Glasgow, Scotland !!
Edward James Garden
Edward James was an eccentric Englishman born to extreme wealth and privilege. Edward grew to love surrealist art and became a patron of famed artists Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and others. An aspiring artist himself, James moved to Mexico to create Las Pozas (“The Pools”), a fantasy world of his own where he could create and display his surrealistic inspirations. The Surrealist Gardens of Sir Edward James and Las Pozas is set more than 2,000 feet above sea level in a tropical rain forest near the village of Xilitla. James creation consists of more than 80 acres of natural pools, waterfalls, and towering sculptures made of cement. For about a decade, this “surrealist Xanadu” housed a vast variety of tropical animals and plants, orchids in particular of which there were said to be at one time over 29,000.
Jalon, Costa Blanca, Spain.
The Jalon Valley, also known as the Xalo Valley is situated in the Marina Alta area in the Costa Blanca North and is quite simply stunning. The Marina Alta has a delightful mix of coastline and mountains, but it is its inland area that provides the great setting for this amazingly scenic day out.
Gata de Gorgos, the first stop of the day, has a long tradition of wicker making and there are plenty of shops selling all things wicker from dog baskets to table mats and even light shades! Following the course of the river Jalon the scenery is the main attraction. Fields of almond, olive and citrus trees as well as vines border both sides of the road. If you're making this journey during February you're in for a treat as the almond blossom will be in full bloom!! The village of Jalon makes a great stop as there are a couple of bodegas where you can sample the local wines, or continue to Alcalali for a stretch of the legs and a taster of a traditional inland village. After this, the mountain climb begins up to the Coll de Rates. The 360 degree panoramic vistas from the top are amazing, on a clear day you can see Mallorca!! On the way down you'll pass through the village of Polop, another ideal stop for a wander and refreshment before heading home.
Kas, Turkey.
This beautiful natural harbour town is framed by the dramatic Taurus Mountains and is located a twenty-five-minute drive from Kalkan along a spectacularly beautiful coastal road. The winding cobbled streets, colourful local shops and local market place all combine to provide a real Turkish flavour.
Naturally, the harbour is the focal point of the town, with local çay (tea) gardens providing delightful shady spots in which to relax and soak up the atmosphere prior to exploring the labyrinth of narrow streets that meander through the old town.
Kaş means ‘eyebrow’ and it gets this name because the town is set in a curved bay that’s shaped like an eyebrow. Much of Kaş’s past is still in evidence. In fact, if you stroll around the town, you’ll come across an ancient sarcophagus at the top of a street of small shops and the bay itself is backed by high cliffs that are dotted with rock tombs.
The town extends out onto the Çukurbaş peninsula, and stretches toward the Greek islands, the closest being Castellorizo (‘Meis’ in Turkish).
However, Kaş offers more than just a beach holiday. Steeped in culture, the region affords many opportunities for exploration of numerous cultural sites together with the surrounding dramatic mountain ranges. In addition, sporting enthusiasts are well catered for as Kaş is a centre for outdoor sports and provides a range of activities including paragliding, trekking, canyoning, sea kayaking and scuba diving.
Kom Ombo temple, Karnak, Egypt.
Situated on a high dune overlooking the Nile, The Temple of Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple built during the Ptolemaic dynasty. The actual temple was started by Ptolemy VI Philometor in the early second century BC. The Temple of Kom Ombo is actually two temples and everything is duplicated along the main axis. There are two entrances, two courts, two colonades, two hypostyle halls and two sanctuaries.
