Prague [praɦa]

When there are no words.

There are photos.

(and dumplings and castles).

The night is young. The night is always young: The Locals' Guide to Edinburgh

It's hard to find a quirky, non-touristy guide book that serves up recommendations of places you want to visit off the tourist trail, but when you do stumble across a good one it's a real treat. Word of Mouth Travels' 100% Made in Scotland city guide is like a friend in a foreign city letting you in on all their little local secrets.

On top of chapters delightfully titled "where to stay", "all you can eat", "Scots for weather", "beautiful walks", "drink and be merry" and my favourite; "you should be dancing, yeah" the book features a number of interviews with local legends including a fashion designer, a deli owner, a theatre producer, a musician and a parent and publican. You really do get a feel for a town that has so much character to offer.

The Locals' Guide is a pocket sized go-to guide for everything cool on the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, definitely worth picking up a copy.

(Now my personal tip, I picked up my copy from The Red Door Gallery in Edinburgh but when looking online was surprised to find The Locals' Guide to Edinburgh cheapest at Amazon.com)

We'll Always Have [Casablanca]

My most recent adventure saw a spontaneous trip to Morocco which has unquestionably seduced me into a new love affair.

Getting lost at night in the maze of streets with only the smells of spices, the crowds of people and snake charmers to guide you through leaves you beaming with a giddy child-like excitement. The wit and charm of the locals puts a smile on your face offering an invitation for playful exchange of jokes and banter. Full day hikes, scaling African cliff faces and tip-toeing over rickety bridges offer the magical reward of swimming under amazing waterfalls. Bumpy and smelly camel rides guarantee everyone’s favourite holiday happy snaps. Riffling through the assortment of leather bags, jewelry, cosmetics and oils will see you haggle your heart out until you walk away with a tacky “I heart Marrakech” t-shirt you didn’t even want and a great story to tell.

Ahhh, the culture, the craziness, the charisma… "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".

Around the world in (a little over) 80 days!

Well not really around the WORLD, but I have seen a lot of the beautiful continent that is Europe in the last four months!

I have little pings or jealously every now and again for my friends still traveling and the amazing wanderers I met still on their journey. This morning in fact, while facebook photo stalking a friend of mine in Pamplona recovering from a bull run, (or more recovering from a sangria hangover) I realised how much I adore everything Spain. I stand by the proclamation that Barcelona IS one of my favorite cities in the world. This passion is more than likely instilled by my obsessive love for Gaudi architecture, and of course paella.

I'm one of the lucky ones though, although it is all over, for now at least, I was able to relish in a truly nomadic four months as a high maintenance backpacker.

Some pics below taken from some of my favourite cities.

Flats in Berlin

Vespas in Florence

1 of 5. Cinque Terre, Italy

Guell Park, Barcelona!