Follow me on my journeys and creative getaways
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Lanzarote, a captivating Canary Island, lures art enthusiasts, design lovers, and architecture admirers. Against its volcanic backdrop, the island showcases inspiring natural beauty and serves as a canvas for a fusion of artistic expression, thoughtful design, and advanced architecture. Lanzarote …
Madeira does not have many beaches, even these are narrow or difficult to access from the cliffs. Not to mention that the water can be quite cold. Most of the coast are cliffs, but these cliffs… oh, they do offer divine panoramic views. Nature and …
Madeira is an island that lies 1000 kilometers from Lisbon, an island of many beautiful walks and hikes, subtropical vegetation, botanical gardens, and many more magical places worth visiting. It’s a wonderful opportunity for a relaxed and dynamic holiday. I am going to write a lot more about Madeira in my next posts, but for a start, here are just some of the best hotels you can find on the island. Click on a hotel name or a photo to get more information about it.
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This hotel was recently renovated and it is a member of Barceló Hotel Group. This Adults Only hotel is a modern, fully-refurbished hotel where you can enjoy panoramic views of the ocean, the best local cuisine, and a privileged location just a few minutes from the center of Funchal and the Lido area. You can also enjoy the rooftop bar, fitness studio, and wellness center.
Located in Funchal near the Casino da Madeira, just a 5-minute walk from the city center and the center of social and cultural life. During your stay, you can enjoy all of the facilities at the Pestana Casino Park, like the SPA where you can schedule a massage and/or a Magic Spa treatment, an indoor swimming pool with water jets, jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna, and gym. You can also visit 4 restaurants and bars with panoramic views, the tennis courts, and direct access to the Casino da Madeira that has a games room, shows, and a nightclub.
This hotel is a collaboration between the Pestana Hotel group and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. It is located in Funchal just 300 m from the marina. This lifestyle hotel offers contemporary design, which makes it Funchal’s latest hotspot.
This one is also located in Funchal and was renovated in 2018. It’s settled in a quiet location, the marina and Funchal center are located around 2 km away. Don’t miss out on the many recreational opportunities, including an outdoor pool, a sauna, and a fitness center.
”In the heart of a historic zone, alongside the Palace of Jesuits, this four-star hotel arose from an innovative concept blending design, detailed architectural restoration, and a welcoming atmosphere. With 81 rooms, it boasts a lap pool where guests will enjoy panoramic views overlooking the Bay of Funchal, two steps away from the main shops, museums, restaurants, and bars in the city. This unique hotel concept comprises five historically classified buildings that lead guests on a journey through three centuries of Funchal. The experience begins in a classified building of the 18th century where once was handcrafts ateliers, and makes its transition to the 19th-century mansion of a wealthy family of Funchal linked to mercantile trade. From the inner courtyards, it accesses three buildings of the beginning of the 20th century, where once was operating a typography company and an industry of embroidery. The hotel includes period pieces, building materials, furniture, and antiques from these trades that embrace the journey through the different centuries. The result is a first-of-its-kind boutique hotel in the historic part of the city.” (this wonderful description is taken from castanheiroboutiquehotel.com)
”Located in the coastal village of Ponta do Sol, this hotel features stylish rooms with balconies overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The interior design is a good example of the “Chic&Rural” concept, developed by the well-known architect and designer Duarte Caldeira. He combines typical and rural elements with modern, clean, and recycled decoration. Using local materials and craftsmanship the architects created the ground floor restaurant and reception areas and design most of the hotel furniture, including the guest rooms. From the surrounding mountains, wood and stones were used to make some of the objects and furniture. Taking inspiration from the rural culture and its ingenuity, objects like the floor and table lamps, the plastic and wheat straw headboard pillows, or the restaurant´s ceiling Lamps reveal an unexpected and humorous wit. The table and floor lamps were custom made in painted and natural wood, and even the white tv matches the room color.” (from www.pontadosol.com/hoteldavila/)
”On the site of the former Savoy Hotel, just a short, scenic walk from the heart of Funchal’s charming Old Town, has risen the Savoy Palace, a modern take on island hospitality. Designed by the award-winning team of RH+ and interior designer Nini Andrade Silva, the bold, curved structure is home to chic guestrooms crafted with high-end materials and featuring balconies from which to soak up the ocean views. More sweeping panoramas can be enjoyed from the rooftop lounge, terraced gardens, and multiple pools (including a spectacular infinity version, and one dedicated to kids). An array of stylish restaurants and bars, a world-class spa with hydrotherapy facilities, game rooms, a teahouse, and more make this both Madeira’s premier luxury lifestyle hub and an idyllic getaway—whether you want to explore the island from a convenient base or just lay low.” (from www.lhw.com/hotel/Savoy-Palace-Funchal-Madeira-Portugal)
Located in the heart of the city of Funchal, close to all major attractions of the city. The inspiration for the decoration of the various rooms and common spaces comes from the unique characteristics of the Cathedral – a monument of great historical, architectural, and artistic value, that was built in 1493. The rooms are quite simple and clean, mostly white, but the lobby and the exterior show a bit more different, more artistic warm, vibe.
This is a luxurious 5-star hotel that was awarded as “World’s Leading Design Hotel”. The hotel’s interior was designed by the prestigious designer Nini Andrade, and this earned him two awards: The “European Hotel Design Awards” in the category of suites and the “World Architecture Festival 2009” in the category “Indoor & Fit Out”. The two prizes were awarded by the “European Property Awards”. The interior decor of the hotel is inspired by the wine cycles along the 4 seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each floor has a different decor but always associated with wine cycles.
This is a luxurious 5-star design hotel sitting on Calheta Beach, between Madeira Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Each room has the design of a local artist, based on the theme of the sugar cane. And the infinity pool with the view is just amazing!
This gorgeous coastline city, Santa Barbara, is located between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific ocean. It offers a variety of things and places to explore, great cuisine and local wine, beautiful Spanish architectural style, a long coastline, and pleasant climate similar to the …
Slovenia is like a small paradise, it has it all. Amazing mountains, lovely lakes and rivers, a great culture and cuisine, gorgeous cities, and even a little bit of coastline. It so small you can literally drive through in one day. But to be sure …
Los Angeles, home for the film, music, and fashion, is definitely a place almost everyone has on their visit wishlist. Even just for a day. But planning the Los Angeles trip it’s so overwhelming. There are so many places and things to see, and the city is so big, that in the end you just end up running around and miss the true vibe. In the end, I got the same feeling about LA as I got about Las Vegas. Didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it either. We were there for two days, didn’t actually see everything I would want. Although we have seen some great things, I just have a feeling there is more to it. Maybe it’s better to stay a little bit longer, so you take it easy and enjoy. And maybe get some locals to show you some less touristy places. Anyway, in this post, you can later find some great places to explore in Los Angeles.
RESEARCH – As I said, planning a visit to Los Angeles can be overwhelming. It’s good to know what you want to see there, plan to see different spots in the same location, so you don’t spet time just running around. But it’s also good to include some spontaneous things you just see on the way.
TRANSPORTATION – If you are on a road trip like we were, you will probably already have a car and suffer some time to get to the city and your accommodation. But when you get there, just park your car and use public transportation instead. You will save some money on gas and parking, but most importantly, you will save time and nerves. I found this great post HOW TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN LOS ANGELES from World of Lina. She explained everything in details, so just hop on her page to get all the info you need.
WHEN TO GO – In summer can get quite hot, so the best time to easily stroll around is in spring and fall. Also a little less crowded than in the summer.
Los Angeles is divided into a few areas with different neighborhoods. West (Santa Monica, Venice, Beverley Hills), Central (Hollywood, West Hollywood), Downtown (Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Chinatown), East (Los Feliz, Pasadena, East LA), The Valley (Burbank, Studio City, North Hollywood) and South (Long Beach, Manhattan Beach).
Everywhere you’ll stay, you’ll have a long way to sights that are not in your area. So it is probably best to stay somewhere where are most of the places you want to see, and close to public transportation.
There are so many accommodations to choose from, so I’ll just make a short list of some hotels with an interesting design.
MAMA SHELTER LOS ANGELES – There are other Mama Shelter hotels around the World, this one just as amazing as the others. Located in Hollywood, Mama Shelter Los Angeles is 600 meters away from the Capitol Records Building, Dolby Theater is 800 meters from the hotel, while the Hollywood Bowl is 1.6 km away.
PodShare Hollywood – This property is 1.2 km away from Hollywood Walk of Fame and Dolby Theater. There are also other PodShare hostels around LA, besides this one in Hollywood, you can find others in Venice, Downtown LA, and Los Feliz. And they all look amazing. It’s all about co-living, so if you are very extrovert and outgoing, this is a great place for you.
AVALON HOTEL BEVERLY HILLS – Avalon Hotel is a boutique hotel located in Beverly Hills adjacent to Los Angeles’ most famous restaurants, shopping, and cultural attractions. The retro palette of seafoam green and cream runs through the lobby to the rooms and includes strong accents of azure blue. A perfect place for a relaxing stay.
HOTEL BEVERLY TERRACE – Another one in Beverly Hills, a great design with an amazing terrace.
THE KINNEY VENICE BEACH – Located in a walking distance to Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney’s artsy commercial strip. A great artsy and playful place to explore and fell the Venice beach vibe.
The Griffith Observatory is a facility located on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. You can look through telescopes, explore exhibits, see live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium and enjoy a spectacular view of the Los Angeles Basin, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the Pacific Ocean. You can also enjoy the closer view to Hollywood sign. Go there in the early evening to catch the sunset and watch the city in lights. There is parking available nearby.
Oh, the iconic Hollywood sign! Everyone has to go there. It’s kind of a tourist trap. But still interesting to see. There are different places where you can enjoy the view of the sign. One is previously mentioned, Griffith Park. Another point, where we have been, is the Hollywood Sign viewpoint on Canyon Lake Dr. There is also parking available. We were driving through tiny, narrow, crooked roads, and I thought how annoying it must be for people who live there, watching so many tourists driving by daily. I felt horrible. We didn’t have a need to go any closer. Just to take some photos and catch a glimpse.
There are some other options, find out more about the sign on HollywoodSign.
Santa Monica is a perfect beach city and one of the good places to explore while in LA. There is a variety of places to see and things to do. The first thing that comes to your mind is definitely Santa Monica Pier and amusement park Pacific Park. Santa Monica also offers some great places to eat & drink, and of course shopping. There is also an iconic beach in California, Santa Monica Beach which offers a variety of activities and attractions. Check out the Santa Monica page to get a lot of useful information.
Venice is a residential, commercial, and recreational beachfront neighborhood located in the West LA. Definitely one of the best places to spend some time while you are staying in Los Angeles. Either you want to eat shop and party, or just stroll along and relax on the beach, you can’t go wrong. You can visit the Venice Canals. Find out more about in on Venice Beach site.
And, here it is, the most overrated spot in LA. It’s not so glamorous, you’ll not see all the famous stars there, it crowded with tourists and homeless people, and not too clean. But still, have you been to LA, if you didn’t go to see the Walk of Fame? If you don’t expect anything special from it, and just take it as a simple stroll through the streets, then you’ll be just fine. And if you try to find beauty in everything, you can get some nice things from it. Maybe you’ll find a star from your favorite celebrity. Maybe you’ll even see some in real life. Besides the stars, along Hollywood Boulevard, you can find some other architecturally interesting buildings, museums, shops and many more. Some of the more known places are Madame Tussauds, Chinese Theater, Dolby Theater, Hollywood Wax Museum, Museum of Broken Relationships…
The Broad is a contemporary art museum offering free general admission and an active program of rotating exhibitions. One of the most famous or most instagrammable artwork is Yayoi Kusama’s infinity mirror rooms. Even the building itself looks fantastic. Get more info on The Broad.
LACMA – Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the western United States. Besides the Chris Burden’s Urban Light exhibition, 202 street lamps staged outside of the entrance to LACMA, it offers a collection of nearly 140,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe.
Another architecturally interesting building worth visiting at least from outside, but you can also do a short tour inside. To get a better experience better book a concert or some other event on LA Phil.
Universal Studios Hollywood is the only authentic, working movie studio and theme park in the world. Definitely, a place to be for every movie lover. Best to book your ticket online.
The Last Bookstore is California’s largest used and new book and record store. A heaven for a book lover! Or for someone looking for a good photo opportunity. I just love this place!
The Bradbury Building is an architectural landmark in downtown LA. This five-story office building is best known for its extraordinary skylit atrium of access walkways, stairs and elevators, and their ornate ironwork. It also has been featured in many movies, like Blade Runner.
Malibu is just around half an hour driving away from Santa Monica. It’s way less stressful than LA life and there are some pretty nice spots to go to. There are so many gorgeous beaches and even some great hiking spots. Also, a lot of great restaurants and bars, check out some of the Best Places to Eat in Malibu. Definitely worth visiting at least for a day.
Who hasn’t heard of the famous Route 66? In this post, you can find some of the best stops on Route 66 from Arizona to California. U.S. Route 66, the iconic American road, is also known as the Main Street of America or the Mother …
The Grand Canyon, one of the most iconic national parks, is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. It is 446 km long and up to 29 km wide, but not the biggest canyon in the world at all. And …
Page is a small town in northern Arizona located on the southern shores of Lake Powell. The location is ideal for exploring many of nearby National Parks, as well as many other sights, and great to discover the culture of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo people represent the largest segment of the population in the Glen Canyon area. Page was first planned and developed for workers building the Glen Canyon Dam in 1957 but later become a major resort area.
Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Monument Valley are all around 2,5 hours driving from Page. Zion National Park is 2 hours away. Nearby Page you can explore places like Antelope Canyon, Marble Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell.
I would recommend staying in Page at least two nights.
Horseshoe Bend, probably the most famous spot near Page, is a horseshoe-shaped bend in the Colorado River. Located just 10 minutes driving from Page and a short downhill walk from the parking lot, this free site can get quite crowded. But despite too many people there trying to get the best photo possible, it is a truly amazing place with an outstanding view. Even if you have seen this place a thousand times on photos and you think it kind of overrated, you will be amazed when you see it with your own eyes. I sure was. It’s really beautiful and definitely worth visiting.
Antelope Canyon in another famous location in the area. You can visit Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. If you have time, I’ll suggest you visit both. At first, they might seem the same as they both have steep orange wavy walls. But the main difference is how they are shaped. Upper Antelope Canyon is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, which makes it darker, and easier to walk through on its flat terrain. Lower Antelope Canyon is open at the top, letting more light in, and narrower at the bottom.
You can only visit Antelope Canyon with a guided tour and there are many providers to choose from. It’s best to book early, especially for Upper Antelope, as it gets sold out very fast. I recommend visiting upper Antelope at 10:30 because this is the best time you might see sunbeams coming through the canyons. Supposedly the best time for Lower Antelope is at 1:30.
We booked an Upper Antelope Canyon tour at 10:30 with Antelope Slot Canyon Tours. 10:30 is probably the most crowded tour but you get the best light. Sunbeams come out from April 1 to Sept 30.
When you get to the entrance and see so many people there it’s kind of shocking. You can’t enjoy the beautiful nature in peace as you would want to. But our tour guide formerly guided the photography tour and told us many secrets how to take photos and where to look, she even arranged short stops between the groups, so we could take pictures without people on it. We were really satisfied.
About Permit Fee: If you are taking the Upper and Lower Tours on the same day, you only pay the Navajo Permit fee once. Just show your receipt at the Lower Antelope tour booth and the fee will be waived.
RULES: No backpacks, bags or fanny packs are allowed on the tour. Wear something with big pockets so you can carry your essentials. Do not bring tripods or selfie sticks. Just your phone or camera.
If you are booking a professional photography tour, which is more expensive, but offers a smaller group and great photo opportunities, you must have a tripod.
Lake Powell is actually a reservoir on the Colorado River, located in northern Arizona and stretches up into southern Utah. It was created by the flooding of Glen Canyon by the Glen Canyon Dam, which also led to the creation of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a popular summer destination.
With its long shoreline, usually warm water, and nice weather it’s a really nice place to visit while you are staying in Page. There are many activities you can do on the lake and around, from camping and hiking to fishing and wakeboarding…
From Page to Glen Canyon is just around 10 minutes driving, To Arizona/Utah border, is just around 15-20 minutes. Depends on what time you are going, you might want to check about the time zone, so you don’t miss any booked tours if you are traveling around.
Page, Arizona is in the Mountain Time Zone. The Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona does observe Daylight Saving Time. Page, Arizona does not utilize Daylight Saving Time. The more I read the more I am confused about those time. All I know when we went to Lake Powell In Utah, the time has changed 😀
Also, one thing to consider. Lake Powell is a recreation site which also requires to pay an entrance fee. If you have America The Beautiful Pass, this is also included in it, and you don’t have to pay more.
So, if your ‘to see list’ is pretty full as ours was, this is what you can see if you have one full day available. If you are staying longer, you might want to check out some other places.
ANTELOPE CANYON X & CARDIAC CANYON – both canyons are located within the same Antelope Canyon as the iconic Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Taadidiin Tours is the only tour operator to offer guided tours in those two canyons.
WATER HOLES CANYON – similar and near to Antelope Canyon, but usually less crowded.
There are many more slot canyon you can find out about on American southwest page.
THE HORSESHOE BEND SLOT CANYON – this is slot canyon that is the closest to Horseshoe Bend. You can book online at Horseshoe Bend Tours, they provide a private tour in which you avoid the crowds as you’ll be the only group there, and get the most of the trip.
KNIGHTS INN LAKE POWELL – This is where we stayed. Simple standard motel room, but it was nice and clean, and the location is great. Shops and restaurants are reachable by foot.
BEST WESTERN VIEW OF LAKE POWELL – As the names say, this one has a view to Lake Powell.
RODEWAY INN AT LAKE POWELL – Also a typical motel, but looks comfy and have a great location.
Boutique hotels are creating an experience for the guest, not just a stay. It all about the design and the little details, that makes it different, it makes you comfortable and you feel like at home. They are usually smaller so they can offer a …
If you are road tripping through American Southwest, Monument Valley is definitely a place to put on your visit list. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located along the Arizona – Utah border, on the Navajo Nation, which is one of the largest American Indian tribes. This …
Arches National Park is a relatively small park, located near Moab, Utah. It’s quite user-friendly as many of the sights are easily seen while just passing by. It’s a great spot for families, people with disabilities, and easy hikers, but there are also some longer hikes worth trying. The Arches park has more than 2000 arches and there is no place on Earth even remotely like it.
The best strategy is to arrive at the park before 7 am, especially in the top season, because it could get really crowded at the entrance and you can literally wait for hours. There is a webcam at the entrance so you can check the line before you go there.
Before our trip to Arches, we were near Bryce Canyon, and this was our longest drive between the locations we were visiting. We had 4 hours driving to get to Arches, so we decided to take it easy. I checked webcam at Arches constantly (we were there at the beginning of June), and there was a long line of cars at the entrance from 8 am to almost 1 pm, all the time! We got on the road around 9 am, and after some nice stops on the way, got to Moab around 1:30 or 2 pm, checked in to our motel, and then went to Arches. The best thing was, we have avoided the morning crowd completely and we still got time to see the what we wanted. So later I’ll write what you can see in one afternoon.
RESEARCH – Before you go, search for the places you want to see, things you want to do… Most important pieces of information you can find on a U.S. National Park Service site, a lot of interesting stuff and personal experiences from fellow travelers and bloggers, and my favorite, travel guidebooks. You never know whether you’ll have a reception on your phone, so it’s good to have some paper maps in your hand. I get most of my books from Book Depository.
ENTRANCE FEE – Like in other National Parks, there is also an entrance fee, 30$ per vehicle for 7 days. If you are planning to visit more National Parks or even some recreation areas, I recommend buying an Annual Pass, America the Beautiful. It costs 80$, valid for a year and covers the pass owner and three accompanying adults. You can buy it when entering the park, or online at USGS Store or at Rei.
TRANSPORTATION – There are no shuttle buses, but you can book a commercial bus tour. If you don’t want to me time-bound it’s best to come by car. But there might be some difficulties to find a parking spot sometimes. This is why it’s also good to come really early or late afternoon. Park in designated areas only. Do not drive off roads. If a lot is full, do not wait for spots to open; move on, and try again later.
WHEN TO GO – The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The park is busiest March through October. Temperatures in spring and fall are comfortable. In the summer, daytime temperatures often exceed 37°C. Winter is a peaceful time, without the crowds and scorching heat of summer. Temperatures are cold, with highs averaging -1° to 10° C.
There is one campground in the park, The Devils Garden Campground, which is a great home base for your exploration of Arches. You can reserve standard campsites up to 6 months in advance for stays March 1-October 31. All sites are usually reserved months in advance. Between November 1 and February 28, sites are first to come, first served. There are also many campgrounds and hotels in the nearest city, Moab, which is really just a few minutes away.
MOAB VALLEY RV RESORT & CAMPGROUND – this property offers sweet cabins and also airstream, but of course you can stay in your own RV or tent. Location is just perfect, really close to the park. And the prices are quite nice.
HOTEL MOAB DOWNTOWN – this one is located in the heart of Moab, with views of La Sal Mountains and surrounded by towering red rock cliffs. It is the largest full-service hotel in Moab and is just next to shops, galleries, museums, restaurants, and much more. The entrance to Arches National Park is 9.1 km away. And it looks like they often have some good offers on Booking.
RUSTIC INN – another simple but cozy motel, with a great location. Moab’s Main Street is half a block away and provides many shopping outlets and dining opportunities. The price looks reasonable.
HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON MOAB – this is a 3-star hotel but looks like a lot more to me. The suites have their own kitchen, so it’s perfect for a longer stay. It’s suitable for 4-6 people, prices are a bit higher but not too high for what you get. I would definitely want to stay there for a few days.
So, are you on a road trip like we were, with long distances driving? And want to see as much as possible in a short amount of time? You didn’t manage to come to Arches early in the morning, and want to avoid the long lines at the entrance to the park? Don’t worry, in just one afternoon you can see some of the most famous sights in the park.
The whole Scenic Drive is around 70 km long, including al the spurs, and takes around 2-3 hours. There are many photo opportunities as long as short and long walks to arches and sights. You can enjoy the scenery just by driving through. From the park entrance to Delicate Arch, which is the first stop, is around 21 km. For example, you can see the Balanced Rock just passing by, but you can also go on a short 15-20 minute walk to see it closer.
Delicate Arch is one of the most famous arches, and despite how touristy it can get, it’s really worth the hike. The hike is moderate but sometimes can get strenuous, especially because of the heat, and most of the time there is no shadow to hide. Bring a lot of water. But when you get to see the view, it’s just speechless. Amazing. Spectacular. Really worth visiting. The hike could take around 2-3 hours round trip. We have reached the arch in 45 minutes. But you need to allow some time to relax and enjoy the view there.
After hiking from Delicate Arch, get in the car and go to Devils Garden Trailhead Parking Area, which is around 15 minutes driving.
There is a short stroll on the Devils Garden Trail to the longest arch in the world, plus a short side trip to two more arches; TUNNEL ARCH and PINE TREE ARCH. You reach the Landscape Arch, which is a little more than 88m long, just after 1,3 km one way on an easy road.
On the way to Landscape Arch, around 400 m from the trail, a short spur goes to the right. The spur trails take you down to Pine Tree and Tunnel Arches, both worth adding a little less than 1 km to the hike. This spur trail splits again at the bottom. Go left to Pine Tree Arch and right to Tunnel Arch. After that, you go back to the main trail and continue to Landscape Arch.
Pine Tree Arch (the second picture) looks really breathtaking when you see it with your eyes. You just can’t take a good photo, because it’s so big.
After returning from the Delicate Arch, you will probably be very hungry and a bit tired from the afternoon, also the sun will start to go down. So you can finish the day here with some great memories and views.
I’m kind of disappointed that we didn’t see other sights, but still satisfied with what we did see. I definitely want to come back sometime for a few more days. Here are some other places you don’t want to miss if you have more time to hike around: FIERY FURNACE, which is the only hike in Arches National Park that requires a Park Ranger guide; THE WINDOWS; DOUBLE O ARCH, located at the far north end of the park; DOUBLE ARCH; CORONA ARCH; NAVAJO ARCH…
Definitely worth visiting again.
Though it’s the smallest of southern Utah’s national parks, Bryce Canyon stands among the most prized. But despite its name, is not a canyon, but a collection of giant natural amphitheaters along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Repeated freezes and thaws have eroded …
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The first National Park in Utah, Zion National Park, is so majestic, that looks like a movie. The scenery looks so beautiful that you think it’s fake, it feels like you are in a dream. It’s indescribable and it leaves you speechless. It is located in southern Utah near the city of Springdale.
Zion National Parks covers 590 km2, it was formed around 240 million years ago when the area was covered by a relatively flat basin desert and then the large river carved out the canyon. As sands, gravels, and muds eroded from surrounding mountains, streams carried these materials into the basin and deposited them in layers.
The range of colors of the Navajo Sandstone – red, brown, pink, salmon, gold, and even white – results from varying amounts and forms of iron oxide within the rock, and in the case of the white upper portion of the Navajo, the overall lack of iron.
RESEARCH – Before you go, search for the places you want to see, things you want to do… Most important pieces of information you can find on a U.S. National Park Service site, a lot of interesting stuff and personal experiences from fellow travelers and bloggers, and my favorite, travel guidebooks. You never know whether you’ll have a reception on your phone, so it’s good to have some paper maps in your hand. I get most of my books from Book Depository.
ENTRANCE FEE – Like in other National Parks, there is also an entrance fee, 35$ per vehicle for 7 days. If you are planning to visit more National Parks or even some recreation areas, I recommend buying an Annual Pass, America the Beautiful. It costs 80$, valid for a year and covers the pass owner and three accompanying adults. You can buy it when entering the park, or online at USGS Store or at Rei.
TRANSPORTATION – Between spring and fall (mid-March to October) private vehicles are not allowed on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. But the park operates two free shuttle loops. The Zion Park Shuttle makes nine stops along the canyon from the main visitor center to the Temple of Sinawava. The Springdale Shuttle makes six regular stops along Highway 9 between the park’s south entrance and the Majestic View Lodge in Springdale. There are parking lots around the Visitor’s Center in the park, and there is a small park place just before the entrance to the park. They both get full very quickly, so it’s best to come really early, before 8-9am. It’s generally easier to find parking in Springdale and then take the shuttle to the park.
WHEN TO GO – The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Spring usually have warm and sunny weather, but it can also get rainy. Dress in layers. In the Summer months can get really hot, from July to September, the monsoon season is in full swing, surprising visitors with thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain. Beware of the flash floods. Fall is probably the best season to go there, temperatures fall, monsoons are gone, but there is still a chance for a flash flood. You have to be careful in all seasons and dress in layers again. Winter is cold and wet. Although it may look beautiful, it can be dangerous and some of the trails are closed depending on weather conditions.
There are two campgrounds in Zion that take reservations, South Campground and Watchman Campground. They are near the south entrance at Springdale. You can also stay somewhere in Springdale or places a little further from the park.
SUPER 8 BY WYNDHAM HURRICANE – this was the cheapest accommodation we found, but it was nice. Located in Hurricane, a bit further from the park, but still, it’s just 40 minutes drive.
RED ROCK OASIS – this family home is recommended for large groups because it can host 25 people. It’s also quite expensive, but it looks amazing. Luxurious house with a private pool located in Rockville, a short drive to Zion.
BEST WESTERN PLUS ZION CANYON INN & SUITES – Featuring an outdoor pool and a hot tub, Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites is located in Springdale, 0.9 mi from Zion National Park South Entrance Ranger Station. Free WiFi is provided. A full breakfast is served daily.
CABLE MOUNTAIN LODGE – It is the closest accommodation to Zion National Park. This beautiful Springdale lodge offers a seasonal outdoor heated pool and a hot tub with canyon views. Free Wi-Fi is provided.
It’s best to start early, first, you can go to the park’s Visitor Center to get oriented. And then take a free shuttle. The first possible stop is The Zion Human History Museum, where are ranger presentations a great way to learn more about the park before you ride the shuttle up the canyon. The bookstore has maps and publications that can augment your visit.
Then ride the shuttle all the way up the canyon to the Temple of Sinawava. The Temple of Sinawava is the massive amphitheater that unofficially marks the beginning of the canyon.
Starting at the Temple of Sinawava, the Riverside Walk is a nice family friendly hike on a mostly flat paved trail. It offers great views of the Virgin River and you can see hanging gardens and lush trees surrounded by tall weeping walls. It takes 1-2 hours roundtrip. When you get to the end of the Riverside Walk, you get to the start of The Narrows. The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. This gorge, with walls a thousand feet tall and the river sometimes just twenty to thirty feet wide, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park. So while you finish the Riverside walk, you can go near the river and see a bit of The Narrows. But if you wish to see more, you will be walking in the Virgin River. This can involve wading upstream for just a few minutes or it can be an all-day hike. To do this hike you should stay more days and be well prepared.
After the pleasant stroll on the Riverside walk, take a shuttle and go off on the Weeping Rock shuttle stop. This is a short, 15-minute walk, but steep climb that leads to an impressive hanging garden with water that sometimes seeps and sometimes weeps. When the water is really running it forms a veil from above. Prepare to get wet!
From the Weeping Rock Shuttle stop, go to next shuttle stop, The Grotto. There you can start the easy Grotto Trail, it takes just 15 minutes to the Zion Lodge. The Zion Lodge is the only in-park lodging in this national park. There is a restaurant where you can get something to eat and some refreshments. You will need it by now. And there is also a gift shop. After a short stop, continue to Emerald Pools.
This is one of the must-see trails in Zion and there are actually three pools, Lower Emerald Pool, Middle Pool, and Upper Pool. The whole trip can take up to 2,5h. Once you get to the Middle Pool, it’s just a must to continue a little bit higher.
Star from the Zion Lodge, cross the road and bridge to get to the trailhead. This easily rising trail leads to the Lower Emerald Pool, which looks more like refreshing water sprays cascading over the sandstone lip above. This is actually the falls from the Middle Pool. You can then continue the dirt trail to the Middle Pool. From here, you can continue a steep rocky trail to the Upper Pool. There it is, the Emerald Pool and this place feel like a secret oasis.
You can return the same way, but there is an alternative route, Kayenta Trail. This path offers spectacular views down-valley. The Kayenta Trail finishes in the Grotto shuttle stop, where you can take a bus again.
If you have a long drive to your next destination, this is probably all you can see in a day. But if you are staying somewhere near, or if you started really early, you can see some more.
PA’RUS TRAIL is an easy, paved, wheelchair-, do-, and bike-friendly trail. Starting near Zion Canyon Visitor Center and finishing in Canyon Junction it takes around 1 – 1,5 hours.
WATCHMAN TRAIL is an easy/moderate trail which takes 1,5 – 2 hours and it’s supposed to be the best to watch the sunset.
If you are staying more days and are in good physical condition, you shouldn’t miss the ANGELS LANDING. This is one of the most famous trails in Zion. This hike takes 3-4 hours, and it’s difficult. Grippy shoes are a must. But the view is spectacular.
An OBSERVATION POINT is a difficult, 5 hour, hike, but intensely rewarding. Starts from the Weeping Rock shuttle stop. As mentioned before, THE NARROWS is also one of the famous hikes in Zion, but also very difficult. Sometimes more of a swim than a hike, as you hike through the Virgin River. It can take up to 8 hours. Preparation and timing are the keys to a succesful Narrows hike.
There are also many more sights to see & things to do, so there is always something to enjoy in Zion.
If you are traveling to Las Vegas or maybe visiting some of the National Parks in the area, like Grand Canyon and Zion Park, you would probably want to stop by in the Valley of Fire State Park. It is a public recreation and nature preservation …
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Many unhappy visitors would say ”nothing but desert, sand, and salt”, but Death Valley is so much more than that. Most definitely not as dead as it sounds. In this below sea level basin, you can find a lot of extremes, especially the summer heat. It’s the driest place on the continent. And yet the peaks are covered in sparkling snow in the winter. In spring it offers beautiful wildflowers. No matter what time in the year you go, you can always find the beauty and enjoy the amazing scenery. And don’t forget your camera.
RESEARCH – Before you go, search for the places you want to see, things you want to do… It might help you choose where do you want to stay and how long can you stay there. Most important pieces of information you can find on a U.S. National Park Service site, a lot of interesting stuff and personal experiences from fellow travelers and bloggers, and my favorite, travel guidebooks. You never know whether you’ll have a reception on your phone, so it’s good to have some paper maps in your hand. I found a really useful map with trails and other information: Death Valley National Park: Trails Illustrated National Parks.
ENTRANCE FEE – Like in other National Parks, there is also an entrance fee, 30$ per vehicle for 7 days. If you are planning to visit more National Parks or even some recreation areas, I recommend buying an Annual Pass, America the Beautiful. It costs 80$, valid for a year and covers the pass owner and three accompanying adults. You can buy it when entering the park, or online at USGS Store or at Rei.
WHEN TO GO – Spring (March-early May) is a very popular season with pleasant temperatures. But it’s also very windy, so it might be unpleasant because of the sand in the air. It’s also the busiest season of the year, so you should book in advance. If the previous winter brought rain there is a possibility of spring wildflowers. Summer (mid-May-September) is too hot for many visitors, but you can tour by car to the main points of interest and still see quite a lot. Hiking in lower elevations can be dangerous because of the heat. Autumn (October-November) is warm, the temperatures are pleasant, and the sky is usually clear. Camping season begins. In Winter (December-February) temperatures drop, but it’s usually not too cold, except in higher elevations. It’s cooler in the morning and there is less daylight.
TRANSPORTATION – There is no shuttle bus available in Death Valley, it’s best to use a car. The main road transecting Death Valley National Park from east to west is California Highway 190. GPS Navigation to sites to remote locations like Death Valley is notoriously unreliable. Numerous travelers have been directed to the wrong location or even dead-end or closed roads. You should always carry up-to-date road maps to check the accuracy of GPS directions.
If you want to stay for more days it’s best to stay in the park. If you are visiting just for a day, maybe it’s best and cheaper to stay somewhere around the park, for example in Death Valley Junction, Panamint Springs or Shoshone. Ridgecrest is also an option, a lot of travelers pass through it while heading to Death Valley.
CAMPING & LODGING in the park is a nice option, but you should book in advance if possible.
AMARGOSA OPERA HOUSE & HOTEL – Located in Death Valley Junction, next door to the Marta Becket’s World Famous Opera House, this hotel features uniquely decorated rooms. Death Valley National Park is less than a 15-minute drive away.
HAMPTON INN & SUITES RIDGECREST – This Ridgecrest hotel is within one kilometer of the Maturango Museum. The hotel offers a hot daily breakfast, free Wi-Fi and an indoor swimming pool.
VILLA ANITA IN DEATH VALLEY – Villa Anita, located in Tecopa, is an evolving art installation studio highlighting local artwork and design. Much of the interior and exterior are built from re-purposed materials. The rooms include eco-friendly bathrooms.
SHOSHONE INN – Shoshone Inn features water sports facilities, outdoor swimming pool, and free WiFi. Featuring an ATM, this property also provides guests with a sun terrace. Guests can enjoy Mexican and American dishes at the restaurant or have a drink at the bar.
PANAMINT SPRINGS – You can sleep in a tent or a cabin with a terrace. This property also has one of the top-rated locations in Panamint Springs and features a bar, as well as a restaurant serving American cuisine. Free WiFi is included.
Death Valley is a desert, which many visitors imagine as a land covered in sand. But in reality, less than one percent of the desert is covered with dunes. Located in central Death Valley near Stovepipe Wells, Mesquite Flat Dunes are the best known and easiest to visit in the national park. The dunes are most photogenic at sunrise and sunset. You can hike among them, but in summer’s 44°C, 5 minutes walk on the sand can be quite exhausting. Bring a lot of water, a hat, and a sunscreen.
This is a short and easy 30 minutes round trip on the wheelchair accessible boardwalk. The boardwalk is open year round, however, the water flows down to the boardwalk only from November through May. The best time to visit is during the Spring when the Salt Creek Pupfish are in spawn. Interpretive signs along the way explain pupfish behavior, their adaptations, and how they relate to another pupfish around the Mojave Desert.
This is one of the most famous viewpoints of the park. It’s just a short walk from the parking spot, slightly uphill, but the view is rewarding. Amazing layers of colors covers the land and rock formations, and it might be the most photogenic place at sunset. You can also start the hike from the point around Badlands Loop.
Badwater Basin is the lowest point of North America, 86m below sea level. A short walk will bring you to the salt polygons that Death Valley is famous for. Those Salt flats cover nearly 200 square miles and are among the largest protected salt flats in the world. It’s a really great place, but you need to bring plenty of water and sunscreen to walk among the salts.
Furnace Creek is like an oasis in the middle of the desert. The visitor center, museum, and headquarters of the Death Valley National Park are located here. The village is surrounded by a number of Park Service public campgrounds and two of the Park’s major tourist facilities, the Inn at Death Valley and Ranch at Death Valley.
So, those are the places you can easily visit in a one really hot day. If you are visiting in more pleasant temperatures, be sure to check some other amazing places like Dantes View, Artists Drive, Devils Golf Course, Golden Canyon, Charcoal Kilns, Natural Bridge, Mosaic Canyon and many more.
If you are staying in Ridgecrest, there are some nearby sights you can visit too.
This is a graffiti on rock formations that look like fish. They can be seen off Highway 178, you can drive offroad and walk right up to them. This place, Poison Canyon, officially Salt Wells Canyon, was plagued with graffiti (and still is). The Fish Rocks came about some time in the 1930s or ’40s (some claim even earlier, 1928) and became a favored landmark with the locals.
The Trona Pinnacles are unique geological features in the California Desert Conservation Area. The unusual landscape consists of more than 500 tufa spires, some as high as 140 feet, rising from the bed of the Searles Dry Lake basin. The pinnacles vary in size and shape from short and squat to tall and thin and are composed primarily of calcium carbonate (tufa). The Trona Pinnacles have been featured in many commercials, movies, and photos.
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A couple of years ago, many of us had never heard of electric bikes. A lot of people probably still don’t know they exist. Or they do, but never had an opportunity to try it. The most common attitude is people seeing bikes mostly in a recreational way. But we got to start seeing it as practical transportation because the E-bike market is constantly growing, and the future is getting electric.
As a fan of traditional biking, I enjoyed my rides around Lake Garda, especially the Ponale Trail and the trail to Lake Ledro. I was quite in a good physical condition at that time, and very well prepared. But somehow I started gasping for breath already halfway uphill because I was forcing myself too much. But some other bikers just easily passed me all the time. I was wondering what superpowers they have, and then I saw their superpower is, of course, an e-bike. For a long time, I considered e-biking as cheating. I never wanted to understand why do you need help by electricity or a machine, when your body is totally capable of doing it by itself. Until I tried it myself.
Recently I had an opportunity to try my first ride with an E-bike, an elegant, vintage style, and comfortable Geero – Das innovative Retro E-Bike. I’ll get to that back later. But first, how is it like to ride an e-bike? Nothing like you’ve imagined. It’s almost the same, but yet so different than classic bikes. The very first start kicks you off of the seat. Well, not literally. First, it surprises you and then follows the big, ear-to-ear smile. It’s just so much faster than you expect, so, in shock because of all the sudden power, you stop pedaling, and you suddenly almost stop. The thing is, you need to constantly pedal, to get the fluent easy ride. You must learn to stop pushing yourself once you reach the bike’s top speed and just pedal slowly to keep the motor engaged. When you learn all the tricks, you can really enjoy riding with an e-bike. It might happen that you won’t want to ride your classic bike anymore. And there are so many different types of e-bike on the market, so you could definitely find one for your needs.
The Geero e-bike is an elegant and comfortable bike for easy-going street cycling. Thanks to its clever design, a Geero can hardly be distinguished from a normal bike. The engine is invisibly integrated into the rear hub. It comes in two colors, ‘vintage vinyl black’ and ‘cream soda beige’, and in three different models, standard models, city e-bikes, and touring e-bikes. Each model is available in classic and comfort variation, in other words, you can choose a dropped diagonal bar or a horizontal one. Altogether you can choose between 12 bikes.
They all have hidden batteries and engines, have a range of distance up to 125km, and are fully charged in just 3 hours. The bike amplifies your pedaling power and your ability to do more, the engine doesn’t work by itself, but it just helps you when you are pedaling. Standard models are slimmed down to the essentials with no disturbing accessories, lightweight and perfect for short trips. City e-bikes have a more upright sitting position and are more comfortable for a medium distance ride. Touring models are the perfect choice for traveling long distances, the comfortable, ergonomically shaped saddle, as well as the equally ergonomic screwed handles, provide the necessary driving comfort.
Here is a comparison of all three models:
Electricity from sustainable production does not pollute the environment. In this case, with every kilometer you cover on your Geero, you are actively doing something about climate change and environmental protection. Geero helps you with three different levels of support to overcome the longest slope. Not to mention, you still take care of yourself and your body. It’s also a lot more economical than driving a car, for example, 100 kilometers with Geero have electricity costs of 10 cents.
The best thing is really quick and easy charging. With the extra lightweight Geero quick charger, the battery is fully charged within 3 hours. The very powerful battery has 420 Wh and provides powerful support for a range of up to 125 kilometers. To charge you can use a normal household power outlet. It means you can easily charge it almost anywhere and anytime.
The minimalist clean design is what makes it eye-catching. The secret is in the details like leather seat and handlebars, and two classic color options, which gives it a slight vintage touch. And the battery is very well hidden, so it really looks elegant and classy.
I have tested the standard-classic and standard-comfort models suitable for paved roads and are perfect for shorter trips. The sitting position is sporty, bent forward, and in my opinion very comfortable for easy riding. Once I figured out how it works, I was able to smoothly speed up and slow down, even between changing the gears. Even though I am not used to thin tires, because I am more into mountain biking, the bike felt very well balanced. Riding was powerful, comfortable and I was heading uphill with surprising ease. I was also very satisfied with how long did the battery actually last, and how quick it really charges. It really does what it promises. Even though there are no disc brakes on those models, I was completely satisfied with the performance of the installed rim brakes. These bikes are suitable for a shorter daily commute to work or enjoyable trips in your free time. I loved riding with them. Just imagine what more the other two models can do!
While I already mentioned it’s good for the environment and a lot more economical than driving a car, it’s also more healthy. Even though you think the machine does it all, you still have to put some effort into it. You can still ride it without the power on, just like a normal bike.
You can travel faster. Imagine you are stuck in a crowd, in a car, or on a bus. Wouldn’t it be nice just to easily pass everyone? And you avoid the neverending problem of finding a parking spot while you are already late.
It’s really fun, especially those first moments when you are getting to know how it works. The giant smile and the feeling like you have superpowers. It gives you a feeling of freedom. It’s priceless.
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This is one of my favorite road trips, south of France. And the French Riviera. There are so many different spots you can visit, it was quite challenging to choose only a few for a 5-day trip. I took my mom on this road trip and we had a great time. I planned ahead most of the trip, calculated how many kilometers and hours approximately we needed from one destination to another, and booked all the hotels online. Our plan was to visit Montpellier, my grand aunt lives there, we have been there before a couple of times, the last time a little more than 20 years ago. We continued to Marseille, Saint Tropez, and Nice. We added some additional stops on the way, spontaneous, for change.
It depends on where are you from if you are from nearest countries it’s best just to go by car all the way. If you are arriving by plane on some of the nearest airports, I recommend renting a car. It so nice you can stop at anyplace you want.
We started in Slovenia, drove through Italy and stopped somewhere before the border for one night. We both still worked that day, we went on a trip directly after work, so we definitely needed a rest.
I chose the hotel by opening a map section at Booking, near the destination we wanted to go, and looked for the best location, near the sea, with a parking place. I found a nice hotel with a pool, Hotel Splendid, in Diano Marina. It was very clean and comfortable, our room had a balcony with a sea view, private beach it just a minute away, and the pool looks really nice.
We stayed just for a night, to get some sleep, and the next day in the morning continued to Montpellier. Driving the highway in France can get quite boring, but also there are some beautiful sceneries. Unlike in Italy, where you pay toll at the end when you leave the highway, in France, there are constantly toll stations on the road, so prepare a lot of change or a credit card.
To avoid toll stations, and even get some nicer views, I suggest a scenic coastal road, all from Saint Tropez to Nice, and even further, all the way to Italy.
They call it the City of Universities. Nearly one-third of the population are students from three universities. It is the 8th largest city of France and is also the fastest growing city in the country over the past 25 years. I’d say I totally believe that, because the last time I was here it was almost 23 years ago. I don’t remember much (just the nearest beach and children playgrounds), but looking at the pictures, I can really see the changes.
I felt so welcomed the moment I got to this city. Really, I can’t explain it, it’s probably because of memories and experiences. But still, I think this city gives you a warm welcome feeling. There are so many historical landmarks, elegant promenades, museums and cafes to stop in between the sights.
We had only one day, so we choose some nearest points. I will definitely visit Montpellier again for more time.
Finding a budget hotel with a parking place in the city center is nearly impossible. So we booked one a bit out, Hotel Ibis Budget, but it was still a nice walking distance to the main attractions. It is a typical Ibis Budget style, but everything was very clean, for a good price we got just what we needed.
An oval central square is one of the largest pedestrian areas in Europe. Often filled with street artist and locals, with a lot of cafes, definitely is a must to stop by or hang out.
First picture, summer 1995. The second picture, spring 2017.
Too bad, the fountain wasn’t working, it was not the same season, was a bit cold, and I didn’t have the same tan 😀
This triumphal arch is located at the eastern end of the Jardin de Peyrou, a park near the center of the city. A monument is the most famous landmark in Montpellier. The Porte du Peyrou was built in 1691, on the old city walls, dedicated to the glory of Louis XIV. You can climb up 103 stairs for a nice view.
Right after the Peyrou arch is a lovely promenade du Peyrou which lead to the water tower and Saint-Clément Aqueduct.
A perfect lovely place where you can relax or take a walk.
I could spend hours in this nice and quite historic botanical garden and arboretum.
The magnificent porch in the south entrance, supported by two mammoth columns, is what make this gothic style cathedral very impressive.
Right next to the cathedral, former cloister of the monastery is The court of honor of the Faculty of Medicine. It has a nice courtyard, but it’s not always open to the public.
Antigone is a neighborhood of Montpellier, east of the city center. It is best known for its architectural design. The district is located between the old center of Montpellier and the river Lez. On the opposite side of the river is the Hôtel de la Région.
Our next destination was Marseille, and we decided to stop somewhere in between. There are so many nice places to see, Nimes, Arles, Avignon, Aix en Provence any many more… We decided for Arles, with no plan.
When you arrive in the city, there is a big parking garage where you better leave your car and just walk around. Near there is a tourist office where you can get a free map and more information. The city has a long history. Probably a lot of people doesn’t know that the Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there.
We had a pleasant walk through the city and a cup of coffee in front of the amphitheater. Besides the great Amphitheater, there are also some other nice sight and landmarks, Théâtre Antique, Cloister of St. Trophime, Primatiale Saint Trophime, Cryptoportico of the Forum, Chapel of charity, The ancient Obelisk and The Archbishop’s Palace at Place De la République…
After a nice few hours in Arles, we headed to Marseille. We stayed there for two nights in Premiere Classe Marseille Centre, with a walking distance to the port. Very simple hotel, but it was clean, and has a parking garage.
Marseille is one of the major ports of the Mediterranean Sea, and it’s most famous for its, the heart of the city, Vieux Port (old port). Many other historic buildings are located around the Old Port, my favorite is Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, located up the hill overlooking the old port.
Notre-Dame de la Garde is a Catholic basilica and the city’s best-known symbol. There are many ways to get there, but walking up the hills is totally worth.
Another great striped architecture, located in the old port. This Roman Catholic cathedral is a national monument of France. It might be, that architecture and scale of this cathedral are much more impressive than the Basilica Notre Dame. Imposing doorway, similar to some other doors I’ve seen on the way through France.
This is some kind of a tourist trap, a lot of people taking selfies, even lying on the floor… But still, the construction is quite impressive.
The Palais Longchamp was created to celebrate the construction of the Canal de Marseille, which was built to bring water from the Durance River to Marseille. So it’s not a palace like a name says, but a monument to the glory of water. Too bad it was under maintenance at the time we were there, so, unfortunately, there was no water. Today there are two museums in this building, the Natural History Museum of Marseille and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille. There is a really nice park next to it.
If you are in the old port, you will definitely pass by the Marseille Eye. If you are not scared of heights, you will enjoy the view from the top.
It’s definitely worth visiting The Panier – the oldest neighborhood in Marseille, The Abbaye Saint Victor – one of Marseille’s most beautiful churches, where is also a nice view to the port, Marseille’s historic street La Canebiere, Château d’If – … If you want to get away from the city for a while, head to Calanques. The Calanques are world-renowned formations to the South of Marseille, known as the ‘fjords of the French Riviera’. You can go there by boat from Marseille, or by bus or car to Luminy, park near the Faculty of Sciences of Luminy, and you have some nice hiking trails. I’m saving Calanques for next time when I’ll have some more time and a bit warmer weather.
After two days in Marseille, we headed to Nice, driving through Toulon, Saint Tropez & Cannes. Somehow I wasn’t really impressed by Toulon. Maybe it was the weather. It was so cloudy all the time, very dark, was a bit cold and raining… I was actually really disappointed the very first moment we came there. It was just a shortstop, so we just walked through the marina and the city, and in the end, it wasn’t so bad. The military port of Toulon is the major naval center on France’s Mediterranean coast. It is also a marina for private boats and the embarkation for Corsica and Sardinia. It was all very quiet everywhere, not a lot of people. Until you get to the daily market, where all the fun begin. The Cours Lafayette is Toulon’s main outdoor market. You can buy food, flowers, clothing, housewares… There are some street musicians… For a break, you can stop in some of the nearby cafes. Liberty Plaza is the enormous main square in the upper town. You can see some of Toulon in my video, from 1:25 – 1:32.
I was way more impressed by Saint Tropez. It is probably the most famous resort in Europe. It was a military and fishing village until the beginning of the 20th century and was the first town on this coast to be liberated during World War II. After Brigitte Bardot visited in the fifties, the town changed its image, and it’s now a hot spot for showing your yacht and expensive cars, eating Michelin starred cuisine, luxury shopping and showing your tan. Well, that’s really not my style, so we just walked through the nice small streets of Siant Tropez, which are really super cute. Orange, yellow and stone houses with colorful window shutters and many flowers and succulents on the street or on the windows. So pretty!! A must see is a Citadelle de Saint-Tropez – Musee d’histoire maritime. Located on a short walk uphill offers a nice view of the city and the sea.
There was quite a lot of people, but I imagine, it’s way more crowded in the summer. So, it was a pretty nice visit. Oh, and we bought ice cream. A small cup. It was 5€. Each!! And I didn’t even take a picture of it! Well, at least it was tasty 🙂
Just before Cannes, we stopped at a long beach on the Boulevard du Midi Louise Moreau, to cool down our feet after a long day walking.
Most known for the Film festival, Cannes is also one of many nice coastal cities in the French Riviera. By the time we have arrived at Cannes we were already sooo hungry, that we just couldn’t walk around, and went to the first and nearest food place. Some fast food. I believe it’s some of the cheaper places here 🙂 We didn’t stay long, just to see the very imposing Festival Palace, Palais des Festivals. Located at one end of the Promenade de la Croisette, which is also a nice place t see. There is a line of fashion bloggers and movie lovers waiting for their turn to take photos on the ‘red carpet’ stairs.
In every sense of the phrase Cote d’Azur, Nice it the most ‘Azur’ of everything. The sky is blue, the sea is blue, the views are amazing, a mix of old and modern architecture, the whole city itself is shining this ‘Azur’ energy. No wonder why they call it the capital of French Riviera.
We spend two days in Nice and stayed in a four-star hotel, Hipark by Adagio Nice, 2km away from Promenade des Anglais. Our studio was so beautiful, everything very clean and modern, I could totally live there. Staff was really helpful and friendly. There is a pool on the roof! But it was not the season yet, so it was closed.
So much to see and so little time! Of all the attractions, hot spots, museums, shops, and restaurants, strolling down the Promenade des Anglais is the first thing to do. While admiring the beach on one side, and tremendous hotels and buildings on the other, you can get some drinks, food, and shopping in between. For a panoramic view, you must definitely climb Castle Hill. The old Port is also worth visiting.
The bad thing was, we were there on the 1st of May. The national public holiday, Labor day or you may call it International Workers’ Day. I love holidays, and of course respect this particular one, that’s why I could even afford a few days off. But on the first of May, a lot of things are closed, many shops and even bars and restaurants, al the museums are closed, and many locals probably get out of town. Even the tramway wasn’t working. There are mostly tourists, so I think you can’t get the real city vibe, even though the Promenade is quite crowded all the time and there are actually a lot of people out. There was also a parade.
On the way home, we drove through Monaco. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to stop, we still had 800 km to get home.
I really loved this trip and I will definitely visit again and include some other places.
And for the end, there is a short video of this trip 🙂
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On one side of the Danube river there once were cities Buda and Óbuda. Located on a hill with the best view, very elegant architecture, a lot of green areas and a really lovely atmosphere, it is my favorite part of Budapest. On the other side …
Amsterdam is the capital city of The Netherlands and probably one of the most visited cities in Europe. Mysterious and charming for its canals and crooked narrow houses, standing next to one another. Famous for Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Red Light district and of course coffee shops. If you would like to explore the city more in details you should stay at least one week, the best time is probably from spring to early autumn. If you are interested in tulips, the best time is from March to the end of May.
I was in Amsterdam in February, for a weekend. For me, it was a bit too cold, and the weather was not really pleasant for taking photos. So I decided I will definitely visit it again in the future.
Here’s how to spend a weekend in Amsterdam.
Walking or cycling through the streets is probably the best way to feel the city vibe. You should take a whole day and just get lost in the city. You can admire the architecture, typical narrow houses, a lot of them slightly crooked. A mix of modern buildings and great historical facades. Why are the houses so narrow? Because back in the 17th-century locals were taxed on the width of their properties. But because of that, the windows are much bigger, covering almost all the facade, so they could bring in the furniture.
For refreshment and rest, you can stop by in coffee shops, pastries, candy shops, restaurants… there is plenty of everything. For example, the best apple pie is supposed to be in Winkel 43.
Shopping in Amsterdam’s colorful markets is a great way of picking up a few Dutch souvenirs. There is Waterlooplein Flea Market, Flower Market, Antique center…
You can visit Madame Tussauds, a lot of museums and galleries; Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Anne Frank House, Hermitage Amsterdam, EYE Filmmuseum…
Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot looks like in a fairy tale, Amsterdam Cheese Museum sounds really great, and also NEMO Science Museum, which looks interesting already from the outside. For fashion lovers, fashion history, Bags and Purses Museum.
A canal cruise in the other best way to explore the city, to view it from another perspective. To have a better view and opportunity to take photos, I guess it’s better to go on an open boat tour. We were in a boat with a roof, because it was freezing outside. It has glass, but still, you have limited view, and from one side you see great, but when you take photos from attractions from the other side, you mostly take photos of heads of other passengers. The traffic in the Amstel river is actually very heavy all day. From the river perspective, you can also get a better view of houseboats, which were once a way to deal with the Amsterdam housing shortage. You float really near those houses so you practically see inside, but most of them are so well designed, the interiors are really modern, unique, and the patios are filled with flowers and garden chairs and tables. You can even rent some boat houses, these ones look nice; Houseboat Rose, Something Cool on the Amstel, Luxury loft style Houseboat, Gratia Deo.
Heineken brewery in Amsterdam has been transformed into a sensational interactive tour through the dynamic world of Heineken. For beer lovers or a refreshment, it’s a nice relaxing tour through the brewery, where you can find some interesting facts about Heineken. And, of course, taste the gold. Cheers!!
Order your tickets online to skip the queue. Or you can buy them in most of the tourist infoshops, anything is better than at the brewery because it can be really crowded there.
All important info you find on www.iamsterdam.com
I suggest you order I Amsterdam City Card, if you are going to us trams and other transport regularly, or you want to visit a lot of museums. You can use this for GVB public transport, free entry to museums, free canal cruise, free detailed map, and some other discounts. For example, 72-hour card costs 75€ (but there are often some discounts online) but includes:
-Free, unlimited use of the GVB public transport in Amsterdam (bus, tram & metro)
-Free entry to Amsterdam’s best museums and attractions
-A free, detailed city map
-Free canal cruise, a beautiful way to see the city’s historic center
-Great discounts and special offers throughout Amsterdam and its surrounding area
-Free giveaways & discounts on concerts, theater, rentals, restaurants and more
ROOM MATE AITANA – Great location in the city center and beautifully designed.
citizenM AMSTERDAM SOUTH – Nice design with big windows and a great view. Also a great location.
URBAN LODGE HOTEL – located in Westpoort, around 3,5 km from the Anne Frank house. Great design and they offer private parking.
JAZ AMSTERDAM – Nice design. Located in Zuidoost district.
TRAIN LODGE AMSTERDAM – A cheaper but interesting option, sleeping on a train! It also offers a bar and a terrace.
Here it is! Design X Travel’s first backpack and cute pouches collection. I’ve been working on this for quite a while, but somehow just couldn’t finish it exactly at a time I wanted to. But anyway, I made it 🙂 We had a fun photoshoot …
I like to read travel quotes, it makes me dream of all those magical places I want to see, but don’t have the chance yet to go there. And it makes me more confident and is easier to make those dreams come true. Well, some …
I’m a huge fan of concept stores, small shops, all crafty and handmade stuff. Etsy is the perfect combination of everything beautiful you need in one place, and it’s all online, yeeey (I prefer shopping online) 🙂 Etsy is the place to be, for a shopper or a shop owner.
I’m the one who likes everything and everyone, if I had too much money, I’d just buy everything 😀 but sometimes I wish that some things from my ‘likes list’ would just magically appear in my home 😀
I could make a list of 100 favorite Etsy Shops, but I choose some shops that I’m currently into, it’s a short list of 10 favorite shops 😀
Exquisite Faux Taxidermy & Fun Decor from Australia
I just love clean colors, with a touch of gold and silver, or edgy contrast pink or red. And I looove skulls 🙂 I think photos really well represent the concept and item itself. Here are some of my favorite items, click on the photo for a redirect to Etsy shop.
Brass Geometric Mobiles, Wall Sconces + Air Plants
Geometry and gold is again my thing. I was never into flowers before, but lately, I really enjoy all the green plants and succulents, I think it freshens the places when you put a little green in it. The photos are minimalist and simple but really beautiful. Click on a photo for more info.
Concrete interior design
The newcomer design label from Austria comes forth with a new, fresh product line in fashion jewelry and living accessories.
The strength of these products lies in their clarity, their apparent stability, and sophisticated simplicity. They don´t use 3D printed molds. Every product is produced by hand & in a specific process, so there are no mold seams visible.
I like raw materials and grey color, and these cute concrete decor items are perfect for succulents 🙂 Simple pictures, nothing else to say. I love it!
Chapman at Sea surfboard bags & beach bags
Florida style things, tacky palm tree patterns, tropical prints, pretty much all nature and ocean specifically is what inspires an artist who’s behind Chapman at Sea. She says that all of her creations are made with function & durability in mind. She believes good design doesn’t just look pretty, it creates solutions to problems & serves a functional purpose. Also if something is going to have a sense of history, it has to last a long time.
I think it simply amazing, all the fresh colors and functional design, it makes me want to live near the ocean.
Handmade Everyday Statement Jewelry
A handmade collection of carefully crafted Jewelry that aims at creating casual, yet sophisticated looks.
Designed by Anna-Rosa, an architect with a soft spot for fashion, MLB Jewelry plays with geometric rules, harmonic proportions and color contrasts that upgrade an everyday outfit.
Beautiful creations with my favorite materials and colors again.
Woolen pillows inspired by nature
Quality cushions for the home + modern heirlooms for the little one. Each is individually designed, every one handcrafted from wool + linen.
Original wool mountain pillows; sudden urge to go hiking 🙂 I love these nature inspired cute items. Click on a photo to redirect to Three Bad Seeds Etsy page.
Sparkling colorful fashion design
The idea behind the ZIB* brand is to add a little bit of art to everyday apparel. ZIB* offers comfortable and original jersey clothing as well as bright accessories. Every garment is handmade, prints are based on drawings and paintings, therefore each item is unique and different by its color tone or paintdrops on the fabric.
Every print is so beautifully made it’s mesmerizing and really sparkling. I’ve ordered Thunder wolf sports pants, I fell in love with the wolf print the very first second I saw it. Pants are super great made, and the print is flawless. And photos – pure love <3 Click on a photo to redirect to ZIB* Etsy shop.
Organic baby leggings, blankets, and accessories. For the baby with style.
I guess everything smaller than adult size is cute, but these sweets are just plain awesome. Amazing & funny patterns and prints, I would totally wear these 😀
Click on a photo for more info.
Artisanal & Bohemian Dog Products
The most fashionable and adorable dog collars and dog beds. Usually, dogs sleep in our beds, but those look so comfortable and cool, I’d probably go to cuddle to a dog’s bed 😀 (Update April 2019, shop not available anymore)
They create pieces that are flattering to the female figure and extremely comfortable to wear. All of the products are made with ultra soft and silky materials that feel exquisite on your body and flatter your shape.
And photos are just amazing <3
(Update April 2019, shop on Etsy not available. Check on www.nueraswim.com )
I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to introduce you my dear friend, photographer Aleksandra and her work, Indigo Blu Weddings. I’ve been watching her learning and growing from the start and realized she can create wonderful, emotional and edgy photos, I really enjoy …
In summer 2011 I decided to go on a road trip in Balkan. By car. Alone. Well, almost alone, I had a few companions, but I started the road trip alone. The original idea was to record the entire road trip, for my college degree, …
Did you ever had a great talent, or really enjoy and love your hobby, but somehow (I really don’t know how) you kind of forgot it and stopped doing it? I did. And I really regret it. When I was still in kindergarten, I wanted to be a painter. I loved drawing, sketching and painting so much, I could do it all day. Through the years of drawing, I found myself in pencils and architectural sketches, mostly in high school in our classes. But when I got to college, we mostly draw fashion sketches and figures. Although I’m actually a fashion designer, I should love this kind of sketches, but I admit, I still can’t draw a decent fashion sketch. Someday, somehow, I just stopped drawing. And now when I have something beautiful in mind, I really can’t draw it like I used to.
That’s why I decided to make myself a drawing/sketching challenge. The point is to improve my skills, creativity, do the things I love. To become who I want to be, and maybe inspire some other lost creative souls. 😀 If you want to join me at this project, please tag your drawings and sketches with #dxtdrawing so I can see your talents.
-you don’t need to draw every day, there is no expiring date
-you can make more sketches in one day if you are inspired
-write the name of a sketch in a corner, and also add a date, so you can see the improvement
-you can use all different styles, tools,… drawing, painting, sketching…
-use your imagination and make yourself happy 🙂
I wonder why I wrote ‘a dragon’ twice, and I wonder why I didn’t notice that earlier, I read that at least 50 times 😀
Anyway, let’s keep it how it is, maybe it’s meant to be that way, let’s draw two dragons in two different ways 😀
Enjoy :*
My challenge drawings:
December is finally here, and I’m totally into buying gifts, for myself 😀 Recently I’ve got myself a cute little cosmetic bag from Bubalina Handbags. It’s just the right size to fit in all the important stuff I need everyday, it’s in my favorite colors, black and white, …
Road trip Road trip from Miami to Key West. I’m speechless. This is an epic, must do, an iconic road trip to do, if you are in Florida. I’ve always wanted to see the Florida Keys, but have never even imagined that it looks so …
The Everglades (or Pa-hay-okee) is a natural region of tropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee. Water leaving the lake in the wet season forms a slow-moving river 97 km wide and over 160 km long, flowing southward across a limestone shelf to Florida Bay at the southern end of the state. The Everglades experience a wide range of weather patterns, from frequent flooding in the wet season to drought in the dry season. Everglades is a unique treasure found in South Florida and the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the United States. It consists of 1.5 million acres of sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, and hardwood hammocks dominated by wetlands. And it is home to endangered, rare, and exotic wildlife.
Most important pieces of information you can find on a U.S. National Park Service site. Like in other National Parks, there is also an entrance fee, 30$ per vehicle for 7 days. If you are planning to visit more National Parks or even some recreation areas, I recommend buying an Annual Pass, America the Beautiful. It costs 80$, valid for a year and covers the pass owner and three accompanying adults. You can buy it when entering the park, or online at USGS Store or at Rei.
Everglades is one of the places I wanted to see if I ever go to Florida. There are so many things to see, nature is beautiful, depends on the time you are going and the weather, you can see a variety of animals, and you simply just enjoy some beautiful quiet time in nature. Here is a TripAdvisor list of Top things to do in Everglades National Park. To see all that, you can spend a whole week just in Everglades. So we decided to go to Gator Park, on a short airboat tour. It was a guided bus tour from Miami.
That day wasn’t so hot, it was about 28-29°C, very cloudy and high humidity, so our Spanish speaking tour guide said it’s the right weather to see many different animals, such as alligators, esnakes… 😀 And we really did see some alligators in their natural habitat.
We went on an airboat or hovercraft, and it was really fun driving fast on water and grass, the water was splashing all over us when we were turning. I only watched this in movies and Tv series like The Glades, and yeaaah finally I’ve been there.
After a short ride with hovercraft, we went to see alligator wrestling. This is actually a guy showing how to catch an alligator. And then he shows a dangerous scorpion, and some cute little alligators you can actually touch.
The second we sat under this house where the gator wrestling was, it’s started to rain sooo hard. Everywhere I go it’s raining, but this time I really had luck, that I was sitting under a roof, and it stopped raining just when the show was over 😀
Crocodiles and alligators are both reptiles from the same order of animals, named Crocodylia. There are however a number of important differences which set these predators apart.
Crocodiles have a longer, more V-shaped head then alligators. Alligators have shorter, wider heads that are more U-shaped.
The fourth tooth of a crocodile sticks out when its mouth is closed.
Crocodiles are better adapted to living in seawater.
They tend to have a lighter appearance than alligators.
Alligators are less aggressive than crocodiles.
Crocodiles in the wild are found all over the world while alligators are only found in the US and China.
Alligators strongly favor freshwater while some species of crocodile live in seawater.
We have only seen alligators =)
It’s been almost two weeks since I came from Miami, and finally, I’m collecting all the memories together. I used to edit photos immediately I came from vacation or trips, but lately, I found this really hard. It’s like I really don’t want to accept …
”Party in the city where the heat is on, all night on the beach til’ the break of dawn…” I’ve been singing this Will Smith’s song for the last few months, almost every day since I booked my plane ticket 😀 The journey is coming …
After two great days in Florence, Pisa and Montecatini Terme, the third day we went to Venice. We’ve already been to Venice a couple of times before, so we just took a walk in Venice streets, some of them we have seen before, some of them we walked through for the first time. I like to walk through small streets that are not too crowded. And it’s good t get lost. You can always find a way out somehow, but it’s more exciting if it takes time. It’s like a maze, so you better take some time and not hurry, just slowly explore beautiful streets.
The sad fact is that the city is getting way too much overcrowded with tourists, which causes some troubles. Venice is a beautiful city that I would recommend everyone to see it, but at the same time, I realize how much mass tourism is hurting it. Venice is already very expensive, but I agree with the new city taxes and I hope it will help to preserve the city.
Venice’s city council approved a visitors tax on day-trippers from 2019, aimed at paying for essential services that are more costly to perform in the lagoon city, such as trash collection and the cleaning of public areas. Day-trippers will be charged a daily tax in a range from 3€ to 10€.
The “City of Bridges“, as it is usually called, stretches along the mouths of the Po and the Piave rivers. It is situated across a group of 117 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by bridges. In Venice, you’ll find many historical buildings, with modern interiors and also with the traditional designs which are common all over the city. The fastest and the best transportation is, of course, by boat. Gondolas are the most famous and romantic means of transportation for experiencing the city. The gondola is the symbol of Venice, which has made it famous all over the world.
The Grand Canal forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses and private water taxis, and many tourists explore the canal by gondola, but it’s a bit expensive. One end of the canal leads into the lagoon near the Santa Lucia railway station and the other end leads into Saint Mark Basin; in between, it makes a large reverse-S shape through the central districts of Venice. It is 3.8 km long, and 30 to 90 m wide, with an average depth of five meters.
We parked on Tronchetto parking, which cost us 16€ for 4 hours – the most expensive parking I have ever been to. Near parking there is a Vaporetto water boat bus station, we took a one-way ticket (7,5€ per person) to Piazza San Marco.
Piazza San Marco, St Mark’s Square, is the principal public square of Venice. As the largest square in the city, St. Mark’s Square has always been the location of important government buildings and other facilities central to the goings on in Venice. The most important building is, of course, magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica. For its expensive design, gold ground mosaics it’s a symbol of Venetian wealth and power.
We went to the top of St. Mark’s Campanile, bell tower. Price for the elevator is 8€/person, it’s very crowded up there, but the view is really nice. The tower is 98.6 m tall, and stands alone in a corner of St Mark’s Square, near the front of the basilica.
The Doge’s Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice in northern Italy. The Doge’s Palace was the residence of the Doge (the ruler of Venice) and also housed the political bodies of the state. Within the lavish complex, there were law courts, administrative offices, courtyards, grand stairways, and ballrooms, as well as prisons on the ground floor. It’s worth visiting the palace interior, but you need to have some extra time. More information and tickets here.
It was under construction, unfortunately. Besides Piazza San Marco, this bridge is probably the heart of the city. Rialto Bridge was the city’s first bridge over the Grand Canal connecting the highest points on the Venice islands settlement. Part of the city near the Rialto bridge has always been the center of Venetian trade and is the oldest part of the city. On the bridge and its surroundings, you will find various stalls and restaurants. At the top of the bridge extends the interesting view of the Grand Canal and the market.
Venice offers plenty of nice architectural details, I especially love doors. An easy stroll around the city is a perfect way to find all the beautiful things about Venice.
From Florence to Montecatini Terme After a great day in Florence, and an hour driving, late in the evening, we arrived at our hotel, Hotel Michelangelo in Montecatini Terme. Montecatini Terme is a charming town and it is a capital of thermal treatments and spas. …
At the end of August, my mother had a birthday, so I decided to take her on a trip to Italy. Three cities in three days, Florence, Pisa, Venice. Mom has never been to Florence and Pisa before. I was there with school, almost 10 years …
I’m not a diver, so I didn’t find any gold treasures under the sea. 🙂 But the island itself in one big treasure. There are so many nature an culture treasures, that you can’t see them all in just two weeks.
Because of a mixture of landscapes and climates, Gran Canaria is also called “the miniature continent”. The dry environment of the south is a contrast to the lush green north. The mountain range, which divides the island, prevents the prevailing northerly wind from carrying its moisture-laden clouds to the south. You can experience all three of Gran Canaria’s major micro-climates in one day: the Humid Island in the North-East; the Dry Island in the South-West; and the Highland environment above 1500 m.
Here is what you can see:
The Tamadaba forest is the best place to see different climates in one day. Tamadaba is a pine forest in National park Tamadaba, located near Agaete and Artenara, northwest of the island.
Tamadaba offers lots of different ways and paths to discover. We choose our path with Walking in Gran Canaria app.
Tamadaba is the richest pine forest in Gran Canaria. It covers an area slightly above the 2,000 hectares, and most of the pines are naturally regenerated.
There is also camping and recreational area, it has barbecues, tables, benches, potable water, and toilets.
The landscape and the view are really breathtaking and it is a place of absolute silence and peace.
Roque Nublo (Clouded Rock, Rock in the Clouds) is a volcanic rock, It is 80 m tall, and its top is 1,813 m above sea level. It is the second highest peak of the island, after nearby Pico de las Nieves. The Bentayga Roque is one of the unique rock formations of the island. It lies within the caldera of Tejeda in the heart of the island. Its height is 1,404 meters above sea level. Both rocks are former volcanic plugs, made up of basalt, which due to its solidity remained standing while the surrounding softer material was washed to the sea by rockslides and rainfall.
We went to Roque Bentayga, but from there is a really nice view to Roque Nublo also.
The Pilgrimage of pine is a religious and popular demonstration in honor of the Virgen del Pino (Virgin of the pine). The festival takes place every September 7th and it’s the biggest religious festival in Gran Canaria. Pilgrims from all over Gran Canaria meet in Teror and offer fresh produce to Virgen del Pino. La Plaza de Teror is the meeting place for the procession in the early hours of the morning and the festivities continue throughout the rest of the day.
Vegueta in a really nice neighborhood of Las Palmas, architecture is really beautiful. But the fun thing about it is Thursday nights, where you can get beer or wine + tapas for approximately two euros, in all of the bars in the small streets. Live music, food, drinks and a lot of people = fun 🙂 This is a must go.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a capital city of Gran Canaria. It is located in the northeast part of the island.
Las Palmas offers a variety of theater, cinema, opera, concerts, visual arts, and dance performances. The city hosts the Canary Islands Music Festival, the Theatre and Dance and the International Film Festival. The main City Festival, celebrating the foundation of the “City Fiestas de San Juan” is held in June. The city center of Las Palmas, specifically the Vegueta and Triana neighborhoods, are included in the tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
To see the historic center you should go to the popular area of Vegueta where some of the most important historical buildings have been standings: the chapel of San Antonio Abad, the Plaza de Santa Ana bordered by the Casas Consistoriales, the Obispado, the Casa Regental, and Santa Ana Cathedral. It is worth visiting samples of traditional architecture, patios full of plants and plazas such as Pilar Nuevo, Santo Domingo, and Espíritu Santo presided over by a beautiful stone fountain, wooden balconies, and cobbled streets.
This is just a small portion of all the nice things to see in Gran Canaria. There is so much more to explore. If you are more interested in beaches, you can find the list in my previous post about the island.
Unveiling the Hidden Gems: Discovering the Best Beaches of Gran Canaria Gran Canaria, the third largest island in the Canary Islands, is a true tiny universe of experiences that are sure to make every day memorable. This African archipelago, which is part of Spain, boasts …
