As we approach the end of 2020, the old quote by German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” makes us reflect on a year of extraordinary events.
This old quote has been used so many times since it first appeared in his book of aphorisms in 1888. Ever since then it has been used as a self-affirming idea during difficult times. We are often eager to rationalize pain and suffering with the belief that it is during hardships and struggles
I have longed to visit Vicenza for many years and not just for the obvious reasons, such as to admire the architectural wonders of Andrea Palladio, to find out about the interesting history of this cit,y or even for the eating and drinking of the delicious local produce. Although no trip to Italy would be complete without architectural wonders, history, delicious food, and wine.
The title of this post might surprise you, but if you are from the UK you will probably be familiar with a TV program
Our motorhome adventure in Italy’s Northern region of South Tyrol has at times been quite difficult, stressful and challenging even; particularly on Brian, having to manoeuvre our bulky motorhome via countless narrow, twisty and high mountain passes, with hairpin after hairpin, and oncoming traffic making it no easy task.
This region is often reported as being very different from the rest of Italy and we can now better understand why it has gained such a reputation. Even the language has
The glamour and romance of the Italian Lakes don’t really need any introduction, since they have already been lavishly praised by writers and poets, sang about by musicians and painted on the canvas of many great artists. Such charm has also attracted movie moguls who have chosen the Lakes as the perfect setting for some big Hollywood blockbusters.
Therefore for us, expectations were high.
Leaving the French town of Chamonix we headed for the Mont Blanc Tunnel, which was just 5 minutes down
Chamonix, a small French town at the foot of Mont-Blanc might lack historic buildings and cultural places, but it more than it makes up for it with the incredible beauty of its surroundings and the many outdoor activities on offer.
With a soaring mountain range, ancient glaciers and a fresh alpine vibe, it is a mecca for people who gather here from all over the world in the Winter to enjoy some of the best skiing in Europe, but also in the Summer for mountain climbing, trekking, cycling, paragliding
Setting off from the UK on September 2nd, 2020 we are back on the road again, crossing the Chunnel (Channel Tunel) into France.
We are currently overlooking Lake Annecy from our campsite Le Panoramic, up on the hills above the lake (GPS N45.8428, E 6.14129).
Our European motorhome tour 2020 has started well. Our plan is to explore a little bit of France, mostly around the Mont Blanc area, and then cross into Italy, where we intend to stay for most of September and October. If time and COVID allow
The Ancient City of Angkor and its impressive temples are testimony to the monumental efforts of an exceptional civilization. We had planned our whole trip with a big map stuck to the wall at home, and no prizes for guessing the very first place to get marked on the map was Angkor Wat. In an entire region of must-see’s, this was the number one. The whole site is spread over 400km2, with more than 45 temples and is nothing short of astounding. It simply blew our
Four Thousand Islands ( or Si Phan Don in the Lao language) is a place for soaking up the unbelievable nonchalance and tranquility of life somewhere far removed from the stresses of everyday life. The appeal of this river archipelago lies in the chilled vibe of the twin islands of Don Det and Don Khon. Here the mighty Mekong River is at its widest, with crops of little islands scattered around, some of them no bigger than a sandbar with a little pod of trees on top.
Lying in a hammock of our
For travelers exploring SE Asia, both Vang Vieng and Vientiane are likely to be part of any itinerary going Southwards through Laos. These contrasting destinations provide very different experiences and reasons to visit, with the first having a long-lasting hedonistic reputation and the latter being the rather low-key and sleepy capital of Laos.
With only 10 weeks of traveling in SE Asia, we allocated about 3 weeks for Laos. Having already spent two days on a slow boat from the Laos border town
Luang Prabang has often been described as enigmatic, spiritual, and sophisticated. The former Laos Royal capital is certainly no ordinary town. This UNESCO protected gem of a place grabbed our hearts from the minute we stepped out of our two-day slow boat trip down the Mekong River. There is a unique vibe here which is difficult to describe or even pinpoint, it goes far beyond any mediocre description. A romantic place, offering a seamless blend of ancient Asian flavors, religion,