The best beaches on earth according to TripAdvisor

Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor said: ‘For those fed up with the long cold winter, there’s really no better cure than an escape to one of these award-winning beaches."

Breathtaking beach: Baia do Sancho in Brazil has been named the best stretch of sand in the world by TripAdvisor

Postcard-pretty: Grace Bay, in Turks and Caicos.

Popular destination: Rabbit Beach, in Lampedusa, Italy. 

Spanish delight: Playa de ses Illetes, in Formentera.

And relax... Chill out on Playa Norte beach in Mexico.

*Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

European Summer Destinations: Sicily!

If you're more like a road-trip kind of girl, who enjoys the travel just as much as the destination, Sicily is definitely the must-go place for you this summer. Take a plane, go to Palermo, rent a car and get lost in this beautiful island, hit by hot African winds. The dry vegetation and the crystal clear sea will enchant you, the delicious food and the rich culture will make you fall in love with this Mediterranean jewel. To give you an idea, we selected 10 must-dos that you really cannot miss. 

1. Excursion to Mount Etna

The wonderful looming spectre of Mount Etna, rising dramatically above Catania and the towns on the eastern coast, is also a fantastic playground for those that like adventure activities. If you have time, taste some of the wine that is produced on its slopes. If you are not the adventurous or sporty type go by cable car and volcano SUV to main crater area at 2.900 m.

2. Marvel at the mosaics of Monreale

Sicily is dotted with wonderful remnants of the craftsmanship of the Normans. But the ones at the at Cathedral of Monreale are simply breathtaking. The mosaics here are also particularly important in the Christian world and depict scenes from the life of Jesus Christ.

3. Visit the Valley of the Temples

One of Sicily’s most popular sights, the Greek temples in  Agrigento on the western coast should be on your travel wish list of Sicily. The massive archaeological site features enormous columns, altars, statues and chunks of stone to explore.

4. Feast on the wonderful Sicilian dish Pasta alla Norma

Pasta alla Norma is a popular dish, particularly in Catania, and is a rather divine combination of aubergines, tomatoes and smoked ricotta cheese - heavenly indeed.

5. Bathe at San Vito lo Capo

Splash into the waters on one of Sicily’s most beautiful coastlines. San Vito Lo Capo has a superb arc of sand with a backdrop of spectacular mountains and it’s small enough to be intimate and enjoyable. The local food specialty here is couscous – make sure you try it while in town.

6. Stay in an ancient tonnara

In Sicily fishermen once used fixed-net systems a few kilometers long with associated plants for processing the tuna catch - these were called the tonnare. Today there are very few of these left given new rules about fishing and the diminishing number of the tuna fish themselves. There are several left in the Mediterranean, and some of the best in Sicily include those at Bonagia and Favignana. If you wish to stay in one consider visiting the tiny town of Scopello and its associated tonnara right by the sea.

7. Indulge in the foods of Sicily

Sicilian food is worth mentioning in this list as an item on its own as there are simply so many good drinks, snacks and meals to be had here. Some things to make sure you try while you’re on the island include the refreshing ice drink granita sold in summer, wonderful arancini - rice balls stuffed with cheese and meat, pizzas dripping with tasty toppings, great Marsala wine and sweets such as cannoli - tubular pastries stuffed with sweet ricotta. Buon appetito!

8. Gole dell'Alcantara

For those basing on the east coast near Catania or Taormina, this wonderful gorge is a fantastic place to beat the summer heat. With fantastic swimming holes and lots of shady waterside spots it’s a good place to bring a picnic and relax for the day. You can also join tours venturing past the waterfalls and boulders.

9. See a concert at the wonderful Greek theatre in Taormina

The famous theatre of Taormina has a superb vista of Mount Etna and is also one of Sicily’s most celebrated ruins - dating to Roman times but of Greek design. While you can visit during the day, it's worth coming back in the evening, too, for an open air concert or opera. These are usually held during the summer months and are an amazing experience.

10. Explore Sicily’s wonderful National Parks

Sicily has a number of fantastic wilderness areas including Parco Regionale delle Madonie, Parco dei Nebrodi and Parco Regionale dell'Etna. These are great places to walk, ski and enjoy the wildlife and each is significantly different from the rest.

European Summer Destinations: Santorini

Santorini is surely one of the most romantic and suggestive Greek islands. Located in the Cyclades island group, in the southern Aegean Sea, its gleaming white-washed villages, with blue-domed churches and cobbled streets, build a romantic picture, while cliffs and dark sands add drama. 
If you're still not sure about where to go for the next holidays, Santorini is definitely a very good option: affordable, easy to reach and with much to discover. 

Here's a list of the 10 must-dos in this beautiful island: 

1. Discover Ammoudi's nature (and stop by the tavern!) 

Walk along the dust road to reach the small beach with the cliffs, dive into the deep waters and swim below the caldera, above the sea bottom chaos. Then go to the taverna with the yellowish colours on the walls for fish and sea dishes and wait for the sunset. The sun vanishes behind Thirasia and from this spot you have the sunset with the longest duration!

2. Enjoy amazing sunsets

Although the sunset at the Oia Castle is the most famous on the island, it is surely not the only one –and not necessarily always the best! You can admire a spectacular sunset at Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli! In order to get a different angle of the sunset, having the whole of Santorini in the frame, you should go to Faros in Akrotiri, where you will be almost alone. Another option is to choose Profitis Ilias (Pyrgos), one of the highest spots of the island, or Vlihada beach, where you will be fascinated with the volcanic scenery changing colour nuances as the sun sets.

3. Stay in a cave house

The Santorinian architecture is really unique. Yposkafo (cave house) was the type of house built by the poor society class of Santorini in order to stay protected by the gusty winds. Nowadays, famous architects have turned these cave houses in modern and luxurious holiday resorts. It is worth to experience (even for one night) the claustrophobic feeling you get when you stay in a cave house, its characteristic smell and the direct access to caldera.

4. Visit Akrotiri

Nowhere in the world is there anything similar -and this year it opens to the public for the first time after six years. Visiting Akrotiri is like travelling in time. Walk around the streets and squares of a pre-historic city of 30.000 inhabitants(!), admire the elegant mansions and high finesse of the 17th century B.C.

5. Have a romantic dinner on the rim of the caldera

The feelings you get from the beautiful sceneries, the atmosphere and the view should be completed with a delicious and elegant meal. Let alone if you decide to eat in one of the most beautiful places  in the world: on the rim of the caldera. Even though Santorini has numerous remarkable restaurants outside caldera, a romantic evening there is worth spending.

6. Try the local cuisine with Santorini products

And how is it possible to feel the power of this land, unless you sense its aromas through the products of its earth, cooked by a chef who really loves it? 

7. The gastronomic Destination

Probably the most gastronomic island of the Aegean with a wide range of exceptional  local products and  restaurants attributing another dimension to the Greek cuisine. You will not have a full experience of the island if you omit trying dishes prepared by the distinguished and awarded chefs of the island, who cook with passion and give soul to local products.

8. Experience the Santorinian scuba diving

Only scuba diving lovers can really appreciate the unique experience of the underwater world. In Santorini this feeling will be greater, as you get the chance to see the distinctiveness of the bottom of this sea: the volcanic stones and the bottomless depth of the caldera. Take a chance to live this experience!

9. Go on an excursion!

Choose packages that include visiting the Volcano and Thermal Springs. Spend some time in Thirasia to explore Potamos and Manolas settlements, which are not touristically developed, and have a swim in Korfos (old harbour), where you can enjoy your meal at one of the picturesque tavernas. Having the view of Santorini while on board is surely an experience that you should no way miss!

10. Visit the village of Emporio

Emporio village is located in the heart of the island of Santorini and very close to the beaches of Perivolos and Perissa. In the village of Emporio take a stroll through the streets of the most well preserved Kasteli (Castle City)  of Santorini, admire the tall steeples of churches and take unique photographs. It is also worth visiting the church of Panagia Mesiani, the second most important church of the island. It is dedicated to the Annunciation of Virgin Mary and has a lovely wooden temple.

From Thailand with Love

Some more pics from that corner of paradise on the other side of the world called Koh Samui!

After a beautiful morning on a boat discovering the natural beauty of the Gulf of Thailand, Marie and her friend Dina spent a relaxing afternoon by the pool, nibbling fresh fruit and delicious tropical drinks. 
It's SUMARIE's lifestyle: the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. 

Look at the other gorgeous pictures by following this link http://wherethelifeissumarie.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/postcard-from-koh-samui.html

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