China, Dunhuang, Mingsha Shan (敦煌, 鸣沙山)

Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu, or 'City of Sands'.

 

 

 

A huge sand dunes hide behind of Mingsha Shan entrance. 

 

 

Renting a pair of  orange sand boots is part of orientation to the dunes to prevent sands getting into your shoes. 

 

 

 Camel riding is a popular activity in Mingsha Shan and highly recommended.

 

 

 Yueyaquan (月牙泉) is a crescent-shaped lake in an oasis, 6 km south of the city of Dunhuang in Gansu Province, China. It was named Yueyaquan in the Qing Dynasty. According to measurements made in 1960, the average depth of the lake was 4 to 5 meters, with a maximum depth of 7.5 metres (25 ft) In the following 40 years, the depth of the lake continually declined. In the early 1990s, its area had shrunk to only 1.37 acres (5,500 m2) with an average depth of 0.9 meter (maximum 1.3 meter). In 2006, the local government with help of the central government started to fill the lake and restore its depth; its depth and size have been growing yearly since then. The lake and the surrounding deserts are very popular with tourists, who are offered camel and 4x4 rides.

 

 

 

 

Italy, Venice

Venice (Italian: Venezia) is a unique city in the world. This sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was six hundred years ago, which adds to the fascinating character. Venice has decayed since its heyday and is heavily touristed (there are slightly more tourists than residents), but the romantic charm remains.
 

 

 

 

Because Venice is on a lagoon, the water plays a crucial role in transportation. Whichever way you arrive, the last part of your journey will be on foot from the nearest waterbus/watertaxi jetty. If you need to carry or wheel bags along the narrow streets, bear this in mind when chosing your hotel location and route to it.

 

 

 

 

 

St Mark's Square Napoleon is supposed to have called this lovely square 'Europe's drawing room'. It is venice's principal open space, but increasingly often, as the rising sea threatens to engulf the frafile city, it might be moe accurately described as Europe's paddling pool.

 

 

Basilica di San Marco

 

 

 

 If you are looking for something to do, you can always shop. Venice is packed full of little stores in every corner and crevice. The commonest local specialties are Carnival masks, glass, and marbled paper. Price can vary wildly, so it's a good idea to hold off buying until you have a fair idea about the relative value of things. As is the case with most tourist cities, a LOT of the "original " and "made in Venice" items are actually made in China.
 

 

One of Venice's trademark foods is cuttlefish and its ink. This intense black ink serves as a sauce and ingredient for polenta (corn meal), risotto (rice), and pasta. These dishes are normally indicated by the Italian words "nella seppia" (in cuttlefish), "alla seppia" (in the style of cuttlefish), or "nero di seppia," (black of the cuttlefish).

 

 

 

Taking a gondola ride through the canals of Venice can be very romantic, but it can also be costly.

 

Rialto Bridge has become one of Venice's most recognizable icons and has a history that spans over 800 years. Today's Rialto Bridge was completed in 1591 and was used to replace a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524.

 

 

 

 

Greece, Meteora 2

 

 

 

 

The Great Meteoron (a.k.a. Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ) is the highest, largest and oldest of the six monasteries of the Meteora. Founded in the 14th century by a monk from Mount Athos, the Great Meteoron is still impressive and important today. If there is only time to visit one monastery in the Meteora, this is the one to choose.

The adjacent kitchen is still blackened with smoke and contains the original bread oven and soup-hearth. The wine cellar, full of wooden wine barrels and other agricultural supplies, can also be visited.

 

 

 

Inside of the Great Meteoron monastery, there is an entire room filled with the bones of the previous monks who resided here. Be on your best behavior when visiting. These skulls guard this holy site.
 

 

Visitors make their way up the stairs to Great Meteoron

 

 

The short way up for the monks.

 

 

Great Metereon Monastery, oldest in the Meteora.

 

 

There are few small souvenirs shops in front of monasteries.

 

View to the town of Kalambaka from Meteora

 

 

View of the town of Kastraki from Meteora .