Why I laughed at a place I'll never see again.
Revealing my new outlook on travel (and it's not about the places) #66
At the end of our tour around Isola Grande in Tuscany, which we were not impressed by, we waited for our ferry for an hour and fifteen minutes. There was nothing else to do, we had already toured the island, we didn't particularly want to eat, and there wasn't anything else to see. So we found a spot on the rocks, contemplating the sea, and I made a comment that made us laugh, saying it's funny to be in a place and realize that we will never see it again!
Of course, in this case, it was because we didn't like it. But it made me think about all the places in the world that we may want to see but will never be able to because the world is too big, and about the places we have seen and loved but that we will never return to.
And then there are all the familiar places: where we live, where we work, where our family is, and the vacation spots we keep returning to because we enjoyed them so much and felt comfortable there.
Yet, there was another revelation for me this time, a shift in preference from monuments, or masterpieces to the tranquil beauty of nature. Though I do still love sites from ancient Greece and Rome, probably because I spent so much time in history and Latin lessons in my youth learning about them.
As I said last week, the best day of our trip to Tuscany and Umbria was the one where we cycled around the countryside and admired the changing colours of the landscapes, the majesty of the cypress trees or the humility of the tortuous olive trees, the flowery meadows and the gentle lakes.
It made me reconsider the notion of travel and what I expect from it myself. More and more it’s not about the places, it’s about immersing myself in the beauty of nature, and the moments of self-discovery that unfold in its embrace.
And sometimes, that can be found in the familiar places we call home or in the vacation spots we return to time and time again.
Has what you love about travel changed over the years? I’d love to know about that, please do share in the comments.
Countryside retreats in the UK: my top 5 blissful boutique hotels with pools over the past 10 years.
I was playing with AI the other day and found that it could very cleverly summarize the key points of some my previous reviews and make it very clear what’s so good or not about a place we’ve been to. So I did this for 5 countryside UK hotels.
Book recommendations for your next trip
This avid reader created collections for books and one of them helpfully lists books set in various countries on a map. Could be a good source of inspiration before a trip to a specific destination.
Latest finds
Maribel, Spain
From 430 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountain range welcomed Maribel a few years ago. The 29-room property includes a lounge and bar with a ski-in/ski-out outdoor terrace, and a restaurant that provides a dining club experience with alpine flavour. It also has a Nordic-inspired spa. No pool
Mamula Island, Montenegro
From 500 euros - Check latest prices and availability
Mamula Island brings new life to a historic islet and 19th-century fortress in Montenegro. A short boat ride from Herceg Novi and the Croatian coast the luxury hotel also has a holistic spa and a memorial gallery, three restaurants, four bars, three outdoor pools, and the hotel’s own beach. There are 26 rooms in total.
The Graduate, Cambridge
From 250 £- Check latest prices and availability
Inspired by Cambridge University, this boutique hotel set on the river Cam has several rooms to choose from – the Junior Suite looks great for a romantic weekend for two. Bathrooms are stocked with Malin + Goetz toiletries and there are subtle nods to the university in each room. No pool.
Vocabolo Moscatelli Boutique Hotel, Umbria
From €220 - Check latest prices and availability
Opened in summer 2022, this former monastery in Umbria was renovated with modern features and materials such as steel, wood, linen, and terracotta. Apart from 12 spacious rooms, a plants-forward restaurant entice palates with the rich harvest of the Umbrian soil. There is a pool.
Montesol Experimental, Ibiza
From 250 Euros- Check latest prices and availability
This original hotel, built in 1931, was an icon of Ibiza. Many of Hollywood’s elite stayed there in the 50’s. It’s been reinvented by the Experimental Group, and its interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon. Full of colours and bohemian style, the 33 roooms are joined by a restaurant and rooftop bar and a boutique. No pool but a private beach