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.
  • An adventure in Amsterdam – Netherlands

    An adventure in Amsterdam – Netherlands

    Amidst the chaos inflicted by bicycles throughout rush hour, and the paradoxical tranquillity provided by the soothing flow from the canals, Amsterdam is a city which is different to any other. From its small streets to its wide canals, the city which is threatened by rising sea level is not threatened by thriving modernity combined with eco-friendly living.

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    Made famous by artists, such as the renowned van Gogh and Rembrandt van Rijn, this European capital city merges the old with the new. With their art galleries, found alongside the Rijksmuseum in the museum quarter, their existential beauty in the artwork is mirrored in their way of life. Bikes are the trends, and this somewhat old manner of travel is the most popular, with the city being home to more bikes than humans. The tram is the second most popular means of access, as it takes you anywhere in only a few minutes. Which is one of the many perks you will find in being in such a compact town.

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    NL-Artis-ingang

    The Dutch may not be known worldwide for their delicacies and food; however, they excel at providing delicious and convenient vegan food, with almost every street corner accommodating to vegans and vegetarians.One of my favourites which I visited during my trip was, Le Pain Quotidien, a great little spot for brunch and breakfast, offering a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes. Another has got to be the Avocado Show, which is reserved for avocado-lovers, hence the name.

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    The Avocado Show

    A great tool which helped me financially throughout the trip was purchasing the I Amsterdam card. This card allows you to have free entry to many museums and the Artis Royal Zoo, a free daytime cruise and an unlimited use of the trams, which is an easy and efficient manner of transport which you will most likely use throughout your adventure, to avoid getting tired out from excessive walking.

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    Amsterdam is very different, in my opinion, compared to the other cities I have visited throughout Europe. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but it should be visited at least once if your life whenever you get the chance because there is something for everybody to see and experience.

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  • The capital city of Beauty – Paris, France

    The capital city of Beauty – Paris, France

    The allure Paris has to offer is enticing. There is a reason why it wins people’s hearts and why it is recognised for beauty and eloquence because the city attains for nothing less than perfection. From charismatic people to stunning architecture and art, and excellent cuisine, Paris is a city for everyone to enjoy and find themselves amongst the busy Parisian traffic.

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    Situated on the 1st arrondissement

    Although Paris wins the show, the small town of Versailles, close by, is a beautiful, peaceful sight that nobody should miss out on when visiting Paris. A single half an hour train ride is all that is necessary with tickets costing a little under eight euros for a return ticket. Versailles is renowned for its Chateau de Versailles, where Marie Antoinette and Louis the IX lived when they were executed by their people in the French revolution. Also famous for its treaty’s, the palace and gardens itself hold a mystical wonder which is breathtaking, to say the least. It is worth queuing up for a long time to see.

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    Garden in the Chateau of Versailles
    Parisian rooms have the best corners!
    The ceiling in the hall of mirrors
    Hall of mirrors, its even prettier in real life
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    Be sure to visit on a Sunday, when the musical fountain show is on to see a beautiful display like this

    Paris is a non-stop city, like every capital city, however, amidst the commotion, you still find it to be a relaxing atmosphere where nothing has to rush. I would still avoid taking the metro at rush hour between five and six if possible. However, it would be the best choice if you are in a hurry as you will not find many free taxis, blaring their green lights, on the road.

    Gare du Lyon train station
    The restaurant Le train bleu, is situated here and a great attraction for lovers of films! Mr Bean’s holiday was shot here! Not to mention the wonderful food and artwork

    The star attraction, which is known worldwide and vastly overpopulated at every time of day is the Eiffel tower. With its gorgeous view on every floor level, it is quite an experience. However, other popular landmarks with similar views are the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame. If you only have a little patience, these places are less crowded, which means less time to queue and range within the same price as the Eiffel Tower, leaving you extra time to tour the city. If you wish to capture a good view and take mesmerising pictures, be sure to stop by Trocadero where you can relax in the park and take in sight of the Eiffel Tower.

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    Picture taken at Trocadero

    An understated attraction, which I would not have visited if I was not lazy to wait in queue for Notre Dame, is Saint Chapelle. Unfortunately, it does not offer a view of the city, but this gothic styled church does provide immensely detailed stained glass windows inside. The first floor holds simplicity as the second floor holds divine beauty. Both analyse their architecture in a different manner, but I will assure you that you will not be disappointed!

    Saint Chapelle
    Notre Dame
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    Inside Saint Chapelle on the second floor
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    The view from inside Notre Dame
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    The view from Arc de Triomphe

    Famous with lovers of art, Paris excludes inspiration as you will find many art museums. From the Pompidou Centre, to the Louvre, home of the Mona Lisa, and Musèe d’Orsay, home to van Gogh’s famous self portrait and the Whistler’s mother, amidst other wonderful work including Monet and Courbet.

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    Inside Musèe d’Orsay

    IMG_4729Paris is a city which gives pride to its heritage and history. When in Europe it is a must-see to appreciate its history. Even if it is once in your life, you will be glad you went. Although once you go, I am sure that you would keep coming back! Because in my eyes and having visited many cities across the world, nothing compares to Paris. For me, it is the best!

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    View from the third floor of the Eiffel tower

     

  • A short vacation in Chester, United Kingdom

    A short vacation in Chester, United Kingdom

    The city of Chester. A beautiful, timely city with a small tourist attraction offers a lot to please the eye. With rustic architecture and modern shops, there is something for everybody. Pairing a little resemblance with York, you can see why Chester is becoming ever more popular, and a must see if you have a few spare days while visiting the U.K.

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    With easy access from all destinations, either North or South of England, from coaches and trains, it’s worth to spend even a couple of days touring across Chester City and their famous attraction, Chester Zoo. With tickets costing twenty-two pounds, the price is worth paying for a great day out. Pre-booking tickets online can help you save time, as some days you can expect queues. http://www.chesterzoo.org

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    With a surrounding, calming atmosphere, you can analyse how the city’s culture and beauty. With the majority of the stores closing at 5:30 pm, leaving restaurants and bars open for a relaxing night to enjoy with family and friends. So even if you may not have heard of the city of Chester before, or opted not to visit because nothing seemed appealing, I advise that it is a great city to explore.

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  • Exploring my own city, Saltaire, Bradford, United Kingdom

    Exploring my own city, Saltaire, Bradford, United Kingdom

    When the sun hits the UK, you need to make the most of it! That’s why I took the opportunity to explore what my city has to offer! The world heritage site, Saltaire, was the place I decided to visit. It’s been a while, as since I arrived back in the UK I haven’t had the time to visit properly the historic place properly, but it is always full of wonderful surprises.

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    The Victorian era houses, with a view of Salt’s Mill
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    The old-fashioned cafes and shops on the street

    Riddled with beautiful Victorian architecture, from their homes to the famous ‘Salt’s Mill’, it is distinguished from other areas of Bradford due to it’s unique and antique design. To accompany its Victorian style, the streets are filled with little old shops, selling antiques to baked goods. ‘Salt’s Mill’ is the main attraction, if you crave old books and miscellaneous items, as it sells everything, from artwork to clothing. Entrance is free every day of the week, from 10am-5:30 pm Monday through Friday, and the weekends stretching its opening time until 6 pm. It has cafe’s and diners making it a great stay for everybody.

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    Once you enter ‘Salt’s Mill’ you will find this display of artwork and shop on the first floor
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    Alongside even more art work

    For more information, feel free to visit the Salt’s Mill official website: http://saltsmill.org.uk/#

    Alongside its human-made beauty, Saltaire could also be known for its fantastic nature. Canals, with boat trips, and a huge park, known as Robert’s Park, makes it a great atmosphere to soak in, especially during the rare warm weathered days in England.

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    Robert’s Park
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    The canal at ‘Robert’s Park’ where you are able to go in to have food and enjoy the view

    If you happen to be in England, especially in the Northern section, close to Leeds, be sure to spend even a day in Saltaire. It hasn’t been titled a World Heritage Site for nothing, and you will not find anything as unique and Victorian in many areas of the UK.

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    Another view of another street
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    The ‘Saltaire United Reformed Chuch’ in all its glory on a sunny day
  • A day to explore Chester, United Kingdom

    A day to explore Chester, United Kingdom

    On my way back from experiencing the beauty of Wales, I opted to take some time out and visit a friend in Chester. Having only been on the outskirts of this city before, I had never delved into the city itself. It did not disappoint. With beautiful architecture, that can be admired through my photos, to great friendly people making the city of Chester a great destination for tourists; one that many overlook when planning a trip to the U.K.

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    One part of Chester’s high street

    The city was vibrant with markets, and stores abundantly present as people shopped on Saturday. I briskly walked past the Cathedral and tiny streets with a mix of both old-fashioned and modern stores.

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    A shot of Chester Cathedral

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    Its high street is made from a vast amount of stores, as well as its shopping centre with its fair share of pubs and good places to eat. Although its main attraction is Chester zoo, it is also nice to take some time out to enjoy the city once there. Chester as a whole is a quaint town, with many stores during the week closing their doors to customers at six o’clock in the evening. However, restaurants and bars are open until around 10 o´clock, not counting weekends when they are open for considerably longer. A good amount of time to spend in this city would be a day or two, an extra day if you wish to visit their famous zoo, Chester Zoo.

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  • My week in Wales, United Kingdom

    My week in Wales, United Kingdom

    The glory of Wales is depicted by its incredible scenery, wildlife, and lack of sunshine. Having not visited the beautiful country in over a decade I thought it was time to revisit the beauty of the place, enjoying is more than before. I had the honour of being toured to many different locations and hidden gems; I would not have visited if it was not for my friend who is currently living in Bangor.

    As I arrived in Bangor, I saw the how much beauty small towns obtain, with the lovely scenery and cosy houses, everybody seemed to know one another and even walking at three in the morning was not dangerous in the slightest. The relaxing atmosphere was created for a perfect little escape, especially if you live in England and wish to run away from your daily troubles once in a while.

    For my second day, I had the pleasure of visiting Conwy. It is only a twenty-minute train ride from Bangor. Although they do accommodate to tourists, with attractions such as the Conwy castle and many old-style shops and restaurants, I had never heard of the small town until I visited, and what a delight it is! For anybody visiting Wales, be sure to stop by at one stage of your journey to admire its attractiveness.

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    The Smallest House in Great Britain, a popular tourist attraction
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    Another popular tourist attraction, Conwy Castle

    The third day was a trip to Llanberis by bus. The ride is nearly an hour long from Bangor, but for a cheap four pounds and fifty pence, return ticket, there is no excuse. The tiny town contains only a few cafes, so the main attraction is its nature. With lakes, fields with sheep, and a slate mine museum, which is free, you can enjoy peace and tranquillity for the day. In summer you get many people who go there to climb Mount Snowdon, so that is also one thing you can do once you are in Llanberis.

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    The Slate mine museum

    My last day of exploring and rigorous walking was to the city of Anglesey. Visiting Bangor’s pier along the way, the walk in total was around an hour. Crossing the Menai suspension bridge, you are greeted with the sign that you have entered another part of Wales, which was Anglesey. Although it lacks uniqueness, the walk is very passive and relaxing as the lake and grass surround you and accompany you on your expedition.

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    Bangor’s pier
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    The Menai suspension bridge, crossing from Bangor to Anglesey

    Overall, I hope to have inspired people to visit different areas, not just the common aspects which Wales has to offer. It is always a delight to find secret areas in which to ponder, and that is one of the reasons I love to travel. To find yourself where nobody knows your name. I aim to continue travelling this year, mainly across the UK as I feel it has so much more to offer than what I know.

  • Most wonderful time of the year – Christmas & New Year in Berlin, Germany

    Most wonderful time of the year – Christmas & New Year in Berlin, Germany

    With lights covering every street lamp, Christmas trees galore and a handful of cheery Christmas Markets, visiting Berlin at the special time of Christmas is a must, at least once in a lifetime!

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    The highlight of Berlin, Brandenburg gate, decorated for Christmas

     

    With a great variety in Christmas Markets across every street in the Centre of Berlin, you can enjoy traditional German food and drink as well as many other treats from around the world. The majority are free to enter, but a few do cost one euro which you pay before stepping in. Usually, these have live shows, and more entertainment are the ones which you have to pay for, but if you want fairground rides I recommend the free markets, they have a variety from ice skating to Ferris wheels to enjoy.

    Alexanderplatz Christmas Market

    In the icy and rainy season, be prepared with waterproofs, hats, scarves and gloves so that you can make the most of it, and not worry about the weather! The good thing about Berlin during Christmas is that you can ponder around and have an excellent time without having to pay much, or nothing at all! Berlin is possibly the cheapest Capital city in Western Europe, and hotels come cheaper than other places. Hospitality is excellent in Berlin also, and across Germany. The vast majority of people you meet in the city speaks English, even if they aren’t in the tourism industry, so no problems there! Although I had an icy reception at Manchester Airport, England, I was finally happy to have escaped Britain for a getaway. In both my hotels, a three star and four-star accommodation, Leonardo Royal Hotel and Moevenpick, I had a great stay with awesome service, and they are very close to where all the fun happens!

    East Side part of the Berlin wall. All the famous art is located in this area and it’s free to look!

    In regards to celebrating New Year watching the fireworks by the Brandenburg Gate, we were queuing for a little over an hour, with a hoard of people and numerous amounts of security before getting into the main plaza. Everything you’ll need is situated there, so you have a little party with food, alcohol, etc. before midnight. I should also remind people that they do charge for toilets, not sure how much but the facilities aren’t free.

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    View from the Berlin TV tower, 203m above the city of Berlin.

    This post is being written way later than anticipated because unfortunately at the beginning of 2017 I fell ill with a fever! Of course, I couldn’t have too much fun with my body reminding me. All I wish for this 2017 is to be able to travel to more exotic countries and landmarks, as I did in 2016, and to hopefully celebrate Christmas in a different country with a great atmosphere! Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year!​​  ​

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  • A European Adventure – Final destination, London, England

    A European Adventure – Final destination, London, England

    One of the biggest tourist attractions in the world is London. With so many visiting the city with high hopes they go home with great satisfaction. Many believe that London is the epitome of all things British, but in fact, it is the most diverse city in the United Kingdom. However, it has everything you would want to do and see for your holiday and is uniquely beautiful throughout the months of winter.

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    The beautiful Architecture
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    A Street in Earls Court

    With the majority of the greatest tourist attractions free, London is an immensely expensive Capital city in Europe. It is wise to book hotels in advance because they can be tricky to find especially if you want it reasonably priced. My favourite museums and a must-see when visiting London are the Natural History Museum and British Museum, which accommodate much history from all aspects of the world and the best part is that they are completely free!

    The exterior of the British Museum
    The interior
    The Easter Island Moai, which they exchanged for cloth
    The renowned Rosetta Stone
    Exposing it’s beautiful design – Natural History Museum
    Dippy the Diplodocus
    Interactive t-rex

    The city is filled with delightful architecture and it is entirely picturesque! Therefore don’t forget to pack a camera because there are picture moments around every corner. That is possibly one of my highlights of London, enjoying taking the excellent photos of the beautiful views they have to offer!With it being multicultural, you will be able to find cuisines from all across the world, including fusions. However, they stay traditional and isn’t difficult to find a good pub or fish and chip shop to enjoy the full British experience!

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    The glorious Big Ben
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    Standing on tower bridge
  • A European Adventure – A trip to Miltenberg, Germany

    A European Adventure – A trip to Miltenberg, Germany

    The small town of Miltenberg, occupying 9000 people, is situated in the district of Bavaria. With stunning, antique architecture it clearly displays its uniqueness through their buildings and roads. It is not a huge tourist area for many foreigners even though it totally should be!

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    Traditional architecture
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    Miltenberg at night

    This was my first time visiting the town, and I only spent a few hours there, however, the atmosphere and tranquillity would drive me back to visiting it. It is a beautiful location to capture the essence and take photos of the place, with every angle curating a beautiful picture.

    My time was cut short, but hopefully, some of my photos will inspire others to visit the cosy little place and enjoy some of the authentic Germanic traditions it has to offer.

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    A quick glimpse into the beer process
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    Local brewery
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    Photo alongside the River Main at night
  • A European Adventure -Frankfurt’s Modernity, Germany

    A European Adventure -Frankfurt’s Modernity, Germany

    One of the most exciting elements of travelling is seeing the different parts every country has to offer and the uniqueness which every city brings to the country. That is why on my expeditions I am always sure to pack my camera and capture all of its glory it offers me.

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    Frankfurt is known for being the commercial city of Germany. With its sky-high buildings and being home to multiple banks, there is much diversity surrounding Frankfurt. Although the city is majorly modern, a few old architectures such as the Cathedral remain intact and adds a distinctive character to the city.

    Apart from strolling around the town and drinking delicious cold, hot chocolates on a warm day, I visited the Senkenburg Museum of Natural History. With entry being nine euros, it was worth paying after I stayed there for four hours visiting its vast array of taxidermy and skeletal statues, including everyone’s ancestor, Lucy the Australopithecus.

    The beautiful town has everyone to offer, including scorching heat weather in the Summer, but expect nothing less but utter cold in the winter time. However, if you are in Europe at whatever time in the year I, think it is worth it, especially if you are visiting Germany.

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