A trip to Vienna can be recommended year-round, but the city shines in an especially romantic light during Christmastime. The small streets and alleys in the city center are decorated with Christmas lights and other ornamentation that put visitors in the holiday spirit. The many Christmas markets sell specialty items from the region and Christmas punch gives the city a magnificent atmosphere. But Vienna is worth a journey anytime, with its numerous coffee shops, many of which are more than 200 years old, its palace of the Hapsburg monarchs, and various art museums. Coach rides are a fun way to admire the city's beautiful architecture and blooming parks. And for those looking for nature, a cruise on the Danube or a trip to a vineyard, where local wine and food is served, can be a nice change.
Cinque Terre is a national park along the Italian coast, north of the city La Spezia that has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. The park stretches along five picturesque fishing villages that loom on ledges over the sea; many of the houses are more than 700 years old. Tourists can hike from town to town along hillsides filled with lemon trees, vineyards and little beaches and cliffs. The cuisine is a highlight in Cinque Terre. Fresh seafood is offered in addition to traditional Italian food and, of course, regional wine. The main villages are easy to reach by train, bus or car from the Genoa or Pisa airports. Hotels, as well as apartments and small guesthouses, can be found in all towns.
Patmos is a little Greek island belonging to the Dodecanese Island group in the Aegean Sea. The island has a long, historic religious tradition. It's been said that's where John the Apostle wrote the Book of Revelation, the last canonical book of the New Testament. The island consists of two main towns that are characterized by typical Greek houses. One of them is located uphill, overlooking the bay and its Historic Centre, which is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Both the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse are located there. In addition to these cultural sites, the island has many marvelous beaches and small fishing villages to visit, all built in the traditional Greek architectural style. The island doesn't have an airport but can easily be reached by ferryboat from the neighboring islands of Samos, Kos and Rhodes.
