Honest travel destinations guides for slow travelers and remote workers who want more than a weekend trip. Italy, Greece, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, Albania, Georgia, Slovenia, Thailand, Indonesia — real places written from real experience, not press trips or sponsored content.
My train from Paris to Rouen left Saint-Lazare on a grey December Saturday. An hour and a quarter later, I was walking into the Christmas market. Getting there was easy, but one rule surprised me. Trains between Paris and Normandy now require a seat reservation. After that, I traveled only by train and bus, even…
Rouen’s Christmas market is not just a few chalets by the cathedral. It is part of a citywide winter festival called Rouen Givrée. There are stalls, a children’s village, a parade and some wonderfully silly traditions. In this Rouen Christmas market guide, I cover hours, food and nearby sights. I also share the small timing…
Church bells, market chatter and rain on cobblestones: that is Rouen in December. Your hotel decides how much of that soundtrack follows you to bed. Some rooms sit right above lively squares. Meanwhile, others hide behind thick walls and quiet courtyards. Below, I explain where to stay in Rouen for Christmas markets, area by area….
This was not my first time in Rouen. Years ago, I came here for a summer school project. I still keep in touch with friends from that summer. Some of them now live in Évreux, and they met me in Rouen. So this trip felt like a reunion as much as a holiday. Still, I…
Arrive in daylight, stay until dark. That was my one rule for the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival. I saved it for my last afternoon in Hokkaido, a few hours before my flight. The ice sculptures are made from the lake’s own water, so they shine blue. After sunset, colored lights take over. This Lake Shikotsu…
Knowing what to eat in Hokkaido in winter is easy; choosing is the hard part. After all, the island grows, catches and cooks some of Japan’s best comfort food. In winter, everything arrives steaming, rich and built for the cold. Over seven days, I ate ramen in two cities and learned some lessons. Here are…
One day, I walked Otaru’s snowy canal past old stone warehouses. The next morning, I was soaking in a steaming rock pool in Jozankei. Both trips started from my Sapporo base, and neither needed a car. Otaru suits seafood lovers and history fans, while Jozankei is all about hot springs. For me, they are the…
I spent a whole week in Hokkaido without clipping into skis once. Instead, I soaked in snowy onsens and walked among glowing ice sculptures. I also watched the afternoon light fade over Biei’s white hills. Not once did I miss the slopes. If you are not a skier either, you are in good company. Here…
Ski boots or city shoes? In Hokkaido, that choice decides where you sleep. Skiers usually head straight for Niseko and its famous powder. Most non-skiers are better off in Sapporo, close to the trains and easy day trips. I didn’t ski, so I based myself in Sapporo for four nights. Then I moved north to…
My Hokkaido winter itinerary started with a train window full of white. Snow covered the fields, the rooftops and even the power lines. I spent seven days on the island in late February, entirely without a car. Along the way, I made mistakes and changed plans. Still, I already want to go back. Here is…