Tag: featured

Capri & the Blue Grotto – Italian Island Infatuation

Capri Italy

Capri is a beautiful island located to the south of the Gulf of Naples in Italy.  Rising out of the Tyrrhenian Sea, much of the island has a rugged coastline –  home to caves and grottos that have been eroded out of the limestone and sandstone cliffs by the waves of the sea. Capri & the Blue Grotto it is famous for are well worth including in your Italian itinerary. From the first time you approach this island and dock at the Marina Grande, you will feel the spell of romance that has been cast over this beautiful location.

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Dinkelsbühl, Germany

Dinkelsbühl is a small town full of character, found along the Romantic Road in Germany.  One of the last remaining walled medieval towns, this beautiful area has survived two world wars, allowing you to find it exactly as it has been for centuries.

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Koufonisi – Day Trip from Naxos – Greek Island Infatuation

Ammos Beach Koufonisi

During our stay on Naxos, we had planned to do some island hopping.  Unbeknownst to us, because we were there so late in the season (1st week of October), most of the inter-island day trips had finished.  Not being one to easily let a dream die, I decided to ask around at most of the many day tour places in the town.  I found that my best options were on offer from the  Naxos Tours office at Chora Naxos Protodikion square, Naxos 843 00, Greece.  The friendly staff helped me book a Greek Island tour for my day trip to Koufonisi.   

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Kawau Island New Zealand – A Short Stay

North Cove Kawau Island

A short 8km boat ride across Kawau Bay from Sandspit, Warkworth will transport you to the beautiful Kawau Island New Zealand.  There are ferries and water taxis that leave from Sandspit daily. Or take your own boat out for a spin.  The island has three harbours: Bon Accord Harbour, North Cove, and South Cove.  Most residents rely on direct waterfront access and have private wharves for entrance to their homes.  Other residents choose to live on their boats anchored in one of the harbours.

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Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Uluru on a couldy day

You will find Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a place of unique beauty in the iconic “Red Centre” of Australia. As such, it has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List for both its cultural and natural values.  The massive rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuta act as a refuge for both plants and animals and are the focal point of this desert landscape. 

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Meteora Monasteries in Greece

The Meteora are rock formations shaped as a result of the erosion of wind and rain over time. These effects created separate pillars of various height and width.  Caves eroded in the sides of the pillars. Centuries ago, monks seeking quiet solitude for their devotions created small places of prayer by making cells inside these caves. Consequently, the area came to be known as a holy place. Amazingly, around the 14th Century, many Meteora monasteries started to be built at the very top of the rock pillars. During that time access could only be gained with removable ladders and winch systems used to haul up baskets and nets. This was used for both goods and people!! As a result, entering and exiting their home must have been a terrifying experience.

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Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk

Sydney Harbour Bridge from Milsons Point

Taking a stroll over the Sydney Harbour Bridge is an excellent activity for a beautiful sunny day.  Walking across the bridge itself will cost you nothing, and provide you with some lovely photo opportunities of the harbour and the surrounding city along the way.

Walking from Milsons Point to Circular Quay takes a little over half an hour, depending on how many times you stop to take photos, and the distance is about 2.5 km.  This is the best direction to walk the bridge, providing views of the city as you walk towards it.  Here’s a photo walk through to encourage you to give it a try next time you are in the area.

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Naxos – Greek Island Infatuation

Naxos Chora

Naxos is the largest and most fertile island in the Cyclades group, robed with pristine beaches on its coastline, and surrounded by blue Mediterranean beauty.  Inland there are ancient ruins, and traditional villages amphitheatrically cascading down the slopes of the mountains they nestle against.   According to Greek Mythology, the young Zeus was raised in a cave on Mt Zas ( ‘Zas’ meaning ‘Zeus’). The cave was in the centre of Naxos island, on the tallest peak in the Cyclades.  Naxos also happens to be conveniently located close to other Greek Islands and is a fantastic base to do some Greek Island hopping!

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Chenonceau – Chateaux of the Loire Valley

The elegant chateau we see today spanning the Cher River in France was built between the years 1515 – 1559, starting first with a residence on the river accessed by a bridge.  Later, an arched bridge on the other side was constructed, reaching all the way to the opposite bank.  The bridge would eventually include a grand gallery and a floor of rooms above that.  Chenonceau is built entirely across the middle of the river Cher! At each end of the chateau there are access walkways to the riverbanks. Women who have inhabited this chateau throughout history have influenced its design, including its gardens.  Chenonceau is often described as “the ladies chateau” for this reason.

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Maui – Hawaiian Island Infatuation

Maui - Napili Bay

Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago and is formed by two shield volcanoes that overlapped to create an isthmus between them.  The volcano in the west is extinct, while Haleakala in the east is classified as dormant, and is surrounded by National Park.

Our trip started up on the north coast and then we drove over towards the west coast beaches and towns.    Here are some of the things we did during our time on the island.

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