backpacking – meet the artisan

Posted on April 28, 2018August 24, 2018 by citygirlgoes — Leave a comment

Ice Cold in Iceland

Iceland – Tips for a Golden Circle adventure

Flying over Iceland felt like arriving on the moon. We were told there had been a ‘dump’ of snow overnight, yet the flight landed without a glitch. Heaps of snow were simply pushed to the sides of the runway. We are not in the UK anymore, in Iceland – it snows and they know how to handle it. We visited in March so not deemed the height of Winter, so if you’re reading this and planning a trip At any colder month – these tips will be useful.

Here are some ways to help you plan an awesome adventure:

Take some loose change for some toilets and parking – sometimes it can be unavoidable to miss the spots that charge and we fell into the trap at our first stop – The Thingvellir National Park.
Pack gloves that you can use while using your phone. It is too cold to take photos without them on – especially waiting for an exploding geyser!
Pack a lunch – it is very expensive on the trail. We chose to hire a car which also meant we avoided crowds. We could take our time and stop for longer at our favourite places. The supermarkets are also a little pricey but we had some gorgeous tuna sandwiches and snacks on the go at much cheaper prices than the tourist centres.
Wait for a Geyser – The Strokkur geyser at Haukadalur erupts every 15 minutes or so!!
Layer on and layer off – The coldest place on the trip was the breathtaking Gullfoss waterfall and you will want to spend some time exploring.

Just stop to take photos whenever you can. Although there are some obvious highlights on the trail, the views are breathtaking so take it in turns to drive, admire this beautiful country and just stop along the way.
If you’re lucky enough (like me!) to not be a designated driver, a tipple of a traditional Icelandic vodka is quite nice to keep you warmed up. We bought a few mini bottles at the airport and also some wine to enjoy in the apartment in the evening – a much cheaper option.

I’ll be sharing my top tips and information guide to the Golden Circle and Reykjavik soon.

Enjoy, CityGirl

Posted on November 12, 2017February 19, 2018 by citygirlgoes — Leave a comment

Nepal – 8th wonder

On 27th May 2017 I marked the end of my twenties and joined the ’30’ club. Instead of giving into society’s pressure I asked myself how I would like to remember this milestone and with that I decided to follow my dreams. I love being outdoors, I love a fitness challenge and I felt an urge to travel somewhere different, somewhere epic. That’s where the idea came from to travel to Nepal and trek to Everest Base Camp.

I didn’t know it at the time but I think I might have made the best decision of my life! I want to share with you my adventures and hopefully inspire you to visit this beautiful country.

To start with I want to share with you some photos. Enjoy, CityGirl

I have never felt so beautiful, sitting amongst the stunning scenery make up free and care free.

As much as I hate to admit it, I hadn’t used a shower for a week in this picture. I have never been so grateful for a fleeced headband. Look at these mountains and the blue skies. So beautiful.

These trekking shorts were the most useful item I purchased for this trip. Although not the most fashionable!

I have lots more to share so keep checking back!

Posted on November 12, 2017January 2, 2018 by citygirlgoes — Leave a comment

My first wanderlust

A trip to Thailand was the first time I packed a backpack and before this I’d only ever visited Europe and America. I was giddy with excitement when I arrived in Bangkok and armed with my list of top things to do I set off to Khao San Road. If there is one defining moment that installed my desire to travel and see the world it was probably here. I was in love with the way Thai culture blended with that backpacker chill out scene, pure chaos yet so calm! I look back and think of how naive I was that this place was such an outrageous experience for me, especially after another 8 years of travelling the globe and hearing how Thailand has westernized since. I was met with so many different experiences all at once, the smell of rubbish and dirt on the streets, alongside street food sizzling on the woks close by, a bob marley playlist pumping from a bar coupled with the urgent demands of street sellers.It was reassuring how easy it is to adopt the backpacker lifestyle, whether you have come from a backpacking escapade across the globe, or like me a three week break from the city grind. In that moment you all have the same experience, the same agenda and that’s probably why the first sensible thing to do was to grab a Chang beer and a Pad Thai and simply get stuck in. I look back at lots of things I’ve experienced over my years, travel, fitness, challenges I’ve faced and I realise that everybody has their own unique experience that should be acknowledged, appreciated and admired by all. Every marathon runner has to start somewhere! I look back at this time in Thailand and remember how proud I was to achieve such an amazing experience and even though it might be considered almost tame to the travelling world these days, that doesn’t mean I’ll forget how incredibly rewarding it was at that time and what a special place it will keep in my heart.And with that I pass onto you a message from my yoga class yesterday.