From Hora, on Patmos, we could see the island of Lipsi on the horizon. It’s called the Island of Churches, because there are 42 churches serving barely 700 souls. That’s one for every 16.6 (recurring) people on the island … although some of them are too small to hold even half that number. All are immaculately kept, all regularly painted in white, picked out in pale blue and nearly always with a blue dome. But, the reason for that apparent ecclesiastical overkill isn’t religious fervour. When th

by Chelle Koster Walton

I watched tidily uniformed schoolkids climb aboard as the crew loaded sacks of flour, a boxed microwave, some spare luggage, and various other unidentifiable bundles onto the 50-foot fiberglass ferry boat. Despite the early hour, everyone was cheerful as they made their way to their wood benches, nodding good morning to fellow passengers whether they knew them or not. The captain crawled through the window, gunned the engine, and we began powering our way through the bra

Today I headed south on Rt. 11. Through Kailua, past Captain Cook. We turned south on the South Point Rd. and drove the 12 miles to the end of land–”the southernmost point in the USA”. We watched and talked to the local fishermen, walked the cliffs and climbed the rocks out as far as we could go. Stunning, gorgeous. The one lane narrow rutted road, the rock walls across pastures, the cliffs, crashing waves and gray skies all bring England to mind–reminded me alot of Cornwall and Land’s End–not Q

As I flip through my passport with almost two hundred stamps, and look back on my 185 posts in my WordPress blog, numerous posts on Tripatani or Travel Bloggers Unite, and my 75 reviews on Trip Advisor, I realized that I am living a dream come true. Due to a myriad of converging circumstances, not the least of which is marrying the right woman, I get to travel to exotic locations, luxury locations and mundane locations and write about them. Someday, maybe, someone will pay me to write about thei

When our boat sailed into Patmos, we used the harbour at Grykos, rather than the main harbour at Skala. We shared the jetty with the Old Fisherman. The crew of our boat said that he was almost always there, patiently sitting in his little red boat, mending his nets. When he was out fishing, you know he’ll be back, when you see his three friends waiting for him.

Two cats and a seagull would sit on the nets waiting for him, for he always had a fish for them, no matter how meagre his catch. It’s a s

(please watch the 1-minute Grand Manan Video PostCard at the end of the post)

It’s certainly tempting to think of Grand Manan as God's shrug of land surrounded by a vast, changing and beautiful sea.

There is something about small fishing villages on islands that holds my heart tightly, especially those snuggled against rocky coasts with mists hovering like shifting shrouds.

Partly it's the pitched, jarring sound of gulls or the air heavy with the scent of salt and fish.

But I think it's the deep q

Prized for its unbothered natural beauty, gracious hospitality and secluded worlds-away appeal, Little St. Simons Island is a private barrier island just off the Georgia coast. The natural world presides here across 10,000 intrusion-free acres of maritime forests and marshlands, enjoyed by no more than 32 overnight guests at a time. Seven miles of shell-strewn beaches and energizing outdoor activities beckon guests to explore and discover. Accessible only by boat, this extraordinary natural sanc

Sea Island is one of the few remaining destinations to experience Southern hospitality from a bygone-era. She was founded by automobile mogul, Howard Earl Coffin, who envisioned her to be the “Southern jewel for legendary ambiance.” The island has remained true to this vision since the Roaring Twenties. Among the clusters of cozy willows, tropical palms and lush green grass is an elegant, natural setting that is incomparable to other vacation destinations.

Sea Island is 85 miles south of Savannah

A television programme dealing with the some of the thousand-odd islands around the British Isles caught my attention. Brief visits were made to many of my favourite islands, including one to my very favourite, the little-known but fascinating Piel.

Piel lies off the Cumbrian coast, at the mouth of the Walney Channel, near Barrow in Furness. It isn’t a large island. It’s only 19 acres in area, and barely 500 yards across at its widest. But it has a king.

He doesn’t gain his title by inheritance, t

Scuba diving: one of my greatest dreams. Unfortunately, my inner ear won’t let me. But over the years I’ve talked to plenty of serious divers, and they’ve told me that the Canary Islands are most definitely a scuba do, boasting some of Europe’s best diving at all skill levels (and snorkeling, too, for that matter – now that I can do). The water’s usually warm all year round, there’s good visibility, and both the marine scenery and fauna (including the gorgeous lobster above, and 11 species fou

"Best islands in the world," "America's greatest main streets," "top ten US. beaches" - on list after list of media and travelers' choice polls, those who know continue to agree that the Massachusetts island of Nantucket is among the best place in the US and the world.

Main Street, Nantucket is one of America’s most prestigious addresses, as well as boasting one of its most beautiful main streets, according to Travel & Leisure. Walking along this enchanting thoroughfare from the Harbor, one e

My God, it wasn't just your run-of-the-mill gorgeous outdoor destination, it was a freaking, sparsely populated island in the Galapagos! "How could you people walk away from the sky and ensconce yourselves in walls. For chrissakes, come outside and sleep!"

Those were the thoughts that passed through my mind as I dragged my mattress off the rustic, yet sturdy, hand-cut, wooden bed frame and dragged it across the floor of the cutest little cabin I'd ever been in, and slammed it down outside on th

In this 37 square mile area, you will be amazed by the breathtaking landscape, fluttering butterflies, blue turquoise waters, beautiful white sand beaches, delicious food, delightful Duty Free and Tax Free shopping, glorious Caribbean sunshine during the day, and a vibrant nightlife at night... St. Maarten/St. Martin offers a broad array of entertainment for everybody, from families to honeymooners.

During the evenings, enjoy the vibrant nightlife of tropical cocktails, casinos, steel bands,  dan

Rugged cliffs plunge into the sea, to the north; a lush forest occupies the central areas and miles of white sandy beaches stretch to the south. That is the small Danish island – palette (588 sq.km), Bornholm, in a few words. The island might be small in area, but whether you choose to go there for a weekend or a long holiday, the tiny sunny islet offers a whole new aspect of Denmark.

A range of activities available for the outdoor lovers – climbing, horseback riding, sport fishing or golf. Art l

Europe’s most popular holiday islands draw major tourist crowds to its well-known charms, but with a bit of insider info, you can hit these islands and have an entire-beach-to-yourself getaway.

Island 1: Ibiza

About half the island, and especially the still fairly untrampled northeast areas are covered by thick forests, almond and fig groves.

Island 2: Mallorca

High-rise tourist development is something you don’t see so much in the medieval centre of Palma, whose old quarter oozes history in its twi

The Canaries are a delightful adventure of the best activities, beaches, culture and cuisine.

It is highly likely that once you’ve been on a holiday to the Canaries, you may be tempted just to set up permanent camp at one of the amazing beach resorts. Do so, but, but make sure you don’t miss to roll around the vast dunes of Gran Canaria‘s Maspalomas, enjoy the waterfalls of the delightful Los Tiles bioreserve on La Palma.

It’s all too easy to land in the Canary Islands and, taken by the feeling of

Vieques is the perfect holiday destination. Just 15-20 nm from the US and British Virgin Islands, six nm from the east coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques is one of the Spanish Virgin Islands, also referred to as the "Passage Islands”. Less crowded then their southern counterparts and ringed with white sand beaches, the islands are still relatively untouched by developers and tourists alike.

Getting There

Take the ferry from Fajardo for $2. Schedules available online: http://www.vieques-island.com/vieq

by Bret Love

This is a list of the top five romantic Caribbean getaways.

One of the most popular places for a honeymoon is the Caribbean. Its tropical islands have much to offer for newlywed couples beginning their lives together. With so many places in the Caribbean holidays to choose from, the Wedding Channel has created a list of the top five romantic Caribbean getaways.

Las Casitas Village and Golden Door Spa in Puerto Rico

Located in Puerto Rico, the Las Casitas Resort has 157 private villas with Atlantic