Now that Easter is fast approaching, one’s thoughts naturally turn to holidays and a happier feeling of better times ahead, says Sonja Kralj.
As it is Easter holidays we are talking about, what better and rather unusual place to visit than Easter Island off the coast of Chile in South America? Right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the island just 4,000 kilometres out from the Chilean coastline.
Europeans discovered Rapa Nui on Easter Sunday and to this day it is referred to as Easter Island.
Far from the madding crowd and isolated by the largest ocean in the world, the island has a rich history in art, language and interestingly once even suffered acivil war.
The island has an equilateral(ish) triangular shape, 24 km across its longest side, with extinct volcanic cones in each of its three corners.
Amid an atmosphere of friendly Polynesian hospitality, the entire island is today an open-air museum, with approximately 900 iconic Moai (statues) all carved from the its unique bedrock.
It would be worth considering making it a two-centred holiday by visiting Chile and Easter Island. The exploration of the ‘thin’ country at the southern end of the world is one of the great rewards for the adventurous traveller.
Patagonia is a heady cocktail of lakes, peaks, deserts, glaciers and no shortage of wildlife. It is a feast of wild places and astonishing scenery tailor-made for walking.
There are the lakelands, dominated by the great Pucon volcano, the Atacama desert (the driest in the world), the vineyards of Torres del Paine, Tierra del Fuegoand the marine life of the south Pacific Ocean.
The magnificent mountains are bordered by windswept grasslands, with millions of sheep tended by a few intrepid gauchos.
There are the famous mountains of the Andes. Photogenic, breathtaking and a true wilderness, Chile seldom disappoints.
Other long-haul holiday destinations are the Caribbean islands. Easter is the end of the peak season and a great time to visit for near-guaranteed fine weather.
Head to Barbados for gorgeous hotels and a lively restaurant scene. Try Jamaica for culture, beaches and boutique hotels, or the Cayman Islands for great diving and a friendly vibe.
Nearer to home, the Mediterranean, although not so exotic, could make for an excellent holiday. Spain is an obvious destination. To avoid overcrowded resorts, Catalonia would be an ideal choice, with authentic villages and pretty coves. Further south, the unspoilt beaches of the Costa de la Luz are among the finest in the Iberian peninsula.
The Mediterranean has many choice holiday spots, such as Corsica, and the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, while Greece offers a number of resorts. Then there is Crete, Corfu and Paxos, which all offer interesting holiday venues.
The Dalmatian coast and Croatia offer great value holidays and there is a fascinating archipelago of islands to explore, one of which is Hvar.
What better place where to spend Easter than Rome? The Pope delivers several Masses between Palm Sunday and Easter and tens of thousands of pilgrims and fellow travellers are present to celebrate with him.
You can certainly expect crowds in Rome and the Vatican during Holy Week. But for Catholics and religious-minded travellers (or indeed for anybody and everyone who appreciates ritual and pomp) the experience of Easter Week is unforgettable.
Despite recent turbulent events, Egypt is still an exotic and unusual holiday destination. You can arrange a tour through your travel agent and visit Cairo and Aswan as well as travel down the Nile ona cruise.
Not too far away is Jordan where you an experience breathtaking sights and rich culture. There are Roman ruins to explore as well as Crusader castles. Discover the magical world of the Rose city of Petra, travel on a camel, float on the Dead Sea, experience Easter in Jerusalem and explore ancient Damascus.
Much further afield, there is the truly exotic and amazing country of India. There are a number of tours organised to visit this fascinating country. From the regal palaces of legendary Rajasthan to the steps of the marble Taj Mahal – India beckons. Ride an elephant, take a balloon flight, meet the locals, explore the Golden Triangle and Goa or take a train ride to see the sights.
There are also Easter tours to China. You can explore China’s capital, Beijing, enter the Forbidden City and climb the Great Wall.
There are the Terracotta Warriors to view and you can take a bike ride on the old city wall.