Tag: Travel Blog

Old Town Square – Prague

St Nicholas Church

One of the first things we did when we arrived in Prague was to set off in search of all things antique and medieval – in other words, we made our way over to the Old Town Square.  Anyone who has been to Prague will be able to tell you about the footwear required to be able to deal with those cobblestone streets.  (I bought a pair of shoes in Prague and they were some of the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned! )  Walking towards the square, past bohemian crystal stores and assorted galleries and museums, we felt like we were winding through a labyrinth.

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“Do you remember The Shire Mr Frodo?”

Bag End Hobbiton

We had set out on a day trip from Auckland to go and see a thermal village in Rotorua.  It’s a bit of a hike, but there were three of us to share the driving so we took the opportunity.  (We actually hadn’t intended on visiting the Hobbiton Movie set!) About halfway there we ran into some road work and had to go on a detour through the countryside.  As we were driving along we were all thinking to ourselves about how much it looked like the scenery from the Hobbit movie. 

One of us wondered out loud and then we all said we had been thinking the same thing.  A quick search on Google showed that we were, in fact, very close to the Hottiton Movie set!  Since we had no pressing deadlines to meet (the absolute bliss of being on holidays) we changed course and stopped in for a visit at the movie set in Matamata in New Zealand, to see what we could see.

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Street Art in Western Australia

Numbat in Fremantle

As I was walking around the city of Perth, admiring the buildings, I glanced down a laneway and a burst of colour at the end caught my attention.  I went back to the laneway, later on, curious to see what it was.  To my surprise, many of the walls of the buildings in the lane had interesting pieces painted on them.  What a find, and completely by chance, which made it so much fun to see!

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Santorini – Greek Island Infatuation

Santorini

When you hear the word “Santorini”, images instantly come to mind.  Cascading whitewashed buildings with perfectly sculpted walls and arches decorating the inside edge of the crater of an active, though presently dormant volcano.  Views out over the Mediterranean blue of the mostly underwater caldera. When you arrive by water you are cruising across the inside of the volcano.

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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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