IRELAND

I don't exactly know where did my obsession with Ireland come from. Maybe it was from the first time I watched "P.S. I love you" or maybe it was while listening to my ex-boyfriend talking about his Irish adventures, but there is something about that place that made me want to visit it so unimaginably much. So my sister Klara, myself and our friend Ivona packed our bag (yes bag aka one single backpack each with clothes for a week) and decided to spend a week in Ireland. It was everything I expected it to be and so much more.

Where to stay: We stayed at Isaac's hostel and so should you. It's cheap, it's located in the centre of the city and the staff is so nice. Just one conversation with Andy, the receptionist, and you'll understand that Irish charm everyone has been talking about. Flirt with them, apparently they love it. That's what it says on one of the signs. ;)

What to see: Apart from getting lost within the streets of Dublin I suggest visiting the Cliffs of Moher, where I had so much fun although the good old Irish weather was in all of it's glory and we were soaking wet. Also the second "must-do" thing on our list was visiting Galway because "Galway girl" remains one of my favourite songs and hearing it live involved happy tears. Also Guinness Storehouse with a free pint and a 360 view overlooking Dublin is a thing you just can't miss. And everything else, there really is a lot for everyone. You won't be bored, that for sure!

What to eat: Oh boy! There is not a single photo of food on my phone from that week because we simply couldn't wait a single more second without tasting every meal that was placed in front of us. 

• Bunsen - That was one of the happiest moments of my life. You know that episode when the squad from "How I Met Your Mother" is trying to find that perfect burger place, well I think they were trying to find Bunsen because their burgers are so good it makes you forget the not so pleasant staff. Also, make sure you get a table next to the window! 

• The Celt - It is exactly what you would imagine an Irish pub looks like. It was also the first place we went to after we checked in our hostel (if you're staying at Isaac's hostel, it's only a minute away). Try the traditional Irish stew and top it of with pint of Guinness and you'll be fine. Also, don't forget to return to that pub in the evening, you won't be sorry. And the boy that works there, Connor, will give you a good list of places to visit while you're in Dublin.

• Gino's ice-cream - Try the salted caramel one. It will blow your mind. 

• Gus O'Connor's Pub - If you decide to visit the Cliffs of Moher which you'd be an idiot not to, you'll probably stop in a small village called Doolin and this pub has the most insane Seafood Chowder. I am not a chowder specialist though, that is the only chowder I have ever tasted and I can safely say that it was delicious. 

Where to go out: We went out every single evening. That might sound a little bit too much but with bars in Dublin closing around 2am and having just a few beers every night, we still managed to get out of the bed every morning quite early for another day of exploring. These are my two favourites!

• Whealan's - My absolute favourite club in Dublin, a complete #1! The music is so good, locals go out there, "P.S. I love you" was shot there, Ed Sheeran said it is his favourite venue on the planet and did a gig there. Also, it has a photobooth. Seriously, what more could you ask for!? 

• The Workmans Club - They played Outkast and the crowd went wild! Best dance party I have ever seen. It looks like a club in a former apartment, but in the best way you could imagine. It also feels like a private party or a private club. You feel like a cool kid when you're there, at least I did.

Tips: These are some things you should know.

• Walk around, there is no need for taxis! 
• Irish men are extremely charming.
• Skip the traditional Irish breakfast. We didn't like it very much.
• There is some excellent and quite cheap street food everywhere.
• Buy a beer and sit on the steps in Temple Bar district. It is quite popular with tourists, but it's an amazing spot for people watching.
• Go on a ride with a rickshaw! It's especially fun at 2am when you had a few too many. 
• It is not as rainy as they say, but it is quite cold.
• Bring a few extra pairs of socks (or buy them)!

That all! Have fun! :*

OVER ALL

H&M dungarees and sweater, Superga sneakers

The time has come when I needed to look myself in the mirror, pull myself together and accept the dreadful fact that summer is indeed over and that my skin is no longer golden and neither is my hair and another six months of coldness are on their way. I knew it was coming when I had to bring my jacket when I was going for a drink in the evening, and when I ordered a cup of tea in my favourite cafe, and when events for beginning of a school year started to appear all over my Facebook newsfeed. I knew it was over when I started to think about school, and design (I study design of visual communication aka graphic design), and projects, and my career and life (oh God...).

Also big life update: The superwoman that is my mother, bought an apartment for me and my sister in  Zagreb! So now I'm going through that typical stage when my place looks like someone robbed me, the not so lovely people from a Wi-Fi company still didn't pay me a visit and ironing board is my table/shelf/desk space. I also spent 9 hours in Ikea last weekend, true story. But I no longer feel the extreme homesickness I used to feel and I'm in love with our new apartment! Okay, I have to get back to work, I'm visiting home for the weekend and I can't spend it all on hibernation, home-made meals and immediate fascination with Wi-Fi, although that doesn't sound bad at all. ;)

Big photo diary from Ireland coming very soon!!! 

IT REALLY WAS THE BEST SUMMER EVER

 I am siting on my balcony back home in Rijeka after being away for over a month on an island of Pag, in my world also known as my second home. It's hard to put everything I am feeling right now in words, but I'll give it a go. Because when you feel so happy and you feel like your heart is going to explode when you think back and realise that your summer has been just insanely amazing, it would be an incredibly rude thing not to share it. Am I right!?!

It was good. It is still good and it is going to be good because I have another month before school starts and trips and adventures are already planned or are about to be planned, but Pag, Pag was just awesome. 

Let me tell you what I did. I went to two carnivals in one week, jumped out of a boat at 5am in the middle of a sea (That's not smart. I know. Don't do it. But it's very fun though.), I explored caves and the way light acts in there blew my mind, my love life took an unexpected yet amazing turn so we'll see what happens, I climbed mountain tops and a thorn the size of Mexico got stuck in my hand (almost cried while taking it out, but just like a proper Croatian used rakija for pain and cleaning and now everything's good), started making my own clothes and sewed so many pieces I wear all the time, I spent almost every waking moment outside and of course got tanned like a crazy person, went to dinner parties my friend hosted and had the most amazing meal of my life, celebrated my 20th birthday eating pizza for lunch, going for a bike ride, drinking beer and eating ice-cream in the middle of nowhere and spending an entire afternoon on an almost private beach and being eaten alive by mosquitos... And so so many more.

There are moments in life when you just think to yourself : Alright! Remember this, capture it and remember it. Because this moment right here is so good it gives you goosebumps and makes your heart beat so fast. You know that kind of moments? Yeah, my summer has been made out of those moments. At one point my life got so good I started writing a diary just to remember it all, imagine that!

Just do stuff. Do it. Don't make stupid excuses when someone asks you to, I don't know, go hiking or scuba diving or anything else. Just say yes! That's is literary all it takes. :*

All photos taken from my Instagram. Next week another HUGE adventure is coming, so follow me! ;)