Living in the UK Part 2

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Living in the UK Part 2 Traveler
Zadar
Nov 11–13, 2025 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
📌 We went a couple of hours north via bus in order to pick up a car and have a base to visit the nearby Plitvice Lakes. Zadar was also pretty quiet with lots of restaurants closed, it was a pretty little old town but we didn't need much time in it, particularly with the empty vibes.

📌 The next day we headed off to the lakes early, cruising through the mountains in our keep was a lovely early morning. We arrived at the lakes and set off for a decent 15km walk. This part of Europe still has bears and although it's well travelled, there's always that "what if" feeling as you walk 🥴 The lakes were gorgeous, the colours were the most impressive blues and greens, whilst the cascading falls were endless and they have done a magnificent job building the boardwalks that allow easy access but still give a natural feel. It was a worthy day trip that we wrapped up with a lunch at a local roadside tavern which was serving delicious meats at great value.Read more
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Living in the UK Part 2 Traveler
istrian Peninsula: Pula and Rovinj
November 13, 2025 in Croatia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
📌 The reason to have a car was to visit the peninsula at the north and it was definitely the highlight of our trip to Croatia. An area that formerly and mostly belonged to Italy (or equivalents) until WW2 that is famous for beautiful towns, wine and truffles!!

📌 We took a long drive from Zadar to get there, it was beautiful along the coast but unsurprisingly at this stage, most towns were closed. We headed to Rovinj early the next morning and wandered around the beautiful seaside town. It was peaceful amongst the coloured streets as we found coffee, admired the town and tucked into a wine and cheese board. The truffle cheese and olives were perfect 🤤

📌 Pula was also beautiful, particularly the giant Roman colleseum which was in great condition. We visited it in the late afternoon and the sunset colours shining through the arches with the ocean in the background was a special scene. We enjoyed more Istrian dishes and truffle pasta, satisfied with our cuisine and appreciating the Italian influence ☺️Read more
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Living in the UK Part 2 Traveler
Ljubljana
Nov 15–18, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
📌 There was quite the change going to Slovenia, you could definitely feel the difference in wealth compared to the other Balkans. Ljubljana was a really beautiful city, it was quite compact which made it very walkable, it had delicious food and great coffee. A standout restaurant was a craft beer and burger bar on our first night, the comfort food in the 1-2 degree weather was perfect. Despite the cold, the town was buzzing and the Christmas spirit was slowly creeping in as decorations were being set up, including a tree coming in on a semi trailer.

📌 We hired a car and took a day trip out to Bled and the surrounding area. It was a gloomy day which added to the beautiful scenery. Chloe enjoyed a run around the lake, working up an appetite for a local hearty meal at a nearby towns traditional tavern. We explored a few more stops, enjoying the quiet areas outside of the cities before heading back to the capital. Sixt tried to throw us a dodgy curve ball by suggesting we had scratched the car, thankfully our pre pickup pictures ended that claim quickly!! We finished the night with local Slovenian stuffed cabbage dumplings and a local pasta dish similar to ravioli.Read more
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Living in the UK Part 2 Traveler
Salzburg
Nov 18–20, 2025 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C
📌 Winter was really setting in, the train from Slovenia into Austria took us through some beautiful snow capped mountains and valleys. Salzburg was also starting to set up Christmas but we would just miss the official date. We continued our gastronomical exploration trying some delicious spicy sausages on arrival and then heading to a traditional Austrian beer house for hearty mains and a delicious breaded sweet cheese dumplings dessert served with caramelized plums.

📌 One of the highlights of the trip was getting out the to nearby countryside. We picked up a car early and headed to Hallstat, a beautiful lakeside town amongst a valley. The weather was perfect, crisp and cold with clear skies. We made a few stops on the way at places significant to Mozart and a famous bakery/cafe with former royal approval. Hallstat was lovely but it's not worth doing much there, we instead headed off to a nearby valley for lunch and then for a walk around lake Gosausee. This was one of the most picturesque places I can remember, the snow capped mountains with the still lake and powdered covered green pines. Europe was really putting on a show for our last visit.Read more
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Living in the UK Part 2 Traveler
Vienna
Nov 20–22, 2025 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
📌 Our last stop in Europe, Vienna! The city was lovely and diverse, you could see the clear power that the former monarchy left upon the city with the grand buildings and squares whilst you could also see how the city is often considered most liveable with its brilliant transport, housing and diverse clean districts.

📌 One of the days we had a full 6 hour food tour booked for free (thanks intrepid)! The tour was excellent, it took us to places all around the city that were all family run. There were plenty of sweets, drinks, delicious traditional food such as schnitzel and strudel. The other guests were from Florida and Virginia USA and they were super nice. It was a day well spent, with the highlight being a local stand that had been serving sausages, goulash, horse meat and pork for over 40 years! Chloe found a new love for horseradish also.

📌 Vienna was one of the few cities where Christmas markets had kicked off in full swing and we were so glad as we hadn't accounted for this when planning! They were absolutely stunning, being a large capital, they were much larger than last year's Baltics and of course more crowded, but they were really grand thanks to literally being in front of grand palaces and town halls. It was a really special end to the holiday and our time in Europe, and despite being quite commercial it's definitely an experience I would recommend to anyone once in their lifetime! 🥰Read more
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Living in the UK Part 2 Traveler
Hebden Bridge One Last Time
Nov 22–Dec 9, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌫 5 °C
📌 Our last few weeks in the UK ended the way we started, in one of the best towns, our second home. How fitting to enjoy the town and spend some quality time with our 2nd family at Bridge Lanes.

📌 The first night we got back, we went out with Emily, Robbie, Lynelle and jumped back into familiar conversations and fun time. However the next day, we had plenty of work to do, things to pack, and bags to send back to Aus in preparation for our return. Most of this was Chloe's job as I was working away in Preston and at various Vets4Pets to bolster some savings before our last stint of travel. The weeks flew by, working 6 days, travelling and getting back to Hebden blurred the days.

📌 Our last weekend/few days was special, we did everything we will associate with living in the UK. Chloe got drunk on pints and wine with Alex, waking up on Sunday hungover before having to back it up the next day. We enjoyed a beautiful Sunday roast and sticky toffee in Heptonstall and of course one drink was not enough, ending up at The Old Gate (iconic) before grabbing some takeaway from Hui Man's including the unforgettable Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips!!

📌 We owed so much to Emily and Robbie and will be forever grateful for their hospitality, friendship and simply the memories out and about with them or on the couch with Brunny. We leave the UK different people, better people and part of that is definitely owed to them. We look forward to one day visiting Hebden Bridge again for a Guinness at The Old Gate.Read more
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Living in the UK Part 2 Traveler
Things we learnt living abroad
December 9, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌬 13 °C
📌 People still don't really know a lot about Australia and they have some wild ideas of what it's like living there. It's still a very foreign place to many Britts, particularly because it's too far!

📌 Europeans are bred different. Maybe more likely to be obnoxious or rude. Also, smoking??? C'mon!

📌 Australia is a very privileged country, we have a great deal of benefits, beauty and things to be proud of that can often be taken for granted. Weather is one of these, it truly influences everyone's mood, everyone's activity and the general vibes.

📌 Travel and living away educates you in empathy, politics, gratitude, culture and so many things. I think people who truly travel, those who immerse themselves to learn and listen with an open mind grow and develop more kindness, more awareness and more gratitude for life, for people of all kinds and all backgrounds.

📌 When you move away, you're the one that's expected to make the effort because it's perceived that you're the one that left.

📌 It doesn't take long to settle somewhere, develop a routine and start to have a place that feels a little like home.

📌 Travelling with family and friends is one of the best things you can do, to share stories and relatable experiences, to try new things and foods but mostly to create very unique memories ❤️

📌 Kindness and hospitality is so simple and easy to demonstrate, it can lead to so much growth, opportunity and memories. Living with Robbie and Emily was a highlight of our trip and really taught and showed us the amazing things that being caring, kind and welcoming can lead to. We leave with greater friends that what we came with.Read more
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Trip end
December 9, 2025