Lifestyles of the rich and famous. I didn’t have a lot of time here so I decided to check out the scene at the Nikki Beach Club. Some say this club is past its prime. However, it didn’t disappoint for people watching. The open air concept is fully embraced with outdoor everything. If you are not familiar with Nikki Beach, it’s a luxury beach club concept that combines the elements of music, dining, entertainment, fashion, film and art into one. It has several clubs in prime weather locations around the world.
So, Marbella has a lot more to offer than just a scene like Nikki Beach, however my time was limited here do to my own poor planning. More coming as I spend the autumn in the Mediterranean area. Hope to report soon.
Nida is a small, very low key resort town on the spit of land Neringa, on the Baltic Sea. This idyllic little place is home to only 4 thousand people. It was an old fishing village and retains much of that character today. It’s a time capsule in some ways, one is that the children you see riding their bikes, playing ball, or otherwise things kids do, are almost totally devoid of any electronic devices. The forests you walk through on the way to the beach smell so fragrant with that “woodsy” smell. No need to lock your doors as crime is non-existent.
In a few days I will head to the Mediterranean for warmer waters and a whole different food experience.
This town is as charming as they get. With a population of approximately 650 thousand people it feels much like a lot of other western European capitals. It abounds with museums, art, shopping, restaurants, cafes, and tavernas. There are many fabulous hotels as well. It is very walkable and in summer the daylight is abundant, not getting dark until around 11PM. The city’s renaissance began just after its liberation from Russia in 1991, and it is still underway. It is evident in the numerous architectural restorations throughout the city, as well as the condition of most of its infrastructure. The streets are almost entirely made of cobblestone.
After a 5 night visit to Vilnius, I will head west across the country to the little resort town of Nida, located on the UNESCO designated island of Neringa, on the Baltic Sea. See you there.
Instead of flying back to the States this time, and since I had the time, I decided to sail back on the Seabourn Pursuit. The Newly built Pursuit is specifically designed as an expedition ship. It was coming to Lisbon from its construction shipyard in Genoa, Italy and being re-positioned to Antarctica. I decided to check it out for a possible future expedition. It has only 120 guest suites, 24 Zodiacs for exploration, two small submarines, and amazing high-tech capabilities. So, with only a one day stop in Madeira, then non-stop to Florida the entire voyage would take only 12 days. As a not so incidental benefit of this choice of transportation, not only would I gain an hour of sleep every other night going across the Atlantic, but I would suffer no jet lag when I got to my final destination in the States.
Lisbon is the last stop for me before I set sail for home in the States. Portugal is great. It’s eclectic, beautiful, old, new, and everything in between. The weather was perfect. The hotel I chose was in a great location just off the Avenue da Liberdade. Very walk friendly city, especially if you don’t mind hills. Lot’s of them here. Uber cars also work great.
Syros has a lot going for it. It is the capital of the Cyclade Islands. The architecture is Venetian in style. There are plenty of art galleries, as well as music. The beaches are great, and as always, the restaurant, tavernas, and bars are as well. Some beaches are quiet and off the beaten path, while others are full service and popular. While there is a small airport with infrequent flights, the primary choice of transportation is the inter-island ferry. The ferry from mainland Greece is just under 2 hours in duration. If there was one island of the many Greece Islands which I have visited over the years where I would want to spend a significant amount of time, this one is it. I could live here for months on end.
My next stop is Lisbon, Portugal. Until then, safe travels wherever you go.
Naxos is a charming island in the Cyclade Islands to the south of the Greek mainland. It is a large island with great beaches, mountain villages, and ancient ruins. A rental car is necessary for seeing much of what this island has to offer. The people are very friendly and welcoming. It’s quite a family friendly place too. The feel of this place is “unresorty” and non-touristic. Rather it feels normal and non-exclusive. The other thing I noticed about this part of Europe is that nearly everyone smokes or vapes. It seems so European. Almost makes me want an after dinner cigarette. When I look around, it looks like a very pleasant experience.
I chartered a catamaran in September in order to explore some of the Ionian Islands. Since I wasn’t entirely confident in my level of sailing expertise, I also enjoyed the company of a Greek captain and his lovely Turkish wife. She was acting as our hostess. She did some light cooking too. They, and the few friends who were joining me for this charter, made for a pretty magical time together. It was the perfect vessel for sailing from island to island and otherwise enjoying this scenically beautiful area. The Ionian Islands are just off the western coast of the Greek mainland. Daytime temperatures were in the mid 80s (or 30 degrees celsius). Nightime temperatures range from 72-78 degrees. The sea is a refreshing 80 degrees. We were in the water several time a day. The places we chose to visit are largely frequented by Greek tourists, rather than drawing a more international crowd. Consequently, these places are much less touristic and this results in a more intimate experience at every point.
When the time on the catamaran is done we all part company. I will be headed to spend some time in the islands to the south of the Greek mainland known as the Cyclades. Until then, keep exploring.
This was a great choice to visit. It’s on the Dalmatian Coast in the Adriatic Sea. The city was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979 in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town. The city dates back to the 7th century. In 1991 it was besieged by the Yugoslav People’s Army for 7 months and suffered significant damage from bombings and shellings (See image below).
This is one stunningly beautiful place in the Balkans. It’s bordered by Serbia and Bosnia, and Kosovo to the east. Kotor was founded in the 5th century. The old city was built in 12th to m14th centuries. The protected walls lead up the the fortress of Saint Ivan. Kotor is on the World Heritage list.
Perast
Perast is a tiny village about a 30 minute ride from Kotor. It’s right on the water and a great place to grab lunch. There is some fishing here, but not a lot more to do.