Thoughts of travel

I think about travelling probably an unhealthy amount. I’d like to think that it was part of a passion to see every inch of the world and to immerse myself in different cultures and I think to a large extent it is. However, I also think it’s the desire to get away. At 21 I’m already scared of getting old, of not being able to do and see everything I want to, I know how short life is and it scares me, it’s a fear that few understand. 

Nobody’s stopped me from going and travelling the world, booking that plane ticket, although that doesn’t mean that they have doubted my ability to achieve it, knocking me into a sense of self-doubt. Sometimes I picture myself with a backpack and my phone loading google maps and thinking “I’m doing it, I’m actually doing it” but I’m starting to feel myself slipping into this routine that we’re conditioned to of getting a job, getting a house etc.. and the more I catch myself looking at rent prices, the further I feel myself slipping away from the life I truly want, the life I’d planned to make happen years ago. 

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on this blog before but my favourite place is always by the sea. The world is so chaotic and although the nearest beach here is probably about an hour from the city, it seems like a world apart. It provides a sense of calm and I find myself looking for that more. It’s about £8 on a bus here to get to the beach, I think about doing it so many times but I never do. I’m scared of going alone but I’m also scared of relying on someone else. My partner isn’t into travel as much as me so I wouldn’t expect him to just think of going to the beach as a date and I can’t blame him for that. I saw a quote once from a girl who had travelled the world “if I waited for others to come with me I’d never go anywhere”. This year I’m determined to find the courage to do the things I want even if it means doing them alone, not because I necessarily want to do them alone but because it’s the only way I’ll be able to. 

Anxiety often makes this difficult but I don’t want to let it stop me. Earlier this month I went to an all day festival with a friend from work, it felt odd at first not having my boyfriend there with me who would know what to do if I had a panic attack, who always sensed when I was getting anxious, I got through it though and I was proud of myself for doing so, I’m hoping it’ll give me the push I needed.

This year I’m hoping to visit some friends at university, I might even go abroad by myself (it seems a little far off at the moment though). I know that I can’t wait for others to come with me, I’ve lost count of the amount of years that I’ve told myself I’d do it anyway, I’m starting to trust myself that soon I will, I think there’s a point in everyone’s life where they realise that it’s only them that can make their dreams happen. I’m starting to feel like soon it will be my time. 

J x

Relaxing in beautiful Budapest

Hey Guys!

So earlier this year in November I took a break with my boyfriend to Budapest to celebrate our 1 year anniversary together! 

We stayed in a stunning Airbnb which was within walking distance to all the main attractions, it made a nice change to a hotel as I feel we had a more authentic experience and it was nice to have the added independence. Although we rented the entire apartment to ourselves our hosts family picked us up from the airport for the same price as a taxi. It gave us an added peace of mind as we were arriving late and was a kind gesture. As well as the apartment being close to the centre it was well equipped with everything we would need to cook our own meals, however we found Budapest to be really cheap so ended up eating out most nights! 

I would definitely recommend trying Hungarian food whilst in Budapest! It’s such a great opportunity to dive into the culture and a lot of the local restaurants sell this at great prices so there’s plenty of chances to try this! Kisharang Etkezede is somewhere I can’t recommend enough for traditional Hungarian food! 

If you love ice cream be sure to visit Gelarto Rosa, right near St Stephen’s Basilica. Despite being close to one of the main tourist hotspots an ice cream there will only set you back a few pounds and whilst being a work of art in themselves, they are also delicious. 

It’s also worth visiting St Stephen’s Basilica whilst in Budapest. It’s a stunning building both inside and out and again is very cheap to go right up to the top to get some gorgeous views over the city. 

Budapest is known for it’s thermal baths and after visiting I can see why. We visited Gellert Baths which was also very popular with locals. It’s a slightly pricier attraction but it’s very easy to spend the whole day there like we did. There’s a variety of baths to choose from with temperatures up to 40 degrees, as well as a steam room and sauna included in the price. 

We also made a trip to the central market hall whilst in Budapest where I ate the biggest burger I’ve ever seen! It was delicious but I couldn’t get through it all! The market is a great place to experience the culture in Budapest whilst also picking up some souvenirs! 

When I was researching Budapest I was constantly coming across the same thing, “you have to see parliament building at night!” Luckily this was only a short walk from our apartment and it was beautiful to see it all lit up. We went there before heading to one of the famous ruin bars in Budapest, Szimpla Kert which is again a must do when travelling to the city! 

Towards the end of the week we was becoming a little tired from constantly being on the go but we didn’t let that stop us! We took the funicular up to the castle where we were then able to stroll around a lot of the area free of charge. It’s a nice way to spend the best part of a day and again gave us some incredible views of the city. 

We also explored the fisherman’s bastion whilst there which was a great experience. It’s definitely worth a visit to see the stunning architecture Budapest has to offer!

We did spend another day relaxing and taking in some of the sights. We visited the Christmas market in Vorosmarty Square and went on a walk around the city in some of it’s parks. On our last day we had our suitcases with us so we didn’t want to do too much, we took a river cruise down the Danube where we learnt more about the history of Budapest whilst seeing the city from a different angle. 

Overall we had a fantastic stay in Budapest which is now one of my favourite places in the world and I can’t wait to visit again!

J x

Cruising around the Med!

Hey Guys,

So I’ve slightly neglected this blog recently which is something I’m hoping to get back on top off very soon, as you can see from my Instagram I have a lot to write about!

I recently went on a cruise to Malta, Croatia and Italy on the P&O cruises Oceana ship. It was my second crusie but I had such a great time. I feel as though there is a large stereotype that cruising is for older people and although the majority of passengers were older than myself, I feel it is a great way to see a lot of beautiful countries in one trip!

We started our trip flying from Manchester and booked one of the airport lounges before our flight. I’d definitely recommend this if you can as it makes the whole airport experience a lot more relaxing and to me it felt like I could start my holiday early as I tucked into pasta, cheese and ice cream!



Our first stop was Malta as this is the country that we flew into it. Unfortunately we had to board the ship straight away due to having a late flight so didn’t really get to explore but fortunately due to a late flight home we had the whole day to explore Malta on the way back.

We took a lift to the the Old Town which provides amazing views across the city and even got to here the cannon go off at midday. It’s a great place for shopping too and you can find some bargain souvenirs down the side street! I was so impressed by the stunning architecture Malta has and feel that it’s such an underrated destination, I can’t wait to travel here again soon and have more time to explore further afield!

Our next destination was Croatia! We visited Dubrovnik and took a cable car up the mountain before heading to the nearby town of Cavtat. The cable car is definitely a must do for getting perfect views across Dubrovnik and Cavtat is ideal to escape the business of Dubrovnik. We opted to eat here too due to meals being slightly cheaper as it’s out of the main tourist spot. It also offers stunning scenery and I enjoyed eating lunch watching the passing boats!

Our last stop on the trip was Venice which is somewhere which stole my heart! I was worried I’d be slightly disappointed after all the hype I’d heard but it really is an incredible place to visit. I woke up at 5am just to watch the sunrise as we arrived in Venice which is a must do when arriving by ship. I’d recommend visiting Venice early morning to avoid large crowds, the pavements and side streets get very warm during the summer which isn’t helped by the crowds so be sure to be prepared for this! Venice has no cars and can only be accessed on foot or by boat. It’s a surreal sight to see all the water taxis whizzing past! The final thing I would recommend is to eat outside of the main tourist areas, it’s easy to find some cheaper options down the many side streets in Venice. 

I was adamant before visiting that I wouldn’t do a Gondola as I saw them as a cliche tourist trap. However on visiting I was won over by them, it was a beautiful thing to experience and something I won’t ever forget. If visiting as a couple I’d definitely recommend it for a romantic experience but it’s perfect for any type of traveller!

I am so lucky to experience so many incredible places and I can’t wait to share my next adventure with you and look forward to reading all about yours too! 

J x

It’s okay to have lazy days

Hey guys!

So I know the title of this blog post is probably quite an obvious statement for a lot of people but it’s something I’ve only recently come to realise after meeting my boyfriend. 

I’m a naturally busy person, out of choice. I’m always working, going to events, socialising etc and I feel that if a weekend isn’t spent “going out” then it’s wasted, at least I used to anyway. 

However having now spent a few weekends simply relaxing, staying in bed watching films, reading blogs and even taking some naps I’ve realised not only are lazy days actually quite fun but they’re also really important for your body. It gives your body time to rest and recover from all the ‘out and about’ stuff. It doesn’t mean you have to spend the whole day in bed (although I have on occasion) a relaxing walk and a bit of fresh air is also beneficial. 

On a typical weekend before I met my boyfriend I would be out with friends Friday night and then possibly even visiting a different city early the next day, with a trip to town Sunday to finish off the weekend. I wasn’t relaxing at all other than when I was asleep, I rarely took naps and although I didn’t realise it at the time, I was exhausted. 

I’ve now learnt to balance myself and feel a lot healthier. I still go out some weekends and go to events if they appeal to me but I also spend some days in bed watching Netflix (using the bf’s account because he’s the best like that❤️) but I’m not constantly draining my body and I’m also receiving the best back massages I’ve ever had and waking up at the weekends with the person I love, no amount of going out could beat that. 

I’m not saying waste life staying in bed either (I’m a travel blogger) but finding a balance is really important. There’s so much pressure from reading other blogs and social media to be doing and seeing things all the time but a lot of good can be had by taking a bit of time out too. 

J x