Travel, life, loves and laughs.
I’m in Mykonos exploring the main town, old port of Chora and of course, the Windmills of Kato Mili. I have been walking for a while discovering the cobbled streets and sparkling town with its overflow of shops, churches, charm and style.… Read the rest
Benvenuto Bracciano! It’s been a bit of a long day so far. We have been up since 2am and didn’t get much sleep before that with last minute packing, not to mention the excitement. Somewhere en route mid air over Diyarbakir, heading towards Ankara, I have a major pinch-me moment. … Read the rest
The incredible Renaissance castle, Castello Odescalchi, sits in the heart of Bracciano and has borne witness to centuries of change. As we arrive in Bracciano on the first leg of our Summer Holidays, it greets us, presiding over the piazza as we unload our bags, the boys too tired to notice, me bewitched and speechless at the sight. … Read the rest
At the base of the Western Hajar Mountain range, near Jabal Akhdar in the northwest of Oman, sits Nakhal, a town that is set amongst date plantations and dominated by the dramatic Nakhal Fort. The fort itself is believed to date back to the pre-Islamic era while the towers and entrance way were constructed during the reign of Imam Said bin Sultan in 1834. … Read the rest
Wadi Aday and Yiti, the nearest town, is an off the beaten track, yet comfortable 1 hour drive, south of Muscat. So the day hasn’t exactly gone to plan so far. Not that I can complain – I spent the morning at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque while my husband ran the kids around in 40+ degrees Celsius at the nearest park and then got picked up and taken to lunch. … Read the rest
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a truly inspiring place both architecturally and spiritually.
It was a very quiet Monday morning when I visited due to Eid and the public holiday. I approached from a side entrance near the car park and was redirected to enter from the main entrance at the front.… Read the rest
The Shangri-La Bar Al Jissah resort at Bandar Jissah would be a wonderful getaway for a weekend retreat.
There are actually a few distinct buildings that share the private beach at Bandar Jissah, all of which look wonderful. … Read the rest
Wow! The Royal Opera House is a spectacular sight and I think we caught it at its best light with the pink hues of sunset reflecting off the sparkling new marble. It’s new, with construction only completed in 2011. It’s also grand, and while the main concert hall has capacity for 1100, there is also an auditorium, an art centre, retail and restaurants contained in the complex all set in beautiful formal landscaped gardens.… Read the rest
We were keen to go snorkeling whilst visiting Muscat and had heard excellent reports of the experience. After some research, Bandar Khayran was top of the list of destinations and I proceeded to book an 8 hour Bandar Khayran snorkeling tour with a local company through our hotel (the Coral Muscat Hotel). … Read the rest
The walk from the watchtower near Riyan Park to Al Alam Royal Palace is about 2.5km. It’s a really pleasant walk (even in the heat), along a bay through the old city Gate (also a museum) and down through the old town.… Read the rest