Sunday, 15 April 2018
Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Ibiza's Lesser Known Quiet Side
World renowned for its club culture and house music warehouse parties, Ibiza also has a charming side that can be easily overlooked. Here are a few things not to miss on the small island -- part of Spain's Balearic Islands.
World renowned for its club culture and house music warehouse parties, Ibiza also has a charming side that can be easily overlooked. Here are a few things not to miss on the small island -- part of Spain's Balearic Islands.
Saturday, 20 August 2016
Scotland
Scotland
Glasgow. Isle of Skye. Edinburgh
Scotland, to put it very mildly is very Scottish. The lush green hills are always vibrant due to the drizzling rain, kilts rustle in the wind and the distinct whining of bagpipes can usually be heard in the distance. While the cities are beautiful and old, the real charm is in the beauty of The Highlands. We rented a car, driving from Glasgow to Fort William, the Isle of Skye, Inverness and ending in Edinburgh. Each leg of the drive was only about 2-3 hours but factor in another couple hours for all of the beautiful look outs and hikes along the way.
Check the schedule to see if you will be in town while a Highland Games is going on - strong men, dancing, piping and local sporting competitions will really make you feel like a local and you will leave in awe after watching men throw tree trunks, as a sport.
This judge was tapping along to the bagpiper, like an old tune that had come back into his mind...
Old Man Storr and the Fairy Pools were two hikes that we climbed in the same day. I'm not one for uphill climbs but both were definitely worth it- Old Storr is a straight up climb while the fairy pools are paths that criss-cross over mostly flat ground. I also hiked all of these in my Steve Madden boots that surprisingly didn't leak and have zero tread on the bottom, however a pair of rain pants may have come in handy.
Glasgow. Isle of Skye. Edinburgh
Scotland, to put it very mildly is very Scottish. The lush green hills are always vibrant due to the drizzling rain, kilts rustle in the wind and the distinct whining of bagpipes can usually be heard in the distance. While the cities are beautiful and old, the real charm is in the beauty of The Highlands. We rented a car, driving from Glasgow to Fort William, the Isle of Skye, Inverness and ending in Edinburgh. Each leg of the drive was only about 2-3 hours but factor in another couple hours for all of the beautiful look outs and hikes along the way.
We stayed in the west end of Glasgow, near the Botanical gardens and had some of the best fish and chips I've ever had down Ashton lane - a charming street lined with pubs that are popular after work and all night long.
Check the schedule to see if you will be in town while a Highland Games is going on - strong men, dancing, piping and local sporting competitions will really make you feel like a local and you will leave in awe after watching men throw tree trunks, as a sport.
Our first hike was Steall falls and the Nevis Gorge. The hikes were not so clearly marked, but as a general rule if you drove to the last car park, it was usually the closest to the entrance of the visual enchantment that you were about to stumble upon.
Old Man Storr and the Fairy Pools were two hikes that we climbed in the same day. I'm not one for uphill climbs but both were definitely worth it- Old Storr is a straight up climb while the fairy pools are paths that criss-cross over mostly flat ground. I also hiked all of these in my Steve Madden boots that surprisingly didn't leak and have zero tread on the bottom, however a pair of rain pants may have come in handy.
Travelling to Inverness, I had picked up a pair of Welly's on the side of the road and had leftover fish and chips in the trunk of the car - I was starting to feel very Scottish. With no sign of Loch Nessie, we moved inland to the Hootenany where we did find live music and pints and saw the not so elusive, brawl outside the club on our walk home.
In Edinburgh, we walked the Royal Mile, hiked halfway up Arthur's Seat, wandered in cemeteries and along canals and contemplated in Hollyrood Park. This is also when we embarked on a gin tour after having completed the ever popular scotch tour - who knew Scotland was popular for its gin?
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