• Balearic Islands,  Mallorca,  Spain

    Mallorca in September is a perfect destination

    soller mallorca


    *In collab with: airBaltic, contains affiliate links


    Mallorca in September is the perfect holiday destination for anyone who loves the sun, beautiful seascapes and the lively Mediterranean atmosphere. Mallorca in September has something special – warmth, colours, history and a touch of adventure. From the very first step onto the warm soil of the island, it felt like the holiday was going to be unforgettable again. It felt strangely the same as exactly 10 years ago when we travelled to Mallorca for the first time to celebrate my birthday.

    MALLORCA IN SEPTEMBER – PERFECT TIME OF THE YEAR

    September is the perfect time in Mallorca. The weather is still warm, but a little cooler than the hottest months of summer. The sun is no longer as scorching as in midsummer, but it is still wonderfully gentle and the sea water was like warm milk (at least in Palma). September is still part of the high season and there are tourists, but a little less than in July-August. This suited us just fine. Our trip included wonderful coffee moments in cute cafes, culture, beaches, a little history and a suitable dose of party atmosphere – exactly what a holiday should be. On almost every street corner I exclaimed with joy to my husband that I also have a picture of this place from 10 years ago – and this! It was wonderful to see Mallorca with new eyes, and not much had changed in all these years.


    TRAVEL DIRECTLY FROM YOUR HOME TOWN AIRPORT

    We set off for the first time directly from our home airport in Tampere. The Latvian airline airBaltic is now flying more and more flights to different destinations from Tampere, and this was the perfect opportunity for us to get to know the airline and their travel offerings. We wanted to try traveling so-called easily and effortlessly for once, because for us it always involves traveling to another city’s airport first. Today, airBaltic offers direct flights from Tampere to, for example, Mallorca, Paris, Rhodes and the Canary Islands. Hopefully, in the future, to other places too!

    The flight was comfortable and the plane felt cozy and spacious. Coffee and tea were included in the service, and you can order meals for your flight in advance, the selection of which is the largest I have ever come across. There are breakfast options, lunch, snacks and dinner, not to mention desserts. The taste was good for airplane food, heh.

    airBaltic Tampere
    Flying with airBaltic from Tampere Airport
    airBaltic food
    Meals included delicious desserts
    airBaltic Mallorca


    The vibe of Palma and the warmth of the sun

    Our first impressions under the sun were exactly what we had hoped for. During our first few days in Palma, we were able to admire the beautiful sights, enjoy the smell of the sea and the stunning views of the harbour. As we walked through the narrow alleys of the old town, every little boutique and café invited us to sit down and enjoy the little pleasures of life. The architecture of the city, especially Palma Cathedral, La Seu, was breathtaking – that ancient masterpiece sparkled in the sun and reminded us of our trip to the island 10 years ago. It was still as beautiful as it was then.

    Last time we only visited Palma on a day trip, so this time I wanted to spend most of the trip here this time. I fell in love with the atmosphere of the capital even then and for good reason. Palma is stunning! This time I also got my first taste of the beaches on the southern side of the island and although Palma’s beach is no match for the island’s picturesque coves, the sea water was beautifully turquoise and wonderfully warm. A great change from the cold waves of Portugal.

    Palma old town
    Palma old town
    Palma beach
    Palma beach boardwalk
    La Seu Cathedral Palma
    La Seu Cathedral
    Palma views


    A day trip to the village of Soller – like from a Postcard

    One of the highlights of the trip was definitely a day trip to the village of Soller and its lovely harbor, Puerto de Soller. Soller is easily accessible from Palma by public transportation, such as by bus or by the iconic old wooden train. We took the bus from Palma to Soller, because the old wooden train, which is popular with tourists, was basically too expensive for our budget and would not have been a worthwhile experience. At least that’s what I read online beforehand and I concluded the same myself. You could pay for the cheap bus ride with a contactless payment, and in Mallorca, paying with a card is cheaper than paying with cash.

    The scenery during the bus ride was incredibly beautiful: olive groves, citrus orchards and mountain views. Once we arrived in the village of Soller, time seemed to have stopped. The narrow streets, beautiful houses and the village’s small market were like something straight out of a postcard. Soller is a truly cute village in the middle of the mountains and makes a great day trip destination.

    A small humorous addition to this idyll, however, was the amount of tourism – Even in September Soller is not wonderfully quiet, and unfortunately we shared the views of this dreamy village with many other tourists. This inevitably crushed our vibe a little bit, as every place in this small village was full of tourists and the traffic jams between Soller and Puerto de Soller were already too much for us. The roads were completely clogged with rental cars and this normally short distance took at least an hour, if not more.

    Soller
    Soller
    Soller
    Charming Soller streets
    Puerto de Soller
    Puerto de Soller


    Birthday in Alcudia – Just as memorable as 10 years ago

    The highlight of the trip was my 35th birthday in Alcudia. I arrived in Alcudia full of nostalgia, because exactly 10 years ago I also celebrated my 25th birthday there. The travel partner had changed, the last time it was my mother and now my husband. Both were still good company. 🙂

    How legendary it was to return to the same place, 10 years later, to celebrate again. The old town of Alcudia was just as beautiful as I remembered and I renewed few favorite photos in the same places, because nothing had changed (except me). The kilometers long beach of Alcudia was still just as amazing and even though this time we weren’t in a five-star all-inclusive beach hotel, we went to the beach to spend unforgettable moments and enjoy the sun in a different style. I also spotted our hotel from 10 years ago, which I had to send a picture of to my mother. Somehow I remembered that it would have been bigger.

    Alcudia old town
    Alcudia old town
    Alcudia old town
    Alcudia old town streets
    Alcudia port
    Port of Alcudia
    Alcudia beach
    Alcudia beach

    Alcudia seemed a bit more touristy than I remembered, except for the old town. Fortunately, when going from the hotel area towards the old town, you could enjoy a bit of the local way of life and a different atmosphere. Well, that’s what you get when you book your hotel in the middle of a large hotel area without thinking too much, i.e. your own fault (+bad memory). I usually prefer something more personal, but for the sake of my birthday we wanted to try something a little bigger.

    Our hotel Garden Holiday Village was a cozy and peaceful four-star bungalow hotel a short walk from the beach and a little further away from the old town. We were upgraded to a suite for my birthday and this was a great surprise. The hotel setting was cozy and the pool area was absolutely amazing. There were three pools and different types of sun loungers, and there was also a jacuzzi next to them. The breakfast was also extensive and good, which I think is always important when staying at a hotel. Special points for the great staff, as they were really nice and helpful with everything.

    Garden Holiday Village Hotel Alcudia
    Birthday cheers
    Birthday cake
    My sweet birthday cake <3


    AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY DEMANDS US TO RETURN

    Overall the trip was a very successful experience and there was still a lot left to see. Mallorca has a lot of wonderful places to experience, and our time just wasn’t enough for everything. I don’t mind, because I would love to return to this beautiful island again. The capital of Palma still remains a favorite and next time I hope to explore the island’s wonderful nature and various beach coves, which this time were left waiting for even more favorable times. Palma, Soller and Alcudia will have their own articles later, so stay tuned if you want to experience these Mallorcan vibes even more deeply!

    CHECK OUT THE BEST ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED TOURS AROUND MALLORCA ISLAND:


    Alcudia Mallorca

    Have you been to Mallorca? What were your favourite locations? What would you recommend for our next trip to the island? Share everything in the comments! 🙂

    <3: Tiina Johanna

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    *Photos: Tiina Johanna, blogger

  • Lisbon,  Portugal

    EXPERIENCE THE BLOOMING SPRING IN LISBON!

    lissabon


    *Article contains affiliate links

    Lisbon in spring is something magical. This charming city comes alive with blooming flowers and sunshine, and we decided to return to this old hometown of mine together, again. Last time we experienced autumn together, now it was spring’s turn. This time the trip was also special because my mother was there. I got to act as her guide in Lisbon, which is one of my favorite destinations and where I spent the absolute best moments of my life while living there. My mother never got to visit me when I lived in Lisbon, because just as she started planning the trip, I suddenly moved to Cape Verde, Africa. Whoops.

    jacaranda
    Jacarandas blooming
    Jacaranda Lisbon


    WHY CHOOSE SPRING IN LISBON?

    When spring arrives in Lisbon, the whole city is covered in a wonderful shade of purple as the jacaranda trees burst into flower. These large, breathtaking trees decorate the streets and parks, and the brilliance of color they bring complements the city’s already beautiful architecture. We walked a lot around the city, and at every turn there seemed to be a new corner with even more enchanting jacarandas.

    This year spring was sunny and warm – perfect weather to enjoy the city. We toured the old town of Alfama, as well as the streets and shops of the city center. I showed off my favorite places, and I couldn’t help but take my mother to admire the narrow alleys of Bairro Alto during the day. Of course, we stopped to soak up the sun at Praça do Comércio, which has a great view across the square to the Tagus River. Following the pulse of the bustling city, the sun on your face and visiting familiar favorite places made these moments perfect.

    Alfama Lisbon
    Alfama
    Alfama Lisbon
    Alfama
    Alfama


    TRY ACCOMMODATION WITH HOME EXCHANGE

    We stayed for the second time in the Campo de Ourique area through Home Exchange in a wonderful apartment. The area was just right for our travel style – quiet, but still a short distance from the heart of Lisbon. We already fell in love with this area on our last trip and immediately jumped at the opportunity when we found the perfect accommodation for the three of us here. The apartment was a two-story, beautifully decorated, spacious penthouse. Everything worked flawlessly, and even the lack of an elevator in the old building didn’t bother me too much, because I was already used to stepping on similar stairs every day when I lived in the city. Accommodations and hotels in Lisbon are currently so sky-high in terms of price that Home Exchange was (also this time) a perfect salvation for our travel budget.

    Home Exchange is a great way to travel for free and experience local life deeper than just from the surface, because you get to stay in a real local home. If you are interested, find out more and join the happy group of us home exchangers from this link.

    Home Exchange
    Our Home Exchange apartment in Lisbon
    Lisbon views
    Beautiful Lisbon views
    Lisbon city


    SPRING IN LISBON – BEST TIPS!

    Spring in Lisbon is full of beauty and wonderful experiences. Here are my Top 5 Best Tips to Lisbon in spring:

    • Admire the city’s jacarandas! Look for jacarandas in the city’s parks and streets and enjoy the beauty of these magnificent purple trees. One of the best places is Avenida da Liberdade.
    • Breakfast at Campo de Ourique. If you are staying here or just exploring the area, visit the local markets or cafes to enjoy fresh delicacies for breakfast. The area is full of authentic local life and is rapidly growing as a residential area. I recommend trying the sweet Amélia Café!
    • Enjoy the sunset at Miradouro de Santa Catarina. This viewpoint offers a wonderful view of the river and the city, and at sunset the landscape is especially beautiful. After that, you can stay in Bairro Alto and enjoy the atmosphere of the early evening, for example with a tasty cocktail.
    • Tram 28 ride in Alfama. Tram 28 is a classic way to see the city. Wander the narrow alleys of the old districts and let the tram take you back in time. Tram 28 travels through Lisbon from the Estrela area to the old town of Alfama and is the city’s most popular tram route.
    • Enjoy the river views at Praca do Comerció. This square offers iconic views and is one of the city’s most famous attractions. You can also catch an atmospheric river cruise!
    • Evening and dinner in Bairro Alto. This lively area comes truly alive in the evening. Jump into the vibe and enjoy a dinner in a cozy restaurant with good music playing in the background.
    Bairro Alto
    Bairro Alto
    Bica
    Elevador da Bica
    Pink street Lisbon
    Pink Street


    ALWAYS MY HOMETOWN

    Lisbon is always a big part of me and more my hometown than my actual hometown in Finland. Life has taken me elsewhere, at least for now, but maybe someday I’ll come back for a longer time again.

    This trip would not have been complete without the fun times with our friends. I’ve been living in different parts of the world as a hermit for a long time now and I’m used to communicating with my best friend from a distance, but it’s not the same as spending time together face to face. I have missed our moments together a lot, and I could never have imagined when I moved to Lisbon that I would meet the most important friend of my life here. If there’s one thing I miss the most, it’s her and our crazy trips and excursions around Portugal!

    Spring in Lisbon is a real experience for all the senses. This trip was full of beautiful moments, sunshine and love – and I hope you get to experience it too someday. Lisbon is a place that enchants, and spring is the best time to enjoy its blooming beauty!

    Miradouro de Santa Catarina
    Miradouro de Santa Catarina
    Miradouro de Santa Catarina
    Miradouro de Santa Catarina
    Pasteis de Nata


    CHECK OUT THE BEST TOURS AND ACTIVITIES IN LISBON!


    HAVE YOU ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE SPRING TIME IN LISBON? SHARE YOUR ADVENTURES AND THOUGHTS BELOW! 🙂

    <3: Tiina Johanna

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    *Photos: Tiina Johanna, blogger