TE AMO, BARCELONA

 

Back in May, after being unable to travel for so long due to Covid, I finally got to visit the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. I've done my fair share of travelling, Europe as a whole being my favourite part of the world to explore - which is, of course, why I keep going back for more!

Barcelona is a city my mother has always wanted to visit, and one I've had on my list for some time now too.

If you're visiting Barcelona, there's one place you absolutely must visit - Park Guell. This UNESCO World Heritage Listed park was designed by famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, and honestly, as stunning as it is in photographs, getting to visit and explore it in person was just incredible. 

Another must-see when visiting Barcelona is no doubt La Sagrada Familia. Designed by Gaudi with construction starting back in 1882, this is the largest unfinished Roman Catholic Church (currently set to be completed in 2026), and it was absolutely breathtaking.

We stayed in a lovely hotel in a central location in the heart of the city's Gothic Quarter, Hotel Barcelona Catedral. The staff were lovely, the room was clean and spacious with a great view, the bed was incredibly comfortable, and we got to enjoy some down time in the sun at the rooftop pool. Plus, the hotel has a restaurant and bar downstairs, and while I usually prefer exploring and finding local spots to eat, I can honestly say the tapas here were delicious and had us coming back a fair few times during our stay!

We were in the perfect location for exploring the city, with "The World Begins With Every Kiss" Mural literally right outside our hotel, and the Barcelona Catedral right around the corner! We spent a lot of time wandering the streets and alleyways, and even got to see a Flamenco Show on our last night!

Of course, I can't forget to mention to food. I think I ate more in the short time we were in Barcelona than the majority of the rest of our Euro/Uk trip! Barcelona is filled with Tapas bars, which was perfect because we could always find somewhere to stop and get something tasty to fuel up on and enjoy some Sangria to wash it all down (because when in Barcelona, right)! 

And the bakeries are next-level - I can honestly say that the pastries and sweet treats I tried in Barcelona are the best I've ever had (yes, even better than anything I've tried in Paris)! You've also got to grab a Spanish hot chocolate if you're here!

This visit to Barcelona was short and sweet, but I can already say this city is up there (alongside Rome) as one of my favourite cities I've visited, and I'll definitely be returning one day!

xx Chontelle Louise

A DAY TRIP TO PARIS

 

One of the most beautiful cities I've visited, Paris is one of those ultimate must-see, bucket list places to visit at some point in your life. I first visited back in 2014 as part of my first ever trip to Europe, and instantly fell in love. So of course, while visiting family in London in May, I had to organise a day trip to see the city again (even if only for a few hours).

I did all of the main touristy things the first time round, and had been back for the day since a few years earlier, so with the short timeframe we really just wanted to relax and enjoy being in this beautiful city. Arriving around lunch time, we caught a taxi from Gare du Nord over to the famous Les Deux Magots, where we enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and a tasty cheese platter while we soaked in the sun (of course, we'd arrived during an unexpected Spring heatwave) and the Parisian atmosphere.

We then spent a few hours strolling around the Latin Quarter and then past Notre Dame (which is still as stunning as always from the front, despite being closed for extensive repairs - I'm grateful we were able to visit it before the fire) and along the Seine. Literally just walking around and taking in this beautiful city, the architecture and the atmosphere, stopping to grab a crepe or check out the quaint little side streets along the way.

And of course, no trip to Paris is complete without seeing the main attraction - The Eiffel Tower. It's honestly just magical to see, this is the third time I've visited Paris and it's still just as breathtaking each and every time. By the time we'd made it here, we'd been walking around the city for hours and the temperature was around 35* (we were not prepared), but it was so worth it. We grabbed a crepe from one of the little stands near the tower and then made our way over to the Trocadero Gardens to get the best view and some photos - enjoy the photo another tourist took of mum and I below (that angle though)!

While our time in Paris was short and sweet, I'm glad we got to visit again and just enjoy being in this beautiful city! Next time though, it'll have to be a proper stay for sure.

xx Chontelle Louise

Europe Vlog One: Helsinki, London & Harry Potter Studio Tour!

Check out the first video in my series of Europe Vlogs!

Ps: Sorry for the 2-month delay... I promise to post videos more often! Enjoy! x

Five Reasons I Love Paris

Visiting Paris has a been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl. Growing up, I became somewhat Paris-obsessed! I remember looking at pictures of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in awe, imagining sitting outside a cute little cafe sipping on a cappuccino and munching on some sort of delicious French pastries while watching the people - locals and tourists alike - walk by.

Well, in October of 2014, that dream was fulfilled. And let me tell you, Paris was everything I'd imagined it would be and more! I've totally and completely fallen in love with the city, and I was already lusting to return before I'd even left.

So I've decided to share with just some of the many reasons that I LOVE Paris!

1. The Sights! As one of the most famous and well-known cities in the world, it's no surprise that the sights of Paris make it onto my list of reasons that I love Paris. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Champs-Elysees and the Louvre are just some of the many breathtaking world-renowned sights in the city of lights.

2. The Food! Oh my gosh, the food! It's true, French food is some of the best in the world! From crepes and frites (French Fries are the best fries!) to fondue and escargot, and everything inbetween! I swear I ate more in my four days I spent in Paris than I would in two weeks at home!

3. The People! Whenever somebody mentions Paris in conversation, one of the first comments I hear is "French people are so rude, especially the Parisians". This couldn't be further from the truth. The people I met in Paris were some of the most lovely, friendly and interesting people I'd ever met. Everyone was so welcoming and open to conversation, and talking to a Parisian felt like talking to a close friend.

4. The Latin Quarter! This was honestly my favourite part of Paris, and so I spent a large portion of my time there. I love everything about the Latin Quarter - the quirky stores, restaurants and cafes that open up in the afternoon and come to life by nightfall, the bars and street corners with some amazing musicians, the people gathering anywhere and everywhere to actually socialise, and of course, the resident cat that roams the streets of the latin quarter and sleeps among the products in a souvenir shop whenever it pleases (see picture).

5. The Beauty of Paris! I know, I know, kind of vague. But honestly, Paris is an incredibly beautiful city. From the wide tree-lined streets of the Champs-Elysee to the small cobblestoned lanes and alleys of the Latin Quarter, everywhere you look is just totally gorgeous!

So there you have it, five reasons why I love this incredible city!

Have you been to Paris? Do you dream of visiting the City of Love & Lights? Let me know why you love Paris in the comments below!

xoxo Chontelle Louise

What to do on a stopover in Helsinki, Finland!

Coming from Australia, the usual flight path to the UK and Europe includes a stopover in Dubai or somewhere in South East Asia. While this may be the long-preferred and definitely the much quicker route taken, it can make travelling to Europe quite an expensive option - especially for those of us travelling on a tight budget.

The solution? Fly with FinnAir!

Some of you are probably thinking, "I've never heard of FinnAir, is it any good?" and I'll be the first to admit that I thought the exact same thing when the airline came up in my search for cheap flights to Europe. FinnAir is a Finnish airline (obviously) that has been gaining popularity with Australian travelers for its cheaper-than-average fares between here and Europe. A ticket from the east coast of Australia through to Europe/UK would usually set you back between $1700-$2100 return, and that's if you get in early. With FinnAir, that same ticket can be a bargain $1350-$1550!

Now, before you rush to your local travel agent to purchase your tickets, there is a downside. As I said earlier, the Australia-Dubai/Asia-Uk/Europe route - while being more expensive - is also the quickest, with an average journey time of 20-26 hours and only one stopover. With FinnAir, you will be required to have two stopovers. The first, in Singapore (or Hong Kong) with Qantas, before changing carriers and flying FinnAir to Helsinki, Finland, and then again to your final destination. This journey can take on average, 30-36 hours, possibly more (as many flights don't cdonnect and leave you with a lengthy stopover).

If this hasn't deterred you, the next step is to plan for your stopover.

Since you're likely to be going a fair bit out of the way on your way to your final destination, you may as well make a day out of it and book your flights to arrive at Helsinki Vaanta airport early in the morning, and depart in the late afternoon/evening. This way, you'll be able to make a day out of your stopover and visit Helsinki city!

So, I've put together a list of things to do/see on your stopover in Helsinki, Finland!

1. Visit Market Square by the water, a lovely place to find some local meals, produce, and pick up some souvenirs! Not to mention the gorgeous waterside view!

2. Try some Finnish food! I loved this traditional Finnish pasty with a rice/custard-like filling, Riisipiirakka!

3. Go for a stroll through Esplanadi, a local park with some beatufiul scenery. It looks like something out of a fairytale, or my secret garden.

4. "Bad Bad Boy", a peeing statue and helsinki's answer to the Manneken Pis in Brussels, Belgium. Strangely enough, it seems to totally fit in here. I've heard that this is not a permanent structure so it may no longer be there, but here's a picture anyway!

                                     

5. Visit some of Helsinki's most well-known churches/cathedrals, such as the Helsinki Cathedral (pictured), Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, and the Temppeliaukio (aka, the rock church).