Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Cala Macarelleta, Menorca
Balearic Islands were never top of my list, since I somehow associated them with mass tourism at its worst. Ibiza had already taken me by surprise, so I was much keener on lessoning to friends when they raved about Menorca. Indeed, this Balearic Island is worth the trip! Continue Reading →
Forallac and Santa Cristina d’Aro
We spent 4 weeks in Catalonia and the Costa Brava, Spain, in August 2021. This was our first trip abroad since the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and our first trip abroad since the twins had been born.
The Costa Brava and Catalonia were definitely not high on my travel list, especially in the summer and the heart of the tourist season. Nonetheless, I was very pleased to discover that it was indeed quite easy to partly escape the crowds, and that some parts at least were not completely built and turned into mass-tourism hotspots: beautiful Medieval Villages, a Wild Coast that really deserves its name, and of course Barcelona, which I discovered for the first time.
Of course, with 3 kids between 16 months and 3 years old, we were somewhat limited in our activities, and with photography – So here you go: my first Photo Essay solely shot with an iPhone 11.
Oban Highland Games – Argyllshire Gathering, Scotland
Itinerary And Time Of The Visit
We traveled two weeks in the middle of August 2019 and covered the “North Coast 500”: this road follows the northernmost coast of Scotland, starting from Inverness in the East and reaching Fort William in the West, including (or not) the Isle of Skye, then back to Inverness. It spreads over a distance of 500 miles, hence the name NC500, and covers some of the more remote and beautiful parts of Scotland. Continue Reading →
Amar River Viewpoint, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Type Of Travel
Traveling to Northern Scotland means being on a Road Trip. Do not be mistaken nonetheless, this is not an Odyssey that you plan as you drive, following your inspiration, at least not in the summer (July & August): you should book accommodation at least 1 month in advance, and ideally between 3 and 6 months, especially if you have clear expectations on accommodation. The far north of Scotland (North Coast 500) comparatively sees few visitors (far fewer than lower Scotland), but also offers less options while on the road. Keep that in mind when planning your trip! Continue Reading →
Dornoch Firth, Scotland
Northern Scotland is definitely one of the very scenic areas in Europe, offering majestic sceneries & ever-changing landscapes, especially along the NC 500 and the Northwest of the country.
Driving along those wee, windy roads, soaking in the windswept landscape, is probably one of the most spectacular road-trips I ever took.
Taking pictures there is about chasing the light, and this very light is what will make it so special… Or so dull!
If we had a few really beautiful days, we also were rained in for 3 long days and else experience 4 seasons in a day…
But this is exactly when the landscape turns majestic, with a unique mix of dark skies and sporadic sunlight on the horizon. Truly magic!
Continue Reading →
Piazza del Duomo, Syracuse
Foreword
We chose Sicily as our first travel destination with our newly born baby (at the time of travel, Jules was merely 3.5 months) for 5 main reasons: Continue Reading →
Spiaggia de Cefalé or Beach of Cefalú
Type Of Travel
Sicily was our first travel destination with our newly born baby (at the time of travel, Jules was just 3.5 months), so we went on the safe side: direct flight, car rental from a reputable company right in the airport, and hotels or guesthouses where we would be sure to have all we need. That definitely means extra-costs! And yes, we definitely enjoyed Sicilian cuisine, went to some really pleasant restaurants and sampled some nice Sicilian wine… Continue Reading →
Statue of Icarus and the Temple of Concordia, Valle dei Templi, Agrigento
We spent 9 days in Sicily, and with only that much at hand, we decided to focus on some of the highlights on the eastern part of the island: we spent 2 nights in Cefalù, 1 night in Taormina, 3 nights in Syracuse, 1 night in Ragusa and last but not least 2 nights in Agrigento.
Nazarenos, Cordoba
Itinerary & Time Of The Visit
We spent 9 days in Andalusia during the “Semana Santa” (Holy Week before Easter), and decided to focus on 3 cities: Granada (2 days), Cordoba (3 days) and Sevilla (4 days). This was for us a perfect itinerary, that gave us the possibility to enjoy the 3 cities and the numerous Processions of the Semana Santa in Cordoba & Sevilla. Continue Reading →
“Paso” of the Sorrows of Virgin Mary
Foreword
The “Semana Santa” (Holy Week before Easter) in Andalusia, and especially in Sevilla, is absolutely unique. It is hence a really busy time, and major cities are crowded, mostly with local, but also with international visitors. Beware that accommodation will be scarce, and that prices will go through the roof, especially in Sevilla, where you should be ready to dish out at least twice as much as other moments in the high season! Continue Reading →