Photo credit: nattu

Located in the Indian Ocean, the Republic of Maldives is not only the smallest country in Asia but is also the lowest country on the planet with an average sea level of only 1.5 metres.  This is not only an interesting fact but could also mean a death sentence for this picture perfect country that will likely be the first to be in peril due to rising sea levels and climate change.  As a result, the Maldivian government has taken a bold stand against climate change and continues to be outspoken in alerting the world to their cause.

Photo credit: Easa Shamih

With some of the richest biodiversity in the world, the islands of the Maldives are surrounded by thousands of species that make their homes amongst the many types of coral that can be found in this area.  Diving and snorkelling are, as a result, hugely popular pastimes in the area.  The blue lagoons and deserted islands make the Maldives a perfect honeymoon spot that has gained in popularity in the past few years.

Photo credit: Sarah_Ackerman

The Maldives truly are a dream destination for me and I hope to be able to visit someday very soon and surround myself in their natural beauty.

Travel Monday – Barcelona: enjoy some tips of things to do and places to see on your next trip to the beautiful seaside city of Barcelona!

Dream Destinations – Ronda, Spain: take a tour of this gorgeous hideaway through photos, and add it to your list of places to visit next.

Photo credit: astique

Travel Tuesday – Just Desserts: travel around the world through sweets and delicious desserts.  Take a look at the mouthwatering churros from Madrid, Spain!

Street Art Series – Barcelona: as long-time readers know, I am practically obsessed with street art.  Here’s a closer look at some colourful examples of Barcelona’s vibrant street art.

Photo credit: cabezadeturco

Travel Monday – Valencia, Spain: looking for a great place to get away from it all and relax this summer? Head to Valencia and enjoy the Spanish cuisine and culture.

Travel Monday – Madrid, Spain: want to get away but you prefer a more bustling city environment? Travel to Madrid instead and enjoy all that the Spanish capital has to offer!

Photo credit: St. Groove

As you can see, we’re big Spanish fans here at Travelfusion and congratulate the team and the country on yesterday’s victory.  It’s hard to believe that it’s all over and we’ll have to wait four years for more World Cup fun!

Here’s a series of photos of one of my dream destinations, Seychelles.  Located off the eastern coast of the African continent, Seychelles is a nation that is made up of over 100 small islands.  The beauty of these islands is difficult to describe in words, with unspoilt beaches, clear waters and exotic wildlife all the norm in this area.

Here are a series of photographs of this breathtaking destination for you to enjoy and help you start daydreaming right along with me!

Photo credit: rachel_thecat

Photo credit: dibaer

Photo credit: dibaer

Photo credit: Olivier Cochard-Labbé

Photo credit: evhead

Photo credit: orocain

Although I have only visited Madrid once, my favourite part of the city and reason why I’d love to travel back is the enormous Retiro Park.  Known by some as the “lungs of the city,” Retiro Park is like an oasis in the middle of this busy city and offers respite and calm in an otherwise frantic place.

Photo credit: Juanedc

For a more active day in the park, hire one of the many rowboats and propel yourself around the beautiful lake near the majestic monument to King Alfonso XII, but be prepared to be in tourist photographs!  Or, grab a cold drink and seek out some shade under one of the many trees around the park.  It’s easy to see why Retiro Park has been a top destination for both tourists and locals since it was built in the 1500’s.

Photo credit: Zaqarbal

Once you’ve had your fill of relaxation and tranquility, seek out a local tapas bar and enjoy Madrid’s culinary specialties.  Order a drink at the bar in any tapas restaurant and you’ll be treated to these “small plates” of delicious bite-sized treats in a variety of flavours.  From savoury tarts to small bits of chorizo sausage, tapas are always my meal of choice in Spain.  Washed down with a glass of sangria, tapas are a great idea either to start off your night or as the cornerstone of your evening in Madrid.

Photo credit: anaulin

Wait for temperatures to get a bit cooler and take a trip to Madrid this autumn. Flights from London to Madrid in late September start at £ 37 return.  Flights from Dublin to Madrid start at £ 51 return for the same weekend.

Photo credit: Klearchos Kapoutsis

Though the city was more or less levelled in World War II, Warsaw’s residents were determined to rebuild and emerge phoenix-like from the ashes so the city today  is now an interesting mix of the old and the new, with plenty of modern buildings dotted around town.

Photo credit: ryarwood

The Old Town (Stare Miasto) was rebuilt to mirror its appearance before the war.  The town square is beautiful and a great place for people-watching and photographs.  One of Warsaw’s most prominent tourist attractions, you will also surprisingly find some pretty delicious restaurants and snacks in this area.  The restoration is amazing and you will definitely feel as though you’ve gone back in time before any scars to this area were caused by war and invasion.

The Royal Walk and Castle Square are adjacent to the Old Town area and also worth a visit.  Posh boutiques and recognisable shops line the Royal Walk and beautiful views from one end of the road to the other make a walk in this area a definite must-do on your next visit.

Photo credit: iwona_kellie

Of course no post about Poland would be complete without mention of the delicious cuisine.  I tucked into many different varieties of pierogi (dumplings) whilst visiting.  My  favourite place for pierogis was the restaurant Zapiecek that was located just off the main square in the Old Town. With different varieties of pierogi from savoury to sweet, the food was quite reasonably priced and the best pierogi that I’ve ever tasted!  For the drinkers amongst us, Warsaw is a wonderful city for vodka tasting, with seemingly hundreds of different varieties all over town.  The Iguana Lounge was my stop one evening for a vodka tasting and I wasn’t disappointed with the friendly service or all the different vodkas I tried!

Photo credit: Ana Paula Hirama

If the weather is nice, enjoy one of Warsaw’s many parks and open space – over 25% of the city is parkland.  The Saxon Garden is the oldest park in Warsaw and was my favourite on my visit.

Inspired to visit Warsaw?  It’s easy.  With direct flights daily from all London area airports, in less than three hours you’ll be transported to another world and enjoy all that Warsaw has to offer.  Take a long weekend in mid August and fly from London to Warsaw from only £107 return.  Flights from Manchester to Warsaw start at £157 return and from Dublin to Warsaw from £181 return for the same August weekend.