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MARSEILLE, FRANCE



Some people are surprised to hear that Marseille is the second largest city in France, after Paris. They have a population of over 850,000 and if you count the area around the metropolitan center they are over 1.5 million.

Marseille is located on the Mediterranean coast and has always been a popular place for Europeans to holiday. Many cruises use Marseille as a port-of-call. The old port of Marseille has been the heart of the city since the Greek-Phoenicians settled in 600 BC. The Americans are now catching on to this beautiful coastal city.

Marseille, like it's larger sister, is separated into "arrondissements". We would call them districts or sectors. There are 16 in Marseille and 20 in Paris. Most have their own personal vibe and history.

With its beaches, history, architecture and culture, Marseille is one of the most visited cities in France. It boasts 24 museums and 42 theatres and is ranked 86th in the world for business tourism and events. In fact, Marseille has been designated as European Capital of Culture in 2013.

Marseille has a history and has been the birthplace and home of many French writers and poets. The small port of l'Estaque on the far end of the Bay of Marseille became a favorite haunt for artists.

Due to great festivals, June is a great time to visit. Give us a call and arrange your visit today. 415-454-4932.


SVETI STEFAN, MONTENEGRO



It is exclusive. It is luxurious. It is expensive. When we visited we knew it would be closed while we were there for renovation so we have not yet been on the island. In fact, no one can go on the island even now unless they are staying or dining on the island. It is privately owned. Aman Resorts renovated it and have a 30 year lease

Once a fortified village which dates back to the 15th century, it has cobbled lanes (not really streets), picturesque courtyards and of course sea views that only a small island can have. The history is significant and the surrounding areas have a beauty that is unparalleled.

Bay of Kotor - Kotor is a coastal town with a population less than 25,000. The architecture is breathtaking and the high mountains that surround it make you understand why politically and militarily this was an important spot. But it also makes it one of the wettest spots in Europe.


CROATIA



The population in Croatia is about 4.5 million people. The Capital of Croatia is Zagreb and they boast 1185 islands, islets and reefs. It is considered to be one of the most impressive coastlines in Europe. (And we agree!) Croatia (at this point) has escaped the over-development of most other coastal areas and Mediterranean holiday.

Our children actually attended a camp in Croatia during the summer. One as a camper at 13 years of age and another as a counselor at 15. We visited both times they were there and only wish we had a third child who could go to camp and "force" us to come and visit. Croatia is a very beautiful coastal country with lovely people and surprising modern infrastructure. My favorite however is probably their ice cream. Best of any country - at least for me. Even Italian gelato. I would recommend a visit to Split, Pula, Korcula and of course Dubrovnik. If you have time there are many other places to visit along your coastal drive.

Dubrovnik - Absolutely a highlight for us! What was the best thing we did here? We got lost. Truly just walking around and we got a bit lost. We happened upon an older lady who had a little shop in her home with crocheted items and such. We went into the shop (we didn't care we were lost - had not where to be) and began to chat. Our chat with her was without a doubt one of the highlights of our travels. She lived in Dubrovnik during the war. She had stories. Amazing stories. She was friendly, spoke English very well and LOVED her city and truly enjoyed telling us about it. We often try to carve out some time with locals (in a restaurant, on the street and even it appears, just walking into their homes).

Dubrovnik has recovered from the war damage it suffered during the 1990s. This is absolutely one of the number one spots to visit for 2013. This city still shows signs of the struggles of war, but it is now teaming with tourists. This amazingly beautiful and historic city is nestled between the Adriatic and the Dinaric Alps. It's easily accessible with lots of scenic drives along the coast to arrive by. In Old Town it is pedestrian only and you might like to get a little lost too.

Korcula - This island is known for being very green. The Greeks named this island Korkyra Melaina or 'Black Corfu' for since it was so densely wooded. This island has many small secluded beaches and breathtaking views. There are also several small and uninhabited islands. The main town on the island is also named Korcula. This is a typical medieval walled Dalmatian city, with its round defensive towers and cluster of red-roofed houses. Marco Polo (1254 - 1324) is said to have been born on this island. While there we went to the famous "sword dance" named Moreska. Fascinating and fun to see.

Email us today for information on traveling to this incredible destination. skytours@skytours.com 415-454-4932.


KENYA, AFRICA



An African Safari - Family Style! - My family went to Kenya for a true African Safari in 2003, when I was 12 and my brother was 11. This was one of the most interesting experiences for my family, and one that I still remember fondly ten years later! We flew into Nairobi, which is the capitol of Kenya and also the largest city in East Africa, with a population of 3 million people. If you're looking for an interesting dining experience, you can't miss Carnivore! It features an all-you-can-eat meat buffet, featuring familiar meats like pork all the way to out-there zebra! A must-see for the meat lovers!

We went to the Maasai Mara National Reserve (known by the locals as "The Mara") for the Safari part of our African Adventure, which is most famous for its large population of lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as the annual migration of zebra, gazelle, and wildebeest. These animals migrate each year between July and October to and from the Serengeti in Tanzania, known as the Great Migration. We stayed in an amazing resort on the Maasai Mara and enjoyed our encounters with the hippos while we dined in their open air dining room (you just had to be careful that the monkeys in the trees didn't get a hold of your morning toast!) . When sitting in the busy, yet relaxing dining room of the resort, you could feel the excitement and hear the buzz of fellow travelers before they left for their day of Safari! Everyone was talking about catching a glimpse (and hopefully a picture!) of the Big 5 - the lion, leopard, African elephant (my personal favorite!), African buffalo, and Black Rhinoceros. We had our own tour guide and our own open-air Safari Jeep, ideal for catching the perfect snapshot of all the animals and the beautiful landscape.

After a long drive (and even seeing a Lion eating a recently made kill) we arrived at our tree-top resort. It seems that big game animals don't often look up as they have nothing to fear. And since the treetop was right next to their local watering hole scores of animals of all kinds came in the middle of the night to have a drink and visit with one another. You opted for the resort to either buzz your room when exciting animals showed up for drink or let you sleep. We opted for the buzzer and it was exciting to wake up to go out and see the illusive white Rhino or 20 elephants all in one place.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is named after the Maasai people that inhabit the reserve, easily recognizable by their bright red outfits. While on safari, we got the unique opportunity to visit one of the Maasai villages. We were able to find out some more about this unique culture, from how they build their huts made of dung, to their interesting beverage of milk and blood. The people of the village had beautiful crafts and art pieces for sale, and my brother and I each got to choose one item. I chose a beautiful blue beaded and leather decorative necklace - it still hangs in my room today! This is an experience that cannot be missed! A great family adventure!

Call 415-454-4932 or email ticket@skytours.com to book your own family adventure.


THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ADVENTURE
(Peru, Tahiti, Easter Island, Chile)



Peru - The first stop on our epic journey around the Southern Hemisphere was Peru. Here, we got the unique opportunity to see the Nazca Lines, which are a series of HUGE ancient images comprised of shallow lines in a desert plateau. These designs, which are mainly stylized animals like spiders and monkeys, are made in the ground by removing the reddish pebbles that make up the top layer of the surface and uncovering the white earth that lies beneath.

These images are incredibly large, the largest being 660 feet across! Because of their immense size, the best way to see them is from the air. We took a small 5 person airplane to see all of the Nazca Lines. It was a bit cramped but being able to see the vastness of the landscape in combination with the massive, almost other-worldly Nazca Lines was an experience like nothing else! The little airplane swerved to the left and to the right and to the left again, so the pilot was sure you didn't miss any view of the Lines. If you are prone to motion sickness, be sure to take your medication before boarding the airplane!

Tahiti - Moorea - After Peru, we flew to Chile, only to leave the next day for the long flight across the Pacific to Tahiti. We stayed on the island of Moorea, one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the privilege to travel to. The ocean water there was like nothing I had ever seen. It was the richest color of teal fading to dark, dark blue; although rich in color, the water still had a lightness and transparency to it, through which you could see the light sand of the bottom of the ocean.

Tahiti was the first place that my brother and I were able to go Scuba diving, which is definitely an experience not to be missed! There were innumerable species of beautiful and colorful fish, swimming around pink and yellow coral. Our French Scuba instructor was friendly and accommodating when my brother and I got a little nervous about venturing out into the great depths of the Pacific Ocean.

My family also took a tour to a private Island off the coast of Moorea. During this tour, we got to swim alongside sharks (don't worry, they were small!), and stingrays. The stingrays were scary looking but harmless, as their stingers were more like sandpaper than actual stingers. One of the more special experiences on Moorea was when my brother and I got to swim with a dolphin. My brother and I got to swim alongside the dolphin and even got to hold onto its fin as it pulled us around the pool of water. The dolphin was intimidating at first, but was so friendly and lovable, it was sad when our swim was over.

Easter Island - Easter Island was my personal favorite destination of our trip around the Southern Hemisphere. The history and culture on this island was so rich and intriguing, and the people never failed to amaze me. Easter Island is most famous for the Moai, which are the immense human figures carved in rock by the Rapa Nui people of the ancient Easter Island. Possibly the most interesting thing about the Moai is the severe lack in information about how they were moved from the main Moai rock quarry to the edges of the island. There are many theories about how the Moai, each weighing around 82 tons, were successfully moved from the rock quarry atop a mountain on the island to the shores. I found the mystery of the Moai incredibly alluring, making Easter Island my favorite place during the trip.

The people on the island were also extremely friendly, especially the owners of the small bed and breakfast that we stayed in while on the island. One night, there was a benefit right next door for a sick local boy of the island. There were different performances and traditional Rapa Nui dances. There was one man during one of the traditional Rapa Nui songs and dances that stood out to me. He was very large and intimidating, with paint all over his body - and he was playing the bones of a horse jaw as his musical instrument or choice! Easter Island was definitely an experience like nothing else and is ideal for anyone looking for an adventure that is anything but ordinary!

Chile - Valle Nevado - To top off this already incredible adventure around the Southern Hemisphere, my family went skiing in Chile, at a ski resort called Valle Nevado, located a couple hours into the mountains outside of Santiago, the nation's capital. Valle Nevado is South America's newest and most popular ski resort - and after visiting there, I can see why!

It was incredible to experience the tropical weather of Tahiti, the autumn-like weather of Easter Island, and the snow-capped mountains of Chile all in one vacation! The coolest part about skiing at Valle Nevado was that the mountain was above the tree line, meaning that there was absolutely NO TREES at all! Only fresh powder on the slopes - unbelievable!

Call 415-454-4932 or email ticket@skytours.com to book your own adventure around the Southern Hemisphere.




skytours@skytours.com; Phone: 415-454-4932; 1204 5th Ave, San Rafael, CA, 94901.