La dolce vita on Lake Como

When you think Lake Como you think big sunglasses, riding in a convertible and hopping on boats with a drink in hand. And you wouldn't be thinking all that far from reality because Lake Como is the stuff dreams are made of: millions of shades of blue, mountains dipping straight into the glistening calm lake, air so clean you can smell a crisp alpine breeze and cute colourful villages where nothing probably ever happens (other than George Clooney dropping by to get his newspaper of course).

Impressions of Florence

Two weeks later here I am, memories of Florence still fresh in my mind and pile of revision prompting me to find any excuse of procrastination. I swear if anyone asks why I have a blog that the most honest answer is to procrastinate efficiently and productively - as if that was ever a thing. So let's keep it short and sweet whilst I virtually walk you through my favourite haunts in the Renaissance jewel that is Florence.

And we're off again!

I'm trying to decide whether I like having my life neatly packed in one (huge) suitcase. I wouldn't necessarily classify myself as a materialistic person but damn is it hard to leave stuff behind. What if I'll suddenly decide to make that brigt pink jumper work while away? And what if I finally decide to start that novel that's been gathering dust on my nightstand?

Grunge for the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Tuscan travel diary - Part I

I still battle the idea of a Tuscan holiday. Not in a Lionel Shriver 'I loathe Kevin' sort of way but in the sense that it still doesn't feel like a holiday but more like a tour de force. When we settled on the Italian region of cheese and art and cypress trees as our destination, I envisaged horse rides over grassy hills, balloon flights in the early morning and picturesque drives. Only the latter materialised as the first was just ignored by my co-travellers and the second proved a little too expensive x3.

To paint the most accurate picture, it is challenging and exhausting but only if you come set on seeing EVERYTHING like yours truly. The area is full of quaint little villages which almost all have some jewel of a church or piazza but at one point they will blend in a mass of unrecognisable places. There is nothing I hate more than simply calling something 'that place', it means I haven't done my job as a tourist. So, if you plan on visiting, chill out and go with the flow, there's sure to be the perfect place to pop on your journey! Hopefully, this travel diary will only make it easier to decide :)

DAY 1: London - Milan - Bologna - Sesto Fiorentino

The flight was on the early side but hey, that only meant I could have pancakes in the airport which to be fair put a smile on my face for a few good hours. Yes, I am very easy to please in some respects. The drive from Milan to Bologna slightly long and tedious but my parents insisted on entertaining me (more themselves to be pretty honest) with stories from their eventful previous trips from their youth. Bologna was where I had my sights set on some bolognese pasta, for obvious reasons that need no further explanation. That being said, it was bloody hard to find and when we did, they weren't that great sadly. We arrived at our hotel in the outskirts of Florence late at night but I might do a separate post on that!

Morning aerial view of the Alps, yes please! Especially after pancake breakfast at like 6.30

Filler

I am shamefully avoiding doing the Tuscany travel post... I feel completely uninspired, journalistically speaking, and at loss with time so off course motivation will not come.

So, instead, I've decided to start a little fashion diary of the outfits I wore during my trip to Italy. Bear in mind that 16 degrees, no matter where you are, is still cold and I had dearly wished I had brought a thicker coat. Put on a brave face though, I was in Bologna after all!