture and I always preferred the amenities that much larger hotels have to offer. However, Yewfield captured my heart from the get-go with it's charming building, the living area downstairs that makes you feel at home and the countryside decor of the bedrooms, which were stylish and spacious. I also loved the fact that it is a vegetarian guest house - there is no meat served at all on the premises, which disappointed my husband, but was a blessing for me who has been a vegetarian for thirteen years.

The bathroom was also very modern and had a really deep bath with great water temperature and these luxury, eco friendly Organic Damana bath products. They had the most refreshing citrus scent and after a long day of walking, they really helped freshen me up in time for dinner.

One of the downfalls about Yewfield guest house is the fact they don't have a restaurant or bar area, so if you're looking for food in the evening, you will have to travel for it. This didn't bother me too much - we read up on the area and discovered that Hawkshead was only a twenty minute walk away and we came prepared with a bottle of wine for when we got back. I could have easily driven back to Ambleside or down to Hawkshead which is only a short journey away, but we felt like exploring and as I was technically on holiday, I wanted a nice G&T in a country pub. The walk to Hawkshead was a little adventure, walking by nearby farms and in the heart of the countryside with the only living creatures that we saw for miles being farm life. However, once we found our bearings it was easy enough to find and because it was a nice, bright evening, it was quite a romantic walk down.

When we arrived in Hawkshead, we stumbled across an old 17th Century guest house called the Queen's Head and decided that this was place we would stay and have dinner. The menu was quite extensive with lots of options for vegetarians and was reasonably priced at around £12-16 for a main course. Each of the menu options had been designed to utilise local ingredients and there was everything from pizza to pasta to more a la carte options like rosemary and thyme polenta cake with butternut puree. I opted for the wild mushroom pappardelle made with incredibly fresh pasta and my husband ordered a pizza, which was huge.

The next morning we woke up at around 8am for breakfast, after what had been one of the best nights sleep I have had in a hotel. Breakfast was served downstairs and consisted of a continental buffet, as well as a vegetarian cooked breakfast of your choice. To start I had the vegan smoothie was wonderfully refreshing and a bowl of soya yoghurt and fruit. I then ordered a cooked breakfast of vegetarian sausage and scrambled tofu. It was the perfect, healthy ending to our trip at the Lake District.

It was a short, but sweet visit to Yewfield and Windermere and I loved every moment of it. I've been to the Lake District several times now and each time I go, I discover even more wonderful places and come back with even better memories. Yewfield Guest House has really transformed my opinion of B&Bs and I would definitely stay there again.

Have you been to Yewfield or the Lake District?

*My stay at Yewfield Guest House was complimentary, but views are my own.

Five Landmarks on my European Bucketlist

Burns Night at The Dakota Leeds

How to travel stress free this Christmas

How to cope with motion sickness

How to survive your first meal out as a vegan

Five Reasons to Staycation in the UK this Autumn

A review of The Coniston Hotel & Spa, Skipton

A night at The Vicarage, Cheshire

How to deal with post travel blues

Five Reasons to Visit Galway, Ireland

How Travelling Has influenced what I cook at home

Why You Should Visit Borough Market, London

A Night in the Lake District and Yewfield Guest House