​The cradle of democracy is Greece of course and a destination of which I have spent some time a few years and on several occasions. It is one of the places where you can experience wonderful culture, food, wine, olive oil, as well as the beaches and ancient ruins of a civilization that brought much to the modern world. Of course, Greece is not the only place for these experiences, but between the many diverse islands, including but limited to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and Rhodes, but also the lesser-known locations like Milos, which is much quainter and more laid back, or Samos, which is closer to Turkey than mainland Greece, the options are many, so don’t limit your imagination when it comes to Greece and consider something outside the norm, but for sure, include some of the core place for your next Greek adventure.
A place where I would love to go and yet, not been there, is Thessaloniki which is in the north. I have spent time in the Peloponnese which is wonderful of course and enjoyed several visits to Athens and all it has to offer, the first time, way back in 1985 in the month of August, and I still remember how hellishly hot it was. It is not the time of year for going to Athens, but sometimes your schedule only allows for this, but with so many island options and flights and ferries to connect them, Greece offers much as a destination. The other way to experience a fair amount of Greece in a short amount time is to cruise on any number of ships that sail the Aegean Sea. In the end, Greece can be a standalone destination for you, or it can be combined with several neighboring countries, something to consider. And with excellent contacts in Greece and beyond, the Wandering Puffin can arrange your next adventure to Greece or wherever you want to travel!!!

​Turkey is a destination that may not be on your radar right now and not for the first-time traveler to Europe or Asia, for that matter. Remember, Turkey is on both continents, not just one. But Turkey is a fascinating land of intrigue and mystery and one worth exploring. Istanbul is a must with the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace and the bazaars to negotiate your next purchase. Turkey is more than that and a crossroads of cultures and a place that has been influenced in many ways over the centuries for sure. It was part of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and there is modern Turkey. It has ancient history and modern history to discover at every turn. 
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Outside of Istanbul, and short travel distances by plane, you can get to Izmir and see the amazing ruins of Ephesus and this ancient ruin is worth the trek. It can also be done as a cruise ship day trip, but a couple of days to combine Ephesus and Izmir will certainly be worth it. Other possibilities for this enchanted land that has been stressed by time is Cappadocia and the honeycombed hills and the cave houses to explore. Turkey offers a lot of wonderful experiences and while you do need a visa to get in, it can be done at the border and electronically, as well. When thinking about a more exotic destination and like others, you must be careful as you discover, consider Turkey and let the Wandering Puffin and his Turkish colleague plan your next adventure.

​The first destination that I wish to share is actually not in Europe, but in North Africa and that is the country of Morocco, a country where a few years ago, before Covid, I was able to experience an amazing culture, very different from many of the European cultures of which I have much experience, but at the same time, influences of the French, as both French, and of course, Arabic are official languages, yet Morocco has a feel all its own and I never felt uncomfortable when I was there. My colleague Khadijah, with whom I work to arrange your Moroccan adventures are ready when you are ready to explore this exotic, yet somehow familiar destination. It is also pairs well with a trip to Spain or Portugal, as both of these countries are just across the Mediterranean Sea so, a very nice combination possibility, so think about Morocco as your next destination as a standalone or in combination with another country.

I have decided to share with you, ideas of places you may or may not have thought about traveling. Of course, the events of the world sometimes dictate what is possible, be it Covid or the Ukraine crisis or any other events that seemingly crop up to try to stop people from experiencing the world and all of it amazing possibilities. 
As you may or may not know, I have traveled to nearly 80 countries in the world, some more than once or twice and traveled across America, to every state in the union, and again, some many times and some just a couple, but I have been a road warrior from a very early age, and I do not plan on slowing down any time soon. 
So, I thought it would be a nice addition to my original blog, “Weathering the Storm with the WP” and adding a new bi-weekly feature in a different blog and format with ideas from many of my colleagues around the world, showcasing places that are not necessarily the first places on your mind. Some of the places I have been and some not, some just once, and some many times, but the world is always changing, so I thought I would share these possibilities with you, to continue to inspire travel and perhaps, when you are ready, be there to arrange that next amazing travel adventure for you. Of course, these are simply ideas and samples, videos and pictures that have been shared by colleagues around the world and the more I work with locals, the more authentic and immersive experience you will have. Travel is also the best educator and an educator by training and experience, providing these ideas may prove out to also be a learning experience for you as it has been for me. 
Remember, my tagline is “Travel is an Adventure, Experience it!”, so the idea every other week will be to present a new destination, be it a country, a region, a specific travel opportunity that of course, we can build on, something beyond the usual. It is not a bad thing to experience the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum, but there are many out of the places that are very special and maybe not now for you, but sometime in the future, you will remember the weekly offering and maybe it intrigues you, and yes, they may contain some of the usual possibilities. The will, however, also contain out of the way options that can be a part of your next adventure or a standalone. Nothing is set in stone and simply thought provoking for the next time you want to travel and are looking for ideas. Some of these may be ones that I have done for clients already. You just never know. 
Of course, you can always check out my website and the links to the different countries on the destinations page, but when all is said and done, each itinerary I create for you, my valued clients, are built from the ground up, so be ready to explore and venture out there, knowing that the Wandering Puffin is there with you from the beginning stages to the end of your travel adventure!!!
Thank you very much as always for reading my blog posts and musings and your support of my small business. I always look forward to hearing from you in regard to comments, questions, suggestions and inquiries about your next travel adventure!!!