Romania

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Jan 27 2024

Bucharest: 12 things to see

Europe, Romania

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purpurpurpur

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◈ Travel&lifestyle
◈ featured in Vogue, CNN, Genic magazine
◈ Science journalist
▶ UK and Italy based
◈ Married to @b_pastukhov, mom to @george_v_mark

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Oct 25

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Where to stay in Bahrain?
The Raffles Al Areen Palace is an oasis in the desert located close to the Bahrain international circuit.
This hotel is a hidden gem of the country for those who would like to spend some relaxing time in Bahrain in a extremely aesthetic environment.
It looks like a real Arabic palace and has a nice territory with water flowing around, palm trees, frangipani and bougainvillea blooming and even a small flamingo lake.
We stayed in a private villa – it’s the biggest villa I’ve ever stayed at so far!
We had a courtyard with pool and jacuzzi, an inner and outer dining spaces, a reception, a bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe and a massive bathroom.
Upon arrival, we had lovely fresh flowers and fruits delivered to our place – and I fall in love immediately with places that serve me rambutans.
In villa dining in the Raffles Bahrain has fantastic selection of Arabic dishes as well as some Asian cuisine as a tribute to the iconic Raffles hotel Singapore.
Besides that, I had an amazing body treatment with scrub, wrap and massage at the SPA village – highly recommended!
For breakfast, you can choose hot dishes from the menu (like eggs, pancakes, waffles etc), and bread and some mezze are served per each table additionally. On some occasions like weddings taking place in a hotel there’s also a small buffet with pastries, cheeses, and fresh veggies and fruits.
They also have a kids club, a nice cafe and a few restaurants available for the guests as well. Overall, our experience was extremely enjoyable, and I’d gladly return there.

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspo! Tap the link in bio for full itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk #purpurpurpur_hotels

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Oct 24

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October and November are the best to visit Tunisia - steal my itinerary and follow @purfectapp for more travel tips!

#purfectapp #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

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Oct 23

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Have you ever planned to visit Meknes, one of four imperial cities of Morocco? Fez is a great starting point for exploring this unique Moroccan heritage site!

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspo! Tap the link in bio for full itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

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Oct 22

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Baaa! 🐑 Would you try these VIRAL drinks from The Matcha Wang x BlackTree collaboration in Singapore? Lily Lamb Matcha was definitely the cutest, but the Milky Cat Cheese Thai Tea and specialty foam teas were just as good 💚🤍💛

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspo! Tap the link in bio for full itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk #purpurpurpur_eatinghabits_asia

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Oct 21

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- Anya, please don’t get overdressed when you’re in Bangkok!
- Ok 🙄

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, or the Temple of Dawn, is one of the most famous symbols of Bangkok, famous for its ceramic and porcelain outer decorations and corncob-shaped prangs (spires), with the tallest one standing over 80 metres high.
It’s located right on the riverbank of the Chao Phraya River, directly opposite the Grand Palace. Its name is linked to Aruna, the Hindu god of the rising sun. It’s unclear when it was founded, but a temple was already on this site in the 17th century under the name Wat Makok.
you have time, have a look at the architectural and decorative details, like the mythical Kinnari and yaksha guardians.

📸And yes, it’s a popular spot for dressing up in traditional Siamese clothing, and the stalls here have outfits for the whole family – even kids! Overall, we spent about 30 minutes dressing up and taking photos, as the ladies working there were super quick. However, you can hire a professional photographer there as well if you wish.

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspo! Tap the link in bio for full itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk

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Oct 20

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Save my list of landmarks for one of the prettiest European weekend escapes: Riga, Latvia😍

1. Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums)
2. First Christmas tree sign (Pirmās Ziemassvētku eglītes piemiņas zīme)
3. House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams)
4. Three Brothers (Trīs brāļi)
5. Freedom Monument (Brīvības piemineklis)
6. Riga Cathedral (Rīgas Doms)
7. Great Guild and Small Guild (Lielā Ģilde un Mazā Ģilde)
8. Cat House (Kaķu nams)
9. Riga Castle (Rīgas pils)
10. St Peter’s Church (Svētā Pētera baznīca)
11. Albert Street (Alberta iela)
12. Elizabetes street (Elizabetes iela)
13. Art nouveau museum (Rīgas Jūgendstila centrs)
14. Powder tower (Pulvertornis)
15. Swedish Gate (Zviedru vārti)
16. Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust Museum (Rīgas un Latvijas Holokausta muzejs)
17. Corner House (Stūra māja)
18. Big Christopher monument (Lielais Kristaps)
19. Laima Chocolate Museum (Laimas Šokolādes muzejs)
20. Bastejkalna Parks (Bastejkalna parks)
21. Riga Central Market (Rīgas Centrāltirgus)
22. Rozena Iela (Rozena iela)
23. Nativity of Christ Cathedral (Kristus Dzimšanas katedrāle)
24. Town Musicians of Bremen (Brēmenes muzikanti)
25. Rigensis bakery (Konditoreja Rigensis)
26. Latvian Academy of Sciences (Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmija)
27. Galerija Centrs (Galerija Centrs)
28. National Library (Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka)
29. St John’s church (Svētā Jāņa baznīca)
30. Soviet movie locations (Jauniela)

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspo! Tap the link in bio for full itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

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Oct 19

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Throwback to our Bali summer - we traded Ubud and Nusa Dua for Seminyak and Kuta this time ❤️
If you want a relaxing stylish stay, check out W Bali @wbaliseminyak - those sunset walks on the beach were unbeatable🥹

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspo! Tap the link in bio for full itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk #purpurpurpur_hotels

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Oct 18

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Any quokka lovers? Western Australia is more exciting than you think🥹

📌 Save this post for your future travel inspiration!
📲 Follow @purfectapp for more destination guides - launching soon!

🔗 Check out the link in bio for the full itinerary & travel guides! #purfectapp #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

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Oct 17

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ad This week I attended a fantastic lunch at @cordrestaurant, Le Cordon Bleu’s flagship UK restaurant on Fleet Street led by Executive Chef Karl O’Dell. It offers a modern fine dining experience and is listed in the Michelin Guide.
We were greeted with a stylish bread basket, followed by Native Lobster raviolo and a Wild Mushroom Parfait shaped like a mushroom, served in a bowl filled with moss and acorns. And for mains, we went for some mushroom pasta (exceptionally beautifully plated!) and Rack of Salt Marsh Lamb, served on a rock and framed by fresh flowers.
And I never leave without dessert: this time we chose the Strawberry and Pistachio one.🥹

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Oct 16

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Where to stay in Qatar: The St. Regis Doha @stregisdoha

The St. Regis Doha is a luxury beachfront hotel located in West Bay. Standing guard at the entrance are two giant sculptures of the Arabian Oryx, the national symbol of Qatar, which you will spot immediately upon arrival.
A special collaboration with @vilebrequin took place during our stay, with the brand’s iconic turtle symbol visible everywhere - from La Plage and the brasserie to the poolside. At night, projections of giant turtles illuminated the entire pool area.

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspo! Tap the link in bio for full itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk #purpurpurpur_hotels

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Oct 15

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A must-visit if you’re in London:
🇰🇷Korea: Discover 2,000 years of Korean creativity

📍British museum
1 October 2026 – 31 January 2027

Follow @purpurpurpur for more travel inspo! Tap the link in bio for full itineraries and hotel reviews at Purpurpurpur.co.uk

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Oct 14

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Not all sightseeing goes as planned - for instance, seeing Taal Volcano on Luzon Island, Philippines, from People’s Park in the Sky, the highest observation point, was a complete disaster!
Thankfully, we had a chance to observe the scenery from another spot, Twin Lakes Tagaytay. This is a redeveloped area with a vineyard, hotels, shops, cafés, and scenic views (and they have a Starbucks with the best views in the world, too!).

Don’t forget to check my guides to Manila and Luzon island, Philippines, at Purpurpurpur.co.uk, link in bio #purpurpurpur_guides🔎🌎

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Oct 13

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Autumn in Venice, my favorite city in Europe 🩵

Where to go in Venice? Save my list!
Basilica St Marco
Gran Canal
Rialto Bridge
Doge’s Palace
Rialto Fish and Vegetables Market
Saint Mark’s Square
San Michele island
Libreria Aqua Alta
Bridge of Sighs
Caffé Florian
Galleria dell’accademia
Venetian Ghetto
Madonna Dell’Orto Church
Fortuny palace
Murano Island
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
House of Goldoni
Museo Сorrer and National Archaeological Museum of Venice
Burano Island
Peggy Guggenheim Museum
Lido of Venice
Museum of Music
Squero di San Trovaso
Basilica Santa Maria della Salute
Arsenal of Venezia
Ca’ Rezzonico

Thank you @siberian_in_rome you make me feel the prettiest!

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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Oct 12

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The most burning question if you stay in Lusail, Qatar: the Raffles or the Fairmont?😱 [my guide to Lusail is live, link in bio]

Two hotels are located inside the iconic Katara Towers and are interconnected by a massive conference hall.

🔸Rooms at the Fairmont (photos 1-10) feature a unique mix of modern luxury and traditional Arabic golden elements, with subtle decor honoring pearling, the Gulf’s most famous historic craft. I even felt like the bed was shaped like an oyster shell! And just wait until you see the view from our room - there were also several great spots to sit and admire the panorama.

In the Fairmont lobby, there is an impressive pearl chandelier, and the entire interior glitters with golden panels. On top of that, the hotel features a fantastic Asian restaurant and bar on one of the upper floors with breathtaking views over the city!

🔸At the Raffles hotel (photos 11-20), the rooms are super modern, featuring an iPad to control the music and browse the digital bath menu.
The interiors are absolutely breathtaking: both in our room and the hotel’s public areas, from the kaleidoscopic lobby with changing sky colors throughout the day, up to the breakfast area.
Head up to the 36th and 37th floors to feel like you’re on top of the world; the views from up there are incredible! I’d also highly suggest having afternoon tea here: it’s served on a Katara Tower-inspired stand with Wedgwood tableware, along with an impressive selection of sandwiches and desserts.
The cherry on top? The hotel even has its own private cinema!

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

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Oct 11

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New article is live at purpurpurpur.co.uk: best sights to see in Lusail, Qatar 😍
I’m sure you’ve heard about Doha, the capital of Qatar, but what about Lusail? It is considered the second largest city of Qatar but feels like a part of Doha.
It’s a satellite city with many buildings still in development, and it’s hard to notice where Doha ends and Lusail begins. However, it’s a different entity with its own attractions, don’t miss this fantastic spot!

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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