On my third day, I went to Ghetto di Roma, one of the oldest ghettos in the world as well as stopped over at the Roma Farmers’ Market. It was very similar one to New York’s Union Square Farmers’ Market where you can find organic fresh vegetables, fruits,  natural products such as Bio-Nutrici.

I took a walk though Palatine Hill where the Roman Emperors once live and now you will find mostly ruins of palaces and homes of some Rome’s richest familes. From there, it was a stones throw away to the Roman Forum, which originally was a marsh, but the Romans drained the area and turned it into a center of political and social activity.  The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic center. It was expanded to include temples, a senate house and law courts.  It is considered one of the most important archeological sites in the world.

The Colloseum was built in the center of the city of Rome between 70-72 AD, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. It can  seat 50,000 spectators and it was used to be a place for gladiatorial contest and public spectacles.

After a very long day, I capped off the evening  at Hotel Locarino where I relaxed over an apperitivo with some friends.

Watch Part 1 of Rome, Italy HERE!

Watch Part 2 of Rome, Italy HERE!

On my second day in Rome, I wanted to seek out some of the local residents and traditions. I went to a public square and saw many talented musicians and I even witnessed a couple getting married! That was very special.

Then, I was off  The Pantheon, the world’s oldest dome building with the entire roof still in tact built between 25-27 BC  It stands as the most complete Roman structure on earth, having survived 20 centuries of plunder, pillage and invasion. The Pantheon contains the tombs of Rafael and of several Italian Kings. Pantheon is a Greek word meaning “to honor all Gods.”

I walked to the  Fontana di Trevi, the largest Baroque fountain in the city.

A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. Among those who are unaware that a reported current interpretation is that two coins will lead to a new romance and three will ensure either a marriage or divorce. A reported current version of this legend is that it is lucky to throw three coins with one’s right hand over one’s left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain. It may look familiar was also featured in the very famous movie “La Dolce Vita”.

An estimated 3,000 Euros are thrown into the fountain each day. The money has been used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome’s needy.

Watch Rome, Italy  Part 1 HERE

Watch Rome, Italy Part 3 HERE

Of all of the trips that I have taken I have been dreaming of this one for a very long time.  5 amazing days to Rome, Italy, a city rich in cuisine, culture and history.

On my first day I dove right in! First stop: The Colonnato del Bernini (the colonnade of St Peter’s Square), take a look at the Swiss guards (they are the Pontifical Guards in the Vatican City), I drank from running water in the streets of Rome,  and take in the sites at Castel Sant’ Angelo (initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family, the building was later used as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum).

My first dinner was at “Mimi & Coco Wine Bar” and it was delicious! I followed dinner by roaming the streets in search of the best Italian Gelato Rome had to offer.

I felt that Rome was more beautiful at night, the way the lanterns illuminate the narrow cobbled stone streets that are the same today as they were 2,000 years ago. With the he statue of Giordano Bruno in the background, the Colosseum a short walk away, the silence of the city left me questioning what other pieces of history that was hidden in the shadows.

With 11 national languages, it is suffice to say that South Africa may be one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. From a multitude of wine farms surrounded by mananimous mountains, inviting beaches to tropical sunsets to the big 5 that roam the lands, South Africa covers most of what is desired.

Amakhala Game Reserve is a unique conservation initiative that allows animals to be re-introduced to the area where they once roamed freely and so making a contribution to the conservation of our natural heritage. The land was used to ranch sheep and cattle up to the turn of the century. The challenge has been to re-establish the original flora and fauna species to the area and to return the land to nature.

The Amakhala Game Reserve began in 1999 as a joint conservation venture.

Today, six independently owned lodges of The Heritage Collection, are all TGCSA Star Lodge accredited. The lodges are owner managed by the descendants of the original families who arrived here with the British settlers of 1820. The lodges offer various styles of accommodation, which include two gracious colonial homesteads, two classic bush lodges, an historic inn and a Settler farmhouse.

Eastern Cape has also great beaches, brilliant cuisine, whale watching and a range of activities to keep you going from dawn to dusk till dawn as well as having some of the friendliest locals you’ll ever meet.

For more info, please click this Link

Lots of trees and trails, clean toilets and clean sites. No freeway sounds. Clear water for fishing and swimming, ground for children to play, a target shooting area would be great, and a fire pit. But what if your expectations are not met?

It is nice to go camping in spring. So wherever you choose to go camping, first and foremost, you should plan where to go and plan your picnic food and camping gears.

Also, research first to know what you expect in the campsite.

One of the camping sites is Fort Pickens Campground. It is located in Fort Pickens, the largest of the four forts to defend Pensacola Bay, Florida and the Navy yard.

It is famous for its historic sites such as the ten concrete gun batteries which were built from the 1890s through the 1940s, each a response to a particular threat. Atomic bombs, guided missiles, and long-range bombers made such forts obsolete by the end of World War II and the Army abandoned the forts. Following extensive repairs by the National Park Service, the fort was reopened in 1976.

The campsite is available with water, electricity, grills/fire rings, and picnic tables, restrooms and dump stations.

Check the rates per night on their site www.recreation.gov. You can also access online reservation.  To make a reservation by phone, call Reserve America 1-877-444-6777.

Please note the road to Fort Pickens is subject to flooding so please check details by calling 850-934-2656.

If you have any questions about the campground, you can direct it to the Campground Office at 850-934-2622.

HAPPY CAMPING!

The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the aboriginal people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to and classified as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe.

The Banaue Terraces are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old. They are found in the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Mountain province and Ifugao, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Locals to this day still plant rice and vegetables on the terraces, although more and more younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing, often opting for the more beneficial hospitality industry generated by the Rice Terraces. The result is the gradual erosion of the characteristic “steps”, which need constant reconstruction and care. In 2010 a further problem was drought, with the terraces drying up completely in March of this year.

Banaue Rice Terraces – indeed a pride of Filipinos!

For more info, please click this Link