Venice

During the summer, I went back to one of my favorite places: Venice, Italy.

Italy has been one of my favorite places since I went with my Nan, Granddad, and sister at the age of ten or eleven. I love the culture and history, the food and the people. It's just such a beautiful place. I would spend all my time there if I could, but unfortunately I can't. 

We had to be up extremely early for the airport (I can't remember when exactly) but my Aunt picked us up and dropped us off at Gatwick airport, which is luckily enough, just around the corner. We got through checking in and security very quickly - my sister had to go through a full body scanner because she left her phone in her pocket - and then we sat down and had breakfast in the coolest restaurant ever. It was all tropical themed with a giant palm tree light as you enter and sophisticated, trendy food. 

We explored the shops, I brought some Rum. Then, the rest of my family arrived. This being my cousins. Two sets with their partners and children. So there were thirteen of us all together.

Me and my sister at the airport.

Not long after, we boarded our plane. And just, for the record, I'm the worst traveler. I get travel sickness and bored very quickly. My sister came prepared (that's Tammy, the other duck) and had films on her tablet to watch. So on the plane...

Tammy, my mum and me. 

It was a very clear and beautiful flight. So, a quick bus from the plane to the airport, security and a long wait for luggage, we were through. And my granddad was waiting for us - my Nan and him had driven down at the beginning of the week - and he took us to the bus. And hour journey and we had arrived at Marina de venezia. 

THIS IS NOT MY PHOTO.

We checked in, we stayed in static caravans. And thus, the holiday began. 

We went to the beach. We christened our first night and my cousins sixth birthday with a meal in the restaurant on the campsite. I ate way too much food, an entire bowl of spaghetti bolognese and a bowl of chips. It was amazing. The best food I've ever eaten. Then, we moved along to the ice cream shop. Everyone had dessert while I enjoyed a cocktail...or two...

Blue Lagoon is my favorite cocktail. They make it differently
in Venice and it's so beautiful.

SIDE NOTE: The Blue Lagoon cocktail is scrummy. I love it. Usually it's made with vodka, blue curacao and lemonade. In my family we usually add gin as well, what can i say? We're a bunch of alcoholics. In Italy they make it with blue curacao and apple vodka, it makes it even better. IT's beautiful and I can't describe it, just so fruity and refreshing! 

My little sister had her first nose bleed which was horrible because I felt so useless. I could only try and calm her down, and hold the tissue to her nose while she cried. Then for the rest of the night she was worried about having another one. We were sharing a room and during the night she kept talking in her sleep, saying things like 'I need a tissue' and 'is it bleeding', so me and my twin sister had an awful night sleep checking on her. 

Back to the holiday. Thus, ended day one. 

For the remainder of the holiday we relaxed at the pool and beach. 

I read load's of books. It was great. And on, the Wednesday, I think, we journeyed into Venice with my twin sister, mum and granddad. 

I've done the main attractions in Venice on many occasions. So, this time I wanted to do something that I never have before, St. Mark's Campanile. (The Tower in St. Mark's square.) After a small queue in the blistering summer heat, we took the elevator up and the view was breathtaking. 

 I know, lot's of pictures. It's just, the view was breathtaking and no matter how many I took, I couldn't quite capture the vastness and beauty of the sight before me. 

Next, we explored the streets and just walked around. 

Me and my mum. 

The picture below, on the left, is my favorite. I don't know why. I just love the simplicity of it, The calm water and bridge in the background. I just love it so much. It was my wallpaper and lockscreen for about two months after that day. 

We stopped for some lunch, brought some gifts and then went back into the campsite and into the pool for a cool down. I don't know how to emphasize this but it was very hot, like, very very hot.  

The rest of the holiday was the same, relaxing. We went out for breakfast a few times. I always had green tea and a doughnut. I know, not exactly a usual breakfast but it was so yummy and soft and fluffy, like eating a cloud. We hired a pedalo one day and took that out. Saw a jellyfish. Enjoyed the evening cocktail. 

A random selfie. 

The last night was fabulous. We went for dinner again. I had the same as the first night. It was amazing:

 

 I was graced with some wifi, so I finally got to use that and of course, took some selfies. 

That's my twin in the other picture, busy deciding what she wants to eat. Then we went for dessert and drinks again. This time, I didn't make the same mistake. I ordered two drinks. 

Right, I know I haven't told you much about the campsite but guys, it's gorgeous. One of the biggest campsites in Europe. It has it's own supermarket and shops, a fountain and restaurants. I've taken some pictures of the swimming pools from a bridge that goes over the top of the complex. 

After a lovely dinner and drinks, we retired for the night, unfortunately I do not have the group family photo because my Nan took it with her camera. 

The next day we cleaned and packed, chilled for a bit, went for lunch and then took the bus to the airport. This is when things went downhill. The check in desk didn't open for over an hour, and we were literally sitting on the floor waiting because there were no chairs or areas for waiting. Then, finally we were checked in, went straight through security and got some food. Our flight was delayed. And for hours we had to sit at some tables waiting for news of our flight, the kids lagged and fell asleep. I got annoyed. They closed all the restaurants and shops, so food and drink was limited to a certain time. 

When our flight was called, we were boarded and in the air within half an hour (if that) and on our way back to England. I fell asleep. Or, I was in the land between being awake and asleep for the whole two hours, I woke up not feeling rested and totally confused to where the time had gone. We landed in dark and rainy England. My aunt picked us up and we were home at three in the morning. I went to bed, and woke up the next morning, unpacking and packing for uni. It was a stressful morning. 

But I had a lovely holiday. It was fantastic and the perfect way to start my final year at university. 

The Jump

Last weekend I went to a party and without going into specifics, I drank three bottles of buck's fizz and various shots. The next day, Sunday, I found myself at Horsham park for a event they were having with stools and a funfair and stuff. My cousin (she works at the gym) is part of the new High Places course that they have there and offered us a go because it wasn't very busy and I wanted to try.

Me, Tammy (my twin sister), my mum and Isabelle (my little sister) had a go.

Tammy, Me and my Mum. (My little sister didn't want to go at this point.)

This will give you an idea of the size and different areas in the course.

We started on a rock climbing wall. I have to admit, I haven't climbed in years and was wearing the worst shoes possible, Doc Martens. So, as I was saying we had to go on the rock climbing wall and then just let go when we reached the top, it has one of those automatic ropes which is super scary. I was very scared and had to climb half way down before I let go. But after that I was able to do it no problem, as was my twin and my little sister, my mum on the other hand climbed down each time.

Then we moved on to the first level. The lower level. That's me doing a fetching pose while I wait for my little sister, who is in the tunnel, she hated it and even cried once but then once she had done it, was fine and even did it again. 

The worst part was a log that  you had to walk across with some rope as handrails which was too low and threatened to make you fall.

The next level, the top level was well, a lot higher. Like, damn, so high. The first thing my twin said, because she went first, was "don't look down", so of course, I looked down. And Christ, sick threatened to come up.

I don't have any pictures of this level because my photographer (my aunt) needed the toilet.

THIS LEVEL WAS MUCH HARDER.

First, there was another log to walk across, this time with no rope to hold onto and a part that you had to zipline into a net, fun but scary. Then a bridge, with sizable gaps, with yet again no hand rails. You just had to run it. And to finish, you have to jump off the platform to get down.

It doesn't look that high in the picture but trust me, it was high. I spent maybe five minutes considering it before I just walked off. It was scary but such a rush. I even did it again. 

These are pictures from my second jump. My first jump was recorded but I don't have it saved on my laptop, if you want to see it check out either of my instagram pages:

@princess_tiffani_louise

+Tiffanilocked95