PERIPATETIC.LIFE

peripatetic /ˌpɛrɪpəˈtɛtɪk/ adjective: travelling from place to place, for relatively short periods.

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about

30 year-old German born, British raised, travelling fanatic. I believe wealth should be measured by memories and not by money. My aim is to visit every beautiful country in the world, and gather inspiration from my adventures to project them onto paper as I write my short stories and novels, alongside my articles on my blog. I hope you enjoy my content, and gather inspiration for your next adventure.
  • Five questions with Author Brittany Lewis

    Five questions with Author Brittany Lewis

    In a new segment on my blog, I will be posting more to do with lifestyle alongside travel. In the first to my literature segment, I have had the pleasure of interviewing fiction writer and author of many books, such as her ‘Heir of Zion’ series with her first two books ‘Finding Freedom’ and ‘Heir of Zion’ available on Amazon. Links will be available at the bottom of the page.

    I hope you enjoy these quick-fire questions and get to know a little more about Brittany Lewis.

    1) What does your average day consist of for you?
    I wake up at 6:30 am for good after usually waking several times a night with my son. I get my daughter ready for school and my son ready for therapy (he has autism and receives ABA, OT, PT, Speech and special education at our house). I bring my daughter to the bus stop and do my son’s body brushing and joint compressions. His therapists come at 8:30 am, and I begin my workday. I start with checking my Amazon and ACX sales and my Babelcube account (looking for translators). Then I check my email accounts (I have three) and sort through my social media. I get around 100 messages a day through Facebook and then a few through Twitter. Then I get to writing, editing and formatting, depending on where I am at in the process. Then I work on promotion, book ads, interviews, etc. I check my social media and email again and then try to spend a few more minutes writing before I have to serve my son lunch. I try to end my workday around lunch time because then I need to clean before getting my daughter at 3:30 pm and doing homework and cooking and serving dinner. I also stop what I am doing every two hours to change my son’s diaper and do his body brushing and joint compressions.

    2) What advice would you give to amateur writers?
    Don’t quit. The life of a writer is difficult. It is almost impossible to make money consistently. Work on multiple projects at once and don’t lose touch with your contacts. Work on building your platform and your backlist at the same time.

    3) What has been your inspiration for your novels?
    Usually, my novels are VERY loosely based on experiences.

    4) Who would you say is your biggest inspiration in the literary world?
    That is a tough one; there are so many people I admire. I would probably have to say, Judy Blume. She is not my favorite author, but she is someone I have a great deal of respect for. She continued her writing career even while going through divorces, ovarian cancer, and getting lots of hate mail for writing on taboo topics others were too afraid to touch.

    5) What is the message you would like to share with the world through your stories?
    Hope, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Mostly forgiveness.

    I hope you have enjoyed this article and got to know more about Brittany Lewis and her love of literature. Here are the links to her facebook page and twitter so go like, follow and support her on her passion for writing, also don’t forget to check out her ‘Heir of Zion series’ on Amazon, with her first story called ‘Finding Freedom’.

    Click here to check out her Facebook page
    Follow her on twitter by clicking here
    Check out her books on Amazon

  • Exploring Peru’s tastiest restaurants – #1 Mangos

    Exploring Peru’s tastiest restaurants – #1 Mangos

    Eating delicious traditional food can be really cheap here in Peru and it is good quality don’t be fooled by the prices or environment! Of course many tourists will lack this opportunity as they are in remote areas and the staff will most likely not understand English so you have to be pretty fluent in Spanish. However, big named restaurants here offer a great variety of Peruvian dishes at a very reasonable price and with the currency converted, it can be seen as a great bargain! In this miniseries I’ll be discussing some of my most favorite restaurants in Peru, their dishes, variety, prices and locations to give you a feel and hopefully a taste of the food.


    I have only had the pleasure of dining at Mangos twice throughout my stay in Peru, but it is one place that I shall revisit once I return. What first attracted me to this gorgeous place was its view! You can see the beach from their outdoor seating area where it is nearly always full. It is located in the Larcomar, a shopping center in Miraflores located close to the sea with a beautiful view. If want a seat there try to reserve it beforehand. However yesterday we did manage to get a slight of the ocean. That is one of the biggest pull factors the restaurant has. The second reason I adore this place is its menu! After I saw what views it offered, I looked at the menu and the food is portrayed in such a delightful way with excellence especially with the desserts! I would think it would be quite pricey, which it is for the average Peruvian by the prices even if we forget the currency is slightly equivalent to Europe, so with the currency it was a bargain! Our two meals combined with a main, dessert and drink ended up being $37! That is usually what one plate will give you.

    Chicha Morada with a cherry!

     

    Tuna fish with yuca and asparagus

     

    Ceviche made from sea bass

    Portion sizes are small compared to what you will get at independent restaurants in Peru but the taste is what fills you up and leaves you satisfied!

    Chicha Morada is a typical Peruvian drink that is made by heating purple corn and then leaving to cool down to drink. It is super healthy and super yummy! So it is a must try in Peru.

    My main meal was tuna fish with yuca, a typical vegetable here which tastes like potato, and topped with asparagus and a slightly spicy salsa which is aji.
    My brother tucked into a ceviche, which tends to be raw tilapia, seasoned such vegetables majority of the time sweet corn and onions.

    Of course we needed dessert after an adventurous trekking/exploration day and this meal was our ultimate prize!

     

    Chocolate volcano for dessert!

    As you can see by the image it is a chocolate volcano cake, and rightfully given the name due to the delicious ganache which oozes out from inside once you break its tough outer shell and take a spoonful from within. It was rightfully accompanied by vanilla brownie ice cream and some strawberries, of course there had to be some fruit, in order to make you feel less guilty.

    Overall not only was the food a delight in it side with a spectacular view but the attention given to the client is great! Always attentive, asking if your meal is great and asking if you need anything else. As soon as our drinks finished we got given free water which is a nice gesture also. I definitely recommend eating at Mangos as their food is unique, they make Peruvian dishes proud, attention is quick and friendly, prices are adequality priced and also there is free wifi if you ask for the password. A great food experience with an awesome chilled atmosphere and I would without a doubt rate it 5/5.

  • Peru; a city great for your stomach!

    Peru; a city great for your stomach!

    Living in Peru for a whole year, from early September 2015, meant that I was eating, quite a lot and with my sweet tooth cravings that meant I was manifesting through the desserts menu like no tomorrow, enjoying some original Peruvian delicacies as well as some home comforts.

    When I first arrived in early September, I delved quickly for my favourite type of food, the sweet treats. From supermarkets, patisseries, and, of course, restaurants. One of my favourite treats are the picarones, which look like a slightly deformed doughnut. They are super super sweet, and you are usually given around 4 with each serving. I sure wasn’t complaining! However, I could not ask for any more as a toothache was my punishment for such a sweet delight!

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    Picarones

    The shelves at supermarkets are riveted with biscuits, cakes, chocolates, and I would often lose myself when I went food shopping, I hold my hands up for that! With many foreign foods ruling the shelves here, especially English, German, Danish and American candy, it is easy to have some tastes from home which is comforting. My favourite brand of chocolate here, one of the largest as well, is ‘La Iberica’. Created in the early 18th century after the Spanish Inquisition, many Spaniards came here to rule the lands and one tasty concoction they came up with delicious Peruvian sourced chocolate.

    With Summer soaring up to 35 degrees (too hot for me!) ice cream is a definite must for me! The largest brand, D’onofrio, and the best in the sense of my taste buds, markets the most ice cream sales in the whole of Peru. The brand is owned my Nestle, and originated from Italian immigrants who arrived in Peru many centuries ago.

    The food here is incredibly tasty, something I shall miss. Even their savoury dishes can have a dessert hungry person salivating, with my favourite type of fast food being the Salchipapas. A combination of sliced hot dog and fries. And my all time favourite Peruvian dish being a tie, with Ceviche and Lomo Saltado. I’m going to post more foodie related topics on my blog from my adventures across the globe. Because travel and food certainly go hand in hand. Safe travels, everybody!

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    Salchipapas
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    Lomo Saltado
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    Ceviche

     

  • Good excuses to travel more, not less

    Good excuses to travel more, not less

    As one of my favourite authors, Robert Louis Stevenson once stated, “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Once the travel bug bites, you become addicted to moving, learning, appreciating, understanding and the urge to keep getting out of your comfort zone. In this post, I have accumulated nine reasons why I say everybody should travel more, not less.

    1) You learn about the world you live in.
    Reading a book or watching a documentary is nothing compared to standing on the country’s terrain and breathing in the air while you take time to appreciate their scenery with your own eyes, as you learn about their history and culture. Speaking to locals and listen to their stories, also helps you to grasp an insight into their reality.

    2) You open your mind.
    The world does not revolve around you, or the people you associate yourself with. The world revolves around all human beings, all animals, and plants. This revelation humbles a person and changes your priorities in the life you currently lead. “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” And that is true.

    3) You see the beauty of the world amidst its chaos.
    It may be difficult to acknowledge the small things in life when the big picture overtakes the limelight, especially when on a daily basis we are bombarded by the media with all the chaos that is occurring, seeing the wonderful wonders of the world sure makes us appreciate the beauty our world withholds.

    4) You find your true self.
    You have to get lost before you can find yourself and that is what travelling provides. Each time you wander the streets of a foreign land, you only have yourself to guide your way, and that is one of the best experiences in life.

    5) You create experiences that will last a lifetime.
    Nothing else will last as long as your experiences and memories. Therefore spending the time creating those experiences with people you care about is priceless and boosts your happiness.

    6) You meet new people and create new opportunities.
    Not only do you gather friends from all walks of life and all over the world, but creating these precious friendships allows you to have more doors open and therefore you are free to a world of opportunities you never believed could have been possible.

    7) You become street smart and aware of possible dangers and how to avoid them.
    Being a tourist is not always pretty and stress-free. If you wish to see the reality of the country and explore for yourself, you have to open your eyes to the possible dangers and how to avoid them, enabling you to become a wiser and stronger person at the end of the journey.

    8) Every new country is like a breath of fresh air.
    No country is like the next, and no country is like the previous. There is never a dull moment when you travel, and breathing in the fresh air and viewing the exquisite beauty that specific country holds is what keeps life exciting and keeps you speculating about what is to come.

    9) You become a better version of yourself at the end of it all.
    After all the long, grueling hours on a plane, eating whatever you can find and struggle to get to grips with the language, you will become a better version of yourself once you have overcome all of the downsides to travelling and explored the territory which pushed you out from your comfort zone.

    I hope that the reasons which I have stated have helped you to persuade yourself, and even those around to continue travel and never stop. Because I believe that you should never stop travelling until you find the end of the world, which will hopefully not occur for hundreds of years to come.

  • Uncovering British Treasures – Skipton, North Yorkshire

    Uncovering British Treasures – Skipton, North Yorkshire

    Usually overlooked and maybe not known to many tourists, is the beautiful small countryside town of Skipton in West Yorkshire. With its calm atmosphere and eloquent history, it makes for an excellent opportunity to visit if you have never been even if you only have one day to visit.

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    Amidst its cute small shops and traditional English pubs, Skipton offers its history in the ‘Craven Museum.’ Although it is slightly compact, it is worth having a look around. Also, it is free of charge, so there is nothing to lose. Closeby you will find Skipton Castle, which was built in 1090 and stills holds its beauty intact. With adults tickets costing seven pounds and the others relatively cheaper, people usually spend an hour and a half, viewing this scenic property is time to spend taking photos and experience life in the castle in the eleventh century.

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    The entrance to Skipton Castle

    With a range of restaurants and bars, Skipton holds its tranquility throughout the evening, which is a nice change from the bustling cities. I highly recommend visiting Skipton, any day or the week as it is easily accesible by railway from all points in  Yorkshire. Although it is a great place to be anytime in the year, if you wish to catch some sun, the months of June and July are perfect times to enjoy the British summer.

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    Skipton Railway Station

     

  • Basking in the Spanish sun – San Sebastian, Spain

    Basking in the Spanish sun – San Sebastian, Spain

    The peaceful beach town of Donostia, San Sebastián is a great place if you are looking for an escape from the city. Situated only an hour and a half from Bilbao, and close to the French border, it is a refreshing sight to see and experience if you want to relax and swim in the Atlantic Ocean on your holiday.

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    ‘La Concha’ Beach

    Very accessible by coach and worth your money with return tickets costing around 14 euro one way, you can spend a day by the sea or even longer. The city is vivacious, and there are many great shops and restaurants/cafes to accommodate to your liking and fulfil you taste buds with all the delectable Spanish food.

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    The Cathedral boasting beautiful architecture. Looks especially amazing at night

    Aside from the glorious beach named ‘La Concha’ due to its shell shape, which you can see the pure form from the beach from Monte Igueldo, which is a great photo taking opportunity as the view is unbelievably stunning. You can be the judge for yourself
    as you can take a look at the pictures I took with my Nikon P900. To get to the top of the mountain simply hop on the ‘funicular’ which is the cable car for €3 so that you do not have to strain yourself going to the top using your legs.

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    The view from Monte Igueldo

    Unfortunately, I could only spend one day there as that was the only warm weather which allowed us to visit the beach during my stay in Bilbao. I would highly recommend going in the summer months between June and August especially if you are an avid surfer as the Atlantic Ocean is ideal for hitting the waves, and the soft sand makes it ideal for spending the day soaking up the vitamin D.

  • A holiday for the senses – Bilbao, Spain

    A holiday for the senses – Bilbao, Spain

    The Basque region of Spain is synonymous with food and art. Having first-hand experience in Bilbao and San Sebastian, I can say that its a liberation for your senses and does not fail to amaze.

    Bilbao is a thriving small city, a perfect place for a quick chilled getaway. Their art scene, mixed with the food and wine is simply melodic and a primary reason why you should take the time to visit. With the mixture of contemporary art meets old entwined with their history and culture is glorifying. With huge contributions to art and grandiose exhibitions in the Guggenheim and Museo de Bellas Artes, I would say it comes close to aligning to the French art galleries.

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    Of course, the infamous Guggenheim, with its cute flower puppy, is the hot spot for tourists to visit. Opening times depend on which season you go, so make sure to check beforehand. For art enthusiasts, I would also highly recommend the ‘Museo de Bellas Artes’ which is very close to the Guggenheim itself. If you wish to take your time in both of these art galleries, I would suggest making room in your schedule to spend four hours in each museum to get a divulge into the art itself and learn more about their pieces of art.

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    The best place to find the best food in Bilbao I would say is Casco Viejo. Only a ten-minute walk from the Guggenheim, you will find yourself emerged in an old world, with their architecture and cobbled roads. Here you can find many small bars and taverns where locals enjoy the finest of their wine and also nibbles. Many restaurants can be found ranging from all cheap to expensive alongside the roads. I would recommend visiting ‘La Cuina de Jardines’ for delicious mid-range traditional Basque food which will leave you wanting more.

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    Make sure to try the traditional Spanish Pinchos when in Bilbao

    Bilbao is an excellent choice for a weekend getaway with cheap direct flights leaving Manchester Airport on the regular; there is no excuse to say no. Of course, summer seasons are more delectable for visitors due to their hot summer days, but if you wish to escape the hoards of tourists and don’t care for packing extra jumpers with you I would say now is a great time to visit!

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    A street in Bilbao’s old town, Casco Viejo.

     

  • 8 minimalist travel packing tips

    8 minimalist travel packing tips

    As previously promised on my, ‘How to travel on a Budget’ article, I am here to help you all to decipher the code of packing light which could ultimately terminate a tremendous amount of stress involved when it comes to planning your next getaway. Throughout my time travelling and countless hours of packing for each trip, I have managed to come up with some tips and tricks which will hopefully help a lot of worried travellers in their future adventures.

    1. Wear your heaviest items when boarding.
    Possibly the most obvious but by far the most helpful advice I know is to wear as much of the clothing as you can when you fly out to your destination. Don’t worry about looking frumpy because as soon as you arrive, you can change and make yourself look glamorous for the day ahead.

    2. Roll up your clothes instead of folding them.
    Once I discovered this trick, my life changed! Now my clothes were neater, and saved up a ton of room in my carry-on! I could pack more for less!

    3. Plan your outfits.
    Whether it’s for a week, two weeks or a weekend, make sure to plan which outfits you will wear on which day. It will save you a lot of hassle of packing excessive amounts of clothing which you will hardly not wear! I always check the forecast and decide on that account, what items of clothing would be best for me to take with me.

    4. Be creative and mix and match your clothing.
    Of course, you can wear the same pieces of clothing, but if you want to look good, especially in photos, simply mix and match pieces of your wardrobe so that you have an entirely different outfit each day! That way you make the most of your clothes.

    5. Invest in small clear bottles.
    Majority of the airlines accept liquids of no more than 100ml in a clear bag, therefore instead of spending money on separate face wash, sunscreen, toothpaste etc. place them into a smaller bottle. That way you get to use the same products as you would at home and saves you some cash that you could use on your holiday instead!

    6. You only need one pair of shoes.
    Aside from the ones you wear to get to the airport, you only really need one pair of extra shoes. Make sure they’re stylish and comfortable for you so that you can dance, walk and have fun while in the sun, or snow, whichever you prefer. I would make flip flops and exception to this rule merely because they are so light and can easily fit alongside your heavier pair of shoes.

    7. Invest in small technology.
    If you’re an avid photographer or adventure seeker who wants to remember every single moment of your adventure, then I would suggest in investing in a go pro or even a phone with a good camera. Also, a waterproof case if you’re heading to the sea.

    8. To all my avid readers, read from a screen.
    I know many prefer to the ability to change pages with the grasp of your fingers, instead of virtually, personally I love the smell of the pages of a good book. However, for the sake of saving space when packing, buying books or even audiobooks, on your phone is an honest life saver and a perfect time killer, for all those delayed flights and long journeys.

    Learning to pack light will be a huge weight off your shoulder, literally, allowing you to enjoy your vacation rather than worrying about your belongings. It could also save you money, as some airlines do charge an extra sum of money for luggage, and also time because you won’t have to worry about searching for your suitcase on the conveyor belt.

    I wish all my readers to have a happy holiday and great adventure, wherever your next destination will be! Happy travels!

  • Welcome to Newcastle, United Kingdom

    Welcome to Newcastle, United Kingdom

    The modest Northern city of Newcastle may not be as famous as London or Manchester. However, there are many gems that it has to offer for everybody to visit. With its most renown architecture being the Gateshead Millenium bridge, and it’s exciting concert venue, the Sage Centre building, Newcastle is beautifully photogenic both during the day and at night when the vibrant lights make the city come to life.

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    When it comes relax with some food or drink, Newcastle has welcomed it second cat cafe and is home to the recently opened CatPawCino, alongside Mog on the Tyne, where all cat lovers are welcome to relax, sip some tea and be surrounded by adorable cats.

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    Although my stay in Newcastle was limited, I found it to be a peacefully beautiful city accompanied with beautiful architecture and great photo opportunities and is opens a new aspect to English cities. It is a highly recommendable place if you want to enjoy a couple of days experiencing the modernity that Newcastle has adapted in comparison to more traditional English cities.

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  • What I carry in my travel makeup bag

    What I carry in my travel makeup bag

    Although I am far from being considered a makeup expert, artist, what be it, I thought it would be a fun article to post showcasing my minimal amount of makeup that I use to travel with on occasion I wish to look glam. Moreover, also share a few small tips I have picked up during my nomadic journey.

    Primarily I play it safe when it comes to makeup and re-buy products that work for me and which I love. For me, higher end makeup products last longer and do the job better than high street makeup. However, I do have a mix of both in my makeup case, as you may be able to see from the picture.

    To travel from country to country with makeup, I have to restrict myself and keep it minimal; therefore I tend to use the same product for various motives.

    For example:

    • I like my selection of lipsticks, which I can also apply onto my cheeks for blush.
    • A good CC cream sits well onto your skin and will last you all day long! With or without primer, although I prefer to use primer when the temperatures are humid and warm.
    • Instead of carrying an array of makeup brushes, I simply take my trusted beauty blender which managed to smooth out my makeup and look natural. Also, it is quicker to clean and less to worry about!
    • Moreover, don’t forget the saviour of all beauty products, lip balm! Particularly for those warm days when water is the last your concerns! It is always nice to have soft lips.
    • No outfit is complete without a spritz of their favourite perfume, therefore don’t forget to smell good while sipping on sangrias at the beach while watching the sun set.

    I hope that my short explanation on my minimal travel makeup was helpful and feel free to share some other tips and tricks that could help me out and try out!

    The products shown in the picture:
    Official beauty blender,
    Collection prime and ready primer
    EOS lip balm in coconut milk
    MAC eyelash curler
    Max Factor X brow gel
    Chanel lipstick rouge allure velvet 34
    MAC lipstick in the shade Russian red
    Christian Dior Ultra addict lipgloss in the shade tiara
    Chanel CC cream
    La Roche Posay BB cream
    YSL babydoll mascara
    Rimmel match perfection concealer
    MAC superslick liquid eye liner
    Chanel Chance perfume
    Bare Minerals makeup bag.