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Activities Jamaica Snorkeling Sun Winter Sun

Jamaican Beaches

This is the perfect time of year to be thinking of a wonderful holiday on the beautiful island of Jamaica.

Jamaica has so much to offer it’s visitors and that’s why according to the Jamaican Ministry of Tourism 40% of tourists are repeat visitors. Over 4 million visitors a year can’t be wrong. The beaches are a magnet, the golden sand and the clear blue sea, but once there, there is so much more to do and see. Jamaica is the cultural capital of the Caribbean there’s never a dull moment.

Ocho Rios Bay Beach Courtesy of Jamaican Tourist Board
Ocho Rios Bay Beach

In recent years Jamaica has become an increasingly popular destinations for weddings and honeymoons.

Not getting married then you want to know which is the best beach?

1. Seven Mile Beach (Negril)

The island’s most famous beach. Expect miles of soft white sand, calm turquoise water, beach bars, water sports, and spectacular sunsets. It’s ideal if you want a classic Caribbean beach experience with plenty of restaurants and nightlife nearby. This is probably the best beach overall.

Negril Coastline
2. Frenchman’s Cove (Portland)

Often considered Jamaica’s most beautiful beach and certainly some of the best scenery overall. A freshwater river flows into the Caribbean Sea, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. It’s quieter and more scenic than the popular resort beaches.

3. Boston Beach (Portland)

One of the best surfing beaches in Jamaica and famous for nearby authentic jerk food. Great if you want a more local vibe and some waves.

4. Winnifred Beach (Near Port Antonio)

A beloved public beach popular with locals. Less developed, more authentic, and excellent for snorkeling and relaxing away from the resort crowds.

5. Treasure Beach (South Coast)

Not one beach but a series of bays and coves. Think laid-back fishing-village atmosphere, fewer tourists, and a slower pace of life. Great for couples and travellers seeking a quieter Jamaica.

6. Doctor’s Cave Beach (Montego Bay)

Known for exceptionally clear, calm water and excellent swimming and one of the best places to snorkel. Located on Montego Bay’s Hip Strip, it’s easy to combine with shopping, dining, and nightlife.

Montego Bay
7. Hellshire Beach (Near Kingston)

Famous for its local seafood shacks and authentic Jamaican atmosphere. Less postcard-perfect than Negril, but fantastic for culture and food.

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Activities Europe Finland Lapland Winter

Northern Lights – Finland

The Northern Lights or to give them their technical name, the “Aurora Borealis” are a natural light display, which are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind. They occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere, creating glowing curtains of green, pink, purple, and occasionally red light across the night sky. The Northern Lights are so high up in the atmosphere that they don’t pose any threat to people watching them from the ground but they provide the most amazing sites.

Northern Lights over Finland

One of the places to head this winter to see the Northern Lights is Finland. Not only can you see the lights but you can experience all that Lapland has to offer with moose, reindeer, husky and snowmobile safaris and that once in lifetime trip for that little ones that will make this time of year so special.

Santa Claus - Rovaniemi - Xavier Turpain
Santa Claus – Rovaniemi

An ideal destination is Rovaniemi which is the official home of Santa Claus. Just 8km north on the Arctic Circle is Santa Claus Village where you can find Santa at home every day of the year.

Snowland Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is not the only Finnish destination to head to experience the Northern Lights, you might also consider Ivalo, Saariselkä, Levi, Yllä and Kilpisjärvi. These areas have dark skies and very little light pollution, which greatly improves viewing conditions.

The Northern Lights Marko Junttila

An ideal destination is Rovaniemi which is the official home of Santa Claus. Just 8km north on the Arctic Circle is Santa Claus Village where you can find Santa at home every day of the year.

The aurora season in Finland generally runs from late August to early April, when the nights are dark enough to see the lights. However the most active periods are often September to October and February to March. Even then there is no guarantee that you will be able to see the lights so if you are going specifically for the lights, find a company with a “light guarantee”.

The lights are however generally visible for 200 nights of the year and the best times to see them are between 9pm and 2am. Its the weather that will be the main determinant of whether the lights are visible.

Winter Scene Marko Junttila

Our advice, mix your trip with other activities just in case. Ideas of other activities included Many travellers combine aurora hunting with: husky safaris, snowmobile excursions, reindeer sleigh rides etc and of course that visit to Santa Claus Village.

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City Europe Slovakia Vienna

The 72 Hour City

Slovakia is sometimes forgotten as a tourist destination.  For nearly 1000 years it did not have much control over its own destiny.  Even during the period of the First Slovak Republic 1939 – 1945 it was a client state of Nazi Germany.  Around the year 1000 it became part of the Kingdom of Hungary and today over 9% of the population state their mother tongue is Hungarian.

Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, stands on the banks of the Danube and as such borders both Hungary and Austria.  Bratislava markets itself as a 72 hour city as that’s the average length of time tourists spend in the city.  In those 72 hours there are plenty to keep you occupied.

Bratislava Castle - Slovakia
Bratislava Castle – Slovakia

Due to its geographical position and history a good starting point is Bratislava castle. Not only does it house the Museum of History but affords tremendous views across the city.  Down in the town, the Michael’s Gate which is the only preserved gate of the city fortification system dates back to the 14th century gives you a great view back across the Old Town and the castle.  The tower at the gate houses the Museum of Arms.

Bratislava houses the largest war memorial in Central Europe. It rises over 50 metres and dominates the city skyline.  It is the burial ground of 6845 soldiers of the Soviet army who died during the liberation of Bratislava in World War II.

St Elizabeth’s Church (The Blue Church) - Bratislava - Slovakia
St Elizabeth’s Church (The Blue Church) – Bratislava – Slovakia

On a religious note, don’t miss out on a visit the 15th Century St Marin’s Cathedral, the Art Nouveau style St Elizabeth’s Church, also known as the blue church and cubist style synagogue built between 1923 and 1926.

You will be spoilt for choice with a wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars and for those of you with a sweet tooth, patisseries something they do so well in Central Europe. Whilst in the city look out for the amazing sculptures.

Čumil Statue - Bratislava - Slovakia
Čumil Statue- Bratislava – Slovakia

The Čumil Statue can be found in the old town area, Čumil means watcher and was created the the sculptor Victor Hulik. Many tourists rub his head in the hope of gaining good luck.

Bratislava can easily be reached from Vienna by train, the journey time as little as 46 minutes. Making a Vienna / Bratislava a very doable combined visit.

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Art City City Break Cuisine Food Historical Madrid Spain Walking

One Simply Reason (Madrid)

If food be the reason to travel then book now. It’s a bit of a twist on Shakespeare’s famous words from Twelfth Night, but one of the reasons many of us travel is to the variety of food to try in the world. Sometimes the dish can be something that we have never experienced before but on other occasions it can be just an added dash of something that completely transforms the meal. Other times it might be the setting or ambience of the restaurant.

Empanadas
Empanadas

Food offers a unique insight to the history and culture of a region or country.  The empanadas pictured above were first documented in Galicia in North West Spain 100 years before Twelfth Night was written, but today they are a part of everyday cuisine in places as far apart as Argentina, the Philippines and the Cape Verde Islands.  They are even creeping into you local supermarket.

The empanadas pictured above were photographed at the San Miguel food market in Madrid. We were fortunate enough to visit Madrid recently and gave stopped by once again on our visit.

These fellows were keeping an eye out for us.

The market has been here for over a hundred years and approximately 7 million visitors pass through its doors. In this historical building you can experience a wide variety of Spanish specialities, from fresh seafood (as above) and Iberian ham to delicious tapas, cheeses, desserts, and drinks from over 20 different vendors. Expect it to be busy, but be patient a table will always present itself.

Interior of BiBo Dani Garcia – the lights are a nod to the lights of the Marbella fair.

Dani Garcia is an internationally renowned Spanish chef from Marbella, Spain, known for combining traditional Andalusian ingredients and flavours with modern cooking techniques. After earning three Michelin stars for his restaurant in Marbella, García chose to focus on bringing Spanish cuisine to a wider audience. One of his ventures is the BiBo Dani Garcia brand which has more of a fusion feel to it.

CROQUETAS DE JAMÓN (Creamy Ham Croquettes)

The main purpose of our visit was to revisit the Museo Nacional Del Prado. This is one of Madrid’s most popular attractions. It was opened in 1819 and houses an impressive collection of paintings by such artists such as Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, Rubens and Bosch. Unfortunately photos are not permitted but visit the museum website here for a flavour of what to expect.

In the meantime enjoy this piece from outside the museum.

Part of the Thirteen Laughing at Each Other sculpture installation by Juan Muñoz.

This installation started life in 2001 and was installed in Porto, Portugal, over the years they have been previously to Madrid and to Chicago. They were designed by the sculptor Juan Muñoz to make people feel both welcome and uneasy as they walk past the statutes. The installation will remain at the Prado to 2028.

Whilst you are in the area, don’t forget to visit the Museo Reina Sofia where you will find an excellent exhibition of contemporary art including Picasso’s Guernica, one of the outstanding anti-war paintings of all time. At 3.5m high x 7.8 metres long, the sheer scale of it will impress you. Rather than depict a single battle scene, he expresses the horror of war and the impact on ordinary people using abstract and Cubist forms. At the time of writing there is an exhibition entitled “Rethinking Guernica”. An online version can be found here.

Categories
Canada Halifax Montreal Ottawa Quebec Train Vancover Winnipeg

Travelling the Canadian Dream

Since 1990, Rocky Mountaineer, the world’s largest privately owned luxury tourist train, has welcomed more than 2 million guests to inhale the mountain air and let nature take their breath away. So to celebrate 30 wonderful years of service on board and experience historic storytelling, world-class cuisine, a first-hand look at the vast and untouched wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and an opportunity to share memorable moments and make lasting friendships with fellow travellers.

Rocky Mountaineer Western Canada Pacific Northwest Train
Rocky Mountaineer

You will not miss a single moment as the Rocky Moutaineer offers the only all daylight journey to travel the historic routes from Vancover through the Rockies.

There are 4 routes to choose from.

Banff to Jasper: Journey through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, passing Stoney Creek Bridge and Mount Robson, en route to Jasper.

Vancover to Banff: This is the Vmost popular route through the Canadian Rockies, famous for uniting Canada’s East and West.

Vancover to Jasper: This journey allows you to view the highest peaks in the Canadian Rockies.

Vancover to Casper via Whistler: Option No 4 allows you to carve through extreme landscapes like BC’s coastal rainforest, the rugged Fraser Canyon, and the historic Cariboo gold rush region on your way to the Canadian Rockies.

VIA Rail offers a service from Toronto in the east to Vancover in the west, via Winnipeg, Edmonton and Jasper. The main journey is 4,466 kms. Journeys of various combinations can be taken along the route. From Toronto you leave the big city centre behind and glide through Northern Ontario, here you will get a chance to marvel at the rugged beauty of the Canadian Shield. The shield cover the area from the Arctic down to the USA and consists of some of the oldest bedrock on earth.

VIA Rail Travel by train across Canada, image copyright of viarail.ca
VIA Rail – Journey Across Canada.

Then travel across the Prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, its here that you will get through expansive window views. Entering Alberta you will pass through Edmonton and then onto the mountain town of Jasper. You end your journey through the snowy peaks of the majestic Rockies, cross the Fraser River and descent into your journey’s end, Vancover.

There are options to travel to Churchill (the Polar Bear capital of the world) from Winnipeg and Prince Rupert from Jasper (the Jasper National Park is listed among UNESCO’s world heritage sites).

The trains feature the classic glass ceilinged cars, offering 360 degress panoramic view of the changing landscapes. For those passengers travelling “Sleeper Plus” you get chef-prepared meals in purpose dining cars.

VIA Rail. Copyright viarail.ca
VIA Rail – It’s all about the view. viarail.ca

If you want to explore the eastern Canadian provinces of Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, VIA Rail can offer you a train journey from Montreal to Halifax.

The Montreal-to-Halifax train journey on VIA Rail‘s The Ocean is a 1,346 km journey that last 22 hours. This route has been running since 1904 and is one of the longest running passenger rail routes in North America. The line hugs the southern shore of the St Lawrence River as the sun starts to set. In the morning you will cross the Quebec-New Brunswick border, with super coastal views. Your journey continues on around the Bedford Basin to your end station Halifax.

Other special routes include one that cover the Quebec and Southern Ontario. This would enable you to take in Quebec City, Montreal, Niagara Falls and Windsor with the opportunity to divert to Senneterre and Jonquiere.

Categories
City City Break Europe Historical Poland Walking Warsaw

Warsaw II

In 1945 85% of Warsaw had been destroyed but walking around the old town today you would have no idea. It has been reconstructed with alleys, houses and churches so faithfully that the area has earned UNESCO World Heritage Status. The plan was to recreate the city’s late 18th century appearance, you can judge for yourself how successful they have been. Old drawings, plans and even paintings by the famous Italian landscape artist Bernardo Bellotto were used to aid the reconstruction. You can find more details on the UNESCO site. The majority of the work was completed by the mid 1960s but the final piece was finished in 1984 with the opening of the Royal Palace.

It is clear the extent of the devastation from this view of the city.

The most historic part of the Old Town is the old market square. Here you can dine out and watch the world go by surrounded by magificent Renaissance and Baroque buildings where in years gone by the town’s merchants would have lived. Whilst visiting the Old Town do not miss out on a visit to the Royal Palace which is now a museum and the Castle Square where Bill Clinton welcomed Poland to NATO in 1997.

Warsaw Old Town Copyright Jacqueline Maco
Warsaw Old Town

If you have a fascination for architecture from the Communist era then you must not miss the 237 meter tall Palace of Culture and Science. The building was a gift from the Soviet Union to the people of Poland in 1955 and today houses four theatres, two museums and a multi-plex cinema amongst its offerings. Take a trip up to the 30th floor observation tower for a great view of the city.

The Palace of Culture and Science.

Other notable stopping points on your visit to Warsaw might include the Warsaw Uprising Museum where you can discover the story of the August to October 1944 uprising that led to much of the destruction of the city by the Germans, with many before and after images. A relatively recent addition to the museums in the city is the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN) that was fully opened in 2014 and documents the lives of Jews over the thousand years during which Poland became home to the largest Jewish community in Europe.

Regular readers of this site will know that we do like to travel by a variety of transport methods. Whilst in Warsaw do not forget to head underground and have a ride on the Metro.

Enjoy your trip to Warsaw.

Categories
City City Break Europe Gibraltar Sun Winter Sun

Gibraltar

If you have a look at the current travel corridors, Gibraltar is one place that you can travel to at the time of writing without having a Covid test prior or on entry and there is no need to quarantine on your return.  Daytime temperatures are average around 16oC in January and can get into the low 20s.  It is pleasant enough to sit out and eat lunch during the day, but gets a bit chilly for dinner in the evening.

Although Gibraltar is relatively small, there is still plenty to do.  Scenery wise there is a little bit of everything. There are beaches which during the winter you might not want to sit on but they are great places to walk, take in the sea air and the views. There is plenty of history on Gibraltar due to its geography at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea which has been a highly valued possession.   You will find a mixture of influences and reminders of the Romans, the Moors, the Spanish and the British all over the island.

St Micheal's Cave, Gibraltar - visitgibraltar.gi
St Micheal’s Cave – Gibraltar – visitgibraltar.gi

St Michael’s Cave is one of the many wonders of Gibraltar, and has enticed visitors for hundreds of years. While staying in Gibraltar it’s well worth paying a visit.  The cave is actually a series of caves that are 300m above sea level.  They are Gibraltar’s main tourist attraction with over 1,000,000 visitors a year.  One of the largest caves serves as an auditorium and during WW2 the caves served as a hospital.

You cannot visit Gibraltar without seeing the Barbary Macaques, these monkey inhabitants of the rock are the only monkeys on the continent of Europe.  They are well looked after in the Gibraltar nature reserve that covers 40% of the country. 

Barbary Macaque - African coastline of Morocco in the background.
Barbary Macaque – African coastline of Morocco in the background.

Two other attractions I wouldn’t want to miss out on if I were going on a short break. One would be the 11th century Moorish castle complex.  In its heyday it was much larger that it is today.  Look out for The Tower of Homage and the Gate House. In 1704 the British flag was placed on top of the castle and it still files today. The other would be the Great Siege Tunnels which were built at the end of the 18th century during the Great Siege of Gibraltar when France and Spain attempted to capture Gibraltar.  The tunnels dug out by hand mainly using sledgehammers and crowbars with the occasional gunpowder blast are impressive.

Moorish Castle and view over Gibraltar. visitgibraltar.gi
Moorish Castle and view over Gibraltar. visitgibraltar.gi
Categories
Activities Antalya Hiking Turkey Walking

Antalya, Turkey

So today we are off to one of Turkey’s main tourist destinations the Antalya region.  The area is famous historically as the centre of the Lycian Empire and was the last region on the Mediterranean Sea to become part of the Roman Empire.  You cannot go far without coming across reminders of its past.  If visiting the area you must take some time out to see Hadrian’s Gate located in Antalya city centre and the rock tombs in Myra. 

Rock Tombs

The main resort of Antalya offers a wide range of hotel accommodation from luxury hotels to small boutique hotels and there are a range of beaches to suit everyone’s’ needs whether its small and quite or big and noisy. The best months to visit weather wise are May to October. Daytime highs during these months are 26°C and above, with only a slight chance of rain.

Beaches – Antalya

Çıralı, one of Antalya’s most beautiful quieter beaches. Here you will find the ancient Lycian city of Olympos. You can walk among the ruins after a day of lying on the beach. For more serious walkers there is the “Lycian Trail”.  This is a marked walking trail that takes approximately 29 days to trek, taking in 25 historical sights over a distance of more than 500 kilometers.

Categories
California City City Break Driving Los Angeles Surfing USA

L.A. CA. USA.

It might seem strange to suggest that you visit LA because of the beaches, but it actually has some of the best beaches in the US. The names of them are easily recalled by most of us due to their locations being used in numerous US films and TV series. Venice Beach is one of LA’s most known beaches, with its numerous galleries, quirky shops, street performers, what is less well known are the Venice canals. Whilst in the area dont’t miss out on Muscle Beach. The perfect place for people watching.

Guitar Player – Venice Beach LA

Many people prefer Santa Monica Beach to Venice, I will leave that up to you to decide. Santa Monica attracts more than 7 million visitors a year who come primarily for the beach connection. It is also close to other Los Angeles attractions. Santa Monica is very attractive as a walkable and bike friendly destination. Don’t miss a trip to the world famous Santa Monica Pier, yes they have them in the States as well.

Santa Monica Beach, LA, CA
Santa Monica Beach, LA

For the kids and young wizards at heart. Los Angeles is home to the brand new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Hollywood. Complete with its own Hogwarts Castle and Harry Potter themed rides. Of course you can not really visit Los Angeles without doing something celebrity / entertainment based. You can make your own tour if you plan ahead or book yourself onto many of the themed tours. Fully recommended are the tours of Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures or Sony Pictures. Finally we can not do justice to all LA has to offer so we will be back.

Categories
Activities Beach Camping Driving Dubai Middle East Safari UAE Uncategorized

Dubai, UAE

One night is Dubai is not enough to do justice to this fantasic holiday destination. The Burj Al Arab hotel is an experience in itself. It was constructed using cutting-edge engineering and was built to resemble the billowing spinnaker sail of a J-class yacht. Being one of the tallest hotels in the world it is hard to miss on the skyline. Despite its size, in terms of rooms there are just 202 bedroom suites. The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 m2 so not that small being bigger than the average 3 bedroomed UK home.

Burj Al Arab – Dubai

What you wont find in Dubai are great museums and heritage sites, though you will find some culture. Visit the Al Fahidi Neighbourhood to see what Old Dubai was like in the 19th century. Here you will find small museums, galleries and food events. Don’t miss the Jumeirah Mosque. Adopting an ‘Open Doors, Open Minds’ policy, the mosque welcomes visitors of all faiths and their are daily tours with a guide.

Fountains - Dubai
Fountains – Dubai

Dubai is a city of modern wonders. A must see are the Dubai Fountains, the fountain jets up to 22,000 gallons of water as high as 140m in the air at any one time. The Mall of the Emirates is the ultimate shopping experience with over 500 shops, cinema complex and snow slope.

Camel desert safari - Dubai.
Camel desert safari – Dubai.

Away from the city, there are plenty of opportunities to get your adrenaline rush. Sky-diving, desert safaris, desert dune buggy experiences, diving with sharks, bungee jumping, drive a McLaren Sprint and Audi R8 V10 on track and the extreme rides at one of the water parks.