Trek America: New Orleans and Texas

The next stop of my Trek America tour was New Orleans. This was a place that I had always wanted to visit so I was excited to experience the nightlife and jazz music.

Before arriving, we stopped off to experience the Honey Island Swamp Tour. This was amazing and provided us with a close up experience with alligators. On our tour, we saw so many alligators as well as the inhabitants of a swamp. There were still ruins of houses that had been destroyed by hurricane Katrina over 10 years on which was sad to see.

Next stop was our hotel which was so nice! I was not expecting this level of accommodation on a budget lodging tour! We stayed at Hotel 504, which was within walking distance to the main strip: Bourbon Street.

One thing you must definitely experience in New Orleans is the nightlife! Bourbon street is lined with so many bars and clubs where you can take your drinks onto the street and hop between each one. We ended up buying a drink called the Hurricane, which has 16 shots in and is massive! This drink destroyed me and because I'm a lightweight, I can't remember much of the night. I know that it did end with us going to a karaoke bar and me choosing to sing Party in the USA.

Hurricane

The next day was greeted with a hangover from hell. The only thing for it was an IHOP! New Orleans in the day isn't as exciting as the night, and can be full of some dodgy people. One thing to bear in mind is your own safety, so never go off on your own and avoid the parts of the city that are known for being dangerous. We did wander around to take some photos, before finishing off the day tasting the local cuisine in a really nice restaurant and watching the famous jazz music.

French Quarter

With New Orleans ticked off my bucket list, we continued our journey across the country through Texas, arriving at Houston!

We didn't really stop over for long in Houston, as we were spending more time in Austin. But we did stay at a really cool hostel which was basically a house!

HI Houston 

In Austin, we explored some really cool shops and made our way to the Hope Outdoor Gallery. I found the cutest puppy in the world here! Afterwards, we went to the Barton Springs which is a really cool place to chill and sunbathe.

Later on in the evening, we witnessed the largest amount of bats in an urban area awakening and flying out from under the bridge. This is worth watching if you ever are in Austin. 

Of course, we couldn't leave Texas without sampling the nightlife, so we made it to 6th Street to hang out where the college kids go to party and play beer pong. Feeling hungover and very tired from the crazy nights we had, it was time to make our way into rural Texas where we stopped over in San Angelo.

We visited an old whore house which was quite funny, but I was feeling so tired after a crazy week of not much sleep that all I wanted to do was nap. After exploring the local town that looked like something out of a western movie, we headed back to the hotel for a well deserved sleep in a double bed.

San Angelo

The final part of this blog post is our stop to the Carlsbad Caverns. This is a national park and it was pretty cool to see the natural structures inside the cave. A word of warning, it gets very cold inside the caves so make sure you take a jacket! It was cool to explore the stalagtites and stalagmites!

Later that evening, we went to a drive-in movie and watched Suicide Squad. This was actually really cool and reminded me of that scene from Grease. It was a great way to spend an evening without hitting the clubs or bars.

The next day it was onto our next stop: Santa Fe! Keep posted for the next installment which will feature Santa Fe and Monument Valley.

Trek America: Washington, Nashville and Memphis

In an earlier post I mentioned my travel plans to join onto a Trek America tour called the Southern BLT.

It's no secret that my favourite country in the world is the USA. I have fond memories of holidays in Florida and New York. I have even worked in South Carolina in 2015 for 3 months, however I still yearned to see the rest of this diverse country.

Southern BLT (NYC to LA)

One of my ultimate places that I have always wanted to visit in the world is LA, so it made sense that this tour ended in this city. Starting in New York and making my way across the country through the southern states, I would end up in LA after three weeks of exploring the USA.

So, on an early morning in September, I hopped on a plane (to LAX... not quite, but to Newark) and began my tour with Trek America.

An early start on our first day involved meeting my new tour group and leader, and loading our luggage onto what would become a place we would spend a lot of our time: the trek van.

Before going on a Trek America tour, it is important to realise that there will be very long drives, sometimes up to 8 hours long, so if you get bored easily or travel sick then this might not be the best tour choice for you.

Our first stop of the tour was in Philadelphia, where we ran up those famous Rocky steps, and tasted the famous Philly cheese steak. After a quick stop to see the Liberty bell, it was time to move on to our destination for the next two nights, Washington DC.

Rocky Steps

World famous Philly cheese steak

Washington DC is a city that I can only describe as serious , very clean and oozing history. Home to the Whitehouse and a lot of monuments, it is the heart of US politics and a great city to visit. A recommendation to do is go to the Smithsonian museums (which are free) such as the Natural History museum and the Space and Air museum. There are so many that you could spend days wandering around the exhibits.

Hello Obama!

Our first night was spent doing an illumination tour of the main sights, which are great to visit in the day and the night. Washington is the scene of so many movies, so it was great to be able to witness these iconic monuments in person. After spending our free day wandering around the museums, we checked out the local nightlife by going to Rocket bar to have some group bonding time.

After a whistle stop tour of Washington and a night stop over in Virginia, it was time to move onto our next big destination: Nashville!

Nashville in one word is crazy! It is bursting with live country music and line dancing. Although we were only in Nashville for less than 24 hours, it didn't stop us from partying the night away in the Honky Tonk bar, which has 3 floors with different live music on each one.

We stayed at the Nashville Downtown hostel which is amazing and around the corner from all the madness.

The atmosphere in Nashville is incredible, especially as we were visiting on the 9/11 memorial weekend. There was so much patriotism in the air which made everyone extra friendly and upbeat!

After a crazy 24 hours spent in Nashville, it was time to move on to our next destination: Memphis!

Compared to Nashville, Memphis is a little on the quieter side but still bursting with soul music. Our first stop was at Sun Studios, where the likes of Elvis and Johnny Cash have recorded songs there. To experience even more of the rock n roll music and southern food, we headed to Beale Street to get a taste of southern style ribs in BB Kings. As we were there on a Sunday night, it was a little quiet but was much needed after a crazy night in Nashville.

Graceland

Beale Street

Our full day in Memphis was spent exploring the home of the king of rock n roll: Graceland! This is Elvis' home and is fascinating for anyone who loves his music. I had obviously heard Elvis' songs but didn't know much about him as a person, so this was great for me to broaden my knowledge and really appreciate him as an artist.

Later on that day, we headed to the Peabody Hotel to watch the famous march of the ducks. This is a daily tradition that is famous and well worth watching. Rather than explain it, I've included a video of what happens, but you really have to witness it yourself.

Our time in Memphis sadly came to an end, but our next stop was the crazy city of New Orleans, which will be featured in the following post!

A Taste of Turkey

I recently returned from my summer holiday in Turkey and thought I would write a travel post about the country.

I stayed in Fethiye, which is your average tourist resort, with plenty of bars, restaurants and excursions. If you visit this area, you are sure to have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday where you don't have to plan too much to use up your time.

If however, you are like me and love exploring 'off the beaten track', then this post will feature places where you won't find many tourists and can really embrace the Turkish culture

Let me start by saying that Turkey is a beautiful country that has sadly been bombarded with many tragic events, putting tourists off of visiting there.

When I went, there was no sign of any conflicts or unrest, and I felt as safe as I feel at home, so please do not let the media and the actions of a few organisations put you off.

The first place I would recommend is the Yaka Gizlivadi restaurant. There is a farm/restaurant by a similar name close by, but I'm talking only about this restaurant. It is situated near the Saklikent Gorge (well worth a visit too), and if you are looking for a tranquil place to eat and refresh, this is the place to visit.

You can sit (or rather lie down) in the traditional treetop huts whilst taking in the breathtakingly beautiful surroundings. Fresh water runs through the restaurant from the mountains and creates a calming atmosphere as you relax to the background noise of trickling water.

I was the only person in the restaurant when I went, so you will not bump into many tourists here.
Combine this with a visit to the Saklikent Gorge and it makes a perfect day out.

The second place to visit is the Olive Garden restaurant in Kabak, near Olu Deniz. This restaurant boasts stunning clifftop views and an infinity pool. It takes a while to reach by car, where you will wind around some nerve-wracking mountain roads, but the drive is worth it. The food is delicious, and combined with a swim in the pool, makes for a unique day out. Words cannot do this place any justice, so I'll let the pictures convey the charm of this place.

Only the natural sounds of the sea and nature can be heard, and you really feel like you are in a luxury hotel here. This is one place that is not to be missed if you really want to take in the beauty of this country.

If you want something fun and different, take a visit to the Sultaniye Thermals and Mud Baths near Koycegiz. This is the one where the locals go so there will be no tourists flocking here on excursions. 

For only 4 TL (about £1), you can use the natural spring baths before bathing in a pool of mud. After drying in the sun, you can wash it off by jumping in the crystal clear lake. Not only will your skin feel amazing, but you will also be crying with laughter when you start to look like an alien as the mud hardens in the sun.

Wash off the mud by jumping into the crystal clear waters of the lake

The views on the roads into the mud baths

My final must-do experience in Turkey is a visit to Pamukkale.

I've been lucky enough to go here twice, and each time it has taken my breath away.

The natural limestone/calcium pools, nicknamed "Cotton Castle', make it seem like you are walking on ice, but the water is warm enough to bathe in them as you ascend up. The ice blue pools make for magnificent photos and they make infinity pools look boring!

At the top, you can take a walk around the ancient ruins of Hierapolis. Do not forget to take a moment to absorb the view from the top. My recommendation is to go at sunset, when it starts to get cooler and less busy. There is nothing in the world that can beat watching the sun disappear behind the mountains, and it is a moment I will never forget. No amount of pictures can convey the peacefulness of this moment.

Cue the Pamukkale photo montage...

If you really wanted to treat yourself, you can book yourself into a nearby 5* hotel, like the Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal, and stay overnight to recover from the lengthy drive there and back. That way you can relax in the hotel pool before climbing Pamukkale, and enjoy a breakfast buffet (included) in the morning before driving back to your resort.

I hope this gives you a taste of what Turkey offers, and that wherever you go, you can always explore the real beauty by taking a step off the usual tourist hotspots.

Love Charlotte x

It's always time for cereal...

If you are visiting London and want to eat somewhere unique, different and quirky, then look no further than this post!

I'm a big fan of cereal but I do get bored of having shreddies every day. But, if you visit the Cereal Killer Cafe in either Camden Market or Brick Lane, then prepare to be blown away.

On a busy sunny day in London, we headed to the Camden branch of the cafe. The menu is laden with a vast array of cereals from all over the world.

If you fancy chocolate, honey, smore's or peanut butter flavoured cereal, you will find it here. The amount of cereal's on offer is mindblowing, and trying to choose one comes with difficulty.

I opted for one of the cereal cocktails, where you get a mix of different types. Mine was called the 'Lion King', which was a bowl of chocolatey/caramel sweetness. It even came with caramel milk, however I'm one of those weird people who prefers eating cereal dry and opted out of the milk.

If you think this cereal won't fill you as a meal, don't be fooled. The medium sized bowls don't look like much, but in real life, it counted as my lunch.

My advice would be to eat in, where you can choose to sit on a bed whilst you eat. If you are an 80/90s kid, you will be transported back to your childhood bedroom, complete with Spice Girls wallpaper and beany baby's.

The prices are expensive for cereal, but when you think about the types of cereal and the overall experience, it really isn't overpriced at all.

As One Door Closes, Another Door Opens

There is nothing like a traditional ceremony to mark the end of a chapter in your life, and the beginning of a new one.

I attended my first graduation (and hopefully more to come) last week, where I wore the black robes and graduation cap to officially graduate with BSc degree in Biomedical Science.

On one of the hottest days of the year, everyone dressed up very formally and wore their robes with pride, including me. There's something about wearing graduation robes which makes you feel important, or an extra in a Harry Potter movie. I didn't want to take it off at the end of the day!

The day was more than my outfit though, it was the sense of achievement that could be felt in the room, and seeing everyone walk on that stage and shake the chancellors hand. It made me feel proud of what I have done, and even better for making not just me but my parents proud as well.

The graduation ceremony was over in a flash and thankfully I didn't trip in my heels whilst walking across the stage! After hanging around after the ceremony to chat, take pictures of me throwing my hat in the air, and have a well deserved glass of prosecco, I found it was time to leave the city where I had spent 3 years living and studying.

Whilst driving out of the city, it was sad to leave behind some of the best memories of my life, yet I felt happy to leave some of my worst (university is not always the best moments of your life).

I couldn't help feel excited for the future, as those three years made me realise who I want to be and what I want to do with my life.

I am so grateful for everything I have learnt from university, as well as the mistakes that I have made. It has given me so many opportunities and so many new perspectives.

If you happen to be reading this and are at/going to university, you will come out a new person. It will make you grow, and the graduation ceremony is so worth all those hard times. Giving up is easy, but you will grow more as a person if you take the hard route.

And so I shall leave this post with one of my favourite quotes of all time, from a man I admire and who inspires me to keep dreaming.

"If you can dream it, you can do it." 

Walt Disney 

The Proudest Moment of my Life

If someone would have said to me 6 months ago that I would have been able to cycle from London to Paris in 3 days, I would have laughed in their face and told them there is no chance of it happening.

But it did.

Writing this, I can say that this is one of the proudest achievements that I have completed. It's not everyday you meet someone who can tell you they cycled over 200 miles, through the sun, rain and wind to arrive directly in front of the Eiffel tower and be able to say "I made it".

It was a gruelling challenge, that pushed my body and mind both physically and mentally.

Not only do you have to deal with the looming hills and long distances between breaks, but you are also running on very little sleep and relying on sugar and adrenaline.

Day One

My challenge started early, with a 5.30am rise in London to meet at Hersham playing fields. As it was July 1st, I was expecting a calm, summer sunrise but unfortunately this being Britain, we were greeted with the cold, wind and rain.
As we set off in our groups, we cycled out of the busy streets of London and left the city for the rolling hills of Surrey. At this point, as the distance racks up, I started to doubt whether I could pull this off. The hills are steep and challenging, but it is the moments when you see how far you've come, but how far you've got left that are the most difficult.

I have to admit, I did very little training for this. It was my own fault, but training would have helped a lot! However, I did not let this stop me and make me give up! I powered through, determined not to make it into the support vehicle.

After a challenging day, we arrived at Portsmouth in the evening (after the most horrendous hill), proud to have completed day one. A quick shower and some carb loading, and we were boarding the overnight ferry to Caen, ready for day two.

Possibly the worst selfie in the world

Day Two

As 4.45am dawned, we had arrived in Caen with possibly the worst nights sleep ever, having only a chair as our beds. Nevertheless, we prepared ourselves for day two, with 87 miles of the French countryside between us and Evreux.

I have to say, the best parts of this trip are cycling through the picturesque French villages. I stopped for a coffee in one and it looked like a movie set. Just being able to see France like this makes the cycle worth it.

This was the hardest day, with the weather doing all it possibly could to dampen our spirits.
But it did not defeat us, all this hard work and fundraising could not stop me from giving up. As the miles slowly increased, we arrived at Evreux in time for a traditional French meal and a well deserved nights sleep.

Day Three

The final day rolled around, and this time, the 5.30am start was taking its toll on me. However, as soon as we started cycling again, the adrenaline kicked in and the thought of arriving in Paris at the end of the day motivated me to keep going.

After 74 miles, we reached the outskirts of Paris, and together as a team, we cycled through the (rainy) Parisian streets. Thanks to the Euro 2016 football being on, and with France playing that evening, the French morale was high, and this only encouraged us to make it to the Trocadero.

This had to be the best feeling in the world. Seeing the Eiffel Tower in front of you, having cycled there from London, was a euphoric moment. It just proves that no matter what you set your mind to doing, you can achieve it! I have surprised not only my friends and family, but also myself on what I am capable of achieving. This trip was so surreal and I encourage anyone who gets given the opportunity to do something like this to grab it with both hands.

Of course, the most important aspect about this trip was that it was raising money for Breast Cancer Now. Collectively, we raised over £270,000 for the charity, with myself contributing over £1000 to it.

I am so thankful for the generosity of the general public, who helped me to do something so special for the charity and to help save lives in the future. If you still want to donate, then you can at:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Charlotte-Davis20

On a final note, I would just like to say the biggest thank you to anyone who supported me and donated to this worthy cause. It has really surprised me that although there is so much pain and hatred in this world, love and unity will always conquer.

Thank you for reading this post,

Love,

Charlotte