Paradise is hard to find... : #1 Los Jardins Majorelle

The greatest thing about the Garden of Eden and other legendary utopian spots are that they are exceedingly difficult to get to. Whether this is because they don’t actually exist or purely down to geographical adversities, it is this isolation from the rest of ‘us’ that makes them so special.

And so it is with any real paradise. Tropical islands are practically privatised and then priced to exclude the vast majority of people, while affordable destinations are so over-subscribed that most have lost the castaway essence that first attracted us to them – for a prime example look at Thailand, or closer to home, the once desirable Costa Del Crime.

My Erasmus experience: Spain

Fresh from the shores of sunny Spain, my Erasmus year is over, and now I sit and watch as new Erasmus recruits book their flights, battle with RyanAir’s baggage policy and wave goodbye to the English normality they know so well.

For those who are unfamiliar with Erasmus, it is a programme that enables students in Britain to travel to different countries in Europe in order to enhance their language skills by fully immersing themselves in the culture of the country itself. By providing information and most importantly funding, thousands of students every year can afford to go and live in their chosen country and come back fluent and changed.

Gap Years: Australia

Down under; If Australia is ‘down under’ that would make us in England ‘up over’ surely? Procrastinating aside, I speak from experience when I say it is one of the most amazing places on our planet.

Three years ago I embarked on an elaborate 8 month round-the-world trip with a small budget, big expectations and a heavy bag. My trip started in Hong Kong and from there I worked my way through China, Hainan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and after 4 months I ended up in Australia. Originally I had only planned to be in Australia for 3 months then fly briefly to New Zealand and home via America. But something struck me when I was there; the people, the place, the difference in lifestyle, and I instantly fell in love with Oz.

My Home City: Newcastle

My home city…

It’s true that you never really appreciate your home town until you leave it. For me, growing up in Newcastle meant travelling to school and back in my mam’s car and, on weekends, taking the number 40 bus to Primark. When someone said Newcastle, it meant NUFC.

            Only upon moving to Yorkshire and being relied upon to shed light on the amazing night life and experience of living in such a great city, did I realise I had little to tell. I’d probably have been to four
  or five different bars. I didn’t even know where the big clubs were. How was it that all these people knew about my city and I had been walking around blindfolded for eighteen years? I was embarrassed. It was clear I needed to go home and delve into some Geordie culture. Returning back from my tour of home, I aim to shed light on the amazing night life and experience of living in such a great city with a list of the top ten things to do in Newcastle.

Pamering: Spa Break

After the busy Christmas period, I often find myself in desperate need of relaxation and rejuvenation, but with a drained bank account, a pampered spa break can seem out of reach. Nothing puts me off more than the idea of spending over £100 for a day trip, but with the emerging multitude of spas around the country offering luxurious experiences, there has been a growth of e-tailors offering discount prices. Websites such as lastminute.com and booking.com are excellent for providing independent guides to the best experiences and not only can you buy vouchers for spa breaks, but you can book online. Recently, I took the opportunity to use lastminute.com and found a list of reasonably priced deals and 2-for-1 offers. It didn’t take long to come across an apt experience that wasn’t too far away and with 60% off, it was hard to resist.

York: Winter City

Last weekend I escaped the hustle and bustle of Sheffield and engaged in some Christmas shopping that differed substantially, from the annual trek around Meadowhall (meadowhell). I was taken on a surprise trip, courtesy of my boyfriend, to the historic city of York. On first impression the city reminded me of Chester, with the exception that York is on an undoubtedly larger scale. However, despite only scratching the surface of York’s unique character over the two days I stayed there, I can assure you that this is a city that cannot be compared to any other