Sunset in Oia(Greece)

Scarlet sky, a beautiful orange sun disappearing behind the sparkling ocean, a landscape that inspires awe - welcome to sunsets in Oia, Greece.
A beautiful sunset lends tranquility, no wonder this natural spectacle has inspired artists, poets,  photographers alike.  We have chased good sunsets in our travels too and have been fortunate to see some of the amazing sunsets(see here). And when it came to watching the sunset from a place known for it, we could not hold our excitement. As the pictures will tell you, we were not disappointed.

Vantage Points
Frankly you will get a great sunset from many places in Oia but one may offer marginally better view than other. The key to finding your spot is to be willing to stroll around for a while and not simply gather where most people already are. We found that this strategy gave us some excellent photo opportunities.There are a lot of restaurants with great views. These restaurants may take advantage of this by forcing you to buy a dinner only menu. If you are fine by that then a good dinner with a enviable view is not a bad deal.
Other option is a sunset cruise. I would prefer to watch it from the village though. the elements like the ships, cliffs, windmills together make the sunset look more dramatic and offer great photo opportunities.
Talking about good vantage points, people start flocking the Castle of Oia hours before the sunset.
 The place can get really crowded so if you have not scouted for a place and do not reach there on time then you may find yourself looking over someone's shoulder. If it is crowded at a place already, follow the strategy of ditching the crowds and find a new spot of your own. There are plenty.
Be informed-At its best, sunset looks stunning but it may not be at its full glory on all days. We saw the sunset on 3 consecutive days and our first evening in Oia was by far the best. So keep your finger's crossed.

More than Sunsets
Caldera view is most marketable offering from the establishments here - be it the hotels, restaurants or the artists painting sunsets. There are a lot of takeaways from the place however. This cliff top village looks beautiful with traditional Greek buildings and blue domed churches. Taking a stroll down the alleys is one of the major activities. You will be spoiled for choices to eat as well(fried feta with honey,seafood,homemade lemonade etc..)

Getting around- 
There are buses from Fira to Oia till midnight from 6:50AM in summers.You can also hire cars,bikes and ATVs here.

Golden hour at its best

A drink and a sunset

Fried Feta

Castle of Oia

Mykonos chora

Mykonos is famous for its architecture,windmills,nightlife and beaches.The island offers something for all ages. Stroll in the city in the mornings,soak the sun in the afternoon and enjoy the nightlife in the bars.
Picturesque cobblestone pavements with quintessential white buildings and blue doors and windows are flanked by many cafes and bars. Many of these offer stunning views. A meal here with the sun setting in the backdrop and candle lights is a must.

Those in need of shopping therapy will find scores of shops selling jewellery, local art, souvenir clothes and accessories, some from major brands like LV, MK and VS. 

Starting from the port, as you walk along the shore line, you will reach Little Venice. The 2 famous bars with the view of the famous Windmillls of Mykonos are here-Katernia and Rhapsody.Have a drink and enjoy the view.

Little Venice

 

Windmills

Mykonos is rightly called the Ibiza of Greece.Super paradise beach is known for beach bars and is open all day,you can enjoy the beach activities and party along.Mykonos is also a gay friendly place,there are many gay bars in the city.This place never sleeps,all the bars in the city are open till morning.

 

You can hire an ATV,bike or car.We hired an ATV in Santorini and it was a lot of fun.As we were staying in the city in Mykonos,and everything is pretty much concentrated in the city itself you can do without a vehicle here.There are buses to and fro to the beaches and airport from the port.The new port is a 5 min walk from city.Everything you want to see-the city,Windmills and Little Venice is in the town.Take an hour stroll with a map and you will see it all.

VISA for Indian passport (Tourism)

Visa is an official authorization appended to a passport, permitting entry into and travel within a particular country or region.
 In 2014, Indian citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 52 countries and territories, ranking the Indian passport 76th in the world.

Visa on Arrival-
 The following countries have Visa on Arrival for Indians -
Bolivia – 90 days,Burundi – 30 days; obtainable at Bujumbura International Airport,Cambodia – 30 days,Cape Verde,Comoros,Djibouti,Ethiopia,Guinea-Bissau – 90 days,Guyana – 30 days provided holding confirmation, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs,Hong Kong,Indonesia – 30 days,Jordan – 2 weeks, must hold US$ 3000,Kenya – 3 months,Laos – 30 days,Macau,Madagascar – 90 days,Maldives – 90 days,Nauru,Palau – 30 days,Saint Lucia – 6 weeks,Samoa – 60 days,Sri Lanka,Seychelles – 1 month,Thailand.

You might have to fill the Visa application on arrival so carry Local currency for visa fees and 2 passport size photos.

Visa-
While for other countries you will have to apply for a visa.

A filled visa application with the following documents has to be submitted to the embassy.
-    Original passport(valid for at least next 6 months and not older than ten years)
-    Filled Visa application
-    Visa fee
-    2 Passport size photographs
-    Last 3 months updated bank statements with bank seal on it.
-    Tour Itinerary.
-    Medical insurance for Schengen visa
       http://www.vfs-be-in.com/pdf/travel_insurance_companies_310815.pdf
-    Hotel reservations.
-    Confirmed return tickets
-    2 photocopy of your passport.
-    Last 3 months Salary Slip.
-    For Spouse - Marriage certificate

 You might need some specific documents for few countries.
You can find out from the embassy in your city.

Schengen Visa-If you intend to visit several Schengen countries and if you don't have a main destination or if you are going to spend an equal number of nights in multiple Schengen countries, you must apply for a visa at the embassy/consulate of the country which is your first port of entry.
http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/how-to-apply-schengen-visa/

E Visa-

Few countries give E Visas as well to Indians.
Turkey- https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/prerequisites/
The Electronic Visa (e-Visa) Application System was launched on 17 April 2013 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. This system allows visitors travelling to Turkey to easily obtain their e-Visas online (www.evisa.gov.tr), in approximately three minutes. 
If you hold a valid supporting document (Schengen visa or a valid visa from any of the OECD member countries; or a valid residence permit of a Schengen or OECD country).You can get the e visa.

Sri Lanka-http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainfo/center.jsp?locale=en_US

Singapore-http://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/overseasmission/new_delhi/visa_information/overview.html
All applications would be submitted via a new electronic visa (e-Visa) application system that allows visas to be processed online. Applications must be submitted to any of the authorised visa agents. Applicants whose application has been approved, can have the e-Visa printed online by the authorised visa agents. 

Transit Visa-
A transit visa is a temporary short period visa during your journey. Some countries require that you have a stop over of minimum of 24 hours to grant you a transit visa. But Singapore provides a transit visa for a stop over as small as 4 hours.

United States-A citizen of a foreign country(India) traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States enroute to a foreign destination requires a valid transit visa. Exceptions to this requirement include those travelers eligible to transit the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program.
http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typecandd.asp

 Canada-Indian passport holders in possession of a valid visa to USA and traveling to USA via Canada require a Canadian Transit Visa.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/transit.asp

Schengen countires-Transit visa types under the Uniform Schengen visa-

Airport transit visa – “A” Category is destined for the travellers that have to stop and wait for several hours for their next flight, in the international transit area of the designated airport. However, if planned to wait overnight, these travellers cannot accommodate in any place else except the transit area therefore accommodation in the city is off the limits.

Transit visa – “B” Category is destined for the travellers planning to travel through different Schengen countries by car or travel through different Schengen airports to a non-Schengen country for as a final destination. Under the transit visa one is allowed to reside in a Schengen area for a maximum of 5 days.
 Indian nationals can Transit without Visa via FRA or MUC if holding a valid visa for the destination and a valid Visa for any of the following countries-Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Romania, UK and USA (the approval notice I-797 is not valid document for visa free airport transit).

Please note: Visa requirements keep changing for every country.

Neal's Yard

A  hidden gem- Neal's Yard is just near Covent Garden. It is in a quaint district known as Seven Dials. Neal's Yard is quiet, secluded, bursting with color and charm. The colours and vibe of the place leave you speechless .

In the 70s Neal’s Yard consisted of a few derelict warehouses on the edge of the less than fashionable Covent Garden area. Within a few years it became a crazy hidden-away place which it still is.

The place is not that big(a small courtyard) and there aren’t  many shops. Only a few shops selling local cheeses, organic and homeopathic products, massages (the real ones), couple of restaurants and cafes.

Homeslice pizza serves 20 inches pizzas for 20 pounds which is quite a treat.You can order hand and half .They serve by slice as well-4 pounds per slice.

Wild food cafe is a raw centric,vegan cafe. Their food is fresh and the desserts and smoothies are to die for.A great place for veggies and non-veggies like wise. They love what they do,and it is clear from the way they present. White Chocolate tart sprinkled with dried rose petals and nuts,never seen a dessert put so beautifully on a plate.Sit by the window with a dessert,you will have to experience the feeling,it can’t be described in words.A touch on an expensive side but it's all organic and raw,you get what you pay for.

The place is magical.You can just sit on one of the colorful octagonal benches  in the quiet courtyard and enjoy.It has become a regular place for us and we are asking friends who have not heard about this place,just so we get an excuse to be here again and again.The place is just out of a fairy tale and we love fairy tales :).

Address-

Neal's Yard

Covent Garden

London

WC2H 9DP

Prague

So our first Europe trip finally happened. First of the many I promise. 
Europe spoils you for choices for short trips, especially in summers. Different places offer different flavor of vacation. Prague finally trumped over other options because it checked so many check-boxes - beautiful, vibrant and lets admit it fantastic currency-exchange value. More in the blog on that. 
We went with the list of to-dos based on the research before our visit. But as always some of the best memories of the visits are unplanned :). Before we talk about the small subset of fun things to do in Prague lets cover an important topic. 
Transport in Prague 
If you plan to use public transport find a tobacco shop, marked and get yourself a pass. A 3 day pass worth 310 CZK per pass per individual was perfect for the duration of our stay.  More info can be found here. This pass can be used for any public transport and proved to be very convenient. Get it punched -in to activate your  72 hours period of validity and then feel free to hop in and out of any tram, bus or metro. These together connect every place of interest in Prague very well. 

All too famous touristy must-dos in Prague 
Charles Bridge

 This density of people on this bridges rivals that of infamous Bombay local stations but unlike any other the crowd makes it so much charming.There are hawkers,musicians to entertain and the place is so full of life. The parapets are lined by baroque statues and adds to the beauty of the place itself.  Quite rightly has been rated as one of the best sunset spots in Prague, especially if you are watching it from a few stories up from the tower.  

Here is the view from top of the charles bridge tower.

The tower is open from 8am to 10pm in summers and the ticket is for 90CZK per person.A mesmerizing view, beautiful people and a happy vibe - holy trinity.
If wading through the crowd is not your thing, visit the place at dawn to avoid the crowd and enjoy the place like you own it :). Prague is also getting popular for destination-wedding photography,so there were a few others who had taken the pain to get there by 5:30am.

A good thing about summers in Europe is you can do a lot,as the day starts at 4am and sunsets around 10pm. Leaves you lot of time for partying, sight seeing and relaxing.

Old Town Square

In our 4 days stay,there was not a single day when we did not visit this place.This is where everything happens. Lined by numerous restaurants, shops and performance artists, this place is buzzing with energy. Just hang around and soak it all in.

Astronomical Clock Every hour, it gets into action and hundred of tourists crowd the place.You can watch the video here.The Astronomical Tower offers some amazing views of Praha.The ticket is for 250CZK per person. The charm of the clock is the mechanical intricacy married with aesthetics.

Prague Castle

Another popular tourist destination that offers an good view of the city, The castle houses museums, cathedrals and historic monuments. There are 2 types of tickets-short tour and long tour for 250 and 350 CZK respectively.

The royal guard changing ceremony is a key attraction here. The guard changing happens  everyday at 12 noon in courtyard 3.

 If I have to be honest, I would skip this if I had known what was coming. But interest vary so check out whether it would excite you or you are better off spending time and money doing something else. I guess taking a guided tour may make this more interesting. Just a thought no promises here :)

Cafes

Prague has some grand and posh cafes. We tried breakfast in different cafes on all morning of our stay. We were impressed by the food and desserts these cafes offered.

So much so that we think it needs a whole blog post.Read about where to eat in Praha here.

Breathtaking views

The city of hundred spires can be admired from the Old Tower, Charles Bridge tower,Prague Castle, Lenta park, Petrin Hill, Glass bar etc.

Lenon wall

Once a normal wall, since the 1980s it has been filled with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles' song-another fun place to be.

Dancing house

It was designed by the Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in cooperation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot.Gehry originally named the house Fred and Ginger (after the famous dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers – the house resembles a pair of dancers.The glass bar and Fred and Ginger restaurant offer a great view of the city.We enjoyed a couple of drinks as we watched the sun set down from the Glass bar.

This is all we could do in our short visit and it was a lot of fun.There is still a lot more you can do.Take a cruise or paddle boat.Take a drink and just walk around,enjoy the view and music,the tram rides,Chill in a park with a view,watch the sun as it sets,there is happiness all around in Praha.

Lenta park