Travel Around The Clock

Friuli-Venezia-Giulia , in the North-Eastern corner of Italy , is a border region with a turbulent past. Its cultural atmosphere has been strongly influenced by the various historical dominations that have finally created a melting pot of culture and traditions making it a very peculiar place. Thanks to its geo-morphological diversity, the region offers endless opportunities to visitors: a beautiful coastline, imposing mountains, a relaxing hilly countryside covered in vineyards and plenty of cities and small towns with an impressive historical heritage.  History buffs, foodies and wine lovers or those that like outdoor activities, will find plenty of opportunities to fulfill their interests. Nonetheless, for those that like less touristy destinations, this is a region that is still relatively out of the radar of the mass tourists. Here is our top 5 of places to visit in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia :     1. TRIESTE Home of the famous writers Svevo and Saba , Trieste is the e...

Château de Fénelon The Château de Fénelon is a listed historic monument, located in the Dordogne department on the heights of the town of Saint-Mondane from where it dominates the valleys of the Dordogne and Bouriane. The castle was the birthplace of François de Salignac de la Motte Fénelon (much better known by his name of writer Fénelon) who lived during the reign of the Enlightenment of Louis XIV and became Archbishop of Cambrai. The castle draws up its powerful architecture behind three fortified enclosures whose defensive system has been kept intact. The front door was defended by a first gatehouse. The attackers then had to bypass a second defensive wall which left them uncovered and led them to a second 'chatelet' defending access to the foot of the castle. The fortress played a strategic role during the Hundred Years War and was besieged on numerous occasions. Château de Fénelon Main courtyard, Château de Fénelon Well (90m deep), Château de Fénelon The castle was then...

Winding pebbled alleys, little squares framed by beautifully preserved medieval buildings and a long series of hidden corners... You are in Sarlat, centre of the Perigord Noir and quintessential french village. Sarlat-la-Caneda Walking through the streets, you'll be astonished by the details: the ancient doors,  the Reinassance windows, the typical honeyed stones, the peculiar 'lauze' roofs... The old artisans ateliers may have been replaced by souvenirs shops and restaurants, but the atmosphere is still that of the historical films; it feels like descending into Middle Ages. Sarlat-la-Caneda To the south east of the city, the Cathedral Saint Sacerdos shows a mix of architectural styles including Roman and Gothic, signs of the several renovations over the centuries. Just above the cathedral, is the ancient abbey cemetery, called `Jardin des Enfeus` spotted with several sarcophagus and, above it, there is an unusual bullet shaped building called the Lanterne...

Following our 3 days itinerary in the Dordogne , here you will find our suggestions if you have a bit more time to spend in this lovely corner of France. You won’t probably be able to see everything the region has to offer but you will get a real sense of it.                               5 DAYS IN THE DORDOGNE Day One Your first day in the Dordogne should start with the exploration of the medieval city centre of Sarlat . Possibly, choose to do it on a Wednesday or Saturday that are market days, when the city livens up with the hustle and bustle of the farmers and the locals browsing the stalls for delicacies. Start your visit from Place de la Liberté. Explore the little alleys. Enjoy the perfectly preserved Perigourdine architecture, the golden stones, the decorated portals, the beautiful towers and the Reinassance windows. Don't miss ...

We lived in Paris for 6 months a couple of years ago and, during this time, we made a point of making the most of this amazing city... Because Paris is really a surprisingly amazing city, more than any travel guide or magazine will ever tell you. And it is lively. And so full of art. And so deeply French! During those 6 months we tried to optimize our time and to feed our love for art. But, although we deeply loved the amount and variety of museums that the Ville Lumière displays, I have to admit that one of my dearest memories of our time in Paris comes from when we walked the Promenade Plantée . Let me explain you why. The Promenade Plantée is a 4,5 Km park walkway starting behind the Opera Bastille above the Viaduc des Arts , ending at the Bois de Vincennes and passing through the Jardin de Reuilly, ancient railway tunnels and the Jardin Charles Peguy. Place de la Bastille It is an extraordinary journey above street level (at least for the first part) among Parisians...

If you are visiting Southern Mexico you can't miss to visit some ancient Maya sites . Here you can find useful info on what we have seen in 20 days around the Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche and Chiapas. Please note that all opening sites and ticket prices are updated at October 2011. 1. Coba  (extended site) Open 8-17 Ticket: 51 mex pesos A bit too touristy. Great pelota ball court. Highest pyramid in Yucatan peninsula (accessible for visitors) with dramatic views from the top. Bicycle taxis available. Cobà pyramid 2. Chacchoben (small site) Open 8-17 Ticket: 41 mex pesos Perfectly kept. Very friendly and helpful manager. Not touristic at all. Peaceful. 3. Kohunlich (medium sized site) Open 8-17 Ticket: 49 mex pesos Best preserved and most beautiful decorative masks (mascarones) we have ever seen. Magical and scary atmosphere due to a tropical storm. Mascarones, Kohunlinch 4. Dzibanche' (large site) Open 8-17 Ticket: 42 mex pesos Stunning tropical jung...