“Land of the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun, of Viking heritage and the most modern design imaginable, of magical folklore and friendly people – Iceland sits at the top of Europe with an abundance of history, metropolitan atmosphere, sublime dining and plenty of charming experiences for you to enjoy.” When I read that description I was so excited about my trip because Iceland has been on my bucket list for a long time. Thankfully, the country that lies just inside the Arctic Circle not only lived up to those expectations, but exceeded them by far. Iceland is a country of extreme contrasts. A place where fire and ice co-exist. This stunning island with one of the lowest population densities of any country worldwide (about 320.000 people) is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe, and some of the world’s most active volcanoes. Iceland is also the land of light and darkness. Long summer days with nearly 24-hours of sunshine are offset by short winter days with only a few hours of daylight. Shaped by the forces of nature, the barren landscapes demonstrate the creative powers of the four basic elements—earth, air, fire, and water—in a dramatic way. […]
Croatia is a magnificent country. Its shores are perhaps not as well known as those of Spain, France, Italy or Greece, but in the last few years it is increasingly popular and a growing number of tourists are choosing this enchanted location as the ideal vacation getaway. The beautiful islands off the coast, the clear cooling water, the historic cities and the great nightlife make Croatia a stunning place to visit. Recently I was lucky enough to spend some time exploring this amazing place. It’s a country I can see myself coming back to frequently. Here are some of the highlights of my time in this Mediterranean’s gem… Plitvice Lakes National Park Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Every year tourists enjoy walking the paths of this park to see the stunning waterfalls, the mixture of Alpine and Mediterranean vegetation and the breathtaking turquoise, green or blue waters. The beauty of the Plitvice Lakes National Park lies in its lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species. The national park is world famous for its lakes arranged in cascades. Currently, 16 lakes can be […]
City of water, canals, bridges and festival masks. Birthplace of Marco Polo and Antonio Vivaldi. Last August I arrived in Venice (Venezia) ready to see what the floating city had to offer… Situated over more than a hundred islands -118 to be exact- and sliced by ribbons of canals, Venice is certainly unlike any other city in the world. It’s small and compact, and the traffic-free streets (no vehicles or even bicycles allowed) are great for walking and sight-seeing. There are many magnificent churches and palaces, lively piazzas and interesting shops. The canals serve as the main arteries of the city and tourists can use any of three types of water transport during their visit: Venice Gondolas, water taxis or Vaporettos (the public transport boats). Yes, Venice has a lot to offer and it’s one of these cities you can never get enough of… The Gondola is a traditional rowing boat in Venice and one of the most charming and romantic ways of spending time in the city. Ponte dei Sospiri – The Bridge of Sighs passes over the Rio di Palazzo and a local legend reports that the view from the bridge was the last view […]
Last April I was lucky enough to be walking through the streets of Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the ones parallel to the Seine in Paris. The weather was great and the city aesthetically perfect. Known throughout the world as the “City of Light”, Paris is celebrated for its beautiful city plan, architecture, museums, bridges, cathedrals, parks, sidewalk cafés, wide and luxurious boulevards, elegant cuisine, and numerous monuments. The city possesses an incredible atmosphere that has fascinated writers, poets, and painters for centuries. There is so much of this beautiful city to explore; unfortunately I only had a couple of hours to walk around with my camera. Herewith a short overview of my journey: The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile – Place Charles de Gaulle Boulevard de Clichy – Montmartre Café des Deux Moulins, the main set for the movie Amelie – Montmartre The Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation (1840) – Place de La Concorde Eiffel Tower – Champ de Mars Paris from the Eiffel Tower Palais de Chaillot from the Eiffel Tower
Milan is an excellent walking city with interesting sights and neighborhoods. If you only have one day, the good thing about this city is that most of the interesting places are very close to each other. The best place to begin any visit to Milan is at the Duomo. This gothic cathedral was completed in almost six centuries. Building was started in 1386 and the cathedral opened its doors in 1965. Don’t miss a walk on the roof of the Duomo, wandering amongst the spires and statues and having a great sight of the whole city from above. Immediately next to the Doumo is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world’s oldest shopping malls. Completed in 1877, the cross-shaped shopping mall is bright and airy, thanks to its iron and glass curved roof, and the floor is patterned in marble mosaic tiles. Milan is famous for its high-end designer shops and has a few areas which are closed to traffic and were turned into pedestrian areas. The “Quadrilatero d’Oro” or “Gold Quarter” is a high-class shopping district characterized by the presence of numerous boutiques and related retail outlets which represent most of the world’s major fashion houses. You […]
