Autumn in Edinburgh

September 9, 2022August 27, 2022 alannahlucyLeave a comment

I’ve probably said it before but autumn really is my favourite time of year: the colours, the cosiness, even the weather. Last October, I visited a rainy Edinburgh and instantly fell in love. Despite the rain, we had a wonderful time and I’d highly recommend it as an autumn city break. There’s plenty to do and I had some of the best meals I’ve ever had there, which I’ve included below.

To do in Edinburgh:
Edinburgh is a great city for wandering around and stumbling upon landmarks and iconic spots such as Scott’s Monument or Victoria Street, but below are a few special places I wanted to share.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Even in the rain, the gardens are a pretty place to visit. Make sure to check out what’s on, as they host plenty of special events.

See a show at the Edinburgh Playhouse
We saw Beauty & The Beast on its tour and it was magical; the Playhouse is a beautiful venue in the city.

Armchair Books
This second-hand bookstore came highly recommended so I couldn’t resist a visit. It’s a charming store, filled to the brim with all sorts of books. I got two books for about £6, so make sure to check it out.

Vintage stores
Edinburgh is heaven for vintage lovers! Grassmarket has a few great spots, including Armstrong vintage stores and Little Blue Door Vintage.

Coro Chocolate Cafe and Beauty & The Beast The Musical

Food spots in Edinburgh:

Coro Chocolate Cafe
This one’s for the chocoholics out there (hello, friends). Your sweet tooth will be fully satisfied at Coro, with all manner of chocolate treats and drinks. I recommend the fresh fruit fondue. I was so mesmerised I even made a TikTok here!

Bubba Q
Famous for its chicken wings and smoked barbecue, Bubba Q did not disappoint.

Mimi’s Bakehouse
There are multiple different Mimi’s Bakehouse spots across the city, perfect for tea and cake in between wandering the cobbled streets.

Laila
If you’re looking for an instagrammable brunch (aren’t we all?) in Edinburgh, Laila ticks all the boxes. Not only that, the food was delicious and perfectly pink!

Civerinos
My favourite restaurant in Edinburgh, undoubtedly. The best carbonara I’ve ever had; it was so fresh and flavourful. Another one to book in advance as it’s popular, for good reason!

I hope you enjoyed my Edinburgh blog post and my favourite spots come in handy on your next trip!

Viva Las Vegas

April 4, 2021April 4, 2021 alannahlucy1 Comment

What happens in Vegas, goes on my blog! That’s how the saying goes, right?

Back in May 2019 8 of us girls boarded a plane to Las Vegas, Nevada. Whilst I know the city doesn’t appeal to some, I was excited for a few days in the sun with my friends. There are also some really great things to see if gambling and drinking aren’t your type of thing. My photos aren’t the best from this trip (due to the aforementioned activities) but hopefully they give you an idea of some fun things to do in Las Vegas!

We booked a trip to the Grand Canyon ahead of time – it was a must-see for me. We went with Maverick Helicopters on the Grand Canyon Explorer tour. It’s a small airplane that takes you to the South Rim on a short shuttle bus tour (our tour guide was the cutest guy who made us a packed lunch) where you can get off and explore the views and hiking trails yourself. The views were nothing short of spectacular – it’s impossible to describe the vastness of it.

A tour of the hotels is a worthy activity in Vegas. They’re so enormous and unique, and you could spend a couple of days seeing all of them.

The Venetian was definitely my favourite; the theming is incredible, it’s even got its own canal and gondolas. You forget you’re in a busy American city. The Bellagio is another beautiful hotel I’d recommend visiting – the Botanical Gardens change display every season.

There are 3 amazing rides at the top of The STRAT Hotel. Non-guests can go straight up and buy tickets for the rides overlooking the incredible Las Vegas Valley.

There are so many restaurants to try in Las Vegas, from fast food to fine dining. Two of my top places were STK and Catch – both slightly pricey but worth it with incredible food and amazing service.

The Neon Museum is also really worth the trip. They look after old hotel and casino signage in their main collection, the “Neon Boneyard”, hosting more than 200 unrestored signs, including the old Hard Rock guitar.

Have you ever been to Las Vegas? Let me know your recommendations in the comments – I am fully planning to go back one day and see what I missed!

Summer in Seville

November 14, 2020December 12, 2020 alannahlucyLeave a comment

I’ve been taking the time over lockdown (thank you, coronavirus) to sort out all of my travel photographs and organise some blog posts. First up is the beautiful Seville! Admittedly, this post was prepared a long time ago but I guess you could say I lost confidence with my little blog and it took a backseat – let’s get back on the horse, shall we?

If I’m completely honest, a trip to Seville had never crossed my mind before but the sunny city proved to be the perfect September getaway. Easily done in a long weekend, the traditional Spanish streets were perfect for wandering, lined with boutiques and sweet bars to hide away from the sun (and play a good card game). What else are holidays for?

We stayed in a lovely Airbnb by the river which was a short walk to Alameda De Hercules, a fun square with bars and restaurants. The city is full of photogenic spots, including the beautiful Plaza de España (pictured above) and Parque de Maria Luisa. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones was even filmed at the Plaza de España.

It’s very much a walking city; everything is within a short distance and it’s easy to while away the time as you wander the streets. You can find charming boutiques and cafés in the Jewish Quarter, just behind the Royal Alcázar of Seville – a magnificent palace with a mix of Christian and Mudéjar architecture. The palace has also been a screen star, appearing on the famous series Game of Thrones. Book in advance for a €4 student ticket and skip the huge queues. Be warned – you’ll spend hours in there!

The weather was glorious in September but in the afternoon it reached up to 36 degrees – the perfect time to hide in those bars I mentioned!

Hot spots

Museum of Flamenco – only €15 for a student ticket (€22 for full adult) for a fantastic show and cheap sangria!
H2go! paddle boarding and kayaking – this was such a lovely way to spend our final evening, paddling along the beautiful river as the sun set!
Las Setas De Sevilla – the famous wooden structure in the old quarter, with great views across the city.
La Azotea – a very chic restaurant, with delicious seafood dishes. They also cater for dairy-free and gluten-free diets.
Ice Wave – very instagrammable ice cream, frozen in front of you (picture at the end of this post)!

Falling in love with Lisbon

April 20, 2018April 18, 2018 alannahlucy1 Comment

Portugal’s capital made the perfect September city break (I know I’m running a bit late, let’s just call this post a throwback). The city is made for those who like to explore on foot – the quiet streets climbing up the hills are great for wandering, but bring good shoes!

The views are wonderful, the September sun is just right, and the famously colourful tiles and gorgeous light make for great pictures. Our 3-day trip was short and sweet, and left me wanting more! We strolled through the cobbled streets and ate our way through ice cream and pastries – the best way to spend a long weekend, right?

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Hot spots

H10 Duque de Loulé
A beautiful hotel with a great rooftop bar which is open to visitors. We visited on a Saturday night and it wasn’t busy at all. Cosy up in the cool evening breeze and take in the spectacular view of the city.

Open Brasserie Mediterrânica
Some of our party had food allergies so we were eager to find a restaurant that could accommodate all of us. The Open Brasserie Mediterrânica had knowledgable, friendly staff and a great choice of meals for everybody, including vegan and gluten free. I recommend the pumpkin gnocchi!

Belém
Belém, a charming district just a tram ride away from the centre, fast became my favourite part of the city. There was a photogenic door or wall at every turn through the peaceful, colourful streets and the Tropical Botanical Garden was perfect for chilling out in the sun.

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Thailand

August 8, 2017August 5, 2017 alannahlucyLeave a comment

I never thought I’d really have the chance to go to Thailand. It just seemed like one of those far-away, mystical places. Luckily, my best friend Emily travelled the world this year and I managed to join her for two weeks, travelling to Bangkok and the Gulf islands of Thailand! We started with 3 days in Bangkok, including a visit to the Grand Palace. I’d highly recommend a visit to the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, a two hour drive from the city – we got to walk with, feed and shower the elephants, as well as learn about where they’d all come from. It wasn’t just a home for elephants, either – bears, gibbons, birds and dogs were all looked after. I wish I could’ve stayed with the elephants forever, especially baby Prin!

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A long overnight bus and ferry took us to Koh Samui, our first island adventure. The Sirin Samui Hostel was the perfect stop, with clean, spacious rooms and a great pool to relax by. We spent most of our time on the beach! Our second island was Koh Phangan, for the infamous Half Moon Party. Once we’d recovered from our hangovers, we visited Paradise Waterfalls and even found the beautiful Milky Bay resort tucked away on the beach. The breakfast was delicious and they let us use their pool!

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Our final stop was Koh Tao, which fast became my favourite island (perhaps purely because of the sunsets). Koh Tao is the smallest of the islands, and I found it the most beautiful! Our days were mostly spent relaxing on the beach and walking around the shops and restaurants. A snorkelling or scuba-diving trip is a must – we visited all of the bays of the island, as well as Koh Nang Yuan which is just breathtaking. I can’t wait to go back!

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Waiting for summer: Barcelona on film

March 11, 2017 alannahlucy2 Comments

I fell in love with Barcelona two summers ago so I jumped at the chance to visit again in July. This time, we stayed in an airbnb apartment in a lovely residential area which was a twenty minute walk from Sagrada Familia. Our time was spent wandering the side streets of La Rambla and sipping sangria. I will never tire of Barcelona – it’s the perfect blend of city break and beach holiday.

We hired a boat in Parc de la Ciutadella, explored Park Güell and drank cocktails in the sun. I can’t wait for this summer already!

All photos were taken with Kodak Portra 400.

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Dreamy Cornwall

November 4, 2016October 26, 2016 alannahlucy2 Comments

It was over a year ago that I paid my first visit to the pretty coastal village of Coverack in Cornwall. We chose the perfect weekend to go in July – I couldn’t get enough of the deep blue sea and sky, and the little shops, cafés and pubs. Every corner of the village was picture-perfect; here are some of my favourites.

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Postcards From Prague

October 20, 2015October 19, 2015 alannahlucy2 Comments

I’ve been lucky enough to visit many European cities in the past year. In September, I fell in love with the City of 100 Spires! We stayed in the Old Prague Hostel, which was a two minute walk from the main square. The staff were so friendly and it was a great place to meet people – I’d highly recommend it!

Our first afternoon was spent checking out the area (and dodging the rain!). Over the next few days, we did the walking tour of the city, as well as of the castle. This was a great way to get to know the city a bit more, and the fascinating history. We climbed to the top of the ‘Powder Tower’ for an amazing view, but there are many places to get a great view (the above photograph is from the castle area).

Other than the rain on our first day, we were blessed with the sun and boiling heat for the remainder of our stay! As always in cities, the small streets were filled with boutiques and sweet cafes, perfect for a drink and people watching session! The architecture is incredible – on one corner by the Powder Tower, you can see six different architecture styles including gothic, cubist and art nouveau.

I will be visiting again as soon as possible, as there’s so much more to explore.

My Barcelona Guide

September 11, 2015September 8, 2015 alannahlucy2 Comments

My visit to Barcelona in June was my first and I absolutely fell in love with the city. The bustling streets filled with market stalls, boutiques and cute little cafes under the glorious sun captured my heart. Being so close to the beach gives Barcelona extra points – it’s the best of a city break and a sun-bathing holiday.

On our first day, Emily (my constant street style model!) and I wandered the side streets and shops that lead off Las Ramblas. The city is really easy to navigate around and there are plenty of places to stop for a bite as you explore, like Luzia, where we had a wonderful pizza and one of the best gin cocktails I’ve ever had (think rose petals and more)!

The second and third days involved more exploring. There’s so much to see in this amazing city, including Gaudi’s architecture. We visited Caso Balto, the Sagrada Família and Park Guell, only a few of his amazing works in Barcelona. The Sagrada Família is still being built, with construction having started in 1882, and they predict it will be completed around 2026-2028. Even with the works going on, it is one of the most incredible places I have ever visited. The atmosphere is indescribable with the special stain glass windows projecting coloured light into the church. Park Guell is also a relaxing place to wander and relax, with a great view of the city.

Our hotel, Hotel Lleo, was a minute’s walk from Las Ramblas and had a lush rooftop pool for us to relax in the boiling sun! Before we left we had a quick look at the food market (check out those hot dog-shaped sweets!) and one last wander to say goodbye to Barcelona!

All photographs copyright Alannah Messett.

I Left My Heart In Amsterdam

May 19, 2015May 18, 2015 alannahlucy1 Comment

A few weekends ago, my friends and I visited Amsterdam for Amelia’s 21st. It was my first visit to the incredible city and I am already planning my second! The weather was glorious for most of the weekend, so we rented bikes and cycled around the city. It was the best way to explore all of the streets.

There are so many amazing places to visit in Amsterdam. We cycled to Anne Frank’s house on the Sunday and ate the best burger I have ever had at the restaurant Cau. The food was delicious and the service was great – a perfect treat for the birthday girl. There were plenty of markets to wander through – we found the flower market near the centre, and the Albert Cuyp Market, which was a treasure trove full of clothes, gifts and home furnishings. We then chilled at Vondelpark, which was just round the corner from our adorable hotel, The Alexander Hotel. The perfect end to an incredible weekend. I’ll be seeing you soon, Amsterdam!