RIVA DEL GARDA

Riva Del Garda, Italy. If you find Verona on a map, west, is a lake called Garda. We spent a week in Riva staying on the water’s edge, visiting our daily coffee shop and keeping up a balanced diet of gelato and pizza. Riva is not a town inhabited by an excessive amount of tourists which made it that more magical. We certainly got a taste of the Italian tradition, the cobbled streets and kindness of the people. I felt quite at home by the end of the week. 

VERONA

VERONA- The setting of William Shakespeare’s heartbreaking play, Romeo and Juliet and more modernly known as the setting of Letters to Juliet.  I did not spend much time in this city, but the views I did see where beautiful.  

A STROLL IN THE PARK

Knole Park is located in Sevenoaks, UK. Before my family ventured on our holiday to Italy (photos to come), we visited our cousins and spent a day with them. Knole Park consists of a manor house and gardens that have been donated to the state for public use. If you are Downton Abbey fangirl like me you would understand the beauty I see in these estates. It was a beautiful day, and then gardens were a grand place to explore.

Knole Park is located in Sevenoaks, UK. Before my family ventured on our holiday to Italy (photos to come), we visited our cousins and spent a day with them. Knole Park consists of a manor house and gardens that have been donated to the state for public use. If you are Downton Abbey fangirl like me you would understand the beauty I see in these estates. It was a beautiful day, and then gardens were a grand place to explore. 

4 PRIVET DRIVE

“It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”- Albus Dumbledore

The Warner Bros Studios in London is home to the world of the Harry Potter set where all eight movies where filmed, directed, edited and produced. I had the opportunity to go and visit the magical world of Harry Potter and have a peek into the studios. The visit was extraordinary, I felt as if I was re living my entire childhood having grow up with the Harry Potter series as my second world. From the great hall entrance to the quirky gadgets – I was memorized. The experience allowed me to understand the amount of hard work goes into producing these large scale movies, from costumes for major characters to the most detailed props in shop windows. Butter beer was served outside as you took a stroll, hop on the Knight Bus, visit 4 Privet Drive and even have a look at the cemetery from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I was transfixed by the Buckbeak, Hagrid’s hippogriff, that was able to move as if it was truly alive. Finishing off the day with some credit card action, as I bought my sister a Slytherin luggage tag (as she has a little Harry Potter Obsession), a post card and key ring. Such an unbelievable day!

HIDDEN VALLEY

Here are some photographs I took just before I left South Africa. They where taken on a wine farm near Stellenbosch. Looking at these pictures makes me miss SA so very much and the lovely weather.

NEW ABODE

My "normal" is nothing like what it used to be. In fact my entire life has shifted and my lifestyle has become a entirely new ball game. I have gone from South African school girl to a gap student living and working at Horris Hill school in Newbury, England. I arrived in 3 degree weather and since then it has snowed, rain excessively and been in the minus degrees-  now that is a bit of a shock to the system.