Beside the worldwide famous skyline and the Peak, there's a fabulous food scene to discover, a creative local street art, many gorgeous markets, and -believe it or not- stunning outdoors! One way or another, this city will surprise you...
We stayed almost a year in Indonesia, expats, based in Jakarta. Unfortunately we had to eat, therefore, we had to work -and couldn't spend all our time traveling. But, still, we took the time to explore the islands and discover heavenly places. Let me think back to these amazing memories...
"If you're not where your want to be, if you don't have what you want to have, if you're not where you think you should be at this particular point, it has nothing to do with the system but it has everything to do with the fact that you're not making the sacrifices. Make your dream become a reality, because if you don't you'll be working for somebody else to make their dreams become a reality."
Sometimes project is so big, so fuzzy and so scary that you simply don't want to contemplate it at all. But you can do something about that, and you can do it right now.
5th day of rain here. We get a message from a couple of friends in Aveyron “It snows like it hasn’t been for 30 years! Fresh snow is everywhere. It looks AMAZING. Come here!”. That’s how we’ve ended up running to the nearest sports shop to buy some ski gear, packing up our stuff in a couple of hours then leaving the next day for a spontaneous road trip in a snow wonderland !
Here’s the story. She always dreamt about the big cold Arctic. So they went on their first “big trip” together in Lapland, Finland. Where we proposed -in one of the most romantic settings, by minus 25°C! It was so beautiful they won’t stop kidding about how beautiful it would be to get married there...
I have to admit, when I started packing I panicked a little bit -I was scared of my baby’s tiny little hands and feet freezing. But once we were there, I realised it’s a picnic -as long as you have the required gear for extremely cold weather. What to pack, what to expect, discover our survival guide to traveling in Lapland with a baby !
Some people have crazy dreams. Some choose to realize them, then have a crazy life...
Benjamin and Ingrid Marie Hertefølger have decided to realize the impossible to embrace the lifestyle of their dreams. After having built a unique all-natural house completely covered by a glass dome on a plot of land in Norway, they've started their incredible journey into sustainable living. It may all seem like some sort of hippie day dream, but it’s fascinating!
Meet the Hertefølger, a Norwegian family of six who is truly living on their own terms...
Hertefølger –Norwegian for “heart followers”– wasn’t always their family name, but they changed it few years ago to reflect their life philosophy. “We have only listened to ourselves and what we wanted to do, we went all in”, said Ingrid. “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, there will always be someone who disagrees and who thinks what I do is wrong,” the mother of four adds.
The aim of this adventure is for Benjamin and Ingrid to offer their four children a great childhood and to give them the insight they need to manage life on Earth. Instead of spending their time in front of a computer or at a mall, the Hertefølger's kids swing in hammocks, play in the garden, do yoga sessions under sunset, watch Aurora borealis or roam the surrounding forests in search of mythical creatures -the daughter swears she saw a fairy. They surely will grow up with a deep sense of appreciation for nature.
The Hertefølgers always knew they wanted to live in an eco-home made of only natural materials -the challenge was to adapt it to the harsh weather conditions of the Arctic Circle. Indeed, life in the Arctic isn't only snowy landscapes, elves in the forest and Santa's secret atelier. It's a constant battle with extreme weather conditions, especially when you live in such a remote place as Sandhorney Island, in north Norway.
The family managed to beat all the odds and organize a cosy living in a three-story cob house wrapped in a glass dome. It withstands the heavy snowfalls and strong winds, maintains a uniform temperature throughout the year and reduces ultraviolet radiation while acting as a greenhouse for the organic vegetable and fruit garden. How cool is that : they somehow manage to grow apples, cherries, plums, apricots, kiwis, grapes, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs and melons in an area that doesn't see the sunlight for three months a year!
We may not all be able to build our domed natural house in the Arctic Circle –which Norwegian magazine The Nordic Page reports cost the Hertefølger $490,500 to build– but you have to admit their story is an inspirational one. Make sure to watch The Heart Followers documentary below, you won’t regret it!
Fancy a road trip in Europe? Why not taking the scenic roads of Provence and go village hopping? The region boasts some of the most picturesque villages in France, if not all Europe. From cozy stone houses with terracotta terraces to astounding castle ruins, Provence has it all. Ready to hit the road?
We spent 3 beautiful days wandering in the golden metropolis, surprised to discover such an easy going and friendly city. You can actually breathe the real Spanish atmosphere there! To make sure you experience Madrid as much as you can, I've picked up 10 essential things to do when you visit Madrid. Buen viaje!
You are a wine connoisseur in every sense of the word. You love the sound of wine hitting the bottom of a glass, and you love trying out different wine and food combinations... What if you could stay in a hotel that shares your love of wine?
If you're looking for a wine lover's getaway, here are the best hotels for wine lovers around the globe. Check in and have the concierge pour you a glass...
From the Pic du Midi observatory to the small villages in the countryside and the most amazing carnival in Dunkerque, France is an intoxicatingly stunning and diverse country and there's enough to see to satisfy a lifetime's worth of experience. Everywhere there is something that is worth the visit!
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