Maldives...... Paradise in the Indian ocean

February, 2013....

February is another winter month, another cold month in my beautiful country - Russia, but somewhere it is time for bikini and massages on the beach like on Maldives!

It was very sudden decision while I was exploring galleries in Vienna and just the idea of those unbelievable islands made me so so happy. I and my soul were already filled with all the beauty that Vienna can offer so what was missing at that moment some happiness for my body and mind and Maldives, hmmm what can be better in the middle of the winter....

So let's go...! Flight Moscow-Dubai- Malé by www.emirates.com - really great airlines and once again I was convinced in them once I saw how this huge plane was landing on a very tiny landing strip. Have a look at the photo!!

To reach my final destination my hotel which is another island we boarded to another plane - sea plane - I think the dream plane of any traveller.

During the flight we have possibility to have a look on tiny islands, capital island Malé and of course endless ocean. Just look at the photo of Malé, its so hard to imagine that this is the city, the capital but its still just tiny island in the end.

In about 30 minutes this magic sea plane brought to the paradise resort on Maldives - LUX (http://www.luxresorts.com/en/hotel-maldives/luxmaldives)! From the first steps I felt I were in the Paradise, I was so happy and this feeling was  with me all the week and even today I have so beautiful memories about those days....

So here is it, the luxury resort LUX on the island of Dhidhoofinolhu in South Ari Atoll .

There is almost no transport on the island as it's small ( it took me about 30 min to walk all around the island),  and they try to preserve the environment but still they have electric tuk-tuk for older guests or  for guests who just would like to stay lazy:)!

Some people come back home and tell that these are boring islands but it was not for me. But yes there is not much to do that's why I recommend to come there only as a couple or a company, then you will really enjoy every moment on the island.

Breath out and forget about the world for few days and start to enjoy what nature and Maldives can give you....

Relax, sunbath on it's white beaches, swim in warm Indian ocean, dive and watch underwater world, practice yoga, have a spa day...

Enjoy fantastic changing colourful sunrises, sunsets....

Watch the sky....

Observe boats in this endless ocean...

Feed different fish like little sharks.....

Taste their delicious local cuisine which very close to Indian one.....

And when it's time to come back home, leave this island with a smile as it gives so much happiness to your soul and relaxation to your mind and body....

Hola!....or my first trip to Lisbon and what I found interesting for myself and for you to share.....

6-12 of April, 2014, Lisbon, Portugal

 Since 2013 I with my boyfriend decided to celebrate my birthday every year in a special way in a special place maybe where we have been already, maybe not. This time it was the second variant as it was the first visit to this country for  both of us.

We found one nice place to stay right in the historical heart of Lisbon - Baixa. This time we chose to stay in the serviced apartment in www.baixahouse.com and it was the right choice: location; clean and comfortable apartment with good facilities like high speed wifi, continental fresh breakfast each day in your fridge and very fresh bread each morning that you can find on your entrance door. Price are dependent on how many people and how long you will stay in the apartment. The more company is travelling with you the cheaper will your stay! So gather all your family or friends and travel together:)

If you look at the map, BAIXA area is one of the central ones, around it and nearby you can find many interesting sights (historic attractions, or local spots that will make you to stop by). And we found some of them just on our first day: so you can follow my way or find yours one: so start from the Praça do Comércio (used to be the place for the Royal Ribeira Palace destroyed by the great 1755 earthquake), today is a beautiful square with a fantastic Tejo 
river view. Here in northern-eastern part you can find the oldest cafe in Lisbon (225 years) -''Martinho da Arcada". Another interesting place you can find if you go to the right along the river , there you can find street bar that locals call ''quiosque'': social place to enjoy ''porto'' or other nice portuguese wines and of course enjoy the river view with sailing boats, colourful sunset, the fantastic bridge and your soulmate next to you. It is place where you want to socialise, dream, love ......

That evening we found by chance a lovely fish restaurant nearby the Rossio train station - ''Leão d'ouro'', except lovely fish dish, don't forget here to order the unique dessert ''tart de lima''....mmmm ... no words, just try it! 













ALFAMA

Next day we found the alternative style to explore another part of Lisbon on SEGWAY(www.lisbonsegwaytours.pt or just send sms to +351913008027) - it was fun, unforgettable, thrilling ... and you will see the whole area in less than 2 hours. Here don't forget to visit  great miradouro that will show you Lisbon on the height and from the different angle :)

Don't think about time and spend your time visiting the castle, after it nearby in a cafe try the super delicious pastry  "Pastel de nata" created back to 17th century  in Jeronimos Monastery (but bare in mind that the original one today you can find in the cafe ''Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém).

After a long day in the city we found a lovely restaurant right in the centre ''Sacramento'', here you will find modern Portuguese cuisine, nice atmosphere and perfect smily service. The dinner with drinks approximately will cost you around 80 euros for 2 people with drinks. I very recommend you to try it for a business dinner or romantic dinner:) www.sacramentodochiado.com/pt/


Another day we decided to explore other parts of BAIXA!

Its quite charming area with old streets back to 18th centuary. BAIXA is live and full of local people and tourists.  So start your trip from the Triumphal Arch and continue your walk along Rua Augusta - pedestrian street with some nice street cafes and little shops and don't forget always look on the streets you walk ....its real Lisbon unique masterpiece.

Walking along Rua Augusta from the left side but before Praça Dom Pedro IV you will find ''Elevator Santa Justa" (1902), the  from the top of it you will see the real beauty of Lisbon.

Go forward and you will find 2 beautiful squares:Praça Figueira from right side and Praça Dom Pedro IV, on which you can see the old Estação do Rossio and Teatro Nacional D. Maria II in front. If you go little bit right from Teatro you will find the Wall and Square of Tolerance, the site of the murder of thousands of Jews during the Inquisition in 1506. 

On the same square you can find unique liquor spot ''Ginjinha'' - a small place which serves cherry liquor drink, good place to start your evening or use it as a meeting point with friends.

Go forward to Praça Restauradores and in the corner of it you can catch Elevador da Gloria that will bring you to another miradouro with the view on Baixa and the northern part of Lisbon. After it or another day visit Jardim Botánico, the garden where is really worth to spend the day.

That evening we went to one Cervejaria ''Ramiro''http://www.cervejariaramiro.pt by some recommendation and it was perfect place: simple interior, delicious seafood, tasty beer and not high price for all of it :) - about 60 euros for 2 people! During our trip we went there twice!!!

The perfect seafood dinner made us to find some live FADO - Portuguese little bit or a lot sad music but for sure the must do thing while you are in Lisbon! Today you can find this live music in little cafes like Bela in Alfama or in St. Vinho in Bairro Alto, etc. Don't expect to find good food here but the original or close to it the original FADO music you may find. We visited  BELA, but I can't say that it was the best I have seen, luckily we had dinner before as then after we tried to enjoy the music but unfortunately the place was old-fashioned and small so we hardly heard the fadisto. But still in the end I bought the music disc of one of the best and famous fadista Carminho, just check her songs on Youtube and probably you will understand me......

Next day we took that funny tuk-tuk that took us to BELEM, the western part of Lisbon.

The first thing we started with was the pastel de nata and uma bica (reminds espresso) in the cafe ''Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém" , then we went to the museum of Coaches where we saw so old and so huge royal coaches. Just imagine some of them needed 16 horses to make them go:). Our another stop was Jeronimos Monastery (XVI)  it is absolute architectural masterpiece and the forever home for the tomb of Vasco da Gama, one of the greatest navigators of Portugal. I do recommend to save and spend one day in this area, really beautiful and relaxing.

As we went back to the river side, we found Padrão dos Descobrimentos (1960), the monument of the discoveries that celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery and Torre de Belém (XVI), the tower was commissioned by King John II to be part of a defence system at the mouth of the Tego river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. 

If you get to that moment hungry as we did you could try Cervejaria ''Portvgália'' just opposite the monument. The fresh seafood that we found there was amazing, it reminded me ''Ramiro" but there you will find as well the beautiful river view. For the dessert we tasted new us delicious almond liquor ''Amarguinha'' - very recommended. 

The last day in Lisbon we just walked around the city and enjoyed river view and sunny days but for dinner was chose the special old restaurant to say goodbye to Lisbon - ''La Brasserie de l'Entrecote'', used to be a church today this brasserie today has the history for more than 20 years and you won't find here long menu just real meat entrecôte or veggie entrecôte but you won't regret about any cent spent here after you finish your meat- its something extraordinary yummy dish that you remember for a long time.http://www.brasserieentrecote.pt

Next day it was the time to leave Lisbon.....