The essence of the long weekend is that it’s meant to be short and sweet, something that hits the spot, like a case of the munchies after a good spliff. The long weekend should top up your goblet before it hits empty, a getaway from the hullaballoo of life, the noise and wildness, press pause and hit calm. Long lie ins and lazy moments. We cannot always go for long hauls, especially with Cozzie Livs being what it is, so the long weekend it is somewhere close but far enough from home so it feels like a true getaway, even if it is in the same country.
Packing for a long weekend need not be arduous, its throw in a few things in your trusty weekend bag and head out. However, it ought to be a simple formula- stick with your staples for the seasons, we all have them and in these moments they are meant to be more like guidelines, like our options below, because rules do not go here, but there are some hard and fast steps that help one travel easy, forward plan and if you are like me, incessantly look forward to travelling. (I am that friend that has an itinerary of places to visit, some key things I want to see, an exhibition, a church or two to poke into and learn the history of a place because nowhere grounds a place, much like a church does, most things on the list go undone because I love to get lost in the most random of places) And moments of nothingness, I have a lot of those.
TRY EVERYTHING ON: play dress up in the days leading up to take off, which means shop your closet, aforementioned Cozzie-Livs considered, and traveling, yes is a luxury for most these days therefore, I am so sure you have things in your closet ready to go. And if you feel like you want to splurge, go right ahead on, hun. But try on everything and make sure you have the right lingerie as well.
THE BEAUTY BAG: Girls! GIRLS! Listen to me, edit your skincare ruthlessly. I mean proper streamline because you know where would get you? The damn security gate with liquid rules. Bloody hell! So we are packing things we need; Sunscreen. Double duty moisturiser; day and night in one. Cleanser. Serum. Face wipes. Skin tint OR concealer. Kohl pencil. Lip balm. Lip Gloss. Glossier blush (I am specific about this because these tubes are travel beauty bag friendly and they are really good blushes.) body cream in a small travel pot. AND THAT IS IT.
ELECTRONICS: you want to switch off over the long weekend, I would leave the laptop at home, if you must take a gadget, take the iPad if you have one or a kindle. If you do not have either of these, then a good book you will not read, not even on the plane, a notepad and pen- ALWAYS. Phone smart charger and do not forget your chord. We do that all the time!
WEATHER: Obsessively, check the weather, long range on accuweather is always the most accurate, for the week the iPHONE weather app is near enough accurate but I trust accuweather more. Still, pack a brolly though, you simply never know. This is why we play dress up because we will dress for the weather won’t we.
SHOES: keep it simple, walking shoes with padding and bounce because you might find yourself hiking up a hill like I have in the Cinque Terre, listen to that shit show here. Light day shoes like Birkenstocks… these are a hit or miss because of the material, leather, but I have never had an issue with them, and ONE pair of evening shoes, it is a long weekend so there will be dinners sure, but we can manage with a solo pair of evening shoes and one multi-functioning day time pair that need not be Birkenstocks.
ALLONS Y!
THE TRAVEL DRESS
COS
The ideal travel dress; simple, the material is fuss free and there is comfort enough to deal with the peculiarities of sitting on the plane for however long or short a time.
No matter the distance, this dress works and it is adaptable per the seasons: In spring-summer, you can throw on a large knit coat to ward off the plane chill and in autumn-winter, you can layer it with cashmere pants, a scarf and a soft coat, it is as easy as you want it to be. And for those times when you have to leg it to the gate… it will not let you down.
Tried. Tested. And true.
THE LONG WEEKEND- VILLEFRANCHE SUR MER, FRANCE
Ideal long weekend destination. Most divine of seaside towns on the French Riviera, about ten minutes from Nice, and not so far from Monaco. Matter of fact you can take the bus to Monaco to walk the circuit of the Formula One which is literally a road race. Monaco is nice, but possibly nicer is Menton as a matter of fact the entire stretch of this train line is chuck full of places you want to see. You can also walk Villefranche to St Jean Cap Ferrat to see the Rothschild villa. It is quite a special town.
SEE
The Church of St Peter: This gem of a chapel on Quai Corbet with a beautiful pink exterior and an interior of murals by Jean Cocteau who had a love affair of the sort with Villefranche-sur-Mer. You would too
STAY:
Hotel welcome, the best hotel in the area for sure, in high summer, it obvs costs more hence a splurge.
EAT & DRINK:
La Mere Germaine: The more famous restaurant in the area, right in front of the sea side with outside seating so you know it is the perfect people watching spot if that is your thing. The bouillabaisse here is fantastic apparently the best in the South. Jean Cocteau was here, if that is not a selling point for you, nothing will be.
Lou Bantry: a more casual spot in town but with good food and good portions
ACHILL’S ROOFTOP: for a small town Villefranche packs a punch when catering to its tourist clientele, listen this is possibly the most beautiful town in the South of France, accessible from a main town and beautiful within and without so tourists flock here, as they would to this rooftop bar which serves excellent drinks. So drink here.
LA GRANDE CAVE: a more chill wine bar within the town, on the steps leading to the beach, it is so atypical for towns like these so go here for beautiful wines from the region.
DO:
BEACH BUM: this town is the beach, the beach is the town! You cannot come here and not go to the beach it is SACRILEGIOUS, it is right there, six feet from wherever you are! spend time doing nothing by the beach.
THE WARDROBE
Dresses for the summer and always for the win, one piece and done, out the door before you can blink. Pick two versatile pieces and one specific night time dress
THE EXTRAS
Birkenstocks and straw hats for the win, especially in a village like this
THE LONG WEEKEND- FLORENCE, ITALY
My happy place, I could wax on and on and on about how much I love Florence it is the most divine city ever, pulsating with art and stories and culture and history. The place where the sounds of Bach serenades you to sleep at midnight, where tourists and locals congregate on Via de Tornabuoni at 1am to listen to a four piece orchestra absolutely smash it with Mozart. This will always be my first choice for a long weekend.
Dresses for Florence, a busy enough city, pack light materials specifically because any time of the year, there will be a crowd somewhere you want to visit in the city and in the summer, triply so, so pack light materials, linens, pointelle, sun hats and cotton.
DO:
THE UFFIZI GALLERY: If there is one thing you do, one place you visit, its the Uffizi gallery, my favourite gallery in possibly the entire world because it has a lot of my favourite works of art, my favourite Botticelli and Caravaggio and Artemisia… I could go on. Figure out how to be there the first Sunday of the month, because entry is free but mind you, it does get busy so I would go on an off day like a random Tuesday in July early mornings where you can get the museum to yourself for all of five minutes because everyone had the same idea as you. Still go!
STAY:
Hotel Berchielli: right on the Arno in the middle of the bustle, this is how I love to be in the city, in the middle of everything and everything happens on the Arno and it is a short hop to Oltrarno district where it is rumoured the real locals play.
EAT:
IL BORRO: A delightful bistro transplanted to London, two doors down from the hotel with the most magnificent wine list, the food is good but the wine here is sublime.
La Bussola: my first pick always and forever, the food is good, the clientele is wonderful, here was where I met a couple that made an impression on me they were retired and had just done a drive down from Sorrento to Florence, they shared stories of the places they stayed and the things they did, it would go a long way to informing my travel through Florence. But we are here for the food and the food really is good here, as are the waiters easy on the eye. Drinks too, really good libations.
THE EXTRAS
DRINK: MICHAELANGELO’S HILLTOP
Piazzale Michelangelo: Hills and views, I climbed them and drank on them, and this is the one place you can find the most magnificent views of Florence, perfect for sun worshippers. It just so happens there is a bar up there, of course the prices are premium but have an ice cream and a spritz and enjoy the sunset.
BEACH BUM: You are here for a long weekend, one of those days, should be spent by the beach town of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre. Yes this is a tourist sport, yes, it will be packed in the summer, but there is no where quite like it. Go for a dip in the beautiful blue waters in this small town overrun with everyone and forget the world for a minute.
THE LONG WEEKEND – LONDON, ENGLAND
London, my heart home, I grew up in North West London, about 20 minutes from the West End on a council estate with great views. My castle high up in the clouds. I love London, even with a move to the country side, London remains in my heart and I love to visit as often as possible, read possibly five days a week because it is an endless city, where you can get some of the best food in the world. London is a place of art, culture, heart, soul and food… such good food! You cannot come to London and not have good food, if you are struggling, slide into my DMs and I will hook you up. Alternatively, check out the address book section of the blog, it will get updated regularly.
The think about London, its all the things there is a quirk to it that can never get replicated, you will not find a vibe like it anywhere else neither will you find fashion like it anywhere London is the town where individualism is celebrated and so do that with your fashion. Keep it a little to the left.
DO:
THE TATE MODERN:
Ideally located near Borough Market, next door to Shakespeare’s round house and a good place to go for art. There is always something good on at the Tate Modern. Always so make sure to check the calendar of exhibitions. Also a restaurant on the 4th floor has the best views in London; that of St Paul’s Cathedral. My favourite building in London.
STAY:
The Ampersand Hotel is one of the most perfectly located in London, in my esteemed opinion, it is ideally located, small enough and big enough. Close to everything and the starting point of the Summer walk. Several restaurants and pubs, a tube station…the works.
EAT:
ST JACQUES: An elegantly appointed brasserie in Mayfair with exceptional service and wonderful food, a rare and magical combo if you find one. The menu changes with the season which is how things ought to be.
A night out in London town is where you can keep is simple and slick.
DRINK:
TT LIQUOR: You want liquor, they got liquor, you want a mood? TT got you. You want rooftop? Check. This is an eponymous bar set over four floors and an incredible liquor store. Besides the drinks is the location; a converted Victorian police station that strips away the austere whilst also maintaining it, a place where several patrons have slept off the long night perhaps. They have a cinema and can host experiences… seriously, drink here.
BEACH BUM:
Now this is where you have to stick with me because I am about to ask you to board a plane to get to the beach. It is only 40 minutes away… and then an hour’s drive BUT the adventure will be worth it because you are headed to Newquay beach, a beautiful, beautiful beach town with the most scenic train ride in the UK. Listen, we want the beach? I didn’t say it’ll always be easy but if you are so inclined book the short flight to Newquay, hop in a taxi and head to the sandy beach at Carbis Bay. Or you can just go to Brighton beach with its pebbles or Worthing. But I prefer adventures.
Here’s to a summer of long weekend and even longer memories.