Ever thought of making your own cheese, learning to bake an Austrian cake or painting a watercolour? How about discovering how to carve or weave, printing your own souvenir, or even learning a traditional dance? All are possible with creative travel, writes Elena Pashinger.
After Robert and I paddled our kayak for about two hours, we finally found what we were looking for: a deserted island with no one on it or even around it for miles, a sandy, protected beach and enough flat ground to pitch a few tents on. So we text messaged the gps coordinates to our friends so they could find us and began gathering firewood.
Hovering on the edge of a Lanzarote volcano I felt small. The island has it all – broad sandy beaches, historic settlements, peaceful villages and party towns but it’s also a place to discover the power of nature’s ultimate force.The Canary Islands were created by violent volcanic eruptions and while most are now dormant, some are still active and so make this Atlantic oasis a primary source for research and education.
“Excellent we’re going on a try dive while in Lanzarote – apparently the Canaries have some of the best dive sites in the world,” shouted Sarah, my partner in travelling crime. “Hmm… no I’m not,” I replied, making little effort at hiding my misgivings. I’d heard how fantastic scuba diving was, but as a claustrophobic and self-confessed control freak, I’d vowed never to try it. But it was only a try dive I was told – in a safe bay at a shallow depth a chance to see if I liked it. My resolve was whittled away until I went on the understanding that at any moment I could surface and head back to shore.
Travel Our Way, our guest blog, is on holiday this month. Instead we’re taking some time for reflection and joining in the #7links challenge.
Perched halfway up South Africa’s eastern coast Durban is a somehow neglected destination in tourist itineraries, writes John Malathronas, but one that I’ve always been partial to. It has so many things going for it. This was one of the two major cities in South Africa that was founded by the British, the other being Port Elizabeth. As so many “Royal” sporting clubs indicate, there are still vestiges of the city’s heritage as the capital of the old colony of Natal.
This Mediterranean corner of Southern France boasts a glorious, mountainous landscape which left us awestruck. As the train raced across a viaduct, it actually felt as though we were flying. Our guide pointed out the Cathar castle of Quéribus, imposing on the mountaintop. As we went further into the Fenouillèdes hills, vineyards appeared, the rows of green vines bathed in the golden October sun, writes Katy Stewart of Starry Eyed Travels.
Budapest boasts rich food, luxurious baths and hidden treasures in its mysterious hills, writes Alycia Angle. Free from the shackles of communism in 1989, the city radiates with a sense of pride and freedom that has led it to become a modern European capital offering everything you need for an unforgettable excursion.
Costa Rica is home to over 4% of the world’s wildlife and over 25% of the country is protected making it the best place to go wild in Central America. So what do you want a couples getaway or a fun family trip? Costa Rica is perfect for both.
Every now and then, life throws you a wonderful surprise, writes Abigail King of Inside the Travel Lab. Before Sarah Palin made Alaska unfashionable, I’d long since yearned to go there. I’d held schmaltzy dreams of kayaking solo in the wilderness, of fresh air and ice, whale watching and gazing at the Northern Lights. I’d imagined myself surrounded by silence and breathing in beauty. I hadn’t thought that any of that would happen on a cruise.
