What car for road trip travel mode in Eurasia?

Chase the Son Photography

In my drawers, browse Eurasia in car.

Not right away. Maybe in two, five, ten, thirty, fifty years. From Paris to Istanbul, from Syria to Afghanistan. Push to Mongolia, arrived on the Pacific coast - and then come back from Kamchatka to the heart of the Russian Siberia furrow as big as Europe we know only by a point territory questioning until Northern Europe until France.

Between two dreams, I find myself often flipping sites automakers wondering: what jalopy embark on a journey as crazy? Of course, ten years, fifty years, the market will never be the same. Maybe there will be more oil. Perhaps these countries are impassable. Maybe we will have flying cars, what do I know? But if I left tomorrow, I think I'd want to have a car that would have a ten-year warranty (or a million miles ...) as was the case on the new Honda Civic Diesel, and would have the following characteristics:

- Relatively quiet
- Treasurer
- Replacement parts easy to find
- Ecological if possible
- Comfortable
- Fun to drive
- All terrain

Exit then:
- Trucks equipped: they consume too, are bulky, not really discreet. Then, on a trip, find a roof to sleep is one of my greatest pleasures - whether in nature or in private homes.
- Marks "prestige" as Audi or BMW, whose parts are both expensive and not easy to find
- The vans, caravans, and big cars in general.

It would make the car comfortable enough for two people for a bunch of time. It resistant to semi-desert terrain, without going to the Sahara sand but at least the Gobi Desert. That the back seats can be transformed into a bed, the trunk is quite large, and all four wheels are driven, I guess.

And what about a bike? In fact, why not? Probably a matter of time, crossings regions of crew to board, memories to lug around.

What choice would be possible today? Hybrid cars have a good plan to save a lot of money in gasoline? Do you have already done such a journey? This post is only a bottle into the sea, a childhood dream started as a joke at a bend in the afternoon, but, but ... who knows?

read more...

Okinawa, an Archipel to Discover?

A few years after going to Japan, Tokyo and surrounding areas, the desire to return back gradually.
But this time, outside of Tokyo, I'd like to see the rest of Japan, a more rural Japan but why not another big city like Kyoto Japan for example.
This post is dedicated to Okinawa could be my next destination in Japan for several reasons.

Okinawa Kitchen

Many virtues attributed to the Okinawan diet. Life expectancy on Okinawa would also be higher than average.
Okinawan cuisine is essentially based on these main ingredients: tofu, vegetables, fish, algae, and ... healthy low fat ingredients.

Whatever happens, Japanese food is healthy and very different from ours. Personally, I love this kitchen and I really want to discover other dishes of Japanese cuisine but also "local" dishes from the kitchen of Okinawa.

Okinawa Marines Activities

A stay in Okinawa may also be an opportunity to practice some water sports such as diving (or snorkeling) but also kayaking and jet skiing.
I've never tried diving but I love snorkeling. I think throwing me one day for diving and why not start in Okinawa.
In addition to the discovery of Japan, it may be worth spending a few days of the trip to the water activities in this archipelago.
The Okinawa also has beautiful beaches and tropical islands. A place to relax?

A Stage From a Journey to Japan

If I go back to Japan, I think I'll go to Okinawa, but it will be a stage of my trip to Japan.
I'd like to see many other parts of Japan such as Kyoto. So I think a trip cut into 2 parts: the first part rather cultural in Kyoto for example, and a second, more relaxing in the Okinawa archipelago.
Japan is a beautiful country with a very refined culture. It takes time to understand the culture, rather distant from ours.

read more...

My Top Destinations in Europe

For this post, I will list my favorite destinations in Europe.
Thanks to the various low-cost airlines flying to every country in Europe, I discovered many European locations.
Following these various trips to Europe, there is necessarily countries or cities I preferred to others. I show you in this post places in Europe that attracted me the most.

Italy, My Favorite Country In Europe

Italy is by far my favorite country in Europe, and for various reasons: monuments, landscapes, food, ...
I went several times in Italy, in the north to Milan, Bergamo or Venice, but also further south to Rome, Tuscany in Florence. I also went to Sicily recently.
I enjoyed the different parts of Italy and every time, there are splendid monuments, pleasant cities and great food.
Another positive point of Italy, the restaurants are very affordable. Where in France, it is difficult to travel 10 days by eating at the restaurant for lunch and dinner, in Italy it is quite possible!

Finally, the climate in Italy is quite pleasant, there was easily six months in the year where you can visit Italy without being too hot or too cold. This is not the case for all European countries;-)

Portugal

For the moment, Portugal, I know that Porto. But I can tell you I would definately go back to Portugal.
The Portuguese are probably among the most comfortable I've seen people in Europe. At the extreme opposite of the Greek or Spanish I does not like;-)
Portugal is a relatively small country but has a rich history and stunning scenery.
Moreover, because of its location, Portugal is a destination that can hold at any time of the year. I invite you to see for example the weather forecast on this site realize that whatever the time of year you can visit Portugal with good weather and the opportunity to walk in the sun. Even in winter;-)

Andalusia

Andalusia is a beautiful region. Located in the south of Spain, Andalusia is full of typical villages, beautiful cities like Cordoba, Granada or Seville.
For those who do not like too hot weather, do not go between June and August as temperatures often reach 40 degrees. Prices are then more interesting for hosting. High season is rather in May.
To benefit from Andalusia, the roadtrip I think is the ideal solution. Visit Andalusia through major cities such as Seville, Cordoba and Granada, which can be reached via public transportation. Andalusia but is not limited only to those cities. Andalusia is also the many villages in the mountains and very charming as the beautiful landscapes, olive groves, and all I could find out during a roadtrip through the autonomy provided by the car.

London

London is probably the largest city in Europe that I prefer (after Paris of course;-).
Why London? For several reasons.
First, London is a vibrant city, with really different neighborhoods and it is a city that evolves and adapts. It is a pleasure to visit London through its different neighborhoods.

London is also a multicultural city where you can feast in restaurants serving Asian and Indian food for example. And even if the British gastronomy has not the best of reputations;-)

Finally, London is also a leading cultural city in Europe where there are many museums or exhibitions. The city also has beautiful monuments like the Tower of London or the beautiful Tower Bridge.

And you, what are your favorite destinations in Europe?

read more...

Camera Tripod In Travel: Gorillapod!

Purists will tell you that the photo Gorillapod can not replace a real quality tripod and steady. That is true. Lovers of travel photography will tell you that a real tripod is cumbersome and not necessarily fit all situations while traveling. This is also true.
For my part, to reduce clutter, I recently bought a Gorillapod. Having an SLR (D5100 with a 18-105 lens), I opted for the SLR-Zoom model with a load capacity 3 kgs, more than enough for my camera + lens. I am very happy, so I share this article with you.

First, for me, the camera tripod trip is not possible. Too cumbersome. It does not necessarily have the opportunity to return to the hotel in the evening for example to retrieve the tripod and do a little night session photograph. This means that we must hang the stand throughout the day. Or rather for me not to use it;)
So I decided to buy a Gorillapod tripod as photo for my travels. I used it for the first time recently during my trip to New York.




First Use Of Gorillapod In Travel

At first glance, may seem the Gorillapod can be reassuring. Certainly, the technical specifications ensure load 3 kgs for Gorillapod SLR-Zoom. We quickly realized that it is very robust and in fact, it works nickel.
In fact, the only key point is good lay or hang. Once it's stable, it easily holds the load, even in very twisted situations: tied to a pole, attach a barrier against diving or snorkeling.

The first few photos, I kept my hands a few millimeters from the device for fear of dropping it. Very quickly, you realize that it is very reliable and no worries.
We made ​​it very quickly, it can twist in all directions and it's great practice, that is what we will see in the next section.

A Travel Camera Tripod Adapted To All The Situations

Personally, I think the Gorillapod is particularly well suited for travel photos. Indeed, its flexibility allows it to install or fix anywhere.
For now I have only used in urban environments, in New York. However, remembering a few situations where I needed a long exposure trip, the Gorillapod is particularly well suited.
Indeed, a travel photo with a tripod can not be summarized in a photo is taken in front of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero. There are many situations where the use of a tripod is not true necessarily appropriate. In these situations, the Gorillapod tripod is the need for me.
During my trip to New York, I used my Gorillapod in various situations, attached to a fence or a traffic sign placed on a bench or on a railing ...
Definitely, the Gorillapod is the camera tripod to carry around when traveling. It easily fits in a small backpack during the day and does not weigh you down too;)


Pricewise, it's very affordable. The SLR-Zoom model supporting a unit of up to 3 kg will cost around 30 euros. It is 20 euros more for the ball, very convenient. One can "offset" his absence retouching / cropping some pictures.

read more...

Lahmacun, The Turkish Pizza

The lahmacun is one of the many specialties of Turkish cuisine.
During a stay in Turkey you will definitely an opportunity to meet one or more restaurants offering lahmacun.
The lahmacun is also called Turkish pizza and it is aptly named.
It consists of a very thin crust, covered with a lining consisting of meat (veal or lamb) and finely cut vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, onions). It is also often accompanied by parsley, lettuce and lemon!
Some lahmacun can make a meal but it can also be eaten during the day as a snack.
The lahmacun is one of the dishes of Turkish cuisine Must Taste on a trip to Istanbul and Turkey.


Experts favor!

An important to eat a good lahmacun point, it is best to focus on specialty retailers in lahmacun.
Indeed, you will find in Turkey specialized in lahmacun and restaurants that sell only here;-)
It is often in these restaurants found delicious lahmacun. Of course, you can also eat in great restaurants offering a more diverse board.
In Istanbul, there are a lot of restaurants specializing in lahmacun. You certainly come across one on your way!

My Favorite lahmacun In Istanbul

I ate many lahmacun in Istanbul and in many places;-)
The best I've ever had for me in the Kadikoy district, if the Asian side of Istanbul.
The address is: Halil lahmacun, Guneşlibahçe Sokak 26, Kadikoy - Istanbul
You can get there easily, it is a 5 minute walk from the dock at Kadikoy.

As you can see from the picture above, the lahmacun costs 4 TL approximately 1.70 euros.
Lovely people too! A place not to miss. During your stay at Halil lahmacun, feel free to take a tour of this very nice neighborhood. The restaurant is located in a busy shopping street!
For those who do not wish to buy a plane ticket to Istanbul just to eat a lahmacun, you can find in France! They can be found on Paris, specifically rue du Faubourg Saint Denis. There are many Turkish restaurants on this street.

read more...

3 Historical Coffees in Turin

During my stay in Turin, I could not miss the many cafes in the city, especially those located in Turin for several generations. 
As an avid coffee drinker (but also sweets or pastries), I went to a lot of cafes in Turin and I decided to retain three for this post. 3 historic cafés, each with a specialty, but also three former places, with period decoration. 
If you go through Turin (and more generally by Italy), it would be a shame not to dwell in these cafes are an integral part of Italian culture.

Caffè Mulafsano, Perfect Espresso

The Mulafsano coffee (caffè Mulafsano in Italian) is located in Piazza Castello in the heart of Turin. This place is a must in Turin, so you spend and this will inevitably have an opportunity to enjoy an espresso coffee in this legendary Turin. 
Traditional coffee: marble fountain, large mirror, wood paneled walls. It is well within a typical and traditional Italian coffee.

The coffee is not very large, 3 or 4 small tables inside and 2/3 tables outside under the arcades of the Piazza Castello. 
The espresso is delicious, full-bodied, the best I drank during my stay in Turin. 

Rate side, count 3 euros for an espresso or 1.10 euros if you drink at the bar (al banco).

Baratti & Milano, For Chocolate Lovers

Baratti & Milano is now a fixture in Turin for chocolate lovers. Hot chocolate, gianduja chocolate or ice so you can find what makes you want in this rather large coffee. 
Hot chocolate is delicious, I'm not necessarily a fan of hot chocolate but of Baratti & Milano is delicious. 
Again, the café has an old decor with wood paneling and large mirrors, a little bling bling;-)

Count 6.50 euros for a hot chocolate tasted table and 2 euros less if you take it standing at the bar. 
You can also enjoy pastries, ice cream and other snacks. 

Baratti & Milano is located a few meters from Mulassano coffee, still on the piazza Castello.

Caffè Al Bicerin For The Turin-based Specialty

The al Bicerin coffee is the perfect place to experience a typical drink of the city of Turin, the bicerin. 
Bicerin means small glass, the drink is served in a glass just up and it's actually a mixture of hot chocolate, espresso and milk. I love this drink because I'm pretty easily disgusted by hot chocolate with espresso, but here it is, for me, much more pleasant to drink

Count 5 euros to enjoy a bicerin the caffè al Bicerin at table inside the small cafe (still with period decoration) or on the terrace in Piazza della Consolata with beautiful views of the Santuario della Consolata .

This drink is part of traditional Piedmontese products that are recognized as part of the Piedmontese heritage. 


The al Bicerin cafe is open since 1763!

coffees PricesIn these traditional and often rather small cafes, on-premise consumption at dinner is often more expensive, which is understandable given that two of these coffees for example contain less than 10 tables!In more "modern" coffee, the price is usually the same or the difference is so low!Despite the prices can be a bit high, it would be a shame not to enjoy these delicious drinks and the beautiful surroundings of these coffees.

I could share with you other addresses cafes as the city of Turin in full! If you are going to discover Turin for a few days, these 3 places will allow you to enjoy being in cafés with a real past!

read more...

Travelling Story [-1-]

I love traveling. This is one of my passions. When I am not traveling, I spend my Sunday mornings (when my darling will run) to walk on the travel sites, just for fun.

I love so much planning and preparation of the trip as the trip itself I think! I'm still ahead, I prepare in advance lists of what I take away not to forget anything. As I always try to have my little bag in the cabin, all the clothes I choose wisely.

This time it's different. When my darling asked me to accompany him to Haiti I immediately accepted, always open to new adventures. I thought it would do me good to get out of Europe and see what is happening in poorer countries. A trainer trip but rather on a completely different level.

But as the date progressed, I start stressing and wondering if it was a real good idea or just a crazy idea. In fact, last week did not help. As JF left a week before I was left alone with the children at home until Saturday. As is always the case with children, Wednesday night, my youngest started making a high fever. He did not sleep all night. Thursday, I decided to consult: tonsillitis. Thursday night, fetching my daughter from school, returning from his club alpine skiing, enceignante notify me that my pressure cooker has a bad fall and complained of headaches. Any worries, I put my dial at 2:00 all night to wake regularly. The headaches persisted, so that Saturday I went to the emergency. Diagnosis: concussion. Trauma is light but still, it must be based and that the monitors closely. I confess that when I returned home to 1h00am after going to the emergency room, I had a moment of discouragement. I would be sitting and I could have wept. But hey, it would have absolutely given anything and nothing changed the situation. I opted for a beer!

I still questioned my trip. I felt terribly guilty leaving. At the same time, my casserole is in good hands. Having chatted with my mother and my mother (who told me the same thing), I decided to leave. At worst, if there is something urgent, I jump on the first plane.

In addition to these stress health, I had a text of about twenty pages to write by Monday (24). Lack of sleep and stress caused by injury Juliet have made quite a daunting writing. But I finished last night. So last night I started thinking about what I should put in my suitcase. And as I've never been in southern winter (or even summer actually), I did not know what to bring. Anyway, the important thing was a jersey and a dress for the presentation I did on Thursday. Otherwise, we will work out well !!!

So here waiting at the airport in Ottawa. I am feverish, but strangely calmer than yesterday. I like the atmosphere of airports with all the people who go around the world. After passing security, I have a deep breath and I told myself that I would live fully this unique journey!

I'll try to keep my blog as much as possible. For cons, the WiFi signals are not always available in Haiti, so it could be that it is not easy to publish. We'll see!

This story was written by a friend of mine. her name is Yassmina ETZIOU, and I really appreciate what she did. Thank you Yassmina :)

read more...