Im Back from Costa Rica

Hello blog reader! I have been away for a while now but now I am back from my trip to Costa Rica. - Lucky me!  Costa Rica is an incredible country and was perfect for the type of travelling experience myself and the girls were looking for. It was action packed but had a good dose of chill out time- plenty of reading in hammocks.  Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Our flight to Costa Rica was an experience in itself- we had a 24 hour journey- London to Toronto, Canada, Toronto to Houston, then Houston to San Jose Costa Rica.  

A beautiful cow on the way up to the La Fortuna Volcano.  Moo

La Fortuna

This was in Monte Verde where the weather was not fantastic.  Being up high in the mountains, we had humid rain here.  We stayed here very shortly just to do the 'Superman Zipline' and Tarzan Swing- which, by the way, was great fun. 

One of the many beautiful flowers in Costa Rica. 

This is John, one of the guys that ran a hostel in Puerto Viejo called Lazy Mon. His tatts were crazy... as you can see. 

To go into Panama you have to fill in a few forms, pay a few dollars and walk over an old wooden bridge which is missing a few wooden slats and old rusty broken rail tracks.  Whilst watching your feet so as to not fall through the holes on the bridge, you are graced with the most beautiful view of the river and green hills. 

A nutter dressed in 80s gear that ricked up into our hostel in Bocas Del Toro in Panama. We stayed in a hostel called Hosteluego which was fantastic.  I would recommend this hostel to anyone going to Panama. 

Me and Em in Bocas Del Toro

Playa Zapatilla (paradise)

Playa Zapatilla

Me on Playa Zapatilla (which means 'beach slipper')

Laura on her way to go for a cheeky snorkel in Bocas Del Toro

A Tree in the Sea 

A house on the water in Bocas Del Toro

This was a walkway to a little restaurant again in Bocas Del Toro. 

Pointers from my experience in Costa Rica:

1) Get out of San Jose as soon as possible- it is an ugly city with over priced accommodation.

2) The best hostel we stayed in the grime city that is San Jose was Hostel Pangea.  We also stayed at Rica Backpackers and that was down right disgusting and dirty. 

3) Work out the currency before you go- there are about 500 Colon to 1$.  you may get ripped off when you first arrive if they work out you don't know what you are doing with the Colon. 

4) If you are travelling in the British Summer, go as south as possible to get the best weather. 

If you are looking for an action packed holiday or even just a chill out, with good food and friendly people, head on to costa rica.  You will be pleasantly surprised. 

Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road Concert

 Last saturday (6th of July) myself, sister, brother, best friend (Cait) and brothers friend (Hugo) all went to The Gentlemen on the Road concert, hosted by Mumford and Sons. Obviously the main act was Mumford, but we were also lucky enough to witness the fitness of Ben Howard, Edward Sharpe and the Manetic Zero's, Haim, and Vampire Weekend.

Cait and Laura walking to the concert

The stage and crowd watching Haim. 

This concert exceeded any expectations I had.  It was literally like a mini festival complete with funny food stalls, rides, bunting, chill out areas, disco, fields and pissed jolly people everywhere- it was fantastic!  I expected Edward Sharpe and the Magneti Zero's and Ben Howard to be my favourite's as I listen to their music most out of all of the acts, but Mumford and Sons really stole the show.  Their vibe, energy and sound literally blew me away. The weather was hot (maybe too hot) and the music was incredible.  If ever there is a chance to see any of these acts again, I would in a jiffy.  Here are a few photos and a video from the concert.

Messing around getting ready to walk to the stage to watch Mumford and Sons.

Cait in her cap- cool cat.

Laura chilling to Ben Howard

Hugo messing around, doing the swan yoga pose

Above, Laura and I

Below, Hugo, Sam, Harry (brother) and Rory

V i d e o

M u m f o r d    a n d   S o n s

Ascot Attire

As promised in my previous post,  here is a snippet from my day at Ascot races.  Read on to see some posh, and very dapper attire.

Here is my best friend Emily.- You know those friends who are more like family?  We have grown up together and consequently she basically a sister.  Em was wearing a dress by ZARA, with a 'vintage' hat from a charity shop. This dress looked absolutely stunning on Em as she has a figure which makes a woman insanely jealous and vow to go to the gym everyday for a year. 

I wore a dress from French Connection (a few years ago), my Anya Hindmarch little clutch (courtesy of turning 21) and some big chunky office shoes.  I love wearing these shoes because they give me serious height,  they don't hurt my feet in the slightest and I can walk normally in them. Horraahh. My headgear (-or fascinator) is from House of Fraser. 

Emily and Libby. I am not sure where Libby got her gear but she looked great.

Ed, Josh, Toby and Nick

Josh, Toby, Nick and Ben

That's me attempting to look natural, like I've just seen a pigeon or something (taken by Em). 

Em, myself and Ben

Emily. 

Ed and Ellie

It was a gorgeous day and would recommend anyone to go- just don't expect to win loads of money; They always say, you will never meet a poor booky.

Style File: Teddy in London

You may have met Teddy before, here.  Teddy is my old university friend. He is also incredibly stylish.  I caught up with Teddy in London last week, which was such a treat.  We did the cultured posh-totty thing we always talked about doing when we were in Leeds- visited the Saatchi gallery in Chelsea, Duke of York Square.   This is the same gallery I saw the Chanel Little Black Jacket exhibition.  The Saatchi gallery is fantastic; it's free, it's quirky and it's in a really nice part of London. 

Teddy adhere's to a quintessentilly British style: the Barbour-esque jacket, the tartan scarf, the Raybans and quirky old vintage shoes.