I have spent the last couple of days in the region of Trentino in Northern Italy and I must say- I have absolutely loved it. You know I am usually a tropical flamingo and you see me running around the palm trees in bikinis and swimming in the ocean all year long but after 6 years break ( I still can’t believe its been this long!) from a proper winter and snow, I have honestly started to miss it and crave it, so when the invite from Trentino Tourism Board came through my email I just couldn’t be more excited. I felt like someone is literally reading my mind! Also, I have never visited Italy in the winter so it seemed like a completely new experience for me and something new to write about. In this article I would like to give you 5 reasons why you should visit Trentino this winter.
Perfect skiing conditions
One of the reasons we’ve visited Trentino was kicking off the skiing season! Trentino’s two biggest ski areas serve up hundreds of kilometres of pistes. As i have mentioned earlier- I had 6 years break from snowboarding so I was feeling a bit insecure but after getting the snowboard zipped in I felt like my love to it is back. The slopes where perfect- we were spread into two groups- beginners and advanced and they were perfect pistes for both. One of the reason I disliked winter trips in the past was the cold, but ohh, we had the most incredible sunny days on the slopes and honestly I didn’t feel the cold at all! The conditions where just perfect. Nothing gets more magical than snowboarding with this view! We even managed to witness the most beautiful pinky sunset!
I have never tried the food from the Northern Italy before and I must say- I loved it. It’s completely different from the food in the South but equally delicious. The cuisine of Trentino-Alto Adige is a tasty blend of Mediterranean flavors, mountain cooking and German and Austrian influences. There’s lots of meat, polenta (yumm!) , canederli (flour and bread dumplings, which can be eaten in broth or with butter and flavored with speck, or cheese) tortel di patate (potato pancakes) -we actually make them in Poland too so I was super happy! There’s also lots of yummy hams ( speck was my favourite!) cheeses ( will never forget the Ricotta I had there, OH WOW) and wild mushrooms. Dessert wise you should try Torta con le mele – traditional apple cake from this region. We even attended cooking class at beautiful Agritur Solasna where we’ve learnt how to make it! That was the first cake I’ve ever made haha so you can probably imagine how fun it was!
Italian wine!
Let’s also not forget about the Italian wine- heaven. In this region it was absolutely incredible and I ended up drinking wine with every single meal, haha. There was also one drink I have tried for the first time, which is famous in this region- Bombardino ( by the way- how hilarious is this name) but it is actually a BOMB- brandy, eggnog, espresso and lots of whipped cream. It actually got me pretty tipsy haha but it was a perfect drink to warm up with after all day in a snow!
Image source : Google
Wellness and Spa paradise
In Trentino “wellness” is not a trend. Wellness is so much more than just relaxation. It’s a lifestyle. There’s numerous therapeutic springs spread all over the region which makes it also a perfect area for a relaxing wellness and spa vacation. We’ve stayed at Albergo Dimaro which is a family and wellness hotel. What’s better than a dip in the pool, Finish Sauna or Turkish bath after all day skiing?
Image source : Google
Fairytale landscapes
Trentino is known for its magical mountain scenery. The Dolomites dominate the landscape here and are dotted with mountain villages and wide streams and lakes. One of the highlights from this trip apart from beautiful views over Dolomites while snowboarding was a visit to Val di Rabbi – one of the most beautiful Trentino’s valleys. We went for a stroll and got to the Ragaiolo waterfall, which was absolutely magical and a beautiful Ponte Tibetano- a 100-metre-long rope bridge, 60 metres above the ground! Of course, it is not the best if you are afraid of heights, but crossing on the bridge is safe, and the view of the waterfalls from up there is incredible and so Insta-perfect!
I have recently been invited to Avignon to celebrate a very special event – the start of the northern hemisphere’s Pink Lady apple harvest. When I got the invitation I literally couldn’t believe it- I felt like somebody sneaked into my fridge! I always buy Pink Lady apples! It couldn’t be a coincidence! I just found it hard to describe why these are my favourite apples. What makes them this special and better than any other apple types I have eaten before? I have decided to join the trip to find out!
We flew from London to Marseille and already on the plane I got very excited. I had a feeling this trip will bring so many incredible experiences and new flavours. I also only visited Paris in France so I was also super happy to explore beautiful region of Provence that has been on my bucket list forever. From Marseille we had a car pick up and got transferred to the hotel in Avignon. Already on the way I could see so many incredible views. Yes, this is exactly how I’ve imagined a gold autumn in France. It was magical. I couldn’t stop starring at all the rolling vineyards and the colourful trees. It only got me more excited for visiting the Pink Lady orchards. I already had a picture of this place in my head.
The morning after we got up early, had breakfast (could we appreciate freshly baked French croissants for a second please?) and headed to the orchards. The weather forecast was showing us heavy rains so we got all prepared with raincoats and wellies. It was raining a lot while we were driving but when we got there- surprise. The sky beautifully cleared out and we suddenly felt the sun rays on our faces. We stopped for a second to admire the most idyllic view – the trees covered in pink apples gently moving with the wind. “Ohh wow” – I thought. It was even prettier than I ever imaged. Ohh forgotten to mention the smell in the air…it was beautiful!
We’ve started with a little tour around the orchards where we found out more about Pink Lady apples and its history. So why Pink Lady? Pink Lady apple is the brand name of cultivar of apples called a Cripps Pink. The Pink Lady apple original came about by a man named John Cripps- the plant-breeder who created the first ever Pink Lady apple in Australia. He took the Pink Lady name from his favourite novel, Nicholas Monsarrat’s The Cruel Sea. In this story, the hero savours a cocktail called ‘Pink Lady’. It’s a perfectly fitting name for an apple with such a beautiful blush.
Why are the Pink Lady apples so special? First of all, Pink Lady apples are the first apple to blossom and the last to be hand-picked. This extra time in the sun gives the apples their special pink blush, sweeter crunch and a wonderful fizz. That was the word missing in my dictionary to explain the flavour! The fizz… it makes them so different from any apples I’ve ever tried before! Also it’s all about the location. Pink Lady apples are grown in the world’s finest wine regions from France to Italy and South Africa to Australia.
A Pink Lady apple’s unique flavour and qualities are not an accident. The way the rows of trees are orientated, the positioning of the branches and the amount of greenery on the trees is carefully considered, all to ensure the apples receive as many rays of sun as possible. Also, only the best of best apples are selected, hand-picked and given the Pink Lady seal of approval- the pink heart-shaped sticker you find on every Pink Lady is a symbol of its authenticity and guarantees consistent quality.
Ah, I can feel the taste of them while writing this post for you! But what I must say is- they tasted even better when I hand-picked them from the tree by myself! I managed to fill up the entire bag for the journey home- so satisfying, ha! Every time I have a bite, I have the picture of these magical orchards in my head! Believe me or not, photos do not justify the beauty of this place but we’ve tried our best to show you how incredible it was! Thank you Wendy for snapping these pics of me!
I have recently visited Ibiza on a super fun press trip with Hard Rock Ibiza This hotel and whole story behind it it’s just so incredible. Such an inspiring place, full of great energy. I’ve had such a fun time and met fantastic people- now we’re all counting the months down to the big opening of Hard Rock Hotel in London in Spring 2019, yay!
During the little time off I had during the trip I have decided to tick off some places on the island that I’ve always wanted to visit and absolutely fallen in love with them all! In this blog post I would love to highlight my top 5 spots in Ibiza that just can’t be missed!
1. Wi-ki-woo Hotel
Had to start off with my new and favourite hotel in Ibiza! Honestly it looks like a Barbie & Instagram dream! I fallen in love at first sight!The pool full of pool floats is awesome! PS. They also have a machine where you can purchase the fake lashes!Book your stayhere.
Location – San Antonio
2. Paradiso Hotel
I haven’t personally stayed at this hotel, we only went to have a quick look as we were rushing to the pool party, but OMG another amazing spot for photos! I loved the entire concept, it kind of felt like a different planet haha. The area around was a bit doggy to me, but as you walk inside- you forget it all. You’re surrounded by pink, cacti and great music! What a vibe! Will definitely return one day!
Location- San Antonio
3. Santos Hotel
I haven’t managed to visit this place this year but this is where I celebrated my birthday 2.5 years ago so this place will always be special to me. I love the easy-going spirit of this place and all its colours- they make me happy! Also the sea view is just so stunning! I would love to stay there again one day!
Location: Playa D’en Bossa Photo source : google
4. Ibiza Old Town
During the press trip with Hard Rock Ibiza we had a lovely tour around the island and we stopped and strolled around beautiful narrow alleys of Ibiza Old Town. Most of the people see Ibiza only as a party island- and I agree- it is a party place however it’s not just that! This island is just magical and I swear- the Old Town truly stolen my heart. So many beautiful narrow streets, charming boutiques, bars and cafés, so lovely and peaceful compare to a lively Playa D’en Bossa and San Antonio. You can’t miss it out during your stay in Ibiza! Nothing more relaxing after a crazy night out!
5. Tropicana Suites
Believe me or not, but Tropicana was was one of the places that inspired me 2.5 years ago to create the name of my Instagram! – “theblondeflamingo” ! When I went there, the hotel was just opening so I didn’t have a chance to fully experience it, but I remember I loved everything about it! It’s a retro, all-suite hotel with DJ and a really fun pool- not mentioning all the pink and neon green surroundings! It gives you these perfect Miami & art deco vibes. I absolutely loved it! You should definitely add this place to your list! And I should definitely go again and thank them for helping me with the name!
Location: Playa D’en Bossa Image source : google
What are your favourite spots in Ibiza? Let me know in the comments below!
Those of you who followed me along the way know that my biggest travel dream (apart from meeting flamingos in real life, haha) was a real African Safari. This year, in June it finally happened. When I got invited to go to Kenya with Citizen FemmeandFairmont Hotels for a safari I just couldn’t believe it. I literally cried from happiness. My biggest dream was about to come true!
But let’s start from the beginning… We flew from London directly to Nairobi – the capital of Kenya with Kenya Airways. The flight took 8.5 hours. The great thing about it is that you won’t be jet lagged when travelling from the UK as the time difference is only 2 hours ( Kenya is 2 hours ahead of United Kingdom). From the airport we’ve first headed to beautiful, historic Fairmont the Norfolk located in the heart of Nairobi. What a beautiful property- this is where we’ve started and finished our stay in Kenya. It’s a perfect place to stay because of the location. It’s very peaceful, green, has this magical feeling. They call it a “sophisticated retreat in the city” and I absolutely agree with that! The property has 27 luxurious suites and 143 rooms set around tranquil tropical gardens, a beautiful outdoor pool, gym and spa facilities ( I truly recommend having a relaxing massage after the long flight!) From there we’ve headed To Fairmont Mara Safari Club. We flew there on a small plane Safarilink. I had to leave some luggage behind in the hotel- it’s good to remember that only soft shell luggage of max 15 Kg is allowed on domestic flights. From the moment we’ve boarded I had tears in my eyes watching giraffes from the plane’s little window, but honestly I had no idea WHERE I was heading. It was just the beginning of one of the most incredible adventures of my life! As soon as we landed we were greeted by beautiful sunshine, smiley faces of locals and The Masai Mara tribesmen and their ceremonial dance. I was speechless and full of emotions. Never experienced anything like that before! This place gives you this feeling that is just so hard to describe!
We had our jeep waiting for us and we were off to see the property we were staying at. All we could see on our way was the endless savannah, grassy plaits, rolling hills, blue skies and animals running around. Absolutely insane! Already that day I was thinking, how am I going to explain this feeling to my readers. I was thinking “Oh God, how? How can I even describe it?” I hope my photos will help out a bit!
When we got to the property I’ve fallen in love straight away. Fairmont Mara is surrounded on three sides by the breathtaking Mara River, and on the edge of the world’s Seventh “New” Wonder of the World. Simply breathtaking! Each of us got a beautiful, luxury tent with a beautiful little veranda overlooking the hippo and crocodile-filled river. It was a bit scary at night as the hippos were quite noisy but this experience is something I won’t ever forget. I have never been so close to the nature! Take a peek into my stunning tent! This is what I call travelling in style! PS. The bed was too comfortable- it was not easy to wake up haha!
After a delicious lunch overlooking the Mara River we’ve all headed for a ride. Our first ever Safari! Our goal was to spot the Big 5- lions, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes and elephants. We’re lucky to see 4 of them! What a dream that was! The thing I would never forget is spotting Pumbaa- omg everyone including me was shouting like crazy haha. It felt like a Disney movie set! Driving around savannah in the open jeeps was so much fun and it was so easy to get our dream shots!
We’ve finished this incredible day off with the sunset drinks and canapés prepared by Fairmont Mara team in the middle of nowhere really. It was simply perfect! This sunset I mean…unforgettable! I remember the happiness tears and calling this day the happiest day of my life.
The morning after we’ve had a 5am wake up call. Normally I would not be happy about being awake at this crazy hour, but this time was different! I popped right up, excited as we were going on a sunrise safari. I was served a big cup of coffee with a little cookie right to my tent- oh I will never forget the smell of this Kenyan coffee… Morning was a bit chilly so we were admiring the nature waking up covered in cosy blankets. Sorry I have to repeat myself again- WHAT A DREAM. “Somebody pinch me please” I thought. Herd of zebras, lions, antelopes, giraffes and even ostrich! Simply unreal!
After the beautiful morning drive we’ve headed back to Fairmont Mara for a delicious breakfast. We sat on the terrace overlooking the Mara river. What a perfect way to start the day! Another thing planned for us was visiting the traditional Mara village. It was definitely my favourite experience. We were greeted by the traditional dance and smiley faces of the local kids. Omg I can’t stop smiling when I think of this moment. Everyone was just SO happy. I think this is what I love about Africa the most- how happy, welcoming and full of live the people are! They make you cry and appreciate the life more. They make you realise how small the problems are. But at the same time you feel like you would give your entire heart and entire love and all you have to help. The conditions they live in are really extreme. We were invited to one of the mud huts and seeing how it looks inside was more than scary. It was so dark and tiny, couldn’t have imagined 10 people living there! But this is how it is… What I recorded from this visit was what we were told by the chief of the village- “men don’t have the house until they get married- it’s woman who makes the house. No woman, no house.” I found it beautiful. Also, all the kids in the village go to school as they get support from tourism. At first I wasn’t sure if I should get photographed with the kids but they were literally posing and hugging us all, honestly the sweetest! This is when I’ve shed a tear again. I’ve fallen in love with each and every single one of them at first sight.
Days in Fairmont Mara passed so quickly, I felt like we should have stayed there longer. As a recommendation I would suggest at least 3 nights at this property to truly experience the beauty of this place. After incredible stay at Fairmont Mara our hearts were full but our adventure wasn’t over yet! From there we flew to another incredible property – Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club located on the line of equator. Realising it was actually crazy! One half of the hotel is north of the equator and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. How crazy is that? That makes this place so special! On arrival we were invited to an equatorial ceremony which was super fun! I don’t want to get too much into the details here as this is an something you have to experience yourself! Here’s me all excited after the ceremony haha!
After the ceremony we had the most dreamy lunch set up in the Rose garden. During the lunch we’ve found out so much about the property itself. Originally the retreat of movie star and Club founder, William Holden, the Club’s illustrious former members have included Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby. I literally couldn’t believe this! For a second I thought “Wow! What am I doing here!” It felt like stepping into the African Hollywood! This place was simply gorgeous and the view over Mount Kenya was just breathtaking. I’ve had a beautiful cottage with the cosiest living room area with a fireplace! Perfect for African chilly nights. It was so magical! Take a peek!
I found this place so relaxing. I loved hanging around in the outdoor lobby! Sometimes I was passed by a peacock haha- insane! Also the sofas were so comfy! (OK, not mentioning the strong wifi connection where I was able to upload all Instagram stories for you!) What’s special about this property is also that it has it’s own animal sanctuary where you can feed rescued wild animals. Our stay in Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club was full of activities. My favourite one was an outdoor breakfast in the mountains surrounded by ponies- they were the cutest! I also loved the sunset drinks by the bonfire up the hills. I can’t believe I can’t find any photos from this moment! Guess you need to trust me it was awesome 😉
After incredible 3 days in this place we’ve headed back to Nairobi where we’ve spent our last night at Fairmont the Norfolk. The adventure was still not over! On our way to Nairobi- this time we were travelling by car, we’ve stopped in the little town called Nanyuki where we’ve visited Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers- the community of woman that started back in 1977. The main aim of this community was training poor, windowed and single women living in the surrounding villages of Nanyuki town in the craft of Spinning, Knitting and Weaving with the main objective of making them self reliant. I found these women so beautiful, hard-working and inspiring. This is where you can buy the most beautiful handmade souvenirs! Make sure to leave some space in the luggage ( I certainly did not…I seriously have to start learn how to pack light!) I really wanted to get one of these beautiful carpets. I hope you’ll when you visit this place!
After visiting this place we got caught by a little African rain but it didn’t stop us from visiting another place I was dreaming of- The Giraffe Sanctuary in Nairobi. It’s the only sanctuary in the world within a capital city that enables you to come into very close contact with the world’s tallest yet endangered animal, the giraffe. This experience was absolutely unreal! Ok, the hardest part was taking a photo haha! I fallen in love with this cute guy! I mean how could you say “no” to these eyes, haha?
We’ve ended up our incredible stay in Kenya at Fairmont the Norfolk’s award-winning Tatu restaurant where we’ve had the most delicious dinner, best wine and cocktails- ok, if you’re ever in Kenya you need to try Kenya Cane! It’s sooo good! Excited to go? You can book your stay here. If you’re interested what to pack for safari you can read my packing guide here. It was honestly so hard to leave this magical place! But I’ve left with my heart full, grateful as never before. I made the memories that will last forever and friends for life! Thank you Citizen Femme, Spotlight Comms and Fairmont for putting such an incredible trip together and having me on board. I’ve had the time of my life! Love you, Mama Africa!
1. To start with, Fuerteventura means “strong wind” and it’s not without a reason. It’s really really windy here! Maybe it’s a silly thing but it can be very annoying! ( especially when taking photos, omg haha!) My top tip is to either buy a beach windbreak ( I wish I did!) or “get settled” on the beach between rocks or bushes- see where the locals go. They know how to “hide” from the strongest wind! My favourite beach is Playa the Sotavento and Lagunas y Playa de el Cotillo.
2. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Fuerteventura sits in the Atlantic Ocean 100km off the north coast of Africa. The sun here is extremely strong, but you’re not able to feel it due to strong winds. It’s easy to get sunburned ( yup, it happened to me on the first day and I only had a little stroll on the beach!) I have been using the sunscreen all the time since then!
3. Go and explore. It’s my second time here and I have only been here for 7 days and I already visited so many new places I have not heard about last time I’ve been here! This island holds a lot of secrets. Rent the car and go off the beaten track. I promise you won’t regret!
4. Visit el Cotillo- this little town has such a cool, laid-back vibe that comes from being popular surfing destination. It has the most beautiful beaches and so many cute shops and restaurants. It felt a bit boho to me too so you probably know why I totally loved it! I’ve also witnessed one of the most magical sunsets here!
5. Pack something for the chilly evenings. The temperature here are really high during the day but it does get a bit chilly and even more windy in the evening).
After visiting this place we got caught by a little African rain but it didn’t stop us from visiting another place I was dreaming of- The Giraffe Sanctuary in Nairobi. It’s the only sanctuary in the world within a capital city that enables you to come into very close contact with the world’s tallest yet endangered animal, the giraffe. This experience was absolutely unreal! Ok, the hardest part was taking a photo haha! I fallen in love with this cute guy! I mean how could you say “no” to these eyes, haha?
