Amsterdam Photo Diary 2017 Part 1

Pretty Canals in Amsterdam

Exploring Amsterdam Front Door Steps

I have not long since returned from my 7th visit to Amsterdam, this City holds a very special place in my heart. I love nothing more than exploring all the neighbourhoods and Amsterdam has become one of Europe’s most Vegan friendly Cities. I have a full post coming next week all about the incredible Vegan places we ate & let me tell you we found some pretty special places.

We have visited most of the tourist places & done the main museums although we like to  revisit our favourite spots like the rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, Dam Square and you can’t visit Amsterdam without going on a boat tour especially a champagne one. This time top of our list of places we wanted to see was the National Holocaust Memorial & National Holocaust Museum  which opened last year. I wanted to visit after reading the novel called Girl in the Blue Coat as some of the book is set on the site of the Museum in the Hollandsche Schouwburg Theatre and also across the street in the crèche. The Nazi’s turned the theatre into a prison and a deportation centre and it survives today as a memorial to the 80,000 Jews who were held there ahead of being deported.  I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance, the museum’s exhibitions are so well curated!

The weather was a little hit & miss much like the UK, but armed with our umbrellas we walked miles & miles each day along the stunning canals and historic neighbourhoods. I always tell people that Amsterdam is so much more beautiful that they could imagine. It is more that just stag parties, red light district and coffee shops. It is rich in history architecture and culture. Being one of the Europe’s biggest, oldest ports means its past is so interesting and Amsterdam has so many Museums to tell the story.

Gloomy Amsterdam

Discover Amsterdam

Amsterdam Herengracht Canal House

Amsterdam City Break 2017

Classic White Fiat 500 in Amsterdam

Pretty Canals in Amsterdam

Sept 2017 in Amsterdam

Typical Amsterdam View

Amsterdam Canal Boat

360 Volt Amsterdam

Amsterdam Central

Cafe Smit Voogt

Exploring Amsterdam 2017

I have a few more photos to share along with my Amsterdam Vegan Food Guide so keep an eye out for that. If you have visited Amsterdam let me know what you love about this City.

If you want to see what I got up to on previous visits just click here or check out the recommended the posts below.

This Weeks Happy – Exploring Plymouth

Charlestown Harbour Cornwall

Charlestown Harbour Cornwall

It has been a while since I shared photos from Cornwall since we got back from Berlin last month we have been super busy with work and the weather hasn’t been too great. On those few elusive sunny days we tried to make the most of them and get outside, so here are a few photos from this last month. Enjoy x

Truro City Cornwall

Leafy Truro Streets

Charlestown Cottage Life

Plymouth Colourful Houses

mint green house

Beautiful Plymouth

Royal William Yard Plymouth

Royal William Dock Yard Plymouth

Exploring Royal William Yard Plymouth

Exploring Plymouth

Architecture at Royal William Yard

clock tower

pretty painted houses plymouth

We headed to Plymouth for the day and explored down at Royal William Yard, which is stunning and a lovely place to have lunch/dinner. We landed luckily on a warm day and it was nice to be by the water and enjoy the architecture and history of this old naval dockyard. There are quite a few restaurants, cafes and bars which have outside seating to enjoy the sun and surroundings. It was a 15-minute walk from the centre and well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

The walk was pleasant and I couldn’t help but take photos of all the beautiful, brightly coloured houses on the way. I really want to live in a mint green house, how cute would that be.

Berlin Travel Photo Diary #1

Berlin Photo Diary

Berlin Photo Diary

Berlin Graffiti

Titanic Chaussee Berlin

Titanic Chaussee Berlin

Berliner Dom - Cathedral

Memorial to Members of German Parliament Murdered by the Nazis

Berlin TV Tower

Berlin Architecture

Humboldt University Berlin

Equestrian Statue of Frederick the Great in Berlin

Pariser Platz Berlin

Sinti and Roma Memorial in Berlin

The Reichstag Berlin

I have visited Berlin a few times & I lived in Germany for 14+ years so Germany holds a very special place in my heart, the last time I previously visited Berlin almost 6 years ago and have been eager to go back for a while now. I wasn’t planning on booking a European trip but after browsing trips in the UK & realising I could go abroad for less I thought what the heck lets go to Berlin.

I got such a great deal & went from Monday – Friday flying from Liverpool to Berlin Schoenefeld (which is without doubt THE worst airport I have ever been to). We stayed at a relatively new hotel called Titanic Chaussee – they have a pool and spa facilities as well as a lovely restaurant, bar and lounge area. I would stay there again in a heartbeat. We found it very well situated for public transport and also it is walking distance to a lot of the major tourist attractions like Alexanderplatz, Checkpoint Charlie & Brandenburg Gate.

We had previously visited most of the major sites so we spent most of the trip just taking our time and exploring, walking around the side streets and popping in and out of cafes. It was beyond freezing, I know it can be cold there as we last went in March and that was bitterly cold but I thought going at the end of April we would be a little more lucky with the weather but it snowed and the temperature was -2, I just used this as an excuse to drink lots of warm drinks in cute coffee shops.

Alot of the major attractions are quite close to each other so we spent the first day walking to Alexanderplatz, Museum Island, Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. We have been inside the Reichstag already so didn’t need to revisit but this is one spectacular building and always worth seeing. I remember when I lived in Germany I visited in 1995 and the glass dome was not finished, it looked very different.

There are quite a few streetside memorials and galleries throughout Berlin dedicated to the thousands of people who lost their lives during Nazi Germany and quite honestly the whole city has such a rich history so you will never run out of things to do. The architecture in Berlin is imposing but beautiful and so many of the buildings still have bullet holes and very visual reminders of a violent past.

  1. Berliner Dom – This is the beautiful Berlin Cathedral and is on Museum Island
  2. Street Art – Berlin is full of street art
  3. Titanic Chaussee Hotel – This is the hotel lobby
  4. Titanic Chaussee Hotel – This was our double room & I loved the pops of yellow
  5. Berliner Dom
  6. Memorial to the Murdered Members of the Reichstag – This is in front of the Reichstag
  7. The Fernsehturm – This is the famous Berlin TV Tower also St Mary’s Church which is one of the oldest churches in Berlin
  8. Rotes Rathaus – Berlin Town Hall
  9. Humboldt University in Berlin
  10. The Equestrian Statue of Frederick the Great
  11. Brandenburg Gate
  12. Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism
  13. Reichstag

This Weeks Happy – Exploring Fowey

Pretty Fowey Town

Exploring Fowey Cornwall

I live less than 5 miles from the beautiful harbour town of Fowey but I very rarely go there. I tend to head in the other direction but I wanted to go there for a sunset walk while it was Winter and quiet (before all the tourists descend).

I love exploring the cobbled windy streets & taking photos of the beautiful houses. One of the things I love about Fowey is the river, its beautiful and it makes me feel calm and peaceful. I like to sit looking out over the river whilst the sun sets and it’s the perfect end to the day.

Fowey Houses

Fowey Villas

Fowey River Feb 2017

Fowey Centre

Pretty Fowey Town

Light Shop Fowey

Fowey has the perfect selection of shops including my favourite homeware shop Brocante, a very small but well stocked Joules boutique as well as lots of places to eat and get yummy cakes to take home. Also on this lastest visit I stumbled across this Industrial Lighting Shop which was incredible and well worth a visit. They had a huge selection of nautical and industrial reclaimed options, I have my eye on one in particular and I think I am going to pop back and treat myself to it.

Hidden Streets Fowey Cornwall

Rooftops Cornwall

River Fowey Sunset

Sams Diner Meal

We really wanted to visit our favourite place to eat in Fowey, Sams but it was closed for refurbishment (typical) so we drove to their new Diner. To my surprise they had quite a few Vegan options, including a Vegan Hot Dog (which sounded very tempting) but I opted for the Falafel Burger which came with chips and a cabbage salad. It was delicious & huge. I love an old school sesame seed bun, not these brioche buns which burgers seem to be served on nowadays.

The Diner is new and I thought it was a little cold inside and I am not 100% sure about the decor, it was a little hit & miss but the menu is good and the staff were very helpful when letting me know about their Vegan options. They also do an extensive healthy breakfast menu, so we might pop back one morning to give that a go, breakfast is my favourite meal of the day.

We are planning a day to Penzance next week and quite honestly I can’t believe we have lived in Cornwall for 18 months and haven’t visited yet. I’m really looking forward to it, if you have any recomendations for places to eat and drink in Penzance let me know.