Many dreams hovered over Eritrea, once. Its capital, Asmara, was the illusion of an African Rome that would have replicated a city's glamour and flair. Mussolini dreamt of transforming Asmara…
State of Eritrea, State of Decay
Travel
Obscure places, beaten paths, and what inspires the journey.
Obscure Travels
The obscure places where you wouldn't go — misunderstood countries, disputed lands, dictatorships, micronations, and mythological corners of the map.
Normal Travels
Secrets of the beaten path — Japan, Italy, Viet Nam, China, Costa Rica and more, told with curiosity beyond the guidebook.
My Resources
What inspires me: books, films, stories, and the quieter details that shape every trip.
Culture Matters!
Food, rituals, and living culture — including how to find authentic good food when the tourist trail tries to hide it.
Night Talks
Late-night reflections on myths, obsession, and the characters that haunt travel writing — Helen of Sparta and beyond.
Things I Love
Small passions that travel with me: authentic tables, forgotten theatres, and the stories people share along the way.
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Africa's Best Kept Secret
Scenically captivating, historically intriguing, culturally inspiring, Eritrea is Africa's best kept secret and one of the world's last most secretive countries. If you're looking for a place that will put…
My Caravan experience
In the 17th century, the Persian king Shah Abbas built tactical caravan inns to shelter and provide food and safety to merchants, traders, travelers and pilgrims on the Silk Road.…
The Hmong in Vietnam
Carved in between misty mountains in the north of Vietnam right at the border with China, rests the rustic town of Sapa. It's roughly a 6 hours bus ride from…
Dangerous Femme: Helen of Sparta
Few women have obsessed me in life as Helen of Sparta. I've always loved Greek myths but Helen has always been my deep fascination, the glue that holds it all…
A Cats Cafe
Something that I've always admired about Japanese people is how they openly show what they like and think about. Openly. Everywhere. Growing up between Europe and South America, I learned…