SKIATHOS, GREECE | A PHOTO DIARY

Hey everyone!


After having not visited the tiny island of Skiathos for almost ten years, I finally managed to go back to one of my favourite places. Not much has changed in my absence, except the Mamma Mia overload. This tiny island, and surrounding islands where used as film locations for the movie and the  locals have taken this as a great business opportunity! There's even an outdoor cinema in the main town that offers weekly viewings of the movie, with their own added twist! Settle down with a glass of wine and watch the film under the stars, by the end everyone will be up on their feet dancing and singing along!

Skiathos is a small island in the Northwest Aegean sea, situated in the group of islands known as Sporades. It's about six miles long, and four miles wide, with Skiathos Town being the most populous place. For me it was like returning home, my family used to visit for our holidays and I knew where I was going. Everyone is friendly and you will never feel unsafe.

This year we stayed a five minute walk from the town centre, which meant we could take in the great nightlife that this tiny island has to offer. Plenty of bars and restaurants that line the harbour, and the main road of Papadiamanti. Most of the food is very traditional, with plenty of places to grab a Gyros!

From the town you can grab a short boat across to the unpopulated island of Tsougria, which is a protected natural habitat and a perfect place to spend the day relaxing. It doesn't get too busy, and the water is crystal clear. There's a small taverna on the beach, and remember to bring your snorkelling gear!

Jump on a boat tour around the island, or a tour that visits the nearby islands of Alonnisos and Skopelos. Or do both! Why not? Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the dolphins that live in the waters below!

The airport in Skiathos is very small, so small that it stretches from one side of the island to the other and has become a popular destination on the island for both plane spotters and those who are looking for an adrenaline rush. You can stand at the end of the runway, and feel the power of the planes engine as it speeds down the runway.

If you're able too, rent out a car for a couple of days so you can drive around the island and explore. We managed to visit the monastery for the first time, which has glorious views from the mountains and you can learn about some of the islands history. There's a shop that sells wine and liquor produced from the monastery itself. 

Whilst we had the car we decided to drive to the Il Kastro, a place we had also never explored before. Read up on this ruined town before you go, as it has a lot of history. It used to be the capital of the island, and a walk through the narrow pathways makes it easy to imagine the old society come to life around you. It's not easy to get to, no busses and very steep roads if you are going to drive. Some boats stop here, but require a very steep hike to reach. The best way to visit is to either rent a 4x4 or book on to a tour that stops here. Just bring sensible shoes and a bottle of water! It's definitely a hidden gem on the island, and so secluded that it will never be busy.

 Skiathos is full of lots of different beaches, some family favourites include; Mandraki, Koukounaries, Troulos and Tsougria as previously mentioned. But if you're looking for a relaxing place to swim without the sand, then head over to the Tennis Club to use the pool for free.

I will always keep coming back to visit this wonderful place, it holds so many of my memories and it's just beautiful. I want to bring everyone I know so that they can experience the island for themselves.

Thanks for reading, xo
*As with all pictures featured on my blog, they are all taken by me unless otherwise noted. I use a Canon S120 and iPhone 6S. 

SAMI, KEFALONIA | A PHOTO DIARY

Hey everyone! 

Greece is one of my favourite places to visit. There are so many islands to explore. This time round I visited the beautiful island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea. 

We stayed in Sami, a port in the east of the island. It's a great location with lots of nearby things to do. The main attractions being the beautiful Antisamos Beach, where Captain Corellis Mandolin was filmed. Melissani Cave, and the Island of Ithaca are also a short journey away. 

We stayed in Hotel Pericles, about ten minutes out of Sami. It was a very simple hotel, but had everything we needed, including a free breakfast. Below is a picture of the view we had.

Most restaurants in Sami are at the harbours edge, Adonis being our favourite. The vegetarian moussaka and the baked eggplants where the best food we ate all holiday. 

We decided to do a day tour to the nearby island of Ithaca, travelling with Sami Star II. This included two swim stops in secluded bays, only accessible by boat, and also a visit to Vathi for a walk around and Kioni for lunch. Both of these villages where beautiful. 

The buildings in Vathi are beautifully coloured, all bright or pastel. 

After visiting Melissani Cave, we decided to walk back to Sami, through Karavamylos. We stopped for lunch by the lake, which is made up of water from the nearby cave. 

Antisamos Beach is in a horseshoe bay, with tavernas and water activities. A long twisting road around the mountains is the only way to access this glorious beach. It is covered in white stones that glisten under the water, and a small array of fish swim close to shore. It is a great place to snorkel. There are tavernas that offer free sun beds, drinks and snacks. 

I would recommend Sami as a great spot for a holiday, and also recommend hiring a car to get around as this would give you more freedom during your stay. I was only there a week, so it wasn't a complete necessary for me and my travel companion. 

Everyone is very friendly in Sami, and the food is amazing. I couldn't get enough of the traditional Greek cuisine. 

Thanks for reading, xo

*As with all pictures featured on my blog, they are all taken by me unless otherwise noted. I use a Canon 700d, Canon S120 and iPhone 6S.

A WEEK IN ICELAND | A DIARY

Hey everyone! 

Iceland was never a country I really ever thought about visiting, up until two years ago. I had seen pictures of these amazing landscapes, with mountains everywhere you look. I decided to do some more research into this amazing country, and said to myself 'I need to go there'. 

I was lucky enough to spend a week with my family, in Iceland, for my birthday. It was like no other place I had ever been to. 

We boarded an early morning flight from London, and landed just before lunch time. We had decided to rent a car, to give us a bit more freedom when exploring. I recommend doing just this, as it allows you to have a lot more freedom in your itinerary. 

Our first stop was the blue lagoon. We didn't bother to go into the lagoon itself, but instead walked around the outside area before needing to pay anything. 

After finishing up at the blue lagoon, we made our way to Icelands capital, Reykjavik. This place is like no other capital city you will find in the world. Everyone is friendly, everyone appreciates the country they are in. The streets are clean, and people have respect for each other. 

We rented a little apartment, and could see the striking Hallgrimskirkja from our window. We didn't rush out straight away, as we had been up since 3am and it was beginning to effect us. 

One thing I noticed in Reykjavik, is that every building is different to the next and they are colourful and beautiful to look at. 

Reykjavik has an amazing mountain view, that lights up an incredible red colour with the sunset. 

The following day we woke up early and drove the Golden Circle route, which is very much the main tourist route in Iceland. Taking in some of the countries most famous sights. 

There are a lot of waterfalls in Iceland, but all of them are unique in their own ways. 

The lava fields could easily be missed, as they are covered in moss and look like grass from a distance. But up close they are just as magical as anything else. 

 After the Golden Circle we headed back to our apartment in the capital, where we only had one more night booked. As the following day we were going to the little village of Vik, at the base of the Myrdalsjokull glacier with contains the Katla volcano. You can really feel the presence of this dangerous volcano looming over the village. 

This village itself is a great place to base yourself, if you want to head a little further east on the ring road. We only went as far as the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, probably my favourite place we visited on our week in Iceland. You can stand around the edge, and just be in awe of your surroundings. If you do visit this spectacular place, you should also walk over to the beach for an out of this world view. Trust me, you won't regret it. 

Once place that I was a little disappointed with, but also quite excited to see was the derelict place on the beach. From the road, you cannot see the plane. After walking for what felt like an eternity, with nothing but black sand to look at, we arrived at the plane. It is a wonderful place to photograph, but it is also full of tourists. We may have just been unlucky as their was a group of people walking over the plane, and having a mini photoshoot. Which meant we had to wait for them to clear, so that we could get a photo. It was quite interesting to see, but not a place I would rush back to you. Iceland is full of amazing places, so skip this and fit somewhere else in!

I want to finish this diary of Iceland, talking about the famous Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. We couldn't have had more luck with them, as we saw them every single night we were there. The best ones though, were the ones we saw whilst staying in Vik. 

Now, one of my dreams has always been to see them in person, and the night before my 21st birthday I captured the image below. They were the strongest ones we saw during our time in Iceland, and they were dancing incredibly in the sky. It was a breath taking, emotional experience. And nothing quite prepares you for seeing them in the flesh. 

One day I would love to go back to Iceland, but to cover the whole country rather then just a small portion of it. The beauty of it is that it is almost untouched, and everyone who lives there, and majority of the tourists, appreciate the nature of it. It isn't a largely populated country, and although it is becoming more and more of a popular travel destination, it still retains its natural beauty. 

I just ask that anyone who does visit, respects the signs and respects the people. Take your litter with you and don't leave it for someone else to get rid of. When there's a danger sign, respect it and don't put yourself and those who would have to rescue you in danger. 

I'm sorry this is such a long post, but I could write a whole book on my love for this country, and all the places I visited. Would you believe me if I said I had to leave a lot out, to make this post a reasonable length? I have hundreds of photos I would to share with you as well. It really is one of my favourite destinations I have visited. 

Thanks for reading, xo 

*As with all pictures featured on my blog, they are all taken by me unless otherwise noted. I use a Canon 700d, Canon S120 and iPhone 6S.