When will lockdown end? It's a question I'm hearing a lot lately, and whilst I personally believe the lockdown should continue for a little longer, I too am dreaming of the day this nightmare ends and all is well in the world again.
Now it should be no surprise to any regular readers that I'm already saving for, and planning my post lockdown trips, after all that's all I do, but where would I recommend budding travellers venture next when it's safe to do so?
Amalfi, Italy
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast may be one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The towns and cities that line this amazing stretch of land can be found hanging from the cliffs in such a way it's hard to believe they haven't yet fallen into the ocean. The coastline is around 25 miles long and can be easily accessed by car, bus, and boat, though I'd strongly recommend the latter as it's usually quicker to hop between towns this way.
The most popular towns in the area, Amalfi and Positano are breathtakingly stunning however you will pay a high price to wake up to those views. If you're on a budget it might be worth staying in a cheaper area such an Salerno and taking a day trip to the towns which are surprisingly affordable to shop and eat in.
Top tip: If you're planning a day trip to the towns make sure you take swimwear. It will be hard to resist a dip in the ocean if you travel there in the summer months.
Shoes on the Danube, Budapest, Hungary
Budapest
Budapest is another one of those stunning places that will forever hold a space in my heart. The Hungarian capital features some incredible history as well as a whole host of more modern culture. It's also very affordable to stay and play in central Budapest as they don't yet use the Euro.
The city, which is spilt by the Danube river has tonnes for tourists to do, however my top 5 'must sees' would be; Margaret Island and the dancing fountain show, Buda Castle Labyrinth, The Hospital in the Rock, Gellert Hill, and Szechenyi Spa Baths (obviously).
Top tip: It's very easy to walk around Budapest however you can rent street bikes (similar to the London Boris bikes) for free for 30 minutes if you would like to get around a little quicker.
Lindos, Rhodes
Lindos
Lindos, the poor man's Santorini. This small whitewashed town can be found on the Greek island of Rhodes. The brilliant white buildings of Lindos stand no taller than an average UK house however they can be seen for miles against the contrasting brown and green landscape.
From sunbathing on the beautiful beaches to taking in the views from roof top tavernas, you'll find tonnes of relaxing things to do in this island town. If culture is your thing, why not visit the Acropolis on the hill, or the beautifully decorated Church of Panagia? If you're a woman you will likely be asked to cover your legs and shoulders with blankets whilst visiting the church, but believe me,you won't see a anything quite like this anywhere else so grin and bear it.
Top tip: Whilst taking a dip in the sea bring bread with you and you'll soon be surrounded by all types of ocean wildlife.
Gdansk, Poland
Gdansk
Gdansk, the Amsterdam of Poland. But don't let that description put you off because you won't find any of the activities that make the capital of the Netherlands so popular here. You will however find rows and rows of houses built in the traditional Dutch style thanks to the Dutch architects who settled in Gdansk after fleeing from the Spanish inquisition.
Although the buildings really are a sight to see the city has much more to offer. Alongside the history (of which there is plenty) in the summer months you might also enjoy a trip to one of the many beaches just outside the city which can easily be reached by tram.
Top tip: You can't visit Gdansk without taking a day trip to Malbork Castle. The castle is the largest brick castle in the world and only around a hour away by train.
Inside the Alcazaba, Malaga, Spain
Malaga
Malaga might seem like your typical Brits abroad destination but I promise it is so much more than that. In the summer you'll find the Spanish city bustling with tourists and the beaches packed to the brim, so whilst in theory this is the best time to visit, I would recommend visiting out of season for a more relaxed break.
You'll find lots to do in Malaga however my top 5 things would be; explore the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro complex, visit the Cathedral, take a walking tour of the city, visit the beach (even in January we found it warm enough to paddle), and watch a flamenco show (although I didn't get chance to do that myself).
Top tip: It usually costs to visit Malaga Cathedral however it is free to visit during Sunday mass. This doesn't mean you have to sit down and watch the ceremony, you are free to wander most of the cathedral whilst it goes on in the background.
So those were the European destinations I would recommend visiting once lockdown is over and it's safe to do so!
Thanks for reading!
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I've loved vintage fashion for years. There's just something satisfying about wearing unique, high quality pieces of clothing that you didn't pick up in your local primark. As kids we would always be mooching through charity shops and car boot sales for treats and while I was embarrassed about that when I was younger, it's something I've learnt to embrace over the years.
What baby Grace didn't know when she was younger, was that second hand fashion would become extremely popular and even encouraged as more and more people started to understand the effects fast fashion has on the world. If you'd have told me rummaging through Cancer Research with my Nan would be in the 'in thing' when I was a teenager I would have never believed you, but here we are.
So why am I paying more attention to sustainable fashion? It comes down to a few reasons really. The fast fashion industry has been my friend for a really long time. I loved the days I could nip into Primark and come out with a whole outfit for a tenner, and whilst I won't be giving up that kind of shopping completely I am trying to reduce it.
One of the big reasons is the environmental impact. A quick google search will throw up hundreds of articles based around the impact the fashion industry has on our planet, and the stats are pretty shocking to say the least. According to an article on the Business Insider, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of our carbon emissions. And if that doesn't concern you, the fact that 85% of textiles end up in a landfill should - thats a lot of clothes.
I would highly recommend giving that article 5 minutes of your time because the data will likely take you by surprise. I know it shocked me.
For me there are also a couple of less important reasons for moving away from fast fashion. One is the cost. Second hand clothes in general are a lot cheaper than buying brand new, unless you specifically go to a vintage store of course. Older clothes are generally a lot better quality too and will also last much longer. Things were just made to last back in the day.
I would say the last reason, and the most important reason for me, after the environmental cost, would be having something unique. When you buy vintage or second hand, it's likely that you will have something no one else does. I can't even count the amount of second hand bags I've bought and loved over the years that I know no one else will have.
So apart from buying second hand, what else am I doing to embrace sustainable fashion? Well I won't be giving up my Primark trips, or Asos orders anytime soon, but I will reduce the amount I purchase 'just because it's cheap'. Too many times I've picked up a bag full of items I didn't really need just because I could, and I'd never even wear them!
I also recycle my own clothes and bags when I can. I send a fair amount of stuff to charity shops and I also sell on a lot of my older things too, because ya girl has to fund her habits someway. Sometimes things are too worn to donate to charities to resell, however a lot of my local charity shops use a scheme where they can sell things on as rags, so it's always worth asking your local shop if they participate in a scheme like that so you don't even have to throw ripped or damaged clothes away.
Shopping sustainably is something I've been trying to get more into lately and I'd encourage anyone who is concerned about the environment to do the same.
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Lockdown life, the longer it goes on, the more it will take its toll on our mental health. I've seen so many people suffering lately due to loneliness, boredom, and just generally having their lives shaken up.
While we know it's a necessary evil at the moment, that doesn't really make it any easier to struggle through. So I've popped together a list of self care activities you can do in just 10 minutes to lift your mood.
Stick on a facemask
Is there a better feeling than sticking a facemask on for a few minutes? I think not. If you're anything like me you've likely collected a thousand facemasks which you keep in a draw for 'special occasions'. Well get those bad boys out and slap one on ya mush!
If you don't happen to have a facemask at home, why not make your own?
Pluck your eyebrows
One of the first things I did this morning was give my eyebrows a good pluck and my god do I feel better for it. Whilst I know no one will be seeing my shiny new brows for a while, my face feels a lot fresher, tidier, and more open now I've gotten rid of a few stray hairs.
Make yourself a delicious drink
They say there is nothing a good cup of tea can't fix, and I wholeheartedly believe that. That being said you could swap a tea for a fancy cocktail, or a banging hot chocolate and I reckon it would have the same effect! So make a drink of your choice and enjoy every last sip.
I'm quite partial to a cocktail (or seven) but I'm not great at making them to be honest, so I mostly stick to a basic bitch Mojito or other easy to make cocktails.
Do the '10 minute tidy'
It's a fact that your surrounding influence the way you feel, so it's going to be tough to shake your low mood if you're living in a mess. Whack on a couple of your favourite songs and tidy for 10 solid minutes. Even just tidying up for a small amount of time can really improve your mood.
Moisturise
It's likely that you're washing your hands a more than normal at the moment, which means your skin might be looking a little worse for wear. Dry cracked hands aren't protected hands, so it's important that you keep them moisturized. But don't stop there, smother your whole body in cream until you're feeling silky smooth, I promise you'll thank yourself later!
Meditate
This probably isn't for everyone, but when I'm at my worst, meditation really helps. I turn on a meditation soundtrack from youtube and I just lie still with my eyes closed for a while. Music with positive affirmations also really helps me when my anxiety pops up to say hello.
I hope this helps you guys out and gives you a few ideas of self care activities that can be done pretty quickly!
Thanks for reading!
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Are you finding yourself with a little more time on your hands than usual lately? Yeah a nation wide lockdown will generally do that! But you don't have to waste all this free time! Why not take this opportunity to learn a new language? German perhaps?
Over the last couple of weeks I've dedicated at least one hour a day to brushing up on my German language skills, which were poor to say the least. Whilst I don't feel like doing it every day, just one hour out of my busy (ha!) schedule is all it really takes to start getting to grips with the basics!
And I haven't paid a penny for it.
So how can you learn German for free?
Youtube
One of the easiest ways, and maybe more fun ways to learn the basics of a language is through Youtube. You will find a whole host of videos from multiple creators on the platform which can help ease yourself into learning a new language. Whilst I doubt you can learn a language thoroughly this way, it's definitly a good place to start.
One youtube series I've been watching for a while now is Learn German With Anja. Anja, a native German speaker, has published hundreds of videos which cover all kinds of topics and will be helpful to anyone learning German.
If you're looking to practice your German language skills, BBC Bitesize is a great place to head to. It was created to help school aged students revise however there is nothing to stop anyone from using it as a revision tool. The Bitesize German page is full of useful videos for learners of all levels however I do think you will really benefit from using this platform if you do already have a grasp of basic German.
Duolingo is my favourite platform to learn German for free. The lessons are short, simple, and can even be fun. Using Duolingo I can learn German on my phone and also track my progress too. It's a very thorough learning tool that tests your spelling and pronunciation skills amongst other important factors and it's an app I would recommend anyone looking to start learning a language.
I really hope this helps some of you keep occupied for the next few weeks while the UK, and most of Europe is still in lockdown.
And once the lockdown is lifted and the world starts to go back to normal, you'll just to have book yourself a little trip to a German speaking country to test your new skills!
If learning German isn't your thing don't worry, I've popped together a huge list of 126 things you can do in lockdown to keep you busy!
Thanks for reading!
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