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![Unveiling the advent calendar by @joloves at the @royallancasterhotel recently ✨✨✨ [invite] #anna_approves](https://purpurpurpur.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
Unveiling the advent calendar by @joloves at the @royallancasterhotel recently ✨✨✨ [invite] #anna_approves
Festive vibes in Valletta, Malta - even when it still feels like summer 😂😂😂
ad An absolutely fabulous festive experience at @thecarltontowerjumeirah recently: a Christmas twist on their afternoon tea accompanied by a glass of @ruinart ✨✨✨ #anna_approves #purpurpurpur_eatinghabits
New Japanese blog is live at Purpurpurpur.co.uk: explore Hakone, devil valley, Ashi lake (and get a glimpse of Fuji), Odawara and our stay at Hyatt Regency 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎 #purpurpurpur_hotels
Hakone town in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is famous mainly for two things: views over Mount Fuji (if you’re visiting in clear sunny weather, which is more likely to occur in winter) and onsens. It’s definitely an area to consider visiting in Japan: it’s best to reach from Tokyo or Osaka.
Ashi Lake
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is a large natural reserve not far away from Mt Fuji. Once you reach Ashi Lake (a crater lake also known as Ashinoko), you can choose your water vehicle for a lake ride. We took a so-called ‘pirate ship’ from Hakone Sightseeing Cruise and had a smooth ride with beautiful views over the forestry hills, and occasionally, you can see red torii on the shore. Unfortunately, we didn’t get lucky with a view as in spring, the air is quite often misty, and we barely saw Mt Fuji.
Owakudani
After the pirate ship ride, we took the Hakone ropeway that frames Ashi Lake. It goes all the way to another unique natural sight: Owakudani, a volcanic valley with a sulphur pool and vents. Once you arrive at the station, you get a small wet towel if you need to get your nose covered: yes, the sulphur springs have a pretty strong aroma that you won’t mix with any other smell, so this towel might be really useful.
You can walk around the designated area, and there is a shop and cafe near the entrance to the site. The one thing not to miss there are Black Eggs, or Kuro tamago 黒卵, boiled in sulphur water that turns their shell black. Make sure you try one just for an experience!
Where to stay in Hakone?
We stayed in Hyatt Regency Hakone, Gora (Kanazawa prefecture), and this was probably my most memorable stay from my first trip to Japan. The hotel is a perfect combination of traditional and modern, with the rooms overlooking the National Park.
…more in comments
The most magnificent Christmas display I’ve seen in years! Tap save the location - 📍Little Kook, Athens 🇬🇷
ad Let’s celebrate festive season with the best festive dishes 😍 We recently went to try the festive menu of @the_ivy_collection Kensington Brasserie:
you can start your meal with a glass of @nyetimber or choose a festive cocktail: we went for Gingle-Bells fizz and non-alcoholic Festive Citrus Sparkler (@monkey47 @everleafdrinks)
🔹Our starters:
Duck parfait with cranberry chutney and brioche
Classic crispy Duck salad
🔹Our mains: Goose&Turkey shepherd’s pie and Pan-Fried marrocan style salmon
🔹Aaaand just look at this Polar Bear Christmas dessert: clementine, mandarin sorbet, white chocolate and spiced sauce 😍😍😍
#purpurpurpur_eatinghabits #anna_approves
Happy 1st of December- and I’m thrilled to start sharing festive content with you!✨✨✨
I wanted to visit Christmas at @kewgardens for ages but never managed to book tickets. This year the dreams came true, and I must sincerely tell that this is a fantastic experience. This is a three km long trail with different musical installations, a small food market, merry go round, Santa house and with the main shop open late. Beehive looks absolutely extraterrestrial and some alleys have Hogwards vibes. But my absolute fav were the singing fountains🥹🥹🥹
Thank you autumn, you’ve been amazing ✨ Our stay at King George hotel, Athens - and my guide to Ancient Greek and Roman monuments in Athens is live at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_hotels
Tap save - Athens: 25 sites to visit in Athens, more at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio
Acropolis
Theatre of Dionysus
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Areopagus
Lykeion
Ancient Agora
Temple of Olympian Zeus and Arch of Hadrian
Panathenaic Stadium
Roman Agora of Athens
Hadrian’s Library
Syntagma square
Hellenistic parliament
National Park
Monastiraki square
Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Agios Eleftherios
Athens War Museum
Church of Panagia Kapnikarea
Ermou street
Zappeion Megaron
Lycabettus hill
Holy Church of the Holy Apostles of Solakis
New Acropolis museum
Omonia square
Plaka
#purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎
Throwback to our trip to Copenhagen in October - which photo is your favorite?
Greek cuisine is one of my all-time favorites, and here’s my list of must - try Greek dishes 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷#purpurpurpur_eatinghabits
🔹Tzatziki, Tirokafteri and Taramosalata dips with pita bread
🔹Koulouri Thessalonikis bread
🔹Souvlaki
🔹Moussaka
🔹Fried or grilled cheeses (not only feta!)
🔹Dolmados
🔹Pastitsio (tried it last week for the first time, and it was my new fav Greek dish!)
🔹Gyros
🔹Kleftiko
🔹Tiropita and Spanikopita pastry
Desserts:
🔹Bougatsa sweet pastry
🔹Rizogalo pudding
🔹Portokalopita orange cake
🔹Kormós chocolate sausage
🔹Ellinikos Greek coffee
🔹Frappe - did you know that it originates from Thessaloniki?
Athens is a great city to visit and revisit again because it has it all: modern hotels, incredible food, iconic historical landmarks - and you get new sites discovered or reopened occasionally because Athens is just so full of historical gems! For instance, since my last visit in 2007, the large new Acropolis museum and a few architectural landmarks of mind-blowing importance have been opened to the public. In my new blog at Purpurpurpur.co.uk (link in bio) I’m talking about must-see heritage from Ancient Greece and Roman Empire times, and stay tuned to the Athens guide later on!
Tip: if you’re planning to visit a few sites from my list, I’d suggest you buy the combo ticket to skip the lines and also to get cheaper access to the landmarks: we bought our ticket at the ticket box, and it included the entrance to Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Lykeion, Olympieion, Hadrian’s Library, and Kerameikos Ancient Cemetery.
I’ve been to Malta a dozen times, and only recently, we visited a Maltese hidden gem - Palazzo Parisio. I never saw it in any Maltese guides or recommendations, and I’m happy to share it with you!
In 1733, António Manoel de Vilhena, Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, built a hunting lounge here and later, it became a residence of the Parisio family. In 1898, it was acquired by Marquis Scicluna. Today’s look at the building was finalised at the beginning of the 20th century. The palace is still a private property of the Scicluna family: it’s been renovated, and now the visitors are welcomed at the palace and its gardens (you can buy tickets at the entrance). There are quite a few rooms to see there: the ballroom, the great staircase, the billiard room, the music room, sala Lombarda and others. The gardens look absolutely idyllic with a small greenhouse, citrus trees, a fountain and gorgeous blooming plants.
#purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎
Beauty of Athens in November 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
Tap save 3 best spots to observe Acropolis, Athens while sipping Greek coffee ☕️🇬🇷
1.King George Hotel @kinggeorgeathens
2.Acropolis museum terrace @theacropolismuseum
3.Thissio View @thissioview
#purpurpurpur_eatinghabits #purpurpurpur_rooftops
