Life is a patchwork of experiences
A crippled beggar hopes for a few coins at the entrance to a church in Cartagena, Columbia. Across the street, a street vendor eats his lunch as he waits for passers-by to purchase a painting. It’s just another day for the locals in Cartagena, trying to make a living.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
At the port of Cartagena, you have to pass through an Eco Park on the way back to boarding the cruise ship. After walking all morning with the hot sun beating down on me, it was a lovely, shaded, stroll that was not very long. The park has lots of peacocks, macaws and flamingos, along with shops and eateries. Even if you do not plan on going into the city, getting off the ship and exploring this area is a pleasant distraction.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
This story was recognized by the North American Travel Journalists Association with a Silver award in the Portrait Photography category in the 2022 annual media travel awards competition .The palenqueras of Cartagena – black women in bright costumes with baskets of fruit on their head – have become a colorful national symbol for their country. All around the old town of Cartagena, I saw these women waiting to have their photos taken in exchange for a tip. Once they saw a potential opportunity, they would put the bowls of fruit on their head, flare their skirts and give a huge smile – and then reach out for the expected dollars.
Continue reading “PhotoPOSTcard: Waiting to Make a Dollar in Cartagena”
3 days in Thessaloniki was a good amount of time to discover the historic and cultural sights in Greece’s second largest city. Read all about my Thessaloniki itinerary to help you plan a visit to this inspiring destination.
Three days in Thessaloniki was all the time I had to discover all the diverse offerings in Greece’s second largest city. I would have liked more time, but that was what my schedule allowed, so I made the most of my time in this cosmopolitan metropolis and managed to see all the highlights.
Continue reading “How I Spent a Wonderful 3 Days in Thessaloniki, Greece”
Thrilled to get three more North American Travel Journalists Association awards for writing and photography for the fifth year in a row. I am honored to be one of the few bloggers to be recognized in this year’s NATJA competition with most of the wins going to the big travel publications and websites like Travel and Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, and the Matador Network.
Here are the links to my winning entries:
Release Your Inner Jackie O On A Luxury Sailing Holiday in Greece
Baltimore Inner harbor Reflection
Thank you to everyone who continues to follow and like my stories and photos.
Rose
Use this Greece Halkidiki road trip itinerary to help you discover the best things to see in the Sithonia, Kassandra and Mt. Athos peninsulas.
I was excited to experience the other side of Greece, the Greece beyond Athens and the Cycladic islands in the Aegean.
After a lovely Greek Island cruise followed by a few days in Athens, I was ready to explore Greece off the beaten path. I had read that Halkidiki had its share of Greek historic sights as well as an unlimited variety of beautiful beaches – my perfect combination for an ideal getaway.
Continue reading “My Halkidiki Road Trip Itinerary Lets You Discover This Wonderful Greek Jewel”
My stay at the Blue Bay Hotel was the luxury Halkidiki resort experience I was looking for to relax and rejuvenate during my extended Greece road trip.
When I travel, I have the tendency to just go, go, go because I want to experience as much as I can each day. But I can only do that non stop for about two weeks and then I need a few days vacation from my vacation to recharge my batteries.
Midway through my monthlong trip in Greece this past summer, I had two very pleasant days at the Blue Bay Hotel on the Kassandra peninsula in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece.
Continue reading “My Perfect Two Day Halkidiki Resort Experience in Greece”
The UNESCO listed Archeological site of Philippi preserves and exhibits the remains of three diverse periods of Greek history that span 1600 years – Hellenistic, Roman and Christian.
All parents hope that their children will be more successful than they are. But in Philip II of Macedonia’s case, his achievements are always overshadowed by one of Europe’s most notable historical figures, Alexander the Great. During my visit to Greece, it seemed that every discussion about the Macedonian king always started with ” Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, …..”
Continue reading “Beyond the Ruins at the Archeological Site of Philippi, Greece”
Finding the best beaches in Sithonia, Halkidiki in Greece was a challenge since there were so many to choose from. But they all had one thing in common: warm sand and crystal clear waters. And the region also had a lot of historic sights to explore.
With 100 unique beaches, you could spend three months on the Sithonia peninsula in Greece and enjoy a different beach each day. I had only a short time to discover its many sandy pleasures and I made the most of it as I explored the best beaches in Sithonia.
It is usually Greece’s islands that are associated with sunny beaches. But in the north, the peninsula of Halkidiki is also known for its many choices of beautiful white sand beaches. There are so many to choose from that you could spend many months exploring a different beach each day. What I really liked is that so many of the beaches had beach bars where you could rent a lounge chair for the day for a few euros, and food and drink options were on hand as well. Now that is a relaxing beach vacation indeed.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
