Gong Cocktail Bar @ The Shard

I am fortunate to enjoy lovely experiences in life, however the feeling within me as the aircraft powers down the runway for take off is hard to describe.

For those, like me who have been a flight attendant for many years will understand that it is a feeling within like no other. It is a part of who I am. It is as much a feeling of joy, of excitement, of adventure, of love as any other experience I encounter, yet it does not possess a name. It just is!

In February my travel to London, Venice, and Milan started with this feeling within, just as all my travels do.

PURE London @Olympia

I love new experiences and revisiting my favourites from travels gone by. The many different languages, beautiful architecture, historic sights, endless landscapes, gorgeous restaurants, rooftop bars with stunning views, and shopping choices that always exceed my expectations. Simply the people you meet along the way.

This time although business determined the destinations I travelled to, a little side trip to Venice was my extra sweet treat.

Visiting PURE London Fashion Fair is a source of accessories and where I first found the Italian stocking range that I now have at Louise M. It is also where I confirmed that the scarf range I had seen in Dusseldorf, Germany in 2014 was the perfect addition to Louise M’s product offering. This is a small fair for me to attend, there is a level of clothing and a level of accessories. Limited shoe suppliers exhibit before making their way to Milan.

Venice was purely for joy, and it certainly delivered. The canals, the culture, the bridges, the colours and costumes of Carnival of Venice were impressive! It was so bizarre to be seated across the room from a couple of ladies in full traditional costumes sipping tea, or having the ‘Three Musketeers’ enter the bar you are enjoying an aperitivo in. Water taxis, footpaths, bridges and ferries efficiently deliver you to other parts of the city. It truly is an experience and a must see destination.

Ladies having tea
opposite us at Cafe
Florian

Milan was the fnal and most important stop for me and Louise M. It is where display upon display of shoes and boots line several exhibition halls. It is where choice is king and there is a real issue if you cannot find something different to what other retailers are selling. My challenge is to stay true to Louise M’s delivery of ‘feminine, fashionable and functional shoes for corporate women’. It can be easy to lose focus and become carried away in all the wonders of the displays. Time is limited to one day (about 9 hours) for me and I am racing to find what I need.

Attending an international shoe fair has been a dream of mine for many years. It is now a dream I have achieved four times. Each time the nerves of anticipation and responsibility, are mixed with the realization that my love of travel and my passion for shoes has led me to this wonderful destination of Europe, where I am able to see the best shoe collections in the world. I am certainly one of only a few in Australia to do so.

I am fortunate to enjoy lovely experiences in life. As the aircraft powers down the runway at Milan’s Malpensa Airport for take off it is hard to describe the feeling…… It just is!

Lovely experiences to share with you;

Freezing in Venice,
but so much fun!

In London:

Maddison’s restaurant and cocktail bar, Views overlooking St Paul’s & beyond.

Gong Cocktail Bar on the 52nd floor of The Shard.

Sake No Hana, Japanese restaurant in Mayfair

Radio Rooftop Bar – The Strand, Central London.

Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – High Tea touring London sights.

Sketch café/bar/restaurant in Mayfair.

Selfridges Shoe Gallery, Oxford St.

La Rinescente, Milan

In Venice:

Caffe Florian, coffee house established in 1720. Piazza San Marco.

Vino Vero Winebar.

Gondola Ride

In Milan:

Hotel Straf & Bar, great position & funky hotel.

Il Bar @La Rinescente Centre, overlooks Duomo Milan.

Izu Japanese restaurant.

Armani Bar for Aperitivo