Agia Napa: Luxury in the Balkans

Agia Napa is the most happening place in Cyprus. When summer rolls around this is the place to be. Once a sleepy fishing village, it's hard to imagine Agia Napa as anything but party-central and resort capital. Since the 1970s, this place has exploded as a popular tourist destination and the locals, with a booming economy, aren't complaining (for the most part).

For the cultured traveller, this place is like a bad beach holiday gone wrong with a good dose of kitsch in there too. Bars that look like giant sand castles, nightclubs with sleazy names and no dress code. There are few places in the world where you can walk around and even eat at a restaurant with no top on and this is one of them.

High season (July and August) come at a high price. It's often hard to find accommodation unless you book months in advance. But for travellers who appreciate a little luxury but without crowds of booze-heads and party animals from the UK and Germany, then Agia Napa in the off-season is where it's at. Just think, by the end of August the summer rush is over, the sun and sea are still hot and you can enjoy 4 star hotels at a fraction of the price. What else do you need to convince you to grab those cheap flights to Cyprus now?

Spend you September lounging on Nissi Beach, the most popular beach for its long shore and shallow waters. Just 2km from the city centre, it's a short cycle or scooter ride away. Take advantage of the end of the season sales and live it up large on Agia Napa this autumn.

What's the most luxurious destination you've ever been?

Where are the cheapest resorts in the Balkans?

Backpacking is cool but it's not for everyone. Somehow when people think about travelling through the Balkans images of hippy hikers comes to mind, hitch-hiking around and living on a dime. People, budget holidays don't always have to mean lacking in lustre and luxury. Backpacking has its pros and its total cons and we also like to book an all-inclusive jaunt every once in a while. 

Where to go for cheap?

The UK Post Office surveyed almost 40 countries around the world to calculate the cost of holidays. While European hotspots like Portugal and Spain took the top spots, followed by the Czech Republic, the fourth spot belongs to a Balkan country, Bulgaria. The study took into consideration the price of eight regular tourist items including suncream, dinner for two, a cup of coffee, etc.

When choosing a holiday destination on a budget, you should know how much it's going to cost to stay there, on a day to day basis. On top of that, you have to find the cheapest flights, this is where you can really save a lot. If you're thinking of the Balkans, then Bulgaria is the place to go this year if you want to see your pound stretch a little bit further. 

For trips to the seaside, look for hotels and flights to Varna or Burgas, the two biggest cities along the coast of the Black Sea.


For more information check out the Holiday Costs Barometre.

Macedonian monasteries: Sveti Naum

As one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Macedonia, you'd think we'd have covered this one already. Sveti Naum, near the Albanian border, is magnificent. Its grounds with its peacocks, Lake Ohrid, the beautiful 17th c. church, the hotel... The entire region is rich in monasteries, churches and caves.

The original church was built in 900 by St. Naum himself (who is buried there). Legend says that if you put your ear to his tomb, you can still hear his heart beat. His sweat and blood are what made this beautiful site possible. From the monastery grounds, you can see the Albanian town of Pogradec on the other side of the lake on a clear day.

Admission to the Church of Sveti Naum: 100MKD (approx. £1.45)

Other churches and monasteries in the area include: 

• Church of St. Sofia
• Church of St. Bogorodica Perivlepta
• St. Clement's monastery
• Church of St. Nicholas Bolnicki
• Church of St. Dimitry
• Church of the Holy Mother

There are, because of the landscape, some churches located in caves as well. St. Erasmo, St. Stefan and St. Bogorodica all built churches in the cave system nearby. In most the frescos painted right on to the ceilings of the caves have been preserved but the caves themselves went through numerous reconstructions during their existence. Archaeologists estimate that they date back as far at the beginning of the 13th c. and were used by small groups of monks looking for solitude and peace for prayer.

Reaching the beautiful Lake Ohrid is easy. There is an airport 9 km from the town and is used by the following airlines: Ada Air, Balkan Airlines, Adria Airways, MAT, JAT and Aviompeks. The easiest way to get here though is to fly to Skopje and drive. It's essential though to do a proper flight comparison to know when is the best time to fly to Macedonia.

Have you ever been? What other sights around Macedonia do you recommend?

Balkan Cooking: Cevapi

For many of us, one of the biggest joys of travelling is without a doubt the food. Why else do so many flock to Italy? For the coliseum? You've got to be kidding me... Of course it's for the fresh pasta, deep red wines and grandma's sauce that is "to die for..."

One of the reasons I keep returning to the Balkans is also for the food. There are so many flavours and regional dishes are hearty and tasty. Although cuisine greatly differs from region to region, I'd love to introduce a series on this blog about Balkan cooking, hoping to highlight some favourite eats while travelling through the Balkans. You can always grab cheap flights to your favourite Balkan state when you get that craving for your favourite dish, but it's also nice to be able to make it at home.

What are some of your favourites? Are there recipes you'd like to see featured?

Without further ado: Cevapi

Traditionally Bosnian, these small grilled rolls of ground beef (or lamb) in pita bread are mouth-watering. They're usually served with chopped onions, cheese and ajvar (spicy red pepper paste). 

How to make them:

500g ground beef (or 350g beef, 150g minced lamb)

40ml water

30ml oil (preferrably olive oil)

Salt & pepper (to taste)

1. Combine ingredients the day before, letting it stand in the fridge overnight.
2. Wet hands and shape the mixture into uniform rolls. Place on a tray.
3. Cook the cevapi on a hot barbecue for 6 to 10 minutes, turning frequently so as not to burn.
4. Cevapi can be served on their own or on a pita.

A weekend in Belgrade and a royal palace

If you're in Belgrade for a weekend, there is one place that you should put at the top of your list (if it's not already there): The Royal Palace near Dedinje. Built in 1924 by two architects from the Royal Academy, this compound was once the home of Tito and Milosevic.

The Royal home in Belgrade, Serbia is open to the public only on weekends. Visitors are welcome to wander the interior hallways, admire the elegant salons and dining rooms and enjoy a stunning view of the city from the top of Dedinje Hill. If it is a clear day, you can see as far as Kosutnjak Forest and Avala.

Until October the Royal compound will be open Saturdsays and Sundays from 11:00 until 14:00. Registration in advance is necessary, especially for tours through the While Palace, Ryoal Palace and Chapel. The tour takes 2 hours.

What else to do in Belgrade on a weekend?

•  Visit the house where the assassins of Franz Ferdinand planned their attack. It's on the corner of Narodnog Fronta and Kamenicka Street.

• Explore the Bujljak, a flea market in New Belgrade which is especially busy on Saturdays.

• Visit the House of Flowers where Josip Broz Tito is buried.

• Spend an afternoon tasting the baked goods and sugary delights of the city by stopping in at a few of the many bakeries, cake and sweet shops.

• Find the oldest house in Belgrade, built in 1727 in Cara Dusana Street 10. Since Belgrade has been bombed 5 times in the last century, it seems a miracle that it's still standing.

• If you want an unguided tour of the city centre, just hop on Tram #2.

• Grab an evening flick at the Kinoteka, one of the richest movie collections in Europe and the world. A must for movie buffs and film lovers.

Belgrade may not be the prettiest city in Serbia, or in the Balkans for that matter, but it is a city with an exciting past and pretty palaces. If there is anything to really get excited about here it's the night life. Seems every night is Friday and everyday is Saturday in the  capital, something of course everyone can get used to. There are cheap flights from Newcastle to Belgrade with both KLM and British Airways.

Albania's Ionian Coast, an adventure into the wild

Wouldn't it be nice to go swimming here? Dark blue waters and rugged shorelines, Albania is just a child when it comes to outdoor tourism but it's something that is picking up which means the Ionian Coast is going to be where it's at in a few years. Wild landscapes and ancient ruins, turquoise pools and lone wolves. So beat the crowds and enjoy it while you can!

How to get there:

You can find cheap flights from Belfast to Tirana, the capital of Albania, from a number of airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa and SAS. Albania's main international airport is Rinas International Airport (TIA) which is located just 10 km north of the city.

What to see:

 Llogaraja Pass

If you're an outdoors junkie who seeks thrilling heights around the world, then need you head to Llogaraja Pass. It is a road that travels south from Vlora and reaches 1000 m in height. Albania has never looked to beautiful than from above. From the top you can see mountains disappearing into the clouds, the steep cliffs that effortlessly fall into the sea and thick forests that are home to wolves and wild boar. Albania is majestic and completely wild.

Syri i Kalter

Lose your sense at the Blue Eyed Spring, a pool of water that is surrounded by vibrant blue edges, like the iris of an eye. The pool flows into the Bistrica River and no one knows exactly how deep it is, adding to the mystery. Enjoy a picnic, take a dip and relax under the shade of an oak.

Butrinti

Butrini is both home to some of the country's most renown ancient ruins and part of a national park. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring the place once inhabited by Greeks centuries past. It was later occupied by the Byzantines and then abandoned until the late 1920s when it was discovered by archaeologist.

Have you ever been?

Try saying Ljubljana three times fast!

Now that your tongue's all in a twist, let's talk about Slovenia. Yes, that little country sandwiched between Austria and Croatia. It's often left out of the Balkan loop because of its historical ties to Central Europe and the lack of Ottoman influence. But if we're going to be technical than perhaps Slovenia has no place on this blog about Balkan travels but it is still a destination country in and around the Balkan region that should not be skipped.

• Postojna Cave: a network of 20 km of passages and chambers which have attracted visitors for almost 200 years. Take the "cave train" through the labyrinth. There is lighting to you can see how geology records time through its layers and formations. Guided tours last about an hour and a half.  

• Triglav National Park: "The Kingdom of the Seven Triglav Lakes is a land that does not know how to smile, so deeply serious have the natural forces designed its face and chosen its colours." (Julius Kugy, mountaineer) This national park is best known for its network of walking, trekking and cycling routes through flat valleys and rigorous mountain terrain. 

• Šempeter: Antiquity is preserved in this town in the form of  a Roman necropolis filled with 1st century tombs. The sepulchres have been reconstructed complete with columns, peaked roofs and griffins guarding the dead.

• Ptuj: This town is one of the oldest in the country, dating back to Medieval Times. It is worth a day visit to see the museums, monasteries and castles. 

• Bled: It is crawling with tourists but there is good reason why it's so popular. The island church and the mountain peaks are indescribable.

 Slovenia may be small but there is a lot to offer. The capital, Ljubljana is located in the approximate middle and its the best place to station yourself and then take day trips outside to the different regions. Grab a cheap flight to Ljubljana from practically anywhere in Europe and you won't be disappointed with your choice. The city is quite small of a European capital making it totally accessible on foot or on bicycle. The best places to eat are around the university faculties where more than 50 000 students are studying. There is more than enough choice when it comes to cafes, bars, bistros and restaurants. The pace is laid back and definitely addictive.

Kiev is undoubtedly the city of churches

Kiev is located in beautiful Ukraine. The city scape can be a bit confusing but when you really explore the streets and take a look at a history book, it all makes sense. The city's buildings are made up of part modern skyscrapers and office buildings, part Soviet nationalist design, part Ukraine nationalist style, a bit of Russian influence and a few others and you have Kiev. There is nothing surprising about the montage of Soviet monuments and modern glass and steel buildings anymore, Kiev is embraced as one of the most beautiful cities in Ukraine because of it.

Apart for the city's architecture and its natural beauty, one can really see that Kiev is undoubtedly a city of churches. Tall and glimmering in the summer light, these cathedrals are magnificent. You can grab cheap flights to Kiev all the time from London. and Wizz Air Austrian Airlines are the two airline that fly this route the most. Kiev is a perfect spot to spend a few days, a long weekend, especially in the summer when you can take full advantage of Hydropark, taking walks along the Dnipro River or strolling the city's streets like Khreshchatyk.

The first place you should check out is without a doubt St. Sophia's Cathedral. It is the main monument of the city and is well worth a visit. It is open for visitors daily from 9:00 to 19:00. Inside you can find incredible mosaics and frescos, some of which date back to 1017 when the cathedral was first built. There is also a really nice bell tower in the front of the church. If you need a place to stay in Kiev, I recommend looking for a cheap hotel in this area. There are many walking streets around and if you're lucky you can find a room with a view of St. Sophia's many spindles.

Next head to Andreevsky Spusk (Andrew Street), the city's most famous and oldest street. Walk along it and visit the many shops and galleries. Don't be surprised if this neighbourhood reminds you of Paris' Montmartre! At the end of the street is St. Andrew's Cathedral, a perfect example of Baroque architecture.

 

If you are heading up to the top of the hill, make time to stop at Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavr, a huge monastery dated back to 13th century. It is a very sacred place and is a popular destination for Orthodox Christians that are making pilgrimages. Parts of the property were destroyed during the Second World War but the monastery remained unscathed from the bombings.

 

The city of Kiev has really been shaped by its history, picking up influences from the different eras since it was inhabited. This montage of influence makes Kiev a perfect city to visit for those travellers who love architecture, love culture and love history. There are countless opportunities to find preserved cathedrals and their frescos that managed to not be destroyed during the war, something more rare in Western cities that were heavily bombed at that time.