Gävle, located just a few hours north of Stockholm, is a city often overlooked by Swedes. It’s visited even less by international tourists, and while first impressions might make Gävle’s absence from Sweden’s list of ‘Must-See’ places unsurprising, this small …
Love in the Time of Coronavirus
With coronavirus currently decimating the travel industry, it’s a good time to write about my life as an international teacher instead. I don’t write frequently, because I can’t travel full-time like I’d hoped I would when I first started Runawaybrit. …
Why I Love Working in Europe (And Never Want to Leave)
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on why I love living in Europe out of all the places I could go. And, yes: publishing this post as Britain perches precariously on the brink of Brexit is ironic. Having worked in Vietnam, India, …
Europe Travel: Eight Lakes in Six Days
“What do you want to see on our trip around Europe?” I asked my friend.
“Mountains, lakes, or beaches” came the reply.
Lakes, it is then.
Because Europe is so compact, one of the best things about travelling around the …
5 Reasons to Ride a Segway around Prague
Hands up if you think that Segway tours are a bit lame.
I’ll admit that I have always been judgemental of people who take Segway tours, so when my friend suggested that we take one around Prague I was apprehensive …
Summer’s Coming, and I’m Going to Europe!
In June, heavy monsoon rains will saturate the streets of Mumbai, so I am doing what most other foreign teachers here do—leaving India for the summer. And what better place to go than Europe? In contrast to India, Europe is …
Around the World in 26 Letters: My Travel Alphabet
I’ve been travelling the world, on-and-off, for almost 16 years—ever since an adventurous 4 week train journey took me through Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic into Romania back in the days when they each had separate currencies. …
7 Great Ways To Spend Summer in Stockholm
Stockholm is a summer city; its leafy parks, rocky beaches, and swathes of Baltic water that swirl around the city’s 14 islands all seem to have been designed for long summer days where the sky barely darkens.
Emerging from a …
Spending 14 Hours With A Tour Guide Who Hated Me
[mks_boxquote align=”left” width=”150″ arrow=”0″]“We were only two hours into a fourteen-hour trip. It would be a long day if we couldn’t get on with the tour guide”[/mks_boxquote]Looking through the windows on the left-hand side of the bus, we …
What to Pack for Iceland in Winter
There is a common saying amongst Icelanders that goes like this: ‘If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, wait 5 minutes’. The point is this: Iceland’s climate is changeable, and this makes it difficult to pack for. Expect to …
My 5 Travel Highlights of 2013
At the beginning of 2013 I had no travel plans. I had just moved to an expensive apartment in Stockholm and expected a light travel year similar to 2012. But, as is often the case for me, it turned out …
Jökulsárlón: Finding Icebergs on the Beach in Iceland
Incredibly, I had not heard of Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon, until a week before I left for Iceland. Of course, I knew that Iceland is full of beautiful scenery and that there is a very good reason that it is …
Taking a Dip in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon
Steam rising from the milky blue water of the Blue Lagoon is probably the most iconic image of Iceland for many people. Indeed, it was one of the things that I knew I simply must do while in the country.…
10 Foods To Try in Europe
Warning: This post will make you hungry!
I had not been travelling for long before I realised that my trip would become a culinary tour of Europe, devoted mainly to trying different, and amazing, new foods—even more so than experiencing …
Boating In The Rain on Lake Bled
In May I wrote a post outlining my intended travel plans for the summer. Stunning Lake Bled in Slovenia was to be the glittering pinnacle of my trip. It was the place that I was most looking forward to; …
Finally, a beach! Hostel Adria in Split
After our brief and not particularly enjoyable stay in Dubrovnik, we travelled to Split. Currently there is no train that connects Dubrovnik with Split, so less than 24 hours after arriving we found ourselves back in Dubrovnik bus station …
Finding Peace And A Warm Welcome in Mostar
Pension Isa, our guesthouse in Mostar, is located in a narrow alleyway just off the main street, which is not very big itself. It is a tiny, unassuming alleyway, very easy to miss unless you are looking for it. The …
Belgrade and Sarajevo: Cities Divided by War
In the summer of 1992 I was a happy and carefree 13 year old. I spent long and sunny days playing with my friends. I cheered loudly when Andre Agassi beat a little-known Croatian player, to claim the Wimbledon title.…
Belgrade: A Surprising Culinary Delight
After spending a few relaxing days in Timisoara, we booked a train to Belgrade – a city that we initially visited due to its convenient location en-route to Sarajevo.
It was a lazy Sunday and we arrived around noon.
The …
The Past and Present of Timisoara: Romania’s First Free City
Timisoara was a detour on our trip. We were travelling from Budapest to Belgrade—a direct route, but I simply couldn’t be that close to Romania—my favourite European country—without stopping by for a few days.