I don’t know about you, but our family is in serious need of a holiday sometime soon. Living through lockdown has been stressful for everyone, and while I have enjoyed the extra time at home with my family, a change of scenery is something that we are sorely craving right now. We’ve been thinking forward to a time when we’ll be able to get away and some of the organisational things that we can do in advance to make any trip we do take stress free, so I thought I would share some of these ideas with you today in case you are in the process of organising your own family vacation.
The city of aromas, colours, flavours. The Istanbul of the imams, of Europe, of the mosques, of the bazaars, of the Bosphorus. The city and everything you need to see even once in your life.
Visit Hagia Sophia
The first thing you will see in the city, for all the reasons, is, of course, the Hagia Sophia, in the area of Sultanahmet, the oldest part of the city, where the Blue Mosque, the Aqueduct, the Topkapi and the famous church that, after being transformed, are located in a mosque, now functions as a museum. The building dates from the 6th century and is one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture. The mosaics that were covered during the 500 years that the church was turned into a mosque are now presented in all their magnificence.
Continue to the Blue Mosque
Directly opposite the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque is the next most recognizable monument in Istanbul. With its characteristic six minarets and the impressive round dome, while its official name is “Sultan Ahmet Mosque”, it is the 21,000 Iznik tiles of blue, white and red colour that adorn its ceilings from the 17th century and from them, it got the “Nickname” Blue. The mosque is still functioning normally today, so you should adjust your visit to hours other than those of the five daily prayers, while on Fridays, the mosque is closed.
Take a tour of Topkapi
Continuing from the two temples, you will reach Topkapi, which was the official residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century until the construction of Dolmabahce. Wealth, aesthetics, art, history. And yes, as far as the life of the sultans is concerned, you will see it here, while you will enjoy the fascinating image of the City, as it spreads at the foot of the Palace.
Shop at the Grand Bazaar and at the Egyptian Spice Market
In the Old Town, the 550-year-old Kapalitsarsi – as it is called in Turkish – is the oldest and largest indoor market in the world, which you can remember from its… roofs, as it shot the first scene of the movie “Skyfall” with James Bond being chased by motorcycles! Get ready to walk among 4,000 benches, where you will find everything from ornaments, Turkish souvenirs, cups of coffee to handmade rugs!
Visit Dolmabahce
After the Bosphorus, it is time to enter the most majestic palace, the residence of the last sultans and the last residence of Kemal. Absolute luxury, an attempt, then, the Ottoman Empire to show that it is not inferior to luxury, art and aesthetics from the West, decorated in the interior by a French decorator, with the most oversized chandeliers in Europe brought from England, with complete order and discipline reminiscent of the last inhabitant of the palace (in fact the palace clocks have been stopped at the time of Ataturk’s death). The visits are made with organised guided tours every hour, with Turkish guides; while inside, keep in mind why photos are not allowed.
Of course, to cross the whole area of Istanbul, you will need to use some means of transport. One option is transportation, but ideally, you could hire a car to move quickly not only to the places mentioned earlier but also to other parts of the city. Explore the famous locations but also the most “hidden” corners, renting a vehicle from the company Enjoy Travel, which has dozens of service points throughout the country, offering you cars at unbeatable prices and offers.
A lot of us spend our lives daydreaming about what adventures we’ll have when we finally retire. Without the restrictions of limited annual leave or having to travel during school holidays, and with a lifetime of experience and wisdom behind you, the choices of where to go are limitless. If you’re planning a holiday for the retired people in your life, here are some suggestions:
Golf Holidays
If your retirees are are into golf then they could do a lot worse than opting for golf holidays in Spain. Most packages will include your flights, accomodation and also your green fees and passes, so you can get a fantastic deal with everything covered. They’re perfect for retirees who love to golf as it means they can do so in a lovely climate, surrounded by stunning views.
Cruises
For many, relaxing on board and watching incredible scenery drift by is a favourite aspect of cruising — all the more so for passengers who aren’t as mobile as they once were. The idea of a scenic cruise is that you can still get a lot out of the voyage even if you are unable to get off the ship much, which is why the Norwegian coast, the wild shorelines of Alaska and river cruises are so popular with older travellers.
Rail Holidays
Many retired couples love having adventures on luxury rail journeys as they get to explore many places in comfort and style. There is a luxury rail journey for everyone, from mountain and sea rail to East coast US cities by rail. You can explore whole countries such as Australia on the Indian Pacific which goes from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide where you will see the Blue Mountains, vineyards, goldmines and the contrast of busy cities to ghost towns all in one adventure.
City Breaks
City breaks are a fantastic way to explore Europe, especially as flights are short and there are a wealth of amazing destinations at your doorstep without the long haul. Some of our most popular city breaks include Venice, Barcelona, Prague, Athens and Paris. Your break can be tailored to your specific needs if you want to explore certain areas, take a gondola, a ferry to the Greek Islands or the beach in Barcelona, whatever you want from your city break it is all yours.
Driving Holidays
Famous for becoming the first completely paved highway in the United States, a drive along Route 66 burns rubber as you pass through America’s most iconic spots – Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Texas and Chicago. And, while the incredible states will impress, so too will the off-the-beaten-track sections that wind through huge expanses of awe inspiring nothingness. Spanning over 2,400 miles and crossing eight states, the typical driving route kicks off in Chicago and finishes in California.
The country of the Balkan Peninsula is one of the most desirable nations to be visited. Thanks to its history, charm and proximity to European regions, it is the ideal destination to move. Would you like to live in Greece? Here’s the complete guide on how to move to Greece.
Learn Greek
One of the essential requirements for a smooth move to Greece is understanding the Greek language. That is, you must have listening understanding, speaking and writing skills as this will help you function better in the Mediterranean country.
Compared to other nations, in Greece they expect your resume or CV to have at least three to five pages, where it must specify studies and work experience. Everything you write should be supported by certificates and you will need to include medical evidence and a cover letter.
Find a job
Although getting a job in Greece can be difficult, this does not mean that it is impossible. Usually, immigrants are hired in sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and construction. If you want to move through the labor modality, you must get a job before starting your trip, or, be in the process of being hired.
In order for an expatriate living outside the European Union to apply for a job in the nation, the employer will have to prove that she could not find any person in the country or in the EU who is suitable for the job.
Apply for a visa
If you found your ideal job in Greece, or you are doing the documentation to formalize the contract, this is the ideal time to apply for your visa. These are the documents that you should have on hand:
Valid passport, which should not be close to three months of expiration.
Passport-type photographs.
University qualification test.
Bank vouchers that prove that you will be able to support yourself while they pay your first salary.
Proof of valid health insurance.
Proof of accommodation, it can be in your own or rented property.
Criminal Record.
If you are going to move with a pet, you must apply for a pet passport. For this permit you must have documents on hand that certify vaccines against rabies that have not been applied in a period of less than 21 days and routine vaccines.
Sign up for health insurance
It is law that your employer contributes for you so that you can get a health provider or medical insurance in Greece.
Apply for a work permit
You must request this permit within the first 30 days of your arrival in the country. To process it, you must have a social security number from the Social Security Institute and a local tax record from the Tax Office.
In addition, to request this permission, you must have:
Passport and photocopies of it.
Four passport-type photographs.
Proof of international medical insurance (i.e. it should cover Greece, or you can get insurance that works only in the nation).
Residential address.
Financial capability.
Salary certificate.
Certificate from a hospital that guarantees that you do not suffer from any serious and contagious disease.
Proof of payment at the required rate from the Tax Office.
Open a bank account
To open a bank account in the Mediterranean country you must be over 18 years of age. Even if you want to get your account before moving, you can do it. You just have to go to a branch of a Greek bank that is in your city. Unlike other nations, Greece offers expatriates checking, debit and savings cards.
In order to request a bank account you must present an ID and a local address in Greece. If you require additional help is preparing to move to Greece book online a meeting with professional lawyers who will help you with the process. Are you ready to move to Greece? Sure hope so!
With restrictions on international travel still in place for many countries, there’s never been a better time to spend some time travelling around dear old Blighty! There are lots of places in the UK which rival the rest of the world in terms of beauty and many people never bother to tour our shores, choosing instead to travel abroad for their holidays. With that in mind, we thought we’d look at some of the reasons that travelling the UK by train is a great idea:
Better for the Environment
We all know that visiting new places is exciting, but have you ever thought about your carbon footprint while travelling? Rail transport is actually the most environment-friendly way to travel. The greenhouse effect of gas emissions per kilometer on railway transport is 80% less than cars. In some countries, less than 3% of all transport gas emissions come from trains.
Look at the Views
It’s great being a passenger in a car as you can look out of the window at all of the wonderful views on your journey. However, being a driver means that your view is a lot more limited for reasons of safety, so drivers rarely get to enjoy the scenery. If you travel by train, you can spend the whole journey taking in the view, and you’ll often get to see things that you wouldn’t be able to from a motorway.
No Limit on Luggage
While we aren’t suggesting that you should pack everything including the kitchen sink when travelling by train, you’re not limited by a baggage weight limit. This means that you can pack more if you travel by train than you can if you travel by plane, which saves a lot of worrying and weighing suitcases before you leave!
Efficient Routes
When you travel by road, you’re at the mercy of roads, traffic and all sorts of other things that make your journey long and potentially stressful. With trains, you generally go in a pretty straight line from A to B and you don’t have to worry about traffic or other road users. It’s also usually much quicker because of this. Many people who travel by train find it the most relaxing way to travel.
Stay Connected
Charge your phone or camera batteries, watch a movie or get some work done… it’s all possible on board the train. And what’s even better: more and more train companies are installing Wi-Fi so you can even post live updates as you journey by train. Knowing that you won’t affect your car battery by charging your devices is a bonus and taking advantage of free wi-fi also means that you won’t have to be concerned by huge data charges.
