Santorini, Greece – White Washed Buildings, Blue Accents, Wine, Beaches

The stunning first impression of the Mediterranean Island of Santorini, Greece was the colour contrast of the white washed buildings with blue shutters, domes and accents on the backdrop of the blue sea and the blue sky!

White and Blue Bell Tower, Santorini
White and Blue Bell Tower, Santorini

The main source of income of the gorgeous Santorini is tourism; every summer, more than 300,000 tourists, mostly European, flock to the volcanic island to enjoy the pristine volcanic rock beaches, fabulous food and nightlife.

Bored? – Top 5 Things to Do in Capri, Italy

Capri, Italy offers amazing views, great hiking opportunities, swimming and boating. In addition to these activities, if you find yourself needing more, here is a list of my top 5 favourite things to do.

Waterfront, Port of Capri, Italy
Waterfront, Port of Capri, Italy

5. Iconic Faraglioni – Take a boat ride through the famous tri-rock formation, I Faraglioni. Off the southern coast of Capri, it is here you have the chance to see the blue lizard as you pass through the middle rock.

Faraglioni, Capri, Italy
Faraglioni, Capri, Italy Credit: Photopin, see below 1

4. Beautiful Gardens of AugustusBotanical Gardens overlooking the Sea! The terrace design features gorgeous flowers and ornamental plants creating beautiful photo opportunities.

Gardens of Augustus, Capri, Italy
Gardens of Augustus, Capri, Italy Credit: Norberto Chavez-Tapia, see below2

3. Grotto Verde – or the Green Cave, also know as the Emerald Grotto. The sparkling turquoise green water is a wonderful place to take a leisurely dip, slightly off the tourist trail.

Grotto Verde / Green Cave, Capri, Italy
Grotto Verde / Green Cave, Capri, Italy Credit: Photopin, see below3

2. Marina Piccola – The “little marina” is a pretty bay with a view of the Faraglioni where you can spend a serene day sunbathing, swimming and cooling off with a creamy gelato. Little restaurants and cafes offer Italian food specialties and you can finish by sipping a aromatic cappuccino.

Beautiful Vista, Capri, Italy
Beautiful Vista, Capri, Italy

1. Villa JovisAncient ruins of a palace villa complex built by the Romans AD 27. Entrance is an affordable €2 euro (at time of publishing). The stimulating hike combined with panoramic views make this my favourite self guided excursion.

Villa Jovis
Villa Jovis, Capri, Italy – Credit: Wikimedia, see below4

Capri, Italy – Spectacular Beauty, Honeymoon Worthy!
Capri Italy – Private Photo Album

Photo Credits with Thanks!
1 photo credit: Capri via photopin (license)
2  photo credit: By Norberto Chavez-Tapia - Flickr: Garden's Capri, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20198350
3 photo credit: Grotto Verde via photopin (license)
4 photo credit: By No machine-readable author provided. Buckeye~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=553590

Pisa, Italy – More than Just the Leaning Tower

Pisa, located in central Italy in the Tuscany, has so much more to offer than just the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.  Wandering the streets of this ancient city, I was awestruck by the beautiful Piazza dei Miracoli, the Arno River, numerous museums, chapels, churches, and Piazzas (public squares).

Pisa Baptistry, Pisa Cathedral, and Leaning Tower of Pisa
Pisa Baptistry, Pisa Cathedral, and Leaning Tower of Pisa – Piazza dei Miracoli (Left to right) Pisa, Italy

Piazza dei Miracoli,

Agadir, Morocco – Beaches, Food, Shopping, Kasbah, Ports

Agadir, Morocco – Unanticipated simplicity, friendly people, delicious food, spectacular vistas, ancient fort walls, beaches, divine teas, street vendors, and did I mention the food?! Agadir is probably best known as a seaside resort city, popular with northern Europeans as a beach destination.

Beach View From Kasbah, Agadir, Morocco
Beach View From Kasbah, Agadir, Morocco

The food in Morocco is

Five Reasons Why I Love Cruising

Cruising, in my opinion, is one of the most enjoyable ways to travel and vacation. Whether a few days in length to several months, mega ships with endless activities or small intimate ships with personalized perfection, port intensive or long leisurely days at sea, with hundreds of cruise ships to choose from, there is something to fit every desire.

Here are 5 Reasons Why I Love Cruising: (in descending order)