Category Archives: Travel

Japan Views: ‘Eikan-do – Temple Of Zen’ In Kyoto

Massimo Nalli Films (August 5, 2023) – A tour of Eikan-dō (永観堂, “View of Eternity Hall” or “Hall of Yōkan) or “Zenrin-ji” (禅林寺, “Temple of Forest of Zen”) is the head temple for the Seizan branch of Japan’s Jōdo-shū (Pure Land) Buddhist sect.

The temple compound is nestled in Kyoto’s Eastern Mountain (Higashiyama), and its buildings, most of them connected by covered walkways and staircases, are scattered among a range of heights.

– Main gate – the Kōrai-mon (高麗門) is named after the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo (Kōrai in Japanese). The current structure dates from the late Edo period (mid-19th century).

– Inner gate – the Yakui-mon (薬医門), along with the Kōrai-mon, derive from the fortress gates that would have surrounded the aristocratic mansion before it became a temple. Their placement and architecture are said to still reflect these origins today. The current structure dates to 1744.

Adventure: Off-Road Tour In The Wilds Of Guatemala

Toyota World Runners Films (August 4, 2023) – An overland travel tour of the Pan-American Highway. This video features Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is home to volcanoes, rainforests and ancient Mayan sites. The capital, Guatemala City, features the stately National Palace of Culture and the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Antigua, west of the capital, contains preserved Spanish colonial buildings. Lake Atitlán, formed in a massive volcanic crater, is surrounded by coffee fields and villages. 

At its fullest extent the Pan-American Highway is a network of roads stretching from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina, a distance of around 48,000 kilometres (30,000 miles).

The Pan American Highway: The Longest Road In The World

Seaside Italian Villa Tour: ‘Art Nouveau’ In Liguria

Lionard Luxury Real Estate (August 4, 2023) – A tour of a stunning sea-facing villa, an example of Art-Nouveau architecture, with private paths that lead down to the sea.

Located just thirty km from Genoa, this house was built on the beach front, at the foot of an enchanting village on the western Ligurian Riviera. Immersed in a centuries-old park measuring 4.5 hectares, among the intoxicating scents of lush lavender hedges, this villa stands out for anyone looking from the sea towards the thick Mediterranean scrub that covers the hinterland.

In the center, in a magnificent panoramic position directly overlooking the sea, this 2,000-sqm villa stands fascinating and majestic, developed on three floors. Its beauty, protected by the Cultural and Landscape Heritage, is given by the large reception hall that occupies the ground floor, with original terrazzo floors and ceilings with stuccoes and embossed decorations, around which there are four rooms, two on each side, as well as a study and four bathrooms.

On one side of the floor, there is a 180-sqm terrace featuring precious marble floorings – the ideal setting for a sumptuous reception – covered by a fixed structure that can be closed on the sides.

Travel: Walking Tour Of Verona In Northern Italy

Moveora Films (August 4, 2023) – Verona is a city in northern Italy’s Veneto region, with a medieval old town built between the meandering Adige River. It’s famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

A 14th-century residence with a tiny balcony overlooking a courtyard is said be “Juliet’s House.” The Verona Arena is a huge 1st-century Roman amphitheater, which currently hosts concerts and large-scale opera performances. 

National Geographic Traveller – SEPT 2023

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National Geographic Traveller Magazine (September 2023): This issue features Portugal – Surf The Atlantic Coast, Hike in the Algarve, Kayak through Porto and Explore Alentejo’s Lakes; California – Follow in the path of Gold-Rush Pioneers; London to Istanbul – How to plan the ultimate train trip across Europe, and more…

Travel: Walking Tour Of The Island Of Ibiza In Spain

Tourister Films (August 1, 2023) – Ibiza is one of the Balearic islands, an archipelago of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s well known for the lively nightlife in Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni, where major European nightclubs have summer outposts.

It’s also home to quiet villages, yoga retreats and beaches, from Platja d’en Bossa, lined with hotels, bars and shops, to quieter sandy coves backed by pine-clad hills found all around the coast.

Sweden Travel: Biking & Canoeing On Lake Vänern

The Times and The Sunday Times (July 31, 2023) – Simon Parker saddles up for midnight sun, pine trees and cinnamon buns along a challenging 400-mile gravel bike route in West Sweden.

Lake Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden, the largest lake in the European Union and the third-largest lake in Europe after Ladoga and Onega in Russia.

Portugal Travel: Walking Tour Of Alfama In Lisbon

Frank in Portugal Films (July 30, 2023) – The steep streets of Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest areas, are lined with shops selling traditional crafts and cafes. Passengers pack the historic no. 28 tram, which winds through Alfama on its way up to 11th-century São Jorge Castle.

Views from Miradouro da Graça terrace stretch over the city to the River Tagus. In the evening, melancholy Fado music can be heard in some of the area’s long-running restaurants. 

#Lisbon #Portugal #Walkingtour

Travel: Tour Of Ushguli In The Caucasus Of Georgia

DW Travel (July 30, 2023) – A tour of Ushguli, a village in Georgia. The World Heritage Site sits some 2,200 meters above sea level in the Caucasus Mountains.

Only 70 families live in the village up on the country’s highest mountain – the Shkhara. During the summer, tourists love visiting the village to see its unique tower houses – an old medieval defense method.

Art Deco Design Tour: Prince De Galles Hotel ‘Lalique Suite’ In Paris

the Luxury Travel Expert Films (June 29, 2023) – A full tour of 5-star Prince De Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Paris, France.

Video timeline: 0:00 Intro 2:08 Facade 4:12 Lobby 7:27 Suite Lalique 16:43 Rooftop 25:13 Restaurants 27:57 Courtyard 30:10 Brunch 34:59 Dinner 41:46 Breakfast 44:15 Gym & Spa

The iconic Art Deco hotel is home to Paris’ most exclusive hotel suite, the Suite Lalique by Patrick Hellmann (a dazzling duplex suite with stunning design & rooftop).