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Travel Guides

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
Asia

Abu Dhabi: the essential guide

September 30, 2019

  Visiting Abu Dhabi was a case of “Instagram made me do it” and “husband being there for a project”. Visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was not on my list until I spotted Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. And I fell in love. My husband spent the summer in Abu Dhabi, so I traveled there for 4 days. July (and summer in general) is not the best time to visit the UAE due to the sweltering heat. The places I visited were either indoors or visited late in the afternoon when the heat was less intense. Below I’m sharing the…

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Greece

The essential guide to Parga

July 31, 2019

I first visited Parga back in 1994! It was an interim stop returning home from Corfu. What remained from that first visit was the vague memory of an inland (albeit coastal) city with island vibes. It’s also accessible from Athens by car, no ferry needed. That’s why we chose Parga as a summer getaway for a few days last year.  Let’s see what the city of Parga and vicinity has to offer! Exploring Parga Parga is built on the side of a hill on the north side of a picturesque cove in the Ionian Sea. A medieval castle is built…

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sea, beach and white houses, Platis Gialos, Sifnos
Greece

Weekend in Sifnos

July 16, 2019

I always jump at any opportunity to visit the Cyclades. Especially during summertime. Last year I went to Syros for work. This year I spent a weekend in Sifnos for a christening. Between seeing old friends and having a good time I managed to visit the island’s most cute villages. What to see in Sifnos Platys Gialos is my favorite beach in Sifnos. It literally translates to the wide beach and this is exactly what you get. The beach is sandy, and you’ll come across a few beach cafes and restaurants where you can relax, have a drink or eat….

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view from the Pinnacle Hotel Athens
Greece

Exploring Athens Trigono

June 25, 2019

Last month I took part in yet another Open Walk by Atenistas. This time we explored the city’s commercial area called Athens Trigono (meaning Triangle). The borders of this area are Athinas, Evripidou, Praxitelous and Athinaidos streets. This area was Athens’ original commercial center.  It is full of old buildings and crafter workshops. In Athens Trigono you will fabric stores, hardware stores, hobby stores, food stores and it goes on. A lot of new cafes and restaurants have also popped up in the area. During the walk, we discovered new places and got in buildings that we wouldn’t otherwise. Oh…

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blue above the door metal detail in Patras
Greece

24hrs in Patras

January 7, 2019

Patras is Greece’s third largest city and a commercial hub. The city’s port is Greece’s gateway to Italy and Western Europe. Patra is also well known for its carnival parade that takes place every February. I visited Patras last year for work. It had been almost 10 years since my last visit when I took part in the said carnival. This time I had time and weather on my side to explore the city and visit the new archaeological museum. Saint Andrew church I will start off with this one since it’s the city’s landmark. The church was inaugurated in…

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Lake Pamvotida, Ioannina
Greece

24hrs in Ioannina

December 10, 2018

Last week I popped to Ioannina for work. It was for 24 hours, but as always with my work trips I managed to sneak in some hours to explore the city. Ioannina is located in North Western Greece in the region of Epirus. The city’s history is traced to antiquity but came to a more prominent status during the Middle Ages. After the 4th Crusade in 1204 it became the center of Despotate of Epirus. Ioannina surrendered to the Ottomans in 1430 and until 1868 was the base of the Pashalik of Yanina. Ioannina became a part of the Greek…

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Vaporia, Ermoupoli, Syros
Greece

24hrs in Ermoupoli, Syros

September 26, 2018

Back in June, I visited the beautiful island of Syros for a day. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to explore the beaches. I did make most of my time though and explored the island’s main city: Ermoupolis. The city took its name from Ancient Greek god Hermes, messenger to the Olympian gods and god of trade and commerce. Ermoupolis used to be a prominent industrial and commercial city in the late 19th century. What to see in Ermoupoli, Syros Vaporia neighborhood: I started my exploration from Vaporia neighborhood which was the aristocratic neighborhood of Syros. Affluent refugees from Chios, Psara,…

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