Category: Europe
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How to Spend 3 Days in Zadar
We had a three days to spend in Croatia so went to Zadar, Plitvice Lakes National Park and Zagreb. And it was AMAZING! Where to stay in Zadar We found our accommodation on Airbnb. Our apartment was lovely, with a sea view, and good value at just £33 per night. Easy to reach as well.…
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Best of Costa Rica
1 Volcán Arenal After decades of almost constant violent eruption, Volcán Arenal, one of Costa Rica’s most iconic attractions, fell into a slumber in 2011. Activity may or may not resume soon, but until then, you can hike through diverse ecosystems in the day, then bask in nearby hot springs. 2 Monteverde Monteverde provides a…
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Ten top tapas bars in Andalucia
According to legend – well, one legend, anyway – tapas were invented in Seville, when bartenders placed a saucer on top of a glass of wine to keep out the flies, then added a little ham or some olives. In any case, Andalucia is the heartland of this quintessentially Spanish snack – and here are…
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6 great Spanish journeys
Transport comes in so many different forms in Spain – each with its own joys. Explore the country by train and tram, bike and boat, car and cablecar to discover fabulous views and historic highlights in Andalucia, Catalonia, Mallorca, the Canary Islands and more Railway station, Bilbao Ride the slow train Best for… scenic…
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Moorish Spain in 5 places
In AD 711, an Islamic army from North Africa crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and began an invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. That conquest resulted in the creation of Al-Andalus, a domain of the vast Umayyad Caliphate. Though the last Moorish ruler was expelled from Granada by the Christian monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand in 1492,…
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Six of the Best Gastro Experiences in Andalucía
In no country in the world are culture and society as intimately connected with eating and drinking as in Spain, and in Andalucía, the spiritual home of tapas, this is even more the case. Tapas in Sevilla Sevilla has the richest tapas culture, from espinacas con garbanzos (spinach and chickpeas) to solomillo al whisky (steak…
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Explore Chateaux in Bordeaux
The train had rocked me to sleep after leaving Paris. A short three hours and few stops later, the whistle of the conductor announced we were pulling into Bordeaux. I almost expected the train station to be surrounded by chateaux, vineyards in long straight rows and winemakers carefully tending their vines. Instead, I found myself…
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Close Encounters of the Bird Kind
Shetland is famous for its birds. As well its huge seabird colonies, the islands attract Arctic species and are an important crossroads for migrating birds. Over 340 species have been recorded on Fair Isle, including rare and exotic birds from Asia and America. Twenty-one out of the 24 seabirds common to Britain breed in Shetland.…
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Visit Mykonos, The Glamorous Island of Greece
Explore the Glamorous of the Greek islands – Mykonos. Circling around the granite island of Mykonos in our cramped Airbus, we caught sight of the landmarks easily in the cloudless skies. The historic windmills that once milled wheat, the whitewashed buildings shimmering in the sunshine, the chaotic Paraportiani church, the rocky promontory of Little Venice.…
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Visit Andorra, the Kingdom of Heights
In Europe, the nations of Spain and France is a small principality of just under 500 square miles of extension. Andorra is immersed in the Pyrenees mountain range and therefore, its landscape is completely dominated by the mountains. Within this small piece of land we have at least 65 mountains, all above 2000 meters. Is…