Savannah: Alex Raskin Antiques

In gorgeous, historic Savannah, every square is surrounded by regal, magnificent homes, rich in architecture and the promise of great stories to tell.

Happening upon what looked like a run-down, deserted and "haunted" house on the corner of Monterery Square, with a sign that said "Antiques", my curiosity was instantly piqued. The door was locked, but there was a note on the door with a number to call for it to be opened. The note also stated that the home was large so it would take some time.

There was no response.

The next day however, the door was unlocked. As I pushed it open, it creaked just like a horror movie door.

But very much not like a horror movie, was the sight of an enormous front room filled to the brim with heavy pieces of antique furniture and sculptures. A perfect antique shop. With all the mystery of a haunted mansion gone, it was easier to walk in, and browse amongst the vintage furnishings.

The shop-keeper invited me to explore the other floors (3 more!), so I set off upstairs. At the top of which was a door with an instruction to "shut the door behind you"....

Join me within the walls of the historic Noble Hardee Mansion of Monterey Square...

Alex Raskin Antiques, 441 Bull St  Savannah, GA 31401

Vancouver: Capilano Suspension Bridge

I used to be terrified of heights, but have been overcoming my fear with rollercoasters, rock-climbing and now, traipsing over the Capilano Suspension Bridge in British Columbia (also the longest and highest suspension bridge in the world)!

It was a lot sturdier than I thought, and our little introductory tour of the site helped...especially knowing that it's no longer made out of hemp rope and cedar planks!

The Capilano (First Nations name Kia'palano, meaning "beautiful river") bridge crosses over the Capilano River, 70 metres (230 ft) above and 140 metres (460 ft) across, and has since been rebuilt with steel cables anchored into 114 tons of concrete. They say it can carry 1333 people. 

But it still sways. Very much, so.

(Too bad Instagram video didn't exist a couple of weeks ago, that would have been perfect!)

The new edition to the other end of the bridge is the Treetop Adventure, various smaller suspension bridges created in 2004 that allow you to trek through the trees with a birds-eye view of all the beautiful age-old greenery that Vancouver is known for. It started raining a little, but we couldn't even tell for the lush canopy overhead.

India: Delhi: Qutab Minar

One of the first stops of sites seen was the Qutab Minar, a 72.5 meter tall tower, made in 1192 of sandstone and marble. A World Heritage Site having survived lightning storms and the test of time, the Qutab Minar has remained an impressive structure of unique and beautiful Islamic design.

They no longer allow people to climb up it and it's already begining to lean, but I'm not the first to notice, apparently, it started to lean shortly after it was built.

Here is a journey through the Qutab complex....in all its ancient Mughal glory.

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Greece: Santorini, Skaros Rock

Certainly one of the most unique places to stay would be inside a cave, wouldn't you say?

Hotel Sunny Villas, with its incredible caldera and sunset views, was one such place and with it being situated in front of the famed Skaros Rock, it was an ideal location for a morning hike.

Now, I'm not a hiker, and not an adventure seeker, either, so seeing a well-trodden path on Skaros made me feel confident about this type of hike.

Then we met a group who had just done the hike and were resting at the foot of it, amongst them was an older lady with a cane.

They told us that there's a hidden CHURCH on the other side of Skaros Rock, that is only accessible if you hike over some fallen rocks, which, when you approach them, appear to be the end of the road. However if you hike OVER these trecherous rocks (with a sheer drop on the other side) the path continues on down to the church. With an incredible view. 

And a closer view of Heaven I thought, if I slipped.

BUT.

The old lady did it.

So we gave it a go, and of course at the pile of fallen rocks, the camera was put away, but you can see that they were right.

Totally worth it.

Heaven, on earth.

Greece: Santorini, A Gander

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