Lisboa, Portugal

Our last days were spent looking for christmas gifts, walking around and spotting some last places that was worth visiting. We went to the Belem area, we visited the LX Factory and we finished off our vacation by having dinner at a Fado club listening to live music, which was really beautiful. 

Sintra, Portugal

Together me and my mother decided to take one day and see something outside of Lisbon. After some research and several recommendations, Sintra was something on our agenda and a must. When we arrived, we could definitely see the reason why. As we arrived, the Disney music was playing on the streets and there were castles everywhere. It was a long day with a lot of walking, but it was amazing. We visited the Castelo De Pena and the Castle of the Moors. The pictures will explain the rest, but it was definitely worth visiting.

Lisboa, Portugal

Portugal has been one of those countries that had me go: "Oh, it´s nearby, I will go there one day but not this time". As I was planning my christmas holidays, me and my mother wanted to do something different and spend some quality time outside of Finland. We had never been to Portugal before, so it was the perfect destination for the both of us. 

I flew in from Amsterdam, while my mother came from Helsinki. We landed almost at the same time and decided to travel by Uber to our hotel, Sheraton Lisbon Hotel & Spa. Always good to say hi to my "colleagues". The hotel is ok located, not very central but close to a metro station and some shopping malls. However, our hotel had a wonderful spa and delicious breakfast in the morning. 

Our first days were spent by exploring Lisbon, travelling by the famous tram 28, we had lunch at the Time Out Market, Taberna Sal Grosso, visited several miraduros and of course the Castelo De S.Jorge. At the end of the day, we managed to visit the National Sanctuary of Christ the King. I guess the pictures speak for themselves, the views have been breathtaking and literally just made me smile. I love Lisbon so far! 

Prague, Czech Republic

One amazing advantage of living in Amsterdam, is the fact that there are endless possibilities of flights all over the world. Surprisingly, the flights tend to be quite cheap and departs daily. I have mainly been travelling around in Asia, but never had a focus on travelling in Europe. 

As my best friend since 10 years back was celebrating her 25th birthday, a weekend getaway to a new destination is never a bad idea. We all agreed to meet in Prague to spend a weekend together and celebrate. I arrived a day earlier and checked in to the Marriott. The location was great and everything was within walking distance from the hotel. The next morning, my friends Josie and Sarah arrived and we started wandering around the city straight away. The city is gorgeous, the architecture and atmosphere was spectacular. The small stands and christmas markets made the city even better. 

To finish off our trip, we went to the Beer & Wine Spa - Lazne Pramen. We had our own room with two tubs, unlimited beer and a bed made of hay to relax in afterwards. For our birthday girl, we celebrated with dinner at the Marina Restaurant, and we all passed out afterwards. 

Unfortunately, time flew and I wish we could have had more time. However, it definitely gives me a reason to visit Prague again. 

Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

As my best friend Josie decided to spontaneously book flights and accommodation, I thought I could do the exact same. We both desperately needed a one week get away where there was no pressure of doing anything at all and just be able to spend some quality time with each other. We were staying at a very simple all inclusive hotel at Sunny Beach where everything was within walking distance. As wild as Sunny Beach sounds, we mostly spent our time by the pool and the pub next door. One of our last days we decided to see Nessebar, which is a small city nearby and also listed as a UNESCO World heritage site. Definitely worth visiting! Bulgaria became my 37th country that I have visited so far and I wish to reach for 40 by the end of this year!