Tag Archives: Travel photography

Ireland Diary: Ways to Explore Dublin

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Some cities just have “it” – that definable yet undeniable quality that makes them feel alive and exciting. Dublin, for me, is one of those irresistible cities. In the five trips to Ireland I’ve taken over the past two years (I couldn’t actually tell you how many times I’ve visited in total!), it has never disappointed and I’ve always come away with the feeling of having discovered and experienced something new.

When I heard that London City Airport were going to focus on Dublin as the next city in their #NoFilter series, creating an unedited portrait of cities across Europe, it seemed like the perfect time to share some snaps and insights from my travels to the city. The aim of the #NoFilter project is to get back to the roots of photography, celebrating the fact that photos don’t need to be Instagrammed or filtered in order to show how beautiful a city is.

I’m a firm believer it is the small details just as much as the famous sights that give a place its character so that is what I’d like to share here alongside some ideas on how to explore Dublin and a few tips on capturing a trip #nofilter.

Ways to Explore Dublin

1. Get out on foot

Irish Flag Bunting in Dublin

A walking tour is a great way to get to know a city; I love doing them on the first day of a trip to find out where to go back and explore further later on. Dublin was no exception as there is a great free walking tour available. Find more details here.

2. Shop Vintage

Dublin has an ever-growing vintage scene with shops selling everything from high-end hand-picked pieces, spots to rummage through for a good bargain and re-worked ready-to-wear finds. Get yourself started by checking out , Carousel, and the Powerscourt Centre for an array of antique jewellery.

3. Have a beverage or two or three…

Temple Bar in Dublin

I know it’s a cliché but Ireland really does have a cracking night life with pubs and bars to suit every taste. 1920s style cocktail bar The Liquor Rooms and Mexican bar & restaurant 777 (tiny sneak peek and check back here for a full review sometime soon) are both a good place to start but be sure to book a table – yes even for bars!

For proper pubs and traditional live music, there’s Temple Bar and for a more varied music scene, plenty of drinks and fresh stone-baked pizza served out of a double-decker bus(!), head out to south of the city.

4. Don’t be Shy

Smile Sign in Dublin

Everything you’ve heard about the locals being friendly and welcoming is true; embrace it since everyone from taxi drivers to the people on the next table will have a story for you!

Getting there: If you are flying into Dublin airport, the Air Coach bus runs twenty-four hours a day – every fifteen minutes between 23:55 and 03:25, then every thirty minutes through the night. The route map and return timetable can be found here.

3 tips for #nofilter photography:

Adjust as many settings as possible within your camera before taking the photo:
- Whether you use a phone camera, point & shoot or DSLR, there is always a way to improve the resulting shot. Check out these essential photography tips to get you started
Choose settings that reflect your photography style:
- Do you find yourself drawn to a certain style of image? If you appreciate warm, glowing images then turn up the colour temperature in your camera (or shoot during the “golden hour” if you can). Do you like grainy, vintage-looking photos? Play around with high ISO settings to create atmospheric noise
Frame and re-frame:
- Always try to take more than one composition of a scene and from more than one angle to increase the chances of getting a shot you are happy with. Remember you can crop afterwards too.

Monica of The Travel Hack will rounding up this installment of the series by picking her favourites that show the true essence of the Dublin. This post was created in collaboration with London City Airport but all thoughts are my own and all trips to Dublin have been from my own pocket!

What are your tips for #nofilter photography?

Morocco Diary: Patterns of Morocco

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Lining doorways, covering floors and adorning fountains, mosques, and ancient tombs, Morocco is a country of patterns and colour. I spotted them at almost every turn and couldn’t resist capturing them.

Patterns of Morocco | The Tofu Diaries

‘Zellige’ tiles, truly an art form requiring skilled workmanship, are created by cutting, paining and assembling tiny fragments of enamel into a geometric pattern before setting them in plaster on a terracotta base. The designs are rooted in Islamic tradition as a way to express beauty through shapes rather than by depicting living beings which would be forbidden.

Patterns of Morocco | The Tofu Diaries

I actually brought four painted tiles back home, added a felt backing and now have them as a beautiful set of coasters on my coffee table (). Naturally I also picked up a couple of gorgeous bowls for my kitchen – you might have spotted one of them housing my Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon!

Patterns of Morocco | The Tofu Diaries

Where is the most colourful place you have visited?

Morocco Diary: Glimpses of Essaouira

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Following on from my last post with information and tips for visiting Essaouira and ways to explore the town, here are some more glimpses of this Moroccan treasure that was once the country’s biggest and most important port:

You can view the rest of my Morocco diary here and my travel section for more destinations!

Morocco Diary: Ways to Explore Essaouira

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Essaouira (‘essa-weera’) lies located on the Western coast of Morocco, encircled by a fortress hugging the Atlantic Ocean. The town presents a more laid-back side of Morocco and in the heat of the summer you can find respite from the inland temperatures; during my visit in July where Marrakech was reaching up to 45C, Essaouira was a full fifteen to twenty degrees cooler. The breeze from the Atlantic blows strong here making the windswept beach a watersport haven (more on that later), whilst the medina is filled with whitewashed buildings and vibrant blue shuttered windows.Getting there: Flights only run to Essaouira airport from France so the if you’re travelling from elsewhere then it is easiest to travel via Marrakech. Buses come and go from an office located just outside of the medina and take three hours with a short stop halfway. Once a day there’s a “comfort plus” bus (100dh one way) that lives up to its name, but for the reasonably short journey the standard ones (70dh) also tend to be in good condition and not over-crowded.Top tip: You will need buy a separate luggage ticket when travelling on the Suprabus. It is only 5 dirhams but you have to ask for it. If travelling from Marrakech to Essaouira, it can be bought from the office next door to the main station.Where to stay: The medina has a host of accommodation options and is the perfect location being filled with cafés and restaurants and easy access to the bus station. Traditional Moroccan riads, a house with a courtyard garden and often a rooftop pool or terrace, stay cool in their interior making them an ideal option if you want something with an authentic feel in the heart of town. I stayed in Caverne d’Ali Baba and would highly recommend it for its beautiful decor, friendly owner and breakfast served on the rooftop with views over the medina.

Ways to Explore Essaouira

Walk the WaterfrontPassing through the souks in the medina, you can reach the old fortress walls. Atop the walls is a wide promenade to stroll along, lined with canons and with views out across the rocks to the ocean. Just along the waterfront from the medina walls is Essaouira’s port and fish market. The mass of blue boats and stunning views looking back on the old town make it a gorgeous spot, but be warned: the smell is something to be reckoned with.A few minutes walk further along the coast is Essaouira’s beach, frequented by both locals and tourists alike. There are a couple of areas with sunbeds to rent or if the wind isn’t too high you can take a towel to the sand. If you are feeling fresh on your feet, you can walk the length of the beach to the sand dunes where there is plentiful opportunity to take a camel ride.

Shop the SouksBursting with treasures waiting to be discovered – and haggled for – the souks are a maze of pedestrianised lanes. The edges are lined with small shops selling pottery, clothing, rugs, artisan wooden crafts and paintings to name a small section of what is on offer. The main streets have a bustling market that runs during the day, a mainstay for the local population.There are also plenty of stores selling argan oil – many of these sell oil produced by women’s collectives set up in rural villages to provide fair incomes and livelihoods. As well as cosmetic argan oil, creams and other products, you can also buy Moroccan oil for food use. The deliciously nutty flavour makes it perfect for salad dressings (expect a recipe one day soon!)Top tip: If you are only travelling with hand luggage on your flight, make sure any oils you buy are within the 100ml limit.

Hit the Waves

Reliable winds and ideal water conditions make Essaouira a top watersports destination with surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing possible all year round. Right through from beginners courses at the beach to more challenging conditions for pros outside of town, there are options for all levels.Instruction is available in English and various other languages through many of the watersports centres. Always check any equipment beforehand and that instructors are fully qualified. Based in Essaouira, Explora is a kitesurf, windsurf and surf centre who are partnered with VDWS, IKO and the Moroccan Surf Federation to make sure that their staff are fully trained and safety standards are high. They offer surfing trips to six destinations in and around Essaouira, including to La Grotte which boasts the biggest waves in the area if you’re feeling confident.

Keep an eye out for more photos and foodie tips that I’ll be sharing in upcoming installments of my Morocco Diary. How do you like to explore a new place?

Morocco Diary: Jardin Majorelle

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Set in the heart of the new part of the city, Jardin Majorelle is an oasis filled with bamboo, palms, cacti, and pools filled with lilies. The gardens were originally created over a period of forty years by French artist Jacques Majorelle. His passion for travel and for botany led him to fill the garden with rare and exotic plants collected along the way. He chose vibrant cobalt and shades of ochre to complement the greens and evoke the intensity of its African setting. Finally finished in the 1930s, but not opened to the public until 1947, Jardin Majorelle had sadly fallen into disrepair by the 1960s. It wasn’t until 1980 that things began to look up when Yves Saint Laurent bought the gardens and restored them to their former beauty. Upon his death, Yves Saint Laurent’s ashes were scattered here and the gardens given as a gift to the city. These days the gardens offer a beautiful respite from the heat and hecticness of Marrakech. Gleaming russet paths snake around the lush greenery and chirping birds bring the garden to life. There is a small Berber museum (worth visiting for the surreal lighting alone) and a gorgeous walled café with a stunning selection of teas on offer (and prices to match). The café also boasts a sprinkler-type system, as found in many local restaurants, that lets out bursts of cool mist at frequent intervals – just the thing for a summertime visit. Entrance to the gardens is 50Dhs and the museum is 25Dhs. The gardens are best reached by a short taxi ride away from the medina which should cost no more than 30-40 dirham. The address? Rue Yves Saint Laurent, of course. What is the most beautiful garden you have ever visited?