Maria's Gaga: 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)