From The Blog

Are you ready to add a touch of Parisian chic to your wardrobe? Imagine strolling through the cobblestone streets of Paris with a custom-made purse slung over your shoulder, crafted with the Chanel fabric or Hermes leather of your choice. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s entirely possible with the bespoke purse-making experience at MiniMe Paris.

This blog post is for those clinging to Christmas, like me. Our Christmas tree is still up and will likely stay that way for another few weeks. But as I tuck away the stockings and other holiday paraphernalia, my thoughts wander back a few weeks to our quick jaunt to Germany to enjoy the Christmas markets in Munich. I am a massive fan of Christmas markets and have been to several European cities over the years in search of the very best. So far, I have done Vienna, Copenhagen, Sweden, Finland, and Budapest. However, Germany is unique because it is allegedly the birthplace of the Christmas market, dating back to 1434 in Dresden. These markets offer handicraft stalls, food, and glühwein (mulled wine), but my favorite feature is the atmosphere. From the simple white lights strung along the wooden stalls, laughter ringing through the air, and revelers bundled up in their winter attire – these markets look, smell, and feel like the holiday season. Our recent move to Egypt had me longing for some holiday cheer, and a direct Egypt Air flight from Cairo to Munich felt like the best remedy for the winter blues.

Now that we have all recovered from our first Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations since 2019, I wanted to share a little bit about the real Saint Patrick and Ireland’s Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick. Locally known as “The Reek”, Croagh Patrick is the fourth largest peak in Ireland at 764 m (2,507 ft) and overlooks Clew Bay in County Mayo, located just outside of Westport. According to local legend and historical accounts, Saint Patrick climbed to the mountain’s summit and spent 40 days fasting and praying as he banished snakes and evil from Ireland in 441 AD. The mountain has since become a holy site of worship and pilgrimage, with some opting to hike barefoot just as Saint Patrick did as a sign of penance and atonement.

Ireland’s “Lockdown 2.0” has me trading in my stilettos for sneakers and embracing the great outdoors, as indoor activities have ceased once again. Unless they included being cooped up in the house finding another series to binge on Netflix. The lack of indoor activities has led to several outdoor excursions that yours truly may not have participated in otherwise. A recent adventure took me and my sneakers out to the Great South Wall in Dublin.

• Iceland is known as one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, and I can now fully back that statement. We were able to witness nature’s light show first-hand through Special Tours. The company offers a 2 - 3 hours ‘Northern Lights by Boat’ trip that departs from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor and is very highly rated on TripAdvisor. They will also try to reschedule your trip should conditions not be suitable for proper Northern Lights hunting. 1000% recommend. *Please note there is no guarantee of seeing the Northern Lights.

• If you are looking for a fancy night out, the Matarkjallarinn Food Cellar offers a low-lit romantic ambiance with delicious fresh fish options on the menu. Fancy something not so fancy? Just around the corner, the Saetasvinid Gastropub will have everything you need. For all of my cocktail lovers, order the Marie-Antoinette, the drink is as iconic as the former Queen herself.

• The Blue Lagoon. A full blog post is forthcoming and will be linked here. Short advice, go.