12 Struggles of Trying to Get Fit

1. Logging onto MyProtein and getting totally overwhelmed by the hundreds of different types of shakes and supplements and having absolutely no idea what they are

Do I need all of these?! ...Ooh Protein Pancake Mix!

2. Having to do the 'Squat Check' in the mirror before you leave the house to find out how see-through your tights really are..

I can see through them all!

3. Trying to eat healthier but feeling the need to use up all the crappy food in the house first

..Once these Doritos are gone, I promise I'll be good

4. Cardio.

Nuff said.

5. Trying to keep a straight face as you walk down the stairs after leg day and trying not to buckle..

..I'm screaming on the inside

6. Being way too confident with your chosen weight and realising your mistake 2 minutes into the workout

Oh God what have I done?! 18 Minutes to go??

7. When the only thing getting you through is the thought of the food you're gonna devour when you get home..

"Do 5 more burpees and you can have a Nando's!"

8. The obsession with new gym clothes is real. But you just need one more tank top..

Don't. Check. Bank. Balance.

9. Trying and failing miserably to get any sympathy when EVERYTHING HURTS.

You just get laughed at :(

10. Realising that your laundry is 95% gym clothes and pjs

What else do you really need to wear?!

11. Being constantly HUNGRY

My day revolves around food.

12. Walking down the chocolate isle using every ounce of strength to not pick anything up.

Get out! Get out now! ...Ooh 2 for 1

That being said, love me the gym!

Lotsa love,

Franki x

Nutella/Snickers Cupcakes & Birthday Cake!

Despite feeling really run down last week, I had a bit of a crazy one..in the kitchen! I had unintentionally filled it full of cupcake and birthday cake baking. It was my brothers 20th birthday on Sunday, and he had put a 'not so subtle' request in for a mint chocolate chip birthday cake.

My gym, CrossFit Leeds was also putting on their annual event "One For the People". I volunteered myself to donate some cakes for the charity cake stall (forgetting about my brothers birthday that Sunday) Eeek! ...Only joking, it all worked out fine in the end!

So the week was filled with Nutella cupcakes and a Mint Choc Chip cake!

I got both recipes from the YouTuber I follow religiously; Cupcake Jemma. 

Link to both recipes are here:

Mint Choc Chip Cake

Nutella Cupcakes

She owns Crumbs and Doilies in Soho, London and I have promised myself that the next time I head down to the big city I will pay them a visit and eat as many cupcakes as I can fit in my belly :)

I would have made more Nutella cupcakes, but as I was a bit pushed for time, only made 12. Will definitely be making them again though, they were delicious (if I do say so myself!)

Baking cakes and cupcakes are probably my favourite, because I just love the decorating side! Piping icing used to be such a chore, but now it's my favourite part!

With the cake, I pretty much stuck to the recipe, except for the decoration. I chopped up some dark chocolate chips and mixed them into the mint green icing, just to give it the 'mint chocolate' look. I also decorated the cake with Oreos, as it is such a simple way to decorate and it looks pretty fancy. 

This was a few weeks ago, but I thought I may as well add them in, as I was really proud of these!

Snickers Cupcakes!

I made these cupcakes for my Dads birthday. Snickers is his fave chocolate bar so I thought it was the most appropriate flavour! To make these all you really need is a chocolate cupcake recipe with vanilla buttercream and caramel sauce. Be really savvy and make your own sauce, or buy from a shop. I made a basic vanilla buttercream, and then mixed in about 2 tbs of caramel sauce. (Best to start off with a little and taste, as you don't want it to be too sweet) I then drizzled the remaining sauce over the top of the icing and cut up pieces of snickers for the top.

Sweet :)

So get your requests in for cakes and bakes, it's quickly becoming my favourite hobby :)

Lotsa love,

Franki x

Feeling Homesick When Travelling

I travelled around Europe for 1 month, 3 weeks of which were solo travel. I have never been travelling before, so to choose solo travel as my first experience was a big step.

And let me reassure you now, whether alone or in a group, travelling is one big rollercoaster. You can be strolling along having the time of your life and then out of nowhere it hits you... 

You're homesick and/or sad for no reason.

There may sometimes be a reason yes, but at times it can be completely out of the blue. You may cheer up and have a great evening, but then wake up the next morning feeling crappy again. Travel is crazy. Don't expect it to be a smooth ride. Don't let it put you off though! It's all part of the experience.

My biggest piece of advice I can give you is to LISTEN TO YOURSELF. 

Listen to your heart and your head at all times. It sounds a little cheesy but when you think about it, we use this technique every day, in all kinds of situations. Just because you're travelling and "on an adventure of a lifetime" doesn't mean you have to push your happiness aside and do things you may not want to do. 

I think there is a definite pressure when it comes to travelling to really put yourself out there, out of your comfort zone and make lots of effort 24/7. Yes, this is important and it's really good for us to be in new situations and experience different things but it does not mean you have to feel uncomfortable. Your happiness is the most important thing and you should always put that first. If you don't feel happy or comfortable in a situation, don't let yourself feel pressured into something just because you're travelling. 

If you're thinking about going home and cutting your trip short, you may just be overdoing it and stressing yourself out too much. Before you make the decision to go home, first stop and take a breath. Get yourself into a place where you feel comfortable, whether that be back at your accommodation, away from your group, in a quiet cafe...anywhere! 

Listen to your head and your heart and have a think about what may make you feel a little better in that specific moment, without giving in to the thought of home.

It could be to just write the day off, forget about exploring for now and just go home and have time to yourself. Watch a movie, have a nap, maybe take a bath if you have one! It sounds silly, but you'd be surprised at what a few hours can do to your mood. 

And believe me I get it. When I was feeling homesick I would Google "feeling homesick whilst travelling". I read article after article, rolling my eyes through my tears because they all said the same thing, that "things will look up, it will get better" blah blah.

At that moment I didn't think anything would get better and nothing would help. And if you're really not enjoying yourself it's difficult to imagine yourself having a good time. 

So what did I do?

Believe me, there were a few times when I was convinced I was going to go home. On one particular occasion, I had just arrived in Budapest. Budapest was my 'break' half way through the trip. I had booked into a spa hotel because everything in Budapest is cheap as chips and I wanted to treat myself. (Very important when travelling.)

I got into my room (which was stunning by the way) and what did I do? I broke down into tears. I just wanted to go home. I had just arrived at this stunning hotel with the most amazing hotel room and I still felt so sad and lonely. I messaged a few friends and my mum telling them I wanted to quit. I immediately received responses telling me to just relax, forget about the rest of the day (because honestly I had no interest in exploring the city.) They said take a shower, get some dinner, throw on some pjs, chill out and watch Netflix. (Taking an iPad with me was an absolute saviour!)

I forgot about the pressure of making an effort and just did what I wanted to do. I felt instantly better with that thought off of my shoulders. When I woke up the next day, I felt refreshed, recharged and a lot less negative. I decided to go on a free walking tour where I got chatting to a few people, and ended up going out that night with a new friend who was also a solo traveller! I felt so much better and despite the day I arrived, had an amazing time in Budapest.

So here are some more things that really helped me when I started to think negatively about the trip.

• You are a strong, independent woman (or man) and you don't need no man to complete you! ...Ok this one is a slight joke, but honestly it made me laugh every time I said it to myself and laughter was exactly what I needed!

• In slightly more seriousness, remind yourself why you came out to where you are in the first place. You wanted to take this trip for a reason. Remind yourself of where you are. Just thinking about the city I was in, and the fact that it was a city I had always wanted to visit instantly improved my mood. 

• There are a lot of people that spend their time daydreaming about travel and the places they'd just love to visit. You'd be surprised at how many of them do nothing about it. But not you! You got out there and chased your mo fuckin dreams! And if you're travelling solo, I take my hat off to you. It takes a lot of courage to go it alone and you're freakin doing it! Even just getting out there in the first place is an accomplishment in itself. 

• Think about everyone at home, probably sat in the office and yano if your home is England then it's raining. HAHA

Now if nothing seems to be improving, if you've tried your best but you're having crappy days one after the other with no sign of improvement, that's ok. The point is that you tried and you should be proud of that. The most important thing is your happiness and wellbeing. Don't force yourself to stay out there for the sake of it if you know you'll just be miserable. 

We only get 1 chance in life so happiness is of top priority. If going home is what feels right, then do it. Yes, you may feel a little sad that it didn't work out like you'd hoped, but it's not a bad thing. You've learnt something new about yourself, which is pretty much the whole point anyway! If you really want to, go back home, see your friends and family, get lots of cuddles from your loved ones, order a pizza and don't worry about it. 

Don't for 1 second think that you've failed or let anyone down. You haven't! Not one little bit! Everyone back home just wants you to be happy! I know if one of my loved ones were away from home and feeling miserable, I'd naturally be very concerned and want them to do what's best for them... and I'm sure you'd do the same too!

So if you're reading this whilst feeling homesick, give some of my tips a try. In the moments I felt completely hopeless, they really did help. Just a few hours made such a big difference. And whatever happens with your trip, think positive thoughts and do what's best for you. 

Remember that it's your trip, and nobody else's. You spend it however you god damn please. Don't give into what society tells you you should be doing when travelling. Always put your happiness first. 

And just a quick note, I did have a few moments where I felt rubbish and wanted to come home but they didn't last very long. I had an amazing experience and loved (almost) all of my trip!

Lotsa love and happy travelling,

Franki x

Italy! Verona, Florence and Rome

It's quite incredible to think that I have never been to Italy before, a country I have been desperate to visit for as long as I can remember. And then suddenly, within the space of a week, I had visited no less than 3 beautiful Italian cities!

This was such a nice way to end the trip, and I know I definitely chose my route in the right order!

Verona

So my first visit was Verona. This was a last minute choice and was originally overlooked. But it has become one of my favourite parts of the trip. 

Where did I stay?

I stayed in an Airbnb, with a lovely girl called Veronica for just 2 quick nights. She was so lovely and welcoming and made me feel right at home. She had also included a gorgeous breakfast each morning, served right in my room! I say breakfast, it was more like afternoon tea! She brought 3 tiers of warmed breads, Italian cheeses, Italian pastries, yoghurts, fresh fruit, fresh juice and the most delicious coffee.

Recommendations/Tips for Verona

Walk the steps up to the castle for the most amazing views overlooking the city.

If you can, head up to Lake Garda for the day. It's just 10 minutes on the train and there are lots of different towns to see. I spent the day at Peschiera, which was beautiful. After wandering around the edge of the lake just enjoying the views, I claimed a sun lounger and did nothing for the entire day before finding somewhere to eat seafood and enjoy the view.

Spend the day wandering the centre of Verona. Do some shopping, visit Juliet's balcony, see the Arena and an absolute must is the Piazza delle Erbe (Market's Square). You're guaranteed to find some souvenirs/gifts to take home from here!

You can do all of this in a day if you are pushed for time, as the city is tiny!

Florence

I did hesitate as to whether I should even include Florence in the blog, as I didn't have the best time. "What?? You didn't have a good time in Florence?!"

I know I know. I don't know what it was really. I think towards the end of the trip I had started to feel a bit crappy and was looking forward to going home. I also felt because I was rushing around so much I was just getting a bit bored of doing the same touristy things.
I have loved travelling solo but it was starting to get a little tedious and knowing I would be seeing my sister in Rome in a few days just made me feel a bit.. blah.
I know I'm a rubbish traveller!

I also felt like it was the wrong time of year to go to Florence. Travelling from city to city, it's fair to say I'd had my fair share of being surrounded by tourists. But the tourists in Florence... Oh my. The tourists in Florence were on steroids.

I have never been pushed and shoved around so much in my life. Nobody cared if they walked into you, knocked your bag off your shoulder, stood on your foot etc etc!

I spent some time wandering the city, admiring the cathedral and walking over Butchers Bridge. I also visited the Uffizi, something I was told I had to do.

It was nice to be in a new city but I only had two days there. So after a morning of being surrounded by monumentally insane tourists, I decided to fit in all of my touristy/city walking into one day, and spend the 2nd day by the pool. Everyone needs a day to relax and I had been running around for 3 weeks!

Oh I also stayed in an Airbnb in Florence in a private room. The host was lovely and welcoming and this was my last Airbnb for the trip. I would highly recommend using it. I had such a great (and cheap) experience!

Rome

What an amazing way to finish off the trip. Not only was I in Rome, a city I have dreamed about visiting for so long, but my sister and her boyfriend were flying out to meet me!

I had the best time and I have to say most of the focus was on the food.. and boy did I eat!
When in Rome right?!

Where did I stay?

I stayed in a hotel to round off the end of my trip. It was called Eurostars Aeterna and I chose to stay here purely because I found a cheap deal on Trivago! As lovely as the hotel and staff were, if I were ever to return, I would probably stay somewhere a little more central to the city.

Recommendations/Tips for Rome

• Colosseum - well this one's a given! (Even though we had the biggest thunderstorm!)

• Leave a full day for the Vatican, you're going to need it! I'm not massively keen on art, but I found this really interesting. It was also amazing to wander the pretty gardens looking up at the private gardens of the pope himself (people say they sometimes see him out for a stroll!)

• Go to the Trevi Fountain... at night! There are much less crowds, which means you actually get right to the front for a photo and to toss your coin into the water. It's also far prettier!

• Take a look at this awesome article on the best rooftop bars in Rome... and pick one! http://www.therooftopguide.com/rooftop-bars-in-rome.html

• I was going to mention food here too but the food I ate in Rome was some of the best I have ever eaten and it deserves it's own blog post!

un sacco d'amore,

Franki x

Lake Bled! Relax and Unwind...

Ah Lake Bled. What a beautiful, enchanting little place.  It reminded me so much of Windermere in the Lake District back home, which I spend a lot of time at. It was quite nice to feel a little bit of home here, and the weather most certainly made me feel at home. I was greeted to a weekend of rain and thunder for the entirety of my trip!

It was lovely to have a few days feeling completely disconnected from the rest of the world. And it is so nice when travelling, to get a few days in between the running around to just relax and do nothing at all.

Where did I stay and how long for?

I chose to stay in another Airbnb for 3 nights, as I have been getting on with it so well. This time I had the entire place to myself! And I was in the perfect location. Up on the hill, away from the city centre, overlooking the lake. I was in complete serenity. It was like the lake, the most charming accommodation.  The owners had gone all out to make the place look so cosy and homey. Candles were lit, blankets were draped over the sofas. In the centre of the table was a little Kilner jar full of sweets and chocolates. The owners had even put out fresh fruit and pastries in the kitchen.

View from the house!

Highlights

Simply enjoying quiet time in my accommodation and of course, a little bit of craziness; Canyoning!

What did I do?

Not going to write an itinerary for this one, as a lot of my weekend was spent lounging in the house. The house had a balcony, and a sort of conservatory style balcony. It was a little cold as it was raining constantly. So a lot of the time was spent curled up under a blanket reading and enjoying the gorgeous views.

I did however go canyoning on the 2nd day. If you ever go to Lake Bled, some form of water sport is an absolute must! Rafting is a common choice and looked like so much fun. But then I noticed Canyoning. Something that I haven't seen crop up very often (not as often as rafting anyway.) So I decided to give it a go. Hey, why the hell not!

For those of you who don't know what it is, google it. You'll either poop your pants or think it looks completely incredible.
Think jumping of cliffs, waterfalls and jumping/sliding/abseiling into pools.
It was raining and thundering so the water was absolutely freezing! It was still an incredible, adrenaline-filled experience and I met some awesome people from America, Australia and Canada too!

On my last day, I woke up to find it was sunny! So I decided to have a walk around the lake, something the owners said was a must. It was so so pretty and each turn you took gave you a different view of the lake. It takes about an hour to walk round the entire lake, you can also rent bikes too.
I timed this perfectly, as the moment I got back into the house, it started to rain again!

The next day, I was dropped off at the train station early in the morning, something the owners insisted on doing. They also bought me breakfast for the journey too! So incredibly sweet :)

Then it was onto Verona, and my first ever taste of Italy!

Top Tips/Recommendations for Lake Bled

• Get involved in some kind of water sport, rafting, canyoning, or a full day of trails/hikes. I used the company 3glav Adventures who I would highly recommend. They offer so many different options, were so friendly, and they even pick you up from your accommodation!
• Go for a walk or hire a bike and go round the entire lake for some awesome views! Don't forget to take your camera!
• Hire a boat and row to the middle of the lake, to the castle. I didn't do this due to the weather but if I ever return, it will be at the top of my to-do list!

Veliko Ljubenzni!

Franki xxx

Ljubljana! Charming and Tiny Capital City...

 The next stop on the trip was Ljubljana and honestly I didn't think I was going to make it! So far I have had pretty simple and straight forward train journeys. This has to have been the worst travel day I have ever experienced! So the day started off with arriving at the station with plenty of time to spare. However, when I arrived my train was not on the board. Feeling a little confused, I told myself it was too early for the information to show and the train would come up after a little bit of time.

When it got to 15 minutes before, I started to panic a little, and decided to drag myself all the way down to the wrong end of the station to the only information desk. When I got there they told me to go to a little hut outside the station, and on the opposite side of where I was. When I finally arrived there, they told me I had to get on a different train because the schedule was wrong (hence why I couldn't see my train number on the board). Oh, and he also told me I had 3 minutes to get there.

I made it onto the train by the skin of my teeth! I was so grateful to run into a group from Australia, who said they were just as confused as me! We hadn't been given any information whatsoever, as we were told it was a direct train. So then we were told we had to get off the train, switch to a bus, then get on another train. Through all of this we continuously asked if we were going in the right direction... And everyone we asked said yes! We were then later dumped at a station, which was completely abandoned. After trying to communicate with the ticket office, they told us the next train to Ljubljana was the next day.

We had taken the wrong train somewhere along the journey! After a bit of talk, the four of us decided to share a taxi just over the border of Slovenia, where trains to Ljubljana run every 30 minutes. We thought the €40 each would be better off than finding accommodation for a night, when we all had places to stay in Ljubljana. The extra cost was a bit of a pain, but it's just one of those things! 2 trains later, I finally arrived! I have never been so relieved!

Despite the mad journey to Ljubljana, I had an amazing time. Arriving in Ljubljana was like discovering a little hidden town that not many people know about. It's so crazy to think this sweet little city is the country's capital! The cobble streets and pretty buildings make it seem like a hidden treasure. It was absolutely beautiful.

Where did I stay and how long for?

I stayed at Hostel Vrba for 3 nights. I would really recommend this place for travellers, as it is close to the centre and I found it as being one of the top rated hostels on Lonely Planet. It was a lovely and clean little hostel.

Highlights

Enjoying a beer, and swinging at the bar at the same time! Heading to the district of bars where you'll find very few tourists and wandering the street food market. (no surprise there)

Itinerary

8th June - After a long day of travelling I decided to run across the street to get a pizza, as I was exhausted! Decided to go for a little explore and came across a crazy little place that had swings at the bar! In Ljubljana, they have 2 different beers called Lakso and Union. They're both made by the same brewery, but apparantly in Slovenia, its a big deal to pick your favourite and stick to it. So the natural thing to do as a tourist is to ordered one of each and try both. I hate to say it, but I thought they tasted very similar, so after that I just went on which bottle I preferred the look of, which was Union! Eek!

9th June - was a long day of rain rain rain. I decided to stay in the hostel in the morning, in an attempt to get my blog written. Now that I am moving around a lot more frequently, it's really tricky finding the time to get it done! In the afternoon, I decided to head over to a little cafe called Mihalek. I'd read about this in one of the tourist maps, and this cafe serves cakes and ice cream which are homemade, vegan, flour and sugar free. I'm not vegan, I am a full on meat eater! But I do love sampling sugar free desserts! It was quite far away so I was wandering for a while in the rain, but it was so worth it when I arrived. The desserts looked so delicious and I went for a Walnut a chocolate Torte and an espresso. It was delicious! You'd never think it was sugar free! It was so decadent and tasty, and I couldn't finish it I was so full! That evening, I was feeling a little ill again! I was very dizzy and had the worst headache so I just chilled out in the hostel, chatting to a few people and watching movies.

10th June - I decided to go on another free walking tour, as I really enjoyed the one I went on in Budapest. It was so great to learn about the capital and the tour guide was so funny and charming. On our tour we passed through the street food market, which really got my mouth watering. Anyone who knows me, knows my love for street food so naturally when the tour was over, I made a beeline back and wandered the stalls before choosing a delicious looking plate of steak and potato wedges. It was such a good choice! I hadn't eaten steak in a while and it was so tasty! I strolled around the streets some more, snapping photos. In the afternoon I headed over to Cacao, a cafe everyone had been raving about. Someone said, if you go to Ljubljana and don't visit Cacao, then you've wasted your trip! I have to say I do agree with them! Just off to the side of the main square, Cacao serves a range of ice cream, ice cream cake and lots of cakes and tarts. I got a scoop of Sacher flavoured ice cream and a scoop of tiramisu. The Sacher flavoured ice cream was definitely my favourite! It was so decadent, I felt like I was eating a slice of torte! Feeling extremely full, I then wandered along the river as(hooray) the sun was finally out. I spent the afternoon sat by the river in the sun.

Dragon Bridge

When I headed back to the hostel, a new group had arrived. It's really nice to see some fresh faces and get chatting to new people. We decided to head out as a group for some drinks and we wandered along the river to one of bars for a few beers. We then headed to a hidden area of Ljubljana, Metelkova Mesto, which is a former barrack. There was so much going on, and each night the place comes alive with parties and alternative events. This was definitely off the beaten track and it was so refreshing to be surrounded by locals.

11th June - this morning I left to make my way up to Lake Bled. One of the guys I had met the night before was driving up to Bled for the day and was giving two other girls a lift up. It was so sweet of him to offer me a lift and I was very quick to accept. A car journey was so refreshing as, I do admit that train journeys were starting to take their toll, particularly after the nightmare experience of getting to a Ljubljana! 

Top Tips/recommendations for Ljubljana 

• Go on a free walking tour to learn about the city (but don't forget to tip!)
• Wander the street food markets for some delicious choices! 
• Stop at Cacao in the afternoon for a warm drink and some ice cream..or cake.. Or both!
• Visit Metelkova Mesto for a taste of a locals night out on the town. 

Veliko Ljubenzni!

Franki xxx

Budapest! The Good Vibes...

My next stop on the trip was Budapest! I was really looking forward to this one, as for a mid travel treat, I decided to book into a hotel, as they are so cheap in Budapest! It was great to have a few days to relax and just have some time out from the madness. I had less time in Budapest, and didn't do too much touristy sight seeing. But it's perfectly fine to have a few days to recharge! I loved Budapest so much, it was definitely a highlight for me and there is no doubt that I will return! So anything I didn't manage to do this time, I'll make sure I do the next!

Where did I stay and how long for?

I stayed in Bliss Hotel & Wellness for 3 nights. This was such a lovely hotel and I would highly recommend it for a little piece of luxury at a very reasonable price. My room was so lovely, it had a small balcony and I have never seen such a big shower! The section of the hotel I was in also had a little terrace for guests to enjoy on sunny days. The hotel had a pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, gym and they also offered massages.

Highlights

Experiencing a night in the ruin bars and relaxing in the spa in my hotel! 

The Itinerary 

5th June - I arrived mid afternoon, after a slightly stressful time at the train station, involving wandering up and down for the not so clearly advertised information desk. When I arrived I wasn't feeling all that great, so I hung about in the room and on the balcony for a while, and then headed out for a quick stroll and some dinner. When I got back to the hotel I just fancied a chilled out evening so watched a couple movies on Netflix.

6th June - I woke up and decided to head downstairs for a swim in the pool. It was lovely and warm and it felt so refreshing to get swimming. I made use of plenty of the facilities and went in the jacuzi and the sauna! It was so nice to just feel relaxed. I decided to book a massage for the night before I left, as the prices were so cheap! I booked in for a 1 hour Swedish massage, and it cost me £20! Then in the afternoon I decided to go on one of the free walking tours they offer in Budapest. This was a great way to learn about the city when you don't have much time! The tour guides taught us about the rich history of Budapest, and both sides, Buda and Pest. We also walked over the chain bridge to the Buda side, for some great views of the city. I'd highly recommend it, particularly if on a budget. (Although, don't forget to tip what you can afford!) I met a few lovely people and got chatting to a fellow solo traveller. We really hit it off and decided to go for drinks that evening, and discover some of the great ruin bars of Budapest. The two bars we spent most of the evening in were Kuplung and Szimpla. (Szimpla was recommended to me by Eszter, who I stayed with in Vienna!) we had such a great night and the drinks are unbelievably cheap! If you're after a budget weekend away somewhere, Budapest is definitely a great location! 

Walking the bridge from Pest to Buda

7th June - No surprises here, but I wasn't feeling too fresh the next morning! So I lazily watched a movie in bed, before heading out for a quick stroll around the area and then heading back to make use of the spa facilities in the hotel. I then met up with the same friend for some dinner where we went back to the ruin bar, Kuplung (which does food by day). I ordered a bowl of Goulash, the Hungarian specialty, which I had never tried before! It was delicious, and a little comfort food was exactly what I needed. I then headed back to my hotel for a relaxing, evening massage! I then got an early night, as I was up at 6 am the following day to catch my train! 

I would normally give some recommendations for Budapest, but as I wasn't there that long and just really used the time to relax a little, there's not much I can recommend! I will however, write a new Budapest bucket list for when I return!

• Spend the day at one of the thermal baths (sadly I didn't have enough time for this!)
• See the Shoes on the Danube Bank
• Go to Fisherman's Bastion
• Explore more of the ruin bars! 

I will definitely be back soon, and will make sure I do everything I didn't get a chance to this time!

Sok Szeretettel!

Franki xxx

Vienna! Solo Wanderings Begin...

The next stop for me was Vienna and this was a big step, as it was my first city completely by myself. But as I set off on the train I felt really good about it and excited for how the next few days were going to turn out. Despite having a few ups and downs, (solo travel is one big roller coaster) I did have a really nice time in Vienna and I'm so glad I got to tick it off my bucket list.

Where did I stay and how long for? 

For this trip I decided to use Airbnb and stayed in an apartment in the centre of Vienna with a lovely girl named Eszter, for 4 nights. I had my own room, but shared the bathroom and kitchen. This was my first Airbnb experience but it was such a lovely way to travel. I have a few more Airbnb bookings on this trip, but I'm sure I will always turn to using it whenever I go away. It's so great to get to know your host, and being a local they can give you the best advice on where to go and what to see. It's so lovely to get such a different feel from a city, as you settle in for a few days and feel like one of the locals yourself!

Highlights

Seeing the Hundertwasserhaus Apartments, wandering the Tiergarten and attending a CrossFit class in Vienna! 

The Itinerary 

1st June - I arrived pretty late after a long day of travel. The train journey was smooth and enjoyable. I eventually arrived at Eszters apartment after taking the U-Bahn. I grabbed myself some dinner and was let in by a friend of hers. The apartment was so lovely and spacious. My bedroom was spacious and had a big comfy sofa! When Eszter arrived home we had a lovely long chat, getting to know each other and talking about my plans for my stay. I discovered that she was Hungarian, and studied in Vienna. She gave me some great tips for where to go for my next stop, which was Budapest. After a long day I called it a night!

2nd June - For my first day in Vienna, I decided to get about exploring the sights of the city. I started it off by going to Stephansplatz and gazing at St Stephens Cathedral. I had a stroll around the area, and headed over to Demel, a pastry shop with really good reviews. It was so busy, so I didn't buy anything. But I did wander round and admire the displays and the chocolate and sweets they sold. After mindlessly strolling around and getting a little lost, I came across Volksgarten park, a beautiful park with paths, fountains and flowers. I made my way over to Mozarts Apartment to have a look at the exhibition. After some lunch, I made my over to the Hundertwasserhaus Apartments. These were incredible and I would highly recommend them. There was a small cafe attached so I ordered a piece of apple streudal and some fruit tea and sat in the sun, gazing at the gorgeous colours and paintings on the building. Towards the end of the day I strolled through Museums Quartier with my headphones plugged in, before heading back to Volksgarten to sit in the sun with my kindle for a while. 

3rd June - Today was the day I had booked on a drop in class at CrossFit Vienna. I joined a CrossFit gym in Leeds back in February, and have become addicted ever since! It was really nice to drop in and experience a class in another box. It was like a home away from home! Everyone was so friendly and it was such a lovely atmosphere. I had such a great time and as I was starting to feel a little homesick that morning, it was a real mood uplifter. That afternoon I went to ride the Reisenrad! It was great to see such pretty landscapes of the city. I also headed over to the Danube and strolled along for a while, before finding a comfy looking spot and just chilling out for a bit. After this I headed home, to find Eszter with a few of her friends. I joined them for a few drinks and we accidentally ordered the biggest pizza I have ever seen! I could only manage 1 slice but it was so nice to chat with new people. 

 

4th June - On my last day, I headed to the Tiergarten, which is home to the oldest zoo in the world! I had a (very quick) look around the zoo, before feeling slightly foolish, as I was surrounded by kiddies! So after this I just wandered around the Tiergarten and had a look at Schonbrunn Palace. In the early evening, I decided to go and see a film, so I found an English cinema and booked to see Alice Through the Looking Glass. Im a big Alice in Wonderland fan, so was really excited to see the new movie. It was so nice to feel a little more at home too. I went to the 'English Cinema Haydn', which is a family run, independent cinema. It was so lovely! The walls were decorated with old posters and movie reels. 

5th June - Today I said goodbye to Eszter and made my way to the train station to head towards my new city, Budapest!

Top Tips/Recommendations for Vienna

• Grab some apple strudel, or Sacher torte at the little cafe next to the Hundertwasserhaus Apartments
• Wander round the Tiergarten for some beautiful photo opportunities. 
• See as many parks as possible, they're all so beautiful! 

 

Veile Liebe Vienna!

Franki xxx