Travel Wednesday: Montenegro

Montenegro, a tiny piece of land that was once part of the Republic of Yugoslavia, joined Serbia after the country's break down and is now a sovereign State, has already started to be discovered by tourists al over Europe (probably due to the guest appearance in 007: Cassino Royale). The country is still less hyped than it's neighbour, Croatia, but it's attractions goes far beyond the usual Mediterranean fare.





Although Montenegro is also served with the beautiful beaches of the area, there is a huge amount of parks and ecological areas, as well as lakes and cities that look like they stayed frozen in time. It is said that up there, you can easily get to know radically different landscapes such as alpine mountains, canyons, lakes, beaches, forests, medieval palaces and old villages, all crammed on a space smaller than Wales. Maybe that's the reason why the country is now a popular destination among bike lovers. The cycling trips along the coast are ever more frequent.

There are many ways to get there, by land, air or sea. The best way to enjoy the landscape, however, is to catch a ferry in Italy. The ride costs about 60 euros from the Italian city of Bari to Montenegro. You must remember that, because the topography is so widely varied, it's impossible to predict the climatic changes. However, as a rule of the thumb, wintertime tends to be really cold. The main city in the country is Kotor. Staying there, you are able to visit the other attractions such as the Black Lake and Lake Skadar, Biogradska National Park, among others. The local currency is the euro and you must keep in mind that stores, restaurants and small hotels might nor accept credit cards. 

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Mianmar

Travel Wednesday: Myanmar, or Mianmar, or Burma...

Thailand and Vietnam were, once, exotic destinations. Now, it's an almost certain stop for those seeking adventure, a spiritual journey or a gastronomy feast. If you, on the other hand, is still looking for a more under the radar place for your vacations, you'll like to know a jewel hidden in Southeast Asia: Myanmar, or Mianmar, or Burma (the country has changed it's name and there are still doubts concerning the correct spelling).





Although the country is small, poor and far from a democratic government (there isn't the option of a journalists' visa for the international press) it's a safe place to visit. The capital, Yangon, has an international airport and several luxury hotels. In order to get there, most flights depart from Thailand (which makes it a good idea to visit both countries). The 5 stars hotels are in the "asian palace" category and in order to book a room during the high season (between November and March, wintertime, when is cooler and drier) you spend about 200 dollars at most.





During your visit, it's a good idea to get the know the local monasteries (the official religion of the country is Buddhism, although the constructions are far away from the Japanese austerity. The dome on the temples is built with layers of gold, ornamented with diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds). The beaches are also worth a visit, just as beautiful as any other in the Asian shoreline. Shopping must be made on the streets bazaars, where you can find a variety of good quality fabrics. One of the biggest attractions of the country, however, is it's culinary. Because of it's borders with both China and India, the Burmese cuisine is a mix of both and it's said to represent the best of each.

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New Caledonia

Amsterdam's Nine Streets

Travel Wednesday: New Caledonia

Fiji, Maldives, Tahiti... the best tropical paradises normally require a very long plane trip. If you're willing to face many hours chained to your chair, sharing the air with your cabin's colleagues sneezes, the blog brings you a tip for an off the radar holiday al mare in a very distant land: New Caledonia.





A popular destination among Australians and Japanese, New Caledonia is a french island located in Melanesia, close to Australia's east coast. It's capital, Noumea, is the biggest and most visited city and you have the option to stay at luxury resorts or at budget friendly accommodations.  The local culinary is mostly French and the population is composed of aboriginal natives: practically a Gauguin's painting.





If you're departing from America or Europe, it's probably a good idea to visit the neighbouring counties to make your miles count. After a visit to the coral reef or to New Zealand, take some time to visit this french jewel. Since the island is located in the South Hemisphere, summer goes from December to March.

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Amsterdam's Nine Streets

Crimea

Travel Wednesday: Amsterdam's Nine Streets

Until recently, every time someone told you they were visiting Amsterdam you would give a sly smile and say something like "hummmmmmm, Amsterdam"... Well, the recurring joke must have infuriated the local authorities so much that it is now forbidden to sell pot to the tourists inside the cafes. Now, only respectable citizens interested in the canals and the museums are welcome to visit.





Nevertheless, if you're interested in fashion, you still have several reasons to take that trip. In the heart of the city, near the three biggest canals, there is a block of nine streets known as, well, the Nine Streets. There, you'll be able to find something to please every type of costumer. There are cuting edge stores such as Lock, Stock and Barrel, cheese places, restaurants and even stores for kids. You ertnaily won't leave with empty hands.





If you prefer to do most of your shopping on line or if you like to browse the products beforehand, the Nine Streets created an e-commerce with a link to all the store. Take a look!

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Crimea

Cape Town

St Barts

Travel Wednesday: Crimea - Eastern Riviera

Are you already planning your summer vacations, a little frustrated to think about the prices and the crowd on the coasts of France, Italy and Spain? Do you fancy a landscape worthy of an epic movie? Want to iinclude a bit of history and culture to our activities and get a know a different destination at the same time? Well, you can buy a new bikini and pack your bags to Yalta, in Crimea.





This region was considered the jewel of the Russian Empire and, today, it belongs to Ukraine. The locals say that there is no winter along it's shores (which I seriously doubt, considering the location) and the weather forecast promises 300 sunny days a year. During the summer, tourists from all over Europe flock to the city of Yalta.





A good tip is to do the journey from St Petersburg to Yalta by train, aboard the Crimean Express Railway Journey. The train, besides all the comforts you would expect, also offers the breathtaking views of the vineyards along the way, before you reach the Black Sea.

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Travel Wednesday: Cape Town

Well all know by hearts the tips and advantages of the most common tourist destinations. Around and About, however, is your daily pill to escape the obvious. That why, from now on, every Wednesday will be our Tavel day, where we'll talk about places worthy of being explored. All in all, despite being globa, the world is still huge.

Didi you know that Cape Town, in South Africa, was awarded as the Design City of 2014? If you though that this trip was only about diving with the sharks and visit teeth-less lions in a national park, think again. There's plenty of novelties happening across those shores.

If you're the kind of person that likes to interact with nature, you can still benefit from safaris, beaches populated by penguins, extreme sports and great surf points. A hipster scene is beginning to arise (if you still dig a hipster scene) and the artists are in full bloom.