90 km South of Samarkand, the great capital of the Timurid Empire, on the other side of the mountains, lies Kesh, now known as Shahrisabz, the city where Amir Timur (known in the West as Tamerlane) was born. Shahrisabz is actually the Persian name of the city, meaning "green city".…
Tashkent (Uzbek: Toshkent) is the capital city of Uzbekistan and the most populous city of former Soviet Central Asia. Most package tours to Uzbekistan or even many travellers just pass by Tashkent, but this is a mistake - it is completely worth staying 2 days in Tashkent.Tashkent is a historical…
For centuries, Bukhara was one of the main cultural and religious hubs of Central Asia. It also had a bustling trade activity due to its location by an oasis in the Silk Roads. Samarkand is probably more famous in the West, but Bukhara's historical importance is even greater.Bukhara does not…
Samarkand is a legendary city, its name the most evocative in Uzbekistan and all Central Asia. Nowadays, Samarkand (Uzbek: Samarqand) is the second most populous city in Uzbekistan and a must in any trip in the country. Actually, only a few large monuments survive of its old city, but what…
When we told people we were travelling to Uzbekistan, not few didn't quite understand what we were saying - "what's there to see?" was a typical question and the more prejudiced "wow! a stan?" ("-stan" is a suffix that means land, just like we say "England" or "Finland"). To be…
León is undoubtedly one of the most interesting towns to visit in Spain, because of its historical architecture, its cuisine and atmosphere (great for tapas lovers). Surprisingly, León is not such a popular destination. Few foreigners have ever heard of this historical city, and even less know its wonders. León…
Oaxaca de Juárez (or simply Oaxaca) is the capital city of the State of Oaxaca. Oaxaca preserves one of the most beautiful historical city centres of Mexico and is famous all over the country for its excellent cuisine and mezcal.Oaxaca lies by Sierra Madre del Sur, one of the main mountain…
In a beautiful landscape in the mountains of Madrid (Sierra de Guadarrama), outside the village of Rascafría, stands the Real Monasterio de Santa María de El Paular, the oldest carthusian monastery of Castile. A place full of history and art not part of usual touristic visits that will certainly surprise…
Summer 2020, the pandemic was giving us a bit of a break, but it was still difficult to plan any trip. Would they let us leave our city or region? Enter another country without further requirements?So we decided to wait until the last minute to decide our destination and plan…
Toulouse is a perfect destination for a weekend and a fantastic base to explore the South of France. It may not have the glamour of the Côte d'Azur or the elegance of Bordeaux, but Toulouse has an interesting heritage, a beautiful waterfront and it is one of the liveliest cities…
Georgia is home to a rich cultural heritage and amazing landscapes. Its well-preserved mediaeval monasteries remind us that Georgia was, and still is, at the frontier of Christianity.
Laguardia is not only one of the most beautiful small villages in Spain, with an untouched mediaeval heart. It also hosts a unique oenological heritage.
