Sunday, 12 February 2012

Featured Destination


Egypt
Tea in the Desert after Lawrence of Arabia

A man in a white turban approaches the camel merchant and sits on the ground in front of him. A third man, a go-between, quickly steps out of the crowd, squats between the two, and begins to moderate their bargaining.

“I’ll give you a hundred!” offers the buyer.

“God forbid!” the seller replies.

“Your face betrays more generosity…” the merchant observes.

“A hundred and eighty and you’ve got a deal,” the mediator intervenes.
Full Story


Epicure


Turkey
Izmir Gourmet: Food is in the Air

Food is literally everywhere in Izmir.

The first stop a traveller would usually make, is Passaport – the vivid promenade along the seaside, which has turned into a landmark with its black and white pavement.
Full Story


News


Bulgaria
Bulgaria fears “tumultuous” snow melting

11 February 2012 | After spending the last weeks in deadly cold, now Bulgaria fears that the expected sudden raise in temperatures may turn into another disaster. Meteorologists expressed worries that the situation may go out of control in case all the fallen snow started melting at once. Full Story

Bulgaria
Schengen Zone Expansion with Bulgaria and Romania Blocked
Serbia
Belgrade to Host Retro Car Show


Routes Less Travelled


Greece
Mount Parnassus in Greece Beckons Off-the-Beaten-Track Travellers

In the world of tourism, the phrase "off-the-beaten-track" is mostly identified with remote and exotic excursions. But in Greece, it can easily mean a way to avoid pricey destinations that often come to mind Full Story

Greece
Five Places in Greece That Are Not To Be Missed in June
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Balkan Mysteries: The Bosnian Pyramids of Semir Osmanagić


Curiosity Chest


Bhutan
A Prayer Carried by the Winds

All over Bhutan – from the cities, by the roads and in villages, one can see colourful pieces of fabric, imprinted with Buddhist images and texts, blowing in the wind. These are prayer flags, unique to the Himalayan branch of Buddhism. The idea behind them is that when the wind blows, it picks up and carries the imprinted prayers to the skies, “for the benefit of all sentient beings."
Full Story




Hidden Sofia


Bulgaria
From Soviet Saviours to American Superheroes and Back: Sofia Keeps Pace with the Times

21 June 2011 | Just four days after an anonymous graffiti artist transformed the Soviet Red Army monument in the centre of Sofia, turning it into a congregation of various comic-book characters Full Story

Bulgaria
Sklada: The Space that Stores and Showcases Contemporary Design
Bulgaria
Before and After: A Tango Milonga in the Midst of Sofia

Hidden Bulgaria


Bulgaria
Go Green in Bulgaria: 23 Eco-Hotels and Guest Houses to Choose From

Bulgaria's countryside is a pristine treasure. Poor and underdeveloped, many regions, with hills and valleys, mountains and gorges, have remained untouched for decades.
Full Story

Bulgaria
Julian Perry's Walks in Bulgaria's National Parks
Bulgaria
From Sofia to the Village of Lakatnik in an Old Locomotive






Balkan Coasts & Mountains


Fresh Fish, Olives, and the Albanian Bay of Ksamil: All to Yourself

Albania

Albania remains a rough diamond, undiscovered territory, the most challenging destination in Europe. Bob Berwyn of the Summit County Citizens Voice selects pictures from his travel files to compose this simple, and yet charming photo story, in which places and people stand out full of character. Full Story

Biking Along the Adriatic Coast
Macedonia: Nearly 50 Years Later, Lake Ohrid Overflows Again