It’s always that special moment to catch when you’re keen of photographing. It’s all about being on the right spot in the right time, right? I just wish that I could be a bit faster with my camera…

©Lifecruiser Love Nice
 

Right now there really are so many travel related interior decors that it’s difficult to avoid them actually, even for a person not so keen on travel.

Have you spotted any in your location/s too?

©Lifecruiser Love Travel

A couple of other travel painting related posts at Lifecruiser:

A Travelers City Paintings
Travel Paintings: Happiness not a destination
 

The Spaniards really are very creative, whether it comes to stone layings, architecture, clothes – design of any kind, don’t you think…? It’s a tourist attraction in itself. I really, really love it!

(Yes, it’s my shoes you see there in the bottom of the picture)

©Lifecruiser Love Spain

Other Alicante related posts at Lifecruiser:

Boat Lover Perfect Vacation View
Spanish Beaches: Postiguet Beach
Bad Weather Causes Travel
 

Just sitting there, listening to the sea and the seabirds, enjoying the sunshine after a very long winter back at home, could not be anything else than pure rehabilitation for both soul and body…

©Lifecruiser Love Boats
 

This particular day in the beginning of March it was cloudy and risk for rain, but still it was a really nice walk along the beach. Maybe we appreciate it even more than the Spaniards, since we did came from snowy weather conditions…

We had seen many Spanish beaches by then, on the 5000 km roadtrip, since we had been driving along the coastline mostly and there has been surprisingly many stony beaches actually.

We will tell you if we ever find our dream beach… or maybe not… Maybe we will keep it a secret…? *teasing you*

©Lifecruiser Love Spain Beaches
 

It is often said there are more acres in Yorkshire than letters in the Bible.
(I am better qualified in Yorkshire’s acres than the Bible’s letters.)
The largest English county with a rich diversity of terrain, people and culture.
That Yorkshire attitude… Down to earth, often stubborn… Or argumentative.
Welcoming of strangers.
Tolerant and with fortitude.
Above all… Fiercely independent!

That Yorkshire Attitude!

No matter where in the world you meet; Ask “Where are you from?” and the first answer will be Yorkshire! This is true. People from other counties may say England or even British but not Yorkshire people. It is instinctive; county ranks higher than nation to us. Being British is similar to saying we are European; both are somewhat contrary or additional to who we really are. They represent an alliance or allegiance with people who are somewhat foreign to our way of thinking. To some this may seem bigoted and arrogant, particularly when coupled with our northern habit or being economical in speech:-  But it is not.

©Charimage 2013

The Heartland of The North.

In Celtic times Yorkshire was the established territory of the Brigantes Tribe that controlled Northern England. Aldborough in North Yorkshire being the site of their capital. Nearby Boroughbridge came to prominence in Norman times. Under Roman rule York (Eboracum) was named as joint capital of Roman Britain. The Romans left and the Celtic tribes divided and ruled. The Danish Vikings established a kingdom here.  They called it the Kingdom of Jórvík. The Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings heralded Yorkshire darkest times. With the Harrowing of the North by an enraged William the north of England was laid to waste in one of the first recorded acts of pure genocide. Yorkshire suffered the brunt of this fury when thousands were slain. The entire region was burned and the soil poisoned for years to come with salt resulting in the surviving population facing starvation. During the civil war the Yorkists stood their ground as royalists; York was besieged… the Round-headed Parliamentarians finally famously quelled the county at the Battle of Marston Moor.

©Charimage 2013

The Wars of The Roses.

Here we have a great confusion that needs explanation. Put aside modern (particularly sporting usage,) the Wars of the Roses had nothing to do with the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The Royal Plantagenet House (or family) had two factions The House of York (White Rose) and The House of Lancaster (Red Rose.) The House of Lancaster was actually based in… (wait for it!)… York! The House of Lancaster controlled and was based in London. The Wars of the Roses is perhaps best considered as a feud between the Northern aristocracy and the South. The defeat  of the Yorkist Richard III at Bosworth Field ended both the feud and the Plantagenet Line; Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York and the white and red roses combined to form the Tudor Rose.

©Charimage 2013

A County of Contrasts.

Travel across Yorkshire and you’ll find a patchwork of heritage and history. People and communities that are a product of that diversity. There are areas specific to all types of farming and horticulture. National Parks and World Heritage locations. You’ll find areas marked by heavy industry of all types; steel, mining or textiles. Many are now in decline but they created what we see today. From Fishing on the coast to Farming in the uplands. Forestry in the Fells and Finance in Leeds. There is literature and leisure; theater and cricket. Roast beef or Yorkshire Tea with jam on scones. It is a county that doesn’t take itself too seriously but takes life very serious indeed. It works hard and plays with a similar passion. There is plenty for all and all are welcome. God’s Own? I do not know…
But it has acres a plenty.

“Independence For Yorkshire!”

We hear it called for… every now and then. It is a cry that gains little support. Yorkshire doesn’t need independence to be granted. It has always been independent and always will.

 

 

©Lifecruiser Cowboy Trails

 

Other Cowboy Trails Posts at Lifecruiser:
Rivers of Life
I Want to be Alone
Why Do We Travel?

…but have you noticed that the postcards have decreased? Like myself, people don’t send postcards anymore, they post their photos and greetings on Facebook or similar networks instead.

Good or bad? What do you think? Both I think.

©Lifecruiser Love Spain

A couple of other travel postcards related posts at Lifecruiser:

The Brutally Honest Postcard From Florence, Italy
Travel Postcard: Diving Cat?
 

The day we started our trip from Stockholm, Sweden, in late February, we were lucky because we had clear sky and dry roads – just the day after we left it started to snow again… We started the right day for sure, especially since we have summer tires on the car not suited for any snowy weather conditions!

That’s because we had winter tires with spikes at home and that is not allowed in Germany (or some other countries) so we had to summer tires before leaving Sweden. Earlier there were a exception from that regulation that said that you were allowed to have them if you were passing through from one country to another, but they changed that in 2012.

We did drive through Denmark and Germany without any bad weather either luckily, in fact: the first 2000 km went so smooth that we started to think that this trip was going to be an easy ride all the way! Boy, was we wrong… First there was very foggy roads when entering France slowing us down quite much.

Then hubby started to feel very ill… In fact so nausea and dizzy that he had to stop acute at least 4 times along the road to throw up at the roadside… Yikes! That’s not any easy ride when out on a long roadtrip at all!!!! Luckily we did not have that long leg planned for that day and he was better the next day.

When we were entering Spain finally after so long time on the road, I did happily burst out with a spontaneous “Buenas Noches España”, feeling so pleased to have come so far – and the late sunset were gorgeous to our winter tired eyes!

We went sightseeing around the coastline in Spain down to Alicante where we were going to celebrate a friends birthday, so that was our first longer stop (more than for the night only). We did smaller excursions to check up even the surrounding smaller places too, but we never did find any places that we got found of. Maybe Playa San Juan nearby Alicante, but that was just the playa.

Alicante actually greated us with some rain too, but still: it was way much more nice than the snow in Sweden – wouldn’t you say too? this photo below is from Playa Postiguet nearby Alicante harbor.

After that we went down south from Alicante along the coast line exploring all the places and beaches on the way and at last, we ended up in Nerja which is our second visit to this smaller tourist town, we liked it already the first time we were here – it’s a nice little town. We have been walking around all over this place for days now.

The weather has been mostly OK, but very variated. Some days practically summer weather, others rainy or windy. All the scale, but looking at the weather reports for the rest of Spain I would say that we have been very lucky!

We have been researching around the coastline down from here too, all the way past Malaga and Marbella. So far we have made around 5000 km during this roadtrip altogether with different excursions! You see, we’re checking things up for other years winter escapes…

What I can say is this: we’re not alone doing winter escapes, there are so many Scandinavians, Englishmen, Dutch’s and Germans all over Spain, that I almost feel sorry for the Spaniards: their country is totally invaded and sometimes that is not in a good way at all. (When the tourist has taken over the places).

Where would you like to escape the weather…?

©Lifecruiser Love Spain
 

The town sits midway between the major cities of Heraklion and Chania but maintains its own very individual character. If Heraklion, 50 miles to the east, exhibits the restless metropolitan swagger of a capital city and Chania, 37 miles west, a pride in its distinguished past, Rethymnon displays a unique serenity.

Built by the Venetians as a staging port between its two larger neighbors, its smaller size makes it more intimate and less inhibiting. Although you can wander for hours in the narrow streets and alleyways you will never be far from the wonderful harbor, lined with fish tavernas and cafes where tourists and students from the university alike wile away hours chatting or feeding fish in the crystal clear water.

Retaining most of its architectural integrity, walking the streets reveals much of the story of the town. Fortifications, fountains, domes and minarets all stand testimony to its ancestry. There is archaeological evidence that a small settlement has been on this site since Minoan times.

The town’s name is thought to be derived from the flourishing Mycenean center of Rithymna which was large enough to mint its own coins. For some unexplained reason the town went into decline, although the discovery of both Roman and Byzantine mosaics does reveal that the site remained inhabited.

It was in the early 13th Century, when Crete became a Venetian colony, that the city as we now know it, began to develop. As a center of commerce, Rethymnon had its own council, nobles and a bishop. They built the city walls and the castle, the harbor, the Loggia and many of the churches and houses, which remain today.

With the decline in Venice’s power and influence, the city was captured by the Turks in 1646 and became part of the Ottoman Empire. Minarets and domes were added to former Christian churches, which were transformed into mosques in which the new muslim population could worship. The solid, stone walls of classic Venetian houses were adorned with wooden balconies and the waterfront cafes were built as places for the men to congregate and drink coffee.

The harbor today makes the most of its stunning location, and competition to attract business is fierce among the waiters in the dockside tavernas. Just a short stroll inland to the Platia Petihaki where restaurant tables are scattered around the pavements that surround the beautiful Rimondi Fountain is probably a better bet for a reasonable meal without the hard sell.

The fountain is, needless to say, Venetian as its three lion heads spouting water might indicate. It has been a focal point for locals since it was built as a source of clean water by the rector of the city, A. Rimondi, in 1626. The water runs into three sinks that support four Corinthian columns above which the latin words liberalitatis and fontes (generous and fountain) can be made out.

In the streets and alleyways around the fountain are shops selling handmade jewellery, leather goods, embroidery and lace. Wandering there you catch glimpses of the towering minaret of the Mosque Neratzes. Now a music school, the Turks converted the Christian church of Santa Maria by adding the galleried minaret and three small domes.

That the city has kept so much of its architectural integrity and is in itself a center for cultural and academic pursuits lends much to its air of relaxed confidence. I have visited Rethymnon as often as I have visited Crete itself, its lure being hard to resist if I am on the island.

Author Bio: Richard Clark is a writer and journalist, and is the author of two books about Greece. Both are available in paperback or in eBook format from Amazon and other major retailers.

 

Other Greece related posts at Lifecruiser:

Experiencing the Incredible Holidays in Greece?
5 Top Beaches of Greek Islands
Mediterranean Dream Cruises
Driving in the mountains – scary experiences
Luxury Dream Cruises
5 Tip Top Beaches of Lifecruiser
Monday Memories Honeymoon
When hubby was rally Harry
Love Trips Snips
 

Cruising is huge these days. There are about 300 cruise liners operating worldwide, serving about 20 million passengers per year and creating an annual turnover of 30 billion dollars. The ships are growing in size, most recent models carrying a capacity of up to 5400 passengers and 900 crew. They are equipped lusciously, with restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theatres, casinos and – of course – shopping malls. On those vessels, you can “do” long-established destinations like the Mediterranean or Caribbean, but by now also pretty much all of the Seven Seas, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Quite amazing.

But there is another way of cruising, fully deserving of the name but perhaps slightly sidelined by the behemoth of the global cruising industry. It is an alternative and a complement to the cruise liners and comes with various names. Where I work it’s called the Blue Cruise (or Blue Voyage).

The Blue Cruise has become a classic in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent decades. The term derives from Turkey, where it developed in the mid-20th century and describes cruises along the western and southern coasts, usually on the traditional and locally built wooden motor yacht known as a gulet, ranging from 20 to 35 metres in length. The term is now also applied beyond Turkey, in Greece, Italy and Croatia. The Blue Cruise is an opportunity to intimately and intensively explore and enjoy the shores and islands of a specific region as part of a small group, ideally with dedicated guides.

A Blue Cruise presents a more intense but also more relaxed alternative to the conventional cruise liner voyage and its superficial sense of exclusivity. Ever-larger ships frequent the same routes again and again. Instead of adventure and truly personal and local experience, the traveller is subjected to the commercialised mass-treatment of enormous groups; the intensive cultural and personal adventure that travelling can and should entail is substituted with the superficial “ticking off” of the well-known “highlights”.

Traditional elegance: a typical gulet

The Blue Cruise is different. The gulet, derived from boats used in local maritime traffic, is still hand-crafted, mostly of wood, and offers an enticing mixture of traditional elegance and modern comforts. Each of its cosy and beautiful cabins is unique, and none of them look or feel like the standardised modern hotel rooms, land- or sea-borne, that make us forget where we actually are. Its distractions are the lapping of the waves, or the creaking of the wood, not the hum of omnipresent machinery.

A gulet usually carries only ten to twenty passengers. It is able to motor or sail, depending on itinerary and wind conditions. It cannot cover the same distances the cruise liners do, but instead offers a more profound exploration of a specific region. A gulet cruise is by no means slow, but has its own pace, mixing leisure and movement, while maintaining a cultural and geographic connexion between its landfalls.

The gulet cruise has access to remote coves, islets or beaches that are inaccessible even to smallish cruise liners. It does not offer a way to “do” regions, but it allows travellers to really experience them, to see and feel and hear and smell and sometimes taste them, to engage with an area, to feel you actually are there.

There are many ways to run a Blue Cruise. It can concentrate on swimming opportunities, on diving, on sailing, on coastal scenery or on opportunities for walking or hiking, or even on gastronomy. Or on culture.

Cruising through history:
two gulets below the ancient castle of Kale/Simena (Turkey)

For us at Peter Sommer Travels, the greatest thing a Blue Cruise can do is to mix the pleasure of cruising, swimming, sunbathing and so on with the profound experience of the respective region’s culture, history and archaeology, going back three or four millennia (or more). The shores and isles of Turkey, Greece and Italy are jam-packed with historical sites, each with its own fascinating story and each part of a larger narrative of our shared human heritage.

Of course, such a voyage will include a number of the well-known highlights, but it also gives access to rarely visited and hard-to-find places you will not see on any cruise liner itinerary. It is not about jumping from Venice to Athens to Rhodes to Istanbul, but about experiencing a region in all its beauty, all its interest, all its context.

A guided gulet cruise will take you to sites steeped in an atmosphere of mystery and beauty. To get the best out of such a voyage, you need to prepare, or make sure to have the best possible guides. The ideal gulet cruise should be accompanied by an archaeologist or historian who knows the area’s background in great detail, and also by a local guide. That’s exactly what we at Peter Sommer Travels) strive to offer.

Somewhere out there, unforgettable moments, places of intense serenity, are awaiting you. You might find yourself admiring the vibrant colours of an extraordinarily well-preserved 1500-year old mosaic overlooking a stupendous coastal vista on the rarely visited Greek island of Kalymnos. Maybe you’ll enjoy scrambling up the rocky peninsula of Loryma in Southern Turkey to explore one of the best-preserved ancient fortifications along the whole Mediterranean, reachable only by boat. Or perhaps you’ll visit the famous Amalfi Coast of Italy and a varied selection of its innumerable historical sites (and its cuisine!) by sea, indulging in a leisurely and stimulating experience incomparable to the hectic coach tours along its shores. These are just three examples of what a guided gulet cruise can have to offer…

Gulet cruise meal aboard

But no, on a traditional wooden boat, there is no mall. There is a fine on-board bar and if you yearn for shopping, you can do it ashore, be it at one of the busy tourist centres or in an authentic local village. We’ll be happy to help.

Author Bio: Raised in Germany, educated in Ireland and resident in Greece, Heinrich Hall is an archaeological Tour Expert at Peter Sommer Travels, a UK-based operator specialised in cultural tours and gulet cruises in Turkey, Greece and Italy. He is co-editor of the most recent Blue Guide to the Greece: The Aegean Islands. Heinrich is a connoisseur not just of the ancient sites, but also of the landscapes, the modern culture(s) and the gastronomy of the region.

Some other special ship related posts at Lifecruiser:

The Worlds Oldest Gun Ship: A Medieval Cog Ship
Large wooden ships in Visby
The Sea Stallion Viking Ship