My Bucket List

  

One of my favourite things to read on a travel blog is a blogger's bucket list! Reading about which destinations make up their wanderlust always leads to me daydreaming about the endless beautiful places that this world has to offer! More recently I have been thinking about my future and my very own wanderlust which yes, has led me to make a very special bucket list of my own... 

In no particular order of desire...

1. Tuscany, Florence - for it's wealth of history as the birthplace of the Renaissance, it's many Piazzas and the Tuscan food I hear so much about.

Florence photo cred: wikipedia

2. Copenhagen, Denmark- for bikes, bikes, bikes, Nordic cuisine and rumour has it the happiest people in Europe.

Photo cred: cntraveller.com

3. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia- the picture below says it all.

Photo cred: visit-croatia.com

4. Dubrovnik, Croatia - Game of Thrones, Old Town and history.

Dubrovnik from above guia-dubrovnik.net

5. Santorini, Greece-I have been to a number of the Greek Islands but the beauty of Santorini I have yet to see for myself.

Sunset on Santorini Island. Photo cred: whichgreekisland.co.uk

6. Cappadocia, Turkey- to live out a life-long dream of going in a hot balloon. And what better sight to see than this...

Photo cred: tripadvisor.com

7. New Zealand- ALL of it! I'm fortunate enough to have some good friends from NZ and hearing them talk so lovingly about their home country has made it an absolute must on my bucket list.

South Island. Photo cred: fllightcentre.com

North Island. Photo cred: newzealandnz.co.nz

8. Fiji- R.E.L.A.X!!

Photo cred: Fijiguide.com

9. Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia- from surf capital Torquay to the 12 Apostles! Although a personal driver would be required ;-) Also it isn't too far from Melbourne-a city a dear friend of mine lives in!

Great Ocean Road. Photo cred: lonelyplanet.com

10. Banff National Park, Alberta Canada- Rocky Mountains, glacier lakes, wildlife and hopefully to learn to ski.

Banff National Park. Photo cred: allglacier.com

11. Niagra Falls, Canada

Photo cred: tripadvisor

12. New Orleans, USA- the setting of my favourite play, A Streetcar Named Desire! Deep south specialties of Creole cuisne, Jazz music, Mardi Gras festival and the charms of southern gentlemen.

Photo cred: americancruiselines.co 

13. West coast USA- over recent years I have been to San Francisco, LA and San Diego all fabulous, but just a small fraction of what the West Coast has to offer! Driving The Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Malibu... The West Coast seems to have it all.

Malibu Sunset. Photo cred: flickr.com

14. Buenos Aires, Argentina- steak, wine, streak wine...you get the idea he he! Oh and to be swept off my feet by the tango!

Wine Tours in Buenos Aires. Photo cred: destinations-360.

15. Rio De Janerio- cocktails on Copacabana Beach and to party my way into carnival!

Photo cred: bbc.co.uk

I guess it's time to get saving, get travelling and start ticking!

Which destinations have made it onto your bucket list?

D! x

What I'm Loving at LFW: Days 1, 2 & 3

So this weekend saw the start of London Fashion Week 2014 and with so many shows from so many designers there really is a lot to look forward in 2015!

I've been following LFW on their official website and here's some of my fav's from the shows so far! 

Bring on Spring 2015! 

1. Stripes and Tribal at Preen

 Thornton Bregazzi @ Preen Photo cred: Catwalking.com

2. Subtle prints and structured collars at Daks

Pure elegance @ Daks Photo cred: Londonfashionweek.co.uk

3. Beautiful whites from Amanda Wakeley

Amanda Wakeley Phot cred: Londonfashionweek.co.uk

4. Purple prints at Teatum Jones

Photo cred: Londonfashionweek.co.uk

5. Riviera chic at J. JS Lee

Dropped waistlines and classic navy @ J. JS Lee Photo cred: Catwalking.com

6. Pretty in pink from Orla Kiely and Whistles

I LOVE this! Photo cred: Catwalking.com

Palms on pink @ Whistles Photo cred: Catwalking.com

8. Navy and white, skirts and dresses from Paul Costelloe

Quilted sporty chic @ Paul Costelloe Photo cred: Catwalking.com

9. Classic black with a twist and show stopping shimmer from Topshop Unique

Floaty and absolutely fabulous from Emma Farrow @ Topshop Unique Photo cred: Londonfashionweek.co.uk

10. Pinstripes from Paul Smith

Classic stripes from @ Paul Smith Photo cred: Catwalking.com

Now for the bank account that goes with it... ;-)

What are you loving @ LFW?

D! x

                        

Fabulous Fusion at Kopapa

It is well known that 'going for brunch' is one of my favourite past times, so whenever a girlfriend suggests meeting for brunch and a catch up I can't put it into my diary fast enough! This weekend's chosen place was Peter Gordon's Kopapa- a fusion restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden!

Kopapa in Covent Garden

I've been meaning to go here for some time as I have read many rave reviews, and I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint! From the minute you walk through the door the atmosphere is buzzing and the smell of fresh coffee hits you, which was no surprise as the restaurant pays homage to it's street name- serving Monmouth coffee. With the attack on my senses I ordered a soya cappuccino (extra-hot of course) and began to try and make my choice from the mouth-watering menu.

Soya Cappucino using Monmouth Coffee

With everything from fruit and granola; avocado, goats cheese and chill on toast to a black pudding fry up making a decision was a tough one. However, having read a little about the infamous 'Turkish Eggs' (poached eggs, whipped yoghurt and hot chilli butter) I was extremely intrigued to try it. I ordered it with sour dough toast and a portion of grilled tomatoes (can't get enough of them at the minute). The eggs were infused with the chilli butter which provided the right amount of spice, mixed with the creaminess of the yoghurt and all put together with the toast and tomatoes, I felt like I'd gone to brunch heaven!

Turkish Eggs

My friend's vegetarian fry up with the perfect scrambled eggs!

As well as the delicious food, the wait staff were efficient and helpful and the bustling atmosphere couldn't be faulted! As I finish writing this post, I am already planning my return...the only question is, what will I have next time?

D! x

A Room with a View

So this is my first time doing a travel link up and I have to say that I'm rather excited about it! It gives me the opportunity as someone new to the blogging world, to share my experiences with, and enjoy the travel experiences of others.

This months theme- 'A Room with a View' automatically made me think of some of the incredible views I've had over the years- be it the Empire State Building at night or the Grand Canyon, I've been fortunate enough to have some really awesome views from a hotel window. However the title also got me thinking a little  'outside of the box' and took me 6 hours away from my home city of London to a little cliff-top cafe in the small Cornish town of Porthcurno.

Minack Cafe- Porthcurno, Cornwall

With just one small room that seats up to about 20 people, the Minack Cafe is set within the Minack open air theatre, a theatre carved out of a rock overlooking the Atlantic ocean.

Watching a performance at the theatre

I first came here over ten years ago when I was fortunate enough to perform at the theatre. Arriving early afternoon, I remember going into the cafe to grab a cup of tea and as I sat down and gazed out of the window... looking to my right I could see the theatre, looking to my left I could see the Cornish beauty and immediately, I was swept away!

The Minack Theatre 

Gorgeous Cornish beauty

Sitting there simply stunned by it's beauty it made me realise that yes, although there are wonderful views in the world, sometimes those closest to home can be a bit more special.

I have returned to the Minack cafe twice since this first experience and I always do the same thing- order my cup of tea, find a space in the room and admire the view!

D! x