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Andreas Brokalakis

Traveling, hiking and photographing. That's the story! Apart from that I love food, good music and positive people who smile and laugh. Engineer by profession, photographer by heart. Currently located in the island of Crete, Greece.

All the waterfalls suggested here are amazing and in general quite easy to access. Because of this, they usually are crowded, especially by groups of tourists that can totally ruin the experience. The thing is that exactly because of this, the crowds tend to arrive at each location at certain times during the day and therefore if you avoid these hours you will be able to enjoy the falls far better. For example being early in the morning or late in the afternoon is a wonderful experience. A way to accomplish this, is by choosing to stay in the nearby areas instead of driving from Reykjavic and doing the whole trip in a day. There is an amazing campsite near Seljalandsfoss and Gjulfrafoss where we camped and as we were sitting in our tent we were surrounded by all the great waterfalls. Similarly, Svartifoss is in Skaftafell which is like the epicenter for hikes and glacier ice hikes and it is a shame not to spend more time and enjoy at the same time Svartifoss in a more relaxed way!

Not many towns in Iceland, this is a great place to regroup after intense activities or long miles without meeting a town. There are lovely restaurants and it was the first place we had a proper dinner after many days of camping, so it was a memorable moment for us!

If it is possible, spend at least two days in Petra. The overall area is vast and it is extremely interesting both from a hiking/adventurous and archeological/cultural perspective. You will need to walk many miles in order to discover all the beauties that the site has to offer! If you are into photography, then it is a good idea to be at Ad Deir (Monastery) during sunset in order to enjoy the wonderful colors. Also, the little Petra (which has no entrance fee...) is very interesting although it is overshadowed by its more famous "sibling". Dont forget to get the map with the different trails at the entrance!

If you are into hiking the different trails in the valley, this is a very interesting way to relax and enjoy between the more intensive activities. Take your time, the view is excellent and the photographic opportunities with all the weather conditions are abundant!

The archeological site is nice but it is definitely not one of the top spots to visit in Rome. Not because of lack of interest but mainly because it is clearly overshadowed by so many other sites, monuments, museums, neighborhoods that you simply can't miss. There is a plan to upgrade the site with walkways and better overall access in the next year or so, which may make it more attractive in the future. As it stands right now, I suggest that you visit it only if it is convenient (it is located in the center of the city) or if you have enough time to spend in the city.

It is a nice ride to go from Paleochora to Sougia. The landscapes that you will encounter are nice and while the road is not the best, this is not a road with a lot of traffic, so you will generally be able to enjoy it. My recommendation though would be to be very cautious as the road intersects with many dirt roads so it is possible to encounter trucks from farmers or livestock that come and go.

I agree with the OP that this is one of the memorable walks to do while in Santorini. I also visited Santorini not at the peak of the touristic season (late September) and therefore it was not crowded which led to a very nice experience as you can easily stop wherever you want to enjoy the view and take photos. I don't remember feeling lost or in question about the path we were heading, so I believe that you wont have any issue. However, since it is going to be impossible to visit Santorini and not going to Oia and Fira, you always have the option to hike halfway and back from both places, which can be convenient in terms of logistics.

If you are on a trip to Venice and want to do all the touristy things you can do and tick all your instagram boxes, go do it. But I feel I would it in my retirement... It is far better to explore the alleys and little places all around Venice, enjoy a cafe or view the live museum of art that is Venice on foot, at your own pace and without the kitch of the gondola ride.

If you visit Paris, it is a no-brainer to visit Montmarte, one of the most beautiful (in my view) places of the city. Walking towards Sacre Coeur is very nice and the view is great. I would definitely recommend to plan this (of course if you can) on a sunny day, as you need to take your time and enjoy the view. If you are into street photography, it is also a great place to be.

This is one of the most interesting attractions in Yosemite if you don't want (or can't) go to more strenuous hikes. Also a great option when with kids. I did it as a first round of acquaintance with the park and it just fueled my desire to explore much more the park!

Biking around the park was a really nice experience because it offered the opportunity to explore a wide area of the park without having to use a car and all the negatives of doing that, especially in seasons when the park got really crowded.

I understand that this place may be an attraction to people with families that want a quick getaway but for someone looking to explore San Fransisco and the magnificent nature around it, it has little to offer and much less to make him/her excited.

The park is a green oasis in the city. This makes it the perfect place to run and feel like you are far away in nature and not in the urban environment. It also very nice to run during the hot summer days.

The waterfall is truly amazing with the basalt columns and it is very easy to reach following the trail. In winter it is even more magic with the white snow making an even greater contrast.

The cliffs are simply stunning and especially if the weather is dark the overall scenery is beyond description. The wind can be pretty wild though, so you need to be careful! The puffins which are the most famous among the birds in the cliffs, seemed to be very comfortable with the human presence and a result you may see them from a close distance.

Surely the view is great, however the overall experience felt very touristic and overcrowded. I would have prepared to spent the time differently

I have never seen a geyser before, so watching this nature wonder from up close was really amazing. I totally recommend to plan a visit even if it takes you outside of your itinerary as it extremely impressive.

The Fisherman's Bastion is one of the main attractions in the city and something that you should definitely visit. Besides being a pretty interesting historical monument and of great architectural importance, it also located in such a privileged location in the city that you may want to go just for the views.

Going to Amsterdam without exploring its canals is a totally broken experience! You can't skip it and you should not! It is simply very nice and especially if you happen to be in the city on a sunny day when all colors around are making it a visual feast, it is incredible! However, what I didn;t like is that the city can get very crowded from tourists, which makes it often hard to walk around (or bike) and enjoy your day. On top of that, Amsterdam is an attraction as a party city for many people and the crowded spaces can also get overwhelmed by parting people, often drunk or wasted, that makes the crowded experience even worse.

The overall area is great. I was especially amazed from the basalt columns on the left side of the beach. Despite its large size, it can get crowded since it is a popular stop for tour buses to stop there (when we visited the beach there were at least five buses parked meaning there were hundreds of people on the beach). Another thing that both makes it fun but at the same time requires your attention is the strong wings in the area. There are multiple signs that try to warn you, but keep in mind to retain a safe distance from the water, as huge waves can unexpectedly come.

We also visited the place because of the ark, however the vistas towards both sides and especially the Reynisfjara were amazing. We left the car there, which was much less crowded and went from there on foot down to the beach which was perfect. I only need to stress that it was very windy (and judging from the signs, this is the normal condition there) so you better be careful and have some windproof jacket with you.

The Tower of Pisa is so well-known that ok, it is impossible to be in the city and not visit it. And from up close, it is a pretty nice (and bizarre) monument, but that's it. So many tourists trying to take photos, that you are struggling. On the other hand, Pisa was a revelation. It is a really lively city with so many nice squares and neighborhoods that it is a shame to visit Pisa just for the tower. Dont forget to try the food and the local wines!

Elli beach is a kinda ok beach and if it didn't have this diving block it would be mediocre. It is indeed fun to dive from the block, but otherwise you can spend your day in one of the other numerous beaches of the island which are much more worth it.

I cannot say that this was the best place I visited in Reykjavik, but I was kinda impressed by the modern architecture of the church. Not something you encounter often.