Travel-4Less

Follow me as I journey from the southern tip of Italy’s Puglia region all the way up to the Trento Alps. I’ll be focusing on budget-friendly travel, and I’ll rarely use a car. Along the way I’ll sample traditional foods, visit lesser-known ruins and cities, sample excellent wines, and visit local cooking schools, the entire two months living out of a backpack. . .

Day #14    
I’m taking a SITA bus along the Amalfi Coast. If you’ve ever taken this nerve-racking trip, you know it’s a roller coaster ride. Every time we go around a corner we swing well into the other lane of traffic, and the driver’s blowing his horn frantically. A year ago I actually had to walk the road along the Amalfi Coast in the middle of the night. I’d waited for a bus that was two hours late, and then I was taken only a few kilometers toward my destination. Unbeknownst to me, the road was closed to SITA bus traffic for a 100-meter stretch. While I had to walk this supposedly dangerous stretch of road in order to get another bus, other traffic encountered this piece of the highway without a problem. But rather than wait for the next bus, which was scheduled to arrive in two hours, I decided to walk the 4.5 miles to Amalfi. There are no sidewalks and I had both a heavy backpack and a wheeled suitcase. But I made it. Eventually.

Before getting on this bus, I spent two days in Salerno. Salerno is located on the eastern edge of the Amalfi Coast and though it’s primarily a transportation hub, it’s worth checking out for one or two days. With inexpensive restaurants, happening bars, and a seaside promenade, Kristin and I usually stay in Salerno before hitting Amalfi.

Yesterday we visited the ancient ruins of Paestum, located on the coast just south of Salerno. The train to Paestum costs the same as the bus, 3 euro, and takes less than half the time: 40 minutes. This trip is one you can easily do without a car. The weather stayed the same, alternating between dark clouds and warm sun. The ruins at Paestum date back to 600 B.C., and the three colossal temples that remain demonstrate the bulging Doric columns of the time period. Photos do not do them justice. Tickets are priced at 4 euro. While the only place that I know of that rivals Paestum’s temples is the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, I wouldn’t pass up a trip to Pompeii to see Paestum. However, if you have time, it’s well worth visiting.

A trip to the sight does have other rewards. A beautiful beach is just a short, 20-minute walk from the archeological area. Again, no sidewalks, but there’s a beaten down path on one side of the road, and on the walk you’ll pass two buffalo farms that produce mozzarella di bufala. The famous cheese, often found atop Neapolitan pizza, is only made in this region. It comes as a ball, the inside of which is a mixture of cream and fresh cheese. The first time I tried it, I didn’t believe it was made from buffalo milk. There’s not only mozzarella, but also ricotta, which I write about here , scamorza cheese, and even gelato. First, we visited Azienda Agricola Barlotti, which offers generous tastings of the cheese. Next, we stopped at La Fattoria del Casaro di Di Lascio Luigi. Surprisingly, the two cheeses were quite different. Both were excellent, but I preferred La Fattoria del Casaro’s because it had a good balance of creamy flavor and texture. Barlotti’s had a tang to it that makes it good for pairing with tomatoes. The buffalo were huge, happily eating fresh hay.

Throughout Italy, it’s important to remember that many smaller train stations do not have ticketing booths that are open all day. Such was the case in Paestum. Fortunately, I bought my train tickets at a tobacconist, which usually sell regional train and bus tickets. The next problem was finding a functioning machine to validate the tickets. No luck, so when the ticketing agent checked our tickets on the train we explained the situation, and he was very understanding.

When I returned to Salerno, I couldn’t miss visiting one of my favorite gelaterie in all of Italy. Bar Nettuno, located at 136 Lungo Mare Trieste in Salerno, offers an incredible invention called Nettuno, which is a light chocolate gelato with caramel, pieces of fudge, and crunchy pieces of chocolate. Other excellent flavors include Ricotta-Pistachio and Ricotta-Pear.
The bus ride’s almost over. In my next post I’ll talk about the Amalfi Coast’s excellent beaches, hiking trails, and seafood restaurants.

Written by Mattie Bamman for EuropeUpClose.com

A few weeks back, Andy Jarosz wrote a post about a restaurant that does not provide customers with tap water, and I suspect that is because too many people were asking for water, and not paying for drinks. Then today, I watched a video rant to hotels about them charging $4 for a bottle of water.

Water for profit

Travel to any popular tourist hotspot and you will find that the modest bottle of water doubles in price. At the end of the day we live in a world where people in many countries have to travel for miles for water, we do take it for granted.

So should it be used as a way for hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions to make huge profit?

Stop purchasing from hotel mini bars

I refuse to purchase anything from hotel mini-bars because it is a complete rip off. They put it there because many people would rather pay the inflated price, than walk out of the hotel to the nearest supermarket. We should all stop using hotel mini-bars until they sell at retail price.

As usual, I would be interested to read your experiences and thoughts.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Rip off hotel mini bars

For over nine years, Neil and Joan have been spending their summers cruising the canals and rivers of Western Europe aboard their now thirty-one-year-old Dutch motor-cruiser, the “Estate.”  This year they are again sharing their experiences with  readers of EuropeUpClose.com.

June 16
As a boater, one gets accustomed to sitting in port, waiting for parts or repairs. After spending the better part of a week waiting for new batteries and then getting them installed, we finally are back on the river. We left St Jean de Losne and headed south on the Saone.

We decided to just cruise a couple of hours our first day, so stopped at Seurre at lunchtime and for the night. Due to the copious amounts of rain we recently experienced, the river was running faster than anyone seemed to realize until trying to tie up in Seurre. It took us a couple of passes before we were safely docked, then we spent much of the first afternoon helping other boaters land.

Seurre is a nice, small town with a tree-covered park that faces the port. Every afternoon a group of older men and a separate group of older women congregate on the benches under the trees to catch up on the events of the day. Seurre has more bakeries than any other town of its size that we have encountered! One impressive house specialty we tried was an apricot crumble tart. There is also a small market on Saturday mornings. We arrived just as the market closed, missing our weekly roasted chicken. Somehow the grocery store chickens just don’t compare to those available at markets.

Our next stop was an even smaller town, Gergy. We’ve been on this route several times before, but never stopped here. The port is quite simple: one long pontoon with a restaurant perched above it. We landed just in time for a late lunch. This was a special treat for us because somehow this juxtaposition of pontoon/restaurant/lunchtime/wanting to stay for the night has not previously occurred. Since the lunch menu included wine, we knew we wouldn’t want to go further. By evening the pontoon was filled with people, including another American couple on their barge. This was unusual, as not too many Americans own their own boats here in France. We had a great time swapping stories and books.

The weather forcast in the local paper we had checked in Seurre indicated a rainy week. We decided to hope for the best, however, and took a detour off the Saone to head up the Canal de Centre to Fragnes. The bicycle routes in this area have been extended, paved, and are very popular, and we hoped to use them. To get there we encountered our first significant lock in a couple of years: over ten meters deep. In reality a lock this deep is often a lot easier to work through than locks with 2-3 meters of depth. The reason? Floating bollards. Instead of having to stabilize the boat with lines to fixed bollards at the top of the canal wall, there are floating bollards built into the lock wall that rise and fall with the boat. This usually means it’s a lot easier to control the boat as water rushes into the lock as it is filling.

We did the full length of the Canal de Centre, from west to east in 2006. Now we are approaching it from the opposite direction. Our first port, Fragnes, has significantly developed over the last four years. The town has extended the options for mooring, installing stakes and bollards along the canal bank beyond where they were on our previous visit. It’s one of the best little ports in this area, known for its inexpensive rate for moorage, electricity, water, and wifi, as well as a bakery and restaurant right at the port. The rest of the town is strictly residential, though a large grocery store is about a 5 km bike ride away.

We decided to get in a ride before dinner one evening, following the voie verte (path alongside the canal). Lots of other bikers and walkers were also out enjoying themselves. We were surprised to see yellow and purple wildflowers still blooming alongside the path. As we returned to drop off some groceries we had detoured to purchase, we were met with the sight of a very large barge, probably 35 meters  (115 feet) long, seemingly headed for our boat on a collision course. Needless to say, we hurried over to see what was happening.

Luckily for us, the captain of the barge was a very skillful driver. He squeezed the barge between another small pleasure boat and ours with less than a meter between his stern and our bow. That distance diminished to about 40cm (16 inches) by the time he was tied up. We decided it might be a good idea to pull our boat back as far as we could, about another meter, so he would have more room to maneuver when he left the next day.

We couldn’t quite figure out what function the barge had. It obviously didn’t have the pristine paint job and uniformed crew of a hotel barge. Nor was it carrying freight. Instead, it looked a little grungy and the main floor was set with tables and chairs.

About fifteen minutes later we found out: a barge used for discovery classes for children. Thirty or forty kids, 10-14 years old, suddenly appeared, peddling by us, calling out, “bonjour, bonjour, bonjour….” Apparently they ate and slept on the boat, bicycling during the day. The next morning at 8 am they moved on, and the port settled back to its quieter normalcy.

Written by Joan Malling for EuropeUpClose.com

Blimey, this article about Avoid Breakdown Misery When Driving Abroad is a great idea from the travel boggers at Europe & Beyond – A Travel Blog – Holiday Ideas – Europe and Beyond! full of happy holiday ideas.

Summer Break Breakdown cover

Getting abroad with your car is easy and has a range of advantages, especially when it comes to deciding when and where you want to go. Whether for business or for a holiday, taking your car to the continent can bring a range of advantages, dispensing with the need to hire a car or use public transport. Vehicle breakdowns in foreign countries can be a very and expensive experience though. That’s why it is important to consider the benefits of having good breakdown cover for your travels.

Guest Article by Gillian Davies

Having no breakdown cover abroad could leave you with a bill higher than the cost of your holiday. With other costs such as importing spare parts for repairs, difficulties with foreign languages, as well as getting a replacement vehicle, a holiday abroad with your car could become a huge financial burden. Yet there is a range of types of breakdown cover available that cost a fraction of what you would otherwise have to pay in the event of a problem with your vehicle.

Avoiding the hassle and stress of a breakdown

If you’ve decided that breakdown cover abroad is necessary, then the next step is to find a type that suits your holiday plans and your wallet. There is a range of breakdown cover policies available to suit everyone’s needs. First of all, you’ll need to choose where you’re taking you vehicle and for how long. All British car insurance companies automatically provide third-party cover in all EU countries, even if you have cheap car insurance.  However, having full comprehensive cover in the UK doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have the same cover abroad, so it’s worth checking whether you need separate cover.

Driving abroad involves much of the same risks as driving in the UK, although with potentially worse effects, so try to consider what type of support you will most likely need. For example, things to consider when choosing your cover should include emergency roadside assistance, a replacement car if your car cannot be repaired and the return of your car to the UK. This type of foreign breakdown cover will give you the peace of mind to enjoy your holiday.  Also make sure your insurer has an English-speaking call centre you can call if you need help when you’re abroad.

Choosing a good deal on breakdown cover

As always, make sure you read the small print before signing a contract. There may be restrictions on how long the cover will apply when you are driving abroad. Before deciding on which policy is best for you, it is worth calculating the likely duration of your holiday or holidays for that year. Some policies will offer a multiple trip option. If you are planning on taking your vehicle to the mainland Europe more than once in a year, it could be more cost effective to go for this option. There could also be limits on how much the insurer will pay for repairs to your vehicle, although costs such as the fees for importing the spare parts should be included.

The peace of mind and benefits that come with breakdown cover can far outweigh the cost. Just one breakdown in a foreign country without cover could cost significantly more than the price of a year’s cover. So check whether your car insurance covers breakdown abroad.

Villa Magnolia is a Noble Villa dating back to the 18th-century, the smallest luxury Boutique Hotel/Retreat in Puglia. It is set within a generous 4 hectares of land full of ancient olive trees and almond groves in the heart of Puglia.
ABC News has rated the villa as one of the top 10 eco-vacation hot spots for 2009!
Eco-sustainability is at the heart of life at the Villa. A wind turbine capable of producing 13kw of electricity supports the operation of the Villa and supplies the national grid with excess capacity. The domestic hot water is generated from solar thermal panels. Rainwater is collected and stored to supply the house and the beautiful Roman style salt water swimming pool and sunken Jacuzzi in the ‘Temple’, an area for total relaxation. The salt water eliminates the typical harsh pool chemical cocktails and red eyes while providing an overall beneficial experience.As guests arrive and are shown their rooms and facilities, they become familiar with the environmentally friendly features. The philosophy of the Villa is to provide a tranquil, beautiful experience with minimum impact on the environment. Their experience here hopefully will linger with them as they return home.
Furniture in the bedrooms was sourced from Italian antique dealers, all tiles and fittings that needed replacing were sourced locally. The 2+ year restoration of the structures used local labor incorporating materials and techniques that were likely to have been used when the villa was first built. Exterior and the original interior wall finishes were hand applied using locally processed materials that absorb carbon dioxide during the curing process. While at the Villa guests are encouraged to wander through the fruit trees, vineyard and vegetable garden to sample vine ripened organic vegetables and fruits. With over 90 ancient olive trees they have an abundant supply of delicious 100% organic extra virgin olive oil.
Accommodation
Villa Magnolia has 4 very spacious rooms with high vaulted ceilings. The bedrooms are filled with beautiful period furniture from the 1800’s. Luxurious Egyptian cotton bed linen and the softest pillows encourage a relaxing, comfortable sleep. Each bedroom has a modern en-suite bathroom with sky-lighted walk-in wet rooms and hydro jet shower. Organic soaps and products are used in all of the rooms. Each room has air conditioning.
Activities
In the grounds of Villa Magnolia there is a gorgeous roman-style salt water swimming pool with temple and sunken Jacuzzi. Comfortable loungers provide a relaxing environment to soak up the southern Italian sun and view the intense blue of the Puglian sky. The raised temple area surrounded by the ancient olive trees provides a tranquil setting for a variety of massage therapies, these can also be arranged in the privacy of the guest’s room. Yoga courses are also available (pre-booking required) as are authentic southern Italian cooking courses (April, May, September and October). Mountain bikes are available to tour the area for guests.
Dining
On the estate of Villa Magnolia only organic produce is grown; courgettes, aubergine, peppers, tomatoes, grapes, oranges & lemons etc, and of course delicious extra virgin olive oil. Dinner at the villa is optional and guests will be presented with the evenings set menu in the morning to give them the choice. All home cooked food is produced using local organic and fresh seasonal produce. Pizza making evenings are held once a week, and guests are invited to configure their own, pizza’s are then baked in our wood fired oven.

This is the second in a series of three posts offering advice to holidaymakers heading off on holiday this summer. In this post I have added some useful tips that will save you money in the hope that you will spend less time worrying about money, and more time enjoying your holiday.

I have also included the answers to two questions that I am asked a lot; how much spending money should I take on holiday? Where are the best places to exchange currency? I explain how you can still enjoy expensive destinations like Venice, by changing your spending behaviour while on holiday.

Here is my list of travel money saving tips.

Stick to a daily budget

Before I travel I look at what I want to do. I look at the cost for entrance to tourist attractions that I want to visit. I research what public transport ticket options I can purchase and how much it will cost to get around. Then add in the cost of food, drink, and money for gifts etc.

I then have an estimated amount for spending money. It’ll not be exact, but it’s better than just pulling a figure out of the air and then finding that you cannot afford to do the things you had planned. In Oslo I saved money by purchasing a tourist pass that included transport and entrance to museums.

Book accommodation outside of the main tourist area

When I told friends that I was staying in a hotel away from the main island in Venice they told me that I was making a huge mistake. I stayed at a hotel in Mestre, a ten minute bus ride away, and the cost of the hotel was 45% cheaper than the main island. The bus service was regular, and reliable.

So, my advice is, if cost is the main factor in your holiday search, try not to stay in the main tourist areas. Look at places nearby with a good public transport network to where you want to visit. Finding a parking space in unfamiliar towns and cities can be a nightmare, so catching a bus is a lot less stressful.

Go local to find the cheapest restaurants and bars

I am using my trip to Venice as an example again, but, a few people told me to ‘get lost’ to find the best restaurants and bars. It’s true; you’ll pay up to 50% less by finding places that the locals use. Not only is the food cheaper but it tastes a lot nicer. You will also avoid those rip-off tourist restaurant menus and rates.

Remember you pay more in a restaurant with good views and location. Rather than paying a huge amount for a meal, go to a supermarket and create your own picnic. I sat eating my €2 sandwich on the Grand Canal while the people behind me, in the restaurant, paid €25 for a soup starter.

Change your spending behaviour

When I went to Kos a few years back, I was short of money because it was close to pay-day. So I planned my spending to make sure my money stretched to the end of they holiday. The daily lunchtime beer in a bar was replaced with a drink back on the balcony of my apartment.

Visit a supermarket that the locals use. Making a few sandwiches is much cheaper than eating at restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rather than paying for a taxi, walk, or use public transport. Making a few changes to how you spend money is not going to ruin your holiday; it’ll mean less stress when you receive the bank or credit card statement.

Cut the bank card costs

I have a Nationwide account because within Europe, if I withdraw any money, I do not get charged. I also have a FairFX prepaid card, which I applied for online. There are no fees for adding money, but you will pay €1.50 to withdraw cash from an ATM. I take both when going on holiday.

There are loads of different options on debit and prepaid cards, so it is worth shopping around. While I am on the topic of cards, it is a good idea to speak with your bank prior to going on holiday to tell them that you will be using it abroad. I have heard of banks freezing accounts because of suspicious activity.

Best currency exchange rates

Finally, a question I am asked a lot is where the best places to exchange my money are. Unless you are exchanging large amounts of money I wouldn’t spend time searching for the best rate. If you do want to shop around, then compare the high-street with online. You tend to find higher rates online, they will deliver, but it can take up to two weeks.

Hopefully this post has provided you with some travel money saving tips for your next holiday.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Travel money saving tips for your summer holiday

Follow me as I journey from the southern tip of Italy’s Puglia region all the way up to the Trento Alps. I’ll be focusing on budget-friendly travel, and I’ll rarely use a car. Along the way I’ll sample traditional foods, visit lesser-known ruins and cities, sample excellent wines, and visit local cooking schools, the entire two months living out of a backpack. . . starting now.

Day #11
I’ve left Italy’s Puglia region and entered the Basilicata region, which lies to the northwest. The region is poorly served by trains and buses, likely because of its mountainous terrain, but I want to visit the town of Matera once more before heading north. I spent the better part of this morning trying to find a good train or bus route to the town, but there’s just no comfortable way other than renting a car. Fortunately, my friends pulled through once again, and I’m getting a ride.

When we reached Matera, we headed to Café Schiuma, which is famous for its pastries and gelato. When I first saw the pastries I thought they were fruit tarts, but then I began to notice ingredients such as shrimp and hard-boiled egg. These  luxurious pastries looked like a combination of fine art and sushi.

Matera is best known for its caves; they are built throughout the canyon that runs though the city. These caves are called Sassi, and they reveal a poverty-stricken reality that greatly contrasts with the delicacies in Café Schiuma. In the 1950s nearly 50% of Matera’s inhabitants lived inside of Sassi. Today, the Sassi that are still inhabited are equipped with electricity and other luxuries. This is a fascinating place and its no wonder that Mel Gibson chose this location to film The Passion of The Christ.

After a late lunch and some particularly bad gelato (not at Café Schiuma), I got a ride to Metaponto, a small town that is about as in the middle of nowhere as a town can be. Fortunately, unlike Matera, it has a train station with trains running north. As the sun set, my girlfriend Kristin and I threw on our bags, said goodbye to our friends, and went to buy tickets. Inside the station the ticket office was closed, but the automatic machines were working and we bought two tickets to Salerno. If we’re lucky, we’ll arrive by 10:30 tonight, with the fresh air of the Amalfi Coast filling our lungs.

Written by Mattie Bamman for EuropeUpClose.com

Cluj, Romania is a city of many different faiths and historic communities, just like the region of Transylvania in which it sits. In another article, we’ve already looked at its two largest churches and the stories behind them. But in this article, we’ll explore some of the smaller churches and the congregations they serve. In this compact and culturally rich city, all of these beautiful and widely different churches are located within a few square miles.

The most prevalent Protestant denomination in Transylvania is the Reformed or Calvinist faith. The church in the southern part of the city center now belongs to the Calvinists, but was the site of some inter-denominational conflict in centuries past. Built in 1486-1516, it originally belonged to Franciscan monks. Townsfolk filled with Protestant zeal raided it in 1556 and trashed its sculptures and icons. The Franciscans relinquished the church and it was given to another Catholic group, the Jesuits, in 1579. Protestants struck again in 1603, ransacking the building and destroying the roof. In due course, the Jesuits said goodbye to the building and in 1622 it became what it is now: a Calvinist church with a Hungarian-speaking congregation.

There followed a series of 17^th century renovations, including new vaulting and a pulpit made from limestone and alabaster, creating an interior that remains largely unchanged to this day – somewhat sparse, and still with a Gothic look. The simple wooden pews date from that time. However, the ornate organ housing is from 1765, as it was not until then that the Reformed congregation countenanced organ playing. The church’s single nave is extremely broad.

The statue outside the church’s entrance, showing St. George killing a dragon, is a miniature replica of one that still stands in the Czech capital Prague, having been created for that city in 1373 by a pair of Cluj-based sculpting brothers.

Slightly to the west of the central square in Cluj, named Piata Unirii, stands the Greek Catholic church, which, though small, is a relatively important seat for this dwindling denomination. Greek Catholicism was popular among Transylvanian Romanians in the 18^th century because it allowed them to be in full communion with the Catholicism of their Austrian rulers while keeping Orthodox rites. Accordingly, this church’s interior is a weird hybrid. Like an Orthodox church, it has an iconostasis, icons painted on the walls, and no statues. But there is a Catholic flavor to its pale colors - the Stations of the Cross paintings hanging on the walls, and the fact that there is a pulpit. A side chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, though lacking a statue, in other respects resembles something from a Catholic church, including votive tablets hung on the wall by parishioners.

To the south of Piata Unirii is a Roman Catholic church displaying the Baroque style typical of the 18^th century, when the Austrians sent Jesuits around Transylvania to revive Catholicism. In fact, this was the first church the Jesuits built in the region during that counter-Reformation. It has a splendid, highly ornamented interior, with lots of gold.

A real curiosity is the “Cock Church” built in 1912-13 by Karoly Kos, an architect influenced by Transylvanian Hungarian peasant art. A 20 minute stroll west from the city center, this salmon-pink edifice is named for the rooster designs on the top of its tower and on the interior lampshades. The church offers a modern twist on village architecture, with stylized folk motifs punctuating the simple dark wood planks of its chunky but elegant interior.

A faith strongly associated with Transylvania’s Hungarian community is observed in the Unitarian church, built in 1792-96. This faith – in which there is only one God rather than a Trinity – was mostly adopted by ordinary folk, because aristocrats, as part of their duties, sometimes needed to swear on the cross. In keeping with the Unitarian ethos, this church contains no pictures. Its broad, sweeping, single-nave interior, topped by a low arched ceiling, is plain and simple. The walls are painted a uniform pale yellow and punctuated with big windows. During services, the priest likes to stand facing the crowd rather than delivering his words from a pulpit.

A stone’s throw west is the Lutheran church, which stands on the northeast corner of the square named Piata Unirii. The word “Pietati” is written on the front facade, meaning “To Piety” in Latin. Inside, this church proves to be another big, arched, elegantly simple single-nave, although it has more adornment than the Unitarian one. The columns that support the expansive white interior are touched up with gold paint on their bosses. The north wall contains a couple of small epitaphs to local officials from the 17^th and 18^th centuries. This church was constructed in 1816-1829 in a style that is a fusion of Baroque and Neo-Classical. Its congregation mostly consists of ethnic Hungarians, and services are held in their language.

Travelers to Cluj who want to know its history, culture, and people, need only visit its many religiously significant churches.

Written by David Hill for EuropeUpClose.com

Blimey, this article about Holidays in Cyprus Villages is a great idea from the travel boggers at Europe & Beyond – A Travel Blog – Holiday Ideas – Europe and Beyond! full of happy holiday ideas.

Guest article by George Christodoulou

Cyprus is a wonderful place for a vacation. More recently, the makeup of Cyprus has been changing and more and more tourists have been spending their vacations in lovely villages rather then in crowded tourist cities. But why are the villages so much better then the cities? Large cities around the world have the tendency of being just like very other you’ve ever visited. Basically, everything has a different name, but the main activities and sights are similar. The villages of Cyprus, on the other hand, are all unique and offer a different kind of experience.

First, every village has a different and interesting layout. Having been built around the mountains rather then on flat land, most of the villages in Cyprus are either built on top of mountains or in beautiful valleys. The image you see below is one of the villages. It rests at the bottom of a valley and is a wonderful place for those who love to hike and witness some amazing sights. Just a few hours of hiking and you reach the top of the mountain range that looks over the village.

The coffee shops in the villages offer a great chance to meet the locals and feel what the culture that Cyprus is famous for. There is virtually no crime in these villages and every person is nicer then the last. If you ask someone if you can come in and join them for dinner, the will more then likely accept you into their home. This particular picture is one of my great uncle and brother. They are lounging around having a pleasant conversation in the shade which is provided by grape vines. The stories you here in the village are none like you will hear in any city. The locals have lived long and very interesting lives.

Cyprus is a place where you can just go for a walk and pick the fruits off of the trees that grow naturally in the village. You can lay around all day and relax without a care. The coffee shops are relaxing and the homes are rustic, yet well kept. As the years pass, Cyprus continues to change. More and more people are opening their village homes to tourists. A trip to Cyprus is a wonderful experience everyone should enjoy.

This guest article was written by George Christodoulou, a travel blogger for onetravel who search for cheap flights from 400+ Airlines.

George loves to travel around the world, but has a special place in his heart for Cyprus where he was born and raised.

I recently visited Matera, Italy with a group of friends and found ancient architecture built on the brink of a sprawling green canyon with a picturesque river running through its bottom. What more can I ask for? A lot of the city’s notoriety comes from being the setting for Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ, and I can certainly understand the choice to film the movie here. Take away a few modern signs for restaurants and stores and the city looks much like it did hundreds of years ago.

The city’s most surprising element is its ability to assimilate with the canyon and rocks on which it is built. Everything from wine bars to churches have been created inside of caves carved from the cliffside. Matera’s caves are called Sassi and date back at least 9,000 years. Shockingly, they were where 50% of Matera’s population lived a mere 70 years ago.

Today, the caves are making Matera a very popular tourist destination. I first caught a glimpse of the ancient, now-uninhabited, Sassi when I stumbled upon la Gravina, the canyon that winds by Matera. The caves stick out everywhere on the far side of this massive expanse. Well-equipped hikers had driven to the far side and could be seen trekking around the cave sites.

The most striking cave that I visited was actually a church, Chiesa San Giovanni. Hewed into one of the city’s rock peaks, the church can be visited free of charge. It is easily viewed from most areas of the city and has the distinction of having a gigantic rock peak for a roof. The front room of the church is somewhat modern, but make sure not to stop here. A small doorway to the left of the altar takes you inside the ancient Santa Maria Idris church where the people in Matera once came to pray for rain. Legend has it that they licked the church’s floor to entice the storms.

One of the best views in all of Matera can be had from the Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio Pittore, a terrace located above the ancient part of the city. From here you can see many of the locations for many scenes from The Passion of the Christ. From there, we took a staircase down that took us through the old city where we found a wealth of attractive alleys, old homes, and several restaurants that were open. We stumbled upon a store run by the Tenute Iacovazzo Winery, which was offering a free tasting of their wines. Five local wines were being offered, one of which was made using Primitivo grapes from three different growing seasons. The wine was made from the 2006, 2007, and 2008 harvests, and had a rustic, masculine character that made it stand out.

Matera is located in the Basilicata region of Italy, and it has several food specialties, including an incredible stuffed foccacia. Foccacia is a lot more than bread in Materia, and its foccacia can be filled with everything from spinach and ricotta to sausage and onions. The flaky bread on the outside ensures that the delicacy is more than just a snack, yet not too heavy. The salami made in Matera is also worth trying. It is made with chili peppers which produces a very spicy taste. Paired with local cheeses and a wine made from the native Aglianico grape is a match made in heaven. Aglianico is thought by many to be southern Italy’s most noble grape, and possibly the origin of the world-famous Nebbiolo grape, used to make Barolo wines.

As the day wound down, I still hadn’t seen enough. I suggest spending at least two days in Matera if your travel schedule permits. The city has a lot to offer, as does the surrounding countryside. The best time to visit the city is April-June, and September-October.

Written by Mattie Bamman for Europeupclose.com