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Greetings from Miami - meanwhile don’t miss this experience in London at the Battersea power station! ...

Trakai is a perfect day trip destination from Vilnius, Lithuania - my new guide is live at Purpurpurpur.co.uk! #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

🔶Island castle
The main attraction of Trakai is the Island castle dating to the 14-15 centuries, while the old part of Trakai dates to the early 14th century and the rule of Gediminas.

It served as a residence of Grand Dukes of Lithuania and was a really important place for the country and even served as its capital back in Medieval times. It’s the only icastle in Eastern Europe that sits on an island!
Inside there are plenty of things to do as there is a museum split between multiple rooms with exhibits showcasing the history of the castle from Grand Duke Kęstutis and Grand Duke Vytautas till early 20th century.
You can spot the rebuilt ruins of the Peninsula castle: it was initially used for protection against Teutonic order and was heavily damaged in the 17th century during the war between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia and never rebuilt.

🔶Karaim heritage
There’s more to see and do in Trakai if you have time. Trakai is the place where Karaim live – it’s a small and unique ethnic group which came here from Crimea in the 14th century.
The Main Street is named after Karaim, and you can learn about their culture and traditions here too (for instance, at S. Shapshal Karaite Ethnographic Museum). Also spot their traditional wooden houses along the main street!
Make sure to try kibinai, a special Karaim dish you can try only here! It’s a pastry traditionally filled with mutton meat but now you can find all sorts of fillings in the restaurants here.

🔶Boat cruise in Trakai
The lake cruise is a must in Trakai! During your cruise, you’ll glide along the picturesque lake surrounding the Island castle, pass other boats and spot some wildlife: we saw white egret, seagulls, great crested grebe, ducks and coots!
Besides that, you can see the Uzutrakis Manor Estate, or Uzutrakio Dvaro Sodyba: it’s a manor built in 1897-1902 for the famous Tyszkiewicz family and surrounded by a park.
The area is protected by ​​Trakai Historical National Park. ...

When you’re in Marrakesh, Morocco, for the first time🇲🇦
Save your guide: 20+ best spots

1.Jardin Majorelle and Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts
2.YSL Museum
3.Koutoubia
4.Jamaa el Fna
5.Bacha Coffee Shop
6.Dar El Bacha
7.Marrakech Souks
8.Le Jardin Secret
9. Museum of Marrakech
10. Kasbah Square and Mosque
11. Bahia Palace
12. Saadian Tombs
13. El Badi Palace
14. Mellah and Kzadriya Square
15. Laazama Synagogue
16. Qubba al-Barudiyyin
17.Ben Youssef Madrasa and the Mosque
18.House of Photography
19.The Mamounia
20.Walls and Gates of Marrakech including Bab al-Makhzen and Bab Agnaou
21. New Marrakech and M avenue
22. Anima Garden
23. Nobu rooftop Terrace

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspiration and find more itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

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How many Moroccan teas can you count?💚 Send this to a friend you want to go to Morocco with! ...

Best trips from Fez: Volubilis and Meknes!
Fez is a great starting point for exploring some unique Moroccan heritage sites – try to squeeze these cities into your itinerary as both were the main cities of the region for some time and both are UNESCO heritage sites!

🔶Meknes is one of four Imperial cities alongside Marrakesh, Fez, and Rabat. It was founded in the 11th century and for centuries remained a military citadel until Moulay Ismail, the sultan from the Alaouite dynasty, made it the capital in the 17th century.
Nevertheless, the capital was moved again in the 18th century, and the city became less important and suffered from an earthquake on top of that. Now it’s the sixth most populated city in Morocco. And if Morocco is a country of storks, Meknes is its capital! I presume they come here for nesting as the stork nests are everywhere!
See there:
🔹Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
🔹Royal Palace
🔹Agdal reservoir
🔹Bab Mansour Gate
🔹El-Hedim Square
🔹Medina of Meknes and local artisans
🔹Hungry? Go to Palais Ismailia

🔶Volubilis
Volubilis is located about 1.5 hours by car from Fez and about 1 hour from Meknes. It is a partly restored French archaeological site where you can glimpse the Roman past of this place.
Initially, it was a Berber (or better said, Amazigh) settlement from around the 3rd century BC. Then, it probably became the capital of the kingdom of Mauretania, and from the 1st century AD, it became a part of the Roman Empire.
It was abandoned by the Romans in the 3rd century AD, left in ruins for some time, and from the 8th to the 11th century, it was the main city of the Idrisid dynasty before the capital was transferred to Fez.
Only in the 19th century was it identified and rediscovered as Volubilis/Walili (the Idrisid name for this city), and some restorations took place. Now it’s a UNESCO heritage site.
🔹Decumanus Maximus
🔹mosaics
🔹Triumphal Arch of Caracalla
🔹temples of Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus
🔹remains of thermae of Gallienus
🔹the basilica

More at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

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Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates today - and greetings from Panama!🇵🇦 ...

ad Spring has come to @sticksnsushi.uk!🌸🌸🌸

We returned here to try their spring SAKURA menu which includes perfectly cherry-blossoms colored pink Sakura Maki. Exclusive drinks are Sakura Martini and Sakura Spritz cocktails and there’s a non-alcoholic option available too - it’s Hana Kasumi!
And of course, I couldn’t leave without a dessert: Just look at this Sakurakissu dessert - such a perfect homage to the Japanese cherry blossoms.
Sakura specials are available from 26 of March till 26 of April.
#anna_approves #purpurpurpur_eatinghabits ...

ad Last weekend we participated in the exciting @aquashard Peter Pan Easter Hunt on a mission to find Croc’s Treasure Egg! 🐊🐣✨

First, complete the treasure hunt through all the iconic London landmarks such as Big Ben, London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and The Shard, and solve riddles at each step - and finish your trail at the Aquashard, one of the most iconic panoramic restaurants of London, with the Peter Pan afternoon tea with an Easter twist.
The kids’ sandwiches are served in a proper pirate chest filled with delicious goods - and in addition, there’s a book hidden in a mystery compartment!
The scones and the pastries are presented on a pirate ship dramatically appearing in a cloud of white smoke ⚓️⛵️🏴‍☠️

This limited edition afternoon tea will be running from the 30th March to 12th April!

#anna_approves #purpurpurpur_eatinghabits ...

Any Ghibli fans? Then head to Ghibli Park in Nagoya!
Dondoko forest is the magical forest, where you can find the Satsuki and Mai’s house from the My neighbour Totoro movie (it’s a traditional Japanese house you can explore), a traditional Japanese garden, and a tram!
But the very heart of it is a giant Totoro figure sitting on the top of the hill! Kids can even climb inside the Totoro figure.
The Japanese garden around the Dondoko forest of Totoro is such a gem, too, with white herons strolling in the pond and sakura blooming everywhere.

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspiration and find more itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

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ad ✨History of Royal Tea at @mo_hydepark ✨

The concept of this new exceptional afternoon tea experience at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, is built around the British royal family and their preferences in food 👑 🇬🇧 Even the tableware is a nod to a royal garden with a splash of blue like a sky from one side and a splash of green like a garden itself!🩵💚

We started with welcome saffron tea tasting and some sparkling tea, and it followed with a fantastic selection of sandwiches - all linked to the historical royal figures:
🔹Clarence Court Cotswold Legbar Eggs and Fresh Black Truffle;
🔹Scottish Smoked and Poached Salmon;
🔹Aberdeen Herb-Marinated Roasted Beef;
🔹Sautéed Prawn and English Asparagus;
🔹Coronation Corn-fed Chicken and Curry Leaves;
🔹Baron Bigod Cheese, Bramley Apple and Walnuts

And just look at this an exceptional presentation of the sweet part! Many of the dessert ingredients are produced here, at the MO, to create the flavors with levels of sweetness and acidity desired by Emmanuel Bonneau, the Executive Pastry Chef, and by Francisco Hernandez, the Executive Chef.
These amazing pastries inspired by real historical desserts loved by the royals, for instance, by Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth II!
🔸British Strawberries and Cream Choux Bun
🔸Russet Egremont Apple and Lady Grey Tea
🔸Maid of Honour Tart
🔸The Queen’s Favorite Chocolate Biscuit Cake
🔸Traditional Lemon and Raspberry Battenberg

#anna_approves #purpurpurpur_eatinghabits ...

ad I’m a big fan of Latvian cuisine, and I was thrilled to discover @2_morebeers_london, a Latvian gastropub on Angel’s Upper Street - it’s a great place if you’re looking for hearty delicious food!

We passed by their @2_morebeers in Riga’s old town a few dozen times but never knew that they have a place in London as well!

For starters we had pretzel with beer-infused butter and country-style blood sausage with red currant sauce and mashed potatoes. And omg, just look at this generous portion of Chicken schnitzel with fennel and German potato salad!

And the star of the show was definitely the “Deer in waffle”, venison burger with potato waffle bun, and the sauce was serve on the top of a real antler!

As for the desserts, we had Apple and pear crumble - and have you ever tried a beeramisu?🧡🧡🧡
Will definitely be back!

#anna_approves ...