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RunawayBrit

RunawayBrit

a journey of new beginnings

  • Home
  • About
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Morocco
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Nepal
      • Sri Lanka
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Singapore
      • Vietnam
    • Central & Eastern Europe
      • Albania
      • Bosnia & Herzegovina
      • Croatia
      • Macedonia
      • Serbia
      • Czech Republic
      • Hungary
      • Poland
      • Russia
      • Romania
      • Slovakia
      • Slovenia
    • Northern Europe
      • Denmark
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • Iceland
      • Latvia
      • Norway
      • Sweden
    • Western Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Germany
      • Netherlands
      • United Kingdom
    • Southern Europe
      • Cyprus
      • Greece
      • Malta
      • Spain
    • Oceania
      • Saipan
    • Middle East
      • Israel
      • Jordan
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
    • USA
  • Teaching
  • Life in Sweden
    • Climate
    • History
    • Tourist Attraction
    • Tradition
    • Travel Around Sweden

Finding Stillness on Iraklia; a Small Greek Island

View of Gävle city, Sweden

Things to do in Gävle, Sweden

Wellness Retreat: The Dalecarlia Hotel and Spa

Celebrate Fettisdagen with a Semla

by Runaway Brit 2 Comments on Celebrate Fettisdagen with a Semla

Today is fettisdagen in Sweden, which means that the mostly-lagom Swedes will help themselves to a semla, or two or three. Semlor are rather large bread rolls filled with mandelmassa (almond paste), cardamom, and a very generous dollop of …

Julbocken: the Swedish Tradition that Usually Goes up in Flames

by Runaway Brit 2 Comments on Julbocken: the Swedish Tradition that Usually Goes up in Flames

“Runway ready! How do I look?” tweets Gävlebocken, the official social media account of Sweden’s famous Christmas goat. Indeed, he’s not only famous in Sweden: according to the Guinness Book of Records, Gävle’s Julbocken is the world’s largest …

Öregrund, Sweden

Enjoying the Swedish Summer in Öregrund

by Runaway Brit 4 Comments on Enjoying the Swedish Summer in Öregrund

With over 3,000 kilometres of coastline, Sweden has plenty of coastal towns; and, although the most beautiful beaches are in the south, the east coast has many gems. The Stockholm Archipelago is a great place to begin if you are …

Åre cablecar

Åre: an Autumn Visit to Sweden’s Most Famous Ski Resort

by Runaway Brit 10 Comments on Åre: an Autumn Visit to Sweden’s Most Famous Ski Resort

With Covid still limiting overseas travel, I have travelled locally in Sweden over the past few months. Recently, I’ve been to Sundsvall, Västerås, Kristianstad and Stockholm. My favourite trip, however, was Åre, a lakeside ski-resort 600 km north of …

Malmö: Sweden’s Gateway to Europe

by Runaway Brit 11 Comments on Malmö: Sweden’s Gateway to Europe

As the gateway to Europe, Malmö ‘s youthful, cosmopolitan vibe is distinctive from other Swedish cities. During the summer, tourists flood the city beach, and residents stroll through leafy parks or run along the beachfront promenade. Everybody cycles, the network …

Eating My Way Around the US

by Runaway Brit 2 Comments on Eating My Way Around the US

With my visit to the US coinciding with the fourth of July, I hoped to experience at least two of the ‘four Fs’ that form the tip of the cultural iceberg: food and festivals. I’m sure that fashion and flags …

Čičmany: Slovakia’s Charming Gingerbread Houses

by Runaway Brit 19 Comments on Čičmany: Slovakia’s Charming Gingerbread Houses

Čičmany in central Slovakia comes straight from the pages of a fairy-tale book. The picturesque village sits in a verdant meadow surrounded by pine forests, but this is not what makes it so delightful. What’s more striking is the way …

Kayaking on the Danube in Bratislava

by Runaway Brit 6 Comments on Kayaking on the Danube in Bratislava

Peeping through the trees ahead of me, the iconic shape of the castle reminds me that although I am kayaking in the countryside, I’m actually still in the city. That’s the beauty of Bratislava, one of the world’s smallest capitals; …

Lofoten: A Winter’s Dream

by Runaway Brit 11 Comments on Lofoten: A Winter’s Dream

Waking long before daylight, we found our car concealed beneath the icy shroud of the first winter snowfall. Once outside and puffing impatiently into my hands to enjoy a momentary sensation of warmth, I opened the door shattering the icy …

Clothes May Be Optional, but Masks Are Not!

by Runaway Brit Leave a Comment on Clothes May Be Optional, but Masks Are Not!

Approaching a large metal gate crossing our path, my friend whispered ‘Do you think we can walk here?’  

‘Well, it’s open, and there’s no sign saying we can’t’, I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. …

Lockdown! A Teacher’s Thoughts on the Corona Pandemic

by Runaway Brit 1 Comment on Lockdown! A Teacher’s Thoughts on the Corona Pandemic

It’s been 26 days since my world shut down. It’s been far longer for others. 

It began slowly. Back, in January, news of an unknown virus in China reached us here in Europe. I barely took any notice – SARS, …

The Hidden Dangers of Quarantine

by Runaway Brit Leave a Comment on The Hidden Dangers of Quarantine

Stay indoors. Stay safe, they said. They’re right, of course: if you stay indoors you won’t catch Coronavirus, and – more importantly – you can’t spread it. But what I didn’t know is that being trapped indoors by myself …

Love in the Time of Coronavirus

by Runaway Brit 13 Comments on Love in the Time of Coronavirus

With coronavirus currently decimating the travel industry, it’s a good time to write about my life as an international teacher instead. I don’t write frequently, because I can’t travel full-time like I’d hoped I would when I first started Runawaybrit. …

A Surprise Birthday Trip to Budapest

by Runaway Brit 6 Comments on A Surprise Birthday Trip to Budapest

I left work on Friday with my bag packed for a surprise birthday trip. All I had been told was that the bus departed at 4pm and I would need my passport. Of course, I had a few guesses about …

Bratislava Christmas Markets

Why You Should Visit the Bratislava Christmas Markets This Season

by Runaway Brit Leave a Comment on Why You Should Visit the Bratislava Christmas Markets This Season

Once again, Christmas—the most wonderful time of the year—is upon us; and Bratislava just burst into life with festive crooners singing jovially of snow, sleigh-bells and chestnuts roasting on open fires. Ridiculously cute wooden cabins have sprung up around Historic …

Cyprus coastline

Cyprus: Birthplace of a Goddess

by Runaway Brit 9 Comments on Cyprus: Birthplace of a Goddess

Most people visit Cyprus during the summer, but you shouldn’t avoid this charming Mediterranean island during low season. Known for being the birthplace of Aphrodite: the Goddess of Beauty, Cyprus has much to love – even in winter.

Winter Sun

…

Why I Love Working in Europe (And Never Want to Leave)

by Runaway Brit 1 Comment on Why I Love Working in Europe (And Never Want to Leave)

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on why I love living in Europe out of all the places I could go. And, yes: publishing this post as Britain perches precariously on the brink of Brexit is ironic. Having worked in Vietnam, India, …

Sliema Harbour in Malta

Winter Break: Malta

by Runaway Brit Leave a Comment on Winter Break: Malta

Here in Central Europe, summer hangs on a thread. The long, light evenings are closing in, the sun’s warmth is fading fast, and I’m already thinking back to my first holiday of the year in lovely Malta.

While the trees …

Shifting My Paradigm

by Runaway Brit 7 Comments on Shifting My Paradigm

When I’ve reached a grand old age and – like any self-respecting old lady – I am surrounded by an army of cats; I will look back over my life and remember the following things: living in multiple houses around …

Kosice Old Town

Košice, Slovakia: Try Once, Love Forever

by Runaway Brit 7 Comments on Košice, Slovakia: Try Once, Love Forever

Home of Europe’s Oldest Annual Marathon

Slovakia is an underrated travel destination; most people I meet have never heard of it, and could not point it out on a map, so it was surprising to learn that Košice hosted Europe’s …

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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Welcome!

My name is Elaine. I am a British teacher who left the UK to work overseas many years ago. So far I have taught in Japan, Vietnam, India, Slovakia, and now Sweden.

I make the most of my holidays to do the thing I love most…travel!

Find me on Instagram!

runawaybrit

runawaybrit

CL @girlgoneinternational
From 🇬🇧 Lived: 🇯🇵 🇻🇳 🇸🇪 🇪🇸 🇮🇳 🇸🇰
Swedish Citizen 🇸🇪
Marathon Finisher 🏃‍♂️
Remote worker 💻
Traveller 🌎

Midsummer is the best time of year in the Swedish Midsummer is the best time of year in the Swedish calendar 🇸🇪

With around 20 hours of daylight, Gävle came out to play for Midsommarafton yesterday 🌼🌸☀️🥂 

And, despite the name, Midsummer day is not actually the middle of summer, but officially the first day 🎉

Glad Midsommar, alla 🩷💜🩷
❄️ The last snow of the winter ❄️ Spring ❄️ The last snow of the winter ❄️

Spring came early to Sweden this year, but we got a last weekend of snow up in the 'Swedish Alps'. Åre is a trendy ski resort where Swedes come to ski, see and be seen. 

It's always fun to go to Åre, but now I'm hoping for a long hot summer. Come on, Sweden - give us a good one this year 🔥 ☀️

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#amazingview #åre #adventure #britsinsweden #beautiful #DiscoverSweden #europe_vacations #europe #funicular #girlslovetravel #girlgoneinternational #instagood #livinginsweden #living_europe #mountains #outdoors #photooftheday #skiing #skiweekend #traveler #traveltheworld #visitsweden #viewfromthewindow #weekendgetaway #womenwhotravel
When I see these, I know I'm nearly finished with When I see these, I know I'm nearly finished with a 5km run 🤩

Well, okay, I've walked it more ofyen than I've run recently, but it's never too late to start again. Is it? 
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#runwhenyoucan #active #britsinsweden #DiscoverSweden #exploreyourbackyard #fitness #forest #gävle #getfitordietrying #getactive #getoutside #hemlingby #livinginsweden #living_europe #mentalhealth #nature #outdoors #photooftheday #running #runningmotivation #Sweden #visitsweden #walking #wellness
This small river leads through the town of Gävle This small river leads through the town of Gävle and out to the sea. It's my favourite part of the city to walk🚶‍♀️ 

In the summer, you can stop for a pizza or ice cream 🍕 🍨 In winter, you might see the Aurora 💚🩵❤️

Do you have a favourite part of your city?
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#beauty #bluesky #boat #britsinsweden #CityByTheWater #colours #DiscoverSweden #europe_vacations #expatwoman #exploreyourbackyard #exploreyourcity #explore #gävle #girlgoneinternational #harbour #homesweethome #happiness #ig_sweden #instamood #livinginsweden #living_europe #lifeabroad #NordicVibes #outdoors #sky #samsungs22 #Sweden #travelgirl #visitsweden
Who loves the window seat? 🙋‍♀️✈️🌍 Who loves the window seat? 🙋‍♀️✈️🌍❤️

Flying between Munich and Malta gives some of the best views you'll ever see from a plane, no need for in-flight entertainment 🏔 🌊 

There was a time a few years back that I became very anxious about flying, but it's passed now. I'm so happy looking out of the window of a plane and just soaking in how amazing air travel is ❤️

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#airtravel #airplane #bluesky #europe_vacations #explore #europe #flying #girlslovetravel #girlgoneinternational #instatravel #instapassport #living_europe #lifestyle #munich #maltamoments #malta #plane #photooftheday #travel #travelgram #traveller #viewfrommywindow #womenwhotravel #viewfromtheplane
The houses in Malta are adorable. I love the colou The houses in Malta are adorable. I love the colours of these shutters and flowers 💐 🏡

It's lovely to see flowers when I'm away—spring is still months away in Sweden! 

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#aroundtheworld #architecture #balcony #CityByTheWater #citybreak #europe #girlslovetravel #girlgoneinternational #goodvibes #instatravel #instagood #january #living_europe #livingabroad #maltamoments #mdina #malta #outdoors #photooftheday #samsungs22 #travel #traveller #visitmalta #wintersun
Are you feeling blue this Monday? I plan to spend Are you feeling blue this Monday? I plan to spend my last day in Malta by the sea 🌊 

Who else loves a destination where the sun shines all year? ☀️ 

💙

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#Bluemonday #maltamoments #amazingview #aroundtheworld ##bluesky #beachlife #coast #CityByTheWater #europe_vacations #explore #europe #girlslovetravel #holidayvibes #instatravel #lifesabeach #livingabroad #living_europe #mood #outdoors #photooftheday #malta #sea #travelgirl #travel #vitaminsea #WaterfrontViews #wanderlust #womenwhotravel
Winter Sun break in Malta 🇲🇹 Here's the vi Winter Sun break in Malta 🇲🇹 

Here's the view from the hotel terrace. Although it's not so warm here yet, it was about 25⁰ warmer than Sweden just a week or so ago. I'll take it 😂 ☀️ 

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#amazingview #aroundtheworld #bluesky #CityByTheWater #europe_vacations #europe #girlgoneinternational #girlslovetravel #goodmorning #holidayvibes #hotel #instatravel #instagood #living_europe #MyTravelStory #malta #mellieha #outdoors #photooftheday #rooftop #samsungs22 #travelgirl #traveller #visitmalta #wintersun
Gamla Uppsala is allegedly the seat of ancient Swe Gamla Uppsala is allegedly the seat of ancient Swedish Kings. Some legends say that these mounds are the resting places of Thor, Odin, and Freyr.

Not far from Stockholm and rich in viking history, Gamla Uppsala's museum features plenty of ancient artifacts, and you can see often see battle reenactments.

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#amazingview #britsinsweden #DiscoverSweden #daytrip #europe_vacations #exploreyourbackyard #explore #europe #history #historylovers #instatravel #instagood #livinginsweden #livingabroad #living_europe #lifeabroad #MyTravelStory #mythology #nordicmythology #outdoors #photooftheday #Sweden #SwedenTravel #ScandiTravel #travel #travelblogger #uppsala #myuppsala #visitsweden
Happy New Year! I hope good things happen for you Happy New Year! I hope good things happen for you in 2025. 

My year got off to the best start when my Swedish citizenship was approved yesterday! 

Thank you for accepting me, Sweden. I think I should do a tour of Sweden to celebrate. Where should I go first? 🇸🇪 ❤️ 

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#aroundtheworld #britsinsweden #newyear #2025 #swedishcitizen #citizenship #Sweden #homesweethome #livingabroad #living_europe #livingoverseas #lifeabroad #livinginsweden #DiscoverSweden #europe #girlgoneinternational #lifeisgood ##travelgram #ig_sweden #happynewyear
The best view of Tallinn is from the pharmacy. Th The best view of Tallinn is from the pharmacy.

The pharmacy has been operating since 1422. It's amazing to think about how this view has changed over all those years. History is so fascinating. 

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#amazingview #aroundtheworld #citybreak #europe #explore #happy #instatravel #instapassport #living_europe #photooftheday #traveltheworld #tallinn #estonia #visitestonia #viewfrommywindow #windowshotwednesday #window #travel #europe_vacations #weekendgetaway
And then the snow came. It didn't stay long this t And then the snow came. It didn't stay long this time, but it's not bad for the first snow of winter. ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

It's time to get #hygge, or #mysig as the Swedes say, with cosy blankets, candles, and cuddles🕯❤️ 

How do you get cosy in winter?

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#amazingview #viewfrommywindow #winterwonderland #wintervibes #hygge #mysig #window #windowshotwednesday #britsinsweden #beautiful #DiscoverSweden #europe #gävle #gävleborg #homesweethome #instamood #living_europe #nordicweather #NordicVibes #outdoors #indoorplants #snow #snowywinter #visitsweden #workfromhome
Relaxing in Paradise - Iraklia, Greece 🏖 🇬🇷 

If you want to know more about this small and underrated Greek island, check out my post:

https://www.runawaybrit.com/2024/11/11/a-week-in-iraklia/
For those who say November in Sweden is always dul For those who say November in Sweden is always dull and grey, here's how it's looked for most of the month 🍂

It's all set to change tomorrow with the first snow of the winter ❄️ Which season do you like best?

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#autumn #britsinsweden #bluesky #DiscoverSweden #exploreyourbackyard #exploreyourcity #europe #gävle #gävleborg #homesweethome #instatravel #instagood #living_europe #nordicweather #outdoors #photooftheday #season #SwedenTravel #sweden #sverige #visitsweden
The bite of snow is in the air, and it won't be lo The bite of snow is in the air, and it won't be long until this river freezes up. 

I love this part of my little city here in Sweden. It's so pretty when small boats pass up and down in the summer, and it's my go-to spot for when the Northern Lights might make an appearance ❤️ 
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#amazingview #britsinsweden #bluehour #CityByTheWater #DiscoverSweden #exploreyourcity #exploreyourbackyard #gävle #gävleborg #homesweethome #instamood #instagood #living_europe #outdoors #photooftheday #SwedenTravel #sweden #visitsweden #citybreak #visitsweden
How the view looks from a boat hotel in Stockholm How the view looks from a boat hotel in Stockholm 🚢 🇸🇪 ❤️ 

One of the best things about hybrid/remote work is that you can work from a place like this 🙌 

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#photooftheday #living_europe #exploremore #stockholm #sweden #visitsweden #citybreak #britsinsweden #hostel #VisitStockholm #StockholmViews #StockholmCity #BoatHotel #WaterfrontViews #CityByTheWater #ScandiTravel #NordicVibes #SwedenTravel #DiscoverSweden #MyTravelStory #travelgram #workfromanywhere
When you visit Stockholm, do yourself a favour and When you visit Stockholm, do yourself a favour and stay on a boat! There's no better view 🥰

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#amazingview #aroundtheworld #beauty #boat #citybreak #exploreyourcity #getaway #instatravel #instapassport #instagood #living_europe #outdoors #photooftheday #reflection #stockholm #sweden #samsungs22 #travel #vitaminsea #viewfrommywindow #visitsweden #wanderlust
Stockholm is full of surprises 🎉 I recently fo Stockholm is full of surprises 🎉

I recently found this relaxing little spot on a
weekend in Stockholm. It's at the back of the old town metro station, right in the heart of the city ❤️

In Stockholm, there's always somewhere to sit by water and take some time out. This city is good for the soul 🥰

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#amazingview #beautiful #bluesky #dayoff #exploreyourbackyard #exploremore #getaway #instagood #instatravel #living_europe #gamlastan #mood #outdoors #photooftheday #relax #stockholm #sweden #sverige #timeout #traveller_stories #visitsweden #wellness #selfcare
Perfect reflection, Gävle. This is one of my fa Perfect reflection,  Gävle.

This is one of my favourite spots in the city, but today is gloomy, so I'm posting a blue-sky picture from a few days ago instead ❤️

What's your favourite spot to photograph?
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#amazingview #bluesky #beautiful #europe
#exploreyourbackyard #exploreyourcity #gävle #gävleborg #homesweethome #instatravel #instamood #living_europe
#mood #outdoors #photooftheday #reflection #sky #samsungs22 #visitsweden #sweden #sverige
These iconic pastel-shade beach cabins sit along t These iconic pastel-shade beach cabins sit along the beach front at Bude, Cornwall.

They look very pretty on a warm, sunny day like this one, but I suspect that they are more often used to dry off after a chilly swim on Britain's better known gloomy summer days 🤣 Either way, I think it would be really cool to rent one for a day at the beach 😍

Are beach cabins common on the beaches in your country?

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#aroundtheworld #beach #bude #beachcabin #beachlife #coast #cornwall #cornwallcoast #cornishcoast #dayoff #explore #europe #greatbritain #holidayvibes #instapassport #instatravel #kernow #living_europe #lifesabeach #outdoors #photooftheday #seaside #summer #traveller #traveltheworld #unitedkingdom #visitbritain
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