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Top Things To Do In Pretty Paleokastritsa Corfu
Paleokastritsa, or Palaiokastritsa is a coastal village on the west side of Corfu renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty with rugged cliffs and lush greenery soaring over crystal-clear turquoise waters offering many things to see and do. It’s one of the most beautiful coastlines in Corfu, loaded with several pristine beaches, cool cliffs, sea caves, and grottoes. A place well worth a few days to explore its beauty, although many visit as a day trip. It gets its unusual name, Paleokastritsa, which is Palaiokastritsa in Greek, as the area here was once known as Paleokastro, after an old historic castle (Paleokastro literally means old castle). This post covers the top…
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Exploring The Clifftop Monasteries of Meteora Greece
The clifftop Eastern Orthodox Monasteries of Meteora, Greece truly are magnificent. Located just north of Athens, they are definitely a must-see. I was completely blown away by the majesty of the architecture and the landscape here. Plus, I visited in April, so the sunny weather and profusion of spring flowers made it idyllic. The Greek word Meteora means, “suspended in the air”, and these masterpieces truly are. At their peak in the 16th century, there were 24 monasteries here, some perched as high as 1,361’ (415 m), seamlessly built on top of ancient rock pillars. Today there are six functioning monasteries. Hermit monks started coming here as early as the…
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Enchanting Cape Drastis | How To Get There & What To Expect
Cape Drastis is a breathtaking natural wonder, a hidden gem nestled in the rugged cliffs and turquoise waters on the northwestern corner of Corfu. Its dramatic and awe-inspiring shapes are the result of centuries of wind and water erosion, resulting in a series of towering limestone formations that jut out from the sea like ancient sculptures. Making it even better, it’s remote and mostly untouched by development, leaving only its picturesque, natural beauty and a panoramic view that seems straight out of a postcard. Being remote, getting here is an adventure in itself. Not only do you go up and down narrow windy roads to reach the clifftop view overlooking…
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Things To Do In Sidari: Must-See Canal d’ Amour & More
Sidari, a small village on Corfu’s northwestern coast, is a popular stop for tourists when visiting the island. The coast here has a fascinating natural landscape feature called the Canal d’ Amour and several sandy beaches along its coast, all surrounded by the crystal-clear turquoise water of the Ionian Sea. It’s also lined with many restaurants and bars to enjoy dinner or drinks overlooking the sea and offers other day trip options, like the dramatic rock formations at Cape Drastis farther west, a popular sunset bar over Loggas Beach on the west coast, and more. This post covers the top things to do in Sidari, how to get there, and…
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Best Things To Do In Corfu Old Town
Corfu is a beautiful Ionian Greek Island rich with diverse beauty. From its rolling hills full of ancient olive trees, azure beaches, and stunning seaside rock formations, to its ancient historic landmarks, there’s many things to see and do in Corfu. Plus, it’s one of the few Ionian islands not leveled by the 1953 earthquake, so its beautiful historic buildings still stand in the center of the old town. Old Town Corfu is close to the airport and a popular stop on cruises, so you will likely be here for at least a day or two while visiting the island. Whether you’re here for one day or several, I’ve listed…
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Guide To Visit Hwaseong Fortress | Seoul Korea
Hwaseong Fortress, also known as Suwon Hwaseong, is an 18th century temporary palace in Suwon, Korea built by King Jeongjo, the 22nd monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. Located 18 miles south of Seoul, he built Hwaseong to honor the nearby tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado, who died a grisly death when Jeongjo was just 9 years old (more on this later). His plan was to make this the new capital, so this temporary place is grand, the grandest of all Joseon Dynasty temporary palaces, and built with an extensive fortress surrounding it for protection. It’s a bit of an effort to get to Hwaseong from Seoul, yet this…
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Cheonggyecheon Stream Walkway | Complete Guide To Seoul’s Hidden Oasis
Cheonggyecheon Stream Walkway is a hidden gem in Seoul, Korea. It’s an urban oasis, the perfect place to escape the chaos of the city streets and enjoy nature. The walkway threads through the heart of Seoul almost 7 miles (11 km). Making it even better there are various pedestrian crossing points, using stepping stones across the stream, art installations, historical information, and even music along its path. You’ll find locals and tourists walking, jogging, picnicking, reading, and enjoying serene natural landscape, which is a couple stories below its chaotic streets. The walkway passes through some of the most popular attractions in the city like Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Deoksugung…
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Bukchon Hanok Village | Guide To Best Views, Best Teahouse, & Best Places
Bukchon Hanok village, located in the heart of Seoul, is full of beautiful traditional Korean houses, or hanok, that date back to the Joseon Dynasty era. It’s steeped with history as this is where high ranking Joseon Dynasty officials lived from the 14th-19th century. It’s located between Gyeongbokg Palace, the first and largest palace, and Changdeokgung, one of the best preserved palaces. Bukchon is also close to Jongmyo Shrine, which is dedicated to the forefathers of the Joseon dynasty. Although many homes were demolished here when citizens started moving into modern high rises, about 900 traditional homes have been preserved. Many are set up as tea rooms, museums, cultural centers,…
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Charming Ihwa Mural Village | How To Get There & What To See
Visiting charming Ihwa Mural Village in Seoul to explore its art murals, installations, and cafes is a wonderful day trip in Seoul. It’s located in Ihwa-dong, adjacent to Naksan Park. Ihwa Mural Village is one of the oldest villages in Seoul. Located on a hill close to a section of Seoul’s old city walls, it’s considered a hilltop, or moon village. After the Korean War, refugees moved into this area, building shacks to live in. Later it became home to working class citizens. In more recent history this area was seen as a slum and planned for demolition. In 2006 under an “Art in City Project” local artists were bright…
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Best Things To Do in Zagreb
Zagreb, Croatia’s largest city and capital, is the most common arrival city for international flights and worth visiting for a day or two before heading to Croatia’s awesome sites. In addition to walking its charming old town, there’s plenty of things to see and do in Zagreb. It’s full of beautiful historical architecture, has a lively nightlife on its famous Tkalciceva street, a great cafe culture, tons of unique and interesting museums, as well as opportunities for hiking and more. Zagreb is also a great place to experience genuine Croatian culture as it’s located away from the top tourist spots. This post covers the best things to see and do…