5 Things I Miss About Italy | Lifestyle

To be honest, I've had this post in my drafts for a while and whilst I do miss Italy, I definitely don't want to go back, you can miss something and not actually want it back or whatever. I guess recently I have seen a couple of TV programmes that are based in Italy or it's about Italy and I can't help but smile. Again, going to Italy was one of my best decisions of my life and since I have been back there are just a couple of things I miss so let's talk about the most obvious one...

The Weather
I mean, Florence can get bloody cold but those blue skies are one thing that is pretty much constant. They do have awful thunderstorms which seem to last for months, but once that is over it's back to that bright Tuscan sky.The days a longer, you feel like you have go more energy and want to more!  It's amazing what a bit of blue sky can do to anyone's mood. 

The Food 
Let's be honest, the Italians REALLY know their food and I kind of miss the simplicity of it all. Over here everything is heavily processed and smothered in sauce which....of course I love but my body hates it. I've frickin' put more weight on being at home than what I did when I was in Italy. I miss that chilled out afternoon snacking with a glass of good quality wine.

Aperol Spritz
When I first tried this drink I thought it was bloody disgusting, some bitter fizzy thing that looks like Lucozade but tastes like disappointment! The Italians on the other hand bloody love it and the more I gave it a go the more I kinda got it! There is something quite wonderful about sitting in the sun with an Aperol Spritz in your hand chatting with a pal! 

The Apartment 
Whilst I rather disliked my actual apartment but loved having my own space at least. Since I have moved back I always feel like I'm in people's way, which isn't actually their fault it's just a feeling I personally have. I mean, this is something that is easily fixed once I have enough money to move out. I do find myself missing just fuss-potting around my own place. 

Wisteria in the Spring 

It's something I can't quite describe but in the spring there is a purple haze over the city of Florence, where places really seem to come to life after an indifferent winter. It's actually the smell I miss the most you could be walking anywhere and all of a sudden this strong and imediately recogniseable scent decends on you, you don't even have to see it to know it's the Wisteria. I don't want to get too poetic here but when I think of it, I can't help but smile!

That's kind of it! I do miss one to two people from Italy but I'm generally speaking really happy to be back in the UK.Some times it really feels like it was a dream, that I can't quite believe I lived there for just over a year but there are a lot of home comforts I had missed. 

Have you ever been to Florence or Italy? 

5 things to do in La Spezia | Travel

You guys know I love going on my little trips and last month I decided to stay local and go somewhere different in Italy. This year I have done a lot of travelling but actually haven't been to that many places on Italy so it was about time really.

We decided to go to La Spezia because it was close to the ocean as it's more a of a port town and only like a two and a half hour train ride from Florence so really handy.

Here are my top 5 things to do in La Spezia...

Eat seafood
As La Spezia is obviously a port town, you all know that the best seafood you can get is by the port because it's so fresh. In all honesty there are a lot of places you can go but I would say if you can visit Dai Pescatori because the reviews are great and the food was yummy, we totally should have got more. It's such a popular place that there is a queue but I'm telling you the calamari and whitebait alone is worth it, but they also do a lot of other seafood dishes as well. However it's not a very formal place it, you won't be waiter on, you get your food and drink first and then sit down but it's perfect for lunch or a light dinner for the price! 

Get a boat to Cinque Terre
Before I even get started, if you have never heard of Cinque Terre then stop reading this post and just do a quick Google image search and then come back and finish reading...obvs! Cinque Terre is essentially 5 little towns along the coast that a built on the cliffs and are just so beautiful. To get to any of the towns from La Spezia is so easy, you can actually get trains cheaply or you can get a boat that drops you off at each one and takes you back to La Spezia! We definitely opted for the boat even though it was a bit more expensive 30 euros but I love boat rides and being on the ocean. I would definitely recommend visiting Manarola because it's just so pretty.

Walk to the port
Well obviously!!! I know that's what you guys are thinking but the reality is La Spezia has a very relaxed vibe about it and I feel that sometimes it's just really nice to grab a drink and just watch the boats come and go. The port is pretty big and I probably only wandered just half of it but definitely made sure I stopped as some of the seafront bars along the way.

Aperitivo at Kadinsky 900
I've told you guys before about Italy and their aperitivo, food when ever you order drinks, I'm a massive fan! We stumbled on this really cool bar called Kadinsky 900 just to stop for a drink and the aperitivo that was served with it was by far one of the best I have had in Italy and they didn't even increase the price of the drinks to include the food like some places do!  There was two of us and we go these amazing little foccia sandwiches, 3 different fillings, crisps, nuts and beans! So yummy! The bar staff were so lovely and welcoming! On a side note the foccia in La Spezia is beyond amazing!

Drink prosecco
Seriously guys, it's like 3€ for a glass that would be considered a large glass of wine! The thing I noticed was that La Spezia is way cheaper than the likes of Florence, Pisa or even Bologna! I've always been a fan of prosecco but even more so now in Italy, not only does it taste even better but when the sun is setting on the port after a long hot day, there is literally nothing better. If prosecco isn't your thang, don't worry they do lots of beer which are around 4€ so you can't go wrong really.

There we have it, I would say that La Spezia probably has a slightly older demographic but if you're looking for a little weekend away somewhere then you should really check it out! We spent 3 nights and rented an airbnb apartment and had a great time!

What sea side towns do you love?

5 Truths about Italy | Lifestyle

A little light hearted post to day, I thought I would just tell you 5 things I have noticed about living in Italy,

Pizza and Pasta
I mean, I hate to stereotype here but I have never consumed so much pizza and so much pasta! They really do love it out here, the style is different to the pizza back home and the quality of the ingredients really are second to none but it's true the Italians really like their food and put a lot of effort and passion into what they prepare, you can really tell. 

Expressive
I would probably use the word passionate, but the Italians are very tactile and expressive! It doesn't matter where you are, if an Italian person has a point to make everyone needs to hear about it! Additionally to this they actually use hand signals and movements a lot, it's pretty interesting because ever signal means something, needless to say I have learnt the hand signal for vagina, commonly used when someone is being a twat. 

Later
Everything can either be done later or tomorrow! When it comes to going out, us Brits like to go out for a little drink and dinner about 7 but in italy you are actually laughed at if you go out for dinner that early it really isn't unusual to leave your apartment at midnight to meet for drinks with your pals at midnight! The Italians are never in a rush! 

Italian men

Ok, so I haven't actually had much first hand experience with this one, but I have had a few guys be pretty forward with me in bars, I think this kinda falls into my second point, the Italian people can be blunt and to the point! Though I did just wanna point out to all the people who said "you're blonde, the men will love you in italy" all lies, I've yet to have a single man fall to his knees and beg for my hand in marriage, however this may be more linked to my troll like features more than anything

The Coffee
When I live back in the UK I wasn't really into drinking coffee, however everything changes when I came out here, it's just so smooth and delicious I always opt for a Cafe Lungo, which basically means long coffee. The sizes are different, you walk into a bar and ask for a cafe, you're getting an espresso sized coffee if you want a very watery coffee like in England you have to ask for an Americano. I must admit, the coffee out here has spoiled my taste buds, because every single coffee I have had outside of Italy has been vile. 

So there are 5 fun truths about Italy. Have you ever visited, can you relate to this? 

Meanwhile in Florence | Lifestyle

As I type this, as you guys read it, I am currently sitting in my apartment in Florence deciding what to have to eat. Isn’t it crazy how in a week your whole life can change? I have never been to Florence or Italy for that matter before so never, ever, considered that I would move here to work and yet here I am feeling rather content in my little space. So in today’s post I’m just going to chat about how I’ve found my first week here and how I am getting on so far.

When some people move abroad they move because they want to be in a different country and may not have a job yet or will look for one while they are out there but for me that wasn’t the case because I was offered my absolute dream job, so that was the easy part for me. What I did find it incredibly hard finding an apartment to start off with, I spent a week or so emailing various different agencies trying to get more information about the apartments but it was really hard trying to get through the language barrier or even getting a response. However I was very fortunate, a girl I would be working with emailed me to say that her and her roommate have a spare room for me to rent if I was interested. Of course I replied immediately saying yes, I was so grateful and it was a massive weight off my shoulders to know I didn’t have to worry about having somewhere to live, genuinely thought I would be living out of a cardboard box on the streets for a hot second there. 

Before moving out, I knew I had to get a Codice Fascale which is basically a tax code so that I can be taxed on the pay from my job but you can only get this when you are in the country. I arrived about 7:30pm on a Monday night so I knew that on Tuesday that was the first thing I had to sort out. I must say that getting the Codice Fascale wasn’t too painful, because I had all my right documents etc but trying to find out where to get it from was another story and I was without WiFi or 4G…nightmare. Needless to say, I know that particular street in Florence very well now.

I have to mention how wonderful my roommates are, everyone I have encountered over here has been so welcoming and helpful, it’s completely amazing. Not knowing any Italian has been a massive hindrance though, don’t get me wrong I knew it would be a problem but I just wish I already knew the language. I won’t need it for my job, but ya know, if I want to actually live here I’m kinda gonna need it! I must admit on one day I felt really shit, just really useless because I have no understanding at all it makes things very hard but it’s ok, I will learn it, it just takes a bit of time.

My first week in Firenze, as it is known to the locals/Italians, was just wonderfully odd, I spent hours just exploring and walking the streets, everything you have heard about this place is true, it’s breathtakingly beautiful. What I really love about this city is that you can turn down a street and right at the very end of that street, in the distance, are mountains. There is history and art on every single corner, when I first saw the Duomo I was speechless, it’s just so pretty. I loved just walking wherever my feet were taking me, I didn’t have google maps or anything just a rough idea that I was going in the right direction, where that may be. By the end of the week, I was really craving the comfort of a routine, I couldn’t wait to start my job because I knew that every weekend from now on I can always explore.  

I’m aware that this post is getting rather lengthy and most of you have probably switched off by now but I just wanted to give you a little snap shot. Over the next few weeks/months I feel like my blog is definitely going to take more of a lifestyle turn which I’m fine with, but fear not, I have spotted a few beauty brands that I’ve never heard of before and they certainly will be making an appearance. 

Just thought I'd give you guys an update, get ready for regular post on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays! 

Honeypot Moves to Italy... | Life Update

Oh yes, you read that right, I'm moving to Italy and I can't quite still believe it. Basically, I was offered a job by one of the most amazing fashion brands (or at least, I think they are) and I just couldn't say no. Not only that, but it has given me the chance to actually move to another country and change my life forever.

I have worked in London for several years now and adore city life, I never really envisioned working anywhere else, but Florence... need I say more? In all honesty, I would say this was actually a very easy decision to make, yes I'm going to my family and friends but when would I ever have this opportunity again? Since the age of 16 I have always worked, literally never been without a job. I haven't traveled the world but now I have the chance to completely submerge myself in a different country, culture and language. I've never been to Italy before and I certainly don't speak Italian or any other language for that matter, but it excites me. Now is the right time. 

It's been a crazy couple of weeks and it's a little tricky trying to find apartments from another country but I'll be renting a room for a couple of months until I find my feet. I need to get some documentation so I can be taxed whilst I'm out there, I need to sort out my bills over here, such as gym membership, phone bill etc. There are a lot of things I don't want to bore you with but I will definitely be sharing my experiences with relocation with you guys though. My friends and family were a little surprised when I said what had happened and they fact I'm moving in less than a month but everyone has been so supportive it's been amazing, I'm very grateful to have such supportive people around me. 

This also means my blog is going to take an interesting turn, there will be far more Italian beauty/skin care products which is exciting. My lifestyle posts will be a little more focused to my life in Italy and probably a lot more food posts! As you guys already know, I have been really hard ass with the gym and my diet so things are going to change a little and I'm ok with that. I'm going to operate a strict "Always say yes" (within moderation, let's not get too wild) policy so that I fully embrace all of the opportunities out there. Christmas is going to be a little weird, I'm not sure when I'll be back to the UK to visit because I'm just going to want to throw myself into my job so I may not even be back until April.   

I have quite a few drafts so my blog shouldn't be too affected by the relocation but if it is, just please bear with me. It may mean I do more lifestyle posts for a while or whatever but it'll all balance itself out. 

I officially move out on 16th November, wish me luck!