By Shereen Shabnam

I fell in love with Greece from the moment I stepped out of the airport in Athens. And while each of the Islands in Greece have their own charm, Santorini still remains a favourite for regular visitors who fall in love with this crescent-shaped precious gem of the Aegean dotted with blue and white villages.

Santorini is actually a group of islands in the southernmost part of Cyclades.  The islands came into existence as a result of intensive volcanic activity and the Santorini islands is still an active volcano.

The whole island is actually a huge natural geological/volcanological museum where you can observe a wide range of geological structures and forms as wells as black volcanic pebbles.

Santorini is considered as the most romantic getaway in Greece with exquisitely clear waters and famous sunsets for the ultimate romantic experience. It has deep blue waters, spectacular rock formations, and vertical cliffs plus white, red and black sand.

Firá is the picturesque capital of the island has traditional architecture and offers an amazing view of the volcano. There are other smaller villages that are peaceful and are surrounded by vast vineyardsand whitewashed cliff-top towns with castles.

For sun, sea and sand, head to the Oia with its wild untamed beauty or Ammoudi, on the harbour of Oia for the charming cafes and restaurants. Then delight your visual senses with azure waters, sun-drenched beaches, magnificent black sand and chiselled rocks.

The wild beauty of the beaches on the eastern side of the island will prove irresistible to sunseekers looking for peace and seclusion with Impressive sculptured rocks, black sand, volcanic pebbles, small ports with fishing boats casting colourful reflections on blue waters and some beech trees.

On the south-eastern side of Santorini, sun-loving tourists will encounter magnificent black sandy or pebbly beaches with shallow waters and with playgrounds so it is perfect for families.

Visitors can also soak up the atmosphere along the lively waterfronts, charming beach bars or head to the modern marina with the Sailing and Yacht Club of Santorini for sailing and yachting.  The staff at the club can guide you to the best spots for scuba diving, windsurfing, jet ski adventures, parasailing, kayaking and other water sports.

Santorini is not just about the sun, sea, sand and sunsets – A visit to Santorini offers the ultimate gastronomic experience with fresh cherry tomatoes, white egg plants, fava, fresh goat cheese found on the island.

After each day of exploring the beauty of Santorini, the best way into the evening is dinner after sunset and then head to bed to dream away about what natural wonders to discover in the different parts of Santorini the next day.

From the UAE, you can get to Athens via Istanbul. If you are looking to combine a few destinations like I did, you can fly Turkish Airlines and spend a few days in Istanbul and Athens and end the holiday in the idyllic island of Santorini.

By Shereen Shabnam

A country of contrasts, Finland is known for endless daylight in the summer when public spaces come to life and for dark Arctic winters that has a profound effect on all walks of life, including a deep appreciation for nature.

Despite being leaders in technology and progressive urban solutions, Finns enjoy time in nature visiting lakes and retreats to the countryside for hiking, trekking, cross-country skiing, playing ice hockey, sled dog touring, riding snowmobiles or driving rally cars.

Helsinki Vibes

If you fly into Helsinki, the capital of Finland, enjoy this vibrant seaside city’s restaurants, beautiful islands, architecture, lakes, shopping and great green parks.  Islands such as Suomenlinna and Pihlajasaari, can be reached by a regular ferry for weekend camping trips. The fortress of Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Finland’s most popular sights, great for a tranquil evening stroll or a picnic. Influenced by Classicism and modernized by Functionalism, Helsinki is possibly best known for its Art Nouveau architecture.

Winter Wonderland

In winter, Finland is a skier’s paradise. Whether you enjoy the thrill of downhill or prefer experiencing cross-country, the ski resorts with their well-maintained ski tracks ensure you find the ideal place. Reindeer sleigh rides are also fun during this time and many believe Santa Claus is Finnish, living in Lapland which attracts even more winter tourists. Winter is also great for ice skating, ice fishing and snowmobiling.

Most visitors go to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland and the hometown of Santa Claus. Others enjoy the thrill of witnessing the Aurora Borealis, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Visitors love the Finnish Lapland, enjoying the winter wonderland and the hustle and bustle of towns and ski resorts just as much as the peace and quiet of nature. Finland is one of the best places on Earth to view the Northern Lights which appears on more than 200 nights a year in Finnish Lapland.

Summer Soirees

In the summer Finnish Lapland has 24-hour sunlight for nearly three months. Known as the “Midnight sun”, the light allows for numerous events and cultural activities such as the Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä.

During this time, visit the Blue Lakeland and enjoy hikes along lakes, islands, boat rides on rivers, canals, and among forests and ridges. Visit Hameenlinna, a city with two impressive castles to visit, large park areas to enjoy and galleries and museums to visit – my favourite being the enchanting Iittala Glass Museum.

Autumn Love

In autumn, Lapland is the best place in Finland for witnessing “ruska”, the time when all the leaves turn into bright colors like red, yellow and orange. Seeing ruska is best in mid-September when the already breath-taking landscape transforms into an out-of-this-world experience. If you are an active tourist, Lakeland’s vast waters are perfect for kayaking, fishing and paddling

Culinary Scene

The culinary scene in Helsinki is cutting edge and evolving with new pop-up restaurants. The Restaurant Day and the Helsinki Street Food Festival are initiatives out of Finland and ensures the capital’s coolest culture districts change into street food hubs.

The local food is full of seasonal delights, wild and fresh with game, fish, mushrooms and berries. Innovative food events in the city embrace all culinary cultures and tastes of the globe and the Restaurant Day is growing into a global movement of “food for all”.

If you know a local, they will enlighten you on the joys of having hearty stews to keep warm during the cold months and the many light, fresh and delicious summer local food to stay sustained and satisfied all day.

Day Trips

Make time for Porvoo, the second oldest city in Finland located about 50 kilometres east of Helsinki. It is known for its charming cobblestone streets, manors, iconic red wooden shore houses, small shops, handicraft boutiques, lovely museums, galleries and cafés.

Venture out also to Finland’s coast through wooden towns, lighthouses, historical manors and large national parks stretching over land and sea. The laid-back lifestyle and a strong maritime culture are key characteristics of this fascinating area which also boasts three coastal UNESCO World Heritage sites.

How to get there

From UAE, you can either fly Finnair direct from Dubai or fly Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, and then to Helsinki and back.

By Shereen Shabnam

My journey into Romania revealed a country with spectacular sights dotted with nature, medieval castles and quaint villages and the best food and culture. The visit to Prahova Valley with a stop in Sinaia, one of the most beautiful mountain tourist resorts in Romania is a must. 

A hidden gem for travel aficionados, Romania was full of surprises. For instance, the Palace of Parliament is the second largest administrative building and the most expensive administrative building in the world as well as the world’s heaviest building. We found the building served as a perfect backdrop to show the amazing architecture of the city as the building was built with 100% Romanian resources and materials.

Another must visit is the PeleşCastle. Recognized as royal residence by Carol I, the king of Romania, the castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, built between 1873 and 1914 as the summer residence of the kings of Romania. The building, currently owned by the Royal Family of Romania ids filled with the most beautiful decorative art pieces.

As we ventured further to Brasov, we came across variants of gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture with continued our journey exploring the Town Hall Square and enjoyed a walk to the walled citadel and the pedestrian only boulevard for retail therapy. Surrounded by mountains, a walk around Brasov reveals quaint shops and restaurants serving authentic local cuisine.

After a brief stop in Bran at a wine cellar, we then visited Bran Castle, built in the medieval period as a strategic point of defense. Bran Castle, set on a 200 foot high rock was associated with the famous Bram Stoker’s novel and is nowadays known as the “Castle of Count Dracula”. It was one of the dark, scary and yet the most exciting attractions we went to during our trip.

Our journey to Bâlea Cascadă, Transfăgărăşan, the best road in the world according to Top Gear was particularly exciting as we visited the Paltinu Chalet, built during the communist regime and had a Romanian-style lunch on Bâlea Lake, a glacier lake at an altitude of 2034 m.

From Bâlea Lake, we headed to Sibiu, which was European Capital of Culture in 2007. We visited the Astra Museum in Sibiu, the largest outdoor ethnographic museum in Europe. The visit included a carriage ride through the museum park with a tasting of authentic Romanian products. The city was founded at the end of the 12^thcentury and is one of the main tourist centers in Romania. Another must stop is Alba Iulia, a town considered Romania’s “second capital” and a place full of history.

My favourite visit was to the Salina Turda, a real Salt Mining Museum in Transylvania. Salt air is good for health, and the place is considered to have the purest air on the planet. It was a surreal experience and we thoroughly enjoyed strolling near the lakes at the bottom of the mine.

These are many reasons to visit Romania from the charming disposition of the locals, the breathtaking landscapes, vampire tourism and the wide variety of fresh wholesome food.

I flew to Romania with Turkish Airlines with a stop in Istanbul. There is enough time to experience the Turkish Airlines award winning lounge in between the flights or enjoy the retail experience at the new airport in Istanbul.