#the city centre then pay for a train ticket then get from the station to the beach then all the way back again.

[immortalsins]

ough the way my friend in my house was insisting that it's best to go to a beach in another city along the coast (to celebrate another friend's birthday) but five of us could go in her car and one would have to take the (expensive, long) train alone (with beach stuff), instead of just going to the smaller but closer beach that we can all get to on the bus together. she stood there and said 'we'll get to the beach quicker in my car than all on the bus' ok five of us will. and the other will not. but that doesn't matter to her

[travelguideneko]

Japan

Literally the land of the rising sun with more than 125 million inhabitants, it is a constitutional monarchy (empire) headed by the current Emperor Naruhito (currently as of 2024). Its territory is spread over an archipelago of 14,125 islands. The largest are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushú. The country is divided into 8 regions with 47 prefectures.

The capital is Tokyo with less than 14 million inhabitants, the flag is a white field with a red circle symbolizing the rising sun, the emblem and seal is a golden chrysanthemum flower. One of the well-known symbols of Japan is Mount Fuji.

Visa - if you only fly for 90 days, you don’t want to work or invest in Japan, you don’t need one, you just get a stamp with a sakura flower in your passport, where the last day you can be in the country is marked.

Declaration tickets - already on the plane you will receive 2 tickets, which you must fill out truthfully according to where you will be, whether you are smuggling/transporting something, when and on which flight you are leaving Japan, etc. One stays in your passport, the other one goes to the police.

Vaccination - vaccination against jaundice type A and B is recommended, covid measures or vaccination are no longer mandatory, you do not need to present vaccination certificates.

Religion - Shintoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Shinto sects

Purification and worship - before entering temples, you need to cleanse yourself of bad influences. The options are smoke or water, depending on who owns which temple of the deities. If it’s water, then take the ladle with your right hand and pour some water on your left hand to rinse it. Then take the ladle with your left hand and do the same with your right hand. Then take the ladle again with your right hand and pour water into your left palm and rinse your mouth with it. Tilt the rest of the water from the ladle so that the water starts to run down the handle and thus cleans itself. How to pray in the temple - make a slight bow, make a sacrifice in the form of coins, if there is a temple gong, ring it firmly several times. Clasp your hands together and pray quietly. When you have finished praying, bow once.

Currency - in Japan it is the so-called Japanese yen, in 2024 banknotes in the face value of 1000, 5000 and 10000 yen have undergone a change, only the 2000 yen banknotes remain old. The new banknotes have a watermark in the centre and a new 3D hologram in the lower corner. The one-thousand-yen banknote now features microbiologist Shibusawa Eiichi, who is credited with the discovery of the diphtheria vaccine. At 5,000 we can find Tsuda Umeko, an educator and fighter for women’s rights in Japan, and the last is the father of modern capitalism, Kitasato Shibasaburo. Coins come in 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen. 1000 of Japanese yens are equal to 6,3€.

Transport - the capital has 2 airports, Haneda is about 20 km from the center, the second Narita is further from the center, about 80 km, so the journey can take you up to 45 minutes. At the stations, there are well-known shinkansen high-speed trains and under the city there is a very intricate metro network, which Prague is definitely not inferior to. For transport in the metro, I recommend a 3-day ticket for 1500 yen per person. Another option is taxis, most often S-Ride or Go Taxi. If you catch a taxi on the street, the starting tax is 500 yen, if it arrives on call or via the app, you pay 1000 yen immediately. All cars have electronic door opening, so the driver closes and opens the doors, don’t touch anything!

Driver's license - if you want to rent a car in Japan, you must get an international driving license in your country in advance and you must have both with you!

Wipes and towels - in every business or even plane, you will get a wet wipe or hot towel to wipe your hands before each meal.

Toilets - a complicated-looking matter, but basically simple. The most needed is the Flush, which some toilets can handle for you when they evaluate that you are taking your time, sometimes they are partial and complete. Close the toilet before flushing, after flushing they will either open by themselves or you have to use your hand to open it the old way. Another button shows a red doll, where the toilet washes the front parts and then two blue figures indicate weak and strong washing of the rear parts. Not that there is no toilet paper in Japan… It is, but 1-2 layers, which is very thin for us.

Receipts - every dealer, institution or even taxi will give you a receipt and it is very strange for them if you do not want them.

Cash and card - it is good to have some cash, even in such a developed country not everyone accepts cards. And even for us, paying by mobile phone or watch is a big complication. For 99% of the time, you have to insert the card into the terminal.

English - arm yourself with patience, many people do not speak English, do not like to learn it and mostly use a translator on their mobile phone for translation.

Mobile data - it is recommended to have access to it, but Czech data is expensive and therefore it is a good idea to get a local SIM card. Nowadays either physical or e-sim. It is possible to buy it in electronic store networks (Bit Camera or Yodobashi Camera), at the airport or in our case within 6 minutes of acquiring an e-SIM card via Revolut.

Waste bins - in Europe in most countries at every step, but be careful here. You usually won’t find a bin outside, they are in buildings, if you manage to find something, they are recycling boxes for plastic and aluminum. Some drinks are in recycled aluminum bottles. The boxes are as beige as the drink vending machines, so you often don’t even notice them.

Drink vending machines - are almost everywhere and on the selected floor of the hotel. Often, however, only for coins, if they are extra advanced, then you pay by card after inserting it into the reader.

Air conditions - absolutely all places are overcooled ~ banks, airplanes, bars, museums…

Waiting for a place in a restaurant - at many establishments there is a queue even before opening, but even during ‘fliud’ operation you can find people waiting for a seat on the chairs in front of the establishment.

Coffee? - if you really love coffee, don’t try it. Japan is for sure land of tea. The taste is lost in the iced one.

Closing time of shops and other businesses - pastry shops close between 5 and 6 p.m., regular shops at 7 p.m., global brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton mostly between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., restaurants between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. But there are also exceptions…

Sockets - in Japan you can find type A and B, so it is a good idea to buy an adapter for your device (mobile phone, laptop, watch) in advance…

[mygainyear2024]

Day 13 And, I got on the wrong train 🥴

Today I organised a trip to Loulé by train to visit the Saturday artisan and fresh produce markets and, after googling what to do there, I decided to book myself into wine tasting at Quinta da Tôr.

The trains aren’t that frequent between villages and there was no local bus connection from the train station to the markets / old city.  The only bus was at 8pm!  I decided not to walk the 6.8kms as the guy in the office said it was just industrial!  

Luckily Bolt and Uber are both cheap here as I knew I’d need them to get to the Quinta (pronounced kinta, the Bolt driver told me the ‘u’ is silent).

The markets were much busier and bigger than the ones in Lagos.  Sadly the coffee roaster was closed for holidays! Many businesses do this before heading into peak season.

Google did steer me to the Folhado de Loulé (more pastry with custard in the centre) at Café Calcinha.  I got talking to the couple beside me who were originally from Amsterdam.  They told me a familiar story, much cheaper to live in Portugal and they said Amsterdam is not the same anymore “there’s Chinese names on every street now” (their words!) They did tell me golf is super expensive in the Algarve though, minimum €250 to play for the day plus lunch and drinks etc! 

I wandered around with no plan, saw people swarming at the honey stand so purchased some, perfect for a batch of granola I need to make.  

I stumbled into a fabulous art gallery.  Marilyn was fantastico, but at €50,000 she had to stay on the wall!  The shop assistant recommended sushi for lunch which I jumped at, it was €11.90 for all I could eat!

A bolt ride up to the Quinta for a tour of the vineyard and wine tasting with bread and their own olive oil.  The owners wanted to buy the land earlier than they did.  The owner wasn’t interested at the time, the land had been in his family since 1500! Then in 2011, out of the blue, the owner made contact and said he would sell but funds had to be paid the next day!

I thought the tour was very informative including little facts like the reason for the human made dirt mound around the winehouse (“adega”), to keep the building cooler in the heat. I also liked the little experiments they are doing, eg using American oak and seeing the labelling on their French oak barrels. There was mention of using egg whites to clean out the 600-1000 litre vats and this is why they cannot claim their wine is vegan! Everything is manual, including the labelling and the imprinting of any stamps they receive for medals on each label.  And the bottles I bought were only €8 and €6! The €6 bottle is an after dinner / dessert cab sav which was a mistake.  They are not sure why it ended up so sweet and when they tried to replicate it, they couldn’t! With limited bottles left and the cute label I couldn’t resist.  Amuado means sulky, a metaphor to what they imagine the wine decided to do in the vat!  The tasting and tour were €14 (depending on the wine varieties sampled) and if I wanted to I could have used the pool.  It was a lovely 3 hours.  

With the cheaper option of an Uber back to the station I made it in heaps of time.  I asked what platform, jumped on the train at the departure time, thought oh cool this is a newer train with wifi and settled in to researching my next holiday to Vietnam and then heard “last stop Faro”.  Ummmm, Faro is the wrong way! I got off with everyone else, then asked a passenger "where is this training going?", his response "Lisbon". I'm glad I got off when I did!

🤷‍♀️ I have no idea what happened, other than I got on the wrong train.  With a 90 minute wait for the next train I poked around the train station and then got back in enough time to double check I was on the right platform, on the right train! I managed to avoid having to pay again, I smiled at the ticket guy, did a Boris Johnson, laughed about how I ended up in Faro instead of Portimaõ (silly me!). I ended up back in Loulé 2 hours after I left it the first time! Yep, the trains aren’t very frequent.  Time to be bold and organise a hire car 😂

I ended up eating dinner (and opened a new bottle of wine) at a European hour!

[centralparkcollection]

How far is Paddington from London city centre?

How far is Paddington Station from the London city centre? If you are choosing where to stay in London, you will need to understand how long it will take to get around the city. The last thing you want to do is spend half of your holiday riding the Tube! Fortunately, the centrally located hotels near Paddington Station spare you from winding up in such a situation. 

How far is Paddington from the London city centre?

London’s city centre is generally defined by the City of Westminster borough. In fact, this borough includes the neighbourhood of Paddington. Therefore, when you choose a hotel such as the Royal Eagle Hotel, London, you are already in the centre.

However, let’s look at some key neighbourhoods in Central London and how close they are to Paddington.

Distance from Paddington to Little Venice: 0.7 miles

Distance from Paddington to Notting Hill: 1 mile

Distance from Paddington to Soho: 2 miles

Distance from Paddington to Buckingham Palace: 2 miles 

Distance from Paddington to Covent Garden: 2.5 miles

Distance from Paddington to King’s Cross: 2.5 miles

Distance from Paddington to Big Ben: 3 miles

Distance from Paddington to South Bank: 3.5 miles 

Distance from Paddington to the City of London: 4 miles 

How to get around from hotels near Paddington Station

Paddington Station is one of the city’s major mainline rail stations. Fast, regular trains link to Heathrow Airport while the Underground is served by the Bakerloo, Hammersmith & City, Circle, and District lines.

All you need to do is pick up an Oyster card to pay for your journeys. Alternatively, a contactless credit or debit card gives you the same fares. 

As an alternative, you can take a bus from outside the station. Bus services connect the station to such landmarks as the British Library, Tate Britain, Oxford Circus, Portobello Road Market, and Kensington High Street. 

In fact, you can even walk to several nearby attractions.

Things to do near Paddington 

There are so many attractions in and around Paddington. Here are some of the best things to do while staying at hotels near Paddington Station.

Wander the canals of Little Venice – perfect for honeymooners

Go for a morning jog in Hyde Park – or hire a bicycle or pedal boat 

Photograph the Italian Gardens – a true hidden gem

Catch sunset at Primrose Hill – recommended for couples 

Follow the Paddington Bear Paw Print Trail – great with kids

Tour the Sherlock Holmes Museum – no need to read the books first

Take selfies with the waxworks at Madame Tussauds – book tickets in advance to avoid the queues 

Visit Kensington Palace – great for families

Where to stay near Paddington 

In terms of where to stay near Paddington, look no further than the Royal Eagle Hotel, London. This Victorian-era property is furnished with modern rooms that accommodate couples, families, and business travellers alike. All units have a private bathroom and complimentary Wi-Fi. 

Friendly staff are available to provide tailored recommendations for what to do and where to eat while staying at hotels near Paddington Station.

[wandereraway]

Launch Site of the Titanic

33 Clarendon Dock, Queens Island, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 54.6107, -5.9086

A museum marks and documents the site of the Titanic's launch.

HOW DO YOU MARK AND memorialize the site of a tragedy that technically sits more than two and a half miles under water?

The tragedy of the Titanic sent pangs of shock and grief through citizens all over the world. Comparable tragedies all have an intensely personal memorial site where people can visit hallowed ground and commune with their emotions about the event - Ground Zero in New York City, Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, and Hiroshima Park in Japan - but the site of the Titanic is unreachable by the vast majority of humanity.

The organizers of the Titanic Belfast museum in Northern Ireland believe that they have the best possible solution. An elaborate building and museum built next to the slipways where Titanic was built showcases the Titanic story from her early beginnings to her tragic end.

Poignant and moving, standing at the site of the joyous send-off of a doomed ship is an affecting way to pay respect to the tragedy. Looking to the sea on a sunny day, one can imagine the emotions evoked among the engineers and workers who toiled for months to construct her, as they watched famous ship shrink into the horizon, wondering when they might, if ever, see it again.

Anyone with an interest in maritime history or the Titanic story should visit this incredibly special part of Belfast; Queen’s Island has a lot to offer other than the slipways and museum.

The slipways themselves outside of the museum are open to the public without charge, so you can walk in the outline of the great ship and marvel at the memorials in the area without paying a penny.

Know Before You Go

There are a number of activities on offer around the Queen's Island besides the Slipways and the Museum. Not to be missed is the SS Nomadic, (Titanic's Tender ship), and the Thompson Dry Dock and Pump House where Titanic was outfitted. If visiting the Titanic Belfast Exhibition, it is recommended to book tickets online in high season, and move through the self-service ticketing stations to save time getting into the galleries. Early morning visits mean the galleries are less crowded and easier to traverse. Getting to the Titanic Quarter is easy, as following the River Lagan out towards past the Odyssey Pavillion is a 15 minute walk from the city centre. The huge, pointed silver building is prominent on the skyline, as are the Harland and Wolff cranes which share the island. The train stop of Titanic Quarter is a short distance from the building and Slipways, and is accessible from the Central or Grand Victoria stations in Belfast via the Portadown/Bangor train route.

via Atlas Obscura

Send me some gas money!

[implexedactions]

Do Not Fight Back - Yandere Purge AU

Hey! So this was part of a server wide event I did with other members of Lovesick! They’re all super amazing and you should DEF check out the others who took part! This is inspired by the yandere purge AU created by @yanderemommabean (we have permission to use the AU). Read the linked post to find out more, but to cut things short. Yandere’s are legally free to capture their darlings, and it lasts from 6pm to 6am!

Beta’d by the best person ever: @drxwsyni

This contain YANDERE CONTENT!!!

---

It’s yandere purge night and you’re accidentally outside when it starts. It would be a shame if a certain flame hero was watching...

--- Your job ran late today, because of course it fucking did. It was yandere purge night, not that your boss seemed all that concerned. Although, from the look on his face…well, best not think about that. He probably wasn’t after you, hopefully. You walked down the urban street, past the closed shops and locked buildings. You glanced towards the sunset, the sun's orange glow disappearing over the horizon. Wait, what? It wasn’t THAT late, right? Sure, work ran late, but you finished at 5 PM, not 6 PM?

You opened your phone, you had…a minute before the sirens…fuck.

You dashed into an alley, crouching next to a vending machine, it wasn’t ideal, but staying out there could mean certain death. You’re an idiot for even letting this happen to you. You’re NEVER meant to remain outside during tonight. A yandere could kill you if they even THINK you’re trying to interfere. You rummage through your pockets...nothing except a phone and some loose coins.

The sirens ring throughout the city

No weapon, no quirk, no safety, no chance. You hold your head in your hands, freaking out. No one would think of helping you, you could be a yandere trying to get at them. Your best bet is to stay here until it is over, potentially using the vending machine for dinner.

Your phone buzzes.

---6:01PM---

[HellFire]: Hello.

[HellFire]: You do not know who I am, but I have been keeping my eye on you for a long time.

[You]: Oh god…please don’t say you’re after me…

[HellFire]: I propose a hunt.

[HellFire]: I catch you, the obvious happens.

[HellFire]: You evade me for the next 12 hours? You go free.

[HellFire]: The rules? Always keep your phone on you and online, I will be sending messages. Respond to my messages, or you will pay dearly. Do not worry about other people, if they try to hurt you, I will burn them to ash. If I catch you, no fighting back. Break any of the rules, and there will be hell to pay.

[You]: What?! Can I at least ask some questions? Is my phone bugged? Do you know where I am now? Can I hide or do I have to keep running? Why me?

[HellFire]: Mind, I do not expect you to win. I am the number one hero for a reason.

[HellFire]: The hunt begins. Do try to have fun tonight, my dear.  

…Endeavor?! Enji Todoroki, the number one hero, was after you?! You’d be flattered if you weren’t shaking with fear. You try to take some deep breaths.

---6:03PM---

[HellFire]: I would run, my darling… I doubt hiding behind a vending machine will do you any favours….

[You]: How do you know my location already?!

You run out of the alley; the street illuminated poorly by streetlights. Enji knew where you were, specifically that you were behind a vending machine. He’s either got cameras, or he was right in your line of sight. You sprint down the street, most people aren’t stupid enough to be out, and you give most yanderes a wide berth. You see one with a darling, you force your eyes away and continue to run.

Your lungs are burning, exercise isn’t your strong point, and one can’t operate on adrenaline alone.

---6:09PM---

[HellFire]: Tired already? I did not realise you were so weak…such a pity, I expected a fight from you…

[You]: No one expects to be running down a street from a goddamn villain?!

[HellFire]: …disrespect?

[HellFire]: Unacceptable.

As you’re running, a car behind you blows up, fire scattering onto the street. You still can’t see him.

You notice a mall still open. None of the shops would be in business, but the area might provide a suitable hiding place. You run into it, sliding doors opening to let you into the air-conditioned space. You steal a glance behind you, no one visible on the street or rooftops.

---6:11PM---

[HellFire]: A shopping centre? I hope you do not expect a gaudy fountain to save you.

[You]: Fuck you, honestly.

[HellFire]: That is quite a bold statement for someone in your position.

[HellFire]: Most criminals at this point are kissing my boots, begging for mercy, and yet, you show defiance. Breaking you should be fun.

You run down a corridor, reaching an entirely empty circular food court. Fast food shops line the walls, with two, opposite facing exits to the area, both leading onto streets. Silence is abundant as you run through, dodging chairs and tables, desperate to make it to the other side.

The sound of an electronic sliding door reaches your ears. Panicking, you dive over a business’s countertop, hiding behind it as you try not to breathe too loudly. You hastily switch your notifications off, so him texting you won’t reveal your location.

---6:15PM---

[HellFire]: You know something I learnt from my job?

[You]: What?

[HellFire]: Someone can know they are being hunted, but not know they are already trapped. The villains are overburdened by fear and hope, of both capture and escape. They desperately reach their hands out to touch a goal you know is impossible to reach.

[HellFire]: That feeling… of knowing their entire future is at my mercy…

[HellFire]: is sublime.

[HellFire]: …

[HellFire]: Say, how are you finding that uncomfortable food stall floor?

“Hello, darling…”

“No! Get away from me!”

You bound over the counter, avoiding his hands, and desperately try to reach the exit. You turn around, and he is just…standing there. Looking at you. With a smirking grin on his face. He’s wearing his hero suit, flames dancing up his body. He loves this, he likes thinking you’re some object to be captured. You run out onto the street, cold night air hitting you in the face, the sun has entirely disappeared now, all traces of it gone.

Where the hell can you go that you’ll be safe?! It hasn’t even been 30 minutes of this torture; you’ve got so much time left! Panting, you notice he has exited the building too, but he just stands there, looking at you, grin adorning his face. You spot a train station.

You run towards the train station and don’t look back. You jump the ticket gate, feeling that your life matters more than a civic duty. You run up the stairs onto the platform. The trains won’t be running, but maybe you can run along the tracks if it comes down to it? As you try to catch your breath, you realise something…you turned your phone notifications off in the mall, which means he could be messaging you, and you wouldn’t know.

Scrambling you pull out your phone.

---6:22---

[HellFire]: If I were you, I would not take another step towards that train station.

[HellFire]:  ...?

[HellFire]: Oh, are you not checking your messages now?

[HellFire]: I warned you, remember that…

---6:30---

[You]: I’m sorry! I swear, I didn’t mean to ignore it! It was my phone

[HellFire]: I can not believe what I just saw.

[HellFire]: You leapt over that gate like a common criminal.

[HellFire]: So, now I have to punish you for multiple reasons. You ignored so many rules…

[You]: I didn’t mean to, I swear! I’m sorry! Please don’t hurt me!

[HellFire]: You fought back when you were captured.

[You]: It wasn’t fighting back?! It was escaping, capture would be grabbing me.

[HellFire]: You didn’t check your messages.

[You]: Like I said, my phone was off, it was an accident!

[HellFire]: You IGNORED my commands.

[You]: My phone was off! I didn’t KNOW there were commands!

[HellFire]: You broke the law.

[You]: I was going to go back and pay the $1.50 tomorrow!

[HellFire]: And we are only 30 minutes into this hunt.

[HellFire]: Tell me, darling.

[HellFire]: Did you really think you could outrun me?

[HellFire]: The top hero?

[HellFire]: I knew you were not the smartest person, considering, well, everything about you.

[HellFire]: But this really takes the cake.

[You]: Oh, honestly, fuck you. Why do you even WANT me?! We’ve NEVER met!

 [HellFire]: …you’re quite disrespectful…

[HellFire]: I will have to fix that.

“Face me.”

You whip around to see him staring at you, sadistic grin adorning his face. You turn to run, but his large hands grab your arms, holding you in place. He picks you up and turns you around, so you’re facing him. His hands are noticeably warmer than they should be.

“There. Captured enough for you?” He says with a smirk.

“Please! Just let me go!” You shout, struggling against his arms fruitlessly. You scream and kick, managing to bring a foot against his knee. He noticeably winces.

“I warned you about fighting back, you insolent brat!” His face steels as his hands become warmer. You can now feel his breath down your face as your squirm, desperate to escape the burning hands and singing clothes.

“I…I…Why me?!” Tears start to fall down your face as you realise this might be your fate.

“Because you shouldn’t be anyone else’s. Do you recall that train villain? Such a stupid villain, but I digress. I saw you try to help people, helping people off the train when it arrived at the station and calming that little kid. It was so…kind, so generous. You were a true hero. I need that in my life, so you are mine.” He at least has the decency to not look you directly in the eyes. His hands cooled down a bit while he was speaking. He seems somewhat ashamed by what he’s done.

Somewhat.

“You could’ve just approached me! Hell, I’m not going to turn down a meeting with the number one hero?! You’re a fucking idiot!”

“Attacking someone while they are vulnerable is usually considered bad form, brat. But I see you have no qualms attacking me.” His palms heat up again, but he seems to have a looser grip on you. Maybe if you…

“I’m sorry, okay? This is just a lot to take in. I…I do admire you, as a hero y’know? I always considered you so calming. You made the city feel so much s-safer, you made ME feel safer.” You look him in the eyes, trying to act as small and gentle as possible. His warm breath washes over your body as he seems to re-examine you. Just a little bit further and…

You bring your knee into his lungs as he is breathing in, winding him. He drops you and you turn on your heel and jump onto the train tracks, running off down the tracks.

He shouts after you.

“Bad idea brat! You want to be punished? Fine then!”

You stare ahead, no trains seem to be running, so you won’t have to make a choice between death and getting run over by a train. You follow the train tracks until you reach a tunnel. You turn around and see him merely walking menacingly toward you, not even running. He has such an angry look on his face, flame beard shooting out in rage. The fire touches a signal box, and it melts to the ground almost instantly. Yeah, no, you aren’t dealing with that. You turn and run inside the tunnel, desperate to escape him. You hear a roar from behind you as fire shoots past your head, hitting the cylindrical wall and dissipating.

“I missed on purpose, stop at once! I will not hesitate you ungrateful bitch!”

You stop and turn around to face him, tremors running through your body.

“Stop approaching me, please?! Can’t we just talk?!” You say shuffling back with each step he takes towards you.

He raises an eyebrow, and astonishingly, he stops, about 8 paces away.

“Fine.”

“I…please, just let me go! I don’t want this!” you say, tears running down your face.

“And why would I care what YOU want, bitch?”

“Because y-you love me o-or ..desire me or something?!”

“Pfft. Maybe, but you know how this works by now.” He takes a step forward, you stand still. His flames cast flickering shadows against the tunnel walls.

“I’m sure you have co-workers, family, friends, who disappeared never to be seen again, OR have a pet of their own.” He takes a step forward, you stand still. His feet leave the rocks red hot.

“You know you cannot escape me. It has not even been an hour.” He steps forward, you stand still. You can feel his heat now.

“Do you expect to run all over the city, making daring escapes and just barely being able to stay out of my grasp for 12 hours? To evade capture from the number one hero?” He steps forward, you stand still. His flames die down, but your body feels like it’s overheating.

“You woke up at 5:12 AM today and had a shift from 7 AM to 5:45 PM. You are not going to be able to keep up this adrenaline and energy til 6AM tomorrow. Being awake for 24 hours is not an easy feat, my dear.“ He steps forward, you stand still. Your tears on your face start to evaporate.

“Oh, do remind me to thank your boss for keeping you late. Money does wonders to people's sense of ethics.” He steps forward, you stand still. He chuckles quietly at the situation and examines your body.

“You cannot escape me, you have no quirk, no talents, no skills. This is not a fair fight because it is not a fight, my dear. It is a hunt, and you seem to have this silly notion that the fox can escape the hound.” He steps forward, you stand still. His hand reaches out to grab your arm, and you do nothing to stop it.

“Advice for your new life, when I give a command, my dear, it helps to oblige. So, hear me when I say: Do. Not. Fight. Back.”

You do not fight back.  

[forabeatofadrum]

l'amor che move (il sole e l'altre stelle) - chapter 7

Notes: Aaaah I am so excited. The next two chapters will be their Milan trip! 

I do have to start with a little disclaimer for this chapter, but also for later chapters: I have never been to Milan myself, so the entire trip is based on information from websites and Google Maps, including the places they visit. Of course, the most touristy places aren’t that difficult, but there will be names of restaurants, bars, shops, etc. that I cannot recommend or endorse and I also cannot guarantee that they existed at that place back in 2016. I picked most of them at random. Some places on Google Maps were marked as ‘LGBT friendly’, which also made me choose them. Basically, just keep in mind that I’ve never been there myself!

AO3

--

SIMON

We don’t go to Milano for another week. It’s still tourist season and I am the best tour guide around, so I like to do my work.

But eventually we go. I drive the both of us. Baz told me that he’s fine with taking a train, but I don’t think I can put him through that.

I’m not expecting much and Baz knows that. I may have given him a tough act to follow with my tour of Vittoriale degli Italiani. Baz sounded a little bit embarrassed when he told me that he’s chosen some touristy parts of the city, but I told him that I don’t mind. This date is for the both of us and if Baz wants to see Milano, then he gets to see Milano.

Of course I’ve been to Milano before, but it’s been a while so I don’t mind seeing all those spots again. Interestingly enough, he is not interested in any of the churches, including the Duomo Santa Maria Nascente, which is seen as a must-see. Yes, Baz probably doesn’t like the church.

I mean, I’m not religious either, but the catholic church goes off on the stained glass. I can appreciate the aesthetics and some of the most gorgeous churches are in Milano. I don’t question Baz. Maybe the whole faith thing is a story for another day.

We drive to the centre and we pass Piazza Loreto.

“Mussolini’s corpse was displayed here,” I say. Baz immediately looks out of the window. “Yeah, that’s a fascist fact for you. I know how much you love that.”

“Ah yes, fascism. My favourite,” Baz deadpans and I laugh.

(Is it appropriate to joke about this? The fascist time period of Italy was horrible and a lot of people suffered.) (Well, Baz and I both understand that we are interested for historical reasons, not for ideological reasons.)

“He tried to flee to Switzerland with his mistress, but he got ambushed. He got executed outside of Milano, but they brought his body and the bodies of his travel party to his place. The crowd went mad with hatred. They eventually hung the bodies from a gas station to de-escalate the situation.”

Baz is still looking around the piazza, but the light turns green and we continue.

We drive on the Corso Venezia until we hit parking. Baz insists on paying for the parking ticket, but he also doesn’t want me to follow him. It’s a bit weird, but I don’t mind. Parking near the centre of Milano is expensive.

“Benvenuto a Milano!” I say when we get out of the dank parking lot.

Baz takes it all in. He’s finally in the fashion hub of Italy. He’s even dressed up for it. (Or for me.)

We take our time. The city is overwhelming, especially for Baz. The parking lot isn’t situated in the most gorgeous part of town – in fact, some buildings are concrete bricks -  but the scope of Milano is insane.

“We can immediately have lunch at McDonald’s.”

“Don’t you dare, Snow.”

Our welcome to Milano gets even worse when a robbery happens. Baz pushes me inside another shop, but it’s a failed robbery and people continue as if nothing’s happened. That’s a big city for you.

We only have to walk to the end of the street to be greeted with the Milano everyone wants to see. The Piazza del Duomo is one of the most well-known places, due to its location close to the Duomo, and if I thought that Baz looked overwhelmed before, he looks absolutely mesmerised now.

We are not going inside the Duomo, but the exterior alone is wonderful. Baz takes a lot of pictures. Maybe he only appreciates the outside architecture of churches?

“Tell me about the city, Snow,” he says as he snaps another photo.

“I am not a tour guide for Milano,” I point out.

“Tell me what you know, then.”

I think Baz just wants to hear me talk. He gets a real kick out of me being a tour guide.

“Uh,” I try to think about the first random fact that I can think of, “In the 13th century, Milano got off relatively easy during the plague. They walled up the houses of the infected to prevent the disease from spreading.”

Baz lets out a loud laugh. Some other tourists give him a nasty look, but Baz is completely unbothered by it.

“That’s certainly one way to fight a pandemic,” he says.

Then, he takes me to one of the places that he wanted to see very badly: the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II. It’s one of the best and most lavish places to shop, together with Quadrilatero d'Oro, but the Galleria is also absolutely beautiful.

Maybe I should branch out to places like Milano. Not knowing the history drives me mad.

I tell Baz.

“Well, I came prepared,” he says with a smirk. I look surprised. “Snow, this day is my time to guide you. It’s the second date and all my knowledge might come from Wikipedia, but it’s something.”

To my surprise, Baz doesn’t go window shopping. Instead, he grabs my hand and he takes me to the dome, or the octogen, where the four main hallways intersect.

“There’s this interesting mosaic of a family’s crest, but that’s not why we’re here. The image of a bull is put on the flooring and if you turn around three times on the bull’s testicle, it will give you good fortune.”

I vaguely recall a story like that.

Which means it’s popular. I am proven right immediately. I didn’t expect it to be quiet, since this is Milano after all, but all these people are here to take a turn on the bull’s balls.

I don’t mind the crowds. I mean, I am a tour guide. It’s my job to be in a crowd of people, mostly tourists, although I can’t imagine living in a big city like Milano. But being around other people feels great. Sometimes I can even feel something, like the feeling of touching grass, or an electrical bolt or the smell of firewood.

“Whilst we wait for the balls to be free, I actually have some more facts,” Baz says and he waves his phone. Wikipedia is open. “The bull represents Turin. The other mosaics represent other cities, namely Florence, Rome and of course Milan.”

I also vaguely knew about this, but I don’t have the heart to tell him. Also, listening to someone read a Wikipedia page shouldn’t be this nice.

“The mosaics on the arches represent Europe, Asia, America and Africa,” Baz reads. I look over his shoulder on his phone and he’s moved to a different website. “The Galleria was renovated a lot last year in lieu of the Milan Expo of 2015. Oh, Snow, there’s a lift that can take us to the roof! Screw the bull’s balls, I want to do that.”

“Tickets cost 12 euros,” I read on his phone, “Let’s see if there are any tickets left.”

“If not, I’ll arrange it,” Baz grumbles. I don’t think he expected me to hear it, since it’s a ridiculous thing to say, as if Baz can make tickets appear out of thin air.

There are tickets left and we take the lift to the roof. The interior is definitely better than the exterior on the roof, but it gives us a nice view on the city. There’s also a small museum about the history of Milano and the construction of the Galleria. Baz pockets his phone, since he doesn’t need to look up information.

He can’t keep away from his phone though, because after we finish the museum, he takes out his phone to make photos of the view.

“Snow, selfie!” he exclaims happily, “We have a picture from the fascist shrine, so we definitely need one of Milan as well.”

We pose for pictures. Some are more serious whereas others have silly faces. I kiss Baz’s cheek for one of them and I wonder if it’s too much, but he kisses me on the mouth for the next one. We walk on the roof, but then we take the lift back down. We leave the Galleria to go to the Piazza della Scala.

The monument for Leonardo da Vinci is an eyecatcher.

Honestly, everything at the Piazza della Scala is an eyecatcher.

Baz is on his phone again.

“Luca Beltrami is the architect who created most of these buildings,” he says. He’s on Wikipedia again. You’d think that I am annoyed by him being on his phone during a date, but I like how much he wants to be the tour guide for a day, even if he has to use a cheat sheet. “Oh, this piazza is relatively new. I mean, compared to other parts of the city.”

We don’t go inside the Teatro alla Scala. Maybe one day, but the opera is posh. I am not the most posh person, but Baz is. We don’t stay long, since we’re not actually going inside any of these buildings.

The next thing I know, we’re at the Quadrilatero d'Oro, the Golden Square, after all. It’s also called the Quadrilatero della Moda, the Fashion Square, since many of the most expensive fashion brands can be found here.

I’m not going to buy anything here. I never buy anything that expensive. Baz is probably rich. I’ve never asked him, since that is kind of an uncomfortable thing to ask. Like, am I supposed to say “So, what about your finances?” on a second date? But he and Agatha did spend a lot of money in that leather shop, and he lives on the biggest street of the city centre, so those are giveaways.

Maybe I can manage to take him to Toscana one day. It’s a couple of hours away, but I hear that they have some nice outlets there. I’ve never been, but my mum has. It’s too soon to plan a vacation with Baz. This is only our second date.

Rich or not, the price tags also scare Baz off.

“Well, a boy can dream,” Baz says as he longingly stares at the clothes on display.

We leave the Quadrilatero d'Oro empty-handed to take a break in the nearby park, the Giardini Indro Montanelli. There is a small place to eat called the Bar Bianco. We sit in the grass, leaning against each other, and Baz reads out loud from the website of the Commune di Milano.

Really, listening to someone reading history facts shouldn’t make me feel this way, but it does.

“God, Snow, there’s another museum and a bloody planetarium in this park.”

“I know, babe.”

“Milan is so big.”

“Isn’t London also this big?” I ask. I obviously have never been there.

“Probably,” Baz answers, “But I am used to London. Milan is overwhelming. I had planned to end this date in another part of the city, but I may have underestimated how big it is. There’s still so much to see in this part of the city.”

“As?”

I wonder what Baz has planned next.

I don’t get an answer. I look up and Baz is frowning.

“I- It’s nothing. It’s probably closed anyway.”

“What is it?”

Baz turns to me and he shows me some photos on his phone. “The Albergo Diurno Venezia.”

I take the phone and it indeed looks like it’s closed most of the time, but it’s only a short walk from here. That’s probably why we’re here, since Baz has planned the route.

“I mean, we can give it a try,” I suggest. I have never heard of this Albergo Diurno Venezia before, so it isn’t a very tourist spot. I wonder how Baz found it. “What is it?”

Baz looks a bit embarrassed, but then he says: “They’re abandoned Art Nouveau baths.”

I do a double take. “They’re what?”

The words ‘Art Nouveau’ and ‘baths’ don’t go together.

“Don’t judge me, it’s partially Agatha’s fault,” Baz says, “We like art and we like nice bathrooms, so this goes well together.”

“Are you messing with me?” I ask.

“No!” Baz exclaims, “Look.”

He shows me some more pictures of the Diurno Venezia on his phone. I have to admit that it looks pretty cool.

“But it’s closed?” I ask.

Baz lets out a disappointing sigh. “Yeah. Like everything else in this city, this place has a long history and they opened it up for the public in 2014, but I don’t know if it’s still accessible.”

“Well, let’s find out, shall we?” I jump up. I take Baz’s hand and I pull him up too. I like holding his hand. “Lead the way.”

Baz guides me and we arrive in a busy street. The Piazza Guglielmo Oberdan is small and there’s a McDonald’s. I am tempted to once again ask Baz to have lunch there, just to see how we’ll react, but we’ve just had lunch at the park. I don’t see the Diurno Venezia, though.

There is a ‘modern’ hairdresser, no Art Nouveau bathhouse in sight. There’s a pizzeria next to the hairdresser, but there’s a big wooden door in between these two buildings.

I reach for the handle.

The door opens instantly. I look to Baz with a smile. “Let’s do this.”

[monstersandmaw]

Male hermit crab mer x reader (nsfw). Mermay story #3

Edit which I’m including in all my works after plagiarism and theft has taken place: I do not give my consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted anywhere. They are copyrighted and belong to me.

Eep, sorry it's a bit later than I wanted, and it's technically not May any more, but I got sick, and I'm still writing those last few hand-written stories for you.

This story got a great reaction from my Patreon supporters, and he’s been a subject of discussion over on my Patreon discord server too! I’m really excited to introduce him to you folks now too!

***

To say that you’d needed money was an understatement.

You’d quit your job at the supermarket because of your arsehole manager, and your bank account was down to single digits as the start of the summer rolled by. You realised you had to do something before you starved to death and couldn’t make your rent. As if by divine providence, your eye caught an advertisement in the window of the local newsagent’s as you went to buy a pint of milk on evening.

Yours was one of the parts of the city that was less populated by humans and more by non-humans, and as such, you’d become a familiar face to the minotaur who ran the shop. With a soft smile, he watched you staring wistfully at the advert on the back of the door, and when you’d not moved for a good few minutes, he said in his big, deep, gentle voice, “You thinking of doing it?”

“Hmm? Oh…” you said, startling and glancing round at him before letting your eyes return to the poster.

With a picture of a wide sandy beach, the “Starfall Springs’ Summer Kids’ Activities Camp” was advertised in bold colours, promising ‘activities and games for all abilities, treasure hunts, learn to swim, surf, snorkel, and even ride, play a variety of games, music, and take part in story telling, basic survival and outdoor education courses, and art classes’.

“I’m not a kid,” you snorted playfully, and the minotaur laughed.

He flicked his white ear and said, “If you’re looking to get involved though, my cousin is running one of the outdoor classes and he’s one of the organisers. He said they’re kind of understaffed this year.”

“Oh man,” you groaned. “I could use the money, for sure, but I can’t teach swimming or bug hunting or whatever…”

“You could take the art classes, or just help out with some of the other activities?” he suggested. “I actually did it a couple of years ago, and it was really fun. They focus a lot on breaking down barriers between the species, and trying to get everyone involved. I think you’d be great at it. Let me give you my cousin’s number…”

He scribbled down a phone number and the name ‘Dane’, and handed it to you on a scrap of paper.

“Thanks,” you said, gratitude swelling inside you, and no small degree of hope.

With the final pay cheque that came in from your former job just in time, you payed your rent for the month and bought a ticket to Starfall Springs. You’d negotiated free accommodation in conversation with Dane, by agreeing to take on two more activities than would be normally expected of an employee. He actually agreed to pay you for the additional activities, so you were more than willing to do it. Dane seemed like a nice guy too, and he said he’d meet you at the train station and drive you over to the camp.

When you got there, you found a huge, white minotaur with a traditional ring through his black nose, wearing a baggy t-shirt and baggy football shorts, his massive hooves clopping noisily on the concrete of the station as he stepped forward to help you with your bag.

“Here, let me,” he grinned, holding out his other hand for you to shake it. “I’m Dane,” he added.

You introduced yourself and thanked him for his help.

“No problem!” he laughed, shouldering your massive sports bag as if it weighed nothing at all, and leading you out towards the station exit where a huge pickup truck waited in the sunny parking lot beyond. He set your bag down in the bed of the truck and opened the passenger door for you to climb in. “I need to do some food shopping on our way back; I hope you don’t mind? I thought maybe you could pick some stuff up for the week too…”

You nodded and settled in as he fired up the truck and drove from the station on the outskirts of the old town towards the centre. He explained where things were and pointed out some landmarks, and before you knew it, he’d pulled to a halt in the little car park at the back of the grocery store in the centre.

You followed the massive minotaur inside, his shock of thick, ice-white hair gleaming in the mid-afternoon sun, and the moment the quaint little bell above the door dinged at your entrance, he waved merrily at the gnoll behind the counter.

“Hiya, Sorrel,” he called and she beamed him a toothy grin. To your surprise, he introduced you as well, and added, “We managed to get ourselves another helper down at the beach camp.”

“Oh brilliant!” she said. “I’ll be bringing Ginger over for her first day tomorrow. She can’t wait to get involved in the sports, and honestly, the little scamp is climbing up the walls… I can’t wait for you lot to tire her out for me!”

You chuckled awkwardly, feeling a little knot of apprehension starting to form in your gut. You'd never done anything quite like this before, but you were pretty confident you would do alright. How hard could it be after all?

You knew that the camp provided lunch every day, but you’d have to get your own breakfast and supper, so you stocked up, and when you were both done, you and Dane headed over to the coast.

A gasp of awe and surprise left you as the pickup rumbled down the track and turned the corner to reveal the wide, sandy beach stretching out for miles before the softly lapping waves just kissed it at the shore. The tide was out, and wading birds dabbled at the far off tide line.

“Holy…” you breathed, and Dane chuckled.

The camp’s headquarters were set back from the beach itself, and it appeared to have been the old coastguards’ station before it had been converted into the activity centre. Not far off was a ramshackle old beach hut, rather larger than you were used to and painted in faded pastel colours which looked like the paint had seen one too many winters before being refreshed.

Outside the hut was the most remarkable merfolk creature you’d ever seen.

With a large, vivid orange shell that shimmered like mother of pearl, was what appeared to be ostensibly a hermit crab, except that he had the torso of a human man. His skin was pale, his body slim, and his hair was a brilliant, flaming red, tied up in a scruffy bun with sections flopping about in the stiff breeze that blew in off the distant sea. He seemed absorbed in the humble task of hanging shirts up to dry on a little washing line which was attached at one end to his wooden shack and at the other to a small pole driven into the sand a short distance away.

“Ah!” the white minotaur chuckled as he parked up and saw you staring at the hermit crab mer with astonishment written clear across your face. “That’d be Leo. He’s the camp organiser, and the one who started it all off five years ago.” Dane continued to watch your face and laughed again. “Never seen an arthropodal mer, I take it,” he snorted.

“No,” you said. “I haven’t. I didn’t even know that they existed… I mean… that’s really cool?”

“I’ll tell him you think he’s cool,” Dane said as he hopped out and closed the door. “He’ll love that.”

“Oh god, don’t embarrass me on my first day here…”

Dane’s booming laughter made the merman look up and tilt his head curiously to one side.

You saw as he turned that he had two pairs of rather chunky, armoured, articulated legs which supported most of the weight of his shell, and two larger, clawed legs which he used to propel himself forward. In the same way that a drider’s upper body began at the hips, so the ‘arthropodal’ crab-like mer’s human torso rose from the hips to reveal a lean upper body that made you want to bite your lip and look away. Or maybe just keep staring.

He waved and a broad, almost goofy grin split across his face. “Hey!” he called towards the pair of you.

“Alright?” Dane bellowed at him across the distance.

Leo nodded and then turned his gaze to you.

“You wanna go meet him now while I take the stuff into the house?” Dane asked, already with his huge hands around the handles of about six grocery bags.

“Um… sure?” you said.

Trotting down the little boardwalk path through the narrow, grassy dune, you felt a bit silly, but the movement burned off most of the adrenaline and by the time you’d reached him, you felt pretty confident. “Hi,” you said as he turned to face you, and you realised as he did that actually he was quite tall.

He stuck out his hand and grinned, revealing little dimples in his pale, immensely freckled cheeks, and, craning your neck up, you shook his hand. “I’m Leo,” he said. “You must be the extra helper that Dane said he’d managed to rustle up from the city?”

“Yeah,” you said, awkwardly tacking your name on the end.

Leo released his grip on you, and at that moment, his hair came loose from the bun and blew right across his face. The hair-tie fell to the sand a little way away, and as he swept his hair back off his sharply handsome face, you both bent to pick it up at the same time.

And inevitably, you cracked heads.

At the impact, you toppled backwards onto the hard sand, and he yipped in embarrassment, darting forwards. “Oh gosh!” he gasped. “I’m so sorry. Are you alright? Here…” and he held out his hand to you again. “I’m sorry,” he said.

As you laughed it off, rubbing your forehead, you looked up at him and saw that his pale skin had flushed a dark red, and that his rich brown eyes were shining almost to the point of tears. “It’s fine,” you said. “Really, I’m fine.”

“Let’s hope I’m less clumsy tomorrow,” he said. “I wouldn’t count on it though,” he added. “Ugh. Anyway, I should let you get settled in and stuff… you know.” The blush darkened even further, and you had to chuckle.

“Sure, ok. I’ll see you tomorrow,” you said, deciding to cut the poor guy some slack. For what was essentially an armoured tank on legs, he seemed surprisingly awkward and shy.

He nodded and as you walked away and turned to glance back once you hit the sand dune, you saw him smack his own forehead with the palm of his hand and shake his head, muttering, “Idiot!”

You pursed your lips and suppressed a good-hearted snicker, heading into the former coastguards’ headquarters to unpack and start thinking about some supper.

Next day saw the arrival of the first groups of children, and before they got there, all the staff for the camp assembled over breakfast to talk through the last minute details which required attention.

You would be helping in the first week of activities with the children who wanted to learn to ride, and the four centaurs who had volunteered their services for the project told you what they’d need from you. As it turned out, they wouldn’t need much, just help with tacking them up and getting the kids sorted at the start and end of the hour long lesson. You’d be needed to put out cones and poles for them to walk around or over, but other than that, you got to sit on the side and watch for a while.

After that, you would be heading over to help Leo with some of the treasure hunt and beach activities.

Your first morning passed in a whirl of activity, but luckily none of the children fell off the centaurs, and you made a particular friendship with a very cheeky and very tiny Shetland centaur named Sinnavo. She pushed her bushy blonde hair out of her face at the end of the class, once her rider had dismounted and headed over to her next session, and hissed, “Bloody hell; that human was a right little shit!”

“So much for improving inter-species relations…” you muttered out of the corner of your mouth and she snorted in delight, pawing the ground.

“Yeah, right? Anyway, that’s me done for the day. Enjoy your afternoon, my lovely! And do me a favour?”

“Sure?”

“Count how many times Crabcakes over there blushes, will you?”

“‘Crabcakes?’” you asked, eyebrows skyrocketing as you followed her gaze to the hermit crab mer who was currently corralling children of all races and species into a tight bunch so he could explain the rules of the treasure hunt.

The tiny, sassy little centaur grinned. “Well, it was that or ‘Leonardo da Pinchy, but he really hates that one.”

“Oh my god,” you muttered, stifling laughter behind your hand as Leo looked up at you, a clipboard in his hands and a suddenly suspicious look on his handsome face.

As you said your goodbyes to her and headed over, he pouted. “She called me Crabcakes, didn’t she?”

“Maybe?”

Blush one.

He rolled his beautiful eyes. “She knows I hate that, but I call her ‘Haystack Hair’, so I guess we’re even.”

“Does none of the species here get along?” you asked, only half joking, and he laughed.

“She’s been helping out with the Summer Camp since the very beginning, and she’s one of my dearest friends. Don’t worry. It’s… It’s just this ongoing thing we have. Ignore it. And… please don’t call me Crabcakes.”

You crossed your fingers over your heart, and the grin you got from him in response was enough to stall its regular rhythm.

The more time you spent with him, the more fun you seemed to have.

As he worked with the much younger children, he became bubbly and animated, and all his awkward nerves seemed to melt away. It was a delight to watch him working with them, encouraging them, emboldening them, and making them laugh with his silly expressions and goofy behaviour. He was always supportive and attentive, but he brooked no nonsense either. The group you had towards the end of the week had a gnoll with cerebral palsy and a young lizardfolk child who needed a special beach wheelchair, but he made sure they were included in every activity, and from the looks on their faces as he took his time with them, you knew they were having the time of their lives.

Human children and half-bloods, avians and felines, orcs and werewolves, disabled or not, were all allowed to be themselves, and for the most part, everyone got along. It was amazing, and you’d never seen or heard of the likes back in the city, and it gave you a thrill that seemed to set the marrow of your bones alight every time you woke in the morning and got ready for a new day.

You had Friday afternoon off, and as the last of the children left, one writhing and screaming and begging to be allowed to stay for the next week, you saw Leo stagger slightly where he stood on the beach.

Frowning, you stood and went down to meet him. “You ok?” you asked.

He laughed nervously. His cheeks were now a little sunburnt, and you'd lost count of the blushes by Tuesday morning, but you thought he looked a little pale underneath the pinkish tinge. “I… I feel a bit squiffy, that’s all… I’m good. I think… I think I might need to eat something though. Or drink.”

“Too much sun? Maybe drink first then eat?” you suggested. “You stay put and I’ll grab you a lemonade and one of those seaweed and fish snacks.”

His answering smile was so sweet that you almost reached up and kissed him, but you stopped yourself in time. You didn’t know him all that well, despite hanging out almost every lunchtime. At the end of the day he was always the last one packing up and the last one to go home, but when he did, that was it. He seemed intensely private and quiet, valuing his alone time as much as the time he spent entertaining the kids in the Summer Camp.

And you admired that about him. He knew when he had reached his limits and, shy and retiring though he was, he was not afraid to say that he needed to head off and recharge. To your relief, the other camp staff respected that too, and wished him a goodnight, but you secretly wished each time that he’d stay for just a little longer, so that you could see him out of the context of the camp’s structure.

Returning with the drink and snack, you found that he’d made his way a little further down the sandy beach towards the shore, his shell leaving a deep furrow in the hard sand as it dragged behind him. You wondered suddenly if it was particularly burdensome for him.

“Leo?” you called and he stopped, just with his pointed, crablike toes dipped in the shallowest of the calm waves.

He turned, the wind tugging playfully at his auburn hair, and your feet faltered. He was beautiful, in an androgynous, fairytale kind of way. “Thank you,” he said, taking the bottle from you and draining half of it in one go. He looked at the snack and said in a slightly vague voice, “My favourite…”

You grinned. “I noticed you always pick them at lunch time,” you admitted.

He smiled and said, “Thank you. I’m… I’m…” and then he tailed off with a sigh, turning to look back at the sea without finishing his sentence.

“Leo?” you asked after a long pause.

With his crab legs as they were at the moment, he towered over you at maybe seven or even eight feet tall, and the only part of him that you could reach was the ‘shoulder’ of his crab’s body where it joined his human torso. He was wearing a plain red t-shirt that day and the breeze made it ripple softly, revealing the pale skin of his upper half every now and again.

As you touched him, he jumped slightly, and then laughed. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m… I’m not very good with people…”

“I think you’re amazing,” you blurted. “I mean, you’re so good with all the kids and stuff, and they all loved the activities you organise…”

His smile was sad this time, and it made something crack inside you to see it on his handsome face which, until the end of the week’s activities, had so frequently been illuminated with his brilliant, happy laugh.

Leo swallowed nervously, turning the wrapped snack over in his hands without opening it, toying with it as if maybe you’d forget about him if he stayed like that long enough. Eventually, however, he huffed a shy laugh and said, “I mean… outside of that. I ‘get’ kids. I know how to make them happy. I know what to say to them. They’re simple. It’s the adults I don’t understand. I get…” he tucked his long hair behind his freckled ear and flushed. “I get nervous. I say stupid things…” He shot you a look and added, “I crack heads with them…”

You had to laugh, and at the sound of it, the nerves seemed to dissipate a little. “I think you’re doing just fine, Leo. And you get me, anyway. Although I’ve always been told I’m a bit of a child still…” you added playfully.

He laughed. “Thank you.”

“Listen, I know you tend to keep to yourself in the evenings, but are you coming to the barbecue tonight? Dane said it’s gonna be on the beach…”

Leo looked at you and licked his lips. “Are you going?”

You nodded.

“Alright,” he said. “I’ll come for a bit.”

Impulsively, you reached and took his hand, giving his fingers a squeeze before letting go and turning away. “Looking forward to it then,” you said as you left him in the waves to recharge a bit.

The torches which Dane had stuck into the sand flickered and blazed in the wind, and the tide, which had crept up the beach as the evening had slunk in, formed a beautiful backdrop to the party. The other camp staff were all there, from the centaurs to the drider and werewolf who had taken the outdoor and wildlife activities, to the naga who had led the more arty classes, and, lastly, Leo arrived just as the food was deemed ready.

He snuck in at the edge of the group and touched your shoulder lightly.

“Hey, you made it!” you grinned, and he nodded bashfully.

“Leo!” the naga yelled, raising his beer over the flickering flames in the pit at the centre of the ring of eclectic stools and stumps for sitting on.

“Hey,” Leo mumbled, and then to you he hissed, “Any second now, someone is going to make a ‘coming out of his shell’ comment, I bet you.”

“What do you bet me?” you countered playfully, and Leo blinked.

“What?”

“What are the stakes?”

“Uh…”

You chuckled and said quickly, “Ok, if someone says it, I’ll come for a walk with you along the beach to get you away from everyone. How does that sound?”

Before he could respond, the werewolf on the far side howled, “Look who's come out of his shell for the evening!”

And you and Leo burst out laughing, much to everyone’s surprise.

“You’re on,” Leo said. “Let me grab some food first, ok?”

You watched the strange way he moved, his heavy claws tugging his body and shell forwards, and a million questions burned in your mind: what did his body look like inside the shell? Did he ever leave his shell? Did he spend more time in the sea than on land normally? Did he have gills to breathe like other mer, or could he hold his breath like a selkie for ages? Where did he get a shell that big from?

You were still pondering your questions when he returned with a fish finger sandwich in one hand, and he cocked his head curiously in the way that he had which reminded you of a little puppy. “Everything alright?” he asked.

“I…” you faltered, and now it was your turn to be awkward. “I was just thinking, I guess…”

He snorted, the gesture accompanied by a lopsided smirk, and he said, “You’ll have to share some of those thoughts on our little walk, I suppose. Do you want to go now?”

“You don’t mind eating and walking at the same time?”

“Nope,” he said.

And without really excusing yourself from the milling group of other camp staff, the two of you headed down the beach together.

“So…” he said after a little while of walking in silence while he ate. “What got you so curious?”

“Oh…” you said. “I… I guess… I mean… I’ve lived in the city most of my life and while my two best friends are actually non-human, I… I’ve never actually met a merfolk before this week.”

He looked down at you and shrugged. “Makes sense. And you’ve got questions, right?”

“Yeah…” you muttered. “But I don’t know what’s, like, rude to ask or not.”

To your surprise, he barked a laugh, tossing his head back so that his long red hair fell down his back and caught in the wind. “Ask away. You can’t be more awkward than me, or even some of the kids for that matter. Unless it’s about my junk, I’ve probably heard it before from the kids.”

“Oh my god,” you blushed. “No, it’s not… I mean… I hadn’t thought about…” But you definitely had…

He raised an eyebrow at you, and in that moment you saw a whole new side to him. Mercifully, however, he let it lie.

You began your tirade of questions, and it turned out that his body under the shell was soft. Since his kind used the shells as protection, he had no need for armour plating like he had on his legs. Sometimes he did leave the shell, but mostly he had no need to.

When it came to asking about time spent on land or in the sea, he smiled wistfully. “I love the land,” he said. “Well, I mean, I love the beach. I’ve never actually been into town or anything.”

“Really?”

He grinned. “You try dragging this shell up the cliff path and see how far you get… and I’m not going without it…”

“Naked, you mean,” you laughed, and despite the way the moonlight washed most of the colour away, you could see the blush very clearly.

You paused, nearing a pile of rocks at the furthest end of the crescent shaped beach, and picked up a tiny cockle shell, rinsing the sand out in the water. Leo watched you and when you turned to look up at him, he frowned slightly, curiously.

“Where do you get your shells from?” you asked, turning the tiny shell over in your hand. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen one like yours before…”

He smiled. “There are some big creatures out there,” he said, staring at the blackness of the water, the tips of the waves silvered by moonlight.

“Yours matches your hair and your legs,” you said, eyeing the orange of his armour plating.

Leo’s flush was so deep that you almost felt the heat of it radiating out from his cheeks, and he turned away.

“What?” you said.

“It’s… Nothing…” he mumbled.

“No, go on,” you insisted. “If I said something wrong, you should tell me…”

“You didn’t,” he said, still looking away, the curtain of his hair half hiding his face. “It’s…”

“It’s what? Is it super personal to comment on someone’s shell? Is that it?”

He nodded.

“Ah. Well,” you breezed, “I do like it. I can’t hide that I think it’s beautiful, and it suits you, so… yeah.”

Leo turned back to face you and you saw something glinting in his eyes. “I’ve never met a human quite like you.”

“Is that good or bad?”

He swallowed, throat bobbing. “Good. Well, it’s bad for me because it makes me even more of a klutz, and I… oh dammit,” he hissed as his cheeks continued to blaze.

“Hey,” you said softly, reaching for his hand as it hung limply at his side. “I like that you’re so easy to read. Your reactions are honest, and that’s… refreshing, you know? There’s nothing wrong with it.”

He brought his other hand up to his face and rubbed briefly at his eyes.

“What’s really bothering you?” you asked after a moment.

Again, he chuffed an awkward laugh and dropped his hand and turned to look at you, eyes gleaming. “I don’t… I don’t know how wise this is.”

“‘This’?”

He tilted his head knowingly, and your stomach lurched.

“I like you. A lot,” he said, voice thick. “And I’m scared that it’s not appropriate or something. And… I don’t have a clue what I'm doing. My kind are rare enough, so I hardly see someone of my own species to interact with on this level, let alone a human. I don’t… I don’t know what I’m doing.”

You squeezed the hand that you were still holding and said, “It’s ok.” Plunging guilt and disappointment filled your chest though. You’d not realised quite how much you’d come to like him in this first week until then, and the Summer Camp still went on for another two. “Why don’t we just… hang out over the next couple of weeks? And at the end, if we want to take it somewhere, maybe we can explore that then. But if we decide not to, then we don’t have to. I can go back to the city, and that’ll be that.”

You didn’t miss the way his fingers clenched suddenly at that, but he nodded.

The next two weeks were honestly torture. By the middle of that second week of the three that made up the entirety of the summer camp, you were convinced that you really, really liked him. He kept looking at you after the classes were over; he came to almost every evening meal now; and he found every excuse to touch you - even just the briefest and most chaste of touches - whenever he could.

Dane didn't miss a trick either, and he hauled you off to one side at the end of the second week of camp and gave you what was probably your first ‘Talk’ ever. “Look,” he said. “I don’t mean to be a dick, but Leo is one of my best friends. If you fuck around with him and hurt him, I swear to god, it will not end well for you.”

“Whoa,” you said, taking a step back away from the enormous minotaur. “Dane…”

He stared you down, but seemed to realise he’d overstepped. He let out a puffing breath and sighed. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t actually, you know, hurt you. It’s just that Leo is… he’s kind of innocent, you know? He’s never had a partner that I know of. This summer camp is literally his whole life, and what he does in the winter months is a mystery. He just disappears and comes back with the spring.”

“Really?”

Dane nodded.

“He must be so lonely.” You looked into the minotaur’s dark eyes and said, “Dane, the last thing I want to do is hurt him. We talked about it on that first Friday actually, and we decided to put our feelings - whatever they are - on hold til the end of camp. Then we’ll see how things are.”

Dane nodded slowly, and the matter seemed closed, though he still kept an eye on the pair of you from a distance.

The celebration of the end of the first of the summer camp sessions - there was a week’s gap in between the first and the second one to let the staff recover, restock on things and prepare for the next session - saw you and Leo seated by the fire, closer than any other folks were.

His shell was huge, and it made for the perfect leaning post. You rested your weight against it, and sighed happily, drinking deeply from the little plastic tumbler in your hand.

“You alright?” he asked, looking down at you. His long, red hair slid over his pale shoulders and he looked even more beautiful than ever as he gazed down at you.

“More than,” you grinned. “You?”

The handsome merman sighed, and you caught a distinct tinge of sadness in his warm eyes.

“Leo?”

He sighed expansively. “I… uh… Do you want to go for a walk?”

You pouted thoughtfully. “Sure,” you said, smiling and began levering yourself upright with the help of his curling shell. “I need to walk some of that amazing food down.”

He smiled in agreement and held his hand out to help you up. His skin was cool and his palm smooth. You tried not to take too much notice.

No one really commented on your leaving together, but Dane cast you a severe look that was definitely a warning shot across the bows, but you smiled and nodded sagely, and he backed off with a shy and apologetic smile. You tried to take it as a good sign that Leo had such good friends looking out for him.

The two of you made your way down the beach, Leo dragging his shell behind him, and eventually you blurted, “Isn’t that heavy?”

“Hmm?”

“Your shell?”

“Oh,” he blushed. “I mean… I actually found a pretty light one…”

“Do you ever leave it?”

“Rarely,” he hedged. “Why?”

“Just curious,” you smiled pointedly, and he blushed. “Have I asked something very personal again?”

With a playful smile, he nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Leo paused, the hiss and breath of the water on the sand beyond forming a quiet backdrop to your conversation. “As I told you before, you can ask me anything at all. I don’t mind.”

“Alright then,” you said, feeling uncharacteristically bold. “Since we’re technically not working tonight, and there are no more activities til next week, can I kiss you now?”

His breath caught and his chest heaved once. He was only wearing the loose-fitting t-shirt of the summer camp uniform, and it hung baggily over his shoulders, revealing the chiselled lines of his pale, freckled collarbones. “Yes,” he breathed, adding hastily, “But not here.”

He took you by the hand and led you towards the rocks that formed a breakwater not far from the retreating tide. Showing his strength in a way he’d not yet done, he put his hands on your waist and heaved you up onto a smooth, dry boulder so that you were at the same height as him. He kissed you then, with all the reverence and hesitation you’d expected from the shy merman.

His hands found their way to your hair, while your own landed at his waist and his body inched closer to yours. After a few moments, he pulled back, breathless, eyes glinting in the dark, and he rested his forehead against yours. “I’ve never… I mean… not for a human… gods…”

“Leo?” you asked, risking a glance down his body.

A moment or two later, he abandoned his shell in one swift movement, revealing a slender, curling tail and a bright red, ridged cock that was already weeping and fully erect. “I want you…” he rasped.

You nodded, and he exhaled in relief, shuddering violently as your nails raked eager, red lines down his pale torso. He gently removed your clothes, reverence still in every touch, until you were lying naked on the smooth boulder, and he parted his lips and stared hungrily at your bare, beautiful body. His hands traced the contours of your sides and hips, working their way up your torso, pinching your pebbling nipples until you arched your back and groaned with pleasure.

A sudden pressure around your ankles made you gasp, and you opened your eyes to find his crab’s claws closing around the ankle joint, locking you in place as he reared up and brought his cock between your thighs. The slick heat of it made you buck wildly, and he moaned as he began to fuck the space between your legs. His head bowed forwards, his long red hair trailing along your torso in tantalisingly soft tendrils, and his breath began to come in ragged draws the faster he worked his hips.

He lost himself in the feel of your body against his own.

“You’re perfect,” he gasped, grabbing you by the shoulders and hoisting you into the air.

He supported you all the while he continued to thrust upwards between your thighs, thick and hot and slick, and you gasped and cried out at the sensation. His claws were still clamped like cuffs around your ankles, keeping your legs tightly together as he rutted into you, thrust after thrust, gaining momentum until he began to shiver and pant wildly.

“I’m…” he warned before suddenly his whole body tensed and he began to spasm, thick ropes of come spilling between your thighs, slicking your skin with hot release as he came over you, his body rearing up with pleasure and his arms holding you tightly to his chest.

“Leo…” you gasped as his wild, clenching orgasm began to recede and he lowered you down onto the rock with shaky arms.

You leaned back and he followed you as if drawn by a magnet, draping himself along your aching body as the aftershocks of his release shook him to the core. His cock wept and drooled still across your thighs, twitching and spasming, and your legs were covered in him.

Eventually he looked up at you and pressed his hands against your hips to push himself unsteadily upright. “Are you ok?” he rasped, his legs spreading wide, struggling to hold himself upright.

“Yeah…” you said, looking ostentatiously between your legs. “But you’re now one ahead of me…”

Catching his breath, Leo smiled. “Can’t have that,” he said, and he licked his lips before lowering his face between your legs. “Here…”

And the moment the heat of his mouth closed over you, you were lost to the sensations of him; the sounds, the feel, the pleasure of him.

It wasn’t long before you too were howling your release to the empty night sky above.

---

I really hope you enjoyed this one! I’m working really hard on finishing the rest of my Mermay stories. Don’t forget to let me know if you did enjoy it by leaving a reblogging it!

And definitely don’t forget to check out some incredibly gorgeous artwork of Leo by the immensely talented @ilustrariane

---

For all early releases, character art and bios, upcoming story info, and much, much more, join me over on Patreon!

You’ll have access to stories before anyone else, and you’ll get instant access Patreon-only content as well, including polls and an exclusive monthly story for those on the Pixies and Goblins tier or higher!

___________________________

| Masterlist | Patreon | Ko-fi | Writing Commissions |

[pixie88]

Pornstar

Chapter 4 - Adam & Ellie.

A/N | I wrote this over a year ago but never published it. I kinda need a break from FF and Choices characters. It’s not really a FF but Adam is base a little on a character on tv, so maybe it is. Let me know if you would like to be tagged!

Summary | Ellie is looking for a flat mate and Adam is looking for a room.

Check previous chapters of Adam & Ellie HERE.

Word count | 1.6k

Warnings | 18 + Only and Fluff.

Pairings | Adam x Ellie

Enjoy!

It's 4 weeks later and I have seen Adam in the pub with his family a couple of times, said hello and asked how he was doing but not had a proper conversation.

It's Friday and I've made the decision that I need a flat mate to help pay the bills utility bills, council tax etc. I put a little ad in the shop window, I'm paying too much attention to it being straight before I notice Adam on the other side of the window.

He knocks against it to get my attention, I look up at him and smile.

He starts to talk and points at the flat mate advert, but I can't hear him, so I gesture this, and he realizes and comes into the shop. "Alright?" I ask "Yeah, I'm good thanks you? So, you're looking for a flat mate?" He points at the advert "Erm... yeah, thought it would be a good idea as I have the flat and shop bills to pay. Seems like the best option really!" He stands like he's lost in thought.

"If it helps, I'm actually looking for somewhere. Jane and her 11pm curfew is annoying and I'm willing to pay what you've advertised. Hell, it's cheaper than the B&B." I take in his words "So..what do you say?" He asks. "Yeah, but won't you want to have a look at the room first?" "I've seen it! So, new flat mate shall we go for a drink to celebrate?" I check the time it's half five, I agree and shut the shop thirty minutes early.

We walk into the pub and behind us is Laura gives us both daggers before she speaks loud enough for us to hear "He said nothing is going on but you don't spend this much time with someone you aren't sleeping with!" I see Adam tense up and I smile at him, so he know she isn't bothering me!

He smiles back before turning to Anna and orders our drinks "Anna, we are celebrating." she smiles "What you guys celebrating?" Adam then speaks up just enough for Laura to hear "Well, your aunt is losing a lodger and this is my new flat mate!" Anna smiles "Oh, she'll miss you, but she'll be glad you found somewhere."

Laura tuts loudly.

Adam turns to her "Have you got something to say?" She looks straight at him. "I wondered how long it would be before you shack up together!" I get annoyed and can't bite my tongue any longer "He has his own room and is paying rent. Maybe that's too complicated for you to know the difference?!" I say as walk out of the pub.

I've had enough of her and her nasty comments.

I haven't done anything wrong. I head towards my flat, but as soon as I cross the road outside the pub.

I hear him calling after me.

"Ellie, wait up!"

My face is hot with anger, he grabs my shoulder and looks me in the eyes. "I'm sorry about her. I provoked her, but I just wanted her to realize I'm over her and I've moving on with my life. She has no right to talk to you like that, not when all of this doesn't involve you. I'm sorry!"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shouted and let her get to me!" Adam pulls me into a hug.

"I'm sorry you got pulled into this. How about we go into the city centre for a drink instead?” I pull away. "Yeah, ok we can talk about when you are looking to move in. Oh, there's a new bar! It has really cool cocktails with fire and smoke." he smiles.

"Sounds great. Let's go!" We walked to the train station and get the train into the city centre.

We walk into the bar and ordered our drinks I ordered a *Lightbulb moment* and he ordered a *Dead red zombie* Yes, weird cocktails names but hey they tasted nice.

We chatted about complete rubbish and each time we ordered a new drink we would try a different cocktail by our fifth we were giggling at the most stupidest things.

This is when I knew I'd had enough to drink.

Adam ordered another "You sure, you don't want one more?" He asks me. I shake my head "No, I'm definitely done! But thanks!" He pays the barman.

Another barman walks over with a drink *The new pornstar* he says, Adam looks confused "I didn't order that! I ordered a Gelato." he tells him and the barman points at a guy the other side of the bar "Oh, it's not for you, sir it's for the lady from the gentleman over there in the blue shirt." I look over he smiles and points his drink towards me as if say cheers.

I look at the barman and Adam, who has an annoyed look on his face. Whoa! Is he jealous? No, he can't be! I turn back to the barman and ask him to tell the man thank you, but I would like to send it back as I've had enough.

He takes the drink and another comes over with Adams drink. I watch the barman tell the guy what happen and the guy pulls away from the bar and gets lost in the crowd behind him. Adam downs his drink and seems a bit annoyed.

He pops to the toilet, and the pornstar guy appears in front of me. "Hi" "Hi" I smile back "Sorry about the drink, I hope I haven't pissed off your boyfriend?" "Sorry boyfriend?" I ask, "Yeah, that guy you're with I'm assuming he's your boyfriend."

"Oh, he's not my boyfriend just a friend," I say, he rubs the back of his neck as if he's confused "Oh, right so why did you send it back?" "Because I've had enough to drink!" I tell him, "Oh ok, so if I was to give you my number, I wouldn't be standing on anyone's toes?" He smiles.

"No, you're more than welcome to, but I can't promise that I'll actually use it!" I laugh, he puts his number into my phone.

Just then Adam appears looking annoyed still "Alright, Ellie?" I smile at him "Yeah, just thanking this man for my drink. Sorry I realize I don't know your name!" "Just have a look in your phone and spot the new contact!" He winks.

"Right shall we go?" I turn to Adam, he is shooting the pornstar guy a look that could kill. Oh my god, he is jealous it's clear on his face. HE IS JEALOUS!! "Yeah let's go! I've had enough. See you around." Adam offers his arm as we leave - This is new he's never done that before.

We wait at the train station in silence!

He speaks and breaks it "Are you going to call that guy?" I turn to look at him, he actually seems nervous waiting for my answer. The guy was good looking but definitely not my type. I want to say I like you, but I can’t.

"Nah, probably not! I mean, who buys a girl you have never met a PORNSTAR??? Really?" I say he seems to be happy with my answer. "Yeah, you're right!" He says. "Plus, he's definitely not my type long hair big NO! I don't want to have to fight with someone over my hair dryer or straighteners which he clearly uses!" We both laugh.

He pulls out his wallet to get his train ticket out when the spa vouchers I brought him a few weeks ago fall onto the floor he picks them up! "Oh, I completely forgot about these!" he says and flips them to look at the back. "Oh, I might go tomorrow!" He says. "Oooo have fun. Maybe, it will de-stress you!" I say playfully.

"How about we go?" He asks, "Huh?" "Me and you! We should go!" "No, Adam! I brought them for you to use." "I am, but I don't want to go on my own!"

"But I have work tomorrow I've got to clean down the shelves and re-dress the window..." "Can't that be done Sunday? Come on, I'll help you Sunday! How about that?" He give me that smile that makes my heart skip a beat. I laugh, "You really won't take no for an answer will you?" "Nope," he grins. I roll my eyes "But you can't just turn up" I tell him.

He gets his phone out, to check online "They have  five pm slot. Is that ok?" He asks "Adam, you do know it's over an hour and a half drive away."

He books a spa treatment package "We will leave at 2, grab some lunch on the way there and book the hotel while we are there. Separate rooms of course. The vouchers need to be used up so might as well." he really isn't taking no for an answer.

"Ok, fine. I'll go with you on one condition" I tell him, "O.....kay?" He smiles "I'm driving." He laughs, "Hey, I'm not going to say no to riding in style" he says as the train arrives, we get on.

We get back home within ten minutes and he looks at his watch and starts to panics "10:57......three minutes to get home before Jane locks me out!" He says and I laugh, "You better run then!" He smiles "Yeah, better run. I will see you tomorrow Ellie!" "See ya!" he starts running off round the corner.

I get home and get into bed.

Once I change into my pajamas and think about what happened today. He was definitely jealous of the pornstar guy then inviting me to a spa with him? Flirty vibes? Definitely even the pornstar guy noticed he was jealous! Oh well, we will see what happens tomorrow.

Continue reading this story here - Chapter 5.

@txemrn​ @khoicesbyk​ @lem-20​

[peacediner-co]

Seeping In Wonderland

Remember that early summer, when he brought me to Disneyland. I mentioned it once and he brought me there the next week. He told me, he went with his team mates before, and would be my personal guide. It was an early train ride, 7 a.m and he suggested we grab a cup of coffee from Family Mart before the dreadful 45 minute ride from city centre. The train was packed with office workers and we barely squeezed our way in.   He had ushered me to take the one vacant seat when the train stopped at the second post. 

"Before the wave of people get in, quick!" I could feel my cheeks heat up a bit, I'll assume it's because of the heat. Stepping out into Disneyland train station, I could feel myself grin with utter excitement. It's my first time here, and it's with him. 

The gates opened at 10 a.m, and we got into the line pretty quickly as we had bought our tickets in advance. I squealed and looked back at him, who qued behind me. He had those charming, gentle eyes as he chuckled and pushed me gently forward as the line moved. We scanned our QR pass and entered the gates to wonderland. It might sound tacky, but the air felt different in there. He walked beside me, his phone in hand. As I took photos of the place, he had done the same - just with me in frame. 

"C'mon, the parade starts at 11. We should que for those garlic popcorn you wanted to try.".  True to that, we headed into the Disney Town. A few shops already had lines of people. He took my hand and brought me over to Chip n Dale's popcorn stall. They had the garlic popcorn as well as the strawberry popcorn this season. We got in line and he ordered for the one I had been yearning to try; Garlic Popcorn. What made me even more excited was that it came with a cute Chip n Dale popcorn bucket. I wanted to pay for it but he had beaten me to it. We walked together, sharing the popcorn. God, it was so delicious! We passed by the balloon vendor, it was such a sight to see.

We headed towards the castle - the iconic Storybook castle. He offered to help me carry my bag, in which I handed over without second thoughts. The lesser the weight, the better! As the time ticked, we noticed the time had set to 10.48 a.m. Oh, the parade! Familiar with the route, he tugged my hand and pulled me along as we jogged to Toy Story Farm, where the parade was held. The sidelines were already full of people. We tried our best to fit into the gaps here and there. Luckily, we finally found a spot wide enough for both of us. As the gentleman he is, he told me to stand nearer to the parade as he took cover behind me. I was so excited when the event started. Out came Toy Story characters then followed by iconics such as Little Mermaid, Tangled, Frozen and lastly, Mickey Mouse and Friends! I waved at them excitedly.

After the parade, we went to grab fast passes for Tomorrowland Coaster ride and The 7 Dwarfs Mine because those rides had the longest lines. We chatted as we waited in line for the rides. Everything felt so surreal. We also went on Voyage to the Crystal Grotto where iconic Disney characters gave timeline stories, Frozen’s Musical, Slinky Dog ride, Woody’s Round-up, Pooh’s Honey Pot etc. Everything was so fun, and the snacks were amazing. I loved the turkey leg from Pinocchio’s Village and the Mickey waffle from Mickey’s Sweets and Desserts.

The Enchanted Castle finale started at 8..30 p.m. We took a seat on the floor with a good angle of the whole castle and the waterworks. Everything was so magical. We smiled as the show began. It was so fun to watch all of the Disney movies that had ever been produced, flash by in recap. It brought back so much memories.

The show went on for 30 minutes and the crowd began to disperse. I took a photo of him in front of the castle at nights view. Then we joined the wave of visitors exiting the park. He tucked me close to him as we made our way out of the theme park. It’s been a long and tiring day, but it was all worth it. I got to spend the whole day with him.

The train ride back was quiet. My eyes were really heavy and I just wanted to shut ‘em right then and there. As if hearing my thoughts, he tucked my head on his left shoulder and stuffed one of his airpods in my left ear. It was 7% by XMaswu. I smiled softly as the last bit of strength I had slipped away and slumber engulfed me.

[cilldaracailin]

A Kind of Magic

2

“Sometimes you have to stop thinking so much and just go where your heart takes you.”

Even though it was small, Dublin airport was a very busy place and as Taron walked through the arrival’s door of terminal two, he was quite lost and had to ask at the tourist information desk how to get to Robyn’s home town of Kilcreen.

“Once you get into the city centre, you can take a bus or a train to Kilcreen but the airport bus brings you directly to Busáras, the bus station and from there if you get the number one one five to Montclarey, that service goes right through Kilcreen.”

“And where do I go to get that bus to the city?” Asked Taron still completely lost.

“If you go out the double doors and walk across the pedestrian crossing, you will see all the bus stops. Look for the green double decker that says ‘Airlink’. It’s six euros one way and it will bring right to the bus station.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Oh, and just so you know, the buses here only take cash or a leap card.”

“Ahh, yes. That is some useful information. Thank you again.” Taron went to walk away but turned back to the lady behind the counter. “There is an exchange desk just around the corner.” Added the lady at the desk knowing what Taron was going to ask before he asked it.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

With some information now and after changing his America dollars into euros, making sure he was able to get some change too, Taron followed the directions he was given to the bus stop, glad to see a bus there waiting. He joined the queue and paying his six euros, dropped his bag with a grimace in the luggage rack and sat in the seat behind it, right at the window, a decision he regretted once the bus started to move as the sun glared in the window and even though it was only near nine thirty in the morning, the heat that came through the window was hot and sticky and not helping Taron’s developing headache. So much for the rain he was expecting, the sun was splitting the blue skies. He only wanted to watch the world as it went by, hoping the views would keep him awake as now that he was off the plane and the vigour he had left the hospital with was quickly fading and he was feeling rough and drained and the warmth through the glass at his face was making him feel slightly miserable.

The bus journey from the airport to the bus station took about an hour as it travelled through rush hour traffic in Dublin’s city centre. On the journey he called his mam to let her know he had arrived safely and was on his way to find Robyn and just managed to say goodbye before his battery died.

He found lifting his bag from the luggage rack a chore as the right side of his body really started to feel the effects of the constant travelling and sitting but he was determent to continue on with his trek so he walked into the bus terminal and to one of the ticket desks and asked about getting the one one five bus to Montclarey making sure to let the seller know he needed to get off at Kilcreen.

“And here is your ticket. The bus will be at bay number eight and is leaving in about five minutes.”

“Thank you. Do you know how long it will take to get there?” Asked Taron.

“It’s normally about forty minutes but with the traffic, maybe an hour? Kilcreen is the fourth stop.”

“Great. Thanks again.”

Another hour on a bus sounded like hell to Taron but it was a step closer to Robyn so he made his way to bay eight and showed the bus driver his ticket and put his bag in the hold under the bus. He took a seat on the left side, hoping this was the side of the bus where the sun wouldn’t shine and pulling his hat from his warm forehead he leant against the cool glass.

A few more customers came onto the bus but no-one sat beside him and within five minutes the bus set off. Taron was met with a sun free window and was actually able to enjoy the views of Dublin as they drove through busy streets, giving him something to think about instead of his developing pain. He counted each stop and watched for signs which were written in Irish and English. The bus moved onto a motorway and after a fifteen-minute drive the bus pulled off and onto their third stop. Taron knew the fourth stop was his, so he kept an extra look out for signs and as the bus turned a corner he was met with the view of a river beside a walkway and a black sign that read ‘Kilcreen’. Sitting up straight, he pulled his hat back on and after another minute drive the bus stopped at the stop.

“I just have to get a bag, thanks.” Said Taron to the bus driver and waited for the hold to be opened so he could pull his duffle out, the movement of doing so really starting to hurt now.

He waited for the bus to move and then took a look around where Robyn lived. He stood on a paved footpath behind which was the river which had a small wooden boardwalk on the opposite side, canoe polo nets overhead and a few ducks swimming on the water. A bridge was to his left and opposite him a row of businesses including a pub, chemist and hairdressers. It was a busy little town, with traffic moving constantly in front of him and a number of people were out and about enjoying the glorious morning sunshine, the weather warm and balmy. Nothing like Florida, but nothing like what he had expected the Irish weather to be.

Very much at a loss of what to do now, Taron figured his best bet was to go and ask in one of the shops across the road to see could they direct him to Robyn’s house. Waiting for the traffic to stop at the traffic lights at the top of the bridge, he then made his way across the road, passing the benches outside the pub. He walked past the off license, the butchers and chemist and chose to chance asking the lady at the counter in the hair dressers.

“Sorry excuse me, can you tell me where Poplar Road is please?” Asked Taron as he popped his head in the door.

“Sorry. Hold on!” The worker switched off the hair dryer. “Sorry what did you ask?”

“I am just looking for Poplar Road, please. I am here to visit a friend but I haven’t actually been here before and I am bit lost.”

“Sure.” The woman quickly explained how to get to Poplar Road and it involved quite a few right and left turns. “Wouldn’t it be easier for you just to use google maps? She asked explaining it for the fourth time to Taron, whose tired state was finding it very hard to retain the instructions to where Robyn lived.

Taron pulled his phone from his pocket. “Battery is dead.”

“Ok let me write it down for you instead.”

“That would be great thank you.”

Taron walked a bit further into the hairdressers and watched as the woman wrote down the directions for him.

“Thank you very much.” He said. “I think I can find my way now to Robyn.”

“Robyn?” Another woman walked towards him. “Are you Robyn Quinn’s friend?” She asked.

“Yeah I am. You know Robyn?”

“She gets here hair done here about twice a year, normally before she goes on holiday. Is she back from Florida?”

“Oh yeah. She got back on Saturday.” It was hard for Taron to say those words and he was ready to go and find Robyn so he turned to leave. “Erm thank you again for these. Have a good day.”

Taron had started to walk out of the store. “Oh wait!” The lady who knew Robyn walked after him. “Robyn won’t actually be at home though. She will be in work.”

Taron’s whole face changed. It was something that had completely slipped his mind. Robyn’s work which meant the directions in his hand were leading him to a road with four houses and no Robyn. He didn’t even know where Robyn worked, what time she would be finished at and suddenly felt his anxiety levels start to rise. So far, he had done well to keep calm and was surprised at the ease he had made to Kilcreen but he had finally hit a hurdle and it was the one he needed so desperately to cross at the moment. He was so close to seeing her.

“I can give you the directions to where she works though, if you want.”

His head lifted. “Robyn works here?”

“Well not here, but in Kilcreen, yeah she does. The creche she works in is in the town. I can give you some directions if you would like.”

“I would very much appreciate that.”

“Sure.” The woman grabbed another piece of paper and Taron watched her write the way to Robyn’s work which definitely looked more complicated than the ones to her house. “Ok here you go. So, go over the bridge and stay on the footpath on the right side of the road and follow that path all the way to the round-about. Keep on the footpath as you walk past the round-about and you will see an entrance to a road on the right-hand side that has railings and some signs on it that say Scoil Bríd with a green and red background. Go down that road all the way to the end and you’ll see the entrance to a housing estate called Green Hill. Robyn’s creche is number one. You will see it as you walk past the railings but you have to walk into the estate to actually get to the building. I have actually added a little map but if you stay on footpath the whole way around, you will be grand and find it easily.”

Taron took the paper from the woman. “Thank you for this.”

“No problem at all. Robyn used to look after my little girl.” That brought a smile to Taron’s face. “Rachel loved her.”

“Thank you again. Have a great day.”

Taron held onto the paper tight as he made his way out of the hairdressers and up the steps that led to the traffic light which also had a pedestrian crossing. He waited for the light to turn green for him and started to make his way across the bridge, crossing the actual bridge when he saw the green man again, making sure he was on the right-hand footpath as directed. He hoped it wasn’t too long a walk because he could feel the exhaustion quickly seeping into his bones and his left arm was getting tired from carrying his duffle and he knew he couldn’t use his right because of the stitches on his arm.

He had made it over the bridge and to the entrance of a housing estate called Royal Fields, when he had to stop and pull his hoodie off, his body sweltering in the morning heat. He shoved it into his duffle and picked it up again and continued walking down the footpath, the round-about in sight in front of him. Keeping to the right, he saw the black railings and the Irish words on the red and green sign and took the right turn as instructed. The black railings continued on the left-hand side, Taron now walking past a wall on his right but he kept going, even though he was really feeling the pressure of the travelling and walking on his body. He prayed he was getting closer because his bag felt like a weight and his head was really started to pound. He could hear voices in the distance, children’s voices and after another two minutes, he walked past a school behind black railing, the red and green plaque screwed to the railing.

Wiping some sweat from the back of his neck, Taron looked up to see if he was getting closer to the end of the road and there in front of him was a large two story house at the end of a row of houses with a blue and white sign on the wall that said ‘Happy Days – Play & Learn Childcare’ and Taron groaned with delight and somehow managed to speed up his walk.  The sign was located on the back of the creche and just as the hairdressers had described, he had to walk into the housing estate called Green Hill and then back along the footpath to actually get to number one.

As he walked closer to the creche, Taron could feel his heart starting to race and his nerves build fast and he had to stop for a minute to calm his breathing down. He had been so desperate to get to see Robyn and now that he was finally here, he was absolutely doubting his decision.

He had plenty of time to think, almost over think everything on the way over and it had taken every ounce of his strength to hold his emotions in on the plane, having to close his eyes tight on many occasions to stop the tears from falling. He hadn’t lied to Doctor Hart when he said he believed Robyn was the only one who could understand how he was feeling, who could relate to the emotions he had bubbling under his skin but standing in the baking sun, he didn’t know if had made the right decision to come to Ireland to find her. What if she didn’t want to see him? What is he had come all of this way for nothing, to be met with a blank face and refusal?

Dropping his duffle on the ground, Taron had to sit on the garden wall behind him, his hands going to his face as he struggled to take some air into his lungs, a sudden dread completely overpowering him. His hands were shaking and his side was on fire with the effort of trying to control his breathing. That doubt was engulfing him and his hat was soon on the ground beside his bag and he was pulling at the neck of his t-shirt as he felt constricted and tight.

He closed his eyes and placing his hands on his knees, he inhaled through his nose and then out through his mouth, once again that technique that Robyn had taught him coming to his rescue. He took a few more scrappy breathes, the exertion of which was absolutely killing him in every way possible. Sweat was starting run down his back and head and his wiped at his temples, immediately wincing as his fingers rubbed the grazes on the right side of his face. He could feel himself crumbling very quickly, just like he was in the 7/11 and it was Robyn who had wiped his tears every time, easing his fears and calming his mind. Robyn was so close to him and he had travelled all the way to see her. He closed his eyes tight and tried to imagine her in front of him, her hands on his face, talking him through his panic and with some laboured breathes at first, Taron finally regained control but he was paying the price for taking so long to regulate his breathing as he felt physically and mentally exhausted and drained. Whatever hesitation he had felt before was completely gone and picking up his bag and hat, he started to walk down the rest of the footpath to get to the front door of Robyn’s work place. He just needed to see her, he needed to talk to her and he needed her comforting hand in his because he had to believe that the Robyn he knew wouldn’t blank or ignore him.

There was a woman sitting behind a desk in the front left window and he saw her look up as he walked by. He stood in front of the door and rang the doorbell, standing back, waiting for the door to be opened. It only two about three seconds before it was and he was met with a kind looking lady with blonde hair in a pixie cut, wearing a black pencil skirt and purple blouse.

“Hi there, how can I help you?”

“Erm hi, I was just looking for Robyn?”

“Robyn.” Asked the lady, tilting her head to the side, taking in the frazzled appearance of the man in front of her.

“Yeah Robyn Quinn. She works here right?”

“Yes, she does.”

“Would I be able to speak to her please? My name is Taron and I won’t take up much of her time. I literally just need a minute, if she is here.”

As soon as the lady heard the man say his name was ‘Taron’, she stepped back and opened the door fully. “Why don’t you come in Taron. I’m Emma.”

Taron was surprised as he was invited into the creche, but took the step in and moved so the door could be closed behind him.

“Do you want to just step into the office here.” Said Emma and she walked into the room behind Taron that was set up with two desks and a large filing cabinet. “It’s ok Taron, you can come in.” She assured as the man hesitated in the hallway. Taron cautiously walked into the office. “Why don’t you drop your bag under the desk and sit down.” She watched as her visitor grimaced as he placed his bag on the floor and pushed it under the desk before awkwardly sitting down on the swivel chair nearest the door. “I will go and get Robyn for you, ok?” She saw a complete change in his face when she mentioned Robyn’s name, his features becoming more awake.

“Please.” Was all Taron could manage in reply and Emma walked past him and out into the hallway, opening the gate to the stairs, knowing Robyn was upstairs dealing with a disgruntled staff member.

Emma had no intention of letting the man at her door into the creche, until he mentioned his name and she knew exactly who he was and why he was standing at the door looking like he was ready to fall down with exhaustion.

Emma was thrilled to have her supervisor back on Monday morning but got the shock of her life when she took in her tired appearance and bruised face. Emma has been expecting Robyn to be refreshed and full of excitement after her time away but she was met with a very different woman and she had listened with disbelief as Robyn had explained to her what had happened, shocked at how she had spent her last night in Florida.

She also knew Robyn hadn’t told her all of the details of what exactly had occurred in the shop as she watched how Robyn became more withdrawn, tense and tired as each day passed but Taron was the name of the man that centred around her story and when he had suddenly arrived at Robyn’s place of work looking just as shattered as her supervisor was, Emma knew there was something that brought Taron all the way from Florida to Kilcreen so she took no time in running up the stairs to get Robyn.

“The policy is there for a reason and we cannot have phones in the room for that child protection reason. If you need to make a phone call, just ask me or Emma and you can use the creche phone. Personal phones need to be locked in lockers and can only be taken out for use during your lunch break.”

“Robyn.” Emma gave her slight nod with her head. “Can I grab you for a second.”

“Please put it back in your locker Valerie. Thank you.”

Robyn walked out of the preschool room upstairs and looked to Emma. “What’s up.”

“There is someone downstairs to see you.” Emma saw the confusion in her face. “Just come downstairs with me.”

“Sure. If it’s my mother, I swear…” Robyn followed Emma down the stairs but stopped to open the window on the stairs. “Here was I thinking I coming back to the cold and rain but we’re in the middle of a bloody heat wave.” She continued down the rest of the stairs, turning to close the stair gate behind her. “Emma, I have the rest of these policies signed by the girls and I am going to put them in…”

Robyn stopped in her tracks, her converse squeaking on the floor as she stopped so suddenly and looked to who was sitting in her chair in the office, dropping the pages she was holding in shock.

“Taron!”

[amphtaminedreams]

My Amateur European Travel Guide

Hi to anyone who’s reading!

I spent just over a month in Europe over the summer and have far too many good food pics that deserve more than sitting in my camera roll untouched and thus I thought I’d do my very shitty, amateurish version of a travel guide, basically a run down of my favourite things that we did in each city. From touristy shit like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum to some equally beautiful but lesser known places, getting an inter-rail pass gives you the time to see everything whilst not spending an absolute fortune. 

I went with a friend and we did the basic, first-time traveller route: Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana, Venice, Rome and Milan. The pass, which allowed us to use domestic and international trains on 10 separate days within a month, for students only cost £230. We did then have to pay extra for the Eurostar from St.Pancras to Paris, and additional “reservation” fees to get seats on the trains in Italy and between France and The Netherlands, but all in all this didn’t cost us anymore than about £50. The flight back from Milan to Southend Airport cost £30, though be warned that it’s actually pretty hard to get from Southend to central London; if we hadn’t been able to get a lift, we probably would’ve spent an extra £30 getting home from there. 

We were away for 3 weeks and 4 days in total, and on top of the approx. £700/£800 we spent on hostels and air b&bs, I spent about £1500 whilst I was away. You could probably get away with taking about £1000 with you if you’re willing to cook while you’re away. We did a couple of nights whilst we were in air b&bs, but on the whole, we usually ate out. The hostel kitchens were a bit of a nightmare, though I’m not going to pretend it was anything other than a combination of laziness and gluttony that stopped me from cooking, lol. HOW CAN YOU GO TO ITALY AND NOT GO OUT FOR PASTA EVERY NIGHT?! It can’t be done. With my non-existent self-control anyway. 

Once I got back from inter-railing, I also then spent a week with my family staying in the cutest seaside town about half an hour outside of Barcelona, Sitges, which we’ve visited a few times before. For that reason, I thought I’d write about some of my favourite things to do in and around Barcelona, not just from this trip but from all the times we’ve visited over the last few years.

I’ll start, though, with the first place we visited on our inter-railing trip: Paris.

Paris, France

It might be because it was the first place we went and the place where I had the most energy and drive to explore, lol, but Paris was my absolute favourite of the cities we visited. I know a lot of people seem to be disappointed with it but there’s just so much to do and so much culture; gorgeous architecture, art, fashion, food, I feel that it lives up to its reputation in every way if you really utilise your time there properly. The public transport is easy to understand and use and my only gripe with the hostel is that it was a little far out. This didn’t really limit us in any way though, so it didn’t bother me. 

The Hostel

Our first hostel, Jo&Joe’s in Gentilly, was a really cool place. I believe it was around £30 a night (one of the more expensive hostels we stayed in) to stay in a room like the one I've included a photo of. The beds were comfy and you had a decent amount of space, and the wi-fi was good. My only issue is that there wasn’t much privacy in terms of the bathroom; there was one toilet room and one shower room in the actual bedroom to be shared between the 6 of us. There didn’t really seem to be much about in Gentilly but to be honest, we didn’t venture very far and there’s more than enough to do in central Paris.

Paris Top Things to do:

1. Palais de Tokyo

Probably my favourite art museum we visited our entire trip, Palais de Tokyo was...an experience. 

Costing £8 for a student ticket, almost every piece of artwork in there was strange as hell. That being said, it was all very immersive and interactive and like nothing I’d seen before which is why I liked it so much. 

Well, apart from the dirty sock. Literally. There was a dirty sock on display. Art, right? 

2. Musee D’Orsay

I’d say if you only had time to do one of the “big” art museums in Paris, do Musee D’Orsay, not the Louvre.

 It’s a lot more compact and has a wider range of styles, plus a lot more modern art, including some Van Gogh and several Degas. I had so many favourite pieces from Louise Abbema’s Allegories of Spring and Winter, to Thomas Couture’s Romans in their Decadence:

Plus I’d take Amaury Duval’s portrait of Marie-Anne Detourbay over the Mona Lisa any day. The staring into your soul game she’s got going on is unparalleled.

3. Eiffel Tower 

I think the level of dumbassery involved in my decision to wear heeled boots to make the 500 or so step journey up the Eiffel Tower cancels out any smarts that went into us saving €3 by booking in advance and walking instead of getting the lift, but it’s all about the experience, lol, and I would do it again for the view. It only cost €5 in total and by booking online about a month before, we didn’t have to wait in what is usually about a 3 hour queue if you turn up on the day.

4. Yves Saint Laurent Museum

It only took us about an hour to do the Yves Saint Laurent museum but it was definitely worth the £10 for entry if you are interested in fashion. It was pretty quiet when we went which I liked as it made for a much more peaceful experience than say, the Louvre, and the museum is very well laid out. There’s a load of original pieces in there and I feel like I learned a lot about Saint Laurent himself too. I also learned that I am very unsophisticated (I really didn’t feel posh enough to be walking into the building, lol) but we been knew.

5. Sacre Couer 

Warning: The Sacre Couer is a very steep walk from the nearest tube station. I internally died. Several times. But it’s very beautiful once you get up there.

6. Monmarte

I wish we’d had more time to explore Monmarte as it was one of the prettiest places I saw on our trip, with so many cute restaurants and cafes. Top things to see in the area are the Wall of Love and though we didn’t actually go there, Montmarte Cemetery too. I found out when we got back that the latter is supposedly inhabited by a load of stray cats and now I am severely disappointed that we didn’t have a look. I guess I’ll just have to go back! You know, just to check if it’s true about the cats. And also eat some more of the food, ofc.

7. Vintage Shopping

We had a quick look in two of the vintage shops whilst we were in Paris, Kilo Shop and Tilt Vintage, and I saw a lot of really cool things. Unfortunately, because I couldn’t really fit anything else in my backpack and was being pretty tight with money at that point in the trip (an attitude my bank balance probably wishes had been sustained throughout, lol), I didn’t get anything. Still, I’d definitely recommend checking the shops I mentioned and the other vintage shops in that area out if you are interested in buying some clothes whilst you’re away. The only thing I’d say is to avoid them if you have trouble with crowds and/or small spaces as there were a shit tonne of people in pretty much all the ones we went in and because of the layout, not much room to move. And protip: if you like breathing non-body odour tinted oxygen, don’t venture in any of them in the middle of heatwave. Not fun. 

8. Champs Elysees 

I think it’s kind of a given that you see the Champs Elysees whilst you’re in Paris, but last time I was there, I only really saw it from an open top bus and was quiet underwhelmed. On this trip, we walked from the Louvre through the Tuileries and then slowly made our way down towards the Arc de Triomphe, having a look down the streets that run perpendicular to the Champs Elysees on our way, which were all very typically Parisienne. At the bottom, you have Aventue Montaigne which has all the fancy, designer flagship stores, and then down Avenue FDR (where we went for lunch) there are plenty of places to stop and have a bite to eat. I thought I’d been all French getting a baguette from down here before realising it was from a glorified Paul which we have all over London, BUT, if you’re into açai bowls, my friend had a really good one at a place called Cojean.

9. Versailles

Before we went to Versailles, a lot of people told me that it was really crowded and not worth going to but I couldn’t disagree more. It was so beautiful both on the inside and out and there’s so much to learn! I’ve always been fascinated by Marie Antoinette so I might be slightly biased but I was totally in my ex-historical nerd element. I would definitely recommend arriving as early as possible if you’re not paying for skip the line tickets, since we got there for around 10 and had to stand in a very long queue to get in. It did move quickly but looked very daunting at first and I imagine it only gets worse as the day goes on.

10. Disneyland Paris

I mean, we didn’t got there this time and technically, it’s not Paris. But come on, it’s Disney. I couldn’t leave it off the list.

Future Paris Bucket List:

Moulin Rouge

Musee d’Orangerie

Jardin du Luxembourg

Louvre Highlights Tour

Louis Vuitton Foundation

Paris Museum of Modern Art

Get dinner in Trocadero

Centre Pompidou

Paris Catacombs

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of my favourite places ever. It’s picturesque, easy to find your way around, and full of amazing food. It was my second time here and my friend’s third so we had a pretty chilled out time but still did a lot. I definitely wouldn’t say no to going back again.

The Hostel

The hostel we stayed in in Amsterdam was called ClinkNoord and was a short (and free!) boat ride away from the city centre. Also at around £30 a night, the rooms were basic yet comfortable and the place as a whole had a modern, utilitarian vibe to it which I really liked. The bathrooms were a short walk down the hall, a more private alternative to the bathrooms in our Paris hostel, and were pretty much always free. As for the showers, they were a wet room kinda situation and a little bit grim at times but as long as you bring flip flops (I didn’t, another example of dumbassery, lol) you’ll be fine. Maybe this is the 10 year old in me leaping out but I really loved the bar area at this hostel too: drinks were cheap, but more importantly, it had table football, pool, AND a ping-pong room. WITH A BLACK LIGHT MIGHT I ADD!

Amsterdam Top Things to do:

1. Electric Ladyland

The edibles had already began to kick in a little bit by the time we got to Electric Ladyland so this might be a bit of an overstatement but this place was, in a good way of course, very trippy. It’s basically a mini fluorescent art museum and exhibition in this guy’s basement (not as weird as it sounds, lol), and for £5 you can go in and see it and then, if you hang around, watch him give a demonstration on how it all works and where he sourced his paint from. It says on the website that it’s by appointment only but we just turned up on the day just as a slot was about to start and were allowed in. In terms of taking an edible before you go in, maybe don’t, lol. It was a bit of a surreal experience; in a very dark room, listening to an old American hippy talk about how he explored caves in Utah to find mineral rocks, the weed-induced paranoia low-key kicked in. I did, at points, momentarily forget that there was a room around the point I was immediately focussed on and started panicking that we were just drifting through space. And then there was the occasional fear that I was trapped in some kind of eternal time loop where the man would just keep on talking in circles and I would be stuck down there forever, not wanting to be rude and leave whilst he was mid-sentence, as part of the universe’s karmic punishment for my impractical level of politeness and need to people-please. Climbing the ladder up out of the basement was...a little tricky, to say the least.

2. Pancake House

You have to have pancakes in Amsterdam and my friend recommended this place as the original one. I had a pancake with ice cream, caramel sauce and chocolate sauce and whilst a little sickly, it was tasty af. If I went again, I think I’d just stick to one sauce; it was so sweet that I had to admit defeat about halfway, something I do not look back on with pride. Next time, I will be victorious over one of these beasts of a pancake. Speaking it into existence.

3. Hire a bike and visit Vondelpark

There are plenty of ways to get about in Amsterdam and the trams are super easy to use but hiring a bike for the time you’re there is probably the cheapest and most Amsterdammy (I know, not really a word) way to get around. We hired our bikes from Starbikes by the central station and it was a very simple and affordable process which I would definitely recommend; their shop has some of the best reviews on Trip Advisor for bike hire. Riding along the canals is quite chilled but if you’re not super confident, the best place to go is probably Vondelpark, as it has wider lanes with the added bonus of not living in semi-permanent fear of being yeeted off your bike into the canal by a car coming up behind you. It also has friendly ducks! How can you say no to that? I mean, ignoring the fact that male ducks have like, 9 inch corkscrew penises which apparently spin when they mate. Thank Reddit for that life-altering and mildly disturbing piece of information.

4. Mannekin chips

The BEST Belgian fries which I spent the entirety of the rest of our trip craving. Best sauce combination is ketchup and samurai sauce, and I recommend going for a regular portion. The large is insane and I am very much in awe of anybody who can finish it.

5. Van Gogh Museum

We didn’t actually visit the Van Gogh museum on this trip but I went on my first visit to Amsterdam and you really can’t miss it. Not only does it have a lot of Van Gogh’s most famous works, including sunflowers, it has a lot of the work of the artists who inspired him as well as pieces from some of his contemporaries. 

7. Stedelijk

Really cool modern art museum with an interactive room where you can take part in activities relating to the current exhibition too. Though I guess it really depends on your art preferences, if you do only have time to do either this or The Rijksmuseum, I would definitely say Stedelijk. 

8. The Rookies Coffeeshop

So I can’t say I’ve tried a lot of the coffee shops in Amsterdam as on our first visit we only really went to this one and The Bulldog chain, and this time we didn’t go as much, but they do the best space cakes. They’re genuinely really tasty but they can be quite intense if you haven’t smoked in a while or don’t do so regularly so make sure you’re in somewhere you feel safe and have other people with you.

9. Amsterdam Dungeons

Though the Amsterdam Dungeons were more similar to the London Dungeons than I thought they would be, with less of a focus on the dark history of the area and more on general dark European history such as the Spanish Inquisition and witch trials which also came up a lot in the London run through, I would still thoroughly recommend them. The Dungeons are definitely a tourist trap but they’re also just hilarious and you genuinely do learn a little, so I think worth the money!

10. The Blonds Cafe

I wasn’t crazy about the menu here as I’m a ridiculously fussy eater but I think most people will easily find something they like, and the actual cafe and presentation is really cute. The grilled cheese sandwich I ended up having was really good and even if you end up just having a cake, I’d recommend it. They had lemon AND mint infused water dispensers, which, now I’m writing down doesn’t seem very exciting at all, but I got hyped up, okay? And worst case scenario, it’s not for you, there are loads of other cool and very hipster-y looking (lol) independent cafes in the area. 

11. Anne Frank House

Again, this was something I did on my first trip to Amsterdam, but you can’t miss it. From a history standpoint and as someone who read Anne Frank’s diary several times when I was younger, I found it very surreal to actually visit the house I’d heard so much about. You definitely get a sense of just how stifling and claustrophobic living in that annex was and even if you’re not into your history, I do think a lot of insight can be gained from taking a trip here! 

12. Go to one of the Pastry Shops

If you go to Amsterdam, you’ll see them everywhere, the little slightly shabby-looking cafes with all the amazing waffles and donuts and crepes and cupcakes in the window. Go to one! I had a waffle covered in white chocolate and Oreos and it was 1000% as good as it looked. 

13. Moco Museum

The last thing on my Amsterdam list and another thing we did on my first trip, the Moco Museum is one of my favourites I’ve ever been to. It’s pretty small and doesn’t take you that long to look around but it’s full of contemporary, provocative art based around the theme of political and social commentary. Given that description, it’s probably no surprise that it houses a lot of Banksy, but there’s also a fair bit of pop art too, and a very cool gift shop. Because I can never resist a good gift shop.

Future Amsterdam Bucket List:

A day trip to the tulip fields

De Poezenboot

Eye Film Museum 

Swing at A’dam lookout

Canal Cruise

Berlin, Germany

Berlin definitely wasn’t what I was expecting it to be. As a capital city, I expected it to be this very built up, bustling, commercial place, but it was actually pretty quiet and very spread out. In a way, it almost seemed a bit left behind and completely deserted in parts. That being said, from a historical point of view, it was probably the most interesting place that we went. It’s easy to forget that just a few decades ago the city was completely divided and you can definitely sense that it’s still rebuilding itself.

The Hostel

We stayed in a hostel that was tucked away in the basement of the Aletto hotel, just a minute’s walk away from the Zoologischer Garden station. I believe it was around £20 a night for an 8 person mixed dorm. The beds weren’t the comfiest and the room itself was a bit dark and dank, given that it was below street level, but all in all, the hostel was decent as a stop-off point. I liked that there was a kind of a small communal area in the kitchen and the bathrooms were spacious and clean, and fortunately, it was pretty quiet when we were there so we usually had them to ourselves. 

Berlin Top Things to do:

1. Never Ending Love Story

A really lovely little cafe in a pretty, quiet area, the service here was exceptionally good! I’m not one to complain when workers don’t seem overly enthusiastic, I work in retail so I get that you sometimes can’t be arsed with all the over-the-top politeness, but I do appreciate friendliness and the waitress here was so sweet. I had delicious scrambled eggs on sourdough toast and my friend had pancakes and we both really enjoyed our food. 

2. East Side Gallery

I wish I had more to say about the East Side Gallery, but to be honest I was pretty drunk and had half an edible-I thought we were going out out after, don’t judge me-so I can’t remember much. Judging from my very shitty and my friend’s very good (this is one of hers, lol) photos though, it was really interesting. Good street art is up there with the best of them imo and given the context of the gallery, it’s no surprise that a lot of the art is politically charged, which just adds an extra layer of appeal to it. There’s also a lot of good photo ops, or so drunk me clearly thought. 

3. Topography of Terror

Built on top of the former SS Reich Main Security Office, the Topography of Terror is a museum I’d say you need to set aside at least 2 and a half/3 hours for to properly do. There’s so much information to get through and I’d say I ended up skimming half of it towards the end because we were short on time; I later found out that there’s even more to see outside which we didn’t even touch. 

4. Jewish Museum

Unfortunately, a lot of the Jewish Museum was closed when we went but it’s still a very physically impressive building with exhibitions that are equal parts daunting and thought-provoking, relating to both the Jewish experience during the Second World War and Jewish culture in general.

5. Museum Island

We didn’t actually go in any of the museums on Museum Island but we walked around and sat at a nice little green spot nearby; t’s very pretty to explore, especially as the sun is going down. There were plenty of bars around and people drinking, sunbathing and listening to music by the river. Generally a really relaxed vibe.

6. Fritzies 

I know dirty fries aren’t the classiest thing ever but the ones from this place tasted really fucking good. How can you go wrong with a fast food restaurant dedicated to chips?

7. The History: Brandenberg Gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, Hitler’s Bunker, Jewish Memorial

Most of these places are within walking distance of each other and we did them all within a couple of hours. Like I said, the best thing about Berlin is the history so I think making an effort to see all these things is really important. On our last night we managed to find out, via a nearby poster, about a free show on the river (with English subtitles obviously; as the basic monolingual bitch I am, anything other than dankeschön and hallo went right over my head) which covered major points in the history of the Reichstag over the last century; it was the perfect way to round off our trip.

8. KW Institute for Contemporary Art

This museum was half the overly pretentious contemporary art that makes classicists roll their eyes:

-though I do actually like it, sue me-

And half the simple, but millennially-inspired kinda stuff that I love. Like, that top collection got me feeling like the new Van Gogh every time I accidentally screenshot my home screen. 

So obviously, I rated it. And side-note, the building in general, which had an old, unused warehouse kinda thing going on, along with a shady little courtyard outside, was very cool.

9. Pizza Nostra

Look at this photo. Do I need to say any more?

Future Berlin Bucket List:

Historical River Cruise

Return to the Jewish Museum

The Story of Berlin Museum

Berghain (even just to see it from the outside)

About Blank, Suicide Circus, i.e one of the tamer, more mainstream clubs

Anne Frank Zentrum

Hackescher Hof

Oranienburger Strasse and Kunsthaus Tacheles

Prague, Czech Republic

I absolutely adored Prague. From the second I stepped out of the metro station into Old Town Square on our first evening, I felt like I was walking into a fairytale. All the buildings were so ornate and beautiful, everywhere you look is like a postcard. There’s so much history there which we only really had time to scrape the surface of and I can’t wait to go back.

The Hostel

We stayed at Hostel Dakura which was only around £15 a night and a few metro stops from the city centre. As you can see, it’s a little outdated but all in all, still clean and comfortable. The dorm and bathrooms were very spacious and there was an outdoor seating area with benches and ping-pong too. I’d definitely say it was good value for money.

Prague Top Things to do:

1. Explore Old Town

The Old Town part of Prague is definitely the main attraction, from the cute and very typically European seating areas outside the restaurants, to the Trdelnik shops, to the gothic statues, and the colourful buildings that surround them; you'll feel like you’re walking through a mix between a shopping mall and a medieval time capsule. There’s not really all that much point me putting Old Town on the must-do list as it’s pretty much unavoidable but I liked it so much I just couldn’t leave it out. I really haven’t been anywhere like it before. It’s part Westeros, part Fantasyland at Disney (with some stag dos thrown in), and that’s saying something; Disney World comparisons do not come easy from me.

2. Letna Hill

A bit of a steep walk uphill but totally worth it for the view of the city.  Lots of cool bars and places to get cheap beer and cider too, if that’s your kinda thing. Spirits, to my dismay, are pretty much the same price as they are back home. Not that it was on Letna Hill but I paid €20 for 2 doubles one night. €20. PRAGUE IS CHEAP FOR ALCOHOL, THEY SAID. YOU CAN GET PISSED FOR A TENNER, THEY SAID. IT’LL BE FUN, THEY SAID. Sigh.

PROTIP: Make sure you have cash on you, especially if you’re heading up Letna Hill, as they don’t take card at any of the bars and there aren’t any cash machines. There also aren’t any water fountains and the tap water isn’t drinkable, apparently. You know what there are, though? Rats. 

I’m going to stop before I put anyone off. Our experience wasn’t the best but done right, I think you could have a really chilled evening here. Go to Letna Hill. It’s lovely.

3. Prague Castle

Also a bit of an uphill walk, Prague Castle is a gothic dream with live music, tantalising food stalls (hehe, tantalising, somebody hire me to write their cookbook ASAP) and insane views. Half the time I felt like I was in King’s Landing and the other half Hogwarts, and that is the kind of 50/50 split I live for. 

4. Walk across Charles Bridge and walk alongside the Vltava River

I thought our day peaked when I came to the realisation, whilst crossing the Charles Bridge, that we were in fact surrounded by vaguely religious and mildly creepy Jesus-looking statues but then we reached the other side and soon after, became one with nature. We saw ducks! Otters. Swans. Inject that wholesome shit into my veins. 

Also, a pigeon landed on me! That’s right, if you stand there with your arm out for long enough whilst walking alongside the Vltava River, you too can experience the fleeting terror that comes with the possibility of being pooed on but then the earth-shattering realisation that comes after: that pigeons, maybe, aren’t so bad after all. That they’re actually kinda cute in their own weird, scavenging way! That maybe the pigeon lady in Mary Poppins made some points! I mean, can’t we all relate to wanting to steal other people’s food? I definitely can. Consider me a changed woman.

5. GOAP Museum

Though I’m not much of a Salvador Dali fan and I have a sneaking suspicion that some of the “artwork” in this museum was actually just prints from google blown up on A2 photo paper, I thoroughly enjoyed the Alphonse Mucha and Andy Warhol sections of the GOAP. 

-Untitled Salvador Dali-

The former is one of my absolute favourite artists so I definitely had to take a moment when I walked in and saw that not only did they have several of his original lithographs, but also a whole wall dedicated to him. I wish I had good photos but the lighting was a bit too artificial to really do it justice. The lithographs came out pretty well though:

Obviously Andy Warhol is an icon too; his exhibition in particular was hugely informative and well laid out, definitely a people pleaser. I couldn’t find all too much online but it seems like the exhibitions mentioned are permanent, so definitely go and check them out. 

I also feel the need to mention that it was here I ascended to an elite level of art hoe by buying a Mucha lighter. Jokes on me because it doesn’t work very well, like...at all in anything windier than a very, very mild breeze, BUT it looks pretty, so points for that. 

6. Cafe Chloe

Seeing the size of the queue outside Elan Cafe in London, it kinda blew my mind that considering its flower wall, you could just walk into Cafe Chloe and get a table straight away. Obviously the flower wall is a draw for Instagram purposes (yes, I’m a shallow human being, *insert Ariana Grande “and what about it?” gif here*) but the food was really good too. The perfect place to stop off for brunch. 

7. Pedalos

Again, the pedalos under Charles Bridge are kind of a tourist trap but it was only around €12 between us to rent one for the hour; most of them appeared to be 4 seaters so you could get 2 more people in there and split the price again, making it even cheaper. Plus, it was really fun and we got to go right up to the ducks! 

8. Karlovy Lazne

I’m not gonna lie, tackiness aside, I love a club with multiple rooms and this one had FIVE. There were a lot of English people in there and it did cost about 12 euros in cash to get in (take the cash out in advance as the machine outside charged quite a steep fee), but they played ABBA on more than one occasion so I have zero regrets. I mean, apart from drinking maybe a bit too much once again, but that’s kind of a given at this point. I can only apologise to my liver and what’s left of my dignity.

9. Joy Burger

NGL, the service here wasn’t the best and I kind of felt like I was annoying some of the staff literally just by trying to order my food BUT to be fair, I’d probably be annoyed by me too considering my upholding of the British tradition of asking everywhere if they speak English and hoping for the best rather than actually learning the native language. Anyway, back to the point: look at this burger. Fit. 10/10 would demolish again.

Future Prague Bucket List:

Museum Kampa

Petrin Hill

One of the free city walking tours

Pub crawl

Vienna, Austria

Honestly, of all the places we went to, Vienna was the one I was most pleasantly surprised by. Before going, I’d heard that there wasn’t much to do there and I thought that 24 hours would be more than enough to see the main attractions, but aside from Paris, it’s probably the city I want to revisit most. On every other block there seemed to be some kind of beautiful flower garden or sprawling palace or stately home or elegant cafe, but at the same time, it still had a very modern feel to it. A lot like Paris but more compact, and with a slightly Germanic twist. Plus, I had one of the best Maccies of my life here, so I really can’t complain.

The Hostel

For around £18 for the night we stayed in a 6 person dorm at the Wombats Hostel by Naschmarkt. Because we weren’t there too long, I didn’t get all that much of a feel for it but the communal areas and bar seemed very cool and the central part of the city was in walking distance. The dorms were a little small and outdated and we did get woken up by a fire alarm in the middle of the night but it gave me a kind of primary school trip type nostalgia so I didn’t mind too much. I’d probably look for another hostel if I went back to Vienna just because I think if you were staying for a while, you'd start to feel a bit cooped up in the room. For the one night, however, it was ideal.

Vienna Top Things to do:

1. Museum Quartier

We really only walked through Museum Quartier but there seemed to be loads going on and definitely lots to look at. There’s also a giant astroturf covered waterbed which sounds kinda wack but was actually super fun when I wasn’t fearing my head was going to be squashed like a watermelon by the kids quite literally throwing themselves around on it. So yeah! Check it out!

2. The Traffic Lights

It sounds silly but the traffic lights in the central part of Vienna are super cute. Have a stroll around and see how many of them you can spot. Berlin’s Ampelmann wishes. 

3. Belvedere Palace Grounds

Boujie. 

4. Schonbrunn Palace Grounds

Even boujier.

5. Volksgarten

I really felt like I was walking through the Red Queen’s gardens. Minus the crochet and threat of decapitation of course.

6. Max and Benito

SO GOOD. And a really funky seating area outside too. Probably best for a quick lunch and I also imagine would make great drunk food if you need an excuse to day drink. 

Future Vienna Bucket List:

Natural History Museum of Vienna

Wien Museum

Leopold Museum

Belvedere Museum of Contemporary Art

Cafe hopping

Further explore MuseumQuartier 

Naschmarkt

Budapest, Hungary

It might be an unpopular opinion but I didn’t adore Budapest as a city. To be honest, my expectations were probably slightly too high as I’d heard so many people rave about it. I can see why people like it so much: there’s loads of great places to eat, drinks are cheap, and ruin bars are very cool. My issue was just that I thought there’d be more to do in terms of daytime activities. The one art museum we went to was completely deserted and there didn’t seem to be as many historical places to explore as in some of the other cities we visited. Of course it’s all a matter of personal preference and I might have just not done enough research/planned enough, plus that’s still not to say I didn’t have a good time. We had some lovely chilled out days and the city kind of comes alive in a different way in the evening; the boat party we went to was by far the best night out we had throughout our trip and I had some insanely delicious food. We also hired an Air B&B here for about half the price of some of the hostels we stayed in, and so got to actually settle down and spread our stuff out for a few days; something that was much needed after living out of lockers for 2 weeks.

Budapest Top Things to do:

1. Mr.Funk’s

Look at this bad boy and tell me you don’t want to go to Mr.Funk’s and try one of their freakshakes. Tell me that freakshakes being banned in the UK wasn’t a devastating miscarriage of justice and an attack on my human rights. Tell me that I’m not a failure for leaving a donut behind. Pls. Validate me. 

2. Street Food Karavan

Street Food Karavan is such a cool little spot with so many delicious looking food stalls, I honestly could’ve eaten there for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Plus loads of vegan and veggie options too.

3. Boat Party

I believe we booked our night through budapestboatparty.com and honestly it was so fun and such good value for money. It may have partly been down to the alcohol and the edible I had before, lol, but everything felt so surreal; I spent 90% of the event just being amazed by how beautiful our surroundings were and the combination of the breeze and the scenery and the music made for the absolute best atmosphere. Everyone we spoke to was so friendly and if I went back I’d love to do it again, maybe slightly more sober (unlikely) so I can take even more of it in. That being said, bear in mind that these kind of things can probably be a bit hit or miss. The friend that recommended the boat party told me that she spent the first half of the event avoiding being hit on by men twice her age, so clearly it depends a lot on the company, lol!

4. Kiosk

We didn’t actually have proper meals at Kiosk but we did find some deck chairs to sit on whilst we ate ice cream from one of the stalls they were running outside. The restaurant itself was inside but the outdoor seating had a stunning view of the sunset and the river and the area in general was really buzzing. 

5. Shoes on the Danube

It’s a simple monument but the story behind the Shoes on the Danube makes it one of the most important things to see in Budapest.

6. Szechenyi Baths

Before we actually went into the baths, I was a bit grossed out. Like, it sounded great in theory but then we got there and I realised we were about to step into what is essentially a steaming pit of bodily fluids. BUT, put that minute, mildly repugnant detail aside and you’ll have a brilliant time. Start with the whirlpool in the outdoor area and by the time you’ve done that, you’ll be feeling wild enough to bath and sauna hop to your heart’s desire. Unless you are a real, compulsive germaphobe, pissing yourself at the sight of little kids and adults alike getting uncontrollably whisked around like a bunch of sweaty egg yolks is enough to make you put any (don’t get me wrong, warranted) hygiene concerns to one side. You can shower when you’re dead. That’s what they say, right?

7. Margaret Island 

I think we had one of our most relaxed afternoons at Magaret Island, lying out on the grass by the dancing fountains; it’s definitely a great place to sunbathe, read, or grab a cheap alcoholic drink. There’s options for if you’re feeling more adventurous too: on our second visit there, we paid €10 between us to hire a pedal car for the hour and decided to cycle round the island. It was by the grace of god (or for the most part my friend’s very necessary backseat driving) that there was only one casualty of my steering. Angry Hungarian man, if you’re out there, I’m very sorry our pedal car almost knocked you off your bike. My bad. But yeah, my catastrophic attempt at doing the bare minimum physical activity aside, go and chill on Margaret Island. It’s super pretty.

8. Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion

Just a heads up that we paid around €4 or €5 each to go up to the top of Castle Hill with one of the companies giving out flyers at the bottom, so have a look and see if you can find a better deal before paying to ride the funicular. Once we did get up there we could hop on and off, and the ticket included a ride down as well. In terms of what to expect when you get up there, spectacular views. Though I found the castle itself a bit disappointing, Fisherman’s Bastion was really beautiful and had some great photo spots. If I went back to Budapest, I’d probably spend more time in the area as I think that’s where a lot of the history actually is.

9. Szimpla Kert

Probably the most famous ruin bar in Budapest, I really loved Szimpla Kert. It was a bit chaotic and very crowded but the eccentric interiors and open air courtyard gave it an almost magical feel that only a tiny number of bars I’ve been to have anything on. Vaulty Towers and Bar Elba in Waterloo I’m looking at you. Missing you and your overpriced drinks always xoxo

10. House of Terror

The House of Terror was my only real history fix whilst we were in Budapest and I found it really interesting. In particular, I liked how all the visitors took sheets of information in each room to read in our own time rather than us all trying to crowd round one sign. The basement part of the museum is presumably the main draw, and I understand why given how unnerving it is, but I enjoyed the whole museum. Obviously there are things you have to take with a pinch of salt and (our Air B&B host warned in our welcome package that it was slightly biased; I couldn’t find much about public opinion of the museum online so if by the slim chance somebody who knows more is reading this please let me know! Educate me!), but at the same time, if just for walking through the site of the past atrocities, there is definitely something to be gleaned by visiting.

11. Parliament Building

There was really no need for the Hungarian Parliamentary building to step on Westminter’s neck like that but...I guess she did what she had to do.

12. Ludwig Museum

Like I mentioned, this museum was pretty deserted but they did have some cool contemporary art and in particular an exhibition dedicated to the fashion designer Kiraly Tamas which I really enjoyed. His are the pieces in the photo above!

13. Donut Library

Oreo donuts. Need I say more?

14. La Fabbrica 

A very boujie but surprisingly affordable Italian restaurant right opposite St.Stephen’s basilica (pictured), I had one of the many top tier spag bols on this trip here. The toilets are also stylish af and made me feel very much like a peasant so maybe wear something nice so you can get those good good HQ bathroom mirror pics. I was certainly not in any shape to do so. Those toilets were really wasted on my scruffy ass that day. 

Future Budapest Bucket List:

The Hungarian National Gallery

Műcsarnok

Museum of Fine Arts

Budapest History Museum

Hungarian State Opera House

Flippermúzeum

Instant

Great Synagogue 

Memento Park

Secret Walking Tour

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Though we mainly went to Ljubljana so that we could visit Lake Bled, it was still a very cute little area. Pretty small for a capital city but there were loads of day trips out from the centre and for the evenings, a whole range of lively bars and restaurants along the river. 

The Hostel

We stayed at Hostel Kva right in the city centre and paid around €20 a night. The hostel itself was lovely and kind of felt like more of a young people’s B&B than hostel; the communal area in particular had a very cosy, personal feel to it and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. That being said, the actual rooms were very small and I did feel pretty cramped whilst we were there, more so than in any of the other hostels we stayed at. 

Ljubljana Top Things to do:

1. Meselkova Mesa

About a 15 minute walk from the city centre, Meselkova Mesa is a very interesting place. I'm not going to lie, I did feel a little on edge whilst we were there, lol; it was pretty deserted apart from a couple of men having a very loud argument. Nevertheless, there’s some very cool buildings and street art so if you’re in a group, check it out.

2. Lake Bled

Our day trip to Lake Bled, a half hour coach journey from Ljubljana Station for IIRC €8 return, was one of my favourite things we did whilst inter-railing. Not only is it absolutely magnificent to look at but there’s so much to do that I feel like you could have your whole holiday there if you wanted to. Assault courses, hikes, swimming, water sports, rowing, tobogganing, chilling on the (yes, artificial) sand, whether you want to relax or thrill-seek, you’re going to have plenty to do.

3. Puffy

These mini pancakes were so good that I didn’t even notice the chocolate sauce was Nutella and that’s saying something because WHY DO THEY PUT IT ON EVERYTHING IN MAINLAND EUROPE!? PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIKE NUTELLA HAVE RIGHTS TOO!

4. Pop’s Place

The best burger of the entire trip, hands down, and the whole menu looked delicious. Would I fly to Ljubljana just to have another one? Probs. 

5. Tivoli Park

A great place to sit down and read a book or go on a bike ride, or alternatively, if you’re me, awkwardly hide from a bunch of people from your hostel you irrationally believed were judging you earlier that day in the bathrooms.

6. Castle Walk

The uphill walk did kill me a little but I am mildly asthmatic so let’s put it down to that. Nothing to do with the fact I haven’t been to the gym in a year. Nothing at all. Anyways, the view was very pretty and though we didn’t go inside the castle, there’s apparently an escape room in there as well as a museum, a restaurant and a jazz club so definitely worth the minor hike.

7. Flower Market

If you go to the square where the food market is, by Dragon Bridge, you’ll find endless stalls of some of the most beautifully arranged flowers I’ve ever seen. It might be a seasonal thing, I’m not sure, but if you’re there in the summer, I’d recommend seeking the market out. They’re a very reasonable price and yes, I did specifically buy a sunflower for a photo op for 50 cent, guilty as charged. When vanity is that cheap I really can’t resist, lol.

8. Illusions Museum

I would definitely recommend going with at least one other person to get the most out of the Illusions Museum and €10 is pretty pricey but if you want to get a cheesy oh-look-I’m-standing-on-the-ceiling photo, here is your best bet.

9. Grefino Frozen Yogurt

I’m not gonna lie, I don’t actually like frozen yogurt myself but I can appreciate good food when I see it and my friend’s portion looked FIT. Plus, I always get excited when anything’s make your own; there will always be a part of me that feels incomplete without regular trips to Pizza Hut to overdo it with the ice cream factory (which this is basically a frozen yogurt, grown up version of). Miss you always. 

Future Ljubljana Bucket List:

Escape Castle

Ljubljana Castle guided tour

Tobogganing at Lake Bled

Row to the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria at Lake Bled

Škocjan Caves

MSUM

Venice, Italy

Everywhere you look in Venice is picture perfect. It literally looked exactly how it did in all the photos I’d seen beforehand. There’s so much to do and so many amazing looking places to eat, I could easily spend a relaxed week here. Emphasis on the relaxed because getting around does involve a lot of walking and a surprising amount of stairs, and we had to pack as much as we could into the short amount of time that we had. By the end of our first day in Venice alone, the word exhausted had a whole new meaning. In terms of public transport, there’s only really the boat system, and that’s a steep €18 for a day ticket. Probably partly due to my moaning, we did end up getting one of these on our last day, but that meant that we also got to go to the islands of Murano and Burano which are included. I definitely wouldn’t say no to going back but it’s quite an overwhelming space: a bit disorientating, crowded, and very expensive! You’d have to give me a few years, lol!

The Hostel

Whilst in Venice we stayed at the Wombats Hostel in Mestre, for around £13 a night. We were lucky in that it had only opened the week before (they were actually celebrating its opening at the Wombats in Naschmarkt when we were there!), and so it was super cheap. I imagine by now the price would’ve increased as it was a lovely hostel. Being new there were obviously some teething problems: queues on the front desk were pretty long, the free drinks vouchers given out had mistakes in that you couldn’t redeem them for one of the drinks that was listed, the kitchens were apparently very overcrowded with 2 faulty hobs between about 50 people, and our room as well as the bathroom in the lobby frequently ran out of toilet paper. Other than that, the dorms were the most spacious, modern and breathable of all the hostels we stayed in and the bar and communal areas were great. The only thing to bear in mind is that you do have to get a train into the main island of Venice, but it’s only about €3 for a return and it’s a short journey. 

Venice Top Things to do:

1. Peggy Guggenheim

A really beautiful museum and garden right on the waterfront, there were all kinds of modern and contemporary art and even a piece (pictured above) by Jenny Holzer who is one of my favourite contemporary artists! I definitely fangirled a little! Some other standouts were by Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Max Ernst, Joan Mitchell and Willem de Kooning which I’m going to offload here to free up some space on my camera roll, lol:

Composition by Joan Mitchell (1962)

Silver Bedhead by Alexander Calder (1945-1946)

Untitled by Willem de Kooning (1958)

Circumcision by Max Ernst (1946)

2. Liberia Acqua Alta

An eclectic little bookshop tucked away down some Venetian side street with tower upon tower of some of the most random combinations of books I’ve ever seen, my favourite thing about Liberia Acqua Alta was the cat chilling behind the counter. It’s shameful the vigour with which the crazy cat lady in me jumped out but I actually did start tearing up at the sight of it. I hadn’t seen a cat in 3 WEEKS! I missed my babies okay:(

3. Takeaway Pizza 

There’s loads of fresh takeaway pizza places around Venice but this particular slice was from a place called Farini. I think there might be more than one of them, and to be honest, when there’s pizza that delicious looking in the window, it would be a crime not to at least seek one out.

4. St.Mark’s Square and Basilica and Bridge of Sighs

It might be a huge tourist trap but you really can’t miss St.Mark’s Square. The Basilica is one of the most magnificent buildings I’ve ever seen and even as someone who is not at all religious, you can appreciate the thought and craftsmanship that went into it. The astrological clock right next to the basilica is also absolutely stunning, just as much so as the one in Prague, imo:

Getting dive-bombed by a flock of pigeons in the square was fun too. My life flashed before my eyes just for a moment. It was a humbling experience.

5. Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibit at Palazzo Zaguri

Basically, this exhibit was a collection of Da Vinci’s drawings of the anatomy of the human body side by side with the corresponding plasticised body parts. Really interesting and not at all as gory as it sounds, which was really the only disappointing part for me, lol.

6. Fondaco de Tedeschi 

If you want a good view of the city without paying a fortune, Fondaco de Tedeschi is your place. It’s a fancy mall with a rooftop area that you can, by booking a time slot online, go up for free. 

7. "Get Lost”

I’m not really someone that enjoys walking around aimlessly but if you’re gonna do that anywhere, Venice is your place. Every street and bridge and balcony is postcard worthy and there are pizza and ice cream and just generally good food places everywhere. You’re bound to stumble across at least one authentic, non wholesale mask shop whilst you’re wandering, and although there’s something vaguely creepy about a load of these blank faces staring out the shop windows at you, some of the displays are totally bewitching:

The middle display is from the shop window of the place that made the mask for Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut which I thought was very cool!

8. Get a boat pass and visit Murano and Burano

As I said, on our last day we bought a boat pass (€18) and visited the nearby islands of Murano and Burano, Murano being the island famed for its glass, and Burano for its rainbow houses. Burano was definitely my favourite of the two; it was a buzzing place full of charming little stalls and shops and boats, and of course, colour. Plus, we even got some close cat encounters in there! Murano was pretty but a lot quieter and seemingly more spread out. The glass shops get a bit old after a while as most of them all have the same things in and so I think finding out where you can see a glass blowing demonstration or visiting the glass museum is a good idea if you are thinking of visiting.

9. Osteria Trattoria Al Nono Risorto

This was a super affordable little restaurant with a really lovely outdoor seating area, recommended by my friend’s mum. The service wasn’t amazing (they forgot about my friend’s pizza, lol) but I had what was probably my number one spaghetti bolognese of the whole trip here, and the garden was very pretty. Finding spots to eat a proper meal in Venice that aren’t going to charge you, like, €12 for the privilege of sitting down in a nice place is hard so I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

Future Venice Bucket List:

La Biennale di Venezia

Lido di Venezia

St.Mark’s Campanile

Chiesa de San Giacomo

Gondola ride

Doge’s Palace

Punta della Dogana

Bugno Art Gallery

Palazzo Fortuny

Rome, Italy

Our final overnight destination, Rome was a lot more cosmopolitan than I expected it to be. I was so focussed on the historical side of things that I kinda forgot it’s a capital city and thus, is going to obviously be pretty commercial. Still, it’s strange to just be going down a very pedestrian street on a tram, turn to one side, and see the bloody Colosseum there. I’m not going to lie, by the time we got to Rome I wasn’t feeling my best and was physically pretty exhausted so I don’t feel like I got to appreciate it as much as I should have done; I ended up going back to our Air B&B a couple of the days, largely due to the heat. It was almost 40 fucking degrees! I was honest to god DRIPPING in sweat on the tram back at one point! But I definitely want to go back again, maybe some time when we aren’t feeling the effects of the planet withering and dying as much, and explore even more. Rome is undoubtedly a very cool place.

Rome Top Things to do:

1. Colosseum and Roman Forum

Before we went to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, I kind of expected it to be something you looked at, went “wow, that’s cool”, and then moved on, lol, and I was low-key a bit pissed off that we were paying €20 to do so. When we did arrive, though, I was blown away by the scale of both the landmarks and how much there was to see and do there. The Roman Forum in particular went on for ages and there were signs regularly dotted about to tell you what it was you were looking at, what it used to be, and who built it, amongst other things; though I’d love to go back with a tour guide, it’s really not necessary. I can’t tell you how starstruck I was to see the foundations of a temple that Julius Caesar ordered to be built; the Romans have always been fascinating to me and I genuinely feel like I learnt SO MUCH on our visit. We booked a last minute whistle stop tour that got us in and out of both venues with allotted time slots, meaning that we couldn’t stay too long in the Forum, so I’d say if you can afford it, just go full out and buy skip the line tickets in advance. You could definitely make a day of it.

2. Fattori Ice Cream

From a really cute little independent shop near the Air B&B we were staying in, this ice cream was SO GOOD that my fussy-ass-self didn’t even mind that I’d accidentally picked a flavour with lemon in. It’s a bit out of the way but I’d say worth the journey, and there’s supposed to be a lot of good street art nearby so there’s non-food related excuses to make the detour too.

3. Vatican Museums and Basilica

Honestly, the Vatican is worth going to for the ceilings alone. Raphael’s frescos are some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, and if anything was going to turn me (to Christianity I mean, lol), it’d be them. I love contemporary art and on the whole find classic art to be a bit repetitive and same-y in its themes but some of the work that can be found in the Vatican is just an example of the level of passion and dedication and patience that can be found in so many pieces of the period and is something that I think modern art can occasionally lack.

4. Aventine Hill

You’d think that a spot with such a good view of the city would be absolutely mobbed but Aventine Hill is just as serene as this photo makes it look. Do-ably uphill, amazing place to watch the sunset, and heads up: I can’t think of anywhere more romantic to propose.

5. MamaEats

One of many lively restaurants in the Travestere area, I had (surprise, surprise) another glorious spaghetti bolognese here. IIRC, they also specialise in gluten free food which is very forward-thinking!

6. Travestere and Riverbank

As I mentioned, Travestere is known for its host of buzzing bars and restaurants, but one thing we didn’t know about until we got to Rome was all the stalls and activities down on the riverbank. Though it didn’t seem to be a year-round thing, there was a whole strip of amazing food places and clothes and jewellery stalls and even some kind of VR experience down there which I would definitely recommend checking out if you are in Rome for the summer months.

8. St.Paul’s Outside the Wall

A really beautiful Church both inside and outside that's lacking absolutely nothing of St.Peter’s Basilica except the queues, my protip for visiting St.Paul’s Outside the Wall is to WEAR SOMETHING COVERING YOUR KNEES AND SHOULDERS. I mean, I’d say the same thing for all of the Italian Churches, but specifically this one because they WILL force these blue sheets of tarpaulin masquerading as “ponchos” upon you and you WILL feel like a complete and utter twat. You have been warned. 

9. Street Art 

We didn’t quite walk far enough to get to the cluster of street art by St.Paul’s Outside the Wall, but what we did see we found easily through the StreetArtRoma app, which marks out the various murals and professional graffiti points around the city. I think a really interesting day would be to hire a bike or a scooter and use the app to explore those various clusters that are dotted all around the city. 

10. Largo di Torre Argentina

The site where Julius Caesar (yep, him again) was assassinated, but also the site which is now populated by a group of very cute, and also very friendly cats. We didn’t get to go in the daytime when the actual cat sanctuary was open but when I went down the steps to get a closer look at the site one of the evenings, several of them came to say hello! No offence to any Christians out there, but if there was one point on this trip when I felt I was truly in the presence of something greater, it was here. And they were furry and adorable. With whiskers:3

11. Parthenon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona

Basically, you gotta do all the big tourist spots. Yes, the Trevi fountain felt a lot like an overcrowded kids’ swimming pool, and yes, I did fear I was about to get yeeted into the fountain like a coin at some points too, but it is undeniably a very captivating sight. Along with the Parthenon, it’s a prime example of Rome not really being what I expected, because there’s no big clearing for either of them; they’re literally just slap bang in the middle of the street like they’re NBD, which is kinda wild considering they're hugely important pieces of history and architecture. Piazza Navona is very pretty too and a great place to sit down and get something to eat, even if it was just boxed pasta from one of the supermarkets round the corner in our case. 

Future Rome Bucket List:

Galleria Borghese

MAXXI Museum

MACRO Museum

Cinecitta Film Studios

Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna

Capitoline Museum

Milan, Italy

We only visited Milan for the day as that was where we got out flights home from but I still really enjoyed it. I went once in 2018 and I think the appeal back then was lost at me, but this time I get it: shopping, lol. There’s also a lot of art and fashion museums which are a huge part of the draw, and of course, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle; I think if you’re a person with *ahem* a fucking shitload of money, that’ll be enough to occupy you for at least a day or two.

Milan Top Things to do:

1. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele 

The oldest shopping mall in Italy and undoubtedly the most beautiful, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele might be the boujiest place I’ve ever stepped foot in. Sure, the shops are too intimidatingly expensive to consider even attempting to enter but they’re fun to marvel at and the general area has every typical high street store you can think of. Even the Zara in Milan looks like a fashion Haus inside! The same shop that in my local town centre resembles a jumble sale a good 50% of the time! So yeah, despite not having any money to spend and the fact that I was *supposed* to be on a shopping ban until October, I still like wandering around the area.

2. Novecento Museum

With several floors of modern art, interactive exhibitions (which you had to sign a RELEASE FORM to participate in), and an amazing view of Il Duomo upstairs, I really enjoyed the Novecento Museum. I thought it was going to a be a disappointing alternative to the Armani Museum, which was closed at the time, but it ended up being one of my favourite museums we visited on our whole trip.

3. Sforza Castle 

My friend that we met up with whilst in Milan (she has a flat in the city! I’m very impressed!) took us here and we sat down in the grounds for a bit, which was a nice way to chill out for an hour or so. There was a fountain out the front that people were paddling in to cool off too and there seemed to be several exhibits going on inside the castle as well if you did want to get a bit of background.

4. Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Via Cordusio 

The fanciest Starbucks I’ve ever seen in my life. Again, intimidatingly so. But if you like your coffee you will probs be in heaven.

5. Gallerie d’Italia

So me and my sister went here the last time we came to Milan and IIRC, really liked it. The modern art section was a bit sparse but the rest of the museum continued into some kind of grand old building and the usual stately home staples that I love were of course there in abundance: intricate ceilings, palatial stairways, opulent chandeliers, beautiful flower gardens, the place is basically a labyrinth of decadence and we lapped it up, lol. People being rich enough to own buildings like this? No. Them being open to the general public so we can go wild in them? Yes. 

Future Milan Bucket List:

Armani Museum

Navigli

Go in the Duomo

Barcelona, Catalonia

I’ve been to Barcelona about 4 or 5 times now and aside from Paris and London, there is no other European city that compares. It’s so huge, full of character and unique beauty, and endless things to do, that I could return probably about 10 times more and still leave with an incomplete bucket list. With stunning architecture, a laid-back coastline and bustling commercial areas, it’s a city with such a consistent vibe and sense of history. The only thing they could do to make it better? Take down the Christopher Columbus monument. Because having a giant statue of a man who facilitated the genocide of a whole country full of native people is a bit...yikes. Sorry, had to drop that in there. But on the whole I adore the place.

Barcelona Top Things to do:

1. CosmoCaixa

We didn’t actually go to CosmoCaixa on this trip to Barcelona, but we went a few years ago and it’s without a doubt, the coolest science museum I’ve ever been too. There’s information in Spanish, Catalan and English so most people can probably follow the exhibitions and even if not, there’s a whole interactive area with a load of contraptions that you don’t really need to understand to be entertained by. You could definitely make a whole day of it too; we went for about 3 hours and still only scratched the surface.

2. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)

2 things!

Firstly, this is a portrait of Colette, the French novelist, which me and my sister got really excited about because we kinda stan after watching that Kiera Knightley film!

Secondly, and probs more importantly, the modern art section of Museum Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is one of the most ingeniously laid out I’ve even seen. With the sections separated into different eras of Catalonian art, it kinda reads like a whistle stop tour of the cultural history of Barcelona, and so not only did I see so many gorgeous paintings, I got educated af!  Also, the building which the museum is housed in, the Palau Nacional, is stunning. Plus, there are escalators most of the way up. Iconic.

3. Portaventura

It was my sister and I’s fourth time visiting Portaventura this year and it was as amazing an experience as ever! The park is split into different themed areas, kinda like Disney, and has everything from thrill rides to Sesame Street Land (which is low-key super fun). It has what is probably one of my favourite rides ever, Shambhala, and also randomly the best theme park food I’ve ever tasted. One thing I would say is that the accompanying park, Ferrari Land, isn’t worth the extra money as the queues are super long, and there’s only really one ride worth going on, which is basically just a replica of Stealth at Thorpe Park. Same goes for the neighbouring water park; unless you’re going to pay for express passes there, give it a miss. The lockers are €10, the queues are ridiculous, the wave pool didn’t work (not that the staff bothered to tell everyone who was just stood there waiting for an hour) and the “lazy” river is pure anarchy. Literally, kids half-drowning themselves for the lols, popping up under your rubber ring when you least expect it, and then being screamed at by their parents. I live for a bit of chaotic energy but that lazy river...

4. Visit Sitges

A small city on the coast about half an hour from Barcelona, I really cannot recommend Sitges enough. There’s a ton of cute little art museums, delicious restaurants, heavenly beaches (the waves are INSANELY GOOD! You WILL get knocked under water half a dozen times but you also get to watch it repeatedly happen to other people too and it’s great), and a fucking ridiculously hard assault course out in the sea that me and my sister tanked at, hard. There’s incredible food places everywhere but favourites are Pom D’Amour and Dino for ice cream and sweet treats, and Beach House, Big Al’s American Kitchen, and Soca for mains . There’s also a really prominent LGBT community, plus lots of bars, pubs and clubs. Honestly, if you’re going to Barcelona, I really recommend staying around here as you get away from the the majority of the tourists but can still easily get in to the city by train.

5. Walking with Gaudi at the Gaudi Exhibition Centre

A very cool, very interactive exhibition that dives into the life of Gaudi, his creative process, his projects and his influences. My sister particularly liked the replica of El Drac. Like, she for whatever reason thought it was cute. Named it. Made us walk up to Parc Guell to try and see it. Wouldn’t leave the area til she got a keychain of it. Sigh.

6. Passeig de Gracia

Down Passeig de Gracia, you can both wistfully gaze through the windows of the designer shops you pass by, and actually spend your money (too much in my case) in the high street ones. Best of both worlds, bby.

7. Casa Battlo 

So it’s on Passeig de Gracia, pretty much opposite the metro station, but I had to give it its own little bit because it’s my favourite Gaudi building. Kinda looks like something aliens would build, kinda looks like something that sprang out of the ground, but that’s pretty much what Gaudi did best. 

8. Park Guell 

Just a warning, Park Guell is VERY uphill, and we somehow ended up getting off at the metro station right at the bottom of that hill, only to find out once we got up there that you had to book a slot and that all the slots for the rest of that day were sold out. My sister didn’t get to see her dragon and I was pissed off that I’d just nearly busted a lung open and regretted throwing my inhaler away for 20 minutes straight whilst getting up there, but it was still a pretty good view and we did get to see a bit of the park. Moral of the story though is to obviously book Park Guell before you go. 

9. Sagrada Familia

We’ve never actually been in to the Sagrada Familia, again, because we’ve never thought to book it (I want to absolve myself of responsibility here since every time I’ve gone to Barcelona before this trip, I’ve been a baby and let my parents organise everything), but it is an absolutely magnificent building even from the outside. I would one day love to go in and go up the spiral staircase though, because it looks fucking terrifying and I’m one of those strange people who likes being scared every once in a while.

10. Buenas Migas

I’m pretty sure it’s a chain thing but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a focacceria, and maybe I’m just uncultured but...I got pretty excited. That being said, my sister and I both ended up getting pizza; it was as tasty as it looks.

13. Las Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya

The most typically mediterranean looking square you’ll ever see, Plaza Catalunya is the perfect place to stop off and get some tapas whilst you’re exploring Las Ramblas.

14. Mount Tibidabo

“I was backpacking across Western Europe, I was just outside of Barcelona, hiking in the foothills of Mount Tibidabo”...yes, I got excited to go here because of the Friends reference (I’m a basic bitch who likes friends AND has other personality traits, smd), but equally so by all the adorable old-timey fair ground rides once we did get up there. It was a few years ago now, so I’m not sure exactly how it worked but I do vaguely remember it being a bit of a rip off in that you had to pay to ride them all individually, so it’s good to know that the view from the Church and the Church itself is more than enough of a reason to go up. There’s also places to eat on the walk down and plenty of ice cream and food stalls up there.

Future Barcelona Bucket List:

Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)

European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM)

El Jardin del Gats

Port Cable Car

Carrer de la Neu de Sant Cugat

So, that was my summer! 100% the most eventful one I’ve ever had! I’d love to go back to every one of these places, at least for a day, and am so grateful I got to have this experience. I definitely missed home a lot and maintaining your wellbeing whilst out of your comfort zone is hard, I’m not going to lie, but I hope that a year from now I’ll be feeling even more adventurous. 

There are so many places in Europe I desperately want to go to, some even more so now that I’ve visited the country. Now that I’ve been to Germany, for example, I’d be really interested in seeing somewhere like Munich or Cologne, as they’re supposed to have a completely different vibe from Berlin. It also really inspired me to get back into Spanish and possibly even learn French. 

I don’t know if anyone who is going inter-railing will read this but if they do, feel free to message me if you have any questions. My friend did pretty much all of the organising so I’m not the most knowledgeable person ever but I will do my very best to answer! Similarly, if anybody has any recommendations of other places to go whilst in any of these cities, food places and art museums especially (lol), let me know. 

Thanks for reading!

Lauren x

[interfailing]

07/07/19- Interraining

Train-2

Starting with a pretty crap but very filling €7 hotel breakfast we were ready for a day of properly exploring Venice. It was our latest start yet not getting out of the building until twelve, delayed also by the rail strikes and the slowest ticket machines ever it, we were keen to get going.

The streets of Venice are chaotic, full of tourists (20 million a year according to Tom), and a muggy type of warm very different from the blistering dryness of Florence. Fun fact: There are 417 bridges in Venice but 72 are private.

St Mark's Square was somewhat underwhelming under cloud cover, the big grey buildings, dirt, and immense flock of pigeons gave it an air of Billingham town centre. Kids and adults alike allowing black and dirty-grey birds to land on their hands, arms, and heads, even paying money to buy feed to attract them. Gross. I couldn't help but imagine the chaos that would ensue if a Greggs was introduced to the square.

We paid to go up the tower overlooking the square, it was the newest addition to the square as it was rebuilt in 1912 after it collapsed a few years previously. The view from the top was awesome but not as great as the cool breeze! Tom read us many interesting facts from Google as we explored, but he maintained that it was tradition to drink from the Canal on a visit. Whilst Tom pretended to drink from it Beeley heckled him with his trademark "see it off" which had us all chucking. We walked around the bay and sat at the edge laughing at Tom soaking his shoes in the sea, telling him it would be bad to get his shoes wet at this stage of the trip as they'd smell really bad for the next two weeks.

The weatherfront we had thought was coming for us had blown straight over, our gamble of 50% of no rain so no coats had paid off!

We stumbled across a cool looking art gallery and after discovering that it was both free and air conditioned (our two main criteria) we headed in. Some were really fun like a glitter installation and others super interesting like tanks that changed the circadian rhythms of a type of Jasmine plant in order that it released it's scent. I could have spent hours in there reading about each piece but the boys were getting restless (read accosted by security) and we were all quite hungry.

Given the early start the next day we decided an early night was in order, we would head home and pick up some take away pizza on the way but as we stepped out of the gallery we were surprised to see it had gone dark and thick droplets of rain had begun to fall. With just over half an hour walk back to the station (provided we didn't get lost in the maze that is Venice) we were going to have to move pretty quickly. We only made it 10 minutes before the heavens opened. All of a sudden the bustling city had emptied and there were only six English teenagers, unafraid of 'a bit of rain' left in the square. The thin streets turned wind tunnels channeled walls of heavy rain at us and we danced about like maniacs but as the neatly placed chairs and tables started to fly across the square Issy and Ollie had the good sense to take shelter. Conor, Tom and I however continued with our madness under the conclusion that there was no way we were coming out of today dry so consequently we should enjoy the wet. Only when it started hailing ice the size of 20 cent pieces did we finally take shelter, we weren't about to explain concussion by hail on a 30°C day to the insurance company.

Eventually the rain became lighter, more like the drizzle we are used to, so we made a break for the station. Issy was the only one of us who still had dry(ish) shoes until she was so busy laughing at how wet we were to see the massive puddle in front of her.

Finally we got back to our dorm, showered, stuffed shoes, and Conor and I went to fetch pizza from the end of the street which we all ate on the floor. Turns out finding newspaper with which to stuff shoes at a late hour on a Sunday evening is a pretty tricky escapade, so instead I ransacked the paper towel dispenser in the lobby, much to the amusement of a bunch of drunk and sunburnt women, and the nice Canadian couple in the lift. A nice warm end to a thoroughly damp day.

[berryman2014]

Travel Tips And Advice - Travelling With A Disability

A disability must not prevent you from travelling, but a chance to try different travel choices. The three important challenges to travel with a handicap are - transport, lodging and baths. We'll give you Trusty Travel Tips and ideas which may assist you in the next travel adventure.

Do not get hung up on what accessible a place is, focus on all the activities you can do!

Planning Your Adventure

Whenever you are travelling with a disability or travelling with someone with a disability, the most important things for a holiday holiday is correct planning. Don't go ahead and plan your holiday down into the last minute, but all your accommodation and transport needs to be booked until you leave home.

You should research the accessibility of your transport and accommodation alternatives, and also for those activities you are intending. Ask questions about use of buildings, the range of steps, how wide are the doors and also lifts and is there easy access from the car parking. And for your accommodation, off path ask whether there are disabled toilets and showers, and when there's enough space in your room to get a wheel chair.

When contacting places, you need to be specific about your limitations, so that different alternatives can be set in position to cater to you personally. The best location to get information is from other travellers who have done it before. You should try local tourist information centres.

Make sure you pack all necessary and essential medications, and provide you any prescriptions that are necessary. Also make certain to package extras of any health or private equipment that you may require.

Choosing The Right Transport

One of the primary difficulties when travelling with a limitation is choosing the ideal transport and notably getting on and off public transport. Once you have planned your itinerary, then you will need to explore your options between locations or cities. They will be able to provide exact information on the transport choices.

Obtaining a plane can be a daunting experience! Once you book your ticket, let the airline know your limitations and also special concern needs to be given. Be sure to check with your airline to make sure it has accessible bathrooms before reserving a long term flight.

Many people with a disability will forget figuring out the best transport altogether, and will take a cruise holiday - either a river cruise or a massive cruise liner. In this manner all of your luggage will probably stay in the one location, so you won't need to get an accessible toilet or restaurant, and a number of the tasks are brought on by youpersonally.

Other good options are:

Hiring a campervan that's wheelchair-accessible Take a train holiday in Western Europe - many trains are all ideal with easy access and accessible toilets. Obtaining An Accessible Toilet

Research is necessary to finding available baths. Many bathrooms state they are accessible, when they're clearly are not. Don't discover the hard way! Asking at the tourist information centres for up to date information.

Places to look for an accessible toilet reaches museums or galleries, speedy food restaurants or even at modern train stations. Some travelers are going to plan what they perform or attractions they visit each day by where they could locate an accessible toilet.

What's The Best Accommodation

It will soon be challenging to find the perfect accommodation once you're travelling, except in the event you are willing to pay for it. Research is vital before going to find an area that's accessible.

A good hotel could have accessible car parks which have easy access to this hotel. They'll normally possess a lift plus just a porter support. Most may have a food or restaurant service onsite for effortless access. Make sure that you inform your lodging whenever you're booking about your limits, what equipment you've got and what assistance you may require.

A fantastic idea is to keep in accommodation in a central site. It will soon be a lot easier to go to local attractions and these attractions will soon be close-by. You may even be able to accomplish day trips away from the town. In this way you avoid the necessity to move all your luggage .

If you are in a wheelchair and have some one to push you, then take a manual chair. It'll simply take up less space then a power chair and it will not require recharging. Allow your family or carers to own a holiday too. Let them do tasks that they choose. In this manner they will require to travel with you and it might give everyone some time apart. Have your wheelchair cleaned and serviced before you leave. Make sure that you have checked the batteries and all moving parts are in working order. Also research who you could contact when you have a significant breakdown in the street. If you have a power wheelchair, then simply take spare travel adapters so that you aren't getting caught outside. The most crucial ideas and advice is for you and your family / carer to love your holidayseason. Enjoy each day and its new adventures, new sights, new culture and also the new things must be learnt.

[tricksterslav]

Polish gothic- Dolnośląskie edition

There's malls everywhere in Wrocław, but there's nothing in them. They're empty, customers walking around slowly, listening to the static. They were looking for the nearest h&m, but there's only a cinema here, unfortunately. Don't worry, they're cheap on Tuesdays. Nobody knows why it's only 14zł and what's the additional price, but you think you may...

The bus is not arriving anytime soon. Other people are getting nervous, but you just kick back and relax. It'll come around, someday.

There's a train station near your house. There's nobody around, there's no trains. The ticket office stands shut. Yet an old woman is always waiting. She's not lost, she tells you. It'll come around, someday. She says.

You don't ever see Sky Tower- it's like it's not there, but you know it is, it always is, looking over the city. Yet you don't see it. Maybe it's in the clouds, maybe it's not. You dont ask.

There's cheaps of tourists in the city centre. You hear the Germans say "Breslau" and you grin mischievously. That name is inaccurate, there's a much older one that they're not aware of, and they'll never be.

Asians are taking photos of the gnomes everytime they see one. They don't know that they're all the same? Don't they notice it?

Curious children knock on the little door near the church of saint Elżbieta- didn't their mother teach them not to do that? You tell them they won't like what's inside. It's the truth.

You spend two hours on the bus everyday. You hate the bus, and you'd much more like to ride a tram; they're clean, fast, aren't ever late. You complain about buses. Your friends complain about trams. None of you have ever been on a tram.

On Sundays, you always buy chałwa from the same Ukrainian guy. You know it's not real, just like him, but you still pay. He's nice.

You go on a trip to Karkonosze. You've been in Karpacz, Jelenia Góra, Szklarska Poręba and the other places a million times, and you'll visit more. There's Liczyrzepa in the mountains, there's ghosts in the castles and creatures in every abandoned mine. You pretend you don't notice how they're staring at you.

You meet some Czech people on the track- as always. You wink at them, because they know exactly what's going on. They're a w a r e. Just like you.

On the 29th of September, there's a big fair in Jelenia Góra, and everybody finds some antiques to buy. You don't know how, but every year manage to get the things that feel the most suspicious and haunted.

There's exactly 118 bridges in Wrocław, and you know the name of every single one, but you somehow don't remember the five rivers that flow under them. Weird.

There's now a church on the top of Ślęża, and you know the Old Gods aren't pleased. "What have these fools done?" You ask yourself everytime you see the outline of the mountain in the morning mist.

There's places like Legnica and Smolec, Środa Śląska, Ząbkowice, Góra. You know you have relatives in some of them, one of your classmates is from Smolec. You've never seen any of those places, now that you think about it. Do they even exist? You're unsure.

The letters WKS are carved on the insides of your eyelids, you constantly see red, white and green. They're yelling near the stadium, but they don't even know who's playing. You lower the blinds. You don't want any trouble.

You step outside. The air feels fresh and crisp, it's the most beautiful morning this winter. The board on the bus stop says "stan powietrza- okropny " again, and you sigh, slipping on your gas mask.

You joke about 'Trójkąt' with your friends, but neither of you are brave enough to actually face it.