Travelling as a professional athlete...

As a professional athlete, travelling is a big part of my everyday life. When I’m not at home training, I travel all around the world, competing in tennis tournaments. There is a general assumption that athletes who travel full-time lead a very glamorous lifestyle, however the lifestyle at times is far from that. Travelling can be exciting, but also very tiring. When you travel as an athlete as opposed a tourist, you reach your destination with a specific goal; to compete and achieve the best results you can. In order to do this successfully, you must follow a strict daily routine. This routine starts from the moment you wake up, includes everything you eat and do throughout the day, and concludes when you sleep.

It is very seldom that this routine allows you time to do other things. For example, there is not much time to visit and view new places/ scenes, meet and communicate with the local people, discover how they live, their culture, and how different it is from our own.



On the other hand, there are some positive things that you can acquire when you are travelling alone. I have learned to be independent, strong, and generally able to face and solve problems in a more mature manner.

As a result of these experiences, I believe that I have developed into a mature and responsible person from a very early age.

the best travel destinations in the world

Traveling and discovering the world is a part of our daily life, the world where we live is so big and contains plenty of different places which deserve to be seen. New travel destinations are discovered over the past years. From the tropical forests of Brazil to the temples and monuments of India, here are some of the best new travel destinations in the world.

NETHERLANDS

Located in Western Europe and well known for its windmills, dykes and tulip fields. The capital Amsterdam, where buildings of the 16th century stand next to modern offices and where sightseeing in the city is better by canal cruises. Some of the most amazing attractions in Amsterdam are: the national maritime museum, Van Gogh museum where is exhibited some paintings showing Van Gogh in all his moods, the old church Oude Kerk, canals, parks...

TURKEY

Turkey has heritages of a rich history and rich cultural inheritance from the Byzantium and Ottoman empires. The Mediterranean climate, the beauty of the mountains, the lakes and sea is what makes this country more attractive. Istanbul is the city where Europe meets Asia.

BRAZIL:
The tropical forests and the warm climate is what distinguish Brazil and make it a unique and different from all other destinations. Brazil has vibrant street parades and festivals, especially the carnival of Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia which attract tourists by thousands each year.

INDIA

India is a country of mixed culture and rich history.
The monuments of Delhi, the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Himalayas in north, the Thar Desert in the west, the jungles of the north east and the temples and beaches of the south are the most important attractions in India which constitute its identity.

HAWAII:

Hawaii earned a place between the top travel destinations in the world, thanks to its white beaches, blue seas and tropical climate all year round. Hawaii has many luxury resorts and offers many water sport options which make it an ideal destination for lover's paradise and sports enthusiasts.
The many extinct and dormant volcanoes in the islands make Hawaii a unique travel destination.

Travel

Travelling is part of our everyday life. The way and/ or purposes of travel may range from commuting to our daily workplace to visiting other countries as tourists or for business.

Travel is defined as the transport of people on a trip/journey or the process or time involved in a person or object moving from one location to another (Wikipedia, 2008).

People may choose to travel for a number of reasons such as recreation, tourism, visiting friends, viewing scenes and discovering new places.

Travelling abroad is being highly promoted through low-budget airlines, and discounted holiday packages. This has a direct impact on tourism levels, and therefore attracts great interest from countries, such as Greece, whose economy is largely dependent on travellers and ultimately tourism.

Greece has been an attraction for international visitors since antiquity for its rich and long history, Mediterranean coastline and beaches. It attracts over 16 million tourists a year contributing 15% of the Gross Domestic Product of the nation's economy.

As one of the industries which generates the most employment, Travel & Tourism needs the complete understanding and support of governments and international organizations in order to realize its full potential (World Travel & Tourism Council, 2008).

The freedom to travel can be viewed as a major political freedom, comparable to the right of freedom of expression. It is essential to human contact for business or leisure, and it widens the horizons of individuals both literally and figuratively (World Travel & Tourism Council, 2008).

Nomads experience

Nomad camps in Moroccan desert are one of the most exciting experiences in the world which mark your soul in the first contact with the large spaces of desert.

Located between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, dominated by the Atlas Mountains in the centre and by a vast desert in the south, Morocco is considered as an exotic experience where various cultures meet and where we can find different kinds of touristic attractions.

Morocco is well-known for its shiny sun and its long bays, but many people ignore about the Moroccan SAHARA. This new destination is totally different from many others, as it takes you far away from any civilisation and all the stress of the city. In this place you will see the beauty of the dunes and the landscapes and the splendid spectacle of sleeping and rising of the sun.

The most exciting in this experience is that a lot of travel agencies have found routes and circuits accompanied by interesting programmes to pierce this big desert and make you profit the most of your discovery.

The majority of these agencies use 4 X 4 vehicles and follow a specific programme. One time with my friends we took the experience and it was really wonderful.

First, we stopped at a magnificent oasis to do a picnic. Then we drive until the desert, where we had a Ballade in the middle of the huge dunes bare feet which gave us a great feeling of freedom and made us feel the simplicity of life. After this, it was time to take a sand bath which is good for health and especially for rheumatism. At the end of the day we had an excursion riding camels. And finally, in the evening we had diner in bivouac tents with campfire and traditional music. At night we enjoyed the released and spangled sky which makes a fabulous atmosphere.

The desert discovery gives you an original feeling and takes you out of urban life and the busy times of the city. It’s only reserved for enthusiastic people of big thrills and insulation.