Ercolano - Italy

Ercolano – Italy

Post published:30 March 2014
Post category:Europe Italy Southern Europe

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Named after the Greek Hero Hercules

On our second part of this trip and in the same day after the Roman villas of Stabiae and Oplontis, we visit the major highlight, the ancient city of Ercolano. Second in size after Pompeii, but way different to this in the sense of how incredibly well preserved everything stood after the 79AD Mount Vesuvius eruption. Unfortunately only 1/4 of the total city has been excavated, while the remaining of the city might never been uncovered. The new city of Herculaneum was built on top of the ancient. Back then they even did not even know what was below ground, but the over construction covered most of the former city limits which lie well below the current street level.

I cannot say that I like one or the other more. Both compliment each other. While in Pompeii you do not have such great paintings and large villas, or so incredibly well preserved thermaes; you have in the other hand the complete area of the forum, theatre and coliseum, something that is completely buried under the new city in Herculaneum.

What is best on this place, the lack of mass tourism. In Pompeii expect hordes of tourists, but here in Ercolano you will be happy to enjoy the city mostly to yourself, but of course, mind that during the high season months there will be lots of people but nothing to compare with overcrowded Pompeii.

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Stabiae and Oplontis - Italy

Stabiae and Oplontis – Italy

Post published:29 March 2014
Post category:Europe Italy Southern Europe

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Luxury villas by the sea for the high class Romans

After a couple of years a since the first trip to Naples and Pompeii we decided to come back and visit on this occasion some more of the greatest Roman cities that were buried on the same catastrophic 79 AD Mount Vesuvius eruption; Stabiae, Oplontis and Ercolano. And for the future, there are some other places worth to spare some time to enjoy with other Roman villas uncovered, yet for now, with these bunch of ancient cities and villas to see, the entire weekend would be for that only getting back to Naples to sleep and for some nice dinner.

Needless to say that coming to Naples has more excuses. First, Naples itself; I really like it against what most people say that if either is ugly or dangerous. Nonsense comments; it has so much to see and do that even a weekend is too short. Of course I am talking about the prettiness of the old town, don’t just misjudge the city for the ugly and pretty much run down quarters around it. Then the incredible food and the low prices overall for everything. The best pizzas ever I’ve eaten have been here. Then some of the finest and best preserved Roman era cities and monuments, and the incredible countless villages along the Amalfi and Sorrentine coasts, and of course, the idyllic and posh islands of Capri and Ischia. With Naples you can never be wrong, and there’s always many reasons to return.

Both Stabiae and Oplontis are not cities as such but instead some of the most luxurious Roman villas across the entire southern region of the once glorious Roman Empire. The frescoes among the best preserved and so their entire structure.
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Toulouse - France

Toulouse – France

Post published:23 March 2014
Post category:Europe France Western Europe

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Roman Tolosa

For a long time in the agenda, it’s finally the time to land in Toulouse, although for now, it would only be for few moments. Just to collect the rental car and directly drive towards Andorra, the final destination for today and returning back later at night in Toulouse, giving us a whole day for visiting this beautiful city. The fourth largest metropolitan area in France, Quite a big city itself but perfect for a one day visit as the historical city centre is not too big. The very compact medieval core is mostly pedestrian and majority of the sights are located within short reach from each others.

The city has become the most important centre of the European aerospace industry where many of the global headquarters are based, including those of Galileo, EADS and of course, Airbus, which is the main assembly point of airplanes. All nations involved at any point in the construction of any part will finally meet at Toulouse’s Airbus factory where they are assembled and make ready for delivery.

There are many historical buildings, and opposed as to what you can see in Bordeaux for example where most of the buildings date from the 18th century after the urbanism plan and look so similar one to another; in here this is the opposite. Buildings from all eras blend together where colours are an important fact. French cities tend to be monochromatic, with pastels are the main colour. Here in Toulouse you won’t be disappointed not bored; this is not the typical copy and paste of the “same” building.

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Andorra la Vella - Andorra

Andorra la Vella – Andorra

Post published:22 March 2014
Post category:Andorra Europe Southern Europe

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Highest Capital City in Europe

We could not resist the temptation of being able to step into another country, which as of MArch 2014 it marks the 60th I’ve been so far in my life; making it alone the 40th out of the 50 that forms the European Continent. It was of course a pre-planned trip. Either flying to Barcelona or Toulouse; but with so many times been to Barcelona, Toulouse had the best chances as being a city we’ve also never been before. Now that’s the perfect weekend, two for one.

Coming to Andorra is not easy by plane. There are no commercial airports to begin with, being the nearest one Perpignan some 130 kilometres to the east in France; and that’s a lengthy drive since there are no motorways connecting directly with Andorra, but instead smaller roads with many bends and ports to pass. Then farther away as was in our case, you have at almost 200 kilometres away the much bigger Toulouse airport.

Whichever the choice, bearing the long and at points stressful drive, it was very worth in every minute. Not because of Andorra la Vella itself, but for the incredible landscapes and nature you will be driving through. From pure spring to the deepest of the winter. Right before arriving to the border, the snowy mountains were everywhere, but out of sudden, few kilometres after the border and some hundreds of meters higher, it was heavily snowing! (more…)

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Jersey - United Kingdom

Jersey – British Isles

Post published:16 March 2014
Post category:Europe Jersey Northern Europe United Kingdom

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Bailiwick of Jersey

Although it took a long time to finally travel to any of the British Isles and the Channel Islands itself, it will not be the last but only the beginning considering the many other around. Coming to three, then the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey all are self governing democracies under the constitutional monarchy with independent administered jurisdictions; meaning it does not form part of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth of Nations, or the European Union; although it has special treats with them, being the United Kingdom constitutionally responsible for the defense of Jersey.

Being an island of that small size, it makes it perfect for a weekend. Don’t expect any city though, as even the capital of the island, Saint Helier, has more feeling to a little village than a city. Everywhere else across the island are small villages, some towns, and the beautiful coasts, empty beaches and landscapes.

As a curious fact, until not long ago Jèrriais was the official spoken and written language in the Channel Islands; but since the last decades this has changed in favour of English, still you will find names and translations on both languages, although we did not come across anyone speaking it nor listened in the radio or anywhere a word of it. (more…)

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Bordeaux - France

Bordeaux – France

Post published:2 March 2014
Post category:Europe France Western Europe

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The Port of the Moon

It is the turn for a weekend in France again, being the most recent before that one to Cannes; and from taking a look at the current flights booked so far in the coming months, it won’t be the last trip to France this year for sure. Stay tuned. The problem I am currently encountering more often is that I am running out of weekends to go anywhere! Just a quick fact on how things are, with 74 flights booked this years alone so far and counting, that’s serious business and time management. Every year the number of flights and trips keep going up exponentially.

Bordeaux is the second city after Paris with the largest amount of listed historical buildings. The entire old town is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s impossible to question about such status. Once you see for your own eyes then you will know; although it’s difficult to find any historical city in France without any sort of UNESCO sites, either specific constructions or entire towns; same happening in Spain and Italy, where the three countries top the world’s list for the amount of such status granted.

Who have never heard of Bordeaux before? Surely you have taste one of the most precious drinks this region is world famous for. Wine. France is world’s number one wine producer in the world, and Bordeaux region the largest producer of wine within France. Now, you might believe from those numbers that you would find plenty of wine shops and plenty of choice in the supermarkets, well you are wrong and so I was. Shockingly to say, any medium to large Tesco supermarket in the UK have by far a larger selection of wines with a great number on Bordeaux itself! (more…)

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Cannes - France

Cannes – France

Post published:9 February 2014
Post category:Europe France Western Europe

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The Hollywood of Europe

At not long time ago since we flew on the same route to Nice in order to visit both that city and Monaco, it is this occasion we take for visiting Cannes instead at just merely 30 km away centre to centre, or just 20 km from Nice Cote d’Azur Airport. And why to travel in February again you might think; well, it’s the lowest season you can have and as such, finding a good air fare and cheap accommodation is really easy. Yes, cold; and if unlucky, rain; but for someone like me looking for a cultural weekend not a beach break, it’s the perfect time of the year to travel. It saves lots of money and you can enjoy the places almost without any tourists, only locals.

Cannes, as opposed to Nice, is much smaller meaning 2 days way too much time. You really need only one day to fully visit everything, any longer I consider it a sort of waste of time as you can instead spend it in bigger Nice, not to mention the amount of restaurants and bars in Nice cannot compete to those in Cannes. And going out in Cannes, no matter if to a bar, restaurant or disco that’s another level. This is one of the preferred destinations among the rich and famous, and should you be visiting the city during the Cannes Movie Festival days, then it is highly likely you will get to see many movie stars and other celebrities alike. In the other hand in Nice you have everything in a greater scale but a fraction of the cost.

Walking along the sea promenade, the Boulevard de la Croisette is the sight number one where you will see most of the grand hotels and the top of the class fashion and jewellery firms. The architecture of the grand buildings is very impressive and elegant, so is the care and efforts done in restoring such masterpieces.
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Gibraltar - United Kingdom

Gibraltar – Gibraltar

Post published:26 January 2014
Post category:Southern Europe United Kingdom

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The Rock

Although we’ve returned more times to Gibraltar with the years, this was the first time we ever went to a British Overseas Territory. This little piece of land is little more than a mountain lying between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, neighboring Spain. As small as it is, that the airport is mostly built on land gained to the sea at both sides of the straight, and the only commercial airport in the world to have a main traffic road passing through it perpendicular to the runway with a level crossing as if it would be a railway crossing. Meters north of the airport and you reach the Spanish border and the city of La Linea de la Concepcion.

Contrary to what Spanish people tend to think about the sovereignty of Gibraltar, this territory was ceded to Britain in perpetuity under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It was never taken from Spain by the British. The issues arise only because the waters surrounding it, which were not part of the original treaty, and the United Kingdom try to claim more and more, clearly violating certain clauses of the treaty.

Politics apart. The old town will for sure surprise you. It is a very beautiful blend of Victorian and Georgian with Southern Spanish architecture mixed with the Mediterranean colours and window shades. It looks much more Italian than British or Spanish. So pleasant and enjoyable stay all together (more…)

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