On this short visit to the capital, my intention is to explore the streets, enjoy the beautiful sunshine and take in the atmosphere. What has come as a huge surprise is the astonishing amount and variety of architecture that crosses my path. Normally cities are like an onion. The core is the oldest and one …
My first sunny day and I decide to head straight for the centre of the city. Here sits a structure that pops up in almost every Google image of this capital city. Surrounding it are a plethora of innovative modern buildings, statues, green space and more. Beautiful Baiterek & Nurzhol Blvd in Astana Kazakhstan is …
Having taken one single two-hour flight, I have left the old capital of Almaty in the south, for the new capital of Astana in the north. I did have the option of a 15-hour train ride but that did not seem appealing especially as much of the journey is through the Great Steppe. This large …
I arrive before the war, having no idea of what is about to transpire or how my days and life will change. These are my first impressions of Doha Qatar as life is happening under normal circumstances. The following posts over the next few days are the precious experiences I have had. And then I’ll …
One of my favourite things to do in any destination is to let myself wander with abandon. And especially an old city, bursting with history and charisma that I just know is holding secrets and hidden gems. Get lost with me in Siena Italy and let’s see what we can discover. Piazza del Campo I …
Last year I spent some time on the east side of Sicily and absolutely loved that experience. I lived in Modica Alta for over a month and spent days in Catania. I have decided to return, but try the west coast this time. Wow, I am startled at the difference. Here are my first impressions …
Always on the lookout for amazing buildings, façades and details, I was met with a bounty here. This group of centralized pedestrian only streets, contains a plethora of 19th century palaces, churches, fountains, statues and even an ancient roman theatre. The beautiful architecture of historical Malaga is a delight to witness and experience. Location This …
I love old towns, they exude a sense of history, contain interesting and beautiful architecture and have a special atmosphere that I find missing from a modern setting. I am grateful to have found a gem along the southern Spanish coastline. Get lost with me in the streets of old Tarifa and discover magical vistas. …
I’m back in Europe and am thrilled for the change of scenery. My last six months has been spent in Asia, a first taste visiting that corner of the world as an adult. Time for Europe summer. Finding myself in a completely new to me destination, here are my first impressions of Sarajevo in Bosnia. …
Regular readers are probably aware that I gravitate to the older neighbourhoods when visiting any new destination. I love the depth of character, vibrancy and grit of the old hoods. Cyprus is no different. There is a lot of history to explore here and the old town Paphos is so pretty!! Capital Paphos was once …
Yes! I moved locations, a mini travel day consisting of a 2 hour bus ride, and another 20 minute bus ride, and I was at my new location. I have a long travel day approaching, so to ease the pain of too many moving parts, I decided to relocate closer to the airport before hand. …
I have an increasingly large number of picturesque landscape photographs on my phone of this gorgeous city. More than any other city in fact. There is something so completely ancient and charming about Sicily. More specifically, the beautiful scenic views around Modica are next level. Two Sides There are actually several different parts to Modica. …
From prior research of the area, I knew there was a huge gorgeous church in the town. What I didn’t know was that there are actually over 100 churches here! Alas, I believe the largest, most photographed and well known one is the amazing San Giorgio Cathedral in Modica. Duomo of San Giorgio Or the …
One of my favourite areas in any city is the oldest part. Here I find the most character, charm and of course history. The beautiful Centro Storico in Salerno is such a place, with ancient cobblestone streets and medieval buildings galore. Getting There It is not difficult to find this area of the city. At …
I only have one day in Varna, but I can already tell it is a city that I will be returning to. The vibes are young, fresh and creative here. I spent the day, getting lost in the older part of town, my preferred area. Here are 6 free things to do & see in …
The reason I chose to stay in this area of the Bulgarian Riviera was because of Old Nessebar. I was not interested in beach resort area’s that are only there for tourism. I wanted history and to be surrounded by beauty. Well, I found the old world charm of Nessebar to be exactly what I …
When you do as much walking as I do, you can cover a lot of area. One thing that has amazed me here, is the amount of interesting public art around Plovdiv. Not just beautifying the tourist areas, but all around the city. Decorating Buildings There are numerous buildings here, all from a specific era, …
One of my favourite things to see in any place I visit, is the architecture. So much history and cultural expression is wrapped up in the facades and buildings. Walking around every day, I have been overwhelmed by the unique architecture in Plovdiv. This city has such a varied past, and it clearly shows in …
An interesting area of Plovdiv is Old Town. Here, I can wander the ancient stone streets for hours. Consuming the space of three of Plovdiv’s seven hills, this preserved area is magical. Within Old Town I found beautiful Klianti House. Old Town This area of the city is full of unique wooden homes, many of …
I had done a little research before travelling to Bulgaria. One of the reasons I chose this city was because of the local street art scene. On my walk-a-bout town on my first full day, I had a taste of the street art in Plovdiv and was rewarded in so many ways. The Colour I …