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FDA TRIP OF A LIFETIMEFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
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FDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME

February 2022 - February 2023
Putting reality on pause with a little trip around Europaaaaa! 😁 Read more
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  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    Day 1

    Sydney - London ✈️

    February 16, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    After a wild 2 months packing up our lives in Sydney, we flew the long haul flight from
    Darwin to London Heathrow. The trip we have been waiting for, planning for and longing for for 3 years!

  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    Day 9

    Cotswolds & Cornwall

    February 24, 2022 in England ⋅ 🌧 4 °C

    Landing back on Mum’s bday was very special. We chilled with her in her new wee cottage in Spelsbury which is lovely.

    We then headed to Cornwall (Lamellan Estate) for a big celebration for Mum’s bday and James’s 30th. It was so good to all be together after so long and the house was amazing! 👏🏼 Lots of tennis, booze and food and John even organised a surf lesson for us all (burrrrrrr) and an amazing lunch at the Pig at Harlyn Bay. 🐷

    I then stitched everyone up by thinking cycling the Camel Trail would be a 2 hour jolly… turns out it was 80km+ return and it was absolutely pouring with rain! I was hated for the day…. Ollie & Arch pulled the pin half way running to Mummy, and Dan, James, John and I braved the cycle back. That bath at the end was the best thing ever. Sorry team!    Read more

  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    Day 15

    Malta 🇲🇹

    March 2, 2022 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    After a busy few weeks with the fam in Cornwall and the Cotswolds, we had 3 days to get to Malta and clear out our family house in Zebbug after it sold.

    9 skips and a whole lotta dust later and we were out! I was on Facebook market place duty to sell as much as I could. Dan and James then smashed up anything rotten or that we didn’t sell. Mixed emotions as we’ve been going there for as long as we can remember, but all for the best!

    We did of course have time to make it back to our fav local haunts for some sun, good food and wine. Recos below if you ever go:

    TO DO
    Valletta
    - Quick tour: Walk to the Upper Barrakka for the best view in Malta, (best to be there at noon to see the cannon being fired). Get a ticket to see St John’s Co-Cathedral, grab a coffee at Lot 61, a plate of pasta at Pastaus and a drink at Cafe Society.

    Mdina
    - Walk around Mdina, it’s beautiful inside the walled city
    - Go to Fontenella for coffee/cake/ice cream with amazing view

    Other
    - Take a few drinks and watch sunset from Dingli cliffs
    - Check out the market at Marsaxlokk - gorgeous old fishing village (our fav!) most of the lovely restaurants along the front are good for lunch, find a busy one!
    - Would highly recommend going to Gozo for the day - you can catch a boat from north of the island (St Paul’s Bay) and its much quieter with much better beaches and swimming
    - A tour to the blue grotto tour is amazing but very touristy in peak summer - would recommend a private tour if you can!

    BEACHES
    - Ghan-Tuffheia
    - Gjnegna
    - Armchair bay
    - Paradise bay (both a bit far and small so have to get there early)
    - Tigne beach club (check before you go, might be private now)
    - Rock pools: St. Peter's pool, Marsascala, Delamar which is just beyond peter's pool and a bit quieter

    TO EAT & DRINK
    - Taproom in Valetta - one of the best for food and cocktails. Try the mushroom tagliatelle
    - Vecchia taranto - great pizza but tiny place! Best to take away and eat it on St Barbara's Bastion while enjoying the view
    - Pastaus - terrific pasta
    - Trabuxu & Trabuxu Bistro - wonderful food and wine at the top of strait street. Try the fondue and San Niklaw wine at the first and anything at the second
    - Soul Food - great food, even for vegetarians/vegans
    - Noni - Best fine dining in Valletta and winner of a Michelin star
    - Giannini - fine dining with an amazing view
    - La Capanna in Marsaxlokk
    - El Fontanella for a drink/ice cream up on the bastions in Mdina
    - The Galley in Ta'xbiex
    - PALAZZO PARISIO (Naxxar) if you are feeling wealthy!!! THE BEST place to take people in Malta for a drink in the evening because it is just beautiful (be careful on weekends though, lots of weddings)
    - St Julian’s is fun for drinks if you want a wilder scene! Busy vibe, especially on the weekends    Read more

  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    Day 28

    Stresa, Lake Maggiore 🌸

    March 15, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Stresa (lessa) was a welcomed change of pace. Winter by the Italian lakes = tranquility to a tee. Where is everyone?

    Stresa is a beautiful lakeside town with an incredible backdrop of the Alps. We were there in March so very much off peak and sleepy vibes, with nothing touristy open.

    Walk or ride along the water front and stop at the sweet wee towns along the way.

    Be sure to pop into @al_buscion for a taste of deliciousooooo local wines, meats and cheeses. Sensazionale 🤌🏼🇮🇹    Read more

  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    Day 31

    Domodossola

    March 18, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We were following the train line to Geneva (where we were meeting Ollie & John to Ski in Verbier) and had a few days to spare…. Domodossola was a very random but great little stop on this route. The town itself is sweet, but the real highlight is the mountain hikes we found up above the town with many a cute mountain side village and an abundance of wild donkeys!

    Day 1 - hike to Trontano, have a local beer or aperol then catch the mountain train back down.

    Day 2 - hike up above Sacred Mount Calvary of Domodossola - amazing views from the top (bit of a hike but worth it!) there are many tracks from there but we opted for the one towards Villadossola…bit of a gamble but it was amazing! The walk takes you through old villages on the side of the mountain and spits you out at an incredible restaurant (see pics) LA CANTINA DI TAPPIA with views across the valley. What a reward! The scramble back down to Villadossola was an adventure, then we trained it home from there.

    If you are there on a Saturday, the town market is incredible and people flock there from Switzerland to stock up on cheaper cheese and meats! We stocked up for our trip across the Swiss border too… 🧀 🥓🍷    Read more

  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    1
    Day 34

    Nendaz ⛷

    March 21, 2022 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    The best thing about starting our Europe trip at the end of Winter is we caught the end of the ski season… John’s Auntie & Uncle have a chalet above Nendaz and insisted we go. We didn’t need persuading!

    The most gorgeous slice of mountain paradise awaited us, it was Dan’s first Europe ski trip and boy was he impressed….not by the snow (it hadn’t snowed for a few months) but by the vibrant European culture of 10am beers and long boozey lunches on the slopes in 15 degree sunshine… heaven. We bought a 4 valleys lift pass and made our way over to Verbier each day for a bit more variety.

    Nothing beats a March bluebird (aprés) ski trip in the Swiss Alps! ⛷    Read more

  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    Day 45

    Scotland Road Trip

    April 1, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    After a few days chilling at home in the Cotswolds with Mum & James, we got Archie’s wheels ready for our 3 week friend and family road show across Scotland… strap in Dan!

    First stop - St Boswells to see Grandma who is almost 97! Auntie Ellie & Uncle Tony put on a spread for lunch then we had a good old dog walk along the river, lovely!

    That night we headed to Poppy & Stuart in COCKburnspath to check out their new mansion house they are doing up! That was a fun weekend of surprises. Lunch with Rosie Campbell (10 years later…!), football with the lads for Dan and a dinner party with Chowden & Mhairi which ended with a little too much sloe gin… we’ll leave it there!

    Next stop, Ullapool where we drove in the snow (with a little stop in Aviemore for some nachos and a lake walk). We had the most gorgeous week catching up with Scoobs & Lawrie & meeting Winnie-May & Moss, it was amazing! Durness swims, Rhidorroch estate, distillery tour and lots of hangs 🥰

    Next up, Tarbert to see Frannie & John (via a spot of ice climbing for Dan in Glencoe!) and their new house on the end of town, what a great job they have done! Plenty food & wine and a lovely walk the next day and we hit the road for Lochgoilhead to stay with the Campbell’s!

    I hadn’t been to Fif’s for aaaaages so we got the full tour - holiday park, farm, new born lambs, puppies, we were in country heaven! Another amazing supper and lots of chit chat with Irene & Keith!

    We then made our way through to Edinburgh to stay with Fif in her new pad, what an incredible first house, we loved it! A few very chilled days here before we hit up St Andrews for Easter weekend to stay with Steph & Henry & wee Max! Burns Supper for Tara then beach walks, catch ups and a spot of golf! Was good to be back.

    The final leg was Northumberland to see
    Uncle David & Helen then Uncle Angus & Nicky. Again, lots of lovely catch ups after far too long, more delicious food and wine and a long 14 holes of golf in the rain!! Angus beat us at tennis then we headed off to see Nicky for a coffee before making our way south for the final family stop, Uncle Graham & Becky in Boston!

    An unforgettable 3 weeks of friends, family & fluffy things!    Read more

  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    Day 64

    Cambridge

    April 20, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    A great night and day exploring the beautiful old city of Cambridge! A few tips from our short but sweet visit!

    - We stayed at Turing Locke - a sleek, avant-garde style aparthotel in the sustainable district of Eddington. Perfect for a weekend stay

    - Punting on the river is a must! Take in the stunning university history and architecture on a punting tour @puntingcambridge. Dare you to give it a crack, it’s harder than it looks!

    - Eat anywhere on Mill Lane - you can’t go wrong. Or head to the @cambridgechophouse for a yummy steak

    - Grab an aperol on Mill Pond @anchorcambridge (Pink Floyd’s first hangout) and have a giggle at all the tourists trying to punt    Read more

  • TravelerFDA TRIP OF A LIFETIME
    Day 65

    London Take ✌🏼

    April 21, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    A wee birthday trip to London and boy was it full of surprises! 🥰 Thanks JoJo & Abaco for having us again, we love hanging with you!

    A delish bday dinner treat from the bros at Hawksmoor, drinks with JoJo, Jen, Caitlin, Zara, wee Jesse, James and a heap of Dan’s friends from school who live in London, so much love (and so many silly shots!)

    Did you know Dan’s friend Elliot is a pilot and has his own wee plane? Well neither did I… surprise number 1 - plane ride to Soho Farm House in the Cotswolds for lunch and a spa - absolutely amazing experience, thank you Dan & Elliot!

    Surprise number 2 (thank you Chris & Mike) the Lion King at the Lyceum, my absolute FAV! HAKUNA MATATA!

    We even managed to sneak in some proper touristing this time round, what a city! Oh and we can’t forget the amazing Big Green Egg pizzas 🍕 chef JoJo sure delivered the goods!! 👩🏼‍🍳🍷

    A gorgeous day trip to Oxted to see Lucy, Steve & the 3 boys then we were done! Back to the Cotswolds for a few days to unpack, wash and re-pack!    Read more

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