Wednesday 11 May 2011

Mediterranean Medley


Countries with a Mediterranean seaboard

It can be said that The Mediterranean is to the European as The Caribbean is to the American. The Mediterranean is the summer playground of many Northern Europeans who choose a destination with a Mediterranean coastline or one of the many islands, knowing they will find a value for money fun-filled holiday in the sun. Flights from Northern Europe are affordable, plentiful and of short duration making the Mediterranean  an ideal location for a great holiday. The main season is May to October although long-stay winter holidays in Tunisia are popular and will cost the discerning tourist less than if they stayed at home and paid expensive heating bills. 


The Mediterranean is a merging of three of the world's continents and nowhere else is there such a rich mix of culture, cuisine and classical heritage. The word Mediterranean literally means ' Middle of the earth' and there could not be a more apt description of the area.


The beautiful Balearic's            

The Balearic isles, which include Majorca and Ibiza  are located east of Mainland Spain and have been a popular destination since the very onset of the tourist industry. Although these islands have been subject to over development in the past there are still many secluded coves such as the one in  the photo above.

A visit to Magical Majorca will be sure to please every member of the family with its wide variety of activities to please all ages and tastes. At only two hour's flight time from the UK it is a place virtually anyone can visit.                                                                                        
The windmills of Southern Spain

The ever popular Mediterranean coast of Mainland Spain is the ideal place for a summer break. For a cost conscious holiday on the Costa's, why not visit the ports of Southern Spain? Here you can easily catch a ferry to Tangier and discover the Moorish delights of Morocco. You will see dolphins on your way over and can enjoy a leisurely boat trip although there are super fast ferries that can get you there in 35 minutes.

Take a day trip across the Straits of Gibraltar and you will soon  discover a world of difference from Europe. Barter in the Medina and return with plenty of colorful photographs and unusual souvenirs.

Mediterranean cuisine is one of the finest in the world consisting of ultra fresh ingredients and healthy produce but you don't have to visit the Mediterranean to enjoy  what's on  the menu - why not host your very own Mediterranean dinner party?



A replica Greek galleon

There are five North African countries with a Mediterranean seaboard and it's perhaps ironic that the two with some of the most extensive coastlines - Algeria and Libya - do not embrace tourism on a significant scale. This may change in years to come but at the moment the economies of Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt all benefit vastly from the tourist industry. Why not consider mystical Morocco as a holiday destination or sample a taste Tunisia if the Moorish lifestyle appeals?



Sample the best of several countries mentioned in this article in one affordable package? Some of the world's most historic ports are located in the Mediterranean and are discussed here.



The Mediterranean offers a huge variety of holidays, high life and history



This article has merely highlighted a few countries which enjoy a Mediterranean coastline and there are many others which are well worth a visit. 


A selection of self catering accommodation in many of the countries mentioned above can be found on reputable holiday rental sites such as:

1 comment:

  1. I like your post. You are so right that the Mediterranean is a great place to spend the summer. I'm from America but, I have family in Europe and I usually visit them along the Mediterranean each and every summer. I feel like I've done it all but, there is no end to the amount you can see on the Mediterranean. One of my favorite summer memories is the Mediterranean Cruises I did the last two years. It was relaxing and I got a few new ideas of what I want to do next time I get to go back to each individual city.

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