Europe
Jasna is Slovakia’s biggest and most renowned ski resort. Like all winter spots, it has a distinctive festive coziness which I like, so me and Veronika decided to spend three days there as part of our last winter escape. Having grown up in a Mediterranean country, I will always be impressed by northern lands with…
After a very long absence, I returned to the Greek islands and specifically to Syros, in the heart of Cyclades—a group of islands three hours from Athens, mostly known for the Cycladic civilization and the cosmopolitan islands of Santorini and Mykonos. Like every island in the Aegean Sea, Syros has a defining characteristic—its Latin influence.…
Casa Luxembourg is located at the corner of Piața Mică and the Bridge of Liars in a beautiful historical building This small hotel is full of baroque charm and magnificent views. Two minutes form Sibiu’s large square and the stunning church of Holy Trinity. My Superior double room was so big you could play football…
People and especially media people tend to tell stories about epic journeys and successful accomplishments. But truth to be told there are much more to be learned from a failure than a success thus the reading of a defeat is much more useful to a reader than an epic story of triumph. This story is…
Deep in the heart of Greece, at the north western edge of the fertile Thessalian plain, is a place of mystical awe and medieval mystery. Meteora is the plural of a Greek adjective meaning “hovering above ground.” This word perfectly describes a number of monasteries that are built on the top of monumental monoliths made…
The Return Day 7 Last day of hiking and our luck had eventually run out. Outside it was pouring and the gloomy horizon wasn’t showing any sign of improvement. Originally, we had planned to hike back to Monodentri through Vitsa but even though we could still go—rain or not, we just preferred to take it…
The Break Day 6 Even though today would be something like a day off. We still agreed to walk for a couple of hours, so that our legs wouldn’t get stiff. The guys from Hikes4all had arranged a small route to Dilofo village just to stretch a bit. After having lunch there, a car would…
The Viewpoint Day 5 Our fifth day in Zagori started with a hearty rural breakfast. It was splendid with five types of homemade jam and cheese produced by the owners among other things. You just can’t beat top ingredients no matter what you cook out of them. The day’s hike was simple and fairly…
The Descent Day 4 It was pitch–dark and I could only hear the intense activity that took place in the refuge. Time was half past six and most people were already up, getting dressed and fixing their equipment. Me and Veronika were the last ones as usual. The majority would cross Mt. Tymfi and get…
The Ascent Day 3 I waited five minutes for the alarm to ring, then I quietly got dressed and went out. Darkness was still covering Mikro Papingo as I was navigating through its narrow alleys. Outside the gate, Astraka towers looked imposing above the tiny village. Rogovo As I was walking the only road leaving…
The River. Day 2. After a good night’s sleep, we woke up in high spirits. The euphoria of the previous day was still on and we couldn’t wait to start our second day in Zagori. The day’s march would take us back to Voidomatis river and the infamous Kleidonia bridge. From there, we would be…
The Gorge. Day 1. Hiking Vikos gorge under rain is treacherous because of the rock falls. So naturally the first thing I did when I woke up was to open the door and get on the small balcony. To my relief there were only a few small clouds here and there. “Good start”. The plan…
On the craziest feast in Greece! Mad max filming or an apocalypse scene? Just the Flour-war carnival of Galaxidi! “Didn’t you get dirty yet?” A sweet girl asked me. Her features were barely distinguishable beneath the mix of color and flour, which covered her face and body. Then, full of vividness, she stained my face with the…
Zagori Hike : The Beginning Having left behind Ioannina—the capital of Epirus. We took the old road to Zagorochoria—as all forty six villages of Zagori are collectively named. We hadn’t seen a car or people for the last twenty minutes and I could feel the isolation of the place as our small Fiat 500x…
Zagori : The Kingdom of Infinite Country Epirus—rightfully called “the infinite country” since ancient times, got this epithet from its mountains which row after row dominate the horizon, making the region to appear endless. Zagori, one of the most astounding places you’ll ever see, is hidden in the heart of this isolated region of northwestern…
Acropolis Museum Sanctuary of the Marbles For many years, the possibility of building an adequate museum that would house the Parthenon marbles and all the artifacts of Acropolis and the surrounding slopes remained distant as a dream. Every plan made by the Greek state, was coming to a dead end. Eventually it took a…
National Archaeological Museum of Athens The national archaeological museum of Athens is the biggest in Greece and one of the most significant in the world. Over 11.000 artifacts belong to its five major exhibitions which stretch from the Prehistoric era until the Roman period. Located in an exquisite neoclassical building on “28th October” Avenue which…
Attica Zoological Park Athens Zoo For decades the only zoo in Athens was a small one inside the National Garden behind the Greek parliament. I have memories of my parents taking me there on Sundays. I can’t remember the animals clearly—due to my young age, but I still remember my enthusiasm when I was there.…
Athens : A Walk Around the Historical Center Writing an article about Athens feels strange to me. After all, it is my hometown and looking at it as a travel destination doesn’t come natural. I have to admit that the Greek capital doesn’t look attractive on first sight. When the rest of Europe was going…
On the west coast of Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher are one of its most breathtaking features In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs Sir John Pentland Mahaffy With this trip to Ireland and particularly by visiting the famous cliffs of Moher, I finally fulfill a childhood dream. As a child,…
Athens : Ten Images in B&W These are ten images I took in Athens during my last trip. The capital of Greece can be very atmospheric so I chose black and white. The old Gasworks also known as Gazi are a live neighborhood in the heart of the city. The old facilities have been transformed…
To Priecne Sedlo and Back I was really looking forward for this trip to Priecne Sedlo. It looked genuinely promising, a real adventure out in the High Tatras. And, I wasn’t wrong. This mountain hike proved to be extremely challenging for me, with all the good and bad things real adventures come with! Video from…
The Oak Woodland of Xeromero In the western part of the prefecture of Aetoloakarnania in Xeromero province, just 30 km from Agrinio, the largest city of the county, is the only Oak Woodland in Greece and one of the largest in Europe. Location Based in Agrinio, a city that would ensure plenty of accommodation and…
Weekend Escape in Drabsko Sometimes you just need a place to escape from your routine, even for a weekend. To have a change of air, to recharge your batteries, and why not? Get in touch with nature. That’s exactly what we were thinking when we booked one room for three days in a tiny village…
Troodos trails are like a well kept secret in Cyprus. The island is mostly known for the golden beaches and the wild parties of Ayia Napa. Cyprus not only has trails, but also has mountain trails. Yes! It has mountains as well! Troodos Troodos is the biggest mountain range in the island. The highest peak…
A contemporary 4star hotel , Mercure Bratislava Centrum counts 175 rooms. It has a beautiful pop art design that gives it it’s own character and differentiates it from the usual. Location Located in Stare Mesto. It’s three minutes from the train station and 15 minutes from downtown and the castle of Bratislava.…
The Majestic High Tatras Standing between Slovakia and Poland the proud mountain range of High Tatras has a special charm and atmosphere. Protected by National Park status and part of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves the Tatras are a great place to be for nature lovers, hikers and climbers. If you love mountains then you have to visit…
The ruins of Uhrovec castle are located on Nitricke Vrchy Hills which are part of Strazovske vrchy. Hidden inside the dense forest, the castle is really isolated and not accessible by car. But you wouldn’t want to go by car anyway because the trail that leads to the castle from Uhrovec Podhradie is ethreal. It’s…
Bojnice castle is made from the stuff that fairy tales are made of. The most visited castle in Slovakia is 3 hours from Bratislava and looks like it came out of a fantasy land with dragons, princes, and evil Queens. The turquoise tower tops have definitely something to do with it. It is located in…
The capital of Slovakia lies on the banks of river Danube near the country’s western border, forty five minutes from Vienna, and less than two hours from the other jewel of Danube—Budapest. Bratislava is the smallest of the three and definitely the most underrated. Many people consider it a single day destination, or even worst,…
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