Having a calm Sunday, so when finding this weather floating in calm water, I thought it did fit in beautifully this spring day even though the photo was taken during early fall last year.

Sometimes I think photos are like paintings. This one is one of them. I especially like how the feather is framed by those very green leafs.

I hope you have a relaxed and refreshing Sunday.

©Lifecruiser Love Feather Photos

Other travel photo with a feather by Lifecruiser:

Travel Photo: Feather Weather (One of my favorite photos!)
 

An Anniversary Cruise

Ten years ago, my brother and his wife spent their honeymoon cruising the western Mediterranean. It had been their first cruise experience. The ship carried them from the western coast of Italy to the colourful and bustling streets of Barcelona, and it had been the last serious holiday that they had taken together. Of course, there had been weekend getaways and miniature trips, short romps to the Alps to go skiing and quickie summer excursions to the Cote d’Azur, but for some reason they had not climbed back aboard a cruise ship. It made sense that their tenth anniversary should be spent cruising the eastern Mediterranean. There was symmetry to this plan. Tin and aluminium are the traditional symbols for a ten-year anniversary, but a cruise seemed like a far more romantic gift.

An Eastern Mediterranean Planner

His wife wanted to see Venice. All she talked about was the Basilica Di San Marco and paintings by Titian and Tintoretto. She did not care what type of cruise itinerary they mapped out. When he asked her if she wanted to visit the Greek Islands, all she said was that she had always dreamed of going to Venice. Lucky for her, their cruise departed from Venice. They had three days in that fairy-tale city. Needless to say, this was a fourteen-day sojourn, and they needed to plot a more thorough course through Europe. Eastern Mediterranean cruises focus on destinations like Athens, Croatia and Turkey. It is not uncommon for them to sail as far away as the Black Sea. He had read somewhere that Dubrovnik, Croatia, was an up and coming port. The tourists had finally discovered the magic of the city’s medieval architecture and pebbly shores, but not every cruise line stopped at Dubrovnik, so it was still somewhat undiscovered, or so the article said. When he mentioned it to his wife, all she wanted to know was what the weather was like in Venice in the spring, as packing has become her main priority.

Venice

Venice is difficult to describe. The place is nothing if not surreal. All the crumbling white architecture made him think of ornate wedding cake decorations. When the afternoon light shimmers off the canals, the buildings seem to sway and wobble. When this happens, you automatically wonder if you have just witnessed the city sink a little bit more.

His wife was happy. They spent the first day in the Piazza San Marco and the Gallerie dell’Accademia. They had an aperitivi and did some serious people watching on the Campo Santa Margherita. His wife is in control of the Venice itinerary. After that, it is my brothers turn to play tour guide.

Lifecruiser Love Mediterranean Cruises
 

What is the quintessential Florida experience? From the western Panhandle to Key West, there are so many different versions of Florida that it is difficult to choose what type of holiday to have. Tampa, Orlando and Miami are all must-see destinations for completely different reasons.

There are theme parks galore. There are ocean-side beaches and gulf-coast beaches. Golfing, fishing and deep-sea diving have always been favourite activities of locals and tourists alike. Florida attracts 84 million visitors a year, and the state has so many golden beaches, palm-lined promenades and top attractions that more than half those visitors will return in the future.

A cruise will give you a Florida taster, but even if you spend fourteen sunny days docked at a terminal in St. Petersburg or Miami, you will only begin to scratch the surface of what Florida has to offer.

Walt Disney World and Miami receive a lot of press and publicity, and it is difficult to imagine Florida without Cinderella’s castle or the glitterati and star-studded clubs that line the streets of South Beach. However, Florida also has a quiet and more romantic side.

If you are docked anywhere near one of the following destinations, be sure to venture off the cruise ship and explore. Florida’s quiet and romantic side might be difficult to find, but it is still there, hidden amongst the mangroves.

Caladeski Island State Park

A tranquil and uncrowded shoreline is a difficult commodity to find in Florida. From Pensacola and Daytona to Vero and Fort Lauderdale, the beaches are packed with families, revellers and sun worshippers. If you are looking for a romantic hideaway where you can escape the cruise ship crowd as well as the teeming masses on the beach, look no further than Caladeski Island State Park. Located near Tampa, you cannot access this idyllic island retreat by car, but need to take a boat. This is the perfect place for you and your loved-one to disappear for a few quiet hours. Hike, swim, have a picnic or paddle a kayak through the tranquil water, this is how Florida was before 84 million visitors arrived.

Sanibel Island

Located on the lower Gulf Coast, Sanibel is world-renown for its beautiful beaches and seashells. Whelks, olives, conchs and the junonia, the island’s most celebrated shell, can all be found on Bowman’s Beach. Bowman’s Beach is one of the most remote swaths of sand on Sanibel Island. You need to walk through beach grass, pines and wetland just to reach Bowman’s Beach. However, it is a small price to pay for the type of scenic beauty and peacefulness you will find on this remote outpost of white sand.

Book with Virgin Holidays Cruises now to see how much you could save on a late cruise deal!

Lifecruiser Love Romantic Florida