April, 2010: GET ARCHITECTS

It’s not easy to find new superlatives to describe Italy and its people. The magnificent countryside, the warm and spontaneous hospitality of its people, the cuisine, its history and culture, are all rightly world-famous. There is though, a way to enjoy all of these things to the fullest extent possible – and that’s by taking a walking in Italy holiday.

Escaping to Italy

“A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority”

The above saying is attributed to Dr Samuel Johnson in the 18th century. It’s hard not to feel that there’s some truth in this because Italy has so much to offer as a holiday destination.

Firstly, there are the cities – the homes of stunning architecture, history and art. Whenever people are asked about famous architecture to see in the world, you can be sure that names such as Venice, Pisa, Rome and Florence will all come to mind.

Then there is the countryside with its mountains, hills, valleys, vineyards, coastline, beaches, islands and of course, even volcanoes!

Italy is also famous for its gastronomy. Italian food, if well prepared, is simply breathtaking and many experts (and not just the Italian ones!) argue that Italian cuisine stands easily on a par with that of the French.

Add to this the Italian people themselves and what more could you ask for in a holiday?

Modern tourism in Italy

Italy was one of the modern world’s first mass-tourism markets and was developed as such in the 1950s and 1960s. This brought significant prosperity to some parts of Italy but as always, with it came the challenges of crowds and a certain degree of ‘internationalisation’ that is common in many beautiful tourist destinations. Today, finding the ‘real Italy’ is still possible – even at the very centre of some of its most popular destinations. One way to achieve this, is through a walking in Italy holiday.

Walking in Italy – Experiencing Life

There are two main reasons why you may want to consider such a holiday:

•You just like walking and exploring on foot.

•You want to get off the usual routes and get in closer touch with Italy and the Italians.

If you’re not familiar with walking holidays, let’s deal with one misperception – they are NOT geared up for supermen/women. There is a very large range of such holidays that are available and will suit all fitness ranges and interests. Many are very gentle and undemanding and certainly suitable for the more mature holidaymaker. Guided walks are a great way of getting away from the worst of the crowds and those overly familiar tourist itineraries. You have the opportunity, for example, to explore isolated coastal paths or hidden coves.

Perhaps you’re more interested in mountaintop villages where you can be dropped a comfortable distance from your destination and from there continue on foot, experiencing the country as you go.

If you enjoy Italian wine, you may like to explore some vineyards under the expert eye of your tour leader who can explain in detail all those things that conventional tourists just don’t have the time to see and hear.

Even in the city centres, walking from one site to another and using your tour leader’s knowledge to arrive at the best times, will help you see and understand far more than may be possible from the windows of a coach. Walking in Italy can help you see the country as Italians see it.

Walking in Italy – an experience but also a holiday

The modern Italian walking holiday doesn’t assume you’re still a teenage back-packer that is happy roughing it. The range of holidays varies, but the accommodation and facilities provided will always be gauged from comfortable right up to luxurious if that’s what you want. Breaks are available from just a few days right up to a few weeks. They can be centred on one concept, such as coastal explorations in Sicily, or you can take split holidays that involve a week of walks in the countryside around Vesuvius and Pompeii, combined with a few days walking around one (or more) of the great cities.

Walking in Italy can be a joy when the guided walks are undertaken with a good tour leader and in a well-planned environment. Have fun!

Why go on a walking in Greece holiday? Quite simply, it’s a chance to escape to a world that many of us thought only existed in our dreams – until we visited Greece!

Greece and the Greeks

Even people that proclaim they know nothing of even their own history probably have heard some of the echoes of Greek history ringing down through the ages. The 300 Spartans, Mount Olympus and the Gods, The Trojan War, great architecture, art, literature and science – all these often come to mind when the word ‘Greece’ is mentioned.

More recently, Greece has also become associated with marvellous holiday opportunities through its beaches, crystal clear waters, marvellous historical sites, great food and fabulous people. There are so many destinations on both the mainland and islands of Greece that it’s hard to know where to start first in terms of choosing a destination. Yet one thing should be clear from the outset; while you’re in Greece you’ll want to get the most out of your experience.

Walking in Greece – Getting the Most Out of Your Holiday

The majority of tourists to Greece tend to visit a relatively small number of main centres. Their holiday is usually based around a major resort, typically on a beach and there may be a few short day-trips by coach to see some sights. There’s nothing wrong with that at all but, if you’re interested in seeing a little more of the “real” Greece and a little less of the pool and beach, a walking in Greece holiday may be for you.

These holidays are taken in many parts of Greece including the Peloponnese, Samos, Crete, Rhodes and other locations. There are guided walks under the supervision of an expert and well-qualified tour leader and you’ll get the chance to see rural Greece at its best, or the wildlife of some of the more the remote parts of the countryside. You’ll come across isolated bays and inlets or mountain villages – places that most tourists will never see.

If that’s not appealing enough, then some of Greece’s best-kept historical secrets are far more easily reached on foot than by coach or car. You may even get to Delphi and ask the Oracle what the future holds for you! To see large parts of Greece, your own feet are often the very best way to get there – and you’ll see far more en-route in so doing.

Walks for All Tastes

Don’t worry, unlike Pheidippides who ran 26 miles after the battle of Marathon in 490BC to bring Athens news of their great victory over the Persians, you won’t have to push yourself too hard! There are plenty of holidays to choose from and many are specifically arranged to allow a gentle pace for people to explore at leisure.

Walking in Greece holidays also cater for the modern tourist’s demands for comfort.

Your guided walk accommodation and daily itineraries have been provided to ensure that you don’t get too stretched and are able to relax in civilised and pleasant surroundings at the end of the day. Your tour leader is there not only to act as an expert in helping you see all that there is to see, but also to ensure that you’re being well looked after in terms of creature comforts.

Guided Walks in Greece – Not Just for the Countryside

If you’ve ever visited a major city overseas, you may have found it a good but possibly a very tiring and even intimidating experience. That’s why there are also walking in Greece holidays that include walks around Athens and other major urban areas to admire at the art, history and architecture under the helpful eye of an experienced tour leader. You won’t get lost and you won’t miss anything important.

The Walking Holiday – a Growing Phenomenon

As people increasingly recognise the benefits of exercise, walking holidays are booming. Lying around all day eating and drinking is becoming less fashionable – and perhaps for good reason. So walking in Greece may be not only be very enjoyable, but possibly better for your health than a conventional break!

Overlooking Timor Sea in Australia’s northern coastline is Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory. Darwin has a permanent population of around 110,000 people, but really comes alive during the Dry Season when the tourists flock to the city. Because of Darwin’s warm weather and tropical climate, the nightclubs and hotels are buzzing with activity each night as the people enjoy a relaxed outdoor lifestyle. If you want to experience some true Australian cuisine then make sure you try Kangaroo, Barramundi and Mud Crabs, or for the real experience try some Buffalo or Crocodile.

On the 19th of February 1942, the Japanese raided Darwin with 188 planes attacking the city, dropping more bombs than were dropped on Pearl Harbour. Along with the 15,000 Allied soldiers that were based in Darwin at the time to support the war, there were also 2,000 permanent residents, down from its original 5,000 due to the war. Darwin came under attack another 58 times during 1942 and 1943, but none were as devastating as the original attack. Today you can still see remnants around the city from World War 2.

With Darwin being so far north in Australia, it has 2 very distinct seasons, one being Wet, and the other being Dry. The dry season tends to run from April/May through to October, with the wet season seeing most of the rain fall between December and March. Darwin sees very little rain falling between May and September, and come November the days become very hot and humid in the build up to the wet season. Don’t be put off from Darwin in the wet season though as the days are warm and the stunning waterfalls and rivers are at their best in the Kakadu National Park.

Darwin is a good base to explore the Top End of Australia with good access to the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park, Litchfield and Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Parks, the Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land. Try your hand at fishing for Barramundi with one of the many tour charters from Darwin, or experience the crocodiles out in their wild habitat on one of the jumping crocodile tours on the Adelaide River. Head to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and watch the sunset over the ocean, and afterwards have dinner from an array of food stalls while looking over the arts and crafts from local artists.

There are many other attractions in Darwin, with some of them being:

- Crocodylus Park is a crocodile museum displaying everything you need to know about the Crocodile. There are breeding and rearing crocodile pens, plus many other animals on display such as lizards, snakes, wombats, dingoes, birds and buffalo.

- Visit Acquascene at Doctor’s Gully to witness the fish feeding frenzy. At particular times during the day when the tides are right, wild fish come in to be fed.

- Darwin Crocodile Farm is a breeding ground for crocodiles to be farmed for their skins as the leather is highly durable and unique with its individual patterning. The crocodile farm is also open to tourists, with the best time to visit being feeding time.

- The Territory Wildlife Park is a 400 hectare open range sanctuary situated 56kms outside of Darwin. It is on natural bushland and contains animals and plants native to the Northern Territory, including an aviary, an aquarium, natural lagoons and a nocturnal house.

- Majestic Orchids houses Australia’s largest tropical orchid farm, set across 2 hectares and with over 300,000 blooms.

- Windows on the Wetlands is on the Arnhem highway overlooking the Adelaide River floodplains. It offers spectacular views across the Top End Wetlands, with the Wet Season the floodplains are under water, and the Dry Season they are baked in the sunlight.

- The Darwin Wharf Precinct is a great place to relax and enjoy your dinner at a restaurant overlooking the water. There are also tours that go through old World War 2 tunnels.

- Operating over the Dry Season, the Deckchair Cinema overlooks Darwin Harbour creating a stunning backdrop to enjoy a glass of wine and watch a movie.

- The Myilly Point Heritage Precinct is made up of 4 houses set in their original location and are perfect examples of pre World War 2 Darwin architecture.

- The Darwin Botanic Gardens have displays of orchids that thrive in the humid conditions, along with baobab trees, palms and mangroves.