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Summer in Florence: top 7 tips
I’ve recently shared my top tips for Rome, and then for Verona. Today, I’m sharing my top tips for another one of my favorite Italian cities and the capital of Tuscany: Florence. I’ve often thought that Firenze, as the Italians call it, embodies the concept of la dolce vita. I’ve been to Florence several times, and every time I enjoyed the city a little bit more. I remember strolling around the beautiful city center trying to plan my meal times, so that I could dine at as many restaurants as possible, and have as much gelato as possible between or after my meals (quite a task!). Although it’s been a…
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Summer in Verona: top 7 tips
Traveling, summer, pasta, pizza, coffee, gelato… These are a few of my favorite things in life. So, Italy is, understandably, one of my favorite travel destinations. I recently visited Rome for the third time. Last summer, however, I visited Verona for the first time. Located in northeastern Italy, Verona is worldwide famous for being the setting of William’s Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Here are my top 7 tips for Verona: 1. The Opera Festival The Opera Festival was undoubtedly the highlight of my visit. It takes place in the Arena di Verona, an open-air Roman amphitheater located in the heart of the city. This summer, it runs…
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Summer in Rome: top 7 tips
It’s 34 degrees Celsius, the sun is shining, and people (including myself) are walking around with a gelato in hand. Is this a scene from London or Rome? Both! Let me explain… The 29th of June was the hottest day of the year (up till then) in the former; it was also when the Gelato Festival came to town. A week later, I visited the latter, where the temperature routinely rises to (and above) the mid-thirties during the summer. And, of course, gelato is there all year long. This week, however, I am going to focus on the Eternal City, as Rome is also known as. If…
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Summer in London: top 20 tips by a local
London is my favorite city in the world, and I am glad that I can call it home for the last couple of years. Summer is my favorite season and time of the year, so summer in London is simply a dream combination (although, to be absolutely honest, I would probably put summer on the Greek islands first). A few weeks ago, Glastonbury Festival took place, but sadly I hadn’t been able to secure the much-desired ticket and see Kylie, Chris and Carrie live (it would’ve been my second time for all of them). But every cloud has a silver lining, and I was lucky to attend two extraordinary…
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Ealing Summer Festivals & 12 tips by a local
Spread over 6 events, Ealing Summer Festivals take place this month. The programme includes Greenford Carnival (which took place on the 7th of July), Ealing Beer Festival (taking place between the 10th and the 13th of July), Acton Carnival (due on the 13th of July), Ealing Comedy Festival (18th-19th and 24th-26th July), Ealing Blues Festival (20th-21st July), and Ealing Jazz Festival (27th-28th July). The latter is one I would have been looking most forward to, had I not been invited to a friend’s wedding that weekend. The line-up of the latter includes the famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and the Stefanos Tsourelis Jazz Quartet (daily tickets cost £5). All 4 festivals take…
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Chiswick: Top 12 tips by an (almost) local
Lovebox and Citadel Festivals are coming back to Gunnersbury Park this month. It was a year ago when both festivals relocated from Victoria Park in the East End of London to the lesser-known Gunnersbury Park in West London. Since Gunnersbury Park is located in the London Borough of Hounslow between Acton, Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing, the relocation of the festivals helped put these districts on the map. As a local to this part of the capital (I live in Brentford, in the London Borough of Hounslow), I am very familiar with Chiswick and Ealing, and this week I will be sharing my top tips for the former (my top…
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Beyond hygge: The Atlas of Happiness
Stumbling across The Atlas of Happiness: the global secrets of how to be happy Helen Russell’s latest book, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. On the one hand, I have always been fascinated by maps, geography and traveling. On the other, as a Psychiatrist, I help people in their pursuit of their happiness, and guide them through the long and winding road of life, usually at times when they’re the least happy. I first came across Russell a couple of years ago during one of my trips to Copenhagen. At that time, according to the United Nations World Happiness Report, Denmark was the happiest country in the…
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9+1 Greek islands to visit this summer
It’s been a year since the article ‘10 great Greek islands: readers’ travel tips’ was published in the Guardian. My tip ‘Hiking in Amorgos, Cyclades’ was not only included but it was also the winning tip. Since then, I have launched the Traveling Psychiatrist, a travel and wellbeing blog, where I publish weekly travel tips on my happy places (Greek islands, Norway, and London) and wellbeing tips based on my clinical experience and inspired by the books I read. An amateur cook and baker, sometimes, I’ve gone as far as to also share healthy recipes inspired by my travels, such as the orange pie (portokalopita) from Amorgos. …
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Traveling solo and jazz festivals in Norway
Last summer, I planned a trip to Norway with a few friends of mine, my so-called ‘travel buddies’. I planned the itinerary to include Oslo, Bergen and Ålesund. Disappointed I realized we did not have enough days to visit Trondheim too. Upon my return, I found out there was a direct flight from London to Trondheim. And then, I read about the jazz festivals taking place all over Norway from late spring till the end of summer. Trondheim Jazz Festival, which takes place in May, was just the excuse I needed. Decision made. But this time I went without my travel buddies. It was my first time traveling solo from…
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Trondheim: Alex’s Top 7 Tips
My love affair with Norway and its music dates back to my early childhood. I must’ve been about six when I became interested in maps, geography, and the countries of the world. Soon afterward, my aunt traveled to Norway (admittedly without me). Trondheim was one of the places she visited. Amongst the presents she brought back was a jigsaw puzzle of a map of the Nordic countries. I had to wait for a few years until I finally visited four of these five countries, and the one I liked the most was – you guessed right: Norway. I remember I vouched to return and stay (not for long, but…