I have no idea where to even start writing about Dubai, and I’m still not sure how long this post will be, but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet so you don’t need a snack break halfway through. A trip to Dubai had always been my dream. If you asked me why, I probably couldn’t give you a straight answer… maybe it’s just that it feels like a city where anything is possible?

Anyway, the decision was made: December trip (because I enjoy living and didn’t fancy melting in the summer heat). Everything was booked, and before I knew it, I was on my way to the airport. The journey itself was pretty uneventful, and around 11pm we finally landed. The dream had officially come true! After a quick transfer and check-in, I was in bed shortly after midnight, feeling very accomplished.

I should mention that we had most of our attractions pre-booked, so our 10-day stay was pretty well planned. Which sounded great… until I realised I had to be at Miracle Garden the next day at 1pm. So much for a relaxing lie-in I mentally scheduled “catching up on sleep” for some undefined future.

After breakfast, we tried to figure out how to get there and ended up choosing a taxi. Honestly, if you’re travelling with 2–3 people, it makes more sense than the metro- you’ll probably pay the same or even less, and you don’t have to pretend you understand the map.

Dubai Miracle Garden itself is such a cool place, imagine millions of colourful flowers right in the middle of the desert. It’s massive, with heart-shaped pathways, flower castles, and even a full-size plane covered in blooms. It honestly feels a bit unreal, like you’ve walked into someone’s very ambitious screensaver. Perfect for photos, wandering around, and occasionally getting slightly lost… which, to be fair, is part of the experience.

We came back to the hotel, and if you think I finally got to catch up on sleep… umm, no. Of course not. Life had other plans. The next day’s attraction? The Burj Khalifa – 153rd floor. No pressure.

But wow… what an experience. The views were absolutely incredible. We had tickets to the lounge, so drinks and snacks were included-and let me tell you, coffee just tastes better at 153 floors up. I don’t know if it’s the altitude or the vibes, but suddenly I felt like a coffee connoisseur.

After a pretty relaxing afternoon up there, we went down to watch the Dubai Fountain show, and it did not disappoint. The water jets were dancing high up in the air, perfectly in sync with the music. Every show was different too – different songs, different style – so of course we stood there longer than planned thinking, “just one more.”

After such an eventful day, we headed back to the hotel, completely exhausted. Oh, and I almost forgot – the Dubai Mall, right next to the Burj Khalifa, is absolutely humongous. It’s the kind of place where you go in confident and come out two hours later wondering how you ended up in a completely different postcode. And it’s not just shops – it has everything: a massive aquarium with real sharks (yes, actual sharks casually swimming around while you’re shopping), an Olympic-size ice rink, cinemas, the Sky Views Observatory, and even the Human Waterfall with diving sculptures. Honestly, it’s less of a mall and more of a small city.

The next stop on our Dubai attraction map was Dubai Marina. And no – I still hadn’t caught up on sleep. At this point, I’d accepted my fate and decided I’d probably just sleep on the flight back to England… if I was lucky.

But anyway, back to the Marina- what a lovely place. It’s got a really nice, relaxed vibe, with loads of cafés everywhere, perfect for sitting down and pretending you’re not completely exhausted. And surprisingly, it’s not as expensive as you might think. There are plenty of bike paths too, so if you’re on a budget and don’t feel like spending money on taxis, renting a bike is a great option (plus, you can convince yourself it counts as exercise) 😛

And if you’re trying not to spend too much on food, there’s a Carrefour supermarket nearby where you can grab something cheap – just like in any other Carrefour around the world, except with a slightly better view.😛

After a coffee and a nice walk, we went on a day cruise around the Marina, which we had already booked with Two Continents – a company that, honestly, gives 100%. At that point, all I had to do was sit back, relax, and enjoy the views… and maybe try not to fall asleep mid-cruise.

Now I really promise this is the last attraction I’m going to tell you about, after this, it’s just photos (you’ve been warned).

Next stop on our list was The Palm View. And honestly, it’s one of those places that makes you stop, stare, and go “wow” without even realising. From the top, you get an incredible view of Palm Jumeirah, a massive artificial island shaped like a palm tree because, of course, a normal island just wouldn’t be enough in Dubai.

What’s even crazier is that it was built using sand brought in from all over the world. I can barely organise a weekend trip, and here they are building entire islands from imported sand.

You can also spot the famous Atlantis hotel sitting right at the top of the palm, looking like it belongs in a movie (or at least somewhere way more expensive than my budget). It’s the perfect spot for photos, especially at sunset, and one of those views that really reminds you just how extra Dubai is… in the best possible way.

And as I promised, here are a few more attractions worth seeing.

JBR Beach

Ain Dubai

Dubai Creek

Gold Souk

Old town market

PS: And before you ask about the Museum of the Future – no, I didn’t see it !! I clearly needed to leave something for next time… you know, just in case I needed an excuse to come back to Dubai 😛

If you have any questions or need any advice, feel free to drop a comment below or send me a message. I’ll be more than happy to help 🙂

Wroclaw is a place where you can lose yourself… literally and figuratively. I swear, this city is the only place where you start out on a ‘quick stroll’ and end up questioning if you’re in a medieval theme park or just too far gone into the local pub scene. I came here to visit family, but let’s be real- I’m probably just here to follow gnomes around and eat pierogi until I pass out. Speaking of family, I’ve got some amazing people here, and honestly, part of me thinks that one day I’ll live here. If I were to come back to Poland for good, Wrocław would be the place. Wrocław is one of those cities where you can feel the layers of history just walking down the street. It sits along the Oder River in western Poland, but its story is anything but straightforward. Back in the day, it was known as Breslau (yep, that’s the German name), and over the centuries it changed hands more times than you can count – Bohemians, Austrians, Prussians, Germans, and finally, Poles after World War II.

Because of all that back-and-forth, Wrocław is super multicultural at its core. It’s been home to Poles, Germans, Jews, and Czechs, and you can still see that mix in the city’s vibe, architecture, and even in the food.

Today, Wrocław feels like a cool blend of old and new – colorful buildings, historic churches, quirky dwarf statues scattered around the city, and a warm, welcoming energy that reflects its mix of cultures and complex past. But hey, maybe it’s just the gnomes and the endless pierogi talking.

Speaking of gnomes, they’re everywhere. I’m not talking about garden gnomes, I’m talking about tiny statues that have somehow taken over the city like some kind of gnome army. You’ll turn a corner and there’s another gnome, just staring at you like, ‘You think you’re lost? Well, I’ve been here since 2005, pal. Welcome to my life.’ They’re probably in charge of the whole place.

And then there’s the food. Don’t even get me started. You’ll order one pierogi, and by the time it arrives, you’ll have gained 3 kilos and signed up for a cooking class to figure out how it’s even possible to make something so small, so heavy, and so life-changing. You think you’re just going to have a ‘quick snack,’ but 3 hours later, you’re rolling out of a restaurant like a human pierogi yourself, wondering how you let one dish defeat you so thoroughly. And if you’re still hungry, you can grab the biggest and most delicious donut ever.

Now, if you’re walking through the city and see a crowd of people constantly queuing outside a small, unassuming shop, brace yourself: you’re about to encounter the most glorious doughnuts in existence. People here don’t just buy donuts; they worship them. The line outside this place is practically a daily ritual- because if you don’t wait in that line, you don’t know what you’re missing. These aren’t your basic, store-bought donuts. No, my friend, this place serves donuts that are warm, freshly made, and topped with every imaginable thing. Glazed? Yes. Sprinkles? You bet. Filled with chocolate, caramel, or fruit? Absolutely. But the real gem here? The doughnut with the gooey, molten center that might just make you question your entire life’s decisions and lead you to wonder, “Is this what happiness tastes like?”

Now, let’s talk culture. Wrocław is like the cool, artsy cousin of the other Polish cities. It’s got that perfect blend of history and hipster vibes. You’ve got the medieval architecture and all these stunning, old buildings, but then you also have modern street art popping up like, ‘Yeah, we’re cool, but we’ve been here since the 13th century.’ The city’s rich in history and culture, but it also knows how to throw a good festival, whether it’s jazz music, a medieval fair, or just random people dressed like they walked out of a Tim Burton movie. There’s always something creative going on-whether you’re admiring a 700-year-old cathedral or stumbling upon a spontaneous performance that has no business existing in real life.

Speaking of spontaneous performances, that was actually the moment I first saw something that would change my life. It was years ago in Wrocław, and I remember walking through the city square when I saw a street performance that was, at the time, completely hypnotizing. I couldn’t even figure out what was happening-people were moving in ways that made no sense, flipping, spinning, and making weird, rhythmic noises. It was like a dance, but also… not? I had no idea what I was watching. Little did I know, this bizarre display would turn out to be Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that blends dance, acrobatics, fight and music – and it would become my great passion, forever changing my life.

But let’s talk about the city vibe. Wrocław has this crazy energy. The main square is basically a live-action circus, with street performers of every kind. You’ll see fire-breathers tossing flames in the air like it’s no big deal, buskers playing instruments you’ve never heard of, dancers moving like they’re auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance, and people pretending to be statues – or maybe they’re not pretending? Who knows, there’s just something magical about it. The weirdness here somehow works.

Now, if you’re wondering how to get around all this madness, welcome to the Wrocław public transport experience. Trams and buses are like a game of chance. You’ll wait at the stop, watching your tram arrive on the schedule and late at the same time (because time is a suggestion here), and wonder if you’re going to get on the right tram or end up in a completely different district you’ve never heard of. But it’s all part of the charm! You’ll ride the tram, packed tighter than a pierogi, with a level of intimacy you didn’t think was possible with strangers. And don’t get me started on the bus – sometimes it’ll just stop in the middle of nowhere for no reason at all, and you’ll wonder if it’s part of a performance art piece you didn’t know you signed up for. It all adds to the Wrocław experience.

Now, I’ve never actually lived here, so maybe it’s all just my imagination running wild. You know how it is – the grass always seems greener on the other side. But honestly, Wrocław, you’ve got me. You’ve got gnomes, you’ve got pierogi, you’ve got donuts that could put other donuts to shame, and a main square that feels like a circus. Honestly, I love it.

Crete is a place that will always hold a special place in my heart. I don’t know if it’s because I first visited this beautiful island during the pandemic in 2020 , when everything was so peaceful and nothing much was happening – or because it felt like the crazy world had finally hit the pause button. One way or another, I loved it!

With not many places open, we ended up in Anissaras – a quiet coastal village on the northern coast of Crete, near Hersonissos. It’s known for its laid-back atmosphere and small local population, which, under the circumstances, sounded just about perfect.

So, the decision was made: I packed my suitcase, flew to Poland to meet my parents, and from there, we caught a flight to Crete. I’ll never forget the strange, yet oddly exciting feeling when we finally arrived. The weather was absolutely beautiful and, best of all – there was no one around. Perfect!

The first couple of days were spent exploring the area around the hotel and familiarising ourselves with the place. I’ll never forget our first walk – we were genuinely shocked to discover that every other hotel in the area was closed. With no one on the streets, it honestly felt like we were the only people left on the planet. And no, I’m not exaggerating. But we quickly adapted, and before long, we were off on our first adventure.

We rented a car (no small feat during a pandemic!) and decided to visit Knossos – because if you’re going to do ancient ruins, you might as well go big. Knossos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. It was the center of the Minoan civilization and is often considered Europe’s oldest city. According to legend, it’s also where King Minos kept the famous Minotaur in a labyrinth, which made me slightly nervous –  don’t ask me why When we finally arrived, we were amazed. The ruins were impressive -ancient columns, faded frescoes, and just enough mystery to make you wonder if you’d accidentally time-traveled.

Walking through what was once the grand palace of the Minoans, I couldn’t help but imagine what life must have been like back then. After Knossos we went for a little wonder around and then back to the hotel.

The next day meant a new adventure 😊 – we decided to visit a place called Balos, also known as the Blue Lagoon.

Balos is one of the most breathtaking beaches in Crete, famous for its shallow turquoise waters, white sand, and stunning views of the surrounding mountains and islets. It’s a protected natural area, which adds to its untouched charm.

Oh my god, I can’t even describe how beautiful it was. The color of the water was simply mesmerizing. Nobody lives there, which makes it feel even more unique and peaceful. I honestly wanted to just pitch a tent and stay forever… but sadly, it was only a day trip.

There was one other island I really wanted to visit- Elafonissi. It’s famous for its pink sand beaches, crystal-clear shallow waters, and the feeling of being somewhere truly magical. Unfortunately, there were no available excursions to this place at the time.

But hey, what’s meant to happen will happen – after all, as the saying goes, “What’s meant to hang won’t drown.” 😉

All I’m going to say about Crete is that it’s an amazing place – one I’ve visited more than once, and another trip is already in the works. I can’t help it, I just love it there.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention: if you’re looking for a nice, not-too-big hotel to spend your vacation in, Ocean High View is a great choice. It’s not located right on the beach, which means it’s in a slightly quieter area – perfect for those who prefer to avoid the crowds and noise. But don’t worry, the beach is still within walking distance, so you get the best of both worlds. The super friendly staff and delicious food will make your stay in Crete truly unforgettable.