Travels

The Crete Story


 


So have just come back from a relaxing holiday in Crete. It is a lovely island and great for rustic photography. Here is a short summary of our holiday.

Crete views

Elounda
Elounda beach
Views from Elounda beach


Relaxing in the sun

Clear waters



Perfect waters for snorkelling or diving

Happy Baby


Blue skies

Scenic Crete



Hotel: Elounda Mare hotel, Relais & Chateaux

Rating: 4.5 out of 5


Hotel Entrance



Hotel views



Hotel Views

Hotel rooftops



Hotel views



Soaking in the sun



Hotel grounds



Love this little balcony



On the beach




Daddy-Daughter Day on the beach



Hotel beach



Elounda Peninsula (sister hotel) beach


 


 

This is a lovely hotel located on the beachfront in Elounda. It is a very rustic hotel with some amazing sea views and charming exterior. In addition, the hotel grounds are massive with amazing views and a lovely beach.


You can also use their nearby sister hotels for beaches or kids daycare. The hotel arranges a free shuttle anytime you ask for it.   

 


Reception Lounge

Hotel reception lounge

View from hotel reception



Hotel grounds



Baby had a lot of space to explore!


Miniature pomegranate tree!



Cutie running in the hotel grounds



..and her bunny!



Rustic




Walking in the lovely grounds

 


 

I was disappointed with the Breakfast, which is limited and very uninspiring for a Mediterranean hotel and extremely limited room service after 11 pm. However, they more than make up for it with delicious lunches and dinners and great service

 


Pool at Night





Hotel exterior



Enjoying the summer night outside our room


 


 

So overall it's a great hotel and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and can’t wait to go back!

 



Pool Day

Love this view

Lounging in the sun



Hotel Grounds: Walk to the beach


 

Baby and Mommy swim time

 

It is a very quite hotel so I had the pool to myself most days!


Pool to myself




Water baby

Baby at Kid Club in Elounda Peninsula

Baby enjoying the gardens

Elounda town


Elounda Town centre



Elounda Port



Posing in the port


Baby loving the boats!

This a truly charming rustic Greek town with many local sovenier shops and authentic restaurants.



Elounda port


Food

Taverna Leonidas 

Rating; 5 out of 5



Taverna Leonidas exterior




Taverna Leonidas: Interior


This is a small Greek restaurant near Elounda bay. The food is very authentic and absolutely scrumptious. True taste of Mediterenean cuisine.


Stuffed Vine Leaves



Greek meatballs in tomato sauce



Stuffed peppers


In addition, the service is fantastic and very friendly
Highly recommend it.


Rustic charm

Accessorising



Taverna Vachus

Elounda

Rating: 3 out of 5


Taverna Vachus Exterior


This is a lovely restaurant located in Elounda village. The service is great and staff are very helpful and friendly. 
However, the food was disappointing. It was very average and catered for tourists. Some dishes were good while others very average
Hit and miss sort of place. 


Lamb kleftiko



Meatballs in tomato sauce



Mezze


Blue Sea Restaurant, Elounda

Rating: 4.5 out of 5


Blue Sea Restaurant Exterior

Views from Blue Sea Restaurant


This restaurant is by Elounda town beach area. The service and food were absolutely fantastic and the location is stunning.


Grilled Fish Steak

Greek meatballs

Hummus and pita bread


In addition, they have high chairs for babies so that was great.
The Greek meatballs in tomato sauce were amazing! Highly recommend them.


Cocktails

Lunching on the Aegean!



TOURIST ATTRACTIONS


Spinalonga Island

Rating: 4 out of 5



Spinalonga



Spinalonga



Spinalonga: Boat drop off







On the way to Spinalonga


Spinalonga is a small island near Elounda. Spinalonga has a long history due to its strategic location but up until the 1950s it was used as a leper colony and is also known as the leper island. It is the last European leper colony.


Fort at Spinalonga



Views from Spinalonga



Gate to the Aegean



Aegean sea



Ruins of leper colony at Spinalonga



Views from Spinalonga



Fort at Spinalonga

Aegean



Rustic architecture


It is a fortified island about 20 min by boat from Elounda. You can get tickets from Elounda harbour for only €10 per person. However, the boats are not really on a particular schedule and no information is provided re pick up from the island so be preformed to wait - which can be very annoying in the heat.
The island itself is uninhabited and has some stunning views. It also includes ruins of the leper colony and the fort.


Views of Crete



Admiring the views



Streets of Spinalonga



House in Spinalonga


Definitely worth a visit but the disorganised boats annoyed me.



Ruins at Spinalonga



Peering from old houses







Colourful doors



Rustic Blue









Relaxing after exploring the island



Scenic



View from fort at Spinalonga



Ruins of the leper colony at Spinalonga



Bye Bye, Spinalonga!


Agios Nikolaos

This is the main town of the Elounda region. It's bustling with shops and tourists and has some lovely silver jewelry to offer.

 

Lake in Agios Nikolaos

 

Agios Nikolaos Town Centre

 


 

There are numerous restaurants and cafes along the marina and the lake so great place for shopping and chilling! 
However, prices can be greatly inflated on local wares compared to surrounding towns. 


Bracelets at local shops




Jewellery at local stores



Locally crafted and hand-knitted bags


Holiday style




Top: Miss Selfridge; Jeans: Zara; Sandals: Juicy Couture






Sandals: TK Maxx



Sandals: Prada; Hat: Local shops in Elounda



Kaftan: Elena Antoniadus; Sandals: Juicy Couture; Hat: Local selection



Top: Zara



Bikini: Michael Kors; Sandals: Juicy Couture



Dress: Dries Van Noten; Sneakers: Prada



Sandals: Prada



Dress: Selection at local shops; Bag: Mulberry; Belt: Versace




Top: H&M; Pants: Zara; Bag: Mulberry; Sandals: Juicy Couture

Sandals: Juicy Couture

Bag: Prada



Your Instagram Guide to Edinburgh


Edinburgh is an Instagrammer's dream!

Edinburgh has amazingly beautiful architecture, old cobbled streets, lovely restaurants, and great beauty everywhere you look. This week, I spent 3 days in Edinburgh and as it was a work trip I hadn't expected to take so many lovely photos of the Scottish Capital. On the day that I had off, we went for a long walk of the city starting at the Edinburgh Castle, through the Royal Mile and down to Princes and George Streets. We even went up to Holyrood Park and climbed the hills to go to Arthur's Seat. During the walk, we used Instagram #Edinburgh to discover the nicest looking places and check these out. As we walked the city we literally went from one photogenic spot to another, thanks to Instagram!

 

Breakfast at the Roxburghe Hotel, Charlotte Sq

Rating: 5 out of 5



Breakfast at Roxburghe Hotel


We had a lovely Scottish Breakfast at the Roxburghe hotel. The food is lovely and well-presented and the staff are amazingly accommodating and helpful.


The Roxburghe Hotel


Royal Mile

The Royal Mile encompasses the streets in Edinburgh's old town. A truly beautiful walk which transports you in time to medieval Scotland. Not only are the buildings and sights stunning, there some lovely markets on the roads with traditional goodies to buy. I found these lovely "wee fairy doors" that come with fairy dust - pictured here.

 



The atmosphere is great with lots of pubs and restaurants for refreshments. The musicians playing bagpipes in traditional Scottish attire further liven up the atmosphere!



Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat

Rating: 5 out of 5



The climb to Arthur's Seat in Holyrood park is absolutely stunning. You see such wonderful scenes during the climb as well as the stunning views on top. We saw stunning yellow flower bushes along the way - gorgeous!

The weather was great. You do not feel you are in a city - it felt so peaceful and isolated during the climb. You can see why the hills of Scotland are considered magical when you are here. However, the climb can be very steep so wouldn't recommend it in a wet day. The rocks can be quite slippery when wet. I would highly recommend this climb on a good day - the views are breathtaking from the top!





Lunch at the Boozy Cow, Frederick St, Edinburgh

Rating: 5 out of 5

 


 

Visited here for lunch after a long walk around the city as it was recommended by an instagrammer. The food was absolutely delicious - the chilli dog was one of the best I ever had. Their beef chilli is so lovely and authentic and I think they should serve it seperately as a dish with corn bread (yummy!). Lovely atmosphere and service - highly recommend it

 

 

Princes St Gardens

These gardens are in the middle of Edinburgh town centre. They are probably the most photographed place here as you see the Edinburgh castle rising magnificently above them. The spring flowers here were lovely and the gardens are immaculately clean and well maintained.





Goodbye, Edinburgh (till next time)

So we discovered these wonderful places in Edinburgh, thanks to Instagram and here I am forwarding the pics using #Edinburgh hashtag. Overall, the city is stunning, one of the most beautiful in Europe and has an ethereal feel!

Edinburgh, Scotland



So this will be a short review as I will do a longer review in May when I'm back here. 
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and home to the famous Edinburgh castle

Architecturally, I think it's probably the prettiest city in Europe - and I have been to most European countries! 
The gothic architecture gives the city a magical feel. 

Shopping is pretty standard thanks to globalisation but you can pick up some lovely Scottish soveniers along the Royal Mile next to the castle. 

People are soooo friendly compared to London. I went for a morning walk and had people saying "good morning" to me on the street! Never happens in London!
Walking around the city is such a pleasant experience!
More to come on Edinburgh in May!



The Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh
Rating: 3.5 out of 5


The hotel is pleasant with good service but I found the decor and facilities very dated. 
No power plugs next to the bed - that's just insane in this day and age

Food from room service was presented well but tasted very average

The spa is just a small fitness club - not a relaxing place at all
Shower had no pressure and water was warm not hot
Finally, room temperature control didn't work very well.
Overall average hotel - would stay if the rooms were updated and good improved!



Lanzarote, Canary Islands


Mirador Del Rio, Lanzarote
Rating: 5 out of 5

Mirador del Río is a viewpoint situated 475 meters high in the very north of the Canarian island of Lanzarote.

The attraction offers some incredible panoramic views of Lanzarote. Must see place. The location consists of three levels for you to admire the views and take photos. They are mostly outdoor spaces but there is an indoor café with glass windows if you would like to sip a coffee and admire the views. Quite stunning and café had great Spanish orange juice!

The café has some high chairs as well so you can bring the kids along! I took my 10 month baby and she loved it!
Highly recommend it!

Jameos Del Agua, Lanzarote

Rating: 5 out of 5


 




This attraction is basically a lava tube containing a pool with blind cave crabs. It has a number of bars and restaurants inside and around the cave pool so visitor can get a bite to eat in the pleasant and peaceful surroundings.

As such it was an interesting place which we might have missed.
The place has an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity despite the number of visitors and screaming children!

 

Wear good shoes - I nearly slipped on the rocky steps a few times!


I highly recommend visiting this place - its an ethereal place and a must see in Lanzarote!






 

 

LAS MONTAÑAS DEL FUEGO (THE FIRE MOUNTAINS)

   Rating: 3.5 out of 5




The Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains) or Timanfaya form part of a wide area affected by the volcanic eruptions that struck Lanzarote between 1730-1736 and later, in 1824.

This really is a spectacular area and just driving through it you almost feel you are on Mars with the red mountains and the barren landscape.

I was so disappointed because there are hardly any places on the road to stop and take pictures or just walk among the volcanic rocks.

Visitors can go on camel rides in a designated area to explore the mountains but you cannot walk there which is annoying if you don't want to ride a camel.

When you visit Timanfaya there is a restaurant on top of the mountain where they cook the food using heat from the volcano. However, there was such a long queue going there that we didn't bother going in plus the weather was really awful (windy and cold). In general, there is a queue of cars going to this restaurant and then queue of people to get in so go if you are really determined to see it - I didn't have the energy!!
So I would say definitely worth a drive through but would have liked to be able to walk through the landscape.


Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort 5*L 
Rating: 4.5 out of 5




Probably one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in




Great service
Food was lovely
Decor and ambience is rustic meets modern - very comfy and chic


It is a proper resort so there are 3 pools, spa, large choice of restaurants and bars and kids play area.


There a few let downs including: 
Bathrooms need modernising, hotel guests have to pay for spa use (excluding treatments) which is a bit silly, and finally, the kids area could have been divided to babies and older kids. 


Other than that it's a really great hotel. Special thanks to Stephanie and Rossa from reception for looking after our baby girl so well! 
And I would definitely come here again


ROME, ITALY


Pantheon, Rome, Italy

Rating: 5 out of 5


This building never ceases to fascinate me. You just cannot walk without consistently looking up. We went during the day to be greeted by a ray of sunlight protruding from the“oculus”,  a 9- metre round aperture at the very top of the dome that illuminates the entire building.

 

 The floor has 22 virtually invisible holes for water to disappear in if it rains.
The Pantheon was originally built for the purpose of worshiping of every god (Pan-every Theon-divinity).  Statesman and General Marcus Agrippa was responsible for the construction of the original church and there is a dedicatory inscription to him on the Pantheon's magnificent portico.

 

In 609, The Pantheon was converted into a Christian Church by Pope Boniface IV (truly fulfilling its original purpose of being dedicated to the worship of every God!)
 Currently, it is the location of the tombs of Vittorio Emanuele II, Umberto I and Margherita of Savoy as well as Raphael

.

The Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

 

The Trevi Fountain is located at the end of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 BC by Agrippa (both friend and son-in-law of Emperor Augustus and the man behind the construction of the Pantheon). The aqueduct brings water all the way from the Salone Springs (approx. 21km from Rome) - a true Roman engineering marvel.

 

 

It doesn't matter what time of the year or day you go, Trevi always attracts a large number of crowds so you have to wait to get close to the fountain for pics but it is worth the wait. The atmosphere is so nice and buzzing and there are some really nice Cafes nearby for refreshments!

 

Tradition has it that you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the fountain. You should toss it with your right hand over your left shoulder (or left hand over your right shoulder) with your back to the fountain. So fingers crossed, I will go back! I love this city!

 

Roman Forum, Rome, Italy

Rating: 5 out of 5

 


 

The Roman Forum was the centre of the Roman Empire in the ancient world up to 4th century AD. This was the centre of government buildings and important temples. This was where all the decisions of the future of the Empire were made. This is where Julius Caesar was murdered and Augustus was made Emperor. Really, I could write pages on the historical significance of this location!

 

 

 

 

Located between two of Rome's famous hills, the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, it is now an ancient of ruin but impressive nevertheless. I would recommend that you look at a 3D simulation of what the Forum looked like in its glory before you visit to fully appreciate the grandeur of the buildings. Or if not, make sure you carry a map with you, especially if you continue onto Palatine Hill as it can be easy to lose your way!

 

The views from Palatine are breath-taking so don't miss it and of course you must visit Domus Augustus (Augustus' Villa) - it is by far the largest house there (Of course!) and you really get a feel of Roman living it up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vatican museum and the Sistine chapel

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Peter's escape from prison - Raphael

 

 

Vatican Museum


Honestly, this is probably the most difficult place to review. I mean, what can you say? Who are we to review such masters? or such beautiful art? I have tried to review it here but really I can sum it all up in one word: Speechless!
The art in the Vatican museum is exquisite - you cannot help being moved by it.

Pope Leo meeting Atilla the Hun

 

The hall of statues and entrance include a lovely marble statue of Emperor Claudius I and a fantastic life size bronze of Hercules.

Emperor Claudio

Hercules Bronze Statue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The great frescoes of Raphael adorn most of the walls and the 3D perception they create is truly unique.

 

Of course there are works from ancient Rome that inspired the renaissance artists be it marble statues or mosaic artwork.

 

There is probably no museum like this in the world. I have been to so many but this one surprises me each time.

 

You start the visit by crossing the Pigna Courtyard which takes its name from the gigantic bronze pinecone placed in the middle, a work from the Roman Baths of Agrippa. Then you go into the Gallery of Maps which is 120 metre long and includes a set of all the maps of Italy.

 

 

Hall of Maps

 

 

In the Gallery of Tapestries, there are lovely tapestries woven in Brussels by Pieter van Aelst and represent the most significant religious events. In addition, there is a tapestry demonstrating the murder of Julius Caesar which by far is the best tapestry in the room.

Tapestry: Murder of Julius Caeser

 

 

You then pass room upon room of treasures, especially Raphael's frescos, Borgia Rooms, etc. It cannot be taken in in one visit!

Borgia rooms: Lucrezia Borgia

 

 

 

Outside the museum you can stroll down to St Peters' Square whose majestic colonnade was designed by Bernini, a masterpiece of art and technique.

 

 

 

The Sistine chapel

 

This is the true treasure of the Vatican. The Sistine chapel boats over 600 figures in the fresco. The sheer scale of Michelangelo's ambition and achievement dwarfs the viewer. The creativity and artistic quality of the paintings will leave you breathless. No amount of time spent there is enough to fully appreciate these paintings. Each painting is a story and the more you look, the more you see. I didn't even mind the crowds to be honest; in fact, didn't even notice them! I would recommend going there around Jan-Feb time - it's cold in Rome but the crowds are nowhere near the same as they are during the summer months.

 


  

Ristorante Washington, Via del Viminale, Rome, Italy

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This restaurant was a very pleasant surprise. It really is a very good restaurant. The food is very authentic and very fresh - it's full of locals  and not tourists so that just tell you!
We literally went there 3 times over 2 days!
Location is great. Food is amazing and service very good
Highly recommend it

Penne Arrabiatta

 

Pizza Marinara

 

Spaghetti Bolognese

 






































































Seafood salad

Starhotels Metropole, Via Principe Amedeo 3, 00185 Rome, Italy

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hotel is located within walking distance to all the attractions and has some great restaurants nearby. The room was beautiful, spacious and comfortable. The breakfast was nice. The staff are very professional and extremely helpful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They upgraded our room as it was my husband's birthday which was so kind of them
The only issue I had was bad Wifi in the bedroom but to be honest who needs Wifi when in Rome?!!
Highly recommend it - had a thoroughly pleasant stay

 

 





















 

Copenhagen, Denmark




As the capital of Denmark, the city of Copenhagen is a lovely city with classic architecture and canals which are juxtaposed by modern infrastructure. 



Where to stay
I would highly recommend staying near Tivoli Gardens as its near the centre of town and shops, tourist areas, etc are easily accessible. We stayed at Nyhavn, which was nice but had to take taxis everywhere. 


Transport
If you are like me and hate using public transport in foreign countries uber it everywhere!
The uber cars turn up within 5 min and drivers tend to be more helpful than the taxi drivers who won't even help you with your luggage!
Also walking around the city is quite pleasant and scenic. 


People are friendly but not st the airport! They seem to go out of their way there to be difficult and rude.


For more details check out the individual posts on the blog 





Waterside walk - The Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue) 

Rating: 4 out of 5



In Nyhavn, there is a really pleasant waterside walk leading to Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid statue.
The Little Mermaid herself was very over-crowded and very difficult to appreciate (having hot dog sellers and beverage stalls crowded next to each other didn't help!). If you go for the walk, I don't recommend the boat ride as the boat gets very crowded and pretty much covers everything on your walk plus the walk is a far more pleasant experience - you even encounter a replica of Michelangelo's David!





Hans Christian Andersen Fairytale House

Rating: 4 out of 5



The Fairy-tale House in Copenhagen is located in the same building as Ripley's Believe it or Not and houses a series of scenes from the well known fairy-tales by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. So fun, beautiful and educational. 



The exhibits (scenes) have some lovely lighting effects effects and a three-lingual sound system in Danish, English, and German.



In addition to the fairy-tale exhibits, scenes from HS Andersen's life are also on display and you can learn more about the author. 



The museum also features a hand-written manuscript by HS Andersen 

It's a lovely visit but too short - I wish they had animated the stories more

Definitely worth a visit!


Tivoli Garden

Rating: 5 out of 5



Tivoli is an amusement park located in the center of the city. It's probably one of the best theme parks I have ever visited (and yes I'm including Disney in this. Tivoli is much too beautiful!) 


It’s about £10 entry and the ride tickets cost extra but this is a popular place to go for families, children, and kids on school holidays. They also have rides for under 1 yr olds so everyone can have fun.


The rides are great, street food fantastic, the atmosphere is lovely (we went in Christmas Day!), and the decor is too beautiful for words!


The Aquarium there is too small so not worth the ticket but everything else was marvellous 


A must see experience once in your life!



Hilton Manchester Deansgate

Rating: 5 out of 5





Stayed on the executive floor and it was amazing. The in-room dining food was fantastic - I had the best chicken sandwich ever(I know it's only chicken sandwich but it's very hard to get it right!) the torte was to die for. 
The cleanliness is beyond reproach and the bathroom is perfect for a relaxing bath (and torte in bath!)
The views from the room were Beautiful - I was on the 18th floor. I just slept with the curtains wide open and it felt like I  on a roof terrace.
The room was great and comfortable.
The breakfast in the morning was excellent too. However, they have terrible attention to detail like forgetting teaspoon for the tea or salt/pepper. They were apologetic but I find these things can be annoying.
The staff were all brilliant and extremely  helpful on the whole
Highly recommend it 



 

Isle of Wight Zoo

Rating 5 out of 5

 



 


 

Great visit, especially to the Capuchin enclosure- such amazingly cute and interactive monkeys. Other attractions are white lions, albino tigers, spider monkeys, iguana, etc and you can get really close to the animals unlike other zoos. I have never seen a tiger so close up - it was amazing. 
The Meerkats were super cute. I did think the Leopards enclosure was too small though but I think they are refurbishing.
Will definitely visit again and highly recommend it!!



St Maur, Isle of Wight

Rating: 4 out of 5

 



Lovely one night stay. The room was gorgeous with stunning views and the bathroom was really roomy, clean and lovely. We even had a balcony and I really wish we stayed more days to fully appreciate it! 

 



 


 

Good quiet location with parking and the staff are extremely friendly and amenable.   Breakfast was ok but my eggs were too over done thought the tea was really good.



The only issues I had were bad wifi and dated decor but despite this the hotel is worth visiting! 



Sally's Riding, Isle if Wight

Rating; 5 out of 5

 



 


 

Amazing experience, friendly staff and a lovely  trail for riding. It's a great day whether you are an experienced rider or a beginner. 
Unfortunately due to high tide we couldn't ride in the beach - I was really looking forward to it! 
The price is only £25 pp and totally worth it. You need to wear long pants - they provide boots and helmets.
Very highly recommend it!!!!



 

Tbilisi Marriott Hotel Dinner in Lobby Bar

Rating 3.5 out of 5


 
The location of the hotel is excellent and the décor impeccable. However, the food was very average and not at all how described in the menu for example I ordered chicken and potato skewers and was given breaded chicken strips with chips!! When I queried it, the waitress insisted that these are the skewers!! Also, they seemed to be in a hurry to get rid of customers. They removed all our drinks while we were still having them! Service was average
Went with friends -  would not really recommend it
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



The "skewers"!!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi

Rating 4.5 out of 5

 

This is probably the best hotel in Tbilisi - I had a lovely time during my stay. The main reason for the 4.5 out 5 rating is that their food was generally really salty and difficult to eat! Otherwise great hotel.
The rooms are very comfortable
The staff are very helpful and welcoming
The spa is amazing - beautiful rooftop pool with stunning views of the city. It was mostly empty when I went so I had the whole place to myself. The spa and changing rooms are very clean and the relaxation area is just perfect!
After the bar we headed to the 18th floor bar for dinner. Again great service, amazing views but food was too salty.
However, I would still highly recommend the place for a great night's stay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spa entrance




















 

Café Times, Tbilisi

3.5 out of 5

 

Lovely central location
Great decor
Disappointing service and food was average though
If say go for drinks and ambience rather than the food 

Love the fishtank

 

Mum Mum Restaurant, Sharjah, UAE

Rating 5 out of 5

http://www.mummum.co/




New concept in kids' food

So this is a fast food restaurant in Sharjah, UAE with a twist - the food is for kids and its all healthy food. All ingredients are natural and organic (you could taste the freshness) and prepared by expert chefs. It is probably the best fast food restaurant I have been to!

The menu is varied and you can view it on: http://www.mummum.co/food/specials

In addition to the yummy food, the restaurant has large play areas consisting of:
  •  Bouncy room
  • An eyeplay area which is a projector that is mounted in the ceiling and projects up to 9 different games on the floor, that are interactive and work according to a child's movement. e.g. Soccer, Ice Hockey, Popping of Bubbles, Standing on mustard and ketchup sachets, etc
























  • 3D cinema
  • Grow your own vegetable garden
It is a truly amazing spot - highly recommend it!!!







 

Grindelwald, Switzerland


 

SKIING



Kleine Scheidegg


Rating 4.5 out of 5 


Grindelwald slopes were closed so this was the closest skiing destination to go to. This was our first ski trip and we were pleasantly surprised at how amazing the skiing is, in addition to the wonderful scenery and very helpful staff at the ski resort. Prices are nigh but this is Switzerland so you are guaranteed no “rif-raf” crowd. Many schools run group and private ski lessons in Grindelwald and at Kleine Scheidegg and if you want to try it on your own, there is a beginner’s “park” area. Equipment can be rented from Grindelwald or Kleine Scheidegg. Ski passes can be obtained from the train station or at the ski lifts. Brilliant place to ski and great organisation (of course it is – they are Swiss!)













 


 



SIGHT-SEEING


Jungfraujoch and the Ice Palace

Rating 5 out of 5 



You have to take the train going up to Kleine Scheidigg and change there for Jungfraujoch. The train station staff is very helpful if you get confused or lost. The train takes you to the top of the mountain, which is also top of Europe. If it’s a clear day you can see the observatory at the top of the mountain from Kleine Scheidigg.

 




Observatory view from Kleine Scheidigg
 



 

 

 

 
 
 
 
The views from the observatory are stunning. You can also go out on a viewing deck if you can bear the extreme cold! I never felt cold like this in my life! Make sure you wear multiple layers – I know I could barely move in my 7 layers!















Top of Europe!



 
 

FOOD

 
Barry's  
Dorfstrasse 133 | Hotel Eiger, Grindelwald 3818, Switzerland
Rating 4.5 out of 5


Both service and food were excellent. The food is very traditional Swiss food with fresh local ingredients and the menu is varied with very good choices. We had the grilled chicken burger and Weisswurst sausage, homemade sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. Both meals were excellent. The atmosphere is very lively and it is obviously a busy restaurant.




 

Central Hotel Wolter Restaurant, Grindelwald

Rating 4.5 out of 5




Visited the restaurant during my recent stay in Grindelwald.  Superb fillet steak, one of the best I ever had and excellent venison ragu. They had some really interesting dishes like kangaroo fillet but I didn’t have the nerve to try that!  The desserts all looked amazing – I went for chocolate wafer basket with toblerone mousse . Service was fantastic, friendly and prompt. The Swiss décor gives the place a really nice holiday atmosphere for skiers. Highly recommend it.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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