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Author Archive | Gilles Barbier

Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Rwanda

By on 3. March 2017 in Rwanda, Travel Guides

Tracking the Isabukuru Gorilla Family, Parc National des Volcans

“The Switzerland Of Africa”

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

In January 2017, I spent 2 weeks in Rwanda. Of course I went to the Parc National des Volcans & Tracked Mountain Gorillas – This was one of my motivations for returning to Uganda & discovering Rwanda.

I also visited 4 different Memorials of the Genocide, one of the darkest episodes in Human History, each actually showing a different aspect of those horrid events: Kigali Memorial Center, Nyamata Genocide Memorial (near Kigali), Murambi Genocide Memorial (near Butare / Huye) and Bisesero Genocide Memorial (near Kibuye / Karongi). Continue Reading →

My 30 Top Pictures On Instagram

By on 22. February 2017 in Photo Galleries

Basilica Menor de la Inmaculada Conceptión, Jardín, Antioquia, Colombia

Yes, I am quite new to Instagram, though I now have been quite active over the last 8 to 10 months. With a few hundred pictures shared on this Social Media, it’s a good time to look back at the “feedback” (Likes & Comments”) received…

The results are actually quite unsettling, and quite different from the pictures I sell year after year through my Stock Image Agency. I clearly did not anticipate several trends: Continue Reading →

Rwanda – A Selection of 30 Pictures

By on 13. February 2017 in Africa – Photos, Photo Galleries, Rwanda

View of Lake Kivu from Home Saint Jean, Kibuye, Rwanda

In January 2017, I spent 2 weeks in Rwanda. Of course I went to the Parc National des Volcans & Tracked Mountain Gorillas – This was one of my motivations for returning to Uganda & discovering Rwanda.

I also visited 4 different Memorials of the Genocide, one of the darkest episodes in Human History, each actually showing a different aspect of those horrid events: Kigali Memorial Center, Nyamata Genocide Memorial (near Kigali), Murambi Genocide Memorial (near Butare / Huye), Bisesero Genocide Memorial (near Kibuye / Karongi). Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Rwanda

By on 9. February 2017 in Country Budget Guide, Rwanda

Depending On Your Priorities!

Visiting an Ex-Poachers Village near the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda

Type Of Travel

When traveling through Rwanda, you first have to decide if you want to focus on the country itself and hence backpack through Rwanda or if you want a “Safari” kind of experience, going through several National Parks (including the Parc National des Volcans). This decision will have a clear and direct impact both on the type of experience you will have and especially on the level of your budget. Continue Reading →

Tracking Mountain Gorillas

By on 7. February 2017 in Rwanda

Tracking the Isabukuru Gorilla Family, Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda

I had already tracked Mountain Gorillas in Uganda back in Summer 2011, but somehow I wanted to live this unique experience once again. This was actually one of my main motivations to go back to Rwanda & Uganda in January 2017. And yes, even a second time it is pure magic, a very privileged hour spent with those majestic creatures in their natural habitat… An experience that should be high on anyone’s list!

Continue Reading →

Rwanda – Its Much More Than “Only” Gorillas

By on 3. February 2017 in Rwanda

Children in Kinigi, Parc National des Volcans

Most visitors come to Rwanda to see the Mountain Gorillas and maybe have a quick insight of the Genocide at one of the many Memorials across the country (more often than not the Kigali Memorial Center), and then leave the country for some safari experiences in Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania. But there are various other aspects of the country that really deserve your attention and at least a few extra days!

 

Continue Reading →

The Rwandan Genocide

By on 13. January 2017 in Rwanda

Kigali Memorial Center or Kigali Genocide Memorial, Rwanda

Visiting Rwanda also means facing its tragic past, one of the darkest episodes in Human History. It is a haunting experience… The country is literally doted with Memorials. I had planed to only visit 2 of them. More I could not stomach!

I finally visited 4 different ones, each actually showing a different aspect of those horrid events: Kigali Memorial Center; Nyamata Genocide Memorial (near Kigali); Murambi Genocide Memorial (near Butare / Huye); Bisesero Genocide Memorial (near Kibuye / Karongi…

 

Continue Reading →

A Few Glimpses Of Crete

By on 16. November 2016 in Crete
Toplou Monastery, Eastern Creta, Greece

Toplou Monastery, Eastern Crete

Crete: Antique & Recent Cultural Highlights, Beautiful Landscapes And A Paradise For Gourmets!

 

We chose Crete because we wanted to rest & relax and have some descent weather without spending too long on a plane beginning of November. Maybe even more important, we did not want to be tempted to spend the whole time traveling and visiting and discovering during the 9 days we had at hand (ever heard of travel Stakhanovism? Yes, that’s a bit us…)

There is not much to do in Crete, we thought… The ideal place for some lazy and quiet vacations without missing unique places… Right? How wrong! Continue Reading →

Ibiza – So Different From What I Expected!

By on 25. October 2016 in Balearic Islands
Ibiza from the Taxi-Boat, Ibiza

Ibiza from the Taxi-Boat

Yes, Ibiza took me by surprise! I must acknowledge there that going to Ibiza was not my top priority, as I associated this Balearic Island with little else than mass tourism, wild parties with loads of alcohol & other substances and electronic music… But a friend raved about it and I found very cheap flights, good enough a reason to spend 5 days there in June 2016.

Both the Old Town of Eivissa (the Catalan name of Ibiza) and large portions of the island are actually UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and thus protected from developers’ greed! Continue Reading →

Caño Cristales – The Newest Destination In Colombia?

By on 6. October 2016 in Colombia

A Game Of Colors

Caño Cristales, Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena, Colombia

Caño Cristales, Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena, Colombia

Caño Cristales (in English: “Crystal Spout”), in the Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena, is situated approx. 350 kilometers Southeast of Bogota. The river is also called the “River of Five Colors” or the “Liquid Rainbow” (yes, Colombians even call it “the most beautiful river in the world”). Why? From July to November, the riverbed is colored yellow, green, blue, black, and especially red, due to the “Macarenia Clavigera”, a reddish endemic algae that flourishes especially in the rapids of the river. Continue Reading →