1. Oreini Arcadia

Thinking about getting out and experiencing the great outdoors? the surrounding nature of Oreini Arcadia has the perfect solution for you! Its picturesque villages are among the most beautiful architectural examples of Greek craftmanship. Walk the main street of  Vitina with its traditional shops, where you can fetch the famous fir honey and drink coffee in the central square. Passing the “Path of Love”, will be direct you in Elati, then visit the “village of Letters” Dimitsana, the famous Museum of Water Power, beautiful mansions and the Philosopher’s Monastery while you and will fall in love with the picturesque Stemnitsa.  The traditional greek food is great  and for trekking lovers there are beautiful routes that lead to the river Lucio, as well as many small villages waiting to be discovered (Greek, Karytaina etc.)

Accessibility: about two hours time from Athens.

Arachova is one of the most picturesque parts of Greece, with excellent services that find ideal extensions to tradition. You can walk through the main path, which is full of small traditional shops (do not forget to buy formaela!). Drink your coffee in one of the haunts of Lakka Square. Do not hesitate to take the 264 steps that lead you to the church of Saint George! And if you want an extra … escape,  Agoriani is waiting for you at 25 miles away.

Accessibility: about two hours time from Athens.

3. Kalavrita

Kalavrita is one of the most beautiful winter resorts in Greece at an affordable price! Take a walk through dozens of shops at the main street and go sightseeing (Municipal Museum of the Holocaust, Place of Sacrifice, Holy Monastery of Great Cave, the famous Monastery of Agia Lavra and the Cave of Lakes in the village castle! For the romantic ones there is an hourly “must” route to nature with the traditional train called “odontotos” from Kalavryta to Diakofto village, for the most athletic ones hiking on the same route will last about 5 hours (without return).

Accessibility: about two hours time from Athens.

4. Pilio

If you consider yourself a nature lover, head straight to the breathtaking Pilio.The combination of sea and mountains makes it an ideal destination for all four seasons! Winter city breaks introduces to you the beauty of Portaria. Arriving at the central square, you see the City Hall and an elegant building called Zoulia mansion where you can find the Folklore Museum. You can lose yourself in quaint cobbled alleyways to shop traditional products from the Women’s Agricultural Association, admire mansions of unique architecture, surrender yourself to the running water and the outstanding green landscape and taste local delicacies in Mercouri Square, which is full of traditional taverns. At Makrinitsa (10 ‘ away from Portaria) you can wander through the narrow streets among the traditional stone houses. The quais.nt alleyways  lead to the paved square, where you can enjoy your coffee, with the extraordinary view of Volos city unfolding before you. the post-Byzantine churches and medieval tower Skoteinioti in Koukourava, the lower district of Makrinitsa, are waiting to be discovered! Don’t forget to… “check in” at Tsagarada and get photographed with the plane tree of Tsagarada, one of the oldest trees in Europe. Its age is 1000 years!

Accessibility: about four hours time from Athens.

5. Trikala Korinthias

If you wish to change scenes, to let the magnificence of nature to calm you down, to try unique flavors, and all these half hours from Athens. Left the car in Lower – Kato  Trikala and start your tour of the oldest settlement. A cobblestone square, the Church of St. Demetrius, and traditional taverns compose the picture! You continue with the Medium  -Mesaia Trikala, full of traditional tavernas (greek traditional restaurants), the shops with the traditional products the and beautiful hostels. At Upper – Ano Trikala, tall towers and abandoned mansions justify their name during the Turkish occupation as “archontomachalas”. For  dining choose rooster in wine sauce with noodles homemade pies and stews.

Accessibility: about an hour and a half time from Athens

In winter landscape is magical and eerie, like a storyline from a fairy tale. The lake is wearing the most romantic of colors and invites for relaxation and direct contact with nature. You can take a course around the lake (about 60 km.). You will get to know beautiful places and villages like Mouzaki Morfovouni, the village of Dionysus, the Mesenikola -with attentive Wine and Vine Museum, the “balcony” of the lake, Neochori, Kalyvia Pezoulas and the water dam. For the sport lovers there are plenty of outdour activities like archery or even flying with jelicopter above the lake.

Accessibility: about four hours time from Athens.

It is for sure that you will  be filled up with green, you will relax by nature excursions and drink plenty of champagne. You can explore the city and take excursions in the wider region. We recommend the route to Prouso, where you will meet historiac Karyschades, the  Voutiro, the Mikro and Megalo Horio (small and big village), and the famous Touch of the Virgin. One of the must do of the Megalo Horio is try Galaktompoureko (greek traditional dessert)! Other villages worth seeing is the Domnista, Krikello and Snakes which have wonderful view of the lake of Kremaston.

Accessibility: about four hours time from Athens.

8. Oreini Naupaktia – Naupaktos

Nafpaktos gives you many choices.The winter days you will enjoy the mountain while at the same time discovering Villages submerged in firs. Mountains, ravines, rivers … A landscape of incomparable natural beauty …especially when the snow falls, descends rooftops and decorates the scene with winter gifts!

Accessibility: about three hours time from Athens.

The post 7+1 WINTER CITY BREAKS CLOSE TO ATHENS appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

In Venice we found ourselves by chance and we could even say we avoided it a bit because of the numerous tourists that have been invading it in recent years! Having won an air voucher in a competition we decided to visit it for a weekend and of course the experience was wonderful! Unfortunately we visited Venice after the heavy rainfall that hit the country but luckily for us the timing worked out to our favour. Not many tourists and we enjoyed the city as the locals do!

Food

Italy and food… It is a combination well known all over the world!!! And when we talk about food we mean pizzas and pasta, i.e. spaghetti!

From pizzas, of course, we ate countless margaritas and diabolas! The cost was just 2.50 €/piece! We picked out the pizzeria Quanto Pasta where you will find a kind man from Turkey who will welcome you with the most perfect smile and there is room inside the store to relax from your walk (most shops are only for take away so there is not many places to sit and just have a pizza).

Then we choose the other favorite Italian habit, which is none other than spaghetti and gnocchi (just try them with cheese and basil sause)! Everything you can imagine about pasta you will find it there! In the city you will find many shops to serve delicious dishes, with prices starting from 15 €/person (1 plate plus service fee, without salad or any drinks).

Drink

So… we ve talked about food, now lets talk about drinks! When we say drinks in Venice we mean 3 things… espresso cafe, Aperol and wine! All three wonderful and favorite, each one for a different time of the day!

Well… espresso you will find literally everywhere! With prices starting from €1 ala Italiano… You enter a bar, you order, you drink and leave in 5 minutes the most!! Thats the Italian way!  We really loved a small shop in an alley, ideal for a break from your walk! You can have a cup of coffee in San Marco Square, but prepare for steep prices. The most historic and famous café of the square is the Florian Cafe which is preferred by tourists (a tray with beautiful glasses of coffee and ornaments costs more than €10)! Look for the cheaper solution in the Dorsoduro area!

Aperol Spritz you will also find everywhere… quick stop for aperitivo, don’t sit down for ages! Prices start from €3 per glass! The shops we visited were Corner pub and Bacarando in Corte Dell Orso.

Finally for wine lovers  the choices are also many but here we suggest you choose the Black Jack which will definitely draw your attentions for its special appearance, at the corner of a beautiful little square. Combine your wine with some cheese! Prices for a bottle vary considerably depending on the brand but a glass starts at €6.

Stay – Accommodation

In general Venice is considered an expensive city and indeed the accommodation especially in the center is quite a bit of a crush. However, since it is worth staying in the center of the city, at the beautiful picturesque alleys and next to the gondola we recommend the accommodation to be somewhere centrally located! Generally in Italy there are apartments with many rooms and common areas (kitchen-bathroom) which are located in central locations and cost a little money. We stayed at one of these in a central location and paid 120 €/2 nights just search on the Airbnb platform.

What to see in Venice

• The main attraction of Venice is Venice itself! Enjoy walking for endless hours, get lost in the colorful alleys, admire the canals, photograph the beautiful corners and generally step away from the main center area! You will find yourself in magical places and you will be absolutely by yourself!
• The second largest attraction is the square of San Marco, which has taken its name from the cathedral that dominates the square!
• The bridge of sighs has been turned into a symbol of love and is almost behind the church of San Marco.
• The Palace of the Doge (20 € per person), the residence of the leaders of Venice.

What to do in Venice

The most well-known experience in Venice is of course the vaporetto ride (fairly economical-generally the transport network is huge and waterful!-it has many stops which you can easily locate & spot and contain detailed information for the itineraries of Vaporeti) or the gondola ride to the Grande Canal. In any case, you have the opportunity to wander through the city’s canals and admire it through a different perspective!

Note that the gondola ride (which in our opinion shows neither romantic, nor tourist, nor scenic… Sorry!) It costs from 80 €/30 minutes and more during commercial hours! We had read a lot about gondoliers and romance and songs like Amore mio etc… We were told that nothing like this was ever seen, except thta in real life the Gondoliers just did their job, wore some funny hats and most of them weren’t even Italians. We do not say it to deconstruct the experience (in the end we did not try it by ourselves) we simply write about what what we saw, because after all it is all about expectations. Its You choice guys! We d love to hear your opinion after all! We trully believe that Gondolas in Alsace are more romantic than in Venice!

Finally, it is customary to have a one-day excursion to the Murano Island, known for its handmade laces. To get to the island we suggest that you take a 24-hour ticket with 20 € per person (there is also a simple ticket which is not suitable for you who want to explore Murano for some hours).

48 Hours in Venice

We arrived on Friday afternoon and left at Sunday noon !

On the first day we recommend walking the city, a gondola ride (for those of you who insist on doing so) and taste Italian flavors and wine! On the second day (start early travellers!) Visit Piazza San Marco, the cathedral and the surrounding sights and then travel to Murano Island! Returning indulge in delicious Italian treats! Third day wake up and enjoy fragrant espresso before the first tourists wake up, take a photo walk, grab a margarita pizza and get ready for the ride back home!

To and from the airport

Access to the city of Venice is very easy, no reservation is required unless you are traveling high season, with one of the following ways:

Waterbus with 14 €/person/route for 75 minutes
Bus with 8 €/per person/route for 40 minutes

This was our proposal to enjoy Venice within 48 hours! We recommend sport shoes, a raincoat, bags (for feet), a scarf for the evening and good mood!!! We hope you had fun with us and soon see your own pictures of the beautiful Venice!

The post THINGS TO DO IN VENICE appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

“Athens couple shot “

In the summer of 2018 we met Marga a wonderful girl, life anthusiast, excellent professional  photographer, a wonderful personality and owner of the discover-portugal. Marga wanted to prepare a photographic project called “Athens couple shot ” and thats how we met through a good common friend of ours Panos! After exchanging some text messages we aggreed that the place of the photoshoot should be the pedestrian area around the sacred rock of Acropolis! And finally it happened…

Marga kiewied

Marga is an artist, a photographer based in Berlin who works as a freelancer photographer anywhere, as long as she gets inspired, so you people just give her some real smiles and positive vibes! She if a lover of adventure and loves to combine photography with traveling!

From the very first moment of our meeting our vibes matched completely! That’s why after the photo shoot we stayed together for hours, talking and laughing as if we were old friends, and enjoyed some “mezes” and “tsipouro” at a Greek tavern located in Plaka. Marga is a positive, always smiling, sociable and very pleasant person! Our collaboration was absolutely natural guided and spontaneous!

Ramona Farrelly

Moreover our photoshoot experience included another member, and thta would be Ramona, an amazing professional and  the person who filmed the whole process of photographing and the funny snapshots Behind the scenes!

The Photoshoot

The result beyond the fact that we met two wonderful professionals and souls was that our experience gave us unique photos of high quality and aesthetics taken at  our favorite places in the city of Athens, videos from the whole photoshoot and of course plenty of wonderful memories!

It was great to have the opportunity to work with Marga and we would be honored to meet again in the future, since we know that she loves Greece in particular!

marga kiewed nonstoptravellers

You can see samples of Marga’s work on her personal page Marga kiewied Photography and admire her work! You can also see the result of our photoshooting with her or explore our blog to discover some of the photos taken by Marga! Do not hesitate to contact her and make the photographic concept that you have in your mind come true, whether its for a wedding or even for a simple day at a place you love like we did ourselves!

Thank you very much Marga for the beautiful experience and hope to meet again in front of your camera lens! Do not forget to visit her blog!

The post ATHENS PHOTO SHOOT BY MARGA KIEWIED appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

1.Los Angeles – Santa Monica

• 06.00 Wake up at Hollywood
• 06.30 Uber to Downtown LA – Breakfast accross the Bradburry Building – Bradburry Building – Open Market – Walt Disney Concert Hall – Skypace – The last bookstore – Grab some coffee
• 10.00 Uber to Hollywood – Walk of fame – Highland Mall – Dolby Theater – Hollywood sign – Chinese Theater
• 12.00 Ride Proper Sightseeing (Hop on – off bus) see the whole itinerary here
• 14.00 Beverly Hills – Rodeo Drive – LACMA
• 15.30 Uber to Santa Monica
• 16.00 Bike Center Santa Monica for more info click here – Santa Monica beach – Santa Monica Pier – Little Venice – Muscle beach – Boardwalk
• 20.30 Uber to Hollywood

2.Los Angeles – Malibu – San Barbara –  San Simeon- Bixby bridge – Big Sur – Karmel

• 06.00 Wake up at Hollywood
• 06.30 To Griffith Observatory  – Donuts for breakfast & black coffee
• 08.30 Universal Studios – grab a light lunch at Universal park
• 13.00 Maibu – Lululemon – Farm deck – Pier – Lighhouse – Pacific Ocean view
• 14.00 Santa Barbara – San Simeon – Elephants seals view – Piedras blancas light station – – Bixby bridge – Big Sur – Rocky point
• 22.00 Carmel by the sea

california roadtrip

3.Karmel- Silicon Valley – San Francisco

• 06.00 Wake up at Karmel – Donuts for breakfast & black coffee
• 06.30 Carmel by the sea –  Lone Cypress (or just other trees… free of charge) – Mission
• 10.00 To Silicon Valley
• 14.00 To Premium Outlets San Francisco – Lunch
• 20.30 San Francisco

california roadtrip

4.San Francisco

• 06.00 Wake up in San Francisco (Guerrero street)
• 06.30 Uber to Painted Ladies – Uber to SF Downtown – Civic Center city hall – Powel Station – Cable car turnaround –  Financial District – Ferry Building
• 12.00 Uber  to Fisherman’s Wharf – Pier 39 – Sea lions – Lunch at Bubba Gump
• 14.00 Jump Bikes to Ghirardeli chocolate factory – Golden Gate Bridge – Lombard Street
• 18.00 Cable car towards Powel Station – Try both 3 lines – Dinner

5. San Francisco – Wine country – Mendocino Country – Redwood Valley – Fair Oaks

• 07.00 Wake up – Cereal Bars for breakfast & black coffee
• 08.00 Uber to Dylan’s tours
• 09.00 Dylan’s tours – Original 6 hours City Loop Electric Bikes – For the whole itinerary check here (Golden gate park, Height – Ashburry, Golden Gate Bridge etc.)
• 15.00 Lunch – San Francisco to Wine country – Stop at Sausalito – Battery Spencer – Bonita Light house – Muir Woods
• 16.00 Wineries

california roadtrip

6.Wine country – Mendocino Country – Redwood Valley – Fair Oaks

• 09.00 Wake up – Breakfast
• 12.00 Wineries

7.Fair Oaks – Sacramento – Amador city – Sutter creek – Columbia State Park – Sonora – Jamestown

• 07.00 Wake up – Brunch by the Lake
• 12.00 Placerville – Shutter Creek
• 17.00 Columbia State Historic Park
• 18.30 James Town – Dinner

8.Yosemite National Park – Tunnel view – Bridalveil fall viewing point – El capitan meadow – Lower Yosemite Fall -Vista Point – Mirror lake – Tuolumne Grove Trailhead – Olmsted point – Whoa Nellie Deli – Mono Lake – South Tufa Area 

• 06.00 Wake up – Donuts again for breakfast
• 07.00 Yosemite Entrance
• 08.5 Yosemite Valley – Tunnel view – Bridal veil fall – El Capitan Weadow – Vernal falls – Mirror lakes – Lower Yosemite Fall – Tuolumne grove trailhead – Tenaya lake – Whoa Nellie Deli – Mono lake South Tufa Area
• 19.30 Mammoth lake – Dinner

california roadtrip

9 Mammoth lakes – Devil’s Postpile National Monument – Bishop – Lone Pine – Death Valley National Park (Devils Golf Course, Badwater Basin, Artist’s Palette, Zabriskie Point) – Las Vegas

• 06.00 Wake up at Mammoth lake
• 06.50 Devil’s Postpile
• 9.10 Bishop for gas and breakfast at Schats Bakery
• 10.25 Lone Pine – Badwater – Artist’s pallete – Devils golf course
• 14.15 Zabriskie Point
• 17.00 Las Vegas – Dinner

california roadtrip

10.Las Vegas – Route 66 California Highway – Hooover Dam – Grand Canyon – Grand Canyon Village and Navajo Point – Page

• 06.00 Wake up – Breakfast at Motel (oh yeah)
• 06.30 Welcome to fabulous las Vegas sign
• 07.50 Hoover Dam
• 08.20 Route 66 entrance
• 12.40 Grand canyon village – Bright Angel Lodge parking – Shuttle bus to Mojave – Maricopa – Powell – Hop – By car to Yavapai point – Mother point- Pipe creek vista – Yaki point – Grandview, Moran, Lipan, Navajo, Desert view watch
• 19.30 Page – Dinner

11.Horseshoe Bend – Antelope Canyon – Gooseneck’s state park – Glen Canyon Dam Overlook – Mexican Hat – Monument Valley

• 06.00 Wake up – breakfast
• 06.45 Horse shoe bend – Sunrise
• 07.45 Antelope Canyon Upper
• 12.45 Goosenecks state park – Mexican hat
• 15.00 Forrest Gump poin – Monument Valley
• Camping Night at Monument Valley – booked through airbnb platform

california roadtrip

12. Monument Valley – Monument Valley Safari – Las Vegas

• 07.00 Wake up
• 08.00 Monument Valley Safari
• 12.00 Glen Canyon Dam overlook – If theres is time see Toadstool Hoodoos – Kanab – Valley of state park
• 19.20 Las Vegas Airport

We hope you enjoyed our detailed itinerary and we would be very happy to know that you tried it yourself! The final total cost of airtickets, accommodation, transportation, Internet, water, food etc… was approximately  €3,700, not bad ha??? If some of you would like to send you an even more detailed itinerary with miles, the exact times etc. Send us an email via our contact form and we will be happy to share it with you!

Finally, we will be glad to have you in our travel company! You can subscribe to our newsletter here:

The post USA – 12 DAYS ROADTRIP ITINERARY appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

Russia the Emperor Land

This article began as a joke with Olga to whom I said she has no right to make a promotion in her previous article about a trip to Moscow because of her half russian origin!

Why don’t you write an article, then;> “was her answer.   I never back to a challenge, so… here i am!

Although “The term life journey” is one of the most common in terms when describing travel, it is not easy to think of something more precise for Russia. With an area far more bigger than the whole of Europe and history which has set the course of the world RussiA is an unforgettable experience for every traveller!

Moscow Russia bridgetomoscow.com

The legend named Moscow Third Rome, since the niece of Constantine Palaiologos married there after the fall of the city (the title of the Tsar is in fact the title of Caesar in Russian language and the eagle on the Russian flag is rooted in Byzantine double-headed eagle.). Arriving in Moscow what makes the first impression is the size. Everything is HUGE! The tails of cars, the volume of buildings and especially, the wealth of museums but also the palaces and the characteristic churches with the golden domes. Cadillac and Bugatti on Tberskagia Street, but also homeless outside of the Rolex Boutique a few straits below. The only thing that is certain is that the country is appropriate for social reflection.

The first shock… The Red Square

You’ll never forget the moment you walk through the gate of the Red Square. It’s true like getting into a fairy tale where the buildings are marshmallows. Facing three of the most beautiful buildings you’ll ever see in your life.

A warm coffee or a sweet in Gum, the largest department store located in the square is imposed as a walk afterwards as the center is extremely impressive.

The basics

Let’s face something in a low voice. Europeans with travel education often end up returning from museum to museum simply because they have nothing better to do or because we have badly planned our travel time. In Moscow this practice will simply lead you to wander around waiting for endless queues and controls (airport type) consuming an infinite time which they could devote to more interesting activities. So we present the most interesting and original museums that one can see.

• Diamond Museum: One of a kind!
• Space Museum: Remember that the Russians first conquered space and in Moscow Yuri Gagarin is a national hero.
• Pushkin Museum
• Lenin Mausoleum: You agree or not with his ideas belonged to the personalities who changed the world. The spectacle is staggering!

The Good stuff!

The surprises in Moscow never end. The city is immense and the only thing that limits you to its beautiful is your time and budget since the city is one of the most expensive in the world. With a good division of the two, you’re overlapped.

Moscow Russia bakeryandsnacks.com

Ritz Carlton-Red Square

It is really worth ride on the terrace of the Ritz for a coffee to see the breathtaking view of the Red Square. What will keep you there forever is the view of the seven “brothers”, the seven imposing buildings that Stalin built to symbolize the foundations on which a state must step.

Cafe Pushkin

My favorite! The Pushkin Café dates back to 1999 and is something you should not miss while you are in Moscow. Some people compare it to Cafe Greco in Rome.  Only it is much better!! The Russian cuisine is mixed with the French producing wonderful dishes (and sweets, try them!) but most importantly: Tsarist Russia revives before your eyes! Waiters with proepanastatikes Russian uniforms, pocket watches and some with the typical sideburns (!!) of the season put you 200 years behind.

Russian Ballet

If you’ve seen the Black Swan that gave Natalie Portman the ¨ Oscar now get ready to see it and live as you are in the birthplace of this art. The ballet was the entertainment of the Tsarist courtyard and there are many interesting stories among the dancers to gain the favor of the czars, but also to rise in the hierarchy, (for example the placement of broken glasses in the ballet of Prima Ballerina). Although you can enjoy the ballet and in St. Petersburg, the Bolshoi Theatre is located in Moscow. Book your tickets early as the prices can be extremely high and try to see it as a new experience as it looks nothing like anything you may have seen in Europe. (such as opera or Musical). I’m sure you’ll remember forever.

Red Square Street Food

Those who love street food, and know that we are many, do not forget to try the street food you serve in the Red Square. There are several shops with their own tables where you can sit right after the museum tour. The street food is basically grilled meat (chicken and lamb) neat or in sandwiches and also some special burger. They are delicious and really worth a try.

Always remember that the world is like a book. And those you dont travel only read the same one page!

We wait for your experiences and (всегда путешествие)!

This was the experience of Sakis from his trip to Moscow, it was his own narrative and his own travel story! Thank you very much for the wonderful article, we very much appreciate your gift to our blog! If you liked the story of Sakis and would like to share some travel history with other travelers you can send it to us via our contact form and do not forget to do subscribe in our newsletter:

Meet Sakis:

Μόσχα Ρωσία Moscow Russia

To whom they may concern… I am Sakis, the man who wrote this article for you. In case you wannna know my story, I come from a little town with big dreams, an amazing family, friends and a brother. I had the privilege to have an amazing mother who is the greatest traveler I’ve ever known, (only compared to Olga!). For whatever came later she is to blame…! Since I was 9 when I travelled for my first time to Czechs Republic I knew that I would travel till I die.  Several years later I have been to many countries and the more I travel the less i think they are.  My purpose is to give you information’s to manage your travelling time the best you can only from places I have been. Always Remember … The world is a book and those who do not travel only read the same page! e-mail: slekkas00@gmail.com ● Nationality: Hellenic ● Date of birth: 16/09/1996

*feature photo legersholidays.com

The post TRAVELLING IN MOSCOW appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

We combined the journey to Moscow with the one to St. Petersburg for which we will write you of course a next article (impossible to fit them both in just a few lines), but in the case you can only visit Moscow, lets find out more.  The trip to Moscow is so much easier than you can imagine! First of all, Russia is a large European country and is indeed very close to Greece. In recent years access is very easy and affordable!

How and when to travel to Moscow

In Moscow you will arrive by air from Athens, Thessaloniki, Kavala and why not from Sofia airport! Airline tickets can found on average at about €150 but for economy enthusiasts you can travel through Bulgaria even with €30 return tickets trip (as long as you keep track of the airline offers often). It goes without saying that in the winter months tickets are cheaper but we do not recommend winter trip because you will not be able to enjoy the beauties of Moscow at-40 points! Prefer months such as May or September. But always keep in mind that even then there will be enough cold.

What you can do and what to see in Moscow

The most striking point of Moscow is none other than the magnificent Red Square! It is a huge square that emits power thanks to its deep red color. At the same square stands the fairytale Cathedral of St. Basil the most famous temple of Russian Orthodox tradition. Moving on to the square you will visit the Kremlin, which has been the centre of Russian political power for several centuries and has been a centre of Soviet power once! In the same square you will visit Lenin’s mausoleum and the huge, luxurious Gkoym department store. In this area we will recommend other places of interest, gardens, squares, the Bolshoi etc. There’s just so much to write that it simply doesn’t fit in a single article! We will tell you how to visit the Moscow Space Museum as well!

What to eat

The food is also a huge chapter and here we can help you since we have a personal opinion because of the half origin of Olga! We reemphasize that all food even in restaurants in central places is very very cheap! You will definitely try Piroshki in various variants with potato, cheese, egg etc., Barenika with potato or minced meat, pelmeni (tortellini) and Soups! Our beloved one is called Borsch and you will find it with less than €1 in all the restaurants in Moscow! It goes without saying that there are known fast food chains but of course… The decision is yours! Coffee and even a cup of tea in Russia can be found everywhere even in outdoor vehicles! In the streets you will corn that is a favorite dietary habit-delicacy of the Russians, and you will see them enjoying it in the many parks you will meet as you exploring the the city! Finally do not forget to try vodka! Authentic Russian and of course very cheap vodka!

Transportation

Ah, here we are talking about an entire history, an underground museum that reaches 18 floors below the earth. We refer of course to the Moscow Metro which is one of the oldest metro in the world and has one of the largest networks worldwide. You may have heard the quiz? What is the largest and cheapest museum in Moscow?  And yes, it’s the subway! The Moscow metro will just love it! It has infinite stops, it is very fast, almost every 1 minute comes a train, it is very very economical, has Internet (well read… It has internet 18 floors under the earth) and you can spend endless hours from station to station as it is an underground museum full of history and art! Statues, paintings, mosaics and countless exhibits suggesting the greatness that this city once lived!

Stay – accommodation

Staying in Moscow as strange as it may seem is too cheap, at least for European citizens it certainly is. Russia’s currency of ruble has deteriorated quite a bit in recent years, resulting in a loss of power over strong currencies like euro! Searching through the known platforms we use and we have written to you in our previous article, you will find both hotels and cheap apartments around the center at very good prices! Do not be afraid of distances if you find cheaper accommodation because you will be moving with the incredibly economical metro of Moscow, fearlessly and especially quickly throughout the city and its surroundings!

What to buy as a souvenir

Matrioskes! The famous dolls that are enclosed in each other, are typical examples of Russian folk art!

Cost of travel for one week?

We’ll tell you in the next article along with the trip to St. Petersburg, keep in mind that the price will surprise you… Positively!

The post MOSCOW – TRAVEL IN RUSSIA appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

As we said in our previous post  about camping… It depends on the camper’s preferences, the equipment available, from the legal framework and other personal facts… But the most important thing is that any choice is not a one-way path!

We are camping enthusiasts, so as you can understand love both kinds of camping! What we will try is to do in this post is present to you the pros and cons of each way, so you can place yourselves on the basis of your answers and see what suits you most!

Organized camping – Pros

• Cheap way of vacation (in relation to hotels).
• There are reviews on the Internet about cleanliness, facilities etc.
• You know what to expect.
• You don’t need any special equipment.
• High sense of security.
• You don’t have to worry about food, breakfast, electricity, bathroom, facilities, etc.
• Socializing with other camps.
• It’s legal!
• They are usually located at very beautiful beaches!
• Greece is filled with wonderful campsites and glamping campsites recently, so all you have to do is discover them all!

Organized camping – Cons

• There are rules (this can be also on the positive side…).
• You coexist, sometimes, closely enough with others (several times we had to move our tent at 3 am due to snoring from adjacent scenes!).
• If you do not choose suitable campsites, you may have unpleasant surprises (eg. very family friendly or very student, etc.).
• There is no sense of absolute freedom and you are always watched by someone, the worst is the wristbands that you are forced to wear as a resident of the campsite (for safety of course so we are ok with this one!)!

Free Camping – Pros

• Freedom!!!
• Independence!
• Closeness to nature (respectfully of course!
• There’s no schedule, program etc.
• Zero cost (excluding the equipment that is a one time investment and the eatables you choose to take with you).
• You can discover real nature gems and enjoy them alone, feels like paradise!
• Generally when you are free camper, you feel that you have been away for weeks from ordinary life, forget about time, day, obligations and enjoy only the present!

Free Camping – Cons

• Limitations of legislation.
• Negative attitude of local communities.
• More equipment preparation needed.
• It is not suitable for many days (unless you have suitable equipment).
• Security (it has to do with the feeling of security…we never had a bad experience)
• The recklessness of some free campers about taking care of the camp when leaving a place.

This was our pros and cons of organized and free camping, the conclusions are up to you!

*Photo credit travelstyle.gr

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With summer images, stars of Hollygood and the music sounds of Abba the image of the Greek island Kalokairi, travels around the world! The film was mainly made in Skopelos, Skiathos and Pelion (Damouchari)! See the spots where the shooting took place:

Skopelos

• At Kastani Beach
• In and around Glisteri Island
• In Agios Ioannis in Kastri

Skiathos

• In the old port next to the picturesque Bourtzi
• In Agios Nikolaos

Pelion-Volos

• In Damouchari in Mouresi

After the first movie in 2008 the press wrote:

It’s clear that life will never be quites the same again for the 4.969 skopelites.

A few words about Skopelos island

Skopelos is a beautiful green island and belongs to the northern Sporades. It is definitely what we would call an alternative island for holidays and vacations, since it maintains its beauty and serenity intact and of course its traditional character!

The beaches on the north and east side of Skopelos are rocky, while in the south and west the slopes create the beautiful green beaches of the island. On the south side are the most of the beaches located: Stafylos, Velanio, Agnontas, Limnonari, Panormos, Antrines, Milia, Ratchet, Elios, Armenopetra, Agios Ioannis in Kastri and many others, “drowned” in the green of the pine forests.

Accommodation

Do you want  feel like the movie star of Mamma Mia? If the answer is yes, all you have to do is stay in the place where your favorite actors stayed, or you can even have your wedding on the beautiful island!

Access

The island does not have an airport, so the options are via ferry from Thessaloniki, Athens or Skiathos and by plane through Skiathos!

Our proposal

The island has a wonderful camping, so nature lovers have only to choose this campsite for their stay!

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So let’s meet the exotic Lichadonisia!

Lichadonisia, or Lichades, is a complex of seven or more small islands and islets in the northwest of Evia. They are located in the Sea area where you join the northern Evoikos Gulf with Maliakos and its on the opposite of Kamena Vourla.

Lichadonisia formed after volcanic activity while a large part of the islands sank from an earthquake in 426 B.C. their name came from Lichas, the servant of Hercules, who handed him the tunic of Deianeira, according to mythology and because when Hercules held him responsible for the tunic, hurled him to the sea. From the pieces and his blood were formed the Lichades islands!

Some of the names of the islets are Monolia and the Vagia as well as other smaller called Pontikonisi.

How to get to Lichadonisia.

During the summer season there are daily and weekend itineraries from the port of Kamena Vourla Fthiotida. You can choose a boat with glass bottom and there is usually a mini tour performed by the Captain! Also ask about the beaches where every boat leaves you because the first one is always so full of people that you can hardly enjoy the scenery!

From Kamena Vourla: The start of the routes to and from the Lichadonisia started on June 9, 2018 from the port of Kamena Vourla.

• Timetable: take off 12:00 return 18:00 ticket prices 12.00 Euro adults and 6.00 euro children.
• Itineraries are also operated from the beach of Kavos Lihada of North Evia, upon telephone contact – ticket prices 6.00 Euro adults and free for children.
• The visit to the beach of Lichadonisiwn can be done by Kamena Vourla,  with the boats “Lihadonisia i ” and “Lihadonisia II ” or from Kavos (Evia) with the boats “I saw it all ” and “I saw all II “, the use of umbrellas is free of charge, upon availability for the duration of your stay, if you are visiting the Lihadonisia with the specific boats.

Tip 1: Meet the permanent residents of Lihadonisia who are not other than the wonderful seals of monachus- monachus who live permanently in these waters!

Tip 2: Because for some of you the prices might seem a little bit exaggerated… You can take with you your umbrella and fridge with the necessary respect and discretion always!

Tip 3: Don’t miss the shipwreck…

The paradox of Lichadonisia

These islands turned into a popular tourist destination in recent years, certainly not unjustified. On the other hand, however, the impression that the islets will derive depends on ones initial expectations. Eg. Ok… It is something beautiful and different, ideal for one-day excursions, but come on…its not Seychelles!!!

Consider it as a short getaway and travel experience filled with people who enjoy the crystal clear waters and the incredible beauty of the landscape (when not overcrowded). The area is also available for snorkeling, water sports and scuba diving. Every place has its own beauty and it is good to feel it that way!

After all, the final impressions are only yours!!!

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