exploration

Authentic Serbian Experience near Belgrade Serbia

About thirteen kilometers from downtown Belgrade in Serbia is a hidden gem called Hotel Sucevic. Set in the hillsides of Avala you will find something unexpected. There are two main buildings set in a beautiful garden environment, just a short drive from the bypass. The Hotel Sucevic has a great choice of rooms and suites, from small […]

Celebrating in Style on Novi Sad Serbia

Last year we traveled through Serbia at lightning speed. In fact, it was all of 24 hours with a quick, but wonderful stay. But we had a taste of Serbia. And this taste of wonderful Serbian hospitality and friendship made us want to come back for more. So for this reason, we decided to choose […]

The Romanian Road Less Travelled

One of the most challenging blogs I’ve wanted to share with you from our world trip so far is this one. Romania has stolen my heart, and I am simply in love with the diversity, beauty, and splendor that unfolded before me, over these past weeks.  I have about 200 photographs I could load up […]

Romanian Grandeur at Gradina Morii

Nestled on the edge of Sighetu Marmației town, next to the lovely Mill Garden Park (or Gradina Morii Parcel) is Hotel Gradina Morii.  The perfect place for us to base ourselves to explore the famous wooden churches and monasteries in the area. It is a luxury hotel that has been recently renamed and captures the […]

Beyond Dracula leads us to Viscri

We woke to serenity in a small country town in Romania, called Viscri. It is tucked away off the main road that leads from Brasov to Sighisoara. Here in the still of the winter’s morning as the sun rises, there is only the odd horse and cart coming down the road. Awww – and a […]

Experiencing Baroque Brukenthal Palace Romania

  It is with sad regret said good-bye to all our new Romania friends we met over the New Year period at Biertan.  Meeting such lovely people has been a delight, but saying farewell, and never knowing if we shall see them again is one of the hardest parts of travel.  Romania has proven to be a […]

Served on a Bed of Ice

From the very first time I heard about the Hotel of Ice in Romania, I wanted to go.  I figured the hardest part would be to convince my nine-year-old son, but as soon as he saw their website, he was as keen as I was to venture up the snowy mountain-side, and spend a night […]

Prince Charles Secret Romanian Hideaway (not secret anymore)

We have been staying in the village of Viscri (Deutschweißkirch), where we discovered a secret!  HRH, The Prince of Wales owns a traditional Saxon house there. Here in this sleepy town of Viscri, there is no direct public transport, and the back road is a slushy snow track that we took for about 40 minutes […]

Visiting Sighișoara and Dracula’s birthplace

A blanket of white snow lays across the rolling hills and drapes softly on the boughs of the trees that form a soft arch as I drive through. The road has not been snow-plowed, so I am somewhat nervous, but I soon learn to take it easy, and just go slow and enjoy the journey […]

Medieval Romanian New Years Eve Celebration

This year we wanted a really special and traditional New Year’s Eve. We are in Transylvania, Romania, and to experience an event that will show us the real hospitality and Romanian culture would be amazing. So we were so pleased when we contacted Unglerus Medieval Resort, tucked away in the authentic village of Biertan, a designated Unesco World […]

Premier Luxury Mountain Resort Bansko Bulgaria

Each year on our world trip, just before Christmas, we take time out of our busy travel schedule to have a few days “family time”, where we relax and have some fun. This is our third Christmas away from the family I grew up with in Australia, and that alone can be tough emotionally.  So […]

Dracula’s Bran Castle for sale for $80 million

It is a cold crisp winter’s afternoon when we visit Bran Castle. The pond below is frozen in a crisp sheet of ice. As we wander up the hill, we hear this castle is for sale.  Want to buy a Castle for 80 million dollars? This looming castle is a legend, said to be Dracula’s Castle, […]