Highlights of London

My decision to move to London for six months to work was life changing. Not only did I gain international work experience, I also made friends from around the world, shared a house with four other people, went on numerous weekend trips and explored the ins and outs of London.

Where it all began... in an English pub!

London has plenty to offer all travellers. It's alive with West End musicals, museums, art galleries, shopping, concerts and music festivals, famous sites, multicultural eateries, red double decker buses, amazing cupcakes and of course home to the Royal Family.

Westminster Abbey

London signature pose!

St James Park

I made the most of key celebratory days as well - having a few drinks in an Aussie pub for Australia Day, spending Chinese New Year in Chinatown, watching the Oxford vs Cambridge rowing race, frequenting an Irish pub for St Patty's Day, lining the streets for the Royal Wedding, attending Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse, watching the Pride Parade and getting a glimpse of the Harry Potter premiere at Trafalga Square.

Royal Ascot

Australia Day at Waxy O'Connors 

One of my favourite pastimes and memories from London was the many dinner parties I shared with friends and the great friendships I made. We shared meals from different cultures, frequented galleries and museums together, explored London night life and went on road trips.

Chinese New Year dinner party

Tequila for Spanish night

Some of my all time favourite London things were Big Ben, Harrods, watching The Lion King musical, high tea at the Ritz, pimms, shopping in Topshop, and Portobello, Camden and Borough Food Markets.

Big Ben

Harrods

Camden Canal

Abbey Road crosswalk

Such an amazing city with so much life - I look forward to returning one day to relive my experience!

Ending it all in true British style - pie and pimms!

Goodbye dinner with all my favourite London friends xx

Back to my roots

One of my most memorable experiences whilst travelling was a visit to my nonna's (grandma's) home town on the south east coast of Italy. Roccella in Calabria is a quiet coastal town which comes alive in summer with festivals and tourists. My great uncle (my nonna's brother) still lives in the family home where my nonna grew up and that was where I stayed with him, his wife and daughter.

My uncle's house where my grandma grew up

Over my four day visit my days consisted of a caffe latte and biscotti for breakfast; a few hours at the beach with crystal clear, warm waters; and a scrumptious lunch comprising pasta, cutlets or zucchini patties with salad, vegetables and the famous buffalo mozzarella. After lunch in true Italian style, we took a siesta until it cooled down a little and then returned to the beach. Our dinners were fairly light with cold meats, fruit and pastries. It was definitely a lifestyle I could get used to!

Enjoying the Mediterranean Sea

I visited more relatives, took a tour of the town's castle, went for a drive to Siderno and Cavalogna, was treated to brioche e gelato (a sweet bread with ice-cream), went to a festa in Monasteri with my cousin, and enjoyed pizza by the port.

Brioche e gelato!

The castle from my uncle's balcony

Visiting Roccella was an unbelievable experience! It has encouraged me to explore more of my roots and return one day.

Day trip to the English coast

When my friend was sold two return train tickets from London to Brighton - on the south coast of England - I jumped at the opportunity to take the day trip with her. We arrived in Brighton around 10.30am after a 1.5 hour train journey and were met by chilly conditions, despite it being summer. It didn't take us long to start winding in and out of Brighton's finest vintage and jewellery stores before stopping for some famous fish and chips.

Fish and chips

Following lunch we walked through the Pavillion Gardens, saw the Royal Pavillion and made our way to the beach and Brighton Pier, which was alive with people, games and rides.

Royal Pavillion

Brighton Beach

We ended the day in true English style with afternoon tea!

My delicious triple chocolate brownie!