Irlande, Kerry et coups de soleil
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Irlande, Kerry et coups de soleil

by Barney64

in Between trips › Travel journals

This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.

Original post
BA
Barney64
Regular232 posts
Bonjour à toutes et tous !

Me revoila avec un nouveau carnet de voyage, après l'Irlande du Nord et la Toscane, nous voila de retour en Irlande, mais en République d'Irlande cette fois-ci (on conserve les euros et les vitesses en km/h 😛). Direction le sud Ouest, dans le comté du Kerry, entre le célèbre "Ring of Kerry", et la péninsule de Dingle.

Jour 1 - Trajet et premiers pas dans le parc national de Killarney

Après un vol très agréable malgré quelques appréhensions des parents (premier vol avec les enfants, 2 et 5 ans => (baptême réussi, ils ont adoré et été particulièrement sages !)), et après avoir récupéré la voiture de location équipée de ses deux sièges bébé (agence Europcar, assurance complète (Super Waiver), on n'a pas bataillé et on a bien fait), nous voila partis sur l'autoroute qui traverse l'île d'Est en Ouest (M7) en environ 3h30. Nous arrivons à notre logement, qui sera notre base de départ pour ces 6 prochains jours. Le choix a été fait pour un logement situé près de Killarney, permettant de rayonner dans les deux péninsules et dans le parc national de Killarney, en fonction de la météo et de nos envies, sans avoir à se soucier des heures de récupération/remise des clés. Plus confortable avec les enfants. Le critère était également d'avoir un logement tout équipé, avec cuisine / machine à laver, permettant d'être en autonomie complète, afin de limiter le budget repas (les restaurants tous les jours, ça fait vite monter la note), et de limiter l'emport de vêtements !! (on a voyagé léger) Nous avons ainsi trouvé un magnifique logement, un B&B à 2 minutes au nord de Killarney : nous avions pour nous tout seul une petite maison de jardin indépendante, avec chambre séparée, cuisine tout équipée, machine à laver, sèche linge, bref absolument tout ce dont nous avions besoin ! Et en plus, le petit déjeûner était compris, et c'était un régal chaque matin (buffet chaud / froid, que des produits frais / faits maison, gateaux, scones, salades de fruits, viennoiseries, saumon fumé, bacon, saucisses, oeufs brouillés, haricots à la tomate, plats spéciaux sur demande, .. etc ... j'en passe et des meilleurs). BREF, le logement idéal ! (allez, pour chipoter, un radiateur et un mitigeur dans la salle de bain auraient été les bienvenus ! 😛)

Après avoir récupéré les clés, direction Killarney pour manger un morceau rapidement (trop tard pour faire les courses - première faiblesse 😉), puis petit passage au couchant par le grand lac du parc national de Killarney, Lough Leane .. juste pour se mettre dans l'ambiance. Il fait assez froid, le temps est gris, limite pluvieux, mais c'est ça, l'Irlande !! 🙂

LOUGH LEANE

Jour 2 - Dingle sous la pluie ("à l'irlandaise")

Réveil aux aurores. Pas de volets ici, et des journées déjà très longues à cette période de l'année (Mai), le soleil se lève tôt et se couche bien tard. Au réveil aujourd'hui, un temps bien typique ... le plafond est très bas, la pluie tombe fort .. aïe ! Et la météo n'annonce pas vraiment d'amélioration pour la journée ! Autant des averses, on peut combiner, autant une pluie continue, c'est compliqué. Bon, commençons par prendre un excellent petit déjeûner nous fera allégrement oublier le mauvais temps !! Quel régal ! 😛 En sortant de la salle commune, nous tombons sur un présentoir de prospectus, et nos enfants prennent tous les deux le même, des poissons ayant attiré leur regard et éveillé leur intérêt. Un aquarium ? Quelle bonne idée par un temps pareil .. (moins bonne pour le budget, certes ..). C'est à Dingle, sur la péninsule du même nom, qu'il se trouve. Nous décidons d'y aller, en comptant sur une éventuelle amélioration de la météo une fois là-bas, pour aller découvrir Slea Head Drive par exemple. Nous prenons donc la route, sous une pluie battante, laissant peu de place à l'admiration des paysages alentours .. Nous arrivons donc à Dingle après une bonne heure de route sous la pluie. L’aquarium n’est pas bien grand, mais permet tout de même de passer un agréable moment. Il y a des pingouins, et même des reptiles, ce qui change un peu. Le tour se fait en 1h. C'est rapide, mais agréable malgré tout. Nous rejoignons la voiture sous une pluie toujours battante. Nous prenons la direction de Slea Head Drive malgré tout, parce que nous ne sommes plus qu’à 20 minutes environ de l'extrémité de la péninsule. Mais c’est bouché. Nous continuons sur la petite route étroite où l’on ne peut pas se croiser, en dehors des petites zones de dépassement qu’il ne faut pas manquer ! C’est beau malgré tout, le vert ressort bien sous ces nuages gris, mais c’est tristoune.

DINGLE

Nous prenons rapidement la décision de rentrer, puis faire des courses ! Faute de pouvoir faire mieux, occupons-nous d'acheter de quoi faire plusieurs repas chauds pour les soirs, et des sandwichs variés pour les midis quand nous partirons en vadrouille sur la journée. En fin de journée, nous faisons un petit saut vers Ross Castle, mais il pleut.

ROSS CASTLE

La vue est belle sur le Lough Leane, mais on n’en profite pas avec cette eau qui fouette le visage, alors on rentre ! Fin de journée, pas des plus mémorables, mais heureusement la météo changera de camp pour la suite du séjour !!! 🙂

Jour 3 - Ring of Kerry, première partie (Sud & Ouest)

Ahhhh .. aujourd’hui, il fait beau ! Très beau ! Alors c’est décidé, après un bon p’tit déjeûner, nous prenons la direction du Ring Of Kerry, par le Sud, dans le sens des aiguilles d’une montre. Nous traversons donc Killarney, admirons sa belle et grande cathédrale -

CATHEDRALE KILLARNEY

- passons Muckross, son joli bois enchanteresque avec les lumières matinales, j’aperçois sur le bord de la route, dans les forêts adjacentes, des « BlueBells », les jolis fleurs bleues qui jonchent le sol des sous-bois ! Il y en a partout, c’est beau ! Nous passons proche de la Torc Waterfall, mais ne nous y arrêtons pas (nous y reviendrons). En revanche, je ferai quelques arrêts au bord des lacs suivants, à commencer par un joli petit lac juste après le Muckross Lake.

LOUGH

Ses roches noires et blanches plongent dans ses eaux noires, le décor est beau, typiquement irlandais, du moins de l’idée que je m’en faisais. Nous continuons, avec un petit arrêt près de l’Upper Lake. Puis on continue de monter jusqu’à la Ladies View.

PHOTO LADIES VIEW

Pas trop de monde, pour ce point de vue dominant l’enfilade de lacs en contrebas, jusqu’à Lough Leane. La vue est saisissante, et on profite encore mieux depuis le petit promontoire rocheux en avant du parking principal du site. On reprend la route, et on continue jusqu’au Molls Gap, où nous ne nous arrêterons pas car moins d’intérêt après avoir vue Ladies View. Etant donné l’heure, je décide de ne pas descendre sur KenMare (en continuant la N71), mais plutôt de partir vers l’Ouest via la R568.

R568

Nous passons alors proche du Loughbarfinnihy, avec sa petite île caractéristique, et la jolie montagne qui le domine. Et encore des eaux d’un noir profond !! Petite pause donc, avec les moutons qui nous accompagnent ! Puis on repart, les paysages sont saisissants. Bien plus verts ici que de l’autre côté du Molls Gap. Une route part sur la droite, direction Ballaghbeama Gap. Je la repère, mais nous la prendrons une autre fois. Aujourd’hui, nous continuons sur le Ring Of Kerry. La petite route continue de descendre avec une vue magnifique sur la Kenmare Bay, et serpente jusqu’à Sneem, où nous rejoingnons la N70 (ring of Kerry sud).

KENMARE BAY

Là, nous partons plein Ouest, avec le prochain arrêt prévu à Staigue Stone Fort. Une belle galère pour y arriver en voiture, la route est compliquée. Un panneau parle d’un droit de passage pour les adultes, de 1€. Mais personne n’a vraiment l’air de s’en acquitter, et personne n’est là pour percevoir la pièce. Nous y allons alors. Le temps est dégagé, c’est très agréable. Les enfants gambadent, et adorent l’endroit. On pénètre alors dans l’enceinte, des murs de 4m de large, 8 de haut, pour un diamètre de 30m. Le tout en pierres empilées, sans mortier. L’endroit impressionne, d’autant plus dans l’écrin qui l’entoure, très sauvage, très rude aussi !

STAIGUE STONE FORT

Nous repartons, et tombons rapidement sur une plage paradisiaque, celle de Glenbeg. L’eau est incroyablement turquoise, des fleurs violettes poussent sur les rochers, l’endroit est vraiment beau.

PLAGE GLENBEG

Nous cherchons ensuite à rejoindre la Derrynane Beach, et ses roches noires.

DERRYNANE BAY

On galère un peu, mais on y arrive. Là, un parking nous attend, avec des tables de pique-nique. Nous y prenons notre pique-nique, mais des midges nous ferons accélérer le rythme pour repartir assez rapidement, pour une promenade sur la plage. Et elle est vraiment belle.

PLAGE DE DERRYNANE

Les enfants en profitent pour gambader sur le sable, tout le monde profite pleinement de ce moment fort agréable, sous un soleil de plomb !! (oui oui, d'ailleurs nous aurons pris de sacré couleurs ce jour-là !) Nous rejoignons la voiture, et allons à l’abbaye, où nous prendrons quelques gouttes, rien de bien méchant !

ABBAYE

J’avais souvenir d'un château dans le coin, que nous n’avons pas trouvé. Mais c’est en fait parce qu’il n’était pas dans le coin .. on aurait pu chercher longtemps !! 😛 On remonte donc vers le Nord, avec des paysages vraiment beaux, puis, à Waterville, la route se sépare et nous permet de quitter le Ring of Kerry pour prendre le non moins célèbre (mais moins fréquenté touristiquement) Ring of Skellig. Et là, c’est une véritable claque.

SKELLIG RING

Le ciel est bleu, la mer est bleue, les décors sont verts, et des îles se détachent au large, dont les deux célèbres Skellig Islands !!!

ILES SKELLIG

L'endroit est vraiment magnifique, saisissant même. Un dépaysement total, et un décor pourtant presque inattendu en Irlande, je ne savais pas trop à quoi m'attendre à vrai dire, mais sans doute pas à ça ! Des plage de sable blanc, des eaux turquoises, un vert intense (ça oui, je m'y attendais ...).

PETITE PLAGE

Nous continuons la route et montons un col, d’où la vue est fantastique.

VUE DU COL

Puis une grande ligne droite nous amène tout droit sur Portmagee, et son joli petit port.

PORTMAGEE

Là, on se gare, et on se promène le long du port et des pubs alignés tout du long. On voit les bateaux arriver et partir, et le long pont qui mène à Valentia Island, juste en face. Nous entrons dans un pub où l’ambiance est bien sympa, pour y prendre le goûter. Ensuite, nous filons sur Valentia Island. Les décors sont vraiments beaux et nous en mettent plein la vue. Beaucoup de relief, du vert intense, les champs délimités par les petits murets de pierres empilées, et des moutons absolument partout (et parfois même sur la route, attention quand même ! ). Nous longeons donc la côte sud, en attendant une route qui nous permettra de passer de l’autre côté de l’île, là où sont les lieux d'intérêts à nos yeux. A savoir le phare de Valentia, pour commencer, mais dont la visite est payante. Non merci. Je prendrais juste un petit moment pour crapahuter sur les rochers escarpés qui entourent le mur d’enceinte du phare et faire quelques images.

PHARE VALENTIA

A SUIVRE !! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Continuons donc ce jour 3, sur l'île de Valentia. Après cette petite escapade compliquée autour du phare de l'île, nous prenons la direction des falaises de Fogher. Zut, là aussi l’entrée du site est payante, décidément. Je vais voir la dame qui tient le poste de garde, et lui demande un peu ce qu’il y a à voir, si c’est sécurisé pour les enfants, etc etc … ! Ensuite, je lui dis que j’espère qu’elle prend la carte bleue. Réponse non … re-zut. Je n’ai que ça sur moi. Elle finira alors par nous laisser passer, gratuitement. Merci madame, merci mille fois !! Parce que le premier distributeur de billets doit être à des dizaines de kilomètres, si ce n’est plus !! 😛

Nous nous arrêtons donc au premier parking, afin de faire une petite balade jusqu’au point de vue des falaises de Fogher. Impressionnantes. Nous sommes sur un petit promontoire rocheux, sécurisé heureusement, à une sacré hauteur !!

LES FALAISES DE FOGHER

L’endroit est vraiment beau, ça valait le détour ! Et si on regarde derrière, la vue est tout aussi sublime, sur l’ouest de l’île de Valentia, et les îles Skellig au loin, qui font toujours partie du paysage ! Un endroit qui m’a transporté personnellement, j’étais vraiment bien.

VUE DES FALAISES DE FOGHER



Ensuite, nous sommes allé au point suivant, à savoir le sommet du Geokaun, la montagne qui domine l’île, offrant une panorama superbe sur la péninsule de Dingle, et la péninsule du Kerry, ses verts, ses bleus, ses moutons, ..vraiment chouette !

LA PENINSULE DE DINGLE

LE KERRY

VUE SUR PORTMAGEE

Puis nous redescendons vers Portmagee, une dernière image avant de reprendre le pont, et de rejoindre la route officielle du Ring Of Kerry :

PORTMAGEE

Puis il est tard, nous décidons d’arrêter les visites, et de continuer le Ring of Kerry nord jusqu’au B&B mais sans nous arrêter, ce sera l’objectif d’une prochaine virée de nos vacances.

Le soir, je ressors tout de même pour le coucher de soleil à Ross Castle, et force est de constater avec plaisir que c’est bien plus chouette quand il ne pleut pas !! 😉

ROSS CASTLE

ROSS CASTLE

Jour 4 - Autour de l'eau ...

Il fait beau encore ce matin, la météo parle d’instabilité, avec de possibles averses. Mais bon, là, ça a l’air top. Alors nous partons pour l’ascension à pied du Gap of Dunloe. Nous arrivons tôt, comme à notre habitude, avec des enfants matinaux, et après un 3ième petit déjeuner copieux, à base de saumon fumé, bacon, haricots blancs à la tomate, pancakes et salade de fruits ! Le temps est superbe. Nous nous garons en bas, et refusons quelques propositions de balade en calèche. On m’avait prévenu, ils insistent, mais c’est surtout trèèèèès cher ! Donc nous choisissons la solution des jambes.

GAP OF DUNLOE

Et puis, ça vaut vraiment le coup, l’endroit est beau, et on en profite pour s’arrêter souvent pour faire des photos, ce qui ne serait pas possible en calèche, qu’on se le dise.. on arrive au petit pont de pierre, puis le lac derrière, les paysages sont fabuleux.

GAP OF DUNLOE

Puis on continue de monter, en longeant le lac. On aperçoit l’endroit où les falaises se resserrent, pour former le gap certainement.

GAP OF DUNLOE

Sauf que le temps tourne. D’un coup. Vite. On est passé du jour à la nuit en 15 secondes, rude ! ça sent la pluie, le vent se lève, ce n’est pas bon. Et pas le moindre abri, rien. Nous décidons de faire demi-tour, pour redescendre nous abriter. Mais à peine faits 50m, la pluie arrive. Ça tombe vite, ça tombe fort. Puis finalement, l’averse passera avant même que nous ayons atteint le bas.

GAP OF DUNLOE

Mais bon, on ne remontera pas à pieds, on le fera en voiture pour aller plus loin. Sauf qu’en bas, les calèches bloquent la route pour empêcher les voitures de monter. Le parking où nous étions seuls au départ, est plein. Beaucoup de monde, j’imagine qu’ils préfèrent limiter l’accès, car c’est très compliqué de croiser sur cette petite route. Tant pis alors, nous reviendrons une autre fois, un matin ! Au lieu de ça, nous décidons d’aller du côté de la Torc Waterfall, pour une courte et accessible ‘ascension’ jusqu’à cette cascade.

DUNLOE

Le ciel s’est bien dégagé, on devrait pouvoir y arriver sans se faire doucher. La montée est assez rapide, en 5 minutes environ on arrive en bas de cette cascade, bien calée dans son écrin de verdure. C’est joli et rafraîchissant, sans être un incontournable, la montée a bien plu aux enfants ! TORC WATERFALL

En redescendant, nous prenons le temps de profiter du torrent, joliment agrémenté d'arbustes en fleurs.

TORC

Après cette petite escapade, nous décidons d’aller nous rafistoler du côté de Killarney. Et comme nous n’avions pas prévu de pique-nique ce jour-là, l’idée d’un Fish & Chips s’invite rapidement dans la discussion. Et ce sera finalement le célèbre SeaFoodQuinlan’s, que nous ne pouvons que vous recommander .. le meilleur Fish & Chips que j'ai eu l'occasion de manger en Irlande ! Puis une glace chez Murphy's. Suite à cela, nous repartons à nouveau dans le parc national de Killarney, direction le lac Muckross, et plus précisémment avec l'objectif d'atteindre le petit pont situé à la rencontre des eaux (Meeting of the Waters), lieu où les eaux des trois lacs principaux se rencontrent !

MEETING OF THE WATERS

Ce pont s’atteint par 20 minutes de marche le long du lac de Muckross, au départ d’un parking juste après celui de la TorcWaterfall. Sauf que pas de chance, le temps tourne à nouveau et voila que la pluie s'invite à nouveau dans la balade .. les midges aussi ! Mais ça vaut quand même le coup de résister .. c'est l'Irlande !! Et c'est beau ! Mais ça se mérite .. 🙂

MEETING OF THE WATERS
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Jour 5 - Péninsule de Dingle

Lundi matin, la journée s’annonce belle. Alors nous partons direction Dingle, pour essayer d’en voir plus que vendredi !

PENINSULE DE DINGLE

On part donc Nord-Ouest, puis on longe le sud de la péninsule de Dingle, avec une première escale à Inse Beach. Une vaste plage sur laquelle on peut rouler et se garer en voiture, sur 1km (minimum, on peut aller plus loin !). Nous nous y arrêterons plus longuement au retour. Là, nous partons direction le Minard Castle, que nous peinerons à trouver, il est assez isolé.

MINARD CASTLE

Mais il vaut vraiment le détour, c’est une jolie ruine, en bord de mer, et bordé par une plage de sable et de gros galets. L’endroit est vraiment chouette, et absolument pas fréquenté ! On prend le temps de gambader sur la plage, faire quelques photos, puis nous reprenons la route.

PLAGE

Nous passons Dingle, sans nous y arrêter, le but étant la Slea Head Drive. Nous touchons presque au but, quand nous apercevons des personnes en gilet jaune, type sécurité. Tiens ? Peut-être qu’ils attendent l’arrivée d’un bus ou quelque chose comme ça .. je continue, et souhaite m’arrêter sur l’un des parkings offrant l’un des plus beaux points de vue sur le bout de la péninsule. Mais un autre agent en gilet jaune m’en empêche. Interdiction de s’arrêter, interdiction de prendre des photos. Sous prétexte que la route est privatisée, mais il ne m’en dira pas plus ..

SLEA HEAD

J’apprendrai par la suite que le site était le lieu de tournage d’une scène de Star Wars, se jouant sur les falaises de Slea Head. Bon .. on continue donc au délà de Slea Head, jusqu’à Dunquin, un port d’où partent des bateaux pour visiter les îles au large (de nombreuses colonies d’oiseaux y nichent, donc c’est macareux, entre autres …).

DUNQUIN Ce site est célèbre, notamment des photographes, pour son chemin tout en courbe et les deux rochers pointus, caractéristique de l’endroit !

DUNQUIN

Ensuite, on continue un peu sur la Slea Head Drive, en prenant toutes les variantes possibles qui continuent de longer la côte. Entre temps, nous tombons sur un parc de jeux pour enfant vraiment top, l'occasion de faire plaisir aux enfants et de leur accorder un moment de jeu, rien qu’à eux. Le sourire jusqu’aux oreilles, l’aire est magnifique, les jeux adaptés à tous âges, et en super état ! (note pour les parents : les aires sont peu nombreuses, mais elles sont vraiment au top quand on les trouve !)

SLEA HEAD DRIVE

Puis on revient sur Dingle. De là, nous prenons la route qui monte au ConnorPass, le plus haut col d’Irlande, qui surplombe Dingle, et offre un panorama époustouflant des deux côtés ! Un parking permet de s’arrêter en haut, un glacier est là pour combler les estomacs des plus gourmands, et un sentier permet de monter encore plus haut !! La vue est vraiment belle !

CONNOR PASS

On redescend ensuite sur Dingle, puis on repart en longeant la péninsule côté sud, en s’arrêtant sur une plage repérée, avec un rocher qui se détache de la falaise, pour le moins photogénique.

LE ROCHER

Ensuite, nouvel arrêt à Inse Beach, cette fois on se gare et on profite de la plage avec les enfants. Et puis on se rend compte que la plage est vraiment très facilement accessible en voiture (c’est permis), alors on reprend la voiture pour aller jusqu’au plus loin possible le long de l’eau.

INSE BEACH

Suite à cela, nous ressortons du sable, pour continuer direction Killarney. Il est 17h, nous tentons d’aller voir la fréquentation au Gap of Dunloe, afin de voir s’il serait possible d’y monter en voiture. Arrivés en bas, le site est déserté. Pas de calèche, le parking est vide ou presque, parfait.

GAP OF DUNLOE

On monte, jusqu’à atteindre le point où nous avions fait demi-tour quelques jours auparavant, puis nous continuons. On se rend compte qu’à pied, on était encore bien loin du Gap en fait .. au moins 30 minutes de plus pour atteindre le vieux pont, alors que je pensais quasiment y être ..trompeur l’endroit !

GAP OF DUNLOE

Bref, l’absence de monde là-haut nous permet de nous arrêter où et quand on veut, pour apprécier les vieux ponts de pierre, et les eaux noires qui règnent en maître dans ce décor minéral.

GAP OF DUNLOE

On décide ensuite de tenter de descendre par l’autre côté, afin de rejoindre le Ring of Kerry côté Moll’s Gap, via la BlackValley. Après 1h de petites routes étroites dans la Black Valley, et quelques impasses sans trop savoir où aller, nous atteignons le Moll’s Gap.

BLACKVALLEY

Nous redescendons alors vers Killarney, en repassant devant la Ladies View, l’Upper Lake, le Muckross Lake et les nombreuses biches qui réinvestissent les lieux en masse chaque fin de journée ! La traversée de la forêt au sud de Muckross est toujours assez féérique, d'autant plus avec les lumières de début et fin de journée .. 🙂

A SUIVRE !! 😉
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
LI Libed3 Veteran ·
Merci de nous offrir ces beaux paysages.
BA Barney64 Regular ·
C'est avec plaisir, Nathalie !!! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
VI Virginie3478 ·
Merci de nous faire partager votre voyage.

Nous avons prévu de visiter l'Irlande de l'ouest en juillet 2017. Vos photos et commentaires sont mieux qu'un guide touristique !

Merci,
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Merci beaucoup Viriginie, je prends ça comme un chouette compliment !! Et ravi que mon carnet puisse servir à cela justement !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Lors de vos préparatifs, n'hésitez pas si vous avez besoin d'infos, idées ou renseignements !!! 😉

(PS : ce carnet n'est pas terminé, loin de là !! 😛)
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
RI Risiol Regular ·
Je suis au rendez-vous pour la suite.... magnifiques photos! un jour, ce sera mon tour d'aller m'y promener, du moins c'est un projet!
Le bonheur et les voyages sont des choix que chacun fait à sa guise. C'est une question d'attitude...
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Jour 6 - Ring of Kerry, 2ème partie (nord)

Encore une très belle journée annoncée. Projet du jour, boucler le Ring of Kerry en reprenant là où nous nous étions arrêtés la dernière fois, c’est-à-dire à l’île de Valentia. La portion qu’il nous reste n’est pas très longue, ça devrait être assez rapidement bouclé. Du coup, nous prenons la décision de faire un grand détour pour atteindre le point de départ, et de réaliser ainsi une boucle pour s’éviter un pénible aller-retour.

UPPER LAKE

Nous prenons donc la direction de Muckross, via le Ring of Kerry direction sud, nous repassons devant l’Upper Lake, toujours aussi beau (encore plus avec un peu de ciel bleu), puis le Moll’s Gap, le Loughbarfinnihy, puis on redescend via la R568.

LOUGHBARFINNIHY

Jusqu’ici, on connait. Et puis, à un moment donné, à mi-route entre le Moll’s Gap et Sneem, une route par à droite, direction le Ballaghbeama Gap. C’est notre route. Elle coupe la péninsule du sud au nord, en passant à l’intérieur des terres où le paysage est différent du Ring of Kerry, sauvage, rude, et très très peu fréquenté. D’ailleurs on comprend pourquoi, la route pour y aller n’est pas des plus sympathiques. Là encore, ça ne croise pas, ça monte raide et ça tourne beaucoup ! Moi j’adore, aucun soucis ! Après une petite blague pas très drôle de la voiture, qui une fois bien isolés, et sans réseau, nous annonce qu’il y a un problème de pression des pneus. Je m’arrête, fait le tour .. sauf crevaison lente imperceptible, pour le moment rien à signaler, alors on continue (de toute manière, je vois pas bien ce qu’on aurait pu faire d’autre ..). On monte donc jusqu’au Ballaghbeama Gap, une sorte de Gap of Dunloe, mais dans son propre style.

BALLAGHBEAMA GAP

C’est beau, minéral, seul le vent, très puissant qui s’engouffre dans le passage apporte un peu de mouvement, de vie à ce paysage rocheux. Moment de plénitude, mais le vent est vraiment très fort. Alors nous continuons, et rejoignons la Ballaghbeama Valley, puis nous prenons plein Ouest/Nord Ouest, en passant par le Ballaghisheen Pass.

BALLAGHBEAMA VALLEY

Pour finalement retomber sur le Ring of Kerry au niveau de Caherciveen, pas très loin de l’embarcadère du ferry pour rejoindre l’île de Valentia. Ici, un pont nous permet de rejoindre le Ballycarbery Castle, un joli château pris par la végétation, ce qui offre une jolie palette de couleur avec cette météo au beau fixe !

BALLYCARBERY CASTLE

Puis nous reprenons le Ring of Kerry, direction Est. La route rejoint rapidement la côte, et les couleur sont étonnantes. De l’eau turquoise, un décor paradisiaque, une face de l’Irlande que je ne m’attendais pas forcément à trouver !

RING OF KERRY

Puis nous arrivons à la plage de Rossbeigh. Une belle étendue de sable, presque en face de celle de Inse Beach, côté Péninsule de Dingle. Pour les parents, sachez qu’il y a ici aussi une aire de jeux pour enfant très sympa !! )

ROSSBEIGH BEACH

Cette plage est très jolie, surplombée des reliefs du Kerry. En marchant un peu, voire même beaucoup le long de cette plage, on tombe sur l’épave du Sunbeam. Lieu bien connu des photographes, cette épave est photogénique, malgré qu’il n’en reste malheureusement plus grand-chose. Elle a subi les tempêtes des dernières années, et a même été violemment déplacée par la dernière. Mais les conservateurs locaux souhaitent protéger cette épave et des actions sont prévues en ce sens !

SUNBEAM

On continue ensuite, toujours sur le Ring of Kerry, on croise un joli pont qui permet de rejoindre Dunloe,

BRIDGE

puis on s’arrête au Lough Leane, au niveau de Ross Castle et de ses alentours pour profiter de cette fin de journée au bord de l’eau.

LOUGH LEANE

Après le dîner, je ressors pour le coucher de soleil, et cette fois direction le Gap of Dunloe. Le soir, l’endroit est absolument déserté (sauf par les midges et moustiques qui sont là en masse !). Les couleurs du soir ornent joliment ce paysage minéral, un peu de douceur dans ce monde brut .. les images seront mieux que les mots ! 🙂







A SUIVRE (pour la dernière journée !! 🙂)
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Merci beaucoup Hélène !!! Nos messages se sont croisés, j'ai posté une nouvelle partie entretemps .. 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
RI Risiol Regular ·
ah oui! merci Barney, je viens de retourner en arrière et lire ton dernier post. Pas certaine que ces routes me raviraient! 😏 à moins de les faire à une vitesse de tortue.

Magnifiques photos encore. et quel dévouement et patience pour rédiger un CR avec autant de photos, pour le plaisir des lecteurs!!!
Le bonheur et les voyages sont des choix que chacun fait à sa guise. C'est une question d'attitude...
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Les routes, c'est vrai qu'elles sont souvent étroites, mais il y a pire, bien pire qu'ici !!! 😉 Et c'était surtout quand nous sortions du 'classique' Ring of Kerry ! (mais je recommande d'en sortir, l'anneau en lui même est beau, mais ses à-côtés le sont encore plus !!! 😎). Cela étant dit, sur les routes un peu 'étroites', nous n'avons pas croisé grand monde (et même personne, par exemple du côté de Ballaghbeama !), donc au final c'est plutôt royal. Mais en saison, c'est vrai que c'est peut-être plus compliqué ...

J'aime rédiger mes carnets de voyage, pour conserver une trace d'un tas de petits détails, des rencontres, des beaux moments comme des galères (les photos sont un témoignage, mais souvent incomplet, et puis généralement elles ne montrent que le 'beau'). Ces carnets sont évidemment très personnels, mais ils sont une base solide quand je veux partager comme par exemple ici sur Voyage Forum ou sur mon site personnel. Reste alors à agrémenter de quelques photographies (une passion pour moi), ce qui est un peu long c'est vrai, le système n'est pas super bien développé sur VF ! Mais j'aime beaucoup lire les carnets d'autres voyageurs, c'est inspirant, alors si je peux moi-même inspirer et donner envie, voir donner des idées à d'autres, j'en suis ravi !!! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
RI Risiol Regular ·
Je prends beaucoup de notes en voyage pour me souvenir, mais comme la rédaction se complète plusieurs mois (sinon années) plus tard, ce n'est plus pertinent pour VF... merci encore!
Le bonheur et les voyages sont des choix que chacun fait à sa guise. C'est une question d'attitude...
BA Barney64 Regular ·
C'est un peu chronophage, mais compléter un joli carnet au jour le jour en voyage, c'est top !! Comme ça, à chaud, on oublie vraiment rien, le moindre petit détail, et on a plus à y revenir !!! 😉

Pas de quoi !! A demain pour la dernière partie du voyage !!! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
CA Cavadabor Veteran ·
Ah, vos photos sont magnifiques et je suis un peu jalouse car nous, la dernière fois, ce fut beaucoup de pluie. Cela, dit, L'Irlande reste un fabuleux pays même sous la pluie !
OUEST AMERICAIN : http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=3634789;page=unread#unread IRLANDE : http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=5589074;#5589074
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Merci Cécile !!! 🙂

Deux fois que je vais en Irlande, deux fois que j'ai beaucoup de chance avec la météo .. espérons que ça dure !! 😛 Mais effectivement, même sous la pluie, c'est un pays qui vaut le détour. Et cette pluie qui lui donne ce charme, cette palette de couleurs, et ces lumières aussi !!! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
CA Cavadabor Veteran ·
Et je le répète, vos photos les subliment !
OUEST AMERICAIN : http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=3634789;page=unread#unread IRLANDE : http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=5589074;#5589074
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Merci beaucoup, c'est très gentil !!! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Jour 7 - Killarney & Ballybunion

Ce matin, dernières heures autour de Killarney, avant de prendre la route de Dublin. Nous décidons de visiter la Muckross House,



ses jardins,



et de flâner au bord du lac de Muckross côté nord, pas vu jusqu’ici.



Endroit un peu touristique, les allées sont néanmoins assez vides, et les jardins quant à eux très fleuris. L’avantage du printemps, c’est une explosion de couleurs, de senteurs. La maison est jolie et offre surtout un superbe panorama sur le lac. Elle se visite mais nous ne l’avons pas fait !



Ensuite, dernier petit tour à la Torc Waterfall, à la demande des enfants (et parce qu’on est vraiment à côté).



Puis nous prenons la direction de Dublin, avec le souhait de faire un détour par Ballybunion pour découvrir sa plage, et son château. Il fait toujours aussi beau, c’est un régal. La plage est belle, ornée de falaises noires et rouges très caractéristiques. Des artistes ont orné le sable d’un dessin éphémère, parfaitement réalisé !



Le château quant à lui surplombe l’océan, sur son éperon rocheux. Enfin le château … ce qu’il en reste !



A noter qu’une aire de jeux pour enfant se trouve en haut de la plage, très sympa !!!

Et voila, nous avons ensuite repris la direction de Dublin, pour y passer la dernière nuit dans un hôtel près de l'aéroport, car le vol sera très tôt le lendemain matin !!! 🙂

Vivement la prochaine fois !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
RI Risiol Regular ·
La chance d'avoir profité d'un temps beau et clément... Killarney, région de mes ancètres maternels... toujours sur ma liste de voyage que je veux faire... Merci encore une fois de nous en avoir fait profité et avec de si jolies photos!
Le bonheur et les voyages sont des choix que chacun fait à sa guise. C'est une question d'attitude...
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Effectivement, nous sommes conscient de la chance que nous avons eu !!! 🙂

Merci à toi pour tes visites !!! En te souhaitant de finir par y aller, et admirer de toi-même ces sublimes paysages !! 😉
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
AI Aiassa Veteran ·
Merci pour ce carnet avec des photos que nous aimerions pouvoir faire avec autant de talent et de temps qui se prête à de magnifiques rendus!

Je l'ai trouvé en cherchant la région du Kerry où nous nous rendons en avril prochain. Nous espérons qu'il y aura déjà un peu de fleurs, par miracle aussi les premiers rhodos...

Etes-vous allés sur Scellig Michael?

Je mettrai mon planning prévisionnel sur VF sous peu et serai ravie de récolter vos avis et expériences ...
http://notreamerique.fr/ http://monameriqueamoi.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenitalie.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenfrancelenezauventsite.wordpress.com/
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Bonjour Annie,

Et merci beaucoup pour ces gentils retours ! 🙂

C'est vrai que nous avons été gâtés par la météo, toutes les connaissances qui s'étaient tentées auparavant sur l'anneau du Kerry n'en avaient pas vu grand chose (brouillard à couper au couteau) ! 🤪

Non, pas d'excursion sur l'île Skellig, principalement parce que peu recommandé avec de très jeunes enfants (débarquement difficile) ! Mais j'aurais beaucoup aimé !

J'attends votre planning prévisionnel auquel je ne manquerai pas d'apporter quelques retours d'expérience, avec grand plaisir !!

Guillaume
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
LI Libed3 Veteran ·
Bonjour, Ce carnet confirme mon désir de revoir l'Irlande ! Mais j'appréhende beaucoup la location de voiture et conduite à gauche. Il faudrait que je calcule la différence de coût en y allant avec ma voiture. Merci encore pour ces belles images.
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Merci beaucoup Nathalie !!! 🙂

Pour la conduite à gauche, je suis convaincu que passée l'appréhension naturelle des premiers instants, on s'y fait vite. Et une voiture locale est bien plus adaptée à leurs routes qu'une voiture française. Je pense aussi qu'être avec le volant à droite nous rappelle régulièrement que l'on est pas chez nous, et qu'il ne faut pas oublier de rouler du côté gauche de la route !! Alors qu'avec sa propre voiture, au delà de la difficulté d'être positionné côté bord de la route, on risque de s'oublier et de se croire en France ! Le top, je pense, c'est d'avoir un copilote qui nous seconde efficacement dans les premiers temps ! 😉

Moi aussi je compte y retourner, notamment du côté du Donegal ! Mais pour le moment, place à l'Ecosse !! 😎

Merci encore !
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
TO Toopil Veteran ·
Non, pas d'excursion sur l'île Skellig, principalement parce que peu recommandé avec de très jeunes enfants (débarquement difficile) ! Mais j'aurais beaucoup aimé !

Voilà l'occasion d'y retourner😛
Hakuna Matata!
AI Aiassa Veteran ·
Espérons que les moyennes statistiques sur avril disent vrai: ce serait le mois le plus "sec" (tout est relatif bien sûr...).

Nous y serons du 4 au 19 avril. Ca y est tout est réservé: - une semaine en B&B dans le comté de Clare (Miltown Malbay) pour randonner dans le Burren et visiter les Iles d'Aran presque en face etc. - 3 nuits à Waterville pour le Ring of Kerry et si le temps le permet, Skellig Michael - 3 nuits à Killarney pour explorer sa proximité et faire une virée sur la presqu'ile de Dingle - 1 nuit à Rathdrum (Wicklow National Forest) sur le retour vers Dublin

J'espère que le réchauffement climatique nous gratifiera déjà des azalées et rhodos en avril, sinon il faudra revenir... Les sorties botaniques sur le Burren se font à partir d'avril. J'espère aussi que les oiseaux, notamment les macareux, seront de retour pour faire de belles photos...

Je suis preneuse de toute suggestion...
http://notreamerique.fr/ http://monameriqueamoi.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenitalie.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenfrancelenezauventsite.wordpress.com/
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Oui et non ! 🙂 Pourtant même si j'en ai très envie parfois (Toscane entre autres), je m'efforce de ne pas retourner deux fois au même endroit, tant les endroits à découvrir sont nombreux ! Donc tant pis pour les Skellig, il y a d'autres îles dans mes projets (Shetland, Hébrides, etc ...) 😉
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Avril et mai mettent effectivement un maximum de chances de votre côté pour la météo. Mais ne vous en faites pas, c'est aussi le charme de l'Irlande, les lumières changeantes d'une météo capricieuse, et il est rare que les averses durent !! 😉

La semaine dans le comté de Clare vous permettra des randonnées dans le Burren oui, mais aussi les falaises de Moher, et même le phare de Loop head (et ses falaises alentours) !

Les 3 nuits à Waterville vous permettront d'approfondir tout ce qu'il y a à voir sur la moitié ouest du Ring of Kerry (jusqu'à Kenmare au sud / jusqu'à Rossbeigh au nord), à savoir notamment le Skellig Ring, l'île de Valentia, mais aussi les vallées intérieures qu'il ne faut pas manquer (Ballaghbeama / Ballaghisheen)

Les 3 nuits à Killarney vous permettront de profiter des beautés du parc national. La cathédrale bien sûr, Ross Castle, Muckross, tous les lacs jusqu'au Moll's Gap, le Gap of Dunloe, etc etc ... et aussi une excursion sur la péninsule de Dingle, qui pourrait mériter à elle seule 1 nuit sur place au moins, pour bien en profiter ! Depuis Killarney, il faut 1h30 pour rejoindre, sans pauses/stop, l'extrémité de la péninsule. De là, je recommande de suivre la route qui longe la côte jusqu'au nord, avant de redescendre le plus tardivement possible sur Dingle, et de remonter par le Connor Pass. Il y a beaucoup à voir sur cette péninsule !! 😉 Sans parler de ses côtes Nord et de Tralee (et son moulin) que je n'ai pas eu le temps de découvrir.

Bons préparatifs !!!
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
AI Aiassa Veteran ·
Merci pour vos indications qui seront précieuses pour faire nos choix. Nous dévorons guides et cartes et cherchons sur Internet...

Deux semaines, c'est très court quand on est curieux des gens, de l'Histoire, de la belle nature et en même temps randonneur et photographe...

C'est déchirant de devoir choisir car les guides que je lis affolent le compteur des choses à voir. Mais selon notre principe, il vaut mieux voir moins de choses mais bien savourer ce que nous voyons et garder une flexibilité en fonction du temps qu'il fait et de la forme que l'on a! Quitte à y retourner...

J'ai mis 3 nuits à Waterville en en éliminant une dans la presqu'île de Dingle parce que, au point de vue climatique, je veux nous donner plus de chances d'aller à Skellig Michael. J'ai lu que les bateaux ne partaient pas par mauvais temps (on n'en profiterait pas, d'ailleurs!). Et puis, le Kerry Ring semble inépuisable aussi...

Et avec cela, nous n'aurons rien vu du reste de l'île de l'Irlande, qui est tout aussi intéressant...
http://notreamerique.fr/ http://monameriqueamoi.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenitalie.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenfrancelenezauventsite.wordpress.com/
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Bien sûr, l'Irlande invite à y retourner, pour découvrir tous les comtés qui offrent chacun de somptueuses découvertes !!! 🙂

Je comprends, j'ai le même principe, en tout cas avec des pays où la météo est capricieuse, de garder une flexibilité pour jongler avec le temps qu'il fait !! 😉
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
SO Sohappy01 ·
Bonjour Guillaume,

je suis tombée tout à fait par Hasard sur ton carnet (merci Voyage Forum) car je n'ai pas le projet de partir en Irlande mais en Australie (dans 3 semaines). Je trouve tes photos absolument sublimes et je me demandais quel appareil photo tu avais utilisé. Je me doute qu'il y a une sacrée expérience pour obtenir ces résultats là et beaucoup de travail derrière mais quand même une bonne base doit aider. Nous voulons changer d'appareil avant notre voyage et notre choix n'est pas encore définitivement arrêté. Merci beaucoup! Sophie
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Bonjour Sophie, et très bonne année ! 🙂

Et merci pour ce gentil message au sujet de mes photos, qui me touche beaucoup ! 😊

Sur mon blog, je détaille justement ce que j'emmène en voyage : http://guillaumez.wixsite.com/photographie/voyage-quel-materiel-photo-dans-mon

J'utilise depuis 3 ans maintenant, et toujours avec autant de plaisir, un appareil Olympus OMD EM-5 avec principalement un objectif Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 (s'il ne devait y en avoir qu'un, ce serait celui-ci) ! C'est un appareil qu'on appelle communément hybride.

C'est un système à objectifs interchangeables, et donc évolutif (on peut compléter avec de nouveaux objectifs en fonction de ce qu'on aime photographier (macro, portraits, architecture, etc ..), et de son budget, le parc d'objectifs est vraiment étendu, et il y en a pour toutes les bourses. C'est la monture Micro 4/3, partagée par Panasonic et Olympus, et d'autres marques proposent des objectifs compatibles, comme Sigma, Sangyang, etc ...)

Les avantages de ce système, à mon sens : + C'est relativement peu encombrant + la qualité d'image est celle que tu peux retrouver sur mes images (pour moi, vraiment bonne) + bonne montée en ISO + l'ensemble est tropicalisé (en voyage, je l'ai plusieurs fois eu autour du cou, sous la pluie, il n'a jamais bronché) + le boîtier est en magnésium (robuste) / l'objectif en métal (poids de l'ensemble = 800g) + le boîtier offre une stabilisation 5 axes (une des meilleures existantes), permettant des photos à main levée autour de la seconde (au grand angle). Ca permet des prises de vue dans des conditions de lumière difficiles, personnellement je ne pourrais plus m'en passer ! + l'objectif 12-40mm f/2.8 est un objectif siglé 'Pro', offrant une bonne qualité d'image, tant au centre que sur les bords de l'image. Ouverture constante à f/2.8. Range intéressant, 12mm (équivalent 24mm en plein format) pour le paysage, jusqu'à 40mm (équivalent 80mm en plein format) pour "zoomer" un peu, ou faire du portrait (40mm à f/2.8). Certes, il n'est pas 'donné', mais il vaut son prix ! Le marché de l'occasion est assez développé dans ce format, on y trouve assez facilement ce qu'on cherche !

En photographie de paysages, je recommande vivement l'achat d'un filtre polarisant circulaire (que l'on visse devant l'objectif), qui renforce les contrastes et réhausse les couleurs, et supprime efficacement les reflets. Attention tout de même en cas de grand ciel bleu, le filtre polarisant donne un ciel non homogène, c'est pas très esthétique !

Avec une batterie supplémentaire (autonomie d'une batterie, environ 400 images), et quelques cartes SD, tu es à mon sens très bien équipée 🙂 En tout cas moi, c'est mon compagnon de voyage et je ne suis pas prêt d'en changer !

N'hésite pas si tu as des questions, ou si je n'ai pas été très clair ! Et en fonction de votre budget, il y a d'autres possibilités à envisager, dans ce système ou dans un autre ! 😉

Guillaume
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
AI Aiassa Veteran ·
Merci Guillaume de partager les coulisses techniques de tes magnifiques photos! Il y a le matériel et le savoir-faire... Mais il y a surtout un coup d'œil, une anticipation de l'image escomptée. Savoir attraper une moment éphémère au vol.... Attendre une lumière avec patience, beaucoup de patience... Trouver le meilleur angle... Ce n'est pas donné à tout le monde! Il faut beaucoup d'essais et de persévérance pour arriver avec une certaine aisance.

André et moi avons été sur ton site photo et avons admiré ce qui s'y trouve déjà, en attendant qu'il se garnisse davantage avec de futurs voyages! Bravo!
http://notreamerique.fr/ http://monameriqueamoi.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenitalie.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenfrancelenezauventsite.wordpress.com/
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Eh bien, c'est moi qui vous remercie, André et toi, pour votre visite sur mon site et ces très gentils compliments !! 🙂 Ca me touche beaucoup !! Merci encore !

Mon site ne demande qu'à se garnir d'avantage, tant de photos de ma région, que je complète très régulièrement, que de photos de voyage. Avec à minima une section Ecosse qui arrivera dans l'année !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
AI Aiassa Veteran ·
On en redemande, aussi bien de l'Ecosse que de la région. Vite à la recherche de belles cascades! Nous espérons avoir pendant nos deux semaines en Irlande au moins un ou deux jours de mer turquoise. Sinon brumes et soleil feront aussi de belles photos...
http://notreamerique.fr/ http://monameriqueamoi.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenitalie.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenfrancelenezauventsite.wordpress.com/
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Ma recherche de cascades est loin d'être terminée, j'ai encore des projets en tête, et des explorations qui m'attendent ! Mais j'attends que le printemps fasse renaître la végétation, pour une ambiance encore plus "jungle" !! 😉

Vous aurez du turquoise autour de Waterville ... entre autres !!! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
AI Aiassa Veteran ·
Une cascade d'Irlande dans un écrin de rhodos, comme vous l'avez vue, c'est le rêve!

Toutes les saisons vont bien aux cascades, on les redécouvre différentes à chaque fois. Nous aimons beaucoup celles de nos Alpes toutes proches, que je n'ai pas encore mises en scène non plus... Le temps passe trop vite!

Tu aimerais sans doute aussi celles d'Islande où nous avons été en septembre dernier mais pour lesquelles je n'ai pas encore fait les pages de blog.

Une amie me dit que la nourriture est chère en Irlande. Les guides qui donnent des prix récents me paraissent pourtant corrects, même dans les restaurants. C'est peut-être vrai en haute saison mais pas en marge comme avril ou mai? De toute façon, en faisant de longues journées nous emportons le pique-nique.
http://notreamerique.fr/ http://monameriqueamoi.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenitalie.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenfrancelenezauventsite.wordpress.com/
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Ah oui mais en Irlande, c'était déjà bien vert et fleuris, en Mai !!! 🙂

C'est vrai qu'entre le printemps, et l'automne, je redécouvre les cascades ! Deux visages si différents ! Bien sûr, l'Islande fait partie de mes projets. Un ami en revient, fan de cascades lui aussi, c'est vrai qu'il y en a partout, plus belles les unes que les autres ! 🙂

Nous n'avons pas trouvé la nourriture chère en Irlande. Cela dit, le matin le petit déjeûner plus que copieux était inclus dans le prix de la chambre (B&B), et nous avions également une cuisine, nous faisions alors nos courses au supermarché le plus proche, un Lidl, pour nous faire à manger pour le dîner. Et le midi, souvent nous emportions des sandwichs, préparés par nos soins. Nous avons seulement fait un Fish & Chips à Killarney (que je recommande vivement d'ailleurs), je n'ai plus les tarifs en tête mais je suis convaincu de ne pas avoir eu de mauvaise surprise, au contraire ! 😉
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
AI Aiassa Veteran ·
Cela me rassure, au sujet des prix. Je me demande si cette personne n'a pas confondu l'Irlande et l'Islande où c'était assez cher mais pas autant qu'on nous l'avait dit, du moins pour des goûts simples de baroudeurs tout au moins. Nous allons tester le Fish & Chips de Killarney! Nos B&B et hôtels ont aussi été choisis pour leur classement "fantastique" pour le petit-déjeuner aussi.
http://notreamerique.fr/ http://monameriqueamoi.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenitalie.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenfrancelenezauventsite.wordpress.com/
SO Sohappy01 ·
Bonjour Guillaume,

merci pour cette réponse exhaustive et pour le lien! Effectivement, ca a l'air d'être un chouette appareil photo! J'espère ne pas avoir trop pollué ton carnet Avec ma question qui n'avait rien à voir mais ce n'est pas donné à tout le monde de faire de si belles photos Avec des paysages gris :-)

Malheureusement on est quand même bien au dessus de notre Budget (max. 1000€ actuellement) car on est vraiment des amateurs. Je vois en parcourant ton blog (moi aussi je viens de Seine et Marne 😛) que ce n'est pas ton cas et bien sur il n'y a pas que l'appareil qui permet de faire de belles photos! Ce sera notre premier Reflex et on va se faire la main sur quelque Chose plus entrée de gamme. Mais c'est sur que pour notte prochain voyage, on aimerait rapporter quelques clichés exceptionnels!

Merci en tout cas d'avoir pris le temps de me répondre et félicitations pour ton blog très agréable. J'ai de nouveau envie de retourner en Irlande après tes photos.

A bientôt! Sophie (je ne sais pas pourquoi mon clavier met des majuscules partout 😕
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Bonjour Sophie,

Avec plaisir ! Mais détrompe-toi, ce sont les paysages gris qui donnent les plus jolies ambiances !! Le ciel bleu, c'est pas un cadeau en photographie !! 😉

Pour rebondir sur ma réponse, deux choses importantes :

> En photographie, il ne faut pas avoir peur d'acheter sur le marché de l'occasion, il tourne beaucoup et si tant est qu'on prend quelques précautions, c'est très intéressant !

> Les appareils hybrides proposent quelque chose de très utiles, d'autant plus pour les amateurs, ils affichent à l'écran (et au viseur) exactement la photographie qui sera prise ! Ca aide quand on débute et qu'on tatonne dans les réglages ! Par ailleurs, ils offriront une très bonne qualité d'image, pour un encombrement réduit par rapport à un réflexe. Pour moi, c'est bien plus ludique à utiliser, mais c'est un avis très personnel !

Si le marché de l'occasion ne vous tente pas malgré tout, effectivement l'ensemble dont je parle dépasse votre budget, mais vous pouvez alors regarder des ensembles moins coûteux, comme par exemple un Panasonic GX80 équipé d'un 14-140mm (un range très polyvalent, idéal en voyage), ou bien d'autres combinaisons, rien que pour la monture Micro 4/3 (Olympus / Panasonic) ! 🙂

Merci pour les compliments sur mes photos et mon blog, c'est toujours un grand plaisir de lire des avis si positifs sur mon travail !! 😊

Belle journée, Guillaume PS : je ne vois aucune majuscule dans ton message ! 😉
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
AI Aiassa Veteran ·
Je partage tout à fait la réponse de Guillaume. Rien que de bonnes directions!

Cependant je vais le faire frémir: j'ai vendu sur e-bay mon Canon EOS5D MarkII (qui faisait de superbes photos bien sûr) parce que je n'en pouvais plus d'avoir autour du cou des journées entières cet appareil (certes de qualité professionnelle avec X objectifs interchangeables de la marque) mais qui me faisait mal au cou. J'ai même acheté un harnais pour soulager mes cervicales mais j'en ai eu assez...

J'avais comme 2 e appareil un bridge Panasonic Lumix FZ200 puis je suis montée en gamme jusqu'au FZ1000. Ils ont tous l'avantage de TOUT faire en UN!. En comparant des photos prises avec mon Canon et le Lumix FZ1000 je ne voyais pas de différence... (je vais essayer de les rechercher). Bon, un expert en verrait peut-être, peut-être seulement! De la macro au grand angle, je suis servie dans toutes les circonstances sans changer d'objectif. Du détail d'une fleur ou d'un insecte au paysage jusqu'à l'oiseau en vol... (voir photo-ci-jointe prise en Islande en septembre dernier, très loin des oiseaux... (J'utilise le mode rafale). Le vidéos sont si bonnes que mon mari a pu les inclure dans son joli film sur l'Islande!

En voyant mes photos, je ne sais combien de nos amis ont acheté des Panasonic suivant leurs besoins et leur bourse! Ils sont tous en-dessous de 800 €. (je ne touche pas de commission!). A une époque où l'on est obligé de voyager léger un bon bridge me semble une excellente alternative pour ramener "quand même" des photos qui peuvent être exceptionnelles.

Si vous allez sur mes blogs Italie ou France (ci-dessous), tout est fait avec mon Lumix 1000. Seules les anciennes photos des USA sont faites avec différents Canon.

Nota pour faire sourire: André a investi dans un SONY hybride haut de gamme avec X objectifs (spécialement bon pour les photos de nuit, ciel, aurores boréales...). Il peut donner la main aux préférences de Guillaume.
http://notreamerique.fr/ http://monameriqueamoi.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenitalie.wordpress.com/ https://baladesenfrancelenezauventsite.wordpress.com/
DO Domcho ·
Bonjour,

Votre récit est superbe et donne envie ! Pourriez-vous m'indiquer la référence de votre B&B à Killarney ?

Merci
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Bonjour Dominique,

Merci pour votre message.

Oui bien sûr, je vous communique toutes les informations par MP ! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
IT ITW88 Regular ·
Merci pour ce carnet très instructif. Je vais moi aussi m'en servir pour préparer mon voyage de l'année prochaine.
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Merci pour la visite Tom !!! Et ravi que mon carnet puisse aider !!! 🙂
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
SO Sohappy01 ·
Bonjour Guillaume, Je t'avais demandé il y a quelques années des précisions sur ton appareil photo et maintenant que nous avons le projet de partir en Irlande en mai 2020 avec nos 2 enfants (3 et 4 ans au moment du voyage), je suis retombée sur tes photos exceptionnelles en cherchant des infos sur Voyage forum. Pourrais tu également me donner les coordonnées de ton B&B ? Merci et bon dimanche !
BA Barney64 Regular ·
Bonjour Sophie ! 🙂

Chouette projet ! Et une destination au top pour les enfants 😎 Vous pensez vous fixer quelque part et rayonner, ou partir en itinérance ?

Le B&B, c'était le Rockfield House B&B, au nord de Killarney. Je vois qu'il existe toujours, et que les avis le concernant sont toujours excellents, par contre les tarifs ont bien augmenté en 3 ans .. 🤪
Mon site: http://guillaumez.wix.com/photographie Ecosse: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8228281 Toscane: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7411972 Asturies: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7816059 Irlande (Kerry): https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7620007
SO Sohappy01 ·
Bonsoir Guillaume, mon rêve serait de louer un camping car mais mon mari voudrait absolument une petite location traditionnelle, il pense que le camping car sous la pluie et avec des enfants en bas âge, on ne va pas s'amuser donc pour ces vacances je me range à son opinion. On cherche à définir 2 régions à visiter, on changerait d'hébergement après une semaine et à chaque fois donc on rayonnerait autour de notre cottage. On en est au tout début, à la base on voulait aller en Ecosse donc on n'est même pas sur des régions sur lesquelles plancher, pour le moment notre choix se porte sur le Kerry et le Connemara, sachant que ce qu'on aime le plus c'est la rando et la nature... Merci pour le nom du B&B, effectivement c'est au dessus de notre budget mais ca ne coutait rien d'y jeter un oeil... Bonne soirée!
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Attila yesterday
Amazing Kyrgyzstan!
This trip had been on my mind for about fifteen years.

But the discomfort of overnight stays, the difficulty of communication, and the prices of the few car rentals kept making me postpone the project.

And then, everything fell into place—I told myself, now’s the time!

Preparations took longer than usual; the destination is still far from mainstream.

A bit of Kazakhstan? Not in the end.

The south or not? Yes, in the end.

Pre-book or play it by ear? Only two stops were a leap into the unknown.

To help me find the ideal route, I made great use of this forum (thanks to everyone for patiently answering my questions!), pored over travel journals and blogs (Christian, Jeff), zoomed in on Google Maps and Yandex, and bought the guide published by OunTravela on this destination (the guide has been updated since).

---/---

You’ve got your passport, international driver’s license, bank cards, and euros?

Off we go to Lyon—just one night left before our early morning flight.

Tomorrow night, we’ll be sleeping in Bishkek! (‘Beefsteak’ for my partner’s mischievous nephews...)



You’ll find here a post with some practical info.
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Aleph240758 yesterday
Villages around Hazaribagh in West Bengal
Wednesday, April 1st

Hazaribagh I’ve got a meet-up with Adam Iman, a guide and painter. He picks me up from the hotel at 10 AM. Another traveler from Bangalore is supposed to join us, but while we wait for him to arrive, Adam takes me to see the paintings his mother and sister created at Hazaribagh station. The town became famous thanks to these murals, which can also be found in several surrounding villages. This art form has earned recognition and is now protected, a sign of its cultural importance. Once the visit is over, we go to pick up the other traveler and then head to our first village: Belwara, where Sohrai art is practiced. At the entrance, a sign proudly announces that we’re entering an artists’ village, where this art is created by women organized into micro-enterprises. Some even offer workshops for those who’d like to learn this tradition.



Sohrai art is tied to the harvest season, from October to mid-November. The motifs, in natural colors, celebrate fertility and abundance. The artists use pigments from the earth: red oxides, ochre, white kaolin, and black manganese. On the walls, you’ll see animals, fish, birds—all symbols of life and prosperity. As I look closer at the murals, I start to realize that each motif tells a story. Large animals like cows or bulls often take center stage. Their bodies are filled with intricate, almost hypnotic patterns. They symbolize wealth and prosperity for the household, as well as the deep respect for cattle, which are essential to daily life. On some facades, elephants stand out—massive and decorated with the same precision. They evoke quiet strength and protection. But it’s when I stop in front of one of the houses that I really take the time to look. The wall, a soft ochre, is entirely covered in murals. Two large animals stretch out on either side of the door, their elongated bodies fitting the length of the wall. Their silhouettes are filled with geometric patterns and incredibly fine curved lines, as if every space was patiently filled. Around them, stylized plants, flowers, and small decorative elements fill every gap. The door, dark and worn, becomes almost the silent center of the composition, framed by these living, protective forms. To the right, a more colorful motif catches the eye—a flower or a stylized lamp—like a touch of light on the earth. The whole thing gives an impression of perfect balance, between the rigor of the patterns and the freedom of the gesture.



Elsewhere, birds and freer forms bring movement. Peacocks, recognizable by their stylized silhouettes, embody beauty and vitality, while fish symbolize water, fertility, and the continuity of life.

On some paintings, the scenes become almost narrative: you can make out figures, everyday gestures, like a memory of the village inscribed in the walls. The decorative frames around the doors aren’t left to chance either—they symbolically protect the house, like a boundary between the inside and the outside world.







During the Sohrai festival, cattle are led into the jungle in the morning. Meanwhile, the women finish the *aripans*—these floor paintings—and continue the wall murals. Around noon, the animals return to the village, and the bulls’ horns are anointed with oil and vermilion in a gesture of gratitude, amid the vibrant colors adorning the houses. We visit several artists, including Parvat Devi, a well-known woman who has received many awards. Her arms are adorned with intriguing tattoos, which I’ll talk about in more detail later.



On another wall, the style changes completely. Here, no massive animals—just birds occupying the space, light and graceful, as if caught in mid-movement. Two silhouettes face each other, their long necks arched almost like mirrors, while their outstretched wings seem to vibrate with the patterns that compose them.



The design is more graphic, almost airy. The lines are smoother, more fluid, as if drawn in one confident stroke. The birds’ bodies aren’t solid—they’re filled with repetitive motifs like scales, stylized feathers, and spirals, giving a sense of continuous movement. Around them, everything comes to life: flowers burst open, arabesques swirl, and even the simplest shapes seem alive. What strikes me here is the sense of lightness. Where the large animals evoked stability and grounding, these birds bring something freer, almost joyful. They seem to embody movement, the circulation of life, like a breath flowing through the village.



The colors remain the same—deep reds, intense blacks, and chalky white—but the rhythm is different. Faster, more spontaneous. As if each wall had its own personality, while still speaking the same language.

That’s probably why I’m so moved. I’d heard about these paintings from my friend Raja, and last year, I saw an exhibition in a village near my home. That first encounter made me want to come here. But seeing them in person is a whole different experience. These paintings are unique. This ancient art is passed down from mother to daughter, or mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, in a quiet, deeply living continuity. At first glance, it might seem almost childlike in its simplicity and pared-down forms. And yet, everything is thought out, balanced, mastered. Nothing is left to chance.



That apparent simplicity, combined with such rich symbolism, touches me deeply. There’s something sincere and essential in these walls—and that’s what moves me.
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Bibouns51 yesterday
Off on a winter adventure in the American West!
Day 1 – February 14

We all have two lives. And the second one kicks off the day you realize you only have one, with the determination to spend the time you have left on what truly adds sparkle to your life, Kevin! I like to elegantly introduce a trip with a philosophical quote. First, it gives you the illusion that I’m some kind of deep thinker, and second, it lets me fill up the first few lines of my blank page when I don’t know how to tell you I’m diving back into what really lights up my life: another adventure beyond the horizon! And nearly every other year, like a toxic relationship, my horizon tends to take shape in Uncle Sam’s backyard. And this, despite his cousin Donald calling the shots. Speaking of which, it was partly that impulsive guy who pushed us to be just as impulsive and snag our four flight tickets at a ridiculously low price—a direct result of foreign tourism taking a hit from BetaMax’s repeated antics... Four tickets? Who are the other lucky ones? In this case, our lucky ones are actually lucky ladies: My Flo, always up for exploring the world with me on foot, camelback, or scooter, is obviously in on the fun. The other two seats went to our daughters, Sasha and Luna, both thrilled to be part of this new American adventure...

But what’s the American West like in February?... A gamble. Let’s call it Russian roulette since we’re not landing during peak weather season. That’s why we encouraged our transportation and accommodation to get cozy and produce a little camper van, so we can stay ultra-flexible in the face of any weather tantrums. We’ll be roaming in Kara the van with the motto "Follow the sun!" Bad weather? We bolt. Snow? We speed up. Sunny? We act like it was the plan all along and soak it up.

"Okay, but why keep coming back to the same corner of the globe? After ten American adventures, you must be tired of seeing the same things, right?" But I’m not crazy, you know!... The American West is like making love to your gorgeous wife over and over, always enjoying it just as much. And contrary to what you might think, the American West isn’t just the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Las Vegas, and Bryce Canyon. Proof is, after ten trips to the U.S., my retinas are still untouched by three-quarters of the places I scribbled on a napkin for this adventure... Oh, and add to that my wife, who I’ve easily converted to my religion, and boom... relapse is even easier! Because yes, we’ve landed in Los Angeles after a sunny flight over Greenland, still under Danish flag for now. And we’re already heading east through the XXL traffic of L.A.’s eight-lane highways, eager to dive into our first discoveries. But first, night is taking over the sky, and second, we’ve been officially awake for 24 hours, so I suggest wrapping up this intro. I’ll tell you more tomorrow morning. Sound good?



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Aleph240758 yesterday · Kola
New adventures from Perpignan to Ranchi (Jharkhand)
March 2nd — Departure by bus from Latour at 6:50 AM. The journey isn’t direct: we pass through Elne then Corneilla. In Perpignan, I switch to a BlablaBus heading to Barcelona’s northern bus station. Before reaching Le Perthus, French police stop us to check IDs. Several people aren’t in order, but after about fifteen minutes, we’re on our way again. We’re checked again at La Jonquera: this time, the wait lasts almost forty-five minutes while police identify those in violation and wait for a vehicle to pick them up. The driver then tries to make up for lost time; we finally arrive at our destination half an hour late.

I quickly head to the Arc de Triomphe metro station, located 200 meters away: you have to cross the bridge along the bus parking lot, then walk through a large garden; the station is on the right before the garden entrance. The trip to the airport isn’t direct: I have to change at Tomasso and take the line to the airport, where I arrive at 1 PM.

At the Emirates counter, I learn my flight was just canceled due to the war in Iran; they offer me another flight for the next day. I have to wait at the airport until 7 PM before being taken to a hotel; the next morning, I’ll take a flight to Vienna (with an 8-hour layover), then an Air India flight to Delhi, and finally a flight to Kolkata. I agree: I don’t know Vienna, so it’ll be an unexpected discovery.

At 7 PM, a small group is taken to the hotel, 35 minutes from the airport, where we’re served a light dinner upon arrival.

March 3rd — A taxi picks me up at 6:30 AM; the flight to Vienna takes off at 9:30 AM and arrives at noon. I’m free until 7 PM; the metro is direct to the city center. The weather is pleasant and not too cold, luckily, since my clothes are light.

When I exit the metro, I spot the St. Stephen’s Cathedral tower in the distance and approach it: the roof, made of glazed tiles, is remarkable.



Entry is free, and the interior, a mix of Gothic and Baroque styles in the center, is stunning.



Not far from there is St. Anne’s Church



, also Baroque, adorned with beautiful frescoes



—a music concert adds an enchanting atmosphere to the visit. I continue my walk at random through the pedestrian streets lined with magnificent buildings: I’m charmed by the city.







Before heading back to the airport, I stop at a lovely tea salon. My flight will eventually leave with a delay.

Wednesday, March 4th — Delhi and a little luggage scare We arrive in Delhi shortly after noon. Immigration is quick, and good news: my bag was checked through from Barcelona to Kolkata. I head to the connecting terminal and arrive half an hour before boarding: the flight goes smoothly. Upon arrival, the luggage comes out quickly… except mine. After filing a report, I’m told my bag is in Delhi—I have to retrieve it before taking another flight. I didn’t know (or had forgotten): with the delays, I wouldn’t have had time to pick it up and make the connection.

I take a taxi to the Ichamati Hotel. The welcome is warm, and the room is clean but very small. Without my bag, I feel a bit lost—I have nothing to change into.

Tonight, I’m dining with Raja and his friends at a beautiful restaurant, an old colonial house turned into a hotel.





We’re happy to see each other and have a comforting evening together.
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Patbill 3 days ago
A Slightly Less Touristy Japan
Hi everyone, I’m Patrick, 67 years old, a seasoned traveler (already 22 trips outside Europe). In autumn 2025, I took my first 3-week trip to Japan, with stops in Tokyo, Kamakura, Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Koyasan, Tokyo again, and Nikko. I wanted to go back in May 2026 and explore some lesser-known places to complement my first trip. Last year, there were four of us traveling together to discover Japan (a fairly classic itinerary). This time, I’ll be traveling solo for part of the trip and with a couple of French friends for the rest. The weather was gorgeous in May, averaging around 25°C, with two very hot days in Kyoto and only two rainy days. As usual, I organized everything myself, gathering plenty of information from various sites, including this one.

Transportation: An ICOCA card is essential. I got a 5-day Kansai-Hiroshima pass because I took the shinkansen between Hiroshima and Osaka three times, and it paid for itself quickly.

Accommodations: Mostly through Booking. No issues at all. Average cost was 46 € per night.

Meals: For breakfast, I alternated between buying food at a konbini to eat in my room or on the train and grabbing something at local cafés. For lunch and dinner, I tried to vary my meals as much as possible—lots of sashimi, sushi, and ramen. Okonomiyaki in Osaka and Hiroshima. Oysters in every form (raw, grilled, fried) in Onomichi and Hiroshima. A variety of seafood (shrimp, shellfish) in Hiroshima and Matsumoto. Fish whose names often escaped me, but notably mackerel and eel (unagi). Tempura and gyoza. Chicken skewers (yakitori) and one teppanyaki meal. One omakase meal (9 different dishes). In the end, not much meat aside from a few yakitori skewers. No splurges on super expensive wagyu or Kobe beef. Average dinner cost: 4,800 yen, drinks included.

The Itinerary: Day 1: Departure from Brussels Day 2: Arrival in Osaka Day 3: To Himeji, then Kurashiki Day 4: To Fukuyama, then Tomo no Ura, then Onomichi Day 5: Cycling the Shimanami Kaido Day 6: To Takahara, then Hiroshima Day 7: To Kyoto to attend the Aoi Matsuri parade Day 8: To Miyajima Day 9: Hiroshima, then Kyoto Day 10: Southern Kyoto Day 11: Northern Kyoto Day 12: Final day in Kyoto, then to Nagatsugawa Day 13: Start of the Nakasendo Trail (Magome to Tsumago) Day 14: Second day of the trail (Kiso Fukushima) Day 15: Third day of the trail (Narai), then Matsumoto Day 16: To Mt. Fuji (Kawaguchiko) Day 17: To Tokyo Day 18: Excursion to Enoshima and Kamakura Day 19: Flight home, with a 10-hour layover in Hong Kong Day 20: Arrival in Brussels
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MirandaMouse 3 days ago
Mice in Switzerland, the Other Cheese Country!
I'm starting my first travel journal since VF reopened!

This will mostly be to share my impressions and some photos, with a few days' delay, but I'm starting this journal while I'm still here.

First, I'd like to thank those who helped me prepare for this trip.

I was able to organize this stay in one of the most expensive countries in the world thanks to the home-exchange principle. Not necessarily a direct swap, but through a points system, which is more practical for choosing where you want to go without it having to be a reciprocal exchange.

For this trip, there will already be two different accommodations. We'll see how it goes after that.

The first place is near Yverdon-les-Bains, close to Lake Neuchâtel.

So, we're going to explore this area!

We arrived under capricious weather that won’t leave us for the next few days!

We had dinner at a pizzeria recommended by *Le Routard* in Yverdon, then took a little nighttime stroll through the town center before heading inland to settle into our accommodation.

We discovered a very large, quiet house—and especially the cat that stayed behind! Funny for a couple of mice! He’ll be sleeping with us 😹
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Montagnard74 4 days ago · Muriel18
Turkey 2026: Riviera, Antalya, and Cappadocia
Hi everyone!

If you're looking for great tips and offbeat spots, if you love exploring uncharted parts of a country, if the exotic is your adrenaline, then move along!

Our 15 days in early May in this part of Turkey (a country I first discovered during a city trip to Istanbul in 2017) will only tread well-worn paths and revisit popular routes. Simply because I kept hoping until the very end that our flight to Jordan wouldn’t be canceled. Events in the Gulf proved me wrong, so we left with: Zero preparation. Not a single hotel booked (well, except the first one), no visits planned, just a flight ticket bought three weeks earlier. No guidebook, no app—just the desire to explore southern Turkey and Cappadocia, whose images and the chance to stretch our legs had caught my eye.

Oh, wait—I did bring along a new guide: Gemini! Yes, my friends, generative AI was my chief advisor throughout the trip for sites to visit, accommodations, routes, and even restaurants! An experiment I wanted to try to form my own opinion on using this new technology. And what better way to test it than a Turkish getaway?

The verdict? You’ll have to wait for the trip recap to find out!

The main idea of the trip is also relaxation.

So, the plan is Antalya for a few days, the Turkish Riviera for a few more, Cappadocia as the highlight, and a return via Antalya to wrap up the trip. And it was all planned by AI!

So, if you're ready, fasten your seatbelts—cabin crew, doors to automatic and cross check—boarding for Turkey now!

A little sneak peek?
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GeorgesOZ last week · Hypnos
Langtang – Trekking in the Rain
We did the Langtang trek (hike) from September 10th to 17th, with the first and last days being the trip from Kathmandu and back—so 6 days of actual walking. It’s a fairly well-known trek but certainly not as famous or crowded as those in the Annapurna or Everest regions, which is why we chose it.

In theory, it’s mandatory to have a guide for this trek. In reality, it seems there are ways to bypass the regulations: we met at least two people hiking without a guide—a South Korean, a New Zealander, and possibly also a couple of English women and an American couple, though we’re not sure if they had a guide.

The agency we booked with had told us it was an affordable trek for relatively older people in good shape—which is our case (I’m 72 myself). I have to say upfront that we found it quite challenging, maybe because we didn’t have good weather—it was the end of the monsoon season. To be clear, no matter your fitness level, I’d say doing this trek in the middle of the monsoon season would be suicidal.

Day 1 – Journey from Kathmandu to Syapru Besi

On Monday, September 8th, there had been violent protests in Kathmandu against the government, which had, among other things, blocked access to social media and been accused of nepotism and corruption. There were 19 deaths. The situation was very tense on the day of our departure, Wednesday the 10th. The agency warned us that public transport was very unreliable. So, we decided to take a jeep, at an additional cost of $100 ($160 minus what was already budgeted for the bus).

We left a little before 7 a.m. and it took us a good hour just to reach the outskirts of Kathmandu. Along the way, we saw several houses and vehicles set on fire by protesters.

The road to Syapru Besi is only 120 km, but it’s frankly awful. It’s always narrow, winds through endless mountains, and the shoulders range from bad to confusing to nonexistent. Several sections are just dirt tracks. We didn’t regret opting for the jeep, as we could stop several times at our convenience—if only to let Y (my Thai partner) throw up everything she had. She’d taken her usual motion sickness medication, but the constant turns, accelerations, and braking eventually made her terribly carsick.

In Nuwakot, we stopped for breakfast at a nice little restaurant, Jimbu. It was around 8:30 a.m., and we’d barely covered 60 km. The restaurant has a lovely garden overlooking the Trishuli Ganga, the river flowing down from Syapru Besi. First photo: the river in the bottom right corner, mist and clouds over the mountain on the other side.

An hour later, my second photo: the hills along the Trishuli Ganga. You can see the different crops—lush green rice paddies in the lower right and corn, already yellowed and likely harvested, in the foreground on the left. And of course, the mist and clouds through which you can glimpse the mountain on the other side of the river.
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Calisson94 last week
Back to Swedish Lapland: Trekking the Kungsleden and Crossing Sarek
Summer 2022 left me with a sense of unfinished business, so here I am back in Swedish Lapland for summer 2024, ready to attempt the Sarek crossing again—and this time, tackle part of the Kungsleden too.

After much hesitation, my partner Jean Marie and I decided to start with the Kungsleden, which is, from what we’ve read, stunning but very busy (and it really is!!), and finish with the wilder option: SAREK! This park is known as Europe’s last true wilderness—sounds like a dream, right?! The downside of this plan is that there’s no way to resupply in Sarek, and the Kungsleden isn’t exactly set up for long-distance trekking either, so we’ll have to carry a lot of food for the first part of the trip with Sarek in mind. Oh well, we’re motivated!

Our plan is to start in Abisko (the classic route), head to Vakkotavare (also classic, but with some variations to avoid the official trail and the crowds), then continue the Kungsleden from Saltoluokta. Before reaching Aktse, we’ll set off on an east-to-west crossing of Sarek (weather-dependent, since aside from the Skarja hut in the center of the park, there’s no shelter if conditions turn bad). At least we’ll be on the right side of the park to climb Skierfe and enjoy the jaw-dropping view of Rappaladen if we have to bail on Sarek.

All in all, that’s 17 days of trekking, including 1 rest day and 1 buffer day for weather delays.

So if you’re interested, I invite you to follow our fully packed backpacks!

08/03 - Abisko – 5km before Abiskojaure Some info (guides we used for prep, SFT map, sending food to Saltoluokta) 08/04 – 5km before Abiskojaure - on the east shore of Lake Alisjavri 08/05 – East shore of Lake Alisjavri – just before Tjaktja 08/06 – Just before Tjaktja – above the Salka hut via Nallo 08/07 - Salka – just past Singi + side trip to Djalson Lake 08/08 - Singi – Teusajaure 08/09 - Teusajaure - Vakkotavare (end of the first section of the Kungsleden) 08/10 – rest day in Saltoluokta + round trip to the Sámi village of Pietjaure 08/11 – Saltoluokta – Sitojaure 08/12 - Sitojaure - Skierfe - Sarek or no Sarek? 08/13 – Skierfe – somewhere above Rapadalen 08/14 – Somewhere above Rapadalen – above the Skarki hut 08/15 – Above the Skarki hut - Skarja 08/16 – Camping at Skarja 08/17 – Ruohtesvagge 08/18 – Ruohtesvagge - Padjelantaleden 08/19 – Padjelantaleden - Ritsem – End of the trek 08/20–24 - End of the trip (Lullea - Stockholm) And of course, the recap
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RichardXI last week
Page by Page on the Assisi Way – 1,200 km on Foot
Preamble

June 2024. While hiking with my brother on the GR 36 Tour du Morvan, I catch sight now and then of strange rectangular markers fixed to tree trunks. Against a bright orange background, a deep black Greek tau topped with a white dove. My first encounter with the Assisi Way. The Way of St. Francis: a pilgrimage route linking Vézelay in Burgundy to Assisi in Italy, covering nearly 1,800 km. It felt like an obvious next step—I immediately knew I’d take it on, attempt the adventure solo.



In the months that followed, I talked about my project to everyone—family, friends, my partner. An avalanche of comments, more or less the same but varying depending on each person’s character and life experiences. But deep down, it all boiled down to one legitimate question: why?

And the answers? Hesitant, awkward, partial, even confused. I quickly realized they weren’t so easy to find. It was as if my project seemed more like a whim, a kind of intimate caprice, rather than a well-thought-out plan. Of course, I knew the reasons that pushed me to leave—you always have to give some. Loved ones need to understand to feel reassured, and that’s understandable. But I fear that when I list them, they’ll sound like the same old checklist anyone embarking on this kind of journey might give. Of all the reasons I could mention, I’ll highlight just one here: the call of the road, the solo adventure that brings a powerful sense of freedom. A bit like Monsieur Seguin’s goat, who from her comfortable pen gazes longingly at the unconstrained horizon of the mountain. But if I’m being honest, I think I didn’t really know what I was looking for—or, more importantly, what I’d find. Deep down, when I reflect on it, one word keeps coming up that explains nothing and everything at once: desire.

Now well past sixty, I know that when I ask myself who I am or where I’m going, two things bring me fully back to myself: hiking and writing. And my intention was also to anchor this adventure through words, day by day. Writing down my feelings, emotions, discoveries, and reflections each evening. The famous travel journal that grounds the daily experience in reality. When I discovered the app "Polarstep," which was initially just meant to keep my loved ones updated and reassured, inform them of my progress, and maintain a connection, I found an opportunity to do it a little differently than usual. No retrospective notes polished up after returning, but spontaneous writing—recounting everything that crossed my mind during the day and publishing it immediately. A journey lived in real time.

This text is the exact transcription of my daily writings. Rereading them, I didn’t change a thing—just corrected a few mistakes and tweaked some awkward phrasing here and there. Short texts, fitting the format imposed by this kind of app. Writing as if addressing others.

Now, all that was left was to walk. April 18, 2026 – Vézelay.

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Jojoone1 last week
All Over Thailand
You can post your personal photos in the following thread: https://voyageforum.com/forum/quelque-part-en-thailande-d10655574/

This travel journal is therefore intended solely for my photos, to present a consistent style. All the shots were taken with a simple Samsung Galaxy smartphone and with whatever was at hand.

All stays combined, I’ve spent the equivalent of a year at most in Thailand, and I’m no great expert. However, after many trips, lots of reading on VoyageForum and other sites, and conversations with many locals as well as expats, my view of the country is becoming clearer, though it’s constantly evolving. You never stop discovering and learning.

I guess I wanted to deliver a puzzle, mainly for those who want to get an idea of the country here and for those who feel nostalgic about it. I don’t know if this minimalist sharing will interest anyone, but it’ll do me good to put it together. After so many months without traveling and then these other long months with VF closed, there’s plenty of material available.

There’ll be a mix of places, periods, and subjects, but it might well be intentional.



I suspect many Thais have dogs because they make excellent guardians for the home. Nothing better to deter burglars or to signal the presence of a snake. You’ll often see Thais tapping the top of their dog’s head, but don’t be fooled: it’s a sign of affection from them. Judging by the dogs’ reactions, they’re used to it.

Thailand is one of the countries on the planet where rabies is still present, so keep that in mind. It’s not just bites that can be dangerous, so don’t let just any dog lick you. Especially on a wound, of course. Even though dogs often fear humans—this dangerous and unpredictable predator—we still need to stay cautious. Be careful when walking into alleys because the dog will defend its master’s big yard. Be careful at night, and be careful when they’re in packs. It sometimes crosses our minds that Thailand isn’t all that made for walking around, and dogs are one of the reasons. That said, it’s not uncommon to see them chasing bikes or scooters. Cars, though? Much rarer—they’re too big.

It seems Thais prefer to give their dogs freedom by not locking them behind gates. Though sometimes the gate is closed, the little side door is wide open. Oh, and sometimes there’s no gate in front of the property, or it’s been full of holes for years.

You’ll often see dogs sleeping on the roadside, sometimes right on the road. When you approach, they move aside nonchalantly—or not at all. It’s less funny when they suddenly appear from thick vegetation, reminding visitors not to drive too fast. As a result, you’ll notice that dogs with injuries or missing legs aren’t that rare.

Since they believe in reincarnation and respect for all forms of life, they don’t chase dog packs away too much, and they don’t sterilize them enough. When you see a small pack roaming freely in the countryside, you think twice about running into them at the edge of a field. A darker side of this is that euthanasia isn’t often practiced. Twice, we saw dogs at death’s door in temples, enduring terrible suffering with no one to help. The image (and the smell) of one of them, agonizing and exuding the stench of death, still comes back to me sometimes.

Some of you may have seen the YouTube vlog of a French woman living in Phuket who was given a little pig by her Thai friends. The animal, well-fed, quickly became a happy and enormous beast with its own garden. Yet it didn’t take long for it to fall seriously ill and become incurable. In her video, the French woman described how difficult it was to find a vet willing to perform euthanasia.

You’ll often see bowls by the side of the road. Thais leave food and water there for stray cats and dogs. Overall, they have a big heart for animals.

If you ever pop into a shopping mall, you might see people pushing their small dogs in strollers. It’s not just for fun—these strollers are provided for customers to put their pets in, otherwise you can’t bring them inside. It looks a bit odd when you expect to see a baby.
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Zigomar67 2 weeks ago · Puma2A
Argentine and Chilean Patagonia from El Calafate to Ushuaia
This travel journal summarizes a trip I took in March to Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. It starts in El Calafate and ends in Ushuaia. During my planning, I considered looking into the Australis cruise from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, as well as the W trek in Torres del Paine National Park. In both cases, I was put off by the prices. Instead of the cruise, I found two interesting wildlife excursions from Punta Arenas: whale watching in the Strait of Magellan and observing king penguins in Tierra del Fuego. The journey to Ushuaia was by bus. For Torres del Paine, things were a bit confusing, so I reached out to two agencies. In the end, I went with a rental car option, overnight stays on-site, and day hikes. I shared my full itinerary with the agency and ended up being taken care of by a local Argentine agency and a Chilean one. So, here we go...
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Nathalie971 2 weeks ago
From Southern Shikoku, between land and sea, to the blue waters of Miyakojima and finally the Tokyo metropolis
From Southern Shikoku, between land and sea, to the blue waters of Miyakojima and finally Tokyo’s megacity

Hi everyone,

I have to admit, I really hesitated before deciding to write this travel journal... Writing one takes a lot of time and energy, and since this is my 4th trip, I wondered if it would even interest anyone other than myself (both for the discovery and the writing). But after a few people asked, "Are you going to write a journal?" and especially after rediscovering the joy of reading other travelers’ journals about Japan or elsewhere on this forum, I’ve decided to share my 4th installment in the Land of the Rising Sun here.

The itinerary: 27 full days, from late May to late June 2025, right in the middle of the rainy season, including:

-->13 days in Shikoku, from Kochi (Kochi Prefecture) to Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture)



-->7 days in Miyakojima (Okinawa Prefecture)



-->7 days in Tokyo



The trip was decided on fairly last-minute again this year.

Since I regularly check flight prices to track fluctuations for this destination even without concrete plans, stumbling upon a slightly cheaper direct flight (900 €) than what I’d seen in previous months (around 1,200–1,400 € on average) for a Paris-Tokyo route with Japanese airline ANA was too tempting to resist the urge to return to this enchanting country. After much hesitation between exploring the San’in region (Matsue, Tottori, Yamaguchi) and Southern Shikoku, the decision was made—I took the plunge! The ticket is booked: Paris to Kochi with a layover in Tokyo, all with ANA, the airline I’d been dreaming of... for 1,120 € per person. Okay, it’s not cheap, but it’s better than in 2023.

Departure in 2 weeks! Now I just have to get everything ready!

Intense prep work over these next 2 weeks to:

finalize a more precise itinerary and reach an agreement—yep, because even though we both love Japan, our preferences differ slightly, and we have to choose between exploring new places or revisiting beloved spots... decide how much time to spend in each area without rushing while still exploring research places that might interest us and watch videos about Japan book accommodations: yes, it’s possible to do this on the spot, but last year, we realized that last-minute options were pretty expensive, so we’re booking ahead—though we’ll keep a few options open in case better deals pop up later reserve rental cars order yen check the weather regularly and wonder if choosing the *tsuyu* (rainy season) was really a good idea—are we going to be drenched the whole time???

"What hard work," you might say! Going to Japan for a month—what a tough life! Despite this being my 4th trip, the excitement is just as intense as the first time.

The only small downside is that when we booked the flight, there weren’t many seats left, so we’re only sitting together on the international return flight. Plus, on the way there, we have middle seats. Another lingering question: what French-language films will be available? According to the internet, the selection seems limited. Oh well, these are just minor details—it’s already time to fly! PS: I’ll be posting slowly and irregularly... so for those interested, be patient, and maybe set an alert...
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Cendryon 2 weeks ago · Eole34
Kattegat Tour and Norway’s Majestic Fjords – 32 Days (Denmark, Sweden, Norway)
Kattegat isn’t just the name of the village in the TV series *Vikings*—it’s also the stretch of water separating Denmark from Sweden... the sea, basically! And further north, you’ve got Norway and its fjords! Originally, I’d planned to just do a loop around Kattegat, with the *Under* restaurant in Lindesnes as our anniversary treat... but along the way, we thought, why not "push" a little further north, keeping an eye on the budget since we’d chosen to travel by car in June 2025 through Scandinavia.

Why by car when most travelers opt for a camper van, while others prefer the comfort of cruises? Well, because we don’t own a camper van, renting one is pricey, and then you’ve got to add fuel costs (those things guzzle gas!), ferry fees, and other "tolls." All things considered, we went for mostly rentals—especially since there were four of us at the start of the trip. We spent the first week in Denmark with our daughter and son-in-law. Then they flew back to Belgium, and we continued our adventure as a couple. For accommodation, we mainly booked Airbnb apartments, which helped keep costs down and, most importantly, let us prepare our own meals (diet, diet!). In this travel journal, you’ll discover (or rediscover, for those who followed my older ones) our unbridled love for theme parks, museums, unique experiences, and—especially in Denmark—Legos! Unfortunately, we didn’t do any hikes this year because the unpredictable weather had made the trails slippery, and since I’d already taken three tumbles during the trip, I didn’t want to risk another! In the end, we traveled for 32 days, covered 6,200 km, and most importantly, discovered the charming country of Denmark, marveled at Norway’s breathtaking fjords—all without suffering the heatwave that hit France and Belgium that June! If you’ve got any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
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Servanel 3 weeks ago · Vandfaure
Two weeks in Malaysia in September 2017
Hi there,

Here’s our account of our trip to Malaysia from September 11th to 27th. I hope our tips can help others as much as this forum has helped us!

Day 0:

Departure from Nantes with a transfer in Amsterdam via KLM (720 €).

Day 1:

We arrive at KLIA1 in the early afternoon. First challenge: figuring out where to pick up our luggage. Turns out the answer is right under our noses—we need to take the airport’s internal metro! Once we’ve got our bags, we withdraw some cash from a Maybank ATM right there. Next up: SIM card! Just outside the arrivals hall, several kiosks offer them. We go for a Celcom 5 GB card (70 RM). Then it’s taxi time to get to KL, in the Bukit Bintang area—about 85 RM in a slightly old taxi with weak air conditioning. We check into our Airbnb apartment, which is clean, more spacious than a hotel room, and—best of all—has a charming balcony with a gorgeous nighttime view!



We end up hanging out on that balcony, reviewing our plans for the next day. After dark, we take the monorail just a short walk away to enjoy our first evening on a rooftop at the 34th floor: Hélipad (Raja Chulan station—you have to enter the Menara Tower at the base of the station) with a panoramic view of the city and its iconic towers.





Finally, we head to Jalan Alor to grab a bite in this super busy street. Big sleep ahead! 😴
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Muriel18 3 weeks ago · Puma2A
Two weeks under the Puglia sun
After a pretty disastrous weather-wise trip to Gran Canaria, we’re hoping this time the sun will shine in Puglia. It’s not a sure thing, though—the weather’s been awful all over Europe in early May.

For those who’d like to (re)read the story without the digressions, it’s here.

Saturday, May 16: This time we’re flying out of Charleroi (Brussels South): the ticket prices, flight times, and proximity all worked for us. The airport (Ryanair) was recently renovated... but it’s still not very well organized. There are hardly any seats in the boarding areas, and... the restrooms cost money!!! The flight goes smoothly, though, and we land in Bari a little late.

We quickly pick up our rental car, a very local-looking Pandina (even more so than the Fiat 500 in this region), and hit the Italian roads... and their unique driving quirks (like the fact that the countless road signs along the streets and in towns are purely decorative 😏, and that Italian cars don’t have turn signals 😮... except for rental cars).

About an hour later, we arrive at our first accommodation, right in the middle of the countryside near Monopoli. The owner isn’t there, but they’ve left us a ton of info via messages and even turned on the space heater, which is a nice touch. We explore the property:



And the next morning before breakfast, its immediate surroundings:





Sunday, May 17: After our "seaside" experience in Gran Canaria last weekend (packed with people and locals), we decide to start inland. After a hearty breakfast,



we head toward Alberobello, a super touristy village famous for its trulli—those stone houses with conical roofs. We easily find a free parking spot on a street near the Aia Piccola district, where some trulli are still lived in year-round.





We almost immediately come across the Trullo Sovrano (the only two-story one), which you can visit (but we skip it—it’s opening time, and there’s already a line).



From there, we head down toward the Basilica of Cosma e Damiano... but we don’t go in because there’s a mass.



Now we’re on the main Piazza del Popolo, which connects the two districts of Alberobello: Rione Aia Piccola and Rione Monti, the more touristy one.
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Fabhyène 3 weeks ago · Chrisfenua
3 weeks in Laos, stress-free
Come along, I'm taking you to this country where it's so nice to wander and slow down...

This trip was in 2023, but when I wanted to write my travel journal, VF was still closed to contributions... So, now that I've just finished my Japan travel journal here, I figured it was high time to honor this destination we came back from so enchanted. Disclaimer 1: This is a written travel journal. There’ll be text! Too much, for some! Disclaimer 2: This is an illustrated travel journal. There’ll be photos! Too many, for some!

I have to say, every time I try to discipline myself, to keep it shorter, to include fewer photos... I end up adding more. It feels like my dear Aunt Nicole, who exhausted us with her slide-show evenings in the 70s/80s, decided to take her revenge. The upside for you, readers, is that you can slip away anytime without offending Aunt Nicole. I won’t even notice!

Anyway, since I love maps, here’s one to give you an idea of where I’m taking you. As you can see, we only saw a tiny part of Laos (the areas circled in red); we only had 3 weeks for ourselves (my husband’s newly retired, I still work), and we prefer taking our time over rushing around like crazy.



In broad strokes, it was very classic:

First, we “settled in” at Luang Prabang (8 days), because we wanted and needed to. From there, we took three days to venture a little further north—not far in kilometers, but as we know, distances aren’t just about km! Then we flew south to Paksé, letting ourselves drift down to the 4,000 Islands while stopping by the pre-Angkorian archaeological sites. We wrapped up with the Bolaven Plateau.

A few practical notes: We arrived via Bangkok, then took a Bangkok-Luang Prabang flight, having picked up our luggage in Bangkok to check it in for Luang Prabang. No issues—the Bangkok airport, which many of you know, is very well organized. We got our visas on arrival in Luang Prabang. Quick, but to be fair, we were on a “small” plane, and the big flights had arrived earlier, so we weren’t too crowded in line! At the end of our trip, we didn’t fly out of Paksé but from the nearby airport in Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani (a 2.5-hour drive from Paksé), then Bangkok and Paris. You’ll notice we skipped Vientiane to stay longer in Luang Prabang. That said, there’s now a high-speed train between Vientiane and Luang Prabang—good to know—and soon the (Chinese) train will go all the way to Bangkok and even Kuala Lumpur!

With that intro out of the way, let’s dive into the heart of the matter. To be continued: Slowing down the pace... in Luang Prabang
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Torpan 3 weeks ago · Tulipe57
Japan: First Discovery!
Here’s a little story about my first trip to Japan with my partner. We went for our first visit from October 29 to November 13, 2024.

I had planned this entire trip back in November 2020, but given the health situation at the time, I had to cancel...

Here’s the classic route we took:

We booked everything ourselves and got a regional pass for the area from Kyoto to Hiroshima. The hotels were reserved 3 months in advance on Book... and Agod... (1030 € for 2 people for 13 nights = 80 €/night). For the flight, we chose a Qatar Airways flight with a layover to break up the long journey (950 € per person). We also got a pass on the same site (Japan-Experience) to take the train connecting Narita Airport to Shibuya Station (the N'EX Narita Express). Since the airport is 75 km from central Tokyo, we opted for this mode of transport, even though there are cheaper alternatives. After reading various posts on VoyageForum, I understood how important it was to have a Welcome Suica card to pay for public transport (subway, tram, bus, boat throughout the country), and we were able to buy one at Narita Airport. It turned out to be super useful! After a long but smooth journey, we found ourselves at Narita Airport in the evening. Even though we had a pass for the Narita Express, we had to go to a counter to make a reservation for the train (mandatory). Then, once we arrived at Shibuya Station, we took the subway for 2 stops and finally reached our hotel, exhausted (Hotel Asia Center of Japan – 270 € for 3 nights with breakfast included).
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Fabhyène 3 weeks ago · Tulipe57
Draw Me Your Japan...
Hi there!

I’m inviting you on a stroll through my drawings—a completely subjective, far from exhaustive, and totally personal take, since it’s based on my own sketches. I put this travel journal together after returning in late 2024, mostly using felt-tip pens and pencils, with a few collages thrown in. I worked from our personal photos.

Let’s start with the shotengai...



Our first "wow" moment came as we stepped out of the subway in Asakusa, the Tokyo neighborhood where we’d booked our hotel for our first five nights. Exhausted after our long flight, we finally arrived and took an exit that led straight into a shotengai—one of those covered shopping streets that pop up in city centers and flourished between the 1950s and 1980s.

It was an instant aesthetic shock, like a close encounter of the third kind between the modern city, a typical Asian market with its street stalls, the vintage vibe of the arcade, the sheer abundance of goods, and the bustling crowd—a mix of tourists, pilgrims (thanks to nearby Senso-ji Temple), and locals (it’s a very working-class area). In the end, it set the tone for a feeling we’d experience throughout the trip. Wherever we went, shotengai turned out to be fantastic spots for finding little restaurants, shops, or even fresh produce. Some are like real mazes, like in Kyoto, where we spent ages trying to relocate a restaurant we’d loved ;-)

In Kanazawa, the Omicho Market: And in Kyoto, Nishiki Market:

To be continued...
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Holigirl 3 weeks ago · Solene40
South Africa in safari mode: February/March 2026
Hi everyone,

With my girlfriend Christelle, we’ve chosen South Africa for our first trip to Southern Africa, focusing on safaris—after a long debate with a Cape Town/Kruger combo. But that would’ve meant cutting out St Lucia, which would’ve been harder to fit into another trip. And St Lucia—thanks to Michel and all those travel journals—we really wanted to go there.

So our 11-night itinerary ended up like this, mostly shaped by school holidays: - 3 nights in St Lucia - 1 night in Hluhluwe - 1 night at Mkhaya Game Reserve (Eswatini) - 1 night at Hlane Royal National Park (Eswatini) - 3 nights in Kruger (Berg en Dal / Satara / Tamboti) - 1 night at Shindzela Tented Camp in the Timbavati private reserve - 1 final night in Kruger at Lower Sabie

All of this in the off-season and rainy season, just a month after catastrophic floods that killed over 150 people and seriously damaged Kruger’s infrastructure.

I’ll jump straight to St Lucia and skip the loooong journey to get there (with a layover in Frankfurt, landing in Johannesburg, a domestic flight to Durban, and the rest by rental SUV—First Car Rental, perfect, no complaints).

To motivate readers—especially some familiar faces here—I’ll drop in a first photo.

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Caroki 4 weeks ago
Three weeks in Albania with two older teens
We went to Albania in August 2025. Our itinerary included adventure (sporty activities, site visits), naps on the beach interspersed with swims, incredible natural sites, and a bit of culture.

I booked all our accommodations on Booking.com. Note: almost all places ask to be paid in cash!! You can obviously withdraw from banks, but the fees are pretty high. Luckily, we had plenty of cash, and the country is very safe. You can pay in euros most of the time, which avoids exchange fees. We started in Tirana. I’d read a really interesting post about Albania’s bunkers (link in my profile). We chose to visit Bunk’Art with a guide from the agency that wrote the post. It was fascinating—not only to better understand the country’s history but also because her grandfather was repressed by the regime, and she shared her family’s experience with us.

Bunkers are everywhere! In Tirana, Bunk’Art is the most interesting and largest. You’ll see the dictator Enver Hoxha’s office, where he would’ve taken refuge in case of an attack on the country. Bring a sweater—it’s really cold in the underground tunnels and their huge corridors. You can visit other bunkers around the country, in Tirana and elsewhere. Almost all are just abandoned. The cable car up Mount Dajti is right next to Bunk’Art. The view is stunning—you realize Tirana is so close to the mountains and the sea... But otherwise, it’s not that exciting for older teens (17 and 19) and their parents. We picked up a rental car in Tirana—it’d be ours for the next three weeks. We used Goalbania’s agency to avoid any hassles. First, there aren’t many cars available in Albania in summer. Second, French credit cards can be a nightmare abroad. So we preferred to sort that out in advance. After Tirana, we headed to Permet. Just a heads-up: the roads are in great condition except in the mountains. And Albanian drivers aren’t stressful to deal with. Though you might suddenly encounter a herd of goats crossing the road—haha—but if you’re not going too fast, it’s fine. In Permet, I’d been dreaming of rafting on the Vjosa, one of Europe’s last wild rivers. And we did it with a local agency! It’s beautiful, accessible to everyone, not too physical but still a bit lively—just how we like it. You can even jump into the river in some spots. In Permet, we also hiked through a canyon and visited a lovely little church.



And we took a workshop to make their local culinary pride: gliko. It’s a jam with whole fruits inside. We’d seen it on Goalbania’s site, and it was really fun. We were with a family where the secret to making gliko has been passed down for generations... Next, we headed to Gjirokastër. A city we loved: its old traditional houses (Skendulli and Zekate), its grand castle, the Ali Pasha Bridge. Along the way, we stopped for artisanal ice cream at a little shop run by a grandmother who’s been making it herself for ages.



One afternoon, my husband *had* to go to the coast in the south, to Ksamil (he’d read it was better than Sarandë). Verdict: we didn’t like it. Parking is a nightmare, the beaches are super noisy and crowded. The sea is packed with jet skis, boats, pedalos, and ropes. Avoid it.

On the other hand, we really liked Himarë, where we went next. We stayed at a campsite where we rented tents with mattresses and sheets inside. Right by the sea, on a low cliff (about 2 meters high). You can hear the waves at night... Magical!! To swim, you either jump straight into the sea (almost from the tent) or climb down a ladder, which you’ll need to climb back up to get out.



I was a little worried the campsite wouldn’t be very comfortable, so afterward, I’d booked a small place in Gjilek. Turns out, the place was really tiny (one room for four, no kitchen) and pretty expensive (over 100 € a night). We’d drive to the beach or restaurants—it’s on a steep slope, so not very accessible. Parking near the sea is tricky. But the (private) beaches were nice—we’d rent an umbrella not too close to the music and spend the day there. We also went to a wilder beach, harder to reach, via a long path. Behind the beach, there’s an amazing canyon where we’d sometimes climb using ropes (already in place, no need to bring your own) over big boulders rolled around by the stream, which must swell a lot in spring. So, the sea in Albania: it’s nice if you like swimming and relaxing, but it’s not the most interesting part of the country. There are so many other amazing things to see and discover—so many stunning sites! Maybe an agency could’ve helped us find more practical accommodations and avoid Ksamil and its surroundings. We left the coast to head to the beautiful city of Berat and its "thousand windows." We explored the city, its fortress, and its icon museum.



Then we discovered the Osum Canyon—it’s incredible. The view from the top is breathtaking. And at the bottom, it’s magical. There’s little water in summer, so rafting isn’t an option. We weren’t tempted by the big-tube descent offered by an agency—it looked fun, but the group had 40 people. We preferred hiking on our own as a family of four. We scouted the area on Google Maps... and found where to descend. We walked in the water, then it rose to our waists, then our shoulders... We weren’t moving fast. And how to get back up?? Eventually, we followed a group with a guide—the path was hard to find.



After that unforgettable hike, we visited the Bogovë Waterfalls. It’s pretty, and we swam, but the water was *really* cold. We passed through Tirana again and then headed to Shkodër. We explored a bit—its charming little streets, the Rozafa Fortress. There’s a tiny museum where you can see *huge* Ottoman stone cannonballs. And they tell you the (charming) story of the young woman who was walled alive in the castle’s foundations to ensure its strength... Shkodër is mostly a stopover to head into the mountains and discover Theth. Our goal: hiking in the Valbona Valley, from Valbona to Theth. We organized the trip ourselves, without an agency, but it took some time to figure everything out. So I’ll save you the trouble—haha. Book your tickets on the Komanilakeferry website. The ticket includes: 🙂 minibus transfer from downtown Shkodër to Koman 🙂 ferry ticket from Koman to Fierze. This ferry ride is *gorgeous*—between mountain slopes covered in pine trees, and sometimes a little house with a few fields...



🙂 minibus ticket from Fierze to Valbona. Now you’re in the mountains! The minibus drops you off near your accommodation—pick one as close as possible to the start of the hike (if that’s your goal!). The ones at the far end of the village add up to 1.5 hours of walking. Our choice: Guesthouse Dioni. The host is really lovely, it’s in the woods, and it’s basic but great. After a day of hiking, we arrived in Theth. What beautiful mountains! Then we explored Theth and the surrounding area. It’s pretty busy, but you can still enjoy the Blue Eye of Theth and its swim. It’s *so* cold! But so beautiful!



🙂 minibus ticket from Theth back to Shkodër. After a night in Shkodër, we drove to Kepi i Rodonit. A guidebook (I forget which one) raved about its beauty. And it *is* beautiful!



But the view is ruined by plastic bottles and other trash in the bushes, along the paths, and of course on the beaches. The only peaceful spot: the private beach at Kepi i Rodonit, which is cleaned. You can rent an umbrella and have lunch there. That’s where we spent our last few days—very relaxing. In short... Albania turned out to be perfect for us and our teens!
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Attila 4 weeks ago · ReneVoyageur
Albania in Autumn Colors
A new work assignment means our vacation dates can't stay the same.

We had planned to go to the Canary Islands, but flight prices are skyrocketing with this new holiday schedule.

So, I’m looking for an alternative to Gran Canaria and El Hierro and found two round-trip flights with Wizz Air to Tirana.

398 €, including baggage and seats—perfect!

Plus, the departure and return times are great, which is pretty rare for a low-cost flight!

All that’s left is to rent a car, plan the route, and book accommodations.

With two weeks, we’ll have to make some choices!

Here’s the final itinerary: Shkodra (2 nights), Valbonë (3 nights), Tirana (1 night), Lake Ohrid (1 night), Korçë (1 night), Përmet (1 night), Gjirokastër (1 night), Himarë (2 nights), Berat (2 nights), and Krujë (1 night).

A mix of countryside and small towns, a bit of the Mediterranean, and some mountains!

Late October isn’t the best season, so let’s keep our fingers crossed for the rest...

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6cha38 4 weeks ago
Our family trip from Denver to Yellowstone – a recap
Hi there,

I’m diving into a recap of our loop—pretty classic, really—Denver-Yellowstone-Denver this past summer, from July 24 to August 17. Given the sheer number of trip reports already out there (or in the works), and since I don’t have the writing chops or the photography skills of many of you, I’ll keep it practical—well, I’ll try, at least—to share our take on some of the less-visited parks and spots.

First off, a huge thank you to everyone whose trip reports, blogs, websites, comments, and more helped us put together this itinerary. Looking back, it could’ve been even better optimized: a few disappointments when we missed out on some great discoveries, often because we were short on time. Plenty of reasons to come back to the area!

We’re traveling with our four (almost) teens—18, 16, 14, and nearly 12 years old. To keep the trip enjoyable for everyone, we had to make compromises on both sides: cutting a visit short to spend more time swimming, waking up at dawn, and so on. But logistics also played a big role—things like laundry, grocery shopping, and keeping luggage organized could’ve quickly become time-consuming without a little planning. And honestly, I think we visited every Walmart along the way! Blame it on the lack of fridges in some accommodations and, more importantly, the *very* limited space in the car, which made it impossible to bring a proper cooler. I’ll come back to the car saga later.

For accommodations, this year we alternated between basic cabins in KOA campgrounds and Yellowstone (when staying more than one night in the same place) and hotels. Always with a pool (except in Yellowstone, of course), which let the kids burn off energy—because they always have reserves, even after packed days!—and, let’s be honest, gave us a chance to relax. No Wi-Fi issues either; we all had plans with 25 GB of data (a big thanks to Gilles for the amazing deal at 0.99 €). It worked perfectly, even for texts and calls between phones—no extra charges.

Now, onto our route: as I mentioned, a classic Denver-Yellowstone-Denver loop. To avoid rushing through the parks or spending all our time on the road, we prioritized staying as close to them as possible, with at least two nights in each place. And I’ve got to say, it’s really nice to settle in, even if it’s just for two nights. It also helped us deal with the weather, which wasn’t always great during this trip. The trade-off? With vacation time being limited, some driving days ended up being long. We knew that going in, but since we kept a relaxed pace with no time constraints (don’t ask me for timings—I don’t keep track of the clock on vacation, except in the morning to get everyone up before noon!), we sometimes ended up with marathon days.

With that said, I’ll dive into the trip itself in the next post.
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Attila 4 weeks ago
Storm in the Canary Islands
15 days across Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and a dash of Tenerife under the storm Thérèse!

The planned itinerary will be slightly disrupted...

(The version without discussions is here)
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Montagnard74 last month
CAPE VERDE 2025: 3 weeks, 4 islands.
And we still haven’t seen everything! Before setting off for new horizons at the end of this year, it’s time for me to share my trip to Cape Verde this summer 2025.

I particularly love these spontaneous trips, and our stay in Cape Verde is one of those because it was only at the beginning of April that we decided on this getaway, which had been catching our eye for a while, given our love for the mountains.

As always—well, when it’s open—I turned to VF, and I want to immediately thank Marie, aka ptitortue, who helped me a lot in planning this trip through her travel journals and our exchanges!

Because Cape Verde is both small and vast! We decided not to rush from one airport to another, to enjoy the places and the people, but also to relax, since the work backlog from being stuck in May (see my previous travel journal 😅) had to be caught up on in June.

So, 4 islands will be our winners from 06/28 to 07/19:

Santiago first for logistical reasons, as round-trip flights from the capital Praia were the cheapest (650 €/person from Lyon via Lisbon with TAP, still!)

São Vicente, because it’s the gateway to the next one but ultimately more than that...

Santo Antão, pretty much the main goal of the trip since Marie (and the photos) had really sold it to me.

And finally, Sal Island, for some rest—a non-negotiable condition for my other half—and we’ll see that I should’ve listened to Marie...

That said, what a chatterbox I am—buckle up, flight attendants at the doors, off we go on new beautiful escapes! (Thanks to Sophie for the easy loan)

Last note for my eager fan club 😏: yes, there will be alcohol—how could there not be in the land of grogue!

It starts here:

https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10790234;a=10790234

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Songsam last month
Far from the daily grind*
Hello, Since I enjoy not only the countryside but also everything related to rail travel, I’m starting this photo thread dedicated to trains in Thailand (I’d guess most of us have taken one at some point...). Feel free to post your pictures here as long as they fit the theme: rolling stock**, stations**, platforms, tracks (even without a train on them), technical equipment, engineering structures (bridges, viaducts), etc.—all in Thailand. For each photo, I’ll (or you can) note the station or line where it was taken. Comments and questions are welcome.

* train ** interiors or exteriors

All aboard!
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Jojoone1 last month
From the Awakening to Travel to Morocco in the 90s
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I inherited my love of travel from my parents and some of my grandparents. A strong passion, but one that was unfortunately limited by our family’s modest resources. Back then, living in northern Alsace, a simple trip to the southern part of the region—with the Wine Route as our destination—felt like an extraordinary journey to a land of plenty for the little boy I was in the late 60s and early 70s. Everything seemed so huge when you were still just a kid. Back then, I was overwhelmed by countless sensations—I was already highly sensitive, with a keen mind and a nose and taste buds that were developing like a pro’s. Which, as I’d later realize, wasn’t always an advantage.



Those magical days always began with a gentle late-spring or midsummer morning. The interior of the white Peugeot 404, license plate 210 LZ 67, had already soaked up the sun before the engine purred to life, and the cabin gave off a scent I could still recognize today—a fragrance I found so pleasant. Back then, I had no idea it was just the smell of warm plastic from the car’s interior. Yes, the scents of the 404 on sunny days became my madeleine de Proust... What’s more, the whole family was unusually cheerful because those moments of relaxation and leisure were rare. Everyone worked, and no one had an easy job or was well paid. Without the *Trente Glorieuses*, these experiences might never have happened.



Once we crossed the canton’s borders, I felt like I was light-years away from my everyday surroundings, and every kilometer plunged me deeper into *terra incognita*. It was thrilling. Far from my so-called "medium-sized" town, wheat fields, cornfields, and cabbage patches stretched out, punctuated by tall poles connected by long wires and topped with vegetation—like giant clotheslines without laundry, where magical beanstalks might grow to touch the sky. Back then, I was still far from tasting their product, which was simply beer. At the time, there was still a significant local hop production. Fun fact: it wasn’t until 2002 that Anglo-Saxon scientists proved hops and cannabis belong to the same biological family.

After the fields, the landscape took another step up as it rolled past the little boy’s eyes, often glued to the windows. First came modest hills, then a succession of rolling slopes that soon formed an unbroken chain. Their 700 meters in altitude felt like Himalayan peaks to me—impressive, inert giants, a whole new world. Gazing at them, an intense emotion welled up somewhere between my stomach and lungs, nearly taking my breath away. What mysteries, what treasures did these heights hold? And then there were the cherries on top—the crowning touch that made the scene even more magical: proud, majestic castles perched on the summits like impassive sentinels. Monuments from the past, yet firmly rooted in the present on their rocky spurs. The little boy’s eyes sparkled—he’d been given a castle for Christmas, complete with battlements, towers, a drawbridge, and fully armed knights. He’d watched and lived *Ivanhoe* on the only French TV channel that existed back then.

Only once did my paternal grandfather join us on one of these trips. A tall, intelligent man with a face that could shift from stern to mischievous, clearly full of humor and charisma. Sadly, his relationship with alcohol had taken a toll on his life and, by extension, those of his loved ones. He had a strong personality—if his boss crossed the line, he wouldn’t hesitate to punch him, which meant he went through a lot of different jobs. Back then, you could quit one job and easily find another. It was quite something to see him in his final stages, hallucinating pink elephants and even drinking perfume when he had nothing else left. The last time I saw him, he’d slipped away from the doctors and nurses while hospitalized in pretty bad shape—at least, I assume his liver was the issue. We were sitting down for a family lunch when the door burst open, and there he stood in his pajamas, eyes twinkling with mischief, clearly pleased with the dramatic entrance. That theatrical moment didn’t spare us from burying him a few months later at the age of 71. One day, my mother told me the family doctor had quietly remarked that it was a shame—with his robust constitution, he could’ve lived to be a hundred. Yes, the family doctor—this was the man who’d come treat you any day, at almost any hour, just for a phone call. It really existed, it’s not a myth!

That day, his wife—my paternal grandmother—was also along for the ride. Everyone agreed that Jeannette was a good woman. She worked as a waitress at *Le Tigre*, the biggest brasserie in town, right in the center. Most customers preferred to be served by her, including local dignitaries and even the mayor. As a kid, I didn’t find her very fun, open, or warm—she seemed a bit stern. Back then, women in their fifties already had the face and build of grandmothers. Same went for men, don’t get me wrong. I had no idea about the struggles she faced because of her husband. I didn’t know that 30 years earlier, she’d had to flee Alsace while pregnant, under threat from Nazi fighter-bombers. I didn’t know she’d had several miscarriages, and that my father—her only surviving child, born prematurely in March 1940 at the other end of France—weighed less than a kilo at birth and was so tiny he could fit in a shoebox. Hard to imagine he’d grow into a strapping man nearly 1.80 meters tall, tipping the scales at 100 kilos. When you come back from summer camp in early August and ask why she didn’t pick you up with your parents, and they gently tell you she’s "in heaven," you don’t realize she passed away at 54 after suffering greatly from stomach cancer that had spread.

Back to that family outing, that enchanted parenthesis. I even remembered where we’d had lunch when I passed through Dambach-la-Ville decades later. One of those charming, flower-filled towns Alsace produces in abundance—and preserves so well. This one sits high on a hill, and I was a bit stunned on the parking lot because the view stretched far, revealing the Alsace plain below—its fields, villages, hills, and forests. The world seemed so vast and enticing that day, even though I was only glimpsing a tiny fraction of it.



The region was already very touristy, but I wouldn’t notice the downsides until much later. That Sunday noon, I discovered a large restaurant filled with diners. I can still see the enormous piece of meat they served me, decorated with a little wooden skewer topped with a flag. I kept that one for a long time. Those were the golden days of rich, flowing, thick sauces—so flavorful—and the era of the world’s best fries, made on the spot with the best potatoes. To top it off, I was *exceptionally* allowed a small bottle of apple juice, Orangina, or—even better if possible—Sinalco. Yes, Sinalco—like Orangina, but better. A brand that must’ve disappeared in the 70s, but why, and what a shame! Since then, Orangina’s little bubbles have taken the brand to the other side of the planet—it’s now Japanese.

Year after year, I’d eagerly await that ecstatic moment when the most beautiful castle in Alsace, the Haut-Koenigsbourg, appeared in my field of vision. The perfect model, the archetype that blended into the landscape at the height of a child’s dreams. The trip home always felt like a reality check—less jarring than an alarm clock, but more diffuse and melancholic. From then on, there was only one wish: *When do we leave again?*
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Elis last month · Djalma
9-Day Trek in the Balkans
Hi there, Here’s a recap of a trek through the Balkans covering three countries: Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. I was with a friend, and we didn’t do the full route (only one day in Kosovo). It was a wonderful trek through snow-capped mountains and vast flower-filled meadows, meeting incredibly welcoming people. At the end of the travel journal, I’ll share what I loved and what I liked less.

Day 1: Flight from Paris-Beauvais to Tirana with Wizz Air. Since Albania isn’t part of Europe when it comes to phone service (at least not yet! :-)), we had to buy a physical SIM card—otherwise, the bill would’ve been sky-high if we’d used our French plan! We got one from Vodafone AL at the airport. You can buy online before leaving with a virtual SIM (e-SIM) for compatible phones, so you don’t have to swap cards. But given the uncertainty about choosing a plan online, we preferred buying one directly at Tirana Airport. Cost: 31 € for 100 GB. That’s way too much—100 GB is overkill. For 40 GB, it’s 27 €, and the plan lasts 21 days. The price difference isn’t huge, and it was cheaper than online. This plan covers all the countries along the Balkan range. Money tip: All guesthouses and accommodations accept euros. The local currency in Albania is the LEK. In Montenegro, it’s the euro. Bank fees for withdrawing money from an ATM in Albania are pretty steep: 8 € for a withdrawal of 600–700 LEK (about 200 €)! So it’s better to withdraw cash (euros) in France. Oh, and we booked all our accommodations before leaving, but payment is always in cash. Budget around 400–500 € for 9 days of trekking.

Then, a transfer the same day to Shköder, about a 2-hour bus ride. Cost: 10 € per person. Tickets bought directly on the bus. We spent the night in Shköder at a very clean guesthouse, Open Doors B&B. It had a small balcony overlooking the city. I really liked Shköder, especially its pedestrian street lined with restaurants and lit up at night. It’s a great place to stroll and eat. The food isn’t expensive—two big salads and two beers: 14 € :-) . Fruit prices are also very reasonable: 3 € for a kilo of cherries, compared to 9–10 € in France. Religions coexist peacefully in these countries—Catholics and Muslims. From our balcony, my friend heard the call to prayer for the first time, coming from one of the city’s mosques.

Day 2: Bus ride to Theth, about 1,100 meters in elevation gain, the starting point for our hike the next day.

The trip took 2 hours and 40 minutes with a break in the middle. The bus was affordable, but taxis also make the trip—though they’re very expensive.



We slept in the heights of Theth at a new guesthouse, "Mountain Vista Shkafi," with an amazing view.

The family was adorable. The husband is a handyman and built almost everything himself. Their baby is named "Sky"—such a cute name, right? :-) Throughout the trek, I found the guesthouses very clean, and the hosts think of everything—no need to bring soap or shampoo; they provide it. Lunch in Theth at a traditional restaurant on the main road. We tried "Tave Dheu," an Albanian dish with beef, cabbage (very common), and cottage cheese. Delicious but not quite filling enough. For dessert, a honey cake that was perfectly moist—such a treat! Desserts like this are rare; sometimes they serve watermelon instead. We took a small private bus for 5 € to the "Blue Eye" parking lot, then walked for about 45 minutes to reach a stunning natural site—a kind of lagoon with incredibly blue water. The bravest can swim, but the water’s freezing!







That evening, we dined at "La Montagne Blanche"—excellent! A delightful mix of grilled meats with potatoes and grilled peppers. Some watermelon slices (which I’m not a fan of) and the famous Raki, a brandy served in Turkey and the Balkans! It was my first time drinking brandy "bottoms up." 😉

To be continued... 😉
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DrCarter last month · Djackx67
Two-week family trip to Colombia in August with 8-year-olds
Hi everyone,

I’d like to share my family trip to Colombia with kids aged 8. After spending hours browsing the forum and only having two weeks there, we decided to focus on two regions: the Coffee Zone for one week and the Caribbean coast for another. We traveled from August 8 to 23.

Day 1 – First stop: Bogotá

We arrived in Bogotá in the evening on an Air France flight—nothing to complain about, decent service, comfortable, and on time. However, the first night was a miss. We’d booked a hotel near the airport (Abitel Prime) for convenience, but the soundproofing was almost nonexistent; we heard planes as if we were on the runway. Luckily, exhaustion helped us sleep well anyway.

Day 2 – Off to the Coffee Zone and Salento

The next morning, we headed to the airport for a domestic flight to Pereira with LATAM. No issues: punctual and efficient, and in 30 minutes, we landed in Pereira. The landing already set a different mood: lush valleys, endless plantations, and humid air. We picked up our rental car from Localiza. Unfortunately, the experience wasn’t smooth—the paperwork took forever, and the wait tested our patience. Finally free, we hit the road to Salento, one of Quindío’s gems. We arrived in the late afternoon and discovered a colorful village bustling with artisan shops and cafés. Our first stroll helped us soak in the atmosphere before dinner at Bambú restaurant—a great surprise with careful cooking and local flavors. We spent the night at Casa Serafín, a charming little hotel, nicely decorated and well-located… but unfortunately very noisy.

Day 3 – The magic of Cocora Valley

This was one of the trip’s highlights. We set off early for Cocora Valley, famous for its giant wax palms, Colombia’s emblem. We chose the 12 km loop recommended by the *Routard*. The landscapes were spectacular: towering palms, rivers, suspension bridges. It felt like walking through a postcard. The weather was perfect. That evening, we dined at Barnabé restaurant—pleasant setting, decent food, but the bill was a bit steep for what it was. Back to Casa Serafín.

Day 4 – Coffee and panoramic views

The plan was a visit to Finca El Ocaso. For 1.5 hours, we followed a passionate guide who explained the entire coffee process, from harvest to cup. Very educational, accessible for both kids and adults, all in a stunning setting. The tour was in English for us, and we translated for our kids, who aren’t bilingual yet. In the afternoon, we climbed to Salento’s viewpoint. The valley view was superb. That evening, we ate at Veggie Garden, a simple and pleasant spot that was a nice change from the heavier meals of previous days.

Day 5 – Horseback ride to Santa Rita Waterfall

We booked a horseback ride with Cocora Magic. It was a real success: calm horses, a beautiful trail, mountain and meadow landscapes, and finally the refreshing and wild Santa Rita Waterfall. Without a doubt, one of the best moments of our time in the region. We even got a bonus ride up a 300-meter hill. We then headed to Filandia, less known than Salento but just as charming. We spent the late afternoon enjoying the pool at MuchoSur Filandia. The hotel is beautiful, in an idyllic setting. However, we also had soundproofing issues and could hear our neighbors.

Day 6 – Rainy detour through Filandia and Manizales

Rain caught up with us in the early morning: torrents of water made it impossible to go out. We stayed at the hotel, reading quietly. By noon, the rain let up: a quick walk in Filandia, a quick lunch, then off to Manizales. We chose to stay at El Otoño hot springs. Great choice: as soon as we arrived, we plunged into the hot pools, perfect after hours on the road.

Day 7 – Hiking and hot springs

In the morning, we hiked the Camino de Super Coco (found somewhat randomly on Google). A pleasant trail with mountain views and a peaceful atmosphere. The afternoon was spent in the hotel’s thermal pools, with a short marked hike down to the river. Dinner on-site at the hot springs’ restaurant. A simple but very relaxing day.

Day 8 – Rain, jacuzzi, and games

We continued to Finca Los Alpes. The rain greeted us again, but this time it turned into an asset: nothing like a steaming jacuzzi with a view of the misty mountains. The kids enjoyed the facilities too: mini-golf, ping-pong, billiards. Dinner and night at the hotel, cozy vibes.

Day 9 – Off to the Caribbean coast

Back to the airport to return the car (still a bit long). Flight to Cartagena with Avianca: punctual and comfortable. Upon arrival, we picked up another car and headed straight to the Hyatt Regency, a modern hotel with a pool. That evening, we dined at the hotel—practical after a travel day.

Day 10 – Colonial Cartagena

We set off to explore Cartagena’s old town. It was enchanting: colorful facades, flowered balconies, colonial charm—just magical. However, the heat was stifling and very humid. Afternoon relaxation by the pool. Dinner at Gestlani, a good restaurant in town.

Day 11 – Road to Barú

A hearty breakfast, then one last swim in the pool before heading to Barú. We checked into Las Islas Hotel. The setting was enchanting: wooden cabins nestled in the vegetation, a private beach, turquoise sea, impeccable service. Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 12 – Beach and relaxation

A full beach day in Barú. Warm water, white sand, coconut trees, peace and quiet. A real postcard scene with iguanas and birds.

Day 13 – On to Santa Marta

Another morning at the beach before hitting the road to Santa Marta. The drive was a bit long (6 hours), especially with traffic jams in Barranquilla. It was the longest car ride of the trip. We spent the night at Villa María Tayrona, a beautiful place near the park.

Day 14 – Tayrona Park

We left early for Tayrona Park. We entered through **El Zaino**, parked the car, and set off on a hike to La Piscina (about 2 hours). We stopped along the way at Playa Arenilla, a stunning little beach, to rest. Lunch on-site, a swim, then back by 4 PM. The hike was a bit tiring, but the nature was spectacular: dense jungle, the sound of waves, and even a monkey encounter along the way. Evening and dinner at the hotel.

Day 15 – Last swim and return flight to Bogotá

Our last morning was split between the pool and the beach (the hotel has direct access via a 7-minute trail through vegetation and flowers)—hard to leave this paradise. We drove to Santa Marta’s airport to return the car, then flew back to Bogotá. We spent the night at Casa Dann Carlton, a comfortable hotel. We simply ordered room service, arriving too late to go out.

Day 16 – Bogotá and the end of the trip

Our last day in Colombia. After a good breakfast, we explored La Candelaria. Its cobbled streets and colorful houses were worth the visit. We visited the Botero Museum (free) and the Gold Museum, both fascinating. Back to the airport for our 11:55 PM Air France flight.

That’s a wrap on a varied trip—lush mountains, colorful villages, dream beaches, and tropical jungle. The pace was pretty relaxed, well-suited for our kids. They absolutely loved the trip to Colombia. Driving in Colombia was very easy, and we didn’t regret renting a car at all—it gave us more freedom to get around.

If I were to do it again, here’s what I’d change: - I’d spend less time in the Coffee Zone to stay a bit longer on the Caribbean coast, which was more relaxing for the kids. Or I’d head to Medellín, but I didn’t think the city was very kid-friendly. - Bogotá is a city that deserves a day’s visit, but it’s not a must-see. Maybe I’d have taken the KLM flight from Cartagena to Amsterdam instead.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate!

Antoine
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Gaura last month · Fabhyène
Visiting Bologna in Photos
Since I didn’t have time to write a proper travel journal, I thought I’d share a few photos of Bologna—a really lovely city I discovered in 2017 while stopping on my way to Tuscany. Around Piazza Maggiore, which was packed with a stage and chairs for a show, stands the Basilica of San Petronio, massive and Gothic in style, with an unfinished façade (a common sight in Italy).





Another building near the square:

But Bologna’s real charm lies in its porticoes, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021: 62 km of arcades running along buildings, letting you walk sheltered from the sun or rain. Back in 1288, the city required houses to include private arcades for public use. In the city center, you can stroll under 32 km of porticoes in all sorts of styles—some plain, some ornate—with a strong presence of red tones.
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