Cusco - Capital of the Inca Empire

Cusco was founded around 1200 AD and is the oldest permanent town in South America. For centuries it was the cultural and administrative capital of the Inca Empire, the largest in South America at the time. Although most of the Inca heritage is now gone, Cusco is today a major tourist attraction in Peru and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Because of its rich and complex history Cuzco is a great city to visit; you will find fine examples of well preserved colonial architecture erected directly atop old Inca walls.
Out of the main attractions of the city be sure to visit:

The Sun Temple of Qoricancha represents the ruins of one of the most important buildings in the old Inca civilization. Qoricancha can be translated as "the golden court", the temple was covered in gold and the entire complex had statues of humans, llamas and even corn fields all covered in gold or other precious metals. All were melted by the conquistadors but by visiting the place you can still get a sense of the old Inca greatness.

San Pedro Market is the place to go if you want to get a sense of an authentic Peruvian market, you will not find handicrafts here but it's a great way to experience a vibrant piece of Cusco.
Plaza de Armas, the main gathering place in the city. It's a great place to spend your time and feel the city vibe. Dominated by the old imposing Cathedral the square has also some good shops, restaurants and bars that any tourist will love.
Since the city is situated at around 3326m remember to take some time on arrival for acclimatization, spend a few hours taking a nap and take it easy until the nausea goes away; then you'll be ready to explore the streets of Cusco.

Night view of Qoricancha  and Convent of St. Dominic, Cusco

Plaza de Armas Cathedral, Cusco

Traditional dancing in Cusco

Street in the old town,  Cusco

The Beachy Head and The Seven Sisters

The remarkable shoreline of Southern England has two main attractions: the Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters.
The dramatic white cliffs rise to more than 160 m above sea level making the whole area great for glorious and relaxing walks. The breath-taking views along the vertiginous white cliffs can be completed with a great lunch at the traditional pubs in the area thus giving you a genuine experience of rural England.
Popular tourist attractions are also the two lighthouses constructed between 1831 and 1902. The headland was a danger to shipping at the time, now the lighthouses are no longer used for navigations but serve as landmarks and symbols of the area.
Also a popular suicide spot, surpassed only by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Aokigahara Woods in Japan, this area stands as a wonder of nature and although it's not easy reaching the Beachy Head it is really worth the effort.

The iconic Beachy Head lighthouse

Sunset at Beachy Head, East Sussex

The chalk cliffs of Beachy Head

Panorama of The Seven Sisters, England

Amsterdam boat houses - simply romantic

Famous for its Red Light District and it's canals Amsterdam has also a more romantic side, and what can be more romantic than living on a quiet floating boat house on one of the canals.
Just imagine waking up in the morning and having a nice breakfast on the deck or getting back from a full day of wandering through the city to such a special place.
The boat houses are popular in The Netherlands and the ones in Amsterdam even have their own postal number so their are really part of the city culture.
If you find yourself in this lovely city do get out of the Red Light District and the pubs of coffee shops and check out the canals having such interesting forms of accommodation. You can even rent one and try to replace the hotel accommodation for once.
Amsterdam can truly be both sexy and romantic.

Amsterdam canal and boat houses

Amsterdam boats on the canals

Garden on a boat house in Amsterdam

Typical Amsterdam: the bike and the canals 

Teotihuacan - the first western metropolis

The ruins of Teotihuacan are situated north-west of Ciudad de Mexico over a large green plain.
This old metropolis lasted longer than Imperial Rome and was the biggest city of the Americas for about 700 years. While Europe was though the Dark Ages the Teotihuacan culture shined in Central America.
Researchers don't know much about the people that built this great city, it is presumed that it was abandoned a few centuries after reaching it's peak because of an epidemic or overpopulation.
Mighty palaces and temples were preserved with great mural paintings and statues. The rulers of the metropolis excelled in architecture and astronomy and had a complex religious system.
Many of the building from the Avenue of the Dead, a star aligned road,  are now reconstructed and some of them even have the original colorful facade.
In the southern part of the avenue La Citadela is situated, the old administrative center of Teotihuacan and royal court for many unknown kings.
Great examples of Teotihuacan architecture are also the two pyramids: the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The Pyramid of the Sun is one of the biggest in the world, can be easily climbed and has a vast number of tunnels underneath. The pyramid also had a housing function, in the eastern side there are many restored apartments well worth the visit.

 The Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan  

 Panorama of Teotihuacan, Mexico

The view from the Pyramid of the Sun,  Teotihuacan

 Teotihuacan, wall sculpture detail 

Around West Baray in Cambodia

As I've said before Cambodia has a lot to offer even if you go past the mega famous Angkor Wat. My previous article about Battambang tells of a city with a troubled legacy.

The West Baray is a large artificial lake in the Angkor province of Cambodia and it's a great starting point for a day trip visiting all the surrounding temples and monuments.

Quite interesting is also the artificial island in the center of the lake where a Hindu temple called West Mebon is situated. The 11th century ruins cWestan be reached even by foot in the dry season.

Near the south-west corner of the lake stands Prasat Kravan probably the most beautiful brick monument from the  Angkor era. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, a main Vedic God and features some unique sculptures representing the god and his consort Lakshmi under different incarnations.

Pre Rup is another popular destination in the vicinity of West Baray. This is a royal temple constructed as a pyramid around the year 961, with 5 towers honoring the Hindu gods.

By the dam of West Baray, Cambodia

Prasat Kravan temple in Cambodia

Sculptures at Prasat Kravan

West Mebon temple ruins, West Baray

 Pre Rup Temple, Cambodia 

Pre Rup Temple towers, Cambodia

Top 5 European Adventures

You don't have to jetset off to faraway lands to fulfill your sense of adventure. Europe offers a whole host of fantastic destinations to help contribute to an unforgettable vacation. With many resorts just a few hours away, you can enjoy everything from fitness holidays to adventure tours on the continent, and often without a hefty price tag.

1. Switzerland

Home to some of the best ski resorts in Europe, now is a perfect opportunity to experience a holiday on the piste. Head to Zermatt, Kitzbuhel or St. Anton for some quality skiing and boarding experiences, as well as some excellent facilities and attractions away from the piste.

Zermatt Switzerland, The Matterhorn

Kitzbuhel, Switzerland,  skiing domains

2. Lake Garda

If your mind is swaying towards Italy, look no further than Lake Garda. With the Dolomites dominating the backdrop, and plenty of activities both on and off the lake, you can be sure to have a jam packed itinerary. Alternatively, there are plenty of opportunities to just relax and enjoy the tranquility of the Italian lakes.

Lake Garda, Italy

3. Croatia

Head for Central Europe for an unforgettable experience away from the popular tourist haunts. Offering stupendous beauty and fabulous unspoilt landscapes, you can enjoy the plethora of culture, history and outdoor pursuits that this destination provides, including plenty of walking, hiking and mountain biking opportunities in the foothills.

Plitvice national park, Croatia

4. Sivota

If you have a hankering for a beach holiday, Sivota is a perfect choice for you. With excellent wind conditions for sailing and windsurfing opportunities, and a beautifully warm climate for the majority of the year, you can enjoy this wonderful rustic village with true authentic Greek charm.

Ships in Sivota, Greece

Sivota, Greece - the sea

Whether your sense of adventure includes walking, hiking, watersports or riding the powder of the piste, Europe has plenty of opportunities to offer you a memorable experience. Start planning your European adventure today.

Dunrobin Castle, Clan Sutherland seat in Scotland

Dunrobin Castle is the seat of the Earls of Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland.
This beautiful domain containing both the castle and the gardens has it's origins in the Middle Ages but was greatly developed in the 19th century by the architect of the Westminster  Palace in London, Sir Charles Barry.
The main attractions are of course:
* The castle, with a great Scots Baronial style and 189 rooms. Although the interior decorations were affected by a fire in 1905, the reconstruction is great and incorporates many of the original decorations.
* The gardens, clearly influenced by the French formal style present at the Versailles Palace. I dare to say that the view is better at Dunrobin, the gardens look great and the castle is situated by the sea. If you visit the castle you can get a great panoramic view of the gardens and the sea.
Falconry displays are held at the castle and this is a great way to find out more about the ancient art of hunting with birds of prey. The castle museum, originally a summer house, is also worth the visit, displaying the safari  trophies from Africa and various ethnographic items collected by the family Sutherland members from around the world.

Dunrobin Castle in the Highland area of Scotland.

View from Dunrobin Castle, the gardens and the sea

 Dunrobin Castle seen from the gardens 

 Falconry display at the Dunrobin Castle in Scotland 

 Dunrobin Castle with the Clock Tower 

The Bastei Bridge in Saxon Germany

The Bastei Bridge is a spectacular bridge over a rock formation on the River Elbe in Germany.
Located in the Saxon Switzerland National Park the cliffs connected by the bridge are part of a popular hiking area that extends even into the neighboring Czech Republic.
Close to Dresden, the spa town of Rathen is the most popular tourist accommodation place in the area. Bastei is an old tourist attraction in Germany, the first wooden bridge connecting the sandstone peaks being constructed in 1824. The current sandstone Bastei Bridge was constructed in 1851.
Part of the Switzerland National Park, this area has some strict conservation rules and it's not really affected by the surge of mass tourism.
A great way to discover the landscape carved by the River Elbe and the masterpiece of Bastei is following the river path by steamboat or other water transportation that's available in the city of Dresden.
The hiking trails are of course free and easily accessible all year long and rock climbing opportunities are also available.

The Bastei Bridge

Walking down the sandstone Bastei Bridge

River Elbe Panorama from Bastei

Rock climbers in the Switzerland National Park 

 Rock formations in the Switzerland National Park 

Battambang, between Thailand and Cambodia

Battambang is a city in modern day Cambodia founded in 1795 by the Thais.
Although there aren't many tourist attractions in  Battambang the atmosphere and legacy of the city is fascinating.
Founded by the Thais it was abandoned by them a century later, and Cambodian people settled in. World War 2 was present here and  Battambang was under Japanese rule, even after the war the peoples sufferance continued: the Thais returned and established work camps for highway building and in 1975 the Khmer Rouge regime forced the population to build the Kamping Puoy dam.
The main attraction of the town is the French Colonial architecture, with more than 800 old buildings still intact Battambang has the best preserved architecture in South-East Asia.
Although  Battambang is considered the second largest city in Cambodia it does have a provincial aura so it's a nice place to visit if you want some quiet time and maybe some day trips around the city, the Battambang Province providing a nice picturesque setting.
The statues decorating the city are also quite popular: an ancient Khmer King holding a stick will impress you if you travel on the main road from Phnom Penh.

Battambang Khmer King statue

Battambang city street

Another street statue in Battambang, Cambodia

Bamboo train near Battambang

Battambang river bathing

Ottawa - the Wild Westminster

Once called the Wild Westminster, Ottawa is now a refined city with a variety of national institutions like the ones on Parliament Hill, and quality museums.
Declared capital of Canada about 150 years ago Ottawa was historically important in the logging and lumber industries but and evolved as a high-tech center nowadays.
Unique as a North American capital, this Washington of Canada is also famous for being bilingual, although most people have English as a primary language, staff in most stores and restaurants also speak French.
The main attractions in Ottawa are:
Parliament Hill, in the middle of Downtown Ottawa overlooking the Ottawa river. Whit a Gothic architecture it was both by the British Parliament and by the neoclassical Capitol in Washington. Centre Block contains the House of Commons and Senate chambers and is the most important building in Ottawa. Another great building situated on the Parliament Hill is the Library of Parliament, a national symbol of Canada.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization, this is the most popular and by far the most-visited museum in Canada. By exploring this museum you can find a lot about the human history of Canada and the cultural diversity of the people living here. 
Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Queen and the Governor General of Canada.
Hochey, the all time favorite sport in Canada. You should not miss a hockey game when in Canada and the Ottawa Senators are waiting to have you in the stands of a national hockey league game.

 Centre Block, Parliament Hill

The Library of Parliament in Ottawa

Downtown Ottawa by Night 

Rideau Hall Ottawa

 Ottawa Senators Hockey Game