Snowdrop Walk

The fragile snowdrops scattered around West Wycombe Park were the first signs of spring even though the weather was cold and damp. We followed the map given at the entrance, passing the Manor House of the famous Dashwood family. The house, in a distinctive yellow colour, stands graciously on the top of a slope dominated by the whole landscape.  Built between 1740 and 1800 by Sir Francis Dashwood the house is set within a landscaped park containing many temples and follies. The first temple, hidden behind the house and very easy to miss is the Temple of Apollo or Cockpit Arch where cock fights took place.  Following the map, we passed a big ditch, a Ha Ha, a ditch to stop livestock straying onto the estate. At the end of the ha ha route there was the first folly, something we hadn’t seen on our previous visit, an octagonal tower built in the local stone, painted in the distinctive yellow and called the Temple of the Winds. The design of the temple resembles the Tower of the Winds in Athens.

From the temple we turned left towards the lake, created from the River Wye in the form of a Swan.  In the middle of the lake, surrounded by calm waters and relaxing swans, lies the Temple of Music inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Rome.  Sir Francis Dashwood , 2nd Baronet, embarked on an Italian Grand tour visiting villas of the Italian Renaissance which  he wished to reproduce on his own estate.

After a short walk along the lake we came across another temple  – the Temple of Daphne, modelled on a small temple on the Acropolis. It was surrounded by snowdrops in full bloom. I am sure there were more follies and temples scattered around the estate as we keep discovering them on each visit.

West Wycombe Park is an excellent place to get immersed into English history, learning about the past and how it shaped the present of West Wycombe. The Dashwood family still lives on the estate and you can see them occasionally.  Entry to West Wycombe Park is £10 for adult and the price includes a visit to the Manor House which is open from 1 st April – 31 st August. During the winter time there are snow drop walks and the entry is £2.50 without a visit to the House. Dogs and picnics are not allowed.

Happy New Travel Year!

Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits and I am one of them! I would love to continue with my habit of travelling and in the New Year I would love to visit Brasil, Peru, Ecuador and Galapagos.  Which countries are on your New Travel Year list?

To all Happy People around the world we wish a Happy and Prosperous New Year! 

Tara

Cave Churches in Greece

It was pitch dark even with the candles that burned on the right, close to the entrance. The three of us deliberated whether to venture further into an unknown without any torch or light, worried how long the dark would last for and what was at the end of the dark. Suddenly we saw a spider creature walking towards us. The creature was huge and it was talking but not in a language we could understand. We decided to exit and find some comfort in the strong sunlight.

We were in Greece, on our annual holiday exploring Kasandra, the first peninsula of Halkidiki. It was the end of September and the mornings were overcast which gave us an excellent excuse to explore various villages. We went in search of the famous Byzantium Castle in Nea Fokea only to end up finding another church by mistake, when taking a wrong turn and seeing the entrance door with a cross on top.  It looked like a church to us until we entered.

The small porch was covered in icons, with a place to light candles and a money box secured with a strong padlock, and was big enough for one person to stand up in. In the middle of the porch there were steep stone steps going down into the dark, the unknown.

After hearing the noise from the darkness and deciding to go outside, we sat under a fig tree discussing if we should go and find what was at the end of the black tunnel when the huge creature in the shape of a German appeared in front of us.

“Is the tunnel long?” – was our first question.

“No – but it’s dark. And you have to go on your knees at the end.”

“What’s at the end?”

“A prayer room.”

I was quick to dismiss the adventure as I consider myself mildly claustrophobic – I hate the noise of a plane door being shot or taking a lift to the 53rd floor (as in China).  Crouching in the dark cave to see a prayer room wasn’t appealing to me…but then who knew when I might be going back to Greece and to this place?

You start walking through a narrow tunnel by standing, then crouching and gradually you end up on your knees. All the time you can touch the walls of the cave as it’s not wide. It’s not pleasant either as it’s pitch dark, and if there was rain you’d get covered in murky water.  After 33 steps (my 33 steps) you end up at the spring or well, or holy water according to locals, I am not sure and on the right of it there is a prayer room where you can stand up as in a “normal” church. It’s quiet, solemn and I am sure there was some natural light as you could recognise some of the saints on the icons, but where the light was coming from, I am not sure.

I didn’t stay long as the fear of being underground was taking over me and I ran, if you can call it running, at a crawl and a crouch, just like the giant spider that had turned out to be the alarming German.  The photos I tried to take came out black and you’d need a strong flash to take a good quality photo.

I know Greece is known for the Holy Mountain Mt Athos and the monasteries spread around it. I have heard about cave churches where monks spends their time in prayers, undisturbed by the outside world. While in Greece I wanted to go to Mt Athos but as a female I am not allowed. The only possibility is to see the monasteries from a distance, from a boat as women cannot set foot on the peninsula.

The best way to see a real prayer cave is to visit St Paul’s Church in Nea Fokea. According to locals, the Apostle Peter hid in the cave from his persecutors and the cave has more than the one tunnel and one room that I saw, but these are closed as tourists get lost in them.

The cave church of St Paul’s is not easily located on maps or Google but you can easily find it when you’re there– it’s opposite the car park of the small port near the Byzantine castle on the main road.

Every year 29 – 30th June, the villagers of Nea Fokea celebrate St Paul and the procession starts from the cave church.

Visit Turtle Sanctuary in Polychrono, Greece

We had been walking for 20 minutes and except the occasional random sign with a picture of a turtle we didn’t see any lakes or any turtles for that matter. We hadn’t seen any humans either expect two Danish girls who decided not to follow these random signs right at the start of the route and gave up. With the rain descending on us I was sure they had made a wise decision. The road was secluded, winding through bushes and going into the central part of the peninsula. We didn’t have a map, water or any food and we didn’t even know if we were on the right road.  The only reason we kept going was because of my sister’s stubborn insistence that it must behind the next bend.  After so many bends she was quietly giving up until we meet a couple walking towards us.  They were coming back from the turtle lake, which was according to them was just up the hill on the right. Summoning the last dregs of energy we dragged ourselves slowly onwards and after an hour of walking we finally found the famous turtle lake. It was small, with steep sides, quiet and with no turtles. We ran around trying to spot at least one only to see goldfish, red, gold and white ones. We started to question if we actually had actually come to the right lake at all? After staring into the murky water we managed to spot three and half turtles – three grownups and one baby one, so it was hardly the sanctuary advertised on the internet.  I would call it a fish sanctuary, not turtle.

On the way back we stopped at the lonely church nearby for a well-deserved rest. The Church of St Procopius is nicely decorated inside and even though it’s far from the main path, the church garden looked neat and tidy. Someone had spent lots of time keeping the church alive which I find admirable. Hungrily we checked every single tree within the church yard and managed to get a few figs, enough to feed us until we got back to our apartment.

Would I recommend a visit to the turtle lake? Yes – but be prepared for a long walk. Bring water and some food. Also bring some bread for the turtles. You may be luckier than we were and see more of them. The lake is a project funded by the EC but it’s difficult to get any maps from the local tourist office. Try to locate the lake on google and print the map.  The locals could give you general information like “after two minutes’ drive on the main road turn right” which makes me think they haven’t been to the lake.

Visit Sarande, Albania

The name of the lovely town of Sarande has changed throughout history to reflect the influence of the different cultures in the region. Originally the name derived from a Byzantine monastery honoring the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste which later, under the Ottomans, changed to Aya Sarandi. During Venetian rule Sarande was known as Santi Quaranta only to be changed during WWII to Porto Edda in honour of Mussolini’s daughter. The name was changed again after WWII, after Albania declared independence from Italy.

Sarande is located on the Albanian Riviera and has a lovely Mediterranean climate, mild in winter, dry and hot in the summer. It’s the best cruise port to see Albanian and Greek cultures coexisting peacefully together, evident in the city’s mix of Albanian and Greek architecture.

The first stop at this quaint town should be the Forty Saints Monastery, form which the city got its name, built in honor of 40 Roman soldiers who refused to give up their religion and as a result  were sent to Siberia. The monastery was built in the 6thcentury and on two levels. Unfortunately the second level was destroyed during WWII. It is possible to see the crypt of the monastery but only with special permission from the town hall.

You might like to head out from Sarande to Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just 20km away, and on the way stop to admire beautiful views of Corfu and the Ionian Sea from the 16th century Lekursi Castle built to protect the country from invaders from the sea.

Butrint, an UNESCO site, was first mentioned as a military settlement when Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, established a port there, after defeating  Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra.  The medieval history of Butrint is marked by power battles between the rival Byzantinum, Ottomon and Venetian Empires who have all left traces of their culture on the city and made Butrint interesting to visit on ashore excursion from Sarande.

The whole area around Butrint is a National Park, protecting a huge national and cultural heritage of Ottoman and Venetian castles with Roman villas as well as unspoiled nature.

Lord Rothschild and Lord Sainsbury raised money to finance archaeological excavations at Butrint, such as the Greco-Roman theatre which is still standing but whose floor is filled with water in which turtles and fish live. Or the baptistery of a 6th century church which boasts a Roman floor mosaic of peacocks, vines, birds and wine urns as it probably originally a Roman’s private pool, the acropolis, the Greek Well of the Nymphs, the Temple of Aesculapius the city walls– but a huge proportion of the excavations have yet to be even started.

To the north of Sarande (around 90 min drive) there is a well preserved Ottoman town and  UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gjirokastra, which is worth including on a full day shore excursion from Sarande. It lay at the crossroads of several important trade routes across Europe and the Mediterranean, and was protected by the formidable Gjirokastra Castle which is nowadays a Military Museum. The town is built on a hillside and is nicknamed ‘the town of a thousand steps’ but is immensely quaint and charming, with distinctive old stone houses clustered along narrow cobbled streets.

After enjoying beautiful sea views from the top of the hill head over to City Hall to see the 5th century ruins of the Jewish community Oncheasmos which once boasted a community center, school and a synagogue. Unfortunately most of the buildings were destroyed by earthquakes and invaders but you can still see some mosaic floors with animal designs, a menorah and other Jewish symbols among the tiles.

On the whole the town of Sarande makes and ideal stop over during cruising the Mediterranean. For more information about shore excursions in Albania please email tara@readyclickandgo.com or check our website at www.ReadyClickAndGo.com

The smallest church in the world?

by Olivera Milic. Conservationist and restorer, guardian of cultural heritage in her city and her country.

In the mid-17th century, a tiny church was built in Doinovici village, near Novi Pazar in Serbia. The church, better known as Marinica, is 2.5m x 1.5m (barely 4sq/m) and is thought to be the smallest church in the world.

Legend says:

“The pasha of Novi Pazar had long prohibited the natives to have their own temple. The natives were, however, persistent in their demands and in the mid 17th century a compromise was reached. Pasha finally allowed them to build a church, but gave them three tough conditions: the church had to be located on one of the hard to access spots, it had to be small and it had to be built in one night between dusk and dawn.”

This is how the Pasha wanted to prevent believers meeting in church in large numbers, so as not to plot against Turkish authority. However, they fulfilled all three conditions and Marinica was built in just one night, under the careful surveillance of the Pasha’s dignitaries. And today it’s a rare historic gem of a place with a great story and beautiful frescos!

It’s certainly the smallest church in Serbia – but is it the smallest church in the world? Let us know.

Things to see and do in Belgrade: Visit St Sava Temple

The most photographed icon of Belgrade, St Sava Church, is centrally located and visible from every corner of Belgrade. The façade of the church, the windows and bells were finished in 2009 but inside it's still a “work in progress” which still doesn't stop you admiring its sheer size. The guide mentioned that the basement of the Church is almost the same size as the church above ground itself if not bigger. 

This place, St Sava Church, has a very important place in Serbian culture and its history. The Church is dedicated to the first Archbishop of the Serbian Church, who was born as Rastko Nemanjic, the son of the first ruler of Serbia. In his youth he decided to become a monk and was re-christened with the monastic name Sava. He later established the monasteries of Hilandar on Mount Athos in Greece and Žiča. He died in Bulgaria only for his body to be moved to Mileseva Monastery where it stayed until 1594 when the Ottoman Turks removed the remains and burned them on the Vracar hills in Belgrade - St Sava Church is built on the very same spot. 

Three hundred years after the burning of the body the idea of building a church took hold although it was put off by many wars and the communist reluctance to build a church in the middle of Belgrade. Finally permission was granted in 1985 and building started soon after.  

The church is built in the Byzantium style with the figure of the cross forming its base and a large central dome above and four semi-domes lower down, with galleries all around supported by an arcade underneath. Does that sound familiar? You might have seen this construction somewhere else in Europe?

If you have visited Istanbul and the magnificent Hagia Sofia then you'll spot its resemblance to St Sava Temple.  Istanbul (once known as Constantinople) was established by the Roman Emperor Constantine (born in Serbia) who decreed that Christianity be the main religion of the Roman Empire. Constantinople, or the New Rome, became the capital of the Byzantine Empire for more than 1000 years and today the Hagia Sophia is the best surviving example of Byzantine architecture.

St Sava Temple is the largest working Orthodox temple in the world.

For more information about day tours in Belgrade and Serbia please email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com or visit our site at www.ReadyClickAndGo.com

Will the Taj Mahal open on Friday nights?

India’s most revered monument, the Taj Mahal, is closed to visitors on Fridays as it is flanked by a functioning mosque and Fridays are the day of prayers. But plans have been announced to open up the building on these days between 7am and midday – at around US$100 per person as opposed to the usual fee of US$12. Currently the Taj Mahal is open every day except Fridays from 6am to 7pm.

The Taj Mahal hosts a festival every year between the 18th and 27th February called the Taj Mahotsav, and it takes place by the eastern gate, Shilpgram. Showcasing the region’s arts, crafts, music and folk dancing, it’s a great place for visitors to pick up great quality goods such as wood and marble carvings, pottery, brassware, carpets, jewellery, silk from Varanasi, Kashmir shawls, handmade carpets and paintings, and to enjoy the best of traditional foods from around the country.

Some historians say that the emperor Shah Jahan who built the magnificent white marble mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal which means ‘Jewel of the Palace’, also planned to build one for himself in black marble on the opposite bank of the river and have the two connected by an ornamental bridge. However, before he could do this his son declared war, deposed him and imprisoned him in a pavilion further along the river, from which he would gaze at the beautiful testimony of his love for his wife. What a sight it would have been had he completed his own planned mausoleum too!

If you are planning to be in India for just a short time, ReadyClickAndGo can arrange private one-day trips by road or train from Delhi to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal as well as the impressive Agra Fort and the inspiration for the Taj Mahal, the so-called ‘baby’ taj. Tour Agra with your own guide, car and driver by emailing Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com

Chinese New Year of the Horse

Are you always rushing around to get things done quickly? Are you flexible but stubborn? Is your lucky number 2,3 or 7? Is your colour brown and flower jasmine? You are typical of people born in the year of the Horse which starts on the 31st January this year and is celebrated for two weeks. The New Year is the most important part of the Chinese calendar and is called the “Spring Festival”.

While in the western world we celebrate Christmas mainly by eating, in China the meaning of the celebration of New Year is slightly different. They celebrate good luck and good health and as such the food on the table is different.  The Chinese eat long noodles for longevity in the coming year, dumplings typically wrapped in the shape of an ancient boat-shaped coin, and for good luck the food on the table should be red as it scares away evil spirits, so red spices are added to the food.

Preparations for the Spring Festival start seven days before the New Year when the house is cleaned from top to bottom in order to sweep away any bad luck accumulated in the past year.  Then the clean house is decorated with red lanterns, lots of flowers, especially lotus as it’s considered the flower of rebirth. Fruit bowls are dotted around the house, but there must be an even number for luck. When visiting relatives or friends you give red envelopes with money inside to encourage saving in the coming year.

It’s not a good idea to try to travel around China during the Spring Festival, it’s difficult to get seats on trains as it seems as if the whole country is on the move back home to celebrate with the family. But if you are planning a visit to China over the coming months, do check www.ReadyClickAndGo.com for a great range of private day trips and sightseeing tours in China!

Happy Chinese New Year of the Horse!

 Gong Hei Fat Choi!

Well, head to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on January 2nd 2014 between 9.30am and 2.30pm and you can see the Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince and Princess, Prince and Princess Akishino and their young daughter, at a rare public appearance at the traditional New Year Greeting.

The Imperial family will appear five times during the day, at around 10.10am, 11am, 11.50am, 1.30pm and 2.10pm, behind bullet-proof glass on the veranda of the modern Chowaden building overlooking Kyūden Tōtei Plaza. Entrance to the inner palace grounds is by joining the queues at the main gate, Nijubashi, beyond the double bridge, before 2.10pm and walking through the gardens. Thousands of visitors are expected and will cheer ‘banzai!’ – long life – as they hear the Emperor’s greeting.

Akihito has just celebrated his 80th birthday and has surprised the country by announcing details of his own funeral arrangements, a relatively modest cremation. He is the 125th Japanese emperor, and will be succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, who in turn will probably himself be succeeded by his nephew, Prince Hisahito, as he has only daughters who are not yet eligible to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne – the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world is facing a crisis in that male heirs are in short supply.

The palace was originally the Shogun’s castle, but nowadays the Imperial family live in more modern quarters on the site which is just 10 minutes’ walk from Tokyo Station. The inner palace gardens are only open to the public twice a year, at the New Year and on the Emperor’s birthday, although the public can visit the East Gardens most days of the week.  It is also possible to visit the palace grounds, tours are most weekdays at 10am and 1.30pm, last an hour and a quarter and are free of charge – more information here. 

If you would like to learn more about the imperial family and its history, the palace or its gardens, why not book your own expert Tokyo tour guide to show you the very best of the city’s sights? Prices for up to 8 hours are US$353.

Visit Taj Mahal by Moonlight - dates and trips for 2014

Visiting the Taj Mahal by Moonlight involves bureaucracy, tight security, the risk of fog in January and February and you aren’t even allowed to get very close, but the silvery gleam of the white marble and the shimmer of precious inlay stones through the darkness makes it all worthwhile.

The Taj Mahal is open at night for five nights a month when there is a full moon, and for 2 days before and 2 days after– except on Fridays when it is always closed for prayer and during the month of Ramzan (Ramadan).

You have to apply for tickets the day before you want to go, you cannot buy them for the same day. To get there you go to the Shilpgram parking lot (from the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal it’s past the Oberoi Amarvilas Hotel) between 10am and 6pm, and from where you will be collected and taken by van to the office. You will need to take your passport so that your name, date of birth, nationality and passport number will be recorded, tickets cost 750 Rupees and are not transferrable. Each evening, 400 people in 8 groups of 50 are allowed to the first platform which is about 350 metres away from the main building, for 30 minutes between 8.30pm and 12.30am, but you must get there half an hour before the time on your ticket for security checks and x-rays. You can bring binoculars and cameras but not video cameras, handbags, tripods, tobacco, matches, food or mobile phones.

Full moon dates in the 2014 are as follows, so you can apply to see the Taj Mahal by moonlight on these dates plus 2 days before and 2 days after;

15th January 2014

14th February 2014

16th March 2014

14th April 2014

14th May 2014

12th June 2014

11th Jul 2014

10th August 2014

8th September 2014

7th October 2014

6th November 2014

5th December 2014

4th January 2015

3rd February 2015

If you would like to visit the Taj Mahal by moonlight but are not able to buy tickets 24 hours in advance,ReadyClickAndGo can arrange the entry tickets for you as part of their selection of private day trips in Agra with your own guide, car and driver. If you are not staying in Agra you can book a same-day Agra tour from Delhi, and a comfortable, air-conditioned car will pick you up from your hotel in Delhi and take you to Agra where you meet your guide for the day. After exploring Agra Fort and the ‘baby taj’ you can enjoy viewing the Taj Mahal before returning to your hotel in Delhi. Email Tara Today!

Art, Wine and Honey in Novi Sad

The National Museum in Belgrade, Serbia is the largest and oldest museum in Serbia, and has over 400,000 objects including many foreign masterpieces. Unfortunately the Museum has been closed for renovations for more than five years.

If you wish to learn more about Serbian national art we at ReadyClickAndGo would suggest you visitNovi Sad, Serbia’s second city, just an hour and a half north of Belgrade along scenic country lanes, or, if you can read the Cyrillic alphabet, you can get the train, or take the bus down the motorway.

The Matica Srpska Gallery in Novi Sad is to be found in the old Stock Exchange building and it has more than 7,000 works of art, especially that from Vojvodina from the 17th centuryonwards. All the exhibits have English translations. On the ground floor are copies of the frescoes painted by Christopher Zefarovic at the Bodani Monastery in 1737, on the first floor are paintings and carvings, including precious icons from the Orthodox churches of Vojvodina. The second floor has a permanent exhibition called People andEvents, and displays pictures from 1900 to 1940 when the country was fighting for freedom and its national identity, and on the third floor are superb paintings from some of Serbia’s greatest artists, classic, romantic and realist – Constantine Daniel, Dure Jaksic, Uros Predic, Paja Jovanovic, Save Šumanović and Milan Konjovic. There are also the famous paintings ‘The Cockfight’ and ‘Wounded Montenegrins’ and one by Jovanovic for the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, a huge historical composition, ‘The Proclamation of Dusan’s Law’. The Matica Srpska Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 1000–1800, Friday 1200-2000. The entry fee is RSD200 whcih is around 2 euros. Try to visit during the week as there will no one there except you and you can have the whole place to yourself.

Next to the Gallery there is the Memorial Collection of Pavle Beljanski who was a diplomat and huge lover of art who dedicated his collection to the Serbian nation. This gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday 1000–1800 and on Thursdays from 1300- 2100. Entry is RSD300.Opposite these two galleries there is another, this time of a collector called Rajko Mamuzic who also dedicated his collection to the Serbian people – it is well worth a visit and is also free of charge.

On the way back to Belgrade we stopped at the Musuem of Bee Keeping and Wine Celler at the Zivanovic family home. We met Mr Zarko Zivanovic whose great-grandfather was a professor at the famous Karlovac grammar school but was also the founder of modern beekeeping in Serbia and a man who had a great knowledge of wine making.In the family house is a unique beekeping museum with objects you rarely see nowadays but which used to be common – such as beehives made of thin strips of dried wood woveninto a dome shape and covered in mud – very different from the beehives made today.

Extracting honey in the old days was rather hit-and-miss and of course, there were no protective clothes then either – but people did believe that beestings were good for the blood! The honey at the Zivanovic farm is very clear and thick, not runny, which shows there are no preservatives added, unlike what you get in a supermarket.

Along with beekeeping and producing high qualilty honey the Zivanovic family is at the forefront of wine production in Serbia and are winning awards, diplomas and medals at home and internationally. They own huge vineyards 200 m above sea level near the Danube on the slopes of the Fruska Gora mountain,and their wine is produced in 300-year-old cellars. Their Ausbruch wine was on the wine list on the Titanic. Their greatest secret is the old recipe, passed down through the generations, from which is prepared Bernet wine, and this Bernet was served at the Russian, English and Viennese courts right up until the First World War. Similar to Port but much stronger, it is made from natural wines with the addition of 27 different ingredients such as raisins, beans, mustard, nutmeg, vanilla and figs. If you are passing through Novi Sad visit this unique place and you won’t regret it – you can book combined visits to the museum and the wine cellar with wine and honey tastings too. As an added bonus I would recommend you try to sneak inside Mr Zivanvic’s house to meet his grandmother, a beautiful, charming lady with an unbelievable zest for life which I guess is the result of plenty of healthy honey and fine wine! For more information about day tours in Serbia and things to see and do in Serbia please email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com

CRUISING TO ROVINJ? WHAT TO SEE AND DO….

The pretty seaside resort of Rovinj is the gateway to the Croatian province of Istria, a heart-shaped peninsula in the far north of the country, and whilst it is a charming town, you should try and explore further afield too on a day tour of Istria - hilltop villages, medieval churches, vineyards, forests, orchards and olive groves and some of the finest food Croatia has to offer.

Rovinj is known as ‘the Blue Pearl of the Adriatic’, and lies at the opposite end of Croatia from Dubrovnik, the original ‘pearl’ of the Adriatic – but is in many ways much more appealing, with fewer crowds and therefore more romantic.  The narrow streets and hidden squares of this ancient and very picturesque medieval town are lined with grand, crumbling architecture of many styles from when the town was an important part of the Venetian Republic, and there are chic boutiques, galleries, tempting cafes and many churches to explore. Admire too its town walls, gates, archway and a clock tower all overlooked by the beautiful Church of St Euphemia which has wonderful views from the tower, a replica of St Mark’s in Venice, of the rooftops and distinctive chimneys and island-studded coast. It is best to simply wander with a Rovinj tour guideto appreciate the history and hidden gems.

Motovun makes for a lovely day tour in Istria. It’s one of Croatia’s most famous villages, perched on a hilltop and surrounded by its old walls along which you can walk, filled with medieval houses, churches and galleries, and gorgeous views – it’s a romantic and fairytale place! Just 500 people live here amongst the quaint alleyways and corners, the cosy stone houses, and fantastic viewpoints. It is also famous for its black and white truffles which you can enjoy on a special truffle tasting, and you can even borrow a couple of dogs and go truffle-hunting yourself!

There are many remote beauty spots in Istria that are easily discovered on a shore excursion from Rovinj. Groznjan is home to many artists who have breathed new life into the old stones of another picturesque village, and you can browse its workshops and galleries before enjoying a wine tasting at one of the local vintners. Pazin has a famous Ethnographic Museum in the once-formidable medieval castle where you can see costumes, instruments, farm implements and even an exhibition of church bells. If you are here on the first Tuesday of the month you will also be able to visit Pazin’s traditional market. At the tiny village of Beram you can see a real ‘hidden gem’, St Mary’s Church of Skrljine and its unique ‘dance of death’ fresco, if you can find the single custodian of the church key!

Instead of heading inland, follow the coast south on your day tour from Rovinj to Pula. The most famous sight in Pula is the well-preserved Arena, the 1st century Roman amphitheatre that seated 22,000 spectators at gladiatorial combats or Christians being thrown to the lions. See the Temple of Augustus at the Forum, which now houses Roman statues, and the Sergius Triumphal Arch which was built by a grieving mother for three soldier sons who died at the Battle of Actium. James Joyce wrote some of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man here, and its film festival has hosted Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Orson Wells.

North of Rovinj you can have an easy day trip to Porec, a natural harbour settled by the Romans who laid out the original street grid in the old town, including the Decumanus, the Cardo Maximus and the Marafor square which was the old Forum, with two temples. After the Romans left the town became part of the Byzantine Empire and the most splendid building in Porec was constructed during this era, the 6th century Euphrasius Basilica, whose floor and wall mosaics have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. In medieval times the town became part of the mighty Republic of Venice for 500 years, and town walls, gates, churches and palaces were built, many of which are still standing today. Between Rovinj and Porec is the Lim Fjord, although it was not created by a glacier but the river tumbling into the Adriatic. The sides are steep and covered in thick macquis and forests, the waters clear and ideal for the oyster and mussel farms that have been here since Roman times.

Then of course there are many many islands off the coast of Istria that you can discover on a small boat – keep an eye out for another blog post on these!

For  Rovinj day tours, walking tours of  Istria, Croatia day trips and shore excursions,  please check our site at www.ReadyClickAndGo.com or email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com

Things to see and do in Dubrovnik, Croatia

 Many Mediterranean cruises call at Dubrovnik, it’s one of the prettiest and well-restored towns along the Adriatic coast that can easily be explored on foot in a couple of hours. It also boasts some of the loveliest scenery dotted with picturesque villages, vineyards and churches. While most cruise ships offer a programme of coach tours you will find that even one coach-load of people can simply over-run the place, but ReadyClickAndGo can reveal into the rural charms of the region on a private shore excursion of Dubrovnik with your own guide, car and driver to meet you at your ship and take you back afterwards.

You can enjoy a wonderful day tour from Dubrovnik, to the Peljesac peninsula, a spectacular 40-mile stretch of land running north from Dubrovnik along the coast, where vines have flourished on the well-drained, sunny slopes since the time of the Greeks, and some fine wines are produced, notably the celebrated Dingac wine (also known as the King of Croatian red wines) from the plavac mali grapes which are similar to the Californian Zinfandel. Grapes are picked by hand as the terrain is so steep and rocky. Visit three of the more prominent local cellars for wine tastings with your guide who is a WSET Diploma Holder/Certified wine educator and certified sommelier and you can enjoy a superb gourmet lunch at the ancient fortified town of Ston.

Ston itself is well worth a visit on a day tour from Dubrovnik, its low white stone houses nestling in a sheltered bay, almost completely encircled by a wall that snakes over the surrounding hillsides rather like a miniature version of the Great Wall of China. It’s famous for its oysters and mussels which you can also taste, and for its salt pans which produced the region’s most profitable export for a thousand years.

Closer to Dubrovnik and on the way to Ston and Peljesac is Croatia’s oldest arboretum, Trstena, a delightful exotic garden overlooking the coast, and your day tour from Dubrovnik can also include a visit to the Franciscan Monastery in Kuna where you can see paintings by a famous artist from the village.

Heading in the opposite direction is the region of Konavle, a region of hills covered in mulberry and cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves. A typical day trip from Dubrovnik features a local vineyard to taste some of their wines and homemade snacks, a visit to a 15th century Franciscan monastery at the village of Pridvorje and a tour of Cavtat, a tiny medieval town on the coast with pine forests behind and the glittering blue sea on front, stone houses and red roofs, cobbled streets and colourful window boxes – a real hidden gem of the Mediterranean. Edward & Mrs Simpson spent part of their honeymoon here.

So for a romantic shore excursion in Dubrovnik email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com with your date of arrival, and whether you’d like to visit gardens, go wine tasting, sample local delicacies or shop for traditional specialities, and we’ll be happy to suggest the best day tours in or around Dubrovnik for you.

CRUISING TO SPLIT – WHAT TO SEE AND DO?

Did you know that the name Split derives from the shrub in the local area called spiny broom. When the city became part of the Roman Empire the Latin name of the city became Spalatum.

Split was a Greek colony well before the Romans come to this part of the world and built the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian as a retirement home for the Roman Emperor Diocletian who was the first one to voluntarily retire from politics. In later years the town of Split grew around the palace and was independent before it was conquered by the Venetians in 1420. After that Spilt followed the historic path so common for this area and changed hands between the Austrians, French, Italians and Germans. Today Split is part of Croatia and a UNESCO site since 1979. Beyond the usual walking tour of Split is there anything else you could visit?

Every guide book suggests visiting the beach at Bacvice but I would go to Kastel which combines 7 little villages ( Kastel Stafilic, Kastel Novi, Kastel Stari, Kastel Luksic, Kastel Kambelovac, Kastel Gomilica, Kastel Sucurac) to the north of Split towards the airport. If you stay in one of picturesque villages in Kastel you will avoid all the hustle of Split especially during the hot summer months. Also there is a very good local bus connection between each village and Split and the journey takes you 30 min. The villages are so close to each other that you can actually walk by following the coastline and have an occasional swim.

Most guide books suggest that you while you are in Split you should visit Dubrovnik and have a tour to Montenegro.I would suggest you visit Trogir, a little gem of a place which is kind of forgoton. It’s a UNESCO site too and has a large concentration of palaces, churches and towers, not to mention a well-preserved historical city core with city gate and city walls. Trogir shares the airport with Split which is situated near Kastel Stafilic only 5 km from Trogir. Again there is a very good local bus connection between Split and Trogir, just a 10 min drive.

One of the hardest questions you face in Croatia is which island to see, and I am sure after you have done your homework you are thinking of visiting either Brac or Hvar.  Both islands are very conveniently located to Split  – only 50 min on a ferry  to Brac (Supetar) and to Hvar 55 min! Both islands are stunning with lots of beaches, nice food and excellent weather. They can get over- crowded and busy! I would go a little bit further and visit the furthest island off the Croatian coast – Vis. The ferry journey lasts 2 hours and 20 minutes. Vis covers an area of only 90 sq/km but the people of Vis are very energetic as they managed to sponsor their own colonies and have their own money in the past! Today Vis is a sleepy island with the main industry being tourism and wine!  Also the sea around Vis is well known for fish especially blue fish.

If you get bored of the sea I would suggest heading inland on a day tour to Mostar in Bosnia Herzegovina. Did you know that Bosnia has a small coastline of 26 km (16 miles) which you can enter on the way to visit Mostar? The drive is only 2 and a half hours and you will need to take your passport with you. Once you are in Mostar the blend, the mixture of different cultures is so vivid through Ottoman and Dalamatian houses or Italian Franciscan and Orthodox churches not to mention one of the most famous pieces of Islamic architecture in this part of the world – Stari Most or the old Bridge.

Or enjoy a tour from Split to Medjugorje, a small village in Bosnia where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a group of local children – you can walk up Apparition Hill, visit the church and enjoy the lovely landscapes around.

On the way from Split to Mostar I would suggest you have a lunch stop at the small and very proud place called Sinj which was under Turkish influence until 1686 when it was occupied by the Venetians. The last Turkish attempt to get the city was in 1715 which wasn’t successful. The local population was grateful to the Virgin Mary who helped them to defend themselves against the Turks, and her miraculous images can be seen in the local Franciscan monastery. If you are travelling on the first Sunday of August from Split to Mostar I would suggest you visit Sinj when the Tilters Tournament takes place that commemorates the victory over Turkish army in 1715. The tilters, dressed in costumes, ride on horseback trying to hit a small ring hanging from a wire.

You can visit Plitvice Lake in a day tour from Split but have you heard of  Krka National Park and its beauty? It’s like a mini-Plitvice but much closer at only 1 hour and 20 min drive from Split and you can visit seven waterfalls, a medieval fortress, water mills, the Visovac Monastery (Roman Catholic Church ) and the Monastery Krka (Serbian Orthodox Church).

Lots to see nearby! For Plitvice Lakes day tours, walking tours of Split, Croatia day trips and shore excursions,  please check our site at www.ReadyClickAndGo.com or email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com