B is for beautiful

‘B is for beautiful, Gill’s bucket list part two’ is a look at the next 3 places on my bucket list.

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Berlin – the capital of Germany

Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany, both in size and population. As I’m looking at weather.com now, it’s 19 degrees C with a small chance of rain. It’s June, and the weather is a mixed bag in Leicester too, just slightly cooler. But I wouldn’t be going to Berlin to catch a tan – it’s all about art, culture and history here.

It takes approximately 2 hours to fly to Berlin from the Midlands, direct. I’ve just found a flight for 2 weeks’ time, return for £37 (excluding seats and baggage).

My top picks for sight-seeing would include:
– The Berlin Wall. The East Side Gallery is apparently one of the most popular sections of the Wall that is still standing (but is just one of many). There is also various street art, and a museum dedicated to Street Art, Graffiti and Urban Contemporary Art called Urban Nation.
– The Brandenburg Gate. More than just Berlin’s only surviving historical city gate. This site came to symbolise Berlin’s Cold War division into East and West – and since the fall of the Wall, a symbol of reunification.
– Berlin Cathedral. The magnificent Berliner Dom is one of the main landmarks in Berlin’s cityscape. It is the city’s most important protestant church, with an interior just as impressive and worth seeing as it’s basilica housing.
– Berlin’s TV Tower. 368 metres high, it is the city’s most visible landmark. It is also the highest building in Europe open to the public. From its viewing platform, there is a 360-degree panoramic view over the city.

There are approximately 170 museums in Berlin. UNESCO museum island is the most well-known complex of museums here. The “Museumsinsel” composes of 5 individual museums of outstanding historical and artistic importance located in the heart of the city, which are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Berlin has many parks; and on the outskirts of the city there are lots of lakes and hiking trails.

Throughout the year Berlin hosts beer festivals, food festivals, the performing arts festival, a cherry blossom festival, ice cream week, the festival of light and a traditional Christmas Market. Let’s go!

Budapest – Hungary’s capital

2h 30m from Birmingham airport, with temperatures in the high 20’s in the summer. However, I’d prefer to visit Budapest in the Winter. There would be a chance of snow, which would look picture postcard like against the architecture and river.

To me there’s something dreamy about snow at Wintertime. Thermal baths (Szechenyi) would feel like a real escape from the chill of outside. Dark nights come in earlier, lit up by the pretty bridges and festive cheer in the air. And it’s cheaper to travel to Budapest in the winter with out-of-season rates.

There are Christmas Markets, and open-air ice-skating rinks at this time of year. The usual tours and experiences such as a trip on the River Danube or a visit to the Gellert Spa, are still available, subject to December timings.

Budapest is bisected by the River Danube. A 19th century Chain Bridge connects the district of Buda to Pest (the new city). There is a funicular which runs up Castle Hill to Buda’s Old Town where you can get amazing views from the turrets of the Fisherman’s Bastion or Gellert Hill.

3 days for me is perfect in Budapest. Sight-seeing can be done during the day, and the city comes alive a night – a 24/7 little adventure.

Budapest is known for its walkability, with pedestrian friendly streets and attractions within close proximity. Walking tours are apparently free (but you can also feel free to tip the guide).

The neo-gothic Central Market Hall is somewhere I could while the hours away! A marketplace for local farmers, with restaurants and a somewhere to buy all your souvenirs.

Margaret Island is a 238-acre island which sits in the River Danube, between Buda and Pest. There is a fountain, a small zoo, a memorial, a Japanese garden, a UNESCO protected water tower, botanical gardens an open-air theatre and a health spa (and relax).

Budapest is seriously moving up my bucket list of places to visit.

Balearic Islands – an archipelago in Spain

Consisting of Menorca (Minorca), Majorca (Mallorca), Formentera and Ibiza.

Ibiza is a location that I have yet to conquer. I almost went when I was in my 20’s with one of my main girls; I feel like this was an opportunity missed, yet out of our control – and I believe some days that I’m still in my 20’s and could handle a long weekend for the closing party in Ibiza…

For all my travels through Europe, and the Med, I haven’t touched any of these beauties yet. I’m thinking, an all-inclusive, front line beach resort, close to a main town where the locals love. Where I can hire a car and travel around with Luke – seeing those Top 10 must see places that Google list.
– Majorca – traditionally more low-key than the other islands, with endless beaches, from sandy crescents to rocky, turquoise watered bays
– Mallorca – the largest island, known for its beaches, scenic coastline and mountains
– Formentera – the smallest island, good for a day trip from neighbouring island Ibiza
– Ibiza – probably doesn’t need too much of an introduction, but there are places off the beaten track, in quiet villages with sandy coves, backed by pine-clad hills

This holiday would be a week of complete down-time (unless we’re talking Ibiza baby!) A time to relax, recuperate, enjoy the sun, walks along the beach and the perks of an all-inclusive.

I’ve done a bit of research into the fishing here for Luke (it’s the way to his heart!) There would be plenty of opportunities to, whether it’s from the shore, or on the sea… Tuna, Grouper, and Mahi Mahi to name a few big ones.

I may have to do a bit more research to convince Luke that we need to tick this one off my bucket list, but it’s a firm contender for me! I’m going to leave this here for him… https://fishingbooker.com/blog/fishing-in-mallorca/

The above includes research from the internet in no particular order:
Top Attractions and Insider Tips for your Holiday – Germany Travel
https://berlintraveltips.com/
https://www.visitberlin.de
www.google.co.uk
https://www.headout.com/blog/budapest-in-december
https://www.spain.info/en/region/baleric-islands/