Ephesus, Ancient Greek City, Archaeological Delight, Selçuk, Turkey

Incredible Ephesus, an ancient Greek city on the Turkish coast near present-day Selçuk, an archaeological paradise, on the UNESCO World Heritage list, showcasing spectacular monuments excavated from the ancient Roman port city. Timeworn pillars, Roman baths, Ancient temples, theatres, fountains, and a library can all be seen at this world wonder.

Enjoying the History in Ephesus, Turkey
Enjoying the History in Ephesus, Turkey

A scenic drive of approximately 30 minutes through the country from the seaside town Kusadasi

Broken Strings, The Musical * Theatre at Sea * Celebrity Cruises

Spectacular, dazzling, energetic, Broken Strings will have you dancing in your seats! Celebrity Cruises Productions and their fabulous Cast have taken Theatre at Sea to a new level of excitement with this sensational musical. Onstage Talent, Broadway Atmosphere, Tireless Music, Beautiful Stage Set and Fun Costumes guarantee the audience an evening of delight – unless you are a prude!

The Incredibly Talented Cast of Broken Strings, Celebrity Cruises Musical
The Incredibly Talented Cast of Broken Strings, Celebrity Cruises Musical

Promises of a not so average musical are evident as we entered the Celebrity Reflection Theatre – cheeky performers were

Papua New Guinea: Undiscovered, Fabulous Diving, Liveaboard Bliss

If you had the opportunity to dive in warm crystal waters with abundant sea life, hundreds of wrecks and eye popping corals, in your own backyard, would you be interested? Still relatively unvisited, Papua New Guinea (PNG), in the marvellous Pacific Ocean offers some of the best diving in the world. Passionate divers looking for the best Papua New Guinea diving experience should consider 

Charming Chania – Greek Island of Crete

Get ready to have your heart stolen in stunningly beautiful Chania, on the Greek island of Crete. If her beauty is not allurement enough, attractions such as shopping, museums, gastronomy, markets, castles, forts and boat tours and beaches might help settle your decision to vacation here. We recently visited, and I still cannot believe how gorgeous Chania is.

Beautiful Chania Town Square. Crete
Beautiful Chania Town Square. Crete

Built in the 14th century by Venetians, who ruled Crete for 4 centuries, the architecture is simple and

Tuscan Treasure – San Gimignano, Italy

Port of Call, Livorno, Italy – Time to Visit the Enchanting Medieval Town San Gimignano.

High on a Tuscan hill, surrounded by medieval walls, boasting Romanesque and Gothic Architecture, 14 Towers, several churches, many shops and endless charm lies the Italian town San Gimignano (see my photos here). Although we have visited in the past, we couldn’t resist returning to share this breathtaking town with friends!

Because we were in four and wanted to see some surrounding area, we rented a car in the port area of Livorno and were quickly on our way. Tip: If you are arriving on a Sunday, make sure you have pre-booked your car!  The train takes 3 hours one way and has a stop / train change in Poggibonsi, so it was not really an option.  The views on our drive were amazing.  We chose to take the longer route and drive along the seafront going, and through the countryside to return.

San Gimignano, also known as the Town of Fine Towers is an Architectural beauty, boasting both Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Whether it be the churches, the walls or the private dwellings, architectural examples are at every turn! Surprisingly, almost 7,000 continue to inhabit this medieval town!

Piazzas and towers, walls and stones hailing from medieval times come together to create this stunning feudal town. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although at one point in history there were 72 towers, only 14 remain. These medieval high-rises were built for the nobles and wealthy to live in, emphasising their power and prosperity.

From a tourist perspective, San Gimignano offers amazing vistas and photo opportunities. From high atop the hill, gorgeous panoramas of the Tuscan countryside stretch as far as the eye can see. Dotted with villages and vineyards, it is no wonder the patrician families built their tower houses here – room with a view!

Of course shopping goes with every tourist attraction, and San Gimignano is no exception. The two main medieval streets are lined with shops offering their wares; postcards, cookbooks, ceramics, leather, crafts, wines, cheese, and so much more. After some sampling, we settled on some cheese, moved on to buy some bread and then found some spicy salumi which we ravenously consumed on the Collegiate Church of the Assumption of Mary stairs, watching the world go by.

After tower climbing, street wandering, crowd fighting, rain and sun, panoramic views and shopping, we make our way out of the majestic stone walls of magical San Gimignano.

San Gimignano, Italy – Photo Album
San Gimignano – YouTube
Foreign Travel Advice – UK Government
Alerts and Warnings – USA Government