Summertime Happiness and a Quick Thank You.

Well, well, well, so we meet again Mr Blog. As September looms, Summer is officially coming to a close. After 4 months of adventures, travels, drinks and an unusual amount of non-festival camping, in just one month I will be embarking on my final and longest adventure yet: moving to York to begin my studies of English Literature at the university there.

Cue minor hyperventilating.

But in all seriousness, I am incredibly excited what with all my friends going into second year and me just beginning on the next big chapter of my life! I recently turned 19, and I am ready to start my new life not in America, India, Denmark or Germany, but just one hundred miles or so up north (187 to be exact). This Summer has been extraordinary (aren't they always?) so I thought I'd give a brief run down on the crazy things I've been getting up to.

To mark my going to university (and the fact that I haven't been on a family holiday in two years! Gosh!) I went with my parents off to Murren in Switzerland - absolutely my favourite place. We had just a few days of hiking, swimming, and me making a dent in my reading list and of course, sunbathing, and I came home ready to begin preparing for uni. Cue manic Ikea shop. Cutlery anyone?

This Summer has seen picnics galore, including mine and Laura's picnic and outdoor cinema experience at Hatfield Forest back in July! We saw Woman in Black and I managed not to scream too loudly...I've also been gracing London with my presence frequently, the most recently being a night out celebrating the Breakfast Club's 8th birthday in Spittalfields - a deathly combination of £1.80 glasses of wine and £2.50 cocktails made for a night of 80s discos, inflatable guitars and swapping t shirts with Some Guy. Sorry dude. June also saw my friends and I heading Norfolk-wards once more for our annual naturist camping in Weybourne. A perfect week.

Together Ben and I discovered some remarkable parts of London this summer including Rekordelig's Midsummer Birthday Party in Victoria Park with Company Magazine complete with lots of free goodies and cider cocktails, and a misinformed adventure into a strip club in London Fields hobknobbing with Made in Chelsea stars...we also discovered a Speak Easy near Liverpool Street (anyone fancy seeing the Major?) and with one of my best friends and with our boyfriends in tow, we had a remarkable night in the Fridge.

One of my highlights was a surprise that I planned for Ben's birthday including the Pompeii exhibition at the British Museum (heaven for my inner, and rather hidden, classicist), Chin Chin Labs in Camden where Nitro ice cream is on tap, and the RA Summer Exhibition feat. Tracey Emin of course. Furthermore, at the start of the Summer we took a trip to the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair and mingled with various artists, coming home with pieces of art (the start of my so far pathetic collecting career) and memories galore.

But the prize for the loveliest UK expedition goes to this one: a few night's camping in Fairbourne Wales and discovering the beauty of Blue Flag Beaches, as well as seeing family and discovering wild swimming in a copper slate quarry in Snowdonia. Yes, it was as magical as it sounds. If a little cold.

Okay, freezing.

I really took to camping this summer due to lack of money, as our 3 nights in Wales cost us just £18 each. Do the maths.

This Summer has been truly special and while I'm sad that it's over, I am ready for my northern adventures to begin. As the summer ends, so does my Gap Year, and I can't believe that it is over. But I shan't dwell on it, just learn from it, and how unbelievable it's all been. I hope to keep travelling over the next few years intermittently in the Very Long University Summer Holidays, and maybe I will turn this space into something other than a travel blog, but only time will tell. Thank you for sticking with me and reading about my adventures over the past year - I honestly cannot believe that it's been a year since I flew to America. It feels like a lifetime ago.

I have had a truly extraordinarily year, ranging from being asked to name a baby in Northern India, to bumping into Snoop Dogg in Times Square, to being harassed by guards in Berlin, to being asked on a date in Downtown Houston, to house-sitting in -5 in Denmark. It's been a fantastic year, and it's taught me the value of so much but mostly: my family, friends, and memories.

Here's to the future, eh? 

Bringing Back Britain: Cambridgeshire.

Frankly, my absence from this blog is nearly embarrassing. I have had so much to write about, and have been on so many adventures (both home based and some slightly farther abroad) that I want to share. I've been applying for jobs (unsuccessfully), making the most of a combination of my National Trust membership, my car, and my wonderful friends and boyfriend leading to me having had a wonderful past two months since I returned from Germany.

I love England. My coming-back-post (as recently featured in this article) states this clearly; I love where I live. And although I've been fighting it since my return, my denial of the fact that I am home (I hope that makes sense) has meant that I have kept both busy and local and so my new feature, 'Bringing Back Britain' was born. Today's focus is the gorgeous Cambridgeshire.

Although drinks in Cambridge, when not from student hangouts, aren't the cheapest - an afternoon by the river really is a must.

I've always been a fan of Cambridge: the classical architecture, the colleges, the people, just to mention a few - and as far as a town goes, it really is perfect for Summer. Whether it's a G&T at the Anchor (located in between Newham and King's) or a picnic on Jesus Green, the sunshine makes it the perfect spot to while away an afternoon. Punting for a newbie in Cambridge is a must, and I always prefer to hire my own with a group of friends, a few drinks, and punt in the Grantchester direction.

Downton Abbey? No, not quite. But still pretty impressive.

About 20 miles out of town, situated in the real Cambridgeshire countryside, is the classical Wimpole Hall. With entry to the grounds and gardens being just £6 (and free for National Trust members) and a farm for exploration, even on a rainy day Flo, Luce and I made the most of the grounds.

Don your muddy converse, stock up on lunch from either the farm shop or - like us - take a Sainsbury's middle class picnic extraordinaire and cower in the boot of your car in between rain storms. The gardens are currently in full bloom and the orchard, much like Audley End (slightly more local to me), is stunning. My only piece of advice would be go on a weekday and before school's out - I can only imagine how busy the pig pen is when the children start their summer holidays in three weeks.

Car picnic anyone? My boot still features crisp crumbs as a result.

Fun for the family, or the more middle class/middle aged young adults among us - it is a lovely day out!

Can I Have Some More?

Excuse me while I drool over my photos of food and drink from my trip; I am a terrible food-instragram-er as well as whacking out my actual big camera to photograph my dinner before I tuck in. But hey, it makes for great memories, photos, and blog posts so who's complaining.

Since returning home I have made an effort to get fit (ew), eat well (ew), and go to the gym (ew) and Rome was a well deserved three days off of carbs, three course dinners and ice cream on the way home - because where in England could you possibly find such a Geltaria on the way home? I often found myself sneaking into a coffee shop for a patented Italian coffee and pastry, or dashing into a darling Pizzeria 10 minutes from the Trevi fountain and ending up with four courses in front of me...it was every foodie's dream.

On Via del Governo Vecchio on my way back from my ill-fated Vatican trip I discovered a wee coffee shop, 'Cantina & Cucina' from which the header image from this post is, where I can say - hand on heart - I had the best cappucino of my life and for just one Euro. The service was impeccable and wonderfully friendly. The shop is nestled in between vintage shops too, it is well worth a visit!

Spaghetti Carbonara just around the corner from the Pantheon.

Even the idea of going to Italy while sticking to a diet in foolish - the food is a dream come true. Carbs. Carbs. Carbs.

Veal in a gorgonzola sauce with roast potatoes. Just. Ugh.

My second recommendation is just a five minute walk from Plaza Del Popolo named 'Al Vantaggio' (their house wine is actually named after the house) where I found the best Panna Cotta of my life. Just the right amount of creamy, and enjoyed  with a glass of white. I don't care how middle aged I sound.

The best panna cotta in Rome. Bold claim. I will stick to it.

And finally, how could I not mention Giolitti? Recommended to me by my wonderful friends Lucy, Ella and Flo (thanks gals, I was told I had to cite you), Giolitti is heaving at peak meal times, and this is exactly how I found it, sitting in the backstreets of the Pantheon. It was mid-morning when I paid €3.50 for, yes, the best Gelato of all time. Pay in advance, join the queue, and smile horrendously. Ask any local and they will know where to point you - it's well worth the wait.

Giolitti; light of my life. G-i-o-l-i-t-t-i. The name rolls off the tongue, etc etc.

I said it about Copenhagen, perhaps I said it about both American and India too, but Rome really is the best place for food that I have travelled. Be it sweet or savoury, alcoholic or not (pah) the Italians have out done themselves. Regards price, be wary as the tourist areas naturally more expensive and set in place to trap the more naive of us travellers.

Do(n't) Do As The Romans Did.

However, maybe it was due to the Last Minute nature of my trip or the panic that in my two weeks of settling into life at home I'd lost my Travelling Knack, but when in Rome I made a few Pizza shaped faux pass, and so, despite my arrogant, borderline obnoxious, confidence when travelling, my list of Top Awesome Travel Tips: Rome Edition was born. Stay tuned for my Totally Unflawed Guide To Rome.*

*I accept no legal responsibility for the ridiculous situations my tips may get you in i.e. being chatted up by a Gladiator outside the Colleseum within two hours of being in Rome.

Top Travelling Tip #1) The Pope.

"A trip Tuesday to Thursday will be considerably cheaper!" she says to herself, booking Ryanair's cheapest last minute flights, "And what's better, is that I'm not going during a religious festival and my full day is a Wednesday - so I'll get up nice and early and beat the crowds to the Vatican to make sure I make the most of my short time in Rome." The Pope resides in the Vatican making it a place of pilgrimage, and does he patented address on Sunday and, wait for it, Wednesday so I, along with 10,000 other tourists and Catholics, pushed and swore under my breath to get into the Vatican only to be greeted by the Pope himself.

Oh hi Francis.

Now I'm not complaining, it was wonderful to see the Pope doing his thing, but given my time again I would do my research and save my trouble for Thursday. Unless you're willing to use your elbows, you will waste a lot of time in the Vatican! Furthermore, skip the museum (sorry Sistine Chapel) and join the queue to see the view over St Peter's Square - something I didn't do and regret it massively. But, eh, I'll just have to go back.

Top Travelling Tip #2) Old Beautiful Things i.e. The Colloseum.

Situated in the southern part of the city is one of Rome's most famous monuments: The Colloseum. To get my bearings, this was the first place I headed at lunchtime on Tuesday when it was beautiful blue skies and, thus, heaving with tourists. The entrance isn't clear, nor is the fact that your ticket, once bought, also gives entrance to the Palatino and the Forum for just €12. The Colloseum was heaving so, following the advice of my host Roberta, headed to the Palatino to buy my all inclusive ticket before heading around the grounds and the Forum and onto the Colloseum - skipping the queues and heading straight inside. Rent an audio guide for an inexpensive price and lose yourself in the history. (Too cheesy? Oof. Maybe. Sorry.) 

And finally, Top Travelling Tip #3) Rome by Night.

Spanish Steps, as recommended by both lysanne and Jamie.

It has been repeated by many a lovely tourist, family member, or wise friend that Rome is at its best by night and while I must still have a bit of Delhi ingrained in me ("don't go out after dark!") I ventured out for dinner in the north of the city - Plaza Del Popolo - and home via the Spanish Steps which I had fallen in love with in the daylight. Rome by night is charming, lively, and safe for a female lone traveller which is not something I can say for a lot of places I have been. I received smiles and conversation, but little harassment  And with the beautiful architecture, yummy restaurants, it's perfect. Head over to Trastevere for a slightly more homely feel, but even the tourist areas are equi-charming at dusk.

Of course there is so much to do in Rome, and just as I fell for the city I had to leave but I would recommend it for any traveller. It has rekindled my love of Europe, just as Berlin did, and I am eager to return to Italy - and no longer just for the food.

There's No Place Like Rome.

Less than two weeks ago (and embarrassingly less than  two weeks after I'd arrived home from Berlin) I had been lamenting my lack of spontaneity and life that was (is) becoming full of Adult responsibilities. And, being a grown up, I decided that the only way to submit to all these woes and overcome them was to do what I do best: Travel. 

Cracking out my world map, debit card, and travel guide books, I decided on a lovely little city called Rome to be the stage for my performance of Running Away For A Few Days to Regain My Positivity and Happiness, and I couldn't have picked better. 5 days later, at 6.20am, I was on the plane to Rome and just three hours later I was checked into my airbnb accommodation and jetting off on the Metro into the city. 

Rome captured my heart in a way that I was not anticipating; the mix of old and crumbling with narrow, cobbled, coffee shop lined streets. Be it the sheer abundance of tourists, the passion of the Italian language, I could honestly go on, but I just fell in love. I headed straight into the centre to get my bearings and ended up walking from the Colloseum to the National Museum, to the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps...camera and map in hand I blindly walked around for 5 hours before returning back to the B&B with pizza (of course, and only €6!) and uttering a quick, 'ciao' to a cute Italian boy whilst dripping pizza topping down my chin in the apartment hallway.

Well, I'd travelled 917 miles from home but that doesn't mean I suddenly need to be all sophisticated, does it?

Market in Forno Campo de' Fiori which is perfect for not only fresh fruits and cheeses, but for an authentic Italian experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Rome and this can be attributed to mainly the food (see my next two posts!), but also to the history - and the preservation of this - and the Romans themselves (the modern, but the older too I suppose). The Italians are in the running, competing against the Texans indefinitely, for being the most welcoming and kindest people I've encountered on my travels. While my Italian is broken, and the English I encountered was fractured too, we all got along just fine. I loved Rome and despite what I was told pre-leaving, I found it cheaper than other places I have travelled to this year. For either a city break as a lone traveller or perhaps a romantic weekend away, Rome really does suit it all. 

Exciting News!

Hello, just a quick post to say that I have been published for the first time as a Guest Blogger on mydestination.com - a post I wrote about Copenhagen, which you can find here! Please have a read and maybe leave me some cheeky feedback if you fancy. I've got a second article coming out on the 27th so keep your eyes peeled on my little Author's Page. I'm so excited to be on this website, it's hopefully a way of bringing more traffic and lovely people to my blog!

My name on the front page! I'm rewarding myself with trashy tele and junk food. Yep.

I have two pieces of exciting news as a surprise...I am going to Rome next week, quite last minute and for two nights by myself. There is little more to say about it than that, I am very excited and it's a big surprise. I woke up this week, cracked on with job applications, and decided that it really was Now Or Never, so bonjourno Roma! And watch this space for more posting, eep!

Post-Travelling Blues: A Survival Guide.

So I am officially back home, in my little crevice of Essex, blogging from the comfort of my own bed. Coming home is often the best but, true to form, the hardest part of travelling. I love my home. I am a total homebird. But the thrills and constant adrenaline of travelling and falling in love with a new place and culture is so exciting - and, now that I have discovered that travelling is My Thing, home is tiny bit... anticlimactic.

After 8 months on my feet (with the exception of the odd couple of weeks here and there enjoying home) I am happy to be in my own bed and with my family. A few of my friends are home from university or their own travels and so I am keeping myself busy, but the nagging I Will Be Here For Five Months feeling is ever prevalent.

I know I'm not alone in this feeling, so I thought I'd give this post a 'How To Do With Coming Home After A Long-Ish Time' theme for all your equi-keen travellers out there with my four tips on how to not go crazy. Unless you keep travelling forever of course. (In which case, I am very, very jealous.)

1) Sleep. Duh.

I love my bed. I may be having a love affair with my bed; it's the person/inanimate object I spend the most time with, and truth be told I am currently typing this from my bed. But I am a firm believer that, especially as a cliched teen, your bed is your best friend, and coming home to your own bed after so long sleeping in hotel rooms, apartments you don't know, etc etc, there is no better feeling than sleeping in your own haven. 

Take one or two days to sleep. Put on The Smiths, Lucy Rose, and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon or whatever takes your fancy and just enjoy Being. You owe yourself a rest, a wind down.

2) Remember Why Your Home is Fabulous

Sunset on the edge of town. Cliched, existential, and absolutely flawless.

I have spent a few days here and there over my coming home period to just remind myself why I love this corner of Essex so much. I have walked through the village and gone to my favourite spots that I loved when I was younger; I took a cider and went and watched the sunset from the nature reserve just outside town, and I stopped rejecting where I was. I am learning to appreciate home as much as the next unknown city. I've been visiting my old haunts with friends, having drinks on the banks in Cambridge; indulging my inner Brit. Proudly.

3) Baking aka The Solution To All World Problems

Homemade jammy dodgers made on my first day back at home. I get stuff done.

For those who read my Tumblr, followed my old lifestyle blogspot, or even remotely know me in real life, will know just how obsessive I am about my cooking and baking. And while I have recently joined the gym (another tip on how to survive home, join a club, class, or local gym to give you structure!) I spend my two days off a week baking and cooking. Jammy dodgers, flowerpot cucpakes, chelsea buns, pithivier...you name it, I have/am planning to make it.

Of course this can be replaced with something just as productive but this is my number one tip for coping with coming home. Equi-yummy as a slice of cake in Berlin...

4) And Finally: Plan For The Next Trip.

Okay so maybe this isn't the best survival tip, but if you're as restless and wanderlust-ing as me, then this is the only way to really enjoy home. To know that you have another destination on the horizon, well, there is no nicer feeling (for me at least). Yesterday I booked a short break in just over a month to Barcelona and a surprise trip - which you will have to stay tuned for... - may be just around the corner.

Home is my favourite place and really is where my heart is, but coming home is the hardest. Maybe it's a Gap Year thing. Maybe it's because I'm in the midst of Responsible Things (driving, job applying, things that show c-c-c-c-commitment), but either way, the next adventure is only a click of a button away. You are never too far from adventure, home-based or otherwise. And that, for me, is the ultimate comfort.

They See Me Rollin'.

Is this a sponsored post? I suppose not. I suppose it counts as a 'themed' post, which, due to my scattered brain and homecoming combined, I am writing nearly two weeks after my parent's visit in Berlin. In order for this post - the theme of which is accessibility - to make a more substantial amount of sense, a wee bit of context is needed. When at home, I am a young carer for my Dad who has Multiple Sclerosis - a condition affecting the Central Nervous System mainly, and which translates into simple terms as our house being marginally accessible and Dad using an electric 'Travel Scoot' as we continue galavanting the world as a family.

Together, we have travelled to New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Switzerland (just to name a few) and while we have encountered problems with accessibility, but largely have been impressed with the efficiency and availability of ramps and help on hand.  

The current scooter he uses is the lightweight 'Travel Scoot' which is been perfect (if you ignore the reverse gear, or rather, lack thereof). It fits perfectly inside even my tiny blue VW Polo, and can easily be lifted by one person. The battery life is substantial and really is perfect for  travelling. The link to the website can be found here.

Berlin is famous for its public transport, and having lived there for 3 weeks, I can testify that the S and U Bahns really are fantastic but it's only through the eyes of a family in need of accessibility, do you start to question the lifts, ramps, and aid that could make or break a short weekend trip. 

Well. I am happy to report that I am very happy with Berlin's access. While my parents experienced trouble with one or two broken lifts at Zoologischer Garten and a lack of lift at Eberswalder Strasse, I think that on the whole they were impressed. Lifts are present at most stations, and to make your choice easier hotels can provide maps that explicitly list where the lifts are situated and at which station. Coming from London, finding more than 5 lifts on the map was a shock. The BVG (the Berlin equivalent of TFL) also have an interactive map online that claims to show the most recent lifts and ramps, and their location. This can be found here.

FYI: Brandenburg Tor is a tricky station to navigate so make sure you take the right lift to the right platform. We ended up on a platform that was not the one we wanted - cue lots of map folding and unfolding. And arguing. Ah family holidays.

As a family, we also used the Tram and bus - both of which were also accessible. The drivers are all transport we've encountered have been more than happy to help. My main tip for accesibility in Berlin is be patient, and stand at the front of the train. Due to the speed and manually driven trains, the driver has a responsibility to halt the train and aid with a ramp. And I am eager to say, that most did so with a smile and a 'good day'.

The Travel Scoot has already been put through its paces in the Mountains of Switzerland last year when my parents travelled to the Lauterbrunnen Valley to celebrate my leave for America, and we, once again, got our money's worth in Berlin. For Sure. 

My parent's visit was a wonderful way to see Berlin through their eyes, but also through the eyes of accessibility. And I have to say, that I was very impressed, and can recommend it thoroughly (with the right amount of research for accessible hotels of course - we can recommend the SANA in Charlottenberg) for families who have similar needs.

Okay, just the one cheesy family shot.

Never Ein Schlechter Sonntag in Berlin Part II.

The main highlight of a Sunday in Berlin is, undeniably, undisputably, the fleamarkets (Flohmarkts) in both Mauerpark and the lesser known New Koln Flohmarkt in Kreuzberg - both of which I have now explored. Grab a cup of home-brewed Strawberry wine and battle through the crowds at both and be prepared to haggle for anything, be it doorknobs, plants, vintage blouses, records; the list is endless.

It's a beautiful way to get to know both the locals and a new area, and Mum and I wandered into the most colour corners of Kreuzberg before settling down for a cheesecake and coffee. And before you ask, yes, this day was mostly surrounded by eating. The fleamarkets are a brilliant way of seeing a new side of Berlin as this city never fails to surprise me! Just a few minute's walk from various U Bahn stations, they are normally packed, so be prepared to push.

And finally, if you're not too keen on perhaps crowds or the busier spots of the city, then head to Treptow Park where the Russian Memorial sits, perfectly undisturbed, in the leafy suburbs of east Berlin. Hop on the U Bahn and change, without ease, at Ost Kreuz and the journey will soon take off by itself.

In Treptow Park - hidden, but worth the hide-and-seek.

While the park is accessible only by the S41/42 S Bahns which, due to hefty line work currently, proved a bit of a pain, the sight of families, friends, and what felt like the entire population of Berlin, lounging in the park amongst ping-pong tables, boats, and the tiniest of ice cream stands, it was all well worth the trip. Bring your beer, bring your picnic blankets and bring your favourite book and veg out here for the evening.

With the nights growing longer, you won't be alone in staying here 'til the sun finally sets. Especially with the memorial, and the sight-seeing of east Berlin that the train there entails, this is one tourist trap that traps you not. Sundays may be sparse in shops and sights, perhaps, but there is so much to do. Don your walking shoes and head out, with or without a map; there's a whole city to be discovered.

Evening on the riverbank, perfect.

Never Ein Schlechter Sonntag in Berlin Part I.

On the Sunday I arrived, I learnt the hard way that Berlin shuts down on a Sunday. The shops and supermarkets are largely shut, and while public transport runs infinitely, it is more dispersed and a half hour wait may suffice between S Bahn trains. But, while on just a short weekend break, my parents still needed entertaining on a Sunday - you don't go on a weekend break expecting just one functioning day now, do you?

This Sunday saw two things: the unfaltering sunshine (horray for Springtime in all its late-arrival-glory!) and the Bahrain Grand Prix, and it's safe to say that both had us, as a family, preoccuppied. Using my Berlin expertise, as mentioned in my previous post(s), I crafted the Perfect Sunday for us to undertake and with my guide, you too can have a fabulous spring Sunday and on a minimal budget.

We began with breakfast in a well kept secret in Charlottenberg, in the south-west of the city, in the ‘Literaturehaus’. Settled nicely into the terraces of the town, this garden-come-restuarant provides the perfect brunch for a reasonable price.

Champagne, rye bread (flashbacks to Copenhagen), eggs scrambled/fried/poached, carrot juice, you name it you can order it. The staff were incredibly lovely and the clientele suitably sophisticated – though I’m under the impression that this may have been due to the Sunday Times recommendation...It was so, so yummy down to the locally sourced honey and jam. Mm, take me back.

Gals on tour.

Though the photo doesn't do it justice, the cafe also has a conservatory that seats up to 20 people on seperate tables, and a cafe indoors. While the interior is lacking, the food is exquisite, but be prepared to form an orderly British line at the door as it's a popular post-night-out hang out for the classier on the weekends.

With us wholly fed and watered, I suggested sneaking to the tourist spots as Sunday is ‘change over’ day in the city when the tourists are merely replaced with new ones, but this leaves the monuments more empty than on a weekday.

Correct me if I’m wrong, only both Brandenburg Tor and the Holocaust Memorial were without queue. After my parents graced the Holocaust museum, and I sought shelter with Charles Dickens in a nearby cafe, we had our token Happy Family On Holiday snap by the Tor and whisked Dad back to the hotel for the Grand Prix. (Spoilers, Vettel won!)

Family snap a la top tourist spot.

As I said - suitably deserted.

So that's your morning sorted...but what about lunch? Stay tuned for part II, coming swiftly!

Through The Keen Eyes of a Tourist.

Amongst the over-eating and German-improving, I have fallen in love with Berlin and am sad to be leaving it with a feeling that I haven't even scratched the surface of the history it has to offer. While I have been living here as a citizen I have been doing the mundane things of learning/U Bahn commuting/S Bahn commuting/food shopping/eating/shopping lots, but those things wouldn't make for an interesting post, so instead I thought I'd focus on a small Tourismu Guide for Berlin.

It's a city of the utmost culture and history, varying from record shops to fleamarkets to museums to churches to ruins to castles; you name it and Berlin will have it. As a tourist, it really is a haven. Here lies an abundance of not only cheap cafes, but cheap hostels, cheap bars, and cheap(ish) tourist attractions. With my Lonely Planet Pocket Guide in hand and citymaps2go app in the other, I have been trying to wade my way through the various museums of Museum Island and the lesser known art galleries.

My parents surprised me this weekend in Berlin as they moved in (not with me, in a gorgeous hotel in the KuDam area) for a few days, and I made the most of my expertise and showed them around the main tourist hotspots (some of which you can read about in my last post) including*:

*I have provided links to each of the websites for the museums so you can read a bit more about them as my information is bound to be a bit sparse.

The DDR Museum

Located next to the Berliner Dom, parallel to the Spree River, which costs a mere €6 entry fee. It's been heralded as the most interactive museum in Berlin, which makes it great for kids and school groups. This, unfortunately, means that peak times must be avoided as it's a small space with lots to do and learn about so make sure you go early in the day and preferably on a weekday!

 Here you can learn all about the DDR rule over Ost Berlin and I loved it, and not just because I could smell DDR vodka and hold DDR pears (see above).

The East Side Gallery

This piece-of-history-turned-art-gallery is a must see in Berlin. Free of charge and completely outdoors, I can recommend combining this with a walking tour of Kreuzberg (the area of Berlin which sits opposite the gallery on the other side of the river) after lunch.

Kreuzberg has an abundance of cafes and if the sun is shining then the riverbanks are full of sunbathing Berliners. The gallery is really striking and is the largest remaining piece of the Wall left in the city - if you're cheeky then you can maybe etch your name into the wall like all the other tourists...I used the Kotti Tor U Bahn but there are closer stations too. See the link above for proper details! 

Dad and I. Happier post-strudel-and-beer.

A Boat Trip!

Okay, you caught me, after 30 blog posts and several trips, I can now admit that I am a massive tourist. Camera in hand with a map and a coffee, I have taken the world by storm. One tourist trap at a time, and as a tourist, I am a sucker for a good boat trip.

At only €11 per person, and beer and pastries served on board, this boat tour along the Spree was a great way to spend the afternoon on Saturday. As a new tourist, this trip will help you get your bearings - boats depart every half hour from various platforms both outside the DDR Museum and Hauptbahnhof (which is accessible for wheelchairs).

Even More Wall

Again, free of charge and perfect for a summer day - the Berlin Wall Memorial in the north of the city provides a great amount of history about the wall and is very educational. Frequented by fewer tourists, it begins at the Nordbahnhof station that played an important part in the wall's existence. Lacking in cafes but audio guides and features in abundance.

KW Institute for Contemporary Art

For €6, the art in this small gallery is unmissable. I had to give it a mention as not only is the gallery itself brilliant (I saw another Grayson Perry tapestry and swooned. Again.) it is located in a fantastic part of the city where every other 'shop' is a gallery in disguise, with all of them being free. Stop by the 'Milch Hutte' for cheesecake and chai lattes galore before heading off on your art afternoon - you shan't be disappointed.

Perganom Museum

And finally, if you're pushed for time but aching for some Real Culture, than the Perganom Museum is the only museum on Museum Island that I would visit. Admittedly I am not one for architecture or ancient history (gulp, I know how awful that sounds..) but this was well worth the trip. It sits at the northern tip of the island and is famous for the Perganom Altar which stands in the middle of the museum.

For us, there was renovation being undertaken, but the new exhibition is due to open in June. This may be more for the parents than for the kids, but I really enjoyed learning about just how this museum came to be, and the permanent Islamic art exhibition on the 3rd floor isn't to be missed.

And if, like me, your attention span is waning but you are still keen to attempt to learn, the audio guides (as in the other museums of Museum Island) are totally free. Ignore how ridiculous you may look and grab your headphones - you won't regret it.

Dive in, and, unlike London, have your wallet handy. The museums are wonderful but if you're a budding budgeter then pick wisely - museum 3 day passes start from €19 and cover most of the main museums on the Island. Enjoy!