Where do you go for a weekend at the Med?

For a quick visit to the Italian seaside I visit the fishing village Varigotto near Finale Ligure. Only two hours from Turin you have everything you need for a lovely day at the sea. You can relax at the Varigotti beach or be more active and climb or hike up the Ligurian hills to admire the stunning view of the sea coast.

In the morning I get strawberries from the market for breakfast and for lunch and dinner I enjoy fresh seafood and a slice of farinata, a delicious local flatbread made from chickpea flour. At night I go for drinks with friends at the Bar at the Hotel Punta Est. The Bar overlooks Finale Ligure and the sea. What else do you need for a perfect day in July.

The perfect summer dress

All you need in July is a perfect summer dress, some picked flowers and the smell of fresh mint in your nose. I buy my favorite dresses at vintage shops and antique markets wherever I go and I pick flowers from Regent Park (secretly) when I go for walks in London or from a flower field in the countryside.

10 things I want to do in July

1. Enjoy the sun and relax on a striped cotton matelas on my favorite Plage in the south of France.
2. Have a garden party with hundreds of lampions in the trees.
3. Make my garden an oasis in the hot city and buy plants at Clifton Nurseries.
4. Cook a summer dish from Skye Gyngell, like for example roast chicken and bread salad with sour cherries and roasted red onions.
5. Go swimming at least once a day at a nearby lake or a huge pool.
6. Eat fresh French apricots for breakfast.
7. Try a new scent, like for example Ylang Ylang by Reminiscence Paris.
8. Go for walks in the dark and chat with other dog owners under the clear night sky.
9. Visit museums and look at contemporary art in a cool atmosphere.
10. Have a long siesta in a shady place with a good book in my hands, for example “The more I owe you” by Michael Sledge, a novel about the Brazilian life and love of the poet Elizabeth Bishop.

….. for a hot summer in Istanbul

• Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate for my face
• Milk Thistle 300 mg from Boots for a good night’s sleep
• Nail Polish by Essie, St. Lucia Lilac on my nails
• Iso-Urea by La Roche Posay for my firm legs
• A bottle of still St. Leonard Mineral Water for my mind
• Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer for my eyes
• Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50PA+++ UVA against the sun
• Aveda Hair Brush for my shiny hair
• Tooth silk for my teeth