Sunshine in Barcelona

Tags

Barcelona, Beaches, Gaudi, La Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas, Park Guell, Spain, Tapas

For this last weekend getaway, I was able to fly down south to the beautiful yet historic coastal city of Barcelona, Spain. Now that the cold months are creeping upon us, the decision to begin visiting more Southern European destinations has been such an easy one. Living in London has really been fantastic, don’t get me wrong… but this time of year I’m starting to get all too familiar with overcast skies and rainy days! Barcelona has been at the top my list for quite some time now, and the fact that they speak Spanish (my husband is fluent) and have great sunny beaches was more than enough to convince my husband to take me there to visit.

When we arrived at the airport late our first night all we wanted to do was find some good authentic grub to eat. Normally finding great late night food can be challenging in any city, but thanks to some previous research we found the super trendy eatery of Ciudad Condal. We always look up good restaurants before we travel, and seeing that Anthony Bourdain himself had given this place his stamp of approval we figured that we should give it a go. We were completely blown away with our dining experience here. Unlike the States, Spanish people have a love for small bites and portions called “tapas”. This trend is catching on quickly around Europe, but originates from Spain and can be found all over the country especially in Barcelona. Throughout our meal, the small dishes were brought to our table and we licked off every inch of our plates! Our favorite Tapas had to be the mini hamburgers, crispy camembert, and prawn skewers. The deserts were also outstanding, and the service and price of the meal was superb. As we were leaving the restaurant we decided that we would again be returning to dine the following evening as it has been one of the best restaurants we have encountered in Europe thus far.

 Such a cool restaurant with incredible food!

The following day in Barcelona was absolutely gorgeous! We were greeted with blue skies and calm breezes, so we knew that we needed to take advantage and head to the beach to start our day. We had heard that fall is a perfect time to visit the Barcelona beaches because they are not as crowded as they are in the summer months. We took the city metro (so easy to use here) and got out at the La Vila Olympica stop to walk along the coastline all the way down to Barceloneta Beach. Words cannot express how amazing it felt to soak up the sunshine, and to dip our feet into the Mediterranean for the first time. The only thing that caught us off guard at the European beaches here was the “clothing optional” policy (yikes!). Don’t worry its nothing horrible, but just be aware to steer clear of some of the sunbathers and you will be good to go. 

As lunchtime hit we finally were able to take ourselves away from the beautiful scenery and over to Bo de B for some food. It’s a fun little walk to get from Barceloneta through the bustling Spanish streets to Bo de B for the perfect after-beach lunch. This is a small little sandwich shop that is home to some incredibly cheap 3 euro sandwiches. They are piled high with all the meat, toppings, and sauces you could want… really affordable and really delicious! We like to look for inexpensive options for lunchtime when traveling and Bo de B was quite the winner.

One of the main things we wanted to do while in Barcelona was to explore the famous architectural work done by artist Antoni Gaudi. Evidence of Gaudi’s whimsical and modern-styled designs can been seen in countless areas all over Barcelona. Our first Gaudi stop was to visit Park Guell (free admission), which is located just a few minutes by metro out of the city center. The Park sits up on a hill which gives you the absolute best views of the city with plenty of intriguing architecture to observe. Half of the fun is actually getting to the park where you get to ride up an outdoor escalator all the way to the top. I loved going through the different sections and getting to see incredible views of Barcelona. This place almost felt like going through a Dr. Seuss like theme park! There was so much to do and see here, and it was just an amazing area of the city to be in. Be sure not to leave before trying out the little gelato shop located by the main entrance of the park..  we had the raspberry and it was divine!

To top off a fun-filled day we then went down to Las Ramblas to check out some shopping on Barcelona’s famous central street. Here on Las Ramblas you can find really any store including a very impressive Zara, which is a must to visit when going down this street (Zara is Spanish in case you didn’t already know). We found that the shopping in Barcelona is a lot more affordable than in other big European cities which we really loved. It is also worth making a stop to see Casa Batllo which is another building of Gaudi’s that has been turned into a museum and can be toured by the public. A visit to Barcelona just would not be complete without a stroll down Las Ramblas to shop. Our favorite restaurant Ciudad Condal that I mentioned earlier is also located in this area.. and yes, we did eat there again! 🙂

For our final day in Spain we saved the best for last… La Sagrada Familia. Oh where do I even begin?? This enormous cathedral is the highlight of Barcelona, and the crowning jewel to Antoni Gaudi’s Career and legacy. The masterpiece was started clear back and 1882 and is still undergoing construction to this day! Gaudi devoted his life to building this church and his design on both the inside and outside of the structure is unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. The detail put into this landmark is deeply inspiring, and waiting in an hour plus line just to get in is completely worth it. I feel that everyone needs to see this magnificent cathedral at some point in their life, because seeing it for myself was something I’ll never forget. La Sagrada Familia was simply stunning.

There’s just nothing like it.

Overall I felt like Barcelona has been one of the most well-rounded European destinations that we have been to yet. Not only are the beaches and scenery beautiful, but the history and architecture makes it so unique. There is so much to do here with all the great food, shopping, and attractions. My husband and I hope to return for at least a week next time to explore many of the other things we wanted to do and see, and lay on the beach some more (of course). Choosing my top 3 this time was a little more difficult but here is the list:

                             The  Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

                   1. La Sagrada Familia. YOU MUST DO THIS

                   2. Park Guell. Whimsical architecture with fabulous city views

                   3. Ciudad Condal. Yeah, it was that good

Thank you so much for stopping by!

xoxo

*We are venturing out to Eastern Europe next!

In Bruges

Tags

Belfry, Belgium, Bruges, Market Square, Waffles

I have been meaning to get this post up much sooner, but I’m finding out that all of our constant traveling (can’t complain) is keeping me quite busy these days. A lot of time, energy, and work goes into planning our weekend getaways, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world! My husband and I both feel so blessed to have the opportunity to live in Europe, and every weekend we are continually trying our best to see as much of it as humanly possible. But no more excuses, I’m working on getting up to date with all of our adventures including one of our most recent trips to Belgium.

Continuing from my last post on Brussels, our final stop in Belgium that weekend was to the sweet little village of Bruges. We felt like our busy day in Brussels was the perfect amount of time needed, and that we ought to get out of the hustle and bustle and venture into the countryside. We took a pleasant hour-long train ride into the city of Bruges. We have found that local trains are the easiest because there is no need to plan in advance. Just show up at the train station and you can get a super reasonable price.. In fact, I think we only paid about 10 euros total to get from Brussels to Bruges and back. It was such a steal!

My first impression of seeing Bruges for the first time was.. wow. Before coming, I didn’t quite know what to expect about visiting this place. All I had known was that it seemed like a quaint little town known for their chocolate and that was enough for me. But wow… Bruges was by far the cutest town I have ever encountered in Europe! The area is similar to Amsterdam in the fact that it is canal-based, but the historic architecture and adorable little cottages are what really won me over. It is such a beautiful and clean little city that radiates perfection. I knew right away that our decision to spend a day in Bruges was a fantastic one.

We didn’t really have any plans of what to do in Bruges, we sometimes find it fun to just explore and see where the day takes us. We took a five-minute walk from the train station and strolled down the streets admiring everything that we saw around us. Since we were there on a weekend, a lot of great free entertainment was going on. We literally saw everything under the sun happening here. We witnessed tango dancers, musicians, guys with fish-bowl heads, market shopping, and magicians. Bruges is a city that really likes to entertain so be sure to be there over a weekend so you can join in the fun at no cost at all.

 These guys were the best! 

If you follow the crowds of people, you will eventually make it to the downtown area of Bruges known as Market Square. This is where you will find the center of the city where all the action happens. We were in complete awe of the remarkable medieval-influenced architecture that surrounded the square. We couldn’t help but notice the large Belfry, a tower so massive that you can’t miss it! If you are looking for major attractions and things to do in Bruges then I would recommend coming to Belfry and climbing the tower. Another popular tourist attraction in the square is the Provincial Court Building where there is a great tour on the medieval history of Bruges dating back to the 12th century.

The rest of our time in Bruges was spent shopping down the many streets that align with Market Square. Along these streets we found some really great chocolate and ice cream shops as well as waffle stands (of course) that are worth checking out. However, when lunch time rolled around we were looking for a tasty yet inexpensive place to sit down and eat, and we could not find it. We probably wandered around for at least an hour and some of the eateries looked pretty good, but were outrageously priced for over 20 euros a plate.. for lunch! We finally found a little burger place that was decently priced and had some ok food. When it comes to restaurants Bruges seemed be overpriced and a little bit of a tourist trap, so be sure to know that before visiting.

When in doubt, eat the waffles! 

Aside from the restaurant scene, Bruges was a terrific little gem on our tour around Belgium. If you’re looking for a low-key and delightful place to spend some time, then I completely recommend visiting. I probably wouldn’t spend more than 2 days or so there just because it is on the smaller side, but it is such a quaint town really worth seeing.

If you decide to visit Bruges, be sure to check out the following…

                             The Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

                1. Architecture. The cutest city to look at.

                2. Live Entertainment. Some of the best I have seen.

3. Market Square. Many great attractions.

xoxo

*Cannot wait for Spain this weekend!

Best of Brussels

Tags

Atomium, Belgian Food, Belgium, Brussels, Grand Place, Mannekin Pis

My husband and I just finished spending our weekend in the lovely little country of Belgium. We had so much fun that I had to break this post into two parts just to cover all the cool things that we did. I have to admit that my main reason for wanting to go to Belgium in the first place was to indulge myself in their well-known specialties of chocolate, waffles, and frites! However, I quickly discovered that there is much more to Belgium than just a warm and crispy sugar-coated waffle with whip cream on top (although insanely delicious). We learned that this country is a diverse combination of French, Dutch, and German influences all rolled into one fantastic European destination worth taking the time to travel to.

We travelled once again on Eurostar from London and over to Brussels. I have to say that we have really preferred traveling Europe by train because it is so stress-free, easy, and you can get some pretty good views of the countryside. After arriving in Brussels we were welcomed with rainy and dreary weather (ugh) but luckily it was nothing major to hold us back. In case you were wondering, summer is completely GONE in Northern Europe, and fall is definitely here bringing all the rain and brisk weather along with it. You’ll notice in the pictures that we had to keep ourselves really bundled up and I had to ditch all attempts at trying to be somewhat fashionable.. it’s all about comfort! Anyways, we spent the beginning of our day exploring the beautiful city of Brussels. As soon as we got off the train we headed right to Maison Dandoy to test out our first waffles in Belgium. We were delighted with what we ate, and I highly recommend on getting the pure Belgian waffle with brown sugar on top. That’s how the locals eat it and it was soooo good.

Next we went to see the center of the city at Grand Place (main square in Brussels). Seeing Grand Place for the first time was so magnificent! The ornate buildings, the nearby chocolate shops, and lively entertainment made Grand Place one of my favorite things I have seen yet. We loved walking through the square because there was always something fun going on and such amazing architecture to look at.

The tops of the buildings were made to look like the back of a ship!

The following thing that we really wanted to see in the city was the famous Mannekin Pis which can be translated into English as “Little Man Pee”. This famous landmark is literally a statue of a little man peeing into a fountain (hehe). This icon of Belgium can be found replicated throughout the entire city as it seemed like the people here were absolutely obsessed with it. We followed the signs from Grand Place that led us to see the Mannekin Pis. We were expecting the sculpture to be a pretty good size but we were completely shocked when we saw the most TINY statue ever! Seriously??!! It was the most microscopic and disappointing thing, except for the fact that they dressed him up in a funny little outfit which apparently they switch out several times a week. It’s worth going to see what all the fuss is about, but man it was just laughable at how small he really was. You have to admire the Belgians for their funny sense of humor and love for all things quirky and random!

We decided to check out some of the shopping over at the nearby Galleries Saint-Hubert. This is a really neat enclosed area of shopping that has many unique stores but is known specifically for their endless amount of gourmet chocolate shops.. aka chocolate heaven!!!!! I can’t really explain what happened to me the moment I stepped inside this place. I felt like a kid in a candy store or maybe a chocolate monster? But something inside of me snapped, and 5 chocolate stores later I found myself leaving Galleries Saint-Hubert with bags of chocolate and a huge smile on my face.

 My favorite were the milk chocolate caramels from Neuhaus

Another thing we were wanting to do in Brussels was to visit the landmark of Atomium. Originally built for the Brussels World Fair in 1958, this strange structure was created for the exhibition and over the years has become somewhat of a major icon in Belgium. As I mentioned earlier, Belgium is known for some quirky things and seeing Atomium for the first time felt a little bizarre. We didn’t know quite what to expect but decided what the heck, and bought our 8 euro ticket to go inside and check it out.

The inside was simply fascinating. It felt as if we were on a space ride at Disneyland! A rocket elevator shot us up to the highest sphere of the structure, where we were able to see an awesome panoramic view of Brussels. From the top, you can also get a great view of the nearby attraction Mini Europe which showcases an entire little mini-sized theme park of Europe.. this would be something really cute to do if you have kiddos. After the top, you can take the descending escalators down through the pipes to the different spheres. This was our favorite part because the escalators were lit up and music was playing as we got to the light show sphere which was our choice sphere of the day. Complete with techno music and strobe lights inside.. this was sooo random but so cool at the same time! The rest of the spheres included a restaurant, history center, and even a sleeping area with little pods to snooze in. Atomium was quite odd, but we had some good laughs and enjoyed every minute of it. Visiting this landmark was definitely memorable and we felt satisfied with what we paid for.

 Mini Europe!

All of that exploring made us hungry for a cone of a classic Belgian frites, so we made our way back to the city center to get some from a nearby food stand. After having European frites for the first time in Amsterdam a month ago, we had been craving them ever since! I cannot stress enough how tasty it is to have a cone full of warm and crispy fries in your hand, especially on a rainy day! If you get them though, you must get the andalouse sauce to go on top. We thought fry sauce was good, but nothing compares to how delicious this sauce is to dip your frites into.. mmmm!

As our calories for the day were starting to build (don’t judge) we thought that we ought to work off all those carbs with some shopping down Avenue Louise. Luckily we heard about this street before even coming to Belgium, and we were so glad we did! We took a short metro ride over here to discover some of the best shopping that Brussels has to offer. It felt refreshing to get away from the tourists and do some hard-core shopping at places like Zara and even some factory outlets. We were really impressed with the vast amount of shops that were stationed down this street. If you aren’t completely worn out, then you can walk a little further to the end of the road to see a spectacular overlook of the city. It was a great spot that we stumbled upon and we were so glad to relax and watch the sun go down over Brussels.

To end our adventurous day spent in Brussels, we took the metro back over to Grand Place and walked over to “Greek Street” for dinner. Here we ate at Pitta Hellas where we had one of the best meals we have had in Europe yet. This place was so authentic and very reasonably priced. The meat was cooked right in front of us on a stick where it was then scraped off onto our plates. I will forever crave this little Greek restaurant and their delicious meat.

As if the day could not get any better, we were surprised with a huge musical celebration at Grand Place on the stroll back to our hotel. The whole place was lit up and big bands were playing familiar tunes inside the square. We sang along with the crowd and enjoyed the rest of our evening there which was nothing short of magical.

Brussels completely blew us away, as it was better than we could have ever imagined. We were in awe with everything that we saw and ate, and looking back it is impressive to see all the things that we were able to accomplish in just one day. Here is my list for the top must-sees..

                                  The Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

             1. Grand Place. Always something fun going on.

             2. Belgian Food. No surprise there. Eat chocolate, waffles & frites.

             3. Atomium. Unexpected and loads of fun.

xoxo

*Brussels was just the beginning of our trip to Belgium, part 2 on Bruges is coming soon!

Afternoon in Oxford

Tags

Balliol College, Christ Church, Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Oxford University

I am finally getting caught up with documenting all the exciting things we have been doing in and around London. Although we head out of the UK most weekends (we’re a little Europe obsessed if you couldn’t tell) believe it or not, we do actually spend most of our time here in London! My husband and I are approaching our 2 month mark of living here, and I now finally feel like I am starting to know London like a true local. After getting a lot of the “touristy” stuff out of the way, we have recently been branching out to see the different areas and suburbs located around London. One of these suburbs that we went to visit was Oxford.. home to the world-respected University of Oxford. Not only is Oxford a fine institution, but it is also a college town full of plenty of history, culture, and beauty to discover.

Departing out of Paddington Station, we made the approximate hour-long train ride out of London and up to Oxford. Within a five-minute walk, we found ourselves located in the heart of the downtown, filled with countless little streets to wander down and explore. We then decided to begin our tour of Oxford at Christ Church up the road. Although we weren’t really crazy about paying 7 pounds per person to get in, Christ Church Cathedral is a place rich in history, and a definite must-see when visiting the town of Oxford. Inside we strolled along the beautiful green Quad, and then stepped into the ornate cathedral to listen to the church choir sing. Here you can also tour the actual “Great Hall” that was used in the Harry Potter films, as well as a few other locations around the university. It is also fascinating to note that the Great Hall in Christ Church is used everyday for students to gather together for breakfast before starting their studies.. just like in Harry Potter 🙂

Christ Church was a great way to start our day of sight seeing, but it is just a small portion of the many things you can do and see while on the main campus. The grounds and meadows surrounding the school are so green and beautiful to observe. We also thought that half the fun about Oxford was just wandering through the different colleges within the university. You can see every academic subject represented, and learn about the famous historic figures who once studied or lectured there. One of the highlights of the day was visiting the Museum of the History of Science (free admission) where in the basement you can see the actual blackboard where Albert Einstein himself wrote the equation for measuring the density, radius, and age of the universe, during a lecture he gave in 1931.

After stopping for some crepes for a quick lunch, we headed next to tour the prestigious Balliol College. For just one pound, you can explore just about every inch inside one of Oxford’s largest and oldest colleges within the university. There are countless colleges that make up Oxford, but we were really excited when we stumbled upon Balliol College because of its rich history and gorgeous buildings. It was amazing to see the cathedral and garden grounds and think that students actually reside all year inside the college walls. Learning about student life was very intriguing as we found out that Balliol College students are given access to their very own personal tutor.. could you imagine? Balliol College was a great place to see higher education at its best, and we were immensely impressed with what we saw.

 Yes, students of Balliol College get to live here!

Our afternoon spent in Oxford was such a pleasant one, and we truly left feeling more enlightened and cultured about England’s way of doing education. We felt that spending just a day at Oxford was the perfect amount of time to really see the main attractions around the campus. I completely recommend to go to Oxford and see all the history that it has to offer. If you do go you MUST….

                               The Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

           1. Christ Church. Little pricey, but you have to see the great hall.

           2. The Oxford Colleges. Balliol College was our favorite.

           3. Einstein Blackboard. Incredible to see in person.

xoxo

*Belgium is next on the agenda!

The City of Love

Tags

Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, France, Louvre, Paris, Sacre-Coeur, Versailles

There’s a first time for everything, and my first visit to Paris this last weekend truly felt like a dream come true. I mean isn’t it every girl’s wish to go to Paris at some point? You envision this place your entire life, and there is nothing like seeing and experiencing it for the first time. I had a huge list of places that I wanted to go to and explore, but with our three-day limit, I knew I was going to have to condense it down to the classic tourist locations. There is just SO MUCH to do in Paris! However, I felt like we were able to at least somewhat scrape the surface and accomplish the major landmarks within our short visit.

Originating from London, we booked our tickets in advance (a must) to take a Eurostar train under the Chunnel and over to Paris. It amazes me how easy and convenient it was to do this. Just a short two-hour train ride from London and Poof! we were there! For this trip I was also lucky enough to have my good friend fly in from the states to join us for the weekend. The three of us arrived in Paris that evening and spent the night strolling around and soaking in the architecture and all around loveliness. Whenever my husband and I go to a new place, we always try to walk as much as we can. We may get exhausted and destroy our shoes, but walking through the streets of a city is the best way to enjoy and fully understand it.

The next morning we woke up early for a really busy day. I mean really busy! To start our morning we treated ourselves to a fruit tart from one of our favorite French bakeries Paul. They have these all over London too, but we couldn’t help but stop by for a quick bite to eat there when it was located so close to our hotel. The first item on our agenda was to head to the beautiful French Palace of Versailles. I am a huge nerd when it comes to French history so going to see Versailles was a really exciting thing for me. We took a short and easy metro ride from the city and over to the palace. Upon our arrival we were met with the gold and grandeur of the massive royal château. We took an audio tour of the inside, and made our way through the state rooms. It felt as if every inch of the palace was adorned in the most elaborate gold details and finishes. My jaw literally dropped at each room that we went into. It was unbelievable to see how lavish they lived during that time, and it was like nothing I had ever seen before. The highlight of the tour for me was seeing the famous Hall of Mirrors, and the ornate chapel attached inside palace.

Following Versailles, the next must-see we decided to visit was the iconic Eiffel Tower.. DUH! No matter how much you prepare for it, the Eiffel tower is more magical than you could ever expect. I had no clue how insanely HUGE it was! The sheer size and beauty of it just blew me away. Sometimes in Europe, landmarks you have always heard about can disappoint you when you actually see them in person. But the Eiffel Tower? Never. It is seriously amazing. I was debating about if it was actually worth the 10 euros and hour-long wait to take the elevator to the top. But after seeing the incredible 360 degree views of Paris I knew it was completely worth it. Every angle is breathtaking and you get to see just how big the city of Paris actually is. Be sure to not get trapped into paying more to go past the second level. Apparently the views from the very top can be really hard to see and other travelers informed us that it wasn’t worth it. We headed down from the second level to find ourselves continually admiring the Eiffel Tower (while eating yummy crepes from the nearby food stand of course).

As the evening approached we realized we had done absolutely no shopping yet! To resolve this problem headed up to the Champs Eylsees which is arguably the most famous street in Paris. We had heard that the best way to enjoy it was to start from the Arc de Triomphe (another stunning sight to see), and work our way down. On this street you can find some of the most heavenly French shops including my personal favorite, Laduree. The Laduree here is a large location packed full of every macaroon and pastry you can think of. Do yourself a favor and get a salted carmel macaroon.. nothing beats that one! A good tip we heard about the Champs Eylsees is to NOT eat at the surrounding restaurants. Many many people have warned us that while the shops are good here, the restaurants along the street are dead set on ripping tourists off with bad food. We were sure glad that went into the city instead to find the corner French restaurant of Le Mesturet. Here you can have the Frenchiest of French meals including some really good steak and carpaccio which was incredibly divine.

The following day was Sunday, and we specifically saved this day to do the Louvre. The reason we did this was because the first Sunday of every month the Louvre is completely FREE! We love finding secrets like this and getting great deals on touristy attractions. One thing we have learned while traveling is to always look up admission prices before you visit, and by reading the fine print you can usually find some sort of amazing deal like we did. Always do your homework and research before going! Anyways.. the Louvre was outstanding in almost every way. As an Art student, I pretty much consider the Louvre to be the mecca and centerpiece of classic world art. Make sure to go in knowing that you cannot possibly see everything. Make a game plan like we did, and try your best not to get lost inside! Our favorites were the statue of the Winged Victory, Mona Lisa, The Wedding Feast at Cana, Pysche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, Venus de Milo, and the State Apartments of Napoleon. 

After the Louvre we felt like we were just about dead. All that walking around in the museum did a number on us, but we still found the strength to walk down and see the glorious Notre Dame Cathedral. We were so glad we did, because it truly is a magnificent cathedral with stained glass windows that are rather remarkable to look at. Our next stop was to Pont des Arts Bridge to add our “lock of love” and throw away the keys. This was such a fun and romantic thing to do. We had to leave our mark on The City of Love, and this was a lovely little French tradition we were glad to be apart of. The locks are also really cheap to buy from the vendors conveniently located right on the bridge. We hope to come back and find our lock again!

As you can see we had a pretty busy few days seeing the sites and landmarks in Paris. Our last and final place we went to see before our train ride back to London, was the Sacre-Coeur. Also known at The Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Sacre-Coeur is a basilica in Paris located on top of a hill in the highest point of the city. This means stunning views of all of Paris. We really enjoyed coming up to visit this landmark. The church inside is pretty amazing, and the surrounding area is full of fun little shops. Be prepared to make a bit of climb if you go, as there are quite a few steps to walk up!

I think you can tell from the many photos I took, that I absolutely adored Paris! It is one of those cities that has so much beauty and attractions to offer. We are completely convinced that we need to go back again and finish visiting some of the sites that we didn’t get to. We are finding that many places we are traveling to can be like Paris, with just so much to do. Our rule is that we always have to give ourselves a reason to return, and with Paris.. we will definitely be back!

Here are some MUST things to do if you visit:

                                The Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

         1. View from level 2 of the Eiffel Tower. Worth every penny

         2. The Louvre. There is no museum like it

         3. French Cuisine. You must eat a French dinner, crepes, & macaroons 

Thank you for reading! Au revoir!

xoxo

*London posts are coming soon.. promise! 🙂

Trip to the Homeland

Tags

Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow, Military Tattoo, Scotland, Stirling, William Wallace

My holiday to Scotland this past week was a very special one. The best part about it was the fact that my family got to fly in all the way from the states to come and share it with my husband and I. Am I spoiled or what? Scotland has always held a special place in my heart due to the fact that my ancestors are Scottish, and I have learned about their homeland of Scotland my entire life. My husband’s side is also Scottish, so we knew that this trip up to Scotland was going to be quite a memorable one.

Together with my family, we took a five-hour train ride starting from London all the way up to the city of Edinburgh. It might have been faster to get there by catching a flight, but we wanted to experience the beauty of the countryside all the way up to Scotland. After arriving at Waverley Station in Edinburgh, we walked out to view one of the most enchanting cities I have ever seen. Scotland has always seemed like that fairytale place to me, but actually seeing it for myself was simply magical. It just didn’t seem real. The pictures on this post will not even do it justice. I have never before seen such a more stunning place in my entire life. The Edinburgh Castle on top of the hill with the surrounding greenery and city truly made me speechless. Stepping into Scotland for the first time, and knowing that my ancestors made this place their home was a moment that I will never forget.

That evening we got settled at our hotel and put on our heavy coats, (Scotland is freezing, even in August!) and went to do one of the coolest things you can ever do in Scotland.. The Military Tattoo! When I first heard about this “tattoo” I had NO idea what it even was. My parents had researched and booked tickets for it months in advance so that my entire family would be able to go. Every year in Edinburgh, for just the month of August, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo puts on an elaborate production at Edinburgh Castle to showcase military marching bands from across Scotland, and around the world. This means thousands of performers playing bagpipes and singing and dancing to represent their heritage. The show we saw also included motocross stunt riders, drummers, and marching bands from New Zealand, Mexico, and Mongolia (just to name a few). AND there was even a spectacular firework display to end the tattoo. This production was such an incredible event to witness! People come from all over the world come to see this, and it almost felt like we were at the opening ceremonies of the olympic games. This truly was one of those once in a lifetime opportunities that I was lucky enough to view and be apart of.

On day 2, we rented a car and decided to spend the day driving through Scotland, and stop at different towns out in the countryside. I can’t tell you how nice it is to get off the beaten path and go exploring through a country. Having a car gave us the freedom to see what we wanted, and at our own pace. One of those things to see was the little Scottish town of Rutherglen. Rutherglen is special because it is the actual city where my ancestors are from. Thanks to some research from my dad, we were able to find the cemetery where a lot of my family members are buried. This was such a neat experience, and it was so fascinating to get in touch with my family history, and see where they lived. At that moment, I truly did feel Scottish!!

 Seeing a Scottish tombstone with my family name on it was so cool!

After Rutherglen, we drove to see the biggest city in Scotland which is Glasgow. This was such a cold but beautiful place! We stopped and walked around the main shopping square, and then had fantastic burgers at the restaurant Burger Meets Bun, which had some of the juiciest and most flavorful burgers we have ever had (my family all agreed). Unfortunately we didn’t get to stay in Glasgow as long as we would have liked, but we still had another major stop on our little road trip through Scotland…

 I didn’t get the best photo of our meal, but this was pretty dang cute 🙂

Our last stop of the day had to have been my absolute favorite. We made our way from Glasgow to Stirling, Scotland. If you are a Braveheart junkie like my husband is, then you will know that Stirling is home to the epic battle of Stirling in which William Wallace and his small army of Scots defeated the large English forces. Could a city get much cooler than that?? Not only is Stirling known for their rich history, but the city is also known for its spectacular views and beautiful surrounding village. We arrived in Stirling just as the sun was starting to go down, which made for some killer photos. We explored around Stirling Castle, and then did a small hike up to the William Wallace Monument. Both of these landmarks are on top a hill which will give you the best views of the city. Stirling is the picture perfect Scottish town, and it’s definitely worth the short drive from Edinburgh to stop and make a visit.

To end our spectacular weekend in Scotland, we spent Day 3 wandering the lovely streets of Edinburgh. We found some awesome shopping in “new town” down Prince’s Street where we fell in love with the ultimate Scottish department store of Jenners. We also spent the afternoon exploring Edinburgh Castle that is a must thing to do when you visit Edinburgh! If you want to find some great souvenirs and Scottish trinkets then be sure to shop around “old town” for some really authentic finds. I was pleasantly surprised by all of the great shopping that Edinburgh had to offer. Another fun little surprise was to see “the birthplace of Harry Potter” at The Elephant House. This is the famous eatery where J.K. Rowling herself was inspired to write Harry Potter, so be sure to stop by see where the magic happened. We ended our day with one of the best meals of the trip at the Italian eatery Vittoria, where the pasta dishes and steaks here are to die for!  

As you can tell, we rather enjoyed our time in Scotland and we are already wanting to go back! There is so much to do and see here but I have narrowed down a few places that you MUST do if you go to Edinburgh..

                                The Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

          1. Stirling. The countryside, village, and views

          2. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. A show you will never forget

          3. Walking down Prince’s Street. The best shopping and views

Thank you for stopping by!

xoxo

*Get ready for an Oxford & Paris post!

All Things Amsterdam

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Amsterdam, dutch pancakes, Holland, The Netherlands

Yet another great weekend in another great country. Although my feet were completely covered in blisters and my shoes were just about done for.. I had an amazing time in Holland! My husband and I felt like we walked the entire city of Amsterdam and we may have been a little exhausted by the end, but we couldn’t help but want to explore every inch of this gorgeous place. Amsterdam is just one of those european cities that everyone needs to visit at some point in their lives. Aside from the Red Light District,  (rather shocking) It was just so so beautiful!!! From the canals, to the bridges, and the food, to the buildings.. it was just an all around breathtaking place.

Our hotel was located right in the center of Amsterdam and nestled between the many waterways that run throughout the city. We really liked having a central location because Amsterdam is a big walking and biking city so being close to everything was key. For our first day there, we spent our afternoon for the most part just strolling the canals and walking by the various little neighborhoods. We did get lost a few times because it seemed like every street looked exactly the same. BUT we couldn’t complain for getting lost in a place with so much beauty! We ended our sightseeing with dinner at a delicious Indian restaurant in the center of town. Dinner wise, Amsterdam isn’t particularly known for their Dutch cuisine, so finding those authentic Dutch restaurants can be tough. However, the melting pot of cultural cuisines such as Indian, French, Italian, and Mediterranean can be found throughout the city and are worth trying out.

You may have to get creative when looking for dutch dinner places in Amsterdam, but for every other meal? eat the DUTCH FOOD!!!! On day 2 here it felt like all we did was eat, eat, eat! I kept telling my husband that he was going to have to roll me all the way home from Holland! We started our day by trying out some authentic Dutch pancakes at the restaurant Pancakes! (makes sense). The great thing about these pancakes was that they weren’t thick and soggy like American pancakes, but they weren’t as thin as French crepes.. they were right in the middle, and so unbelievably good! We ordered the strawberry and the bacon pancakes… Yep, pancakes with BACON on the inside! We were so impressed with this place that we told our waitress that they were the best pancakes we had ever had! And fun fact: at the end of every meal they will also give you the cutest little Dutch shoe key chain as a free souvenir 🙂 After having that fantastic breakfast we headed down to the main center of the city to explore De Bloemenmarkt, which is home to Amsterdam’s most famous flower market. Here you will find every flower imaginable including the classic tulips of Holland. We also liked exploring the many clothing stores, and cheese shops that lined the market. Our favorite thing to do was to walk into the cheese shops, and taste the FREE samples of Holland cheese. Pumping our stomachs full of cheese was absolute heaven for us.

When lunch time rolled around, we made our way through downtown Amsterdam to Vleminckx Fries. The Dutch fries are absolutely incredible! They are the perfect combination of salt and crispness, and they also come with the best sauces to dip them in. Just seeing the long line of people waiting to get these fries means you know its good. You’ll find many different fry places in Amsterdam, but don’t be fooled and settle for less. Come to Vleminckx for the most unforgettable fries in town! After picking up some fries, we headed to the edge of Amsterdam to Vondelpark. We needed to relax after all that eating and walking around, and Vondelpark was the perfect place to do that. The park is full of beautiful mini gardens and ponds that reminded me a little bit of New York’s Central Park. Just be careful not to run into the people smoking weed here.. (unless that’s your thing).

Close to Vondelpark you can find the famous “I Amsterdam” sign which is located in the art and museum district of Amsterdam. Here you can find some pretty fabulous museums including the Van Gogh Museum. Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to explore the museums because of the early closing times. It was such a bummer, but we now have a major reason to go back and visit right?? So if you head to the Art district, prepare for high prices, long lines, and early closing times (except on Friday) because you don’t want to make the same mistake we did.

 It is impossible to get a pic of the sign without people in it!

One of the last things we did in Amsterdam was take a canal boat ride to see the sights of the city. This had to have been our favorite thing we did here! This is a must to do in Amsterdam, because you truly get to see the beauty of the canals and places that you might only see by boat. The canals of Amsterdam are truly enchanting, and we were lucky enough to get on the boat during the sunset to get some stunning photographs.

See what I mean by beautiful?!! Amsterdam was such an outstanding place to visit and we would definitely go back.. especially for the food! We ended our evening by having dinner at the tasty Winkel and having some of the best apple pie we have ever had!

And to finish up our trip on day 3, before heading home, we stopped by to eat at Pancakes! AND Vleminckx Fries AGAIN! We almost never go to a food place more than once while on vacation but Amsterdam, you were the exception! We hope to go home and work off the food we ate so we can come back and visit Holland again someday! 🙂

                          The Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

             1. Dutch Food. Literally some of the best in Europe

             2. Canal Boat Ride. Absolute best way to see the city

             3. Cheese Shops. Free samples & so good

xoxo

*Stay tuned for an upcoming Scotland blog post!

Dusseldorf & Cologne

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Cologne, Dusseldorf, Germany

Our travels this last week took us to the unique and colorful country of Germany! Germany has been at the top of my list for must-see places to visit in Europe. It has always just seemed like it would be such an interesting place to explore and travel to, and let me tell you…  it did not disappoint in the slightest. As an American, the only previous countries I had been to before going to Germany were the UK and Mexico, so its safe to say that Germany was a complete culture shock.. but in the best way possible! Everything about going to Germany for the first time is such a new experience, from the language to the culture, everything is so different. But for me, embracing the differences of a new place is what traveling is all about.

For this first trip to Germany, my husband and I decided to get away from the tourists and have an authentic German adventure in the cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne. Düsseldorf and Cologne can both be found in the north-western part of the country. They are conveniently located within a short distance away from each other making it a nice 30 minute train ride away. The funny thing about these two cities is the fact that they have this ongoing feud between them. I’m not quite sure the cause of this hatred, but each city thinks they are better than the other one and they do not like each other one bit. We decided that we would visit both to find out for ourselves what we liked better about each city.

Our first day was spent exploring Düsseldorf. The main reason we wanted to go to Düsseldorf was for the architecture and the apparent posh-like atmosphere that we had heard so much about. Being an artsy girl myself, I have a deep love for all things to do with architecture and design, and this place was a designer’s paradise. Düsseldorf is known for having some of the most modern construction in Europe, and seeing works from the likes of the famous Frank Gehry was mind-blowing. Seriously, I have seen nothing like it in my life and I just could not get enough. In addition to the jaw-dropping design, we were also impressed by the “old town” that is home to some of the best traditional German shops, markets, and restaurants. We had outstanding meals our entire day here. Sticking with our love for Yelp, we headed to Bastian’s for a late morning brunch and IT WAS SO GOOD. I haven’t been to all of Europe, but I’m pretty sure Bastian’s has the best cheese and salami ever. If you go, do yourself a favor and head to Bastian’s for some of the best food you will ever eat! After an incredible meal we spent the rest of the Saturday shopping at the open markets and shops along the Rhine river.  I really loved seeing the fresh flowers for sale, tasting the homemade candy, and taking in the smell of the meat sizzling from the nearby sausage stands. There are a lot of high-end shops in downtown Düsseldorf, but for me, the “old town” offered the kind of market shopping that I adore.

To end our day in Düsseldorf we treated ourselves to an authentic German dinner where we had Schnitzel (thin breaded pork) for the first time and man.. it was quite delicious. We then soaked up the sunset while strolling along the Rhine river for some beautiful evening views. The sunset was picture perfect that evening! And to top off an incredible day in Düsseldorf, we lastly headed to Rheinturm Tower where for just a few Euros, you can head to the very top for the ultimate panoramic view of Düsseldorf. We were really glad that we got to do this because to see an entire city lit up from above is the perfect ending to any day.

Day 2 was all about Cologne. We got up early and made our way from the Düsseldorf station on the train down to Cologne. It was really nice to get off the train and step out right into the heart of the city. The first thing that we saw getting off the train was the MASSIVE Cologne Cathedral. There are no words to describe how large this cathedral is. Cologne Cathedral is the centerpiece of the city and was our main reason for wanting to visit Cologne. I have seen many cathedrals in Europe thus far, but none have been quite as impressive as this. The most amazing part was the fact that for 3 euros per person, you can have access to explore every inch of the church. We really liked that we could explore the spooky crypts, treasure room, and climb to the very tippy top of the cathedral for stunning views. For all that was included in the price, visiting this landmark is such a steal! We ended up spending 2-3 hours here just exploring around. Make sure to climb the 500+ steps up the tower to get amazing views of the city. Your legs may feel like jello when you’re done, but it is such an adrenaline rush and so worth it. Going to the top of the tower was our favorite thing we did that day!

After a tiring yet wonderful afternoon at the cathedral, we spent time relaxing around the town square. Seeing the colorful buildings and pretty scenery made Cologne feel like the perfect laid back German town. We also enjoyed heading across the Hohenzollern Bridge to see where the city places their “locks of love” that completely cover the bridge. It was very neat to see, but my husband and I plan on saving our lock for Paris 🙂 Anyways, we really did enjoy our little afternoon spent in Cologne. We ended our time there with a classic german pretzel and waffle before making our train back to Düsseldorf.

I have to say that overall, Germany has been one of the coolest places I have ever been to. From the architecture and food in Düsseldorf, to the cathedral in Cologne, I was completely overwhelmed with how much I liked Germany. Living in London, it was such a great feeling to get away from all of the crowds of tourists. We felt like Düsseldorf and Cologne were the perfect places to get that local taste of Germany that we have been wanting. If I had to choose one city it would have to be both! Düsseldorf and Cologne were so different but they both had some incredible things to offer that makes them each worth visiting. Let the feud live on!

                                 The Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

                  1. Frank Gehry Architecture. Located in Dusseldorf Hafen

                  2. Cologne Cathedral. Large & impressive

                  3. Old Town Dusseldorf. Great food & shopping

 xoxo,

*My next post will feature our trip to Amsterdam!

Weekend in Wales

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Bath, Cardiff, Stonehenge, Wales

After two wonderful weeks in London, my husband and I were itching to head out of the city and explore the beauty of the English countryside. We had heard so many great things about Wales and Bath, and so we decided to hire (rent) a car, book some hotel rooms, and really make a weekend out of it.

On Friday evening we picked up our little red Fiat and for the first time, drove on the left hand side of the road to Cardiff, Wales. What an adventure that was! In addition to getting used to driving in the opposite lane, we also had a manual stick shift for a car. So its safe to say that I pretty much left it up to my husband to do all of the driving for this trip. Don’t worry though, after just a little getting used to, he was driving that car like a natural and loving every minute of it!

Cheers! Dr. Pepper is a road trip must!

After getting a little lost on our drive to Wales (lame detour), we finally made it to our hotel which was located just about ten minutes away from the main town center of Cardiff. Our hotel here was absolutely breathtaking. Not only was it located on a scenic golf course, but the hotel itself was an actual mini CASTLE! It was so much fun to walk around the golf course and explore the castle grounds, we even had our best breakfast yet in the UK here.. the bacon bap! We had no clue what a “bap” was, but we ordered it anyways only to discover that it was the most delicious breakfast sandwich imaginable. Think really thick and salty bacon topped with a fried egg and veggies… mmmm so tasty!

Once our stomachs were happy and full, we made our way Saturday morning to venture out into the city of Cardiff. Cardiff is the capital of Wales, and is known for their love of sports and the historic Cardiff Castle. We can never pass up a good castle, so despite the rain we decided to go and visit it for the afternoon. Out of all the castle’s we have seen in the UK so far, this one definitely seemed to be the most rugged and medieval! Originally built by the Romans, Cardiff Castle was destroyed and rebuilt countless times through the many wars that happened in the area. It was fascinating to see what was left of each era, and it is also interesting to note that it was used as a bomb shelter during World War II. If you ever visit the castle, be sure to make the journey up the steep steps to the very top of the castle to see some spectacular 360 degree views of Cardiff.

To end our day in Wales, we spent the rest of the evening visiting shops, getting hot chocolate (a must for rainy days), and having some award-winning fish and chips. Although it seems like every single fish and chips place in the UK is known for the “best” fish and chips, Albany Fish Bar really did seem like the best. I am a big believer of Yelp, and the reviews for this place were off the charts. We really enjoyed the fish and chips, but just be prepared for a HUGE serving of food if you go… they literally give you an entire deep-fried fish to eat!

We sadly said goodbye to Wales after our meal and headed to spend our next hotel stay at the cozy Well Cottage B&B in Bristol. This was actually our first time ever staying at a Bed & Breakfast, and we ended up really enjoying it. Our room was on the smaller side but so cozy and comfortable, and we woke up to eat a hearty and traditional English breakfast. This is the place where we truly got a taste of the English Country, and I would really recommend doing a Bed & Breakfast to get that charming countryside feel!

Next we drove to our main destination of the day which was Bath, England. It is pretty obvious why they call this city Bath, because the town is known for the ancient Roman Baths that were developed here long ago. I was completely surprised by the architecture and layout of the area. It looked so different from any other city in England, and it really felt like we were walking around in a different county somewhere in Europe! I have to say that Bath was our favorite part of the trip. We walked down to the main square to find the ancient Roman Baths, a beautiful church, and the most adorable boutiques I have seen in the UK. The buildings were just so magnificent, and such gorgeous flowers were placed all over the town. Live musicians were playing pretty music in the streets by the shops, and the people were so very friendly. We mostly spent our time exploring the downtown by the Roman Baths, but there is really so much to do here. We kind of felt like we were in a fairytale, we just absolutely loved our time spent in Bath.

We journeyed on from Bath to our final destination of the weekend which was Stonehenge. It was conveniently located on our drive back to London, so we had to make the stop to see the famous Stonehenge. Stonehenge is technically just a mysterious circle of big rocks, but seeing it in person is really such a treat. This is a place that I have learned about in school my whole life, so it was incredible to see it for myself. It isn’t that far off from the main road so I really thought it was worth it to stop by for a few minutes and see the historic site.

Stonehenge was the perfecting ending to a fun-filled weekend spent in Wales and the English Countryside. We checked off a lot of the places we have been wanting to see, and fell in love with many unexpected places as well. It was so exhilarating to get off the beaten path, and just explore a country. Having a car to drive around in was the highlight of our weekend and we are so glad we did it. If you make a visit to London and have the time, definitely go and visit the beautiful English Countryside.. it is something well worth seeing!

                                   The Savvy Suitcase Top 3 Picks:

                      1. Bath, England. A beautiful place full of Roman history

                      2. Cardiff Castle, Wales. Rugged and lots to explore

                      3. Stonehenge. An England must-see

Until next time,

xoxo

*My next post will feature our upcoming adventure to Germany!

A Royal Celebration

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Buckingham Palace, Royal Baby Celebration

As pretty much everyone in the entire universe now knows, the royal baby of Will & Kate was born in London this week! Oh happy day! The news of a healthy baby boy has given the people of England a huge reason to celebrate, and boy… do they sure know the proper way to celebrate such an occasion. Some of you may be sick of hearing about the new royal addition, but I can’t help but post about the BIGGEST thing going on in London right now and share about my experience.

Since as long as I can remember I have had a major obsession with the British Royal Family for some reason. It has always been a dream of mine to see Buckingham Palace in person, and I’m pretty sure I picked an ideal time to visit! As news spread about the different celebrations happening around the city on Tuesday, I made my way down to the palace to join the massive amounts of people going crazy for the baby. I was expecting a decent crowd, but I was surprised to see the area packed full of news reporters, photographers, and royal followers. Everyone was there to celebrate and to get a glimpse of the birth announcement plaque that is only allowed for the public to view just 24 hours after the baby is born. So I found my place in the exceptionally long line to get just about 3 seconds of viewing time to witness the announcement. Call me crazy, but I thought it was completely worth the wait to examine a piece of royal history for myself.

When the flag is up, that means the Queen is home!

  “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4:24pm today. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”

Later in the afternoon, a military parade on horseback marched through the streets en route to Green Park. The flocks of people dashed to the park when at 2:00pm the rounds of canons went off for all of London to hear. In addition to the canons, the bells of Westminster Abbey chimed away amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd.

It was so exciting to see a nation rejoice together and I couldn’t help but feel like I was experiencing a truly special moment of history. Being apart of the royal celebration is something that I will never soon forget.

xoxo

*Stay tuned for posts about London attractions, and our trip to the English Countryside!