The Luck of The Irish

Following our budget-busting week in London we threw on our backpacks once again and departed Britain for its eye-wateringly expensive neighbour - the beautiful and timeless Ireland.

Ireland moves at a different pace

From the second we emerged from our cost-friendly (but 12+ hour long) coach and ferry journey, we noticed the change of pace.

Whereas London had been typically manic and full of people rushing to get somewhere, Dublin felt positively languid. Shopkeepers conversed with their customers, inquiring after their family and their health. Bus drivers greeted us warmly and gave directions to our accommodation. People stopped to help mothers manoeuvring large prams, or to assist elderly patrons board the bus... It all just felt so warm and welcoming.

And before anyone accuses me of perpetuating Irish stereotypes, such behaviour has been consistent throughout our journey which has thus far included Dublin, Belfast, Derry, Galway, Cork and Killarney. They're just such a friendly bunch of people! And I, for one, am soaking up their hospitality like a sponge.

Mind the Gap: Penny-pinching in London

It's been a few years
since I lived in London

Last week I returned to London for the first time in four years. I'd spent two years living in England's capital city from 2008 to 2010, before moving to Melbourne with a former partner. Going back was a bit like reuniting with said ex-partner: I'd felt a tad nostalgic for "the good ol' days"; I wondered if things had changed... and whilst my first few days felt promising and it seemed as if we'd both moved forward, inevitably I was reminded why it didn't work the first time around.

That's not to say that London isn't a fabulous city. It most definitely is. I just realised over the eight days I was there that my 31-year-old self is far different to the idealistic 25-year-old that jumped on a plane to Heathrow within days of graduating from university.

You see, back then it was all about my career. I lived to work. Within days of stepping off the plane in London I had secured an interview with the BBC, within two weeks I was walking their halls in my first ever TV job. And I didn't look back (well, until last year when my career came to a screeching halt as I departed on this round-the-world sabbatical).

Let Food Be Thy Medicine

I've always loved food. As a child my parents were delighted that I would eat a wide variety of foods, yet also perplexed as to where my curiosity and obsession with food came from.

I love to cook

But my love of food goes beyond a mere enjoyment of eating. I love the growing of food, the cooking of food, the sharing of food (and yes, the photographing of food - although I refrain from subjecting my Instagram followers to that).

I can spend hours perusing recipes online and in books; I watch endless cooking shows, food documentaries and cooking clips on YouTube and I frequently trawl food markets and food halls or walk into posh delicatessens and green grocers just to take a look (despite the fact I find most other forms of shopping mind-numbingly dull).

I'm also very enthusiastic about budgeting and frugality, as mentioned in an earlier post. So food waste makes my blood boil (an article about Melbourne's disgraceful food waste here) and I'm always searching for novel ways to eat well for less.

Auf Wiedersehen Berlin - A Budget Travel Oasis

So after two turbulent and hedonistic months in Berlin it was time to throw on our backpacks once again and embark on a new adventure.

It was time to leave Berlin

 We felt that whilst Berlin was a wonderful (and relatively cheap) city to stay and play in, we were languishing in that lifestyle and I was yearning to replace the grunge bars and galleries and city cafes with some snow-capped mountains, turquoise-green rivers, alpine forests and a healthy dose of hiking...  

Fortunately, one country that ticks all of those boxes is picture-postcard Slovenia. Nestled between Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy it is indeed a little country; but punches well above its weight in terms of natural beauty and rustic charm.

The country's capital Ljubljana was (whilst small) perhaps one of the prettiest European cities I've seen, offering relaxation and culture and a wealth of sites and activities for a city of its size.

So for the next few weeks we'll be busy exploring the dramatic cliffside castles, serene lakes and tranquil mountain villages that Slovenia has to offer before flying to another party capital: good ol' London Town!

But, I digress - back to Berlin and the budget. How much did two months cost us, and how did we keep costs down?