What to do in and around Tbilisi

Always looking for a place that’s a little bit different and where relatively few travellers wander, we decided on Georgia, starting with the capital Tbilisi. Georgia the country, not the US state, that is! A former state of the Soviet Union it has a decidedly Russian, east bloc-esque kind of feel about it. But in many other ways, it is very decidedly not so. This country is an enigma!  On November 14, 1990, the republic was renamed the Republic of Georgia. It subsequently became independent before the dissolution of the Soviet Union on April 9, 1991. You really need to explore, observe, see and feel it. The views will not disappoint and neither will the people along with their warm hospitality. Georgians are a very proud and nationalistic people who treat foreigners with respect and courtesy.

View of Tbilisi

Escape from Quito to experience the countryside

Sierra Alisos is a unique and picturesque hacienda in Tambillo, in the foothills of Mount Atacazo, and only a 50-minute car-ride away from Ecuador’s busy capital Quito. It gets its name from the native Aliso (or Alder) forest that surrounds the secluded area which it’s in. We decided to get away from the hustle and bustle for a weekend, and we were absolutely delighted with our experience.  Alex and I had briefly visited the hacienda a year ago and were so impressed that we vowed to come back … and so a year later, we did!

Sierra Alisos and its beautiful surrounds.

Discover some hidden parts of Turkey and Cyprus

Turkey was going through some tough political times whilst we were there. Whilst we were in central Anatolia, amongst the infamous fairy peaks of Cappadocia, we heard that there had been a military coup. There has also been a bombing at the Istanbul Airport recently which meant that we kind of had Cappadocia to ourselves! Great for us but not so good for the locals or for tourism. Hot air-ballooning, exploring, hiking, weaving in and out of houses that looked like they had once belonged to regal fairies were part of our daily routine for a week or so. We met great people and made lots of new friends.

The wild horses run through the fairy peaks of Cappadocia, Turkey.

Time to Dance Samba in Encarnación

Encarnación. Where’s that? What, there’s a carnival there? Isn’t that in Brazil? Many people have heard about, and some have even been, to the infamous ‘carnavales’, or carnivals all over Brazil. I mean, who hasn’t heard of the revelling that goes on in Rio de Janeiro? Just the word conjures up bronzed bodies, minimal clothing, glittery bits barely covering up what needs to be covered up, loud music and lots of raucous partying. Oh, and probably the consumption of way too much alcohol. But I will let you in on a secret … Brazil’s not the only place that holds the yearly Carnival celebrations. We had the opportunity to see Carnival … Paraguayan style. Oh yes, this ubiquitous South American country, which few know about and fewer have been to, holds a pretty impressive show. Just ask us. We went!…

8 amazing days on one of the remotest places on earth!

First up and off the bat, I will refer to Easter Island as Rapa Nui. It is both the original and indigenous name of the island as well as the name preferred and used by the locals. It also honours the original owners of the land.

Where is it?

Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, has a surface area of only 163.6 square kilometres (63.2 square miles) and is part of Polynesia. It was christened by the Dutch who arrived here in 1722 and was annexed by Chile in the late 19th century. More than 3700 kilometres from Santiago on continental Chile and some 4200 kilometres from Tahiti it is one of the remotest inhabited islands on earth.  Along with New Zealand, and Hawaii this island forms part of the triangle in which lie the Polynesian Islands. The first people came to Rapa Nui around 300–400AD.

Ahu Tongariki