Naples - great base for visiting Amalfi coast

Why do they say "See Naples and Die?"

Naples is older than Rome. It was founded as a Greek colony Partenopa, named after a mythical mermaid 2800 years ago, and the name Napoli comes from the Greek words Nea polis – new city. Its historical centre is the biggest historical centre of an European town and was listed as UNESCO historical heritage since 1995.

Naples is situated in the middle of Neapolitan gulf at the coast of Tyrrhenian sea, as the biggest town of the Italian region of Campania. Together with the suburbs it has over 4 million inhabitants, which makes it the third largest city in Italy, after Rome and Milan. Besides the official Italian, the Neapolitan language, or dialect, is also spoken here.

Thanks to its rich history Naples bears the traces of many rulers and centuries. The vicinity of the city is also very interesting. It is situated below the active volcano Vesuvius, in the beautiful Neapolitan gulf, and the lovely Amalfi coast and the islands of Capri and Ischia are both very near.

The famous saying – See Naples and die – became known throughout the

world mostly thanks to the great German poet Goethe, who mentioned it in his work Italienische Reise – Italian Journey, based on his diaries. It is certainly true there is a lot to see in Naples, and even more in its vicinity. It is especially interesting that this amazing city still resists the mass tourism, making it possible for a traveller to enjoy it without the usual crowds which have almost “devoured“ many world attractions and destinations, making the stay in them tiresome and sometimes even impossible. However, walking through Naples you can still feel the genuine atmosphere of te city and not be hustled by hoards of tourists milling around incessantly at all times.

Several famous attractions are in the very centre of Naples. Those are, first of all, Castel Nuovo, or The New Castle, from the XIII century, which was the seat of the kings of Naples, Aragon and Spain until 1815. In its immediate vicinity are also the National Library, San Carlo Theatre, Gallery of Umberto I, as well as the main square in Naples, Piazza del Plebiscito, situated between the royal palace Palazzo Reale and the basilica of San Francesco di Paola. Almost from the same point you can see amazing views of the gulf and the Vesuvius, and on the top of the hill above stands the Castel Sant'Elmo. If, however, you start walking from the square and along the sea coast, you will soon see the famous Castel dell'Ovo.

The fact that Piazza del Plebiscito was a big parking just a decade or so ago, clearly shows how successfully Naples resists the mass tourism. Today, however, luckily, the parking is gone and you can enjoy the views. Here, in the centre of the city you can have coffee or delicious cakes in the famous old café Gambrinus, which is almost always full. From the centre you can also start walking in several directions. If you go down the elegant street of Chiaia, in a side street you will soon see the famous pizzeria Brandi where, according to the legend, the first pizza in the world was made in 1889 – named Margherita in the honour of Marhgerita of Savoy. However, you can have a great pizza in almost every restaurant in Naples, and of course much cheaper, and the choice is incredible. From the centre you can also walk down the famous street Toledo, or take a cable to the above mentioned castle Sant'Elmo. Wherever you go, be sure to walk through the picturesque streets of Naples and try some of the gastronomic specialities such as fried pizza – pizza fritta, lemon liqueur pica, pržena pica frita, osvežavajući liker od limuna limoncello or the famous sweets named baba. Also, grab the chance to see the museums – the tickets are rather cheap compared to some other cities, and, of course, the churches of which there are so many. Among those you should miss is certainly the San Severo chapel, with the famous sculpture of The Veiled Christ. If you however get tired from walking or go much further from the centre, it is good to know that Naples has the metro which functions very well and also connects the city with the suburbs.

The vicinity of Naples is certainly very special. From Naples you can easily go for a trip to the amazing Amalfi coasts, with the towns such as Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento. You can reach them in several ways, by car, by train, by bus or by boat. The drive along Amalfi coast is a wonderful adventure, but in season it can also be tiring, because of the crowds, so maybe it is more convenient to go to trips by boat. You should also grab a chance to sail to the famous islands of Capri and Ischia. First-rate tourist attractions in the vicinity of Naples are certainly archeological sites Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were devastated by the eruption of Vesuvius almost two thousand years ago. And speaking about the day trips from Naples, if you haven’t seen Rome yet or if you wish to see it again, you can easily travel from Naples to Rome.

Obviously, Naples is definitely worthy of the famous saying – See Naples

and Die, the title of the novel Eat, Pray, Love, but also, the popular hit song from the sixties – Napoli, That's Amore – Naples, that is Love.

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5 must see places in Slovenia

Five great destinations for a break 

Saint John the Baptist church on Bohinj lake

Otočec

Otočec is a place on the left bank of the river Krka, near the Slovenian-Croatian border. It bears this name from the 1952. Until then, it was called Šent Peter – Saint Peter. The parish church is also dedicated to Saint Peter. The greatest attraction of the place is the castle Grad Otočec from XIII century, built on a small island in the middle of the river, the biggest of approximately thirty islets in this part of the Krka river. The central part of this castle is now turned into a modern Relais and Chateaux hotel. The river used to be a natural moat around the castle. Today it can be crossed over two wooden bridges, so that the island is accessible by car, although there is also a big parking on the river bank.  

 

Otočec Castle

Bled

Bled is probably the most famous destination in Slovenia. It is a small picturesque

Bled

town on a beautiful Alpine lake. In the middle of the lake there is a small island which can be reached by boats running from the shore. On the island there is a lovely church in which you can pull a rope, ring a bell and make a wish which will, so they say, come true. On the cliff above the lake there is a castle Blejski grad. Around the lake there is a pleasant path for walking or cycling. In Bled there are several very good hotels and restaurants, with pools, modern spa centres and great views. Do not miss the famous cake called „Blejska kremšnita“.

Bohinj

Bohinj is also a lake, but very different from Bled. It is much bigger – the biggest lake in Slovenia – but also much less touristy and crowded than Bled. There you can enjoy quiet walks and untouched nature all year round. There are some modern and luxurious hotels in the vicinity, but most of them are several kilometres away from the lake. On the shores of the lake there are just a couple of hotels and restaurants. They say that the Turks, conquering Europe, came to the shores of Bohinj lake and thought that was the end of the world, so they decided to return home.

 

Terme Olimia

Terme Olimia

Terme Olimia are the most famous wellness in Slovenia. Nestled in pretty greenery on Slovenian-Croatian border, they offer a wide variety of accommodation, activities, treatments, pools, and spa facilities. This is an ultimate spa destination in Slovenia and a must-see for all spa lovers. In the vicinity there are lots of interesting places to see, such as village and monastery Olimje, Jelenov Greben – a charming deer park, an old castle on the hill above the little town Podčetrtek, and many others.

Dolenjske Toplice

Terme Dolenjske Toplice

Terme Dolenjske Toplice are also a spa resort, but quite the opposite of Terme Olimia. Situated in the centre a lovely and very quaint small town, they are quiet and simple, but offer a couple of very decent hotels and a good range of spa facilities. The main wellness centre Balnea is not as modern as Orhidelia, but it is also quite good and much quiter. Hotels are mostly dated but renovated, with specific antique charm of an old spa town. The vicinity is amazing and offers a lot of possibilities for walks, hiking, cycling and enjoying pure nature.

What to do in Venice during the flood - Acqua alta

Readiness is all, said Shakespeare. So read how to be prepared in case of Venetian flood.

What is acqua alta or, literally, high water? It is a natural phenomenon, happening when the high tide occurs at the same time with several other influences but, simply said, it is the flooding of Venice.  

You have probably seen the photos of flooded San Marco Square. It happens regularly with acqua alta. Such photos instantly makes you think that the whole city is

under water, but, actually, it is not so. Most often, the whole city is not flooded, and this partial flood as a rule lasts only a couple of hours. First of all, the usual tide turns every six hours, which means that water rises for six hours, and in the next six hours naturally recedes. Acqua alta, usually happens at the peak of the tide, which means that the flood rarely lasts more than two or three hours and usually covers some 20-30 percent of the town, and very rarely the whole city. However, the San Marco is the lowest point of Venice and when the flood begins, this magnificent square, which is the most famous Venetian sight, is always under water, as well as the other parts town nearest to the shore or biggest canals, above all the Canal Grande, which is also the main traffic artery for the water bus vaporetto, for example, the Rialto bridge and the namesake market. These are, of course, the most visited and photographed parts of Venice. Still, in spite of the photographs of the flooded symbols of the town which look really dramatic and the impressions of tourists who happen to spend a just couple of hours in Venice when acqua alta happens, the flood usually does not cover a big part of Venice nor lasts very long. However, the climate changes also influenced this phenomenon which previously used to happen some dozen times a year, so that now there are sometimes as many as fifty floods. In spite of that, the largest flood so far remains the one that happened on November 4, 1966, when the tide also coincided with terrible rains, so that the citizens of Venice had to thread through water up to their shoulders deep, and many shops, restaurants and hotels and even famous buildings were seriously damaged. Luckily, after that flood various measures were implemented to ensure that these catastrophic floods should not happen again.

The citizens of Venice do not fret about these floods and they are always ready for them. First of all, the weather forecast and tide are regularly checked, so that

they always know in advance when acqua alta will happen, and the tide is always very accurately predicted, especially for the next 48 hours. Thanks to this, the citizens always know when to expect the flood, and the tourists who visit this marvellous city, especially during winter months, can check the prognosis at websites such as http://www.veniceforyou.com/highwaterprev.html. When the tide comes, the sirens warn everybody of high waters and in a blink of an eye, all the endangered places are prepared with improvised “bridges“, so that it is also possible to walk even through those parts of town where water is deep without getting wet. An almost invisible system of canals and drains is automatically activated in order to eliminate water from the critical points as quickly as possible. As soon as the flood appears, the shops and the street sellers start to offer rubber boots at the usual price of around ten (8-12) euro, or the plastic covers for the shoes, usually at the price of 5 euro (it can be more or less, depending on demand).

If you happen to be in Venice when acqua alta happens, you should not worry or think you have bad luck. On the contrary, this is an opportunity to see an interesting phenomenon which is typical of Venice, and also a great occasion to

explore obscure, inner parts of the town which the tourists rarely get to see. Of course, you can choose whether you want to get appropriate shoes and wade through high water at San Marco or, if you have some time to spare, choose to spend a couple of hours strolling the other parts of town, visiting numerous palaces, museums and churches, or get into a gondola or vaporetto and glide through Canal Grande, or simply sit down for a lunch, drinks of coffee and enjoy Venetian gastronomy and wine till the tide turns. Whatever you choose, you will surely have a great time, since Venice is wonderful always and in any weather.   

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Venice without crowds – 5 rules

If you follow at least 2 or 3 from these 5 rules, you can truly enjoy this wonderful town without tiring and maddening crowds

Venice is beyond doubt one of the most beautiful and most visited places in the world. However, what most travellers resent in Venice are terrible crowds. But, if you observe several important rules, you can lose the crowds and enjoy Venice as a true La Serenissima, in peace and quiet!

Rule no 1 – Get away from San Marco during the day

This simple rule is available to anyone! Yes, I know that you can not go back home without a photo taken in San Marco Square. But believe me, in Venice there are numberless perfect places to explore, to see and also to take photos, places where you can really take some authentic and original pics in which you will be alone and relaxed, not surrounded with millions of other tourists which obliterate you, Venice and the Doge’s Palace from view. So get away from places where most tourists mill around, that is, from the part of Riva Degli Schiavoni – somewhere from the Bridge of Sighs, all the way to the main square, at least during the day. The other place which you should avoid during the day is the Rialto bridge, first of all, between 10 in the morning until 7-8 in the evening.

Rule no 2 – Avoid the season

Many people claim that Venice is always crowded. That is not exactly true. The crowds

vary, but they are around mainly during the above mentioned time of the day, but also in certain part of season. In Venice, season is practically the whole summer, Easter, May day and of course February, the carnival time. But if you visit Venice, say, in November, you can enjoy this wonderful city in peace in quiet. If you worry about high tide – Acqua Alta, you should know that it usually lasts just for a couple of hours and does not present a problem. You can read more on Acqua Alta here.

Rule no 3 – Avoid weekends

This rule is similar to the previous one, but if you apply both of them at the same time, you will sure get a chance to enjoy Venice without crowds. The weekends are always more crowded than the rest of the week.

Rule no 4 – Avoid travelling with a group

This is important, above all, because groups mostly travel in season and during holidays. Also, of course, if you come on a packed cruiser you can hardly expect to avoid the crowd. Of course, if you travel with a smaller group, take care to observe the previous rules. Off-season is a must.

Rule no 5 – Find lodgings in Venice

This rule alone is often (except maybe in high season) enough to enable you to enjoy Venice in peace. No, Lido di Jesolo and Mestre don’t count as lodgings in Venice. If you really want to experience Venice you should stay after the tourists from cruisers and daily tourists from Mestre and Punta Sabbioni leave for the night. I know that you probably think that lodgings in Venice are enormously expensive, but that is not always the case. You just need to check the prices regularly and find some good offers. In most cases, off season is really affordable. And anyway, one night in Venice is worth several nights in the vicinity. Check it out yourself!

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Why Pelion?

What is Pelion and why you should visit that destination?

Everyone knows that Greek gods lived on Olympus. But, like true hedonists, Greek gods liked to go on holiday, and for their summer vacations they chose the place considered by many, even today, as one of the most beautiful in the world – Pelion.

Pelion is a mountain peninsula in central Greece in a shape of a hook, extending to the famous islands Skiatos and Skopelos. At the north of the inner side is the port city of Volos, on both sides of the peninsula (eastern and western) there are numerous small towns and beaches, while on the mountain top, just a couple of miles from the heavenly beaches, there is a ski centre. Such unbelievable variety in a rather small territory represents a unique combination of sea, mountain and breathtakingly beautiful pure nature.

In Greek mythology, Mount Pelion (named after the mythical king Peleus, father of Achilles), was the homeland of Chiron the Centaur, tutor of many ancient Greek heroes, such as Jason, Achilles, Theseus and Heracles. It was also in Mount Pelion, near Chiron's cave, that the wedding of Thetis and Peleus took place. Then the goddess Eris, furious for not being invited to the party, brought a golden apple with the inscription “To the Fairest“, causing a dispute between goddesses Hera, Aphrodite and Athena, which later resulted in events leading to the Trojan War.

Although it is quickly gaining popularity in recent years, Pelion is still not a typical tourist destination. However, most travellers who once visit it fall in love with Pelion at first sight. One of the reasons why this place remains a less travelled destination are demanding mountainous roads which are often steep, with a lot of difficult curves. Of course, that is not surprising, considering that Pelion is actually a mountain, descending steeply into the sea. However, the fact that many Pelion lovers are ready to brave those roads again and again clearly proves that Pelion is worth every effort necessary to reach it. The beautiful scenery of this part of the world is worthy of much more exclusive and expensive destinations, such as the picturesque shores of lake Como or the wonderful white and blue beaches of Bali or Maldives.

From the calm and pretty shores of the inner side of Pagasitikos gulf, through mountain villages with century-old stone houses and churches, surrounded with lush greenery, deep forests and numerous streams and waterfalls, great restaurants with fantastic views and excellent local dishes, to the spectacular rocky beaches of the eastern coast, with unbelievably clear azure waters, Pelion abounds in beauty on every corner and every step. You can explore it for years and never get tired of it.  

An eternal dilemma of a Pelion lover is, whether you should tell everybody about Pelion and its charms, or keep it jealously for yourself. In my case, this dilemma does not exist. Pelion has more than enough beauties for everybody. You can also join other Pelion lovers at https://www.facebook.com/PelionLoversClub/