Exploring the cobbled streets of the walled city of Khiva at dawn was the highlight of our trip to Uzbekistan. Golden light, soft cotton clouds, (almost) deserted streets, not a sound apart from birdsong: in these exceptional conditions, the sleeping city seemed almost like a mirage in the middle of the desert. Khiva was a […]
Stresa is a peaceful little town on the banks of Lake Maggiore, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Between the Borromean Islands and the backdrop of Alpine peaks, Stresa offers a picturesque setting ideal for relaxation. Whether you take a leisurely stroll along the panoramic lakeside promenade, explore the charming cobbled streets, or enjoy some […]
Exploring Mount Kōya, and more particularly Oku-no-in cemetery, was one of the highlights of our second trip to Japan. Here is a look back on an incredibly moving and memorable experience. Located about a hundred kilometers north of Kyoto, Mount Kōya, also known as Kōya-san, is the birthplace of Japanese Buddhism. It has been a UNESCO […]
During our Caribbean voyage onboard a majestic sailing ship, cruising into Pitons Bay in Saint Lucia was one of the most unforgettable moments of the trip. The first memory of our Caribbean adventure was the shocking contrast between the freezing cold in wintery Strasbourg, and the tropical heat in Martinique. While Strasbourg was covered in […]
We saw our first northern lights shortly after passing the Arctic circle onboard the Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express. This extraordinary sight left a lasting impression on us. Seeing the northern lights was high on our travel bucket list, alongside exploring Japan or travelling along the Great Silk Road. On the morning of our third day onboard the Norwegian Coastal […]
While we had been sailing onboard the Norwegian Coastal Express for several days, the experience of passing through the Magerøya strait (70º58’N), just a few kilometers from the North Cape, felt like being on the North Pole on a beautiful winter’s day. We were in the middle of the polar night. At this time of year, the sun […]
To start off the new year, rather than set a series of resolutions we’ll have forgotten by the 20th of January, we’ve decided we’d rather daydream a little and write a list of our travel dreams Every new place we explore is a bubble of inspiration, energy, and temporary escape that we truly make the […]
Visiting Uzbekistan had been a dream of ours for many years: to explore this vast country in the heart of Central Asia, at the crossroads of so many cultures and traditions, and meet the people there. Discover its architectural treasures – a mosaic of blues – and its legendary cities, like Samarkand or Bukhara. Walk […]
Japan is a complex and multi-faceted place. Its ancestral heritage and age-old traditions are the foundations of its rich culture. Some of the distinctive characteristics of the Japanese archipelago pose a striking difference to the European continent, and to France in particular. As a complement to our Travel diary, we’ve made a list of uniquely […]
PURO is a contemporary boutique design hotel in the center of Warsaw. It is located just a stone’s throw from the famous Palace of Culture and Science. JEMS Architekci are behind the conception of the modern and geometric seven-floor building, while the decor was imagined by London design studio De Salles Flint. The interior designers […]
From the cobbled streets and colorful façades of the Old Town, the booming business district dotted with modern skyscrapers, the young and artistic borough of Praga, the lush royal Łazienki park, and a wide array of museums, Warsaw is looking to the future while remembering its history. Warsaw takes you by surprise. It is the embodiment […]
Hotel J is located on the waterside at Nacka Strand, east of Stockholm, and was named after the J class sailing yachts of the America’s Cup. The decor is consistently nautical, throughout all the rooms and common areas. The pared-down style combines Scandinavian design with elements inspired by Newport yacht clubs: a palette of white, red, […]
Exploring Japan was one of the most memorable travel experiences of our lives. We were inspired, bewildered, enchanted, and fascinated, all at once. Our first trip captivated us so much that we chose the same destination for our honeymoon the very next year. Several years later, we still love taking a walk down memory lane, […]
Munich is world famous for the Oktoberfest and for its many breweries, its baroque churches, and its legendary football (soccer) club, which recently won the Bundesliga championship. A stay in the Bavarian capital allows you to go beyond the stereotypes and see its true colors. The name Munich comes from a monastery that was founded there in the […]
Sommerro House is the new luxury hotel in Oslo, located in Frogner, one of the chicest neighborhoods in town, only a stone’s throw from the Royal Palace. Sommerro has taken over an iconic, 1930s Art Deco style building, and opened in September 2022 after two years of renovations. The team of architects behind the project […]
From Martinique to the Grenadines, via Saint Lucia and Grenada, join us for a week of exploring, swimming, and lazing in the shade on the world’s largest five-mast sail ship. We wake up in a new location every morning, with a new tropical paradise to visit. Here’s a look back on our trip across the […]
From Bergen (60°39’N) to Kirkenes, via the North Cape (71°10’N), the itinerary of the Hurtigruten Coastal Express includes 34 ports of call stretching over 1 460 nautical miles (2 700 km) along the Norwegian coast. The name of our ship, MS Nordlys, means “northern lights” in Norwegian. Could this be a good omen? A look back […]
Bergen has the second largest population in Norway after the capital, Oslo. It’s located between two of the country’s most famous fjords (the Sognefjord and the Hardangerfjord), giving it the nickname “Norway’s fjord capital“. Bergen’s second nickname – “the city of seven hills” – is due to the seven hills surrounding it. Among these is […]
Between the medieval castle perched atop a volcanic rock, the winding alleys of Old Town, the grid street plan in New Town, the wild nature around the peak of Arthur’s Seat, and the cool seaside borough of Leith, Edinburgh is where the centuries converge. Ever since she discovered Edinburgh as a student, Stéphanie had dreamed of going […]
“The Capital of fashion and culture”, “City of Lights”, “the city of love”… Paris has many nicknames. The French capital has always been a source of inspiration for artists, whether they are authors, painters, photographers, or directors. Jean-Pierre Jeunet for instance, spun his urban poetry from the neighborhood of Montmartre and made Paris one of the main characters […]
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