Athens, circa 2009. We were only supposed to stay in Athens for a few hours but we hit a transit strike in Italy and missed our flight to Santorini so we decided to stay two days in the capital of Greece before we headed our next destination (Istanbul). As much of inconvenience as this transit strike was at first (more on that later), we ended up having lots of fun in Athens and I’m glad we got to visit this fascinating city.
I started the travel top 5 last week by talking about one of my top destinations, Britanny. The next question I’d like to cover is the top accomodation I’ve had the chance to sleep in during my travels. Out of dozens of hotels, B&Bs and youth hostels, Hostel Mostel in Sofia, Bulgaria, came out on top.
Some would say that Sofia is an unusual destination to visit. We probably wouldn’t have been there if it hadn’t been the cheapest way to get home (in France) on our way back from Istanbul.
After an eight hour ride on a night bus and a confusing 15 minute walk from the bus station to the hostel, we arrived at Hostel Mostel. Dawn had not risen yet when we checked in and our room was only going to be available in the late afternoon. We really needed to nap because our sleeping patterns had been heavily disturbed by numerous stops during the night. The friendly receptionist took our bags and let us crash on the sofas in the common area.
For this new post I was inspired by the 5 questions that Unique travel guides publish on their Facebook pages when they ask random bloggers and travel writers about their favorite spots. So far in my life, I’ve been to 13 countries, stayed in dozens of accommodations, tasted a multitude of dishes and drinks and lived through a ton of amazing experiences.
These are the questions I will be answering during the next few weeks:
Here is the first of 5 questions:
1. One destination 2. One accomodation 3.One dish 4.One drink 5. One experience
Let’s start with the first one!
One destination: Brittany, France. Situated in the Northwestern part of France, Brittany is a great place to visit if you prefer a calm vacation that focuses on nature and history, rather than partying and shopping.
When I arrived at the Quimper train station, I’d just spent the last two weeks going crazy in Barcelona and Bordeaux, two cities notorious for their thriving party scenes. Right away, I knew that the tranquility of the region was just what I needed to get back on my feet. I was lucky to stay at my friend Sarah’s house for a few days. She and her family were generous hosts who took me around the area, visiting castles, churches, history museums and many bucolic villages.
I was there in the middle of the summer but the weather was mild, even cold sometimes. Rain forced us to stay in a few times but who can complain when the air is crisp and the view so beautiful?
In terms of food, Brittany is a great place to sample many delicacies like seafood, crepes, cheese and kouign amman cake. It’s hard not to go overboard here!
I only stayed there for a few days but I fell in love with what I got to see. Brittany is calm, charming, welcoming and what it lacks in urban life and movement, it compensates with the fascinating historical sites it houses and the wild natural beauty that can be found on its gorgeous coasts.
What is one travel destination you’ve been to that you would recommend to others?
A common sight in Italy: Scooters lined up by the sidewalk in the beautiful city of Verona.
Just for fun, I rummaged through my travel pics and found these photos of elements of nature taken around the world (well, on 3 continents).
When we travel, we tend to mostly take pictures of architecture and famous landmarks. I do that a lot, but I also like to capture the natural environment of the place I’m in, whether it’s a city or the countryside.
Sometimes, depending on the local climate, the flora is similar to that of Montreal. Other times, it is different and exotic (to me). I’m also very bad at identifying types of plants and trees so if any of you can tell me what some of these are, I’d be really happy to learn!
Here are a few examples of images I’ve taken while wandering around:
North-America
This first image was taken in the far, exotic land called Hochelaga Maissonneuve 😉 (that’s in Montreal, the neighborhood where I used to live).
Flowers at Battery Park, New York City
Europe
The Villa Borghese park in Rome
Fallen leaves in Rome
A peaceful road in Père-Lachaise cemetary, Paris
The wild beauty of Ile Sainte-Marguerite, near Cannes in the South of France
A flowery field in beautiful Britanny, France
Buckingham palace, as seen across a pond in St-James Park, London, England
Flowers at the Barcelona municipal plant deposit (which is not open to the public but we ended up there when we got lost trying to find something else).
Asia
A Rose in Istanbul, Turkey (probably taken on the European side of Istanbul but I don’t remember so I decided to put it under Asia since most of the country is considered as being on that continent).
An art installation at Sapporo Art Park
Flower fields in Nakafurano, Farm Tomita, Hokkaido, Japan
Tree roots at Iwatayama Monkey park, Kyoto, Japan
Kinkakuji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Flowers in front of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Japan
If you enjoy this type of photography post, check out the following articles: pictures of water, pictures of winter.
A storytelling home 