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A restaurant perched high above Taormina (take a taxi there and back). Breathtaking views over the Gulf of Naxos and Etna. Excellent local food and wine. Romance on a plate.
Salita Castello, 98030 Castelmola
Tel: 0942 28180
www.ristoranteilmaniero.com/
A fantastic, reasonably-priced hotel in the city's best district. Opposite the Hilton, the location is brilliant - just five minutes by bus to the main square, the hotel is opposite the main church and viewpoint.
The 'Castle District' is quiet, high up on the Buda hilly side of the city, so you get great views - especially at night. Hotel Burg has clean rooms (with free minibar!) and English-speaking staff. Best of all, the prices were very reasonable.
Castle District, Buda.
www.burghotelbudapest.com/
If you are going on a day out, head for the hills and the stunning Hotel Elafos on Profitis Ilias Mountain. The drive there is beautiful through little villages and olive groves. The hotel is completely unique, set deep in the woods and a great location for walkers.
Orginially built as a HQ for Mussolini it has been restored by local craftsmen and offers a complete change from the beach.
You can have lunch (food is excellent), stay the night or even get married here - there's even a childrens play area. It's relaxing, peaceful and well worth the visit.
The drive is about an hour from Rhodes Town or Lindos.
An agriturismo and working vineyard on the slopes of Mount Etna with comfortable, stylish rooms. Run by the noble family of the Baron Scammacca del Murgo - the hosts are full of character!
The estate produces very drinkable red and sparkling wines - tastings and tours available - and you can really taste the volcanic minerals in the red wine.
www.insicilia.it/sicily/farm_house_sicily_tenuta_san_michele.htm
As a volcanic and somewhat arid little island, you could be forgiven for thinking that Lanzarote offers little for walkers and trekkers.
But having just returned - and enjoyed a hike around the green and verdant Valley of 1,000 Palms in the north of the island, I'm now a complete convert.
This is also one of the highest points on the island so the views here are truly incredible.
So if you´re heading to Lanzarote - pack your walking boots and head in the direction of Haria. You won´t be disappointed.
Or take an organised walk via the website below.
I love Morbegno! I have been there twice - mainly for walking holidays. Stayed at the family-run Hotel Trieste in the old town.
It's a comfortable, reasonably priced hotel with a lovely private garden at the back. Also had some very good meals at the Hotel Margna, which is in the centre of town. The food is amazing - nothing like what you get in other areas of Italy and there are some great local wines.
What I like about Morbegno is that it's big enough to meander around looking at the shops and old buildings but is also small enough that you feel you get to know people. And there is such amazing countryside all around it - in a few minutes you are climbing high up amongst first vineyards and then mountain pastures - it is breathtakingly beautiful.
If you want to venture further afield there are good train and bus links and Milan is an easy trip on the train. So, if you want a taste of real Italy, visit the Valtellina and especially Morbegno.
This tower's history goes back to 340 BC. It is in the middle of Bosphorus, and it has recently been renovated. It has 5 floors, top floor being the bar, and you get a free soft drink here, which is included in your ticket from the shore.
You can get the best scenery for the Bosphorus from this floor. Don't forget you are in the middle of Asia and Europe here. Ground floor is a very good restaurant, although prices are above the Turkish average, you're guaranteed to have good food here.
www.kizkulesi.com.tr/en/collection/default.asp
There are frequent boats from Uskudar, Salacak, it takes aroung3 minutes, but you can also take the boat from Ortakoy (though as not frequent as from Uskudar)
Cnidus is a ruined Ottoman city at the western end of the Datça peninsular and is the reward for a long scenic walk from Datça harbour to the western tip of the peninsula.
Views from here stretch towards the clear blue mediterranean
to the east and to the Greek island of Kos in the west.
Cnidus is a good hours walk from Datça harbour and is worth combining with a rest in the beautiful village of Palamut.
Fortunately, Datça is as yet unspoiled by mass tourism. The people are really relaxed, friendly and hospitable which creates a great atmosphere.
Take a yacht along the Datça peninsula to find your own undiscovered beaches.
In the summer regular ferries depart from Kormen (9km to the north of Datça) to Bodrum.
Marmaris Old Town is the true Turkish side of the resort with its twisting streets leading to traditional restaurants, bazaars and mosques.
There are great Ottoman buildings to the seen such as the Caravanserai inn and the castle of Suleyman which has a thorough collection of Ottoman archeological findings. This is the part of Marmaris which the tourists don't find, so thankfully it remains peaceful.
Just follow the streets leading up to the hills above Suleyman castle and loose yourself.
Sadly, Marmaris castle is overlooked by the tourists as they stick to the beach like glue. This is a great shame though, as it has been lovingly restored to a museum which has informative and interesting cultural and artistic displays.
Courtyards full of seasonal flowers provide some welcome respite from the heat. Go up to the castle walls for breathtaking views of Marmaris Bay and of Rhodes.
Marmaris castle museum lies on the eastern side of the bay and is a 10 min walk from the beach and is clearly signposted from the seafront.
Ryad in the Medina with views of the crashing Atlantic waves from the roof as you tuck into your delicious breakfast.
Light, airy and spotless bedrooms with huge comfy beds, crispy white linen, great showers (double rooms and suites). Warm and welcoming host as well as very helpful and friendly staff. Evening meals by arrangment.
PERFECT - could have stayed for ever!
16 Rue Ceuta
Essaouira
Tel: 024 476204 (info)
Email: contact@ryadwatier.com
Web: www.ryadwatier.com
The archaelogical ruins at Ephesus are simply amazing. Frequently on visiting ancient ruins, all you can see is a small bit of rubble.
However, Ephesus has many buildings including Celsus Library, Roman latrines and an ampitheatre among many other ruins.
There is a very special atmosphere there and on one section of the road, you can see the ancient worn-in tracks of Roman chariot wheels. A carved effigy of Nike the ancient goddess can also be viewed there. The city is inland and it gets incredibly hot there, so bring plenty of sun lotion and water and remember to wear your hat.
Any resorts like Gumbet, Bodrum etc run trips there.
There are many companies that do ballooning in Cappadocia. These guys are a bit more expensive, but they have one of the longest and safest records. Their flights are longer than most others. Excellent time.
Indeed, Pipa is one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil. Also, it is probably one of the beaches with the highest concentration of visitors, mostly Europeans.
This website gives information about Pipa: how to get there, hotels, restaurants.
Private double sleeping berth, with dinner and breakfast, for $60 each way. It is fantastic to watch Egypt go by in the night and very romantic though the train is a bit 'grubby' but after a bottle of wine (sold on board!) you won't notice!
It is cheaper to book it yourself than through the travel agents in Luxor itself. The train leaves Luxor around 9pm and gets into Cairo at about 7am.
Email to reserve - www.sleepingtrains.com
And specify you want to pick your tickets up in Luxor (the office is on Platform 1). You have to pick up/pay for your tickets the day before (sometimes 24 hours).
Tampere is situated between 2 large lakes, and to get a great view of the city, lakes and surrounding forest, head to the Pyynikki ridge. There you will find an observation tower (1€) with a cafe at the bottom serving tasty fresh doughnuts. There are also some lovely short walks in the immediate area and a swimming beach with volley ball in the summer.
Morbegno is a great place: peaceful, relaxed and yet with some excellent restaurants, bars and shops.
The food in the Valtellina is first class – some good strong red wines (not easily obtained outside Italy), excellent cheese and great fresh produce – loved the local salamis, handmade pizzoccheri (buckwheat noodles) – and especially the polenta and rabbit!
The Vecchio Ristorante Fiume (1 Contrada di Cima alle Case, Morbegno; 39-0342/610-248) was excellent. The Osteria San Giovanni (8 Via Nani, Morbegno; 39-0342/601-120) is also a very good wine bar. Fratelli Ciapponi (23 Piazza III Novembre, Morbegno; 39-0342/610-223) is a great cheese and wine shop, opened in 1883, and the vaulted wine cellars are worth a visit to the town alone.
The surrounding countryside is quite stunning. Beautiful in the winter, but I really enjoyed it in the summer with great walks climbing up steep paths out of the valley bottom, leading to spectacular views from the upper pastures. It is also an easy day's trip on the train down into Milan, so you can stay in this lovely little town and still get to spend a full day in Milan. Going up the valley on the train takes you into even more spectacular mountain scenery - another good day out. And of course, a trip down to the lakes around Colico is easy and relaxing.
Anyone can visit the canteen at the top of the ITU building near the UN compound.
All you have to do is ask security for a pass which they have to give you in exchange for some sort of ID - passport, drivers license etc.
Stunning views across Geneva, and the lake to Mont Blanc.
Geneva near UN compound
Mailing Address
ITU - Place des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Nyon is only 20 miles around Lac Leman. It's got several museums and a lovely town square. Free entry to Castle museum with stunning views across the lake.
Further pics at:
home.iprolink.ch/dpeck/nyon1.htm
Nyon station
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