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Gran Canaria Autumn Bliss : Revealing a heartwarming escape from London’s chill

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As you scroll through my social media feeds, you may have caught glimpses of my recent adventure on the mesmerising island of Gran Canaria, all thanks to the Gran Canaria Tourism Board. This magic island holds a special place in my heart, having been my very first destination for an “adult” holiday. Returning to splendid Gran Canaria, after all these years, stirred up a wave of nostalgia, allowing me to discover places I hadn’t previously explored and revisit those that had captured my heart on my first visit.

Escape the London Winter Blues

Are you daydreaming of a getaway, especially as London succumbs to its characteristic grey winter cloak? Get ready to leave the city’s chill behind and swap your umbrella for sunglasses. Gran Canaria beckons you with the promise of an autumn escape, that will cast a sun-kissed spell on your skin, heart and soul.

A Sun-Kissed Journey Awaits!

Now, as you read on, you’ll discover a comprehensive guide to the must-see and must-experience treasures that Gran Canaria has to offer, along with tips for planning your perfect autumn adventure. Let’s dive into this sun-kissed journey that will banish the London winter blues and envelop you in the warmth and beauty of Gran Canaria.

Maspalomas Dunes: Nature’s Masterpiece

Prepare to fall head over heels in love with the enchanting Maspalomas Dunes. Among the most distinctive attractions on the island, this 400-hectare expanse is a Nature Reserve of special significance, boasting a pristine beach, a dynamic sand dune system, and a serene lagoon. Something just out of this world. Explorers will find 8 kilometers of well-marked trails to truly immerse themselves in the captivating world of Maspalomas’ sand dunes. I promise this place will blow you away!

Hacienda La Rekompensa: A Taste of Gran Canaria’s Heritage

A visit to the authentic Canarian Hacienda is like taking a captivating journey back in time. Immerse yourself in Gran Canaria’s rich history and culture. Explore the open-air banana museum, delving into the fascinating history of banana cultivation on the island, from humble beginnings to its vital role in Canarian agriculture. Stroll through the lush banana plantation to witness the dedication behind these iconic fruits. And, meanwhile, when you visit the hacienda, don’t miss the chance to savor local banana-flavored delicacies. The banana cream I tried there was extraordinary, and paired with Canarian cheese, it was just such a great combination. Absolutely delicious! You can buy some to take home in their local shop.

Las Canteras Beach: Where Beauty Meets Urban Charm

If you’re in search of a picturesque sandy beach and a delightful promenade for a leisurely stroll, Las Canteras Beach is not just an option. It’s a destination within itself. This beach, often referred to as one of the finest urban beaches in all of Spain, offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and urban amenities. It’s an ideal spot for enjoying a refreshing drink or tapas while basking in the warm Canarian sun.

Guayadeque Ravine: A Natural Wonder

Prepare to be awestruck by one of the Canary Islands’ longest ravines, stretching 15 kilometers and rising to an altitude of 1,200 meters. Explore this breathtaking landscape with magnificent cliffs, unique flora and fauna, and awe-inspiring vistas. This place truly reminds us of the world’s incredible beauty. I could not stop taking photographs. Additionally, when visiting, don’t miss the chance to dine in a cave restaurant nestled within the rocks. It was one of my favourite experiences!

Agüimes: Charming Historic Town

A delightful stroll through the charming, historic town of Agüimes, nestled in the southeast of Gran Canaria, is an absolute must. This picturesque town, adorned with narrow medieval cobbled streets, exudes the aroma of local cuisine, and its friendly locals will undoubtedly put a smile on your face. Get lost in the vibrant tapestry of yellow and orange streets and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Agüimes. It’s a place that promises to fill your heart with joy and leave you with cherished memories.

In conclusion, I hope this post and the photos ignited a spark of wanderlust within you. Gran Canaria’s enchanting landscapes, vibrant culture, and cozy autumn charm are alluring to say the least. Don’t miss the opportunity to embark on this unforgettable journey. The island’s breathtaking beauty, tranquil moments, and captivating experiences await you.

Why wait? It’s time to plan your autumn escape to this hidden gem and immerse yourself in the magic of Gran Canaria. Book your trip ASAP. Gran Canaria in autumn is an experience you won’t want to miss.

Yours, The Blonde Flamingo

Post in collaboration with Gran Canaria Tourism Board

2019 recap and The Blonde Flamingo New Year’s resolutions

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2019- oh wow, what a year… First of all- I cannot believe this year is coming to an end. Sadly, the last news of the year was the death of my grandma. It was honestly heartbreaking, after the most magical Christmas I have had in years. I have spend the last 2 days being quiet, but today I woke up thinking I do not want to spend the last day of the year being sad. I will forever miss her and I feel guilty as I haven’t seen her for a very long time, but I know she wouldn’t like me to be sad. She always knew my craziness and love for the world, for people, for animals and for life in general. So I will celebrate the last days of 2019. It will be more quiet ending of the year for sure, but I have a lot of reasons to celebrate and be happy and grateful for this year.

What I feel the most grateful this year?

For people. For people who stayed in my life and for people I have met this year. I feel like in 2019 I was more brave than the previous years. I went on many trips on my own ( last year I couldn’t imagine that at all), I connected with many inspiring and wonderful people who made my heart beat again, who made me believe in myself more than ever, who inspired me, pushed me forward. I can honestly say I have met soulmates this year and felt magic in the air again. I felt alive. I cried from happiness. I shared my sadness and struggles. I was crazy myself again. I was real. I am grateful 2019 brought these people into my life as they opened my eyes and my heart.

I am also grateful for health– more than ever. This year my mum experienced a lot of health issues- I have been flying back home a lot to look after her. I understood that no matter what you have- family and health is what matters the most. I am SO GRATEFUL we went through this together and that I could see her happy and healthy in my house this Christmas ( I wasn’t sure she would make it until the very end and I was so stressed!) Thankfully she was well and she was glowing and more beautiful than ever!

I also struggled with my health this year-both physical and mental- due to constant travelling and some events from the past, but this year taught me that it’s ok to take a break. I have had a break in April and October. I have also been on the most wonderful health retreat in Koh Samui, Thailand where I have been doing lots of yoga and meditation which seriously helped me to get through the tough times this year. I have also gone on a detox weekend at Glass House Retreat in Essex ( blogpost about this experience will be live soon, so stay tuned!) where I have learnt new healthy habits that I am now trying to introduce into my daily life.

2019 was a year of realising what matters in life the most- nope, it’s not about likes and followers on Instagram but about myself, my well-being, my home life, family and closest friends. It’s about creating a truly beautiful and real life, not only perfectly edited Instagram images. I am grateful I have realised that.

Where did The Blonde Flamingo travel this year?

I literally don’t know where to start. This year I have travelled more than I did in my entire life! I have never ever expected that! Of course I had my bucket list for 2019 but I could never wish for the travels, press trips and projects I was invited to experience this year!

I have started 2019 with a trip to Amsterdam ( it was my last year’s Christmas gift). After that I have headed to Koh Samui, Thailand with my friend Bonnie Rakhit, for the most wonderful and super needed health retreat ( this trip made us even closer than last year!).

After Thailand I have then headed to Dubai– it was one of my bucket list destinations and I am so happy I managed to tick it off! I LOVED DUBAI!

After Dubai I went to Marbella and I felt like I found my dream place to live! I am still looking at properties there. I just loved the vibe and it’s only 2 hours flight from London! After that I have celebrated my friend’s hen do in Venice– oh, Bella Italia! It was such a fun trip! Can you imagine I didn’t take a single pic? Haha!

As season kicked off I had the most intense 5 months- I was flying from one place to another every single week. I have started with celebrating my birthday in my dream Tulum, Mexico and the hotel I have been dreaming to visit forever- Azulik. I have also managed to visit Las Coloradas where I cried from happiness as I have seen thousands of pink flamingos!

From Mexico I returned to London ready for new projects. I have then travelled to Fuerteventura, Seville with my bestie- from there we have started our Portugal road trip with Hertz, Tel Aviv with Havaianas, Cappadocia ( BEST TRIP OF 2019!), Amalfi Coast ( my every year’s must), Ibiza ( my favouriteeee vibe!), Cambodia and Laos with Avani Hotels, Maldives ( the third time- I just cannot get enough!), Cornwall with Laurent Perrier, Corfu and Paxos (Greece, you always get me!), Saudi Arabia (it was such an insane trip with the most inspiring people in the industry). Honestly – INSANE YEAR. I am so grateful for all the opportunities!

Photo by Kyrenian

Talking about opportunities…

2019 was the year of the growth I can not even put into words. After years of hard work on my brand I have noticed insane results in 2019. Brands that I have forever loved started to work with me. It was a huge dream coming true. I have signed many contracts and worked with some of my favourite and honestly huge brands- Yamamay, Havaianas, Batiste, Laurent Perrier, Elizabeth Arden, Herbal Essences, Britney Spears Fragrances, Vodafone, Fujifilm, Booking, Hertz, Hotel Tonight, Foreo, Kelloggs and many more. I have also been on many incredible press trips, had a chance to stay at magical resorts and created content at all these incredible destinations. I have also focused on growing other platforms. While I was still very active on my Instagram, I have put more time into my website, Pinterest – I was shortlisted for the Pinterest UK Awards 2019 in the Best Styled Outfits 2019 category and Tik Tok where I have just reached 186 000 worldwide followers. WOW! I feel seriously proud of myself. I worked very hard and I feel like it paid off this year.

Biggest dream that came true 2019?

Honestly – so many dreams came true this year. But if I have to think of one moment it’s definitely a hot air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia that I have been dreaming of visiting forever. Here I’d like to thank Altug @kyrenian for making this dream come true!

The end of the year…

I have spent this entire month at home, in London working and preparing for hosting the first Christmas in my apartment. It was honestly the most beautiful (and delicious) end of 2019. I really missed having a family Christmas. To be honest, I haven’t had one like that for years so I truly appreciated it. Even though I was a bit sick and I was also dealing with a loss in our family , I was happy and grateful for having people I love next to me. It was a Christmas full of love, craziness and washing plates, lol. Dear Santa- if I have to do this again, could I please get a dish washer as a gift? Haha.

What are my goals and dreams for 2020?

Honestly, I didn’t make a long list as I normally do. After everything I have been through, all I really wish for is to be healthy, happy tipsy at sunsets (haha) and surrounded by people who SEE me and love me for who I am. My goal is to spent less time on Social Media and more time being with people and the nature. I just want to LIVE. Watch more sunsets, more sunrises and be more present. I also want to stress less, as I have achieved a lot this year but I didn’t feel like I truly enjoyed the success. I’ve been feeling stressed out and overwhelmed! I hope 2020 will bring more love and more peace into my life ( and my head). Skills wise- I would love to learn how to surf!

What’s on my bucket list for 2020?

My list is honestly never-ending, but I hope to visit Hawaii, California, Peru, South Africa, Japan, Bali, new Caribbean islands and Australia! I also hope to return to my favourite Maldives, Greece, Italy ( Tuscany and Puglia, please!) and Ibiza! But honestly what I have learnt this year is that “Sometimes it’s not about the destination, but the road we take and people we meet”.

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

Love,

The Blonde Flamingo

Few things you should be aware of before travelling to Tulum

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Hello from Tulum!

As I have been here for a week already I have decided to put together a couple of tips and things you should be aware of when planning your trip to Tulum.

Seaweed

Sadly many people who reviewed Tulum on Social Media didn’t mention this problem. I think it’s super important to mention it especially if you’re planning a beach holidays. We visited in May and in Tulum we were not able to swim in the ocean. The seaweed was everywhere and water looked seriously dirty. While luxury hotels are trying to clean their private beaches and it they were looking a bit better, we still haven’t managed to have a swim. Of course there’s many other things to do and see in the area. You can drive to other beaches ( car is essential) or swim in local cenotes but personally I wouldn’t recommend Tulum as a beach destination. We’ve been told by locals it’s not like this all year long- they advised the best time to visit Tulum and avoid the seaweed is between October and April however I heard from other travellers who visited during this time and the seaweed was there aswell, however less than it is now.

London prices

This is not what you probably expect from Mexico but Tulum is extremely touristy and prices are pretty much the same like in London when it’s about food and drinks. The prices of cocktails in the beach clubs vary between £10-£17, for lunch/ dinner for two between £70-£200. Scooter rental per day is about £20 plus 5000 pesos deposit. Car rental with full inscurance starts from £40 per day ( the most basic car) plus £500 deposit. The only thing we were quite lucky with, is that in May Tulum was pretty dead. Beach clubs were pretty empty so there was not such a thing like queues or no space. Few times ( in the weekend) we were told there’s a minimum spent. Normally it was around $60 US dollars per person in places like Nomade or to the bar at Azulik ( to get to the bar there was a minimum spent of around £25 per person)

Drugs

Another thing that really surprised me. I mean, I was aware that there’s lots of parties in Tulum but drugs were sold literally everywhere even in the day time. When walking around in the evening you are literally bombarded!

Extreme poverty

While most of the people showcase Tulum as luxurious, trendy destination full of chic restaurants, boutiques and 5* hotels to me it was only one street. Outside of it ( also in Tulum) the poverty is insane. It actually made me super sad. Once we were eating in the restaurant in Tulum downtown and i stood up to take a photo of something. In the meantime, a little boy (3-4 years old) came up to our table. He saw that I left a cherry on my empty plate and asked my boyfriend if he could eat it. When he told me I wanted to cry. We bought him a crepe with nutella and I swear I’ve never seen so grateful eyes and big smile in my life. The contrasts in Tulum are crazy and while I loved all the chic places on the ocean front, I was also trying to spent some money in downtown and support local businesses rather than only 5* chains.

Tips

In Mexico, similar to US they expect you to tip for everything. Sometimes optional service charge will be added to your bill. If not, they will kindly suggest you should tip even at places like petrol station, parkings etc It’s good to have some change on you at all times. In the beach clubs they will expect higher tips even though in most of the places the service charge is added to the bill already. Waiters in some places like Taboo were very pushy and rude about it.

Parking

Once again – we’ve visited Tulum in a low season but sometimes in the weekend it was not easy to find the parking space which would be free. Sometimes they let you park as a guest of the hotel/ beach club but most of the times these spaces are reserved for the guests who actually stay at the hotel. There was few parkings around but I have noticed the prices were not really fixed. Once there was a sign of Parking 15 pesos while when we got there it turned out to be 200 pesos. Also in some of these private parkings they were changing the prices depending on what car is coming in. We were asked for 300 pesos and the better looking car after us 500 pesos.

5 beauty products I always travel with

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Hello everyone!

Hope you’re weekend has started fabulous! Today I’d like to talk about the beauty products that always travel with me. As I do lots of short trips and often travel with only a cabin bag, the amount of beauty the products I can take with me is pretty limited.

These products are my absolute favourite right now :

1. Eve Lom Eye Cream

I have been kindly gifted this product few months ago and never stopped using it and taking it with me on my travels. You know these early mornings when your eyes feel so small and sort of swollen? That’s me every time I travel and wake up early to shoot! Or after a long-haul exhausting flight. Eve Lom eye cream is my little saviour! This eye cream and its triple-action formula helps to lock in moisture, diminish dark circles and reduce puffiness. It provides the long-lasting hydration and makes my face look more fresh. Also the cream contains Shea butter that I absolutely love. PS. It’s only 20ml so it takes only a little space in my travel toiletry pouch!

2. Bare Minerals Anti- imperfection serum + Smart Combination smoothing lightweight emulsion

You already know from my Instagram that I have been loving Bare Minerals products for long time. I constantly talk about them and keep recommending them to you. Well these two have been introduced to me last year and I have really enjoyed using both of the products. The serum works perfectly for me as I am still dealing with adult acne and this product contains salicylic acid that helps to treat acne prone skin, combat blemishes, calm skin, and smooth texture. My skin tends to reacts every time I am changing places and water so I always have this product on me when I travel. The other product is my favourite lightweight oil-free moisturiser that leaves my face soft and smooth. Can’t travel without the good moisturiser for sure!

3. Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramides Capsules

Ok, since I have discovered this product I am honestly obsessed. I have started to use this product as retinol can reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and acne. After using if for few months, I have noticed that actually my acne scars are looking better so I continued using the capsules. They’re really easy to use : you only need to to sooth one capsule over the face each night before your moisturiser. I love the capsule format as it makes this product super portable and convenient. I normally take the right amount of capsules with me when I travel rather than taking the whole box. It saves so much space!

4. Foreo Luna Mini 2

I must say when I firstly got this product I didn’t believe in it. I’ve seen it all over Instagram and to me it only looked like a pretty looking toy, haha. Well, until my best friend started to tell me how incredible it is and how much she loves her skin after she uses it. Today I’m so glad I’ve listened to her and gave this product a try. I honestly can’t live without it! This incredible brush keeps my skin clean wherever I go. It’s a small, fashionable device, that takes only a little bit of space in my suitcase. It removes all dirt, make up residue and dead skin cells. I felt the difference on my skin already after the first use. It makes the skin looks so clean and glowy. It’s a perfect beauty product for on-the-go lifestyle. It also comes in many colours! Of course I went for pink one, haha! You can get it here.

5. Batiste Dry Shampoo

I am sure you already seen this product on my Social Media, but honestly I can’t imagine travelling without this dry shampoo. It saves me on long-haul flights, road trips and also my daily life. Batiste Dry Shampoo revitalises hair, leaving it feeling clean, smelling fresh. I absolutely love their Fragrance range! They all smell and look so pretty ( yeah, they even have one with flamingos!) I adore the tropical one! You already know it’s my favourite smell on Earth.

Shop these beauty products :

Finding my balance at Absolute Sanctuary, Koh Samui

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How have I ended up going on a retreat? Well, let’s start with saying that doing what I do is not always that colourful and easy as it seems on the photos. I do realise that to some people it may look like I am only having fun. And it’s true! Most of the time I do, but its also my own company, a real, full-time job and business. Business I’ve started from the scratch without even knowing that I am really building a business and a full-time career. As much as I absolutely love what I do and would never ever change any decision I’ve taken so far, after few months of working 7 days a week, constantly researching, learning, travelling non stop, being jet-lagged all the time, forever chasing on invoices, payments and deadlines, at the beginning of this year I started to feel really stressed, tired and overwhelmed. All the upcoming opportunities sounded incredible however it’s only me who really knows how much it costs me. I felt huge anxiety like I’ve never felt before. I was constantly worried about something and couldn’t make the deadlines and my work done. It was a very scary feeling knowing you’re completely on your own. I felt like I needed help as I also felt so lonely trying to explain my feelings to other people who really got no idea what my job is about. And then suddenly the incredible invitation came through my email – a retreat at Absolute Sanctuary in Koh Samui, Thailand Asia’s top wellness resort, located on the North Eastern side of Koh Samui, also known as the island of healing. I’ve felt like it was a destiny! This was exactly what I needed in my life! I said yes straight away!

So, where to start…

First thing I had to do is to choose the program for me. How did I know what program would be the right fit? Before the arrival I had a phone consultation that helped me to choose the right programme that would suit my needs. As I’ve been going through some tough time we both agreed that what I really needed was to relax. That’s why I decided to go for an Anti Stress & Burnout program which is designed to those who are in need to escape from their hectic lives, recharge and rebalance their mind, body & spirit through a combination of relaxing & healing spa treatments and massages, healthy foods and supportive emotional therapies.

As everyone is a need or something different, Absolute Sanctuary introduced 6 new wellness and fitness programs to make sure everyone will find something they truly need wether is a rest, rebalance, weight loss, increasing the fitness level or changing the lifestyle. The 6 new programs are : Women’s Holistic Health, Men’s Vitality, Body Realignment, Sleep Well, Mindfulness, Rest and Rebalance. You can find all the details about the programs here.

Couple of weeks later after the phone call I was already sitting on a plane to Thailand with my friend Bonnie both super excited for this incredible trip.

I’ve fallen in love with the Absolute Sanctuary at first sight. It had this incredible energy that is really hard to describe. We’ve arrived in the late evening, we’ve checked in, our schedules were all ready for us. We’ve been shown around the Sanctuary and taken to our beautiful rooms.

Accommodation

They have 38 rooms in total inspired by architecture of Morocco with bright colours and moroccan tiles. You can choose between Sanctuary Suite, Sanctuary Deluxe and Sanctuary Superior rooms– whatever matches your budget and comfort level. I personally stayed at Deluxe room with a beautiful moroccan bathroom and a large bathtub.

Schedule

So how my daily schedule looked like? I would normally start my morning with a ginger tea by the pool watching the sunrise and listening to the birds sing. It felt so incredible to be there completely on my own, at peace and contact with nature. Will never forget this view!

After that I would head for a group meditation and yoga class. That was the perfect way to really wake up.

Myself and Bonnie who I went on this incredible retreat with. We both needed it so much! We’re wearing matchy activewear from Evveervital

And then time for breakfast served at Love Kitchen ( where you could seriously feel the love with every dish and every smile from the staff members. I am still smiling when I think of them!) The food was delicious. There was seriously not a single thing I did not like. Everything was super fresh, high in nutrients, low in calories, enriched with superfoods and wholefoods. They also served healthy juices, smoothies and herbal teas ( my favourite was goji berries, honey and lime).

After breakfast I was usually soaking up the sun that I’ve missed so much, relaxing by the pool and enjoying coconut water or super juices.

Then I would head to their beautiful spa to enjoy a massage and spa treatments. My favourite and was 60 mins Indian Head Massage and 90 min Traditional Thai Massage with Herbal Heat Compress.

Usually after that I had lunch, a little nap and attended another yoga session in the late afternoon. My favourite but also a very hard experience (for the beginner as myself) was a group hot yoga session. It was my first time and I honestly really enjoyed it even though my muscles felt really painful the day after. However that was not a problem at all. They were very accommodating and let me change the schedule the way my mind and body was happy at all times. One day I skipped some of the classes and gave myself more relaxing time, longer sleep and a stroll at the beach nearby the hotel.

Here’s some photos of the Absolute Sanctuary. Ahh just looking at it brings all the positive energy and peace back!

Juice bar located by the pool

5 days spent in this place honestly changed me and my life. The stress management session with a therapist helped me a lot too as I found a real reason where is my stress and anxiety coming from. I’ve found my inner peace, I’ve rested, I’ve finally had enough sleep, exercised, ate super healthy and set the new goals. My skin also got better. As some of you know I am dealing with adult acne that has been such a pain since couple of years now and I left Absolute Sanctuary with cleaner, healthier looking skin. I came back to London new-born and by saying new-born I really mean it! I’ve started to wake up earlier which gave me more time in a day. I’ve started to exercise regularly, I’ve stopped skipping breakfast and I’ve started to listen to relaxing music in the morning (rather then getting into my Instagram and emails straight away) to get me in a good mood before a busy day. This trip honestly changed my lifestyle so much! I am forever grateful! Thank you so much to all team at Absolute Sanctuary for incredible hospitality and looking after us so well! I can’t find words to describe how much I miss this place every single day. I promised myself I will return one day as I haven’t found a place that has such an incredible energy. I can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you for bringing back the happy, healthy me!

Post in collaboration with Absolute Sanctuary