“We danced on the streets of Bucharest” sing the Romanian pop stars Florian Rus and Maria Mirabela Cismaru, better known as MIRA.The song “Strazile din Bucuresti“ is about young lovers who meet on a Bucharest city street.
Bucharest is home to the world’s biggest parliamentary building. Originally at The Palace of Parliament but more commonly known today as the People’s Palace construction started in 1984 and took thirteen years to build. An area of s (2.7 sq mi) of the old city centre was flattened to allow the construction including monasteries, factories and a hospital. One engineer set out to save as much as he could.
Today the People’s Palace, both houses of the Romanian Parliament., along with the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Communist Totalitarianism and the Museum of the Palace.
Prior to the Second World War Bucharest was known as the “Paris of the East”. The war, the Communist era and an earthquake in 1977 robbed the city of many or the art nouveau buildings. Here and there are places where that former sophistication. The Cantacuzino Palace which now houses the George Enescu museum is one such example which was built between 1901 and 1903 by architect Ion D. Berindey.
Berindey was responsible for a number of famous landmarks during this time including the Bucharest observatory that was built between 1908 and 1910. George Enescu incidently is regarded as one of the greatest musicians in Romanian history. You might even choose to stay in the elegant Athenee Palace Hilton hotel designed by the French Theophile Bradeau. Around and about you will find more examples that listed here. Remember to look out for Bucharest’s copy of the Arc de Triomphe.
Personally, I would recommend seeking out the beautiful churches and chapels that fuse Byzantine, Greek, Ottoman and Renaissance styles. On your list head for The Stavropoleous Church in the old city, St Apostle’s and the Doamnei Church.
If you are interested in looking back in time, you might be interested in watching the TV series “Comrade Detective” on Amazon Prime. Set in 1980s Bucharest it tells the story of two police detectives investigating the murder of a colleague. There is more to this story than meets the eye!
To book your city break to see the Streets of Bucharest and visit the Paris of the East. Contact Maggie today.
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Posted inActivities, Bucharest, Europe, Historical, Romania
The song Abu Dhabi is by Mikolas Josef, the Czech singer and songwriter. You might know him from the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest where his finished sixth with his song “Lie to Me”. The most successful Czech entry in Eurovision at the time of writing. If the United Arab Emirates is under your consideration for a visit this year then you might want to head for the capital Abu Dhabi. There are a wide range of experiences on offer whether you are on a short break or lengthier stay. Although it is the second largest city in the UAE, it is home to largest and allegedly most beautiful mosque. The Sheikh Zaved Grand Mosque is home to the world’s longest hand-knotted carpet and can hold up to 40,000 worshippers. If you are planning a visit remember dress modestly, loose cloaks are available free of charge at the mosque. A complete contrast to the mosque and its historical connections with the Persians and Moghuls is the Louvre Abu Dhabi. It is the first foreign output of the famous French museum and gallery. Due to loans and special exhibitions signed with other famous Parisian museums you will find a wide range of works including those by da Vinci and Picasso. Go for gold and visit the Emirates Palace, the official guest palace of the city’s government. Gold is everywhere amongst its 394 rooms; it is even in the coffee and the ice cream. Nearby the palace you can find the Founder’s Memorial, where Sheikh Zayed, the country’s is commemorated. Fancy an adrenaline filled day then head for Yas Island, more familiar to most of us as the venue for the Abu Dhabi F1 race. Here you can ride the world’s fastest rollercoaster at Ferrari World and explore the six immersive worlds at Warner Bros World. We haven’t even mentioned the desert. We will return to Abu Dhabi at a future date to discover more of what this wonderful city has to offer. Contact Maggie today to book your trip to Abu Dhabi now. Pay with your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card* and earn Avios point. Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to us. Watching a rerun of the Hitchcock classic “North by Northwest” starring Cary Grant reminded of the lyrics from “I’m gonna shake out all that snow. Riding years ago, through the South Dakota roads.“ from the song “Shaking Out the Snow”* by Nanci Griffith the American singer and songwriter. Those of you familiar with the song will know that ending of the film is set in South Dakota and Mount Rushmore specifically. If you haven’t visited this part of the USA then maybe it should be on your itinerary in the coming months. “Shaking Out the Snow”* by Nanci Griffith A good starting point for any trip to South Dakota is a road trip based on I-90. I-90 is the longest interstate highway in the USA and the longest east-west road across South Dakota. Although it doesn’t pass through the South Dakotan capital of Pierre it does provide the focus on a great holiday in this part of the world. The route will take in a number of impressive geographical features starting off with the Sioux Falls after which the state’s largest city is named. Over 7000 gallons of water cascade down every second. That’s a lot of water by anyone’s standards. The striking landscape of Badlands National Parks features a maze of buttes, canyons, pinnacles and spires. The native Lakota people gave this land its name, “mako sica,” meaning “land bad.” Erosion of the Badlands reveals sedimentary layers of different colors: purple and yellow, tan and grey, red and orange and white. Bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule and whitetail deer, prairie dogs, coyotes, eagles and hawks are amongst the wildlife you are likely to see. If Native American history and culture is your cup of tea then at Mitchell you will find a Prehistoric Indian Village that is more than 1,000 years old. On-going excavations and laboratory analyses are discovering more about how these people lived. A trip to the Akta Lakota Museum on the campus of the St Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain provides history and learning about Native American life in a unique way. Check out the mini-theater, interactive displays, English-Lakota descriptions, and its beautiful gift shop. Finally there are a few attractions that you will want to check out that you might not have expected. Whilst visiting the Akta Lakota museum take in the Dignity Monument. The sculpture was erected in 2016 near I-90 in honour of the 125th anniversary of South Dakota statehood. It depicts an indigenous woman in plains style attire. If you enjoy sculptures, then head to the Porter Sculpture Park at Exit 374 and spend time viewing the sculptures made by Wayne Porter who makes his sculptures mainly from junk metal. If you are visiting South Dakota as a road trip that a trip to the Pioneer Auto Show at Murdo is a must. There are more than 30 buildings displaying it’s unrivaled collection of cars, motorcycles, tractors, scooters and bicycles. Plus other automobilia including gas pumps and antique toys. In case you are in the mood, they also have classic American cars for sale. Rapid City is South Dakota’s second-largest city and this is the place to head for to see the Mount Rushmore Memorial, the Custer State Park and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Which is where we started. We have run out of space to do justice to everything South Dakota has to offer, we will be back again. Contact Maggie today to book your I-90 road trip and a meeting with four Presidents of the United States. Pay with your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card* and earn Avios point. Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to us. No words are needed to accompany Yanni’s “Santorini”. The song is dedicated to one of the most beautiful islands in the world. The song “Santorini” is said to be a timeless classic masterpiece since it manages to epitomise the music balance you can find in Greek Music and Greek nature. Santorini is located some 120 miles off the coast of the Greek mainland and is the southern most of the Cyclades islands. The island was the site of one of the largest recorded volcanic eruptions 3600 years ago. Today the island’s volcanic past dictates its landscape but also makes it the perfect getaway island if you are thinking of heading for Greece. The main remaining landscape feature is the cauldron shaped caldera (rim of an old volcano) which is largely submerged but gives the island its distinctive shape and geography. Oia one of the island’s most visited villages, it is known as the best place to view the sunset, argued by many to be amongst the best sunset views in the world. Oia is built on the steep slope of the caldera, the houses, restaurants and other buildings are built close together they look like they might all collapse on top of each other and fall into the sea. The idyllic surroundings of the town are dominated by a complex of white washed, blue domed churches and charming, traditional Cycladic houses and cave houses that are carved into the rock face on top of the cliff. The village captures the essence of the island. If you want something different then a trip to Mesa Gonia might be for you. After the island was hit by an earthquake in 1965, Mesa Gonia became a ghost town. Wild cats are now its main inhabitants. Be prepared for steps everywhere, it is as if the word flat does not exist on the island. However what you get for your efforts are the most amazing views, whether you are looking down, up or across, make sure you have your camera to the ready. The island caters for a wide range of visitors and offers a full repertoire of accommodation from the basic to the most luxurious. For water sport enthusiasts, head to Perissa and Kamari where you can take part in diving, waterskiing wind-kiting and banana-boating. The black sandy beaches here are also ideal for sitting back and relaxing. To book your trip to see one of the best sunsets in the world, contact Maggie today. Pay with your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card* and earn Avios point.
Posted inBeach, Europe, Greece, Historical, Santorini, Sun
It’s the Sunny Side of Life is probably not on many people’s playlists, but the Maldives continues to be one of the most popular long-haul holiday destinations for UK travellers thanks to its picturesque islands, white sand beaches and crystal-clear lagoons. The song was Official song of MATATO Maldives Travel Awards 2015. It is regularly used in tourism material by the Maldives Tourism Authorities. The Maldives has undergone an expansion of its tourism infrastructure in recent years offering more choice for travellers. Visitor figures to the Maldives grew prior to Covid with UK visitors comprising 7.3% of the total market share. The Maldives are said to be the most romantic destination on earth. Each resort is a private enclave perched on an individual island, providing its occupants with exclusive tranquillity. Imagine waking up on the private island, surrounded by swaying palm trees, azure blue sea and pristine soft white sand every day. From the moment you touch down to the moment you leave you will be pampered all the way. The islands are considered to be one of the best snorkelling/diving locations in the world. In many resorts you can snorkel at any time of day. Swim in your own giant aquarium. You will be snorkelling amongst an variety of corals, sea turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, and numerous other forms of sea life. Contact Maggie today to book your holiday in paradise. Pay with your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card* and earn Avios point. Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to us. This song was written shortly after the capture of the Monte Cassino, Italy on 18th May 1944. It is a tribute to thousands of soldiers who fell in the shadow of Monte Cassino Monastery. Over 1000 Poles lost their lives in the taking of the Monastery during May 1944. The words in English are: “The red poppies on Monte Cassino Drank Polish blood instead of dew… O’er the poppies the soldiers did go ‘Mid death, and to their anger stayed true! Years will come and ages will go, Enshrining their strivings and their toil!… And the poppies on Monte Cassino Will be redder for Poles’ blood in their soil.” We visit Monte Cassino this time, as an increasing number of tourists each year will travel not just to Italy, but throughout Europe, the USA and South East Asia to walk in the footsteps of those servicemen and woman who bravely fought in years gone past. Each has their own reason for doing this, some want to see where their relatives were posted, others out of historical interest or to give their visit to a country a purpose. This story of the taking of Monte Cassino by the Allies is actually a very sad one. The Germans said that Monastery was to be a neutral zone, but the allies didn’t believe them and thought it was a ruse. It wasn’t and so it was bombed by the Allies killing innocent civilians and religious staff sheltering inside. Once attacked by the Allies the Germans then decided make the most of the strategic position on the Monastery and the hill to fortify the ruins and they proved to be a worthy foe. There were over 55,0000 Allied casualties in the effort to take Monte Cassino, but its taking was part of the long and bitter struggle led to the taking of Rome, the first Axis capital to fall to the Allies and the turned the tide of the battle for control of Italy. Paestrum was a major Greek city on the southern Italian coast which is famous for its three temples that date back to around 550 to 450BC. The temples themselves are well preserved, as are the city walls and amphitheatre. There are many other wonderful sites that can be visited as part of your “Italian Campaign”. Contact Maggie today to arrange an interesting holiday to Italy. Pay with your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card* and earn Avios point. Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to us. Have you been to Florida or planning a trip to Florida? Then you are likely to have been to Orlando or Miami. How many of you have ever considered St Augustine? This is where our song takes us this time. “St Augustine at night” was a single released in October 2020 by the Californian based American Band “Dawes*”from their album “Good Luck with Whatever*” that reached No5 in the American Folk Chart. St Augustine itself is the oldest city in the USA, it is home to the oldest wooden school house in the USA and it is the location of the oldest street in the USA. The St Augustine tourist authority describes the destination as full of old-world charm, historical monuments, unique attractions, world class shopping, sunny weather and beaches just minutes away. On that basis St Augustine makes an ideal holiday destination for everyone. Aviles Street in St. Augustine is the oldest street in the USA. Archaeologists digging down several layers under the brick paving, have found pottery shards from the early 1600s. The Pilgrim Fathers didn’t land on the continent until 1620. This historic street is also St. Augustine’s original artist district, dating back to the 1930s when the Hamblin Hardware warehouse at 11 Aviles Street was transformed into studio and gallery spaces for artists. The street also boasts some of St Augustine’s oldest historical sites. The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is one of the best preserved colonial buildings in the town and is preserved to recall the first tourist boom in Florida from the 1830s to 1850s. The Spanish Military Hospital Museum is an authentic reconstruction of a military hospital that stood on this site during the Second Spanish Colonial Period (1784–1821) and depicts the state of care that was on offer during the 1790s.. Finally the Father O’Reilly House Museum that was constructed in 1691, purchased by Father Miguel O’Reilly in 1785. Father Miguel, an Irish priest in the service of the preserving the old values. The Oldest Wooden School House is cited as being the oldest wooden school building in the United States. The exact date of construction is unknown, but it first appears on tax records in 1716. We know that it cannot have been built before 1702 because the British burnt the City to the ground. Since 1937 the building has been encircled by a large chain, to help anchor it to the ground in case of a hurricane. The classroom was one of the first in the US to be co-ed educating both boys and girls since 1788. In 1982, the Bridge of Lions was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in the mid-1920s as a way for cars to travel from St. Augustine on the mainland to Anastasia Island The bridge is a double-leaf bascule bridge, also known simply as a drawbridge, which allows commercial and recreational boats to pass through a center channel when the moveable span is in the up position. It poses a magical image at dusk as it is all lit up. There is plenty more to see in St Augustine. We haven’t even mentioned the pirates!! I hope that the video above by “Dawes” has inspired you to find out more about this beautiful city, often forgotten as a holiday destination due the bright lights and thrill rides of destinations like Miami and Orlando. Call Maggie today and book your “Florida Holiday full of Old World Charm”. Let someone else take the stress out of booking your 2021 break. Pay with the card that gives you complimentary access to over 1,200 airport lounges across more than 130 countries worldwide as standard plus reward points – The American Express Platinum Card*.
Posted inCity, Florida, St Augustine, Sun, USA
Maybe not the best known song containing Gibraltar but in this post we start off with Gibraltar by Maxi Priest. You might be more familiar with “Rock of Gibraltar” by Frankie Laine. If you would like to reacquaint yourself with this song about a brush salesman, click here . The video below was recorded in 2016 and as you will be able to see was filmed on the rock a few days before his first public performance on the song at the Gibraltar Music Festival. He wrote the song, he said, for many different reasons. “As a kid I remember my mother always used to say to me ‘you’ve got to be solid as the Rock of Gibraltar’ and we just kind of took it because it had a ring to it but not really knowing the full meaning to it. Then coming here and its history immediately made me click… in a funny way emotionally, it is something your parents said to you and you’d use it, you’d say it but you never really quite understood exactly what it meant.” If you have a look at the current travel corridors, Gibraltar is one place that you can travel to at the time of writing without having a Covid test prior or on entry and there is no need to quarantine on your return. Daytime temperatures are average around 16oC in January and can get into the low 20s. It is pleasant enough to sit out and eat lunch during the day, but gets a bit chilly for dinner in the evening. Although Gibraltar is relatively small, there is still plenty to do. Scenery wise there is a little bit of everything. There are beaches which during the winter you might not want to sit on but they are great places to walk, take in the sea air and the views. There is plenty of history on Gibraltar due to its geography at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea which has been a highly valued possession. You will find a mixture of influences and reminders of the Romans, the Moors, the Spanish and the British all over the island. St Michael’s Cave is one of the many wonders of Gibraltar, and has enticed visitors for hundreds of years. While staying in Gibraltar it’s well worth paying a visit. The cave is actually a series of caves that are 300m above sea level. They are Gibraltar’s main tourist attraction with over 1,000,000 visitors a year. One of the largest caves serves as an auditorium and during WW2 the caves served as a hospital. You cannot visit Gibraltar without seeing the Barbary Macaques, these monkey inhabitants of the rock are the only monkeys on the continent of Europe. They are well looked after in the Gibraltar nature reserve that covers 40% of the country. Two other attractions I wouldn’t want to miss out on if I were going on a short break. One would be the 11th century Moorish castle complex. In its heyday it was much larger that it is today. Look out for The Tower of Homage and the Gate House. In 1704 the British flag was placed on top of the castle and it still files today. The other would be the Great Siege Tunnels which were built at the end of the 18th century during the Great Siege of Gibraltar when France and Spain attempted to capture Gibraltar. The tunnels dug out by hand mainly using sledgehammers and crowbars with the occasional gunpowder blast are impressive. Book your short break to Gibraltar with Maggie today. Pay with your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card* and earn Avios point.
Posted inCity, Europe, Gibraltar
“Kiss Kiss” is probably the most famous song to come out of Turkey but you didn’t realise it. The original song “Şımarık” was a hit for Tarken, a German born Turkish singer. You are probably more familiar with the versions by the Greek-American singer Stella Soleil in 2001, which was itself covered by the Australian actress Holly Valance a year later. So today we are off to one of Turkey’s main tourist destinations the Antalya region. The area is famous historically as the centre of the Lycian Empire and was the last region on the Mediterranean Sea to become part of the Roman Empire. You cannot go far without coming across reminders of its past. If visiting the area you must take some time out to see Hadrian’s Gate located in Antalya city centre and the rock tombs in Myra. The main resort of Antalya offers a wide range of hotel accommodation from luxury hotels to small boutique hotels and there are a range of beaches to suit everyone’s’ needs whether its small and quite or big and noisy. The best months to visit weather wise are May to October. Daytime highs during these months are 26°C and above, with only a slight chance of rain. Çıralı, one of Antalya’s most beautiful quieter beaches. Here you will find the ancient Lycian city of Olympos. You can walk among the ruins after a day of lying on the beach. For more serious walkers there is the “Lycian Trail”. This is a marked walking trail that takes approximately 29 days to trek, taking in 25 historical sights over a distance of more than 500 kilometers. Call Maggie today and book your “Turkish Delight”. Let someone else take the stress out of booking your 2021 break. Pay with the card that gives you complimentary access to over 1,200 airport lounges across more than 130 countries worldwide as standard plus reward points – The American Express Platinum Card*. Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to us. Some of you long standing visitors to Mallorca might remember the song by Jürgen Drews called König von Mallorca*. His version of Mallorca is about as far from our version as you can imagine. We like to get away from the beaches and up into the hills. There are three hotels that we would recommend. If you want to be close to Palma then head for the Valparaiso Palace Hotel which stands above the port and its rooms offer outstanding views across the port and Palma Bay. Should you want to get away from it all then the Gran Hotel Son Net might be just the place for you. It’s hidden away in the Son Net which is located within the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range near the medieval village of Puigpunyent. The hotel dates back to the 17th century and only has 31 rooms and suites. Words probably can not do justice to the location and facilities at this beautiful hotel. Incidently it has its own private art collection that includes artists such as Marc Chagall, Frank Stella, David Hockney, Robert Longo, and Christo. If you are on more of a budget then Es Recó de Randa, a hotel-restaurant located in the picturesque village called Randa might suit you better. Like like Son Net it is located within a 17th Century building and for a number of those years it was a nun’s convent. It has only 25 rooms, but its restaurant is famous for miles around and the views from the rooms and pool terrace are fabulous. Finally, Es Recó de Randa is on the road up to the summit of the Puig de Randa. From the top you can see views of almost the whole island. Located at the top of the summit is the Santuari de Cura Monastery which incidently offers 33 rooms where you can stay for the night. The hill top location has been a place of pilgramage since 1275 and today many cyclists and walkers will make the trip too. With a cafe and a restaurant offering the weary traveller refreshments after their journey up. We started off our journey today with the King of Mallorca. Well sitting on the terrace drinking a coffee looking out across the island you will certainly feel like the King of Mallorca. If you cycle up to the Sanctuary then maybe “King of the Mountains” might be a more appropriate title. Do you want to be treated like the King of Mallorca, then contact Maggie today to book your 2021 trip to Mallorca. Book with your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card* and earn Avios points to pay for future flights. >Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to us.Abu Dhabi
North by Northwest
Santorini
It’s the Sunny Side of Life
Red Poppy Flowers on Monte Cassino
St Augustine at Night
Gibraltar
Kiss Kiss – Turkish Delight
King of Mallorca
