It's half five in the afternoon, it's 23c and the hazy sunshine feels warm on my face.  I'm sitting on our sunny balcony at the Isla Del Sol apartments in C'an Pastilla which is around 7.6k from Palma de Mallorca.

Life, you could say, is very good, today we've walked just under 6 miles which is far from what we did yesterday, by the time we came back to our apartment we'd walked over 31,000 steps or 12.6 miles.  I'm not sure who decided after walking to Palma and all around the city that we should walk home again when we could have gotten a bus for 1.5 euros, oh hang on, that would have been Abigail, a teenager not known for wanting to go on big walks, it's true she did complain a little but to be fair, 12.6 miles is a long blooming way!

My plan to be a digital nomad during the week and just be at homes at weekends, at least on school holidays, seems to be working, I can achieve most things from just about anywhere in the world and to me a Monday to Friday in the sunshine is just enough vitamin D to keep me going.

C'an Pastilla is a small resort which connects to S'Arenal, I would, however, say that whilst C'an Pastilla is lovely we hopped aboard the road train today and got off in S'Arenal to walk back and that's not the nicest place, there are approximately 2 "looky looky" men to every tourist and we even passed a Cavernous pub with dancing ladies on the tables, really not my kind of place.  C'an Pastilla though is quieter and Abigail and I are happy here.

Mallorca was really made for walkers and the coastal walkways are quite breathtaking as you amble along them towards the capital, small resorts along the way break up the journey with occasional beach bars and ice-cream shops tending to the needs of tourists who have become too hot, much like Abigail and I yesterday really, I think it was a pleasant walk in 22c sunshine but I can't imagine it's something I would have attempted in July or August when the temperature soars.

We only arrived on Monday afternoon and yet our trip has had so many highlights, Palma de Mallorca cathedral with it's interior designed by Antoni Gaudi who spent 14 years living in Palma whilst he finished the design and building, a glorious work of art and design, if you have already seen some of his work in Barcelona then you really must plan a visit across to Mallorca to visit the Cathedral.

Today our highlight was visiting one of the biggest aquariums in the whole of Europe, the Palma aquarium certainly didn't disappoint and do pay the €25 per adult to get in because it's absolutely worth it.  We paid an extra €7.50 each to go on a glass bottom boat across the shark tank, yes the cavernous tank which holds millions of litres of water and 5 huge sharks has a boat which goes across it!  To be near such beautiful yet dangerous creatures was surely a thrill, don't worry if you don't fancy it though, the floor to ceiling tanks the height of several double deckers give you a serious thrill as one of the sharks goes past, especially if it's the one that is nearly 3 metres long.

My only gripe on this tour has been my awful prolapsed disk, every day I've woken with migraines and I've now given up on carrying a bag completely, luckily my lovely daughter doesn't mind shoving my camera and purse in hers, she really is a gem and despite wanting to stop and eat every fifty paces she's a real pleasure to spend time with.  We have talked about so many different things and there's been a hefty amount of her laughing at me but that's normal and I'd be disappointed if she didn't!!

At the end of May, I'm going to take Looby away, it'll be another last minute bargain and I don't really care where it is, as long as there's sunshine and I can do a couple of smart work hours a day then I'm a very happy digital nomad!

When a holiday to Palma de Mallorca is cheaper than a Caravan in Bamburgh

So, here's the thing, as I've been working really hard lately and because my girls don't go back to school until the 2nd of May we decided to book a little mini break, I looked at various destinations and we settled on Bamburgh, a luxury caravan for a week for around £370 which seems not too bad to me, we could have got the bus there and had a lovely week, of course we've been there many times before but it's a place we love.

And then I happened to do a search on flights with Skyscanner, £19 to Faro, Portugal and £35 to Palma de Mallorca.  As Looby is already going to Tenerife later this year with Dad I decided the best course of action would be to see what kind of deal I could get with Abigail and we got flights, transfers, 5 nights accommodation and 15kg of luggage for £337.90 for both of us, cheaper than a caravan in Bamburgh!!  We have lovely daytime flights so we fly at 9.40am on Monday 24th and come back at 7.45am on Saturday, just in time for me to go to work in the afternoon!

I booked with lastminute.com because it's ATOL protected and easy to arrange everything and I checked on Tripadvisor and found very good reports about the studio apartment we've booked, The Isla del Sol apartments in Ca'n Pastilla are only a mile or so away from the airport, 5 miles from the capital of Palma and it has a pool for that mid-afternoon nap in the sunshine or a quick dip if it's warm enough which is should be, it's currently 20-25c during the daytime which is perfect as both Abigail and I hate it when it's too hot, we're not beach fiends at all, we love exploring and there's really plenty of things to do in Palma, it's 1.5€ on the bus or 12€ in a taxi from our hotel to the city centre.

I was in Palma in November 2014 on the last day of a cruise with NCL it was the last day on assignment for Cruise International and I remember wearing flip flops and a summer dress even though it was at the very end of November, I got the tourist bus to Bellver Castle and rested taking in the magnificent scenery all around me, I adore Spain, it has so many charms for me and whilst I'm not a fan of beach package holidays I've loved all of the places I've ever been, I just hope I can happen upon some Iberico Jamón which is quite possibly my favourite food in the whole world!!

After my visit to Bellver Castle I walked down the side of the hill towards the sea passing a mature Spanish gentleman, as he said something I didn't understand with a kindly smile I felt like I was in a scene from An Affair To Remember (for the pedants and purists, yes I realise, that's in France where they go to visit Nicky's grandmother, Villefranche Sur le Mer to be exact) suffice to say I have longed to go back and I especially wanted to take Abigail with me as she's my cultural daughter, Looby, well she loves daddy holidays because they love, pool, beach, pool!

So here's just a few of the photos the last time I was there and let me tell you that I cannot wait to go there with Abigail, travel is one of the things that completely nourishes my soul, it makes me feel alive and the sunshine, well vitamin D is my favourite drug!  Whilst the North East of England is currently around 11c I shall be digging out my swimming costume and packing my shorts, I shall be planning 20k a day in a beautiful Mediterranean destination and I shall be thanking God and the universe for every moment that I am there.

Cruises For Singles, Norwegian Epic from Rome to Barcelona

The approach to Pisa, I took a bus from the port of Livorno and this was my first sight of the Basilica and leaning tower of Pisa

Nearly 3 months ago I went on the most amazing assignment for Cruise International Magazine, I sailed from Rome to Barcelona, a 4 night cruise on the Norwegian Epic, it's been so hard to not talk about it but finally, the article is published, you can get your sticky mitts on a copy of the magazine (I'm on pages 76-79) at any newsagents with a good selection of travel magazines.  It's a thrill to be published anywhere but to have 4 whole pages in a magazine you can hold in your hands breathing in the smell of print is something quite special indeed.

You can also read my Solo Cruising experience on the Norwegian Epic digitally of course but I for one shall mainly be seen clutching a stack of copies for the foreseeable future.

If you've never thought of travelling on your own before then I heartily recommend it, there's a freedom that comes from travelling solo, no schedules, no plans, no one else to answer to just long days full of exploration or relaxation if that's more your thing.  On a cruise you can do as much or as little as you like.

When I travelled on the Norwegian Epic it was the end of November, the weather was cold, damp and windy back in the UK and my vitamin D supplies were badly in need of restoration.  Believe me, there's no tonic quite so potent as standing ankle deep in the warm waters Mediterranean sea with the sun shining brightly above you, now try imagining that you're doing that and you're in Cannes, land of the famous, rich and privileged.  Every day there was something which made me pinch myself, simple things like sharing the sunset with Abigail and Looby over Facetime, sitting at the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa looking out over Tuscany, peering out of the aeroplane and seeing the green patchwork landscape of Italy below you, or the realisation as you look down from the highest point of Palma De Mallorca that it's November and you're wearing flip flops and a summer dress.  There were so many special memories which I've saved in that special place inside me, places I go to when I mediate or need to clear my mind and yes, I took a couple of hundred photos, you can see my Highlights of Rome to Barcelona on YouTube.  I thought rather than posting all 190 images at once I'd compile a slideshow set to lovely twinkly music and so if that's your thing go click that link.

I think the thing that sets apart Norwegian Cruise Lines from many of the others is the fact that they do offer studio cabins for single people, no single supplement, your own compact studio (with a bed big enough to starfish in) with lots of hidden storage and my favourite thing, the mood lighting!  I also loved the studio lounge where I would gather in the early evening for drinks with my new found friend.  You're never alone unless you want to be, they have boards you can sign yourself up for dinner or to go to any of the shows, there's just no pressure to do anything!  One night I dined with a group of my new found cruise friends, a grand Thanksgiving dinner and on the other nights, executive chef Alok Kumar  (a culinary magician) had arranged for me to try some of the speciality dining experiences.  one highlight was sitting right at the back of the boat with a huge round moon shining brightly over the waves as we sailed having the finest filet mignon I've ever tasted.  For the first time in my life I felt like a VIP.

In just 4 days I visited more of the world than I had for most of my adult life, if anything my itchy feet just continue to get itchier and I hope this publication leads me to further journeys, adventures and experiences around the world.  Solo travel may to some seem a little intimidating but you know what I think cruising Norwegian style means that even the most anxious of travellers needn't worry because you're always so well looked after.  Even the time when I went to put my dinner tray outside my cabin and locked myself out of the cabin, oh how we laughed as I stood barefoot in the corridor, exclaiming "halp" thankfully my cabin steward never seemed far away and I was back inside my cabin in no time at all.

I met so many wonderful people on my cruise but at the same time I spent so much time just enjoying my own company, strolling through the streets of Cannes, wandering the pavements of Palma De Mallorca and ambling down the Italian avenues in Pisa noting how curious it is that the proximity of McDonalds and the leaning tower of Pisa are quite so close.  I think I'm very lucky to have experienced these places outside of the main tourist season, no where was too busy, even Pisa, I've heard that in summer you can wait for many hours to climb the tower, book ahead, they only let so many up at one time because of the general state of the tower (let me just say that Italian health and safety isn't quite at the same level as British health and safety and tour guides, well you'll just have to experience Italian tour guides, wink wink).

I don't know where or when my next adventure will be but I know I have the bug for solo travel and more so cruising, it's like entering a magical bubble for a week and leaving reality aside and that is never a bad thing. The only problem you might have is that you'll never want to rejoin the real world again.

I'm always looking for more companies, individuals and publications to collaborate and work with, please direct all enquiries to -

mandy@mandycharltonphotography.com

mandycharlton.com

www.mandycharltonphotographyblog.com

Best womens camera bag featuring Mooli London

Ever since I first spotted the Mooli range of camera bags I've wanted one so when the chance to work with them came up and they gifted me their beautiful red bag my camera bag has never been quite so brilliant.

My Mooli London Hampton camera bag has traversed with me near and far, it's been to Rome, Barcelona, Pisa, Palma de Mallorca, Cannes...

It's been on trains and planes and cruise ships and it's been all over the North East of England being admired by friends, photographers and clients.

To be honest I use this bag 24/7, it doesn't always have my camera in, it just looks like the most amazing handbag, a thing of beautiful quality and unparalleled good looks.  Looby even agreed to pose with it and I think she would love one for school, most kids have tech these days so why not have a smart handbag to protect it?

I apologise for inflicting these photographs of me on you all, Loobys skill as a photographer is much better than mine as a posing model, one of the reasons I've spent the last 10 years behind the camera and not in front of it.

For any photographers out there who do travel it's the perfect bag, even when it's been on aeroplanes it fits neatly under the seat.  Let me share with you just a few of the places I've been with my camera bag over the last couple of months...

Pisa, reminded me of a set from an Italian mob movie once you were facing away from Miracle Square

The beautiful harbour in Cannes, possibly the most glamorous place I've ever visited.

A beautiful Mediterranean sunset

Palma De Mallorca, really glamorous which is something I'd never imagined about Majorca, I really want to return to this balearic island and spend more time exploring, it's so beautiful and tourism and history mix nicely together without it feeling over commercialised like some places in Spain

The leaning tower of Pisa, a sight to behold and when you sit at the top of it, well it's even more impressive

The Camposanto, Pisa, there were just a few people wandering around the Camposanto in the beautiful November afternoon sunshine, there's nowhere I've ever been which has felt quite so still or special, it was almost a break from the entire world.

When I'm shooting around the world I tend to use the Fuji X system cameras because they're compact and light and they fit neatly into my Mooli bag with all of my other gubbins.  At weddings though I've had in my bag 2 camera bodies, a flash, 3 lenses, makeup bag, purse, iPad, iPhone...  It's literally a bottomless cavern and it's got enough pockets for me, you and the rest of us as well as the fact that it's gorgeously padded with separators you can move around to perfectly fit your camera kit packing needs.

I love the long strap which turns it into a cross body bag, it means I can walk 5 or so miles on a photo shoot and it's still comfortable.

I see no reason now to ever use a new handbag but I do have my eye on another Mooli London Camera Bag, I have my eye on the brown Hampton bag next.

I travelled through Europe on assignment for Cruise International Magazine and you can read all about my adventures on board the Norwegian Epic in the February 2016 issue which is out in the shops on 20th February 2016.