Five Days In Barca

Back in June Chris and I visited Barcelona for the first time. It’s been over ten years since visiting (and living) in Spain, I can’t believe it’s not been checked off the travel list sooner. City holidays are some of my favourites, but it also means I need a small bag to fit all the essentials and avoid lugging a heavy bag around. I can’t tell you how many times I misplace my phone, or try and squeeze my device into my non-practical handbag which means it can end up on the floor with a cracked screen. This is a bloggers worst nightmare! But backpacks and beach bags are not my thing, so most of the time my phone is in my hand or back pocket ready for the next photo or Snapchat story.

These are the words of a girl who lives the majority of her day online. As I carry 2 devices at all times (one work phone and one personal) multiple Drop and Protection Otterbox cases have somewhat become my anti phone smashing prevention of choice alongside an accessory to match my neutral wardrobe. No french fries or pineapple cases here I’m afraid!

Set to go with phones in hand we were super excited to be in a new city, and there was a lot of exploring to be had. We stayed in the Gothic Quarter, which I would definitely recommend as its close to the beach, and also walking distance to ample coffee shops and good restaurants. We stayed at new development Catalonia Magdalenes and was pleasantly surprised with the decor and architecture of the place. The view from the roof meant Barcelona Cathedral was in plain sight, with the pool and cabanas making it a little difficult to leave each morning.

Each morning we walked over to Placa Reial, and had a much needed cup of coffee and tea and Hotel DO. White table cloths and a good selection of pastries meant an hour passed by in the Catalonian sunshine. Walking in a loop back to the hotel we stopped by Barcelona Cathedral most mornings. This was definitely a time my phone came out of my back pocket to capture the epic light play on the front of the church. We also found morning was so much more peaceful than in the evening, it definitely has a very different feel come night.

La Sagrada Familia was high up on our list to visit, and it doesn’t disappoint. I have honestly never viewed and appreciated architecture like it. The columns inside the church represent tree trunks in a forest. The stained glass on the each side makes the church glow either warm tones or cold, depending on the time of day. Gaudi said that “colour was the expression of life” which is why he decided to make its presence felt inside the Basilica. I would highly recommend the audio tour to make you more aware of the surroundings, encouraging you to look at the reasoning behind the architectural choices that Gaudi made. Don’t miss out on the trip to the roof. If you were following along on Snapchat you would have seen how amazing the view was and how claustrophobic the stairs are on the way back down! 

Eating out, Yelp was our go to app for some of the best restaurants in the city. We actually found a pinxto restaurant walking distance from our hotel called Bilbao Berria. We probably ate at this place 2-3 times on our trip and was one of our favourite tapas joints based on value for money and selection. If you are looking for one of the best views of the city, head over to Hotel 1898 on La Ramblas. Chillout house music with the sun setting sipping on a rum and fresh ginger cocktail had me at hello. This is how city trips should always end!

Photography by myself with help from my love, Chris.

In collaboration with Otterbox

Shop my look:

501 Shorts: Levi’s via Shopbop

Kenton Blouse: Equipment via Shopbop

Cassandra Small Suede Cross Body Bag: Saint Laurent via Matches Fashion

Faye Medium Shoulder Bag: Chloe via Barney’s

Melina Bodysuit: Misha Collection via Shopbop

Icons Round Sunglasses: Ray-Ban via Shopbop

Art Series Hotel, Melboune

Last weekend, Chris and I were up and away on our travels again! This time, we took the hour flight from Sydney to Melbourne for a much needed chilled weekend. After our snowboarding trip the week before it was nice to melt into a comfy hotel room and experience some of the eateries the city had to offer. I’ve only been to Melbourne one time before and loved the diversity of brunch options and European feel to the city. I’ve been eyeing up The Art Series Hotels for a while and personally enjoy staying at a boutique style establishment over a large hotel chain. I love flicking through a hotels online gallery when each room is designed uniquely. 

So what makes The Art Series different? Each hotel takes design inspiration from a well known artist from a different creative background. The first hotel we had the pleasure of staying was The Olsen, which has 229 rooms located on Chapel Street. The hotel is inspired by abstract artist, John Olsen. He redefines the Australian Landscape from an aerial perspective. We arrived at the hotel at dusk, and being in a penthouse room we were lucky to crack open a bottle of bubbles to admire the city scape. We were so tired from a busy week we decided to order sushi to the room, enjoying a cosy night in before seeing more of the hotel in the morning. The alarm was set early for a quick caffeine fix and a meet up with a Melbourne blogger (all to be revealed in a few days). I was intrigued by the artwork and to explore the design aspect more. The pool is amazing! And being half inside half out, the heated pool was definitely inviting, especially with the steam escaping through the beams up through the roof terrace. They also have a cute coffee stand outside reception with Parisian inspired wicker furniture! Definitely got snapped for my Instagram!

We decided to grab a cab over to the next Art Series Hotel, The Blackman which is located on St Kilda Road. Inspired by artist, Charles Blackman, his art is poetic and probes the delicate world of human relationships. We were a little early for check in so dined in the restaurant downstairs for a hearty brunch and chai latte. Thankfully our room was ready in quick time so enjoyed some complimentary fudge (yum!) and got cracking on shooting my editorial style post that was published earlier this week. The room was a fashion dream, the furnishings and decor complimented my outfit perfectly! Clean crisp white sheets with golden notes throughout, it oozed European style and class. We also had a great view of Albert Park and Port Phillip Bay. It would be a perfect place to stay if visiting Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. That evening we spoilt ourselves with Babu Burger where you design your own meal. Definitely a cheat day, I could no way finish mine! I think Chris was in hotel heaven being able to watch Fox Footy and his favourite team play in the comfort of our king sized bed! It’s so easy to have an early night in these hotels with the comfort of the beds and the quiet surroundings.

A visit to Melbourne wouldn’t be complete without a trip to H&M and breakfast at The Grain Store. I love trying new places to eat, but discovered this little gem when I visited for Fashion Week, and was thoroughly impressed. Although the weather is a little colder than Sydney, it was nice to get away for a chilled weekend after the snow. Make sure you check out one of their hotels next time you are there! 

Here’s the link to their website:

http://www.artserieshotels.com.au

Rural Roll Necks

As you may have seen in my last style post, a few weekends ago I headed to the South of Sydney for a tranquil weekend amongst the trees and nature. Being a city girl through and through, these kind of weekends I need to experience more. As I work in digital Mon-Fri, I like to spend my weekends travelling to new places, away from my laptop, and it’s my chance to experience what Australia has to offer and do what I love: photography and capturing moments. Sydney has been my home for just over a year, and with weekends being precious, it’s the best time to soak up new chilled getaways whilst wearing my favourite relaxing threads.

Country Road honestly has some of the best knits this season, and if their Tasmanian winter campaign isn’t enough to bundle you up in a layering cocoon then I don’t know what will! Knit and lace has been an autumn favourite of mine for the past 2 years. It’s classic, contrasting and seductive in a minimalistic way. This cream jumper is super warm and I love the attached scarf that can be worn loose or wrapped around the neck for added warmth. Perfect for the dropped temperatures in the bush. The skirt is lightweight and soft to the touch, which is an important factor moving into the colder months. I find my skin can be a lot more sensitive so this delicate feel was a nice touch. Knee high boots are a necessity for winters in the UK, so when I saw these suede beauties it was not a difficult decision to style them with this look. The lace up detailing on the back compliment the intricacy of the skirt.

This look was finished off with silver hardware that’s simplistic, and a trusty pair of hand made sunglasses to shade the speckled light that peeked through the trees! Perfect for a weekend filled with not doing a lot other than drinking tea, eating good food and snuggling up in my tent! I had such a fun time sharing my 3 part glamping experience. I’ll be heading off again in a few weeks so stay tuned for a new resort that i’ll be featuring on Boho Behind The Lens.

Shop The Look:

Jumper: Country Road

Skirt: Lilya

Boots: Django & Juliette from Styletread

Sunglasses: Pacifico Optical

Watch: Breda Watch

Bracelet: Najo

Photo credit to Chris Bray