Another message from David, another article from Turkey :) David has been traveling along the Turkish Riviera, and in his latest message he told me he was near Bodrum on his way to see the ruins of Halicarnassus. This ancient Greek city, conquered by Alexander the Great around 334 BC, was previously part of the Persian Empire and home of the famous Mausoleum of Halicarnassus - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
With the European debt crisis insisting on opening almost all TV news reports I found myself wondering about how to make some savings in my next vacations... And how about paying a visit to my home country? Residing in Europe, flying to Portugal isn't too expensive and the prices of hotels and restaurants there are rather competitive. When it comes to cheap holiday my beloved country is in fact a player and, although it is best know for it's warm climate and for the beautiful beaches of Algarve, Portugal has much more to offer ;)
After receiving David's message telling how much he's loving his stay at Oludeniz I've made some online research and I'm much inclined to ad yet another Turkish beach to my wish list. This small beach town in the Fethiye district offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful beach surrounded by an amazing set of mountains. Also since Dalaman's airport isn't too far, about 60 kilometers, flying to Dalaman and rent a car there is most definitely a viable option.
Continuing with my travel wishlist lets fly from Istambul to Goa, a small province on the Eastern coast of India. Goa was the first place visited by the Portuguese explorers in India and it was from there that they started the sea trading routes to Europe. In fact, although Goa's state capital is a city called Panaji, the largest city in the province has the name of the famous Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama.
The Portuguese influence is most visible in the architecture, specially in the many Churches, Monasteries and Cathedrals. These structures that are present throughout the cities of Goa state and have inclusively helped the province to gain an UNESCO world heritage architecture award. Above the beautiful Santa Catarina Cathedral in the city of Velha Goa (Old Goa in English).
Also beautiful and part of Goa's world heritage architecture are the numerous Hindu Temples one can find in the region. A fine example of this temples, just a few miles from the capital Panaji in a village called Kavalem, is the amazing Shantadurga Temple (devoted to the Goddess with the same name). 
As always in vacations beautiful beaches are not an optional and Goa is no exception in this mater. The climate is very warm all year so I'm hoping I can find some cheap holidays to Goa. From North to South of Goa's state there are several beach spots perfect for a refreshing dive and catching some sun rays. Without any doubt I would love to try the waters of Praia da Colva :)
One final thanks to Wikimedia for the beautiful photos they share.
In another joint venture with Andre, this next post is all about Vila Nova de Milfontes. A small village in the South of our country Portugal famous for it's beautiful beaches, it's history and it's gastronomy.
Vila Nova de Milfontes is perhaps the most touristic beach location in the Portuguese region of Alentejo. The view from the bridge over the Mira river invites who passes to make a stop and meet the place. The village offers to it's visitors a small and calm river beach, perfect for families with kids. Also several ocean beaches, from those the one called Praia do Malhão (just 5km from the center) is the most know. Located in Alentejo's Southwest Natural park this beach has extensive sandy areas and excellent conditions for water sports like surf.
With it's 525 year's of old, Vila Nova de Milfontes breathes history. Over the Mira river places like the town's fort, the Forte de São Clemente, built in the end of the XVI century to protect the village from piracy, are amazing. Even oldest, the church of Nossa Senhora da Graça (in English, Our Lady of Grace) whose construction date goes as far as the beginning of that same XVI century.
Those who like nature may explore many track paths along the coastal lines, in fact, some of them are among the best preserved in all Europe. Between Vila Nova de Milfontes and Porto Covo, there are several track spots of exquisite beauty. Amazing desert beaches and breath taking cliffs ending on the ocean.
As to the gastronomy, it's mandatory to taste the local fresh fish dishes and seafood. In the local restaurants it's always easy to find dishes like the Arroz de Marisco (seafood with rice and sauce). A word too for the Açorda de Marisco (the same seafood base but this time cooked with eggs, bread and herbs), very good if you ask me!
With and exception to the Summer month of August, it's usually very easy to find where to stay. I guess all options are available, from camping, to apartments and hotels, all you have to do is choose what's best for you and come visit us on your next Portugal holidays. See you soon ;)
Today I'll be giving wings to my vacation and travel wishes so instead of a place I already know, I'll be writing about a place that I'm sure I would love to visit! As you may know, I'm much fond of Italy and Greece so, staying in Europe, I would definitively had to dream with the other country in the South Eastern side, Turkey. Much like Italy and Greece, the Republic of Turkey is another one of those countries that breaths history everywhere, in it's case the Ottoman Empire history.
Speaking of Turkish history is of course speaking of Istanbul. In it's earlier days a Greek city called Byzantium, later renamed to Constantinople and made capital of the Roman Eastern Empire. In 1453, after a long siege, the city was conquered by the Sultan Mehmed II and made again capital but this time of the Ottoman Empire. A very well known symbol of this last conquest (know in history books as the Fall of Constantinople) is the Hagia Sophia Mosque (photo above), a former Roman/Greek Orthodox Basilica that was converted to a Mosque in the very first day after the Ottoman victory.
Speaking of Mosques, what to say about the beauty of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (above) locally know as the Blue Mosque. It's in fact very hard to find words that accurately describe the uniqueness of the architecture of this structure. The numerous cupolas and domes accompanied by the six minarates seen from the Courtyard are absolutely amazing.
Another fine example of the Ottoman architecture is the Dolmabahçe Palace with it's Baroque decorated facade, beautiful. This palace is located on the margins of the Bosphorus, also know as the Istanbul Strait, the Strait that separates the city in two and that also serves as boundary between Europe and Asia.
As if Istambul's historical side wasn't enough to convince me, I must also say that the city streets appear to be filled of life and activity. Above, a view from the İstiklal Avenue in the historical center. For me a reminder of how much I liked the busy streets of Heraklion, the capital of the Greek island of Crete.
Most definitively I'm certain that as soon as I can I'll be making a vacation in Turkey. For now, Istanbul has for sure assured a higher place on my dream vacations wishlist!
In a return to the Spanish Canary Islands series let me fly South over the Atlantic Ocean and take you all the way to the beautiful island of Lanzarote, the most oriental of this Spanish Archipelago and from the seven larger islands the one closer to Africa.
Maybe because of this African proximity Lanzarote has less rain and it's the island where the volcanic and desert landscapes are by far more evident. Nevertheless, the natural beauty of this kind of landscape is irrefutable. Coastal landscapes like the ones near the Papagayo beach area (above) are not only beautiful but also unique in the way they mixture the sandy beaches with the island's volcanic mountains of los Ajaches.
Also amazing are volcanic landscapes like the lava fields near the mountains called Montañas del Fuego. As to the beaches on the island I must say I have no doubt in choosing my favorite, bellow, the fabulous Papagayo beach. After a photo like this (thanks to wikimedia) I'm sure I need to say nothing more :)
Last but not the least, the economic beauty of the Canary Islands. Having a reduced tax regime the prices of the hotels are invitingly low. Better yet, since the weather is good almost all year, if you choose the low season it's gonna be fairly easy to find cheap holidays to Lanzarote. As usual, one last thanks to Wikimedia for the fabulous photos - far better than the ones I have :) - before my next holidays I really must do a photo crash course with you guys!
And here I am back to The Eternal City, Rome, my absolute favorite European capital. Wherever you go in the city it's difficult to make more than a few hundred meters without arriving at some fabulous monument. From the Roman period to the Renaissance, from the Middle Ages to the XXI century, the city is home to several structures of incalculable architectonic and artistic value.
Also in favor of Rome's tourism is the fact that, although the city's cost of life is far from being the cheapest in the old Continent, it isn't that hard to find good places to stay at reasonable prices. Just one tip, if you wish to find the best deals on hotels don't limit your search to travel agencies, search the internet too. Also keep in mind that being flexible on the dates of departure and arrival (checking in/out on weekdays) is always a plus when searching for good rates and discounts :)
Back to the city itself allow me to take you on a tour to the fabulous Roman Colosseum. The enormous circular stone structure built around the year 70 a.C. is almost 50 meters high and, although damaged by earthquakes and plundered several times over the years, it still maintains it's inner circle almost intact and a good part of it's outer walls. Along with the Roman Forum, the Colosseum ruins are still today one of the major symbols of the old Roman Empire and, of course, the most famous landmark of Rome. 
Inside the building one can still go upstairs and see what's left of the old spectators stands and access corridors and stairways. Bellow the ground, the catacombs and training complexes where the Gladiators stayed before the fights are also worthy of a look. On the ground floor, in order to help recreate the original scenario, part of the arena in front of what used to be the Imperial stand was reconstructed. To get an idea of the atmosphere of the Colosseum just imagine that in it's days, above the arena, it had a capacity of 50.000 seated spectators.
The almost unbelievable size of the Colosseum is very well shown in this last photo. Both the buildings in background and the people in the streets nearby seem amazingly small don't they? Needless to say, Rome's most important must visit spot :)
Last but not least, a big thanks to OpenGalleries.org for yet another set of beautiful photos from Rome.
Santorini is a Greek island part of a small set of islands that form an archipelago with the same name. In the past all of the islands of the archipelago were part of the crater of a huge volcano that erupted and destroyed itself 3600 years ago. Even nowadays if you look closely at the island's geographical disposition you can imagine the size of the crater. Anyway, geographical history aside, Santorini is without doubt one of the most beautiful places I've had the pleasure to visit.
The beauty of the sights is impossible to describe. The views from Oia's cliffs towards the other islands are beyond perfection. The white painted houses, instead of built, almost seamed like if they were carved on the cliffs and turned all the landscape into some kind of surrealistic painting - to this day I'm still convinced that Dali must be acquaintance of the local architects!
Speaking of surrealism, before boarding to Greece remember that Greeks use an unique alphabet so simple daily tasks like reading a menu or the morning newspaper can be rather challenging. You can't imagine how many times did I wish I had some handy translation services at my disposal :)
Like I stated before the beauty of the sights is nearly impossible to describe, with that in mind, allow me to show it in pictures. Above a normal view from the streets of Fira, Santorini's capital city, and bellow a detail from a church taken from one of the countless balconies of the cliffs of Oia, a small town on the North of the island. Amazing views right...
Since sights aren't all in a travel let me tell you about the local food. In Santorini, much like in other regions of Greece, the food is wonderful. The Mediterranean influence can be easily noted in the local dishes by the abundant use of olives and olive oil, cheeses, and herb seasonings. Besides this you can also count with a wide variety of magnificent salads and a very good selection of wines.
Also a note for the people on the island, they were all super friendly. Apart the obvious language barrier (I'm from Portugal and I speak zero Greek, much like most of the Greeks do when it comes to speaking Portuguese) everyone tried to make use of their best English and everything went great.
I leave you with the article title - Santorini, perfection to say the least! - and with the usual thanks note to the Open Galleries site for the lovely set of Santorini photos.
Today's post is a joint venture between André and myself. André wrote the original text in Portuguese and then I've translated it and also added a few notes and the photos for publishing. Hope you like it cause Albufeira is definitely a nice vacation spot :)
Synonym of beach, cool nights and diversion Albufeira is considered the English capital of tourism in Algarve. Once upon a time a calm fishermen village in the South of Portugal Albufeira is nowadays a full grown city full of life. Throughout the last decades the accommodation offers had multiplied several times and there are now available hundreds of hotels and rental apartments.
Late deals are often available for this wonderful location so do remember to check it out before booking - it's not unusual to get good rates in these promotions :)
With over thirty kilometers of coast Albufeira is well know for the quality beaches it has to offer. In 2011, the council had twenty beaches distinguished with the Blue Flag Award, a prize that stands for it's good quality. In all these beaches, besides the natural beauty it's also possible to enjoy a vast number of waters sports and other activities like water bikes and motor boats, canoing and also several water slides. Excursions to the local caves, diving, para-sailing and fishing expeditions are also available.
As to the night diversion there are two main spots. The first one, the most reputed one, is the Oura - internationally know as "The Strip". On the main avenue there are many bars and clubs where the fun starts early and only ends at dawn. The second spot, the downtown of Albufeira, is a bit more traditional. On the older streets of the village the Moorish architecture mixes itself with modern bars and restaurants. From a tourist point of view I'm sure it's at least a must visit place.
Also in the vicinity of Albufeira (a few minutes away by car) is the Zoomarine. A theme park that offers wildlife encounters, pools, many diversions and even a 4D cinema. Along the most successful animal presentations of the park the dolphins show is simply amazing. Finally a bit about the local food: seafood is the typical food in Algarve so I guess everyone should try it (it's very tasty). Nevertheless, the many restaurants in Albufeira offer many, many other options both in national and international cuisines so find good places to eat it's no problem there :)
As always a final thanks to Open Galleries for the Albufeira photos.
As promised let's once again join Nuno and fly across the Atlantic all the way to the island of Fail in Azores. The Archipelago is beautiful and who knows if the promotional campaign "visit Azores flights included" is reinstated...
Throughout last year's entire Winter slow season (from mid October 2010 to March 2011) cheap holidays were almost guaranteed since the flights from Portugal to the islands (for example to the airports of Horta or Ponta Delgada) were free for stays over five days :)
Faial is one of islands in the Azores central group. In English it can be pronounced "Fayal" and it’s known as the Blue Island due to the many hydrangeas fences that can be found on it's countryside. No doubt it’s one of the most charming islands of the nine. 
Being the fifth largest island of the archipelago Faial is surrounded by Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira. The most visited place in Faial is a volcanic crater known by Caldeira with 2km wide and 400 meters depth (photo above). There are hillsides intercepted by secondary volcanic formations and the highest place of the island is called Cabeço Gordo, a volcano that's has been sleeping since 1672.
The biggest Faial attraction is it's capital, Horta, with it's old docks and a vast architectonic patrimony. From this dock, year after year, many boats start an adventure in a fishing competition where records are broken every time. As you may guess the sea across Faial island is rich in big fishes like blue and white marlins and tuna.
Horta is probably the most animated and cosmopolitan city in all Azores. Across it's white streets, gardens and squares there are many places to see and many flavors to taste. It’s a city who smiles at the tourists. From all over the world there are yacht and crew who stop to stay for a day or two and then for a few more.
Faial Island invites you to walk through bucolic landscapes like the Caldeira crater hidden by mossy fields or, during summer, to enjoy sunny weather in the beaches of Porto Pim or Almoxarife.
Hi! Or better yet "Hola!" since we're about to surf to one of the most famous beaches on the South of Spain. Extremely popular between English, Dutch and German tourists the small costal town of Benidorn offers not only a very good beach, but also some nice food and drinks and an exciting nightlife.
Located in the Spanish Costa Blanca (White Coast in English) this town is rather appreciated by the youth as a destination for the typical Spring Break journeys hence one can surely count on Benidorm holidays to be extra fun and super animated! After all, Benidorm is said to be the place where "La Movida Madrileña" goes when on vacations ;)
The city has several kilometers of sand divided between three major beaches (Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas) and as you can see in the photos the hotel/rental houses market is huge. In fact, many of the tall buildings are from hotels and apartment buildings. Also in favor of this destination is it's central location, four and a half hours drive both from Madrid and Barcelona - one must have an early wake up but it's possible to go there for a full day visit and then return after dinner.
Article photos courtesy of Wikimedia.
Hi everyone! Since my friend Mario hasn't yet decided what should be his vacations spot for this year here goes a second proposal :)
This time I've thought not only in you and the spouse but also in the little ones. Tell me, how about spending a few days in a Dominican Republic beach with the family? This Caribbean island landscapes are simply magnificent, the beaches idyllic, the weather very good for most of the year and the water... Superb and warm! 
For the children let me tell you that most of the Hotels and Resorts in the island have Kids Clubs with trained personal attending and tons of activities for the smaller ones. Also good news is the fact that several European cities have regular flights to Santo Domingo (the capital) and to Punta Cana (the most known beach area) so it's usually not that hard to find package deals for cheap family holidays specially intended for parents who wish to take their kids on vacations.
If I haven't convinced you yet let me present you two spots: on the photos above, the fabulous "Playa La Vacama" beach, bellow, the "Saona Island". Accessible mainly by jeep "Playa La Vacama" is hence very well preserved and therefore it's one of the island's more natural beaches. As to Saona Island, what can I say... Those white sands accompanied by that unbelievable blue ocean, heaven on earth, a dream come true...
On a final note, a guided tour to the capital Santo Domingo may also be a cool thing to do (not so sure with kids, I guess it would depend on the kids). Above all, make sure to rest and enjoy the beaches, the sun and the sea.
As usual Dominican Republic photos courtesy of Open Galleries.
And it's time for another post with a special dedicatory :) This time the post goes to my dear friend Mario (who's stationed in London) hopping to inspire him to take a few vacation days on the beautiful Spanish island of Tenerife!
Being the biggest one of the seven islands of the Canary Islands archipelago, Tenerife has much to offer to the tourists. At the top are for sure the very good beaches: Las Americas and Los Cristianos in the South of the island, Las Teresitas near Santa Cruz de Tenerife (the capital) and also the ones with the black sands near Candelaria. 
Also favoring this island as a travel destination are it's location close to Europe and it's weather - since it's warm and sunny throughout the all year it's not that difficult to find good holiday deals if you choose carefully your dates making sure to get smaller fares both in flights and hotels.
Besides the beaches Tenerife also has to offer the tourists a few magical places. The first magical spot are the peculiar rocky formations called Acantilados de Los Gigantes (in English, Cliffs of the Giants) near Puerto de Santiago. In the East end of the island this amazing vertical walls next to the ocean reach heights of 500 meters above sea level.
Another exquisite view are the mountain peaks near the village of Masca. Not very far from the sea this place has some kind of a micro climate. The lower temperatures and high humidity levels cause dense clouds formations that transforms what should be a normal mountain view in something worthy of a movie scenario.
Finally the Volcano mountain called El Teide is also a mandatory visit. The views in the mountains and plan-alts are marvelous and on the way to the top you pass through several picturesque villages like the one above, Vilaflor. Like in Masca also here the height of the mountains (above 2500 meters) lowers the temperatures so a sweater might be a good idea.
As usual one final thanks to Open Galleries for the Tenerife photos.
Mario, I hope you like it and do call me before you go ;)
Today's post goes out with a special dedicatory to Marcela and take us on a climb all the way up to the top of the Blue Mountains in the beautiful Jamaica. Either starting from Buff Bay, Port Antonio or from Ocho Rios the roads to the capital Kingston are a must visit in the island. The views from the mountains are amazing and it would be a pity not to appreciate them. With some luck one might even get to see some of the higher peaks hiding behind the clouds.
I know that there are literally hundreds of hotels, resorts and other places to stay in a Jamaica Holidays and that's exactly why I say that since the road on the North crosses the whole island end to end, the starting point isn't that important on this trip. One can traverse the Blue Mountains towards Kingston on the East side and then go back home by the West side.
As for this two photos, the one above is a view of the mountains taken from the Kingston area of Seven Mile (not too far from Bob Marley's house) and the one bellow (my personal favorite) shows the Blue Mountains when seen from the Norman Manley Highway, the highway that connects the capital to the former pirate's town of Port Royal.
Finally let me tell you that while up in the mountains it's absolutely mandatory to make two stops. One of course to enjoy the scenario and the views and a second one to taste a cup of a true Blue Mountain's coffee. It's said to be one of the best in the world and you can count me on those who say so, it's fantastic!
As usual one final thanks to Open Galleries for the Blue Mountains photos and Marcela, I hope you like it ;)
