Wanderlust: Nana Hagel's Copenhagen

Copenhagen has always hovered near the top of both of our travel wish-lists, and a week today we will finally set foot on Danish soil. As we eagerly put together lists of everything we will try to cram into the four days we have there, we decided that a local's perspective is always the best way to see a new city. We've been reading Nana's blog and double-clicking all of her instagram photos since before Assemblage was even the spark of an idea, so naturally we got in touch and asked if she would recommend her top ten things for us to do whilst we were exploring her city. Read on to discover Nana Hagel's Top Ten things to do in Copenhagen - and stay tuned as we take time to visit her choices whilst we are there.

Nana Hagel's Copenhagen

Mother - Great place for pizza in the Meatpacking District of Copenhagen. Go here on a Friday night and visit one of the many bars of the area afterwards, or come here for the amazing brunch buffet during the weekend.

Atelier September - This cafe is definitely one of the prettiest in Copenhagen! It's a popular spot for coffee and breakfast and the food is simple and delicious.

Keramik og glasværkstedet - A beautiful ceramics shop in central Copenhagen. Four Danish designers sell their items here, and the ceramicists work in the studio in the back of the shop.

Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens are always inspiring to visit and the Copenhagen one is no exception! It's wonderfully peaceful and quiet in here.

Round Tower - Great architecture in the heart of the city. Go round and round till you reach the top and enjoy an amazing view of the city!

Studio - Michelin awarded restaurant serving new Nordic food with pretty interiors and even more beautiful dishes.

Coffee Collective - All coffee affectionados who visit Copenhagen should go here! Great coffee in a cool setting (Coffee Collective are all over town, my favorite spot in the one on Godthåbsvej). 

Østerberg Ice Cream - Experimental ice cream in the prettiest shop! Most of the ingredients are sources from Asia and Latin America and they're all delicious.

Glyptoteket - Beautiful Ancient Mediterranean collection. Get a coffee and a cake in their winter garden filled with palm trees and the prettiest dome ceiling.

Louisiana - About an hour by train from Copenhagen you will find Louisiana Museum of Modern Art with always interesting exhibitions and the most amazing location right by the sea.

Text and photographs by Nana Hagel

Read Nana's blog: Far & Close

Follow Nana on Instagram

View Nana's Portfolio

-Emma 

Wanderlust: Limone, Lake Garda

La Limonaia Del Castel

The little terracotta town of Limone sits on the west shore of Italy's best-loved lake, Lake Garda, and is perfect for adventurous types looking for a relaxing break which doesn't compromise on scenery and opportunities to appreciate the great outdoors.

Being positioned in the northern half of the lake, it boasts a dramatic shoreline complete with views of Monte Baldo and the surrounding hills, which sit directly across the water.

Assemblage spent two glorious weeks here over the summer, and found it to be one of the lake's more architecturally beautiful towns, which possesses some of the most dramatic scenery we saw on the northern half of the lake.

While Limone is a popular package holiday destination, those looking to get a little more out of their trip will find themselves spoiled for choice.

From exploring the town's winding lanes and pebbled shoreline, to wild swimming in the perfect turquoise waters of nearby Lake Tenno, Italy's clearest and most lipid freshwater lake; exploring the lush vinyards of Trentino and windsurfing in Torbole - one of the continent's most popular watersports spots - or mountain biking and climbing in some of the finest mountain terrains in Europe, there could not be more on offer.

Wild swimming in Lake Tenno

But really it is the views that steal the show. The gradient of the town means many hotels are in prime position for admiring the views over the bay and the mountains on the Eastern shore opposite, where the clouds hang over the tips, leaving shadows on the hillside below.

From almost any point in the town, you only need raise your eyes to catch a glimpse of the dramatic hills hanging overhead. And with the mountainous climate bringing with it balmy evening thunderstorms, there couldn't be a more perfect place to watch the lightning fork.

Attractions

La Limonaia Del Castel

La Limonaia Del Castel - On Tuesday nights during the summer months, this restored limonaia offers late night opening, where visitors can admire the citrus trees by moonlight, enjoying enchanting views over the rooftops of Limone and the lake, limoncello tasting and live music, all for only a couple of Euros.

Windsurfing on the western coast

SurfingLino 
Spiaggia Foce fiume S. Giovanni
Get to grips with surfing Garda's famous Ora wind, which blows like clockwork from the south of the lake every day and makes the north of the lake one of the best-loved water sports spots in Europe.

Museum of Tourism 

Via IV Novembre, n. 29/L

A fine place to kill time during a wet afternoon, and worth a visit alone for the photographs of the town during its lemon-growing heyday.

Restaurants

Osteria Al Veccio Fontec
Via Della Corda, 21
This delightful restaurant is nestled in the courtyard beneath a local residence on a quiet street in the village, and offers an intimate evening. Guests are greeted with complimentary prosecco, and the menu offers an alluring array of options, including almond crusted tuna steak. £££

Osteria Da Livio

Via Tovo, 4

Nestled high in the olive groves about 15 minutes' walk from the centre of Limone, this is a locals favourite. Expect magical alfresco dining amongst olive trees, and a delectable, traditional Italian menu. ££

Osteria Al Veccio Fontec

Bar Spaghetteria Da Titano Di Fort Enea
Via Della Corda, 9
This little ristorante in the heart of Limone offers unpretentious, traditional Italian cooking at very reasonable prices. Pasta portions are enormous, and the Spaghetti Limone is a delight. £

Bars

Bar Limone
Via IV Novembre, 22
Situated on the main road leading above the old town, this buzzing hotel bar is frequented by locals, so prices are reasonable, and the chef's abilities are beyond that of many of those at the town's other osterias. Stop by on a Saturday, when the bar puts on live entertainment and a buffet of the highest order for 20 euros. 

Cherenguito
Via IV Novembre, 4
Another locals' favourite, this is the perfect place to enjoy a late night by the water. From the mellow, low lighting emitted by colour changing spherical lights, to the designer bean bags laid here and there and the generous spirit measures, the emphasis is on maximum comfort and fun.

Where to stay

Hotel Castell
Via IV Novembre, 62
This friendly establishment is built directly into the rocks on the cliff side, and boasts prime position beside the Castell de Limonaia and a mere three minutes' walk to the centre of Limone via steps beneath the hotel. The rooms, dining area, terrace and pool all offer breathtaking views over the town, lake and eastern shore, and the atmosphere is friendly and unfussy.

All photos by Abigail Outhwaite.

- Abigail

Views of the east shore from Limone, Lake Garda

The view of Limone from Hotel Castell

Art in the alleys in Limone

The beach in Limone at dusk

Views of the east shore

The beach at Limone

Wanderlust: Plitvice Lakes

Each of Plitvice's lakes varies in colour, shifting between sparkling waters in shades of aqua, turquoise and azure; each one impossibly crystal clear. As you wander along the ramshackle wooden platforms that lead you around, above and beside the numerous waterfalls, it is difficult to tear your eyes away from the hundreds of fish swimming past,  weaving their way through the most tranquil waters imaginable.

If there's a downside to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's that every bone in your body is aching to leap into the inviting waters - yet this is strictly forbidden. The site would soon lose it's natural beauty if stripped down to a glorified swimming pool; yet all the same, the lakes look incredibly enticing.

The true beauty of the national park is unveiled as you begin an uphill climb, provided constantly with breath-taking lookout points where you can admire the paths that you have previously walked. From this bird's-eye view, the cascading falls that you admired as you passed them can be seen from a completely different perspective. Nothing quite prepares you for the site of the perfectly blue pools spilling down in layers of crashing water and foam.

For the experience detailed above,  I recommend route H, which leads you around both the upper and lower waterfalls before embarking on the uphill climb back to the entrance.

Get in touch for details of how to reach Plitvice from Zagreb.

 

All photographs by Emma Lavelle

- Emma