2010 - travel plans for the year

We're currently planning our travels for 2010. These are some of the ideas we've had so far.

Malta

We really want to get somewhere "new" this year. Malta has so much history, it can't really be described as "new" but we've not been there before. We'll definately be visiting Valetta on the main island of Malta and, hopefully, some other trips to Gozo and Comino. As a fan of the works of Caravaggio, who spent some time in Malta, I will be taking some time to locate and see his works. Planning wise, we're using the Lonely Planet guide to Malta & Gozo as well as Malta Tourism Authority website. Any tips gratefully received.

New Zealand

We're looking at going down to New Zealand for a three-week period in June / July or August period depending on what times I get off my Masters degree course. I'm currently looking at doing my Masters Thesis in something related to New Zealand wine tourism and will likely concentrate on wines of the Central Otago region. Trip planning wise, I'll be using the Lonely Planet guide to New Zealand which has been an excellent resource on previous trips. I'll probably also order Wine Atlas of New Zealand: 2nd Edition for an introduction to New Zealand as a whole before delving more deeply into the subject.

Switzerland

Plans for trips round Switzerland are a bit fluid at the moment. However, we do enjoy the politics and picollos of Morgenstreich at Basels Fasnacht celebrations.

We've recently been reading the UNESCO World Heritage Sites book and been reminded of the Convent of Saint John in Müstair, one of Switzerlands World Heritage sites. The Benedictine Convent was founded in the late 8th century by Charlemagne and is famed for its Carolingian and Romanesque period frescos. We'll probably include Mustair with another destination in the Graubünden region.

Numerous Swiss festivals are spread through the year and we're likely to pick one or two to visit. The Rapperswil Blues n Jazz festival is a perennial favorite with an excellent musical lineup and knowledgable crowd.

Another possibility is a visit to the Le Dezaley part of the Lake Geneva Region in Canton Vaud. Le Dezaley is famed for its vineyards which form steep terraces and produce some of Switzerlands best known white wine - Fendant.

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