Author: Igor

  • Road Tripping in Porto

    Portugal’s second largest city has recently become a popular destination with those looking for a place where they can relax, slow down and enjoy everything this European country has to offer.

    We have talked about Porto before in our City Guides and we’re writing about it again because it’s still one of our favourite destinations, where you can experience Portuguese culture and traditions at their best, without the tourists and the busy streets of Lisbon.

    This time we’re proposing a road trip. Even though it is a compact city that can be discovered on foot, there are certain areas that are worth visiting but are far away from the centre. With the available car rental options in Porto it is really easy to fully discover the city and its surroundings in just a couple of days, and a road trip would be awesome with an RV!

    Ribeira District: the heart of the city

    The best way to start exploring the city is in the Ribeira district, the busiest part of the city where tourists and locals walk by the River Douro, get lost around its cobblestone streets, enjoy the typical Port wine at one of the many cellars and experience magnificent views of the sunsets from the Dom Luís I bridge.

    This is also a good area to buy some local souvenirs and find some great stores selling Portuguese fashion, ceramics and other objects. We recommend ignoring the typical tourist shops and visiting the ateliers and stores of the craftsmen working in the district.

    Shopping and drinking in Cedofeita

    A little bit further north you will find the Cedofeita neighbourhood – our favourite in the city. Because of the cheap parking prices and large number of parking spaces, driving around Porto is much easier compared to other European cities.

    Take your rental car and head north. This is the area where local creatives and students hang out and where you will find some of the best bars and shops in the city. Don’t forget to pay a visit to Café Candelabro, a bar and second-hand book store serving great cocktails and other drinks. If you’re looking for local designers and brands with a focus on sustainability, Coração Alecrim is your place. This concept store stocks a great selection of womenswear, accessories and homewares that we’re sure you’ll want to take back home with you after your trip.

    Culture in Boavista

    We’re now saying goodbye to the city centre and heading to Boavista, a district located in the north west. The most popular landmark here is Casa da Música, an impressive concert hall built in the early 2000s as part of Porto European Capital of Culture in 2001 and designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhas.

    Even though this modern concrete building has its critics, it has become an essential part of the neighbourhood and the architectural landscape that surrounds it. The concert hall houses two auditoriums, a café, a restaurant and other spaces that can be visited every day on organised tours focusing on the architecture of the building, its functionality and its artistic programme.

    Pink art deco at Serralves

    We’re heading west to Serralves, a cultural institution that has recently become one of the most instagrammable locations in the city. Comprising a contemporary art museum, an extensive park and a beautiful art deco villa, visiting this cultural complex is a great plan to relax and discover other side of Porto.

    On a sunny day, the magnificent gardens – designed by iconic French landscape architect Jacques Gréber – are a popular destination with locals who want to explore the different trees and flowers, walk around the fountains and lakes or simply lie on the grass while they read a book.

    The museum opened in 1999 and is currently the most visited contemporary art museum in Portugal, housing more than 4300 works, part of which are showcased in the permanent collection along with other works by Portuguese and international artists belonging to the temporary exhibitions.

    Beach time in Matosinhos

    We’re finishing our road trip around Porto with some well-deserved relaxing time by the sea. Matosinhos, in the west area of the city, is an up-and-coming neighbourhood which is now attracting many young people due to the lower flat renting prices and the opportunity to live in a district where creative opportunities are booming.

    Explore some of the cool stores, bars and other businesses in the area and don’t forget to take your towel and swimwear to swim in the sea or dive into the Piscina das Marès, a salt water swimming pool wonderfully integrated in its surroundings and designed by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza in the 1960s.

     

    We want to hear your thoughts about road tripping in Porto. Do you have any other recommendations? What are your favourite places to visit outside of the city? Share them with us in the comments section below.

  • Genevieve Sweeney

    Genevieve Sweeney

    Genevieve Sweeney is a premium British knitwear label producing womenswear and menswear garments manufactured in the British Isles with fibres sourced from Italy, Yorkshire and small UK mills. In this video, designer Genevieve talks about her label and introduces the artisans and makers she works with to create Genevieve Sweeney’s unique pieces.

    www.genevievesweeney.com

  • Tärnsjö Garveri

    Tärnsjö Garveri

    Tärnsjö Garveri is a Swedish tannery which has hand-crafted leather accessories since 1873. Owned by Axel Bodén and Torbjörn Lundin since 1993, Tärnsjö Garveri employs 50 artisans and produces premium leather accessories for their own label and clients such as Our Legacy, Frederica Furniture and Gant Rugger.

    We talked to its creative director, Simon Hjälte, to find out more about this iconic company.

    Photos by Laura Iisalo.

    www.tarnsjogarveri.com

    Future-Positive-Tarnsjo-1
    Future-Positive-Tarnsjo-4
    Future-Positive-Tarnsjo-3
    Future-Positive-Tarnsjo-5
    Future-Positive-Tarnsjo-7
    Future-Positive-Tarnsjo-2
    Future-Positive-Tarnsjo-6

    Please tell us about yourself. What was your background before working at Tärnsjö Garveri?

    Before my position as creative director at Tärnsjö Garveri I ran my own clothing store through which I came in contact with Tärnsjö Tannery and its unique possibilities. In fact, most of my experience comes from creating extraordinary retail experiences and professionally I have been working as a buyer as well as a tailor. To summarise, you could say that I curate experiences coming from more than the end product…

    What are your main responsibilities at Tärnsjö Garveri?

    My title is Marketing Director, My execution is as creative director and my dream is becoming a partner. This means that I have a finger in everything that leaves Tärnsjö Tannery if its purpose is to extend the tannery experience beyond our zip code. I see it as a responsibility to make our leather and products synonymous with a rustic elegance aesthetic, and our persona understood as affordable luxury.

    While making it very clear that everything we do has a clear purpose and always shows the greatest respect towards Mother Nature by making our business and production process as sustainable and ecological as possible.

    What makes Tärnsjö Garveri different from other leather manufacturers?

    A lot of things. First and foremost, we are amongst the remaining 5% of tanneries still tanning vegetably using bark extract instead of chrome excel.

    However, I wouldn´t limit our uniqueness as a company to being only involved in the tanning business. We have been around since 1873 and “time gone by” has developed us so that today we are a company manufacturing products in a near closed-loop model.

    We receive raw hides and tan it to premium leather on the ground floor. On our second floor we finish to different type leathers varying greatly in thickness and suitable use. On the third floor we craft products out of this leather in our saddlery.

    Tell us about The Icon Collection? How did this idea originate?

    The idea originates out of the uniqueness described above. We felt that we should take more advantage of our closed-loop solution by adding the “end consumer” to our target group. Also, we felt that the time was right since, if we are reading trends right, the WTP (will to pay) is increasing. Gladly so!

    What are Tärnsjö Garveri’s future plans?

    Since we adhere to the concept of organic growth our future plan is to take it slow, leaning against our core values on our journey to increase awareness with the “common man” positioning us as “No mather what the intended use might be, Tärnsjö leather is the natural choice for high quality.”

  • Five ways to protect your belongings when out and about

    Have you had an item stolen from you before? Most of us will own the likes of phones, wallets, laptops, jewellery or bikes which make our lives easier and carry sentimental value — but could unfortunately be targets for thieves.

    Though still lower than in decades gone by, theft in the UK is on the rise in recent years. If your prized possessions have taken months or even years of careful financial management to pay for, here are five ways to protect what’s rightfully yours. 

    Keep your bag close  

    Bags are an easy target for what they could have inside. Try not to leave yours out of sight in public places and consider wearing it on your front when in crowded areas such as train and underground stations to make it harder to snatch.

    We all lose things by accident from time to time. Attaching a tag with your name and contact details could allow a kind stranger to help your bag find its way back to you. 

    Be aware of your surroundings

    There are times when you may want to tune out of everything around you and get lost in your own world. Doing so could land you in trouble in certain situations however, so try to stay savvy to prevent anything being stolen without you noticing.

    Keep your headphone volume low enough to hear what’s going on when in public places, and make sure to report anything that looks suspicious.   

    Don’t flaunt your possessions

    If you’ve spent money on a fancy necklace or a new smartphone, it’s understandable that you may want to show it off a little — but you’re not always in control of exactly who you’re showing it off to. 

    Don’t leave expensive items on show in your car, cover up your jewellery in public spaces, and only get your wallet or purse out when you need it.  

    Lock it up

    In many cases, thieves will target items that are easy to steal without anyone being any the wiser. Using a lock could be enough to deter potential criminals and keep your possessions safe. 

    Always secure your bike with a lock when leaving it in public spaces and attach a padlock to your rucksack when travelling or attending events.

    Take out insurance

    Even when you take all the necessary steps to protect your belongings, sometimes the worst still happens. All is not lost, however — as long as you have insurance. 

    Many expensive items can be purchased with insurance added on to cover you in case they get stolen, lost or damaged.

    Are you street-smart with your possessions? With a few of the tips above, you’ll be able to keep what’s yours, yours.

     

  • Where to Stay in Dublin

    Image source

    Lots of families, couples, and friends enjoy a weekend break now and again in order to spend some quality time together and get away from the stresses of everyday life. Most choose to stay close to the UK because going further afield can be too much of a hassle for a mere weekend. But where should you go?

    Dublin is proving to be a popular choice because of its beautiful surroundings and wealth of tourist attractions. The city features an array of stunning landscapes. Via visiting Dublin you will get to witness tranquil and unspoilt countryside, which truly gives you the basis to relax and rejuvenate. Moreover, there is a whole host of things to do, such as seeing a music event at the arena, heading to the theatre, and, of course, enjoying a weekend at the races. There are a lot of racecourses close to Dublin, like Punchestown and Leopardstown. They all provide a great place to enjoy a day out, whether you are a big racing fan or not.

    As well as planning what you are going to do in the popular city, you will also need to consider the different hotels in Dublin so that you can find somewhere to stay for your vacation. There are several things that you need to consider in order to ensure that you find the best hotel.

    First and foremost, you need to determine a budget. After all, there is a whole host of hotels in Dublin, and thus they differ in price from place to place. By determining a budget range you can narrow down your search effectively. Nevertheless, it is important to be mindful of going for the cheapest option. If you are going for a weekend break then you want to stay somewhere nice which will enhance your experience. A budget hotel is likely to offer you the bare minimum and you won’t enjoy your experience anywhere as much.

    In addition to this, you also need a hotel that enhances your stay and provides you with the best of what Dublin has to offer. As mentioned, Dublin boasts some fantastic countryside and thus it is worth staying in a hotel which is situated with beautiful views. Some of the best hotels in Dublin take advantage of this with the likes of luxury golf courses.

    A lot of people prefer to go for a cheaper hotel that is in a better location and gives them the ability to keep some money spare so they can make the most of everything Dublin has to offer in terms of entertainment. A budget hotel nearby near 3 Arena would be a good choice. There are always lots of great events going on here. You can expect all of the world’s most famous musicians. 

    You also need to decide what board you want, such as; all inclusive, self catering, half board, bed and breakfast and alike. Most people tend to opt for bed and breakfast or half board. This is because it provides them with a good breakfast when they wake up, yet they still have license to explore and try different cafes and restaurants around Dublin during either lunch or dinner.

    Continuing on the theme of food, make sure that the hotel boasts an impressive restaurant. Some of the most luxurious hotels will boast award winning restaurants, and these really enhance your stay. After all, there is nothing better than indulging in some lavish food whilst enjoying a weekend’s break.

    It is also a good idea to take the time to read reviews that have been left by people that have stayed in the hotels you are considering before. This will give you the chance to see what they have had to say about their experience, including whether they enjoyed their time there and any handy tips or things to be mindful of. Make sure you use independent review platforms so you can be sure the comments are genuine. This is a must.

    All in all, Dublin offers a fantastic place to stay for those seeking a weekend’s vacation. In order to find the best hotels in Dublin you should contemplate budget, board basis, quality of food and surroundings.