Ride Up!

Taormina-mare: Sea and nature

2007-07-12T00:30:00.000-07:00

Taormina includes two places: Taormina-the village and Taormina-mare.
The coastal area around Taormina Mare is one of the most beautiful and wild places by the sea in the world. The coast can be easily reached by walk, car or by an exciting cable car ride right from the town centre and from inside the cabin you can enjoy panoramic views. Other alternative is the steps which descend from the center of Taormina through gardens of bougainvillea in bloom.

The coast is a bay made up of several picturesque beaches and rocky inlets like Isola Bella, Capo S'Andrea, Mazzarò, Baia delle Sirene, Lido di Spisone. All the beaches offer a good range of watersports and boat trips to nearby sea caves like the spectacular marine grotto Grotta Azzura. The most exclusive of all beaches in the area is Isola Bella for its clear waters framed with the typical Mediterranean vegetation and cliffs. A very quite and peaceful place where you can also enjoy a Chinese massage. Further on is the beach at Mazzeo, a long stretch of sand that leads as far as Letojanni and continues up to Lido Silemi.

But don’t worry any of this rock, gravel and sand range of beaches are beautiful with the liquid crystal palpitating with azure and dark green. The only beach that I don’t recommend is Letojanni which is 5 km from Taormina because is very busy and the water the scene is not so spectacular. It is perhaps a good choice in the spring or autumn.
The local mild climate allows visitors to attend the beaches almost all year round.

photo Catalin Margescu

Taormina - Biblical image of a paradise wrapped up in luxuriant subtropical vegetation

2007-07-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

On a cliff above the Ionian sea, at the foot of Monte Tauro, Taormina is the most famous Sicilian resort, also named Sicilian Monte Carlo. A Monte Carlo without casinos or royal families but truly romantic, where the self-exiled D.H. Lawrence was inspired to write Lady Chatterly's Lover, one of the most passionate and erotic love stories of its era. Taormina, like many Sicilian villages, has loads of winding medieval streets and thin passages, full of secrets and great restaurants, cafés and ice cream bars.
If you are a good explorer you can find hidden gardens, one of them is located on a cliff. Having a stunning view was donated to the town by rich Englishwoman, an aristocrat who had fallen in love with Taormina.
Actually is not hard to fall for Taormina, the town is a real beauty by day and in the evening is absolutely breathe taking. From Taormina, especially from the Greek Theatre you can see the rare image of Europe’s greatest natural wonder, Mount Etna’s. And the incredible views of the sea complete this biblical image of a paradise wrapped up in luxuriant subtropical vegetation.

The town medieval layout is impressive and there are lots of places embedded with history to see. The Greek Theatre is the second largest ancient theater in Sicily after the one in Syracuse. It was originally built in the Hellenistic age and was almost entirely rebuilt by the Romans in the 2nd century AD. At the entrance gate of the village is a clock-tower which is called by the historians “the 15th century area”. It is also supposed that the first tower was built on the ruins of an older defense wall which would have dated back to the origins of the city, in other words the 4th century B.C.

In the middle of the town, in Piazza de Duomo is a Barocco style fountain with mythological ponies overlooks the basins and fountain water flows out of their mouths. Three mythological characters resembling Tritons stands in the middle of the basin with their arms crossed over their heads so as to support another basin decorated in low-relief; a round base inside this basin holds a basket of fruit on the top of which stands Taormina's coat-of-arms. Even though the city's coat-of-arms normally pictures a male centaur here was turned into a female centaur. Further more you can see the Cathedral with its austere façade crowned by crenellation was built in the 13th century.
Not to miss Castelmolla. You can reach this village perched on a rock through a winding road of 5 km. From Castelomola you can experiment one of the famous panoramic views in the world, especially fine at sunset. Up there you will also find the ruins of a medieval castle which in antiquity may have been the site of the ancient acropolis of Tauromenion.
And if is too hot or you are too tired to go sight seeing, go along the street which are lined with shops, pasticcerie and cafes and also try the famous Wunderbar where you can find the cocktails that Liz Taylor and Richard Burton where so fond of.

photo Catalin Margescu

Greeks, Romans and Arabs have good taste

2007-07-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

Sicily, a country colonized by Phoenicians, Punic settlers from Carthage and by Greeks, also invaded by the Arabs, is a unique place full of art, archeology, history, folklore and breathtaking scenery. Roman province, Greek colony, an Arab emirate, a Norman kingdom and now a nation unto itself. A place where majestic mountains meet the heavenly beaches.

There is so much to see in Sicily and to speak about it that is very hard to decide from where to start.

Dubrovnik - I felt like I was in paradise

2007-06-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Dubrovnik is a town that managed to preserve its medieval charm, the city having two kilometers of fortification walls with several towers and bastions, of which the best known is the Lovrijenac Tower on the west of the City. The old town was completed in the 13th century and what is amazing is that it remained virtually unchanged to the present day. No wonder that Dubrovnik has been included in UNESCO's Register of World Architectural Heritage.
The deep blue water accentuated by rock beaches and fortification walls transform this place in a paradise which charmed lots of artists like the Irish writer George Bernard Shaw.
But if sunbathing on rock beaches or sightseeing upon the town walls is not enough for you pick some of the great activities that are very diverse and obviously connected to the sea.

Fishing
You can join in the fishing excursions with experienced fishermen who know they way around the Dubrovnik isles, and are willing to share their fishing tricks passed down for generations. So if you enjoy fishing you can visit the best fishing spots on the whole riviera. or if you want to try the easier way you can go on a fish picnic. Take a boat tour across the archipelago and enjoy a relaxing and quiet trip with sun, sea, fish and wine.

Diving
If you love diving or you just wondering about it and would like to learn how to dive, Dubrovnik offers a range of isolated places for nature diving or specific sights like a historical wreck. Popular destinations for fish sport diving are the islands of Mrkan and Bobara.

Kayaking
Kayaking is an usual sport around the whole region and there are many places that support this activity. Rent your own kayak or join a kayaking excursion. Kayaking excursions around the Elaphite Islands and all around the City to Lokrum and further to Cavtat are the most popular.

Waterpolo
One of the sports that are frequently played in the city is waterpolo and everyone may join in, if you feel up to it contact the people on your beach playing the game about the details how to join a team.

Hiking
Enjoy the nature and experience the culture on your own two feet. Many sites in the region offer interesting points for hiking and cross country walks. First and the closest, is the hiking to the top of the hill Srđ, just over Dubrovnik. Mount Srđ offers the best view of Old Town Dubrovnik and an amazing view to the whole of the archipelago, but stick to the path to avoid landmines! On a clear day you can see all the way to Italy. Other hiking places are Župa, with many hills and cross country roads passing through wonderful green woods of Aleppo and Pines. Peninsula Pelješac is another attractive location with many places worth visiting on foot, starting from the Ston wall and continuing further to the inner of the peninsula. Mljet is another great hiking resort, being an island lost in the open sea, and the island is indeed hard to reach

Horseback Riding
In Konavle, there are small ranches, privately run, that offer horseback riding and general animal experience.

Extreme Sports
Bungee jumping from the Dubrovnik bridge is an adventure worth trying, a real adrenaline rush experience.

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival

2007-06-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

The beautiful walled city of Dubrovnik, which was named the "jewel of the Adriatic", hosts its spectacular summer festival in the period during July 10 -Aug 25 2007. The event has taken place every year since 1950 and attracts well known artists and a huge number of visitors. This one of the most culturally diverse festivals in Europe is a genuine review of the top solo artists and ensembles from all round the world. Opera, ballet and dance composers, soloists and orchestras will welcome the visitors from all around the world.

The several weeks of celebrations in the city of wonders will also include theatre and dance performances presented on a series of open-air stages.

Musical performances from the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, the Russian Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Quartet, among many others. Ballet comes from the Croatian National Theatre, theatrical performances of Don Quixote and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by W. Shakespeare.

Cost: K50-K300

Opening Hours:9.30pm; some performances start 12am

The pre-program of the 58th festival can be found at: http://www.dubrovnik-festival.hr/Default.aspx?sec=146

How to reach Dubrovnik, Croatia

2007-06-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

By airplane
Dubrovnik airport, located in Ćilipi, 17 km from the town, is a modern tourist facility, capable of receiving all type of sizes of aircrafts. However, Dubrovnik airport has excellent connections with regular commercial flights to all European centers and USA, both directs from Dubrovnik and thought connection flights with Zagreb.

By boat
Ferries operate by Jadrolinija Steamship company link Rijeka, Split, Dubrovnik and many other places in between, and offer the opportunity to enjoy beautiful coastline and thousand islands. Dubrovnik is also linked with various points in Italy with Car Ferry Service.

By car
Ferries operate by Jadrolinija Steamship company link Rijeka, The road network in Croatia consists of sixteen state roars, 30 county roads, and 59 local roads. Entering Croatia Dubrovnik can be reached by Adriatic road and any other mentioned roads.

By bus
You can reach Dubrovnik by excellent motor coaches from Austria, Italy, Germany, Hungary and Slovenija. Most international buses go to either Zagreb or Split. Dubrovnik can be reached using local bus transportation. Further information is available on the websites of the Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik bus stations.

Croatia - In the Streets of Dubrovnik 2007

2007-06-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

The program called “The Streets of Our City 2007” will gather many musical groups in
DUBROVNIK, Croatia and will entertain national and foreign visitors, as well as the local population.Iff you are visiting the town in the summer, do not miss it. Here is the program of events:

IN THE STREETS OF DUBROVNIK 2007
MONDAY
MAY (7, 14, 21, 28)
5:00 – 6:00 pm Ethnographic Museum Rupe
CROATIAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
CAPPELLA RAGUSINA
LINĐO N VOCAL GROUP

JUNE (4, 11, 18, 25)
5:00 – 6:00 pm Rector's Palace Atrium
CROATIAN EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL
CAPPELLA RAGUSINA
LINĐO N VOCAL GROUP
11:00 - 13:00 h / 21.00 – 23.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (till 18.06.2007)
13.00 – 15.00 h / 19.00 – 21.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (from 25.06.2007)
TRUBADOUR KRUNO

25 June – 10 September 2007
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate
FIORI MUSICALI – Street Players

TUESDAY
11:00 - 13:00 h / 21.00 – 23.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (DO 19.06.2007)
13.00 – 15.00 h / 19.00 – 21.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (OD 26.06.2007)
TRUBADOUR KRUNO

26 June – 11 September 2007
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate
FIORI MUSICALI – Street Players

15 May – 11 September 2007
9:00 – 11:00 pm Sponza Palace – Large Onofrio Fountain – Pile Gate
FOLK SINGERS

WEDNESDAY
11:00 - 13:00 h / 21.00 – 23.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (DO 20.06.2007)
13.00 – 15.00 h / 19.00 – 21.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (OD 27.06.2007)
TRUBADOUR KRUNO

27 June – 12 September 2007
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate
FIORI MUSICALI – Street Players

16 May – 12 September 2007
10:00 pm – 11:00 pm In front of Dominican Monastery
MAESTRAL VOCAL GROUP

THURSDAY
11:00 - 13:00 h / 21.00 – 23.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (DO 21.06.2007)
13.00 – 15.00 h / 19.00 – 21.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (OD 28.06.2007)
TRUBADOUR KRUNO

21 June – 13 September 2007
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate
FIORI MUSICALI – Street Players

17 May – 13 September 2007
11:00 pm – Midnight In front of Sponza Palace
SUBRENUM VOCAL GROUP

FRIDAY
11:00 - 13:00 h / 21.00 – 23.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (DO 22.06.2007)
13.00 – 15.00 h / 19.00 – 21.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (OD 29.06.2007)
TRUBADOUR KRUNO

22 June – 14 September 2007
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate
FIORI MUSICALI – Street Players

18 May – 14 September 2007
9:00 – 11:00 pm Sponza Palace – Large Onofrio Fountain – Pile Gate
FOLK SINGERS

JULY
(6, 13, 20, 27,)

AUGUST
(3, 10, 17, 24, 31)
5:00 – 6:00 pm Benedictine Monastery Atrium
CROATIAN TRADITIONAL AND EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL
CAPPELLA RAGUSINA
LINĐO N VOCAL GROUP

SATURDAY
19 May – 15 September 2007
10:00 am – Noon Rector's Palace – Sponza Palace
RAGUSAVECCHIA VOCAL GROUP
11:00 - 13:00 h / 21.00 – 23.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (DO 23.06.2007)
13.00 – 15.00 h / 19.00 – 21.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (OD 30.06.2007)
TRUBADOUR KRUNO

23 June – 15 September
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate
FIORI MUSICALI – Street Players

JUNE ( 9, 16)
10:00 – 11:00 pm In front of St. Blaise's Church
JAZZ BRASS

SEPTEMBER( 22, 29)
10:00 – 11:00 pm In front of St. Blaise's Church
JAZZ BRASS

SUNDAY
24 June – 9 September 2007
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate
FIORI MUSICALI – Street Players
11:00 - 13:00 h / 21.00 – 23.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (DO 24.06.2007)
13.00 – 15.00 h / 19.00 – 21.00 h Between the Inner and Outer Pile Gate (OD 01.07.2007)
TRUBADOUR KRUNO

AUGUST
ORGAN CONCERTS IN THE PATRON SAINT CHURCH
11:00 pm St. Blaise's Church – Daily

Croatia, a horseshoe with 2,000 km of crystsal clear coastline

2007-05-31T04:15:00.000-07:00

Croatia, a country named the Destination of the Year in 2006 by National Geographic Adventure Magazine with the shape of a crescent or a horseshoe which spanks its neighbors Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro is tempting a record number of visitors. 2,000km of crystal clear coastline bordered by 1,200 mainly uninhabited islands. Six World Heritage sites and eight national parks. And all this at inexpensive prices. Easy and cheap available accommodation, great cuisine, great history and culture and a highland climate. Yeah maybe it does sound like a commercial! When everything sounds too good to be true, people are suspicious. But no, I am not paid by any Croatia authority nor a travel agency. I have been in Croatia last year and what I have seen amazed me. Since than I have convinced all my friends to go there for a surprising break. Although is a small country Croatia is extremely rich in countless examples of work of art, architecture and stunning places along the Adriatic coast. I end up accidentally with holiday plans in Croatia. I did not have loads of information about Croatia, I only knew that there is a sea and I thought that it will be a quite and ordinary sunbathing program. When I arrived in Cvatat, a small village by the sea I felt like an explorer. Like I was about to discover a new world, a world named “Dalmatia” with almost one thousand islands that make up the Croatian archipelago. I have to be honest and say that I wasn’t actually a Columbus’ descendant because I only explored Elaphite islands. Three of the Elaphite islands, Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, are still inhabited, each of which can easily be reached by the inexpensive local Jadrolinija ferry (the mainland is connected to the larger islands by numerous local ferries from where you can choose), that runs four times daily throughout the year from Dubrovnik or Cvatat. All three islands have private accommodation, hotels, and small tourist offices that are open in summer only. Both Koločep and Šipan are, like the Old City of Dubrovnik, car-free. In the following posts I will describe more consistently the surroundings with all the activities that you can participate in. You might take these recommendations into account; after all I am only offering this advice as a simple person who experienced great feelings in Croatia. Hope there are other persons who traveled to the southern part of Croatia and wants to confirm or deny what I will say.

Something to declare

2007-05-30T04:17:00.000-07:00

I’ve read once in a travel book something that went like this “It doesn’t matter how many breaths you take, all that is important is how many places you see that take your breath away”. This was actually written in a crappy travel book named “1000 places to see before you die” where only the title and that quotation were the only appealing things that I found there. The book was not helpful at all. The descriptions were blunt and lame and there was nothing to make me dream about those locations that I have never seen. Even though I am a travel addict. When I am at work or at home in Bucharest I feel like I am in a train station. I am always waiting for a holiday, an escape from the old things that I am so used with. I can’t imagine my life without testing new territories and getting to know the territories through the people that live there. I think bridging the gap between other people’s lives and ours is too amazing to miss it. I hope that one day I will be able to say that the world is in fact a small place…but until than I feel like I am just a little person in a huge world with not enough time to explore every part of it. The blog’s idea is to share my experience for whom it might concern and I would be more than happy to read other people experiences and thoughts when travel ….
I am quite good at avoiding disappointing holidays and I am always doing my homework finding loads of information about the new places that I want to try.