Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Piazza del Duomo, Lecce, Puglia, Southern Italy
Type Of Travel
Puglia was the second road-trip we undertook with our 3 kids (aged 5, 5 & 7 at the time of travel in April 2025). So clearly, we did not try to cut costs.
Of course it was no high-end trip, as we wouldn’t have enjoyed it anyway… But we rented a car, stayed mostly centrally located apartment rentals, and enjoyed our trip, … Continue Reading →
Torre dell’Orso, Puglia, Southern Italy
Introduction
Puglia has been on my list for about a decade, but somehow it turned always challenging to find reasonable flights to this province of Southern Italy.
With only 9 full days at hand there, we had to make some tough choices. Moreover, this trip being the second road trip with our 3 kids (7, 5 and 5 at the time of traveling), we chose to somewhat slow down the rhythm of travel and spend a bit of time on the beach, so that the kids can relax and have fun. Continue Reading →
Puglia offers a wealth of photo opportunities. But to be able to really make the most of it as a photographer, you must beat the crowd and visit all the popular places early morning or in the evening, both enjoying the best lights and the quietness. This goes without saying, obviously! With 3 kids however (7, 5 and 5 at the time of traveling), this is clearly more challenging! Continue Reading →
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 →