Winter Wonderland in Europe

I’m a 23yr old Tropics baby from the North of Australia. Since I was 3 I have lived in towns where it’s a warm 32 degrees Celsius all year round and humid as hell for a solid 8 months of the year. Our Christmas is in summer and results in a day of swim suits, palm trees, icy cold drinks and Christmas carols about kangaroos helping Santa deliver presents (Six a White Boomers if anyone is interested). Spending this Christmas in Europe would tick off a few milestones for me as a result.

Last Christmas on the Gold Coast in summer

This is my first ever winter! I spent a couple of weeks in autumn in New Zealand and had to invest in thermals and a beanie. Something I had never worn before. I am a summer gal through and through, 16 degrees was freezing for me. I started this adventure in London in the middle of summer this year and wore thermals almost every day for 3 weeks. Decked out in a beanie, scarf and thermals I stuck out like a sore thumb in Hyde Park with Londoners doing double takes wondering where this excessively dressed weirdo had come from.

Chilly in London Summer 2017

After thawing out in pleasantly warm Morocco, Portugal and Spain I was off to chilly Ireland at the beginning of November. With a high between 5-8 degrees it was something I was definitely not prepared for. The cold, like everything on this trip makes for a new experience and has made it feel more like the Christmas you see in movies: hot chocolate, gingerbread houses, penguin and polar bear decorations everywhere.

Sweet decorations at the Galway Christmas market

Adding to this festivity is ever cities winter decorations. I love people watching and will regularly park up in a busy area with a coffee, watching everything that is happening. Now that it is winter there is almost too much to see if that is possible. Winter markets are my new favourite places to be. Gingerbread house shaped stalls seem to be a staple of every market. Along with the mix of Santa’s, snowmen and reindeer. I especially enjoy that both locals and tourists can be found at the markets. Shop fronts, plazas everyone gets into the spirit including Christmas sweaters which are great and something I need to invest in.