Victoria Louise K

This weekend my parents came to visit my boyfriend and I in Spain and what better place to go than La Manga, which is just a trip down the road and surrounded on both sides by the gorgeous coast! We stayed at Hotel Servigroup Galua, which was incredible! On Friday, we explored Murcia city center then headed off to La Manga on Saturday morning. We arrived to this gorgeousness....




When we came to use the shower gels and moisturizers, we realized that they were all chocolate flavoured which added to the abundant, luxurious atmosphere of the room and surroundings.

















We stayed full-board at the hotel so got breakfast, lunch and dinner included. The hotel also had a gym and health & wellness center but unfortunately it wasn't included in the price. But not to worry, we had a great time making use of the swimming pool, table tennis and 3 second walk to the beach where we snorkeled for hours on end then dozed in the golden sand until food was served again. Bliss!
I can't wait to go back!

So, when I left you yesterday, I was talking about making plans with a local for breakfast, tours and camel rides. Well, let me tell you how this happened...

Despite our new-found knowledge of guides and being ripped off, we still somehow found ourselves being convinced and led off by a guide! We left our hotel in the evening in search of some Moroccan food to fill our bellies before sleeping it off and were pounced on by Abdul, he was like a stalking predator and jumped on us like prey. He won us over with a tale about how he worked in our hotel and had seen us arrive that morning, he even chucked in the detail of seeing us arrive with a guide, just for extra measures to get us on his side and trusting him!
At first, we gently declined, as we'd been doing all day, but I accidentally let it slip that I was dying to ride a camel and before we knew it, we were being led down narrow, dark back alleys, which funnily enough had NOTHING to do with camels at all! Instead he took us to a market which we'd already visited and showed us round some dodgy looking streets whilst casually teasing us with promises of camel rides from time to time and before we knew it, a thick, blanket of darkness had engulfed the city.

Eventually he revealed all and said if we meet him tomorrow for breakfast at a cafe then he'll take us to go on a camel ride along the desert and up into the mountains! We stared in dreamy amazement, we were sold! Strange how the promise of cute animals can cause you to let down your guard straight away! With a cheery smile, we said our goodbyes and agreed to meet him the next day at 11am. Almost straight after our departing, Ian turned to me and informed me of how he had definitely been lying all along that he worked in the hotel! At the beginning he said he was working there that evening at 9:30pm but by the time he dropped us back off there, it was way past that time and he walked off in the opposite direction. I hadn't clicked at all. This realization led us to question his authenticity; if he didn't work at the hotel, how did he know that we'd arrived that morning with a guide?!...He'd been spying on us!

After the days adventures, we curled up in bed and discussed our plans for the next day; could we still trust him? I had all sorts of visions running through my head! In the end we decided to ask at the hotel reception for 'official' camel rides, we figured that it's much better to be on the safe side. Better safe than sorry and all that! 11am came and went and we groggily hid lazed in our room until we felt the coast was clear. Then we went down to the reception and asked the concierge for details of camel rides, he ran off outside to the taxi rank opposite the building, which drew my attention to notice ABDUL stood outside, waiting for us!!! I freaked out!

You could see the two men chatting, obviously about us and our failed arrangements, then we were signaled to come over. My face must have conveyed my fear because he reassured me that everything was going to be OK...which was slightly embarrassing.
We lied through our teeth that we had tried so hard to find him that morning but we just couldn't quite find the right cafe and we were just so happy and glad that we'd eventually found him! He awkwardly waved for us to follow him as I'm sure he sensed our lies. The next thing we were in a taxi which felt approximately  9000 yrs old. Yey.


Admittedly we drove passed some gorgeous places and were encouraged to get out and take pictures.








We bartered a price with the camel owner then raced down the steps to meet the camels on the beach...not the desert which was initially described but to be honest I would prefer a beach any day!

















She sprinkled it with glitter at the end which made it look really pretty...but was a bit pointless because it had all come off by the time I left the place haha!

Then came the payment. Bearing in mind that he'd already told us it'd be 13 euros all together, we didn't expect it to be much more with the tattoo added on. Well, we were wrong, they profusely insisted that it was 13 euros each, which to us sounds reasonable but in Morocco prices are so much cheaper but they can't resist but try to rip-off tourists and due to us both being on the rather poor side right now, we had been looking forward to the dirt-cheap prices, only to find ourselves being ripped off left, right and center. In the end we just paid them the extravagant price, which we both instantly regretted.

After another whizz round the markets the next morning for last minute souvenirs and presents, we made our way to the ferry port....long story short, our ferry was delayed for 12hrs due to the rough sea, throw in the delightful sound of every person within a 20 meter proximity throwing up violently and being rocked around like a pin-ball, it was a GREAT journey back! We arrived back to Spain at about 3am in a terrential down pour and had to get a taxi back to the apartment...say hello again to European prices!!

During the Easter holidays, my boyfriend and I decided to embark on our first ever trip out of Europe! As we were in the South of Spain anyway and Morocco was just a leap across the water away, we booked our bus and ferry tickets and counted down the days with glee.

When the day arrived, we marched off to the bus stop early in the morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with our cases in tow and caught the bus down to Tarifa, Spain. We re-fueled with toast and fresh-orange juice, (just what the Doctor ordered) then checked-in. Bearing in mind we'd planned our journey relying completely on public transport, we'd made sure to leave some extra time to account for any delays, but surprisingly we arrived a few hours ahead of schedule and instead of waiting around for our ferry, the lady at the desk asked if we'd like to jump on an earlier boat. Of course we said yes and before we knew it, we were excitedly boarding the ferry!

After a thorough passport stamping, a man miraculously appeared as soon as we stepped off the boat and whisked us away to a taxi... We had no idea who he was or why he was being so kind and caring. When we got to the taxi, we thought that he would say his goodbyes, wish us a nice time and then be off, but to our surprise, he jumped into the front, passenger seat. Ian and I exchanged extremely confused faces. Why was he coming with us to our hotel? Instead of asking, we both sat contently in the back as he told us historical facts and recommendations about Tanger, Morocco. We paid the taxi driver then went into the hotel and checked-in. Before we made our way up to our room, the man said he would be downstairs (implying he would wait for us). We mumbled a few confused grunts then ran upstairs to explore our surroundings and more importantly; try to find out what the hell was going on! There was only one thing for it, Google! A quick search revealed that he was, in fact a guide! The reason he was being so helpful and caring was because he wanted us to pay him for his services.

By the time we'd freshened up and were ready to explore the city, we timidly came downstairs expecting to see our 'guide' and, being typically British, dreading the awkwardness of telling him that although he was really nice, we wanted to look around on our own, he was gone! Just as well, although we would have given him a bit of money if we'd have known the etiquette beforehand. Anyway, with our new 'guide' knowledge at the forefront of our minds we wondered off into the unknown and got lost in a delicious, ferocious sea of markets, spices, clothes, leather, animals, beautiful scenery and of course guides!

 Various birds were stacked in cages outside shops. Many places crammed in as many birds that would possibly fit in, which was sad to see.
 The gorgeous beach had creamy sand and tasty, turquoise blue water. Shame about the weather though!



Whilst walking around,if you stop even for a few seconds to contemplate which direction to take, there is always someone who magically appears to show you the way in exchange for as much money they can persuade you to give them...which is where you need to be quite to the point. If you really do not need/want any help then you have to be very persistent when saying no. Even despite your decline, they will still try to convince you by telling you facts and recommendations, if you remotely respond or seem interested then they will indulge you more and more, before you know it you're arranging to meet them for breakfast, guided tours and camel rides on a desert...which is exactly what happened to us on the second day.


To be Continued.....

Looking for the perfect University can seem so daunting and stressful at the beginning...especially when every, single Uni is telling you why you absolutely need to go to them and there's no way you should even consider anywhere else. This in itself just adds to the confusion, so take a step back and follow these simple steps:

The first thing you should do is choose your course, what subject area or career are you interested in? If you're struggling then there are many online 'course finder' tests which you can take to give you a few suggestions! This will then whittle down some of the Universities straight away as not all of them will offer your course!

Once you've chosen your course, the next thing you should do is to decide what type of University you're looking for; for example, if you're sure that you want to stay close to home then there's no point even considering travelling hours to University Open Days which are really far away! There are many aspects to consider, such as how the course is taught...does it suit your style of learning? The accommodation which is offered....is it guaranteed that you will have somewhere to live? Social Life...if you're looking for the party lifestyle, is it available in that area?

Next thing, organise to visit a few of your chosen contenders at Open Days! These will offer you a much better insight into everything about the University and what you will be able to expect if you studied there. There are also lots of opportunities to ask any questions or queries that you have in mind, so don't forget to take a notepad and pen! Also, take someone along with you so you can compare opinions. After the visit, try to make a note of your initial thoughts so that you don't forget or get it mixed up with another Uni at a later date! The last thing you want to do is choose a Uni then turn up and realise you'd got them mixed up and your dream Uni was actually 'the other one'!!

Consider the grade requirements. Be realistic with what grades you're likely to achieve and consider if there's any point applying for a University which recquires grades you could never get, equally if they're low grade boundaries and you think you'll definatley surpass them, then take this on board when making your decision.

You get to choose three options through UCAS when applying so make sure you consider these thoroughly! After that, it all comes down to your grades and offers, so be sure to put in the time and effort in order to reap the rewards afterwards. Finally, after your exams are all done, you can only sit back, relax and await the results and offers!

Being English, I'm used to cold, gloomy, rainy days, trapped indoors like a prisoner; feeling as miserable as the weather. Don't get me wrong, I adore cozying up with a hot chocolate in front of the TV or whilst reading a good book, a burning fire warming your bones, crackling steadily in the background...and there's nothing better than waking up to a thick, white blanket of snow covering the ground and turning everything into a magical, Winter wonderland! But I have come to realise that enough is enough, there's only so many books you can read, TV shows and movies you can watch and logs you can burn before you long and crave for that thing called SUN...remember that??...

It's not just the weather which has enticed me to move abroad but the lifestyle which often accompanies it! Most people I know, work all year and indulge themselves with a 2 week holiday abroad and although it's only a minuscule amount of time in comparison to how many hours they've worked all year, the excitement and memories, which a fortnight away can bring, can last a lifetime! Now, what if that 'holiday feeling' and relaxed, carefree lifestyle could become your life? Perfect!

Of course, you can't spend your whole life living a holiday, staying at hotels and doing nothing but going to the beach and sampling new restaurants every day. But, living abroad you can do! And maybe, you should do! Right now I'm sat on the balcony of my flat writing this blog in a floaty, summer dress in the South of Spain, and yes it is only March! It's safe to say that I've definitely got that 'Summer feeling'; the cool breeze is gently brushing down the street whilst the sun steadily warms the clear, blue sky, with not one single cloud in sight. Now, tell me that doesn't make you want to jump on the next flight and leave the frozen depths of Britain behind!?
A lot of people dabble in the idea of emigrating, or even just buying a property abroad but are put off by various conundrums such as the risk and of course leaving behind family and friends...well this is where things have changed! Flight prices can cost as little as a good cut of beef from your local butchers and you can be in your destination quicker than it would take you to watch a double Corrie omnibus! Also, with Skype, Facetime, Snapchat etc. etc. etc it's now easier than ever to keep in touch, so you won't even feel like you're leaving people behind at all!
If you've got children it can seem like a lot of pressure to take them abroad to live, or even to buy a property abroad but it's also so beneficial for little ones! Children absorb information like sponges and there's no better stage to learn a language than infancy, equally there's no better way to learn a language, than being surrounded completely by it. I can't stress enough about how beneficial it is to be able to speak a foreign language! Finally, children make friends almost instantaneously wherever you take them so you don't need to worry about that either!!

If, on the other hand; you're young, carefree and sans famille then why not just jump on a flight and sort out the minor details of accommodation and a job when you arrive? I know it sounds unbelievably daunting and risky but, if you book a few nights into a hostel before you arrive, from there it's normally a breeze to find a place to rent in a matter of hours and it seems there's always a ton of English teaching jobs available wherever you go. If you just sort out a few minor details beforehand, it couldn't be easier!

So many of us will spend lifetimes complaining but how many of us will actually do something about it and change what they're not happy with?

Here's a short blog entry, giving you an insight into my life lately, according to the pictures on my mobile.



The top left picture was taken in Granada when visiting the gorgeous Alhambra where Ian and I went for Valentines weekend. Also, the middle photo on the right, is a picture I took of the view over part of the city from the top of the Alhambra.

The top, middle picture is of the cathedral in the center of Murcia, Spain on a glorious sunny day, a few weekends ago. As you can see, the temperature's not bad for February!!

The next picture along is of me, dressed up before a date-night meal. Hehe!

In the picture on the bottom right, I'm with the kids from the school where I work...I spend most of the time trying to get them to stop hugging me, long enough to actually SIT in their chairs and maybe...even possibly LEARN!!!...they are so cute though!

To the left of the previous picture, I'm holding a pretty bunch of flowers from Ian! ^.^

Next along, is Ian and I, having a picture at the top of the castle in Alicante, with the sea in the background. The view was unbelievable!

Finally, above that, is a drawing which one of the children drew for me. She asked me what my favourite Spanish food was then proceeded to draw me eating it (chorizo). 

*Also, just a tip for everyone, if you ever want your ego boosting, hang out with Spanish kids, they're so complimentary and will make you feel like a complete model from just 5 minutes with them, from the amount of times they tell you that you're beautiful...though when you hear them say it to absolutely everyone, you begin to question their sincerity! Haha 

On Friday morning we woke to the dreaded realisation that the alarm hadn't gone off and therefore we were going to have to rush like mad in order to make the bus to Granada! We ran back and forth, from room to room and through a flurry of clothes, bags, passports and keys we threw ourselves out the front door and hurried off to the bus station. Once on the bus, we relaxed into a tired state of slumber and before we knew it, we had arrived in a somewhat cold, cloudy but gorgeous Granada!


I'd like to say that we quickly found our hostel, and went off to explore the wonders of what this new city had to offer...but unfortunately, as hard as we tried we just could not find it at all, despite being armed with the address and directions! So...what do you do if you're homeless in a foreign city and have no idea what to do...why, go for food of course!!



After a sufficient belly-filling session, we continued on our hunt and eventually, after about 4 hours of looking (no word of a lie!) we found it. With no sign posts or even a sign outside the door, it was a wonder that we ever stumbled across it at all. Buried between the stacked small streets of Granada, piled upon the hill-side, our hostel nestled, hidden away from crazy tourists like ourselves.

By the time we arrived, we collapsed onto the poor excuse of a bed, threw our bags onto the dirty, uncleaned, never-seen-a-brush-let-alone-a-mop-before, floor then went on a brisk, excitement-fuelled exploration of the City and planned our next few days.

The next morning we caught a City tour bus/ tram, purely for the "hop on, hop off", transport factor, and we found a gorgeous little hang out with amazing views of The Alhambra and Sierra Nevada majestically glistening in the distance with a fair helping of snow dusting its' peaks.









http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/buyalhambratickets.asp