01 July 2023

Italy, the only country shaped like a boot. What comes to mind when you see or hear that word? Is it a spectacular coastal scene along the Amalfi Coast; the reflection of the sparkling waters of Lake Garda with the backdrop of mountains? Perhaps a gondola in Venice? It could be the memory of that great slice of pizza you had on that last trip you took to Florence. La Bella Italia is one of Europe’s most visited countries, and it’s so easy to see why. It’s a country you should visit if you’re looking for fine food, fine art, and fine living. It has incredible architecture, fascinating history, culture and 4720 miles of stunning coastline. I’ve travelled to quite a few places in Italy but there are still lots that I haven’t seen. Here are my top 10 reasons why Italy should be on your travel wishlist: -The Eternal City of Rome is just full of incredible buildings, monuments, statues, artwork including the Trevi Fountains, Sistine Chapel and Colosseum. -Quaint Hilltop towns of the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre -Must see historic cities of Pisa, Padua and Venice -Beautiful buildings -Art work -Sparkling azure waters of the Italian coast -Vineyards and Vino -Shop till you drop -Italian Lakes -Food There’s no better way of seeing this beautiful country than on an escorted holiday with Travelsphere or Just You holidays. They promise ‘a holiday of a lifetime, every time’. Take a sense of adventure with you and bring back only amazing memories and great friends. No two holidays to Italy are the same. Expect the unexpected. One minute you could be tasting limoncello in Sorrento, the next moment taking a boat ride over to the island of Capri. You could select a classic tour where you move hotels every 2/3 nights, or enjoy a more relaxing holiday where you’ll stay in only one or two hotels. Every holiday offers incredible value with return flights, overseas transport, centrally located 4- or 5-star hotels, excursions and visits, authentic restaurants and knowledgeable Tour Director/local guides who will share their experiences with you and really bring the location to life. You’ll take part in genuinely amazing local, immersive experiences, which would be difficult for you to source individually. If you like travelling with like minded people, and want a totally hassle free holiday, then think about an escorted holiday for your next trip to Italy. What about the age of the group? It’s average 50+, and the tours are made up of solos, couples and friends. Here's just a snapshot of where you could take an escorted holiday in Italy, starting with the Grand Tour. This holiday literally visits from ‘top to toe’ starting in Venice, and takes in Florence, Pisa, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and finishes in Sicily. This holiday is a classic escorted holiday and lasts 15 days. Other holidays focus more on one particular region, so you’ll have more time to really have an in-depth discovery. Will it be the Amalfi Coast, or the Hidden Lakes?. It could be that Puglia and Basilicata are more to your taste where you’ll stay in a Trulli house. Travelsphere also visit Sicily, Tuscany, Sardinia, the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre, not forgetting Lakes Maggiore & Como. If you want to travel with other solo travellers, then talk to me about Travelsphere’s sister brand Just You, market leader in solo travel. You’ll be travelling solo, but you’ll not be alone, I can guarantee that. You’ll have your own room, which will always be a twin or a double, but all meals are spent with the other travellers in the group. You can opt out if you want to, but it’s a great way to make friends and ideal if you’re dipping your toe in the water of travelling solo. So when the word Italy is mentioned and those great images and memories come flooding back to you, get in touch and I’ll find you a great escorted holiday with Travelsphere or Just You. The only difficulty you’ll have is choosing which holiday to go on!

04 December 2022

Small group adventure holiday in Morocco with Intrepid Travel - Best of Morocco. Group size 13 plus local tour guide Hisham, ages between 20-70, multinational. The entry below was written in diary style. Today we left Casablanca, took a train to Rabat, capital of Morocco. A few hours gave us chance to look at the Medina, the Kasbah (fortress) with its views overlooking the Atlantic, before we took another train to Meknes. This evening 6 of us went to a local family home for a traditional meal of Moroccan soup, couscous with chicken and vegetables, and a delicious chocolate cake and fresh fruit for dessert. It was such a lovely evening and the family welcomed questions from us. Islamic architecture is beautiful. Everything is so intricate and ornate. This morning we explored Meknes. I particularly liked the Mausoleum. There is something about the patterns of Islamic architecture that I find really calming and peaceful. Today was a first for me, I had camel burger for lunch. It was actually very tasty, a bit like haggis! Morocco was part of the Roman Empire. We went back in time with a tour of Volubulis, Roman site between Meknes and Fes. Fes, there's so much going on here. We've spent the whole day here with local guide Idriss. He was born in the Medina, so he knows his way around. It's the oldest and largest Medina in North Africa with more than 9000 alleyways. First though, we saw the Palace, then we found out how all the intricate tiles are made on a visit to a ceramic factory. We've seen the famous Tanneries (I've seen them on TV travel programmes), goodness, what a job. Pete and I were chosen as models in the silk shop (silk made from Agave cactus), and we've almost been overwhelmed by all the different shops in the Medina, including a butchers shop with a cows head hanging off a hook, and some other indescribable animal parts (Decided not to show that picture). We also visited a former Madrassa, again with the most beautiful intricate designs. We're now in the Middle Atlas mountains, enroute to the Sahara desert. Today was mostly a travel day, but I'm happy to be back in rural Morocco that I remember from previous visits. We stopped at a nomadic shepherd's camp; hard to think that this lifestyle still goes on. This evening we took a walk around a local Berber village just as the sun was setting. The colour of the surrounding mountains was just magical. Mint tea is very traditional here, and the Berber host invited us in. Pete was chosen to make the tea, and pour for everyone. The local village children came running out to greet us as we walked past their houses. Sahara Desert. Beautiful, wild, sculpted by the winds of time. Harsh for those who live here with next to no rain for the past 12 months. Last night saw us on a camel ride from our Berber camp into the dunes for sunset. One of those things you just have to do, such an experience but not sure I would want to do a multi day trek on one! Today has been spectacular and humbling in equal measure. 6 of our Intrepid group set off on a 10km hike through the Todra gorge and up the mountain where we met a nomadic Berber family. The views of the gorge and surrounding mountains have been stunning. The encounter with the nomadic family was truly humbling. This family currently live at the top of the mountain with their sheep and goats. They live in caves, have no electricity and no running water. Every day one of their children hikes down the mountain with a couple of mules to the Todra Gorge, collects water and hikes back up again. This is a hard way of life, but has been made harder over the years by climate change. The old man has Parkinsons, and cataracts, and has no access to medical care. His grandchildren dont go to school. If they did, they would have to hike 1.5 hrs down and 2 hrs up each day. Each week the family takes a sheep or goat to the market so they can buy vegetables and flour to make bread on the open fire. This family have nothing but they made us tea and shared some of their bread with us. I asked the old man the one thing he would want that he currently doesn't have. His answer - more rain. They would still have a hard life, but there would be more vegetation for his animals to graze on, and he wouldn't have to sell more animals to eke out his meagre existence. Just by being there today with our Intrepid group meant that his family would have a little bit more food to eat this week. For me today's visit was a real honour. A mountain pass and going down memory lane as we crossed from Ait Benhaddou to Imlil at the foot of Mount Toubkal, highest mountain in North Africa. We took the scenic Tizi n Tizchka pass, an epic mountain road. On arrival at Imlil, we hiked up to our mountain gite in the village of Aremd in the Toubkal National Park. I was last in this village 16 years ago on my way down from the summit of Mt Toubkal.(4167m high) This morning some of us set off further up the mountain to visit a shrine. This is such a beautiful area, changed a lot since I was last here, a new road built only in the last couple of years. The mountain gite was comfortable, with lovely home cooked food. Essaioura, on the Atlantic ocean, feels more European than Moroccan. It is home to a large fishing fleet, wood and silver crafts, and Argan oil. The towers around the port are replicas of Belem Tower in Lisbon. Time for a bit of shopping and a traditional Hammam. And then there is Marrakech. Our last full day which also coincides with the Morocco vs Canada football match. It seems like the whole city has come to a standstill. All the cafes and bars are full of men watching the match, very few women are present. Last night our group took the local bus into the city centre to the famous Djemaa el Fnaa square for street food. This is the central market square which really comes alive at night. Today we went to the Majorelle Gardens, the Bahia Palace and the Ben Youssef Medersa (former Koranic school, now a museum with beautiful islamic architecture). Morocco, you have more than exceeded expectations, and my trip has been really well organised by Intrepid Travel. Imperial cities, desert, mountains, coast. It really has been the Best of Morocco. I'll miss this country and our group of Intrepid travellers. I'll miss our guide Hisham, but most of all I really hope the Moroccan people get the rain they so badly need to make their lives a little bit easier.