Sara Pags: 2017

agosto 02, 2017

If you thought I was going to quit blogging or filming, you can relax now as I can assure you I would never do that. But there is a plot twist anyway.
So as you may have noticed if you are a dedicated reader of my blog or viewer of my YouTube channel, lately all I've been posting has been photos from my latest trips or updates on my exchange. Yet, this platform was born from a beauty enthusiast that occasionally dressed up and did something with her hair, like dying it lilac. You'll have to forgive me for talking about myself in third person, I just can't help it.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say here is that my interests have somehow changed in time and that reflects on my social media. I have to be honest with you, my obsession for makeup and all things beauty kind of faded away during my exchange. When I was in Australia it was really difficult to find any particular brand that we have here, and with all the new things I was experiencing at that time, makeup and clothes weren't my priority anymore. And I am glad to have disintossicated from an addiction that wasn't very healthy neither for my purse, nor for myself in general. Constantly craving for new products I didn't need, just because some cosmetic firm launched their new lipstick range and everyone was raving about them, made me feel a little sick at some point. To be clear, I am not pointing the finger at anyone that's still enjoying this kind of things, all I'm saying is that it just wasn't for me. And with that, I don't mean I don't like makeup and clothes anymore, the only thing that changes is the priority that I associate to them.

Now you must be wondering: in which direction are you headed then? It's very simple. What I enjoy doing right now is travelling and discovering new cultures, so that is all I'm going to talk about in here. I will continue posting pictures of new places I visit, maybe face some new topics, like cultural differences among countries, my experiencies abroad and perhaps give you some insight on what is really like being an Italian.

I hope you like this plot twist, as I am very excited to start a new chapter that reflects my personality even better than before. Thank you so much for your endless support throughout this journey.

Sara

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luglio 07, 2017

When a couple of months ago me and my friends booked our flights to Budapest I was keen to go, yet not as much I would have been if I had known what to expect. We planned this trip since my best friend's brother was there on Erasmus, so that we already had a place to stay - a.k.a. a smart way to travel cheap when you're young and broke.

As you can tell Budapest wasn't on the top of our checklist of places to visit and we ended up choosing it as a destination thanks to practical reasons. However, we all were surprised to discover how beautiful and underrated this city is.

So I made a list of 13 reasons why you should plan your trip to Budapest right now:

The prices - from flights to cocktails everything is affordable if compared to European standards, even in the most chic of bars.
The panoramic views - be it on a rooftop, be it on the Fisherman's Bastion in Buda, the city is full of Instagrammable views on the Danube
The young population - I know, I didn't expect it either, but apparently most of the population living in Budapest is made of young students on Erasmus that give the place a very vibrant atmosphere.
The multicultural environment - again, thumbs up for Erasmus programmes that make it all a little bit more special.
The nightlife - if you thought this city might be dead then you're wrong. Budapest bars are the best thing I've ever seen: they're all set in inner gardens, decorated with tons of fairylights and different paintings. Free entrance everyone.
The Danube - you might not agree with me on the previous points, but on this one you have to: there is no magic without a watercourse. The Danube is Europe's second longest river; it divides the capital in two parts, Buda and Pest, and there is nothing more suggestive than a sunset on the river.
The Parliament - being Italian I'm pretty much used to huge historical monuments, but this didn't change my reaction at the sight of the Hungarian Parliament building. The architecture is just breathtaking.
The cleanliness - living in a big city I know how easy it is to find rubbish everywhere, yet Budapest is clean and polished as you wouldn't imagine. Not a chewing-gum on the street.
The cafés - you know those cute modern cafés that invade your Instagram feed, but you have no idea where to find them? In Budapest you'll have one every 500 meters, and they're pretty cheap too.
The thermal baths - you're probably unaware of this, but Budapest is also known as "The City of Baths": it counts around 145 hot springs and several baths, which means a spa day is a must.
The History - Hungary might not be the first country you study in school history-wise, but this doesn't mean they don't have one. From the Romans, to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to the Soviets: history is much more interesting when you get to witness it.
The bike lane - if you're a sport person, or even if you're just tired of risking your life every time you ride your bike in the city, then you'll likely want to know that Budapest is crossed by one of Europe's longest cycle paths that runs along the whole Danube.
The language - I know what you're all thinking, the sound of Hungarian doesn't really appeal you. And you may be right, but what's more fun than hearing a complete new language and try to learn some basic words? There is no English sign on the streets, so you better work that out if you don't want to end up in the middle of nowhere.