A Week in the Spanish Sun

Vacation time has finally arrived in Belgium. I took my first week of holidays in Spain, relaxing with my ex-boyfriend. Our original plan was to visit the Alhambra in Granada, Barcelona and Istanbul but we decided to leave out the final destination and spend some more time chilling out in a small coastal village near Granada called Nerja.

The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex, constructed as a fortress in 889 and later converted inro a royal palace in 1333. It is well known for its series of symettrical tiles and detailed cornices.

Alhambra

Our penguin teddy we bring everywhere

Symetrrical Tiles

In Nerja, we spent our time playing in the killer waves in the sea and cycling to neighbouring towns during everyone else's siesta! We also went for a picnic at a secluded beach which was interrupted by some kind of hermit!

On the beach in Nerja

Dessert!!

In Barcelona we visited Gaudi's park, Sagrada Familia and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. And we finished it all off with some dancing in the Gay Pride Festival.

This was one of the best holidays I've ever had with a good balance of activities and lounging about in the sun. The company, however, was what made the holiday.

Adios,
Niamh x

Knocking around in Knokke

Today I went to Knokke in West Flanders with my friend to spend some time at the North Sea. I find increasingly in a big city, the need to escape from the claustrophobic feeling of life in an urban environment.

We enjoyed some traditional Belgian croquette with crevette in one of the many exclusive beach side cafes. And then spent 4 hours driving back in a traditional Belgian traffic jam! Seriously, these blockages seem to materialise from nowhere and stretch for miles. Nevertheless it was a great, relaxing day.

The Belgian countryside is actually very similar to Ireland with quite a bit of green. The main difference is that it is incredibly flat. The Irish landscape is often compared to a patchwork quilt with its undulating hills. The Belgian countryside has the same strips of various green hues but in contrast it looks more like a jigsaw. The study of topography definitely did not originate in Belgium!

A bientot,
Niamh

Eastern Living in Bulgaria

This week I went to Sophia in Bulgaria on a business trip. I had never been in Eastern Europe before and can honestly say that I have never had my luggage searched so many times before I was allowed to enter a country!

In my brief time in the country I had the oppurtunity see some traditional dancing and performers traversing hot coals. I also got to taste a few delectable slices of tutmanik (cheese bread). Overall it seemed to be a very different culture from the rest of Europe, with the towering concrete apartment blocks only present in post-soviet states and a definite impression of poverty.

I didn't take many pictures but I did remember in the hotel to take a picture of the pillow options supplied- you could contact reception to order either soft or hard cushions. The Goldilocks service!!

A bientot,
Niamh

Bibliotheca Wittockiana

This morning I went to a small museum in Woluwe dedicated to the Art of binding books.The Bibliotheca Wittockiana houses one of the most beautiful and prestigious binding collections in the world. Created by a passionate booklover, it is the only institution of its kind in Belgium and abroad. I was lucky enough to visit on a day when they were exhibiting work from a local book binding competition. Students in Brussels are encouraged to bind their thesis in paper, rather than more expensive leather or plastic, as a result a competition was organised to produce intricate yet sturdy creations to cover their manuscripts. Wonderful.

Rather oddly, the musem also has a collection of precious baby rattles donated by the museum owner.

Books

More Books

Slogans in print

Book binding implements

A bientot,
Niamh

Barbeque in Woluwe

Yesterday evening I went to a barbeque hosted by my friend in the quiet suburb of Woluwe. It was a fun night with a group of eight, where not one nationality was represented twice! As a result the night concluded in us watching the traditional folk dance of each region. They were all surprisingly similar.. with the exception of Germany who had some added butt slapping thrown in!

For the festivities I made a lovely baked feta and tomato dish with strawberry and cream biscuits for dessert. Mmmm...

Pretty Flowers

Tomato and Warm Feta from Smitten Kitchen

Brochette and fish on the grill

Veggie sausages

A bientot,
Niamh

Sicily

This week I jetted off to Sicily for a work event in a highly agreeable setting. After a week of gorging on the islands' main culinary delights of icecream and fish (served during seperate courses, bien sur) and basking in the sun, I can definitely recommend Sicily as one of my favourite destinations! See some photos from my trip below.

Coast Line

The Bluest Blue Ocean

Castle Milazzo

Infinity Pool at the Hotel

A bientot,
Niamh