The Elaphiti islands, or Elaphites, are several islands stretching out just northwest of Dubrovnik. The three main ones are Koločep, Šipan and Lopud, but there are many smaller ones as well. They are accessible by boat, and there are many tours that start in Dubrovnik and take you around them.
Lokrum is a beautiful island located less than 15 minutes away from Dubrovnik’s old town, so it is perfect for a day or half-day trip if you want to escape the tourists or the heat. There are ferries that regularly go there throughout the day, so you just have to check their timetables and hop on the one you like!
Dubrovnik is located in the Southern part of Croatia and is very popular for its beautiful location on the Adriatic Sea, perfect weather, beautiful Old Town and, more recently, for being one of the filming locations of the very popular show Game of Thrones. I visited back in July this year and one of my favourite things there was walking on the city walls that surround the Old Town.
Even though I only stayed for a few days in Dubrovnik, it really stole my heart. This not-so-hidden gem on the Adriatic sea proved to be the perfect mix between a sightseeing and adventurous holiday, and a relaxing and chill one.
Bruges is one of those cities who will almost always be mentioned in travel “bucket lists” for Europe destinations. And it is for sure one of the most visited cities in Belgium – if not the most visited. This is simply because it somehow looks too pretty to be real, a bit like a town that would come straight out of the illustrations of a fairy-tale book.
Ghent is one of Belgium’s biggest cities, and probably one of the most beautiful ones. Even though it is far less famous than Brussels and Bruges, it is absolutely worth the visit as this small city is filled with cute streets and pretty buildings, its history is long and interesting, and its art scene rich.
The first thing that gets me really excited about winter and December in general is Christmas and, more precisely, Christmas markets. There is something about them which makes me feel so festive and puts me in a great mood.
Linz is Austria’s third-largest city, although it is not as famous as Vienna or Salzburg. However, it is worth the visit if you find yourself in the north of Austria one day, or if you are a fan of electronic arts and modern art in general.
One thing is sure, I definitely missed traveling during the lockdown, and a lot of what used to be my “ordinary” life was put on hold for a long time, either because of government restrictions or simply because I thought it wouldn’t be “safe”. Anyway, after months of lockdown I was finally able to go to Italy to see my family!
One of the best things about traveling in my opinion is to immerse yourself in the place you are visiting and take in all the culture and history, enjoying the process of stepping into something new. This is best done by taking your time to admire everything around and, more generally, by slowing down. But sometimes, you also want to take in as much as you can and truly make the most of your trip, which can sometimes be shorter than you would like it to be.
Sunny Days with Juliette 