Travel Think Tank
She would always speak of crystal-clear waters and untrodden paradise beaches, but, somehow, though we lived only a few kilometers away from the port of Sant Antoni in Ibiza, where one could take an inexpensive boat ride to the island, over 10 years went by before I saw Formentera with my own eyes. … Formentera: once a hippie paradise, still a killer vacation spot
Anyways, after this colorful ride, we were in Herculaneum. The differences with Pompeii are directly apparent on arrival. This is like looking at a whole city from above, only the roofs have been removed. Buildings here are much better preserved than in Pompeii, as Ercolano inhabitants were killed by the tremendous heat, and not by the ashes.
Herculaneum used to be a beach resort for rich Romans, so the ruins, located below ground level, are looking at an imaginary sea, as the water has long ago retired. Pompeii is huge, while Ercolano is rather manageable and, provided you have a good guide, you can get a pretty clear picture of it in one day. … ERCOLANO RUINS: Beyond Pompeii
In a country where a blogger goes to prison for four years after criticizing the president, it is no secret that freedom of expression has been a standing concern.
After 30 years living in an ipso-facto dictatorship under Hosni Mubarak, it seems that Egypt has had enough.
However, when I saw images of an Egyptian museum after it had been ramsacked during protests, I felt a sense of terrible loss. … An Egyptian mirage: Mayhem in the land of the pharaohs
It is very hard to connect the images of charming little Dubrovnik on the Dalmatian coast; with its cliffs overlooking blue seas and the perfect beige buildings with their orange roofs scattered across the hills, to Croatia´s violent past. … Dubrovnik, Croatia: A Mediterranean Phoenix
Making wine and building mansions hardly seem to be activities to carry out next to a time bomb like Vesubius, but, since this type of volcanoes can stay calm for a couple of thousand years, people tend to feel safe there, and so did I, as you can see in my video.
(Top photo by Kris de Curtis) … Mount Vesubius adventure video
Venice is a labyrinth of canals. It is easy to get lost on its narrow meandering streets, no matter how many maps you are carrying. The good thing about Venice is that getting lost there is a bliss. … Venice: Silent Gondolieri and fairy-tale romance
The Med is one of my favorite places on the … Mediterranean on a budget: Ten + travel tips
The best places to eat in Istanbul are small eateries where you can grab some berek or sarma … Istanbul dining guide: Best food on Earth
Alicante has everything to attract tourists from all over the world, from rare natural beauty to a vibrant nightlife. … Alicante: Welcome to the White Coast
I´ve walked in the
medieval parks of Rhodes … RODOS PEDIA (Children of Rhodes-Rhodes, Greece, June 2006))