I am not much of a morning person and being forced to get up at 7 am, usually results in an urge to dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it. Things were different on Wednesday. I left my bed. Small miracle. Headed up eight decks to breakfast and was hit by a masterpiece of landscape.

After this otherwise uncomfortable state of affairs my morning was brightened with a spectacular view and endless rays of sunshine. It was time to explore the third largest city of Sicily: Messina.

Messina was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 1908, killing about 60,000 people and was rebuilt a year later. Nevertheless or maybe as a cause of its horrible history, does this city posseses a very unique charme. After a little walk around the city, we got in a Taxi and were off to Taormina.

Known as a major tourist attraction, we were told it inhabits a magical and mythical atmosphere. Explanations build expectations. But little did I know that an hour’s car ride drops you in heaven.

After some coffee, food, a little gift from the boy and a mighty fine time, the clock struck four and it was time to venture back to our little boat.

I am a firm believer that on a holiday you shouldn’t reserve any space for calorie-counting but if you do happen to be a patholigical weight-obsesser, you can make use of the great gym facilities or just walk up the 18 decks instead of getting in a cramped elevator.

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As most of you will know I went on an amazing holiday in August.

At the time, I made a promise to myself that this was not going to be my last cruise. Although originally, I was planning to wait for summer, the pre-university-graduation stress combined with a winter that did not get the memo about it being spring, I was longing for a glimpse of sunshine and a break.

7 days ago, I packed my bags, managed to remember to pick up the boy and was transported to a completely different realm, a place where time stopped.

Meet the “ship”:

A lovely tranquil oasis in the midst of the ocean, bubbling with all the excitement and adventure one can posibly imagine. Correction: no matter how good your imagination is, you cannot prepare yourself for this floating city.

Giddy with anticipation, we went exploring and after about an hour of ooo-ing and aaa-ing we had only managed to see half of this monstrosity and were grateful that it only took us a further hour to find our cabin, managing only to get lost twice (mental note: bring a navigation system next time).

We went for an inside cabin, tiny but cosy and you won’t spend much time in it so I don’t see the point in paying double the price for an outside cabin unless you have a money-tree in your backyard.

Theoretically I should probably dedicate a blog post to the ship itself and its countless treasures ranging from a bowling bar to a zillion restaurants, jacuzzis, swimming pools, a spa, a theatre, a casino…. but it’s probably best if you check it out for yourself here.

Day 1, Genova:

We embarked the MSC Preziosa from the beautiful city of Genova. I did not expect much of the city and was pleasently surpised to find that it has more than pizza and pasta to offer.

I found our ship’s great-great-grandfather nearby…

We had a little stroll around the city before time was up and we sailed off to one of my favorite cities, Napoli. If you get the chance (unfortunately time was not on our side) check out Genovas jewel, the Acquarium, and let me know how it is.

Day 2: Pizza-land

We have visited Napoli on our previous cruise but no visit is complete without a quick saunt to Capri, situated only 5 km from the bay of Naples. An Island packed with high-end boutiques and lots of nouveau riche hanging around in the countless over-priced cafes and restaurants. Nevertheless, a truly beautiful place with breath-taking views and eye-popping scenery.

Trying to flee from the costly restaurants and tourist traps we asked an elderly local couple for advice who recommended “Pizzeria Longano”. Moderate prices and heavenly food.

Back on the ship, our muscles aching with the perfect amount of fatigue, it was time for some last-minute snapshots before snoozing off into Nirvana.

Good night…

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A few days ago I received an e-mail from a reader in Germany, asking me for advice and tips I had in regards to Universities in the UK.

I might be taking this one a tad too far, but seeing as I am in my final year, I like to consider myself as the ultimate connoisseur in this field.

As my mother would say, sharing is caring. So let me provide you with the fundamental make-the-most-out-of-being-a-student recipe:

Preparation: 

Which city and what course?

Now your mother/father/sister/friend/dog might suggest it is best for you to take a medicine or physics degree. By all means do listen to their advice, but don’t take it too seriously. It will be you and not them sitting through lengthy & monotonous lectures, so it’s best if the person at the front blabbers away on a subject that mildly interests you. After you have a rough idea of what you want to study the next problem arises, WHERE? This is a hard one. From my first day in secondary school one thing was crystal clear: I will study in a big & exciting city. I ended up in the lovely city of Manchester, a miniature version of London with a smaller portion of the hustle & bustle but still filled with plenty of excitement. I recognize that everyone is different and you might prefer cow-fields over shopping centers and feel more at ease in a Campus University. Whatever your preferred choice is, do visit the Universities before-hand and let your heart speak.

Ingredients: 

• Highheels & lots of going-out outfits (don’t bother bringing your Louboutins or Chanel bags with you, if they won’t be drenched in alcohol they will most likely be stolen or lost)
• Ready meals (you might cook in the first week, but by the second week the kitchen will be inhabited by a grand variety of the most interesting creatures)
• Bedding – It’s called a hall not a hotel
• Paracetamol and flu medication. (for that slight throbbing at the back of your skull)
• A picture of your family and your stuffed animal (…advisable to hide under pillow). Don’t worry you are not a wimp, in moments of solitude a little bit of home can help.
• VITAL INGREDIENT: A bag full of excitement & confidence.

Method: 

It is September and you have finally arrived with your whole wardrobe in your case and teary-eyed parents. Kiss them goodbye, make yourself as comfortable as possible in your new cell room and get out there to meet the other newbies. I know it is scary, but remember, everyone is in the same boat. If really unsure how to approach someone, ask for directions to the nearest supermarket and within seconds you might be caught up in an extended supermarket conversation about boys. From then on, time will fly by. You will be busy, socializing and partying and will meet new people at every corner. Have fun, dance & drink (safety wise – make sure boys drop you home), and don’t forget to send your parents a “I am studying hard & I love you” text once in a while.

Lastly, try not to ignore your studies. Luckily, first year does not count but trust me, for some people passing the course can be quite a challenge. Go to some of your lectures. It doesn’t take long to figure out which are the useful ones and which lecturers post everything online.

Work hard & play hard. These will be the nicest years of your life. Make the most of what is on offer. Oh and if you can, try to get a job. Employers will care more about hands-on experience than a double first.

Here a few snaps for those of you considering Manchester… Being completely unbiased: It is the best University in the World.

My walk to University commences here (giving me that extra bit of royal power every morning)… Continuing along Oxford Road…

…Although I sometimes choose to take the opposite direction (the only reason being that shops tend to be less busy in the mornings).  Nestled in-between the beauties of Manchester’s historical architecture, lies the new jewel of the University:  …the hyper-modern Alan Gilbert learning commons with a zillion study rooms and a quadrillion computers. Open 24-hours during exam time (so the super ambitious ones have a place to live, sleep & eat).  A very cool place, but we prefer studying here:   Our cappuccinos being the essential potion to exam success…Last but not least, my department: The school of languages.and the Business School… I have succeeded in convincing the boy that Manchester is the place to be, I hope you will agree and spread the word.

Wherever you choose to go, I wish you the best of luck and I wish I could turn back time to experience it all over again!

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There are a few easy to follow rules that need to be obeyed by a man, to make my heart melt. One of them is taking me out on a breakfast date. Whilst many girls yearn for the idea of a romantic candlelit dinner for two, I am a bit of an odd one and adore the simplicity and informality of a generous morning feast after an exciting night, consumed in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Fortunately, the boy shares this point of view and when we find the time, a cozy morning meal is a must on our agenda.

Ok, enough of my musings, let’s not stray off the point….

Allow me to take you to Patisserie Valerie.They finally opened their doors in Manchester two years ago. Now, for those of you who have been following my Blog for a while, you will know I am not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but this place is just in another league. So it goes without saying, that I had to introduce the boy to it.I went for the organic apple sultana and cinnamon porridge, served with honey. This is one of those things you either love or hate. Personally I can’t think of life without its existence and other than being exquisite in its taste and texture, for a whooping £3.35 it won’t burn a whole in your pocket. 

Accompanied by a “jug” of caffeine. Too pretty to drink.  B had a slightly less beautiful but equally delicious breakfast: Eggs Florentine. Consisting of two poached eggs on brioche with fresh pan-tossed spinach leaves & Hollandaise Sauce. Super-healthy and mega-tasty. In case you are calorie-counting you might want to give the sauce a miss, which was, shall we say, rather unremarkable.If you are still not full you can grab a pastry or two to go. But be warned, making a choice is excruciating.…who can blame him for having such a sad face when he has to choose only one from these heavenly options…  Hands down … the best cakes in town! I trust you have severe food envy at this point, so give them a go.

For details visit them online here. They don’t take reservations so if you want to go on a weekend, arrive early or queue around the block, your choice.

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