Bucharest- The (slightly late) round up

So I know this is a bit late off the mark, but I promised myself a year of travel. I also promised myself to keep the blog up to date a bit more often, so here goes.

So did my first trip of the year with my uni queen to Bucharest. Now I have done a city break or two before, but I found this very different from any other I have been to.
Firstly I was very lucky that the friend I went with used to live in Bucharest, so we could basically say what we wanted to do throughout the holiday, and he would plan the route/day as to where everything was. Also handy as he knew the city, we didn't get lost, and could speak fluent Romanian.
The other part of the trip I found was very different was how Bucharest seemed to be a city of opposites. You would have some beautiful buildings, and then another moment a derelict building. The poor and the businessmen/women. The traditional Romanian food, with the big chains dotted around the city. It added a different charm to the place, a very unique touch that I haven't got from other places I have been to.
Day One
After an early start, we got to Romania about 1:45, and spent the day getting round Romania, enjoying our fabulous hotel (I will take full credit for our brilliant hotel. Just saying.). I tried traditional Romanian food, and getting a general feel for the city. You do notice the tale of opposites in this city very quickly. We went out again that evening to use the metro for the first time, to wander round the shops and get some supplies. Very handy having a shopping centre shut at 10pm. Also they do nice macarons. Just saying.

My queen enjoying the sun <3

Day Two
Got a lot of stuff done this day. Went to the Natural History Museum, (word of warning: you have to pay to take photos. Don't get caught out.) Ventured out to Herastrau park, where we just chilled out and enjoyed the 22C sunshine. Stuffed our faces full of gorgeous food at lunchtime, visited my friend's old flat, went to the white church, and hung out at the Romanian Atheneum. We didn't bother venturing too far out for dinner, as apparently I had to try this meal at KFC, and we had been pretty busy throughout the day.
Day Three
Went to the History of Romania Museum, where we spent nearly two hours wandering around, enjoying learning about Romania. One of my favourite things is learning, especially about places I am travelling to. My favourite museum in the city. Enjoyed eating Italian food in the sunshine, and wandering around finding little bits to take back for the family. I had also been looking at all these gorgeous patisserie's throughout the city, and finally gave in to temptation and tried some baked treats. Nom. That is all.
Day Four
On our last day in Bucharest, we were able to go out early after breakfast for a last wander around, buying from the patisserie, getting those last minute souvenirs, and stumbled upon a handmade and antique market. Bought some beautiful handmade jewellery, a good reminder of the trip and a unique way to remember Romania.

All in all, Bucharest was an interesting and very different city. Would love to go back in 20 years time to be able to see how much it has developed. A couple of tips if you ever want to go....
-You don't need to bring very much in the way of Lei, it is cheap out there. Admittedly I made a decision not to drink when I was over there, but I don't think it would make much difference. I took £150 worth with me. Probably only needed £100 max
- If you are using the metro, you can get a multiple journey ticket which will save you a fair bit of money. I think it was 10 Lei (£2) for 10 trips.
- There is no map of the metro, so plan your route before you go
- You don't need to know Romanian before you go, but if you can pick up a couple of words it helps
- If you like trawling through duty free, the airport is in Euros. Make sure to bring Euros as well as Lei
- If you want traditional treats to take home, there is a carrefour supermarket that will have it all for the best price

The balcony of our hotel room

Also, my recommendations:
* La Mama is the main chain of Romanian food if you want something traditional (cabbage rolls are particularly nice)
*Capitol Hotel is where we stayed. Brilliant location to be able to explore the city, and good value for money
* Patisseries. Everywhere. Do it.
* Hard Rock Cafe in Herastrau park is brilliant. Would recommend going for their lunchtime menu if you want a good deal

Time to now plan Budapest!

What a start to the year!

So this blog might end up taking a different turn. I will not be posting my updates on my social media, this is my own personal space, where I can just write what needs to be said. If someone else reads it and it is helpful, brilliant, but this is going to be done for me.
I have realised that I need to take a journey to love myself. I need to take a journey to not beat myself up over everything. I need to take a journey not to overthink everything. And dammit, I really want to go travelling. I want to see the world. I want to grow in myself in all forms.
So here are some plans.
Whilst I was visiting my best friend, I saw this terramundi pot and had to buy it. Now, every time I have a really positive thought about myself, when I'm proud of myself, when I look at myself and think 'you look bloody amazing' I put a pound in the pot. At the end of the year, I'm going to smash the pot, and see how rich I get from my own self love and my own self worth.
I do have another pot I need to buy, which is my overthinking pot. I have an unfortunate habit of overthinking, and beating myself up over everything. So every time I stop myself from overthinking, every time I stop beating myself up, I will put a pound in. What will be very interesting is to see which pot fills up quickest.
Next plan is every time I am on holiday, I want to use my time wisely. In March, I am going away with my friend to Canterbury. Hopefully this will lay some demons I have to rest. Canterbury is an absolutely wonderful place, and am really looking forward to seeing how my old uni stomping ground has changed. If I see people that I know there? Fine. I have my best friend to back me up, but also I need to learn to back myself up as well. Most of the time, things are never as bad as what I made out in my head, and its like I wasted all that energy on something that actually never happened. So that has to stop.
Next holiday is May, which is my birthday week. I intend to invite all my mates downtown for a proper night out. Something I haven't actually done on my birthday since I was 20, and haven't gone out properly in Portsmouth since I was 18. This needs to be done. I need to get hilariously drunk, be irresponsible, be a young person again. Now I'm not saying you need a drink to have a good night, but I just want to cut loose.
Then there is October. If all goes to plan, I will be heading with a friend to India, somewhere I have always wanted to travel to, and get to eat curry continuously for two weeks. Get to see the sights and amazing culture, and say yes, I have been there. This for me is the big one. I have never been on a long haul flight before, so I have to make it a good one.
This year is going to be my year, I can just feel it. I have no idea what the future holds, but I know I need to start doing what makes me truly happy. I need to stop having regrets, and I need to live my life.
Here's to 2017! xx

New year, New challenges

This is my first post of the new year, so I know it is a little late, but happy new year to you all!

2012 has been such a turbulent year, but worked out well in the end. In a sense, 2013 is going to be a harder year for me. I have to keep up the momentum that 2012 gave me. I think the best way though is just to see how every day comes and work it out from there. 

But down to the nitty gritty. What resolutions did you make this year? I have three new year's resolutions. The first, which I have resolved to do for the third year running is to learn how to drive. I have more of a chance of actually doing this one, as I am having driving lessons. The second one is to save money. I am appalling at saving money! The complete opposite to my other half, who has saved money all his life. My third and final resolution is to cook more. Ever since I got the new Nigel Slater book for Christmas, I have not stopped raving about him. I realised that good food is not hard to make. I find I don't worry so much about being healthy, because I am making the food from scratch, and changing recipes slightly for my needs. 

All in all, I seem to be resolving to be an adult. I think partly it is a good thing, as I cannot act like a child anymore, and there are more people in my life now that I have to think of now. What would really prove that I am an adult is sticking to my resolutions. 

Everyone can make a resolution, but it takes hard work to keep them. I think the saving money one will be the tough one for me, but the other two are very achievable. After I have finished my university work, I think that I will go back to the gym, but for now, I may start going to zumba once a week, just to keep me going at least. When life gets busy, something has to give, but maybe not completely. 

What I have done though this year, is have two of my wisdom teeth out. I seem to have created an anxiety over my teeth, and when I heard I had to have a wisdom tooth out, I couldn't believe how unlucky I was. However, I am very lucky to of met a good dentist, and got two on my left side out on Tuesday. He let me borrow his ipod to listen to some classical music, let my other half sit in and hold my hand, and didn't mind when I accidentally kept biting his thumb (oops!). He advised me on what food to eat, gave me an extraction kit with full instructions on do's and don'ts, and got a courtesy call the day after my procedure to see how I have been getting on. I feel very lucky to have him as my dentist. It also isn't as bad as I first thought it would be. It didn't feel fabulous for the first 5 odd hours after, but I didn't feel the pain as I thought it would, and I could chew my dinner, which was a relief. I am on day 3 now, and whilst the pain seems to be more persistent in coming through, it is not bad at all.

Whilst I still can't completely open my jaw still, and I probably have an infection, at least I did it.

I am proud of myself for getting through the first hurdle, now it is just the infection to fight.

I am sure I will get there in the end, and this is just one of many challenges I will face this year. What makes us stronger are the challenges we face, and how we deal with them.

This is just another challenge to face. x

Why hello 2012!

I am so very happy to see in the new year. 2011 has been an interesting year, with for me some significant lows, but also positive movement in the right direction. I will remember that I started my weight loss in 2011. I will remember the fact that I rebuilt my friendship with a now very good friend of mine.
For me, the 31st of December was so refreshing, looking back at it. I didn't get the Lush job in the end. Looking at it now, I realised that it was probably a very good thing. I really loved working at lush, but it wouldn't of been the same, as I wouldn't of been with my closer friends. I think in a way if I kept the job, I think I would of got stuck in a rut. It wouldn't of been Lush's fault obviously.
I went to a family friend's party gathering for new years celebrations. It was really fun to not get drunk, to play quizzes and charades. In a way I feel that I am maturing into an adult, making my own decisions, and making a path for myself.

New years day at church was half full, (I think everyone was still recovering from the night before :P) but a nice short service, and a normal day.
When dad and I were travelling to asda, we heard on bbc radio solent about an astrologer on the show, helping us with our 2012 futures.
I always have been interested in astrology, but I sometimes don't always think it's right. I somehow got to the end of the show, (BBC iplayer radio solent) and she was saying things that were surprising me. Very spooky indeed, especially as she was mentioning insecurities that I never talk about with many people at all.
She was mentioning me in a relationship, and it has firstly given me hope that I will not always be alone. In a sense, I feel that I don't need any new years resolutions, I just need to trust myself.
Whether or not you trust/believe in astronomy, just trust yourself, and you will always get through whatever battles or troubles you have.
Happy new year guys! x