Corfu .. we finally made it!!

Every year in the month of June since 2013, I and 3 of my girlfriends have gone on holiday to an island. The only criteria was that it had to be reachable within 4 hours of flying time, so mainly the Mediterranean or Atlantic. 

Last year we had it all planned to go to Corfu and we all know how that turned out. We couldn't go anywhere due to the pandemic, and optimistically thought we could then go in September that year, but again not, unfortunately. We decided to wait it out patiently and this year we grabbed the bull by the horns in May and booked to go in September this year, opting for a no-fee cancellation just in case. Sadly, one of our group did not make it as she passed away earlier this year from an illness, but the remaining 3 of us decided to keep up the tradition in her honour and continue to go.

We stuck with the same accommodation as we had originally chosen, the beautiful Pictures Suites in Agios Stefanos, as it looked so beautiful. How lucky we were with the weather too. The week before we went it had rained and thankfully we had the most amazing week of temperatures in the high twenties.

The rules in place for travel meant that we had to keep checking government guidelines and keep updated to ensure we had all the correct paperwork in place. We did not have to do any covid testing before we went, but had to fill out a passenger locator form (PLF) and show evidence of double vaccination. The Greek form was simple, just 2 pages and the check in at the airport was relatively simple and quick. Once on the aircraft we actually felt that we were going. What a tremendous feeling that was!

Set into the hillside, the views from our hotel were amazing. Every night we saw a different sunset and we could always hear the sound of the sea. On day one, we took a wander along the beach toward the far end heading south and walked up into the village, stopping for a Greek coffee at Olympia bar/restaurant and a friendly chat with Stellios the owner. 

From there we walked back through the town which had a couple of gift shops, a boutique, supermarkets and a lovely array of restaurants all serving traditional Greek food. 

The beach stretched for quite a way in both directions with super soft clay sand and clay cliffs stretching towards the north of the island. We decided to hire a boat from Thomas at the San Stefanos hire company based right on the beach 100m from where we were staying, choosing to go to Cape Drastus and the surrounding area of Sidari, a popular tourist resort.

We set out in the morning on a beautiful cloudless warm day, a little choppy but so great to be out on the water again. Giannis our driver knew the area well, having grown up there and took us wherever we wanted to go, imparting his knowledge as we went. 

As we got closer to the most northern part of the island we could see the wonderfully sculpted by nature whitish clay cliffs, unspoiled and just stunning against the turquoise Ionian Sea. The only way to get there is by boat or by walking which if you have the inclination is supposed to be quite lovely for nature lovers. 

I would imagine though that the best views are from the water and we were not disappointed. Although Sidari seemed more crowded than San Stefanos, we did see seemingly secluded bays and people swimming and jumping from the rocks. 

We sailed past the tunnel of love, Canal d'amour, another popular attraction in this area. The tunnel is a natural formation eroded by the sea, and legend has it that if you swim through it with the one you love, you will stay together forever. 

After a couple of hours on the water we headed back again, sliding off the back of the boat into the sea and having a swim before a late lunch at the local beach bar.

Mid week we took the Green Bus public transport
into Corfu city. An hour and a half away, the cost was a mere €4.20 each way and the bus was actually an air conditioned coach. A very comfortable but sometimes treacherous ride through the hilly part of the island over some very narrow roads in need of a bit of TLC. 

It really was quite beautiful and a good way to see the landscape.

Corfu city is typically European in style and was bustling with people. Outdoor cafes and shops were busy and it was nice to feel that normality has returned to a lot of places. After a stop for a Greek Frappe (iced coffee) in the pedestrian precinct we walked through meandering cobbled streets towards the old part of town and the harbour.

Knowing that the last bus back was at 4.30pm, we found a great place for lunch overlooking the water and the Old Fortress which was constructed by the Venetians in the 15th Century.

It was just the perfect spot to sit and enjoy lunch with a view and a refreshing glass (or two even) of Greek Rosé which was surprisingly good. 

I think we could have sat there for ages as it was so peaceful and relaxing but the time came when we had to leave and we slowly sauntered back towards the bus station for our ride home.

Our return 'home' brought us in from the other side of town and we discovered another lovely hotel, Tereza's Sunset Hotel within minutes of where we were, with an outdoor terrace where we could have dinner later in the week. If you time it right, you get to see the setting sun dip over the horizon. What could be more beautiful?

San Stefanos was the perfect location for us as all we wanted was a beach, a pool, good food and wine and of course good weather. We got all of these in abundance. We ate in quite a few different restaurants, some we visited twice for lunch and dinner. The beach bar food was good and all the wines on offer were Greek. I have to say there has been a vast improvement in the quality of the wines since my first experience way back when I first visited the islands many moons ago.

We had to do our Covid tests for travel on our penultimate day and that was all very easy at the local doctors surgery. They did a rapid antigen test for €30 and provided a certificate of proof of a negative test. The only bugbear was the UK PLF which was 4 pages long and had documents to upload which can at times be challenging and stressful on a smart phone. The hotel was very helpful and printed them out for us as that's how they wanted the documents to be presented at the airport.

Our flight out wasn't until 23.40 on our last day, so we had a lovely relaxing few hours by the pool and were able to keep our rooms until the evening. We had a gorgeous fresh fish dinner by the main pool and the last sunset to see us on our way.

The staff at Pictures Suites, Laura and Christopher were wonderful and so helpful and friendly. We could not have asked for more. I hope our paths cross again at some point.

Places we ate - * for quality of food

Havana Beach Bar - lunch ***

Waves Beach Bar - lunch ***

Olympia - lunch and dinner *****

Zorba's - dinner ***

Spiros and Maria's - lunch and dinner ****

Tereza's Sunset Hotel - lunch and dinner *****

Delphin Blu - dinner *****

and of course the fabulous Pictures - breakfast and dinner *****

The Best Things in Life are Free

Bloom Paradise
Jun T Lai

One of the things I miss about travelling is exploring and discovering an alternative way of life. Even on the most sedate of vacations things are different to what they are at home and I suppose that is the point of it. Getting away from the everyday routines and being somewhere else.

Since the lockdown was introduced over a year ago, we were unable to go out exploring as we had to stay home and local. And definitely a NO to travel. Once we were allowed to venture out, we discovered we had a so much on our doorstep that in the past we had taken for granted. We started to appreciate the parks, canals and waterways, wildlife, wildflowers, architecture, art .. the list goes on. That's the one positive thing for me that has come out of this pandemic.

Harlequin Four by Mark
Handforth

I have definitely developed more of an appreciation for London and value what it has to offer. Thanks to social media, we are more aware of what is around us and if we never left the city again we would never run out of things to see and do. Much of it can be seen for free or at least the price of a day travel card.

I had to work this weekend, and due to engineering works my station was closed so I've had to find alternative ways to travel there and back. On my way home today I decided to get off the tube at Monument station and being a Sunday the City is almost deserted. 

St Dunstan in the East

I walked for about 5 minutes to the beautiful ruins of St Dunstan in the East. This 900 year old church has quite a history surviving the Great Fire of London in 1666, and was pretty much destroyed in the Blitz of the second world war. All that survives is the north and south walls and the steeple built by Sir Christopher Wren. It is now a wonderful public 'secret garden' tucked away between the modern buildings of the city.

It was an overcast day and the gardens were not busy although there were a couple of instagrammers posing for pictures in the beautiful window arches that remain. I had to wait quite a while for them to move on so that I could get my own photos.

I walked to Tower Hill Underground station where I saw the distinctive style of Julian Opie's 
'Walking in the City' at the CitizenM hotel. I always love stumbling across his work.

The train I wanted to get was severely delayed so I decided instead to walk to Liverpool Street through the quiet streets and there I found even more treasures. 

Confetti Rain

Colourful sculptures, part of Sculpture in the City tucked down the side streets and a massive glass installation 'Confetti Rain' by architectural stained glass artist Alexander Beleschenko, on a relatively new office block on Bishopsgate.

These simple things of beauty make me happy as I come across them, and as I walked towards the bus stop at Liverpool Street station, my day felt complete.

On the bus ride home I saw more street art from Alo the Artist. It's so nice to be able to recognise an artist's work based on their unique style. I managed to snap a couple of quick shots from the window as we drove past.

Alo the artist

I enjoyed a lovely solitary couple of hours wandering the streets, all for free. An afternoon of old and new culture, I've learned a little bit more about the city I call home. 

* * * 

Day tripping to The Seven Sisters

It's now a week on after the first lifting of restrictions and I was finally able to give myself a whole day off and take a friend I hadn't seen in ages on the 2 hour drive from London to Seaford located on the South Coast in East Sussex.

It was so exciting to get out of the city after so long and we had fortunately picked the best spring day we could possibly have hoped for. I didn't know what to expect on such a fine day. Was it going to be busy with sun seekers like us? Would there be places to eat and drink now that outdoor hospitalities are allowed? The answer to the first question - no, and the latter, yes.

Although it was a stunningly beautiful day, it was not nearly warm enough for shorts and flip flops but that wasn't why we went. It was a comfortable 17C with no wind and not a cloud in sight. Perfect for walking and enjoying the spring sunshine.

Arriving in Seaford, we easily found a free parking spot
on Marine Parade. We walked along the seafront past little kiosks selling refreshments and the candy coloured Martello Beach huts, towards Seven Sisters West. It's probably the best place to start if you want to walk the whole coastal trail to Eastbourne. We also discovered 'The Shoal', a community bench designed by local sculptor Christian Funnel, which represents a stream of fish meandering the length of the breakwater. 

We definitely hadn't planned on walking the whole way, so after a stroll back to the car on the deserted pebbled beach, we took the short drive to Birling Gap where a most spectacular view of the chalky cliffs can be seen.

Birling Gap is run by the National Trust and there is a pay and display car park for patrons. Be aware that in busy times it may be full although there is limited space on the road leading up to it where you can safely park for free. 

The beach access was closed due to work on the steps but should reopen in a couple of weeks time.

The cafe is now open again, so we bought lunch and sat on the picnic benches outside in the brilliant sunshine. People came and went and some stayed on, including us, choosing to walk up the cliff and sit high up admiring the gorgeous view and listening to the waves gently lap against the shore below. We must have sat up there for at least 2 hours just chatting and taking in the beauty of the cliffs and feeling the sun's warmth on our faces. The sea was so calm with shades of blue I would never associate with the English seaside. Simply stunning.

Day tripping out of London could not have been better. The one thing the pandemic has made me aware of is the natural beauty we have practically on our doorstep. I had barely heard of Seaford before and I certainly knew nothing about it. 

Here's to many more day trips and new adventures that don't require a passport or long queues to leave and enter the country.

Belated Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2021! It's only 9th January so not too late I hope. With Christmas being so quiet, for me anyway, New Year a non event then going into a strict Lockdown again, there hasn't been anything very positive to talk about. 

2020 was certainly unusual and I can't say it was wasted even though I couldn't go to work till July. I can only hope that things get better for all and we can move on to a life more suited to our desires. For me that is to see my friends and family in person, home and away and to visit more places I haven't been before. 

Things will get better but for now, its just one day at a time.

Stay safe, stay healthy. We can do this.

* * * * *

The week leading up to Lockdown #2

With the absence of any travel abroad this year, these past few months have taught us to be a bit more creative with the increased time on our hands. As I wrote in my last post, during the summer I had managed to do quite a lot of things I would never have had the time or inclination to do. 

Pre covid, my work took up the bulk of my life, and any free time was spent planning little weekend breaks away, along with as many winter and summer holidays my annual leave would allow. All that we once knew of this life has now been blown away by the pandemic. 

The last days of summer temperatures and sunshine were seen in mid September and we made the most of it by going down to the south coast of East Sussex and spending time on Camber Sands beach followed by a drive to the South Downs where we hiked through a field of sheep to see the Seven Sisters cliffs near Eastbourne. What a fabulous day that was and made up a little bit for the beach holiday that I should have had in June. Not quite Corfu but beautiful nevertheless.

This past week prior to lockdown, it was my birthday so I went for a lovely lunch, which was to be the last sit down meal at a restaurant for the next few weeks. The following day and the penultimate day of freedom, four of us went to Epping Forest for the last time together (see photo at top) while we still could, walking through the forest for a over an hour and finishing with a coffee at The Kings Oak in High Beach. 

With one day left, I really wanted to go to the coast again. None of my friends were available so on a whim I jumped in my car and

drove to Whitstable, about 60 miles east on the north coast of Kent. The weather was glorious - one of those crisp, clean, fresh autumn days that fill you with happiness and positivity. I walked along the beach in the sunshine and had a late lunch at the Whitstable Oyster Company. I was so happy I went even on my own. It's something I'm definitely going to do more often, specially in lockdown, when we aren't supposed to meet more than one person at a time outside.

We are now 3 days into Lockdown #2. I've decided that if I feel anxious, or in need of a change of scenery, I will take myself off somewhere. Seize the day.

Today was one of those days. I popped out to the local shops and there were queues of people outside almost every shop. Great for the local economy but it was not a day I was prepared to stand in line for an indeterminate time as there was nothing I needed urgently. It was another beautiful day, so I got on a bus and went to Shoreditch, walking through the quiet back streets and finding interesting street art along the way. There are so many talented artists' works everywhere and can be seen for free on the streets of London. For inspiration, check out the London Mural Festival for locations. 

After about an hour or so, I took the bus back getting off a couple of stops early and walked home via the towpath on Regents Canal. I'm not sure what I expected, but there were throngs of people everywhere, all obviously with the same idea as me. The route home via the park was like walking through a festival crowd and I realised that this was not such a good idea on a Saturday, but at least everyone was making the most of the great day and some fresh air.

I would like to think that this lockdown should be easier than the first and hopefully will not go beyond the projected date of December 2nd, but who knows at this stage. With the shorter, colder days it's so important to look after our mental health and keep occupied. Get out and about if you can. Walk in the park, along the canal, in the forest or even the semi deserted streets of the city. 

Failing that here's always reruns of Death in Paradise for a bit of escapism. Stay safe and healthy - we can do this.

Life almost 5 months on in lockdown ..

Coffee time

It's been three months since my last post and I would hate for my blog to just fizzle out so I thought I'd tell you what I've been doing for the past few months. Being unable to do my day job and also not willing to travel abroad at the moment, it's been a time of resetting and rethinking life as we know it. 

In life before the pandemic I had been happily plodding along going to work and planning breaks away whenever I could, always needing to have something in the future to look forward to. All that has changed and a new way of being has emerged. At the beginning of lockdown who could have predicted how long this could last? I was even optimistic that my June holiday to Corfu was happening but as the time got closer the realisation loomed that it was not going to be possible. Thankfully, clever (or lucky) planning and booking meant that there was no stress in the cancellation process and any money already paid out was refunded in full.

Paint by numbers

I have other strings to my bow and out came my trusty sewing machine. My first project was to make a mask. Taking baby steps as I hadn't made anything other than my neoprene beach bags in a long time. Then I did a paint by numbers painting, which took me 4 full days to complete. A very satisfying project.

kimono back view

Now that I have my creative confidence back again I am happily churning out a new holiday wardrobe in readiness for a winter sun break if that's going to be possible. Lovely linen dresses, a kimono and a jumpsuit all at a fraction of the cost I would pay retail price for them. 

I've preened my garden in a way it has never been preened before. I've painted the garden walls, I've sanded and painted an old chair to give it a new lease of life, and even found a tapestry I did years ago whilst clearing out my cellar. It is now a cushion cover on said chair in the garden. 

In a moment of madness, I customised a pair of Nike trainers, painting a Mexican inspired day of the dead scull with flowers on the side - all good fun. Amazingly too, the weather for the last few months has been exceptional and made the lockdown all the more bearable. I have recently ventured out to have coffee with a friend and will be meeting friends for dinner too. 

For those of us who have been in isolation during the pandemic without much human contact, these things would never have been achieved as I never seemed to have the time. It goes to show that good things can come from bad situations.

Enjoying my garden

I do of course realise that this has not been a good time for a lot of people and my heart goes out to those who have suffered illness and loss. It is tragic to see how many people have been affected. We can only hope that this will be over soon and life can continue with a semblance of what we want normal to be. 

I hope to be back here soon sharing my next trip and hearing about yours. Until then, stay safe and well.

"What really matters is how we handle the bad moments. Don't let it define you, keep reaching for your happiness." Russell Simmons

* * * * *

Lockdown in London

Dandelions in bloom

Almost done with week 7 of the lockdown and a glimmer of hope is on the horizon although it still may be some way off yet. I have no travel to write about and nothing coming up thanks to COVID-19. My June trip to Corfu with the girls has been cancelled and I can't see us being able to go anywhere at least for this year.

Walking with Scout

My new routine means I have been at home enjoying the beautiful spring weather by gardening, baking, organising, creating and walking my dog every day. It's been so lovely hearing the birdsong every morning, watching spring progress and generally taking less for granted of the world around us. I have not been to a major supermarket since I got back from my Mexican holiday and just shop locally as and when I need something. More than ever it's really important to support small businesses in this uncertain time.

I like this new way of living although I'm not sure I would want it this way forever. As much as I have enjoyed video calls with my family and friends, I would like a physical face to face catch up - 2 metres apart of course - and a coffee or drink in a public place.

Working on location

I have been unable to do my day job as a makeup artist because it requires being very close to the client and touching them. It's not conducive to preventing the potential spread of the nasty virus. 

In the interim, I have been trawling through my photos and selecting one a day to put on my instagram account. I'm not one to live in the past but it has kept me sane. It's my way of escapism and reminds me that I will be able to travel again one day. What that will look like is anyone's guess.

Keep safe and well. Hopefully it won't be too long before returning to work and traveling days are here again.

Riviera Maya, Mexico .. a trip in time

Given what's going on in the world at the moment, it almost feels untimely to write about my recent trip to Mexico. I feel very grateful to have had my vacation when I did, as less than a week after I returned everything was going into lockdown because of the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

I think what we need right now is less of the daily negative media reports and more of the fun things in life to think about. Whilst we are unable to go anywhere for the foreseeable future, we can certainly enjoy what we have and have beautiful images to look at and inspire us for when we are able to get away again.

So with that in mind, this post will be a sort of pick of the day album of my time away. The Vidanta resort is so large and spread out, there was no need to venture off site if you didn't want to. There are shops, cafes, artisan stalls, street foods and restaurants and numerous pools to choose from. 


Since I was last here 5 years ago, the whole area has been improved so that it's safer to swim in the sea. With the new piers and rocky breakwaters the rip tide is less of an issue. It's a beautiful wide open beach of the finest white sand and clear Caribbean waters.
My favourite spot was a teepee on the beach with this view. Lots of shade and shelter from any wind.


There were some great restaurants on site which catered for all tastes including French, Italian and Asian, but we chose mostly Mexican cuisine. When in Mexico why wouldn't you?! Tasty dishes made with fresh, healthy ingredients like avocados, beans, chillies, tomatoes, peppers and freshly caught fish, I could eat like this all the time. The Catrina cocktails were made right at our table. Don't worry, the straws were all biodegradable.

This 75 metre pool was great for exercise or just cooling off. Whether you wanted to do freestyle laps or walk up and down with water weights, there was enough space for everyone. Situated right next to the beach, the choice was there everyday depending on what you wanted.

It rained quite hard one afternoon and being warm some people stayed in the pool whilst others ran for cover or a drink at the bar.

Mostly it was warm and sunny with clear blue skies.




This walkway took you both ways - pool to beach or beach to pool. There was a shower at the end to wash the sand off your feet so that the pool area remained clean.

There were also beds and couches tucked under the trees for group gatherings, which was lovely to do at the end of the day, or a chance to hideaway in a hammock reading a book.

The occasional iguana would wander past but they're not interested in humans and weren't a problem.

I loved watching the pelicans fly overhead in formation, or dive into the sea to catch fish.
 

 Every time we were given a menu at a restaurant we were also given a 'drinks' menu. It consisted of numerous cocktails, mixers and beers and after a few meals we asked why there was no wine available. Oh, they said, you want the wine list! We didn't realise that a wine and drinks menu were two different things! We were introduced to a lovely light Mexican rose wine suggested to us by the head waiter in Gong, a fusion Asian restaurant and the only occasion we didn't eat Mexican food. It was surprisingly good and needless to say after that we always asked for the 'wine' list!

I adore Mexican food, and one of my favourites is fish tacos. I first had them years ago in Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast and have them whenever I can.

The dish on the right is mahi-mahi, one of the many fish tacos I enjoyed this trip!

Another dish I absolutely love is Aztec (or tortilla) soup. A wonderful flavourful soup with chilli and tomato, topped with avocado and strips of tortilla.

It's so easy to make yourself and I'm looking forward to doing that when summer comes around and hopefully eating al fresco again.




The Mexican tradition of honouring and celebrating the dead is deeply entrenched in the culture of its people.

La Catrina on the left, symbolises the Day of the Dead and the Mexican willingness to laugh at death itself.

You see images of Catrina everywhere and it's all whimsically bright and colourful.

"Death brings the neutralising force - everyone is equal in the end."




On the right, an iguana basking in the sun. You won't see them on a cloudy day. They almost blend into the rocks and are sometimes difficult to spot. Lovely to see their beautiful skins so close up.



There are also many images and objects depicting the Mexican icon Frida Khalo, an artist known for her many self portraits, folk art and works inspired by nature.





Whilst at the airport waiting for the flight home, I spotted a shop called Prison Art. I was drawn in by the beautiful artwork on the bags in the window and was smitten by this Frida Kahlo image. I had a look inside at all the beautiful pieces and took this snap as I left. Whilst I sat in the departure lounge looking at the photo, I realised I'd regret not buying the bag so went back and got it. I'm so happy I did. Not only do I love it as a bag, but I love the story behind it. 

Click on the link above to read the amazing story of how this project was started by an innocent man in prison who was released after 11 months. He created a machine that could tattoo leather enabling inmates to produce unique pieces which are sold to help the project and with integration back into society.


At the time of publishing I have no idea when my next trip will be. My annual girls' holiday to Corfu is booked for June but it's looking increasingly unlikely that we will be able to go. Let's hope this Corona virus disappears as fast as it arrived and we can all get back to our lives. I don't think anything will be quite the same again. 

Stay safe everyone .. I'll be back again soon. Until then feel free to follow my instagram account for past vacation pics and current images from my day job.