Katakolon, Greece

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Katakolon is a port city in Greece mainly visited by cruises that use it as a stopover in the Ionian Sea. When you get there it seems that everything takes shape because you’re there. Its inhabitants always welcome tourists with smiles and kindness that characterizes because it is these cruises that allow the development of the small town. You will find a main street with many shops, restaurants and cafes. The music will accompany your steps in the streets.

Tips

Next to the station, you can visit the museum of ancient Greek technology where you will see a collection of inventions that goes from 2000 BC to 100 AD.
If you like the ancient sites, visit Olympia where the Olympics games were born. If you are on a cruise, take the tour offered by the ship in your language, so you’d be safe with the timing to return to the ship.
Katakolon is the ideal place to buy souvenirs, you will find local products such as wines, liquors, olives, nuts, soap, olive oil, etc.
If you want to relax, you have 3 beaches close to the harbor; the best known are Plakes Beach, 200 meters from the port; Andreas Argio 3 km and Kouronta Beach at 21 km. The water is crystal clear and the sea is very calm.
If this is the ‘dolce far niente’ you want, you have several cafes, bars and restaurants by the sea to observe the activity of the port and the ships and enjoy a good coffee, a good wine or a typical liquor. Nothing urges you … Life is beautiful.

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Chez Ali, Marrakech, Morocco

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Chez Ali is a tourist complex in the heart of the Palmeraie of Marrakech, where you can attend a dinner show, known as the ‘Fantasy of  Marrakech’. The atmosphere is warm, you can feel like in an evening of Arabian Nights, under Berber tents decorated with carpets; hosted by fantasy; tasting the delicious dishes of the region. The show includes folk music, dancers, acrobats, magicians, fireworks … The show after dinner is outside. Transportation from your hotel or riad is included with your ticket.

Tips

If you do not want to attend the dinner, there is the option of paying just for the show. You can still arrive an hour before to visit the place which includes the Cave of Ali Baba, the museum with the history of the place and of its owner and the tents.
Children under 6 years do not pay.
The show takes place in the dark with very little light so it’s not very good for photos so a good camera is required.

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The gardens of Aranjuez, south of Madrid, Spain

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The gardens of Aranjuez, located in the fertile plain of the Tagus in the south of Madrid (within an hour), is a space where nature blends with art; resort of kings and source of inspiration for many artists, there are fountains, sculptures and ancient trees. It was here that walked the monarchy and the Spanish court in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The gardens surround the Royal Palace. The best known are the gardens of the Prince, the island and the Parterre. The master Joaquín Rodrigo was able to interpret this place in his famous Concert of Aranjuez. The Island Garden is considered the most important and characteristic of the time of the House of Austria (sixteenth century) and is surrounded by the waters of the Tagus. There are white marble nymphs which adorn the staircase that provides access to the orchard where Queen Isabella II used to stroll. The trails are drawn in a grid and you can smell the aroma of boxwood while you walk through them. There are also small waterfalls. The garden of Paterre before the palace façade, presents paths bordered by hedges, cut following a geometrical balance (like French gardens of the time). Two large fountains are found there, that of Hercules and that of Ceres and also marble vases with colorful flowers. The garden of the Prince, designed in the English style, has almost 150 hectares. Formerly, these huge spaces were dedicated to hunting parties. We find a wide variety of trees, monuments, ponds and fountains there.

Tips

If you visit the garden between May and October you can enjoy to do it on board of the Train of strawberry; this is an ancient railway.

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