Travel: Wales

It’s been a really long time since I have post on this blog. No particular reason why I didn’t. It just happened. Something I am working on to try to change.
Anyway checking back in my files I found some photos and videos of an amazing, at list for me, experience and adventure back in the summer of 2019. Though while there it felt like it was winter.

It was my first mini adventure with the camper van I had back then. I went with a friend of mine that she never say no to these trips where no plan has been decided except for the destination.
I actually don’t even remember why we decided to go to Wales for that weekend. Did she or I decide? Did we decide together? I really don’t remember.
But one thing I do remember is that my poor and old but amazingly beautiful van took a while to get us there. Though we never complained about it. It was just nice to go on an adventure.

We decided to go for the weekend to Snowdonia Park, in Wales. We knew we only had Saturday to really enjoy it as Friday and Sunday were mostly to travel. For this reason we wanted an easy and not long hike.
On the website of National Park, www.nationaltrust.org.uk you can look for places to visit and also find walking trails with all the information you need (where it starts and end, how long it takes and the grade of difficulty).
After researching for a while we found an hike called the “Llyn Ogwen circular walk” which goes around the Llyn Ogwen lake.

We arrived around midday on Saturday as we spent Friday night sleeping in a car park one hour away from where we were going and decided to have breakfast at the top of a hill with a nice view.
Ones there we had to look for a place where to leave the campervan and stay for the night. We realized straight away that was really easy to find one. There are lots of free car park on the side of the street and quite few camping. Also farmers let you stay in their land and they offer you basic facilities like showers and toilets. This last was the option we choose.

The one we stayed were really easy going. Basically you just park, stay over night and the next day they knock on your window and ask for the money. Simple as that. Some they ask for 5£ per person some others 10£ and some others depending on the vehicle and not on how many people are sleeping. If you are not sure for the price just ask someone that is in the camp already. That’s what we did. Just remember to bring some money with you as of course they don’t take card.

Now that the van was parked, we packed 2 sandwiches each and water. Warm clothes as it was really cold and windy and we made our way to starting point of the hike. The entrance was really easy to find. There was a car park, a tourist information and a café.

Only after five minutes that we started the walk we were already super happy to have chose Snowdonia Park. The views from the very beginning were amazing. The colours were perfect and the sun and clouds were leaving a beautiful contrast of lights and shadows on the land.

It didn’t take long to reach the lake and ones there we decided to stop and eat enjoying the nature around us.
We then followed the lake shore on its left side. From here we started to go up hill.
The views from up there were insane. In front of us there was this massive mountain and at the bottom the lake. Everything was perfect, magical, nearly unreal.
We stood up there without talking for a while. Just looking. We couldn’t do anything else. Did ever happened to you to freeze in front of something beautiful? The time stops. You can’t do anything except looking and let this peaceful view get all over you.
Yes we did enjoy Wales, definitely somewhere I would like to go back.

I put together as well a short video if you would like to watch. Nothing fancy and it’s not long either and it’s quite shaky as well but that’s only the fault of the strong wind and of course not mine.

Anyway hope I gave you a tips on where to go next. Just please always remember to take home everything you bring with you. Rubbish included. Our world is amazing, let’s keep it this way so we can all enjoy it.

Thank you to have stop by and I hope you enjoyed the reading.

I will see you soon. Ciao.

Yours
The Human Backpacker

Travel: Le Cinque Terre

I went to Le Cinque Terre in 2019. It took me a really long time to finally edit the video and write about it.
I decided to publish it even if it’s passed long time because thanks to this place I manage to recharge my batteries as they have been low for a really long time.
So I decided to publish it anyway to say thanks to this beautiful place because it gave me the possibility to breath again.

The video and this blog are different from what I had in mind at the beginning. While I was there I only recorded videos about photography and now that a year is gone, I realised that I didn’t want to write only about that. The reason is because Le Cinque Terre are so beautiful that I decided to share with you their beauty and give you some tips to visit them.
Of course what I am going to share is base on my experience so if you have been there and you would like to share yours, you are welcome to do so.

Le Cinque Terre is basically a coastal area comprises of 5 towns, as the name says. These 5 towns are separate between each other. You can take the train to reach one and another or by car. But if you like to hike and walk there are trails that connect the towns.
Now this trails are not always open, you will need to check ones you are there. There are different reasons why sometimes these trails are not open. For example the bad weather or a part of the mountain has fallen blocking the path. So just double check ones you are there.
Another thing you might want to know is that during summer time you will need to pay to access to these trails. I don’t remember how much but I don’t think was too expensive and if I remember well it’s between 9am till 6pm. So if you start the hike before or after these times you won’t pay.
A big advise. If you are going in summer, it can be really really really really hot. So bring with you water.
If you don’t like to hike or walk of course you can always get the train but I think you should definitely do at list one of the walk that connects the two towns. There are some amazing views that you shouldn’t miss.
Of course I am not sure how the situation is right now cause of Covid19, etc… so if you have some updates just leave a comment so that everyone can know.

Another advise I am giving you once you are visiting the towns is to don’t visit only the centre. Go around, up and down the stairs… there are plenty. But again totally worth it. One because is good for your body to do some cardio and second because you can discover other places where you can have a nice meal or a nice pint. So go around and don’t stay only where all the other people are.

If you like sand beaches I would advise you to stay in Monterosso. It’s like paradise. The water is so blue that you won’t believe a colour like this exist and it is so clear that you can see the bottom even if you are not in it.
A thing you need to know is that in Italy 99% of the beaches are private, basically you need to pay. But I believe there are some Hotel or B&B that might have already included in the price the space for you on the beach. So just double check with them when you book and see what kind of offers they have.
Anyway if you like sand beaches definitely Monterosso.

When I went to visit Le Cinque Terre I didn’t stay in one of the five towns but in a city called La Spezia which is not too far by train. It is actually cheaper staying here but you will need to get the train every time, so you are basically paying the same money if you were staying in one of the towns.
My advise is to look for a place to stay in one of the towns so that at list you are already there.

There are lots of things you can eat here. All of them super really delicious. There are some typical dishes that you have to try.

• Farinata
• Torta di verdura
• Sea food

I am not going to stay here trying to explain to you what they are but I am just telling you that you have to try them. The other thing that you definitely can not miss is Focaccia specially with pesto. These two together are amazingly super delicious. The more you eat the more you want. This is for sure something you have to eat when you are there.
There are a lots of places where they prepare these home made food so look for them. You really won’t regret it.
There are two places which I would like to share with you where you can have some nice sweets, focaccia and a nice aperitif.
One is called Er Possu cafe di Fossati Michela in Corniglia where you can have a nice aperitif, the second one is panificio Rosi in Riomaggiore. In here you have to try her amazing sweets and focaccia. She bake them during the night fresh for you to eat during the day.
Of course I hope they are still open because of this situation and looking forward to go back and visit them.

Thank you again to have pass by here and I hope you enjoyed the reading. Feel free to leave a comment if you have other tips to visit this place. I will see you next time.

Ciao.

The Human Backpacker

Travel: Whitstable – UK

I went to Whitstable because a friend of mine told me it is a beautiful small town and they cook delicious seafood. She was right.
It is not far from London by train, on the south east coast in Kent. I booked a whole flat on Airbnb only two minutes away by walk from the sea.
I know right now talking about travelling is not the best topic as we can’t really go anywhere but it is getting better and before you even realise you will be able to finally discover new places or to go back to your favourite place. So yes, I am taking you to Whitstable.

No worries I am not going to describe in details the whole two days we spent there as I don’t want you to get bored. I will just giving you some tips in case you want to visit it, which you should.

If you love seafood as I do you definitely have to go to Whitstable.
It is not difficult to find a restaurant or a shop were they will serve you a nice and rich plate freshly made. So honestly just pick one and you want regret it.
If you want a nice seafood snack while walking and discovering the town I would recommend Wheelers Oyster Bar. If you prefer pubs there is one just by the sea where you can eat outside, The Old Neptune. Before I left the town to come back to London we had a delicious meal at Birdies Restaurant.

These are the ones I went while there and honestly with you, my belly was super happy. Of course if you are going in different ones, well let me know so I can go the next time.
Apart from food there are as well different things you can do and visit.

Harbour Market is one of them. In here you can buy fresh seafood to cook later at home, if you know how to prepare a nice meal with fish. I am not at all. The market is also nice because there are people selling their home made crafts. There are all sorts of but two got my attention. One was a man that builds all sorts of things with wood. Not only tables and chairs but lamps as well. The second one was a lady making fudge looking like animals or humans. I found it really creative.

Here at the harbour you can find as well places to go on a boat trip. Unfortunately when I went they were all close but I definitely advise you to book one if they are open. They don’t only taking you to visit the Kentish Flats wind farms but also the Maunsell Forts which are armed towers built during the second world war. Something that for sure needs to be check out if you are in Whitstable.

Another place I visited while there was the castle and its garden. It looks like this dreamy castles in a nice fairy tale.

I did enjoy Whitstable so much. For a weekend, for a break out of London, Whitstable is perfect. Hopefully next time will be sunny as well so I will enjoy the beach and the sea too.

Before I forget. If you would like to share places and photos you have visited you can do so on this FaceBook group which you might be inspired from places from others too.
And if you would like to support me you can do so by follow me on Youtube and Instagram.

I hope you enjoy this reading and this small town in England. Thank you to have pass by and remember wherever you are to respect the place and the people no matter the sex, colour, religion, etc… We are first all human and we need to take care of each other and this beautiful world where we live. Take care. I will see you next. Ciao.

The Human BackPacker.

How are you?

Hi everyone. I hope all of you are good and safe. How is going your quarantine? Are you bored? Did you do anything creative? Did you manage to think about your life and what you would like to do after the lockdown?

I have been quite in this period. I didn’t manage to think of what to write and share with you. Not because I wasn’t inspired but more because I thought that you needed time to stay on your own and think of your self and your family. I kind of didn’t want to bother you if make sense.

Limone, Garda Lake – Italy

I decided to write now cause I would like to know how are you and what have you been up to during this weird, new times we are living.

About me. Well, I started to work part time in the beginning of this year as I wanted to have more time for my self and trying to make a living with my passion for photography. In case you didn’t my main job is bookbinding. But because of the situation I am back full time as the owner asked me to. One because not many can work and second because I am going to work by bike and I don’t use transports. From about 50 people we are now in 4.

Limone, Garda Lake – Italy

In the meantime I am putting down a plan for when we will be able to go around again.
I am creating an online course of photography. Yes you heard. I won’t tell you more as I don’t want to spoil it. If you are interested just subscribe on the newsletter or just go to this Facebook page so that you can have updates specially because I am thinking that when the course will be ready the first 10 people that will enjoy it can have a nice discount… but don’t tell to anyone so you can be one of them.

Limone, Garda Lake – Italy

Of course I am checking places where to go and really looking forward for when these days will come. I am planning lots of cycling and camping. For these future journeys you can follow my Youtube channel where I will share them with you so like me you can see new places and maybe visit them as well one day. I mean, why not?

Limone, Garda Lake – Italy

That’s all I have to say. Let me know how are you and if you are planning anything for after this period will end. In the meantime stay safe and be kind.

I will see you next. Ciao.

Old and new thoughts

Happy new year guys. Hope you had a good break.
I want to share with you at the beginning of this new year some photos I took back in 2018 when I went to Germany for a break.
I didn’t look at those photos till now. I was putting in order my catalogues as 2019 is finished and I came across these photos that I totally forgot about.
I want to share them with you because while editing them they have made me remember that I love to take photos just to experiment and to have memories of where I have been. Something I didn’t do in 2019. I was just trying to get the “perfect image” wherever I was going to sell my work.

How weird. While I was in Germany I didn’t realise how beautiful it actually is. I wasn’t exactly looking as for a while I have been a zombie. Dead but still walking on this earth. I have been in a dark place for a quite long time. Fighting old and new demons. I am still in grey zone but I am working on it. I learn that I don’t have to fight these demons, but listen to them and try to understand them because in the end, they are part of who I am and they are not bad. They are just sad and frustrated and angry. Yes feelings are not easy to understand and to deal with. I am still learning how to do it.
I did lose lots while being in this darkness. People too. I had to choose myself, for once or I wouldn’t be here no more. I don’t feel bad towards those people that we didn’t manage to get to stay together. I understood that sometimes is better to let go for the good of both. Sometimes we are just not compatible for each other. It is fine. It is not been easy choosing myself as I was sad and sometimes still am because I still have good memories. I don’t really think those people are bad at all. Just as I said, sometimes we are just not good for each other and the best thing we can do is to let go. I am sure someone has thought the same about me.
For who managed to deal with me while I was in this dark place, and still managing to stay with me. I want to say thank you. I’m really glad you have been on my side when I needed most and you didn’t give up on me, as for a while I actually did give up on my self. I still have some up and down but this is life right?
I know I haven’t been easy but I am so grateful that those people are still around me. I literally can count them on one hand. You have no idea how much I appreciate your friendship and glad that you can share with me your time. Yes time. That’s all we have. It is the only thing important for all of us.
So don’t pretend from people their time but be happy when they get the chance to share it with you. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, whatever is your reason. And specially don’t put your s..t on others, first is not nice and second those other people are dealing with their own s..t too.
Just try to respect people in the way they asking you to and not the way you think is good. And if you can’t give to them that respect no worries. It doesn’t mean you are bad or that they are bad. It just means you are not compatible with each other so just let them go even if it is not easy.
How weird that some photos that I didn’t look for long time have made me think about my journey in those two years. How far I came and how many experiences I had. Good and bad.
So for 2020 I will try to do two things that make me… feel alive I think I can say.
The first one. Photograph, and not only with the purpose to sell my photos but because I want to take the shot. And writing, I think I am quite good with it and specially it helps me to express my self as for who knows me, I am not exactly a good talker. If you ask me how I am, my answer will be “fine”.
These are my two new intention for 2020. What about you? Any new intention for this year?