Travel, life, loves and laughs.
This small homemade operation is run out of Polemarhi in the foothills of Crete’s Maleme region. Out on the Little Fun Train for the afternoon, we have already discovered the villages of Kolymvari, Marathokefala and Vouves. Each with their own version of charm and slice of history, from monasteries and saints to millennia old olive trees, the traditions here are rich and varied.… Read the rest
Another tiny village in the hills behind Maleme, Vouves boasts the world’s oldest olive tree.
This millennia old olive tree with its twisting, gnarled trunk still bears fruit. It is estimated to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old.… Read the rest
A short way up into the hills we arrive at the traditional village of Marathokefala where time seems to stand still. Here, the pace of life takes the slow road, with many daily rituals continuing as they have done for centuries.… Read the rest
We are taking the Little Fun Train for a bit of sightseeing in Crete. What better way to get around than an open aired train that lets us see some of Cretes’ more out of the way places.… Read the rest
Among Sofia’s varied skyline – where Roman ruins, Ottoman relics and Bulgarian Orthodox churches coexist – the Church of St. Nicolas stands apart with unmistakable elegance. Golden onion domes shimmer above dark green tiles, intricate details catch the light, and the entire structure feels as though it has been lifted directly from Moscow and set gently into the Bulgarian capital.… Read the rest
In a city where layers of history reveal themselves at every turn, Bulgaria’s National Art Gallery offers something different. It is not a ruin, nor a monument to conquest or religion. Instead, it is a space where Bulgaria tells its story through art – brushstroke by brushstroke and century by century.… Read the rest
Sofia is a city that reveals itself slowly. Even more so if you’re walking Sofia. At first glance, it feels like a blend of Soviet-era austerity and modern European energy. But look closer, beneath your feet, behind church doors and within quiet courtyards and you’ll find a city layered with more than two millennia of history.… Read the rest
Within the heart of Sofia, Bulgaria’s modern capital, lies one of the city’s most profound and sacred landmarks, the Basilica of Saint Sofia. Often overlooked in favor of the gilded grandeur of the nearby Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, this understated brick church holds secrets far older and a legacy that shaped the very identity of the city itself.… Read the rest
In a city defined by layers – Roman foundations, medieval resilience, Ottoman influence and modern reinvention – the Banya Bashi Mosque stands as one of Sofia’s most enduring and quietly powerful historical markers. It does not dominate the skyline in the way grand cathedrals might, nor does it draw crowds with spectacle.… Read the rest
In a city where Roman streets lie beneath glass and Ottoman minarets rise beside Orthodox domes, Sofia’s Presidency Building represents something altogether different. It is not ancient, nor ornate, nor rooted in empire. Instead, it belongs to modern Bulgaria, standing as a symbol of statehood, authority and national identity shaped in the 20th and 21st centuries.… Read the rest
