Pizza in Tylösand, Mr & Mrs Smith’s Hotel Guide & A New Apartment

A cloudy, windy day on Tylösand Beach.

After about two weeks in my grandmother’s summer cottage by the sea in Frösakull, I returned to her place in Halmstad. We spent part of Sunday together and lunched at Paradiso, a Greek/Italian restaurant in Tylösand.

The tempting menu caused me to break my vegan eating habits for one meal and fall for the temptation of ordering a vegetarian pizza.

After lunch, we continued to Grötvik for a walk along the coast. Despite the lack of sunshine and warm winds, we had a pretty good time. I felt somewhat cold as we arrived home and curled up in the sofa with a blanket to read my latest gift — the original Mr & Mrs Smith guide. Usually I’m a rather quick reader, but when faced with an irresistible coffee-table book, or certain hotel guides, like Mr & Mrs Smith’s, I may very well find myself reading for hours on end. Although published in 2003, the guide didn’t feel outdated the least bit and made me smile/chuckle/laugh/sigh/daydream as I read the reviews and admired the stunning photography. Most of all, the guide reminded me I want to see more of the UK than London, and that Ireland is a must-visit at least once during a life time — including a stay at one of Smith’s member hotels, of course, preferably The Morrison.

I was pleasantly surprised by the review of Rick’s (not a hotel, a cocktail bar with ten contemporary rooms) in the heart of Edinburgh, the same goes for the section on how to play strip poker. The guide also includes chapters on how to throw a frisbee and how to fly a kite — skills that may come in handy in the British countryside or in one of London’s many parks. The terrific insider reviews — 41 in total — were followed by a smart diary-style calendar of events in the UK and Ireland, recommended pack list, useful numbers, and witty bios of the anonymous reviewers as well as the Mr & Mrs Smith team. If you haven’t had the chance to read the guide yet you can pick up your own copy at UK/Ireland Hotel Collection, or — for a chance to win a copy — join Jen Laceda’s montly giveaways on her fabulous blog Folie a Deux. Do also check out UK/Ireland Volume 2.

After finishing reading the guide, I made a call regarding an apartment. Can’t live with my grandmother forever! Both her and I agree that another week is (more than) enough, and since I’ve partly recovered from my latest setback, I need to move somewhere else. Fortunately I’ve found a new apartment, which I’ll move in to the 26th. To my delight, it has affordable rent, free broadband Internet connection, shower, pentry, access to a small garden, 15 minutes walk to the beach, and a 5 minutes walk to the center of Halmstad.