Results for "Père+Lachaise+|+127"

C'est un film chilien intitulé Machuca... Nous sommes au Chili en 1973, quelques temps avant le coup d'état. L'action se déroule dans un collège catholique huppé de Santiago, dans lequel un Père tente de mêler de jeunes élèves boursiers des quartiers défavorisés. On rentre très lentement mais très lourdement (dans le sens "profondément") dans cette amitié entre deux petits garçons que tout sépare et qui vont vivre des instants magiques et tragiques. L'histoire est belle et exempte de clichés, c'est un film lumineux. Profondément humain. Les acteurs sont troublants et la bande son est tout simplement magnifique.

😉 Bonsoir,

Nous voulons sortir du voiture, boulot, boulot, boulot, ....DODO, 🤪

Bref let's go to rép dom. 10 jours, ( sans les enfants ...jamais réalisé depuis leurs naissances respective ) = angoisse .😕

On veut donc en avoir plein la tete, mega repos pour revenir avec plein de couleur, plein de souvenir, de rire, de farniente, de découverte en péré peinard.😇

Vos conseils et avis serons lus avec avidité...nous y sommes déjà.....faites nous languir...........CELA dit REVENONS A MES MOUTONS ....y'a-t-il des roches sur la plage de Canoa..??....Casa hotel bruyant??...Merçi à tous pour vos précieux conseils....😎😊

Revivez vos séjours ....racontez -nous A+ Laurent😎

Bonjour,

Je recherche la trace du séjour d'un de mes ancêtres à Cuba. Avant d'aller s'établir en Argentine, le grand-père (maternel, d'origine belge) de mon père a travaillé plusieurs années, pour le compte du Gouvernement Español, en tant qu'ingénieur civil à Cuba. Ce séjour se situe entre 1875 et 1895. Existe-t-il des archives (portuaires ?) à CUBA précédant la Révolution de 1959 ? Toute information à ce sujet serait la bienvenue. On peut m'écrire en français, anglais ou espagnol. J'ai l'intention de passer 15 jours ou un mois à Cuba pour effectuer ces recherches (entre fin nov. et fin décembre) et de rejoindre ensuite Buenos-Aires pour passer les fêtes avec une branche de ma famille en Argentine depuis 4 générations. Mon budget étant des plus modestes, je souhaiterais soit être logée (bed and breakfast) chez l'habitant soit louer un studio ou une chambre durant mon séjour à Cuba. Merci d'avance à celles et ceux qui pourront m'apporter leur aide

Bonjour,

Nous allons à Pondichéry en juilet et aout. La première fois était en décembre 2001. Je précise parce que nous envisageons même d'y acheter une maison. Le père de ma femme étant né à Pondi, nous avons entendu dire qu'elle pourrait, à partir d'avril, (comme tous français ayant eu un parent, père ou mère, né la-bas) obtenir la double nationalité. Ce qui lui éviterait le visa mais surtout permettrait de pouvoir devenir propriétaire.

Quelqu'un sur ce forum aurai-t-il eu vent de cette nouvelle possibilité de nationalité accordé par le gouvernement indien. ?

Cela peut vous indiquer à quel point je suis tombé amoureux... du Tamil Nadu.

Je ne sais pas si ce post à bien sa place ici mais je peux vous dire que Pondichery peut être une excellente base pour se reposer et rayonner ensuite. Bien sûr encore faut-il avoir le temps.

Merci

Laika, elle va avoir quinze ans et les voyages pour elle sont terminés depuis un bon bout de temps, essayant de se donner encore quelque bon temps avec ses petites ballades dans le quartier et surtout obtenir un maximun de friandises de la part de ses parents......

Mais Laika s'intérésse aux voyages de son père, et à chaque retour, je ne manque jamais de lui raconter mes expériences et mes rencontres à travers les pays traversés, et bien sur entre nous, nous parlons bien souvent de ses congénéres dans les autres pays, de leur mode de vie, de leurs conditions d'existence, et de tous ces cousins des autres espèces que l'on dit sans cesse en voie d'extinction......et ma foi, ce sujet vire bien souvent à la mélancolie, car les bonnes nouvelles sont bien rares.....

Laika connait le pseudo de son père sur voyageforum, et sait qu'il aime à discuter découvertes avec ses amis du forum, mais Laika est souvent triste de constater que sur ce même forum, on fait pas souvent grand cas de la cause animale, et bien souvent celle ci n'attire guère de sujets sur lesquels on pourrait discuter, car ne présentant apparemment pas grand intérêt pour les autres voyageurs......

Laika sait aussi que son père a essayé bien souvent de lancer des discussions sur différents sujets, et dernièrement encore sur la tuberculose bovine en AFS et la catastrophe écologique qui va en découdre, mais rien, aucune réaction, et elle est attristé de constater qu'une nouvelle fois la cause animale n'obtient guère d'écho auprés des gens en général....

Pourtant Alan lui avait dit que sur ce forum, il y avait quantité de personnes intéréssantes, gentilles, et certainement soucieuses des problèmes animaliers et environnementaux, mais là elle ne le croit plus guère et elle va quitter prochainement ce monde en ayant toujours la même idée sur l'égoisme fondamental du genre humain, plus préoccupé de son propre confort et de ses propres envies que de savoir si les abeilles dans le sud ouest seront sauvées ou non face à l'appétit vorace des laboratoires pharmaceutiques, elle est triste de constater que le massacre organisé de ses frères errants dans la ville d'Athènes, s'est fait dans le plus grand silence médiatique ( j'en ai pourtant parlé ici même ), que les émirs continuent d'arriver à bord de leurs avions privés avec leurs gros 4 x 4 pour terminer d'éliminer la faune sub saharienne, alors qu'ils la protégent chez eux, et surtout de voir que l'on essaye de relancer la mode de la fourrure avec l'aide des mêmes mannequins qui la dénonçait il ya quelques années.......et elle arrête là, car vraiment ce problème de la survie des animaux dans notre monde n'intérésse décidémment personne......

Reste tranquille ma beautée, je suis là avec quelques autres pour tenir quelque peu éveillé la conscience émoussée de nos concitoyens voyageurs sur ces problèmes, même si le combat est difficile.......

Comment.....? oui, je sais, le tremblement de terre en Iran, au Maroc, et....oui, le carnage à Madrid...oui, oui, je sais, c'est terrible, notre monde est terrible et injuste pour tout le monde......même pour nos frères les animaux, surtout pour eux en fait........

Capucine, parfois tu me manques.......

Que pensez-vous de ce qui s'est passé samedi dernier pour un briquet en forme de pistolet.

Une personne que je connais était assise dans l'avion à 9:30 pour décoller vers Cuba. Ils ont tous débarquer.

Comme personne n'avait d'informations, elle a appelé son père pour qu'il écoute la télé. Elle a eu des informations vers 14:00 après un autre appel à son père. Il paraît que les rumeurs qui se propagent très vites ont pas mal énerver les gens. De plus, plusieurs personnes n'avaient aucun siège pour s'asseoir. Mais l'aéroport n'a pas jugé nécessaire de les informer...ils ne sont que des passagers après tout 😕

Plusieurs n'ont sûrement pas dormi de la nuit et sont resté debout avec leur bagage à main...s'ils étaient partis de Mirabel (ce si bel aéroport) 😉ils auraient au moins eu une petite place pour se reposer.

Que pensez-vous de ça ???

Je pars en février a Cuba.J ai 35 ans et je suis prof d espagnol donc pas de pb de langue.Par contre j apréhende un peu....de me retrouver seule face.. a moi meme.Les cubains sont sympas avec les etrangers?Les contacts sont ils faciles?

Salut!

Je cherche une destination dans le Sud, mais je sais pas lequel. Et j'aimerais ça savoir combien ça coûte environ. C'est sûr que ça de 2000$ à 3000$, mais je sais bien que j'aurai jamais les moyens de me payer ça. Mais si je connais quelqu'un qui reste déjà là. Comme mon père connaît quelqu'un qui reste au Mexique et ma mère connait quelqu'un aussi qui reste en Floride. Alors, j'aimerais savoir combien coûte un billet d'avion, soit pour aller en Floride ou au Mexique.

Et aussi, vous pouvez me dire combien ça coûte un voyage dans le Sud, hôtel et tout (en général), parce que ça coûte certainement pas la même affaire partout.

Une autre chose. Pour ceux qui ont beaucoup voyagé, j'aimerais savoir quels pays sont les meilleurs. Y'en a beaucoup sur ce forum qui ont dit que Cuba était formidable. Merci de me répondre. :) 🙂

Pour ceux et celles qui sont déjà allés au Canoa Coral, j'aimerais savoir si il y a des ascenceurs pcq en janvier j'y vais avec mes beaux parents et mon beau père a de la difficulté avec ses jambes (monter et descendre les escaliers).

Merci😎

J'aimerais persuader mes parents qui ont environ 65 ans de partir en voyage avec nous et leurs petits enfants au Vietnam cette été

ils sont plutôt très actifs, ma mère est en parfaite santé, mon père se "fatigue" vite et craint la chaleur (mais il ne tient pas en place )

nous comptons faire le vietnam du nord au sud en 3 semaines pour eux (ensuite nous pensons rester seuls encore 1 mois)

ils n'ont jamais fait de voyages aussi loin, je pense qu'ils craignent pour la durée du vol, la chaleur etc .......

pensez vous que cela soit possible ??

quelles precautions à prendre ??

Virginie

Qui pourrait me conseiller des ouvrages sur l'histoire de la Yougoslavie en gènèral et plus particulièrement sur les conflits qui ont suivis l'implosion de celle-ci.

Merci.

Bonjour,

Nous sommes un jeune couple et allons probablement aller au cambodge pendant 1 mois (eventuellement un peu plus). Ma copine est d'origine cambodgienne (de parents cambodgiens habitant en france, elle n'est jamais alle au cambodge) et moi francais. Nous allons y aller avec son pere, sa mere, son frere, sa soeur et le fiance de sa soeur (francais comme moi). J'aimerai avoir des informations et l'avis de personnes cambodgiennes (mais tout commentaire est bienvenue) sur quelques points. Une de mes premieres questions concerne mes cheveux ! et oui. Car j'ai les cheveux longs, j'ai lu et remarque (avec ses parents) que les cambodgiens n'aiment pas vraiment cela. Est ce que je pourrai avoir des problemes de ce cote la ? je vais rester dans la famille de ma copine, donc cambodgienne (ils sont assez puritains, ex: certains marriages arranges, marriage/relations entre un francais et un cambodgien pas toujours accepte au debut etc..). Quels problemes pensez vous que je puisse rencontrer ? Le pere de ma copine lui avait dit d'une maniere (Certes avec humour mais quand meme) qu'il lui avait enventuellement trouve un mari, mais qu'elle aurait quand meme le choix ! Je voudrai savoir si les marriages arranges sont encore de vigeur ? et egalement si pour beaucoup de cambodgiens ou certains une relation/fiancailles entre une cambodgienne (mais quand meme ayant vecu toute sa vie en france) et un etranger sont mal vus etc.. ? (je sais que ca depend des personnes, c'est pareille dans tout les pays, mais on prefere se rassurer, car l'avis de son pere n'est pas toujours fiable). Nous seront dans la banlieue de Phnom Penh, et peut etre un peu bouger dans le pays pour visiter et voir de la famille

Ces questions peuvent parraitre stupide ou anodine, mais j'aimerai bien que si un cambodgien residant au cambodge passe par la, puisse nous repondre ! merci

Salut les filles!

Je vais 15 jours sur les îles andaman avec mon jules mais j'aimerais pouvoir rester plus lontemps. Comme lui ne le peut pas, je serais donc seule environ 15 jours. Certaines d'entre vous connaissent-elles ces îles? Pouvez-vous me tuyauter?

Merci et bon voyage,

Bonjour à toi, Je projette de partir 6 mois environ pour faire les iles, maurice, de la reunion et enfin Madagascar, avec mon fils qui aura à cette periode choisie; 2ans et demi mais je m'interroge beaucoup qd aux riq de palu"entre autres" à Madagascar. Biensur je ne vais pas n'importe ou, je part rencontere la famille de son père à majanga et ? je ne sais plus mais près de Tana. J'i connu une personne qui à perdu son enfant malade à Mada et ça ma fait peur! J'ai moins peur pour la réunion et l'iles Maurice (peut-être ai-je tord!) Si tu as déjà eu cette experience, merci de m'en faire part. Anne

Hi there,

I’m reaching out with a question about which park to choose for a 3-day safari in Kenya.

After 20 days in Uganda, I’m meeting up with my dad for a 3-day safari (that works for him). We’ll be meeting in Nairobi and have a full day to travel to a park (preferably the farthest from Nairobi to avoid crowds?) and spend 4 nights there before heading back to the capital for our flight to France.

I’d love to hear your recommendations since I’ve read so many great tips on this forum.

Thanks,

David

hello to all travelers with their eyes wide open to the desert...

I’ve always wondered what I was "doing" on this earth. And why my father, who died a few months after I was born—a former youngest French resistance fighter—joined the First Saharan Motorized Company in Atar and spent the rest of his life repairing army engines in Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali (which didn’t exist under that name back then), Morocco, and finally Algeria, where my mother was born and raised. (Believe me, it’s not "cool" being the child of a soldier in a country occupied by France, and even less so the child of a "pied-noir.") Of course, I never got an answer: the dead don’t talk, and the army doesn’t either. But here’s the thing—I had photos... So naturally, one day I hit the road. I wanted to see, to understand. It’s thanks to VF that I was able to do a little research on crossing the Morocco-Mauritania border, and I’m grateful to its members, just as I’m grateful to all those who welcomed me on the road for 14 years. For the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering if I should talk about this or not... It turns out the Mauritanians changed my life by asking for my help... And that started as early as February 2012... (Did I owe them something? No answer to that question.) Ah, the irony—they saw me coming. But when you’re handed sick children and begged to do something, what would you have done? I’d worked in a hospital, so I knew a bit about the rules to follow. I didn’t hesitate. And well, over all these years, I met doctors, surgeons, and together we organized care, evacuations of children, training for surgeons—even trying to stop children from having to travel outside their country. It was never easy. I’d like to thank those who supported us, as well as *La Chaîne de l’Espoir*, *La Fondation Face au Monde*, and everyone who built bridges between our two countries. Unfortunately, despite the constant efforts of Mauritanian doctors and surgeons, some children couldn’t be helped in time. Today, I want to talk about four siblings—orphans of their mother—suffering from congenital glaucoma causing irreversible blindness. Their case was entrusted to me in 2020, just weeks before the big lockdown. We couldn’t do anything for them then, but when their father asked me for a gift, I rushed to my computer and wrote a story. Through a tale, the children take a great journey, explore their country, and fulfill a dream. I never thought this book would be published—it was, in 2023. This book pays tribute to Mauritania. It’s a message for those who know nothing about the hardships of life there, carrying both the harshness and beauty of an immense desert where you can travel by 4x4, bike, on foot, or by camel in complete safety. It bears witness to the kindness of Mauritanians toward travelers. As a woman traveling alone in my vehicle—a now-rusted old Mercedes that no longer runs—I had the most beautiful encounters of my life there (I’ve seen other parts of the world...). The blind children of Choum, Atar, Nouadhibou, and Nouakchott will forever be in my heart. Volunteer readers transcribed the book into a free audio version for the visually impaired. It’s available in sound libraries in France, the *Fondation Valentin Haüy*, and the Swiss Romande library. I made my last trip to Mauritania in my old 4x4 to distribute the book everywhere, especially to its heroes and the school for the visually impaired in Nouakchott. After that, I thought it was time to close the chapter because I no longer have the means or the strength to travel. My publishers chose this title for it: *The Blue Eyes of the Desert*. This publication helped a mission of Swiss volunteer ophthalmologists come to operate on glaucomas in Mauritania. I’m thrilled because they come back every year! This adventure is ending, yes—everything must come to an end—but ultimately, it was born here, on the VF site!! So yes, I had to say it: THANK YOU!!!!!

Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake. A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s. Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M. Brouter link

Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges

And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67

Hi, I’m posting this message not for myself but for my daughter. She doesn’t really have the time to do it and, to be honest, she’s not too hopeful either. If a female traveler is interested, I’ll of course pass along my daughter’s contact details.

The Message: I’m looking for a female travel companion for a 10-day trip around Southeast Asia in October 2026. I’ve already been to Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as some Thai islands. My first idea was to visit northern Thailand (around Chiang Mai), but I’m open to any other plans in Asia. I’ve traveled a lot with my parents or friends, but this time, no one’s available. I feel comfortable traveling alone, but from experience, I love being able to share those discovery moments with someone else. I’m a dynamic and sporty young woman, and a firefighter by profession. Don’t hesitate to get in touch! Alison

Hi everyone! 😊 I’m looking for a place in Albania to go scuba diving with my boyfriend. We’ve never done it before and we’d love to try this activity. Thanks so much! 🌺🌺

Hi there,

My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.

We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?

Thanks so much for your answers! 🙂

Day 1 – December 6

Our decision is our decision. And it’s firm and final. Next winter, our plane will spread its great wings toward the island of Ceylon! "Wait a minute... Ceylon... Ceylon... that name rings a bell, but I can’t quite place it on the globe Grandma gave me for Christmas! Ceylon... Oh right, I’ve got it: Ceylon is the name of my tea!" Exactly. But the name on your pretty tea box is also the one used until 1972 for this island nation, a speck on the Indian Ocean at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent: Sri Lanka!

For this new adventure, I’m exceptionally leaving my Flo behind, cowardly replaced by a double dose of testosterone. To write the book of this journey with me, I’m bringing along my brother, who’s used to this kind of thing, and... a guest star: My model of resilience. My dad! All aboard! Or rather, all aboard our tuk-tuk! Yes, you read that right: A real tuk-tuk, a little colorful rolling box that putters along at two miles an hour. The idea? Well, Sri Lanka and its winding roads overlooking the vastness of lush nature are tailor-made for this kind of vehicle. And since it’s one of only two countries in the world that allow foreigners to rent and drive these mini speedsters, we’ll be crisscrossing the island in our two-square-meter rolling box. Plus, adopting this mode of transport is a surefire way to connect directly with the locals, who’ll surely be curious to see a foreigner driving their iconic vehicle. Not to mention the... let’s say... spicy anecdotes it might generate. I mean, heading into a subtropical zone with my jet-black dad and his unpredictable digestive flora while deliberately choosing the tuk-tuk as our *only* means of transport? That’s the winning combo for an unforgettable adventure! "More seriously, Dad, Sullivan, I’m already loving the idea of living this adventure together, the three of us—brothers and father..."

So, does the intro to this new adventure get your salivary glands going? Yes? Too bad. Because unfortunately, the program handed out by the lady at the entrance has been slightly... let’s say *crumpled*. Some might even say "scrunched up and nearly tossed in the trash." First, six days ago, as the countdown echoed in us like a call to adventure, Cyclone Ditwah grabbed Sri Lanka, played with it like a rag doll, and left it battered on the ground. The toll is devastating: over a thousand dead, thousands of homes wiped out by relentless rains, roads and railways swallowed by massive mudslides. A country wounded once again, after the civil war, the 2004 tsunami, and the post-Covid economic crisis.

But as if this weather disaster wasn’t enough to shake our unbreakable adventurer spirit, fate decided to mess with us further by cutting our trio down to two. The victim? My brother, violently turned away because of a simple date on his passport that didn’t match the border officials’ expectations. Return to sender!

So now it’s just the two of us allowed to board the Qatar Airways Airbus A380 for this trip. If he were here, Denis Brognart would say, "And in the end, only one remains!" Except I know you’ll be with us, following our adventures! Right?

Hi there,

I’ll be traveling to Tuscany with my family (my wife and two kids, aged 6 and 8) from April 26 to May 5. Here’s a rough draft of our potential itinerary—I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions so I can tweak and improve it. We haven’t finalized our accommodations yet, but they’ll likely be near Florence (2 nights), Lucca (2 nights), Monteriggioni (2 nights), Pienza, Montalcino, and Greve in Chianti.

- April 26: o Arrival in Florence around 12:00 PM - April 27: o Florence - April 28: o Florence – Pistoia – Lucca - April 29: o Lucca – Pisa – Lucca - April 30: o Lucca – Volterra – San Gimignano – Monteriggioni - May 1: o Monteriggioni – Siena – Monteriggioni - May 2: o Monteriggioni – Abbey of Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto – Baccoleno – Castelmuzio – Chapel of Madonna di Vitaleta (San Quirico d’Orcia) – Pienza - May 3: o Pienza – Montepulciano – Montichiello – Abbey of Sant’Antimo – Bagno Vignoni Thermal Baths – Montalcino - May 4: o Montalcino – Castellina in Chianti – Radda in Chianti – Badia a Coltibuono – Volpaia – Montefioralle – Greve in Chianti - May 5: o Greve in Chianti – Florence airport

Thanks for any insights! 😉

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!

We just spent three weeks in Yunnan. I’ve started writing up a travel journal about the trip.

Take a step back, forget your bearings, and momentarily set aside the boxes we use to categorize life: humans on one side, animals on the other. Immerse yourself in that unsettling zone where man, stripped of his humanity, and the beast—capable of emotions and sensitivity—stand face to face. Who is the predator, who is the prey? Where do fear, barbarism, or extreme violence lie, and where do compassion and philosophy reside?

In this book steeped in anthropomorphism, Stéphanie Artarit weaves a cruel plot and pushes the boundaries of darkness without ever wallowing in the grim or sordid.

A story of love and vengeance, of fierce beasts and humans, where the abominable, the unbearable, and the unthinkable are pierced by the candor and fragile luminosity of the heroine, Bambi, around whom (very) dark passions rage.

The action takes place in the Pyrenees in the mid-1970s. A dilapidated, isolated house, the theater of the unthinkable, where a shattered family ignored by social services lives—or survives: a missing father, a helpless mother, two degenerate twins, Sam and Valerien, a violent older brother, Martin, an absolute bastard, a dog... and a young adolescent, Bambi, the precarious pillar of this teetering balance. To escape this hopeless daily life, she regularly finds refuge in a nearby zoo. Caught during yet another sneaky visit, she is taken to the owner of the place, Noel Rivière, who, moved by her misery (and her ethereal, unreal beauty...), hires her as an apprentice.

This could have been the start of a fairy tale, redemption through love, the bastard permanently neutralized... and a breather for the reader.

But no.

The zoo serves as the backdrop for the second part of the story, which introduces new characters... a little girl, Feline, and a chimpanzee, Adam, placed in an isolated enclosure upon arrival because he was aggressive and unable to live among his own kind.

Humans with primitive animality, animals with astonishing humanity... a deranged, fierce, and heartbreaking Jungle Book. A noir novel with fluid, poetic writing.

A breathless read, almost devoured in one go (in two sittings) because it’s impossible to catch your breath before finding out how far the author will push the limits and what fate she has in store for her characters...

You Don’t Eat Cannibals Stéphanie ARTARIT Belfond Noir

Hello, I’m preparing for a Tunisia-Algeria road trip. I need to know if we can cross the Sahara to reach Djanet and Tamanrasset by road freely, After that, obviously off-road in the desert with a guide. What do the authorities say? My trip: northern and southern Tunisia, a stroll in the desert. Crossing the Tunisia-Algeria border via the Taleb Larbi customs. I’ve already done this route through an agency, but this time we want to do it on our own. Then heading down to Djanet for eight to fifteen days in the desert with Mouloud, a local guide. Direction Tamanrasset: road and tracks, the mountains of the Assekrem, the Hermitage of Père de Foucauld. Return via the Trans-Saharan Highway. Visit to northern Algeria, then back by boat from Oran to Spain. Dates: late December to mid-February. We’ve got plenty of time. If another crew is interested, we’re already two vehicles. Looking forward to your replies.

Hello, We’re heading to Finnish Lapland near Rovaniemi as a family at the end of February with two kids (8 and 14 years old). We’ve got direct flights with Luxairstours. The itinerary is already set, but I’m wondering if anyone has traveled with Luxair before and knows exactly what kind of clothes they provide on the second day? The agency just told me it’s a heavy-duty cold-weather suit. I’m thinking we should get Sorel Caribou boots, maybe second-hand. Here’s what I’ve already planned: - Thermolactyl leggings and tights from Damart for the whole family as a base layer. - A first layer of Damart socks + Nordic Stocks socks in 70% merino wool for all four of us. - Loose fleece layers, including some Polartec. - Ski pants for hikes. - For my son and me, a The North Face Himalayan down parka with a hood. - A ski parka for my husband and my 14-year-old daughter (she *really* wants a Roxy one—I hope it’ll be warm enough). - For myself, for the flight and the first day at Santa’s village, I’ve packed The North Face winter hiking pants, a long-sleeve merino wool top from Decathlon (thin), a fleece, and my big parka.

I’m wondering if I should just pack fleece joggers or sweatpants for the kids and my husband, at least for the first and last days, to be comfortable on the plane? I’m also planning to buy balaclavas and neck warmers in addition to our beanies, as well as mittens for all of us. I really need advice because I have no idea—I’ve never been skiing! Also, for a 4-night, 5-day trip, should I pack a second set of base layers, like from Odlo?

Of course, I’ll be leaving cotton clothes out of the suitcase.

As you can tell, I’m someone who gets cold easily—especially my feet, hands, and ears—so that’s my biggest worry. I *don’t* want to be cold, even at -20°C during dog sledding, snowmobiling, or aurora hunting when we might be standing still. We won’t be in the city, and the kids will likely spend most of their time outside, as they usually do.

Thanks in advance for your tips!