Stonehenge: A Global Icon

Thousands of people gathered in countryside of southern England on this summer solstice to watch the sunrise at Stonehenge. Every year, nearly a million people visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site to see the monument, learn more about its past and try to understand its mysteries. Roman coins and other objects found at the site suggest Stonehenge may have been considered a tourist attraction as early as the Roman period. Medieval people visited the site and described it as one of the “wonders of the world”.

My "vintage" photo of Stonehenge, taken just a few weeks ago.

The Wish You Were Here! exhibition at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre examines the history of Stonehenge as a tourist attraction and global icon. Stonehenge memorabilia from the past 200 years coming from the personal collection of archaeologist, Julian Richards, as well as items on loan from Wiltshire Museum and The Salisbury Museum, are on display until March 2016. Here are just a few of the memorabilia:

Top 5 Beaches in Mykonos

by Laura Bianchini

Mykonos in Greece has over 20 gorgeous beaches and to highlight the best is a real challenge! Yoga Escapes has been hosting yoga retreats in Mykonos for years now and have had the pleasure to visit most of the beaches on the Greek Island of Mykonos. They’ll be happy to take you around and show you the best ones to fit your mood. There’s one for everyone – it just depends what you’re looking for. Many of them are organized with sunbeds and umbrellas, beach bars, restaurants and water sports, and many of those are found on the southern coast. But if you venture a little further away, you’ll find the less touristy beaches, each one unique and beautiful in its own way.

Here are the Top 5 Beautiful Beaches in Mykonos, Greece, each with their own style and vibe, catering to a specific crowd:

Top 4 Things to See in Crete

by Laura Bianchini

Crete is bathed with sunshine and warm weather for many months of the year, making it the perfect place to visit especially in May and October, when it’s not too crowded and it still feels like summer. The temperature at that time is warm enough to go swimming and have dinner in the lovely outdoor squares, but not too hot to be unbearable – and the perfect time to enjoy a luxury yoga retreat. The largest of the Greek islands, Crete is full of beautiful beaches, amazing historic sites, breathtaking gorges and charming fishing villages.

Here are the 4 Must-See Places in Crete recommended by people who know the island well and love going back every year:

Adventures in Ireland

Here's a little travel eye candy to inspire an Ireland adventure. You can explore the best of Ireland while staying in guest houses, boutique hotels, B&B and self-catering accommodation. For the ultimate adventure, you can even stay in a castle! 

"Awaken your spirit to adventure;

Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;

Soon you will be home in a new rhythm

For your soul senses the world that awaits you."

~ John O'Donahue

Villa Bramasole: Tuscany Under the Sun

“It’s market day in Cortona. The piazza is an ongoing party and everyone is invited. Clichés converge at this navel of the world. You almost want to laugh but you can’t help feeling these Italians know more about having fun than we do. I eat a hot grape from the market, and the violet sweetness breaks open in my mouth. It even smells purple. I wish I could stay here longer, but the bell reminds me of time. ‘Ding-dang-dong,’ the bell says, instead of ‘ding-dong.’ I wish you were here.” 
~From the 2003 movie, Under the Tuscan Sun

This week I had the privilege to visit Cortona, an ancient hilltop village in Tuscany with beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets, vibrant public squares and spectacular views of olive groves and vineyards terracing to the valley below. One of the oldest settlements in Italy, Cortona is known to have been a city of the ancient Etruscan civilization and later became a Roman colony. It is one of the best preserved historical centers in Italy.

Cortona is surrounded by Etruscan walls, around 3000 years old.

Reflections of Venice

Love Locks On The Grand Canal

The Ponte dell'Accademia is one of only four bridges in Venice, Italy, to span the Grand Canal. It crosses near the southern end of the canal, and is named for the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. Above, starry-eyed lovers placed padlocks on the bridge, a phenomenon started from a scene in Federico Moccia's 2006 novel, I Want You. Couples write their names on the padlocks, swearing eternal love, and throw the keys into the canal.

Rocca Sforzesca di Soncino

The Rocca of Soncino, a small town in the province of Cremona, is a typical medieval fortress of the 15th century. It has four towers and under one of them there is a "secret" passage to escape in the countryside. Built in 1473-1475 by the Sforza family, nobles who ruled Milan after the Visconti, it was sieged by the French army in 1522. It has been chosen as set for movies like Ladyhawke and Il mestiere delle armi.