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Huge sandy beach with ‘magical' blue lagoon named the best in Europe

Huge sandy beach with ‘magical' blue lagoon named the best in Europe

Scottish Sun25-05-2025
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AN extraordinary lagoon beach has been named among the most stunning and peaceful places in the Mediterranean.
Port Glarokavos, on the Kassandra Peninsula in Northern Greece features is known for its bright a turquoise lagoon.
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Port Glarokavos has its very own 'Blue Lagoon'
Credit: Alamy
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Surrounding the lagoon, are sandy beaches backed by green trees
Credit: Getty
And it was named the best beach in Europe according to European Best Destinations.
They said: "With its laid-back vibe and natural beauty, Port Glarokavos is not only one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe — it's also one of the most rejuvenating."
Glarokavos attracts many visitors throughout the year looking to relax and immerse themselves in the Greek lifestyle.
The lagoon boasts areas with umbrellas and sunbeds, as well as areas which are left bare for those wanting more quiet and privacy.
There are also many different activities that take place at the beach including kayaking, paddleboarding and wildlife watching.
The beach is conveniently surrounded by camping grounds in the nearby forest.
Rather uniquely, those with their car can also drive directly onto the sand.
Nearby and along the coast, are a number of other beaches - all with golden sands and clear waters.
On Glarokavos Beach, for example, there are even a couple of beach bars, with deck chairs and tables in the sand.
One tourist wrote: "There aren't many tourists and some days you can have a great view of Mount Athos from far away."
The TUI guide to Crete from best beaches to passport rules
Another said: "The view of the sea is magical."
A little further in land are a number of restaurants and places to stay including the family-friendly Xenios Port Marina.
The resort is in the village of Pefkohori and offers both all-inclusive and half-board.
In Pefkohori, there are a number of pretty streets to explore with whitewashed houses, with citrus and olive groves littered between the buildings.
In the summer, popular activities include snorkelling, parasailing, sunset watching and shopping for craft souvenirs.
To get to the lagoon from the UK, the best option is to fly to Thessaloniki International Airport and then drive to Port Glarokavos, which takes around an hour.
Also in Greece is a pretty European 'floating village' with quiet beaches and a picturesque port.
Plus, one of the cheapest Greek islands is set to be popular, as TUI adds more hotels.
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Eyes on the skies
Eyes on the skies

Time Out

timean hour ago

  • Time Out

Eyes on the skies

Gaze skywards on any sunny day in Cape Town – especially in the summer, or when there's a game on at DHL Stadium – and chances are you'll hear the distant drone of a Piper Super Cub making its way slowly across the Mother City skies. And following not far behind: an advertising banner. The banner could be touting business for an (in)famous gentleman's club or a sports betting brand, estate agent or online retailer. Whoever might be hoping for your eyeballs, one thing's almost certain: you looked. Because in a world awash with transitory advertising, social media messaging and ceaseless input, there remains something nostalgic, arresting somehow, in spotting a plane that has slipped the surly bonds of Earth. Chances are, you'll look up and remember the brand. And while the announcement of new dancers may generate the most consideration (or condemnation) in Cape Town, it's certainly not the only brand buying into the world of high-flying advertising. It's a bright winter's morning when I pull into Cape Winelands Airport, just off the N1, to find out more. While a R7-billion investment is set to transform the airfield into a new air hub for Cape Town, today it's a low-key operation used mainly by flight schools, charter flights, private pilots... and a company called Sky Messaging. Sky Messaging is South Africa's only company dedicated solely to banner towing. It's been around since 2012 and has a fleet of aircraft towing advertising banners across the country. Most of the business is in Cape Town and Johannesburg, but they've also flown banners for the Bokke in Bloem', and plan on expansion to Durban later this year. 'Our core business is advertising; we just use aircraft as our medium,' says Brian Rothman, a qualified pilot who joined the company in its infancy. 'We meet strict Civil Aviation Authority requirements: all our pilots hold commercial licences, all flights are tracked, maintenance is logged, and we have regular safety and quality audits.' After more than a decade in business the core concept hasn't changed, but the banner technology certainly has. The original vinyl-letter setups – think of a giant sew-on fridge-magnet-alphabet in the sky – have given way to ripstop parachute material, allowing full-colour digitally printed designs that can handle Cape Town's legendary winds. And the banners are huge, I discover, as I watch Rothman and assistant Lihle Mtintsilana prepare a banner for take-off. Each banner is up to 30 metres long, and almost six metres tall, yet they weigh just 15 kilograms, including the aluminium lead pole that keeps the banner flying straight. The cost? 'Locally made banners cost around R60 000, but the top-of-the-range imported European banners can be more than twice that price,' says Rothman. Despite its size – an area of more than 170 square metres – launching the banner is a deceptively simple process. The banner is packed in a concertina fashion into a custom-built trailer, with an aluminium lead pole on small wheels. As the plane accelerates down the runway, the rope tightens, the banner unspools, and airflow keeps it aloft as the plane takes off. Landing is even easier, with the pilot simply releasing the banner to float down onto a taxiway, where it is collected and repacked. 'You never land with it attached,' Rothman explains. 'It's safer, and it protects the banner from damage.' While the banner technology has changed, the plane doing the towing certainly hasn't. The workhorse of Sky Messaging in Cape Town is a 1958 Piper Super Cub, with some 12 000 flying hours on the clock. 'It was originally fitted with a 150-horsepower engine, but we've upgraded it to 180hp for better performance, especially at altitude in Johannesburg,' says Rothman. Not that the banner pilots – all certified commercial pilots – are looking to break any speed records as they make their way around Cape Town. Sky Messaging tows its banners at a sedate 60 miles per hour (roughly 96km/h), with each flight lasting around two hours. 'That's a distance of around 200 kilometres per flight,' says Rothman. 'It allows us to cover most areas of Cape Town.' Routes vary from scenic loops around the Peninsula's suburbs, to targeted runs over specific areas, beaches, or events. With the airspace of Cape Town International to work around, air traffic control clearance is essential, and pilots operate under strict Civil Aviation Authority rules, complete with flight plans, GPS tracking, and safety audits. And then there's the weather. 'Wind is the big issue,' says Rothman. Cape Town's summer south-easter can ground flights, with pilots usually calling off the flight when the wind gets above 20 knots (37km/h). 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'The plane's location is trackable in real time, so you can tell people, 'Look up now!' It's interactive and memorable; something different from the constant online noise.' But for Rothman, one of the highlights has been flying 'Go Bokke' banners in formation during the Rugby World Cup celebrations, as the nation celebrated below. 'To be part of that, it's unforgettable,' he says. So next time you're stuck in traffic and you see that banner fluttering across the Cape skies, know that there's a decades-old aircraft out front, flying a little piece of advertising history. And if you look up and remember the brand it's proof, perhaps, that sometimes, looking up beats scrolling down.

UK holidaymakers to 29 European countries face major rule change in weeks
UK holidaymakers to 29 European countries face major rule change in weeks

Daily Record

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Record

UK holidaymakers to 29 European countries face major rule change in weeks

The changes will be implemented from October 12 and tourists are being urged to be aware UK tourists have been warned of major changes when flying to a raft of European countries within a matter of weeks. From October 12, the new new European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) will be rolled out. ‌ It will come into force in 29 European countries and will see a significant change for UK passengers. From this date, fliers will have their fingerprints and photograph taken when they first enter or leave the Schengen area. ‌ It will replace the current system of having a passport stamped on entering an EU country. Instead, there will be an automated system which records when tourists cross an EU external border, reports the Manchester Evening News. ‌ The new system will collect biometric data at the border and there have been warnings from the Foreign Office that there could be increased waiting times as the new system is bedded in. The Foreign Office said: "EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border once the system starts." ‌ It is hoped that the EES will improve security and ensure people don't overstay the 90-day limit in any 180 day period. As per The Times, UK passengers may also be asked questions at border control. Here's everything you need to know about the EES. When does EES launch? The EU will begin the introduction of its new EES on October 12. The number of check points will be gradually increased until it's fully rolled out by April, 2026. ‌ It has said this system will be implemented gradually, which means not all travellers will have their data collected. It added that the "phased implementation will last until 9 April 2026." What are the new entry requirements? The Foreign Office announced on July 31 that, from October 12, those travelling into and out of the Schengen area for short stays may need to: Have their fingerprints and photo taken Answer the Schengen Border Code questions ‌ For those entering the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, this information will be taken at the border before leaving the UK, it says. Travellers may also need to provide either their fingerprint or photo when they leave the Schengen area. ‌ What are the questions? The Schengen Border Code questions could involve showing proof of accommodation, sufficient funds for the trip, medical insurance, and a return or onward ticket. Border officials can request more information if they suspect you cannot support your trip. Do I need a return ticket? Those without onward or return plans will not be denied entry at the border, but border officials may ask for more information about your travel plans. If travellers have no record of overstaying, it is likely that border officials will assume you will not breach the 90 days in 180 rule. Full list of countries implementing the new EES Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland

'I visited 17 European cities in a year — skip these 3 for a better time'
'I visited 17 European cities in a year — skip these 3 for a better time'

Daily Mirror

time2 hours ago

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'I visited 17 European cities in a year — skip these 3 for a better time'

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