Photography & travel

VALENCIA

On our way to our next sleepover we planned to stop at Valencia to visit La Ciutat de les Art I les Siències. A project described as a ‘white elephant that the country could not afford’. I must admit, it’s something special, and megalomaniacal. Calatrava at his best and his second most expensive project. Calatrava designed the project together with Félix Candela. As the site is close to the sea, and Valencia is so dry, I decided to make water a major element for the whole site using it as a mirror for the architecture Santiago Calatrava Is it worth …

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PEACE & QUIET

Since we were in Spain anyway, we decided to stay a little longer and turn it into a holiday. When we left Zaragoza we agreed to drive direction Balearic sea with no given destination. We stopped at Alcañiz, an old sleepy town located on a steep hill, bordering the Guadalope river, surrounded by mountains and olive groves. You can see The castle of the Order of Calatrava from far away. In reality there was not much to see at Alcañiz. After a light lunch on the terrace of a tiny tapas bar, we drove on to our destination of peace …

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ZARAGOZA

Zaragoza? Why do you plan a trip to Zaragoza?Well, because of the famous cuisine. And that brings me seamlessly to the real reason. Our son Mathijs, a newbie chef, is doing an internship at restaurant Quema, and we’re going to visit him. We were pleasantly surprised by the city. Like Antwerp, Zaragoza is located on a river, the Ebro, adding a special vibe to the city. Having a personal ‘local’ guide when visiting a city is always an advantage. Mathijs did a great job guiding us around, unlocking the secrets of the Zaragoza gastronomic street food. The absolute starting point …

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BATTLE OF THE COWS

On our way back to Lausanne i wanted to stop at Martigny to watch ‘les combats des reines’ or the battle of the cows. It’s really something special. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of attending a combat, but my wife never seen one before. It was the perfect opportunity to show her. The Swiss call the Cow fighting a sport. It involves cows of the Hérens breed, and it is organised in canton Valais, Switzerland, where it is listed as a living Swiss tradition. It’s actually natural behaviour. As the Hérens cow has a lively temperament, you …

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MORCOTE & GANDRIA

About 10 kilometres outside of Lugano you will find Morcote, a small village with a beautiful lake view. Morcote was founded around 1100. At that time, a castle was born to protect and control trade on the lake. 300 years later the church of Santa Maria del Sasso was built. Visible from afar. Visiting the church does not come without an effort, 404 steps separate you from the entrance. But once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with a magnificent panorama. North-East of Lugano lies Gandria, glued to the surrounding hillside of lake Lugano. Access to the village …

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ASCONA – LUGANO

Sometimes everything just works out fine. Ascension on a Thursday, Friday a bridge day and you have a nice long weekend just like that. And with a promising weather forecast we didn’t hesitate at all. Let’s drive to Lugano! You’re still in Switzerland but you’ll get a different experience. More on that later.We decided to take the shortest route possible, not only to save on battery juice, but to experience the Simplon pass. We crossed it around 8:30 in the morning. Perfect timing. The sky was mediterranean ocean blue and traffic fluid. Although it is already spring, there was still …

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ÉVORA #3

It is not always the case that the third time is the good time. We experienced this when were treated with heavy rain showers during our third stay at Alentejo. It was so bad that the day before our departure, Lisbon airport was even closed for several hours. But fortunately for us, the sun occasionally broke through the grey blanket of clouds so we planned several small trips around the area.For our first excursion we picked Monsaraz, a cozy fortified village on the right margin of the river Guadiana near the border of Spain. Which is about a 1hr drive …

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ETOSHA National Park

North of Namibia lies the most famous National park, Etosha.In 1967 it got the status of National park. It spans an area of 22270 km2 and was named after the large salt pan Etosha. That salt pan has an area of 5000 km2. Due to its hypersaline conditions the number of species surviving there is limited. During our visit to the park, the salt pan was bone-dry and looked crusty like a well-baked bread. One recommendation when you visit the park. Although you can cruise the park on your own pace, book a guide. With their walkie-talkies they stay in contact with …

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HIMBA

Namibia is not only a place for wildlife; it is a land where cultures endure, where the Himba people, with their ochre-painted skin and ancient customs, carry a quiet wisdom passed down through generations.On our way to Etosha we decided to make a small detour and visit the Omusaona Himba village in Kamanjab. The entrance fee is used to fund their local school. Once paid, you get assigned a Himba guide who explains -before you enter the village, the history of the tribe, how they survived the harsh environment and their semi nomadic lifestyle.As is often the case in African …

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DAMARALAND #2

A safari in Namibia is a journey into a land where time seems to stand still, and the pulse of life beats softly against the ancient sands. As already said before, it is far more than a chase for the Big Five—here, the wilderness whispers stories of survival, resilience, and beauty in its purest form. On our next trip we focussed a bit more on flora.Our guide Enos was a walking encyclopaedia and loved to explain the little wonders of nature. The Calicorema Capitata, or star of the desert, for example.A plant whith often grows in dry, rocky soil, where …

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