Perfil de Joella25

City Lit has a great reputation and whenever I mention the place to people, they always praise it. When studying, you want a place that is recognised. I have studied many courses there, including a year’s drama course and singing. It’s music and drama departments deserve a speial mention as the professionalism deserves top marks. The school has a fantastic choice of study. The teachers are fantastic. Courses are offered throughout the year. The website is easy to find your way around and gives a good description of each course. The building is clean and modern. It also has a cafe on the ground floor offering hot and cold refreshments.

You get what you pay for…this place is expensive but it’s a very enjoyable, fascinating few hours. I was amused from the moment I stepped through the door as in the lobby there’s some weird characters to look at, in fact I was intrigued from before stepping in the door as one of the oversize characters entertains you in the street. I do think they should include the mirror maze (must be even wackier if you’ve had a drink but I wouldn’t recommend it) and programme guide in the admission fee. The signs are easy and quick to read, although I gave up reading them all and the actual exhibits are fantastic. I loved the robotic dinasour, the chicken run which had a stable ground with spinning walls and made you feel as if you’d fall over, the torture bit was gruesome but us humans have a morbid curiosity. There’s even a part dedicated to Marilyn Monroe. There is a one way mirror planted in the museum, won’t tell you where as it will spoil your fun. I was in hysterics as people were unaware we were watching them! Oh, and there is a wicked jewelled mini cooper, I want that car! A very memorable museum with things you won’t see anywhere else. Fantastic.

It was pancake night and I roamed the streets of London in search of a traditional bite to eat. I first approached a well known restaurant which specialises in pancakes, which will remain anonymous only to discover that it had a massive queue down the street, popular sure but I wasn’t willing to wait an hour for my food. Anyway, I niavely thought that I’d be tripping over signs of invites to try their pancakes but no…it seems most restaurants lacked the initiative to make some extra cash. Then I stumbled upon Maxwell’s in Covent Garden offering such treats so I wandered in. It’s a massive place with a very American Diner feel to it. Despite being busy the friendly staff showed me to a very decent table in the corner. I decided on having just a starter of goats cheese with mushrooms which was heavenly and missed the main course, to save some room for the much awaited pancakes. Halfway through munching my starter the apologetic waiter announced they had run out of pancakes, eh, how can a restaurant run out of basic ingredients such as eggs and milk?! Anyway after my grumbles the restaurant is a decent place to go (if it’s not pancake night) but next year I’ll be staying at home to yes, you’ve guessed it, make my own pancakes!!

This is a trendy wine bar but in no way intimidating or snooty which I find some wine bars to be. It has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, although it does get very noisy but this just proves it’s popularity. Although busy, surprisingly I still managed to park my bottom on a comfy, leather sofa. It’s a fairly large venue but also has an intimate edge. I only stopped for a drink but watching other people tucking into the food gives me an excuse to go back and sample their culinary delights.

Most American diners tend to be noisy, family orientated, huge servings and the odd bit of interesting memorabilia dotted around…this has all except the noise. It’s incredibly relaxing, although maybe it was because I went on a Saturday afternoon instead of the evening. It has a very welcoming feel and comfortable seating. The venue is fairly small, so has an intimate setting. I plumped for a starter which as I only went in for a snack, I was glad when I hadn’t ordered a main dish also, as there was piles of food. It was also very reasonably priced. A great place to rest your feet and fill up your bellies after a stroll along the beautiful town of Leigh-on-Sea.

I have mixed feelings about this place. It’s very handy as it’s so close to both Embankment and Charing Cross train stations. I also loved the actual decor of this place, it had a cosy feel to it but a little too cosy and intimate as the tables are so close to each other, you get a little too acquainted to the neighbours on the next table! I wanted to catch up on some private gossip with my friend and this rather hindered it, especially when she announced she was pregnant and I gasped and the whole restaurant fell silent and looked at me (ok, so I exagerate a little but that’s what happens on telly and I’m just trying to build a picture here)...anyways, I digress. Luckily I had read another review and was tipped off that the waiters promptly place bread and olives on your table and as is general custom in most restaurants, this is normally complimentary (as I didn’t request them) but you are sneakily charged extra. Being wise to this, I told them to take them away. I like olives but it’s the principle. So instead they get you with charging extra for potatoes and veg. None of the meat and fish dishes have it included in the menu. But after my grumbles, I did actually enjoy the food itself as I tucked into it with my elbows pinned in neatly to avoid taking someone else’s eye out. The waiters were reasonably attentive and didn’t have to wait for our food too long. Finally, to a more trival but important element - the loos, grotty, they really could do with a face lift (all 2 of them). All in all, it is a lovely little venue to eat tasty Italian food but take into account what I’ve mentioned. It has so much potential but I don’t think the owners take full advantage of it and it could be so much better.

This place is in Corralejo, Fuerteventura (not Madrid as stated). You’ll see red guitar adverts for this place dotted all around the town and I also got a personal recommendation which tipped my curiosity over the edge. It’s an intimate bar which feels very exclusive, like a member’s only bar but of course it’s not, everyone is warmly welcomed. The world is shut out with red curtains and feels very cosy. Sat at a small table, my eyes are drawn to the small stage where two extremely talented guitarists strum some amazing acoustics with such enthusiasm that several strings are broken through the evening. A novel song request is writing down a suggestion from a list and placing it on a spinning captain’s wheel at the front of the stage where the musician/singer plucks one at random and delights at every choice. I say musician, as the main guy is far more than just a guitarist, he has an array of instruments which he dabbles with and this guy can sing too! Is there no ends to his talents. His partner is the more subdued one but his abilities are by no means any less. The waiter who attentively brought us drinks all night, even got up on stage and proved he could do more than pour drinks. At the end of the performance, there is the option to buy an MP3 recording of the whole evening, mistakes n’ll as the musician lovingly suggests. What a great keepsake and a perfect way to spend my last few hours in Corralejo. Go and see these guys…I urge you.

As castles go, this is not one of the grander ones, in fact, it’s postively tiny and looks fairly unimpressive on first sight but do take a look inside the tiny couple of rooms which often hold art exhibitions. Then climbing a few steps, you are rewarded with great views of the town. This town has a few restaurants and a couple of hotels being built and I imagine will become a popular resort as there are some great beaches, secluded and perfect for sunbathing and further down the coastline, fantastic waves for the more adventurous surfers.

I visited this Island which is a 15 minute boat ride from Corralejo and it’s kind of like a film set. No, not full of hustle and bustle but more like Jurassic Park without the dinasours (at least I didn’t spot any on that particular day). There is a volcano that dominates this tiny island which you can climb and then many rocky, barren paths leading to well, erm, another rocky, barren path. Believe it or not, about 20 people live here in small shacks and there is a restaurant but don’t get too excited, it’s a tiny shack. But something fascinated me about this place. Maybe it’s because although civilisation was only a stone’s (plenty of those on this island) way, I felt like I was placed on planet Mars. Then, in contrast, part of the island offers a beautiful sandy beach with plenty of private little dune hideaways which act as windbreakers. It’s one place I won’t forget in a hurry for it’s pure difference.

I only went in for breakfast but left thinking wow, what a great start to the day! I opted for a full English breakfast and every morsel exploded with flavour in my mouth. Garlic, herbs and all the food was cooked to perfection and I’m fussy about my runny eggs!! All washed down with a perfect cuppa. Sat outside in a quiet side street, soaking up the sun. Oh, pure bliss. For locals, they sure know how to please us Brits, I was well impressed. Mamma Mia (or should I say, La Mamma)....