Beautiful Berlin

I have always had a long list of places I wanted to visit, a few I've done already - but there's plenty more that I need to see.

Berlin has always been one of those cities.

Back in June, I finally got to go to Berlin for 6 days and I'm already planning to go again.

Berlin has always been one of them places that stood out to me with its heritage, history and reputation for good food. 

The flight to Berlin was short but bumpy towards the end as I arrived in the middle of thunder, lightening and rain storm. I instantly forgot that as I stepped out of the airport and realised I was finally there in Berlin, Germany.

Landing late meant that it was dark when I made my way from the airport to my hotel - it also meant it was quicker and easier to get a taxi to the hotel instead o the bus/train as was originally planned. The taxi driver was nice but all I was bothered about was looking out the window at my temporary surroundings - it looked so beautiful even in the night time. I couldn't wait to go exploring.

The next day I decided to walk round and get my bearings whilst seeing what sights were in and around my hotel. After food and walking what seemed like miles I finally found my way toward the Berlin Zoo (even though I'm pretty sure I went an extremely long way for what I later found out was a short distance). I chose to go the zoo later on in my trip, saving the best till last. Will write more about that later.

Even though just walking around Berlin is great to see all of the sights and everything, I found that an open top bus tour was brilliant for seeing all I wanted to see in one day and I was able to hop on hop off making it extra great!! The price of the bus tour was great too - perfect if you're on a budget.

I will post more pictures from my trip in a second blog post after this one ... there are so many to choose from.

I didn't know this myself before I went, but Berlin was voted one of the best nights out in Europe. When I went, it certainly didn't disappoint.

I totally enjoyed my time in Berlin, especially when it came to the zoo. It was so much fun and a lot bigger than I thought - you will need a whole morning to go round the zoo and aquarium it is that big. And, it is a bargain price as well.

As mentioned earlier, I will do another post next with more pictures from my fantastic trip to Berlin. If you like to travel, are looking for a new place to go or have just always wanted to visit Germany - I would definitely recommend Berlin as it really is one of the best cities I have ever visited.

NEW YORK CITY!

New York, New York, it's a hell of a town!!!!

 

Sounds like a cliché, but it's true. New York is such a fantastic town with so many things to do that there's a good chance you'll book to go again.

It wasn't my first time visiting New York back in March this year, I had been twice before, but I was still excited to do the things I hadn't on the previous trips. 

As soon as you step foot out of the airport, everything is just bigger and better than back at home. This includes the traffic, which was awful when getting from JFK into New York itself - what with all the big cars, big queues and beeping, you wonder if you'll ever get to the picture perfect view of New York that you've had in your head all along.

Once you get to Times Square that all changes, some people may not like how busy the streets are or all of the noise but I honestly love the hustle and bustle of it and how everyone is busily going about their day to day business whilst you're only entering it for a few days or just longer. 

   


I find the whole place fascinating. 

My trip to New York included some things I had never done before like walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, visiting Dash NY and going to Madame Tussaud's ( a personal fave of mine since I have always wanted to go whilst in NYC and have only been to the Blackpool one before now). 

 

If I had my way, I'd move to New York in a heartbeat, I just love the city! 

People are so friendly all the time, which is a nice change from how it can be in other cities ( not mine, I have to say the people of Liverpool are the nicest people who will genuinely do anything to help someone in need).

I just loved getting up and hearing the noise from Times Square as my hotel was pretty central in it, getting ready for the day and then making my way to the little cafe we went to most mornings for breakfast. The owners of the cafe were always so chatty and the different things you could order for breakfast was brilliant - i went for scrambled eggs and toast - absolutely amazing with the little onion in the eggs, made my day. 

The breakfast's in New York really do set you up for the day.




One of my favourite days has to be when we all went on a trip down to Strawberry Fields. After looking round and buying a picture from one of the stalls - we just kept walking and walking, ended up finding the American version of TKMaxx, having a look in there and before we knew it, it had begun to go dark. Sometimes, there is that much to do that you're just doing stuff and don't realise the time. I love there being so much to do though, I like seeing it all and experiencing it. 



Going in March, I expected it to be freezing or at least cold enough to have to wear the big coat I took, but it wasn't. Some of the days we were walking round in t-shirts and cardigan's enjoying the sun. It was a particularly nice day when we watched the St. Patrick's Day parade through the streets, the amount of effort put in and the atmosphere was just amazing - for me, my day was made seeing someone else wearing Liverpool merchandise who were nice enough to say 'hello' or 'come on the redmen' since we were playing Utd that night for the second leg of our Europa league clash. It felt good!

When it came to the day to come home, it was safe to say I didn't want to leave. Yes, I wanted to see my friends, have a girly night out and give them the gifts I'd got them from New York - but I was going to miss this city.

I honestly think my city, Liverpool, is the best city in the world and I wouldn't swap it for anywhere.....unless New York came calling.....then I'd have to split my time between the two <3 

Ariana Grande : The Honeymoon Tour - Manchester Arena, 4th June 2015

(Photo Credit: Jenny Hunter)

The Honeymoon Tour 2015

With Ariana's fantastic, catchy music and meteoric rise - to say I was excited about going to see her live was an understatement. 

And she definitely didn't disappoint!

Me and my friend in the car on the way ... cat ears at the ready!

Going into the arena it looked full but you didn't realise how full until the lights went out and on came the light up cat ears that people had bought from the merchandise area....it looked amazing to say the least. 

The cat ears and phone lights in full effect! (Apologies for poor pic quality, thats my old phone for you lol!) Photo credit: Jenny Hunter.

As soon as the music began, the crowd went wild as it was obvious which song the petite songstress was about to sing. Opening with the massive hit she featured on with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj, Bang Bang really got the crowd warmed up and ready to dance the whole night away.

Throughout the show Ariana was really warm and friendly, seeming extremely at ease with the massive crowd in front of her. Ariana was constantly engaging with the audience much to the delight of her adoring fans. 

A stand-out performance for me was definitely her live version of the album track, Tattooed Heart....man that girl can sing live! It showed just what a set of lungs Ariana has on her for such a small thing - she could rival Mariah, she's that good!

(Video credit: Jenny Hunter)

As the show went on it became more and more obvious just how good of a show Ariana had come up with for her first headline UK tour. She had really thought about  everything from the song choices and background videos to the staging and costumes. Her and her team had also thought of the fans with the light up ears that constantly changed throughout the show to go with Ariana's stage lighting and colours - it really was fantastic.

(All photo credit : Jenny Hunter)

Another of the brilliant things during the show was Ariana's middle section where she jazzed it up a little. Arriving in a chandelier, Ariana looked amazing for her throwback to the golden times and fans were clearly impressed with this section as the noise seemed to go up a notch. 

(All photo credit : Jenny Hunter)

The time soon came for Ariana to finish her set, much to the audiences dismay. Most of them probably knew she would be back for her encore and most had probably worked out which song she was going to sing for it.....

.....PROBLEM! 

This song really catapulted Ariana to where she is today....touring all over the world to millions of dedicated fans who not only follow her music, but also wear her signature cat ears, dress like her and wear their hair in the same half-up/half-down do that Ariana loves to sport.

Problem was not only liked by Ariana fans, but was well received by the music loving public which saw it shoot to the top of the charts. As you can imagine, live it's even better. You just know when that beat comes in that you're just going to want to dance and sing (probably leaving you voiceless and aching for the next day, but you really don't care!).

(All photo credit: Jenny Hunter)

When the show had finished you knew you'd had a brilliant night. You definitely knew you had been to a proper 'pop' concert because that exactly what it was - a night of pure pop music, some infused with different genres, but a night where you could sing-a-long and dance till you could dance now more.

I would definitely go and see Ariana again and would recommend her to everyone, she has so much energy on stage, how she dances in them heels I will never know! Rumour has it she will be going into the studio soon to work on some new stuff (who knows maybe she already has!), when it comes out I hope its a progression from her previous music but I hope she keeps the same pop vibe infused with all of her influences because it works and it works well.

(Video credit: Jenny Hunter)

Go see Ariana Grande if you get a chance, you won't be sorry!

5 Seconds of Summer

Credit to photo owner.

Love them or hate them: They could be just what this music industry needs right now.

Now and again a band will come along who not only split the music world but have the ability to split rock loving fans in two as well.

Whether it be Fall Out Boy, Paramore or the numberous other bands that have come before them who posses something uniquely special - the ability to send fans arms sky high and make them enjoy the music they listen to - the world has always loved a good villain.

5 Seconds of Summer are no exception.

But why are 5 Seconds of Summer being cased in these villainous roles?

These four Aussie lads are not doing anybody any harm or going around as if they are the best band in the world. They are just a new band who are enjoying some really amazing success right now. The 5SOS lads have number one singles, a chart topping album and a worldwide tour with One Direction under their belts and that's just for starters. Currently travelling the world promoting their new album where they collaborate with the likes of All Time Low and Good Charlotte - who have both divided opinion back in the day but overcome it to become two of the most successful rock bands of their generation.

Back to 5SOS!

Some people love them, some people dislike them and some may even hate them. A lot of people are sceptical or have a negative view of these lads purely because of the One Direction connection. Although, getting seen by One Direction and invited on their tour for a band like 5 Seconds of Summer was massive, it has really given them a chance to get their brand of rock music out there a lot quicker than they would of otherwise been able to and in all honesty, I think they've shown themselves to be nothing like the One Direction lads.

I think that 5SOS should be judged solely on their talent and music alone, along with its ability to introduce a new generation of fans to rock music and bands they wouldn't of necessarily listened to beforehand. 

Credit to photo owner.

5 Seconds of Summer have graced the covers of, and been included in, many alternative or rock magazines in the past few weeks causing debate that hasn't been seen in a very long time. They've caused debates on whether they should be included in these magazines or not, whether they should of been given their own covers so soon or whether the industry should of waited to see how it pans out for the band over the course of the year.

Its clear that the answer to whether rock magazines should include 5SOS is simple: yes they should.

Why is it so unacceptable that a band of young, talent lads who write their own songs with their rock idols and play rock based music should be included in a magazine that covers 'rock bands' ? In my opinion these guys clearly fall into that category just like those who have gone before them, All Time Low, Good Charlotte and Blink 182. They're all rock with other influences infused.

In my opinion, these four guys in 5 Seconds of Summer may just turn out to be one of the most important bands of right now.

Look at it this way, it's not very often a band who love, then collaborate with, artists like All Time Low, Good Charlotte and Lower Than Atlantis become an overnight global sensation (and still have the likes of these bands bigging them up on twitter etc!)

Soon enough 5 Seconds of Summer could be responsible for more kids liking rock music (yay for rock!), for more kids picking up an instrument wanting to playing in a band and for more filling their walls with posters of rockstars from the bands me, you, 5SOS and other rock fans love.

That can't be a bad thing right?

Credit to photo owner.

I say keep an open mind when it comes to 5 Seconds of Summer!

Feeling Blue!!!!

This trend has come out of the BLUE but it is set to be around all summer long! 

(Yay for blue lovers)

This Blue Scallop crop vest from Topshop is perfect for the summer! For £12.00...it's a bargain too! 
(other styles available if this is not you).

This blue Miss Selfridge bag is the perfect summer bag to take to the park or on an unplanned night out. At £29.00 it's a steal too.

Don't want to feel blue, but want to wear blue? Why not try Dorothy Perkins blue bracelet and necklace? They're not exactly matched but would look great together - and at £8.50 and £10 they're such good value for money. 

Just want to add a little splash of blue to your outfit, then why not try doing it with your shoes? The trendy Fearne Cotton ones from Very are just a snip at £27.

If you don't feel like wearing the blues, why not add a little blue to your bedroom with the new Fearne Cotton home range for Very? Prices range from £20 to £349.

How about trying the blue trend on your nails? This 2True fast dry nail polish is perfect and a bargain at only £1.99!

Finally, since the trend is blue and it's coming up to the perfect time for sunglasses, then these little New Look beauties may be just what you're looking for and they're just £4.99!

Apologies

Apologies for lack of updates.

I have them all written its just I couldn't publish them due to lack of internet.

Will post everything tonight and then it will be back to normal.