No sneakers allowed.
Of all the widely distributed fragrance brands, Guerlain is my favourite. It’s obvious that it was started by a perfumer and not a fashion house that eventually launched a beauty line. Guerlain has 193 years of history and it shows. Their shop in Champs Élysées dates back to 1914 and it’s an ode to sensorial beauty that is, in my opinion, a what-to-see must in Paris.
Continue reading “My Visit to the Guerlain Champs Élysées Flagship Store, a Must Do in Paris”
I’ve been in Paris this last week. It was everything everyone promised: beautiful, boogie, bountiful. I binged on baguettes. I bought a beret. And brought myself to the brink of bankruptcy.
Continue reading “A Beauty Haul from Paris”
Back in September, when it was still warm and before COVID numbers in Portugal started to go up again, we went Glamping. Travelling abroad wasn’t really a choice in 2020, so we stayed in – in an isolated artificial igloo in the middle of a natural reserve, that is.
The world is starting to open up again, but caution is still advisable. If you want to venture out, but still be somewhat isolated, glamping is a great choice.
Continue reading “Vacationing in COVID Times: my Glamping Experience in Reserva Alecrim”
It took me some time to write these posts, clearly, since our trip was back in June 2019. But I didn’t want to rush it. I took my time reminiscing about the trip. Like telling a friend a story, instead of an excursion tour.
Here’s a recap of it, day by day:
Continue reading “4 days in Istanbul: not a Guide, a Diary”
Our 4th and last day before taking a plane to Kapadokya was one to decompress. A boat tour going up the Bosphorus was going to keep us occupied for 6 hours. We started very early that day because we were catching the boat at 10:30 (if I’m getting up before 10:00 am on vacation, it’s very early).
Very important tip: don’t purchase the 20+ euro tickets you see everywhere for a boat ride on the Bosphorus. That’s a giant tourist trap. If you go to the very discreet Şehir Hatları ticket booths, Istanbul’s official ferry company, near the docks, you can purchase a ticket for a 6 hour tour for 25 Turkish lira (little under 4 euros). That’s what we did.
Continue reading “4th Day in Istanbul – Wandering through Sea and Sky”
Third day in Istanbul, and we woke up with a sense of urgency – there was still so much to see. Getting lost in the city was not an option this day. We headed for Topkapi Palace, aware that it was a time consuming experience, and considering skipping lunch altogether.
First morning in Istanbul. I was woken up at 5 am with the sound of the prayer echoing through the city. There were several speakers, on minarets from multiples mosques, projecting the chant like a powerful choir.
Continue reading “2nd Day in Istanbul – Spiritual Ballrooms”
First day at Istambul: the sun has already set when we arrive. Trying to decipher the public transportation system while carrying a very large trolley and reassuring a very jumpy Sir Boyfriend who was transporting, unbeknownst to me, my engagement ring in his baggage, I’m somehow able to get us across Sultanahmet Square, through the surrounding streets, passing by a myriad of tourist-trap like restaurants and descending to our very discreet and concealed hotel, guiding us only by memory of what I’ve seen on Google Maps – because we had no wifi.
Continue reading “First Day in Istanbul – The Erten Konak Hotel”
How cool would it be if this post was about me buying anti-wrinkle masks and neck cream for turkeys?
Not very much? Okay.
Like I mentioned before, when I’m travelling abroad I take the opportunity to get beauty items that are not available in my home country. This time was no different.
Continue reading “Turkey Beauty Haul”
I’m currently sitting at my couch, watching the latest “This Might Get Weird” podcast episode, eating Doritos. Finally.
I finished moving in with Sir Boyfriend. That implied moving in the 5 giant mirrored wardrobe units (and their content) that were lining the walls of my closet room on my previous house.
I started renting out said previous house, ’cause I’m a (small) home owner. That’s how I (modestly) roll.
Our balcony floor was cracked. Had to fix that.
Our eletric panel broke. Had to fix that.
Our kitchen is starting to fall apart. Still have to fix that.
Went to a wedding.
Gathered budgets for a new kitchen.
Went to another wedding.
Went to Turkey for 2 weeks and came back having to plan a wedding.
This was my sheepish way of telling you I was busy thus justifying my hiatus from blogging. And tell you I’m engaged.
Sir Boyfriend will be Sir Fiancé from now on. I guess after the 2 days it took to move in the wardrobes, he realised I wasn’t going anywhere soon.
Just head over, heels 