Michael Mitrakos

Canggu

By far my favorite place to visit. Beautiful scenery, the best food, solid beaches and nice people (for the most part). The locals are absolutely exquisite. Can't recommend it enough!

Lisbon

Reasonably priced "major" city of Europe. Getting about is easy and cheap whether on foot, bus, tram. train or taxi! Although they have modern trams it is more interesting to take one of the "rustic" old ones, they take you to many of the best views around including the castles. If you want to listen to "fada" music there is no need to book one of the "tourist" venues there are plenty around where you can eat at a reasonable price and listen to the music. If you are suffering from "shopping withdrawal" take a taxi to the Colombe Shopping Centre, a modern mecca to commerce - the architecture is amazing. There's a reason Lisbon is the new hot spot for expats!

Budapest

Budapest, the pearl of the Danube, seamlessly marries the archaic allure of Buda with the vivacious modernity of Pest. The city unfolds as a mesmerizing tableau of thermal baths, grandiose architecture, and labyrinthine streets bearing the weight of history and revolution. By night, its iconic bridges glow, casting shimmering reflections onto the river, while ruin bars brim with life, music, and tales of yore. It's a city where every corner echoes with stories, inviting visitors to get lost in its blend of Austro-Hungarian elegance and contemporary charm.

Porto

Porto was an absolutely beautiful city. Cheaper cost of living than Lisbon, and great food. A lot of food that you'll see, as in Lisbon, is fish. The old port in town is the touristy area, but worth visiting!

Athens

Athens is famous for its ancient history which is showcased by the modern museums. It's home to the first olympic stadium (the Panathenaic Stadium) as well as the venues of its recent olympics. Be sure to visit the acropolis, Parthenon, and The Temple of Zeus. Tourists, shopping and great restaurants can be found in areas like The Plaka and Monastiraki where you'll see the classic Greek blue and white buildings. The Athens airport is also a jumping off point to many of the popular islands like Karpathos, Santorini, Antiparos, Patmos, and Mykonos that are destinations for the rich and famous.

Istanbul

Istanbul is a beautiful city with great weather. While landing into the airport, one gets to see the Sea of Marmara and many ships and boats all around - what a delightful sight! The people are pleasant and helpful and most speak English. There is so much to see and do in Istanbul. It is a reasonably priced destination. I recommend the Grand Bazaar (lots to see and buy here), the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, Underground cisterns, eating on the streets and restaurants around (not in your hotel), walking around through the gardens, a 1.5 hr Bosphorus cruise, Topkapi Palace. Istanbul is very safe and one can walk about till late at night. The attractions are absolute marvels and the sea is clean and blue.