Cities around the World I've Called Home

Home seems like the opposite of travel, but to me, home has been in a few fantastic cities around the world and has actually given me the opportunity to see a lot of places on this globe.

Brussels

The first city I lived in after leaving my parents' house was Brussels. I went to uni here for three years and although it is not my favourite of places, I did use my time there to discover Brussels' famous and not so famous sights. My favourite things to do were visiting the Art Nouveau Horta Museum, having drinks on the Grand Sablon square and shopping in the Avenue Louise.

Paris

Even though I was only a Parisienne for 6 months, I managed to discover Paris the way only insiders do. I was an au pair near the Place Trocadero and this was my favourite spot to while away a few moments. The view of the Eiffel Tower is lovely from here. I loved wandering through the Marais and browsing the independent shops or sipping a coffee at one of the cafes surrounding Place des Vosges. Another great spot for chilling out in the spring sun was the Luxembourg Park, which was great for people watching too.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam was the second city I lived in during my uni years. I loved cycling around the canals, having coffees at the brown cafes after class, browsing the Noordermarkt and the Albert Cuyp market and discovering the many museums like the Van Gogh Museum, The Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House.

New York

I lived in NYC twice, once during an internship at the UN and a few years later I went back to work for a tour-operator as a holiday rep. I loved the buzz of Manhattan, but I noticed that I was always looking for a little bit of peace and quiet. The Village always felt a bit more relaxed as the buildings are not blocking out daylight as much as they do in Downtown and Midtown. Other favourites were Park Slope in Brooklyn, Astoria in Queens and City Island in the Bronx. My favourite museums were the Cloisters which consists of European medieval bits and pieces put together by an art collector. Another interesting place I loved visiting was the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, a historic house from the Dutch colonial era.

London

My current home is London and it has been for the last 13 years. I love the area where I live which is Battersea. It's got Battersea Park which is heaving with people soaking up the sun in summer, and Northcote Road near Clapham Junction is great for weekend brunches and browsing antiques. I'm so close to the shops on King's Road in Chelsea and the West end is only a 30 minute bike ride away too.

These are five great cities I was lucky enough to call home as an adult, although some a little bit greater than others. I wonder what great city will be next.