ROMANTIC GATEWAY - CROATIA

Located near the European countries of Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Herzegovina is a gem of a country called CROATIA, with some really magnificent hidden treasures.  This small country is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world as more and more tourists throng this country each other.

The Amazing Dubrovnik:

Some stunning sights, a number of islands and fantastic beaches make this country a must-see destination as well as a perfect gateway for that romantic outing you want to enjoy with your loved one.



The main towns of Croatia include Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, along with Dubrovnik and Split.  These are fast gaining importance as tourist destinations due to their unique qualities.

Zagreb:

This is the economic and cultural heart of the country.  If you and your partner are interested in Archeological and historical findings, this is the best place to be visiting.  There are a number of monuments which date back to 1794 and even before that.  Some of the main attractions in the city of Zagreb are –

·        Gradec & Kaptol in Gornji Grad dating back to the middle ages.

·        St.Mark’s church and St. Catherine’s church.

·        Dolac – Open air market.

·        Glavni Kolodvor – Railway station of Zagreb.





·        Croatian National Theatre and Academy of Arts and Sciences.

·        Museum of Arts and Crafts.

·        Mimara Museum of Paintings, sculptures and ceramics.

Another main attraction of Zagreb is Maksimir, a planned park with stunning landscapes.  This park has a number of small lakes, pavilions, and even sculptures of the 18^th century.  This is the ideal place for a romantic walk through its botanical gardens. 

Dubrovnik:

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and another reason to visit Croatia.  It is considered to be the jewel of Croatia and is known as ‘The Jewel of the Adriatics’.  This town has been preserved in its past form with Terra cotta roofed houses and small churches.  It is as it you are taking a walk through a medieval past period.  The 2 km long city walls make the perfect elevated platform to observe the treasures that Dubrovnik has to offer along with its fortress and towers with small painted buildings peeking out through dense undergrowth of trees. 

The popular archeological and historical monuments of Dubrovnik include –

·        Rector’s Palace dating back to the 16^th century.

·        The Franciscan Monastery which is Europe’s oldest pharmacy.

·        The Cathedral, the Jesuit church and St.Blaise’s church.

·        Maritime Museum of navy.

Every year, in the months of summer around mid-July, the famous Dubrovnik Summer Festival is organized which portrays a number of cultural activities including classical, jazz music and theater performances.

Just roam through this medieval city with your sweetheart and experience a thrill of walking back through the past years of history.

Split –

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Croatia.  This beautiful city was founded around 3^rd Century BC by Emperor Diocletian.  The main attractions of this city are –

·    The Roman Peristil along with its Roman Bell Tower which dates back to 13^th century.

·     Museum of Croatian Archeological Monuments

·     Mestrovic Gallery.

·     The Marjan, a spot high above the city where you can get some stunning views of the Adriatic.

·     Summer Festival of Split.

If you are tired of seeing all these Archeological and historical destinations in Croatia, then there are still a lot of other activities to indulge in for the perfect Romantic Gateway.

Romantic Schedule for Croatia:

·        The Beaches and islands of Croatia welcomes you to a vast shoreline which is nothing but magnificent.  Just laze out and enjoy the sunshine on the pebbled beaches with their emerald-blue water.  These are truly great destinations if you want to enjoy a bit of privacy and silent atmosphere.  Enjoy the seafood which has an Italian flavor to it or go on a fishing expedition to catch some really big fishes hiring a boat.

·        Private cruises are available if you two want to have a ball at sea.  Get some ice-cold beer and look at the coastal splendor of Croatia as it passes by you.

·        Hire a car and drive through the small towns and villages along the coastline with their unique culture.

·        If you are into sports, Croatia offers some very good opportunities for mountain sports and skiing in winter at the town of Bjelolusica.

·        Go for a romantic outing to Krk Island, Croatia’s largest island.  Indulge in various water sports or just relax for an evening at one of the many resorts and hotels available at Krk.

·        Pag Island is another island with its uniqueness in hand embroidery and of course the taste cheese of Pag.

Plitvice Lake National Park :-

A visit to Croatia cannot be finished without a visit to one of the most beautiful National Parks of Europe, if not of the world.  The Plitvice Lakes National Parks consists of 16 lakes which are linked together by natural dams.  This place has a dense undergrowth of forests and a number of water falls.  This gives it a unique colorful combination of green and blue.  The park, opened in 1949 and again in 1979 is UNESCO World Heritage Site No.3 of Croatia.  This site is also named as ‘Disneyland of Natural world’ because of the various natural locations in has.  Once can enjoy activities like Biking, cycling or hiking in this wonderful destination.  Kayaking and canoeing are also available.

If you are visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park, try to stay overnight at the Korana Village which is situated at the entrance of the park.  A truly magnificent and stunning landscape surrounds Korana village with small houses and streams along with a dense cover of forest.  It is the most ideal location for having a dream romantic outing.

Enjoy your Romantic Gateway in Croatia and you will not regret it.

This Article is taken from my blog : http://romanticgatewaysaroundtheglobe.blogspot.in/  

ROMANTIC GATEWAY - THE AMAZING MALDIVES

This tropical paradise, is the most exotic place in Asia and one of the most enchanting places in the world.  Maldives is all that and more.  Visit this place and you will know why it is described as such. 

Set among the blue waters of the Indian ocean, this beautiful island is located South-east of Sri Lanka.  Out of total 1190 small islands only 200 are inhabited by humans.  This island is a mix of live corals and sand bars consisting of 2000 coral reefs alone.  It is an ideal place for one of the most Romantic Gateways that one can find.

Tourism is the main source of income in Maldives and so one can have the best options along with friendly and co-operating locals of the island.  There are various activities that one can enjoy in Maldives, mostly consisting of water sports.  This small tropical paradise also has some historical treasures and monuments which can be unearthed. 

The Beaches – On any tropical island, most of the island activities are seen on its beaches and Maldives is no exception.  It has some really exquisite beaches like Cocoa Island, Nika and Banyan Tree Island which are a photographer’s dream location with its white sandy beaches, clear emerald water and bordered with palm trees. 

The Resorts – Staying in a Resort  on Maldives is an experience one has to cherish with. Out of the 200 islands, 87 of these are now converted into private resorts which cater to each and every need of the tourists.  Situated in waters and on the pristine beaches, these resorts are the ultimate destinations for a Romantic Gateway.  Just gaze out of your cottage room lying on a comfortable bed in each other’s arms and see the splendid view of a sunset, or else just stroll outside your rooms on the virgin beaches absorbing the nature.  These resorts offer a number of facilities from honeymoon packages to renting out different equipments for water sports activity.  Spa Resorts provide you with couple massage packages which can be a rejunivating experience for both of you.  If required, these resorts provide with special marriage arrangements to be made in Maldives.

Water Sports – Being a tropical island, Maldives offers a variety of water sports to its tourists. 

·        Fishing - being the main occupation of the inhabitants of Maldives, it is the main attraction for tourists too.  Enjoy fishing in the deep sea waters.  You can catch fishes of a large variety such as barracudas, rainbow runner, squirrel fish, sword fish and the famous tuna.  Just rent a yatch or a boat and take your fishing rod with you for that romantic trip in deep sea waters of Maldives, either fishing or just laying out on the boat for a sunbath.  Most of the arrangements are made by the Resorts.

·        Snorkeling – Snorkeling is another great attraction in Maldives as you can take a look at the vast underwater marine treasures that this island has to offer.  Maldives in fact, offers the best of marine underwater world with an array of colorful fishes and a variety of oral reefs which attracts tourists from all over the globe.

·        Scuba Diving – It is another sport that can be experienced on your trip to Maldives.  Some of the main sites for diving are Baa Atoll, Lhaviyan Atoll, Raa Atoll and Vaavu Atoll.  These sites are specially selected for their rich flora and a serene atmosphere which are ideal for scuba diving.  All the resorts in Maldives offer scuba diving equipments and conduct tours for these sports to its visitors.  Night Scuba diving is also conducted in Maldives and it can be an exciting experience if you have not done it before.  Just dive in the calm and silent waters on a moonlit night and see the treasures of this beautiful island in the darkness.  It is an experience just out of the dreams.

·        Wind Surfing – This activity is another adventure you can embark upon on this island.  Surfing schools are available in Maldives for the novice.  Some sites are selected for this type of sports activity and surfing on clear emerald blue water and catching strong waves are truly a great moment. 

Along with these main activities there is the submarine diving activity where you can board the submarine which goes down to about 150 meters beneath the water and one can watch the marine treasures of Maldives.  Underwater photography can also be done in these waters and the resorts provide you with the camera and equipments necessary for the same. 

If you both want a break from these water activities, Maldives have a number of historical places to explore such as the National Museum which has belongings of the Sultan of Maldives along with stone carvings and archeological findings in Maldives. The Friday Mosque, Huskuru Miskyii is the biggest in Maldives which can house around 5000 worshippers at a time.  Then there is the Presidential Palace and Mulee Aagee monument to explore.

Tourists enjoy places such as Baa Atoll, Faumulaku and Kudahuvadhoo for their beauty and serenity.  The city of Male in Maldives offers tourists a view of the traditional culture and way of life in Maldives with its busy vegetable markets, fish markets and the firewood markets.  Enjoy the local cuisine of Maldives which consists mainly of fish and fruits mixed with the local spices adding flavor that is totally divine. 

For that ideal Romantic Gateway Maldives, just soak in the sun absorbing the beauty of this place, or take a sip from a drink, lying under a coconut or Palm tree, enjoy the various sports activity or else just stay at one of the exotic resorts of Maldives enjoying the evening sunsets or sitting on one of the large verandas of the Cottage room.  Go for a night stroll on the virgin beaches of Maldives along with your partner and then have a Maldivian dinner which is the icing on top of your most Romantic Gateway that every couple wants on their honeymoon.