A Day At Discovery Cove

Hi everybody, Uiscebawn here! I managed to get the best job in the world and they decided to send me to Florida to sample some of the amazing theme parks there! One of the parks we visited was Discovery Cove. I was so excited to go here because we had had a hectic few days and this was our last park of the week. I think we all needed to go somewhere where we could relax but still have unforgettable experiences. Discovery Cove was the perfect place to go. It only allows 1300 people in a day. It has a quieter, resort like experience. Its an all-inclusive so food, drinks, wet suits, towels and sun cream are all included. Here’s how my time at Discovery Cove went :)

When I first arrived at Discovery Cove, I received photo ID that I brought around the park throughout the day. This tells you the time of your dolphin swim if you have purchased one and is also proof of being over 21 (very important.) The group I was with all had a laugh at each others photos before heading into the resort. I grabbed a pair of snorkels and went straight to the Grand Reef.

The Grand Reef is fantastic for the whole family! This saltwater reef has shallow areas for paddling and deep areas for the more adventurous swimmers. I forgot I was in the middle of a park and believed I was swimming in the ocean with stingrays and other fish. After petting a huge sting ray and swimming with the colourful fish, I took a selfie with a shark! Don’t worry, there is glass between you and the sharp teeth! I could’ve spent all day there! Before I knew it, it was time for my dolphin interaction.

This 30 minute adventure was the highlight of the day! I got up close and personal with a bottlenose dolphin named Yoko, fed it, swam with it and got my picture taken so the memories could last even when I returned from my trip! An expert trainer was there the entire time to answer any questions we had about the dolphins. The dolphins loved all the attention and belly rubs they got and they put on a show for us at the end.

I went to Laguna Grill for my lunch. This is where I went for my breakfast, lunch and unlimited snacks and beverages! After my pulled pork sandwich, I wanted to go somewhere to relax and enjoy the sun. I went to an area which has unofficially been named the Relaxation Station! This shallow water is heated and has seats built in so you can sit back and relax with a drink. I was so relaxed, I hardly noticed the time go by! I didn’t want to miss out on all the amazing attractions at Discovery Cove, so I left the comfort of the heated pool and went exploring!

I explored the Wind-Away River, saw otters playfully splash in the Freshwater Oasis and even saw two macaws have a sing off with two guests at the park! I left Discovery Cove with a smile on my face... and sunburn on my nose! Top tip: Use the dolphin friendly sun cream they provide. You'll need it!

There was something to do no matter what my mood and I would recommend this to anyone visiting Orlando! Hope this helps anyone looking for things to do in Orlando other than roller coasters.

Talk soon!

Uiscebawn x

The Year I Went Places

2015 was finally the year I was old enough and could afford to go to the places I wanted to go to. I also said yolo quite a few times when booking flights! No regrets! Since 2015 has come to an end, I'm going to reminisce on my travels which made a difficult year amazing!

The first half of the year was spent working my ass off. I had an unpaid internship Monday to Friday and I also worked in a bar evenings and weekends. But it paid off in the end because 1. I got a full time job out of the internship, 2. I has saved up enough money to spend my entire Summer doing whatever I wanted and 3. It meant I actually deserved to treat myself a bit.

So in June I went on a short family holiday to Tuscany, Italy. A few days were spent on an Italian mountain side with spectacular views. We made a couple of day trips to Volterra (yes, the city from the Twilight book) and one of my favourite cities in Europe, Florence. After a few days we made our way down to San Vincenzo to relax by the beach. I've been to Italy six times and this is the first time I've known that Italy has beaches!

Not long after I got back from Italy, I was off again! This time to New York City with my sister  and cousin. I had been previously but I didn't experience everything I should have. This time I did it all! Saw the Broadway show, Matilda, cycled in central park, went to the museums and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. All the mandatory tourist activities were done. But we also experienced New York like a local because my cousin knew all the places to go (and eat.)

I went straight from New York to Orlando for a week of theme parks. You're never too old for Disney World! My sisters highlight of the trip was getting a selfie with Cinderella. My highlight was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios! It was non stop roller coasters, shopping and eating and shopping. For the sake of my waistline, it was time to leave.

I was home less than 24 hours before I was at the airport again, this time for a girls holiday in Greece. This was three weeks of pure paradise! Mykonos was exactly what I expected Greek Islands to be like; white buildings with blue roofs, skinny streets and spectacular views! Ios was party all day all night. If you're looking for nightlife, go there! Santorini was exactly what we need after Ios. We chilled by the pool and watched the world famous sunsets in the town of Oia. Our last stop was Crete. A lot more built up than Mykonos and Ios, it wasn't my favourite. But we stayed in great accommodation, really quiet but close enough to the strip for some nightlife.

I was back in Ireland by the end of August to start my new job but I still had some travelling to look forward to in September. A group of friends and I were going to Berlin for a weekend for Lollapalooza music festival. We only had one day to sight see in Berlin so we did the predicable; Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie. We were blessed during the music festival as the weather was absolutely glorious!

I had assumed that my travels were over for 2015 but working in the travel industry has its perks. I found out from my manager that I was heading back to Florida in October! The best part was I didn't do any of the same things I did when I had gone to Orlando over the Summer. I went to parks I had never ben to like Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Discovery Cove. As an added bonus, Orlando wasn't our only destination. We also spent four days in Clearwater, on the coast of Florida. After one day there I had already decided this is where I was growing old! I have never seen so many beautiful sun rises and sunsets!

That is when my trips came to an end for 2015. I can't wait to spend all my money on more unforgettable experiences in 2016. China is already booked for May and a quick trip to Blackpool or Amsterdam is on the table. Have you any suggestions for good weekend trips for me?

Talk soon, Uiscebawn x

My Favourite Dining Spots in New York

I went to New York with my sister for a week during the Summer to visit my cousin. One of my favourite things about New York is that everyone eats out. And that’s exactly what we did! There were so many options that we always managed to find somewhere that everyone was in the mood for. I put together a list of my favourite eat outs that I went to during my stay in the Big Apple.

Ellen’s Stardust Diner - 1650 Broadway

Are there any Musical Theatre fans out there? This diner will make it to the top of your list! This unique diner has very special staff serving you. Each waiter and waitress are dreaming of a life on a Broadway stage and they come to work at Ellen’s in the hopes of being discovered. In the middle of serving customers and clearing tables, they are singing and dancing on top of chairs! They take requests too! Well when I say that, I mean we wouldn’t leave until they sang Let It Go from Frozen haha! It is well worth a visit just for the experience. Located just off Times Square it's the perfect place to eat after a busy day of shopping and sightseeing. Ellen’s is always hopping so expect a queue before you get a table. I waited for half an hour for a table for 3, but believe me, the wait is worth it!

Brooklyn Bagel - 1 located on the High Line and 3 located in Astoria, Queens

You will never find a bagel in Ireland like a Brooklyn Bagel. When I first went in I was overwhelmed by the amount of spreads and fillings that were available. They have dozens of cream cheese flavours including vegetable, cinnamon, strawberry, blueberry and sundried tomato. Choose your hand rolled, water boiled bagel and choose your fillings then you’re good to go. Be adventurous and choose a filling you wouldn’t usually go for. I went for a wholemeal bagel with mozzarella, tomato and basil. Delish!

Kurant Wine Bar - 1091 2nd Avenue

Kurant Wine Bar is for when you want to dress up and have a nice glass of wine. I went on my last night in New York. It is more expensive than the other dining options on my list but it's not over priced. My cousin and sister shared a cheese plate. You are able to pick and choose which cheeses you want. I went for calamari nom nom! It is a nice quiet night out or a great place to start before moving on somewhere else. There are also booths with sheer curtains for that little bit of privacy… although not enough for the couple sitting in the booth next to us! 😷

The Dubliner Pub - 45 Stone Street

There’s one thing I always do when I go on a holiday and that’s eat in an Irish pub at least once. What can I say! I like having a taste of home when I’m away. The Dubliners my my pub of choice on this trip. After a day wandering the financial district and getting a great deal on Broadway tickets, my cousin brought us to Stone Street. Just a five minute walk from Wall Street, Stone Street is full of pubs and restaurants with tables spilling out onto the cobblestoned street. I definitely recommend sitting outside. Your table may be at a slight slant, but you can soak up the atmosphere! The menu has a mix of the usual American and Irish food you’d expect. The entire street is perfect just for sitting back with a drink and relaxing.

Pure Thai Cookhouse - 766 9th Avenue

I went to Pure Thai Cookhouse on my first night in New York and I absolutely loved it! Pure Thai is in Hell’s Kitchen, an area of New York known for its great restaurants. It was small and authentic with mouth watering family recipes to keep you coming back for more. The wine was served in a short tumbler glass which is a nice novelty and helped me beat the jetlag! I ordered the ginger curry with calamari. It was delicious!

Don Antonios - 309 West 50th Street

Don Antonio’s Pizzeria is another Hell’s Kitchen favourite of mine. I went here after a full day exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art and I was ravenous! Me and my sister are the definition of the word ‘hangry’ so we needed some food fast! Fortunately, the food was served quickly! What I loved about Don Antonio’s was that you could see the pizza being prepared and cooked because there was just a counter between the customers and the kitchen. I even got a wave from a chef who caught me looking at my pizzas progress haha! The food was amazing and it was obvious the ingredients were fresh and prepared that day.

The dining possibilities are endless in New York city! I ate in so many places and I don’t think I could choose a favourite! Do you have a favourite? I’ll definitely be returning to New York and I’d love some suggestions :) Hope this helped you if you’re looking for some inspiration :)

Talk soon!


Uiscebawn x

Island Hopping in Greece - My Experience

Island Hopping in Greece - My Experience

I had the most amazing Summer I’ve ever had this year and part of that Summer was spent island hopping in Greece for three weeks. We flew in Athens then headed off to Mykonos, Ios, Santorini and then finally Crete. It was the best time ever and a great bonding experience for me and my friends. Greece is paradise. There is no other way to describe it. Amazing weather, clear warm water and stunning architecture, I never wanted to leave! Here’s my experience. Hopefully it can inspire you to book your flights for your next lads or girls holiday :)

I have made a video of my time there so if you prefer watching rather than reading here is the link :)

Athens

My first experience of Greece was Athens. We arrived early in the morning and only spent one night there. So there wasn’t much time to see much of it. This could mean that my opinion of Greece’s capital city isn’t that credible. But I wasn’t too fond of Athens. Its was dirty, unbearably hot and the driving is insane! That doesn’t mean that the historical areas weren’t stunning. We saw the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Then we had a wander around the small shops and searched all of Athens for a pharmacy so my friend could buy sun cream with no parabens. Turned out there was one at the point where we started an hour ago… typical haha We stayed at Hotel Dioskouros. It had a couple of cockroaches but it was cheap and had a stunning back area with sun chairs, music and a couple of sleeping cats here and there.

Mykonos

View from our apartment. Mykonos town

Paradise Beach

View of the sunrise from our apartments balcony

Windmills in Mykonos

So that was basically our entire Athens experience. After one night we headed off to what I considered to be the actual beginning of our holiday. This was my first time getting a ferry and i had no idea what to expect. We got Blue Star Ferries and I don’t have much to compare them to but it was a very pleasant journey considering how jet lagged I was at the time and I suffer from travel sickness. Mykonos is by far one of the most beautiful areas I’ve ever seen. The streets, the buildings, the water, it’s just beautiful! We used Airbnb for accommodation. Oh My God, we lucked out on our apartment. it was in the very centre of town and had a balcony with the most spectacular views. Our host was as helpful as she could possibly be. Here is a link to the apartment if you are considering going to Mykonos you have to stay here!

Most of our days were spent at Paradise Beach, a beach resort with extremely comfortable beach beds and crystal clear waters. Watch out for the creepy nude man who walks up and down the beach… not the most pleasant sight haha Nights were spent either at a restaurant having a late dinner or at one of the clubs. We usually just wandered around cause the clubs are spread around the whole town. But Little Venice is where you go for all the clubs in one area. Mykonos is one of the more expensive islands for food and drink so keep that in mind if you head out to dinner.

Must see:

The Windmills

Paradise Beach

Captains

Ios

Caves in Ios

Caves in Ios

Happy Bar in Ios

Ios is where the nightlife really starts. If you want to party, go to Ios! This was by far my favourite island! It still had the beauty and small streets of Mykonos but it just had so much excitement and things to do. There were beach clubs and water sports and clubs and affordable food. If you’re looking for a cheap hangover meal, Thai Smile was our favourite place. Our first night, we went on the Ios bar crawl. This is the best thing you can do because it introduces you to the best areas to drink and you meet some great people. One of the highlights of the trip was the jet boat day trip where we swam to underwater caves and then hung out at a secluded beach. We finished the trip with jumping off the boat and snorkeling to a sunken ship. This was something to remember and I got some great videos that day.

Must see:

Slammer Bar

Far Out Beach Club

‘Meltemi Watersports’ Jet Boat Day Trip

Sweet Irish Dream Nightclub

Santorini

Mud Baths in Santorini

The Dark Knight Rises to cure our week long hangover

Sunset in Santorini

Sunset in Santorini

We purposely planned to go to Santorini after Ios so we could have some downtime after all the party. I’ll be honest, most of the four days we spent in Santorini, we watched movies on the only English channel on TV. No regrets though! We were all sick and tired after Ios and we needed it! We stayed in Markakis Studios in Fira. I wasn’t to fond of the location but the apartment was perfect! I would definitely recommend staying there. We went to Oia one evening to see the sunset and that is a must see! You don’t see colours like that in the sky in Ireland! As a day trip, my friends and I went on a boat trip from the Old Port that brought us to a hot springs and mud bath. This is so nice and relaxing but just be warned that you swim about 60 ft from the boat to these springs. After the boat goes to an active volcano and you climb up to the top. The views are amazing! One of the not-so-great-at-the-time but it’ll-be-a-great-story moments of the trip as climbing up the path that the donkeys climb. Believe me, this is not easy! In the midday sun, a half an hour climb feels like forever! Its a funny story to tell at least!

Must see:

Sunset in Oia

Hot Springs/Mud bath

Volcano hike

Crete

Foam Party in Star Beach, Crete

Parasailing in Crete

Our final stop in our trip was Crete. Finally rested, we arrived in the port in the evening. We wanted to get to our apartment before it got dark but that never happened. Crete is a lot more built up compared to the other islands so we got a bit lost looking for the bus station. Three hours later, very tired, sweaty and dehydrated, we made it to Sirius Apartments. Another stunning accommodation! Its very quiet and family run so we were a bit conscious about making noise when we were going out at night but we never had any problems. We stayed near Hersonissos rather than going to Malia cause that has a younger crowd. There is a strip in Hersonissos next to the waterfront and it has all your dining and nightlife needs! Everything was just a five minute walk away. My highlight of the trip was our last day at Star Beach. We went parasailing and banana boating, had a quick foam party and then got some henna tattoos. Was a nice day to end the trip.

Handy Tip: It may sound like there is an army of crickets coming to take over the world but it's just very loud bugs called Cicadas that come out during daylight. They’re annoying in the morning but you get used to them.

Must see:

Parasailing at Star Beach

Water front in Hersonissos
Aqua Plus Water Park

So that's the end of my Island Hopping trip to Greece. I can honestly say it was the best holiday ever and a great time for me and my friends. Hope this inspires others to go to Greece because everyone deserves to stay in paradise just once! Talk soon!

Uiscebawn x