Paris, here we come!

On Monday I wrote about my top 5 big cities that I want to visit and today Kjell Steinar and I booked us a trip to Paris. What could be more romantic?

We are spending a long weekend there, from Thursday to Sunday, and it is the last weekend in January so there are still a couple of months but I can wait. Finally I get to see this amazing city!
We are taking the train from London St. Pancras to Paris Nord where our hotel is just around the corner. That is according to the map anyway.

So yes, we are going on a romantic getaway soon and I know it is going to be amazing!

Sea World San Diego

As we were only staying in San Diego for a few days we all thought it was important to see the one thing that San Diego is famous for; Sea World. There are of course more to San Diego than Sea World, but you do not visit this city without going there, because it truly was spectacular.

 Sea World really isn’t far from central San Diego, but since we had a car we drove there. It did not take longer than 15 minutes. I was very excited when we got there because I had heard wonderful things about the famous killer whale Shamu.  

 In February this year one of the killer whales fatally dragged and thrashed a trainer, raising questions about ethics and the danger of keeping large ocean predators in captivity.  Sea World was closed for a while, but when we were there in July it had opened again. I am not going to hide that it was rather affecting to be there knowing what had happened a few months back, but everything seemed normal.

Looking away from the tragedy, I had a great time this day. Like many other big attractions (See LA) we ended up spending the whole day here. The only sad thing was that many of the shows were at the same time so you would have to choose which ones you wanted to go to the most. The first one we saw was the famous Shamu show, and oh my god, I thought it was amazing. The show is called Believe.

 A killer whale is not a very small animal, and what the trainers had trained them to do was truly fantastic. I can understand why the show is so popular and I am really glad I’ve seen it. I wanted a Shamu for my self, and my lovely boyfriend actually bought me one; a stuffed animal that is, and I love it!

Next to seeing the Shamu show we also saw the dolphin show and that one was fairly new. We were so lucky as to see the killer dolphins as well who was only there for a short period of time. They didn’t really look like dolphins but they were still amazing, like the rest of the show. It was very acrobatic with stunts from the people participating in it, and I kind of wish we got to see more of the dolphins.

 These were the two shows that we got to see, but there was much more to do there. You could walk around and look at the animals, and I became particularly fascinated with the penguins and the turtles. They also had a shark tank with many small sharks. You could also see sea lions, sea stars and beluga just to mention a few. There are also several gift shops and restaurants, and what we came to find was that the queue was way long on all of them when wanted to eat. I would recommend eating when there is a show as there is not a long queue then.

All in all I really liked Sea World and I would recommend it to anyone who’s going to San Diego to spend a day here. It is perfect for kids in all ages. 









All of the pictures are my own.

San Diego Ghost Tour

Old Towns Most Haunted

After some wonderful days in Los Angeles, the four drove to San Diego. I really liked this city so it was a shame that we were there for only a few days. But we did get to experience something spectacular, such as a Ghost Tour in Old Town San Diego.

 

In Old Town San Diego a man named Michael has a walking tour where he is showing people haunted places, such as the Whaley House. This is a house where he has seen ghosts and it is also here where he showed us a vortex.

I am actually quite scared when it comes to ghosts and the paranormal, but when Kjell Steinar and I found out that there was a ghost tour in San Diego we were both too curious not to go. So one night we showed up in Old Town, where the walking tour would start at 9pm. It was already dark outside and the atmosphere was scary from the beginning.

The tour is, as said, leaded by Michael who has been ghost haunting for ten years. He has been experiencing some paranormal activities in this area, and the tour was based on what he has experienced throughout these years.

I am not afraid to say that I believe in these things, so when he said that he had a ghost meter it scared me even more. Especially when Kjell Steinar was holding it and the lights were going crazy the minute he started holding it. What that meant was that he is easily responsive to this sort of activity, so I almost expected to find ghosts in our hotel room later. Thank god I didn’t.

As we were walking around Down Town and listening to Michael’s stories, it was very scary to actually hear and see the places he was talking about. Completely different than seeing it on TV. When he showed us pictures from ghosts it made everything even scarier. And when he showed us where he had seen ghosts we were hoping to see one as well, but of course we didn't. (Or should I say thank god to that as well?)

I actually really liked it, even though I was scared for quite some time after this. I can't say for sure if what we saw and felt had something to do with our mind playing tricks on us, but I actually believed everything. I would totally recommend doing this if you’re ever in San Diego, so just put on your brave face and experience something unique.

A woman’s right to travel – part three

Next to looking for adventure and the exotic, I am also a city girl. I love to explore and experience the cultural history of a city as there are so many beautiful sights in this world. Of course a big city means shopping, and as much as I love to use my credit card I also like to be able to actually see the city I’m visiting. Like part one and two of my dream holidays, I have made a top five list of big cities I want to visit. All of these have something significant and historical about them, and I would just love to see it. 

Rome

This is a city I have been dreaming of visiting for many years. I love Italy and this city has so much to offer. It is the capital of Italy and it has several spectacular and historical sights, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. These are sights I have been dreaming of and after doing lots of research about this city for years I can only imagine how beautiful and stunning it is to actually be there.

 Paris

I have actually been to this romantic city a few years ago, but I don’t really feel like I truly experienced it. We were living in Disney Land and only had one day in Paris, and from what I saw it was so beautiful. I would love to go back and walk down the streets with a coffee and a croissant while we’re on our way to see the beautiful wonder that is Notre Dame. I have wanted to do this since I saw the Disney film, and hopefully some day I will.

 

 Prague

I have heard so many wonderful stories about this city, so of course this is on my list. I have heard that the shopping is quite good and cheap, so I would definitely do some when I go. Also, the highlights of this city is said to truly be spectacular, and I would love to see the astronomical clock, Prague Castle and the Prague Zoo just to mention a few.

 

 St. Petersburg and Moscow

I have always been rather curious about Russia which is why I want to go and see how it really is like. The Winter Palace has always fascinated me and it looks so beautiful. I want to go to both of these cities, and if I ever end up going on the Trans-Siberian railway I am going to stay a few days in Moscow. The architecture in both of these cities looks truly impressive and I also have the impression that the culture is one of a kind as well.

 

 Athens

I have always found Greek mythology fairly interesting, and that is one of the reasons why I would like to go to this historical capital where its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. The architecture looks breathtaking and I cannot imagine how it would be to actually be there. The Acropolis has been on my list for quite some time, and if Kjell Steinar won’t go on a holiday here again I will find someone else to come with me. (Yes darling, I am jealous.) 

A woman’s right to travel – part two

In part one I wrote about my top five dream destinations when it came to exotic places, but of course my list goes on. I also like a bit of adventure and there are a few places that I would really much like to see before it is too late. So here is my top five list for adventure travelling.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is in Peru and it is a pre-Columbian 15^th century Inca site located 2.430 meters above sea level. It is often referred to as ‘The lost city of the Incas’ and one way to get to this amazing place is to walk the Inca trail. Over the years there have been several concerns over tourism, and I would very much like to see this amazing landmark before they decide that tourism no longer is allowed.

Nazca lines in Peru

The nazca lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca desert in Peru. The high, arid plateau stretches more than 80 kilometres, and I can only imagine what a beautiful sight it must be. There are several theories on how they were made as they are extremely old and made long before humans were capable of flying. Some say that they perhaps are a UFO landing strip. I believe that this is something you have to see for yourself to believe it and someday I am going to fly over them and see it.

Safari in Africa

A couple of years ago my friend Ida went on a safari in Africa with her school, and when she talked about the adventure it took my breath away. I have been googling about it and come to the conclusion that this is one adventure I wouldn’t want to miss. Driving around and seeing the animals in their natural habitat truly is something I want to do, and I wouldn’t say no to a bath in the Victoria falls either.

Outback Australia – Uluru National Park

I went to Australia this summer but we didn’t have time to do much ‘outbacking’ so I would really like to see what it is like outside the big cities. Uluru National Park is quite famous and this is the land of the Aboriginals. The nature looks spectacular and by looking at pictures I can understand why this is a popular tourist attraction. According to google there are several places to stay just outside the park, and it would be the perfect trip to take when you’re down under.

Trans-Siberian railway

This is again my lovely boyfriend who came up with this fantastic suggestion for a holiday. No wonder I find this man so amazing because this trip takes you on a journey like no other. This is the longest railway in the world and there are several different routes to take. The one I am mostly interested in is the one from Russia to China, and I believe that this is a journey like no other. You get to see so much and experience something new. I could go tomorrow, no question about that.

A woman’s right to chocolate

Like so many girls in this world I have a chocolate addiction. It is really not that fun, as when you’re craving this wonder nothing will help unless you get a piece of chocolate.

I try not to keep any chocolate in my flat as I know I will eat some all the time. Of course in the weekends it is perfectly allowed, but it is still dangerous. There are so many fabulous chocolates out there, but my favourite actually comes from my own country Norway. And it is called Melkesjokolade. I promise, you cannot find anything better than this.

In the USA, Hershey’s chocolate is very popular, but I cannot really understand why. It has a weird taste and I find that it is difficult to put words on how I feel towards it. It is just not proper chocolate. I apologise if someone who is reading this is a big fan of Hershey’s, but I promise that if you go to Norway and try Freia Melkesjokolade you will understand what I’m talking about.

I love living in London, but one of the more difficult aspects around this situation is the cravings of sweets that you can only find in Norway. Every time I’m home I buy a few chocolate bars that I bring back to London. I want them to last as long as possible, but it is so hard. So if anyone has any advice how to get less addicted to chocolate, I’m all yours.

Dark chocolate is supposed to be good for you and that is a great excuse to eat chocolate. But I’m afraid that excuse does not refer to all kinds of chocolate. Which really is too bad.

Kjell Steinar and I have just discovered a chocolate here in London that is really good. It’s the Galaxy Caramel and it truly is amazing. Of course it is not plain chocolate, but it has that little extra. In my opinion Galaxy is the best plain, or caramel, chocolate in London.

One of the reasons why I am writing this now is because I have a big craving for chocolate right now. But I am going to be strong and wait until the weekend.  After all, it starts tomorrow.

A woman’s right to travel – part one

One of my biggest passions is travel, and if it were up to me I could travel all day every day. But of course, I don’t have the money or the time to do that, but what I do have is a lot of dreams of where I would like to go. In fact, I have a whole list. I’m only 22 and I’m so scared that I won’t be able to see everything that I want to see in this world. Yes, I know it is silly but I can’t help it.

After my amazing holiday this summer I have become more eager than ever to see the world. I have therefore made a top 5 list of where I want to go. This is part one – the exotic places of my dreams. 

Cruise in the Caribbean – Freedom of the Seas

I never really thought about going on a cruise until Kjell Steinar did earlier this year. When I saw the pictures from his trip I could not believe how amazing it looked. I have wanted to go to the Caribbean for a long time, and right now I cannot imagine a better way to see the amazing islands than on a cruise ship. Kjell Steinar, I cannot wait for us to go on that cruise together!  

Mustique Island

 

My friend Alicia showed me this website about this island and I completely fell in love. It looks like paradise, where no snake will come and take that away. This is a small private island in the West Indies, and it is one of a group of islands called the Grenadines. I cannot imagine a more romantic and beautiful island to spend your holidays.

Bora Bora

When I saw the film Couples retreat I was amazed over how beautiful the island they were on was. I simply had to Google it and came to find that they had shot the film in Bora Bora. It looks so beautiful and I can picture me and my friends on a holiday together just having fun in the sun. It looks perfect for spending the holidays with your friends and your family.

Maldives Island

 My mum talked about this place a few years back, and ever since then I have wanted to go. It looks so beautiful and peaceful and I imagine that if you go there you will have luxury all the way. I believe you can’t go wrong if you go to the Maldives.

Thailand

 

I know quite a few people who have been to Thailand and everyone has only good things to say about this place. So I figure it is about time I can say that too, or at least at some point in my life. I would love to go barefoot on the beach and watching the sunset with my love. Someday I hope I can.