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A WEEK IN THE BALTIC CAPITALS OF LITHUANIA, LATVIA AND ESTONIA.

Thursday 25 July 2024

A trip across the Baltics was something that had been on my bucket list for a few years now. The best part about planning a trip to Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia is that you can visit all 3 capitals in a space of a week as they're so close together and relatively small. Here is my guide on what to see, what to do and what to eat in the 3 Baltic states.


VILNIUS, LITHUANIA


Vilnius is a city that isn't on many people's radar, but a trip to the Baltic states isn't complete without visiting Lithuania too. Being the smallest of the 3 countries, Vilnius is perfect if you're looking for a weekend in a picturesque city, with few tourists and cheap eats. We literally had less than 24 hours here as Wizz Air moved our flight and we lost a whole day, but in hindsight 1 day would have been enough. 

To make the most of your day in Vilnius, you'll want to wake up nice and early and head to breakfast at one of the many choices, like Kitchen Coffee, Cafe Montmartre or Daily Poison.

After this you can walk around the Old Town, some places of interest and photo spots are:
  • St Anne's Church
  • Bernadine Gardens
  • Church St Casimir
  • Halle Market

We also walked up to the 3 Crosses which gives you the best views of Vilnius. From here you can also see the other view point at Gediminas Castle Tower which doesn't take as much work to get to. We did both so then you can see the view from both sides!


After exploring the old town and hiking up to the 3 Crosses, you'll probably have worked up an appetite. If you want to try some typical Lithuanian food, then book a table at Restaurant Lokys. We really loved the dishes we tried although some of my friends weren't a fan of the 'Cepelinai' stuffed potato dumplings because of the texture. We really enjoyed the cold beetroot soup (Šaltibarščiai) and the duck breast! To wash it down you might want to try a traditional Lithuanian alcoholic drink, Šušvės midus is a fermented drink that's made from honey. 


In the afternoon, you can take a short walk to the Uzupis district. Uzupis is one of the smallest republics in the world, covering less than 1 sq km. It interestingly has its own president, government, constitution and currency. When you enter you'll actually be able to see a list of 'rules' they have, including that 'one has the right to be happy'. You'll also find a few cool cafes and bars here to stop and have a drink at. 

The last thing we did during our day in Vilnius, is visit the Museum of Genocide Victims (KGB Museum). This is a bit further away so I recommend getting an Uber to get here. The museum is dedicated to showing artifacts and records from the 50-year period of Soviet occupation of Lithuania. For us the most interesting part of this museum, is that there is an old KGB prison you can visit on the bottom floor. This was a very eerie experience! Tickets to enter the museum were 6 euros. 


We had to leave Vilnius at 7pm to get our 4 hour coach to Riga, but if you're staying the night then some other restaurants we were recommended for dinner were Ertilo Namas and Etno Dvaras

RIGA, LATVIA


When we arrived in Riga, the city definitely seemed a lot livelier and atmospheric than Vilnius. We stayed at Boutique Hotel KRISTOFS which was only a short 10 minute walk from the coach station. Just bare in mind that the Old Town is cobblestoned, so if your suitcase wheels aren't very durable you might want to take a taxi! 

In your first morning in Riga, I suggest taking a free walking tour so that you can get an introduction to the city and also get your bearings for the rest of your time there. We did a Old Riga Free Tour and we learnt some interesting facts, such as how a lot of the religious buildings in the Old Town are now used for techno raves. Remember that even though the tour is 'free', you are expected to tip at the end. 


For lunch, a local recommended we try LIDO. It's a chain 'restaurant' which feels like a canteen like you see in Ikea for example. It's self-service and it's a great way to try a range of Latvian food for a relatively cheap price. I got ricotta and spinach stuffed pancakes and also a chicken schnitzel which had pineapple and melted cheese on top. I didn't think this was a local dish but I was told it was! That was definitely up my street. 


In the afternoon, you might want to stop at some of the main monuments and attractions to take some photos if you didn't get a chance during the free walking tour. Some of the main ones are:
  • House of the Blackheads (pictured below)
  • St Peter's Church
  • Livu Laukums Square - we sat here for a drink in the afternoon and tried the local liquor 'Black Basalm'
  • Powder Tower
  • The Three Brothers


For dinner, we fancied something different so we ate at the popular spot RigaRamen. If you want more traditional food then we were also recommended Domini Canes. We also ate at the food court BURZMA at the top of the shopping centre next to our hotel, and there was everything from Mexican food to sushi. 

One thing I love to do when travelling is finding a rooftop bar (where applicable) or simply having a drink with a view! After dinner we went to the Skyline Bar Riga which had the best views over the Old Town and quite a cool cocktail menu. Just expect that these drinks will start at 12 euros. For a nightcap we stopped at Bar Stock Exchange, where the drink prices vary depending on demand!



On your second day in Riga, these are some more things I suggest doing to fill up your day:
  • Bastion Park, Freedom Monument & Opera House: you can either walk 15-20 minutes out of the Old Town or grab an Uber to this area. In Bastion Park you can also take a cruise around the canal and it's quite picturesque. 
  • Corner House Museum: this used to be an ex-KGB building in the city during the Soviet era. Here you'll be able to read about the shocking acts during the period Latvia belonged to the USSR, including forced migrations to Siberia, torture and espionage. 
  • Art Noveau District: this area is perfect for your Instagram feed as the buildings are so beautiful! There is also a museum you can visit. 
  • Central Market: Riga Central Market has an outdoor area and then 5 different 'warehouses' each dedicated to something different (fish, meat, dairy etc). It's worth seeing and you can sit and eat in some of them, but I'd avoid the fish one if you're sensitive to smells!

Next up, we flew to the capital of Estonia, Tallin. If you don't mind another coach ride then it's the cheapest option (approx 15 euros) and the coach will get you there in 4 hours and a half. 

TALLIN, ESTONIA


Tallinn definitely gives the most 'city vibes' of the 3 countries. We stayed just outside the old town at CityBox. The rooms were modern and check in was done seamlessly through a machine when we arrived. You could probably spend 2-3 days in Tallin, which includes a day trip to a National Park which I'll speak more about later on in this article. 

As in Riga, the first thing we did was take a free walking tour. Our guide was great and showed us a lot of the points of interest in Tallin and taught us a lot about the history of Tallin and its everchanging occupation. Some sights you'll see on the walking tour are:
  • Tallin Town Hall
  • Alexander Nevsky Cathedral 
  • St Olaf's Church
  • Viru Gate
  • Kohtuotsa viewing platform (photo below)


For lunch we went to Balti Jaama Turg, a food market that's just a short walk outside the Old Town. Here I had some mini pancakes and then I couldn't resist getting a bacon and cheese smash burger too from another stall. 

In the afternoon, we jumped on some Bolt e-skooters and rode to the Kalamaja district where you can see traditional colourful wooden Estonian houses. From here, we went to Fotografiska (the contemporary museum of photography, art and culture) and it's definitely worth a visit! 


In the evening, we sat in the Town Square to have a drink before heading to dinner at Margherita Pizza & Trattoria and both the pizzas and pastas were delicious. Another place we went to for dinner was HARG which we saw was listed on the Michelin Guide


For the rest of your time in Tallin, I recommend the following:

  • A day trip to Lahemaa National Park: Just an hour away from Tallin, you'll find this National Park which is also home to the Jagala Waterfall. If you take a tour, you'll also get to explore an old fishing village, the seaside and walk along a forest trail. 
  • Visit the Eesti Museum: This is an interactive maritime museum, and you'll even find a pre-WW2 submarine hare and flight sumulators. Cost to enter the museum is 20 euros at the time of this article. 
  • KGB museum: if you didn't get round to visiting in the other two cities or simply fancy learning more about this time in history, then you can visit one of the two KGB sites in Tallin. 
If you fancy ticking another country off your bucket list, then I recommend taking the 2 hour ferry ride to Helsinki! A one way trip cost us 30 euros and the ferry felt like we were on a cruise line, as there were a few bars, cafes and a Burger King on board. 

We really enjoyed our time in these 3 cities, and found ourselves comparing the Old Towns to a few Disney movies such as Beauty and The Beast and Pinocchio. You will definitely have your pick of postcard worthy photos here! 


I hope you've found this guide useful! Although this guide is for a spending a week in the Baltic capitals, if you're short on time this trip can easily be done in 5 days. If you have any questions or want any more recommendations, feel free to reach out to me on one of my socials below! 







MY FIRST HYDRAFACIAL AT INFINITY AESTHETICS

Tuesday 9 July 2024

I've always taken an interest in skincare and trying out new facials and skincare products. I was kindly invited by Infinity Aesthetics to try their Hydrafacial and I was very excited as they are the first place in Gibraltar to offer this leading treatment. 


The first thing we did at my appointment was address any skin concerns I had, My aesthetician Vicky asked "if you had a magic wand today what would you want to fix" and we discussed that my main concerns were skin texture and redness. She then analysed the deeper layers of my skin using a machine which looks at everything from UV damage, pores, ageing and pigmentation to name a few. It was definitely a humbling experience!

We then got on to the relaxing part, the hydra-dermabrasion facial. Vicky explained to me that some parts of the facial might feel a bit 'tingly' but personally none of it was uncomfortable for me.

So how does the HydraFacial work?


The first step is to cleanse the skin, the products used exfoliate the skin using a gentle peel to uncover a new layer of skin.

Next is to extract, by removing impurities from pores with painless gentle suction. For me this was a much more pleasant experience than when I've had other facials that typically involve a more painful extraction process.

The last step is to hydrate the skin. Using personalised ingredients to saturate the skin's surface and leave the skin feeling soft and looking glowy.

For my skin concerns, we used the 'JLO Beauty Booster' which contained ingredient like Olive Leaf Extract to help with the appearance of ageing, Proprietary Hydracomplex to help with skin plumpness' and Niacinamide which is known to improve smoothness and protect against environmental stressors. The wand used works like a vacuum to open pores for a deep cleanse and easy extraction of impurities and dead skin cells. It then allows the active ingredients in the booster to penetrate deeper, for the most effective treatment possible.

During the facial I also received an LED treatment which can be red or blue, depending on your skin. Red is more tailored towards ageing and blue can help with problems such as acne. She used the red LED on me and it was a nice warm sensation. At the end of the facial, I got to see the 'gunkie jar' containing all the extractions, so you can definitely see it works!  

I really enjoyed my experience and loved how glowy and vibrant my skin looked after. I'm going to try and have a Hydrafacial at Infinity Aesthetics once every few months, although if you really want to invest in your skin it is recommended to have it done every 4 weeks. The signature facial is £120 whilst the deluxe is £160. 

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HOW TO SPEND TWO WEEKS IN COLOMBIA.

Thursday 6 June 2024

Colombia is a country which has definitely gained popularity in the last decade. What was once a country associated with drugs and violence, is now the perfect holiday destination if you love food, dancing, hikes and beautiful beaches. If you're wanting to visit Colombia for the first time but don't know where to start, this is how I recommend spending 2 weeks there. 



Bogota


Bogota is a place you're either going to love or hate. Like any capital city, you’re going to find that the place is overcrowded and noisy but it is also where you're going to find the cheapest food and accommodation. I recommend spending 2 days in Bogota and staying in the Chapinero or Zona Rosa areas. My top recommendations for visiting Bogota are:


  • Take a food tour in La Candelaria district. Here you’ll try an array of local dishes including ceviche, ajiaco and tamales. 

  • Visit the ‘Museo de Oro’ where you’ll find over 34,000 gold artifacts. The museum is also free to enter on Sundays. 

  • Take the cable car to Monserrate for the best views from above of Bogota, as you’ll travel over 3000m above sea level. 

  • Try traditional food in La Puerta Falsa, which has been in Bogota for over 200 years. 

  • Walk through La Plaza de Bolivar, where you’ll also find a cathedral and the parliament building. 


Where to stay in Bogota: Ibis Bogota Museo



Salento


After spending a busy two days in Bogota, you’ll want to fly to Pereira. From here you’ll need to take a 1 hour taxi to Salento (I recommend booking a transfer online) which should cost you £50 per car. The Disney movie Encanto was actually based off this Colombian town, and you’ll instantly notice the similarities when you see all the colourful houses and shops as you walk through. Salento is a small place, but I recommend two days here so you’ll be able to relax and fit in the following: 


  • Start your day with a guided tour through the Cocora Valley, home to the largest palm trees in the world which can grow up to 60m tall. 

  • In the afternoon, visit the Ocasa coffee farm to learn about the production of coffee in Colombia and sample some too. You’ll need to take a jeep from the main square to get to the valley. 

  • Try a typical ‘Bandeja Paisa’ made up of rice, beans, plantain, avocado, sausage and chicken. We ate at Donde Laurita and it was delicious! 

  • Walk through the Calle Real, you’ll find lots of jewellery shops and cafes through here. 

  • Sit in the Plaza De Bolivar Salento for a drink and enjoy the live music and dances that are usually going on in the evening. 


Where to stay in Salento: La Floresta



Medellin


If you’re looking to party in Colombia, then Medellin is where you’ll want to go out. There are two main nightlite areas in Medellin, Parque LLeras and Provenza, the latter is the ‘classier’ area where you’ll find locals and tourists and notable clubs like Perro Negro. Parque Lleras is a tourist trap where you’ll pay £18 for a G&T and the clubs tend to be seedier. 3 days in Medellin is perfect, and I recommend staying in Laureles or El Poblado. In Medellin:


  • Take a guided tour to Comuna 13. What was once one of the most dangerous places in Medellin, is now a cultural hub where tourists come to see the graffiti, music and dancing that fills the area. 

  • An hour away you’ll find Guatape and El Peñol, which is essentially a massive rock that you can climb via 740 steps to get great views of the lakes that surround it. 

  • Walk through Plaza Botero, where you’ll find over 20 sculptures designed by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. 

  • If you want to try something unique, try an Amazonian tasting menu at La Chagra. You’ll need to have an open mind for this as some of the dishes contain ants! 


Where to stay in Medellin: Los Patios Cool Living



Cartagena


My favourite thing about Cartagena was the contrast between the skyscrapers in Bocagrande, and the colonial architecture in the Old Town and Getsmani district. This is a city where you’ll mainly be walking around and relaxing on beaches or the nearby islands, and you’ll want to because it gets very hot and humid here. 3 days is plenty of time here and I recommend staying in the Bocagrande area or within the City Walls. In Cartagena:


  • Walk around the Getsmani district and get a photo with the Palenqueras (you’ll be expected to tip them)

  • Take a sunset cruise with an open bar or alternatively head to the rooftop bar of the Movich Hotel for the best sunset view. 

  • Visit one of the beach clubs in Isla Grande, you can get here from the port and the ferry takes 1 hour. Bora Bora Beach Club is where most people go as it’s more of a party vibe, but if you want something relaxing and with anopen bar I recommend Luxury Island.

  • In terms of nightlife, XO rooftop is great and you’ll find typical reggaeton music here. If you’re into your cocktails, Alquimico was actually rated in the ‘World’s 50 Best Bars’ and the vibes are great too. 


Where to stay in Cartagena: Hotel Zi One Luxury



Isla Baru


To end your trip, I recommend unwinding in the all-inclusive private resort Isla De Encanto. Only a 1 hour boat ride from Cartagena, this resort in Baru has its own private beach, a swim up bar in the pool and breakfast, lunch and dinner provided. The staff was so friendly and it was a great way to relax and end our trip. 


You can go snorkling, hire kayaks and hop to other islands from here too.


Where to stay in Isla Baru: Isla De Encanto




If you are planning a trip to Colombia and want more recommendations or tips, feel free to reach out to me on social media!




A REVIEW OF BERLOOK SWIMWEAR, MY SUMMER PICKS.

Sunday 21 April 2024

The warmer weather usually means new summer clothes and new bikinis, and I loved the ones that Berlook had to offer. If you're looking for swimwear that is sustainably made, comfortable and flattering, then keep reading to see my summer picks and my honest review on them.



The first bikini I chose was this white ruched styled one, which comes with a nude lining inside meaning that it's not see-through and you can confidently swim in it. This bikini is made from recycled nylon and it's super comfy. This bikini looks super timeless and luckily I had a bit of a tan from my Colombia trip to compliment the bikini!


The back of the bikini comes with two straps that you can't adjust, so make sure you read the size guide properly. You can find the links to the white bikini below:


White ruched floral cutout bikini top (M)

White o-ring high cut bikini bottom (M)



The second bikini I chose was a blue jacquard one which is super comfortable and also adjustable. The bikini has these blue swirl patterns on them and I love the o-ring in the middle. It's quite supportive meaning that if you want to sunbathe and don't want the tan lines of the straps you can just take them down! 





If you're looking for some timeless, sustainably made swimwear then I 100% recommend Berlook. The bikinis are comfortable, made from good material that doesn't go see-through when wet and the styles come in so many different colours. If you are interested, you can get a 20% discount on your order using my code 'gianas20'

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5 DIFFERENT HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS FOR 2024.

Monday 11 March 2024

I’m at the age now where a lot of my friends and people around me are getting engaged, and one of the most exciting things that comes with that (apart from marrying the love of your life) is the honeymoon! Most people associate honeymoons with the Caribbean or overwater bungalows,  but sometimes people don’t have either the budget or time for that or just fancy a different type of holiday. Here are 5 honeymoon destinations for 2024 for any type of couple. 


honeymoon destinations 2024


1. Albania


Albania has gained popularity in the last few years and it’s easy to see why. It’s accessible, cheap to fly to and relatively cheap to stay in. There is also a plethora of things to do and even has its own ‘Albanian Riviera’ in the South West of the country. Ksamil is the best place to base yourself if you’re looking for a relaxing honeymoon of white sand beaches, cocktails and good food. The easiest way to get here is to fly to the Greek island of Corfu and then take a 30 minute ferry across to Albania. 

If you want a bit more adventure from your trip, you can hire a car and travel around the country to places like Dhermi, Permet, Berat and of course the capital Tirana. Across the country you can find activities like white-water rafting, beautiful hikes and UNESCO sites. Their national dish is  ‘Tave kosi’ which is made up of lamb with rice and yoghurt. 


Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Xheko Imperial Hotel & SPA

Best time to visit: April - October 


Photo Credit


2. Caribbean Cruise


Cruise holidays are great if you don't want to do a lot of the planning yourself and want to see a few places in a short space of time. For your honeymoon, I recommend going with Virgin Voyages as they offer ‘adults only’ cruises and have more activities and parties catered for older age groups. More so, you can choose to buy the all-inclusive drinks package to make the most of your trip. Just make sure you purchase this online in advance as it will be cheaper than buying it when you get onboard. 


If you have children and want to bring them along on your honeymoon, then a Royal Caribbean Cruise is probably your best bet as there’s activities for everyone, and a creche you can leave your kids at for a few hours should you wish to have some alone time! Your main expense for this holiday will be flying to the US, but the cruise itself is generally cheaper than the voyages from Europe. 


Cruise recommendation: Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady

Best time to visit the Caribbean: February - May 


Photo Credit

3. Seychelles


Seychelles is a group of islands off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, and is one of the more unique honeymoon destinations as it offers something exotic and its close proximity to Kenya and Tanzania means you can combine a trip to Seychelles with an African safari in the Serengeti to give you the best of both on your honeymoon. 


The archipelago consists of 115 islands, 25% of which consists of private resort islands which means most resorts have their own private beaches. If you’re looking for those famous overwater beach huts, you can rest assured that you’ll definitely find them here. This type of holiday will mainly revolve around sunbathing, snorkeling, exploring the national parks and enjoying some local food such as ‘kat-kat banane’ and lots of coconut curries. 


Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Hotel Coral Strand

Best time to visit: April - May, October - November  


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4. Costa Rica


Costa Rica is known for having the world's greatest biodiversity and micro-climates, meaning there is a lot to do and discover. It’s a place that you definitely don’t want to stay in just one place and rather explore the whole country, but even just a week is enough time to explore the best that the country has to offer. I recommend visiting La Fortuna (where you’ll find the Arenal Volcano), San Jose, Tortuguero National Park and Puerto Viejo. 


On your trip here, you can try horseback riding, ATV, zip-lining, kayaking, scuba diving and so much more. Not to mention seeing some of the incredible wildlife like sloths, squirrel monkeys and toucans. When it comes to food, you’ll want to try dishes like ‘chifrijo’ (fried pork with red beans) and ‘rondon’ (seafood and coconut stew). 


Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Nayara Springs Hotel

Best time to visit: December - April   


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5. Finland


I couldn’t finish this list without including somewhere for those who prefer the cold weather. If you want somewhere to experience the Aurora Borealis whilst sleeping in a glass-roofed igloo, then you’ll want to stay in Finnish Lapland. Here you can also experience sleigh rides, husky safaris and of course, skiing. You can also complete your honeymoon with a therapeutic hot tub session, with a beautiful backdrop of the snowy mountains. 


Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort 

Best time to visit: December  


Photo Credit

I hope this article has provided you with some inspiration for your future honeymoon, or atleast you’ve added one of these places to your bucket list!




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