Travel Greece, The Pelion

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In Greece, the best places have a dreamlike quality, as if nymphs still lurk around the next olive tree. On the Pelion, you practically have to shoo them away. This 50km peninsula dangling in the Aegean, north of Athens and east of Volos, has idyllic landscapes, enchanting beaches and an artistic heritage as delightful as it is unique.

The sun: The big Greek sun bathes the Pelion in a painterly glow, and its waters are warm enough for a swim in October. Just don't come looking for fancy hotels; here nature herself does the biz, sculpting some of Greece's most drop-dead gorgeous beaches. For children, there are safe beaches along the Pagasitic Gulf and at Platanias, in the south. But the real stunners are scalloped out of Pelion's wilder Aegean coast; Mylopotamos; the beaches at Agios loannis; Horefto, with its white sands; and the turquoise waters of Fakistra. 10/10

The countryside: The peninsula fuses a wonderful variety of landscapes. Chestnut, beech and plane forests shade the slopes of Mount Pelion, famous for medicinal herbs. Head south and this leafy, bucolic land gives way to sweeping Mediterranean hills. The Pelion's 24 villages are among the most beautiful in Greece. 9/10

The culture: The Pelion has an architectural style all its own, specialising in silk-merchants' mansions and churches, with their sculpted iconostasis - two of the best are at Kissos and Milies. Volos, the Pelion's port, has a fascinating archeology museum. Nearby, you can explore the neolithic ruins of Sesklo and Dimini, as well as Bronze Age Pagasae, Hellenistic-era Dimitrias, and early Christian Phthiotic Thebes. 8/10

The activity: Think low-key, but quality. You can hire a horse at Katigiorgis, in the south, a bike at Affyssos; or a boat in Milina, to explore the beaches and islets around the Pagasitic Gulf. The Volos tourist office can supply details. On summer weekends, the Moutzouris steam train makes a scenic chug from Kato Lehonia to Milies or just sit around in a coffee shop (kafenion), watching one of those spectacular sunsets. 7/10

(This article is taken from The Sunday Times Travel Magazine)


Alan Aldana

Spain, Cap de Begur

Spring is almost upon us, and by now, you should have booked your big shot of European sunshine for this summer. But you can't decide where to go. Wouldn't it be brilliant if there was a destination with a bit of everything? Sun and sand; sensational scenery; a spot of culture and history; and the chance to put on some Lycra and play the daredevil. We've found four part of the Med that tick every box. These are Europe's all star destinations, chosen by writers who know their countries inside out.

Spain, Cap de Begur

The Costa Brava's reputation as one giant, writhing Lloret de Mar beast has, ironically, helped guard some of its treasures. Only 40 minutes from Girona, the Cap de Begur is one of the best, garlanded with lovely beaches and whitewashed fishing villages, and with sporting and cultural attractions that range from the sublime to the surreal.

The sun: Summer in Begur means that intoxicating scent of pine and lazy days by the sea, especially if you find southern Spain suffocatingly hot in July and August. The cape is remarkably varied: cliffs pirouette from the sea, Blue Flag beaches shelve gently into clear waters and the deep azure of coves such as Aiguablava teeters on the edge of Fauvism. There are beaches for all tastes, from stunning L'Illa Roja, a naturist beach tantalising enough to make your grandmother skinny-dip, to the child-friendly, golden sands of Llafranc or the Platja de Raco. Or there's isolated Platja Fonda. 9/10

The countryside: Citrus, carobs, pinewoods and cork oaks adorn the coast; fields of maize and red poppies fill the plains behind; and the bluish green of the Pyrenees haunts the horizon. Medieval towns form an integral part of the landscape: romantic castle-topped Begur, Pals and Peratallada, and Ullastret, with its ancient Iberian fortifications. 7/10

The culture: Begur is immersed in a rich Catalan stew of culture. Get surreally misinformed at the Dali Museum, in Figueras, and visit the maestro's quirky seaside house near the bijou art colony of Cadaques. The outstanding Romanesque monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes looms on the headland above; the Graeco-Roman ruins of Empuries overlook the Gulf of Roses. Inland, Girona conserves an astonishing Gothic cathedral with the widest nave in Christendom, the 11th-century Tapestry of Creation and Arab Baths. The Catalan sea-and-mountain cuisine is excellent - although you'll need to book a year in advance to bag a table at El Bulli, in Cala Montjol, one of the world's best restaurants. And if all that's not enough, Barcelona is a day trip away. 10//10

The activity: Watersports are all catered for around Begur's cape, while divers flock north to the stunning Medes islets, off Estrartit, a protected marine reserve teeming with friendly fish. One of the many dive centres is Xalos. There are excellent golf courses, including Pals. Or walk the enchanting coastal path from Begur to Llafranc. 8/10

(This article is taken from The Sunday Times Travel Magazine)


Alan Aldana

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Wonders of the Orient

Imagine a continent that combines gourmet food, cultural adventures, heaven-sent spas, beautiful hotels, buzzing cities and some of the best beaches in the world. Take a trip to the Far East and you'll be treated to a feast for all senses.

Combine a stay in two or more destinations for an unforgettable break - Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Thailand is the perfect place to begin a stress-free trip. As it's home to some of the world's best spas, you'll return home rested and recuperated. And with many of the world's favourite dishes on the menu, you'll find your tastebuds tickled at every turn, whether you're visiting streetside foodstalls or one of the best restaurants in Bangkok. This year marks the 60th year of the reign of King Bhumipol Aduladej, the world's longest reigning monarch - expect plenty of celebrations and excitement to mark the occasion.

If it's retail therapy you're after, Malaysia is a shopper's paradise, where lively street markets bustle alongside up-to-the-minute shopping malls. In Kuala Lumpur, skyscrapers look down on primitive longhouses and Moorish building cluster alongside the buzz of Chinatown. Away from the city, Malaysia has some of the world's best eco-resorts, with beautiful beaches and an amazing underwater world.

Why not mix a beach getaway with a once-in-a-lifetime city experience and head for Singapore next? It's one of the world's most exciting city destinations. With a mix of Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians influencing culture and day-to-day life in the capital, you'll nver be short of things to do. Top of the list is a trip to shopper's paradise Orchard Street and a cruise along the river on a traditional bumboat, stopping to sample Indian banana leaft rice and the city's famous chilli crab - two of the must-try specialties.

Last but definitely not least, there's never been a better time to visit vibrant and exciting Hong Kong. 2006 is Discover Hong Kong year and there are a host of new attractions and memorable events on the menu, along with Hong Kong's wolrd renowned shopping, nightlife, and a to-die-for harbour view that's perfect for proposals. Leave plenty of time to sample the city's renowned cuisine - with over 9,000 restaurants, Hong Kong is a paradise for food lovers. And don't forget the breathtaking scenery of the outer islands.

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BAFTA 2006 Winners

Bafta 2006 Winners

The full list of winners of the Orange Bafta Film Awards 2006, held on 19 February at the Odeon Leicester Square, central London is as follows:

Best film - Brokeback Mountain

Best British film - Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit

Best actor in a leading role - Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote

Best actress in a leading role - Reese Witherspoon - Walk The Line

Best actor in a supporting role - Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain

Best actress in a supporting role - Thandie Newton - Crash

Original screenplay - Crash - Paul Haggis/Bobby Moresco

Adapted screenplay - Brokeback Mountain - Larry McMurtry/Diana Ossana

The David Lean Award for achievement in direction - Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain

The Carl Foreman Award for special achievement by a British Director/Producer or Writer in their first feature film - Joe Wright (Director) - Pride & Prejudice

Best film not in the English language - De Battre Mon Coeur S'est Arrete

The Anthony Asquith Award for achievement in film music - Memoirs of a Geisha - John Williams

Cinematography - Memoirs of a Geisha

Editing - The Constant Gardener

Production design - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Costume design - Memoirs of a Geisha

Sound - Walk the Line

Achievement in special visual effects - King Kong

Make Up and Hair - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Short animation film - Fallen Art

Short Film - Antonio's Breakfast

I normally blog about travel but I thought, I'd make an exception tonight.

Many thanks,

Alan Aldana