Kos we all love a good Greek Island!

The Greek Islands. Just the thought of them made me squirm with excitement for years. I'm not even sure how I managed to contain myself on the flight from London; fidgeting in my seat, over-enthusiastically greeting airport staff and cabin crew, devouring more than my fair share of Greek chocolate croissants served as in-flight snacks... I was quite frankly, a mess.

I finally touched down in the beautiful island of Kos, and despite the fact that my Greek experience started off disastrously with the airline losing my luggage (thanks again, Aegean Airlines), I was so elated to finally be visiting the destination of my dreams I found it difficult to care.

Attempting to conduct a somewhat budget-style holiday, opting to catch the local bus from the airport into Kos Town was my first step. The bus leaves from a stand just outside the exit of the airport (it's extremely small, so there's not much room to get lost), costs €3.20 one way and takes approximately half an hour to reach the city centre. In typical Greek fashion, the bus was slightly late but making friends with a couple of German backpackers made the wait less worrying!

I met my friends and stayed at Catherine Hotel in Kos Town, which impressed me in both room quality, location and hospitality considering the wallet-friendly price. However, it was a menace to find as the streets don't seem to match up to the Google Maps version, so make sure you take a printout to ask locals if you get lost! Located only a moment's walk to the marina and main restaurant strip, the hotel provided us with an excellent base for our exploration of Kos.

A plethora of restaurants line the sea side and finding a place to dine was a cinch. Although my arteries probably wouldn't agree, living off Greek gyros (kebab meat, tzatziki, tomato, onion and fries wrapped in pita bread) is highly recommended. You are on holiday, after all?

The beach in Kos was a highlight, as the other two islands I visited (Rhodes and Santorini) were not as beach orientated. Tarzan Beach is the main one, located within close proximity to the town and features mesmerising clear waters. The majority of the beach is owned by individual businesses, however many offer free sun lounges and WiFi (you usually have to buy a drink though), so nabbing a spot on the beach is not an issue.

Kos itself is an expensive island, like many of the touristy Greek Islands, and I learnt this the hard way when I had to buy some emergency supplies whilst waiting for my luggage to find it's way to me... €10 minimum for a pair of plastic flip flops, €15 for a flimsy t-shirt and €2-€3 for toothpaste. I was flabbergasted but didn't have much of a choice. Luckily I'd kept a few essentials in my carry-on that minimised how much I needed to purchase!

I'm kicking myself for not spending more time in Kos to go out to some of the other towns such as Kardamena and Kefalos, as well as taking the quick boat journey over to Bodrum in Turkey, which is only four kilometres away! Such is a European tour...

Kos is a stunning island with plenty to offer and can provide both a relaxing summer séjour or a lively, holiday party atmosphere for those seeking a more fun-filled getaway.

Stay tuned for my next post from the island just a ferry away: Rhodes!

Tilda
xxx

P.S. I'd like to apologise profusely for subjecting you to that ghastly pun in the post title. I feel ashamed but it had to be done!

Cancún in a Whirlwind 43 Hours

It had been a long three and a half weeks, my feet were hurting and I was quite frankly terrified my suitcase would spontaneously burst open due to the sheer volume of shopping I'd been doing. Only one stop left: Cancún. Most people would probably see the diversion from Cuba to Cancún on the way to the U.S, and vice versa, as an inconvenience, but I saw it as an excellent opportunity to squeeze one last hurrah into my trip (and also so I could see if the 'sinkhole pool', in pictures that circulate on Tumblr, truly existed).

I had a mere 43 hours to spend in Cancún, comprised of one full day, sandwiched between 2 nights. Being Australian, lying on the beach or by the pool is something that takes the back seat if there are more location-unique activities to be had, seeing as it's something I can easily do at home. I knew that Cancún was the hub for many day tours into Yucatán, a neighbouring state littered with Mayan ruins and magical natural sights, therefore, my one full day in Mexico needed to be dedicated to visiting the ruins of Chichén Itzá and the breathtaking Ik Kil Cenote. It was decided.

Booking a tour is easy; most hotels in Cancún have tour desks, where you can select and book tours from the comfort of your lobby. If not, the attendants at reception can help you out. I booked mine on the spot at the reception of my hotel (Aloft Cancún) at about 9pm the night before! Most tours that include both these attractions last about 10-12 hours, starting at around 8am and returning around 7pm, with pick-up and drop-off from your hotel.

Being picked up from my hotel was a breeze and despite the rather chatty guide who failed to give us a second of peace on the two hour bus ride, the tour left me having to heave my jaw from the ground by the time the day came to a close. How does one wrap their head around the the feats of engineering carried out by the Mayans? Chichén Itzá featured near perfectly proportioned pyramids, with an open point, designed to act as the ancient form of a microphone when the leader spoke down to his people from above. Mayans knew their sound, and even designed a playing field lined by two smooth walls off which sound would resonate and create a stadium-like effect. Engineers: you will not be disappointed.

However, the highlight of the day for me had to be Ik Kil Cenote. There are few places I have been completely in awe of, and this was one of them. Starting with a compulsory quick cold shower to remove toxins such as sunscreen from the skin, I followed the steps down into the cave and was met with the most stunning sight of sunlight streaming down from a naturally formed sinkhole above, with vines cascading into the pure, clean water below (hence the shower as not to contaminate the water). Small waterfalls also gushed from the rocky walls and I couldn't resist jumping in. Bomb style. Small, harmless catfish milled around the excited swimmers and I had a hard time believing this place existed on Earth and was not from some heavenly realm. I honestly wish I could have spent longer than an hour there!

Cancún itself was essentially America transplanted to a coastal Mexican city, and did not appeal to me at all to be honest. If you're partial to relaxing resort-style holidays with all-inclusive deals and plenty of homely comforts, Cancún would be perfect for you. However, as more of a backpacker who is always interested in the cultural side of the destinations she visits, I was chuffed that I chose to spend my time exploring these two magnificent sights.

Adios amigos,

Tilda
xxx

P.S. With 100% honesty, I can thoroughly recommend Aloft Cancún as a slightly more affordable but still large hotel in the main district. Staff were always helpful and even gave me free room service on a slow night!

The little Cuban town that will steal your heart: Viñales

The second stop on my Cuban tour was the colourful town of Viñales: the home of casas particulares (homestays) and the best tobacco in the world. Here, I learnt that entering comes with a risk; you may just never want to leave.

Viñales is a small town in the province of Pinar del Rio, in the western part of Cuba, where we were welcomed with open arms to a homestay with a Cuban family. Viñales is positively charming, with families that span generations still living together, and that small town vibe where everyone knows everyone. The houses were brightly coloured, not unlike the culture that permeated this seemingly untouched piece of Cuban heaven, despite the odd tourist here and there. 

Viñales' nightlife was the best on the tour, with one main bar/club that everyone frequented, locals and tourists alike. Centro Cultural Polo Montañez is nestled next to the church in the square off the main street, Salvador Cisneros, and is where I consumed approximately one too many Mojitos and Cuba Libres, accompanied by romantic local boys teaching me how to salsa (and me failing). Definitely a recommendation.

The surrounding landscape is unfathomable, with valleys and mountains clothed in lush forests, along with hundreds of caves and waterfalls scattered throughout the region. A must-do is a lunch at Balcon del Valle restaurant, which sits in a picturesque spot overlooking the entire valley, with tables on balconies that extend out over the edge of the cliff.

Other things to do in Viñales include:

• Visit Cuevas del Indio (Indian Caves). For the price of 5 CUC, you can explore through these caves surrounded by beautiful greenery, and includes a boat ride through the river inside.

• Enlist the expertise of a local guide to take you on a scenic walk through the farmland around the town. Learn about the flora and fauna of Viñales, see small lakes and caves, and see if you can visit a tobacco farm, where the farmer will also show you how he rolls traditional Cuban cigars.

• Check out Mural de la Prehistoria. Despite being a rather trivial attraction, this mural, depicting dinosaurs and cave-people painted on the side of a cliff, is still worth a visit, even if only to laugh at the fact Fidel Castro thought it was a stellar idea to commission its creation.

If there's one place you go in Cuba, outside Havana, make it Viñales and get the traditional Cuban experience!

And now, pictures!

A Photographer's Heaven: Havana

Cuba. I cannot even begin to describe the love I developed for this stunning nation in the short 8 days my feet touched its soil. In fact, I think we could even rank the intensity of this Cuban love somewhere towards my love for Boots meal deals (that got me through many a lunch break during my time living in the money-sucking city of London), or even my holy-grail concealer by Estée Lauder, that saves my face from looking like a stepped-on tomato each morning.

To discover Cuba as a solo traveller, I opted to do a G Adventures tour, aptly named Cuba Libre (after the signature Cuban cocktail of the same name! Delicious, but strong...)

Cuba is one of the most breathtakingly picturesque landscapes I have ever laid eyes on, with something new for even the most seasoned traveller. Cuba's main city, Havana, boasts an eclectic architectural mish-mash, with beautifully restored Neoclassical, Baroque and Art Deco buildings, juxtaposed with the crumbling façades of others just around the corner.

The most charming area of Havana, by far, is Habana Vieja (Old Havana), which showcases the history and beauty of the original city, characterised by tiny side streets lined with overhanging balconies, ferns sprouting from every crevice and plenty of colour. This area is reminiscent of old European cities and their streets, so, if you're like me and you melt at the mere thought of strolling down romantic side lanes, this city is for you.

The main street of this area is Calle Obispo, bustling with people and appeasing both the eyes and the tastebuds, with its busy scenery and array of restaurants, cafes and bars. Turn down any side street to nab some fantastic snaps of chaotic, inner-Havana life (read: laundry strung out to dry between apartment windows, rickshaws lined up waiting for fares and local kids running about).

An interesting attraction to visit in Old Havana is Camera Obscura; a camera on the top floor of a building in Plaza Vieja, which uses a periscope to browse over all of Havana in real time. After the 'show', you can step out onto the rooftop to soak in the stunning views over this magical city.

A common question I get asked, when I travel alone, is: "did you feel safe?" As a solo female, I probably would not have felt completely at ease walking around alone, especially at night. However, Havana and Cuba in general were much safer than I had anticipated. The people are friendly and welcoming, if not still getting used to the idea of tourists after a long time being closed to tourism as a nation. In this sense, it is best to approach Cuba with patience and an open mind; don't expect standards to be as high as in a Western country. As my guide, Pablo, said: "Nothing works in Cuba, but we always do our best."

Whilst Havana is a fascinating city, I unfortunately did not get to explore as much as I would've liked; we jetted off to another town the morning after we arrived and only had one night there at the conclusion of the tour. But guys. GUYS. In my next post, I simply have to talk about the town we stopped at first, after Havana, for two nights: Viñales. Small town hospitality and hot Cuban boys, what more could you want?

And now, pictures!

Un Séjour Provençal: Provence's Southern Charm

No visit to France can be complete with just a few days in Paris. In fact, while Paris is a beautiful and historic city and is one of my all time favourites, it simply doesn't provide you with a well-rounded experience of the country.

That's where Provence comes in as the hero of the hour. One visit to this picturesque and authentically French region will have you completely under its spell. The main city, Aix-en-Provence is a highlight, however there are many quaint (I use that word far too often) and typically French towns surrounding it that can provide a lovely experience, away from the hustle and bustle of Aix; at a cheaper price too.

That was our main reason for choosing to stay in Salon-de-Provence; economic value. It ended up working beautifully, as we checked into our modest hotel, Hôtel du Midi, situated near the centre of Salon. Hôtel du Midi provided traditional, friendly French hospitality and while the rooms were rather dated, this only added to the charm and was a pleasant change to typical, soulless hotel rooms one encounters in many modern accommodations.

Luckily, we had a car we had hired in Montpellier, so getting around was easy. However, there is a bus service which allows you to transit between the Salon and Aix.

Aix was beautiful. Small, original streets and historic architecture with a distinctive sandy colour made for a picturesque experience. Cours Mirabeau, the main, wide avenue of Aix with its spectacular fountain and trees was a breeze to stroll along, with plenty of cafes, shops and restaurants to choose from.

Navigating away from Cours Mirabeau, was a maze of streets, littered with various boutiques, more cafes and open squares holding weekend markets, with fruit, vegetable, meat and cheese stalls showcasing Southern France's excellent produce. I don't think any strawberry will ever compare to the strawberries I picked up from one of the stalls that day; they were the size of my palm!

No visit to Provence would be complete without popping into a L'Occitane En Provence store and checking it out in its element. It's located at 21 Rue Espariat, Aix-en-Provence!

Then there's the fabulous Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, one of the most famous squares in Aix, bordered by the Town Hall, Corn Exchange Hall and the Clock Tower. Inside the Town Hall, the architecture is breathtaking and we even snuck into one of the conference rooms, which I don't think was supposed to be open... However, it was lavishly decorated with gold-framed portraits and paintings of various scenes; a sight to behold. One of the most memorable moments of my visit to Aix, was sitting on the steps of the fountain in this square and munching on some saucisson, cheese and baguette from the markets, taking in the sun and beautiful surroundings.

It's easy to wile away the hours wandering the streets of Aix, finding new, hidden gems around every corner and finishing the night with a dinner at one of the many traditional restaurants. Definitely the place to come for a relaxing, typically French getaway!

And now, pictures!