Best Photo Opps in Spain

If you’re looking for a great place to take some photos, these are some of our top recommendations:

1. Andalusia Mountains – Take a drive through the Andalusia Mountain, home to the the highest mountain in Spain is found and also the most southerly ski resort in Europe. A bridge spans the gorge between the new town and the old town and the scenery is unforgettable – but you will want to take your camera just to be sure!
2. Aqueduct, Segovia – This roman aqueduct has been in place for 2,000 years and stretches 800 metres long. It is one of the most significant and best-preserved ancient monuments left on the Iberian Peninsula and is great for photos.
3. Royal Palace, Madrid at night – The Royal Palace (the official residence of Spain’s King) is lit up every night and is well worth the visit.
4. The Pyrenees – a mountain range which stands as the natural border between France and Spain. One of the highlights here are the large number of the mountain torrents which often form waterfalls.

The Old City, Barcelona– this is the oldest part of the city with a history dating back to 1298. The streets are narrow and filled with gorgeous architecture that is just waiting for you and your camera!

Best Photo Opportunities in Greece

1. Meteora – Meteora means “suspended in the air” and this sight is well worth the visit when you’re camera happy. Located in central Greece, this is a collection of six monasteries (the first of which was founded in the 1300s) situated on top of several rock pillars.
2. Filopappos Hill – opposite of the Acropolis, the hill is also known as the Hill of the Muses, since the myth says it used to be the home of the 9 muses. The hill is covered by pine trees and its top is only accessible by foot. Here you will find incredible panoramic views over Athens, the acropolis and the Saronic Gulf.
3. Delos – The ancient Holy Island of Delos is a vast archaeological site and for many hundreds of years it was the religious centre of Greece. It was the centre of the circle of the Cyclades islands and the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis and as such, has much to offer in terms of capturing history.
4. Oia – a small town and former community in the South Aegean and the highest village on Santorini island. At the pinnacle point of Oia you will find the ruined castle, the seat of the Argyri family under the Venetians, which serves as a lookout point with a stunning 360-degree view.
5. Spetses – an island in the Saronic  Gulf is a world of its own outside the booming tourism areas, with horse drawn carriages taking visitors past neoclassical houses edged with bougainvillea, harbours with fishing boats, deserted beaches and cobbled streets.

Bali – Did you know?

• Just 8 degrees south of the equator, Bali’s weather is some of the best in the world. With temperatures during the day averaging between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius, you really can’t go wrong. From November to April, it’s generally a lot warmer and can get very humid, but you will find a nice rain shower most afternoons will cool things down. Depending on where you are on the island, you might not see rain at all (particularly around Bukit Peninsula); while in other areas you could experience showers at any time of year. It’s a popular holiday destination, particularly for Australians, so just remember it might be extremely busy during peak holiday periods.

• Bali is separated into six distinct regions: South Bali, the most popular; Central, the cultural heart and home to the central mountain range; West, includes West Bali National Park; North, with its quiet black sand beaches; East, home to volcanos and coastal villages; and the Southeastern Island – including Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan.

• If you want to take some quiet time out in the mountains, Bali’s central mountains peak at more than 3,000 metres, with the highest being an active volcano – Mount Agung in the east. Agung actually has major spiritual significance to the island’s local people and it is home to the ‘Mother Temple’ of Besakih. It forms part of a chain of volcanos that make up the back bone of Bali.

• There are around 20,000 temples on the island. Each village is required by law to have at least three temples – the temple of origin, the village temple and the temple of the dead. If villages are wealthy, they will often have many more. The island is also home to nine directional temples, which protect the island from evil spirits and are located on the sides of mountains, in caves or at the top of cliffs.

5 Things To See in Greece

In a place where the roots can be traced back to 270,000 BC, you can expect to find an abundance of things to see and do. Greece takes pride in being the birthplace of democracy, Western literature, Western drama and the Olympic Games. It has the 11^th longest coastline in the world and 80% of the country is mountains. With such a long list, finding the top picks for things to “see” in Greece wasn’t easy, but we came up with a few of our favourites.

1. Mount Athos – located in northern Greece, this peninsula is the easternmost leg of the larger Halkidiki peninsula. It is home to around 1400 monks in 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Although it is an autonomous state under Greek sovereignty, in which entry is strictly controlled and only males are allowed entrance; even just a visit to the outskirts is worth it – just to say you did!
2. Mystras – Mystras is located near the ancient city of Sparta, and served as the capital of the Peloponnesus in the 14^th and 15^th The site was abandoned in 1832 and is now a fantastic place to visit to enjoy the medieval ruins and surrounding landscape.
3. Old Town in Rhodes – one of the most inspiring places in Greece. Situated in the north-east tip of the island and forming a triangle from north to south, in 1988, the old town of Rhodes was designated as a World Heritage City by UNESCO.
4. Acropolis – considered the most important monuments in the Western World, the Acropolis is located on a high rocky outcrop above Athens and contains the remains of several significant and ancient buildings, the most famous of which is Parthenon.
5. Filopappos Hill – opposite of the Acropolis, the hill is also known as the Hill of the Muses, since the myth says it used to be the home of the 9 muses. The hill is covered by pine trees and its top is only accessible by foot. Here you will find incredible panoramic views over Athens, the acropolis and the Saronic Gulf.

10 Things to Do in Greece

10 things to DO in Greece

1. Discover the Cyclades – visit the whitewashed towns of Ia and Thira, see stunning sunsets, black sand beaches, boutique hotels and gourmet cuisine.
2. Hit the town in Mykonos – where you will find some of the best nightclubs in Greece.
3. Watch the sunrise in Santorini
4. Visit the National Archaeological Museum in Athens – home to some of the most important Greek artifacts.
5. Birdwatching – at one of 11 wetlands of international importance and more than 190 “important bird areas”
6. Go to the Hellenic Festival – if you’re around from June to September, visit this festival for a music, dance and theatre experience you won’t forget.
7. Visit some the region’s stunning beaches
8. Go sailing around the islands
9. Have some fun with watersports – including rafting, kayaking, scuba diving and canoeing.
10. Take a walk to Samaria Gorge – a dramatic, high-sided, rocky canyon which runs 18km from Xiloskalo, at an altitude of 1200m, down to the tiny village of Agia Roumeli, on the coast.

5 Things to See in Spain

As the second largest country in Western Europe at more than 505,000km2, and with a history that dates back 35,000 years, you just know there are going to be an abundance of things to see when you travel to Spain. We had a look around, and while the list was long, we managed to choose 5 of our favourites to share with you!

1. A bullfight, or at least a bullfighting ring – if you’re not keen on watching the fight itself (though this is a part of Spain’s history that is inescapable), at least visit a bullring so you can see the inner workings of this age old tradition.
2. Antoni Gaudi Architecture is one thing you really don’t want to miss. Like it, or hate it, you have to admit that its extremely unique and will open your eyes to astounding architecture and an intriguing history.
3. Alhambra – a palace and fortress complex in Granada, Andalusia. Originally constructed as a small fortress in 889, the Alhambra is well worth the visit. Spend a few hours walking around the stunning gardens and fortress.
4. Running with the bulls, Pamplona – whether you’re crazy enough to take part, or just want to take a look as other’s risk their lives, this tradition which stems from the 14^th Century is worth watching.
5. A Flamenco Show – Flamenco is virtually unique in present day music – a traditional form of folk music that is still as alive today as it has ever been. Flamenco can be heard backed by a full orchestra in the gardens of the Alcazar in Seville, played by a pair of drunken gypsies in a seedy tavern or blaring from the stereo of a youth’s turbo-charged sports car.

Top 10 things to DO in Spain

1. Eat Tapas – feast your eyes and belly on the broad range of tapas on offer at many of the bars or cafes you come across. Yum!
2. Visit Madrid Art Museums – see the works of Picasso and Dali at Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, or works by Goya and El Greco at Museo del Prado.
3. Benicassim Festival – Spain’s biggest music festival.
4. Ski the Sierra Nevada Mountains
5. Walk along Las Ramblas
6. Shop at Rastro – Madrid’s flea market where you can find yourself a bargain.
7. La Tomatina, Bunol (Valencia) – a festival which starts with a massive feast on Paella and continues with thousands of people throwing tomatos! If you love a good food fight, this is where you want to go!
8. Party in Ibiza
9. Go to Camp Nou – Barcelona’s football stadium.
10. Sit outside in a cafe and watch the world go by!

Dubai: Did you know…

• There are no street addresses in Dubai. Everyone gets their mail delivered to a PO Box.

• 85% of people living in Dubai are international.

• You could get arrested for kissing in public in Dubai.

• Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport is the largest airport terminal in the world, and the second-largest building in the world in terms of floor space. It has a full-service hotel, an Apple store, and two zen gardens.