I have a friend who does not get national pride. Why would you feel proud about something that has no relation to your own achievements? Usually, I tend to agree with him. Not this week, however: I’m in Athens and can’t help but feel proud of my Greek heritage. Of course, I’ve been well familiar… Continue reading Heritage and History: a Week in Athens
Keeping Fit in Amsterdam: Pilates with Puppies
Keeping fit can be fun. It sure was fun yesterday, when I celebrated the World Animal Day by doing pilates with puppies. Yes, you read that right: I attended a pilates class with dogs, sharing the yoga mat with a handful of furry friends. The event was held in De Pijp, one of Amsterdam’s hippest neighbourhoods,… Continue reading Keeping Fit in Amsterdam: Pilates with Puppies
KEEPING FIT IN AMSTERDAM: HOT FLOW YOGA JORDAAN
Today I want to introduce you to my favourite yoga studio. I’ve become quite an expert on them since moving to Amsterdam. In the last year and a half, I’ve sampled dozens of studios and more types of yoga than I even knew existed. Yet one of the first studios I tried has remained a firm favourite… Continue reading KEEPING FIT IN AMSTERDAM: HOT FLOW YOGA JORDAAN
The shortest city break ever? Birmingham in 15 minutes
Is it possible to get a feel for a city in a mere 15 minutes? It is. Trust me, I’ve tried! Slow travel is a huge trend right now, and I can see why. Taking time to really get to know a place and immerse yourself in the local culture makes travelling more rewarding and less stressful, at… Continue reading The shortest city break ever? Birmingham in 15 minutes
Five Hours in Constantinople: How to Enjoy a Short Layover in Istanbul
The third Rome, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and one of the most interesting cities on our planet… As an Orthodox Christian and a person of Greek heritage, I have always been fascinated by Constantinople. No wonder, then, that when I found out our trip to Rostov-on-Don could* include a short layover in Istanbul… Continue reading Five Hours in Constantinople: How to Enjoy a Short Layover in Istanbul
The best books I’ve read in recent years
Reading has been one of my favourite hobbies since I was six years old. Back then, I never had any problems finding interesting, entertaining and educating books: my mum would pick them up for me, everything from classics to nonfiction to good-quality children’s reads. All I had to do was enjoy them (and make notes… Continue reading The best books I’ve read in recent years
Keeping Fit in Amsterdam: Barre + Beats at Studio 191 West
Ballet is one of the hardest sports out there, I remember mum telling little Liza during an interval in the foyer of the Finnish National Opera. She had worked with ballet dancers and seen first hand how much work went into the seemingly effortless performances like the one we were about to continue watching. Making it… Continue reading Keeping Fit in Amsterdam: Barre + Beats at Studio 191 West
Things to Do in San Francisco: Climbing the Twin Peaks
Hello from San Francisco! If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’ve been here for over a week now, revisiting old favourites and searching for new ones. This is my fourth time in the city, and you might think I’d know it like a book by now, but actually, there are still places… Continue reading Things to Do in San Francisco: Climbing the Twin Peaks
5 Things You Should Know About Rostov-on-Don, the Capital of Southern Russia and a FIFA 2018 Host City
I have to be honest with you: I don’t remember the last time I’ve been this excited about a blog post. It’s understandable, though – this post is about Rostov-on-Don, my beautiful city of birth, the capital of Southern Russia, and, very soon, one of the FIFA 2018 host cities. Whether you’re travelling to Rostov… Continue reading 5 Things You Should Know About Rostov-on-Don, the Capital of Southern Russia and a FIFA 2018 Host City
Hong Kong: Postcards from one of the Best Holidays I’ve Had in Recent Years
Hong Kong. What can I say? If our holiday in Vietnam earlier this year got us excited about travelling in Asia, our recent trip to Hong Kong took the excitement to a whole new level. In short, Hong Kong turned out to be everything we had expected and more: an amazing city with a lovely… Continue reading Hong Kong: Postcards from one of the Best Holidays I’ve Had in Recent Years