Summer breeze...?

The weather has been so glorious the last few days that I'm beginning to become convinced that summer is actually on its way. 

It'll probably rain tomorrow, just to prove me wrong. But I've been enjoying the sunshine so far.

Sunshine from my window - the Millenium Bridge doing its thing, looking from Gateshead to Newcastle - a cooling evening drink - relaxing in the yard after work - an evening walk out the pier. 

Everybody loves la bella Italia

It's nice to find other people's experiences and accounts of visits to and travels around Italy sometimes, and know that I'm not the only one that has a huge travel crush on this country! 

Almost everyone I know that has ever been absolutely loved it, and wants to go back. And despite, or perhaps because of being faced with challenges to my ideas about the way things should be done (pre-Erasmus I was fairly stuck in the British way of doing things) I can't wait to return, this time hopefully to work! 

Here are some of my favourite images at the moment...

The Fresh Exchange - this is a blog run by a husband and wife duo of designers from Northern Michigan. I'm so happy I stumbled across it; their ideas and photography are sublime. 

photos of the Northern region of Piemonte and the West coast paradise of Cinque Terre found here and here

Travelettes - I've been following this travel blog run by girls for a year or so now, and find it my 'go to' source for information and tips about a new place. With several contributors from across the globe, it is a perfect collection of articles for any female traveller.

photos of Trastevere, Rome and 'the longest portico in the world' in Bologna here and here

Life and Times of Victoria Rose - one of my friends from university is currently on her year abroad in Parma, at the Conservatorio I attended on my Erasmus year.It is so nice to see another point of view on the charming little city.

photo of Parco Ducale in autumn found here

Italia, ti voglio bene. 

Looking ahead...

In just over three weeks I'll be heading to Copenhagen, so have recently started doing a bit of research into what to do and what not to miss.

First on the list is a climb up a tower, or anything to be able to see a view like this:

photo found here

I'm pretty sure there will be quite a lot of catching up and chatting to be done, so a small list of good cafes and bars will be in order. There are few things better than a drink in the sun and a good seat from which to watch a city go by.

by Cindy Fonvig at Spotted By Locals

photo found here

Nyhavn is apparently another must-see, and having looked at photos I shall definitely try and fit that into my trip. Coloured buildings, a stroll around the harbour and hopefully some sunshine will do very nicely. 

from Tilt Them, a blog of tilt shift photographs

Copenhagen has 350km of cycle paths, and around a third of people there cycle every day, making it one of the cycling capitals of Europe. I'll be finding a bike from somewhere and doing a lot of exploring on two wheels.

(probably not managing to look anywhere near as stylish as most of the Danes)

photo found here

Do you have any tips for a first trip to Copenhagen?