tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57817037722052438162024-03-18T07:58:42.699+00:00Laura WhisperingLaura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.comBlogger368125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-57571452120792816642023-03-18T19:16:00.000+00:002023-03-18T19:16:29.489+00:00Aberdeen // 10 Walks in the City<p style="text-align: justify;">Very much inspired by both Christy at Dinner Stories' post '<a href="https://www.dinnerstories.co.uk/2020/07/walks-in-aberdeenshire.html">25 Most Picturesque Walks in Aberdeenshire</a>' and the Covid lockdowns of 2020, I set out to discover and share my top ten walking routes within the city of Aberdeen. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We're very lucky here in Aberdeen in the variety of places we have to explore without leaving the city's bounds: from historical architecture to modern day street art; from parks and green spaces, to rivers and sprawling beaches. These walks take in a mixture of all those things and more, spread out across the length and breadth of the city. I've included a little map with each walk by way of rough illustration, but take them only as a starting point and get out and explore.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: justify;">10 Walks in the City of Aberdeen.. </h1>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDCbsWQk0Mcssk6pF4-SDFMZ_ez-JzCpBXR1f6U9pqMAH0-c8OqAJ67YP6sHvLe2aJSNPmv2kSjf5HyqQNfWxU8A6GOHJSZAdamuTF9O3AxCzrOrWoLMYErI3m1FcS7P5bmR_ViYlpDo/s1339/P7240036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDCbsWQk0Mcssk6pF4-SDFMZ_ez-JzCpBXR1f6U9pqMAH0-c8OqAJ67YP6sHvLe2aJSNPmv2kSjf5HyqQNfWxU8A6GOHJSZAdamuTF9O3AxCzrOrWoLMYErI3m1FcS7P5bmR_ViYlpDo/s640/P7240036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">1. Grandholm and Seaton Park </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Starting on Grandholm Drive (where there is free on-street parking), this route begins with a short walk through Grandholm Gardens to the impressive 'Mother Earth' sculpture, created by Andy Scott of 'Kelpies' fame. From there it leads over Grandholm and Diamond bridges and heads into Seaton Park, within which you find the towers of St Machar Cathedral and plenty of green space and walled gardens to explore. To finish on a circuitous route, the path of the river Don leads through the park, over a wooden board walk, taking in the street art and community garden at Donside Village, as well as the Donside community hydro. Crossing back over the bridge and returning through Grandholm, you'll find the waters of the old Mill still flowing in the middle of the estate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="300px" id="mapmyfitness_route" src="//snippets.mapmycdn.com/routes/view/embedded/3349745929?width=400&height=300&&line_color=E60f0bdb&rgbhex=DB0B0E&distance_markers=0&unit_type=metric&map_mode=ROADMAP&last_updated=2020-08-16T16:41:25+01:00" width="400px"></iframe><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br />---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">2. Fittie and the Beach Esplanade</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Starting at the South end of Aberdeen beach, this route takes in the sandy shoreline and historic fishing village of Fittie (Footdee) - with its cute cottages and decorated sheds - before doubling back along the esplanade towards the art deco Beach Ballroom. If you're feeling energetic the short, sharp walk up Broad Hill is rewarded with a beautiful coastal panorama. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">3. Duthie Park and the Deeside Way </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Duthie Park is a nice place for a walk in and of itself and a good location - with its wide open space, play park and cafe - for any children to let off steam. Its location along the Deeside Way, however, makes it a great starting point for a slightly lengthier walk, with the potential to walk all the way to Ballater if we were allowed out of the city! I like to follow the old railway line as far as Garthdee, cutting through RGU's campus to return along the banks of the River Dee. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH_DMxxc2LIRViVuSMxT8f3kWvjG3xwCqT8uSuG3qMkQ-7gLpEFgPaZmV_TshxQmYF5y2MQf45fHVv-Jrv3ceq2gsm3mOS_Gu_UohKtXVQdEnACxXp5DDhNqedwfC6fahcf3HWDbnNqo/s2048/20200820_204614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH_DMxxc2LIRViVuSMxT8f3kWvjG3xwCqT8uSuG3qMkQ-7gLpEFgPaZmV_TshxQmYF5y2MQf45fHVv-Jrv3ceq2gsm3mOS_Gu_UohKtXVQdEnACxXp5DDhNqedwfC6fahcf3HWDbnNqo/s640/20200820_204614.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">4. Kincorth Hill</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Part of the Grampian Mountains (aka 'The Gramps'), Kincorth Hill lies on the South side of the city, offering up a trail of connecting paths through woodland and green open space. For only reaching 102.6m in height, the views from the top are pretty impressive, encompassing the whole city and beyond on a good day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The nearby Tullos Hill - another in the Grampian Mountains range - is home to a series of Bronze Age burial cairns and is also good for a walk. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">5. Hazlehead Park</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Over in the West of the city, Hazlehead is a popular park and garden that is home to two golf courses, a Pets Corner, a hedge maze, cafe, play-park and the Piper Alpha Memorial and Queen Mother rose gardens. There is plenty to explore within the grounds themselves, but a longer walk can be had by venturing onto the periphery route along Hazledene Road, Craigiebuckler Avenue and Hazlehead Avenue. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're in the vicinity, Johnston Gardens are just a ten minute drive away and are another picturesque place to explore. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4CTG3hTELxa9QEN-bj6fout4-Z4hk5oygjLcm25-Dvc6JBpdrJGsJDkXQe4jg7GujuGsqc6gbQkfrMibnlsr64y57L7hK9xy56eIn5FJFgV-JxWMLTmtwCa4YiyLFBi_vAxDUwq57ns/s2048/DSC_0090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4CTG3hTELxa9QEN-bj6fout4-Z4hk5oygjLcm25-Dvc6JBpdrJGsJDkXQe4jg7GujuGsqc6gbQkfrMibnlsr64y57L7hK9xy56eIn5FJFgV-JxWMLTmtwCa4YiyLFBi_vAxDUwq57ns/s640/DSC_0090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">6. Donmouth and the Brig o' Balgownie</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">I have to confess that, for all the years I've lived in and around Aberdeen, it was only this year that I first explored the beach to the North of the River Don. I've since discovered it's a beautiful stretch of sandy shore - less developed than the beach on the opposite side - and a great starting point for an out-and-back walk. Carrying on along Donmouth Road you can take in the views of Donmouth Nature Reserve - home to seals, heron, swans and otters - and eventually the 13th century Brig O'Balgownie and the cobbled neighbourhood that surrounds it. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">7. Torry Battery and Girdleness Lighthouse </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Once an artillery battery with guns that were operational during both World Wars, Torry Battery is better known today for its dolphin-spotting potential. Overlooking the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour, its a prime spot for catching a glimpse of playful bottlenose dolphins. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Marine life or not, the walk around the coast to Girdleness lighthouse is a pleasant one and the beach itself tends to be relatively quiet, with calm swells that are perfect for paddling. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While there, why not visit the <a href="https://www.greyhopebay.com/">Greyhope Bay Centre</a> for a coffee and a spot of dolphin-watching?</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">8. Old Aberdeen </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">A leisurely, meandering walk through the cobbled streets of Aberdeen's oldest parts, this area encompasses the campus of Aberdeen University, including the beautiful Cruickshank Botanic Gardens and a number of fascinating historical buildings, such as King's College Chapel and the Turkish-style minarets of Powis Gates. Inside the buildings students are making all sorts of new discoveries, but walking the streets feels like a step back in time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The university website has a <a href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/events/documents/old_aberdeen_trail.pdf">Heritage Trail Map</a> which gives a little more insight into the buildings' history. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxiQRZoWW4-ZxyWZQCfs5kU42Trmnjmu6a92PLoL61l2wB0SGK5C2HdhIFThmiV_QMY22tBCAuAdI1IAjciPCnqJZCIfel-Cptvv4OCNoDOkJrvm9po6zJ96_Pd-p_2QgB7ViJHbzRCs/s1200/nuart20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxiQRZoWW4-ZxyWZQCfs5kU42Trmnjmu6a92PLoL61l2wB0SGK5C2HdhIFThmiV_QMY22tBCAuAdI1IAjciPCnqJZCIfel-Cptvv4OCNoDOkJrvm9po6zJ96_Pd-p_2QgB7ViJHbzRCs/s640/nuart20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">9. The Nuart Trail </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the last few years, Aberdeen has hosted an annual street-art festival known as Nuart, inviting gifted artists from across the globe to leave their stamp on our streets. This city centre walk takes in the majority of these creations, from Phlegm's standalone piece at Holburn junction, to the scattering of works hidden on Jopp's Lane. The Nuart website has a <a href="https://2019.nuartaberdeen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ABD19_Map_A4.pdf" target="_blank">handy map</a> of its own for better location and identification of the pieces. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">10. Woodside and Danestone</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Starting at the pretty and peaceful Persley Walled Gardens, both the Woodside and Danestone sides of the Don's banks offer up some beautiful woodland walks along clearly defined paths. The Woodside trail can be followed all the way to Grandholm Bridge and offers up a number of ruins and remnants from the area's old mills, while the Danestone side leads through an open community space with fairy doors and painted toadstools. Both are home to a surprising amount of wildlife, given they're still within the city, and it's not uncommon for a deer or two to stumble across your path. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="300px" id="mapmyfitness_route" src="//snippets.mapmycdn.com/routes/view/embedded/3363667225?width=400&height=300&&line_color=E60f0bdb&rgbhex=DB0B0E&distance_markers=0&unit_type=metric&map_mode=ROADMAP&last_updated=2020-08-20T21:20:26+01:00" width="400px"></iframe><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: center;">
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</div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: center;">---</div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: justify;">These are some of my favourite spots, but where do you like to walk in the city?</div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><i>xo</i></b></div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="padding-right: 20px; text-align: left;"><b><i>[Last updated 18/03/23]</i></b></div></div></div></div>Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-86338006855791327132020-11-19T09:24:00.003+00:002020-11-19T09:28:04.582+00:00Monthly Consumption // Aug-Sept 2020<div style="text-align: justify;">Everything I watched, read and listened to throughout August and September..</div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Books</b></div></b></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'<i>Prognosis: A Memoir of My Brain</i>' by Sarah Vallance</b> - The autobiography of a woman who suffered a mild traumatic brain injury after being thrown from a horse, this book was a brilliantly honest account of her journey beyond the prognosis. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'<i>First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Story about Anxiety</i>' by Sarah Wilson</b> - A book that looks at anxiety from a completely different perspective to the normal self-help stance, I was really excited to read this. But honestly? I kind of hated it. The take-away message, for me, was that anxiety is a powerful driving force that pushes people to be super productive and extra-creative, and I came away from it feeling like a failure because my anxiety does nothing but paralyse me. But if your anxiety doesn't turn you into a potato, this book might well be for you. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'<i>Cairngorm John</i>' by John Allen</b> - A gripping account of the highs and lows of three decades in Mountain Rescue, this book is a must-read for anyone who spends time in Scotland's hills. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'<i>The Body Keeps the Score</i>' by Bessel van der Kolk </b>- A wealth of information on trauma, its manifestation within the human mind, body and brain, and the unexpected interventions that might prove therapeutic. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'<i>Between the Stops</i>' by Sandi Toksvig</b> - A personal memoir interwoven with factual accounts of London's history, I throughly enjoyed this unusual autobiography. Sandi Toksvig is a national treasure, don't @ me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'<i>Ways to Die in Glasgow</i>' and '<i>How</i> </b><b><i>to Kill Friends and Implicate People'</i></b><b> by Jay Stringer - </b>The Sam Ireland Mystery series follows the private investigator as she finds herself caught up in a dangerous world of corrupt cops, dodgy property deals, recurring arson incidents and a few too many dead bodies. Set in Glasgow, I loved the descriptive rendering of my favourite Scottish city. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><b>Movies</b> </h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Freaks</b> - A girl kept indoors by her over-protective father turns out to have mysterious powers and access to a terrifying version of the world. Or something. Definitely not my favourite film. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Peanut Butter Falcon</b> - When Zak flees his care home with dreams of becoming a wrestler, an unlikely friendship and adventure await him. A brilliant, feel-good movie. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Climb</b> - A Senegalese-French man living in Paris, who's never climbed a hill in his life, sets out to conquer Mount Everest to impress the woman he loves. I wanted to get mad at this movie for promoting the idea that you can pay your way up a life-threatening mountain, but it was too cute a film to take that seriously! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Imitation Game</b> - Based on the true story, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing as he sets out to crack the enigma code. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Calibre</b> - Set in the Scottish Highlands, this is one hunting trip gone terribly wrong! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Enola Holmes</b> - Sherlock Holmes' younger sister turns out to have impressive detective skills of her own in this girl power action film. I've seen some really poor reviews, but I found this light-hearted and enjoyable, with Millie Bobby Brown as fab as ever. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><b>TV</b></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Down to Earth</b> - Zac Efron and Darin Olien's travels looking for healthier, more sustainable ways to live. Interesting viewing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Umbrella Academy - </b>Season 2 of these superhero siblings trying to prevent the end of the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lenox Hill</b> - A documentary series following doctors in a hospital in New York City. The Coronavirus episode was stark viewing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Derry Girls</b> (season 2) - Hilarity ensues once again with this 90s gang of teenagers from Northern Ireland. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Raised by Wolves</b> - Loosely based on Caitlin and Caroline Moran's childhoods, this sitcom follows the lives of one family growing up on a Wolverhampton council estate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>This Way Up</b> - Aisling Bea stars as Aine - a teacher trying to rebuild her life after a breakdown - in this comedy drama series. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Good Girls</b> (season 1) - All-American moms turned money launderers? Why not. Easy viewing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Black Earth Rising</b> - A BBC drama starring Michaela Coel as a young adopted woman uncovering her own past and the painful history of her birth country, this was by far the best thing I watched in two months.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Baby-Sitters Club </b>- Throwing it back to the 90s with this Netflix remake. I'm definitely not the target audience for this series, but I couldn't resist. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Chewing Gum</b> (seasons 1 & 2) - More Michaela Coel in this ridiculous sitcom about a young woman leaving behind her strict, religious adolescence. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Trinkets</b> (season 2) - The girls are back in Shoplifters Anonymous for season 2 of this Netflix teen drama, which I'm probably too old to enjoy as much as I do.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Modern Family</b> (season 1) - This American mockumentary following three connected families has been our go-to viewing when we don't want to pay too much attention.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Call the Midwife</b> (season 8) - The nuns and nurses are back on the streets of Poplar for another moving series. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Staged </b>- Michael Sheen and David Tennant star in this unusual comedy series, filmed using video-conferencing technology during nationwide lockdown. Worth a watch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ackley Bridge</b> (series 1-3) - For someone who hated school as much as I did, I have a weird fondness for TV shows set in British schools! This drama series sees the merging of two schools and their British and Asian communities, with all the issues of race, poverty, sexuality and teenage dramedy that arise as a result.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Travels with my Father</b> (series 4) - Jack and Michael Whitehall are off on their travels again, this time landing in Australia for just two episodes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>60 Days In</b> (series 2) - A documentary series following a group of volunteers as they go undercover as inmates in an American prison.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><b>Music</b> </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the last two months I was listening to: 'Down in the Woods, Where the World Once Was' by <b>Bright Eyes</b>; 'A Celebration of Endings' by <b>Biffy Clyro</b>; 'Campfire Chorus' by <b>Arkells</b>; 'Hand Me Down' - a covers album by <b>Kate Rusby</b>; 'Zeroes' by <b>Declan McKenna</b>; and a whole lot of <b>Grace Petrie</b>, on repeat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>xo</i></div>Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-36889633134468457112020-08-12T19:02:00.002+01:002020-08-12T19:02:40.584+01:00Aberdeenshire // Seven Places to Visit on the North Coast
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VAmrcFrjnZR2JLswkgoO4ZPaw5Ff1AlqxYclm4f0I6o69SvTPAMylQqtNuh_PiiIp9K7yB9A73BJ5qVL8v4AT1u3r50idG4zM7U6WTSxpen8GDXzhzQ5rz-X2TIxOv1r_aCear_FMnE/s1600/1596901181315823-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Needle's Eye Rock, Tarlair, Macduff" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VAmrcFrjnZR2JLswkgoO4ZPaw5Ff1AlqxYclm4f0I6o69SvTPAMylQqtNuh_PiiIp9K7yB9A73BJ5qVL8v4AT1u3r50idG4zM7U6WTSxpen8GDXzhzQ5rz-X2TIxOv1r_aCear_FMnE/w640-h427/1596901181315823-2.png" title="Needle's Eye Rock, Tarlair, Macduff" width="640" /></a><br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">About an hour's drive north of the city of Aberdeen, the land meets the sea with rugged clifftops and adorable fishing towns along the coastline of Banffshire and Moray. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We headed north on a scenic road-trip on Wednesday and were halfway along the coast when we got the disappointing news that Aberdeen was heading back into a local lock-down that very evening. It's going to be a little while before any of us can leave the city again, which means I'm treasuring this adventure and its dozens of pictures all the more. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're <i>not </i>stuck on lock-down and are looking for some places to explore in the North East of Scotland, outside of Aberdeen, here are seven points on the Banffshire and Moray coast that I enjoy visiting...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_mgPENqOwJCt7WTc52qoa3lart3yxLcmlsaMJabEHV2uosLbzMJhHqU2dd-vxrJe-4xMFmvdZnixNylKxFTM3oN7mdVfm6F4F_EeFV-PD1oJQNjQxybWt3jTHRvFciEPXAr5vsThEug/s1920/DSC_0002b.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="New Aberdour Beach, Aberdeenshire" border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1920" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_mgPENqOwJCt7WTc52qoa3lart3yxLcmlsaMJabEHV2uosLbzMJhHqU2dd-vxrJe-4xMFmvdZnixNylKxFTM3oN7mdVfm6F4F_EeFV-PD1oJQNjQxybWt3jTHRvFciEPXAr5vsThEug/w640-h428/DSC_0002b.jpg" title="New Aberdour Beach, Aberdeenshire" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">1. New Aberdour Beach </h2><p style="text-align: justify;">Situated at the east end of the coast, not far <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from</span> the town of Fraserburgh, the pebbled beach of New Aberdour is lined with limestone caves and home to St Drostan's Well, from which the Saint is said to have baptised local people, founding one of the earliest churches in Scotland. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;">For me, it's the chance to explore the caves' nooks and crannies that is the real pull here (although you certainly need to be mindful of the changing tide), but it also seems like an ideal bay for a turn on a paddle-board or kayak. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqk1LscdpbeMYLS1ac3bQjgzxV3fmssu5S0dwy-WfKb-ip5bSwD9xbC2OTU24HaTfviulWWmLhZbkRHfG8rFj_uWHvPbbk4Nc-pfaKjP7wl2UnUVAzEAwWM9N5sWkXa4gxZ0onKN8GMjk/s1020/256817_10150201598647207_6497744_o.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="Gannets at Troup Head, Aberdeenshire" border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1020" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqk1LscdpbeMYLS1ac3bQjgzxV3fmssu5S0dwy-WfKb-ip5bSwD9xbC2OTU24HaTfviulWWmLhZbkRHfG8rFj_uWHvPbbk4Nc-pfaKjP7wl2UnUVAzEAwWM9N5sWkXa4gxZ0onKN8GMjk/w640-h420/256817_10150201598647207_6497744_o.jpg" title="Gannets at Troup Head, Aberdeenshire" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">2. Troup Head </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">A 15 minute drive west of New Aberdour, past the village of Pennan (also well worth a visit if you can brave the road down), you'll find the RSPB nature reserve, Troup Head. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This 4km stretch of grassland and stunning clifftops makes for a bracing yet picturesque walk with plenty of photographic opportunities. Dolphins, porpoises and seals are often spotted out at sea, but it's the 90m high cliff face itself which provides home to the most impressive wildlife display: razorbills, guillemots, the occasional puffin, and mainland Scotland's largest gannet colony.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whether you're a nature-lover, avid photographer, or just enjoy a nice, scenic walk, Troup Head is a great place to visit. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Crovie Village Viewpoint" border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWm64ruqyM_mzBr5OaB6t4zGZiGdxqTKWJ7JFyqkCx-FOHKIxK-IUPUyQbF7C9jaBEjkynn6IqjrRZ9ewNQ281yd0yfo9SVp2bHIwat8WBFwMTNL04znzdHTeMlnhoB_-1JQfgluwkNI/w640-h430/1596901187857121-0.png" title="Crovie Village Viewpoint" width="640" />
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</div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">3. Crovie Village Viewpoint </h2><p style="text-align: justify;">Sitting on the edge of the North Sea, the coastline of Banffshire and Moray is dotted with adorable seaside towns and fishing villages. Crovie is one such place - one of Europe's best preserved fishing villages and the only known settlement on mainland Britain where it's impossible to drive a car, with only a narrow footpath separating the houses and a rocky drop into the sea. </p><div style="text-align: justify;">Thought to have been established in the late 18th century, Crovie came into existence as families found themselves forced out by landlords taking over inland estates. The village continued to thrive thanks to the fishing industry until the mid 20th century, when many of the properties were abandoned after a devastating storm. These days, many of the buildings are used as holiday-lets, occupied mostly in the summer. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As with many of these villages, the road to reach Crovie is narrow and incredibly steep. Fortunately, a car park near the top of the hill allows for some beautiful views. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Tarlair Swimming Pool, Macduff" border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXywY7KgSOE-LIgXQxLtgiyYdLwZ5uLyZ76Jr-n5frUiSsdQvvvX-WpqSprK9bMWjLLBxxKJ2WNrKTijpinXs-gxDuzpeqnsNVv8pbCW4L5zoNlB-LSTWmKUDRZs8qeOyk7Xtx8Itiog/w640-h420/1596901184482896-1.png" title="Tarlair Swimming Pool, Macduff" width="640" />
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</div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">4. Tarlair Swimming Pool</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Built in Macduff in 1931, in the brief interlude of peace between two World Wars, Tarlair's open-air, sea-water swimming pool sits at the foot of a cliff, where it was enjoyed by the community right up until 1996. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Long since abandoned and allowed to fall into disrepair, the art deco building and its three pools are thought to be the best remaining example of outdoor seaside pools in Scotland and it remains a beautiful site to visit and explore. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Needle's Eye rock formation on the shore is also worth looking out for. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Portsoy ice-cream" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WsLWq9Tko9J3Q-x0lFvExtBFALiil_zFyV7NHvSKLUJrHXLF53AEwojl6PgaIqULgL0PMl9eNem2jsuR25c_dCeUVqGCk18ejz3IO4btu57W97isNJ18gXdoCaFqF3WzPBsIZrtVbKU/w640-h480/1597087091072900-0.png" title="Portsoy ice-cream" width="640" />
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</div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">5. Portsoy Ice-Cream</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">It wouldn't be a real day out if there wasn't a stop for ice-cream, would it? The seaside towns of the area are home to a number of popular ice-cream shops, but the one at Portsoy is by far my favourite. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The almost-permanent queue outside the door is testament to the quality of their product, offering small-batch ice-cream and sorbets in more than a dozen flavours, alongside bubble waffles, toppings and a delicious selection of hot sauces. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Grab an ice-cream and enjoy it overlooking the Loch of Soy or the local harbour. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqqHzom1Iy8Nz7W_BPkUayRX7A6-qAp_-lc_w7YBTD8IrzrrnGYvWpXbzBrpcMJswjV5hAnwPgHAd_hErJ5e8ZwYPpwl2CFScQyZ5n_BwV8USXeJ30ChgHe4yqLdG_vbcqw3kYGuAM54/s2048/DSC_0226a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The view over Cullen from Castle Hill" border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqqHzom1Iy8Nz7W_BPkUayRX7A6-qAp_-lc_w7YBTD8IrzrrnGYvWpXbzBrpcMJswjV5hAnwPgHAd_hErJ5e8ZwYPpwl2CFScQyZ5n_BwV8USXeJ30ChgHe4yqLdG_vbcqw3kYGuAM54/w640-h418/DSC_0226a.JPG" title="The view over Cullen from Castle Hill" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">6. Castle Hill, Cullen </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">A little further along the coast of the Moray Firth lies the village of Cullen - a quaint seaside settlement of colourful cottages, quirky shops, beautiful beaches and a series of historic viaducts. The village is famous for its fish-based delicacy, Cullen Skink, but I hear the local ice-cream is pretty good too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a number of walking routes to explore from Cullen, including the coastal path to Sunnyside Beach and Findlater Castle, but within the village itself there's a worthwhile walk to the top of Castle Hill. Once the site of a Fort where Robert the Bruce's wife is thought to have died, the open hilltop now provides the perfect panoramic view of Cullen's beauty. </div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65Bvpu1pVwHikJHkzDBgoM6ZrhEDkm1Ar_BoAOlcEfQ9aMlx2jP80mQETF0kLLW5X17TrGv003TU-tn215fqF1EXkBeMU5pnTVEYHcxtzO3uGca2umFlFMzV1rBWxwUTxw7gXXtN2PLk/s2048/DSC_0237a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bow Fiddle Rock, Portknockie" border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="2048" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65Bvpu1pVwHikJHkzDBgoM6ZrhEDkm1Ar_BoAOlcEfQ9aMlx2jP80mQETF0kLLW5X17TrGv003TU-tn215fqF1EXkBeMU5pnTVEYHcxtzO3uGca2umFlFMzV1rBWxwUTxw7gXXtN2PLk/w640-h433/DSC_0237a.JPG" title="Bow Fiddle Rock, Portknockie" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">7. Bow Fiddle Rock </h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Our final stop was just along the road from Cullen, off the coast of the village of Portknockie. The natural sea arch known as Bow Fiddle Rock is an impressive Quartzite rock formation created by years of erosion by the sea. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Parking the car at Portknockie, the walk along the clifftop takes in Bow Fiddle Rock from all perspectives and offers a route down to the lovely little beach below. A beautiful place to end the day. </div>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>xo</i></b></div>Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-17848543940446561002020-08-01T21:38:00.001+01:002020-08-01T21:38:36.387+01:00Monthly Consumption // June - July 2020<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A quick round-up of everything I read, watched and listened to in June and July 2020.<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div>
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Books </h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">'The Summer Book' by Tove Jansson</b><b> - </b>A beautiful book for grown-ups by the creator of the Moomins, 'The Summer Book' tells the story of a grandma and her 6 year old granddaughter passing a summer together on a tiny Finnish island, and it's entirely lovely. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">'Queenie' by Candice Carty-Williams</b><b> - </b>A humorous novel about one young woman trying to figure out her identity and place in the world. </div>
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<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Resistance: A Songwriter's Story of Hope, Change and Courage' by Tori Amos</b> - Part autobiography, part political reflection, this is a book full of honesty and compassion, just as you'd expect from singer/songwriter Tori Amos. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">'Bridge of Clay' by Markus Zusak</b><b> - </b>From the author of 'The Book Thief' - one of my favourite books - 'Bridge of Clay' is the tale of five brothers recovering from the loss of their mother, who passed away, and their father who walked out. At nearly 600 pages I thought this book would be a bit of an endeavour, but the Dunbar boys' characters are so engaging it was easy to get caught up in their story. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Straight Outta Crawley: Memoirs of a Distinctly Average Human Being' by Romesh Ranganathan</b> - The autobiography of comedian Romesh Ranganathan, charting his journey from </div><div style="text-align: justify;">his at-times-difficult childhood, to school teacher, to stand-up comedian and TV personality.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Perfect Sound Whatever' by James Acaster</b> - Another book by a comedian, this is James Acaster's autobiographical account of one year, and an attempt to convince the world that 2016 was the best year for music, ever. It took me ages to get through this book because I kept stopping to add new artists to my Spotify playlists.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'The Penguin Lessons' by Tom Michell </b>- Imagine going travelling and finding a penguin in need of rescue, before the days where you could simply ask Google what to do or where to find your nearest animal rescue sanctuary. That's exactly what happened to teacher Tom Michell while travelling in South America. This is the delightful story of Juan Salvador the penguin, who ended up living in an Argentinian boys' school.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Desert Flowers' by Paul Pen</b> - When a stranger turns up at the door of a couple living in the desert with their four daughters, it turns out their idyllic family life might not be as it seems. I really like Paul Pen's writing and was gripped by this story. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div>
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Movies </h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'13th'</b> - A documentary exploring racial inequality and the prison system in the United States, this was heavy but informative.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'The Sun is Also a Star'</b> - Adapted from Nicola Yoon's young adult novel of the same name, this was a bit of a cheesy love story, touching on issues of race and immigration. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Disclosure'</b> - A documentary looking at Hollywood's representation of transgender people and the impact that it has on society as a whole. This was really interesting viewing.</div></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Leave No Trace'</b> - A beautiful film about a father and daughter living off grid and how they adapt when forced back into society. I really recommend this one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Eurovision Song Contest: the Story of Fire Saga'</b> - Will Ferrell's comedy movie about an Icelandic duo who dream of entering Eurovision. This film is beyond ridiculous, but kind of in a good way, and I've been stuck singing Jaja bloody Ding Dong for weeks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Hamilton</b>' - I had high expectations for the Disney + screening of this musical, but left it with mixed feelings. While I enjoyed the music and performance element, my knowledge of American history is so poor that I had to keep looking at Google to understand what was going on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">'<b>Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'</b> - A dark comedy drama about a grieving mother who hires three billboards to highlight the lack of justice around her daughter's murder. I wasn't sure what to expect from this film, but really enjoyed it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Athlete A</b>' - This month's third documentary, this time examining a sexual abuse scandal and cover-up within the American gymnastics community. Grim.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div>
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TV</h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Bordertown'</b> - Season 2 and 3 of the Finnish crime drama, following the unconventional yet gifted Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen in his work with the Serious Crime Unit in a town near the Russian border. Genuinely upset that I've run out of episodes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'New Girl'</b> - The final three seasons (5-7) of the American sitcom starring Zooey Deschanel as quirky middle-school teacher Jess. I love this show so much, I almost want to go back to season 1 immediately. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Queer Eye' - </b>The fifth season of Netflix's "Fab Five" doing their thing, helping the people of Philadelphia feel better about themselves. Cry.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Good Omens'</b> - Based on the novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, this miniseries about an angel and demon pairing up to stop the Armageddon was pretty entertaining viewing. I loved David Tennant as Crowley, the ridiculous demon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'13 Reasons Why'</b> - The fourth and final season of Netflix's teen drama, about which I've had very mixed feelings from the start: at times hard-hitting and emotional, I struggled with the over-dramatic or unnecessarily graphic moments throughout the first three seasons, but enjoyed this final season more. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Pose'</b> - I am <i>obsessed </i>with this Netflix series, set in New York, amidst the late 80's LGBTQ ball scene. I need season 2 to be released in the UK, like yesterday. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'The Sinner'</b> - Season 3 of this American crime drama following Detective Harry Ambrose, as he investigates horrendous crimes committed by unexpected people. I loved the first two seasons of this show, but found this one pretty slow and disappointing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Stateless'</b> - Based on a true story, a mentally unwell Australian woman is mistakenly detained in an immigration centre in her own country. This was an incredibly moving portrayal of the realities faced by those seeking refuge in a new land.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'Motherland'</b> - Season one of this British sitcom about motherhood in a middle-class neighbourhood - lighthearted, easy-viewing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>'The Woods'</b> - Polish mystery miniseries in which newly-discovered evidence reawakens a 25 year old homicide case and brings hope to a local Prosecutor, who believes his sister may still be alive. I was gripped and devoured this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jack Whitehall's 'I'm Only Joking'</b> - the newest release from the stand-up comic, which had me chuckling more than laughing out loud. Easy, lighthearted viewing, but nothing to rave about. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div>
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Music</h3><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the last two months I've been enjoying a number of albums and EPs - most of them new, but some that I'd missed when first released: Janet Devlin's 'Confessional'; Jack Garratt`s 'Love, Death and Dancing'; Phoebe Bridgers` 'Punisher'; Taylor Swift's surprise drop, 'Folklore'; and plenty of Scottish vibes from Cameron Barnes` 'Almost Fabulous' and Tide Lines` 'Eye of the Storm'.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">xo</div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-88069219827966960572020-07-23T17:00:00.005+01:002023-03-18T19:18:14.211+00:00Aberdeen // 10 Places to Find Great Vegan Food - 2020 Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After approximately three billion days in lock-down (it really feels like it some days, doesn't it?), the country is slowly settling into its new state of normality, with shops, pubs and restaurants beginning to reopen their doors. It's been a rough few months for the economy as a whole, but small businesses have been hit particularly hard and now, more than ever, it feels important to show our support and appreciation to those making, creating and serving good-quality products and experiences in the local area. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">With that in mind, I've put together a list of some of the best places to find vegan-friendly food in Aberdeen. I'd recommend checking out their websites or Facebook pages (linked below) prior to visiting, as this strange transition period sees businesses adjusting their opening times and adapting their style of service. That said, and without further ado..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Where to find Aberdeen's best vegan food: </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roots</b> </h2>
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Currently operating from the kitchen at <b><a href="https://www.99aberdeen.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bar 99</a></b> on Back Wynd, as well as their beach-side food truck, <b><a href="https://www.rootscatering.uk/" target="_blank">Roots Catering</a></b> are absolute bosses when it comes to plant-based junk food. If mountainous burgers, fried "chicken", milkshakes and loaded fries are your scene (how could they not be?!) then Roots are definitely for you. My personal favourites are the Chickn' Katsu burger and loaded fries, washed down with one of Bar 99's vegan cocktails. </div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 Back Wynd, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.rootscatering.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rootscateringuk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEitMEV7pOa1sFWZf3hWMIwkIDxY0R8ruAG533UK1X5PoI620O0aO5sv5l_TUEOD3caqVzhNo0_Q2ykJxQphQM1q7d3oSLtk9BHRUMzVMj_W3qhBdK0ALbKt7K9HbZ2xEKjN4jhOOfS0/s2048/bonobo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEitMEV7pOa1sFWZf3hWMIwkIDxY0R8ruAG533UK1X5PoI620O0aO5sv5l_TUEOD3caqVzhNo0_Q2ykJxQphQM1q7d3oSLtk9BHRUMzVMj_W3qhBdK0ALbKt7K9HbZ2xEKjN4jhOOfS0/w400-h400/bonobo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><b>Bonobo</b></h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">A workers' cooperative and cosy, fully-vegan cafe, Skene Street's <b><a href="https://www.bonobotribe.co.uk/">Bonobo</a></b> serve a delicious daytime menu of breakfasts, lunches, drinks and snacks. The Bonobo Fry-Up is my personal menu highlight, with its tofu scramble, veggie haggis and homemade baked beans, but the Bonobo Mac - their version of macaroni cheese - definitely deserves a mention too. Their rooftop terrace is the perfect spot for brunch in the late morning sun, but a quick stop for a take-away coffee is almost as good.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">73-75 Skene Street, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.bonobotribe.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com//bonoboaberdeen" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div>
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<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtL6rXQazOTLvhg9kt1LHy2e2WkD61lmn7JlE5aPrrKLc34RixgklxdGIgTdsnyyy9CLDbKSCK-mjMXpYs7YSqxGEfJchFGufEbYan5Kw_mJjgYFm1mnaug82xuy-su83YU6a8dDtdTaE/s2048/yatai.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtL6rXQazOTLvhg9kt1LHy2e2WkD61lmn7JlE5aPrrKLc34RixgklxdGIgTdsnyyy9CLDbKSCK-mjMXpYs7YSqxGEfJchFGufEbYan5Kw_mJjgYFm1mnaug82xuy-su83YU6a8dDtdTaE/w400-h400/yatai.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">Yatai Izakaya</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">Located on the city centre's Langstane Place, <b><a href="https://www.yatai.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yatai</a></b> is a Japanese restaurant passionate about using the best locally-sourced ingredients in their food. Their menu changes regularly, but clearly-marked dishes often include a maki set, vegan ramen of the day and a range of vegetable-based side dishes, such as deep fried dumplings and katsu steamed buns. Their lunchtime bento boxes are an absolute delight.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">53 Langstane Place, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.yatai.co.uk/" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/yataiaberdeen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreQIhe8Ro9iAhMPRAyIB3Rnyu6yZ6oZkKhVwf7dOPI8eb0BqgElI3XpswEQzW8ybDTBrph7rq-tqogIfAM7JIPN5j9AgU885h6iA9DuJDG-qtIx7NRk9eF3BwFweLOTm_7iWQIwUqkvE/s2048/foodstory.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreQIhe8Ro9iAhMPRAyIB3Rnyu6yZ6oZkKhVwf7dOPI8eb0BqgElI3XpswEQzW8ybDTBrph7rq-tqogIfAM7JIPN5j9AgU885h6iA9DuJDG-qtIx7NRk9eF3BwFweLOTm_7iWQIwUqkvE/w400-h400/foodstory.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Foodstory</b></h2>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Feel-good food, artisan coffee and joyful community vibes are at the heart of Thistle Street's <b><a href="https://foodstorycafe.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Foodstory </a></b>- a veggie cafe, shop and events space. Open from breakfast 'til dinner every day, Foodstory's menu includes porridge bowls, filled wraps, vibrant salads, warming soups, a daily hot pot dish, and an incredible sharing platter that's my personal fave. Whether it's a healthy, nutritious meal or a dirty chai latte and a slice of cake, Foodstory have got you covered. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;">13-15 Thistle Street, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://foodstorycafe.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheFoodstoryCafe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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Brewdog</b> (Castlegate or Union Square)</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps Aberdeenshire's most famous export, <b><a href="https://www.brewdog.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brewdog</a></b> not only excels at well-marketed beers, but does a damn good job at vegan food too. Aberdeen's <b><a href="https://www.brewdog.com/uk/bars/uk/brewdog-castlegate/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Castlegate</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.brewdog.com/uk/bars/uk/brewdog-union-square/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Union Square </a></b>branches offer up a weekend brunch menu (The Veggie Haystack, please and thank you) as well as an all-week menu of burgers, fries, salads and wings - the latter made of cauliflower or seitan for the vegans. They even operate a weekly 'Vegan Mondays' deal, when all veggie options are 2-for-1, and their vegan "wings" are included in an all-you-can-eat offer every Wednesday. I'm a <i>big</i> fan of the 'Temple of Seitan' burger and the buffalo cauliflower wings, washed down with a nice cold beer which, thanks to Brewdog's Vegan Society certification, is guaranteed to be vegan-friendly too.</div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5-8 Union Street, Aberdeen | Union Square, Guild Street, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;">Website: <b><a href="https://www.brewdog.com/bars/uk/brewdog-castlegate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Castlegate </a></b>| <b><a href="https://www.brewdog.com/uk/bars/uk/brewdog-union-square/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Union Square</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Facebook: <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/brewdogcastlegate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Castlegate</a></b> | <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrewDogUnionSquare" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Union Square</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQERwD7i_SGkgSzHjWMt49-E6Q3FlwiMc2n0ouZkybQYbsjywmcWn535rme17Cowx9qG_egSeVRayRb4XyYa40wYFJwpET_lgodUZooAqf0m3lty-ZhyUPU412y6iuHPAtGwlyWljKT4/s822/biocafe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="822" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQERwD7i_SGkgSzHjWMt49-E6Q3FlwiMc2n0ouZkybQYbsjywmcWn535rme17Cowx9qG_egSeVRayRb4XyYa40wYFJwpET_lgodUZooAqf0m3lty-ZhyUPU412y6iuHPAtGwlyWljKT4/w400-h400/biocafe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/biocafeaberdeen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Biocafe on Facebook</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><b>Biocafe</b> </h2>
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Specialising in free-from food and drink, inspired by global cuisine, <b><a href="https://bio-cafe.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Biocafe</a></b> serves up a range of healthy breakfasts, lunches, desserts and drinks that are void of refined sugar and gluten, as well as being suitable for those on a plant-based diet. I must confess that this is the only place on the list I have yet to visit, but I've heard such good things that it felt impossible to overlook. Whether it's a brilliantly-coloured smoothie bowl, an overflowing frappe, a bursting buddha bowl, or a mouthwatering piece of cheesecake, their food looks incredible and I really need to get myself down to Rosemount Viaduct instead of drooling over their social media feeds.</div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">39 Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://bio-cafe.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/biocafeaberdeen/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PMLEzoIE3cF7Pt44jVucwgwsuHY3-Pva-UHhONOksfsNiMph90_GrXrG-OHprP_v5M-URrIoB-JyeCTw8ndYqMj7ofo3GSmSvzlndT8mXHiCSsKJJvgpZKtSUk9XpJq29xG2ZqaKnAA/s600/howies2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PMLEzoIE3cF7Pt44jVucwgwsuHY3-Pva-UHhONOksfsNiMph90_GrXrG-OHprP_v5M-URrIoB-JyeCTw8ndYqMj7ofo3GSmSvzlndT8mXHiCSsKJJvgpZKtSUk9XpJq29xG2ZqaKnAA/w400-h400/howies2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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Howies</b></h2>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">One of my favourite restaurants in Aberdeen, <b><a href="https://www.howies.uk.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Howies</a></b> is the perfect venue if you want to feel a little bit 'fancy' without completely breaking the bank. Focusing on seasonal, locally-sourced food with a traditional Scottish twist, Howies' carefully thought-out menus are sure to include a small selection of vegan dishes throughout every course. The food is delicious, beautifully presented and very reasonably priced, with the lunchtime set menu a particular steal at £15.75 for three courses. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Edit: Since publishing this post, I've read that Howies have taken the decision to keep their Aberdeen branch closed for the foreseeable future, focusing attention on their Edinburgh restaurants. This is disappointing to read, but I'm keeping them listed here in the hope that they'll be back serving up their amazing meals sometime soon.)</div>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;">50 Chapel Street, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.howies.uk.com/venues/howies-chapel-street/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HowiesScotland" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><b>Melt </b></h2>
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A cheese-based restaurant and toastie shop might not seem the most obvious choice for a vegan meal, but Belmont Street's <b><a href="https://www.meltgrilledcheese.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Melt</a></b> are full of cheesy surprises. Whether it's a sit-down breakfast, fondue or poutine, or a take-away toastie, brownie or milkshake, there's a vegan alternative for pretty much everything! I highly recommend their mammoth toasties, made with their own vegan cheese sauce, washed down with an oaty Biscoff milkshake.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(*Melt are offering a very limited menu as they phase into reopening, so I'd definitely be sure to check if vegan options are available at this particular time, before showing up.)</div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">13 Belmont Street, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.meltgrilledcheese.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/meltaberdeen/?ref=br_rs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Edit: Melt very sadly announced closure of their restaurant on August 10th, but I can't bring myself to delete them just yet.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HIe4bLxP8-aEp91FF3W2HJkO1zZCgQJqsYngN71Bb6_BPyKcQ5iGc5ngPgIlpAd3jq-972VtRDlPp-KRjeei3FdLsnEF-o71GqL67dcBw3JufxlQGq0JE7e9JTkmosCi6xTDVCqFyVA/s2048/cult.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HIe4bLxP8-aEp91FF3W2HJkO1zZCgQJqsYngN71Bb6_BPyKcQ5iGc5ngPgIlpAd3jq-972VtRDlPp-KRjeei3FdLsnEF-o71GqL67dcBw3JufxlQGq0JE7e9JTkmosCi6xTDVCqFyVA/w400-h400/cult.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Cult of Coffee</b></h2>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Arguably one of the best places for a caffeine fix in Aberdeen, the Cult of Coffee already catered well to vegans with an excellent range of plant-based milks, but they've recently upped their game by stocking a selection of <b><a href="https://www.veganbaybaker.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vegan Bay Baker</a></b> goods. If it's top-quality coffee you're after, with a side of apple bridies or yum-yums, then the Cult of Coffee is 100% the place for you. </div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">28 Esslemont Avenue, Aberdeen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thecultofcoffee/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>---</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There we have it - some of Aberdeen's very best vegan food. If you think I've missed anywhere off the list, drop it in a comment down below!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>xo</i></b></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-54487469635168555192020-06-01T21:00:00.000+01:002020-06-01T21:23:59.732+01:00Monthly Consumption // May 2020<b><br /></b>
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Another month in lock-down means another month of heavy media consumption. With that in mind, here's everything I've read, watched and listened to in May 2020.</div>
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<b>Books</b></h3>
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<b>'The Heart's Invisible Furies' by John Boyne</b> - A beautiful novel about youth and sexuality, set against the backdrop of Catholic Ireland from the 1940's to the present day. One of the best books I've read in some time.</div>
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<b>'Yes Please' by Amy Poehler</b> - I'm not really sure what possessed me to read the autobiography of American TV personality Amy Poehler, given I've never seen most of her work, but it was a quick and entertaining read nonetheless.</div>
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<b>'Don't Come Back' by Adam Fletcher</b> - The second part of Fletcher's "weird travel" series (the first of which I read <b><a href="https://www.laurawhispering.co.uk/2020/04/monthly-consumption-april-2020.html" target="_blank">last month</a></b>) chronicles his adventures in South Africa, Cuba and Indonesia, making me laugh out loud and yearn for the days when we're free to explore the world once again.</div>
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<b>'The Quaker' by Liam McIlvanney</b> - A Scottish crime novel set in 1960's Glasgow sees DI McCormack consumed by the investigation into 'The Quaker' - a serial killer with a penchant for Bible verses, destroying the lives of young women across the city. I don't read much in the way of crime fiction, but I enjoyed this book.</div>
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<b>'Wholly Unravelled: A Memoir' by Keele Burgin</b> - The autobiographical tale of a young woman growing up in a Catholic cult and how she found the courage to move on, this book was a quick and engaging read.</div>
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<b>Movies</b></h3>
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I didn't watch many movies at all this month. The first was Michael Scorcese's psychological thriller '<b>Shutter Island</b>'; the second was a re-watch of the beautiful children's film '<b>Bridge to Terabithia</b>'; and the third and favourite of the month was '<b>Red Joan</b>', in which a retired widower is accused of leaking war-time secrets to the Russians.</div>
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<b>TV</b></h3>
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This month's TV-viewing included Netflix's <b>'Pure</b>', about a young woman struggling with obsessive sexual thoughts; the fifth series of <strike>Tommy Shelby</strike> '<b>Peaky Blinders</b>'; and the supernatural shape-shifting '<b>The Innocents</b>'. We also watched the interactive special of <b>'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' - 'Kimmy vs. the Reverend</b>' - with its pick-your-own-story format; seasons one to four of '<b>New Girl</b>', which I love just as much the second time round; channel 4's crazy military selection test, '<b>Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins</b>'; and Hannah Gadsby's new stand-up show '<b>Douglas</b>', which made me cry with laughter. Last but not least, there was the final season of '<b>Homeland</b>', where Carrie Mathison took us on exactly the emotional roller-coaster we've come to expect, bringing 9 years of CIA drama to an end.</div>
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<b>Music </b></h3>
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I've been listening to lots of old faves this month - particularly Tori Amos and Foy Vance - but, in terms of new releases, I was enjoying<b> Frank Turner's 'Live In Newcastle'</b>; <b>Hayley Williams' 'Petals for Armor</b>'; and <b>Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit'</b>s brilliant '<b>Reunions</b>'.</div>
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Seen Live </h3>
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No live music this month as we're all still stuck in bloody lock-down. Sad times. </div>
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xo</div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-36371962914265654902020-04-30T09:30:00.000+01:002020-04-30T09:30:03.834+01:00Monthly Consumption // April 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the whole country on lock-down, I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in feeling like my consumption of audio-visual entertainment has massively increased in the last month. I've been trying not to spend my days completely glued to the TV or laptop, but it's easier said than done when other alternatives have become so limited. </div>
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With that said, here's a rather lengthy list of everything I read, watched, listened to and saw live (ha!) in the last month...</div>
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<b>Books</b></h3>
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<b>'The Rabbit Girls' by Anna Ellory</b> - A touching novel about a woman facing her own battles, while uncovering her father's past as a Prisoner of War through a series of letters about the 'Rabbit Girls' - women experimented on in World War II camps. Some of it was pretty grim reading, but I really enjoyed this book.</div>
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<b>'Don't Go There: From Chernobyl to North Korea' by Adam Fletcher</b> - The first book in Adam Fletcher's 'Weird Travel' series, this memoir documents his visits to some of the world's most unusual destinations. A lighthearted, entertaining read. I've already downloaded the next instalment. </div>
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<b>'Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage' by Kay Bratt</b> - An autobiographical account of one woman's move from the States to China, where she found purpose volunteering in a local orphanage. I found the stories of some of the children very moving, but I struggled a bit with the "us and them" divide throughout the book. </div>
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<b>'Women of the Dunes' by Sarah Maine</b> - A beautiful novel set on the West coast of Scotland, where an archaeologist discovers hidden treasures and connections that span generations. I really enjoyed this atmospheric, romantic mystery. </div>
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<b>'Jog On: How Running Saved My Life' by Bella Mackie</b> - A factual account of Bella Mackie's journey out of crippling anxiety and depression, prompted by a new-found love for running. As someone who's found running greatly beneficial in managing their own mental health, I related to much of this book and found it an inspiring and hopeful read. </div>
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<b>Movies</b> </h3>
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A couple of Christmasses back, I bought my partner a '100 Movies Bucket List' scratch-off poster, which has sat relatively untouched until now. Lockdown has provided the perfect opportunity to work our way through the list, ticking off 10 this month.<br />
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First up, we watched action movies '<b>Snatch</b>' and '<b>The Terminator</b>', neither of which I particularly enjoyed.. Sorry, not sorry. We saw Studio Ghibli's quirky animation '<b>Spirited Away</b>', about a girl lost in a world of magic and mystical creatures; and Pixar's '<b>Wall-E</b>' - about an earth-cleaning robot who falls in love - both of which were adorable. We watched '<b>The Grand Budapest Hotel</b>' (the only one of these I'd seen before) and fell in love with Wes Anderson's visual styling all over again. We viewed Monty Python's '<b>Life of Brian</b>', which amused my face, and '<b>Groundhog Day</b>' which really didn't. We watched our first Bollywood film in the form of '<b>3 Idiots</b>' - a coming-of-age comedy which pleasantly surprised me, though it could have done with being about 45 minutes shorter! And then there was dystopian crime drama '<b>A Clockwork Orange</b>' and the moving World War II movie '<b>The Pianist</b>', both of which I would rate pretty highly.<br />
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Not on the Bucket List, we also saw '<b>The Martian</b>' - Ridley Scott's sci-fi piece about an astronaut stranded on Mars - which was a more lighthearted and enjoyable watch than I expected.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<b>TV</b> </h3>
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Having moved into my partner's for the duration of lockdown, I've been enjoying the novel experience of being in a home with a TV license - making the most of it by catching up on lots of shows on the BBC. We watched the second series of '<b>The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan</b>', which have made me ridiculously keen to visit Zimbabwe; we got completely hooked on the reality travel show '<b>Race Across the World</b>'; I enjoyed the emotional drama of '<b>The Nest</b>'; and we <i>finally </i>caught up with the hype and watched seasons 1 and 2 of '<b>Killing Eve</b>'.<br />
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On Netflix we watched season two of Ricky Gervais' '<b>After Life</b>', which made me more emotional than I should probably admit; and the four-part drama '<b>Unorthodox</b>' - about a woman who flees her Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn for a new life in Berlin - which I would highly recommend. </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Music</b> </h3>
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In music this month I stumbled across the artists <b>Soccer Mommy</b> and <b>Proper Youth</b> for the first time and have been enjoying their small back-catalogues. I've also been listening to <b>The Strokes</b> and <b>Mystery Jets</b>' new albums, as well as the second half of <b>Hayley Williams</b>' '<b>Petals for Armor</b>'.<br />
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There were three stand-out releases for me this month, though, and they've definitely been getting the most airplay: Scottish gem <b>Gerry Cinnamon</b>'s new album '<b>The Bonny</b>'; my folk idol <b>Laura Marling</b>'s '<b>Song For Our Daughter</b>'; and <b>Fiona Apple</b>'s first album in 8 years, '<b>Fetch the Bolt Cutters</b>', which wakes up the angsty teenager inside of me in the best possible way. </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Seen Live</b></h3>
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I mean... This was quite obviously a no-go this month because none of us are allowed to leave the damn house.<br />
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I should have been seeing Grace Petrie, Within Temptation and Evanescence this month, but they'll hopefully go ahead at a later - post-pandemic - date.<br />
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I have been enjoying the sudden surge of live-stream performances on the internet instead, particularly <b>Frank Turner</b>'s fundraiser for small local venues, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sofathonsingalong/" target="_blank">Sofathon Singalong</a> performances by <b>KT Tunstall</b> and <b>Cameron Barnes</b>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
What have been your favourite reads, sounds or viewings during this weird old month?</div>
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<b>xo</b></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-22339600643612875312020-03-30T18:00:00.000+01:002020-04-18T12:11:04.552+01:00Monthly Consumption // March 2020<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Just choosing to ignore the absolute end-of-the-world carnage that this month has been and focus on something a bit more lighthearted instead. As such, here's everything I read, watched, listened to and saw live in March 2020.</div>
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Books</h3>
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<b>'<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0753553716/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0753553716&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=f6e9b6db54b0826934f52665b4b37616" target="_blank">Naturally Tan'</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=0753553716" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Tan France</b> - The English fashion guy from Queer Eye wrote an autobiography, covering his story from birth to the early days of the show. I really love the Fab 5, so this was an enjoyable easy read. </div>
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<b>'<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073FC1C5T/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B073FC1C5T&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=a0bf8929cc53dc9fadc698d6bbdb1100" target="_blank">Feast: True Love In and Out of the Kitchen'</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=B073FC1C5T" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Hannah Howard</b> - The memoir of a young woman working in the food industry while struggling with an eating disorder. Well-written, but nothing about this book stood out over any other ED memoir I've read. </div>
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<b>'<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1787478009/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1787478009&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=7d78833b81902fd2f274be5650bc8dd5" target="_blank">Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope'</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=1787478009" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Megan Phelps-Roper</b> - The story of one young woman who grew up an enthusiastic member of Westboro Baptist Church, and how she came to leave them. This book took me a long time to read, but I found her story fascinating.</div>
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<b>'The Diary of Two Nobodies' by Giles Wood and Mary Killen</b> - Y'know the slightly eccentric cottage-dwelling couple from Gogglebox? They wrote a book together about their marriage. Perhaps the most random thing I've ever read, but quite entertaining.</div>
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(Huh. Apparently I only read autobiographies this month!)</div>
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Movies </h3>
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I watched quite a few movies this month. In the cinema I saw the new adaptation of Jack London's '<b>The Call of the Wild'</b>, which was utterly beautiful (and sent me rushing home to hug my parents' dog).<br />
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At home I finally persuaded my partner to watch quirky French rom-com '<b>Amelie</b>' with me, and was relieved that I still enjoyed it as much as I remembered. Together we also watched the adorable '<b>Peter Rabbit</b>'; '<b>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</b>', which I adore no matter how often I watch it; '<b>Five Feet Apart</b>', which was a surprisingly good watch for a soppy medical romance; and '<b>Okja</b>' - about a girl and her genetically modified pig - which was brilliant and made me very relieved to be a vegetarian. We also watched '<b>Captain Fantastic</b>', which was a really lovely comedy drama about a family living outside of society, which I would highly recommend (though would warn that there are a lot of strong references to suicide, though no actual depiction).</div>
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On my own I watched '<b>All the Bright Places</b>' - the film adaptation of Jennifer Niven's novel - which was a decent enough watch, but I felt like the characters lacked a bit of depth for the subject matter they were dealing with; '<b>Begin Again</b>', which was a fun music-themed drama; and '<b>The Miseducation of Cameron Post</b>', about a teenage girl sent to undertake gay conversion therapy, which was a good watch, though the ending seemed a tad abrupt.</div>
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TV</h3>
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On TV this month I watched '<b>Ragnarok</b>' - the Norse mythology-inspired Norwegian drama, which I really enjoyed; <b>'I Am Not Okay With This</b>' - the slightly odd coming-of-age show about a girl discovering her sexuality and her superpowers; '<b>Anne with an E</b>' season 3, which was as adorable as ever; '<b>Orphan Black</b>' season 2, which I couldn't really keep up with; and the BBC's '<b>Noughts + Crosses</b>' - based on Malorie Blackman's dystopian book series, which I loved as a teenager.</div>
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Music </h3>
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This month I enjoyed <b>Christine and the Queens'</b> new album, '<b>La Vita Nuova</b>'. I also listened to a lot of <b>Twin Atlantic</b> and <b>Benjamin Francis Leftwich</b>, and took the chance to go back and listen to some slightly older releases that I hadn't given my full attention at the time - primarily <b>Lizzo's 'Cuz I Love You</b>' and <b>Frank Turner's 'No Man's Land'</b>.<br />
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Seen live</h3>
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At the start of the month I saw the brilliant<b> Twin Atlantic</b> (with support from <b>BLOXX)</b> at Aberdeen Music Hall. This was my first time seeing them live (at last!) and they definitely didn't disappoint.</div>
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I then saw <b>Benjamin Francis Leftwich</b> perform a beautifully dreamy set at The Barn in Banchory, with support from <b>Georgia Duncan</b>. </div>
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Lastly there was <b>Lewis Capaldi, </b>with support from<b> Fatherson, </b>at PandJ Live in Aberdeen - a gig which was sadly tainted by thoughts of "Should we actually be here?" and standing on the fringes, trying to keep a distance from everyone else in the crowd. Not exactly my favourite gig experience and seems it'll be the last for quite some time.<br />
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I hope you're all keeping safe, sane and entertained at this time. </div>
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<b>xo</b></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-68138852780175390382020-02-29T09:00:00.000+00:002020-04-18T12:11:34.198+01:00Monthly Consumption // Feb 2020<div>
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Everything I read, watched, listened to and saw live in February 2020..<br />
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<b>Books</b> </h3>
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<b>'Eating Animals' by Jonathan Safran Foer</b> - The graphic descriptions throughout made this a difficult book to read at certain points, but I honestly wish I could buy a copy for everyone I know. An in-depth, thoroughly researched book about the realities of factory farming, which doesn't necessarily reach the conclusion you'd imagine (i.e. "Let's all go vegetarian,") but instead encourages us to look at where we source our food and the messages sent by our consumerism. Strongly recommend. </div>
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<b>'A Winter Book' by Tove Jansson</b> - A beautiful collection of short stories for grown-ups, written by the creator of childhood favourites the Moomins.</div>
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<b>'The Locked Ward: Memoirs of A Psychiatric Orderly' by Dennis O'Donnell</b> - This is a really interesting insight into life as a member of staff on a locked psychiatric ward. I felt that some small segments could have been written in a more respectful way, but overall it was an interesting and humorous read. </div>
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<b>'Their Finest' by Lissa Evans</b> - A novel set in 1940, 'Their Finest' tells the story of a propaganda war film and the lives that collide in its making. Truthfully, I found the first half of this book a bit of a slog to get through, but it picked up eventually and I'm glad I stuck with it long enough to find out what became of its characters.</div>
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<b>Movies</b> </h3>
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I watched more TV than movies this month, but at home I saw '<b>Departures</b>' (listed as '<b>Then Came You</b>' by some sources) - a cute teenage drama about achieving your dreams in the face of adversity; '<b>Miss Americana</b>' - the Taylor Swift documentary, which gave me a new appreciation for the singer; and then '<b>Suicide Squad</b>', to acquaint me with Harley Quinn. </div>
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In the cinema I saw '<b>Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)</b>'. I've seen very mixed reviews for the film over press and social media, but I actually really enjoyed it: fun, fast-paced and full of fierce female characters, backed by an excellent soundtrack.</div>
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<b>TV</b></h3>
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In terms of TV this month, I made my partner watch <b>Daniel Sloss'</b> brilliant stand-up show '<b>X</b>' which I saw live last year. It's since been released on HBO and I highly recommend giving it a watch. </div>
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I also watched season 3 of '<b>The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina</b>', which I enjoyed save the surreal musical segments; '<b>The Stranger</b>', which gripped me and had to be binged; the final episodes of '<b>The Good Place</b>', which I was kind of over already, in all honesty; and seasons 1 and 2 of '<b>Anne With An E</b>', which made for delightfully innocent viewing.<br />
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<b>Music</b> </h3>
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Music-wise, this month I enjoyed the '<b>Birds of Prey</b>' soundtrack enough to listen to it on its own, slotted in between <b>Oh Wonder</b>'s album '<b>No One Else Can Wear Your Crown</b>', <b>Hayley Williams</b>' EP '<b>Petals for Armor</b>' and the bush-fire charity album '<b>Forty-Five Degrees</b>' by <b>Amanda Palmer and Friends</b>.</div>
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<b>Seen Live</b></h3>
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This month I saw <b>Tom Walker</b> play an intimate show to a small crowd at Aberdeen's Tunnels, with stripped-back versions of his songs really showing off those powerhouse vocals. Local lad S<b>cott Wallace</b> opened the evening, with <b>Cameron Barnes </b>(once member of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers) holding his own as support act, delighting the crowd by blasting some bagpipes between verses. (We enjoyed his performance so much we've booked tickets for his headline show in July.) </div>
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<b><i>xo</i></b></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-83500080055896505512020-02-27T18:00:00.000+00:002020-02-27T18:00:07.055+00:00Gdansk // 5 Things To Do<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB3qMi-wRaQL8LXdN7NDE_-nWTiydApcvZlYSUR80HCScTGzB4WLAi87r9dfrCrm5SGoH8-OH9IsBOdAi_DCjQbXgb1rsiMvlCzBB-sHPp5SzNH3l25-wYc8VpiRnoCMbpNjZuyuOFBc/s1600/PA200056a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="River views in Old Town Gdansk" border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB3qMi-wRaQL8LXdN7NDE_-nWTiydApcvZlYSUR80HCScTGzB4WLAi87r9dfrCrm5SGoH8-OH9IsBOdAi_DCjQbXgb1rsiMvlCzBB-sHPp5SzNH3l25-wYc8VpiRnoCMbpNjZuyuOFBc/s640/PA200056a.JPG" title="River views in Old Town Gdansk" width="640" /></a></div>
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If I asked you to name a Polish tourist destination, I'm sure you could conjure up Warsaw or Krakow relatively quickly. It might take most people a little bit longer to come up with Gdansk. Certainly not Poland's most famous city, the sea port of Gdansk is steadily growing as a destination for tourists - helped, I'm sure, by cheap, direct flights from airports in the United Kingdom. It was certainly the low-cost Wizz Air flight from Aberdeen that tempted us to visit a city of which we knew very little. </div>
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Historically, Gdansk turns out to be a city with a complicated and somewhat tumultuous backstory. The country's most prominent maritime town, it was once a sought after territory, experiencing periods of rule by Poland, Prussia and Germany. In 1939, its depot at Westerplatte became the site of an attack which marked the start of World War II, leading to the persecution of its Polish and Jewish inhabitants and extensive damage to the city itself. </div>
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Since then, Gdansk has faced difficult periods of poverty and downturn, but has continued to rebuild itself into the city it is today. </div>
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Visiting back in October, we found present-day Gdansk to be a strange but beautiful little place. The architecture of the old town reflects both the cultural diversity of its past and the desire to rebuild itself as something new, with its striking buildings screaming 'Amsterdam' more than they do 'Poland'. The main thoroughfare is charming to walk through, while the riverside - with its old wooden shipping crane - provides some very pretty views. It really is a picture-perfect little town. </div>
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I do, however, call it a "<b><i>strange</i></b> but beautiful little place," quite deliberately, and for a number of reasons. </div>
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I found it a particularly difficult place to research. I struggled to find things to fill our time, not helped by the shortage of information available online and multiple inaccuracies which made it difficult to plan out. For instance, information found online told us one venue was free to visit on a Monday, but we arrived to a sign on the door informing us that it was closed on Monday but free to visit on Tuesday. </div>
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This may, in part, be due to the timing of our trip, which landed at the very beginning of their winter season where places were perhaps adjusting to shorter opening times, but this was difficult to clarify and frustrating to work around. </div>
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We also found the public transport system difficult to navigate and our trip was somewhat tainted by a substantial fine we received by accidentally buying the wrong ticket for the tram. These things happen, but the manner of the conductors who fined us did nothing to aid our impressions of Gdansk. </div>
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That said, we <i>did </i>enjoy our visit overall. </div>
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Arriving in the early hours of Sunday morning, we had just short of 72 hours (which was as long as we really needed) to explore and see what Gdansk had to offer.<br />
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Here are five of the things we enjoyed the most:</h2>
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Free Walking Tour</b></h3>
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A great way to start any trip in a new city, we kicked things off by joining a free tour of Central Gdansk, led by a guide from the company <b><a href="https://freewalkingtour.com/gdansk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walkative</a></b>. </div>
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Meeting at the Golden Gate, the 2.5 hour long tour walked us through the main town, taking in a dozen or so sites of historic or cultural interest. Our guide proved to be something of a font of knowledge, sharing a wealth of information about the city and regaling us with stories all the way. </div>
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It was a great way to get our bearings and to gain a greater understanding of Gdansk, both past and present day - most of which I wouldn't have learned any other way. </div>
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<b>Museum of the Second World War</b></h3>
As I mentioned earlier, Gdansk was a city profoundly impacted by the Second World War and it seems entirely fitting that <b><a href="https://muzeum1939.pl/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this museum</a></b> stands just 200m from the site where the first attacks took place. </div>
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A huge exhibition - divided into some 18 different sections - traces the events of World War II from a primarily Polish perspective, from early Nazi propaganda through to the coming of the Communist era. It is bold and eye-catching, with plenty of written information in Polish and English along the way. Particularly striking displays include two rooms recreated to look like a city street, both before and after the war. It's powerful stuff. </div>
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The collection is enormous, yet laid out in such an engaging way that you won't want to skip a single room. This is worth taking into account when planning a visit as we had allowed ourselves a couple of hours and still left - ushered out at closing time - having missed a good number of rooms. At less than £5 a ticket, it's a great value-for-money way to spend a solid chunk of the day.</div>
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Street Art in Zaspa</b></h3>
A 20 minute tram ride from Old Town Gdansk, the concrete-tower residencies of Zaspa are home to one of Gdansk's most pleasant surprises: a collection of more than 60 stunning, building-sized murals. </div>
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Thanks to the <b><a href="http://muralegdanskzaspa.pl/monumental-art-festival/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Monumental Art Festival</a></b> (similar to Aberdeen's Nuart Festival), a number of international street artists - from as far and wide as Russia, Japan, Italy and Uruguay - have travelled to Gdansk each summer to leave their creative stamp on this urban community. </div>
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What they've created is a beautiful, vibrant collection of murals in a whole spectrum of artistic styles, making the area great fun to explore (with the help of a handy <b><a href="http://muralegdanskzaspa.pl/map/" target="_blank">online map</a></b>) for a very different taste of Gdansk. </div>
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(If you decide to catch the tram out to Zaspa, be careful not to make the same mistake as us: buy your return ticket in the city centre as there are no ticket machines available on the platform here.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJ3Yhn2Ni2jk0P5eAtemJ_f0fC6LIEcClQiv9egb386m6ApGH4GB3TA8rhR3rZYm6_JHVBWtAXIZNbvqDMeVx1iP3DrNOCMY7P2VNC676oMkY8ymfwAgK1yH3Kyt4Mg5MuTHA0kTIkoQ/s1600/PA200018a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Town hall, Gdansk" border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="1600" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJ3Yhn2Ni2jk0P5eAtemJ_f0fC6LIEcClQiv9egb386m6ApGH4GB3TA8rhR3rZYm6_JHVBWtAXIZNbvqDMeVx1iP3DrNOCMY7P2VNC676oMkY8ymfwAgK1yH3Kyt4Mg5MuTHA0kTIkoQ/s640/PA200018a.jpg" title="Town hall, Gdansk" width="640" /></a></div>
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Visit the Town Hall and St Mary's Basilica</b></h3>
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Actually two completely different buildings, I've listed the two together due to their close proximity - just a few minutes walk from each other in the Old Town - and the fact that both are historical buildings offering views from tall towers. </div>
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<b><a href="https://bazylikamariacka.gdansk.pl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">St Mary's Basilica</a></b> - a Roman Catholic place of worship - is believed to be one of the largest brick churches in the world, seating some 25,000 people. Built in the 1300s, the building stood strong until 1945, when it was significantly damaged during the Second World War, with its restoration and renovation still ongoing today. This was apparent during our visit with some visible building work taking place, but it still made for a pleasant and peaceful place to pause for a moment, admiring its vast space and pretty stained glass windows. </div>
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<b><a href="https://muzeumgdansk.pl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gdansk Town Hall</a></b> - once host to the city's powers-that-be - today houses the History Museum of the City of Gdansk. Another brick building erected in the 1300s, it too was damaged severely during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in painstaking detail. Sitting on the main, pedestrianised thoroughfare of the Old Town, its 81m tall tower is difficult to miss, but the frescoe-adorned great halls and wooden staircases of its interior are well worth a visit too.<br />
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Both of these buildings offer entrance to their towers - at a small cost - for views over the Old Town. My travel buddy is not a fan of heights and so we opted not to visit ourselves, but I'm led to believe the vistas are worth it if you have a head for heights.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjiRpB1pjP4tfyqvdOMX-q9iHMaKRR1wlTIgPtPAsL1lzMdOf2MNV8S0iu5I4DgmWOowyvzjwt9PmJ2_tkdiFK_DUkW54UKzbZuUulHrsW-esCnu6D6LLJ7nxiXTzZYwJfqlX_M4SYxU/s1600/PA220266a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hill fort and Millennium Cross on Gora Gradowa, Gdansk" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjiRpB1pjP4tfyqvdOMX-q9iHMaKRR1wlTIgPtPAsL1lzMdOf2MNV8S0iu5I4DgmWOowyvzjwt9PmJ2_tkdiFK_DUkW54UKzbZuUulHrsW-esCnu6D6LLJ7nxiXTzZYwJfqlX_M4SYxU/s640/PA220266a.jpg" title="Hill fort and Millennium Cross on Gora Gradowa, Gdansk" width="640" /></a></div>
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Walk up Gora Gradowa</b></h3>
I might not have got her up any towers, but I <i>did</i> convince my friend it would be a good idea to climb a hill instead for some city views.</div>
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Just a half hour's walk from the Old Town, tucked behind the <b><a href="https://www.hevelianum.pl/" target="_blank">Hevelianum</a></b> science centre, Gora Gradowa is a short and pleasant climb at only 46m high, offering multiple rewards at its peak. Not only does it allow for a beautiful panorama of the centre of the city, but it's also home to both the Millennium Cross (a monument marking 2000 years of Christianity and 1000 years of Gdansk) <i>and</i> a 19th century fort. The historic fortifications were once of military significance and are now open as an exhibition maintained by the Hevelianum, which <i>can</i> be visited for free on climbing the hill, though the informational displays are written only in Polish.<br />
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Personally, I most enjoyed standing by the Millenium Cross taking in the views on a pleasantly sunny afternoon, and would consider this - along with our visit to the nearby <b><a href="http://pg4.pl/en" target="_blank">PG4</a></b> brewery and <b><a href="https://pierogarnia-mandu.pl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mandu</a></b> pierogi restaurant - to be my personal highlight of the trip. Sometimes the simplest things really are the best!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhrpiiTJwYVzgKOscHwRyVlGkLrZAkl_x4WsTD3rHt0Jmzoag4NCp3US2XsLI8hIVhwfmKi3Mnx3Lrw3gv3mHDwXRp2hx5bC6nuT3B62WcMzmtt4ri8DyWGBu9n83Sm0ehoHswLNqMgo/s1600/PA220240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Views over Gdansk from Gora Gradowa" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhrpiiTJwYVzgKOscHwRyVlGkLrZAkl_x4WsTD3rHt0Jmzoag4NCp3US2XsLI8hIVhwfmKi3Mnx3Lrw3gv3mHDwXRp2hx5bC6nuT3B62WcMzmtt4ri8DyWGBu9n83Sm0ehoHswLNqMgo/s640/PA220240.JPG" title="Views over Gdansk from Gora Gradowa" width="640" /></a></div>
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All-in-all, Gdansk was a fun place to visit for a short trip and has whet my appetite for Poland as a whole.<br />
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<b><i>xo </i></b></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-11685137033486490022020-01-31T09:50:00.000+00:002020-04-18T12:11:53.557+01:00Monthly Consumption // January 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A brief round-up of all the things I've been reading, watching, listening to and seeing live this month.</div>
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Books</h2>
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<b>'Stories of Your Life and Others' by Ted Chiang </b>- A collection of eight short stories, some of the language and settings throughout this book were too heavy on the science-fiction for my taste, but the stories posed some interesting ethical and philosophical dilemmas. If 'Black Mirror' were a book, it'd read a lot like this. </div>
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<b>'BOSH! How to Live Vegan' by Henry Firth and Ian Theasby</b> - Written by the guys behind Bosh! and its genius plant-based recipes, this is an accessible and non-judgmental look at the reasons for adopting a vegan lifestyle, with handy tips on how to make small steps of your choosing. </div>
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'The Immortalists' by Chloe Benjamin</b> - How would you live your life if you knew the date on which you would die? This beautiful novel tells the story of four siblings who learn their fate while still children, unfolding the ways in which the rest of their lives are impacted by that. My favourite read this month.</div>
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'Moxie' by Jennifer Mathieu</b> - Inspired by her mother's Riot Grrrl past, 'Moxie' is a feminist zine written by one teenage girl and distributed throughout her High School, with some interesting results. A fun bit of girl power in young adult fiction form. </div>
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'Sunny Side Up: A Story of Kindness and Joy' by Susan Calman</b> - The Scottish comedian's autobiographical encouragement for us all to be a little kinder towards each other and to spread more joy. (Includes a reference to how great Aberdeen audiences are, so y'know, all the bonus points.) </div>
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Movies</h2>
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I made it to the cinema twice this month and saw the beautiful new adaptation of '<b>Little Women</b>' and the immersive World War I drama '<b>1917</b>', both of which I highly recommend. </div>
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By contrast, at home I've been watching what can only be described as easy-viewing, crying at all the puppies in '<b>A Dog's Purpose</b>'; being impressed by Taron Egerton in '<b>Eddie the Eagle</b>'; finding my new Christmas favourite in '<b>Klaus</b>'; being decidedly unimpressed by Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake '<b>The Hustle</b>'; and being far too easily amused by children's animations '<b>The Queen's Corgi</b>' and '<b>Missing Link</b>'.</div>
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TV</h2>
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I finally got round to watching the third season of '<b>13 Reasons Why</b>' this month and, as with both previous seasons, I kind of wish I hadn't bothered. I think it's great that we have shows which grapple with the sensitive subject areas that impact people's lives, but the revenge focus of this show sits very uncomfortably with me and I feel like it's all gotten a bit too farfetched. </div>
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This month also had me watching the second series of '<b>Sex Education</b>', which I enjoyed much more than the first, despite my endless frustrations at not knowing quite which year or country any of it's meant to be set in (seriously, what?)! I quite like the matter-of-fact way it deals with some "taboo" subjects (although sometimes the brief, tokenistic references are a bit annoying) and it's just light-hearted, entertaining viewing. </div>
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Far less light-hearted was Netflix's '<b>Messiah</b>', about a man who appears to be the second coming of Christ, but finds himself under CIA suspicion. Not a series for background viewing, this one needed a little more concentration, but once I persevered through the first episode I was well and truly gripped.</div>
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Music</h2>
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I've been listening to a lot of KT Tunstall and Tom Walker this month but, in terms of new releases, <b>Twin Atlantic's 'Power' </b>and <b>Bombay Bicycle Club's 'Everything Else Has Gone Wrong'</b> albums managed to catch my attention, as did <b>Hayley Williams</b>' solo single '<b>Simmer</b>'. </div>
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You can keep track of my favourite songs of the year so-far right <b><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5GqhAjrmFJ0RZH0BxKRSsx?si=1UOsdx5zS6iB-y1GPLCmhw" target="_blank">here</a></b>. </div>
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Seen Live</h2>
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This month I saw <b>KT Tunstall</b> perform (with support from Siobhan Wilson) at Aberdeen's Beach Ballroom as part of a tour organised by Lidl. I wasn't quite sure what to expect of the evening, but at less than £9 a ticket with a free drink thrown in and all profits going to the STV Children's Appeal, who could resist?! It turned out to be a top quality evening, with KT Tunstall entertaining everyone with stories and witty comments alongside a brilliant musical performance. If you get the chance to see her live, grab it - she does not disappoint!<br />
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Leave me a comment below with recommendations for the month ahead.. </div>
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xo</div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-31172851483119740612020-01-29T14:45:00.002+00:002020-01-29T14:45:59.812+00:00Scotland // Things To Do In and Around Fort William<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdZq92LyfJjXwougsY2N4vlnJssDqhpCxsPkcp3Teo1sJCXNrsbo_3VPB7sio9CTZEysw-unMKGnA6EOsOCYqsKfrvLc5UIRbIRCdTbY3oP1upq4OS93aSvh7cYq4dLXb6B2da8qECBA/s1600/IMG_20190919_171153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ben Nevis - Fort William and the surrounding area" border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1500" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdZq92LyfJjXwougsY2N4vlnJssDqhpCxsPkcp3Teo1sJCXNrsbo_3VPB7sio9CTZEysw-unMKGnA6EOsOCYqsKfrvLc5UIRbIRCdTbY3oP1upq4OS93aSvh7cYq4dLXb6B2da8qECBA/s640/IMG_20190919_171153.jpg" title="Ben Nevis - Fort William and the surrounding area" width="640" /></a></div>
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Back in September, to celebrate my partner's 30th birthday, we headed across Scotland to spend a few days exploring the area in and around Fort William and Glencoe. The Western Scottish Highlands are not an area I've ever visited before, but photographs of beautiful scenery and rolling hills had me more than excited to see what it had in store. </div>
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And it certainly didn't disappoint, that's for sure! </div>
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On the first day of our three day trip, we drove across the breadth of Scotland via Aviemore, where we stopped for (second) breakfast before heading south towards Fort William. It was in this area that we based ourselves for the next couple of days, finding plenty to keep us occupied, as well as endless stunning scenery that made me fall in love with this country even more. </div>
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With that said, here are some of our favourite <b>things to do in Fort William and the surrounding area</b>: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARjEPKodcbZrB388VVtTND0JF7gMVFfZff2il3pj1L08Li06GjBKg9dAjhAyKwvCylSTBjWpDa4eqmaypn9pFxQm68sLT59Y-eMqb3XkGVv9MtqcvBqnwXxKP_kKpFb73zR-5kCbrhT8/s1600/IMG_20190919_125239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ben Nevis - Fort William and the surrounding area" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARjEPKodcbZrB388VVtTND0JF7gMVFfZff2il3pj1L08Li06GjBKg9dAjhAyKwvCylSTBjWpDa4eqmaypn9pFxQm68sLT59Y-eMqb3XkGVv9MtqcvBqnwXxKP_kKpFb73zR-5kCbrhT8/s640/IMG_20190919_125239.jpg" title="Ben Nevis - Fort William and the surrounding area" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. Climb Ben Nevis </h3>
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Okay, there's nothing quite like starting with the obvious. One of the main reasons people make the journey to Fort William: the area is home to Ben Nevis - the highest mountain in the United Kingdom, which attracts an estimated 150,000 walkers every year. At 1345 metres above sea level, the mountain towers over the town, poking its head through the clouds. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcB1KRUhkSeb6C-5H0I0Aa2vA1GZjEJ_c5dxMuPRHDZ3xbTGknUnRNIoO75ivfGA4xncxTGQGkVodU8BlTkF6z1R01oodj4soyd8NAG4bvGWcH5J40Yqzhnfxs4NF4mSnjYNOvPhGZQ4/s1600/IMG_20190919_092147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ben Nevis - Fort William and the surrounding area" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcB1KRUhkSeb6C-5H0I0Aa2vA1GZjEJ_c5dxMuPRHDZ3xbTGknUnRNIoO75ivfGA4xncxTGQGkVodU8BlTkF6z1R01oodj4soyd8NAG4bvGWcH5J40Yqzhnfxs4NF4mSnjYNOvPhGZQ4/s640/IMG_20190919_092147.jpg" title="Ben Nevis - Fort William and the surrounding area" width="640" /></a></div>
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Despite having done a fair bit of hill-walking, I had never conquered a munro before this trip and was a little apprehensive about how we would get on tackling the highest of them all. </div>
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As it was, I needn't have worried too much. Following the Mountain Path from the Visitors' Centre in Glen Nevis, the trail to the top is well-worn and clearly marked. Although a long and (at some points) steep hike, the route is of no real technical difficulty if the weather conditions are on your side - easy to navigate, without too much scrabbling or climbing. We got lucky as the weather - which had been distinctly dreary the previous day - decided to clear on the day of our walk, with the clouds rising as we ascended, allowing for some incredible views.<br />
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The most difficult elements of the trail, for me, were the relentless stair-like steps, in parts, which took their toll on my dodgy knees; and the loose, uneven stone underfoot which required a high degree of concentration at higher parts. It was this intense focus that I found most draining, while the pain in my knees took a lot to persevere through, but I was pleasantly surprised by how manageable I found the ascent in cardio terms. Setting off just after 8am, we had anticipated 8 to 9 hours of walking but found ourselves making the return trip in less than 7, leaving plenty of time to buy some cheesy 'I climbed Ben Nevis' medals and a much-needed Irn Bru from the Visitors' Centre gift shop!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaWq_9C5EL4ggmaMaLM8SoKc_D0ki-ONC9-XbqhwL9GYyIeOfmpK5QC96xGQ3R4f1LtUaW2H8tw4pLAGgCFgrLLo2b9meGnJ-Td3BeuwzGu3KLvLQ2XrI9nqNzXHS03ZQeK2mRX2nAUk/s1600/IMG_20190919_154016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ben Nevis - Fort William and the surrounding area" border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaWq_9C5EL4ggmaMaLM8SoKc_D0ki-ONC9-XbqhwL9GYyIeOfmpK5QC96xGQ3R4f1LtUaW2H8tw4pLAGgCFgrLLo2b9meGnJ-Td3BeuwzGu3KLvLQ2XrI9nqNzXHS03ZQeK2mRX2nAUk/s640/IMG_20190919_154016.jpg" title="Ben Nevis - Fort William and the surrounding area" width="640" /></a></div>
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The scenery throughout the trek is truly spectacular, with beautiful waterfalls and cloud inversions that make you feel on top of the world. If you have a reasonable level of overall fitness and the visibility is good, reaching the summit is a manageable challenge and a very rewarding one to accomplish.<br />
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(That said, it is not one to be underestimated. Conditions can change rapidly at such heights and I cannot stress the need to be prepared highly enough - to check the in-depth mountain forecast before you set off and to pack adequate supplies of food, water and clothing layers. Don't be the kind of numpty pulled down by Mountain Rescue in their flip-flops!) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFb9Ff2cbMFSV_DXFYjnANhfejiwIWn5UgG0Dms_KF4s7qgS33dX5Lf_ubacmj74XFF06gBIcGVQHjz_m_XOo7J8kbaeAOm2voDYEFMjdig5MmieGHcd0rmn4UHQ2pcT81_6J7YJ5hN8/s1600/IMG_20190918_135748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Glenfinnan Viaduct - Fort William and the surrounding area" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFb9Ff2cbMFSV_DXFYjnANhfejiwIWn5UgG0Dms_KF4s7qgS33dX5Lf_ubacmj74XFF06gBIcGVQHjz_m_XOo7J8kbaeAOm2voDYEFMjdig5MmieGHcd0rmn4UHQ2pcT81_6J7YJ5hN8/s640/IMG_20190918_135748.jpg" title="Glenfinnan Viaduct - Fort William and the surrounding area" width="640" /></a></div>
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2. See Glenfinnan Viaduct (aka the Harry Potter Bridge) </h3>
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About 17 miles West of Fort William lies the community of Glenfinnan, home to the Glenfinnan Viaduct - perhaps one of Scotland's most recognisable landmarks thanks to a certain movie franchise. A working railway viaduct on which the Jacobite steam train runs throughout summer months, the viaduct has become known as the 'Harry Potter Bridge' after the Hogwarts Express was filmed running across its tracks in 'The Chamber of Secrets' and 'The Prisoner of Azkaban'.<br />
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We parked up near the museum at Glenfinnan Station and walked the well-signed trail to the viaduct view point - an easy round trip of about 2km with some stunning views along the way. The steam train wasn't operating at the time of our visit, but I can only imagine how beautiful it must look chugging along in front of those rolling hills and greenery.<br />
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A little bit of a detour from Fort William, but one I highly recommend you make!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjcq-t66z93Nyx7-qksO8liNNbVo3Zvk-6mC0xydIxHgjsznU9kw9VkoQ6i60fISYAB-exnfrnJWFsRwj-Rdq1xke05dWDD5Syn9KE8bqDGQUa-nyQWgG3u11xiN0JVa4VVlvMnehz0A/s1600/IMG_20190919_172017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Commando Memorial - Fort William and the surrounding area" border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1500" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjcq-t66z93Nyx7-qksO8liNNbVo3Zvk-6mC0xydIxHgjsznU9kw9VkoQ6i60fISYAB-exnfrnJWFsRwj-Rdq1xke05dWDD5Syn9KE8bqDGQUa-nyQWgG3u11xiN0JVa4VVlvMnehz0A/s640/IMG_20190919_172017.jpg" title="Commando Memorial - Fort William and the surrounding area" width="640" /></a></div>
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3. Take in the Views from the Commando Memorial </h3>
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Just 10 miles north of Fort William, on the road to Inverness, sits the Commando Memorial of Spean Bridge. A 17 foot high bronze statue of three commando soldiers, the memorial was erected in memory of those who lost their lives in the Second World War, recognising the area's role as home of the Commando Basic Training Centre. It's a striking statue and the additional area of remembrance pays a touching personal tribute to many who have lost their lives in combat.<br />
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Not only that, but the site itself provides a stunning view of Ben Nevis and is worthy of a short detour for the breathtaking panoramas alone. </div>
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If, however, the area's World War 2 connections pique your interest, you may be keen to visit the nearby Spean Bridge Hotel, which is home to the <b><a href="http://commando.speanbridgehotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">Commando Museum</a></b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNjAO-3wMf5jAeHSj8nt13u6T6jSDad49Dm1IXl-0PRKF5zVeUMvE5FH-hHOLaGjIZRyx07riVcB9QTDCGPuw7kkdwmTMCl1j1Z1A0B2nVL2yqYcIKt0Wd7zmI5SigDSqz1LDUkqbrJU/s1600/IMG_20190918_154036+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="West Highland Museum - Fort William and the surrounding area" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNjAO-3wMf5jAeHSj8nt13u6T6jSDad49Dm1IXl-0PRKF5zVeUMvE5FH-hHOLaGjIZRyx07riVcB9QTDCGPuw7kkdwmTMCl1j1Z1A0B2nVL2yqYcIKt0Wd7zmI5SigDSqz1LDUkqbrJU/s640/IMG_20190918_154036+%25281%2529.jpg" title="West Highland Museum - Fort William and the surrounding area" width="640" /></a></div>
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4. Visit the West Highland Museum </h3>
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Located in the centre of Fort William, the West Highland Museum houses an eclectic display of artefacts relating to the culture and history of the West Highland area. Covering subjects from the Jacobite era, to Queen Victoria, to an entire exhibit on the island of St Kilda, it's a tad random and disjointed, yet somehow utterly charming. It's a fascinating insight into the area's way of life - both past and present; the volunteers are incredibly welcoming and friendly; and the fact it's free to visit makes it a perfect place to pop into and kill some time while wandering Fort William High Street.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQY-Q4Isnkjfljdwhj73PJXwWhj0_D4Mf2JrRqhdUmZUxXvRpXXgk3Rqh5A7svvPXuX_mkAqEpOBqHjMSu8HsCo8IV5T3kmYcBzz6mth1bpTmyl-EUhL7ON8RbbygRr8yWHDvFRC2u54/s1600/IMG_20190918_154036+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Wildcat Cafe - Fort William and the surrounding area" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQY-Q4Isnkjfljdwhj73PJXwWhj0_D4Mf2JrRqhdUmZUxXvRpXXgk3Rqh5A7svvPXuX_mkAqEpOBqHjMSu8HsCo8IV5T3kmYcBzz6mth1bpTmyl-EUhL7ON8RbbygRr8yWHDvFRC2u54/s640/IMG_20190918_154036+%25282%2529.jpg" title="The Wildcat Cafe - Fort William and the surrounding area" width="640" /></a></div>
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5. Enjoy The Wildcat's Vegan Goodies</h3>
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While you're in the locale of the town's High Street, be sure to pay a visit to <b><a href="https://www.wildcatcafe.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Wildcat </a></b>- Fort William's beautiful, fully-vegan cafe. As well as serving up a delicious range of drinks, breakfasts and lunches, the venue also houses a zero-waste, plastic-free wholefoods shop.<br />
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The cafe was buzzing with a little queue forming at the door when we visited, but we didn't have to wait too long for a table and - believe me - our cakes, coffee and hot chocolate were well worth sticking around for!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZtPlREnPLe9aXIgYg9yRO31qYhAcc0Xz8J_PkpvDRMdyHIpkuZZKfWDfFIAJ450tt_YHd_uMR3_csHURSM-zcss9ursYzG8yS7LwavyDf2dwWwaeY1EG2VkxjFZ_6lnAcEF6HqwEkwY/s1600/IMG_20190918_172359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bunroy Park camping pod - Spean Bridge Fort William" border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1407" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZtPlREnPLe9aXIgYg9yRO31qYhAcc0Xz8J_PkpvDRMdyHIpkuZZKfWDfFIAJ450tt_YHd_uMR3_csHURSM-zcss9ursYzG8yS7LwavyDf2dwWwaeY1EG2VkxjFZ_6lnAcEF6HqwEkwY/s640/IMG_20190918_172359.jpg" title="Bunroy Park camping pod - Spean Bridge Fort William" width="640" /></a></div>
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Where We Stayed</h3>
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We actually stayed a little bit north of Fort William - not too far from the Commando Memorial, in the village of Spean Bridge. We had planned to bring a tent and camp it but, as a surprise for Jonathan's birthday, I booked us a Camping Pod instead and after a day of hiking Ben Nevis I was very glad that I did! Our comfortable, cosy pod belonged to <b><a href="https://www.bunroypark.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bunroy Park</a></b> campsite, whose facilities -including toilets, showers, hairdryers, washing machines and a fridge/freezer - suited us perfectly for our two night stay. The campsite's scenic location gifted us with pretty walks along the river and lovely sunsets as we cooked our dinner on the BBQ, while the owners were incredibly hospitable and keen to share their handy tips on the local area. We were made to feel very welcome throughout, really enjoying our short stay, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for reasonably priced accommodation in the area.<br />
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<i>xo</i></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-86843938300834889482020-01-13T09:00:00.000+00:002020-01-13T09:00:03.837+00:00IN REARVIEW // 2019 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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January is a notoriously long, slow month, but I'm losing track of the days already and finding it hard to believe we're already 13 days into a new decade. How did that happen so quickly?! </div>
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I've been looking back over the year that just passed and reflecting on what was, for me, a mostly-positive 2019. I feel like I caught more colds and sickness bugs last year than I have in recent history, and there were certainly a few frustrations and things that didn't go entirely smoothly, but for the most part 2019 was pretty damn good to me. </div>
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2019 was a good year for travel, seeing me take a holiday to Spain's Costa Blanca; a week-long rail trip between Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam; and a girly few days in Poland's Gdansk. I did a bit of UK travel as well, with an overnight stay in Glasgow; a couple of trips south of the border to Lincolnshire; a weekend in Prestwick and Ayr; a few days of beautiful scenery around Fort William; and a trip to Edinburgh for a very festive weekend. </div>
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It was also a pretty good year for music, getting to see Frank Turner live in Glasgow; Deaf Havana and Self Esteem in Aberdeen; Florence + the Machine in Edinburgh; and Halestorm (with support from New Year's Day and In This Moment) down in Nottingham. </div>
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It was a good year for books, too, managing to read 33 rather than my target of 30, and I still find myself so delighted to have the pleasure of reading back in my life after so many years of poor concentration defeating me! </div>
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It wasn't an entirely positive year for one of my other hobbies - running - which has been one of my biggest frustrations of 2019. Although I was going fairly strong at the start of the year and managed to complete the Run Balmoral and Baker Hughes 10k events to raise money for SAMH, I ended up injuring myself in the process and am still on the rather lengthy road to recovery. I've had some input from osteopaths, physios and podiatry, but have been told to refrain from running at the moment until I rebuild the strength in both my shins. It wasn't until I lost it that I realised quite how important running was to me, in terms of physical activity - yes - but also in the social aspect of running with JogScotland, and the endorphin-boost and feelings of accomplishment it used to give me. It's been a big loss over the last 6 months, but I'm hopeful that I'll get back to it eventually. </div>
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The year's other biggest frustration was perhaps my current living situation and the lack of progress I feel I've made. I said in April that I was ready to move on from supported accommodation and live independently, which was agreed by my care team, but it turns out that process is more complicated than it might seem. Needless to say it's now January and I still live in a 24/7 supported service where I no longer have any need to be. That said, I'm hopeful that this will progress in the coming months and I'm excited to be able to look forward to a fresh start ahead of me. </div>
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I've put a few things on hold until then as I don't want to risk taking on too many life changes all at once, so I haven't made the progress I might have liked in relation to work in the last twelve months. I quit one of the jobs I held at the start of the year as the inconsistency of working on an as-required basis was not working very well for me and my anxiety, but I was fortunate to be able to pick up more hours in my other job instead and have loved having more of a structure and routine and spending more time around our customers and my colleagues. I interviewed for and was offered another job towards the end of the summer, but in the end I decided it wasn't right for me, and have taken on a voluntary role elsewhere instead, which I'm really keen to get stuck into ASAP. </div>
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Mental health wise it was a pretty decent year for me. I had a bit of a difficult period around August time where my mood took a significant drop and I found myself <i>really</i> struggling for the first time in a long while, but I managed to ride the wave and pulled myself out of it eventually, making it another whole year free from hospital admissions and free from any of my old negative coping strategies. It's not always rainbows and sunshine, and I struggle with the fact I still can't seem to shake myself free from anxiety, but things are infinitely better than they have been previously and I'm forever grateful for that. </div>
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All-in-all 2019 was pretty kind to me - a year full of exploring and adventures; of reconnecting with the things that I enjoy; and of relishing the company of those around me. I feel like 2020 might be a slightly more serious year, by comparison, filled with a bit more 'adulting' in the form of a house move, work and volunteering, and the need to start thinking about the future and saving some money, but I'm sure there will be plenty of laughs and adventures along the way, and I'm looking forward (slightly anxiously) to seeing how the journey unfolds. </div>
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<b><i>xo</i></b></div>
Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-90929931951674951572019-11-02T09:30:00.001+00:002020-01-29T15:05:18.587+00:00Aberdeen // 10 Things to Do on a Visit to the Granite City<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<img alt="10 things to do in Aberdeen - Art Gallery" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWbpwdog0c8r13FR6Yl2a2Ey0dYJvtjJsifR8ubfB1rwcF2FI3dXp6cgt10rtudpfdSlOEsk_xRS5_ydEmAe_3b06fQGgfGFch_75k3z3_7mYXY734ZMKtUhV3DJMbbZssKgKtT9PZUU/s640/1572686991994831-0.png" title="10 things to do in Aberdeen - Art Gallery" width="640" />
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After four long years of renovation work, Aberdeen Art Gallery reopens its doors to the public this weekend. I was lucky enough to be invited in for a sneak peek on Monday and was thoroughly impressed by both the building and the collections it houses - so much so that I can't wait to go back and explore some more! </div>
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To mark the gallery's relaunch, I thought I'd share some other sights worth seeing in Aberdeen, whether you've newly moved to the area or are visiting the city for the first time. The added bonus? They're all entirely free, so great if you're travelling on a budget.</div>
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Without further ado, here are 10 things to do on a trip to Aberdeen. </h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRWtV7KRDBBLDr35wrOjA9kpiL0cRpMd-8aFkcwxk7SbehHtVCMAwTfo_hui4k_TUsZD22mxoEyI1YNvIJd6zDJW_L0GCIs6v0qy5Y5rP4wMwTSjxHUf4BplRAKjr_bVM7hm8Kedww1A/s1600/PA060452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="10 things to do in Aberdeen - Marischal College" border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="1415" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRWtV7KRDBBLDr35wrOjA9kpiL0cRpMd-8aFkcwxk7SbehHtVCMAwTfo_hui4k_TUsZD22mxoEyI1YNvIJd6zDJW_L0GCIs6v0qy5Y5rP4wMwTSjxHUf4BplRAKjr_bVM7hm8Kedww1A/s640/PA060452.jpg" title="10 things to do in Aberdeen - Marischal College" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. See Marischal College</h4>
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The second-largest granite building in the world, Marischal College is the perfect illustration of why Aberdeen came to be known as the 'Granite City'. Designed by architect Archibald Simpson, construction began in 1837 on this impressive building which once belonged to Aberdeen University, but is now home to Aberdeen City Council's headquarters. The beautiful interior quad regularly provides a venue for a number of local events, including <a href="https://www.curatedplace.com/spectra-aberdeens-festival-of-light" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>SPECTRA</b> - Aberdeen's festival of light</a> - and the annual Christmas Village, while the rear of the building houses the <b><a href="http://anatomyrooms.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anatomy Rooms</a></b> - an art studio and performance space. That said, the towering exterior of the building is worth a visit alone, with its statue of King Robert the Bruce and its newly installed water fountains.</div>
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For more impressive granite architecture, take a short walk up to Castlegate to see the Citadel, Mercat Cross and some great views straight down Union Street.</div>
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2. Visit the Tolbooth Museum </h4>
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At the Castlegate end of Union Street, in one of Aberdeen's oldest buildings, the city's former jail cells now play host to the <b><a href="http://www.aagm.co.uk/Visit/TheTolboothMuseum/ttm-overview.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tolbooth Museum</a></b>. Chronicling Aberdeen's history, with a particular focus on crime and punishment, the displays here cover stories from Jacobite rebellion to the tragic hunting of women labelled "witch." It's a fascinating - if slightly eerie - museum, set out to retain the feel of an ancient prison, and is well worth a short visit - especially as entry is entirely free! </div>
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(One thing worth noting: entry to the displays is via a narrow, winding staircase and there is sadly no alternative means of access.)</div>
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3. Admire Andy Scott's 'Poised' and 'Mother Earth' Sculptures</h4>
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Did you know that Aberdeen is home to not one but two sculptures by <b><a href="http://www.andyscottsculptor.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Andy Scott</a></b>, the creator of the famous Falkirk Kelpies? </div>
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The first of these is just a stone's throw away from Marischal College, in the central quad of <b><a href="http://marischalsquare.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marischal Square</a></b>, where a remarkable two-tonne steel leopard stands, 'Poised' to pounce from 15 metres above. </div>
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The second sculpture is a little further out, in Grandholm Village on the River Don. Standing on the site of an old textile mill, 'Mother Earth' wraps herself in cloth while flanked on either side by two more leopards - important symbols of the city that feature on Aberdeen's coat of arms. It's a beautiful sculpture in an unassuming location, which really took my breath away the first time I stumbled upon it. </div>
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It's well worth the visit to the latter sculpture, as the area is also home to the running waters of the old Woollen Mill and some pretty walks along the River Don, taking in the old Grandholm Bridge. </div>
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4. Explore Old Aberdeen</h4>
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Arguably one of Aberdeen's most beautiful areas, Old Aberdeen was once considered a separate burgh, but is now very much a part of the city, lying towards the north on the River Don. Full of beautiful buildings and charming cobbled streets, this area feels quaint and quiet in comparison to the hustle and bustle of the city centre, with a character all of its own. A walk through this picturesque part of Aberdeen takes in many historical buildings and photographic landmarks, including the campus of Aberdeen University and its King's College and Chapel; Powis Gates; the Old Town House; St Machar's Cathedral; Seaton Park; and the Brig O' Balgownie.<br />
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The University website offers a <b><a href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/events/documents/history.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">self-guided walking tour</a></b> through some of the area, giving some interesting insight into its history.</div>
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5. Wander Around Cruickshank Botanic Gardens and the Zoology Museum </h4>
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Technically still a part of Old Aberdeen, I felt like these adjoining attractions were worth a mention of their own. Both belonging to the University of Aberdeen, the 11 acres of <b><a href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/botanic-garden/" target="_blank">Cruickshank Botanic Gardens</a></b> are used for teaching and research, but are open to the public year round, providing a pretty and peaceful place to visit, whether to walk and explore the multiple gardens and their vast array of plant life, or just to sit and soak up the silence and (if you're lucky) the sun.<br />
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The <b><a href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/museums/exhibitions/zoology-museum-588.php" target="_blank">Zoology Museum</a></b>, meanwhile, delves into the animal kingdom with some 75,000 specimens, including permanent and changing exhibitions. The museum is open Monday to Friday (9am-5pm) throughout the year and is free to visit.<br />
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6. Walk Through Footdee and the Beach Esplanade </h4>
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Footdee - better known as 'Fittie' to local people - lies between the beach front and the harbour in Aberdeen and was once a small but thriving fishing community. These days, the village-like collection of cottages are a mixture of residential properties and holiday homes, with a mishmash of sheds and outhouses covered in quirky, eye-catching decorations. The area is full of character, with artists' studios to visit and lots of funny little details to admire and explore. Tucked away at the mouth of the River Dee, the neighbourhood is easy to miss but well worth making the effort to find.<br />
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From Fittie, there is a lovely walk along the length of the beach esplanade - all the way to the River Don, if you want - taking in <a href="https://www.codonas.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Codona's amusement park</b></a>, the <b><a href="https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/beach-ballroom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beach Ballroom</a></b> and a number of nice local cafes along the way. There are almost always surfers off the shore riding the waves and you might even spot our <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/dolphinwatch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">local dolphin pod</a>, if you're really lucky. </div>
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7. Visit the Maritime Museum </h4>
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There's a bit of a maritime theme going on here and that's because so much of Aberdeen's industry - past and present - is tied up with the sea, be that through fishing or oil and gas. <b><a href="http://www.aagm.co.uk/Visit/AberdeenMaritimeMuseum/amm-overview.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aberdeen Maritime Museum</a></b> - on the city centre's Shiprow - tells the story of the city's deep connection with the sea, with a large number of exhibitions, interactive displays and a great view over the busy working harbour.<br />
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I must confess, I wasn't overly enthusiastic about the idea of a Maritime Museum the first time I visited, but I was pleasantly surprised and actually really enjoyed it. The displays are informative and engaging; there are lots of fun, hands-on exhibits to try out; and I really appreciated the insight into life on an oil platform - a work-life reality for so many people in and around Aberdeen. It's a particularly family-friendly museum, with disabled access to most of the building which is open daily with free entry. </div>
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8. Visit Duthie Park and the Winter Gardens </h4>
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One of my favourite places to visit as a child, I have fond memories of <b><a href="https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/leisure-culture-and-parks/parks-and-gardens/duthie-park" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Duthie Park</a></b> and the David Welch Winter Gardens, with its huge outdoor slide and the indoor garden's talking cactus, family of terrapins and McPuddock the mechanical frog.<br />
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As an adult, I enjoy a visit just as much, though it's a walk around the perimeter of the park, a visit to the Japanese Garden, and a wander through the cactus collection that I most appreciate today. The Winter Gardens are one of the largest indoor gardens in all of Europe and a very pretty place to spend an afternoon, particularly if seeking refuge from the rain. An ideal place to visit at any time of year, there's plenty to admire - for both grown-ups and children alike - and a nice cafe space to enjoy an ice-cream or cup of coffee.<br />
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9. Take a Nuart Tour</h4>
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Each April, for the last three years, Aberdeen has hosted an international line-up of artists who have left their mark on the city's streets. As part of the Nuart festival, urban artists from across the globe have visited and brightened up Aberdeen with their impressive pieces of work, ranging from huge painted murals to hidden installations of Lego.<br />
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Free, guided walking tours take place on a weekly basis from The Green, led by a group of volunteers who really know their stuff when it comes to these works of art. Details of these tours can be found on their <b><a href="https://2019.nuartaberdeen.co.uk/tours/" target="_blank">website</a></b> and, having previously enjoyed one myself, I cannot speak of them highly enough. That said, if you can't make it along to an organised tour, there is a <b><a href="https://2019.nuartaberdeen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ABD19_Map_A4.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">map available online</a></b> so you can track down all the pieces yourself.<br />
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10. Visit Aberdeen Art Gallery</h4>
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Last, but by absolutely no means least, is the newly renovated <b><a href="http://www.aagm.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aberdeen Art Gallery</a></b>. Four years of hard work behind the scenes have created a stunning space, with three floors containing around nineteen galleries, two cafes, a rooftop terrace, a gift shop and a library.</div>
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The gallery has expanded from its previous 300-item display, to over 1000 to view today. From historical paintings to contemporary neon lights, from life-size sculptures to intricately detailed crockery, there is a vast array of work on show, in all shapes, sizes and artistic styles. Equally pleasingly, much of the gallery is hands-on and interactive, with family conversation prompts and child-friendly activities, from a draw-your-own-still-life space to a portrait pod where you can dress up in costume and pose for a photo which then appears on a gallery-like wall.<br />
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It really is a stunning space with so much to explore and its central location makes it ideal to visit, whether you've got hours to properly peruse, or just a spare half an hour to fill in town.<br />
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The gallery opens to the public this weekend with a ticketed event, but regular hours and free opening begin on Monday. If you only do one thing on this list, get yourself down to Aberdeen Art Gallery and check it out. It really is a venue for Aberdeen to be proud of.<br />
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<b><i>xo</i></b> </div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-80828269439314447572019-10-07T12:40:00.000+01:002019-10-10T17:13:59.908+01:00Paris: The Key Sights in 24 Hours (and 33,000 Steps)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It feels like a lifetime ago now, but just a couple of months ago we returned from an epic European adventure in which we crammed three major cities (in three different countries) into the space of one short week. </div>
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Starting in Paris, we spent 2.5 days in the city before hopping on a train to Brussels for 2 days, then another to Amsterdam for just over 24 hours. It was kind of ridiculous, but a pretty incredible trip. </div>
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Seeing as our time in each city was so limited, we tried to jam as much as we possibly could into every day, walking an average of 25,000 steps per day as we tried to take in all that there was to see. </div>
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We were also conscious of our budget - being, as we were, in three fairly expensive capital cities - and tried our best to keep down costs, without cutting out quality experiences from our trip. </div>
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With that in mind, here's what one 24 hour period looked like in Paris as we tried to tick off the key tourist attractions of the city. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqFy3OGztzsrQf4ZDz579Rl4-8UmCxU9bRmQty3ukNkfoeYpAb0jtPwn3UfPOyoqprdfnpSJFhPSgUQXjVigHTUSIBTSrjZbG1duDZTPa0qpT71Ek6nO3KZ2K5OPnhZKpHx5GZqiVtZk/s1600/P6110107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - view from Printemps Haussman" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqFy3OGztzsrQf4ZDz579Rl4-8UmCxU9bRmQty3ukNkfoeYpAb0jtPwn3UfPOyoqprdfnpSJFhPSgUQXjVigHTUSIBTSrjZbG1duDZTPa0qpT71Ek6nO3KZ2K5OPnhZKpHx5GZqiVtZk/s640/P6110107.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Views</h3>
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It's 7pm on Monday. We arrived in Paris this afternoon and spent a bit of time in Montmarte, not far from where we're staying, but now we've ventured a little further south in search of a birds' eye view of the city. </div>
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The Eiffel Tower might seem the most obvious place to start, but I want the tower <i>in </i>my picture ..and, honestly, don't really want to pay €25 or do battle with all those queues. So it is that we head to the slightly-less-obvious <b><a href="https://www.printempsfrance.com/paris-haussmann" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Printemps Haussmann</a></b> instead. A sprawling department store spread over 3 buildings and 10 floors, the crowning glory of Printemps is the Perruche restaurant on a rooftop terrace with 360 degree views. We took the lift to the men's department on the 9th floor, before making our way upstairs to the terrace, where restaurant goers and staff seem completely accepting of non-paying customers like ourselves milling around for the views. </div>
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And what views they were! Even on a grey, rain-threatening day, we could see the Eiffel Tower (and well beyond) in one direction and, opposite that, all the way over to the Sacre-Coeur on Montmarte hill. It made for a damn good first impression of the city and a pretty stunning view. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHYzzX6a8MFpbZUQwQJEUgGbpwvnGXBxynEYDesTkUrQEvC_X5k83tag_Vy7EsC6ZpJu8ii7CbgkxUS8trtblu-W8Ec_cnKhHcBxgJppRDRs9Z-ZmnRkCYeDJs5X5oHJXLyKn5dCG3Vk/s1600/P6110116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - Views from Printemps Haussman" border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHYzzX6a8MFpbZUQwQJEUgGbpwvnGXBxynEYDesTkUrQEvC_X5k83tag_Vy7EsC6ZpJu8ii7CbgkxUS8trtblu-W8Ec_cnKhHcBxgJppRDRs9Z-ZmnRkCYeDJs5X5oHJXLyKn5dCG3Vk/s640/P6110116.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Food</h3>
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Staying in the 9th Arrondissement, we head back in the direction of both our accommodation and, coincidentally, <b><a href="https://www.hankrestaurant.com/burger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hank Burger</a></b> - recommended by my brother and his family as a good spot for vegan food. </div>
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An entirely vegan burger restaurant, Hank offers five different choices of burger (each with its own illustrated character, adorably) and is pretty reasonably priced by Paris standards, at €13 for a burger, side and soft drink. </div>
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I opt for the "Allume" burger with BBQ sauce and peppers, while Jonathan chooses the "Catcheuse" with mustard and alfalfa, with which we share fries, coleslaw and a selection of dips. Every mouthful is delicious - with my burger being particularly good - and the venue is adorable, with retro seats and benches, cartoon paintings on the wall, and a live-action Facebook 'like' counter that keeps us a little too amused. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCW-4J8ajmgVCM3Qnku2prZqF2396brLT8ZFxwTaRKmQ4BE4CmIUGGeF4epC_M4vYve0EPmerGWfFwxQMDxwm4Ks4rZTDL60gK1wK3xmxfScAIdoli9lX7sG8t8jenUx_O7mve_PF-jfc/s1600/P6110125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - vegan - Hank burger" border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1600" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCW-4J8ajmgVCM3Qnku2prZqF2396brLT8ZFxwTaRKmQ4BE4CmIUGGeF4epC_M4vYve0EPmerGWfFwxQMDxwm4Ks4rZTDL60gK1wK3xmxfScAIdoli9lX7sG8t8jenUx_O7mve_PF-jfc/s640/P6110125.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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This was the only meal we ate out in Paris, using local supermarkets to stock up on the rest of our food. We stayed in an Air B'n'B with kitchen facilities, which allowed us to eat cheap breakfasts, prepare packed lunches and return in the evening to cook a hot meal before heading back out (or falling asleep!). We lived our best French lives with lots of nice bread, cheese and desserts, as well as (slightly-less-French) veggies, pasta, cereal and cheap Sangria and beer. </div>
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Not only did this help to keep costs down, but it also gave me an excuse to browse French supermarkets - genuinely one of my favourite things to do, because I'm fascinated by what's seen as a "staple" and readily-available in other countries. </div>
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<h3>
The Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe</h3>
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Refreshed from a good night's sleep in our cosy Air B'n'b, Tuesday sees us set out on a pretty mammoth walking tour, seeking out as many key sights as possible in one day.<br />
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Full of beans on the first full day of our trip, we start with a solid 3km walk down towards the Champs-Elysees, though we could easily have hopped on a Metro from the nearby Gare du Nord for around €1.90.<br />
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Arriving on Paris' most famous shopping street, we just so happen to stumble across the Disney Store at opening time. This might be common knowledge to everyone else, but I had <i>no </i>idea that there was a daily store opening ceremony, with a child unlocking the door and "turning on the magic" with a special key. It is adorable and the fact it's so unexpected only makes it better to see.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DW5rbXWZ3JJCkiovFfCSqlrUxY8yKslPYBd1PLlGya-FMwZ9m0e4hoJzACFyNehL4atIovKyzTlPZAmaXQZ8bxtIoXx-ZioG8TIiD9dbZsoTeICjFrUKuPycWOfduaHvZeUsGa3ACHA/s1600/P6120142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - Arc de Triomphe" border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DW5rbXWZ3JJCkiovFfCSqlrUxY8yKslPYBd1PLlGya-FMwZ9m0e4hoJzACFyNehL4atIovKyzTlPZAmaXQZ8bxtIoXx-ZioG8TIiD9dbZsoTeICjFrUKuPycWOfduaHvZeUsGa3ACHA/s640/P6120142.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPfeYXajUh5H8OrngJmnA4yUPnNebXwuhwN7RgSUDXf5wkE96lsyUs1oj-iE-b2A33hV91iquUgkNxoKvMvNlvWNhn04nxo9pDg4EuFMaHUHQYOlTQFIlBC9jgFOHh0RNlmaOEpyhNhE/s1600/P6120156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPfeYXajUh5H8OrngJmnA4yUPnNebXwuhwN7RgSUDXf5wkE96lsyUs1oj-iE-b2A33hV91iquUgkNxoKvMvNlvWNhn04nxo9pDg4EuFMaHUHQYOlTQFIlBC9jgFOHh0RNlmaOEpyhNhE/s640/P6120156.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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After a compulsory mooch around the Disney Store, we head to the far end of the Champs-Elysees, where the Arc de Triomphe sits proudly in the centre of the busiest roundabout I've ever seen! After a little bit of confusion, we eventually find our way to the underground tunnel which leads you up into this central space, where the Arc de Triomphe towers overhead. I am genuinely taken aback by how enormous it is!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6A2EuyIR_kvavWYaogzU1P4VIRHE73fDkl_SJR0eQtT7bdEqSPtQywfhkeMsqXstQjj67Ez0OlOrGiJYS4IO4FRBqEZWPOPXVbLxx7cjw3WsWnUAGIeryhydiIhJnitYHs92FpwDA2w/s1600/P6120154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - Arc de Triomphe" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6A2EuyIR_kvavWYaogzU1P4VIRHE73fDkl_SJR0eQtT7bdEqSPtQywfhkeMsqXstQjj67Ez0OlOrGiJYS4IO4FRBqEZWPOPXVbLxx7cjw3WsWnUAGIeryhydiIhJnitYHs92FpwDA2w/s640/P6120154.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oWGSIkWH9FiA8FE_hxYx6MsgsHN2dEAa0mpxkjj8lzdWMgI0zDfJ8SRsEjJxWD2iYpWIqHMXBV11PrQqeMMJIbt2tO2_sHPSrtQ8Mv1fHslT9oSPkylNDqQeLP1VSFmpQmV58t1OQNw/s1600/P6120157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - Arc de Triomphe" border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oWGSIkWH9FiA8FE_hxYx6MsgsHN2dEAa0mpxkjj8lzdWMgI0zDfJ8SRsEjJxWD2iYpWIqHMXBV11PrQqeMMJIbt2tO2_sHPSrtQ8Mv1fHslT9oSPkylNDqQeLP1VSFmpQmV58t1OQNw/s640/P6120157.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can climb up inside the monument and walk along the top of the arch for <span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;">€</span></span>12, if you please, but we opt not to and spend a bit of time just admiring the incredible engravings and sculptures instead. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgHO6JGf9smN16BVQEhJ-IGT9EEsHe5Xrigy1M4xQg_UwEkyh_GnbyiMTbo1xGwgmETLwN17f06RAH2dnqjHy4q8pZdTTIpts-uHOCanKa3RX3a8BQnp6cexrCX2X3Ril0HcdlGmQgOA/s1600/P6120201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - Statue of Liberty" border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgHO6JGf9smN16BVQEhJ-IGT9EEsHe5Xrigy1M4xQg_UwEkyh_GnbyiMTbo1xGwgmETLwN17f06RAH2dnqjHy4q8pZdTTIpts-uHOCanKa3RX3a8BQnp6cexrCX2X3Ril0HcdlGmQgOA/s640/P6120201.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Geocaching and the Statue of Liberty </h3>
I've <a href="https://www.laurawhispering.co.uk/2016/08/geocaching-and-5-reasons-why-i-love-it.html" target="_blank">written before about my love of Geocaching</a>, but one of the reasons I'm so fond of it is that it's a great activity to do on a budget, anywhere in the world. It'll keep you occupied without spending a single penny, but it'll also introduce you to bits of a city you might not otherwise find. In Amsterdam, for example, it took us down a little side street - an off-shoot from a busy canal - where we found an adorable little book-swapping cabinet. It also saves a "souvenir" on the app, marking each country in which you've successfully found a 'Cache, which I think is a cool little reminder to look back on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs28DmGPDGGSdPggJsHtJdBWjY4GnrtY3tmJAEkpfMlq6yz4fMulsvZ7R1CGgPnrCDGDSU-ZrJTKhBT8zzTg0u7FoxJ_d8_yK81Ani14J5aKI-DqgHjzgZ5KIjhMtdJqCQPEhyphenhyphenNAL0O6c/s1600/P6120195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - Geocaching on the Seine" border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs28DmGPDGGSdPggJsHtJdBWjY4GnrtY3tmJAEkpfMlq6yz4fMulsvZ7R1CGgPnrCDGDSU-ZrJTKhBT8zzTg0u7FoxJ_d8_yK81Ani14J5aKI-DqgHjzgZ5KIjhMtdJqCQPEhyphenhyphenNAL0O6c/s640/P6120195.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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We keep our eyes peeled for Geocaches as we walk from the Arc de Triomphe, along the banks of the Seine. One unsuccessful search (a stranger from a nearby apartment comes and tells us it's there, but no luck) and a momentary distraction (in the form of crepes at a local market) later and we finally find one hanging around on the edge of a bridge, conveniently close to our next attraction: the Statue of Liberty.<br />
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Ok, Lady Liberty may well be better associated with New York City, but since she was gifted to the United States by France and designed by the same sculptor as the Eiffel Tower, it kind of makes sense that there would be one in Paris too. The Parisian version may only come in at a quarter of the height of its Big Apple counterpart, but it's still pretty cool to see her stood there on her own man-made island, and the walk along the river to get there is lovely. </div>
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<h3>
The Eiffel Tower </h3>
A walk back along the opposite riverbank leads us to our next stop of the day and perhaps Paris' most famous landmark. At 324 metres of wrought-iron height, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in all of Paris as well as one of the most visited, seeing around 6.9 million people ascend it every year.<br />
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We were not among those people, but we do appreciate the views of this impressive structure all across the city and enjoy a nice picnic at its feet, though much of the park is closed off to preserve a huge piece of art entitled '<b><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48644800" target="_blank">Beyond Walls</a></b>', recently painted on the Champ de Mars.<br />
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Truth be told, we don't hang around the Eiffel Tower for too long. As much as I appreciate it as the ultimate romanticised image of Paris, I personally think there are far more attractive sights to enjoy throughout the city and the sheer busy-ness and abundance of street hawkers can quickly get on a person's nerves.<br />
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<h3>
Concorde and the Louvre </h3>
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Not loitering too long, we head back over the bridge to the opposite side of the Seine and take a walk towards the Place de la Concorde, where we get caught in the rain admiring the Egyptian obelisk and water fountains. We take shelter in the toilets and shop at the Musee de l'Orangerie for just long enough that it dries up and we're able to enjoy a walk through the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries to the Carrousel Arc de Triomphe.<br />
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From there we find ourselves just metres away from the infamous inverted pyramid of the Louvre.<br />
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The largest art gallery in the world, the Louvre is almost as well-known for this triangular monument as it is as the home of da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Opened more than 200 years ago, it is now thought to be the most visited museum in the world, seeing around 10 million visitors every year.<br />
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A visit to the museum could easily take up an entire day in itself, with hundreds of thousands of artifacts and some 35,000 works of art to be admired, and for this reason we opt not to visit today, but I'm glad I was able to see the exterior of this landmark so visually familiar to me.<br />
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As the heavens open, we instead seek refuge in a nearby cafe (a poor life choice in terms of prices charged in such prime tourist territory) and refuel with a coffee until the worst of the rain has passed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pi7_Fb1YnxDIB88LzX9eCY0yv8SCK_kKTZ5KnBF8BlGhY1_2pNWbCiwUSoJRg1Pc1yz0okriTeW5FKP2fczslDpB-zqF7gq0_QPHfkT47O81GoiFpi-DePJkrZFhYTGfID6oE4MIiS8/s1600/P6120257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - Notre Dame" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pi7_Fb1YnxDIB88LzX9eCY0yv8SCK_kKTZ5KnBF8BlGhY1_2pNWbCiwUSoJRg1Pc1yz0okriTeW5FKP2fczslDpB-zqF7gq0_QPHfkT47O81GoiFpi-DePJkrZFhYTGfID6oE4MIiS8/s640/P6120257.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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Notre Dame and the Pantheon </h3>
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From there we head along the Seine towards the island that houses the Notre Dame. The magnificent cathedral setting of Victor Hugo's well known novel has recently suffered a devastating fire and so is closed to visitors during our trip, but it still draws a crowd and makes for a beautiful and imposing presence as we walk along the river, admiring the art work for sale on its banks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCZfATqRLEQQYGSSO3JeAV1_6Fd0ds2WriZZ9Y3aC9ct2aOHtul8_hhG1_WSMvDMFnZNush3CPj2p9N5WFfMC9b_SLQtfXNngFEH195mHDJwXmZEIzzA4GeJt-WGRRteLK-BIUxYYTV8/s1600/P6120272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24 hours in Paris - The Pantheon" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCZfATqRLEQQYGSSO3JeAV1_6Fd0ds2WriZZ9Y3aC9ct2aOHtul8_hhG1_WSMvDMFnZNush3CPj2p9N5WFfMC9b_SLQtfXNngFEH195mHDJwXmZEIzzA4GeJt-WGRRteLK-BIUxYYTV8/s640/P6120272.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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From there we cross over into the Latin Quarter and wander around the outside of the Pantheon building. Designed by architect Soufflon to rival the likes of St Peter's in Rome, it is a beautiful and ornate building, with a crypt providing the resting place for many famous French figures, all of which can be visited for a <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">€</span>9 entry fee.<br />
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Feeling pretty tired after a long day, we decide instead to head into the buzz of the Latin Quarter, to explore its many shops, bars and eateries, before beginning the long walk back to our Air B'n'B.<br />
Again, we could easily have hopped on the metro, but I'm glad we choose to walk as we happen upon some live music and activities celebrating the FIFA Women's World Cup - little delights that we might never otherwise have seen.<br />
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Arriving back at the apartment, it's time to chill out before dinner, feeling more than satisfied that we've ticked off some of the best sights that Paris has to offer in just a single day!<br />
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Have you been to Paris? If so, what was your favourite sight in this beautiful city?</div>
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<b><i>xo</i></b></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-73379881857163296202019-09-09T16:40:00.000+01:002019-10-19T14:10:37.893+01:00Scotland // Three Places to Visit in South Ayrshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTseN2yo1PTrSr81GKee7fALISAbPf0KcueYQEl4XbJKcnC6jnS5-gL1NpzAwzUGuotrRDrzxvWus2an8S1oqPV7YBRND2N1LLxM03Y8fL9kInXbp6NDLMrt_MwqRNLNcJIUcXdPdfnM0/s1600/ayrshire05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Robert Burns Brig O'Doon, Alloway, South Ayrshire" border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1500" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTseN2yo1PTrSr81GKee7fALISAbPf0KcueYQEl4XbJKcnC6jnS5-gL1NpzAwzUGuotrRDrzxvWus2an8S1oqPV7YBRND2N1LLxM03Y8fL9kInXbp6NDLMrt_MwqRNLNcJIUcXdPdfnM0/s640/ayrshire05.jpg" title="Brig O'Doon, Alloway, South Ayrshire" width="640" /></a></div>
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This summer marked 9 whole years since I graduated from university, left my Youth Work job and moved back to Aberdeenshire, yet some small part of me still thinks of Prestwick and South Ayrshire as my second home. It is a place filled with warming memories; with people who weren’t my family yet treated me as if I were theirs; and where I first stepped out into adult life, independently, and began to grow. For these reasons and more, it will always hold a special place in my heart.</div>
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I was delighted, then, to have an excuse to revisit the area last weekend and to introduce J, for the first time, to the people and place that were so important to me.</div>
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We didn’t have a huge amount of time to explore - between driving from Aberdeen and back again and fitting in some catch-ups over coffee - so I had to prioritise what I took him to see.<br />
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Here are three of my favourite places to visit in South Ayrshire, which we managed to fit in to one day...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn60liLY0pztxtwJZhTVi_5KJHFwWyfU7QIKixXHWvZeZJE_3M5LR2X6xATY0zfraZcHYlHSJQFA1uVpAIoxmI_5QxWH_BGLMzkxnrzIeA0XajAoBZZ3vPdtmqwKVjK1kB-QyxPkH_Ec/s1600/ayrshire01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Burns Cottage, Alloway, South Ayrshire" border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1500" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn60liLY0pztxtwJZhTVi_5KJHFwWyfU7QIKixXHWvZeZJE_3M5LR2X6xATY0zfraZcHYlHSJQFA1uVpAIoxmI_5QxWH_BGLMzkxnrzIeA0XajAoBZZ3vPdtmqwKVjK1kB-QyxPkH_Ec/s640/ayrshire01.jpg" title="Burns Cottage, Alloway, South Ayrshire" width="640" /></a></div>
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Alloway, aka Burns Country</h2>
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Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, was born just outside of Ayr in a small village (now a suburb of the town) known as Alloway and South Ayrshire is very much Burns’ Country.</div>
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Preserved by the <b><a href="https://www.nts.org.uk/" target="_blank">National Trust for Scotland</a></b>, the thatched roof cottage in which he was born in 1759 and spent the first seven years of his life still remains, juxtaposed against the more modern buildings and passing cars on one of Alloway’s busier streets.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWFRrimCY1DCzz-yEr2SEb6y9_DtDHn1MPNnjWvbGxkYTtnlfnb7RWuDfXAeeuPYrHW4lvQsOX3NX9SPyMzrIhxLWFGmflE5vvhacsKmh9MItrNn4j2QTE3EXOh3qpdCNS9QnqQyG8k4/s1600/ayrshire04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway, South Ayrshire" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1500" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWFRrimCY1DCzz-yEr2SEb6y9_DtDHn1MPNnjWvbGxkYTtnlfnb7RWuDfXAeeuPYrHW4lvQsOX3NX9SPyMzrIhxLWFGmflE5vvhacsKmh9MItrNn4j2QTE3EXOh3qpdCNS9QnqQyG8k4/s640/ayrshire04.jpg" title="Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway, South Ayrshire" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">There are nods to the area’s most famous son scattered throughout Alloway, including the <b><a href="https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/robert-burns-birthplace-museum" target="_blank">Robert Burns Birthplace Museum</a></b>, housing exhibits, a cafe and gift shop; the Poet’s Path, lined with references from his poetry (from a metal mouse sculpture, to an 'Ae Fond Kiss' engraving, to a great big haggis made of stone); and the Burns Monument, which you can climb for pretty views at the top.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98_HxoHvRVxtfhZVt2Oyuq31O2oFd6XLgybP-Wrg9I_wem-VcCxUt5t1jfMY19VntzvKcfMoUGJ7lweJZ5CBf0gs8KRoRr4ju8BnJrJ9CSrxf8YlgNvzjHxUmmSZwKUksm87X3YmDBdY/s1600/ayrshire08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Robert Burns - Alloway Auld Kirk, South Ayrshire" border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1500" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98_HxoHvRVxtfhZVt2Oyuq31O2oFd6XLgybP-Wrg9I_wem-VcCxUt5t1jfMY19VntzvKcfMoUGJ7lweJZ5CBf0gs8KRoRr4ju8BnJrJ9CSrxf8YlgNvzjHxUmmSZwKUksm87X3YmDBdY/s640/ayrshire08.jpg" title="Robert Burns - Alloway Auld Kirk, South Ayrshire" width="640" /></a></div>
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We were also able to visit Alloway’s Auld Kirk and graveyard, where some of Burns’ family were buried. If you’re at all familiar with Tam O’Shanter, this is the haunted site at which Tam was said to have spied the witches and warlocks who proceeded to give him chase. The same poem also refers to the nearby Brig O’Doon, a pretty medieval bridge, where Tam’s horse Meg loses her tail to the hands of a witch.<br />
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I’m not sure how much my English boyfriend appreciated my incessant recital of Scottish poetry throughout our visit, but I for one loved exploring and seeing the poems I grew up learning come to life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCtvyHvxT767XsgiJf7sDq3URqQ3ia_99VFqHiYiI3mS4FkWyXKvlQ1MGAmzzLVpc9IKATlV4v_8_fXqjDUNLnbWsvmWdraQ3RkACwCt4spyPewdyiBV_u6TkRGsmqVLWAjn9kaNC9NY/s1600/ayrshire10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dunure Castle, South Ayrshire" border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1500" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCtvyHvxT767XsgiJf7sDq3URqQ3ia_99VFqHiYiI3mS4FkWyXKvlQ1MGAmzzLVpc9IKATlV4v_8_fXqjDUNLnbWsvmWdraQ3RkACwCt4spyPewdyiBV_u6TkRGsmqVLWAjn9kaNC9NY/s640/ayrshire10.jpg" title="Dunure Castle, South Ayrshire" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dunure Castle</h2>
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Our next stop was just a 15 minute drive from Alloway, taking us to the harbour village of Dunure and its ruined castle, perched on the edge of the Ayrshire coast.
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In my mind it will always be the home of youth group BBQs and many fond memories, but the castle dates back to the 13th century and has a long and complicated history as a fortress under the Kennedy family, including a kidnapping, the occasional murder, and a visit from Mary Queen of Scots.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5srcaEve-M3gyWMyVkLyzc0ygKtSqOF0Qa3OO4LQmYjVBeDO486ukfRyTYCa-4fNCb-nlx2qZclk1UsQvuBOMvpojYxfS2880yygVW_6h4-h0lfk3MfwJhDjU7h2xO3A8LVWj6psGiRE/s1600/ayrshire09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dunure, South Ayrshire" border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1500" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5srcaEve-M3gyWMyVkLyzc0ygKtSqOF0Qa3OO4LQmYjVBeDO486ukfRyTYCa-4fNCb-nlx2qZclk1UsQvuBOMvpojYxfS2880yygVW_6h4-h0lfk3MfwJhDjU7h2xO3A8LVWj6psGiRE/s640/ayrshire09.jpg" title="Dunure, South Ayrshire" width="640" /></a></div>
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It’s been a ruin since the 1700s, but has seen more drama in recent years as a filming location - along with the local harbour - for the third and fourth seasons of the Outlander TV series.<br />
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The wind was wild at this point in the afternoon, but we explored the doocot, the labyrinth and the accessible parts of the ruin, and on a less blustery day the walk down to the beach is lovely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzR6vzIUqNUPlAdyU6al01fJ4q2opOo-tNIEduJ_M1ZALcmDr0bEoUjpWVohT7bAOEnv90AWlce0ZcuehL2qQezevNqV589nU0rk6Eur3t8ZYvloXQcVElaAaA_YCpw69R0UyUICet8g/s1600/ayrshire11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Culzean Castle, South Ayrshire" border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1500" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzR6vzIUqNUPlAdyU6al01fJ4q2opOo-tNIEduJ_M1ZALcmDr0bEoUjpWVohT7bAOEnv90AWlce0ZcuehL2qQezevNqV589nU0rk6Eur3t8ZYvloXQcVElaAaA_YCpw69R0UyUICet8g/s640/ayrshire11.jpg" title="Culzean Castle, South Ayrshire" width="640" /></a></div>
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Culzean Castle and Country Park</h2>
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For our third stop of the day, we headed slightly further South along the coast to Maidens, with <b><a href="https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culzean" target="_blank">Culzean Castle</a></b> our eventual aim.
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Once belonging to the same family who owned Dunure, Culzean Castle and its 260 hectare estate - including a deer park and swan pond - are managed by the National Trust for Scotland these days. Entry to the country park alone will cost you £11.85, or £17 if you want to include castle entry. (It’s almost worth it just to see the stunning oval staircase.)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4844AMGid4NHoi8C1lSMcEVs5iTL_WqACaTwSoQ6SLB82ctn-i6c_DXwhLYVaeljGd3cU2u4J8g0KNOcvSHP-RAbtGnVlhZZyyGdmfBdQluKfovuFB6rgm9My1lNVx-yU4jTDIqIFNPI/s1600/ayrshire12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Culzean Castle, South Ayrshire" border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1500" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4844AMGid4NHoi8C1lSMcEVs5iTL_WqACaTwSoQ6SLB82ctn-i6c_DXwhLYVaeljGd3cU2u4J8g0KNOcvSHP-RAbtGnVlhZZyyGdmfBdQluKfovuFB6rgm9My1lNVx-yU4jTDIqIFNPI/s640/ayrshire12.jpg" title="Culzean Castle, South Ayrshire" width="640" /></a></div>
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I’ll let you in on a little “secret” though: access to the grounds is entirely free if you enter through the wooden staircase up from Maidens beach.<br />
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Parking as far north as possible at Maidens (just before you end up in the caravan park) and heading on foot along the beach, it’s only a 15 minute walk to the stairway, which takes you up into the grounds beside the pagoda and swan pond, from which you’re free to explore the estate.<br />
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The castle itself is beautiful and wouldn’t be out of place in a princess story, and there is loads to see and do in the vast grounds, making it an ideal place for a walk and a picnic, or a whole day out with the family.<br />
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Food / Coffee</h2>
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All that walking and fresh Scottish air left us in need of a good refuelling in the form of coffee and food.</div>
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We had multiple caffeine fixes throughout our short visit, sampling a small selection of the area’s coffee shops as we caught up with friends, but my favourite had to be <b><a href="https://www.costleyspatisserie.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Costley’s</a></b> on Prestwick’s main street. </div>
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A ‘Patisserie and Chocolatier’, one side of the venue sells handmade chocolates, ice-cream and exquisite looking desserts to take-away, while the other operates as a coffee shop, serving breakfasts, lunches, milkshakes and hot drinks. I’ve sampled their ice-cream before (of course!), but it was all about the coffee on this occasion, which ticked all the boxes for being good quality, having multiple dairy-free alternatives, and being reasonably priced too. </div>
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When it came to food, we headed to <b><a href="https://www.thefoxandwillow.co.uk/no22-at-the-fox---willow.html" target="_blank">No. 22 at the Fox and Willow</a></b> in Ayr, in the building that used to be the Carrick Lodge. I happened across the Fox and Willow on Instagram and was won over by their beautiful pictures of food, cocktails and quirky decorative art, so booked a table for the Saturday night and hoped that expectation and reality would marry up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOIyajJ_Sj_q_JpNl2kHBayxGehT6JMhqoeOMCzpJ8iOBsp1GUPJ91XTVghpiOa9EytQOq0kl7mnV07E5NSoyVrYhJkcnbceZvFslJBUpbe2oSDuTkkgmM4Q02yXVRT3MSNpNekNdXhU/s1600/ayrshire15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1500" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOIyajJ_Sj_q_JpNl2kHBayxGehT6JMhqoeOMCzpJ8iOBsp1GUPJ91XTVghpiOa9EytQOq0kl7mnV07E5NSoyVrYhJkcnbceZvFslJBUpbe2oSDuTkkgmM4Q02yXVRT3MSNpNekNdXhU/s640/ayrshire15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It definitely did not disappoint.<br />
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The food in this award-winning restaurant was as well-presented as their photos suggested and equally tasty; the cocktail list was excellent and extensive; and the beautifully decorated venue was serving me warm and welcoming pub vibes, with a more sophisticated twist.<br />
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They had a good selection of vegetarian options throughout all courses and I opted for a bit of a Tex-Mex theme with the buffalo cauliflower to start, followed by fajitas for main - a mammoth and delicious portion of vegetables I wouldn't usually anticipate in such a dish (think butternut squash, potato wedges, and potentially some celeriac), which worked surprisingly well with the spicy sauce and accompaniments.<br />
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My not-so-vegetarian partner chose the whipped burrata cheese with a tomato salad and fennel crackers (all delicious) for his starter and then an epic-looking steak and ale pie for his main, with a side of onion rings to share.<br />
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I can't rate the food highly enough, with the only "disappointment" the fact that neither of us could clear our plates!<br />
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It was also excellent value for money, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night when they offer two courses and a cocktail for £16.50. (As you can imagine, this menu is very popular so it's probably best to book in advance for these days.)<br />
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Pretty much the perfect way to end a long and enjoyable day exploring South Ayrshire - an area of Scotland full of beautiful scenery, fascinating history and lots of friendly charm.<br />
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<b><i>xo </i></b></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-77719276655960627532019-07-16T17:00:00.000+01:002019-10-10T17:06:25.508+01:00How to Visit Paris Without Breaking the Bank<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJZTBB-OXhsAjP1bGMfyCrhsd_dz3AnBdcUxPP3HcIhZJ8LEnq0YcivZL3709SPKjK01a_EAxvt6Evibvu4qKJdhVWsdcYLuO1MBapR_CuN_0DQj1w27yXRASIKuRjN3UDVsrndM7XyE/s1600/P6120197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Budget travel: The Eiffel Tower from Pont de Bir Hakeim" border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJZTBB-OXhsAjP1bGMfyCrhsd_dz3AnBdcUxPP3HcIhZJ8LEnq0YcivZL3709SPKjK01a_EAxvt6Evibvu4qKJdhVWsdcYLuO1MBapR_CuN_0DQj1w27yXRASIKuRjN3UDVsrndM7XyE/s640/P6120197.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eiffel Tower from Pont de Bir-Hakeim</td></tr>
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About a month ago now, we were off on a week-long travel adventure cramming three cities in three different countries into seven short days.
A similar trip last year saw me visiting Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest in a week, but this time round it was the turn of Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. </div>
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Both of these trips were amazing, with every one of those cities having loads to offer, and I can’t speak positively enough of the experience of hopping around Europe by train. It’s brilliant and you should all book a multi-city trip immediately. </div>
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It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that certain cities in Europe come with a far higher price tag than others, as was very apparent on our most recent trip, which just so happened to combine a string of these. It’s far easier to have a budget-friendly trip in Budapest, for example, than it is in "Gai Paris" ..but that’s not to say that you <i>can’t</i> visit Paris without breaking the bank! </div>
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Whichever city you happen to be visiting, it’s almost always possible to find ways of tailoring your trip to your own budget and finding ways of cutting costs. </div>
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These are just some of the ways we kept our spending down in Paris (though many of these apply just as easily to other locations as well)..</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXD-W9tbIRjzr3iGsAlb67EohSynOoJY9hoUb-VrMxLCEr1xiq6JOGcx4iGDuqLXX3tI3HIf-JSwpeAWlqLYw3OSoWHiRio65BBi5LEcGC-nzsI04rDS00D5rXVFCBN_p2S32S7trDRk/s1600/P6110062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Budget travel: views from the Sacre Coeur" border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXD-W9tbIRjzr3iGsAlb67EohSynOoJY9hoUb-VrMxLCEr1xiq6JOGcx4iGDuqLXX3tI3HIf-JSwpeAWlqLYw3OSoWHiRio65BBi5LEcGC-nzsI04rDS00D5rXVFCBN_p2S32S7trDRk/s640/P6110062.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from the Sacre Coeur</td></tr>
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Accommodation </h3>
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Perhaps the most obvious place to start - somewhere to begin your day and rest your weary head.</div>
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When I’m travelling solo I always favour hostels (preferably with female-only rooms, where possible) for their convenience and low cost, but have found that European hostels are generally no cheaper than other alternatives when travelling as a duo. </div>
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Instead, <b><a href="https://www.airbnb.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Air B’n’B</a></b> has become my go-to.
In Paris, in particular, we found that the quality of room on offer within our budget was far higher on Air B’n’B than the dated-looking hotel rooms available to us at the same cost. </div>
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Our Paris apartment was tiny (exactly as expected from the advertisement), but modern, well-kept, ideally located and served us perfectly for the duration of our three-night stay. </div>
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Staying in an Air B’n’B also came with additional cost-cutting benefits: it gave us access to a kitchen, which reduced the need to dine out and allowed us to cook our own meals instead; and though not the case in Paris, our apartment in Brussels came with laundry facilities, which reduced the amount of luggage needed and thus saved on airline baggage costs. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkFdurjH_GU_RdUgrDXhcoW55GOQs4-LlBRKhme9bijgy5MVZZDgJjAa8gepamgwykC46mD2KHGj8EDVuYf9KpHuLoAxY2bKiVuXYN3VK3QcyS7OolCOm23kDNFEF8ofmdT4_AOX4ic0/s1600/P6120244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Budget travel: the Louvre, Paris" border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkFdurjH_GU_RdUgrDXhcoW55GOQs4-LlBRKhme9bijgy5MVZZDgJjAa8gepamgwykC46mD2KHGj8EDVuYf9KpHuLoAxY2bKiVuXYN3VK3QcyS7OolCOm23kDNFEF8ofmdT4_AOX4ic0/s640/P6120244.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Louvre</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Walk </h3>
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So now you’ve found somewhere to stay and you’re raring to get out and explore. My top tip for Paris, in this respect? Walk. </div>
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At €1.90 per single journey, the metro isn’t overly expensive, but a couple of journeys quickly adds up. And most of the city’s key attractions are actually within surprisingly close proximity!</div>
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We comfortably saw the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, the Notre Dame, the Pantheon and the Latin Quarter on foot in one afternoon. </div>
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And walking everywhere allowed for the little surprises we might not otherwise have stumbled upon: a local food market with cheap, fresh crepes; beautiful street art of famous Parisians; a ska band playing to celebrate the Women’s World Cup. </div>
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(If you’re going to walk everywhere, however, perhaps consider taking a Pac-A-Mac so the surprise of rain is a less unpleasant one!) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-w4E6fIY0ttU9mXmTW-pr3SqmrTxNToV8SLy4k5XnMw9jl1Y2Q46FwK6FZm1oFWhLTO-qc5gpz674l7zuuEJ_6458152KRcrjeYkUreshmE-Db9SyPtpaspJJo4InyuVcLnuZZKhEQ0/s1600/P6110073a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Budget travel: views of the Eiffel Tower, Paris" border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-w4E6fIY0ttU9mXmTW-pr3SqmrTxNToV8SLy4k5XnMw9jl1Y2Q46FwK6FZm1oFWhLTO-qc5gpz674l7zuuEJ_6458152KRcrjeYkUreshmE-Db9SyPtpaspJJo4InyuVcLnuZZKhEQ0/s640/P6110073a.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views of the Eiffel Tower</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Prioritise and Pre-Book</h3>
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Let's face it, Paris attractions are <i>expensive </i>and entrance to most of these famous landmarks comes at quite a cost. We were more than happy to see the majority of them from the outside and prioritised our spending on those we most wanted to visit. In Paris' case, the only attraction we actually paid for were <b><a href="http://catacombes.paris.fr/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Catacombs</a></b>. </div>
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Forward planning is not everyone's favourite thing when it comes to a holiday (though it's certainly mine - Captain Control Freak, over here), but it really does pay to book these big attractions in advance, where possible. We pre-booked one or two activities for each city we visited on this trip. In some cases, pre-booking marginally brought down the ticket price; and in every case it saved on the amount of time wasted in a queue. Pre-booking also allowed us to spread out the cost over preceding months, so our bank balances didn't take such a dramatic hit all at once. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl__97VGUdro7lmKX7At3sXDUNF0OnHXBIJBnknJ5Rl2EjggAhXHlp5fKJGXyoz1RezSRxcvH_bAi66pSx0AbPczW8d3Z2v833IO_s0QZvZmk6f9RpvFpg1B2j9lU_xiU2HDUDx_v8Xvw/s1600/P6110107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl__97VGUdro7lmKX7At3sXDUNF0OnHXBIJBnknJ5Rl2EjggAhXHlp5fKJGXyoz1RezSRxcvH_bAi66pSx0AbPczW8d3Z2v833IO_s0QZvZmk6f9RpvFpg1B2j9lU_xiU2HDUDx_v8Xvw/s640/P6110107.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from Printemps Haussman's rooftop terrace</td></tr>
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Find Free Alternatives </h3>
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Despite all that, there are actually <i>some </i>free things to visit across the city and, again, it pays to do your research before you go to find what interests you. Beautiful parks, pretty churches, celebrity cemeteries and stunning views: we found plenty to do in Paris that came at zero cost. </div>
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The Eiffel Tower might be the city's most famous landmark, but there are certainly cheaper options if all you're really after are the birds'-eye views. We found the rooftop terrace at Printempts Haussman department store gave a pretty spectacular perspective on the city, with the Eiffel Tower perfectly in view. (It can be accessed by taking the lift to the 9th floor and the stairs to the 10th, and restaurant staff seemed completely at ease with non-paying customers milling around with cameras in hand.) </div>
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Other free activities included a wander around the gardens and boating lake at Luxembourg Palace, a visit to le mur des je t'aime (the 'I love you' wall), and a search for the graves of Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf and Oscar Wilde in the beautiful Pere Lachaise cemetery. </div>
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One of the city's most famous - and, in my opinion, most beautiful - landmarks is also entirely free to visit. Sat on top of the hill of Montmarte, the Sacre Coeur basilica charges no entry fee (unless you want to visit the upper dome) and is stunning to see, both internally and externally, with impressive views over the rest of the city. </div>
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Again, it might take a little bit of forward-planning, but there is plenty to do and see in Paris without spending a penny.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlseumglc9UIIOFY_VPQh-kTON2tqs-JnyTXSpokBn6_Oeoil7xANnCmJm96w6wGlRQu1V-ENofjso1Q-2mnxKB4uL9DEiux524df7iE6wgG6fDu9BXi2tkl-1MQgoPbollDVxxC3Vc4w/s1600/P6130332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="1600" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlseumglc9UIIOFY_VPQh-kTON2tqs-JnyTXSpokBn6_Oeoil7xANnCmJm96w6wGlRQu1V-ENofjso1Q-2mnxKB4uL9DEiux524df7iE6wgG6fDu9BXi2tkl-1MQgoPbollDVxxC3Vc4w/s640/P6130332.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pere Lachaise Cemetery</td></tr>
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Avoid Eating in Tourist Hot-Spots </h3>
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You’re going to need to eat and drink at some point while you’re out and about, but if you’re going to eat in a restaurant or cafe it pays to venture a little further away from any famous landmark’s immediate vicinity. </div>
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Everyone with a bit of common sense knows this, and yet we still made the fatal error of stopping for a coffee near the Louvre, seeking shelter from torrential rain. I don’t think I’ve ever paid so much for a (pretty rubbish) cup of coffee in my life! We were glad of the shelter and seat, but it genuinely pained me to part with that money. </div>
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Just a street or two away and prices begin to drop, but it was in quieter areas like the 9th Arrondisement where we found food and drink at a substantially better cost. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDueWz4j_-GBdPVhU08lroSFy95gNWt03rcELPFv1M5QlRJ_i51gd7zMcQtYHFGjonixiNJQTFkwrg5_V3Mhl_29FRFNRagTthRZEZUzCe-xMn3XezNOzst4Qc3uOU861tyrpXJmZVEc/s1600/P6130323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDueWz4j_-GBdPVhU08lroSFy95gNWt03rcELPFv1M5QlRJ_i51gd7zMcQtYHFGjonixiNJQTFkwrg5_V3Mhl_29FRFNRagTthRZEZUzCe-xMn3XezNOzst4Qc3uOU861tyrpXJmZVEc/s640/P6130323.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luxembourg Palace</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Pack a Picnic </h3>
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Alternatively, save on dining-out altogether by packing a picnic lunch. </div>
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Both supermarkets and local food markets offer produce like fruit, cheese and fresh bread at a more reasonable price, and what’s not to love about the idea of sitting by the Eiffel Tower eating an al fresco lunch? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO9ENAEvuqCAwOWCotpBDiRiqA8dXJtCt1mRnh88MGozFfXcaOOlKmDbP1hjBSNppv8qFxBqCAceg3V2oyEvQth7tcFgjCPxInXwS9ChD31zQSRZfL55GUJc6lNRW5f6wjrAfwy5Vso8/s1600/P6120137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO9ENAEvuqCAwOWCotpBDiRiqA8dXJtCt1mRnh88MGozFfXcaOOlKmDbP1hjBSNppv8qFxBqCAceg3V2oyEvQth7tcFgjCPxInXwS9ChD31zQSRZfL55GUJc6lNRW5f6wjrAfwy5Vso8/s640/P6120137.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arc de Triomphe</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Water Bottles </h3>
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Likewise, cut back on the price (and pollution) of stopping to buy drinks by packing a refillable water bottle.
Paris, like many European cities, provides fresh - and free - drinking water from public drinking fountains, which you can locate using <a href="http://www.eaudeparis.fr/carte-des-fontaines/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>this web-page</b></a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4FVjDneoONBoccV1je9HmkHzVq29oIbskblj2Au0STzHYtBqlc-S0GsIXWaRFP-ZJusFsnuTW5qw-qaDff61nmh-iwUsd89hiVO4u0dF2AuakY70XjAbCgMFc4MFz1vhcCPidIKPH6w/s1600/P6130351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4FVjDneoONBoccV1je9HmkHzVq29oIbskblj2Au0STzHYtBqlc-S0GsIXWaRFP-ZJusFsnuTW5qw-qaDff61nmh-iwUsd89hiVO4u0dF2AuakY70XjAbCgMFc4MFz1vhcCPidIKPH6w/s640/P6130351.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sacre Coeur</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Toilets </h3>
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All that water you’ll be drinking is inevitably going to lead to one thing: a desperate hunt for a bathroom. </div>
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My absolute bugbear in Paris, charging for toilets seemed to be the ultimate means of cashing-in. Whether it was a shopping centre, a park, a nice-looking restaurant or a run-down Burger King, toilets everywhere were charged for by an angry attendant or an on-the-door mechanism. And this wasn’t the 20-30 pence I’m used to here in the UK, but anything from 50 cents to €2. Two whole euros for the privilege of having a pee! </div>
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If only I had known then what I know now: that there <i>are</i> free public toilets and <b><a href="https://en.parisinfo.com/practical-paris/useful-info/public-toilets" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a map</a></b> to help you find them throughout the city. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Au Clair de Lune</td></tr>
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Happy Hour </h3>
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You've spent the day taking in the city's sites and been home for dinner at your Air B'n'B. What could round the evening off more perfectly than heading back out for a couple of drinks?<br />
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Bars in Paris can be <i>expensive </i>and I've heard horror stories of people paying almost €50 for three drinks - again falling prey to those tourist hot spots. That said, we saw a good number of bars on our travels offering happy "hour" offers, generally between the hours of 6 and 10pm. Both Montmarte district and the Latin Quarter seemed good areas to find cheap drinks within these times, with a pint of beer going for €3-4 and cocktails for around the €5 mark.<br />
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Contrary to many of my other suggestions, this one was particularly difficult to research and we found ourselves just keeping our eyes peeled for well-priced offers as we were passing. <b><a href="https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/bars-pubs/au-clair-de-lune" target="_blank">Au Clair de Lune</a></b> in Montmarte - just a short stroll from the Sacre Coeur - turned out to be a pretty perfect place to pass our last evening in Paris, sipping on cocktails without blowing the budget.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rxJFBjHRbRK-NisCsiz4a9LN2I3tnIxUvTmD9NA_MhgxTT2MuWp00ztbuCRoexvZdxK3riEWYpMkIA4IZ0q61ZoMmmGfFoYqROeLkUlOtIoiFZ9CxTmGvxOPweNvfGor_c3h-GLXDX8/s1600/P6110037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rxJFBjHRbRK-NisCsiz4a9LN2I3tnIxUvTmD9NA_MhgxTT2MuWp00ztbuCRoexvZdxK3riEWYpMkIA4IZ0q61ZoMmmGfFoYqROeLkUlOtIoiFZ9CxTmGvxOPweNvfGor_c3h-GLXDX8/s640/P6110037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place du Tertre</td></tr>
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There's no getting away from the fact that Paris is an expensive city, but I hope these simple tips help you to see that it <i>is </i>possible to have a great trip without coming home completely bankrupt.<br />
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Do you keep a budget in mind when you're travelling? And if so, what are your own little methods for cutting down costs?<br />
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<b><i>xo</i></b></div>
</div>
Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-78245436921013128052019-05-31T20:20:00.000+01:002019-05-31T20:20:43.905+01:00Tell Them To Look Up - Nuart Aberdeen <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeq7Em_ry9o6on2HRBZfJ-C9PayaL4jgtuY2-q_hvV2kBzbeQ_Nm3TZ-K56b5HyctE81Z0UHNDM34fC9Xise51xiAHZJs-iGOmF_lEWwZWBwdBCtvKfZf3rGaKvDim5zyfRftf1ExcVE/s1600/nuart05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1200" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeq7Em_ry9o6on2HRBZfJ-C9PayaL4jgtuY2-q_hvV2kBzbeQ_Nm3TZ-K56b5HyctE81Z0UHNDM34fC9Xise51xiAHZJs-iGOmF_lEWwZWBwdBCtvKfZf3rGaKvDim5zyfRftf1ExcVE/s640/nuart05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNyr37W_FqaOjJphrPUhN7uhD0xHUFVIxdk-xb2VVc90QbtDoBVjaMHfbe3zsO2INKz7cwlfVM0qzBhyphenhyphenkry_rl-iT967HjYnKYu5PoceZKKlOnci8jb8gi22ZUXQ1wCspXswuSe4TjIg/s1600/nuart02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1200" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNyr37W_FqaOjJphrPUhN7uhD0xHUFVIxdk-xb2VVc90QbtDoBVjaMHfbe3zsO2INKz7cwlfVM0qzBhyphenhyphenkry_rl-iT967HjYnKYu5PoceZKKlOnci8jb8gi22ZUXQ1wCspXswuSe4TjIg/s640/nuart02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hush at work on the John Lewis building.</td></tr>
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<i>“</i><i>I lean forward, knowing this will be written, and I ask what she’d say if her story had an audience. She smiles. </i>“Tell them to look up. Tell them to remember the stars.”<i>” - TWLOHA </i></div>
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I don't know about you, but there are days when I find myself better acquainted with my shoes and my phone than with the streets and the people around me. </div>
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I have social anxiety and it makes me behave like a toddler playing hide-and-seek. I walk with my head down, eyes averted, child-like logic hoping that if I hide my face and look away, no one will ever notice me. </div>
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If it isn't social anxiety to blame, it's social media - technology making us the most connected we've ever been, yet the most disconnected from the world that we could be. How many times have you been bumped into by a screen-seduced stranger in the city, so engrossed by the faces on their phone that they failed to notice the one coming towards them in the street? In this day and age, the vast majority of us are probably guilty - trapped in the trance of technology, disengaged and missing out on the moments happening here and now, beyond the screen. It's certainly been true all too often for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwf09ePsweQqy7GA2DYJN-8w9UhDYbYLjhjRF7gypfaAV48M45GS7X7hYM0jnK6Ls-bVVzNwYb5lBvD1wgsy_RCZbojvpqLz3oCaYVzyqZC5A4XIO4HihUvUcC9yitZ6V0FnDS8hGu7E/s1600/nuart10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1200" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwf09ePsweQqy7GA2DYJN-8w9UhDYbYLjhjRF7gypfaAV48M45GS7X7hYM0jnK6Ls-bVVzNwYb5lBvD1wgsy_RCZbojvpqLz3oCaYVzyqZC5A4XIO4HihUvUcC9yitZ6V0FnDS8hGu7E/s640/nuart10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen Bur on Gallowgate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjUS4f6XdmHAp3MFUS6Wmlutz62SZi6SAdFOengt9T04g0xwpsIh-cBz3_QAWg61qf_XxA8MhLcLobVqbWklyNzbQ9YvNK11yLt7hTiZNrlzS-ntNjuNBsEfSi5ZDJxNaAkUULbJBBaY/s1600/nuart07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1200" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjUS4f6XdmHAp3MFUS6Wmlutz62SZi6SAdFOengt9T04g0xwpsIh-cBz3_QAWg61qf_XxA8MhLcLobVqbWklyNzbQ9YvNK11yLt7hTiZNrlzS-ntNjuNBsEfSi5ZDJxNaAkUULbJBBaY/s640/nuart07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dotmasters at work on the old E and M building</td></tr>
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But then.. along came Nuart to change the way I engage with the space around me.</div>
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An annual festival of street art, <b><a href="https://2019.nuartaberdeen.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nuart </a></b>is now in its third year in Aberdeen, bringing artists from across the globe to share their talents and brighten up our granite-grey streets. </div>
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This year's event took place in April and saw artists from as far and wide as Norway, France and the United States bringing their work to Aberdeen, alongside a programme of events featuring speakers, workshops, the return of the <b><a href="https://aberdeeninspirednights.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inspired Nights </a></b>street food market, and a host of walking tours around the city. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaFYRF_-GpS6h_ebKo1XN61T37MwV_l8Dk8xTKaoBdjAMrqjpalUu6AeRdzrkHwFvjTbDTBgcggwTZIcK4LMg4oFJQkblIwlnlNFSKDabppY89kY1ZdOhlCKUasHkaMmS-pF76gdCLtg/s1600/nuart15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1200" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaFYRF_-GpS6h_ebKo1XN61T37MwV_l8Dk8xTKaoBdjAMrqjpalUu6AeRdzrkHwFvjTbDTBgcggwTZIcK4LMg4oFJQkblIwlnlNFSKDabppY89kY1ZdOhlCKUasHkaMmS-pF76gdCLtg/s640/nuart15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Axel Void on John Street</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrie Reichardt's 2018 piece, relocated to Marischal Square</td></tr>
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I was lucky enough to join a bit of a preview tour, prior to all of the works being complete. Led by the lovely <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/autumnsawthis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Autumn</a></b> - a volunteer member of the Nuart team - our tour took in both early completions and some works-in-progress, as well as one or two pieces from previous years. Autumn treated us to some lovely stories from behind the scenes, some fascinating insights into the artists and their work, and a barrel load of enthusiasm for Aberdeen and all the good that goes on in this city. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xjkYOMOHTwy781NBVaQdN0rD_6KZ-9CGqpsLZQ44IFO1TI0xgdzuWDirVSW3hYdnnYcPjeLlGQFiCF0eiv5R4JezzRFqgXNbC9papVOlbwktN8GrMo-4DgqpNZNZisBmLJM_MmQPTp4/s1600/nuart11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1200" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xjkYOMOHTwy781NBVaQdN0rD_6KZ-9CGqpsLZQ44IFO1TI0xgdzuWDirVSW3hYdnnYcPjeLlGQFiCF0eiv5R4JezzRFqgXNbC9papVOlbwktN8GrMo-4DgqpNZNZisBmLJM_MmQPTp4/s640/nuart11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan Vormann on The Green</td></tr>
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As interesting as it was to learn more about the production of these large-scale Nuart masterpieces (the skill in creating something on that scale is phenomenal!), it was Autumn's enthusiasm for the little details that most inspired me. </div>
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Walking through the centre of town, small, almost-hidden works of art were pointed out to us at every opportunity: recognisable tags; mosaic tiles; a character series; tiny men on high-up ledges; stickers on lamp-posts; poetry; secret packages to be taken home for free. </div>
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It felt like having my eyes opened to a whole new layer of this city. There was so much there, right under my nose and yet completely unseen!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3r6L2_RoHkJ1OSfG5t_LlmNf4-tLNUHC_UwUOZItk45LS-P61HHx4jZ73tvkZmU6JKEv5qm44Ms5HoFE-u4p_COm80nzacm68Xy6RH1XImcqQUg1rP7TslbbAkq8PJkdsYA8j0k4YwI/s1600/nuart12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1200" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3r6L2_RoHkJ1OSfG5t_LlmNf4-tLNUHC_UwUOZItk45LS-P61HHx4jZ73tvkZmU6JKEv5qm44Ms5HoFE-u4p_COm80nzacm68Xy6RH1XImcqQUg1rP7TslbbAkq8PJkdsYA8j0k4YwI/s640/nuart12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERu0LFXDsAjr1A_4h7uXIOpaWvjBHs9RThY1YhnEskZlbt_1ld2n6JXHrWwKn1bU-h5Ai-UwbDwYDWmyfaEkSdH80r9dgdyPEO-Dr2GFw3BuAJCNYTjoQb0DFNLmoG8sTsP8U6NrzLUo/s1600/nuart13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1200" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERu0LFXDsAjr1A_4h7uXIOpaWvjBHs9RThY1YhnEskZlbt_1ld2n6JXHrWwKn1bU-h5Ai-UwbDwYDWmyfaEkSdH80r9dgdyPEO-Dr2GFw3BuAJCNYTjoQb0DFNLmoG8sTsP8U6NrzLUo/s640/nuart13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dotmasters on Jopp's Lane</td></tr>
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The best thing is.. that lesson has well and truly stuck with me.</div>
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Since that walking tour, I find myself engaging entirely differently with this city. Perhaps not every day (some days it's still tough to get out of my own brain), but more and more often I find myself walking with my head up, eyes wide, taking note of what's <i>really </i>there around me. I find myself noticing things I've probably passed a hundred times before and never fully seen. I find myself with my phone out, not to hide and ignore the world around me, but to capture and share some tiny detail that's jumped out at me. I find myself laughing at tongue-in-cheek posters; moved by the words of a stranger's poetry; challenged by the message in a painted piece - all as I go about my ordinary day in this not-so-grey city.</div>
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Mostly, I find myself with a renewed sense of admiration for Aberdeen, its people and their quiet creativity, and I hope that feeling of wonder and engagement will long stay with me.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihim0WoT-lcMmV6FQ86bErUB6yZwuMU3RzaSCpPPjrBeTGH8RkD_aijR3yjn7yUAHx4a-YvHy07U9tL58QN4SsiBX0qbILGobRJrADyYrXFmtvZVnEUsaRahpEBh5HtJzf6gdraBL_PwM/s1600/nuart21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1200" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihim0WoT-lcMmV6FQ86bErUB6yZwuMU3RzaSCpPPjrBeTGH8RkD_aijR3yjn7yUAHx4a-YvHy07U9tL58QN4SsiBX0qbILGobRJrADyYrXFmtvZVnEUsaRahpEBh5HtJzf6gdraBL_PwM/s640/nuart21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Eine in The Tunnels</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smug on The Green</td></tr>
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<i>xo</i></div>
Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-59751086867797510792019-03-21T08:30:00.000+00:002019-03-21T09:02:57.451+00:00It's a Long Long Road to Recovery<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's a funny word, "recovery". I'm not sure I'm really a fan. Something about the word - the "re" part, perhaps - suggests a sense of returning to a former self; of aspiring to what once was; of somehow restoring old parts and going back.<br />
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I'm not sure I like those connotations. They certainly haven't been my experience. In fact, for me, "recovery" has felt the opposite of that entirely.<br />
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I find it hard to pinpoint when I first began to struggle with my mental health, as long and steady a decline as it was, but I can tell you almost exactly when things began to pick up.<br />
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18 and a half months ago now I was discharged from hospital after yet another lengthy admission, still void of hope and desperately struggling, but religiously taking a brand new medication. Things were tough. But around a month after that - the medication finally, properly kicking in - things began to improve, slowly and gradually. My concentration returned; my energy levels and motivation began to increase; and the darkness of my mood slowly began to recede.<br />
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I guess that was something of a turning point for me. But "recovery" has proven to be a far lengthier, hurdle-ridden, and still ongoing journey. <br />
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Trust, it turned out, was the first hurdle to be overcome on the way: learning to trust myself to make healthier decisions; learning to open up and trust a professional in therapy, having been so badly let down previously; and learning to trust that, this time, my world wasn't going to crash back down imminently. <br />
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It's hard, when the darkness has come and gone and come again for so long, to have any faith that all the pain and negativity won't suddenly come flooding back. It's hard to find the motivation to build a life when experience-based fear tells you everything will soon fall apart. One of the hardest obstacles to overcome was the overwhelming doubt that any of these improvements would last.<br />
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But eventually.. eventually I had to learn that the light was shining here and now and it would be too big a waste not to step out into all the potential goodness that comes with that. I could allow fear to cripple me, staying where I was just in case the darkness came back, or I could take the risk and move forward, appreciating the brighter days and hoping they might last.<br />
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And so I began to take that risk - to begin the process of building my life back up.<br />
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The problem was, contrary to all those going-back-to-a-former-self images that "recovery" conjures up, my life had been so impacted by my struggles with poor mental health that I felt as though I was starting entirely from scratch.<br />
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Not only did I have no job to go back to, a different place to live, and a social circle that had shrunk quite dramatically; I also found that, as all-consuming as my difficulties had been, I was left with no idea whatsoever of who I was underneath.<br />
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I had no sense of my own interests; no idea of my aspirations or dreams; no concept of my faith or beliefs; no vision of what I might want to do or what kind of person I might want to be. Basically, poor mental health had robbed me of my entire identity.<br />
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I felt like a teenager again, doing a lot of <strike>angsty</strike> self-reflection, exploring different interests and deliberately opening myself up to new experiences and opportunities - as scary as they might be - always with a questioning sense of, "What about this? Is this who I might be?"<br />
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Some of this was worked out in therapy - with input from the most helpful psychologist I've had the opportunity to engage with - but much of it could only be explored in the "real world," by dipping my toe in the water and putting things to the test.</div>
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And so it was that 2018 came to feel like something of an experiment. I may not have conquered many of the goals I set for myself at the start of the year, but I conquered different mountains and learned much about myself along the way instead.<br />
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I took myself on a solo adventure, visiting Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest in a week, and found that, yes, I do still have the travel bug - that exploring the world still appeals to me greatly. And so I set about stoking that flame with a week in Rome; a week in Lincolnshire; weekends in Inverness, Glasgow, Aviemore and Dundee; and a week in Spain more recently.<br />
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I joined a JogScotland group and learned that I was capable of mixing with strangers and that running was still something that produced an incredible buzz for me. I hurt myself and had to have significant input from osteopaths and physiotherapy, but found myself desperate to run anyway - that churning out those miles provided me with moments where I felt most at peace with me.<br />
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I participated in a walking group and found that fresh air and beautiful scenery lifts my soul immensely, and so I incorporated it into my life at every opportunity.<br />
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I tried my hand at roller derby and found that that is definitely <i>not </i>for someone as awkward and clumsy as me.<br />
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I sat down at the computer and tried to write, repeatedly, and found that blogging, for a time, was not willing to come to me, but that it still piqued my interest and called to me occasionally.<br />
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I went to gigs for the first time in years and rediscovered that - if I can get a handle on any crowd-based anxiety - live music has a powerful, joyful impact on me.<br />
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I tried going back to church - my poor mental health having disengaged me from my faith completely - and found it incredibly uncomfortable; tried attending different churches instead and came to the conclusion that, for now, Church is simply not a place that I can be.<br />
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I started thinking about work - whether I was capable of employment and, if so, what that might look like for me. I continued volunteering in the cafe while seeking out other opportunities. With a degree in Youth Work and experience of working with children long behind me, I tested old ground with a 6 month voluntary role - working with kids in a forest space - and found that though the work and ethos really resonated with me, it was a difficult place for me to be. The project came to a natural end and I continued to look for further opportunities. I took on some paid shifts in the cafe and learned that though I love it here and now, it doesn't feel like a long-term fix for me. I applied for another job, had my first interview in 4 years and found myself successful, picking up a relief post supporting ladies with physical and learning-based difficulties. It's both rewarding and challenging, but again not where I see myself permanently. Through it all, I've come to learn a little more about what does and doesn't appeal to me, and for the first time in about 8 years I have a goal in mind - a rough idea of what I might like to try, work-wise, and where I might like to be.<br />
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Perhaps most surprisingly to me, I began to explore the issue of relationships and sexuality. Having shut that part of myself down for years, entirely closed off to the idea that anyone would ever want to date me, I realised that I'd never actually tested out that theory. And so I joined a dating app, for the first time in my 30 years, with results that were horrendous, hilarious and everything in between. Of all the risks I took in the last year, this was the most scary - opening myself up to the possibility that people might be as disgusted and rejecting of me as I believed. It felt vulnerable and terrifying, but it taught me that I can engage with people more easily than I once thought, and that not <i>everyone</i> will run a mile when they meet me. Most surprisingly of all, I actually met someone I connected with and who has come to be incredibly important to me.<br />
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I could not have predicted many of these things back at the beginning of 2018. In fact, I wouldn't have predicted most as elements of my recovery. And yet, looking back, it is these things that I consider the vital keys within my wellness journey.<br />
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Recovery, for me, has come to mean so much more than an absence of symptoms. It has gone far beyond overcoming behaviours that once wrought havoc and destruction. And it certainly hasn't been about going back to the life that I lived before facing these difficulties.<br />
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Recovery, instead, has been about exploring and figuring out this different, changed version of me; about learning to ride the waves of life more gently; and about allowing myself the opportunity to experiment, to fail, to learn, to grow and to dream.<br />
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Frank Turner wasn't wrong when he sang that it's a "Long long road to recovery," and I feel like it's a road along which I've still got <i>far </i>to journey ..but looking back over the last 18 months I can see that I've come a very long way and, for once, I'm excited to see where the rest of the road may take me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4H1O9cZXuwu7i1Tw2poUen2Nawlv9sMHpKXag2Okn3FmwBhlCSCA2KSzXoEtrAH3rIjI85X7JSeVaqCBZibJ0kwDti_osqi7W5tNR4Rh6XubTdzejbuj4e6XuLlJNSOM7H2qvjlBcY0/s1600/IMG_3062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Completing Great Aberdeen Run 10k" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4H1O9cZXuwu7i1Tw2poUen2Nawlv9sMHpKXag2Okn3FmwBhlCSCA2KSzXoEtrAH3rIjI85X7JSeVaqCBZibJ0kwDti_osqi7W5tNR4Rh6XubTdzejbuj4e6XuLlJNSOM7H2qvjlBcY0/s400/IMG_3062.JPG" title="Completing Great Aberdeen Run 10k" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvtbGIQoHx31i0R_qo1w6nz7ONr9Cip-ji_gzwoKm5yXwng4Q4M9th-AdyaAOy4sIWLkUax_ME3ukyoqD-Kp7PWaxBtfgL2L67QKT3PlQMJFfW4UKQS8rDXgNjDgPrkl2bYaJazb-O6Y/s1600/IMG_9473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rooftop views - Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvtbGIQoHx31i0R_qo1w6nz7ONr9Cip-ji_gzwoKm5yXwng4Q4M9th-AdyaAOy4sIWLkUax_ME3ukyoqD-Kp7PWaxBtfgL2L67QKT3PlQMJFfW4UKQS8rDXgNjDgPrkl2bYaJazb-O6Y/s400/IMG_9473.JPG" title="Rooftop views - Vienna" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oyGiWvZu9SNkukXLAy2V1gDzYX9qkd6ABXhtbNQh2U6G4F9z7etz5gxB9AnohAk2TZKlgk6dy5b1LpVF_DLKevcJ2ztpDMywguUPDsfudeZ5JKEfi7jzk-TmtfKLhAnwA0GJthKVepU/s1600/IMG_6220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lion King moment up Scolty Hill, Banchory" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oyGiWvZu9SNkukXLAy2V1gDzYX9qkd6ABXhtbNQh2U6G4F9z7etz5gxB9AnohAk2TZKlgk6dy5b1LpVF_DLKevcJ2ztpDMywguUPDsfudeZ5JKEfi7jzk-TmtfKLhAnwA0GJthKVepU/s400/IMG_6220.JPG" title="Lion King moment up Scolty Hill, Banchory" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGLXiKd7S6UMxvTFNll2mlK2PdV5wgh8ah7VhW5movaj9l5rt3lqJfbOCJYDjvNQ6pQkbbHVxAfueDu6DjsjGJkiLQnivI0vsdrdktVNwWVB-MNEZkbyTupr0Nr9bjFdnLoVBqxo6K7k/s1600/IMG_6423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Frank Turner gig, Glasgow Jan 2019" border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1080" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGLXiKd7S6UMxvTFNll2mlK2PdV5wgh8ah7VhW5movaj9l5rt3lqJfbOCJYDjvNQ6pQkbbHVxAfueDu6DjsjGJkiLQnivI0vsdrdktVNwWVB-MNEZkbyTupr0Nr9bjFdnLoVBqxo6K7k/s400/IMG_6423.JPG" title="Frank Turner gig, Glasgow Jan 2019" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>xo</i></b></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-23467913964012843602018-08-04T12:21:00.000+01:002018-08-04T12:22:05.543+01:00IN REARVIEW // April-July 2018<div style="text-align: justify;">
Minutes turn to hours, turn to days, turn to weeks at an alarming rate of late and before I know it entire months have vanished before me. It felt like the middle of winter when last I posted - dark nights still wrapped tightly around us and the memory of snow only just beginning to fade. Spring has long since been and gone, plotting its course with the steady appearance of new life and the slow lengthening of our days, unravelling into the warmth and brightness of summer that greets us today.</div>
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There is something comforting about nature's inevitable routine - the way summer always follows spring, follows winter, follows autumn - that simple, predictable pattern year on year, never fading away. Sometimes I wish more elements of life were the same.</div>
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Instead, so much of life is clouded by uncertainty; prone to unpredictability; difficult to forecast; liable to somehow, suddenly change.</div>
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My last few months have been like this, in many ways. Life has its ups and downs; its highs and lows; its coming and passing waves and I've found myself faced with them all in recent months and days.</div>
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My mood, in particular, has been liable to change - moments of sunshine interspersed with days of all-consuming grey - but this feels like normal human experience, shaped by life and all it throws at us, rather than depression's once shadowy haze. There have been painful lessons and steeply climbed curves; moments of unpleasant vulnerability, with new self-insights to be taken away. There have been difficult periods in the last few months but they arrive for a reason and they soon fade away.</div>
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Besides, if life were a cocktail, my measures of grey have been shaken with plenty of productive and enjoyable days.</div>
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There has been a dash of volunteering - the same cafe position, thrown in with a new role working with children. We spend time in the forest, building camp-fires and bridges and relationships and resilience, and it is completely out of my comfort zone but entirely brilliant - I am challenged, but hopefully growing.</div>
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Then came a solid serve of exercise, having joined a new gym, completed a hillwalking programme and taken up running - <a href="https://www.parkrun.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jog Scotland</a> and<a href="https://www.parkrun.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> parkrun</a> connecting me to a community and maintaining my enthusiasm.</div>
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Added to that, a splash of music and all its accompanying emotions - the highs of another Frank Turner gig (the second this year), and the lows of losing a favourite musician, floored by grief at the death of Scott Hutchison - a stranger whose voice felt like a familiar friend.</div>
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The syrup of celebration then muddled in - I turned 30 in June and, for the first time in years, allowed a birthday acknowledgement. There was a weekend surprise from <a href="http://www.dinnerstories.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>my sister</b></a> - a road-trip to St Andrews; gin-tasting in my <a href="https://darnleysgin.com/" target="_blank"><b>grandma's old cottage</b></a>; foodie fun and museums in Dundee. There is an evening of good food and even better company, holed up in the <a href="https://www.brewdog.com/bars/uk/dogtap" target="_blank"><b>DogTap</b></a> with my best friend and family. There is a trip to Inverness just for me - a chance to process this milestone I wasn't sure I'd reach, with books and brunch; with dolphins and waterfalls and driving stunning scenery. </div>
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And finally, a garnish of exploration - playing tourist in my local area on long summer days. There have been days of aimless wandering; of hopping in the car and seeing where it takes me. I've visited Peterhead's Prison Museum; Aberdeen's botanic gardens; the <a href="http://www.aagm.co.uk/Visit/TheTolboothMuseum/ttm-overview.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Tolbooth</b></a>, <a href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/museums/exhibitions/zoology-museum.php" target="_blank"><b>Zoology</b></a> and <a href="http://www.aagm.co.uk/Visit/AberdeenMaritimeMuseum/amm-overview.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Maritime</b></a> Museums separately. I've spent time out in Banchory, hiking Scolty hill, seeing Drum and Crathes Castle, being awed by the roar of the Falls of Feugh. I've taken detours to the Bullers of Buchan; fawned over all the animals at <a href="https://www.vsa.org.uk/easter-anguston-farm/" target="_blank"><b>Easter Anguston Farm</b></a> and <a href="https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/environment/parks/hazlehead-park/hazlehead-pets-corner" target="_blank"><b>Hazlehead petting zoo</b></a>; Geocached in Ellon; been to <a href="http://www.grampianpride.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Grampian's first Pride</b></a>; loved the <a href="https://aberdeeninspirednights.com/night-market" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Inspired Nights</b></a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/george-street-farmers-market-sustainability-festival/624883007855845/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>George Street markets</b></a>; and eaten my way through an abundance of local food. There has been much joy to be found in pausing to appreciate this place I call home; stopping to soak in the little treasures I often overlook.</div>
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The days have rushed on in recent months - hours and weeks blending into one. Yes, there have been grey days and difficult ones. But so too has been pleasure and progress - a summer of literal and metaphorical warmth and sun. There will be rainy days and foggy moments ahead, I'm sure, but the last few months have left me feeling hopeful and happy and a tiny bit more confident in my ability to handle whatever sunshine or storms may come. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>xo</b></i></span></div>
Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-3250175548653387592018-05-04T15:30:00.000+01:002018-05-04T15:30:01.034+01:0030 for 30 // April's Progress Report<div style="text-align: justify;">
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We're a third of the way through the year now - which seems completely ridiculous - and my 30th birthday is just over a month away! It's a good job I wasn't trying to complete this list <i>before </i>my birthday because I still have quite a way to go, but April definitely saw me make a little bit of progress..</div>
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For starters, April saw me successfully: </h3>
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- Join a running group/club. ✓</div>
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After a few weeks of trying to psych myself up only to find one convenient excuse after another to bail, I <i>finally </i>made it along to my local <a href="https://jogscotland.org.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>JogScotland</b></a> group. Being very out of practice, I was predictably worried about the running aspect of the group, but far more nerve-racking was the social, speaking-to-strangers element of it all. As it was, I needn't have worried because everyone has been incredibly welcoming and easy to talk to and I've found I can run more easily than anticipated. I've only been a couple of times so far, but it's been a very positive experience and I'm glad I made it along.<br />
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♡</div>
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As for the rest of the list, many items are a bit more of a work-in-progress, accumulating throughout the year as a whole. Here's how those items were looking this month..<br />
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<b>Sample a List of Food and Drink I've Never Tried Before</b></h3>
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I was pretty unadventurous with my eating this month, but a visit to Howie's for my friend's birthday provided me with the opportunity to try both crowdie - a soft Scottish cow's milk cheese - and a chocolate panna cotta, in all its wibbly-wobbly glory. Both were tasty and got a definite thumbs up!<br />
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<b>Read 36 Books </b></h3>
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I read 4 books this month, bringing my total for the year to 22:</div>
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<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B078KQYL2Y/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B078KQYL2Y&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=e54ab7e2c3ba162b9dee86bf1c804642" target="_blank">'Travels with Rachel: In Search of South America' by George Mahood</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=B078KQYL2Y" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1447274431/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1447274431&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=efd0b620d32ce25b4538b0dc17225b55" target="_blank">'Raven Black' by Ann Cleeves</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=1447274431" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1472241614/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1472241614&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=54989e343f7bc0260476295f2ede125a" target="_blank">'This Is How It Always Is' by Laurie Frankel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=1472241614" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241978114/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241978114&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=871da0979851148ae3f1b043458635f0" target="_blank">'All the Good Things' by Clare Fisher</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=0241978114" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
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<b>Visit 12 Coffee Shops/Restaurants I Haven't Yet Been to in Aberdeen/shire</b></h3>
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This month I visited <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelibertykitchenuk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>the Liberty Kitchen</b></a> - not technically a coffee shop or restaurant, but so good I'm including it anyway. Based down at the Windows to the Sea sculpture at the Bridge of Don end of Aberdeen beach, the Liberty Kitchen is a beautifully-decorated food truck selling healthy food and hot drinks every weekend. I popped down one Sunday morning and enjoyed an oat milk turmeric latte and a bowl of porridge topped with blueberries and seeds while soaking up the spring sunshine. The dream!<br />
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Secondly, I paid a visit to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bridgestreetsocialabz/" target="_blank"><b>Bridge Street Social Club</b></a> in Aberdeen for a pre-gig feast, including an epic 'Hallouminati' burger - a stack of halloumi, red pepper and avocado - with sweet potato fries. So good!<br />
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And finally, a trip to Ellon's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/icedreamsellon/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Ice Dreams</b></a> for a big ole tub of sorbet brought me up to a total of six new establishments visited this year.</div>
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<b>Cultivate a Daily Relaxation Practice </b></h3>
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I was so diligent about incorporating some relaxation practice into my day at the beginning of the month, but it tapered off a little as things got busier. Still, I managed 19 days out of 30, which is a considerable improvement on last month. Most of my relaxation has been centred around guided breathing or body scans at bedtime and I've begun to notice a real difference in how easily I fall asleep when I do this as soon as I get into bed, compared to the times when I don't. </div>
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<b>Sample 30 Gins</b> </h3>
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Gins number 8, 9 and 10 were <a href="https://www.edinburghgin.com/our-gins/edinburgh-gin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Edinburgh Gin</b></a>'s original gin; <a href="http://elgin-gin.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>El:Gin</b></a>'s Moray Mocha gin liqueur; and <a href="https://www.whitleyneill.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Whitley Neill</b></a>'s quince gin. </div>
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<b>Increase Work Hours (Employed or Voluntary)</b></h3>
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I was back on my volunteering game this month, working just shy of 15 hours in the cafe. I also put out some feelers and paid a visit to another organisation to discuss the possibility of getting involved in their work. I'm waiting for applications, references, medicals and PVGs to come through before this is confirmed, but even making the enquiry feels like a pretty big step. I'm going to be pushed <i>well </i>beyond my comfort zone if it comes to fruition and it's all a bit daunting at the minute, yet I'm excited by the prospect at the same time. <br />
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<b>Keep a Journal (At Least Once a Week)</b></h3>
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Yet another failure of a month on this one, I'm afraid. At the moment, I tend to find that by the time I'm home from one activity or another and have the free time to do things like this, I'm so mentally drained that all I want to do is veg out and do something mindless that requires way less concentration than writing does. It's a pity because I find the act of writing both satisfying and a good way to process my thoughts when I make the time for it. Perhaps May will be the month I get back into it!<br />
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♡</div>
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All-in-all, April saw some decent progress on the list as a whole and I'm looking forward to diving straight into May and seeing what I can tick off in the space of one more month! <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>xo</b></i></span></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-15141634201449919942018-04-18T20:56:00.000+01:002018-04-18T20:56:21.828+01:00IN REARVIEW // March 2018<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anxiety descends like snow storms at the beginning of March - it comes in flurries, then settles on my bones, cold and hard. It is heavy - an icy weight I have to carry - and I come to see the world through frosted eyelashes, peeking out beneath a frozen fearful cloak.</div>
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I am going on holiday early in the month - my first time travelling solo in years - and the excitement of booking has given way to reality's dread and fear. This is one of anxiety's worst traits: its ability to make monsters of beautiful things. When the 'Beast from the East' arrives in all its stormy, road-blocked glory, it seems there's a conspiracy set on ruining this for me. When my doctor comes along and prophesies relapse over me, it feels like the final straw and I almost want to give up completely. Who am I to think I can travel alone? Who am I to think I can do anything? As if. Really?<br />
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I am glad I do not listen - to the doctor or my own insecurity.<br />
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The snow storm blocks the road and grounds my plane, but I am not defeated - by weather or anxiety - and I get there eventually. Surprised by my own adaptability, I rearrange my flight, land in a different country, catch an extra train and salvage an incredible holiday. Vienna is a fairytale - snowcapped roofs and sparkling streets; horses pulling carriages through roads of music and history. Bratislava is quick and quaint - a 24 hour dash around a pastel-coloured maze. Budapest is a dream - a city that grabs my heart with its glittering river, the buzz of its streets, its hilltop vistas and endless Hungarian treats.<br />
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I am charmed by all three cities and the countryside in between and I am sad to leave and return to normality.<br />
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I expect the anxiety to subside among home's familiarity, but it seems instead to be March's recurring theme. I come back on a bit of a high - buoyed by pride and adventure stories - but things descend again slowly. It is not the immediate slap of post-holiday blues I've experienced previously, but more an underlying sense of self-doubt and worry that increases as the month proceeds.<br />
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Things get pretty busy for a couple of weeks. They are ordinary, enjoyable things: house-sitting for my parents; playing with cats and dog-walking; volunteering in the cafe; paying a visit to the Prison Museum; a day trip to Stonehaven full of beaches and ice-cream; catching up with uncles and cousins; support sessions and Psychology appointments; brunch with family; coffee with differing groups of friends. They are good. I am grateful for the presence of so many good things. But in the midst of it all, I forget to pause and recharge my batteries. Anxiety turned up high, I find myself running in circles trying to be all things to all people and in the end there is little left in reserve for me.<br />
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I crash eventually - floored by the everyday, ordinary. I am exhausted and that feels pathetic and weak. It is my effort to do everything right that eventually makes it all go wrong. It is my desperate desire to say 'Yes!' to everything that eventually leaves me saying 'No,' to everyone. I feel like a failure as a friend and a human. I am convinced I am a burden; no use to anyone, despite trying desperately.<br />
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And so, in the end, I retreat. It seems the easiest thing to do - protecting myself and protecting everyone from me. I spend a week on the sofa hardly seeing anybody. Rather than a period of rest and restoration, it feels instead like a self-imposed segregation: a punishing silent retreat. It is miserable and the isolation only increases my anxiety. I try to go and volunteer, get overwhelmed by a wave of panic, cry and leave. It is another failure; another piece of evidence for the voice of self-judgement to use against me. I am a failure. I have nothing to offer. I am no good to anybody.<br />
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As March comes to an end, this voice is loud inside of me. But there is another voice too - one that recognises this as a cycle that can escalate so very quickly; but one that knows that I have power and a choice over where this leads. And so, as March closes, I feel anxious and weak, yet empowered by awareness and determined to break this cycle - try new things - so that April is not a repeat. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRrsqJx8hDzm9pmy7LPZO7etrghKL_p4j8f4B6ldIJD_hYiF4Xcn91_06Yvk4XE9hVs-90BW10ksodjCsSQnlVwl9n0GoZCAKcMhNqHAbLiiteBjxbnSNOtNFM8ksd1TrvucolHAuX5I/s1600/IMG_9922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1568" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRrsqJx8hDzm9pmy7LPZO7etrghKL_p4j8f4B6ldIJD_hYiF4Xcn91_06Yvk4XE9hVs-90BW10ksodjCsSQnlVwl9n0GoZCAKcMhNqHAbLiiteBjxbnSNOtNFM8ksd1TrvucolHAuX5I/s400/IMG_9922.JPG" width="391" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>xo</b></i></span></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-44953594814198063162018-04-04T10:00:00.000+01:002018-05-04T15:29:16.411+01:0030 for 30 // March's Progress Report<div style="text-align: justify;">
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When I sat down and wrote my <a href="http://www.laurawhispering.co.uk/search/label/30%20for%2030" target="_blank"><b>'30 for 30</b></a><b>'</b> list at the beginning of the year, "travelling solo" - for financial and emotional reasons - did not make the cut. It just wasn't something I anticipated being able to do in 2018. Fitting it into March - much to my surprise and delight - meant that the month felt exciting and full of accomplishments, but that hasn't translated particularly well in terms of items ticked off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvboqbAlxX0nD5kMLlprAtLMViG_1Ezhh6eLEYSwnNb5qND-dStuUpZCBZ8lCo22xRNf8XJqbfHQGZpDCV79y4NNv0Uy39JneymrRD4hundDw336hfkm4Geir31YtBolV91Oc2o9OkOjQ/s1600/IMG_9762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvboqbAlxX0nD5kMLlprAtLMViG_1Ezhh6eLEYSwnNb5qND-dStuUpZCBZ8lCo22xRNf8XJqbfHQGZpDCV79y4NNv0Uy39JneymrRD4hundDw336hfkm4Geir31YtBolV91Oc2o9OkOjQ/s400/IMG_9762.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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With that in mind, here's how the month saw me get on...<br />
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For starters, March saw me successfully: </h3>
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- <b>Take a(nother) Spanish class</b>, finishing a twelve week block. ✓</div>
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♡</div>
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Unlike the Spanish class, many items on my list will take longer to complete, gradually progressing as the year goes on. Here's how those shaped up this month..<br />
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<b>Sample a List of Food and Drink I've Never Tried Before</b></h3>
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I had the opportunity to try a few new foods on my travels at the beginning of the month.<br />
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The first was a distinctly non-Slovakian side of <b>kimchi </b>- a Korean dish of fermented vegetables - at a restaurant in Bratislava. It didn't make me jump for joy and I don't think I'll be rushing out to stock up, but it was nice enough and I would eat it again if someone put it on my plate.<br />
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In Budapest I was able to track down and sample some vegetarian versions of traditional Hungarian food. First up were some <span class="st"><b>lángos</b> - a street food dish of deep-fried dough, topped with sour cream, cheese and (in a step away from tradition) caramelised onion, which was <i>so </i>messy but so bloomin' good! Continuing on the street food theme, I tried a cinnamon </span><span class="st"><span class="st"><b>kürtőskalács</b> (or <b>chimney cake</b>) - a sweet dough wound around and baked on a turning spit - which was a pretty tasty treat, especially for the single euro it cost me. Last up I tried a vegan version of a paprika-based stew and <b>nokedli</b> - which were described as dumplings, but seemed more of a gnocchi-noodle mash-up. They were unusual, but I actually really liked them and they accompanied the stew perfectly. </span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st">I also sampled a <b>red velvet latte</b> - very much <i>not </i>a Hungarian staple - while in Budapest, which was beautiful to look at but nowhere near as exciting to drink. Given that a red velvet cake is chocolatey, I think I expected the coffee to be the same. It wasn't. I'm presuming they just added some food colouring or something? But hey - it was a decent coffee and it looked Instagram-good. </span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st">Back at home, I finally got around to visiting<a href="http://www.laurawhispering.co.uk/2017/08/the-city-bonobo-cafe.html" target="_blank"><b> Bonobo</b></a> in time for breakfast where I got to sample the <b>tofu scramble</b> I've been eyeing up for goodness knows how long. The whole Scottish breakfast was delicious and I would highly recommend trying one! </span></span></div>
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<b>Read 36 Books </b></h3>
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I read 5 books this month, bringing my total for the year to 18:</div>
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<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782394818/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782394818&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=b7aedda9091a1a34a68389e73efb721d" target="_blank">'Happiness' by Matthieu Ricard</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=1782394818" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/178211629X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=178211629X&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=7cdf2cb7808c9e33d0cafb1fe147d573" target="_blank">'No One Belongs Here More Than You' by Miranda July</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=178211629X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0062457713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0062457713&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=98eb27801ec65d3175e1df78f3e107bc" target="_blank">'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' by Mark Manson</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=0062457713" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0008223459/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0008223459&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=06e18d19619236ef6180aa09f647fab2" target="_blank">'Stand By Me' by S.D. Robertson</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=0008223459" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1910931543/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1910931543&linkCode=as2&tag=laurawhisp-21&linkId=73d9b9968c621483e871d3904201fb6c" target="_blank">'Help' by Simon Amstell</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=laurawhisp-21&l=am2&o=2&a=1910931543" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
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<b>Visit 12 Coffee Shops/Restaurants I Haven't Yet Been to in Aberdeen/shire</b></h3>
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I visited my third venue this month when I went to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/waterfrontcafebar.stonehaven/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Waterfront Cafe</b></a> in Stonehaven. Truth be told it was a bit of an unintentional choice after a nearby venue turned out to be closed and, while the food we had was nice enough, the menu was pretty uninspiring, especially for vegetarians. Let's just say I had chips and a can of diet coke and leave it at that. (We made up for it with a trip to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/auntybettystonehaven/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Aunty Betty's</b></a> later on.)</div>
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<b>Cultivate a Daily Relaxation Practice </b></h3>
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Travelling and staying in hostels at the start of the month threw my routine way off and I completely failed to pick it back up, only managing a relaxation exercise on 10 days. My mental health hasn't been at its best throughout March and I know that all these tiny little daily things can really add up, so I'm hoping to be a lot better about committing to some relaxation time in the month to come. </div>
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<b>Sample 30 Gins</b> </h3>
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This month I drank some delicious <a href="https://stirlinggin.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Stirling gin</b></a> - a Christmas present from my sister - as well as sampling some Berry Bros. and Rudd London Dry and a Caorunn gin at this year's <b><a href="https://northhop.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">North Hop</a></b>, bringing my total for the year to seven. </div>
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<b>Increase Work Hours (Employed or Voluntary)</b></h3>
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Thrown off by both my holiday and my shoddy mental health, I only volunteered 8.5 hours in the cafe this month. A disappointing effort and another area I hope April will allow me to improve on.</div>
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<b>Visit Aberdeen's Maritime, Tolbooth and Zoology and Peterhead's Prison Museums</b></h3>
I visited <a href="http://peterheadprisonmuseum.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Peterhead's Prison Museum</b></a> on a wild and windy Sunday afternoon this month. Having grown up in Peterhead, there were plenty of stories and myths surrounding the prison (and once an escapee that got us all sent home early from school!), but I knew very little about what actually went on behind those walls. It was fascinating to hear more about prison life, both historically and in recent days, and the museum is enjoyable and presented very well. I'd definitely recommend a visit, though if you're going on a cold day make sure you wrap up warm! <br />
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<b>Keep a Journal (At Least Once a Week)</b></h3>
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I pretty much failed at this, picking up my journal only once or twice during March, and it's yet another routine I hope to re-establish in coming days.<br />
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All-in-all, March wasn't a<i> total </i>disaster, but I think I'm going to have my work cut out in April, trying to pick up all the little things I've inadvertently dropped. Bring on another month! I wonder what'll be next to be ticked off?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>xo</b></i></span></div>
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Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-39883183044973876442018-03-30T10:00:00.000+01:002018-03-30T10:00:09.945+01:00Travel Diaries Day 2: Oh Vienna!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdTn-rWc6Gq4iPoO98qT4yGrgbjGrQYPCMXh9ib3kWIXuU1blRMviBwDn4nMf6ITBT2I7SCIyJkotSsW40e6CYqgAfxhKVyy9faXvAWYXlYDNb2GHcs719bJkzukCU7Ah5PtDANc5zUY/s1600/vienna01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1500" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdTn-rWc6Gq4iPoO98qT4yGrgbjGrQYPCMXh9ib3kWIXuU1blRMviBwDn4nMf6ITBT2I7SCIyJkotSsW40e6CYqgAfxhKVyy9faXvAWYXlYDNb2GHcs719bJkzukCU7Ah5PtDANc5zUY/s640/vienna01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Day 2</h3>
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After a bit of an interrupted night's sleep in a surprisingly warm dorm, I popped into Aldi - conveniently located right next to <a href="https://www.wombats-hostels.com/vienna/the-naschmarkt/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Wombats Hostel</b></a> - for a cheap breakfast, fuelling myself on pastry for a busy day ahead. The common room and reception area at Wombats are housed in a bright open space full of comfortable cushions and little window nooks, with information stations and good Wifi throughout, perfect for researching and planning your day. </div>
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Free Walking Tour </h3>
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One of my favourite ways to find out a little more about a city is by joining a free, locally-run walking tour. Research had flagged up a few options in Vienna prior to arrival, but it turned out the hostel offered its own, leaving from reception at 10.30am every Monday-Friday, which seemed to me as good a choice as any!</div>
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Starting just outside at the Naschmarkt, our guide - an entertaining Austrian woman whose name I wish I could remember - took us on a two and a half hour tour of the city, filling us in on Vienna's history, the significance of its many beautiful buildings and some of the country's customs and traditions.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxtL9Ys0yuSQWkjmI0JAD1iwHajeWCZr1s-7L2zECx59FGuPgXjWS0EkUa2KLUcN45oDb__Tn0IeevSWZ-N7HHTj5opV1qZlBkP8RWE_e3ghJTCPK-X2MaqLEjjWchinTG339onjCMRM/s1600/vienna13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Monument Against War and Fascism, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1500" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxtL9Ys0yuSQWkjmI0JAD1iwHajeWCZr1s-7L2zECx59FGuPgXjWS0EkUa2KLUcN45oDb__Tn0IeevSWZ-N7HHTj5opV1qZlBkP8RWE_e3ghJTCPK-X2MaqLEjjWchinTG339onjCMRM/s640/vienna13.jpg" title="Monument Against War and Fascism, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Monument Against War and Fascism, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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From the Naschmarkt, with its 100+ stalls offering a global range of ingredients and freshly-made food, we walked up the star-lined Musik Meile, learning about the city's incredible musical history, home as it once was to the likes of Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart. Culminating at the <span class="st">Staatsoper - or </span>State Opera - on the Ringstraße, we learned a little about the Ring Road - a boulevard of grand buildings erected where the old city walls once stood, now recognised as part of Vienna's <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1033" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>UNESCO World Heritage site</b></a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqn6XCzHBUVrw9euSwB8L_0TtzAIwfstMFhYwxgFG51Suxx-GSHxOBDLgbJAyRI-jhIUUivrt1tHESD23xa7PBU6IUDHvvr1LrTEK4S51Hx5dYRgnPjNDJ9SPFIU-UMi_NWHPQJvUh_0/s1600/vienna14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1500" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqn6XCzHBUVrw9euSwB8L_0TtzAIwfstMFhYwxgFG51Suxx-GSHxOBDLgbJAyRI-jhIUUivrt1tHESD23xa7PBU6IUDHvvr1LrTEK4S51Hx5dYRgnPjNDJ9SPFIU-UMi_NWHPQJvUh_0/s640/vienna14.jpg" title="Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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From there we visited the Monument Against War and Fascism, before heading to Heroes Square and the imposing Hofburg Imperial Palace. Once the home of kings and emperors, the expansive palace complex - among the largest in the world - is today the workplace of the country's President, as well as home to the imperial library and treasury, the <a href="https://www.burgtheater.at/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Austrian National Theatre</b></a> and the famous <a href="http://www.srs.at/en_US/start-en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Spanish Riding School</b></a>. For an entrance fee, the old apartments - once the winter residence of the imperial family - are open to visitors, as is the Sisi Museum which is housed here, paying tribute to Empress Elisabeth and the many myths that surrounded her. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNG8FdshU6pUSAQoUCqr8H_S_M-mWGLMlJIcHQbit6b9FhISwllzFESBbO_LZJAASnLLK_Pz2GG7rK1o0V2HuDlBQ27Q2ilXroEQoGLBy9YJijmZe09GDyDgTpBdvDnvt2lsOPi9iOOs/s1600/vienna15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNG8FdshU6pUSAQoUCqr8H_S_M-mWGLMlJIcHQbit6b9FhISwllzFESBbO_LZJAASnLLK_Pz2GG7rK1o0V2HuDlBQ27Q2ilXroEQoGLBy9YJijmZe09GDyDgTpBdvDnvt2lsOPi9iOOs/s640/vienna15.jpg" title="Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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From the Palace our tour took us down Graben at the centre of the city's Inner Stadt or first district. Taking its name from the German word for 'trench' it is believed that the street was built by filling in and paving over a trench to become one of the first residential areas of the growing 12th century city. These days it forms part of an exclusive shopping district, housing brands like Burberry, Dior and Tiffany and Co.<br />
<br />
Needless to say we didn't quite feel at home in this area, but we paused for long enough to take in the baroque sculpture of the Trinity Column, erected in remembrance of the great plague of the 17th century.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnHlHMBdISrxGfhUKFygyKsGCaxnijLhZdN28ixuv5ZyRWEKWg1TU-phyt3HRaRZ3qtqQexAgttFH9DXMgGobA7VZhM2cMl1YKDqNnba9wTav1tA9JIemt1NuDDAPZOgdo3rLF95IaeA/s1600/vienna16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Burgtheater, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnHlHMBdISrxGfhUKFygyKsGCaxnijLhZdN28ixuv5ZyRWEKWg1TU-phyt3HRaRZ3qtqQexAgttFH9DXMgGobA7VZhM2cMl1YKDqNnba9wTav1tA9JIemt1NuDDAPZOgdo3rLF95IaeA/s640/vienna16.jpg" title="Burgtheater, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Burgtheater, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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Not far from there we reached the final stop of our tour outside Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral) - a vast Romanesque and Gothic place of worship for the Roman Catholic Church. Severely damaged during the Second World War, the cathedral was restored in seven years to the glory in which it stands today. The scaffolding around one side of the building gives a hint towards the upkeep that must be required by a building of this detail, scale and age and our guide told us that she's never seen it scaffold-free in her lifetime! In spite of that, it is a stunning piece of architecture at the heart of the city and an ideal place to conclude our walking tour.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvxWMGX9nQ4EZufkEW2VqK9C4bcuNJKJXTzzRlNX2mJ0wbym-0SJTmNGdrkzh6jCzT4HerETPoWxSWUJnfJuMsbBicbeJ-LfMaO6VJhtcrjGOhMkdFjueTEo4W919B_hAq_CLWNY354A/s1600/vienna17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Plague Memorial, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvxWMGX9nQ4EZufkEW2VqK9C4bcuNJKJXTzzRlNX2mJ0wbym-0SJTmNGdrkzh6jCzT4HerETPoWxSWUJnfJuMsbBicbeJ-LfMaO6VJhtcrjGOhMkdFjueTEo4W919B_hAq_CLWNY354A/s640/vienna17.jpg" title="The Plague Memorial, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Plague Memorial, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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These tours are operated free-of-charge, however there is an expectation that participants will tip their guide if they've enjoyed the experience - around €5 per person seems to be average - which I was more than happy to do after such an enjoyable and informative start to the day! </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">~</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDN46keZxRlkuY620OHmQk6dvBO5kZryOa0IPAixi3QeDpOGqWQV31dGQwfIWo5fopolQbBzLIjSaOvPg_kEoQ0LvKqPwJx5FndYU4A704QM4IGilcddGcBzZ5rvz3rcu_ezs5xp9s5w/s1600/vienna18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Inside St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDN46keZxRlkuY620OHmQk6dvBO5kZryOa0IPAixi3QeDpOGqWQV31dGQwfIWo5fopolQbBzLIjSaOvPg_kEoQ0LvKqPwJx5FndYU4A704QM4IGilcddGcBzZ5rvz3rcu_ezs5xp9s5w/s640/vienna18.jpg" title="Inside St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Inside St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
St Stephen's Tower </h3>
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As the tour group dispersed and went their separate ways, I headed in the most obvious direction and decided to check out St Stephen's from a different perspective.<br />
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Viewing it first from the inside, I took in the nave of the church with its carved stone pulpit, more than a dozen altars and beautiful stained glass. There is restricted access to some parts of the building, but it is open to the public (respecting worship times, of course) free of charge until 10pm most days. For a small cost, visitors can also gain entry to the catacombs, or take an elevator up the 68.3 meter tall North tower to see the Pummerin - one of the largest free-swinging church bells in Europe.<br />
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Alternatively, €5 will gain you access to the South tower - the tallest of the cathedral's four at a height of 136.44 meters - which is reached not by elevator but by climbing some 343 steps! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99JcLSBGj-eeAhm-aEIIBpu0uN6uwDjLMeLih3X8TJuCXbBHA_VnhIiqjPrfEBZOnRD075kvJVGM4_9yhPSe1n5jXfel9KAUsKKpdhyphenhyphenMHMsT0FhDDGhzDiCZ2GPCbY2-opfzHRSpWfRk/s1600/vienna19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99JcLSBGj-eeAhm-aEIIBpu0uN6uwDjLMeLih3X8TJuCXbBHA_VnhIiqjPrfEBZOnRD075kvJVGM4_9yhPSe1n5jXfel9KAUsKKpdhyphenhyphenMHMsT0FhDDGhzDiCZ2GPCbY2-opfzHRSpWfRk/s640/vienna19.jpg" title="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Views from the South Tower, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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Spiralling, poorly lit and really rather claustrophobic (especially if there are other people trying to pass in the opposite direction), the climb is not for the faint of heart and I was breathless and weak-kneed for more reasons than one by the time I got to the top. Honestly, if you're not a fan of small spaces or are lacking in a basic level of fitness, you might well struggle with this one.<br />
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But if you do make it up those stairs, my goodness it feels worth it at the top! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt6zt-doDOISuTFDhVPl7A0D_65n6jQpjFCg2u-sNROrFZKpo59Q1AdGZNnJc1WYHVO75lyP_WknivdM4hgEBGnodFk21UEPLWIW-2l2D5vySwR58uYA2FZ1di1cTdqiR8qzTzldP3ag/s1600/vienna21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1500" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt6zt-doDOISuTFDhVPl7A0D_65n6jQpjFCg2u-sNROrFZKpo59Q1AdGZNnJc1WYHVO75lyP_WknivdM4hgEBGnodFk21UEPLWIW-2l2D5vySwR58uYA2FZ1di1cTdqiR8qzTzldP3ag/s640/vienna21.jpg" title="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVIKEmOLB4x_kjT48cIm6Cb-p7YiY7_BMa7gIe3qYI09X3GNN8-zHtTG975a7LTlNJfjxx5-lR8pILyzXTTlHnvVWA4LbSYwjzIz1QsUZejFrRp1XqpPEH5IfjMuYLzRH0AZjaBJ0yHM/s1600/vienna23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1500" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVIKEmOLB4x_kjT48cIm6Cb-p7YiY7_BMa7gIe3qYI09X3GNN8-zHtTG975a7LTlNJfjxx5-lR8pILyzXTTlHnvVWA4LbSYwjzIz1QsUZejFrRp1XqpPEH5IfjMuYLzRH0AZjaBJ0yHM/s640/vienna23.jpg" title="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" width="640" /></a></div>
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With windows on all four sides, the Watchman's Apartment offers a near 360 degree view out across the city and I found myself looking down on a stunning bird's-eye perspective of Vienna, with local landmarks resplendent among snow-capped rooftops. </div>
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The cathedral itself is impressive from this angle too, gazing out upon the 230,000 glazed tiles of its intricately patterned roof. How they managed to mosaic an eagle at that height - and without our modern-day technology - is beyond me, but incredibly striking to see. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicE4G1K2OY6JZ2hcaNNm9XO-EN5rQRQV-mTzgglGgCcp4O6KN1w2xq8OXgYaZVYNfjRwvXWR0S8dCFXJ2q_Tgzv20CoP6fD6_md7d4npvLA_qCeUpiFXTpFs6hXvSGp-ZRXbDb8ZrN40/s1600/vienna20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicE4G1K2OY6JZ2hcaNNm9XO-EN5rQRQV-mTzgglGgCcp4O6KN1w2xq8OXgYaZVYNfjRwvXWR0S8dCFXJ2q_Tgzv20CoP6fD6_md7d4npvLA_qCeUpiFXTpFs6hXvSGp-ZRXbDb8ZrN40/s640/vienna20.jpg" title="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTEigDOXFVann1tM7FT2pUZlfdbwEPSkaxuCHYoMTHopmo9jd2RJJ8Xbhpnn7ySdwXQIM_CN11PHAanTxVKNCopqaGNIrzO4OQlV7ZbX4j9wQKDXSkNHgkB64U0lSqzFQvyxEKZqAcgc/s1600/vienna22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTEigDOXFVann1tM7FT2pUZlfdbwEPSkaxuCHYoMTHopmo9jd2RJJ8Xbhpnn7ySdwXQIM_CN11PHAanTxVKNCopqaGNIrzO4OQlV7ZbX4j9wQKDXSkNHgkB64U0lSqzFQvyxEKZqAcgc/s640/vienna22.jpg" title="Views from the South Tower of St Stephen's, Vienna" width="640" /></a></div>
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I stayed up there for a wee while, enjoying the beautiful views (and the warmth of the room) and trying to make the most of it after that climb, not particularly looking forward to the descent to come. </div>
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As it was, the route down was much easier on the knees and heart, though the never-ending spiral made my head spin and an ascending class of children made it slightly tricky! Still, we got there eventually, and I'm fairly certain that, for views like that, I would put myself through it all again. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>~</b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATUo7mfxjRPlJsTIeJdyF487hmAHNHtRkGt71kEKR0YwoLVJYMWTPp19av1juHz-PSl-gran0eVibDuTcR_E69ecx8a5KIGoFetshH2gMZj4nwpxVcd-X42AvfH4mHJ4v0-tMEkasdKo/s1600/vienna24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coffee and apfelstrudel at Landtmann's, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1500" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATUo7mfxjRPlJsTIeJdyF487hmAHNHtRkGt71kEKR0YwoLVJYMWTPp19av1juHz-PSl-gran0eVibDuTcR_E69ecx8a5KIGoFetshH2gMZj4nwpxVcd-X42AvfH4mHJ4v0-tMEkasdKo/s640/vienna24.jpg" title="Coffee and apfelstrudel at Landtmann's, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Coffee and apfelstrudel at Landtmann's, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
Apfelstrudel </h3>
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It was the middle of the afternoon by this point and I was feeling pretty peckish after all those stairs. My feet were tired, my tummy was grumbling and my mind was focussed on one thing about Vienna I'd heard <i>lots </i>about: dessert!<br />
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Home of the renowned Sachertorte, this might have seemed an obvious choice, but it was thoughts of traditional apple strudel that were dancing across my mind. A little Google consult told me that <a href="https://www.landtmann.at/en/das-landtmann/our-coffee-house.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Cafe Landtmann</b></a> served up some of the best in town and so I headed back to the Ringstraße to see what all the fuss was about. <br />
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Viennese coffee houses are an important part of the city's culture, both historically and today, and Cafe Landtmann has been a part of the scene since 1873. Elegantly decorated, I found myself seated in grand surrounds, adorned by furnishings from the 1920s. It felt formal and out of my league, yet there were customers at laptops dotted throughout, nursing a single coffee and casually typing away.<br />
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A little overwhelmed by the vast menu, I fumbled my way through an order of a latte and hot apple strudel with custard, which arrived at my table in no time at all. Crisp, perfectly flaky pastry packed with sharp-yet-sweet cinnamon-coated apples and raisins, this was quite truly the strudel of dreams! <br />
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At €12.50 for coffee and dessert this was certainly one of the more extravagant moments of my trip, but I have no regrets because boy what a treat! </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">~</span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmJ4DJW1Z_OI1iy1ilgrVAZLFVP2EQX4DIRrslCrgCvuuJ6vnImCv0TlQs6dyAq23zCHD_Qu9pT7cIw5bTwnJr9d1TxKenlfSILzhtHyd85x3Z_X0zMIgdohfk-6DtyDaO_a3WOHNFPI/s1600/vienna25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sigmund Freud Museum, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmJ4DJW1Z_OI1iy1ilgrVAZLFVP2EQX4DIRrslCrgCvuuJ6vnImCv0TlQs6dyAq23zCHD_Qu9pT7cIw5bTwnJr9d1TxKenlfSILzhtHyd85x3Z_X0zMIgdohfk-6DtyDaO_a3WOHNFPI/s640/vienna25.jpg" title="Sigmund Freud Museum, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sigmund Freud Museum, Vienna</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Sigmund Freud Museum </h3>
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Landtmann's is said to have been the go-to coffee house of Sigmund Freud - the father of psychoanalysis - which seems understandable with his office and residence a mere 15 minute walk away. Now home to the <a href="https://www.freud-museum.at/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Sigmund Freud Museum</b></a> - open daily until 6pm - this was my next stop of the day. <br />
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A €12 entrance fee gains you an audio-guided tour of the property at Berggasse 19, where Freud lived and worked for more than four decades. Smaller than I expected yet packed full of pictures and memorabilia, there is plenty to see and even more to read throughout the museum, from the original furnishings of the waiting room - still in their place - to pieces of Freud's antique collection and first edition volumes of some of his work. <br />
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Truth be told, there was less information on his work and theories than I had anticipated, focussing more on his own biography instead, but it offered a fascinating insight into his lifestyle and the balance between his roles as therapeutic practitioner, academic, and family man - the father of six kids.<br />
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Much of the museum has been designed and curated with help from his youngest daughter, Anna Freud, and the temporary exhibition - 'The Apartment Is Doing Well' - on display at the time of my visit took its name from a letter written by a young Anna to her father.<br />
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On the whole, the museum wasn't quite what I expected and is so niche that it isn't going to thrill you if you have no prior interest in Freud, but if - like me - you're fascinated by all things psychology, psychiatry and mental health then I would definitely recommend a <a href="https://www.freud-museum.at/en/your-visit/opening-hours-admission.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>visit</b></a> to this unassuming little apartment out of which the psychoanalytic movement sprang!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>~ </b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsydfgeqOTN20fE1h_tVCdgNCuqjaPCb98eI1_uAlTyH3MBgRYL2M8Q_qOZjFTBjjfsUeQFy_bvgH7by_kJqpIip3Jx1bimNVLjdHrVQ11Zc3QpCQPw2BkpdV4RuPtjxfQUZJ5vSeeCM/s1600/vienna26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dinner at Veggiezz, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1500" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsydfgeqOTN20fE1h_tVCdgNCuqjaPCb98eI1_uAlTyH3MBgRYL2M8Q_qOZjFTBjjfsUeQFy_bvgH7by_kJqpIip3Jx1bimNVLjdHrVQ11Zc3QpCQPw2BkpdV4RuPtjxfQUZJ5vSeeCM/s640/vienna26.jpg" title="Dinner at Veggiezz, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dinner at Veggiezz, Vienna</i></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Dinner at Veggiezz Vegan Dining Room</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Evening was well on its way as I left the museum near closing time and I decided to head back to the hostel for a short while, recharging batteries and freshening up before venturing out for dinner.<br />
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My venue of choice for the evening was <a href="https://veggiezz.at/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Veggiezz Vegan Dining Room</b></a> - a casual plant-based bar and restaurant with three sites across the city. The closest of these on the Opernring - just a 15 minute walk from <a href="https://www.wombats-hostels.com/vienna/the-naschmarkt/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Wombat's hostel</b></a> - was a lovely light and airy space full of white-washed tables and pretty plants, where I found a corner seat and dined comfortably on my own. <br />
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The fully-vegan <a href="https://veggiezz.at/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Veggiezz-Winterkarte_Salzgries_01-2018_WEB.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>menu</b></a> (which also caters well for gluten intolerances) offers a selection of soups, salads, pasta, burgers and quinoa bowls, as well as a meat-free Vienna-style schnitzel and a create-your-own selection of seitan steaks.<br />
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It was a tough choice, but in the end I opted for the Fusilli Carbonara - a creamy pasta dish topped with smoked tofu and vegan parmesan - with a refreshing raspberry wine spritzer to wash it down. Both delicious, it turned out to be a good choice all round - one of those meals you repeatedly find yourself thinking about. I need to learn to make that carbonara for myself!<br />
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For less than €15, I left feeling pleasantly full and satisfied that I'd eaten some wholesome, good-quality food in pleasant surrounds. If you're in the market for veggie food in Vienna, I'd highly recommend checking them out.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>~ </b></span></div>
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A good end to a lovely day. I was pretty worn out by this point having walked a good 10km (and tackled 343 steps!) and so headed back to the hostel to chill for a while before bed, ready to explore a whole new city the following day! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">xo</span></b></i></div>
Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781703772205243816.post-17088140746004309812018-03-18T20:00:00.000+00:002018-03-18T20:01:51.427+00:00Travel Diaries Day 1: Vienna, One Way or Another<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGWd1XgBemv3Enmk4KvWML0NKCfRWSx05bzCN1nwVoMZ-O4rN19ODCpghxJrzs8tTCmv_stskLGX51-9KJS5Fy9x3x0w9G6vMauN29TLfliMBVWDdvZ7AjOKHJEU987FLnuhyphenhyphenVt4mWBA/s1600/vienna02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vienna from St Stephen's Cathedral " border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1200" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGWd1XgBemv3Enmk4KvWML0NKCfRWSx05bzCN1nwVoMZ-O4rN19ODCpghxJrzs8tTCmv_stskLGX51-9KJS5Fy9x3x0w9G6vMauN29TLfliMBVWDdvZ7AjOKHJEU987FLnuhyphenhyphenVt4mWBA/s640/vienna02.jpg" title="Vienna from St Stephen's Cathedral " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna</td></tr>
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When I sat down and booked myself a multi-country European trip, it's safe to say my anxiety was<i> not</i> impressed. Travelling alone and with so many opportunities for things to go wrong, anxiety was not remotely convinced that I could handle it. On edge for weeks in the run-up, it kept me up at night with nightmare visions and consumed my days, perpetually fretting over overwhelming eventualities and potential disasters. <i>What if I get lost and I'm stranded forever because I can't communicate with anyone? What if I've messed up my hostel bookings and there's nowhere else to stay in the <b>entire</b> city? What if I get mugged and am left penniless in a foreign country?! What if I get in an accident, the hospital finds out I'm a mental-case and the insurance company sees an excuse not to cough up the money?! </i> It was utterly ridiculous and entirely relentless.</div>
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In spite of all that, it completely failed to prepare me for one possibility: a flight cancellation caused by a bloody big snow storm right here in Scotland! Leaving the country was supposed to be the easy part, but thanks to the Beast from the East it turned out to be the hardest. </div>
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I was due to fly from Edinburgh to Vienna in the early hours of Saturday morning. I made it to a very snowy Edinburgh on Friday evening (by lengthy bus journey instead of car), arriving in the city <i>just</i> as a notification arrived in my inbox. My flight would not be taking off the following day and the next flight to Vienna would not leave until Tuesday. Devastated! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMTBXNDi0xbdLaUFP3pe1x8bW7PwUH3HYPPzAsNRdvpCz4RZiKD9TnQGajbgyOyTYMTModgsf5ZTSd57uX6PEzTk8Z1tu1vhjRROXzT5HL060ryUlWn59qmwzffdrrFHnFTwayfZVgDE/s1600/vienna03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Karlskirche at Karlsplatz, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1500" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMTBXNDi0xbdLaUFP3pe1x8bW7PwUH3HYPPzAsNRdvpCz4RZiKD9TnQGajbgyOyTYMTModgsf5ZTSd57uX6PEzTk8Z1tu1vhjRROXzT5HL060ryUlWn59qmwzffdrrFHnFTwayfZVgDE/s640/vienna03.jpg" title="Karlskirche at Karlsplatz, Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karlskirche, Vienna</td></tr>
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<h3>
The Detour</h3>
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Thankfully, all was not lost. My friend very kindly put me up in Edinburgh for a little longer than expected (thank you!) while I booked a Sunday morning flight to Bratislava, crossing my fingers that the weather would settle and that extra day would make all the difference. Praise the Lord it did and I hopped on a bus to Edinburgh airport and flew out to Bratislava first thing the following morning. </div>
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I am quite a planner - lists and structure help me feel safe and in control - but, landing in a different country with my notes now entirely redundant, I kind of surprised myself with the ability to adapt and cope with so much change at the last minute! </div>
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Arriving at Bratislava airport, I ignored the hoards of travellers heading for taxis (<i>whhyyy?!</i>), grabbed a ticket from the machine and joined the locals on the bus to <span class="st">Hlavná Stanica (main station)</span> for the princely sum of €0.90! From there, I purchased a €12.50 ticket and hopped straight on a train for the hour-long journey to Vienna.<br />
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Two things surprised me on that short journey: the first was the sight of people <i>actually c</i>urling on frozen lakes (amazing!); and the second was the fact that I travelled from one country to another without anyone checking my passport, because apparently that's a thing! (Honestly, sometimes I'm so sheltered I make myself cringe.)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcK-itPvrjPXmUdKSsa_pTKyXXnXd8_IB3OnGYco3g_HX7cfwyk51B4SzlIEzrIztzsGIz5-JmC6T0WxMVI_GwYOcXywGFAnuPDm2mpVOoQnbP7ytchGOlM3MmeXUgTnVxmC94Lr7Ft_k/s1600/vienna06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wombats Hostel at the Naschmarkt" border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1500" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcK-itPvrjPXmUdKSsa_pTKyXXnXd8_IB3OnGYco3g_HX7cfwyk51B4SzlIEzrIztzsGIz5-JmC6T0WxMVI_GwYOcXywGFAnuPDm2mpVOoQnbP7ytchGOlM3MmeXUgTnVxmC94Lr7Ft_k/s640/vienna06.jpg" title="Wombats Hostel at the Naschmarkt" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wombats Hostel at the Naschmarkt, Vienna</td></tr>
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<h3>
Vienna, At Last!</h3>
I dozed a little on the train, but what I saw of the scenery was beautifully wintry and it didn't seem long at all before the landscape was transformed from countryside to city streets. Around two o'clock on Sunday afternoon - a day and a bit of a detour later than planned - I made it to Vienna at long last! <br />
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First things first, I hopped on a couple of connecting subways (€2.40 for the whole journey), taking my first steps onto Vienna's streets from Kettenbruckengasse Station, where I crossed the road and checked into <a href="https://www.wombats-hostels.com/vienna/the-naschmarkt/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Wombats Hostel at The Naschmarkt</b></a>. Not wanting to waste much more time, I left my luggage and quickly freshened up in my comfortable (and surprisingly spacious!) dorm before venturing out to explore the city. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEuyuYDKz2Yx4jyvM6KpQ4WjfScClkdQ9UwUL8CJxTbAt4CnenbgTDBlA4mbdvgGxUGZj9XukXwbBdstzRFjTdU5awjRuHTfU4pEwD6J0dgjOHgCTOb4jz3il36Pj8nloLT44SPWC92s/s1600/vienna05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vienna Business School" border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEuyuYDKz2Yx4jyvM6KpQ4WjfScClkdQ9UwUL8CJxTbAt4CnenbgTDBlA4mbdvgGxUGZj9XukXwbBdstzRFjTdU5awjRuHTfU4pEwD6J0dgjOHgCTOb4jz3il36Pj8nloLT44SPWC92s/s640/vienna05.jpg" title="Vienna Business School" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vienna Business School</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg677bNTgsOYwEbRy_oXxQoWE_Qfo8GbDYNa6nOskDE7i2hBiRpTBctLCtOlzBUOdhqW1nEAomdNY_tIH-pSM8vFPirdiKDJdZu0IoBzDnFvrz5sHYEvIRhi2iMbiOYk5wY-pu76WU30/s1600/vienna08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg677bNTgsOYwEbRy_oXxQoWE_Qfo8GbDYNa6nOskDE7i2hBiRpTBctLCtOlzBUOdhqW1nEAomdNY_tIH-pSM8vFPirdiKDJdZu0IoBzDnFvrz5sHYEvIRhi2iMbiOYk5wY-pu76WU30/s640/vienna08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Exploring</h3>
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Walking with no particular direction in mind, I found the red poppy clad Majolikahaus directly across the road and stumbled upon the stunning baroque church Karlskirche just a ten minute walk from the hostel. From ancient Gothic designs to Otto Wagner's take on Art Nouveau, the city is awash with beautiful buildings spanning the whole spectrum of style and I was architecturally awed round almost every corner. Even their takeaways are housed in incredible buildings: I've never seen such a pretty looking McDonald's in my life!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MGDfIthOEYu35NZOr6MlHmXZpEUnkOO81hv-Y8ZOrzRKef9P-13DSvbrC0OYFAiz7UC-RLXOi60ovzH4PjP2bU2Qvb3nV6k_490HEf2XD7OVXPGrV7o39GE_zdAdqEyG6aLLisQ0FAQ/s1600/vienna07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Inside the Wien Museum" border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MGDfIthOEYu35NZOr6MlHmXZpEUnkOO81hv-Y8ZOrzRKef9P-13DSvbrC0OYFAiz7UC-RLXOi60ovzH4PjP2bU2Qvb3nV6k_490HEf2XD7OVXPGrV7o39GE_zdAdqEyG6aLLisQ0FAQ/s640/vienna07.jpg" title="Inside the Wien Museum" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Wien Museum</td></tr>
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The Vienna Museum </h3>
I enjoyed wandering for a while, just taking in the sights, before eventually making my way back to the <a href="http://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/wien-museum-karlsplatz.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Wien Museum at Karlsplatz</b></a>. Home to a mixture of art pieces and historical artefacts, the museum charts Vienna's story, documenting its growth from a medieval town to today's booming capital city. I found it interesting, particularly enjoying the large-scale models of the city and some of the 20th century works of art, but I can't honestly say I would rush to pay the usual €10 entrance fee. Luckily, many of the city's museums are free on the first Sunday of the month and at that I'm glad I paid a short visit. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iUkL8hWPtZ2e3fiB5yoOeDG8yZP6Sddg_s8G5Ce3s4w_poMmWICt70prJLAuDc5IyhDYZIqOrH1h420P-I8kS_upa4-vEWocIGz2jBdPS7y2BXQOq7M526Z23f5wvwh-HcGmYsw4u7s/s1600/vienna04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stephansplatz Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iUkL8hWPtZ2e3fiB5yoOeDG8yZP6Sddg_s8G5Ce3s4w_poMmWICt70prJLAuDc5IyhDYZIqOrH1h420P-I8kS_upa4-vEWocIGz2jBdPS7y2BXQOq7M526Z23f5wvwh-HcGmYsw4u7s/s640/vienna04.jpg" title="Stephansplatz Vienna" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephansplatz, Vienna</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0sr-Ip2u8wYdJayFbkD4_Mc6ikQoAdLzn2U2aegXro_1pvwv8KfsFQn4N9WZay76O_3-40i6YV_vmAlA0ash9lDOZHkWryMt0a3GBEPsAcjKcj3lQtIcfpfaEXJ0iF-LTKblZjSbk7g/s1600/vienna10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St Stephen's Cathedral Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0sr-Ip2u8wYdJayFbkD4_Mc6ikQoAdLzn2U2aegXro_1pvwv8KfsFQn4N9WZay76O_3-40i6YV_vmAlA0ash9lDOZHkWryMt0a3GBEPsAcjKcj3lQtIcfpfaEXJ0iF-LTKblZjSbk7g/s640/vienna10.jpg" title="St Stephen's Cathedral Vienna" width="640" /></a></div>
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Stephansplatz and the Danube </h3>
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From there I headed back out into the cold (and boy was it cold that first day!), walking further into the city in the direction of Stephansplatz. Rounding a corner onto the square was like walking into a fairytale - the mammoth Gothic St Stephen's Cathedral, ornately decorated and surrounded by tiny horse-and-carriages. Arriving like clockwork as the bells began to toll, I admired the exterior of the church from all kinds of angles, accompanied by their clamorous cacophony. My goodness, those bells are an experience in themselves! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAHfFOHwTdEOeUAPBYhdaGVCVaIjXawJdcdcKdK1YDt8j28rJ5KCgKpFEGf0ZB_2OnQuyHkoyTOOcDKs4Am-hlW2RwwvYMCGi3EBeUoHCUrxf9-ziwvkLikJHPBu2uD9jQkqqC_y-0to/s1600/vienna09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Donaukanal Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAHfFOHwTdEOeUAPBYhdaGVCVaIjXawJdcdcKdK1YDt8j28rJ5KCgKpFEGf0ZB_2OnQuyHkoyTOOcDKs4Am-hlW2RwwvYMCGi3EBeUoHCUrxf9-ziwvkLikJHPBu2uD9jQkqqC_y-0to/s640/vienna09.jpg" title="The Donaukanal Vienna" width="640" /></a></div>
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As dusk began to draw in around me I took a walk down to the Donaukanal, crossing the bridge at Schwedenplatz while admiring the statue of Heilige Maria (Holy Mary) and the contrasting graffiti on the embankment walls below. I imagine the canal to be particularly pretty in the summertime and rumour has it there are some impressive works of street art to be found further along the path - the <a href="http://www.viennamurals.at/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Vienna Murals</b></a> map is worth a look if that's your thing. As it was, it was getting a little too dark and chilly for art hunting on this particular evening and I decided it was time to hunt down some food instead. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNYneuuGpbus0JOJT7P9cCkZrxV-fJXcsDfgHEYZ0sF9DPWjzuIOPqbXDS7BStodZqigDrm3HbABBwFGrQ1thc4GSqLgO_V3w5sU2WVDOEyg6ua4EB9479uZa9r0q86l4YztLPdV9LVA/s1600/vienna11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swing Kitchen, Operngasse, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1500" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNYneuuGpbus0JOJT7P9cCkZrxV-fJXcsDfgHEYZ0sF9DPWjzuIOPqbXDS7BStodZqigDrm3HbABBwFGrQ1thc4GSqLgO_V3w5sU2WVDOEyg6ua4EB9479uZa9r0q86l4YztLPdV9LVA/s640/vienna11.jpg" title="Swing Kitchen, Operngasse, Vienna" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dinner at Swing Kitchen </h3>
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Back in the direction of the Naschmarkt, just a ten minute walk from Wombats hostel, I made my way to <a href="https://www.swingkitchen.com/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Swing Kitchen</b></a> over on the Operngasse. With half a dozen venues throughout the city, the Schillingers' local restaurant chain specialises in a fresh, environmentally-friendly and entirely vegan take on fast food. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghr9kXIkR1QvuFHB-7rz787t7mHgiRlTj5BScBfm7YUrMTwdk38xqMxEwM0772FTQiMASrDHHqY21XewD_Yom7WNjIqK5-CoKRVFMAnt3WRGGKC5yscO83wu19Ak3k5an3mHdHJdbvSww/s1600/vienna12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swing Kitchen, Operngasse, Vienna" border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1500" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghr9kXIkR1QvuFHB-7rz787t7mHgiRlTj5BScBfm7YUrMTwdk38xqMxEwM0772FTQiMASrDHHqY21XewD_Yom7WNjIqK5-CoKRVFMAnt3WRGGKC5yscO83wu19Ak3k5an3mHdHJdbvSww/s640/vienna12.jpg" title="Swing Kitchen, Operngasse, Vienna" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ordering at the till point, the English-speaking cashier very kindly helped me navigate my way through the menu of burgers, schnitzel and falafel with accompanying drinks, desserts and sides. I opted for the chilli burger - a soya patty with ketchup, garlic sauce, salad and jalapeños - with some fries and their own-recipe cola, at a reasonably priced €8.80 all in. </div>
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Dining alone in public can be a difficult experience, but the informal
fast food style of this particular establishment made it ideal for my
first outing and I found myself relaxing comfortably at a window-facing
bar while slowly enjoying my meal. Definitely one of the better burgers I've had in my time, this one was delicious and delightfully messy to eat. The jalapeños and garlic sauce were a winning combination and those chunky chips went down a treat!</div>
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It had been a long day by this point, having been on the go since about 5am, so I headed back to the hostel after dinner for a nice hot shower and a good night's sleep.</div>
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My first impressions of Vienna having been brief but wholly positive, I crawled into bed feeling excited and looking forward to seeing more of the city the following day. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>xo</b></i></span></div>
Laura Whisperinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00546719995730647370noreply@blogger.com0