My Kind of Holiday
Where did you spend your last holiday? My most recent trip was to Lisbon, Sintra and Evora in Portugal. What was the best thing you did while there? Besides eating my
weight in pasteis de
nata (custard tarts), I managed to coax my travel companion to join me in hiking up Sintra’s mountain to explore the beautiful ruins of the Moorish Castle on the summit.
Your favourite city abroad and why? London. I moved there on a solo adventure over a year ago, and this incessantly busy and historical city still manages to surprise me every single day. It’s a truly global place, as so many different people from all over the world live and work here. I love stepping on the Tube and trying to identify as many different languages/accents as possible.
What must a first-time visitor see there? My favourite part of London is the South Bank. A walk along the Thames takes you past all of the city’s icons: the Houses of Parliament, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Shard. Conveniently, one of London’s oldest outdoor markets, Borough Market, lies right at the end; food is always the best reward after some sightseeing.
What should they not bother with? Buckingham Palace. Sorry, it had to be said. The queues and crush of people are just not worth it, and you can see the best of the palace without having to go inside.
What was your best holiday, ever? It was the very first long trip I took back in 2007 with my sister. We were students, so we did everything on the cheap — even living off freebies like breadsticks — as we explored Western Europe.
Your favourite restaurant, anywhere? Myoga in Cape Town is still one of my favourites. Whenever I visit my home town, I make sure to go there to sample their latest seven-course tasting menu.
What’s your best piece of travel advice? Listen to my words: only travel with carry-on bags. Seriously, with the exception of months-long trips around the world, you’ll find that you can put everything you need into a piece of cabin luggage. Plus, you won’t have to deal with hassles like lost baggage, lastminute fees or having to arrive at the airport hours earlier to check in bags.