In Winter, I'll have been blogging 3 years- crazy! Over the 2 and a half years I've been blogging, I've learnt a few things along the way. The blogging world has changed drastically since 2012, that's for sure. For starters, blogging has now become a career. Not only that, but the Irish blogging community in particular has grown majorly. When I started, there was definitely only half the amount of bloggers there are now! Here are some things I've learnt about blogging over the past few years, that will hopefully be helpful/relatable to new and old bloggers alike.
  1. It's ok to say no: This is something that I've only really started to learn in the past year. As a blogger, there's always new opportunities and emails arriving in your inbox daily. You don't have to say yes to every single one, and that's totally ok! Not every new product will suit your blog, and you won't be able to make every event. Learn to be choosy about what you say yes to, rather than saying yes to everything and working too hard.
  2. It's not easy: Not everyone will be supportive. It takes up a lot of time, and it can be frustrating when you have no inspiration. Thankfully, almost everyone I know is super supportive over my choice of hobby but you will meet a few question marks along the way!
  3. Followers aren't everything: When I first started blogging, I didn't pay attention to my followers at all. In fact, for my first full year of blogging, I probably only had about 30 followers! Now I've realised that a large follower count doesn't mean more oppurtunities. In fact, many brands will just ask for your monthly view count, not your following on bloglovin'.
  4. Comparison comes easy: .. but it's a dangerous thing to do. It's easy to wonder "why didn't I receive an invite to that event?". It's easy to look at another blogger's following and wonder how they got xyz amount of followers in the space of the year. We all do it, as much as we hate to admit it, but it will do no good. Everyone grows at their own rate!
  5. It can be really frickin' cool: I'm not gonna lie- blogging really has its perks sometimes. From swanky event invites to new clothes, there's always something new and exciting in my email inbox. I'm so grateful for all the oppurtunities that blogging has given me!
There you have it- a mixture of negative and positive truths about the world of blogging. Let me know if you can relate to any of them!

-Rachel x

5 Things I've Learnt About Blogging

7.31.2015

In Winter, I'll have been blogging 3 years- crazy! Over the 2 and a half years I've been blogging, I've learnt a few things along the way. The blogging world has changed drastically since 2012, that's for sure. For starters, blogging has now become a career. Not only that, but the Irish blogging community in particular has grown majorly. When I started, there was definitely only half the amount of bloggers there are now! Here are some things I've learnt about blogging over the past few years, that will hopefully be helpful/relatable to new and old bloggers alike.
  1. It's ok to say no: This is something that I've only really started to learn in the past year. As a blogger, there's always new opportunities and emails arriving in your inbox daily. You don't have to say yes to every single one, and that's totally ok! Not every new product will suit your blog, and you won't be able to make every event. Learn to be choosy about what you say yes to, rather than saying yes to everything and working too hard.
  2. It's not easy: Not everyone will be supportive. It takes up a lot of time, and it can be frustrating when you have no inspiration. Thankfully, almost everyone I know is super supportive over my choice of hobby but you will meet a few question marks along the way!
  3. Followers aren't everything: When I first started blogging, I didn't pay attention to my followers at all. In fact, for my first full year of blogging, I probably only had about 30 followers! Now I've realised that a large follower count doesn't mean more oppurtunities. In fact, many brands will just ask for your monthly view count, not your following on bloglovin'.
  4. Comparison comes easy: .. but it's a dangerous thing to do. It's easy to wonder "why didn't I receive an invite to that event?". It's easy to look at another blogger's following and wonder how they got xyz amount of followers in the space of the year. We all do it, as much as we hate to admit it, but it will do no good. Everyone grows at their own rate!
  5. It can be really frickin' cool: I'm not gonna lie- blogging really has its perks sometimes. From swanky event invites to new clothes, there's always something new and exciting in my email inbox. I'm so grateful for all the oppurtunities that blogging has given me!
There you have it- a mixture of negative and positive truths about the world of blogging. Let me know if you can relate to any of them!

-Rachel x

For some reason, I felt quite like Blair Waldorf from the hit TV show Gossip Girl in this outfit. Maybe its the blazer, or perhaps its the architecture in the background. If I had to choose a favourite character from GG, I'd choose Blair. In reality, she's the type of person I'd probably take a disliking to in real life. She has her faults- but so do I. Sometimes I feel like I can relate to her, which is why I probably love her character so much. Her sassy comebacks, her exciting love life and her impeccable wardrobe.. what's not to love?





Sandals- my mam's wardrobe!
Bag & blazer- Boohoo*

Although I'm only on season 4 of Gossip Girl, it's evident that Blair hasn't had the easiest time, and I will admit- she's rude as heck. But her passion, her drive and her general love of life are all things I like to say I have to. So next time you're stuck in a life or fashion rut, do what I do, and think- what would Blair Waldorf do?

Shop similar here...


Until next time..

-Rachel x

OOTD- What Would Blair Waldorf Do?

7.28.2015


For some reason, I felt quite like Blair Waldorf from the hit TV show Gossip Girl in this outfit. Maybe its the blazer, or perhaps its the architecture in the background. If I had to choose a favourite character from GG, I'd choose Blair. In reality, she's the type of person I'd probably take a disliking to in real life. She has her faults- but so do I. Sometimes I feel like I can relate to her, which is why I probably love her character so much. Her sassy comebacks, her exciting love life and her impeccable wardrobe.. what's not to love?





Sandals- my mam's wardrobe!
Bag & blazer- Boohoo*

Although I'm only on season 4 of Gossip Girl, it's evident that Blair hasn't had the easiest time, and I will admit- she's rude as heck. But her passion, her drive and her general love of life are all things I like to say I have to. So next time you're stuck in a life or fashion rut, do what I do, and think- what would Blair Waldorf do?

Shop similar here...


Until next time..

-Rachel x
As I mentioned in my last post, I fell a lil bit in love with the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Following on from my last travel diary from France, I've put together a travel guide to Lisbon for anyone that's interested in visiting there. Where to shop, what to eat and things to do- I've got you covered! I've briefly mentioned this on my twitter, but for some time now, I've been falling out of love with beauty blogging. Fashion, lifestyle and travel posts are the ones I like writing the most, so that's what I will be continuing with for the most part! I'll still have the odd beauty post every now and then, but for the most part I'm sticking with what I love the most.Enough rambling- here's my travel guide to Lisbon!

What To Eat:
Custard tarts (or 'pastel de nata') are a Portuguese speciality, and by god,they're delicious! I really didn't think I'd enjoy them but I had way too many during my 5 day stay in Lisbon. The best ones I tried were at Confeitaria Nacional (Praça da Figueira 18B). We had breakfast there twice as it was only a 5 minute walk from our apartment! I also recommend their hot chocolate (one of the best I've ever had) and their croissants. For dinner, we mostly had Italian as there were plenty of restaurants to choose from. We really enjoyed Romans (Rua Augusta, 216-218) and Da Vinci Ristorante & Pizzeria (Rua Jardim Do Rejedor, 37-45).
Confeitaria Nacional
Breakfast at Confeitaria Nacional & Dinner at Da Vincis

Places To Visit
Two day trips that are quick to make and well worth the time are Cascais and Sintra. Lisbon is a beautiful city itself, but if you're looking to fit in a trip to the beach, then Cascais is the place to go. It's only 40 minutes by train from the Cais De Sodre station (which is also on the metro line) and cost around €4.40 return for an adult. There are many beaches there and it was absolutely scorching when we went there (twice!). Sintra is another town that's also around 40 minutes away, which you can get to from the Rossio train station. It's a beautiful old little town that has plenty of castles. We chose the Quinta da Regaleira, the cheapest of the 'palaces', which was stunning on the outside but a bit of a let down inside. We also took a little train around the city which cost €5 each!
Cascais beach & Quinta da Regaleira

Where To Shop
The streets of centre Lisbon itself, particularly around the Baixo-Chiado metro station, are full of shops like H&M and Zara. There's also plenty of cheaper shops with jewellery for as little as €2 and handbags for €10. However if you prefer to have all your shops under one roof, the Vasco Da Gama shopping centre, beside the Oriente metro station, is a must visit! From Sephora to Stradivarius, there's something to suit everyone, not to mention a massive food court with the likes of Pizza Hut and KFC.

So there you have it! My guide to Lisbon. If you have any more questions about where to stay (or if you're looking for a beautiful apartment recommendation) don't hesitate to get in touch via twitter or email.

Have you been to Lisbon before?
-Rachel x

My Travel Guide To Lisbon

7.27.2015

As I mentioned in my last post, I fell a lil bit in love with the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Following on from my last travel diary from France, I've put together a travel guide to Lisbon for anyone that's interested in visiting there. Where to shop, what to eat and things to do- I've got you covered! I've briefly mentioned this on my twitter, but for some time now, I've been falling out of love with beauty blogging. Fashion, lifestyle and travel posts are the ones I like writing the most, so that's what I will be continuing with for the most part! I'll still have the odd beauty post every now and then, but for the most part I'm sticking with what I love the most.Enough rambling- here's my travel guide to Lisbon!

What To Eat:
Custard tarts (or 'pastel de nata') are a Portuguese speciality, and by god,they're delicious! I really didn't think I'd enjoy them but I had way too many during my 5 day stay in Lisbon. The best ones I tried were at Confeitaria Nacional (Praça da Figueira 18B). We had breakfast there twice as it was only a 5 minute walk from our apartment! I also recommend their hot chocolate (one of the best I've ever had) and their croissants. For dinner, we mostly had Italian as there were plenty of restaurants to choose from. We really enjoyed Romans (Rua Augusta, 216-218) and Da Vinci Ristorante & Pizzeria (Rua Jardim Do Rejedor, 37-45).
Confeitaria Nacional
Breakfast at Confeitaria Nacional & Dinner at Da Vincis

Places To Visit
Two day trips that are quick to make and well worth the time are Cascais and Sintra. Lisbon is a beautiful city itself, but if you're looking to fit in a trip to the beach, then Cascais is the place to go. It's only 40 minutes by train from the Cais De Sodre station (which is also on the metro line) and cost around €4.40 return for an adult. There are many beaches there and it was absolutely scorching when we went there (twice!). Sintra is another town that's also around 40 minutes away, which you can get to from the Rossio train station. It's a beautiful old little town that has plenty of castles. We chose the Quinta da Regaleira, the cheapest of the 'palaces', which was stunning on the outside but a bit of a let down inside. We also took a little train around the city which cost €5 each!
Cascais beach & Quinta da Regaleira

Where To Shop
The streets of centre Lisbon itself, particularly around the Baixo-Chiado metro station, are full of shops like H&M and Zara. There's also plenty of cheaper shops with jewellery for as little as €2 and handbags for €10. However if you prefer to have all your shops under one roof, the Vasco Da Gama shopping centre, beside the Oriente metro station, is a must visit! From Sephora to Stradivarius, there's something to suit everyone, not to mention a massive food court with the likes of Pizza Hut and KFC.

So there you have it! My guide to Lisbon. If you have any more questions about where to stay (or if you're looking for a beautiful apartment recommendation) don't hesitate to get in touch via twitter or email.

Have you been to Lisbon before?
-Rachel x
 Hey everyone,

Guess who's back in Ireland? Much to my dismay, me! Don't get me wrong, I do like my home country, but that post-holiday depression has certainly hit. And I've only been home a few hours! It was my first time in Lisbon- and Portugal in general, actually- but I really did love it. There's something about Lisbon that really captured my heart. Between the beautiful weather, the old fashioned buildings and plenty of things to see and do, it's safe to say it's a place I'd definitely like to return to!

I took so many photos during my trip (some which can be seen on my Instagram here) so there'll be plenty of outfit and travel posts coming your way! I have a pretty busy week ahead, but I'm feeling so inspired to blog. Travel really does broaden the mind, and thankfully this trip has brought me out of that dark hole of blogger's block!




 Playsuit- New Look
Sandals- New Look
Bag- vintage
Hat- Penneys/Primark

Shop similar here...


Have you ever been to Lisbon?

-Rachel x

OOTD- The Streets Of Lisbon

7.25.2015

 Hey everyone,

Guess who's back in Ireland? Much to my dismay, me! Don't get me wrong, I do like my home country, but that post-holiday depression has certainly hit. And I've only been home a few hours! It was my first time in Lisbon- and Portugal in general, actually- but I really did love it. There's something about Lisbon that really captured my heart. Between the beautiful weather, the old fashioned buildings and plenty of things to see and do, it's safe to say it's a place I'd definitely like to return to!

I took so many photos during my trip (some which can be seen on my Instagram here) so there'll be plenty of outfit and travel posts coming your way! I have a pretty busy week ahead, but I'm feeling so inspired to blog. Travel really does broaden the mind, and thankfully this trip has brought me out of that dark hole of blogger's block!




 Playsuit- New Look
Sandals- New Look
Bag- vintage
Hat- Penneys/Primark

Shop similar here...


Have you ever been to Lisbon?

-Rachel x

Hey everyone,

Back in January I started a new series called 'Lately I've Been', and somehow I managed to forget about it.. no better time to kick start it again then Summer! When this post goes live I'll be in sunny Lisbon- I can't wait to get away from this shoddy Irish weather! This is the first time I've been abroad twice in one month, it really doesn't feel like I was only in France 2 weeks ago. I've said it before but I'll say it again- travel is a wonderful thing! Anyway, that's enough rambling for today, on to today's post!

Lately I've Been...
•Watching: Orange Is The New Black. Yep, I finally jumped on the bandwagon about a month ago, and I'm loving it! I'm still on season 2 but it's just so funny and easy to watch. I usually don't watch shows like this but surprisingly enough, it's become of my favourite TV shows.

Listening To: Halsey. After hearing some of my friends rave about an American singer called Halsey, I was intrigued. I found her 'Room 93' EP on Spotify and it's all I've been listening to lately! I'm so excited for her album, which comes out in August. Not only are her lyrics amazing, but she's also stunning too. Give her a listen if you like Sky Ferreira or Marina & The Diamonds.

Painting My Nails With: Sosu by Suzanne Jackson nail polish. One of Ireland's most popular bloggers ( of the blog So Sue Me) recently released her own nail polish range. It was actually my mam that bought our first two bottles, as she loves any 'gel finish' polishes! Since then we've picked up 3 more, and I have to say, they're actually really good. They don't chip for days and the colours are so gorgeous! 

•Wearing: 'Brave' lipstick by MAC. I recently won a MAC lipstick of my choice on Twitter, and this is the shade I went for! I'm usually a bright lipstick kinda person, but I do like a good nude lipstick every now and then. This one is the perfect every day shade- pink but not too rosy!

•Loving: My new Lauryn Rose Jewellery* necklace. I received this in the post recently, and I adore it! The rose gold chain, the black jewel.. it's very me. I can't wait to style it!

What have you been up to lately?

-Rachel x


Lately I've Been... #2

7.20.2015

Hey everyone,

Back in January I started a new series called 'Lately I've Been', and somehow I managed to forget about it.. no better time to kick start it again then Summer! When this post goes live I'll be in sunny Lisbon- I can't wait to get away from this shoddy Irish weather! This is the first time I've been abroad twice in one month, it really doesn't feel like I was only in France 2 weeks ago. I've said it before but I'll say it again- travel is a wonderful thing! Anyway, that's enough rambling for today, on to today's post!

Lately I've Been...
•Watching: Orange Is The New Black. Yep, I finally jumped on the bandwagon about a month ago, and I'm loving it! I'm still on season 2 but it's just so funny and easy to watch. I usually don't watch shows like this but surprisingly enough, it's become of my favourite TV shows.

Listening To: Halsey. After hearing some of my friends rave about an American singer called Halsey, I was intrigued. I found her 'Room 93' EP on Spotify and it's all I've been listening to lately! I'm so excited for her album, which comes out in August. Not only are her lyrics amazing, but she's also stunning too. Give her a listen if you like Sky Ferreira or Marina & The Diamonds.

Painting My Nails With: Sosu by Suzanne Jackson nail polish. One of Ireland's most popular bloggers ( of the blog So Sue Me) recently released her own nail polish range. It was actually my mam that bought our first two bottles, as she loves any 'gel finish' polishes! Since then we've picked up 3 more, and I have to say, they're actually really good. They don't chip for days and the colours are so gorgeous! 

•Wearing: 'Brave' lipstick by MAC. I recently won a MAC lipstick of my choice on Twitter, and this is the shade I went for! I'm usually a bright lipstick kinda person, but I do like a good nude lipstick every now and then. This one is the perfect every day shade- pink but not too rosy!

•Loving: My new Lauryn Rose Jewellery* necklace. I received this in the post recently, and I adore it! The rose gold chain, the black jewel.. it's very me. I can't wait to style it!

What have you been up to lately?

-Rachel x


Hey everyone,

Just a quick update to let you guys know that my first ever Youtube video is now live! I was pretty nervous about it but the feedback about it so far has been amazing- thank you all! I decided to start out with the 'TMI Tag' just to help people get to know me a bit better. If you have any video ideas you'd like to see me create, let me know! Don't forget to like/comment/subscribe (all the Youtubers say that, so I've clearly gotten the swing of things already eh?)

In other news.. I'm heading to Lisbon on Monday which I'm super excited about, as it's my first time in Portugal. I've been pretty busy lately with my styling internship, but I've been updating my Instagram daily- check it out here!



Hope you enjoy!

-Rachel x

I'm Now On YOUTUBE!

7.18.2015

Hey everyone,

Just a quick update to let you guys know that my first ever Youtube video is now live! I was pretty nervous about it but the feedback about it so far has been amazing- thank you all! I decided to start out with the 'TMI Tag' just to help people get to know me a bit better. If you have any video ideas you'd like to see me create, let me know! Don't forget to like/comment/subscribe (all the Youtubers say that, so I've clearly gotten the swing of things already eh?)

In other news.. I'm heading to Lisbon on Monday which I'm super excited about, as it's my first time in Portugal. I've been pretty busy lately with my styling internship, but I've been updating my Instagram daily- check it out here!



Hope you enjoy!

-Rachel x
Hey everyone,

Paris Fashion Week ended last week, and I thought I'd share some of my favourite collections with you all! The Haute Couture shows are my absolute favourite- designers really seem to go that extra mile to produce a memorable collection. Not only that, but some of my favourite designers create a couture collection, like Elie Saab and Versace. Each year after PFW I'm left in awe, and this season was no different. Here are some of the ones I loved the most!

Elie Saab
Oh Elie Saab, how I adore you. Elie Saab is one of all time favourite designers, and I could honestly cry at how beautiful this collection is. This season there was a mixture of colours, with the show starting out in pastels and gold, then leading onto rich burgundys and turquoise. Although the collection has nothing on their Spring 2014 Couture collection (which I wrote about here), it still blew me away. As usual, Saab has managed to create a collection that makes me wish I was a fairytale princess. Simply stunning!

Zuhair Murad
Usually during the Couture seasons I look to Elie Saab for embellishment and bling, but this season I actually think I prefer Zuhair Murad's collection- dare I say it? I fell in love with the jewel tone shades, with the beautiful placement of diamonds to look like stars. The collection reminds me of dark starry nights, and I absolutely adore it. Definitely a designer I'll be paying more attention to!

Versace
I've always been what I'd call an "on and off Versace fan". There are times when I love their collections, and times when I think it's just meh. This season, however, I'm in love. I'm loving the 70s trend right now, and I love how Versace have taken inspiration from the 70s for parts of the collection. The knee high boots, the flares sleeves.. perfect!

Giambattista Valli
images from style.com
I first discovered Giambattista Valli with their Spring 2015 Couture collection, and ever since then I've been anticipating their next collection. Let me tell you- it did not disappoint! The brand are quite known for the flamboyant embellishment and big tulle skirts, and this collection was no different. The collection is slightly out there, but I just think the floral appliqué and different textures are so unique. 

Which collection was your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!

-Rachel x

Runway Roundup: Fall 2015 Couture

7.15.2015

Hey everyone,

Paris Fashion Week ended last week, and I thought I'd share some of my favourite collections with you all! The Haute Couture shows are my absolute favourite- designers really seem to go that extra mile to produce a memorable collection. Not only that, but some of my favourite designers create a couture collection, like Elie Saab and Versace. Each year after PFW I'm left in awe, and this season was no different. Here are some of the ones I loved the most!

Elie Saab
Oh Elie Saab, how I adore you. Elie Saab is one of all time favourite designers, and I could honestly cry at how beautiful this collection is. This season there was a mixture of colours, with the show starting out in pastels and gold, then leading onto rich burgundys and turquoise. Although the collection has nothing on their Spring 2014 Couture collection (which I wrote about here), it still blew me away. As usual, Saab has managed to create a collection that makes me wish I was a fairytale princess. Simply stunning!

Zuhair Murad
Usually during the Couture seasons I look to Elie Saab for embellishment and bling, but this season I actually think I prefer Zuhair Murad's collection- dare I say it? I fell in love with the jewel tone shades, with the beautiful placement of diamonds to look like stars. The collection reminds me of dark starry nights, and I absolutely adore it. Definitely a designer I'll be paying more attention to!

Versace
I've always been what I'd call an "on and off Versace fan". There are times when I love their collections, and times when I think it's just meh. This season, however, I'm in love. I'm loving the 70s trend right now, and I love how Versace have taken inspiration from the 70s for parts of the collection. The knee high boots, the flares sleeves.. perfect!

Giambattista Valli
images from style.com
I first discovered Giambattista Valli with their Spring 2015 Couture collection, and ever since then I've been anticipating their next collection. Let me tell you- it did not disappoint! The brand are quite known for the flamboyant embellishment and big tulle skirts, and this collection was no different. The collection is slightly out there, but I just think the floral appliqué and different textures are so unique. 

Which collection was your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!

-Rachel x
 Hey everyone,

Some more pictures from my recent trip to France! Looking back at these photos is making me wish I was still there.. Thankfully I don't have to wait long before travelling again, as I'm off to Lisbon in Portugal next week. I'm super excited as I've never been before- if you have any recommendations on places to visit, please send them my way!

During my time in France, we took a short trip to the Château De Chenonceau. Believe it or not I'm a bit of a history nerd and when I heard we were visiting this castle in particular, I'm not going to lie, I fangirled a bit! I did my Leaving Cert history research topic on Mary Queen of Scots, and this castle is actually linked to her. Her father-in-law's mistress, Diane De Poitiers, lived here for a while, as did her mother-in-law Catherine De Medici. The castle and it's gardens was honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. I found it fascinating that all the rooms remained in such good condition! The castle was about a 45 minute drive from where we were staying just outside Tours, so if you're around that area, I highly recommend visiting it. 




Top & hat- Penneys/Primark
Skirt- New Look
Bag- vintage
Bracelet- Newbridge Silverware




-Rachel x

Travel Diary & Outfit: Château De Chenonceau

7.13.2015

 Hey everyone,

Some more pictures from my recent trip to France! Looking back at these photos is making me wish I was still there.. Thankfully I don't have to wait long before travelling again, as I'm off to Lisbon in Portugal next week. I'm super excited as I've never been before- if you have any recommendations on places to visit, please send them my way!

During my time in France, we took a short trip to the Château De Chenonceau. Believe it or not I'm a bit of a history nerd and when I heard we were visiting this castle in particular, I'm not going to lie, I fangirled a bit! I did my Leaving Cert history research topic on Mary Queen of Scots, and this castle is actually linked to her. Her father-in-law's mistress, Diane De Poitiers, lived here for a while, as did her mother-in-law Catherine De Medici. The castle and it's gardens was honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. I found it fascinating that all the rooms remained in such good condition! The castle was about a 45 minute drive from where we were staying just outside Tours, so if you're around that area, I highly recommend visiting it. 




Top & hat- Penneys/Primark
Skirt- New Look
Bag- vintage
Bracelet- Newbridge Silverware




-Rachel x
Hey everyone,

Welcome to the first ever 'travel diary' post here on Oh Hey There Rachel! I love travelling, so I figured it would be a great idea to start a new series on my blog documenting my travels (even if I don't go abroad very often). As I've mentioned here multiple times, I recently went on a trip to France to stay with a friend and to see Florence + the Machine at festival Beauregard in Caen. I stayed in a small village called Montbazon just outside the city of Tours which is in central France. We flew into Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris with Aer Lingus, and then got the TGV train from the airport to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps which took just over two hours. We booked our train tickets well in advance, and went first class for an extra euro! It was definitely worth that euro, as we had so much leg space. It was my first time on a TGV train and I found the whole double decker thing quite fascinating...

On our second day in France we headed into Tours city, which was bigger than I expected. There was a main street with plenty of shops liked Zara and a Galeries Lafayette, but it was so hot that for once, I didn't feel like shopping! During my time in France, the temperature went up to 38 degrees because of the heat wave. Instead we visited the old parts of the town which I loved, because I'm obsessed with old architecture! The Gothic cathedral was simply stunning, as was the exterior of the Musée des Beaux Arts. If you're looking for a real French experience, I can't recommend Tours enough. It was so refreshing to go on a non-touristy holiday!


Saint Gatien's cathedral

Musée des Beaux-Arts

one of the oldest trees in Europe apparently!


I hope you enjoyed this travel diary- it's something quite different to what I usually do. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below if you'd like to see more! 

-Rachel x

Travel Diary- Tours, France

7.08.2015

Hey everyone,

Welcome to the first ever 'travel diary' post here on Oh Hey There Rachel! I love travelling, so I figured it would be a great idea to start a new series on my blog documenting my travels (even if I don't go abroad very often). As I've mentioned here multiple times, I recently went on a trip to France to stay with a friend and to see Florence + the Machine at festival Beauregard in Caen. I stayed in a small village called Montbazon just outside the city of Tours which is in central France. We flew into Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris with Aer Lingus, and then got the TGV train from the airport to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps which took just over two hours. We booked our train tickets well in advance, and went first class for an extra euro! It was definitely worth that euro, as we had so much leg space. It was my first time on a TGV train and I found the whole double decker thing quite fascinating...

On our second day in France we headed into Tours city, which was bigger than I expected. There was a main street with plenty of shops liked Zara and a Galeries Lafayette, but it was so hot that for once, I didn't feel like shopping! During my time in France, the temperature went up to 38 degrees because of the heat wave. Instead we visited the old parts of the town which I loved, because I'm obsessed with old architecture! The Gothic cathedral was simply stunning, as was the exterior of the Musée des Beaux Arts. If you're looking for a real French experience, I can't recommend Tours enough. It was so refreshing to go on a non-touristy holiday!


Saint Gatien's cathedral

Musée des Beaux-Arts

one of the oldest trees in Europe apparently!


I hope you enjoyed this travel diary- it's something quite different to what I usually do. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below if you'd like to see more! 

-Rachel x





Top & trousers- Penneys/Primark
Shoes- New Look
Bag- Topshop
Necklace- vintage

Shop similar here..

OOTD- White Walls & Red Lace

7.02.2015






Top & trousers- Penneys/Primark
Shoes- New Look
Bag- Topshop
Necklace- vintage

Shop similar here..

Latest Instagrams

© oh hey there rachel. Design by Fearne.