The Japanese Alps offer enchanting mountain villages and scenic towns steeped in tradition. This week, we traveled through Matsumoto, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, and Kanazawa—places that felt like stepping into Japan’s living history. Here, ancient traditions and modern life blend seamlessly, with centuries-old customs, architecture, and cultural practices still woven into everyday routines. Matsumoto captivated us with…Continue reading Japan – Matsumoto & Takayama & Shirakawa & Kanazawa
Tag: Village
Cabo Verde – São Vicente & Santo Antão
Cabo Verde is a beautiful archipelago that flies under the radar of mass tourism. This West African country has been independent from Portugal since 1975 and consists of 10 islands. Since we finalized our plans at the last minute, we were only able to visit two islands as domestic flights were completely sold out. The…Continue reading Cabo Verde – São Vicente & Santo Antão
Portugal – Madeira
Madeira is a volcanic island located about 1000 km from Portugal. Portuguese sailors discovered the archipelago in 1419 and settled there shortly afterwards. It is often referred to as the “Hawaii of Europe” because of its mountainous landscapes, volcanic features, crystal blue water, dramatic coastlines and lush green hills. Flying to Madeira is quite affordable…Continue reading Portugal – Madeira
Ghana
Our first visit to Ghana was 13 years ago, so naturally we were excited for a repeat visit. After crossing the border from Côte d’Ivoire, we drove straight to the coastal town of Axim where the lovely Axim Beach Resort was our home for a couple of nights. Ghana has more historic forts and castles…Continue reading Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
We entered the country of Guinea-Bissau from Senegal and immediately encountered rough roads which slowed our progress considerably. As a result, we didn’t quite make it to the capital city of Bissau. Instead, we spent our first night camped on a football field which made us the default village entertainment! It was a surreal sight…Continue reading Guinea-Bissau