MY EUROPEAN HOLIDAY - ENCHANTING LISBON

Hi everyone,

In the last few posts I’ve been sharing with you my latest European adventure.  Previously I was telling you about our time in Greece (Athens and Santorini) but now is the time to move to the next place on our itinerary - Portugal.

Our first stop was Lisbon.  Apart from it being Portugal’s capital, I didn’t know much about this far-Western European capital.  I heard from the lady I work with that it is a beautiful city and we were quite curious to see it for ourselves.

We landed in Lisbon late in the evening and couldn’t see much of the city on the way to our hotel. We stayed at Santiago de Alfama, a small boutique hotel situated in Alfama (the oldest district of Lisbon), that was recently converted from a 15^th century castle into a modern, stylish and sophisticated place, situated within a short walk to Castelo de São Jorge.

Our first step in exploring a new city has always been on the top of a Red Hop-on Hop-Off bus and this was no exception.  Fortunately, the bus interchange was within ten minutes walk from our hotel so armed with directions and a city map given to us by the concierge, we began our Lisbon adventure.  

The first thing we noticed as we stepped outside is how all the streets in the old city are paved with small cobblestones that make walking quite challenging.  Luckily for us, we were forewarned and were properly shod. 

The district of Alfama is a labyrinth of narrow streets, winding alleys and steep flights of steps.  Lots of buildings are covered by ancient tiles of intricate and colourful design, and others are painted in pink and yellow hues and are a great fun to look at.  

Some streets bend at a really sharp angle and as you come around a corner, you unexpectedly find a cosy bar, a coffee shop or an art gallery or a shop. We absolutely loved it.  Finally we made it to the bus stop and spent the next couple of hours seeing the city from the top deck of the bus which gives you totally different perspective of the city and its people.

The next day we boarded the famous 28 yellow tram travelling through Alfama all the way to its last stop next to magnificent Estrela Basilica. 

We then walked all the way back to our hotel, making unplanned detours to the right and left off the track into the narrow streets of the surrounding neighbourhoods of Baixa and Chiado taking images of the street murals as we went.

We walked and walked and couldn’t get enough of the charms of Lisbon.  At some point we stopped at a local tavern, went inside and ate the most delicious lunch surrounded purely by locals.

We fell in love with Lisbon.  We admired the architecture of the old buildings, the colours they were painted, the mosaic of wall tiles, the bright hues of front doors, the cobblestoned laneways with their small bars, vinotecas and eateries and the soft Fado music streaming out into the street from the open doors and windows – the numerous charms of Lisbon.

It was almost dark by the time we found our way back to the hotel.

The next day we made a trip to Mercado da Ribeira, main Lisbon’s food market that in 2014 was taken over by TimeOut Lisboa magazine, whose management added stalls offering food and traditional local products.  

Today Mercado da Ribeira is not only a destination for fresh produce but also a busy hub and a great place to have the most sumptuous lunch chosen from over 50 different food stalls and then eaten at one of the numerous communal table sharing your joy for food and wine with fellow food lovers.

There is so much to do in Lisbon that our four days were absolutely full on and yet there was more to go.  We, did, however, found time to visit the majestic town of Sintra but that story is for another post.

Unfortunately, the streak of bad weather that we encountered in Greece, followed us all the way to Portugal and precluded us doing the roof-top bar hopping in Barrio Alto where the good food, wine, Fado music and great views over the city all come together to create a perfect way to end the day but we, however, found a lovely, very cosy restaurant and wine called Espumantaria on a way in out hotel where we had a scrumptious meal and drank absolutely divine wine.

Add caption

I will continue to tell you more about its enchanting city and its surrounding in my next post. 

Until then, 

MY EUROPEAN HOLIDAY - SANTORINI, GREECE

Hello my dear readers,

As you recall from my previous post, the next stop on our itinerary was the Greek island of Santorini.  I don’t know a single person who, if they haven’t been here, or have at least seen a poster, a greeting card or photograph depicting the blue domed roofs overlooking the sea.

We couldn’t wait to see it with our own eyes.  My husband wanted us to rent a car so we would have the flexibility of going anywhere at any time that we like, so after our plane landed in Fira, the modern capital of Santorini, late in the afternoon, we went straight to the car rental desk to pick up the car.  When the clerk behind a counter handed us a map and explained that the streets and roads don’t really have names nor you will you see any traffic lights and all we need to do to find our way around the island is to follow the main road, I immediately knew that we were in for some “fun”.  So we loaded the car with our luggage and off we went.

Well, the fun began right outside the airport gates.  First of all, like everywhere in Europe 

and US of A, people drive on the opposite side of the road to us, Australians; second - the roads of Santorini mostly are quite narrow and winding and the main one that runs along the coast is flanked by the sheer drop down to the sea far below on one side and the rocky cliffs on the other.  The cars are understandably compact, everyone drives quite fast making tourists fear for their dear lives, being either hit by another car or thrown over the railing.  None of this actually ever happened except in my imagination.  Meanwhile, the view from the road over the sea was absolutely breathtaking but I was so terrified in anticipation of an accident that I didn’t take my eyes off the road, time to time begging my husband not to run us into a cliff.

On the second day, however, I felt more relaxed, the roads looked more familiar and the drivers less threatening and I began to appreciate the idea of having your own mode of transportation and not having to rely on buses or taxis.

Add caption

There are several villages and towns in Santorini and choosing a place to stay is a matter of personal preference.  We chose to stay in Oia, probably the most charming cliff-perched place on the island about half an hours drive from the airport.   It is less touristic then Fira, besides it is renowned  for its blue domes, spectacular sunsets, peace and tranquility.

The majority of accommodation is provided in the form of villas or estates mostly facing the caldera with a sweeping view over the Aegean Sea.  But do be careful when choosing one as many of them are situated on the steep cliffs and if didn’t do your due diligence properly, you might end up carrying your suitcases down quite a few flights of narrow stairs to your hotel and then hoisting them up on the way home and if you leave your hotel you need to confront all those steps every time.  And that is not fun, believe me.

Anyway, we only had to take thirteen steps to the front door of our villa, which unusually had its own parking area, and as we stepped outside onto the balcony and took in the view and the surroundings, we felt that we were in heaven.

We spend the next two days driving around Santorini, exploring the coast with its astonishing view over the caldera and the Aegean Sea and myriads of small islands, visiting the black sand beach, eating local food and just enjoying the vistas, the ever changing presence of the water, the sun and the magic ambiance of this gorgeous island.

There was one flaw, though.  As in Athens, the wind was so cold that at night I had to wear a coat that I would normally wear during the Sydney winter, gloves, scarf, and warmers - the works.

But even cold weather could not stop us from falling in love with Santorini.  This island is a perfect example of the saying: “A picture is worth thousand words" and the memories that we took away with us are all about the warmth and beauty of one of this world’s natural wonders.

Linking up with Not Dressed as Lamb

MY EUROPEAN HOLIDAY 2016 - ATHENS, GREECE

Hello again, everyone

It has been quite a while since I told you about our upcoming holiday to Europe. Now that we are back and I have got over the jet-leg, answered multitudes of e-mails, dealt with mountains of mail and stored away the suitcases, I am ready to share with you our latest European adventure. 

The first stop on our itinerary was Greece’s capital, Athens.   I must say we felt quite apprehensive about this city ever since a few people we asked about it, told us that they didn’t like it at all primarily because they thought it is dirty and cannot offer much apart from the ancient ruins and good food.

We landed in the late afternoon and took a cab to our hotel.  We chose to stay at Royal Olympic Hotel for its position in the city centre and proximity to the Acropolis.  Fitting to its name, the interior of the hotel's lobby looked very imposing and was styled in what you typically associated with Greek taste:  marbled floors throughout, tall marble columns supporting star studded ceilings, comfortable couches upholstered in heavy brocade were invitingly positioned around the reception and lobby area, and here and there were huge gilded ornate pots brimming with orchids and lush green foliage.  Our room was decorated in a similar manner and looked very plush and luxurious without being ostentatiously vulgar.  But the focal point of the room was a spectacular view over the Temple of  Olympian Zeus lit up at night and looking absolutely majestic.

Our breakfast was served on the roof-top restaurant offering a spectacular vista over the city and the Acropolis alongside the delicious and fresh food this country is renowned for.

We spent the first day sightseeing the city from the top deck of a Red Hop-on Hop-off bus making mental notes of the places we would like to return to later on to explore at our own pace which we did in the next couple of days knowing that from where we staying we could walk to a lot of city's attractions such as the Acropolis, the famous Plaka, Ermou Street and the archeological site of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.  

We ate mostly at local taverns and cafes, ordering traditional dishes such as stuffed squid, grilled Dorado fish or octopus and one of my favorites, chocolate or honey glazed loukoumades (Greek donuts) and I don’t recall one bad meal.  

Only once, at my husband’s insistence, we dined at a fine dining restaurant called Spondi.  Despite my jokes about him being the biggest snob I know, it was nice to be dressed in your finest, seated at a dining table covered in starched linen table cloth and be waited upon by your own sommelier, bus boy and waiter.

But sightseeing was not the only thing that you can do while in Athens.  You can also go shopping and if you need to fully re-stock your wardrobe, head on to Ermou Street in the city centre where you can find any type of clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry and much much more.  This long pedestrian strip is not only your ultimate shopping destination, this is the place to see and be seen.  And when you grow tired of spending money on clothes, take a break at one of the myriad of coffee shops that line the street for a glass of frappe and one of the delectable Greek desserts.

If you continue walking down Ermou Street, you eventually reach the Plaka, "the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture".  Here you can lose yourself in the narrow spiral streets admiring the architecture of the buildings, or visit an art gallery to appreciate the talent of native artists, eat and drink at one of multitudes of restaurants, taverns and bars.  It is an ultimate shopping destination for local souvenirs, beauty products made with local olive oil or honey, leather goods, pottery, home décor, clothes and whatever more.  Every shop in the Plaka is open late, the whole area feels very alive and vibrant and if you care to look up, you will see lit up, the tall majestic columns of the Parthenon against a dark night sky.  A thought that this structure has been standing there since 447 BC makes it appear etherial.

As it is quite often happens in life, the things that you least expect to be meaningful turn out to be something very special.  Yes, the country is in economic turmoil with humongous national debt but the people were very cheerful, extremely friendly and helpful, the food was great and everything was quite cheap despite the low conversion rate.

The only downfall was the weather.  Despite the fact that we were there in spring, the temperature didn't rise past 15 degrees and to make matters worse, the northerly wind made us feel the chill factor even more.  The day we decided to climb the hill to the Acropolis the wind up there was so strong that I had to grab my husbands’ hand in fear of being blown away. 

Our verdict – this city is definitely worth visiting.  However, our time in Athens was up, our bags all packed we were heading for our next destination – Santorini.

Linking up with Not Dressed as Lamb

HOLIDAYS 2016

My dear readers,

Just to let you know that I am disappearing from the bloggersphere for a while as my husband and I are taking off on a long anticipated holiday. 

Hope to bring back many stories and images to share.

Until then,

BLACK + WHITE WITH A SPLASH OF BRIGHT|HOW I STYLED BLACK JOGGER PANTS

Until last week, I had not been a big fan of the so called “Streetwear” trend – sweatpants and shirts, hoodies and singlets are not exactly my cup of tea, I prefer to wear garments with more shape-defined silhouettes and classier looks.  Then one day, while I was browsing through the racks of denims at the J Brand counter of David Jones department store, I spotted a pair of black jogger pants. 

They were not exactly what I was looking for but I thought, why not?  Every now and then you should get out of your comfort zone and do something you have never done before and here was my chance, so I paid the price and brought them home.

It was the time to figure out how I am going to wear the jogger pants.  Since it was my first close encounter with this style of pants, my initial look was quite obvious:  casual top, jogger pants and a pair of white Converse – nice and simple.  

However, true to my own style, I wanted my outfit to look more sleek and stylish without compromising the relaxed and comfortable feel. I kept the singlet and quirky sunglasses but ditched the sneakers for a pair of low-heel comfortable leather shoes in eye-popping red that together with a vibrant Hermes scarf (also worn here) pack a high-octane punch to my otherwise monochromatic colour scheme. 

LESSON LEARNT:  GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND DO SOMETHING YOU NEVER DONE BEFORE!!!

 My new Messenger bag from Furla (another gift from my beloved husband) was just the right accessory to polish the sport luxe look. 

ACCESSORIES IN EYE-POPPING COLOURS BRING A HIGH-OCTANE PUNCH TO YOUR OUTFIT


Jogger Pants:  J Brand
Singlet:  Zara
Shoes:  Chloe
Bag:  Furla
Scarf:  Hermes
Cuff:  Dinosaur Designs
Sunglasses:  Bondi Markets (worn here)
Watch: The Horse (worn here)

Linking up with: Style elixir, Not Dressed as Lamb, 40+ Style, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, Blog Chicks