Travel – @darrens

Venezia Round ii

Venezia, Round Two

This was my second time in Venice and I was really excited to explore these amazing islands again. This trip gave me a chance to wander a little bit further, and travel to the islands I didn’t see previously, like Lido and Murano!

I don’t think Venice needs much explaining.. So this post will be purely pictures of my top picks and locations..

The Rialto Bridge (Sestiere San Polo, 30125 Venezia)

Scala Contarini del Bovolo (S. Marco, 4303, 30124 Venezia)

The View outside Harry’s Bar (Calle della Scuola, 30124 Venezia)

Ponte della Paglia and the Bridge of Sighs (30124 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice)

The Palazzo Ducale (Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia)

Basilica di San Marco (Piazza San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia)

The Cafe Lavena Nightly Band at San Marco (Piazza San Marco, 133/134, 30124 Venezia)

Cometa di Vetro, Murano (Calle S Stefano, 17, 30141 Venezia)

Chiesa di San Pietro Martire, Murano (Fondamenta dei Vetrai, 30141 Venezia)

Church of San Giorgio (Isola di S.Giorgio Maggiore, 30133 Venezia)

Acqua Alta Library (Calle Longa S. Maria Formosa, 5176/b, 30122 Castello, Venezia)

T Fondaco dei Tedeschi Rooftop (Rialto Bridge, Ramo del Fontego dei Tedeschi, 30100 Venezia)

Venice is somewhere I’ll keep returning to. I love the atmosphere, the people and of course the food and drink. If you haven’t been, of course it’s a must.. I’ve you have already been, go a second time.. I felt I saw more of the Islands than previously. Take some risks, get on the water taxi and explore everything..

Majestic Milano

Milan, as Majestic as the Rumours..

Stop two of my August trip was Milan, the train from Lugano to Milano Centrale was so easy and cheap! Approx €20, great value. Similar to the Zurich-Lugano route, the views from the trains at times were beautiful..

I got off the train at Milano Centrale, it was around 33 degrees, I had to get rid of my backpack so I agreed to tie up with my Air Bnb host. I had a place near Garibaldi Station, and my host spoke pretty much zero English. I loved this. I had to learn Italian phrases so I could speak to her, and she really did appreciate I was trying!

The View from my Air Bnb, perfect

Such a perfect little find on Air BnB, Corsa Como was the best location

Duomo di Milano (Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI, Italy)

I walked from my Air BnB into the city, of course headed for the Duomo. Firstly, I probably saw 5 or 6 people getting pick pocketed. You’ll see guys handing out bracelets, once given one you’ll be followed around. From what I could tell; people with decent cameras were being targeted.. anyway enough of the negatives.

The Duomo is amazing. It’s not quite as immense as the Duomo in Florence, but non the less, this place is incredible.. tips for the Duomo.. Book your tickets in advance. I queued for about 40 mins to get tickets to the stair climb to the roof terrace..

The Roof Terrace can get over crowded but it’s beautiful

If you’ve read my blog before you’ll know I fly drones for photography. Flying over any of the ‘Art Cities’ is illegal. I was desperate to fly in Milan but couldn’t arrange a permit quick enough. I did see two P4Ps fly over the Duomo. Word of warning, you’ll get caught.. I watched police detain a guy for flying over the Duomo.. be careful and know the rules..

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (Piazza del Duomo, 20123 Milano MI, Italy)

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is visually exceptional

Stunning architecture I love, shopping I do not.. this is probably one of the only times you’ll see me enjoy a shopping experience. The Galleria has to be seen to be believed. Unique symmetry, perfect lines. It’s beautiful.

This is Italy’s oldest active shopping mall, built between 1865-1867, named after the first King of the Kingdom of Italy.

The Statue of Leonardo di Vinci (Piazza della Scala, 20121 Milano MI, Italy)

Did you know this statue was created by a winner of a contest? Pietro Magni..

I was more impressed by the Duomo when light at night

As beautiful as the Duomo is, I much prefer seeing epic landmarks at night. Lighting is everything. The warm tones which light the Duomo are pretty cool. Generally at meeting place at night, and very busy, not that the photo really looks busy!

The San Siro (Piazzale Angelo Moratti, 20151 Milano MI, Italy)

I’ve become something of a Stadium hunter over the years

Football stadiums my not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the top off my trips, even if I don’t see a game. I just love to see and experience the venues. The San Siro is a beast. I’ve wanted to come here for probably 19 years, yes since around Fifa 99 came out. Just over 80,000 seater stadium, it really makes you realise how HUGE football is in Milan..

Amazing that these two power houses share a Stadium

Stadium Visits are a must for me when I visit a new city..

I could not imagine the likes of Man Utd and Man City sharing a Stadium, yet these clubs do and it works for them. Whether you support the famous Rossonero or I Nerazzurri, any football fan must visit here..

Cimitero Monumentale (Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale, 20154 Milano MI, Italy)

Now this was unexpected… and amazing..

Unexpected and highly impressed by the Cimitero Monumentale

The Cemetery of Monumentale is known for it’s stunning sculptures and garden grounds.

The Marzoni Tomb is, well, crazy. Manzoni was a famous novelist, and o me of Milans most honoured citizens..

Lievità Pizza (Porta Garibaldi, 20121 Milano MI, Italy)

Lievità Pizza was some of the best I’ve eaten.. hands down. No review rewired. This place was amazing. 6 minutes for a pizza to arrive, fresh as fresh could have been.. Wow.

A couple of other spots worth a visit..

Sforzinda (Piazza Castello, 20121 Milano MI, Italy)

The grounds and park at Sforzinda are beautiful. You can walk from the Arco della Pace through the park, often live bands are playing. A really cool castle and a relaxing place to hang out.

Built between 1807-1838, this monument was formed in dedication to peace amongst European Nations. A quick stop of on the way through the park!

Bosco Verticale (20124 Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy)

Bosco Verticale, a stone’s throw from Garibaldi Station and the new hub at Porto Garibaldi. Really cool apartment blocks which stand out a mile on the Milan skyline. They may only be apartment blocks, but there are a must see spot..

Milano, done. Next up Venezia…

Red Lights and Windmills, Amsterdam

Red Lights, Windmills and Everything inbetween; Amsterdam

With a country so close to the UK you’d think more people would have been to Holland.. but the general discussion is that many people haven’t got there yet.. Let’s see if I can spend a few minutes convincing you..

I picked up flights into Schipol Airport for £70 return, and an Air BnB for £80.. So a real cheap city break can be had here..

Amsterdam

I landed into Schipol just after lunch time, and headed straight into the City. Walk out of the arrivals area and straight into the Train Station.. Yes it is that simple and well sign posted. The Sprinter Train runs quite frequently and costs €4.30 for a Single. It runs through two stops and rolls into Centraal Station. Centraal Station has connections to most of the other major cities including Rotterdam, if you’re looking to explore further afield after AMS.

Rijksmuseam and the I Amsterdam Sign (Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands)

This is the tourist trap.. the only way you’ll be getting touristless selfies or shots.. Get here at 5am!

The Rijksmuseam has a vast Art collection, but I was here to admire the architecture and grab some shots. The lake infront of the IAmsterdam sign provided a nice reflection too!

The Canals

You can walk the Canals of Amsterdam for hours. Bridge upon Bridge, genuinely beautiful. Stop, take in the views across the canals. There are so many cafes and restaurants to sit and enjoy them from.

The scenes are a different level at night. The still canals give off the perfect reflections, and the Red Lights of the District really set off the views..

The Johan Cruyff ArenA (ArenA Boulevard 1, 1101 AX Amsterdam)

The Johan Cruyff ArenA is epic. The scale appears huge. While it may only be a 53,346 seater.. it looks much much bigger! Home to Ajax, and quite far out of the city. You’ll need to grab the M54 metro out to Strandvilet, it’s a 2 minute walk from the station. Another Stadium off of my quest to visit all the too tier stadiums in the world!

The Red Light District (Amsterdam Central)

No intro, discussion or explanation required. This place should be experienced on whatever level you choose.. Whatever your taste…

Lisse / Keukenhof (Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse)

Stretching 30km between Haarlem and Leiden are the tulip fields of North Amsterdam. This is a must see, it’s a short train ride to Haarlem, for there you can hire a Cycle (Which is between €8-12 for a day!) I used a small shop in Haarlem called ‘Bike Rent Haarlem’. Now I ride a decent standard road bike in the UK, don’t expect that on a hire! It was a bum numbing 35 mile cycle but the views of the fields are worth it..

I took a few detours here and there in search of tulip fields. Hillegom and Heemstede are beautiful, peaceful towns. Some of the houses are LIFE GOALS! I’d arrived a week after the cuttings of most fields which was a shame, but I managed to capture a few which were left!

Beautiful. I’ll 100% return during the blooming of the tulips next year.

Zaanse Schans (Kalverringdijk 5, 1509 BT Zaandam)

Zaanse Schans is a throwback to the 18th century. The iconic windmills were moved here to recreate that feel. It’s a day out from the mayhem of Amsterdam, and a very unique part of Holland, which many who visit Amsterdam will over look. This is another place which is a short trip on the train from Amsterdam Centraal. Be sure to head out to the Bakery Museum.. the fresh Cookies are excellent!

Amsterdam is beautiful in the day, and a complete flip side in the night, but still beautiful depending on where you go.. Much like Prague, it has a reputation for the sex but unless you go looking for that, it really isn’t as bad as you’d think.

Questions about my trip?

Get in touch on the socials!

My gear;

GoPro Hero 6

Sony Alpha A6000

DJI Mavic Air

24hrs in Montenegro

An amazing 24hrs in the Beautiful place that is Montenegro. Make this your next Destination..

So after a couple of beautiful days in Dubrovnik I was headed for the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro.

The drive from Dubrovnik to Kotor is around 90km

It’s a really simple border crossing, just remember that if you are planning to cross the border and you are using a hire car you will need a ‘Green Card‘ from the rental car company. It has all the relevant car details. Also worth pointing out that quite a few of the companies I checked didn’t allow a border cross. Goldcar allowed it, for approx £20 extra. The border crossing itself is free, but most companies hold the Green Card it seems.

FYA your phone data will be expensive here, mine was!!! I used Spotify for 3 songs.. it incurred a £42 charge – thanks Snoop Dogg. Check your network, only use Wi-Fi is my advice..

Montenegro

I got through the crossing and headed straight for the Bay. Stay on the E65 (then E80) which goes through Herceg Novi to Kotor – worth stopping at one of the supermarkets in H.N… there’s a short amount of shops from there until Kotor.

The Bay of Kotor is perfectly still in the morning

As the title says, 24hrs in Montenegro.. I was in a bit of a rush to get to Kotor. It’s really the only thing I had planned to do while here, as it was only a small amount of time.. On route I spoke and met up with my Air BnB host. I was staying in Jošice, a very quiet fishing town, where the crossing for Kotor is also available..

Jošice was perfectly located for my trip..

I have to say the cost of my Air BnB was exceptional. I paid £10 a night, and the cost would have been less if staying for more than one night! The rooms at the 4 Sailors were very good. Considering the cost I was expecting a pretty bad experience, I can only but recommend this place!

Check our the place on Air BnB; 4 Sailors

After quick hello and tour with my host I got back on the road. I’d opted against the Kotor Crossing as I wanted to explore the route around the Bay. The villages of Risan, Strp, Perast, Orahovac are pretty quiet. Most notably Orahovac, there’s a huge hotel on the Bay front which is completely baron. Pretty haunting consideing it’s location!

Perast / Sveti Dorde

A couple of lonely islands sit in the middle of the Bay, off of Perast. There’s a perfect little car park which sits opposite also. Obviously I was going to get the drone out.. there are two islands, Sveti Dorde and Ostrvo.

Just one of the reasons why I love a drone. Capturing perspectives you just wouldn’t be able to on foot

A beautiful location nestled between a mountainous Bay. Again there isn’t much here, there’s a couple of bars and restaurants down by the waterfront at Perast. I couldn’t explore this as the weather had turned and I didn’t fancy running in hail stones!

Kotor

The reason for my trip, the Ladder of Kotor. The Ladder is amazing. From the ground you can see parts of the trail but it really doesn’t take shape until you’re half way up atleast..

The entrance to the Ladder is difficult to find. I had to use Google maps as the guides were all pointing me to the Fortress, which didn’t feel I had time to do! Anyway, the Ladder of Kotor..

After approx 15 mins you can see the town of Kotor around the Bay

I ploughed up the Ladder, I passed a great deal of people who were giving up and headed back down. I’m not one to be beaten, and certainly not by a trail. I cracked on. Eventually the trails become more rocky, more undulating, and more difficult to foot. Of course those sorts of things make a man think.. “the drone would be a great idea”.. I got Cameron out and captured some absolute aerial GOLD…

The zig zag trail cannot be seen in such a way without a drone. This is the reason I got a drone. Being able to capture moments which are not possible with conventional cameras.

After a quick stop for water and droning I got back on the trail. I arrived at the summit approx. 1hr 20 mins of climbing. And it was totally worth it.. Over 70 switchback turns. A real highlight of my trip..

At the top I met a girl from Holland. We sat, had a little chat about the climb. Obviously she posed for photos being a solo traveller. It was cool to chat to some else on the journey at the top of a mountain! After a bit of time spent relaxing at the summit I headed back down the mountain trail, double time. It took me just over an hour to reach the base. I think this is a given but I’d advise solid walking boots or running trainers for this trail!

It was early afternoon so I grabbed some food from the shopping centre at the base of the mountain and headed back to my car. Kotor was my main aim for this part of my trip, but with time to spare I opened up the map and decided to drive down to the coastline to the South.

Budva

Approx. 20km from Kotor. This part of my trip was a bit on the fly. First stop was a car park, views over the beaches and coastline. It was perfect for a pit stop. I checked my map for local points of interest and there were two of value to me..

Mogren Fortress

The fortress is well hidden, and cannot be accessed by car (I tried..). You’ll have to park the next car park in Gospostina and walk back..

Immense coastline, the colours are unedited and look stunning..

The Mogren Fortress is pretty epic. I was here for around an hour… and saw one other person. Look out for the BROWN SIGN noting ‘Tvdara Mogren’. This place was hidden and I loved that. The Mogren Fortress was built in 1860 by Austro Hungarians to defend the Western borders of Budva. Due to earthquakes and lack of up keep the fortress is falling apart so be careful.. Excursions aren’t taken here so if the goal is seclusion then this is the place. Ideal for droning…

The island of Sveti Nikola aka ‘Hawaii of Montenegro’, can be seen from the fortress. When the tide is low you can see a sand trail into Budva beach under the water. If you want to go to Sveti Nikola you can grab a boat for €3 return..

I was slowly running out of daylight. I wanted to head further round to Sveti Stefan but I didn’t have time. Budva was an extra I didn’t expect but I’m really glad I took the trip.

On my drive back I found the one restaurant which looked open, Verige 65. The food, service and restaurant itself were excellent. I spent less than €20 for a starter, main and two beers. Really great value. The restaurant over looks the Bay, with views of Tivat and Kotor.

And that was it, my 24 hours in Montenegro was close to being over. I headed back to the Air BnB to prep up for my flight the next day, back to Dubrovnik.

As ever, if you have questions on any of my travels, or Montenegro specifically then please drop me a comment or message!

My gear;

GoPro Hero 6

Sony Alpha A6000

DJI Mavic Air

Adriatic Beauty; Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, One of Croatia’s Coastal Beauties

Where do I start.. Logically I should start at the beginning… but f*ck logic.. I got myself a new camera a few days before this trip, so say hello to lots of Sony Alpha shots with plenty of swirly swirly cream cheese like bokeh! New trip, new kit..

Ok back to the travel; I set off for Stansted at 3am. Croatia has some excellently cheap flights from Luton and Stansted, you just have to pay in loss of sleep.. but for £100 return you cannot argue with that.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

I landed in Dubrovnik to that famous Adriatic Sunshine. Dubrovnik gets almost 130 days of sunshine each year..

I’d hired a car before my arrival. Now it’s notoriously cheap to hire cars here, and when you read reviews you’ll see a great deal of NEGATIVE comments regarding companies policies, claw backs of money, claims of damage etc. I cannot confirm this, my experience was excellent. I used Rentalcars.com who I purchased full insurance with, so if there’s any damage.. you pay and you’re refunded, regardless of how the damage occurred. FYI I used Goldcar (via Rentalcars.com). Anyway, in the famous last words of the Goldcar employee.. “Please drive on the right and don’t crash, bye bye“. I did have a good laugh as I drove away!

The drive from the airport to Dubrovnik is beautiful. There are a few stop off points for photos etc, well worth getting out and taking in the views over the coastline.

As usual for my trips I used Air BnB, I opted for a place outside of the Old Town, mainly due to having a car. I paid around £35 per night, and my accommodation was excellent. Arguably one of the best Air BnBs I’ve ever used. Really nice views from the terrace over the Port..

Never used Air BnB? Well here is a link for £25 off your first stay.. You are welcome! CLICK HERE

Old Town Dubrovnik (Poljana Paska Miličevića, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia)

The Old Town of DBV is amazing. One of the most cool and beautiful places I’ve been to. It has the charm of an Old Town, yet the Vibe of thriving city. Everywhere you turn are restaurants and stunning buildings. But I wasn’t there for the restaurants.. I was there for the Old City Walls..

The Old Walls entrance can be found directly to the right as you enter the Old Town..

A surprisingly quiet tour of the Walls..

Views to the South show off the Island of Lokrum

There are some really cool hidden spots along the way round..

Plan your days accordingly in Dubrovnik. It is worth checking the Port Authorities Arrivals, click here. I arrived on a Thursday, notably quiter than Friday, funnily enough a massive cruise ship had docked over night… Dubrovnik’s Old Town went from the relatively quiet town looking like this…

To this on a Friday..

Double check the Arrivals. It can really change your experience of Dubrovnik..

The Old Town has plenty of highlights and places to visit, here’s some of my favourites;

Any, and every side street is a visual gem. I love how the lanterns pepper the streets

The detailing at Rector’s Palace is beautiful..

Buza Bar (Aim for the signs which say ‘best drinks and views in Old Town)

There is several ‘Budza’ Bars to the west coastline of the Old Town.. all are worth a beer and view of the coastline

Now if Drones are your thing then you’ll like these shots. If you’re planning on using your drone in Croatia you will need to contact the CAA, sending off a form to the authority by post to Croatia. You need to ensure it arrives 8 days before you plan to fly.. Use this link for more info. Once confirmed you’ll receive an email to say you are now an authorised UAS operator.

I found a few good spots to take off from, one just by Hotel Excelsior and the other to the North of Lovrijenac, head to towards this address and walk the coastline until you find a good spot.. Rudimira Rotera, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia.

This is the place I used for the droning.. follow the address to get here

I use the DJI Mavic Air for all my drone shots. It’s light, compact and is perfect for the backpack traveller.

Check out my edit for this trip on YouTube.

Mount Srd (Cable Car: Ulica kralja Petra Krešimira IV, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia)

I’d prepped up my visit to Mount Srd for the evening, to capture the sunset and the night lit view of the Old Town.. and it really didn’t disappoint. When you get off the Cable Car you’ve taken to a viewing platform, it also has a restaurant. If you walk out of the building and round to the right you can climb down some rock face and set up your camera on the edge of the mountain..

A night view of the Old Town was pretty memorable

Such moody sunsets can be seen from here, the mist when drops over the Islands to the North it makes it a really beautiful scene

I walked around Dubrovnik for 2 days – walking over 35 miles. There’s a great deal of stairs and walking to be done..

Views from Lovrijenac over to the Old Town

There is beauty at ever turn in Dubrovnik. I will return in the future and I highly recommend it to any and everyone..

Any questions about Dubrovnik or travelling there? Get in touch!

My gear;

GoPro Hero 6

Sony Alpha A6000

DJI Mavic Air

The Land of Fire and Ice; Iceland

Iceland; the trip of a life time 🇮🇸

Iceland is a country I’ve wanted to visit for years now but I had always been nervous about the scale and amount of driving required.

Let’s get two things out the way immediately;

1- Iceland is expensive. Get over it.

2- The weather is changeable like you wouldn’t believe. Always check the forecast…

Anyway..

Before leaving I’d planned this trip extensively. I had 4 days so I really could only cram in the West and parts of the South. Now you can travel the ring road etc etc however you’d like, you could even hire a camper.. a good choice if there’s a few of you to split costs. I opted for an Air BnB just outside Reykjavik in Kópavogur, perfectly located to travel in all directions, and a bad ass 4×4 as I’d planned routes through the national park on F roads.

I arrived in Iceland and had pre booked a hire car with Geysir Car Rentals. Highly recommend them and the service was excellent. You get a little key fob which gives you a discount at OB fueling stations.. a nice touch.

The AWD Ford Kuga was the perfect choice for this time of year

Day One – The Golden Circle

þingvellir National Park

The huge lake of þingvellir was solid frozen which was quite a sight.. pretty much all the water I’d seen all morning was frozen.. including the sea. There was excellent walking routes here. I followed a couple of trails but was conscious of the time needed to complete the Golden Circle in one day. You have to pay to park here.. if you veer off to the right before this sign you can park for free… off-road parking though!

Take a look around the walking routes before heading away. They can be found here

Geysir Geo Thermal Park of Haukadalut

Aerial shot of one of the Geo Thermal Pools

The Geysir is pretty cool. You can’t miss it, A) because it’s packed solid with people and cars, B) the stench of sulphur is pretty heavy. Regardless of the fumes the Geysir experience is well worth your time. The eruptions from the main Geysir are pretty large, upto 70m high. This is a no drone zone over the eruptions.. I saw 2 drones fall foul to the Geysir bursts!

The Geysir will soak you if you’re down wind. I was drenched after an eruption.. and smelt like sulphur for a few hours..

Photo hot spot, full of camera tripods and selfie stick wizards.. yes I am one of those idiots too. Hillarious to see people being battered GoPros unsuspectingly while trying to capture the eruption..

Gullfoss Falls

In a word. Epic.

In the summer you can gain access to closer areas of the Fall

The 32m drop looks huge, especially when the fall is partially frozen over. It was surprisingly quiet during my visit, I really guess it all depends on when the Golden Circle tour buses arrive..

Keriđ

This place was one of my favourites. The scenic lake occupies a volcanic crater. It is around 3000 years old! And even better, the lake was frozen and you could walk over it..

The sounds of creaking and cracking ice was pretty haunting!

I walked around the lake looking for the best vantage point for the sunset. There was a massive ground of tripod raiders on the West flank.. I found a better spot..

Any wide angle lens on the North facing side will capture a sunset

The sunset from Keriđ was exceptional. I got really lucky with my timing..

After Keriđ I ended up heading back to my Air BnB in Kópavogur. If you’re doing a self drive I’d advise heading to Selfoss. There’s a few supermarket shops (and takeaways here if totally necessary!). By the time I got back to Kópavogur I was beat. I’d travelled non stop since 5am, I had a quick chat with my host and hit the hay. I had plans for a 5am start in the West..

Day Two; West Region

I headed out at 5am. A 180km route was in the sat nav. Be aware when heading North/West, Route 1 has a tunnel under the Hvalfjördur. It cost me 1000ISK each way, so about £7. Worth the cost as the drive around is an additional hour.

The drive from Reykjavik to the West was awesome. I genuinely saw no cars for miles upon miles…

You can really see the changes in weather from region to region..

The roads after Route 54 are pretty baron, untouched and icy AF. I saw three cars on the roof tops.. All non 4×4/AWD. Again I’d advise a 4×4 if you’re headed out on a self drive. After 160km I hit Kolgrafarfjödur.. I had to stop and get some shots. It was silent, so peaceful and totally epic.

Kolgrafarfjödur

The Mavic Air was the perfect drone for Iceland

At this point, this was the highlight of my Iceland trip. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. I’ve been to the mountains in various countries and always get that feeling of amazement, but here it was different.. I was speechless. I sat and watched over the lake and mountains eating breakfast, the perfect spot.

Kirkjufell Mountain

Approx 20km from Kolgrafarfjödur is the immense mountain of Kirkjufell. Again a real photographer hot stop however today, 6 people were here..

Some will know Kirkjufell from Game of Thrones, it features in Seasons 6 and 7.. known as Arrowhead Mountain.

A really impressive mountain, with a stunning backdrop. Take some time to take in the mountain, there are plenty of spots to camp of picnic here. If you need supplies there is a large shop in Grundarfjödur..

Svödufoss Waterfall

This I found by accident while travelling the Snæfellskökull peninsula coastline. Head up the track about 400m, hop out the car and walk another 200m and you’ll see the waterfall..

I was really taken back by this find. It wasn’t on my Maps during my planning so I was shocked to find it. It was difficult to see how close you could get to the fall as everything was snowy or frozen. I sent the drone out to see what the situation was, and capture some bangers of course. Well worth a stop off.

Snæfellskökull Peninsula

I continued round the coastline of Snæfellskökull. There were a couple of stop offs, there are quite a few beaches but I was unable to get down the roads due to the weather. Very gravelly roads full of ice.. I didn’t fancy a massive repair bill. Eventually I found the Malariff Lighthouse and coast line..

This is Londrangar.

Londrangar is a pair of natural towers which overlook the ocean, formed by volcanic material. The walk from Malariff will take you around 20 minutes.. maybe quicker if it isn’t icy! Excellent views out to the ocean, a real peaceful spot.

After spending some time here and at Arnarstapi (a good place to get supplies for the drive home) I headed back to Reykjavik. The coastal drive along the south peninsula of Snæfellskökull is exceptional. Non stop mountains to the left and ocean to the right for miles and miles, very cool.

Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik

Hallgrimskirkja is Reykjavik’s cathedral, inspired by Icelandic traditions. It can be entered and has a 70m plus tower. Tip; a good place to park after 6pm and walk into the city centre.

I can recommend a place to eat. I had a real urge for a burger after a 18 hour day.. I found the Vitabar in downtown Reykjavik (

Bergþórugata 21, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland)

Yeah I’ll admit it looks pretty low key from the outside but the food was awesome. Prices were very good and I thought cheap (for Iceland) a huge burger and fries with a coke set me back 3000ISK so around £20. Most places this would be 4/4500ISK. Give it a try!

Day Three; The Southern Coast

I’ve always wanted to visit locations on this leg of my tour so I was pretty excited when I set off from Kópavogur..

Seljalandfoss and Gljúfrabúi

When you pull off Route 1 for Seljalandfoss you’ll see the car park full of buses. Drive past this, there is a big lay by about 300m down the road which is free..

Seljalandfoss is stunning. I’ve seen photos of it for such a long time and they do not compare to being there and seeing the waterfall in motion. In winter when the water hits the base of the waterfall it freezes and settles as snow around the base. You will get wet it you get up close..

I stood staring at the waterfall for ages, it is pretty amazing

In months without snow it is possible to go behind the waterfall.. I was disappointed I was unable to but The entrance was frozen over!

Skógafoss

Just 24 minutes down the road is another beaut.. Skógafoss waterfall. The only difference between here and Seljalandfoss is there’s a cool staircase and viewing platform which gives off great views over the waterfall.

Go up the staircase. It is steep but worth the climb!

Tip; I returned here on my way home, Unfortunately my phone and gopro were completely dead, the moonlight shots you can get from the waterfall are class. I stood with a group of photographers who were shooting absolute gold!

Sólheimasandur DC3 Wreckage

The wreckage isn’t sign posted from what I could see.. but It is 11km from Skógafoss on the right. Now be warned, the ‘path to the DC3’ on Google doesn’t really show or tell you how far it is. I walked 30 minutes each way, in horrendous winds which were blowing people over and rain which left me soaked through.. but the end of the long walk is the wreckage. It’s pretty haunting, especially in dark wet conditions. But it’s such a cool spot..

As with most spots.. this is usually busy as hell. The weather kept people away!

Conditions were terrible…

Reynisfjara Beach

This felt like Mordor or something from Game of Thrones.. the black sand beach is both beautiful and haunting. I’ve never seen a beach like it but it given the conditions of the day it really looked moody AF! Beware on this coast, deadly seeker waves hammer this beach.. massive 20ft waves which pull people in from the coastline due to the tremendous power of the under current.

The coastline has been beaten for many years and is sculpted by the waves and winds, some of the cliff faces looking similar to the iron throne!

Day Four; The Blue Lagoon

Key piece of advice is book your tickets. There are three levels, each more expensive.. click here for details. I opted for the Comfort entry, this is ample for me. You get use of a towel, a free silca face mask, and a free drink while in the lagoon. It cost me £70, steep yes but it’s an all day ticket.

The lagoon is awesome. A totally relaxing experience. Probably the most well known spot in Iceland, yeah it’s busy but it’s pretty big that there’s room to chill out away from others.

After 4 hours in here I left, as I was driving away I spotted some non entry thermal streams..

At this point I only had an hour before I had to be at the airport, I had one last stop.

The Bridge America

A cool geography lesson on my.last stop. This bridge connects the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Before the breaking of Pangaea this would have been connected.

And that was it. My Icelandic adventure was over. I had the most epic experience and I was definitely return.. I only saw a tiny bit of Northern lights and it was quite disappointing that I didn’t see the green dance.

Iceland tips;

•Waterproofs are essential

•Pretty much everywhere will accept credit or debit cards

•Book the Blue Lagoon before you travel

•Always carry water on journeys, dehydration is not joke, as I found out.

•Pick up a 12V DC car inverter. This will also you to change things like a laptop or drone.

•Also pick up a phone holder as you’ll need it for GPS.

•

Thanks to my Air BnB host, Floris and thanks Iceland, you’ve been incredible.

Shots taken on my GoPro Hero 6

Drone shots with the new DJI Mavic Air

Up in the Clouds – The Alps

Mountains, Hiking, Biking, Cheese.. What more could you wish for?

The snowy mountains are where I love spending time the most I’d say. However, this is the first time I’ve been solely to the mountains in summer. Myself and Becci had the chance to head out to the French Alps and it seemed too good to miss out on..

We picked up flights into Geneva for £80 return per person, and luckily for us we were collected from the airport and ferried to the Alps by car. The route from Geneva to Morzine is pretty simple. The main route headed past some places I’ve already travelled to, Lake Geneva and the Telepheric Salavé which over looks Geneva, the views are beautiful.. Non stop mountains and blue sky’s..

Morzine

We arrived in Morzine in around 1h30mins, the winding roads were not too favorable to a VW Caravelle! The trip could probably be done quicker in a smaller car..

We were staying with VIP SKI in a chalet on the Morzine main high street. The chalet was awesome, a massive place which slept 14-16 people, Chalet Alaska.

The view from Chalet Alaska over to the Super Morzine Gondola

Châtel Mountain Range (Pré la Joux, 74390 Châtel, France)

We headed out past Montriond, up into the mountains towards Châtel, through Les Lindarets.. The goat village.. Yes Goat Village.. We headed deeper into the mountains, up the chair lifts towards Châtel. At the top of the chairlifts we saw the Zipline which ran a couple of 100 meters above the ground below.. We queued up for our flight suit and prepped for the zipline..

Be prepared for a queue.. We waited around 40 minutes to get on to the zipline, but we did head up here just before midday so a peak time..

I watched Sarah and Becci zip off.. And I must admit.. The fear kicked in. I’d always been scared of heights but I’ve got over that slowly over the years.. So this was sort of a conquer my fear moment!

The experience was amazing. I’ve never done anything else like it. The speed, height.. An amazing view. It was well worth the €35!! Visit Fantasticable for more info…

Absolutely stunning views from the second zipline

Head over to my Instagram to see some zipline videos..

Lac de Montriond (Voie Communale N°2 de la Glière au Pont du Tannay du Chemin N°228, 74110 Montriond)

Lac de Montriond is a real beauty and it has lots to do. Kayaks, paddleboarding, swimming.. It’s a pretty clean lake so well worth venturing out on..

Paddling at a lake surrounded by Mountains is just epic

This was by far the most beautiful place we have ever paddleboarded. The setting is almost unreal. Hiring paddleboards cost us €15 each per hour, so not bad at all.

DJI Spark Pano shot over Lac de Montriond

Cascade de Nyon (Chemin sous le Rocher, 74110 Morzine, France)

The ‘Tour’ trail gives some beautiful views

The Cascade de Nyon was on Becci’s list.. I had no idea it existed but, as usually, she was right. The walk from Morzine took us around 20 minutes. Follow the ‘Tour’ trail until you reach the waterfall..

The waterfall as seen from the DJI Spark

Becci and I grappled with rocks and rushing waters to get up close to the waterfall.. Be aware.. The water.. Is BALTIC, and the rocks are slippery..

Pointe de Nyon (Chabalis Mountain Range)

Grab the Gondola next to the Cascade de Nyon, then the chairlift to the right. This will take you up to the Pointe De Nyon. There’s a little hike in store for you at the top though so wear decent footwear…

The half way point of the hike, views down to Morzine and the surrounding mountains are unbelievable

The Summit – with views over to a cloudy Mont Blanc. This is also one of my favourite photos from our trip..

After a 15-20 minute hike you’ll reach the summit at 2019m, Pointe de Nyon. On a clear day the Pointe boasts views of Mont Blanc on a clear day.. Unfortunately it was a bit cloudy but the view was still epic. You get a 360° view of the whole area and it’s honestly one of the most impressive sights I’ve seen to date..

Downhill MTB Morzine to Les Gets

I managed to haggle a hire to a downhill bike with a local shop in Morzine. 1/2 a day for around €50 including all protection (helmet, body armor etc).. Be aware, to ride the gondolas and chairlifts with a bike you’ll need a different pass.. I opted for a 5 hour pass at €22 – this covered Morzine, Les Gets and Mont Chéry.

It’s fair to say that this is a difficult sport.. I’ve never done it so I had no idea what to expect.. The closest I go to MTB is road cycling!

The runs are ranged, much like snowboarding.. I hit some ‘family runs’ which were far from family friendly!! I headed out from Morzine, across the mountain to Les Gets, looking to get up to the Top of Mont Chéry..

The above video was headed down into Les Gets.. I continued through the runs until I reached the town, and the Gondola up to Mont Chéry. The views from the summit of Mont Chéry were amazing. Mont Blanc was clearly visible in the distance.. My first real view of that mountain, and a moment to remember..

Mont Blanc standing out of the Mountain Range ahead

DJI Spark grabbing some Aerial shots of my ride

I’d recommend beginners take a guide with them for a tour. Most shops offer this service, and they’ll even teach you how to ride certain terrain..

There is tons for you to do here.. We even did a bit of Luge.. Not just for kids!

There’s lots of places offering parapenting also.. Something I would have done if we hadn’t hiked to over 2000m! I recommend this destination to anyone, especially those who think the mountains are just for snow.. I think me and Becci will head back for some more mountains adventures!

Here’s the cut from our trip:

All shots taken with GoPro Hero 5 and where noted, the DJI Spark Drone

Snowy Days in Bardonecchia

Once a year it’s time… TIME TO GET IT DONE. And this was it, Bardo. Bardonecchia, Italy.

Nestled in Piedmont about an hour from Turin. I’d been here before, for my first ever snowboarding experience. This time I was returning with some friends who had never boarded..

After doing lots of travel in 2016 I decide to piece together the holiday myself.. Flights, apartment, lift passes, hire for the others, I arranged it all at a fraction of the cost to a tour operator. After toying with options and prices, it was all booked up, myself Baker, Pledge, and Gaz were ready to go..

Bardonecchia, Melezet, Jafferau.

A real all round gem of a resort, for all skill levels.

23 ski lifts
Over 100km of Runs (5 black, 18 red, 16 blue)
38km equipped with snow cannons
Snowpark
Snowtubing
Cross-country skiing
Ski & snowboard schools
First aid/medical assistance
Bars & restaurants on the slopes
Ski, snowboard & accessory hire
Railway station in the centre

Bardonecchia is ideally placed – the Trenitalia line runs straight into the town, and for €7 one way from Turin central station, it’s an ABSOLUTE BARGAIN. If you need advice on Travel arrangements please contact me.

This isn’t so much a travel guide this time, more photos than info.. I can’t really say much more than it’s an awesome place to learn, with spectacular views. The town of Bardonecchia is best described as sleepy.. Yes it’s very quiet. When the lifts stop running.. So does everything else. The town itself has plenty of restaurants and a couple of mini markets. I remember Tuesday night being absolutely dead at 5pm, the town was silent! Advice would be to stock up on food, bring a laptop and relax in the evening. This isn’t an a massive Aprés scene.. Which suited us because we were knackered after a solid 7-8 hours on the mountain!

I love Bardonecchia. Great place to learn and an even better place to hone your skills. When it dumps it can go from perfect conditions to full on whiteout.. Tons of fun!

I’ll let the photos do the talking..

The very best coffees, at a shade of the cost in the UK and double the quality

Late afternoons to evenings on the mountain here can become flat looking, ensure you have the right goggles and lenses for any condition

A full a whiteout, about a foot of snow in a few hours..

Check out my Instagram page for more content from the trip, and take at look at the other places I’ve visited on my blog homepage..

°All photos shot using GoPro and Sandmarc accessories

A Historical Gem, Berlin.

After visiting a few cities at the start of 2016, Berlin was at the top of my hit list – so much history, I had to go. I picked up some really cheap flights.. £29 each way so it was a no brainer, I was booked in.

Berlin

I landed at Flughafen Schönefeld pretty early, around 7am, but I was happy with that. I’d completely forgot to look into how to get from the airport to the city.. I’ll save you the trouble..

Walk out of the airport and head towards the train station. You can catch either the RB14, RB or RE/RE7 – all will get you into the main station of Alexanderplatz. Various routes can be reached from here. Ensure you grab yourself a ticket – machines are pretty easy to use, they are down stairs, before you get to the platforms. It’s an approx 40 minute ride, so sit back and relax.

Alexanderplatz

Iconic. That’s the best way to describe this place. You walk out of the station to the Fernsehturm, the Berlin TV Tower. It is a stunning view, and on a sunny day.. Perfection. The Fernsehturm is accessible for entry, I’ll get to that in a second..

The Fernsehturm, Berlin Tower. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver, Flat Mount, on Timelapse.

It’s a shopping hub around Alexanderplatz, so if you do need anything for your stay it may be worth your time having a quick look around. Alexa Shopping Centre has lots of cool shops including the likes of Quiksilver.

The Fernsehturm can be accessed by lift to the summit. 365m high, a perfect 360 degree view of Berlin. It costs €13 for an Adult. It’s an unmissable sight if it’s a clear day.

A view from the summit of the Fernsehturm.

The Olympiapark (Olympischer Platz 3, 14053 Berlin)

The main gates of the Olympiapark. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver, Sandmarc Metal Edition pole, on Timelapse.

The grounds of the stadium are simply epic. Entry costs €7 and you are free to walk almost anywhere within the ground (except on the pitch, and changing room areas).

A view from above the grounds of the Olympiapark.

Being a huge fan of different stadiums.. I must have sat in every seat! You get a perfect view from each stand.. as I said, EPIC. It was amazing to sit almost alone in a stadium this large. I counted around 20 people inside the stadium while I was there.

The inside of The Olympiastadion. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver, Flat Mount, on Timelapse.

There is so much history in this stadium alone. I would advise a walking tour from the entrance office. Originally built for 1936 summer Olympics, it’s said to have held over 100,000 people.. Simply amazing. Official capacity for today is just under 75,000.

I cannot stress how much this must be visited, it’s truly amazing and a place I’ll never forget visiting.

Seated in the front row. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver, Flat Mount.

The Olympiapark has it’s own train station. I caught the U2 train from Alexanderplatz. It takes around 30 mins and is 21 stops. You can also catch the S75 for 12 stops. Consult Google Maps if you’re in a different location!

The Reichstag Building and Dome (Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin)

The front of the Reichstag Building. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver, Flat Mount.

Historical, beautiful and unique.

The Reichstag Building was severely damaged after it was set on fire in 1933. After years of non use, repairs and restoration, the Bundestag was born after its completion in 1999.

Me outside the Reichstag Building following my tour. Shot with GoPro Hero 4, Flat Mount, Nightlapse.

To enter the Reichstag you must book in advance, please click this link for details. Once inside, you’ll be taken through the entrance of the huge pillared front section, and into a lift. Once you walk outside you’ll see the magnificent Dome. The Dome has two spiraling walk ways to the top, ensure you grabbed a walking tour head set, they are free and explain the history and views from the Reichstag rooftop and Dome.

The interior of the Dome with it’s unique mirrored cone.

The core of the Dome is awesome. The mirrored cone is like nothing I’ve seen before.

Simply stunning. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver.

The Reichstag Dome from the outside. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver.

This landmark signifies the reunification of Germany. A real must see, like most things in Berlin really!

Remember the Reichstag MUST be booked in advance via their website. You cannot turn up and try to enter the building..

The Brandenburg Gate (Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin)

The Brandenburg Gate at night. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver, Flat Mount, Nightlapse.

Another magnificent landmark. The Brandenburg Gate. Arguably one of the best known landmarks on Berlin.

Outside the Brandenburg Gate, shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver.

The Brandenburg Gate has always held major historical events, but is seen as a sign of peace and unity. The gate was heavily used as part of the Nazi party’s ‘symbol’. I always remember history lessons with images of Hitler walking through the Brandenburg Gate. The gate survived World War 2 and was one of the only parts of Pariser Platz still standing..

The UEFA Fan Zone at the Brandenburg Gate

I was lucky enough to be in Berlin during the Euro 2016 tournament, the site was used as a Fan Zone. A massive screen under the gate was installed and it was rumored that 10,000 watched the match that night! In true German fashion I had a few helpings of currywurst, several beers and watched Germany win. An amazing atmosphere to be apart of.

The Berlin Wall / East Side Gallery (Mühlenstraße, 10243 Berlin)

Head for Warschauer Straße – U1 train.

For me, this place needs no introduction. It’s known across the world as a symbol of division, and subsequently change. I spent hours here looking at what is now hundreds of works of art.. Head over to my Instagram page for a Timelapse video of the whole Berlin Wall..

Absolutely unique. Do NOT miss this.

Checkpoint Charlie, (Friedrichstraße 43-45)

One for the Historians and War buffs..

Checkpoint Charlie was the name of the gate given by Western Allies during the Cold War.

Things to know about this historic place:

Only foreigners could use this gate
It sat just a few feet away from a huge German checkpoint..
Many East Germans tried to escape through here
An infamous showdown occurred here between the Soviets and USA
The original guard house is now kept in a museum

Visit this link for more info.

For €2 you can have a photo with some well dressed men in US uniform *hint – they weren’t very American.. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver.

The Checkpoint is now heavily commercialised. From the photos I mentioned, to a Macdonalds behind the original Checkpoint. I loved the history of it but it’s also sad to see how it’s used as a tourist trap. Very busy, but very cool for me. If possible, join in with a walking tour.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin)

This place must be visited to understand the sheer volume of lives lost during the Holocaust. There are 2,711 concrete slabs or ‘stelae’. The place of information also holds the names of 3 million Jewish holocaust victims. The memorial itself is magnificent, it covers over 4.5 Acres of space.. It is massive. The concrete slabs vary in size, from around 0.2m to 4.7m high.

You really can’t appreciate it until you have been here. Must see. I walked with a free walking tour which started at Potsdamerplatz and finished up here.

Potsdamerplatz (10785 Berlin)

The famous Potsdamerplatz, although you may not know why from the surface when you arrive there. There are lots of Berlin Wall relics dotted around the area. Since the German reunification, Potsdamerplatz has been the site of major redevelopment projects and is home to some superb architecture.

During World War 2 Potsdamerplatz was heavily used by the Nazi party and even had a Gestapo secret prison, interrogation and torture rooms on the upper floors of Coloumbushaus. On a lighter note the 1936 Olympic Games was organized here..

Other places which are worth a look:

Topography of Terror – the former HQ of the Gestapo and a look into Nazism. So much history and information to take in here. There are walking tours available.

Victory Column – 67m high column commemorating the victory in the Prussian-Danish war. Views from the top deck are very good..

Gendarmenmarkt – home to Berlin’s Christmas market, seasonal markets and beautiful architecture. There’s also a great deal of restaurants in and around this area.

Monument to the Soviet Soldiers (Tiergarten)

About 10 mins walked from the Brandenburg Gate towards Victory column, and on your right you’ll see the huge memorial to the Soviets.

White Trash Fast Food (Am Flutgraben 2, 12435 Berlin)

Click this link for the menu – must be visited and tried. Worth the trek out of central Berlin.. A €8-10 Uber from Alexanderplatz makes this an easy location to get to. I walked for miles, don’t make the same mistake I did!

Museum Island

I walked through Museum Island everyday, it had some beautiful architecture, and of courses museums. In fact it boasts 5 museums and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saturday morning, I walked into a mini market / car boot sale. Absolutely anything can and is sold here.. Lots of German War relics and medals – whether they were genuine or not I don’t know..

Stand Up Club SUP Berlin (Eichenstraße 4, 12435 Berlin)

Absolutely gutted I had injured my leg a few days before I couldn’t get out on the river. The complex is cool, if it’s a warm.. What better way to enjoy the sun?! For details click here

As a snap tourists guide, I think I’ve covered everything I can in the city.. I’m sure there are more secrets of the city but the 3 days I spent in Berlin taking in it’s culture and history were so cool. This trip I won’t ever forget.

Sunset at the top of Reichstag Dome. Shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver.

And that’s that.. I already had my next trip lined up – Prague, Czech Republic.

Want tips or help with travel? Contact me!

°All photos shot with GoPro Hero 4 Silver, with use of a Sandmarc Metal Edition pole, and various mounts.