Join me as I travel the world and give regular insights into what it is really like being a solo backpacker and tips to help you plan your own adventures
I woke up nice and early feeling pretty refreshed. My breakfast in the teepee was mostly German bread with ham, cheese and coffee. Julia and I were both ready quickly and weren't certain if we had forgotten something important. While we were packing, one of the huge icebergs in the bay split in half pretty... Continue Reading →
I'm super excited to blog about this next adventure - it's a week-long 100km kayaking and hiking expedition in the fjords of Southern Greenland! I booked this Much Better Adventures trip after hearing some glowing reviews of the company. My first view of the enormous Greenland Ice Sheet On the flight to Greenland I caught... Continue Reading →
I had an absolutely lovely day out on horseback with my friend Regan at a gorgeous stable called Cotswolds Riding at Jill Carenza Equestrian near the village of Stanton at the northern end of the Cotswolds. The scenery was spectacular, and we hacked through some lovely moorland and up to some gorgeous views across rolling... Continue Reading →
When I heard that Aerospace Bristol would be holding a Family Space Day on Monday 25th October, with Helen Sharman, the UK's first astronaut, giving a talk under the wings of concorde, I immediately booked a ticket. It was clearly a day aimed at kids and was at the beginning of half term, so any... Continue Reading →
I've decided to use my training and trek across the Cairngorms to raise money for The Ocean Cleanup. The non-profit has demonstrated that it has a REALLY compelling solution to remove an enormous chunk of the plastic pollution in the ocean, and I'm really passionate about supporting them. Please consider donating to this great cause... Continue Reading →
So. Home safe in England, but still buzzing from my first trip out of the UK in 2 years, I started to get itchy feet. I reached out to one of the most adventurous people I know, Katie Comer, tour guide for Dragoman overland adventures all over the world, who led my journey through Uzbekistan... Continue Reading →
The journey to Hamburg went off without a hitch, though it was genuinely so strange to be in an airport again after so long. I had bought myself some kids mental maths workbooks to run through and so I spent some time in the airport and on the plane doing some simple maths problems. Upon... Continue Reading →
In late August I received an invitation to a European Space Agency Astronaut selection day in Hamburg! I was so excited to be able to take part in the next round! Due to covid restrictions, the duration for this selection stage has been hugely elongated and I was offered one of 5 test days within... Continue Reading →
I've got some exciting news! I submitted an application to become an Astronaut with the European Space Agency and I made it through the initial application sift! Back in around February, the official timeline was released for the European Space Agency to once again invite applications from across Europe for 6 people to join the... Continue Reading →
Join me on this exciting new adventure as I take you along with me in my application to become an astronaut with the European Space Agency!! In preparation, and to make sure I put some real effort into training, I also signed up to take part in a CRAZY expedition across the Cairngorms in the... Continue Reading →
I had a rubbish first couple of hours in Kyiv, bumping into some of the most unfriendly people I've ever met whilst travelling. But I'm certain that it will get better. I arrived at the central train station and struggled to find signs for the metro. When I eventually found it after asking for directions,... Continue Reading →
The driving in Belarus has a level of passive-aggressiveness that I have only ever witnessed before in Russia. The traffic is kept flowing by the mega 6-lane highways around Minsk, and drivers on these roads can expect to be tailgated at crazy distances and undertaken and overtaken at the same time no matter what speed... Continue Reading →
Now this isn't the first time I have been to an ex-Soviet place, but it's the first time I've blogged about somewhere that is still as Soviet influenced. So it is interesting for me to wonder. People here don't seem to rush or dawdle, I'm usually walking much faster or slower. I wonder if I'll... Continue Reading →
Minsk is astoundingly beautiful at first sight. Maybe that's why they only gave me an 8-day visa. The night bus was totally lame and I didn't really sleep so I have arrived in Minsk so tired I could fall asleep standing up. The hostel reception doesn't open until 10am so when my bus arrived at... Continue Reading →
I took the 5pm Ecolines service from Tallinn bus station (Bussijaam) to Riga bus station. Tickets are easily bookable online and mine cost €18.20, though they sometimes discount tickets right down to €5. The bus ride was fine. The driver was an absolute Grade A nutcase though, trying to overtake absolutely everything! I wouldn't recommend... Continue Reading →
This week has been one of the best of my trip. Estonian countryside is gorgeous, particularly the lakes area.Day OnePicking up the car was easy; I decided to get a taxi using the Estonian start-up rival to Uber, Taxify and it was spot on.I saw some mad driving as I was leaving Tallinn, just insane... Continue Reading →
I've loved so many places that I've travelled to so far but Estonia stunned me. Right place at the right time I think, as it has been a blast since I arrived.Sunday 8 JulyMy flight landed later than scheduled but it was easy enough to catch the bus to Freedom Square at the edge of... Continue Reading →
I had the best time in The Big Easy! This is the most charismatic and friendly place and I would love to go back. It was a whistle-stop tour and I feel like I hit most of the major must-do things! I arrived late at the airport and James drove from his home in Florida... Continue Reading →
I had heard mixed reviews about the trip to the northernmost tip of south America, generally either five stars like at this blog or one star*, with few in between. So it was with a slight sense of defiance that our group of seven intrepid explorers set out on this journey to the end of the... Continue Reading →
After such a phenomenal time diving in the Galapagos, I genuinely felt a huge amount of trepidation ahead of my next dive - what if diving just wasn't the same now?! Fears were unwarranted - the diving here is great! I went with Oceano Scuba, a German-owned 5-star PADI dive centre that has been running... Continue Reading →
I had heard such good things about Tayrona National Park that it was great to be able to explore it with a good group, so soon after I arrived at the Caribbean Coast. A short bus ride from Santa Marta lies Tayrona National Park, a tropical paradise where the jungle runs right down to meet... Continue Reading →
I can certainly understand why so many people end up staying here indefinitely, it's an intriguing place. I wonder if I will end up joining them. I've decided to write this after my first day in the city to see how it compares to my thoughts after more exploring. El Poblado One of the main... Continue Reading →
The bus arrived into Bogotá central station at 1:30am, much earlier than we expected. The other girls managed to get a reservation at a hostel in La Candelaria district which is the ideal place to stay and I managed to get a bed at an awesome hostel called Masaya. Dorm beds are $32,000COP per night... Continue Reading →
The next stop on my adventure is Salento, in the heart of Colombia's coffee region. After my final salsa lesson with Alex I caught the bus from Cali to Armenia (3hours, $22.000COP) and arrived at a very futuristic looking bus terminal where I found it easier than expected to locate the bus to Salento (1hour20,... Continue Reading →
Everyone I have met that has been to Colombia has loved it, without exception, and I have been so excited deep-down ever since I left the UK to reach this place. And now I'm here!! I touched down in Cali Airport after a terrible hungover journey and shared a taxi into the old part of... Continue Reading →
Today, 15th December, I caught the bus from Mendoza to a national park and hiked to Aconcagua base camp and back. It was a really long day but it was fantastic! I decided to catch the 10:15 bus (more details about the practicalities later) and it takes you almost all the way back to the... Continue Reading →
Mendoza is the first sizable city you reach in Argentina and from here you can look back to the Andes and see the looming giant, Aconcagua, on the horizon. I plan to stay for about 4 days to enjoy the Argentinian steak, wine and some hiking. My hostel, Punto Urbano, is fairly central, the staff... Continue Reading →
We passed through the Christ the Redeemer tunnel deep in the Andes and crossed the land border into Argentina, with cars and buses beeping their horns as they passed the flags. This cool metallic pod houses immigration! It was such a nice shelter from the scorching sun. The border guards were really friendly and we... Continue Reading →
After nearly two weeks in Chile (Santiago, Rapa Nui and Valparaiso) I'm heading over the Andes today in search of the perfect steak and wine. I do love a good mountain too. The bus is 8 hours and cost just under $50USD. The best two sites to book buses are Recorrido and Busbud, where you... Continue Reading →
Valparaiso, or Valpo, is a chilled out Mecca for street art, I will fondly remember it for the epic art and also it's epic steps!! It's an important port city for Chile and is home to the Navy, but the best of the city can be found on its steep hilly streets. For the weary,... Continue Reading →
