PARIS, FRANCE

     I went to Paris to celebrate my 16th birthday. Although it was the beginning of September, it was very warm and sunny, just the perfect weather for some sight-seeing!

     The tourist attraction you've got to visit when in Paris is obviously the Eiffel Tower. The view on Paris from the second floor is simply amazing! The white architecture looks magical, a real breath-taking view! Although the queue for the tickets is always very long, it is definitely worth the wait. And if you get hungry, I recommend buying fries from a chippy stand next door. Ticket prices for the Eiffel Tower entrance vary between €7,00 and €11,00.

     The Eiffel Tower looks just as nice at night, when it is all lit up with lights, so make sure to check it out, whilst out on an evening walk ;)

     In a convenient place, right opposite the Eiffel Tower you'll be able to find the Gardens of the Trocadero, which look absolutely stunning! 

     Another place you've got to see is the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile. The Triumphal Arch honours those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary. It's a really nice piece of architecture and a perfect spot for some photos.

     Whether you're making it a family trip or you're a bit of a kid yourself, you should go to the Disneyland Paris Resort and enjoy some rides. I would especially recommend the spaceship ride, which is a roller-coaster with a 360 degrees turn! Be patient though, when visiting Disneyland at peak time, be prepared to wait around 60-80 minutes in a queue for a ride that lasts about 3 mins! The resort is divided into two parks, and there is no way you will be able to go through all the attractions within one day. 

     When the sun goes down, Paris is still alive so don't be afraid to walk down the main streets and visit all the charming restaurants and cafe's. It is especially nice in summer, when you can drink a cocktail outside whilst enjoying the view on the Eiffel Tower.

     If you're short on money and you find Paris accommodations too expensive, try finding a hotel in towns surrounding central Paris. An example of such town is Val d'Europe, which has an easy access to central Paris, as well as is ridiculously close to the Disneyland Resort, so it might be worth looking into.

     Overall, Paris is a place you have to visit at least once in your lifetime! It is very romantic, the architecture is amazing and although it is a bit pricey, you won't regret it ;)

HAMBURG, GERMANY

So break the laws of time, the moments can't rewind...

     I went to Hamburg just for a day, whilst visiting my friends living in Bremen, as those two major cities are not far away from each other. Hamburg is situated on river Elbe in the North of Germany. It is the second largest city in Germany and the thirteenth largest in European Union.

     Hamburg is more of a modern city with many new, tall buildings, however you can still spot the traditional architecture, for example an old train station.

     Next to the river there is a small market (although it might only have been there temporarily for the Christmas period), where you can buy beautiful souvenirs.

     Overall Hamburg is a beautiful city and I would love to go back there again to explore it further as 1 day wasn't enough! If you're looking to travel to Hamburg, make sure you check out the deals on EasyJet, as they usually have good prices from London airports.

CHEDDAR,ENGLAND

AND WE'RE SINGING LOUDER THAN BOMBS CAN FALL!

     I went to Cheddar last weekend for a short camping trip with my uni friends. It is a large village situated in the south-west of England, just 9 miles away from the Welsh border. It was my first ever camping experience, so I didn't know what to expect, but I can honestly say Cheddar was a pleasant surprise.

     We stayed at the Petruth Paddocks camping site, which covers two large fields. It is the perfect place to stay if you DO NOT want to be isolated from the world during your stay. There are multiple drinking water stations, cubical toilets and showers, as well as a 'phone charging' point in reception. The staff is very friendly. A massive advantage of Petruth Paddocks is the allowance of on-site fires, which will keep you warm during cold nights.

     Be ready (I definitely wasn't) for heavy rain, and a leaked tent. Spend that extra time setting the tent up properly to avoid a wet surprise.

     Cheddar reservoir is a perfect place for an evening chill out by the water. It is only about 10 min walk from the village centre. It covers quite a large area, and the sunset view is beautiful.

     A must see when visiting Cheddar is the Cheddar Gorge. The entrance fee for an adult is £18.95, it covers 6 different attractions and is valid for ten years, so don't worry if you're tight on time, you can always come back! You first get a short bus tour around the limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills.

     You then go on to exploring the Cheddar Gorge caves, which were found by Richard Cox Gough in the late 19th century. It is an interesting place to see, full of facts and history. Before entering, ensure you grab an audio set (available in English, French and German), which deeply explains the history.

     Don't forget to get on top of the Lookout Tower. You will first need to climb 274 steps but it is all worth it, as you get a 360 degrees view on Cheddar.

     All the cheese lovers, this is the place where the cheddar cheese was invented! There is a a shop near the Cheddar Gorge where you can try all the different flavours of the cheese and of course purchase it for around £4. Overall I really liked Cheddar, it is a charming village and I wouldn't mind going there again.

MILAN, ITALY

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WORLD!

     I went to Milan at the beginning of this month just for a weekend break with my friends. We stayed at Hilton Garden Inn Milan Malpensa, situated around the airport area. It provided a free shuttle bus to the airport, which came in quite handy, when trying to get to the centre of Milan, as there was a really good train connection from airport's terminal 1.

     Before entering a train in Milan, do not forget to make the ticket valid at a little machine beside a train track, otherwise you might find yourself getting fined. The centre of Milan is not that far away from the train station, it's a walking distance, you do not need to take the underground!

     A must see in the centre of Milan is obviously the famous Vittorio Emanuele II Shopping Centre with shops like Prada, Versace or Louis Vuitton at your doorstep. 

     Inside the gallery there is a picture of a bull on the floor (extremely easy to miss it, so watch out!). Apparently if you step on bulls balls and spin on it 3 times, it will bring you luck ;)

    Duomo di Milano, the Cathedral is situated opposite the shopping centre. It looks absolutely amazing, but be advised that if you want to enter the inside of the cathedral, you will need to be wearing clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. 

    Town Centre is full of weird people, constantly trying to talk to you, sell you selfie sticks or offering to take photos. Be careful not to lose your stuff.

     When in Milan, you need to try an authentic Italian pizza, it tastes delicious!

     You can also try out some Italian beers :)

     Overall Milan is a beautiful city that I would love to visit again, but next time I will go there when all the sales are on, for obvious reasons ;)

LEGNICA, POLAND

NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

     Legnica is a town I was born in and lived for the first ten years of my life, hence why I have a massive sentimentality towards it. It lays upon river Kaczawa in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in southwestern Poland.

     Town Centre is constantly changing, giving Legnica a modern vibe about it. The are three huge shopping centres, where you will be able to find absolutely everything you need, from shops, cafes and restaurants to cinema, children's play area and a hotel.

     There are many monuments around town. The "Herring Houses" are one. These are colourful buildings in the middle of town centre, where fishes used to be sold in the old days.

     House "Under the Quail Basket" is another monument based next to the theatre, that is famous for it's original shape and texture.

     Poland is a very catholic country, and so there are many churches around Legnica, including the cathedral in town centre.

     The monarchy that used to occupy the town left an amazing castle behind. Part of it is now used as a secondary school, however you can purchase a tour around the castle in a group of no less than three Monday to Friday between 10am-4pm.

     If you're looking for a place to eat I recommend the Don Giovani restaurant in the middle of town centre. It offers delicious food and desserts. It has an outside sitting area, a perfect place to chill on a sunny afternoon.

     When deciding where to go before hitting a night club I would advise you to try the "Sky Light- beach on a roof" bar situated on the roof of the Gwarna mall. You can enjoy beer or cocktails whilst sitting on sand surrounded by a beautiful view on Legnica. However, be prepared that the cocktails at a bar are a bit more expensive than in other places.

SIDE, TURKEY

TONIGHT FEELS LIKE THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!

     I went to Side in August 2012 for my last holiday with parents. I had a really good and relaxing two weeks, this is a perfect family holiday destination.

     The temperatures were high, so if you don't like excess heat, do not go to Turkey in the summer months, especially if you're planning on going on excursions, as the further you are from the sea, the more difficult it is to deal with the weather.

     The water in the sea was fabulous, very warm, could have easily spent all days swimming in it. At the same time, it was very salty, which is a good treatment if you suffer from rheumatism.

     I stayed in Crystal Sunrise Queen Luxury Hotel & SPA, a 5* accommodation I recommend to anyone. It is a large hotel with an immediate access to the sea and multiple swimming pools, everyone is able to find their perfect place to spend the lazy sunny days.

     Furthermore, Crystal Sunrise offers its guests a large main restaurant, which serves a buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are different themed dinners everyday, so you can try the cuisines of the world. 

     There are also three a la carte restaurants, which you can book once within your stay free of charge. 

     The hotel offers an all inclusive board basis only, therefore you can drink an unlimited amount of drinks, the alcoholic ones too. The bar tenders working in a many bars on site will serve you some delicious cocktails and mixers made from local brands.

     Don't forget to visit the beautiful Old Town of Side, where you will be able to find charming souvenir shops, as well as boutiques selling leather jackets and bags. For the history fans, there are ruins of the old Colosseum and a library where Julius Caesar used to go on dates with Cleopatra.

  

     Overall I had an amazing time in Turkey and am definitely wanting to visit this country again in future.

BREMEN, GERMANY

I WANT TO PARTY IN BREMEN NIGHT AND DAY!

     

     I went to Bremen at the end of 2013 to visit my friend and to celebrate New Year's Eve with him and his crew. It is a lovely city situated in north-western Germany on Weser River.

     It does not have an U-bahn (underground) however it is very easy to relocate around the city with the normal trains. If you are a student, and you're under the age of 21, you can buy yourself a monthly train ticket for as little as €19.

     Outside the train station you will be able to find a fragment of the Berlin Wall that symbolises the old division. I personally think it is an exciting part of history and of course I had to have a photo next to it.

     The city itself is quite old. Town centre is full of historical buildings. St Peter's Cathedral is one of them. It is a church of beautiful architecture with tall twin towers.

     In the middle of the market square there is a gold 'hole' in the ground. It is very easy to miss this attraction so watch out! When you drop a coin into the hole, voices of the prisoners from old dungeons speak out. It is really cool!

     If you consider yourself to be unlucky, you're in the correct place. Apparently if you touch a donkeys hoof on the statue in town centre, you will get luck. It is worth a try.

     On the outer line of town centre there are a few narrow streets. Their scenery reminds me of Disney movies, it's a magical place to be.

     Whilst visiting Bremen you have to try their local beer- Beck's. Somehow it does taste better to the Beck's sold in UK pubs. You may also like to try beers from other German regions.

     Overall Bremen is a really nice city, it's a shame I only went over there for three days. I had a lot of fun exploring it, and would love to go back there again sometime soon. If you book in advance, you can find cheap flights from London Stansted with Ryanair. I paid £54 return. The airport in Bremen is really small, there is no way you will be able to get lost. I strongly recommend visiting this city for a weekend break away.