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3 days in Muscat, capital city of Oman

Muscat is an amazing city! It is Middle East’s best-kept secret. It is located on the Oman Gulf at the Arabian Sea and surrounded by the rocky Western Al Hajar Mountains. A city which will become the top travel destination soon (or maybe it already is…) What makes it so special ? Muscat is considered as one of the smallest capitals in the world, but this relatively small city has a lot to offer. The Omani culture and history, architecture, beautiful sandy beaches along the Arabian Sea, mountains, delicious food, local markets, amazing people (some even claim that the Omanis are the most hospitable people on earth !). There is so much to see there. Oman advertises its natural beauty with the following campaign: ‘Beauty has an address – Oman’.

Volunteering for FNPF Nusa Penida, Indonesia

“If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
. . . I’m starting with the man in the mirror”

We took those words seriously and decided that next family holiday will be the one to ” give back” a bit of what we have and make a difference.
This year vacation was not only fun but a bit of “work” as well. Thanks to FNPF (Friends Of The National Parks Foundation) this experience was amazing and unforgettable. Friends of the National Park Foundation (FNPF) is an Indonesian conservation not-profit organization working to protect wildlife and its habitat, at supporting local communities.
FNPF’s primary wildlife focus on Nusa Penida is protection and rebuilding wild populations of endangered Indonesian birds such as Bali Starling (Bali’s emblem bird),Java Sparrow and Cockatoo. Bali Starling is (or maybe was) listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. It is one of the rarest living bird’s in the world !

Hiking in the Graian Alps, Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso, Aosta, Italy

Gran Paradiso National Park (Italian: Parco nazionale del Gran Paradiso) is located in northern Italy, between Aosta Valley and Piedmont region, at the border with France. It was the first national park established in Italy. A land of beautiful mountains, endless woodlands and rich wildlife. It is named after Gran Paradiso mountain (4061m) located in the middle of the park.

The 15 Best Snorkeling Destinations in Europe

There are amazing snorkeling places around the globe. I am aware of this. I have seen lots of them on TV. But not everyone can afford a trip to Belize, Maldives, Palau, Virgin Islands and the like. The old continent offers also great snorkeling places where the natural beauty, marine life and crystal clear water is comparable to world’s top snorkeling destinations.
Here is a guide for travelers to the best places for snorkeling in Europe. I am a snorkeling freak and have explored myself the majority of snorkeling spots included in this list. Feel free to comment on this post and include your own suggestions.

Discovering Sicily. From Catania to Palermo.

Sicily (Italian: Sicilia) is the largest and the most attractive island in the Mediterranean Sea. This beautiful island is a mixture of natural beauty, history, amazing islands, top beaches, lovely towns, tradition and delicious gastronomy.
If you are looking for a place for an active honeymoon then Sicily should be your choice and if you want to do it with style just look for villa rentals in Sicily and let the time pass very slow…

Ski Holiday Hasliberg, Reka Holiday Village, Switzerland

Ski Resort Meiringen-Hasliberg is one of the best and most family friendly ski resorts in the Bernese Oberland. It is located 50km from Luzern and 80km from the capital Bern. With 60km ski slopes, 13 lifts, 2 toboggan runs, 15km classic cross-country ski-runs, 25km winter hiking trails and several child lift it is a great winter destination for everyone.
Detailed info about the Meiringen-Hasliberg ski resort can be found HERE

Romuald Koperski – Solo Rowing Journey Across the Atlantic in 77 days

Polish adventurer Romuald Koperski completed his solo rowing journey across the Atlantic Ocean. After setting off from Las Galletas (Canary Islands, Spain) on 31st October in his one-man rowing boat Pianista (Pianist) he arrived on 16th January at Scarborough harbour in Tobago, an autonomous island within the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
This route followed the historical trail of medieval sailing ships that were travelling from Europe to America in the past.
According to The Ocean Rowing Society he became 121st person ever to complete a solo rowing journey across the Atlantic from East to West. He is also the first Polish adventurer to row any ocean and the second Polish to complete a solo trip across any ocean. First Polish adventurer who completed solo journey across the Atlantic Ocean was kayaker Aleksander Doba who did it twice (2010 and 2013) and was named in 2014 Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic.

Santa and Reindeers on holidays, France 2016

Where does Santa Claus and his reindeer spend holiday after the busy Christmas time before hitting the road again? Some would say in his residence (Santa Claus Village) at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland, some would say at the North Pole… It may be true of course but we found Santa Claus in France.

Saint Petersburg, Russia 2016

Why visit Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) ?
First of all: it is in Russia which already makes the trip interesting. The city gained also some interesting Nicknames such as “The City on 101 Islands”,“The Northern Capital of Russia”, “The Venice of the North” or “The Palmyra of the North”.
It is the most Northern city in the world with a population over 1 million. It has one of the biggest museums in the world: The Hermitage Museum. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg is the second biggest UNSECO World Heritage Site (after Venice). With it’s amazing churches and cathedrals, museums, parks, imperial buildings, historical sights, houndreds of canals, vicinity of Lake Ladoga and Finland it is certainly one of the most interesting city to visit in Europe.