Briefly please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name’s Franco, I was born in Bolzano and currently I’m living in Bologna (Emilia Romagna) and working in Trentino area. Communication, internet & social media have been my main activities for many years. I love photography, especially nature shots.

I shoot with a Canon Eos 30D, 17/85 Efs, EF 75/300 and with the iPhone when I’m without the main camera. You can find me on Instagram, only with iPhone Shots (giacoz67 user).

Please come visit my Flickr PhotoStream.

How long have you known Ruffrè?

Half of my roots are in Ruffrè. My Grandparents were born here. I’ve been visiting Ruffrè as a tourist since I was a child. So I could say to know this place very well!

What do you like most about Ruffrè?

Ruffrè is a very quiet place, a little town at 1175 metres of elevation, sourrounded by gorgeous forests, lawn and creeks.

Very close to Ruffrè you can find “Passo Mendola”, a gap between Trentino and South Tirol, which became a world famous tourist resort in the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1900. The Emperor Franz Joseph and his famous wife The Empress Elisabeth (Sissy) came here.

Why should travellers visit Ruffrè?

Travellers will find a beautiful place both in the summer and winter. Ruffrè is not a classical example of the mountain mass tourist place. It’s quiet, a great place for photo shooting.

3 km from Passo Mendola you can find Monte Penegal, which gives you one of the best panorama points in the Alps. From Monte Penegal you can see the whole Dolomiti Mountains area. It’s amazing to visit at sunset, the Mountains become red and pink! An incredible show created by nature.

You can also run, ride, ski, skate and many other activities. Last but not least, you get very good food and wine here.

What do you wish travellers would do or stop doing when they visit Ruffrè?

Ruffrè is very close to Passo Mendola, but is less famous. After you visit Passo Mendola go to Ruffrè, then you can continue to the “Non” Valley.

What are your top 3 insider tips for visitors to Ruffrè?

Visit the town of Ruffrè and the church.

Visit the Monte Penegal.

If you’re a motorbiker you should not miss out on a trip from Caldaro to Passo Mendola.

Another “sight” is the Mendola funicular railway, which is the longest and steepest of its kind throughout South Tyrol.

Photos from Ruffrè

Head on over to Franco’s Flickr site for some amazing shots of Ruffrè.

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Briefly please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I landed on Seychelles’ shores with my partner about a year ago after a nerve wracking decision to pack in the London jobs and pursue a cliché driven life soaking up the sun on a tropical island instead. My husband had a new job while my consultancy career was on hold, I had no permit to work and a whole stretch of nothing ahead of me. It didn’t stay like that for too long, I’ve been writing a blog about my experiences Paradise Promised and also set up Social Seychelles to provide information about Seychelles, and connect people and communities who live here or, as what often seems to be the case, people who’ve been on holiday here and fallen in love with the place.

Why do you think that is?

I think it has to be the natural beauty of the islands. People often don’t realise it, but Seychelles is made up of 115 islands, most of these are uninhabited but even those that are, are refreshingly free of mass tourism or commercialism. On a sunny day (there are many!) I still can’t get over the colour of the Indian Ocean, it’s so vibrantly turquoise, beaches are very rarely busy (and there are so many of them anyway ) and there’s so much green too. The main islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue are covered in forest and that’s what makes the beaches so stunning, the backdrop to the soft, white sands is this lush, palm fringed landscape. I have to remind myself not to take it for granted!

What do you like most about living in Seychelles?

The simplicity and the eccentricities. Don’t get me wrong, this can have its frustrations too, but there’s just no sense of clutter, no rabbiting media or posturing pundits, talk of house prices, twenty five different types of shampoo to buy or late running trains. I notice a beautiful sunset or a sky lit up with millions of stars; Venus twinkles outside our window (so I’ve been told, I apologise now if I was given duff information!). The local cinema shows films at 6.47pm and a recent country and western show had as one of its attractions, real horses on stage, amazing : )

Why should travellers visit Seychelles?

It’s difficult to answer as people want different things from their holiday. I’d say if they value uncrowded, naturally beautiful beaches with translucent waters teeming with fish, tranquillity, forest walks, hot sunny weather and the real feeling of getting away from it all (not one McDonalds in the country) then here is it. There is a price to pay for being in paradise though; it doesn’t come cheap.  People should also come visit now as it’s changing with more hotels springing up.

What do you wish travellers would do or stop doing when they visit Seychelles?

The more money that reaches locals pockets the better. Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy as tourism is more high end, of the four/five star hotels variety, but where possible it would really help the local economy to spend money in local shops and restaurants. Depending on where people are staying, I’d also advise that they really should travel about, it’d be a crime to just stay by the hotel pool.

What are your top 3 insider tips for visitors to Seychelles?

On Mahe, hire a cab or car and drive over the island via the Sans Souci road, the views are stunning and you can stop for a walk up Trois Freres, Copelia or the Capucin Mission and then have tea at the tea factory (check its open first!)

Take a boat (or dive) trip and drift around Seychelles’ islands, catching a welcome ocean breeze, stopping to snorkel and enjoy a bbq lunch. Not to be missed.

Hire a bike on La Digue, grab some bottles of local beer Seybrew, pop them in your basket and get to Anse Source D’Argent fast before they get warm!

More Information

For more tips and funny stories from Seychelles, don’t forget to visit Mitch’s two web sites Paradise Promised and  Social Seychelles.

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Our View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

For more information about how you can take part in our View of a Local series, please go to our View of a Local page >>

Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourselves?

I am of Indian ethnicity but lived in America most of my life.  Currently I live in Stockholm, Sweden where I blog about the culture and dating rituals of the Swedes at Lost in Stockholm. I love traveling (duh), reading (OMG, Harry Potter!), and taking photos, available at www.flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire.

How long did you live in Berkeley?

Spent 8 years in the city everyone lovingly calls Berzerkly. First, attending university there and then putzing around and working for a few more years.

What did you like most about living in Berkeley?

Berkeley is 180 degrees off from the East Coast (where I was raised).  It’s crazy, wild, colorful, full of protests and pot.  I loved walking around the city and people watching.  There is every type of person and style trying to make their way in Berkeley.

Why should travelers visit Berkeley?

As a city that holds one of the nation’s greatest universities, Berkeley has a history that is well, different.  From the 1960s famous demonstrations to world leading research departments to the ecocenter of the food revolution via Alice Waters, there is something for everyone in Berkeley.  There’s a special spirit in the city you just don’t find in other places.

What do you wish travellers would do or stop doing when they visit Berkeley?

Tourists really need to stop gawking at the locals.  Yes, there is the crazy guy in his undies standing on a podium and yes, the hat lady does not sell hats, but come to enjoy the idiosyncrasies of the town.

What are your top 3 insider tips for visitors to Berkeley?

Take a tour of UC Berkeley, a huge campus that offers a great view to San Francisco.  Go to the top of Campanile Bell Tower or to Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, which is high up in the Berkeley hills.

Also visit Berkeley Bowl, one of the best grocery stores. Fresh produce and vegetable galore.  Plus get a super burrito from them, tasty stuff!

CheeseBoard Pizza on Shattuck Ave is a coop owned pizza place.  There’s only one type of pizza served everyday and it’s vegetarian, but it is superb.  A definite local spot and a must for any visitor.

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Our View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

For more information about how you can take part in our View of a Local series, please go to our View of a Local page >>

Home, released today, 5 June 2009, on World Environment Day is a compelling, call-for-change film illustrating what we are doing to our planet, animals, ourselves and fellow human beings. It shows breathtaking scenes, all aerial shots, from more than 50 countries.

Director Yann Arthus-Bertrand says: “The film has a very clear message. We have a greater impact on the Earth than it can bear. We over-consume and are depleting the Earth’s resources. From the air, it’s easy to see the Earth’s wounds. So, Home simply sets out our current situation, while saying that a solution exists.”

Home is 1 hour and 33 minutes long, but every second is worth the attention of even the busiest woman or man on this planet.

See for yourself:

If you have problems viewing the above film, you can watch it on YouTube.

If you happen to be in Paris today, you can also watch the movie at a free, digital screening beneath the Eiffel Tower at 22:00.

You can read all about the Home film on its web site, discuss the movie on GoodPlanet.org and see more of Yann Arthus-Bertrand amazing images on his web site.