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piinfeathers · 1 year

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stephhhh do you have any good swan jones family headcanons

oh my god you have no idea, i have a million. my biggest one right now is one i’ve been playing around with for awhile where they head back to the enchanted forest once Hope’s powers start to manifest

the whole thing was pretty much inspired by this one image of this old house boat that’s lived in my brain for ages. i just have such a clear idea of them living in a big, cozy enchanted Jolly Roger that looks like this

hang on i gotta put the rest under the cut, this is gonna get long winded as hell ;;

as much as i love the big blue captain swan house, i just don’t see them as the type to be able to stay in one place for long, especially once the realms are untied and more townspeople move away from storybrooke. i think they’ll always come back to visit, but for them home was always with each other and not really a specific place ya know?

i imagine the jolly being transformed with Emma’s magic (and some of hope’s) too. it’s an old ship that’s been through so many realms it’s already got magic in the wood so it’s not really a stretch to add a nursery and indoor plumbing

here’s my big mood board for what the ship looks like

think howl’s moving castle and just cozy magical realism vibes, lots of plants and stained glass

also Hope’s nursery is a big one

plus just little nooks and spaces in the ship that are impossible to find sometimes, that sometimes disappear for days or weeks before showing up again

also cats, there’s gotta be a handful of cats that just like…show up and stay

the biggest thing tho is siblings. as much as i love the "Emma and Killian have 10 babies" headcannon, i always ALWAYS saw them as the types foster or adopt other lost children. i just have this image of the Jolly full of wayward kids they found on their journeys that needed a place to rest for the night and somehow ended up a part of a big chaotic magical pirate family. Hope Swan Jones obviously being the one to invite them on board without asking always her parents first

i had this idea for a future fic where the jolly roger, after being so enchanted over time by the swan girls, just starts adding extra rooms some mornings, seemingly out of nowhere for no reason, until Emma or Killian come across a scruffy kid who tried to pick their pockets who just somehow happens to be the perfect fit for all the new clothes and new bed that appeared overnight. this happens multiple times and they learn to just go with it, the jolly is just building herself a new crew 💖

anyway see if i do literally anything with that, it’s just fun to make lil pinterest boards about it right now hahhaaaaa

#i just can't imagine them staying sheriffs is all im saying #also they would both feel guilty at first for wanting to go on adventures again #thinking the other doesn't want to #but obviously all either of them want is to go explore and play with each other #doesn't matter where #ANYWAY #that was fun lmao #somebody come kick my ass into actually drawing any of this please ;;#captain swan #asks

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em-dash-press · 2 years

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The Ultimate Creative Writing Resource List

After writing for quite nearly my entire literate life ~and~ getting a creative writing degree, I've put together a comprehensive list of the sites and blogs that I've found most useful! Check it out, we've got—

An Insanely Detailed Character Creation Sheet: use this page to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about your character and more. It never fails to make me consider something about them I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

A Character Avatar Creator: if you know what your character looks like and want a visual of them for notes/cork boards/Google Docs, this site will let you personalize them almost as much as a Sims game.

Pinterest: if you don't know what your character looks like and need inspiration, search for pictures of people who inspire you. Definitely have done this more often than not because I can never seem to pin down (pun intended) my character's exact appearance. Really helps with things you might forget while writing, like the shape of their eyebrows, how their hair lays or even how they stand.

A Map Creation Website: it's meant for fantasy worlds but I've used it for my historical fiction novels! Super customizable even without paying for it. It also saves your work in the free version, which has saved me when I forgot to upload copies to where I keep all my story stuff.

Grammar Girl: have any questions about where to put that semicolon or when to use italics? Grammar Girl is literally used by English teachers because it's that accurate. Check your work or put as many commas in that manuscript as your heart tells you to anyway. I've done both!

Grammarly: this is another way to check your grammar, especially if you use the Chrome extension. It automatically checks your basic grammar, spelling, and readability while you type in Google Docs or another browser-based text document. Note that it isn't foolproof and sometimes will suggest things that don't make sense. Use your best judgement when it highlights things!

Word Hippo: do you feel like you've used one word too often in your story? I use Word Hippo daily for both my creative and professional writing to avoid repetition. When I can't think of a synonym or antonym on my own, it has a billion suggestions for adjectives, verbs, nouns, etc. It can even help you find words that rhyme! Make your character a poet. Nothing can stop you.

Text-to-Speech Reader: it's always easier to catch minor line errors when you read something out loud, but if you don't feel like doing that, this site will read your story for you. There are multiple voices to choose from, so have fun listening to your hard-won stories while you edit.

Background Noise—Coffee Shop: I always lose myself in stories when I have this video playing in the background. It's like I'm in a coffee shop or cozy restaurant booth, but without spending money.

Background Noise—Tavern Fireplace: same vibes as a coffee shop, but with fireplace crackling.

Background Noise—Rain Shower: listen to rain patter against your window with some thunder in the background.

Background Noise—Cozy Fireplace and Rain Shower: combine your favorite sounds in this extra long video of a wood-burning fireplace and a distance rain shower. Perfect for anyone who doesn't want to hear extra loud thunder.

Background Noise—Forest Sounds: is your story taking place outdoors? These sounds will make you feel like you're in the woods with your characters.

Background Noise—Blizzard Sounds: constant blizzard winds may easily make you feel removed from the world so you can focus on your work.

Background Noise—Interior Plane Cabin White Noise: the pleasant hum of a plane cabin is what I often write to. There are no loud take-off, landing, or passenger sounds either.

Background Noise—Christmas Music From Another Room: I found this video when quarantining for Christmas with my husband in 2020. It ended up being one of my favorite writing background videos of that year. It features lyric-less songs on vinyl, plus muffled talking, which was a definite perk for the year+ we spent inside.

Background Noise—Lo-Fi: when I'm not sure what I want to write to, I use this playlist. It has the perfect low-key beats for writing less-intense scenes or working on plot, characters, mapping, etc.

Tumblrs With Fantastic Writing Tips: I have a few favorite tumblrs I loooooove and have followed on various blogs for many years. They regularly answer submitted questions and have organized tags, so if you're wondering about something, you'll likely find an answer by searching their blogs! Check out @fixyourwritinghabits @heywriters @wordsnstuff for expert-level help, guidance, and inspiration.

Tumblrs With Writing Prompts: while there are many prompt websites and blogs, my favorite prompt tumblrs are @daily-prompts and @creativepromptsforwriting for their variety and creativity!

Other resources...

Goodreads: consistently reading is part of exercising that creative muscle in your brain. Goodreads will help you keep track of everything you've read, are reading, and want to read. Find your next inspiration and the latest updates on what's coming out soon from your favorite authors.

Poets & Writers Contests: this site is always posting the latest creative writing contests for all genres. It also has free submissions, so don't worry if you can't afford entry fees for now.

The Writer: you'll also find great contests (both free and paid) at The Writer. Explore their site to discover other great resources too, like writing getaways and publishing tips.

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Enjoy and I hope this helps! Feel free to reblog and add other resources that you use for your writing. I'd love to find more!

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lucinx-moved · 5 years

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a lot of oc talk below boop

SO i wanted to make some kind of a.....semi coherent post about em new babis that i have bc i want to talk about them but i wont be able to make too much content about them (or as much as im doing w aura now lol) for a while at least but yeah. i want to ramble about them anyway because they good. and im a proud mama. all of them were initially born into pinterest boards so you kinda get the most out of them from their boards i think. visually anyway. OKE so meet eir, asher, isa and neave.

eir is my dark-skinned and pale eyed elfy archer queen. her name means peace and mercy and thats mostly what her personality is about lol. shes quite lawful and wants to do the right thing, preferably with no violence. she is skilled with her bow but wants to use it as the absolute last option when negotiating or making decisions. she’s very calm and collected and can be quite serious, but she has a kind heart. her mother was an elf and her father a human, which kind of drives her motivation to learn about humans and maybe how to make peace with them. i just made her in dao, as a dalish warden (so her backstory kind of conflicts with the lore but who cares about canon right haha *sweats*) and im v excited to see what kind of journeys shes gonna have (and who is she gonna romance YEET).

asher is the sweetest boi. the sunshine. with his red hair and freckles. so many freckles... he’s a rogue as well and really, really, loves his blades. he doesnt really have a filter, he says all the things that hes thinking about and that def has got him into trouble. hes short, pretty and a meme and just wants to climb trees and have a good time. and maybe go stick a knife in some bad guys throat from time to time. he has a younger sister (but who really knows which one is supposed to be the older one). im planning on making him as my hawke in da2 and thatll certainly change some things (like...add another sibling lol good luck @ me trying to figure that out) but till then! hes my chaotic boi. his name also means happy so there ya go.

isa is a buff stronk qunari warrior lady, very intimidating looking, extremely scarred all over, broken nose, all that stuff. but in reality she is the softest and gentlest bean, cries a lot, and spends most of her free time taking care of lil forest creatures. she was trained to be a warrior from a very young age, never wanted to be one but kind of had to and didnt know how to live life any different. that has left her with a lot of emotional burden and insecurity and that combined with she already being very sensitive is.....A Lot. but we love her v much. i made her in dai and eeep cant wait to play with her and see her grow and develop more. her name does mean strong willed so *eyes emoji*.

neave is a mystery for both me and them probably. neaves a demon babey, not really of any gender or race, not really alive but still existing in some way. they werent always like that tho, but shenanigans happened (im....figuring it out alright), they died and came back blind and having all the color taken away from their skin, hair and face. and seeing that sacrifice was really for nothing, why even believe in good anymore huh? they give that creepy kind of vibe just being very calm, cunning, emotionless. doing terrible things and not blinking an eye. but they dont do those things just for the sake of doing them, neaves very intelligent and always have their reasons, whatever those might be. neaves a blood mage (an evil blood mage? really stretching the stereotypes here huh) but not part of any game as of now, and prob not going to be in a while at least. so they chillin here and there for now.

#i forgot this post in my drafts lol might as well publish it finally #also im planning on drawing all of them #i already kind of did neave but when i have time #ill do the rest of em #ye #alrighty yall have a good day *flower emoji*#oc tag #my babeys tag #oc: eir #oc: asher #oc: isa #oc: neave #i changed my oc tags oop #laila babblin

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pet-diary · 5 years

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Any tips for time management? I always think I need less time for assignments than I do, and this caused me a lot of stress this semester- I don’t want to make the same mistakes next semester.

I struggle a lot with time management, especially when it comes to getting ready to leave and catching the bus on time… So I’ve had to develop a lot of tools to help me over the years. These are some of the things that are really helping me right now. Hopefully some of these will help you too! (Sorry this is so long I do not have a tmi filter, lol).

Time Management Tips:

Set alarms to remind you to stay on task. I have pre-labeled alarms on my phone for all kinds of things (e.g. first wake up alarm, second wake up alarm, walk the dog,eat lunch, take pills, etc). I even made the alarm songs kind of embody the vibe of whatever the task is, so that my memory is jogged even without reading the screen. Play around with your alarm settings, you might be able to add emojis to the label to make them feel less stressful, make the song come on gradually so it’s not jarring, or my phone even has a feature where it reads out the time, the weather and news headlines from the day. It plays a song based on what kind of weather it is. It’s really useful! :) If you need to have an alarm separate from your phone because it’s too distracting, cube timers or kitchen timers can be good.

Use a habit tracker to build better habits. Most of my time management problems stem from not having enough structure in my life. Building structure, even in the smallest ways, REALLY helps me manage time better. It helps me have a better sense of how much time is passing, and how much time certain tasks take. I use Habitica which I love, but there’s a ton of habit tracker apps out there. You could also track things manually in a journal, but I feel like that could require a lot of unnecessary work/time. Habitica is easiest for me because it makes it sort of fun (the RPG element is cute), they have groups and challenges you can join, and basically it just gives me some accountability at the end of the day. I just check off what I did and didn’t do that day, and it helps me stay honest about my bad/good habits. It’s really easy to see what you’re neglecting when it’s showing up in red on a regular basis! Building habits and routines is SO key, I would argue it’s the most important thing to do for better time management.

On that note, having better sleep/wake habits is SO helpful for having better time management. It may not seem related, but your body likes routine. If you wake up around the same time everyday, your body gets used to it and will start waking up even without the alarm. Same with sleep, you’ll start getting sleepy around the same time if you make it a routine. I’ve been trying to get the most out of the few hours of daylight we have in the winter in Seattle, so I try to wake up as early as possible. My goal is to wake up at 5am (it’s not been happening lately, but I’ll keep working at it), because this will give me the most amount of daylight. I use Sleep Calculator to figure out what time to sleep/wake, which has been fairly accurate and helps me wake up with more energy. If you have the money, you might try getting a lamp that gradually wakes you up in the morning. I really want one of these! :0

Prevent yourself from getting distracted when you’re supposed to be working. Use an app like Forest to stop yourself from using your phone. Put your phone in another room if you keep checking it anyway, or put it in airplane mode so you don’t get notifications and can’t use the internet. There’s a lot of apps on the phone and on browsers that block certain sites so you don’t get distracted surfing the web or checking social. Have a separate browser for school work only (I use Firefox for personal stuff, and Chrome for school work. All my plugins on Chrome relate to getting work done and not getting distracted. I don’t even allow myself to use Chrome to search something unrelated to school because I know they’ll use my history to advertise to me and I don’t want those distractions when I’m doing work).

Take breaks when you need them, but get back to work when you should. There’s a lot of info out there about how long your breaks should be and all that. Personally, I don’t find a 10 minute break to be very useful. If I’ve been doing school work for hours and I can’t stop thinking about playing video games, I’ll work to a certain point, and then reward myself by playing Skyrim for an hour or two, then work again. Set an alarm for this, set several if needed. I feel like it helps me reset my brain. I simply can’t satisfy my need for a break in 10 minutes… But that’s just me. Figure out what works for you and the amount of time restraints you have!

Set up your environment for the task at hand. If you’re writing a paper, get out everything you’ll need and then make your writing environment the right mood. For me, that means having a nice candle, some calm instrumental music, a comfortable spot, a snack or drink nearby, etc. I’m a big believer in setting up the right environment. Sometimes that even means taking my breaks by looking at studyblrs or watching a TedTalk related to the topic I’m writing about. Inspiration goes a long way.

Remind yourself why you’re working. It really helps me to stay on task when I remind myself why I’m in school, what I’m working towards, why it’s important. Like the last tip, sometimes just taking a break by watching a TedTalk related to psychology helps me remember why I care about the work I’m doing. Make a vision board above your desk, or just a Pinterest that has inspirational images or quotes that keep you feeling motivated. I will even go so far as to find TV shows, movies, or anime that has a similar vibe to what I’m working on. When I was interviewing for an office job, I watched anime about working in an office, and it actually helped me feel excited about the position! Actually, this is the main reason I have a blog, I like to post content that gives me the right feeling for whatever I’m doing at the time. It helps me see things in a positive light rather than dreading it and wishing I had a different life. It really changes my perspective!!

Set time limits for yourself. I know this is obvious, but just make sure you’re not spending too much time perfecting things that don’t ultimately matter. I used to spend HOURS getting dressed. Sometimes you just need to give yourself a wake up call and realize certain tasks aren’t as important as you’re letting them become. If you really just have too much on your plate, ask for some help. Maybe someone else can take over a certain chore until you’ve gotten your routine down better. Maybe some of your hobbies or social activities can be put on hold for a bit. Don’t overexert yourself, or overbook yourself. Keep a calendar or planner, and make sure you know what’s coming up so you don’t just completely screw up your schedule.

On this note, DO NOT take more courses than is right for you. I used to get peer-pressured into taking more courses than I really could handle. People would make fun of me for taking so few, or criticize me for taking less than them when they were juggling work and a social life on top of that. I know that this might be impossible to adjust, financial aid requires a certain number of hours each semester, and most people have to work on top of school, but if you’re able to reduce your work load and you feel you need to, DO IT! Don’t overdo it just because you feel obligated to be busy. I personally do best with two classes. That’s it. I feel like I can handle the work load, and I dedicate enough of my mind to really diving into the subject when I don’t have a lot more on my plate than that. Figure out what works for you and make that your baseline, everyone else be damned. You might have to remain flexible on this, but I think it’s so important to advocate for yourself and know your limits, don’t let people push you into doing more than you can. At the end of the day, your grades, your learning, YOUR future is what’s at stake.

Aim towards efficiency. Really think about what’s taking so much of your time when you’re working. Are you getting distracted by friends? Spending too much time writing notes? Having to reread the same sentence over and over again because you aren’t able to concentrate? Literally just have too many tasks to do and can’t seem to finish them all on time? All of these problems have different solutions. Try to really lay out each problem, and brainstorm solutions. Time yourself if you need to, see what you’re spending the most time on. If you really just have too many assignments, talk to the professor about it. It may not result in extra time or less work, but they might be more lenient, or they might be able to offer solutions. Heck, you might even hear that you’re putting in way more work than is even required! You never know. This might also be a good time to explore accommodations if you need them. I personally have accommodations for anxiety and autism. My disability coordinator gave me access to a program called Sonocent that can be used for recording lectures and taking notes. OneNote is about the same, and it’s included with Office suite, no accommodations needed.

**Extra tip** Don’t spend over an hour responding to an ask on tumblr………. ( ͡°⁄ ⁄ ͜⁄ ⁄ʖ⁄ ⁄ ͡°)

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jemmasmithinterior · 4 years

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How to Build a Pinterest Board

At Ashley HomeStore, we want to help inspire you to create your dream home. One filled with comfort that will be a host for amazing memories, while of course being adorable. If you are decorating your first space or feel that your home is due for a makeover, we want to help you build something beautiful. Starting from the ground up might be overwhelming, but we are here to share our secret interior design weapon with you… Pinterest!

Pinterest is an amazing tool to help curate your design preferences and discover what you love in home décor. Create mood boards to inspire your home makeover, room revamp or new home altogether. If you are transforming your home or moving into a new one, plan out your dream space with a mood board. Here are some tips to get you started. Let’s get pinning!

Find Your Colors

Before breaking down your design preference, let’s decide on your color scheme. This seemingly small decision can help you navigate your endless list of ideas and can lead you to picking a design style for your whole home.

If you feel overwhelmed by this decision, take baby steps. Pin photos of landscapes that inspire you or fill you with happiness. Once you see your mood board coming to life with color, you will be able to see your color palette. Is it full of warm tones like blooming flowers and deserts? Or did you pin photos of the ocean and lush forests? Pinterest is all about curating mood boards that inspire you, so start small and allow that to inform your larger decisions. To create your dream home, sometimes it’s ok to fall down the digital rabbit hole.

Design Features You Love

Now that you’ve discovered your color palette, let’s open the scope of our search to feature photos of interior design. Recall every place that made you fall in love with its interior design and create Pinterest searches based on other spaces you admire. Do you love the crown molding in your aunt’s Victorian-inspired home? Or did you fall in love with that bohemian coffee shop you found around the corner? Think about those spaces, the ones you wish you could package up and take home with you. Now you can!

With your mood board full of beautiful colors and adorable spaces that you obsess over, let’s decide your interior design style!

Do you like a neutral palette with rustic spaces? You’ve got modern farmhouse! Bring the barn to your space with accents like antiqued wood pieces and exposed brick. You love the juxtaposed look of pairing this rustic with industrial pieces like dark metals and sleek furniture designs. All you need is a cozy throw blanket and you’ve completed the look!

Like a warm-toned palette and airy spaces: I like to call this look “warm modernism”. You love minimal spaces, but are drawn to warmer colors like clay, maroon and peach. When creating a space, you like to keep things simple so bold accents can really shine. Add some green plants to really make the space stand out.

Like a vibrant color palette and mis-matched spaces: You’re a bohemian lover! You take inspiration from all sorts of interior design styles. In a bohemian space, you can find modern accents paired with mid-century furniture and vintage pieces. There are really no limits when it comes to creating this fun-loving eclectic space that is built upon adorable accessories.

Like a cool-toned palette and city vibes: You are destined for an industrial space! Even if you live in a small suburban town, the views of the skyscrapers call to you and you want to showcase them in your space. Stick with an edgy style of metallics and deep cool colors like navy and forest green.

Connect With People Who Share Your Style

Now that you know your style, find others who share your interior design visions! You can do this by clicking on the profile linked to a pin you liked and following the owner of the post. Many of the interior designers and influencers you follow on Instagram also have a Pinterest page! Search by pin and board to find a community of people who share your desire to create your dream home.

You can also share your Pinterest board with your friends and family to get a second opinion. They might also help you find more pins within your design style. But always remember that you are creating your dream home, so don’t let the opinions of others sway you away from what you really want.

Manifest Your Vision

Let’s bring the board to life! Sometimes you may have to leave some ideas behind for the sake of the space you’re in. Your apartment complex may not allow for certain modifications, or some additions may be outside of your budget. But that’s ok! You can find DIY options on Pinterest, too.

Now that you are at the shopping stage, keep your Pinterest board up as you scroll through our website to find what fits your vision. You can also use our Shop By Style feature if you have a clear idea of your interior design style.

We’d love to see the amazing mood boards you create and the spaces they eventually inspire. Share your Pinterest board with us in the comments below to energize our future home renovation plans! You can also use #MyAshleyHome on Instagram to show us your home makeover, you might even end up on our feed.

The post How to Build a Pinterest Board appeared first on XO Ashley.

fromhttps://blog.ashleyfurniture.com/how-to-build-a-pinterest-board/

#XO Ashley

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travelworldnetwork · 5 years

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Club Med and Peisey-Vallandry, France. Photo: Club Med

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Picture the scene: you're in a warm, woodsy brasserie perched in the French Alps, peckish after a morning's fun and games in the snow, snuggling up around a table with loved ones and new friends and licking your lips at the prospect of a deliciously cheesy lunch. There, on the table, emitting a heavenly scent to any fromage fan, is a bubbling pot of Fondue Savoyarde – a speciality of the Savoie region of France in which we're holidaying.

Cooked with white wine and garlic, this creamy ensemble is flavoured with three different alpine cow's milk cheeses – comte, emmental and beaufort – and is nigh on impossible to look at, and smell, without wanting to dip in your fork, to which you can attach crusty chunks of baguette nestled in the bread baskets on the table.

Exceedingly tempting, too, is raclette, another pungent alpine cheese that's being toasted to near-melting point on a small grill. We just have to scrape it off and drip it on to our baked potatoes and charcuterie. Complemented by vinaigrette-laced salads, Chignin-Bergeron (a crisp Savoie white wine) and a dessert of blueberry tart, whipped cream and espresso, this is a typical lunch in the Savoie region, and indeed in other parts of the Alps, and brings not just immense satisfaction but also provides fuel for further alpine adventures in the afternoon.

As we depart Brasserie des Pistes, the chalet-style venue for this calorific feast, the easiest thing to do would be to get back on the real pistes. A two-minute walk down the mountain-side, below the brasserie's sun terrace, is one of the myriad chairlifts of the Paradiski region, one of the Alps' premier winter sports areas.

Boasting 425 kilometres of ski runs, with altitudes ranging from 1200 metres to 3250 metres, Paradiski is spread across the gorgeous Tarentaise valley and sub-divided into three major zones: Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne. We're staying at Club Med Peisey-Vallandry, which is located at virtually the midway point of the region.

Walk, ski or snowboard out of the resort's back door and you'll find apres-ski bars, said chairlift (which whisks you to a variety of slopes suitable for all levels) and the Vanoise Express, a cable car that links Peisey-Vallandry with La Plagne. It bobs 1824 metres across the valley – and 380 metres above the valley floor at its highest point – in just four minutes.

We board this engineering marvel using the Paradiski pass that allows you to hop on the region's buses, chairlifts and funiculars (Club Med guests get the pass for "free" as part of its all-inclusive package). Unveiled in 2003 and made up of two double-decker cars that can each hold 200 people, the Vanoise Express is the longest cable car in the world without pylons.

Right now, we probably wouldn't be able to see any pylons even if there were any. The sun had been wrestling with the fog all morning and the fog has temporarily won the battle, wreathing the whole valley. In clear weather, spectacular views are a given through the windows and glass-bottomed floors, with everything from quaint little alpine villages to Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain, there to be gawped at.

As we close in on La Plagne, however, we can just about make out the tips of the frozen pine trees we're drifting above. My fellow passengers debate which movie or TV show this spooky scene reminds them of. There's talk of Game of Thrones and its zombie White Walkers. Some of the older folk – OK, me – mention The Fog, a 1980 film by horror director John Carpenter. A few hours later, I find myself wallowing in nostalgia once more and daydreaming about The Chronicles of Narnia. I half expect the White Witch or Aslan to make an appearance as we tramp through the magical, snow-drenched Vanoise National Park, a few kilometres from our resort.

With the fog-induced poor visibility dashing any post-lunch downhill skiing plans, we opt for a safer and more leisurely activity: snowshoeing. We clip on our plastic snow-shoes, and grab some walking poles at the park's Nordic Centre, a chalet-style hub where you can hire equipment and source maps detailing local trails.

With the fog dissipating, we hike, in the company of local guides Yann and Marie, through this sublime slice of countryside – France's first national park, founded in 1963 –beneath towering, pine-carpeted peaks and past avenues of larch trees, sprinkled with white powder. Apart from the sound of us scrunching through the snow, and of water trickling under ice-blanketed streams, it's blissfully silent. It would have been much noisier here a few centuries ago, says Marie. She reveals that this was a bustling silver and lead mining area and we pass an abandoned stone building, formerly the French School of Mines, where engineering students from across the country would come to learn their trade.

Back then, the area was called Monts d'Argent ("mountains of silver", or money). A little further on, we come to a cluster of rustic wooden homes, icicles hanging from the roofs, in the one-street hamlet of Beaupraz aux Lanches. There is no sign of life as we shuffle along. We're told people live here in summer but in winter it's empty, almost eerily so, due to the threat of avalanches. With our cold breath wisping through the air and the setting sun causing bursts of pink and purple to mark the darkening sky, we return to the Nordic Centre, where the effects of a particularly torrid avalanche in 1995 are depicted in framed wall photos. Then we return, by bus, to base camp where roaring fires, hot chocolate, cocktails and nibbles await in the welcoming lounge area of Club Med Peisey-Vallandry.

Decked out with plush leather and fabric sofas, stone columns and timber beams, this 284-room resort opened in 2006 and is set to be "refreshed" over the next two northern summers. It has a quainter, more traditional alpine vibe than Club Med Les Arcs Panorama, which was unveiled, 10 kilometres away as the bearded vulture flies, last December.

While not as cool and contemporary as its sleek new baby sister, Club Med Peisey-Vallandry resort has a cosy charm, with many of the same perks and facilities as Les Arcs Panorama, such as free skiing and snowboarding classes, heated indoor and outdoor pools, all-inclusive meals and alcohol and quirky evening entertainment by the affable, youthful Club Med staff known as GOs (gentils organisateurs).

The Peisey-Vallandry location, with its cute village setting and wide array of easily-accessible slopes, might have more appeal, especially for beginners. And, as we discovered, if you fancy a break from the pistes and the resort, you're not short of alternative activities, whether it's fondue-munching in local brasseries or falling under the spell of the beguiling Vanoise National Park.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO DO IN VANOISE NATIONAL PARK

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Harking back to the days when hardy alpine folk would use skis to chase game and gather firewood, this form of skiing involves propelling yourself across snow-covered terrain, and guarantees a good upper-body workout.

HORSE AND PONY RIDES

Trot through the snowy forests in the saddle, keeping an eye out for local wildlife such as the alpine ibex, a type of wild goat that flourishes in these mountains.

BIATHLON

Try your hand at one of the most watchable of the Winter Olympic events, combining skiing and rifle shooting.

DOG SLEDDING

Glide across the park's winter wonderland in a husky-pulled sled and learn how to harness, steer and brake.

NORDIC WALKING

A step up from snow-shoeing, you'll eat up more ground – and burn off more calories – with this fast-paced hiking technique.

TRIP NOTES

Steve McKenna was a guest of Club Med and Peisey-Vallandry Tourism Board.

traveller.com.au/france

peisey-vallandry.com

FLY

Air France flies to Paris from Sydney and Melbourne; code share with Qantas or Etihad. See qantas.com; etihad.com

The nearest train station to Peisey-Vallandry is Gare de Landry, a five-hour trip from Paris. See en.oui.sncf

STAY

A seven-night winter stay (December-April) at Club Med Peisey-Vallandry is from $2385 a person; children under four, free. Nearest airports to the resort are Grenoble and Geneva, about 2½ hours by road. See clubmed.com

from traveller.com.au

#Travel Guide

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davidoespailla · 5 years

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3 Things We Love About the 2019 New American Home—and 3 We Could Live Without

Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

Panoramic desert views from your perch in the infinity pool—with a built-in hot tub. A smart toilet that warms up the seat when you enter the bathroom. A state-of-the-art kitchen with gleaming appliances that looks like a Pinterest board come to life. Welcome to The New American Home, 2019 edition.

The National Association of Home Builders unveiled its 36th showcase house this week during its annual convention in Las Vegas. The 8,226-square-foot property in Henderson, NV, was built to highlight the latest innovations in design, efficiency, technology, and an array of luxe amenities. If you’re sufficiently wowed, the home is for sale for a cool $6.5 million.

We took the opportunity to tour the one-story home and get an inside peek at what the future holds. But while there’s a lot to love in the five-bed, 4.5-bath contemporary home, there were a few things that didn’t quite hit the mark.

So what did we love? Here are our faves:

1. Views, views, views

It doesn’t matter if you’re a desert devotee, beach bum, or an ardent fan of forest life. The panoramic views from this house, perched high above Las Vegas, are undeniably breathtaking.

View of Las Vegas from the back patio

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

The New American Home for 2019

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

Cuddle up next to one of the (several) outdoor fire pits on a cool desert night, or take a dip in the infinity pool and gaze down on the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip. (I’ll be honest—I was extremely tempted to set aside social graces and jump in. It was that alluring.)

And we can’t forget the fully loaded outdoor kitchen featuring state-of-the-art appliances.

2. The outdoor-indoor flow Front courtyard

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

For the past several years, homeowners have been making seamless transitions between outdoor and indoor living spaces. But this home takes the concept to a new level, with an elaborate living space in the back and a courtyard in the front.

“No one’s done [outdoor-indoor flow] to this extent before,” says Bridgette Slater, director of design and preconstruction for Sun West Custom Homes, the Nevada company that built and designed the house. “We wanted to show everyone that it’s functional on the front of the house as much as the back.”

The courtyard is surrounded by glass pocket doors, so you can open them and be outside and inside at the same time. In fact, everywhere you turn, you’re enveloped by the desert scene outside—50% of the house is glass (the rest of the exterior is porcelain and stucco).

Wondering how a glass house fares in the stifling heat of Las Vegas? Well, they accounted for that, too.

“There are shade pockets everywhere,” Slater says. “Energy efficiency in this home is insane. Your utility bills aren’t crazy.”

3. The master bathroom Master bathroom

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

According to 2019 design forecasts, luxe master bathrooms have risen to the top of home buyers’ wish lists. This bathroom reinforces all those desires and turns up the volume. It’s seamless with the master bedroom—one fluid space that allows you to take in vistas of the Las Vegas skyline while you relax in the steam shower.

And then there’s the toilet. This $2,000 throne has a bidet feature that “sprays everywhere,” Slater says. It actually sings to you. And it heats up automatically for ultimate backside comfort.

My colleague didn’t know that, however; so she was in for a nice surprise when she took this toilet for a test drive.

“As soon as I walked in, it knew I was there and heated up before I even sat on it,” she explains. “It was incredibly gratifying and was nice and toasty. It puts heated car seats to shame!”

———

Clearly, there’s a lot to love about this home. And, of course, we’d take it in a heartbeat. But no home is 100% perfect. I had a few relatively minor quibbles. Here are a few things we’d fiddle with if we had free rein.

1. The masculine aesthetic Great room

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

There’s nothing wrong with modern design—and this house offers plenty of it. I’m all for clean, sleek lines, and the luxurious vibe of a house made of stone and glass.

But somewhere along the line, the decor scheme of this house drifts from modern to masculine, from clean to cold. The heavy, industrial look almost became distracting from the gorgeous vistas in the valley beyond. For example, the number of light fixtures in the great room (above) “was so much it made my head spin,” my colleague admits.

Man cave

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

As for the home’s man cave, we’re not sure how to feel about this space. Part garage, part media room, and all dude-centric, this bright red space is a choice.

Flashy and perfect for a party with a bevy of bros? Sure. But I have to be honest—I had no desire to spend more than a few minutes in this room.

A caveat: It’s important to remember that this is a show home.

“The whole point of The New American Home is to show how the products on the show floor can be used in a residential setting,” Slater says. “It’s supposed to make people go, ‘This has “wow” factor.'”

Alright, fine. We were wowed. But the home is also supposed to be livable (it’s on the market, after all), and the current feel might lack the coziness necessary to appeal to a wider audience.

2. (Some of) the colors Bedroom

Rachel Stults

When it comes to color, The New American Home of years past has often been monochromatic—slathered in neutral whites, grays, and taupes. So this year, the design team shook things up with pops of color from paint company Sherwin-Williams.

We swooned for some of the looks (there was a tranquil ocean blue room that I was ready to move into, like, yesterday). But some of the color choices simply didn’t jell with the rest of the home.

Case in point: the bedroom decked out in Sherwin-Williams’ 2019 Color of the Year, Cavern Clay. We’ve previously gone on record about our feelings on this shade, and our opinions are no different this time around. This terra-cotta color simply looks dated—and doesn’t provide the restful or luxurious vibe you’d expect from a top-of-the-line show home.

3. The showpieces Floating bed in the master bedroom

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

We want to be clear: This house is freaking cool. It is The New American Home, after all—a space where designers and builders have free rein to do whatever the heck they want, stuff that nobody’s done before. That’s why there’s a floating bed (above) and a floating wet bar, both attached by cantilevers. The innovation is out of this world.

But in a few instances it all felt a little…gimmicky. Yes, that bed is ultracool. But it’s not practical. There’s no storage, nowhere to hide your junk—and imagine the dust bunnies that are likely to collect under it.

In the end, we would have been just as awed without as many bells and whistles. But we definitely wouldn’t turn this place down. (If anybody wants to go in together on a jumbo mortgage, just let me know.)

Clare Trapasso contributed to this report.

The post 3 Things We Love About the 2019 New American Home—and 3 We Could Live Without appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

3 Things We Love About the 2019 New American Home—and 3 We Could Live Without

#TRUSTED LOCAL REALTOR #3 Things We Love About the 2019 New American Home—and 3 We Could Live Without

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gillespialfredoe01806ld · 5 years

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3 Things We Love About the 2019 New American Home—and 3 We Could Live Without

Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

So what did we love? Here are our faves:

1. Views, views, views

It doesn’t matter if you’re a desert devotee, beach bum, or an ardent fan of forest life. The panoramic views from this house, perched high above Las Vegas, are undeniably breathtaking.

View of Las Vegas from the back patio

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

The New American Home for 2019

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

And we can’t forget the fully loaded outdoor kitchen featuring state-of-the-art appliances.

2. The outdoor-indoor flow Front courtyard

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

Wondering how a glass house fares in the stifling heat of Las Vegas? Well, they accounted for that, too.

“There are shade pockets everywhere,” Slater says. “Energy efficiency in this home is insane. Your utility bills aren’t crazy.”

3. The master bathroom Master bathroom

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

And then there’s the toilet. This $2,000 throne has a bidet feature that “sprays everywhere,” Slater says. It actually sings to you. And it heats up automatically for ultimate backside comfort.

My colleague didn’t know that, however; so she was in for a nice surprise when she took this toilet for a test drive.

“As soon as I walked in, it knew I was there and heated up before I even sat on it,” she explains. “It was incredibly gratifying and was nice and toasty. It puts heated car seats to shame!”

———

1. The masculine aesthetic Great room

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

There’s nothing wrong with modern design—and this house offers plenty of it. I’m all for clean, sleek lines, and the luxurious vibe of a house made of stone and glass.

Man cave

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

As for the home’s man cave, we’re not sure how to feel about this space. Part garage, part media room, and all dude-centric, this bright red space is a choice.

Flashy and perfect for a party with a bevy of bros? Sure. But I have to be honest—I had no desire to spend more than a few minutes in this room.

A caveat: It’s important to remember that this is a show home.

Alright, fine. We were wowed. But the home is also supposed to be livable (it’s on the market, after all), and the current feel might lack the coziness necessary to appeal to a wider audience.

2. (Some of) the colors Bedroom

Rachel Stults

We swooned for some of the looks (there was a tranquil ocean blue room that I was ready to move into, like, yesterday). But some of the color choices simply didn’t jell with the rest of the home.

3. The showpieces Floating bed in the master bedroom

Jeff Davis of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

Clare Trapasso contributed to this report.

The post 3 Things We Love About the 2019 New American Home—and 3 We Could Live Without appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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sherlocklexa · 7 years

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Modern Bohemian Dream Catcher Nursery Mobile DIY Tutorial

Our baby boy is finally here and we have been really slacking on getting his nursery completed. Before we even found out if we were having a boy or a girl I was already dreaming about our little's room. I knew I wanted to go for a modern bohemian style and I couldn't wait to put it all together!

Here's the mood board we dreamed up and put together for our babes when planning the space.

So you DIY first timers, this is for you! Because with this style it is all about being a free spirit…am I right?! We also knew from the beginning we either wanted to make a canopy cover or a modern bohemian dream catcher. We decided on the dream catcher in the end becuase I cannot get enough of feathers lately, especially when they are sprinkled with gold. So today we're sharing with you how to make a super simple modern bohemian dream catcher.

Alrighty, so let's get to it!

How to Make a Modern Bohemian Dreamcatcher Nursery Mobile

This post contains affiliate links; learn more here.

First step is buying all of the materials. Which you can really find all of your materials any craft store for this project. We picked up all of these items from JoAnn Fabrics for under $20.

Materials:

Grapevine Wreath

Chicken Wire

Spray Adhesive

Feathers

Glitter

Hemp Cord

Scissors

Once you've gotten your materials the next step is to assemble the grapevine wreath and the chicken wire. You can also buy these already assembled at craft supplies stores, just depending on how much you want to spend and DIY. There are also a ton of different options if you're not feeling the grapevine wreath. I literally stood in the craft store for an hour wondering if I should go just with a gold metal hoop, a little hula hoop or ribbon or…the options are endless. And then for the middle instead of chicken wire you could also do a ton of different cool fabrics or lace.

But in the end this is what my eye was drawn to. I wanted to keep a very earthy feel to the space. In the nursery I have forest wallpaper, so my vibe is very earthy so I knew the grapevine wreath would be the perfect accent to the wallpaper.

Next step is to get those feather's glittered, being you'll want them to dry for a few hours before you hang them so they don't stick to one another once hung. One by one we took a feather, sprayed the tips of the feathers with spray adhesive and then sprinkled gold glitter onto the ends.

With the bohemian feel I don't like to have things perfect. Well, I guess, I don't ever like to have things perfect…I have too much ADD for that, haha! So there was no measuring or over analyzing where to spray. I literally just sprayed the ends care free and sprinkled away. Then I laid them out onto paper plates and let them dry out for a few hours.

Then lastly I wanted to accent the feathers with some subtle yarn. So I used one cream colored piece of yarn becuase I wanted my dream catcher to be a little simpler and for the feathers to stand out, but it is adorable to have other colors and fabrics streaming as well. Again, if you like a lot of colors and textures I'd encourage you to use a ton of different fabrics. So if that's more your style, don't be afraid to go all out! Being our forest wallpaper is already so busy I wanted the dream catcher to be a little bit more simple with subtle tones.

While the feathers were drying I took a cream colored yarn and cut my strips. For the yarn, I doubled the length of what I would actually want them to hang at being I was going to loop them through the box spring wreath for the knot. Again, I didn't measure. I just determined how long I wanted each piece and cut. I used the first piece as a guide but some were a little longer and others a little shorter and that is OK. The more imperfect it is, the better in my book.

And took a little nail and nailed it into the ceiling. And there you have it! You're super simple modern bohemian DIY dream catcher. All for under $20 and within a few hours time.

And look at little Beck, just loving and in awe of his new dream catcher…

You'll also like:

The post Modern Bohemian Dream Catcher Nursery Mobile DIY Tutorial appeared first on Remodelaholic.

from car2 http://ift.tt/2xfRjv8 via as shown a lot

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chocdono · 7 years

Text

Modern Bohemian Dream Catcher Nursery Mobile DIY Tutorial

Here's the mood board we dreamed up and put together for our babes when planning the space.

Alrighty, so let's get to it!

How to Make a Modern Bohemian Dreamcatcher Nursery Mobile

This post contains affiliate links; learn more here.

First step is buying all of the materials. Which you can really find all of your materials any craft store for this project. We picked up all of these items from JoAnn Fabrics for under $20.

Materials:

Grapevine Wreath

Chicken Wire

Spray Adhesive

Feathers

Glitter

Hemp Cord

Scissors

And took a little nail and nailed it into the ceiling. And there you have it! You're super simple modern bohemian DIY dream catcher. All for under $20 and within a few hours time.

And look at little Beck, just loving and in awe of his new dream catcher…

You'll also like:

The post Modern Bohemian Dream Catcher Nursery Mobile DIY Tutorial appeared first on Remodelaholic.

from mix1 http://ift.tt/2xfRjv8 via with this info

#mix1

0 notes

andrewmawby · 7 years

Text

Modern Bohemian Dream Catcher Nursery Mobile DIY Tutorial

Here's the mood board we dreamed up and put together for our babes when planning the space.

Then of course once we found out what it was, and started shopping a few things changed and we kept wanting to DIY more and more. We built and added in a super simple wooden arrow, which we wrote a tutorial for on Remodelaholic here: Easy DIY Wooden Arrow Wall Decor. What I love about this style is that there are so many cool things you can make, hence why it's taking us forever to get it all completed. ha! And the best part about this style…it can probably totally be a Pinterest fail and it would still be cute! So you DIY first timers, this is for you! Because with this style it is all about being a free spirit…am I right?! We also knew from the beginning we either wanted to make a canopy cover or a modern bohemian dream catcher. We decided on the dream catcher in the end becuase I cannot get enough of feathers lately, especially when they are sprinkled with gold. So today we're sharing with you how to make a super simple modern bohemian dream catcher.

Alrighty, so let's get to it!

How to Make a Modern Bohemian Dreamcatcher Nursery Mobile

This post contains affiliate links; learn more here.

First step is buying all of the materials. Which you can really find all of your materials any craft store for this project. We picked up all of these items from JoAnn Fabrics for under $20.

Materials:

Grapevine Wreath

Chicken Wire

Spray Adhesive

Feathers

Glitter

Hemp Cord

Scissors

And then once I hung it, I cut off some of the longer pieces of yarn that were a little too crazy. To hung the dream catcher I took 3 strands of the hemp and tied them around the grapevine wreath securing the top with a knot. And took a little nail and nailed it into the ceiling. And there you have it! You're super simple modern bohemian DIY dream catcher. All for under $20 and within a few hours time.

You'll also like:

The post Modern Bohemian Dream Catcher Nursery Mobile DIY Tutorial appeared first on Remodelaholic.

from builders feed https://www.remodelaholic.com/modern-bohemian-dream-catcher-nursery-mobile-diy-tutorial/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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travelworldnetwork · 6 years

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Overnight train carriage in Lviv, Ukraine. Photo: Alamy

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According to old movies, there were two types of European long-distance train.

One was the sexy, luxurious sleeper such as the Orient Express, carrying exiled duchesses and dapper gents in tuxedos to elegant cities like Paris.

The other was a shabby dimly lit train packed with foreign agents and shady smugglers, hoping to slip unnoticed past the Iron Curtain.

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Lviv's Old Town. Photo: Alamy

You might think that age of exoticism and intrigue on the rails is gone; replaced by shiny high-speed trains with bland open carriages, zipping across unmonitored borders.

But you'd be wrong. There's still plenty of the old-school vibe available if you head far enough east, and I'm about to do just that – by catching the nightly sleeper train from Krakow, Poland to Lviv in western Ukraine.

For a very long time this was a simple domestic journey; at first within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, then after World War I within Poland. But in 1946 Lviv was shuffled into Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union.

Now, with Poland being on the edge of the EU's Schengen Zone of passport-free travel, its frontier with Ukraine remains a "hard border" with peak-hatted border guards and rigorous checks.

It's a cool evening as I wait on the platform at Krakow's main station for the nightly Lwow Express (Lwow being the Polish name for the Ukrainian city). "Express" is a flexible word on Poland's railways, but I'm leaving at 10.21pm, and should arrive about 7am, after a lengthy pause at the border.

There's a sit-up option, but far more appealing is the idea of a berth in a sleeper car, trundling through the night to a new land. So I've booked via a third-party service, Polrail, as it's impossible to buy these tickets directly online.

The Lviv train alternates every second night between Polish and Ukrainian carriages. Tonight I've drawn the local version, and my sleeper car's Polish attendant takes my ticket and ushers me into my temporary home on wheels.

Berth 31 is in a practical compartment of about four square metres. It can accommodate up to three passengers in bunk beds, but as it's affordable I've decided to splurge and book out the entire compartment as a "Single".

It may not be the largest hotel room I've ever paid for, and it's clearly been in service for many years, but it's much more space than you'd receive on a long-distance flight.

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Burning coffee is one of the unique beverages you can get in Lviv. Photo: Alamy

My bunk is made up and ready for sleep, and on the opposite wall are coat hooks and an alcove for shoes. To one side is a square table, which swings up to reveal a sink. In the cupboard above I find a towel, two bottles of water, an orange juice and a small plastic-wrapped chocolate muffin.

The latter is something of a luxury, for I've been warned this train doesn't have a dining car. Not that it matters much at this time of night.

I couldn't reach any other carriage anyway, as ours seems sealed off from the others; perhaps a way of ensuring extra security for passengers' belongings.

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Lviv train station in Ukraine. Photo: Alamy

Having dispatched the muffin, I sit on the bunk and notice a heating unit which I immediately turn right down. It's a warm evening and – wonder of wonders – the window can be opened.

Then we're off, sliding out of the station for the initial four-hour run to Przemysl on the Polish side of the border, so I put my head down for a sleep. I have a feeling I won't be getting much rest when we reach the frontier.

I'm right. In the middle of the night there's a lot of shunting, clanking and banging as the train's wheels are adjusted to the wider Ukrainian rail gauge, inherited from the Soviet Union. This used to involve lifting each carriage in a hoist, but now it's achieved via a less dramatic adjustment in which wheels are slid to their correct settings.

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Inside the Latin Cathedral in Lviv. Photo: Alamy

I have visits from various officials over the next hour or two. First Polish customs officials ask politely if I have anything to declare, then Polish border guards stamp me out of the EU; and after we progress across the border, Ukrainian officers check my visa (required for Australians) and stamp me in.

This step-by-step process in the wee small hours makes me prey to nameless fears. What if there's something wrong with my visa? What about language barriers? What if someone wants a bribe?

None of these problems eventuate. But I don't get much sleep, which somewhat negates the benefit of travelling at night.

Still, I drift off for a nap, then suddenly it's 7am and we're pulling into a grand though poorly labelled station I can only conclude is Lviv.

It's a magnificent terminal, with a huge curved roof with skylights above platforms with wrought-iron railings. I take a photo of the dusty sky-blue engine we must have picked up at the border, then head through an underpass to discover the city.

It turns out to be wonderful. As an important provincial capital, Austro-Hungarian Lemberg (Lviv's name in German) developed a beautiful city centre with a harmonious blend of neoclassical, baroque and renaissance buildings. Though showing the scuffs of the Soviet period, it's still a gorgeous collection and rightly listed as a World Heritage site.

And it's not just architecture the Austrians left behind. The Viennese-style coffee house of grandiose decor and lavish cakes is alive and well in this corner of Ukraine. My new "local" is soon established as Svit Kavy, an small cafe on a cobblestone lane between the Latin Cathedral and the tiny but lavishly decorated Boim Chapel.

My other pleasant discovery is that Ukraine is cheap. Really, really cheap. A tram ticket costs 10 cents, a meal $5, a baked snack 40 cents. The food is good quality too.

After three days of this fine architecture and inexpensive coffee, I'm heading onwards by rail to Kiev. This time I'll travel aboard a sleek modern Hyundai high-speed train which bridges the 560 kilometres between the cities in just five hours (older trains routinely take twice as long).

The only problem is the timing. This fast train runs the Lviv-Kiev route just twice a day, leaving at either 6.30am or 5.30pm. I've chosen the latter, though it'll get me into the capital well after nightfall.

With time to kill before departure, I lash out 50 cents on entry to Lviv station's extravagantly named Extra Comfort Lounge.

The extra comfort, however, is in the eye of the beholder. Its seats are hard and wooden, and the promised Wi-Fi isn't working. However, it's less crowded here than in the public waiting rooms, and there are power points at which to recharge phones.

Boarding my Ukrainian Railways train, I'm pleased to find a smooth contemporary interior. My first class fare ($24) provides a seat that's wide and comfortable, with lots of leg room and a large tray table. There's free Wi-Fi too, if slightly flaky, and an "in-train" magazine.

In due course two attendants come by with a refreshment trolley, and I buy a sandwich and a drink for dinner.

As we head towards the capital in the slowly fading light, I gaze out the window at undulating green fields punctuated by villages and the odd stand of forest. The occasional roadside Orthodox shrine also catches the eye.

Arriving on time at 10.30pm, I can see at once that Lviv and Kiev are like chalk and cheese. Where Lviv's slightly worn charm made it seem like a fairy-tale city come adrift from Central Europe, the capital is clearly constructed of sterner and grander stuff.

Kyiv-Pasazhyrsky station, the main passenger terminal, features enormous soaring interiors, with huge chandeliers and moulded plaster decorations hanging above its long escalators and vast concourse.

The station forecourt is busy with taxis, buses and pedestrians. As my hotel is only a kilometre away, however, I hoist my backpack onto my shoulders and step out into the Kiev night.

TRIP NOTES

traveller.com.au/ukraine

lviv.travel

kyivcity.travel

FLY

Emirates and its partners connect to Ukraine via Dubai. See www.emirates.com

Nightly sleeper trains travel from Poland to Lviv and Kiev; a Krakow-Lviv sleeper berth ranges from $75-$140. See polrail.com

Tickets for rail journeys within Ukraine can be purchased at uz.gov.ua

STAY

Ibis Styles Lviv Center, Lviv, from$65 a night (see ibis.com); Leopolis Hotel, Lviv, from $120 a night (leopolishotel.com); Hotel Khreschatyk, Kiev, from $235 a night (hotel-khreschatyk.kiev.ua).

Tim Richards paid for his train fares and was hosted by Accor Hotels.

FIVE ATTRACTIONS OF KIEV

MAYDAN NEZALEZHNOSTI

Independence Square, or just "Maydan'', is the focal point of the city centre and a magnet for everyone from tourists to street performers. It's surrounded by striking architecture and monuments.

ZOLOTI VOROTA

Otherwise known as the Golden Gate, this reconstruction of a medieval city gate looms impressively on a hillock. To one side is a statue of 11th-century ruler Prince Yaroslav the Wise.

ST SOPHIA'S CATHEDRAL

This place of worship has survived much over the past thousand years, including being turned into a museum by the Soviets. Now its golden domes are gleaming, and visitors are welcome within its ornate interior.

ANDRIJIVSKY UZVIZ

Andrew's Descent is an attractive cobblestone street winding up a hill lined by pretty facades, and replete with restaurants, cafes and art galleries.

CHERNOBYL MUSEUM

Kiev has seen bad times as well as good, and one of the worst was the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster just 100 kilometres north of the city. This museum details the heroic efforts by emergency workers to contain the meltdown. See chornobylmuseum.kiev.ua

from traveller.com.au

The post This European train is a far cry from the Orient Express appeared first on Travel World Network.