Sunday, June 24, 2012

Sorrento & Napoli

For those of you following me on Twitter and Instagram (@ginamanderson) you would have already seen a few snap shots from what we've been up to since we arrived but I thought I'd take a bit of time to tell you a bit more.

After arriving in Sorrento, about an hour South of Naples, we pretty much spent the next 2 days on the beach (the water is so clear and warm!) and then would venture into the centre of town in the evening for dinner and gelato. The B&B we stayed in was great. It was pretty cheap, only about 10 mins walk from the centre of Sorrento and less than 5 mins to the beach. The room was basic but fine for what we needed with a private bathroom and our favourite bit - air conditioning. The breakfasts were also lovely. I'd totally recommend staying there if you're on a budget but want a beach/relaxing holiday. If you want more info, go to http://www.mamicamilla.com/












It's a good sign when you don't want to leave a place and that was certainly the case with Sorrento. We're already wondering when we can return. But on to Napoli we went.

At first glance, Napoli can be described in no other way than dirty. Clearly there is no such thing as a street cleaner here. However, look a little beyond the rubbish and you'll find an idyllic church on every corner, great fruit and veg markets and a maze of streets to get lost down (which we have many times). We booked to stay in an apartment via http://www.airbnb.com/ which is shared with a very friendly and generous couple who provide a B&B service. The apartment on the outside looks like every other building in the city - run down and in need of a paint job - but inside is modern and homely (one of our hosts is an interior designer for Ikea!) and there's a great roof terrace to escape from the harsh midday sun. So far we haven't done more than wander round the centre but our hosts invited us to eat lunch with them today which consisted of a clam and tomato spaghetti followed by fresh fish and home grown strawberries for dessert, all eaten on the roof terrace with a glass of white wine and an amazing view of the Duomo. We plan to visit Pompeii tomorrow and do a lot more exploring of the city.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Via Oronzio Costa,Naples,Italy

Monday, June 18, 2012

Away

Very early on Saturday morning I got back from 10 days at home in Spain. I took a couple of friends along and apart from the last three days where I was bed ridden with a horrific stomach bug, we had a great time. We also went to Tangier, Morroco, for the day which was exciting. Take a look at Nicola's post here for a detailed account of our schedule and all the exciting beauty products she splurged on!

But I'm not back in London for long. Far too early on Wednesday morning (we're leaving at 3.30am) myself and boyfriend are off to Italy for a month long tour of the diverse and colourful country.

We start our journey in a small coastal resort called Sorrento where we plan to spend most of our time on the beach and generally relaxing.

Then we move up to Naples where we'd like to visit Pompeii from and eat our own body weight in pizza.

On to Rome where we'll spend a lot of time soaking in the culture and visiting the typical tourist spots: The Colosseum, Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica.

After Rome we are staying in Florence for a few days. I have a romantic idea of wandering the streets aimlessly, finding interesting cafes and architecture.

Then a few days in Levanto, a small village on the Italian Riviera. This is another beach spot but close to an area they call Le Cinque Terre (or five villages) where you can walk between each village, enjoying the coastal views as you go.

On to Milan where I plan to SHOP. We've also booked to view Da Vinci's Last Supper which is a must see but other than that there are some great museums and exhibitions on our list.

After Milan we have booked a few days in a tiny, quiet village on Lake Garda. After three weeks of sightseeing and culture we'll be ready for a few days of R&R on the beach.

Finally we're visiting Venice. Apart from the obvious gondola ride and visit to St. Mark's square, our last days in Venice will be spent discovering the canals and sipping cappuccino's till we fly back to London.

Keep an eye on my Instagram and Twitter (both @ginamanderson) for daily updates and photos from our travels!

PS. Click here to "Like" Nicola's entry to edit Elle!

But for now, I will leave you with a few photos from Spain. (All photos taken by myself, Harriet (@Harri_Rose) and Nicola (@NickiShepShep). Some via Instagram)

 The view at El Ocean Beach Hotel


Harriet and myself



The pool area at El Oceano 

Shortly after this photo was taken the camel proceeded to run off with me on it's back. I kid you not... 

...That's why I look a little shaken up in this photo 

View of Spain from Morroco 


Mint tea 



View of Morroco from Spain 

Puerto Banus 


Max Beach 

Play Wright