SimplyMaggies

A few weeks ago my husband and I went on a trip to the southern part of Sicily, namely Siracusa (Syracuse in English). This is an incredibly beautiful and charming town, which is nearly 3000 years old.

The town is well-known for its ancient history (mainly Greek), culture (it lures many an artist), art, amphitheaters and architecture. It is also known for its connection to Archimedes and the fact that it was a major city in the Mediterranean in the ancient times. Siracusa is located on the Ionian Sea on the south-east coast of Sicily, which gives it its beautiful sandy beaches and turquoise shade of the sea.

There are many places worth seeing in Siracusa but if you go to only one place, it has to be the small island of Ortiga, which is picturesque in its beauty. Taking a stroll down lungomare or into one of the tiny streets will be worth your while. And when you come out into the main square, you’ll see amazing architecture of the white-washed cathedral and the buildings surrounding it. You can even admire it from one of the many cafés lining the side of the square.

Other sites worth taking a look at are the Roman amphitheatre (one of the largest ever built in ancient times); stone quarries located near the theater with its most famous one, Orecchio di Dionisio; the fountain of Arethusa where the nymph hunted by Alpheus took shelter there; and archeological museum. There are many more places to see and a short day to spend there simply doesn’t seem enough.

It is definitely one of the more charming towns in Sicily and even if only for the white-sand beaches, it is worth a visit.

Yes, I do. Even though some people claim Lublin (it’s the name of my hometown) is somewhat of a province. Well, obviously they haven’t recently been there. Oh, and for those of you who never heard of it, it is in Poland (hope you know where that country lies… and if not, check on the map).

Lublin has a very long history. The first settlement was founded in the 6th century and the town that developed from it received its city rights in 1317. And it’s been growing in importance ever since. I am not going to bore you here with all the details of Lublin’s history since it really is quite long and colorful (and you can always find that out on the net if interested). I am, however, going to tell you that it’s called “Polish Oxford” and the reason for it—its five public universities, which bring a number of students not only from other areas in Poland but abroad as well.

The town has a magnificent architecture (especially the Old Town and the areas around it) and a captivating, unique atmosphere, which is why some call it “little Cracow”. There are many places worth seeing here and there is a bit of everything for every one to find something they like. The Old Town’s cobbled streets and winding lanes are an interesting addition to the picturesque buildings as well as many pubs, bars and restaurants with their garden tables. The newly renovated castle prides itself on an incredible Trinity Chapel with 15th century Russian-Byzantine frescoes (quite exceptional and, according to some, the most beautiful in Poland). And on the outskirts of the city, you will find Majdanek—the Nazi concentration camp, which requires a bit of courage to see as it will bring the WWII history close to home in an abrupt and compelling way.

In addition to all this enchanting architecture, Lublin has an astonishing number of bars, pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants, serving fresh local specialties as well as international cuisine. Not bad for a province, huh? Moreover, because of the large number of students, the city offers a vibrant music and nightclub scene alongside many theatres, philharmonic orchestras and museums.

 And if you’re looking for something totally different, there are horseback riding schools, old forests (good for mushroom picking or simply strolling), and you can kayak and cycle around the Bystrzyca river. There is also a large man-made lake, Zemborzycki Zalew, where you can water ski, wind surf, canoe, fish and enjoy other lake activities, e.g. swimming, sailing and sunbathing. A bit of everything, I’d say…

So there it is—a jewel in the rough. The city I was born and grew up in and hope one day to return to.

I was lucky enough to spend a bit more time on the gorgeous island of Crete than most tourist do. Because of my husband’s job, we were there for a whole year and it was absolutely worth it. The apartment we were renting was situated right on the shore, on a cliff overlooking the charming town of Chania. So everyday I had this picture-perfect view from my balcony.

Chania is the second largest town on the island and it lies along the north coast of the island, about 70 km west of Rethymno and 145 km west of Heraklion. It is a city, as much as the whole island of Crete, highly influenced by many civilizations and cultures, including Byzantine, Venetian, Turkish and Greek. The most visible influences are in architecture and those are mainly Venetian. The harbors in both Chania and Heraklion are picturesque and remind strongly of Venice itself. Moreover, Chania’s Old Town and its harbor are considered the most beautiful on Crete.

The existence of civilization on Crete dates back over four thousand years to the Minoan society(circa 2600-1400 BC), the oldest European civilization that occupied the island. Therefore it is pretty amazing to walk down the streets and look upon the same sea people so many centuries ago gazed upon.

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and with many amazing views and a few gorges, it is definitely worth seeing. The towns are not only charming, with their Old Towns and tiny streets, but also provide a fair amount of entertainment, which includes bars and restaurants on nearly every corner, night clubs, pubs, museums and plenty more… Thus, it is not surprising that Crete attracts numerous tourists each season (usually April till October).

However, if you would like to experience the life and the island itself without bumping into noisy and yes, sometimes annoying tourists (especially if they are accompanied by children, and many are), you should probably opt for out of seasons tickets. Besides, it may cost you a lot less. And if you happen to find yourself in Chania, strolling down the harbor, sit down in one of many cafés around the square and order Spanish Coffee. It is a delicious coffee drink that I have not gotten a chance to taste anywhere else. At least not the way it is prepared in Chania.