Yesterday February 2nd of 2020 some of my family and I decided to go spend the morning up in the nearby mountains of Parc Natural del Montseny (in Catalonia for those who don’t know where).
There’s this beautiful swamp which after the tremendous rains (I’ve never seen raining this much over here) we had a week ago was to the fullest I’ve ever seen it. For those who still question if climate change exists.. oh boy, yes it exists and it’s just the beginning. So, how about maybe we all start making better choices when it comes to life and everything else? For instance, the environment. Which, now that I just dove a bit deeper on the subject, this weekend (even today) the temperatures here have been way higher than they should be knowing that it’s just beginning February -aka W I N T E R….- and the temperature has been around 26ºC. So sad.
Back to the main subject of the blog, which is always the same (photography and travel) here I bring you some of the photos I took during our day trip. The reflection on the water was so still; just magnificent.
5 TOP SPOTS TO VISIT IN THE BAVARIAN ALPS
Today I was reminiscing on one of my trips from this year; The German Alps. I never before had the chance to visit them but for way too long they had been one of my top destinations. When I luckily won a contest from an airline which prize was a return ticket anywhere I wanted, the choice was already taken!
It couldn’t come more handy to had this happen to me around beginning of autumn. Which is also known as LOW SEASON up in the Alps because the weather conditions might not be as good or ‘enjoyable’ as in spring/summer to do some hiking and swimming nor like winter for skiing. But, if you are a bit cheap like I am and always check for the best opportunities, going to the Alps during fall might be the way to go.
Accommodation price is much lower, there’s not that many people around everywhere and the landscape is stunning all painted in warm earthy tones (great as well for those IG #autumnaesthetic photos).
As a nature lover and having in mind I wanted to do some hiking here and there while being in the Alps, explore different paths around and spent as much time as possible wandering in the mountains I did some research and wrote down few spots I didn’t want to miss. Now, after having visited and enjoyed them and knowing the worth of taking some time off your agendas to go there; I am bringing this FIVE HIGHLIGHTS spots you should definitely visit when you go to the Alps!
*All these places are easy reachable by public transportation. We went to these places while staying at two different accommodation spots: in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Salzburg.
#1 Partnachklamm, Garmisch-Partenkirchen: You have to pay an entrance fee -which was not that high- and if you get the Garmisch-Partenkirchen GuestCard (our accommodation gave it to us for free), you will have some discount. Walking distance from Garmisch.
#2 Partnachalm, Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Despite it being some sort of beer garden/restaurant I totally encourage you to first walk around the area (it’s close by the Partnachklamm with beautiful walking paths everywhere) in order to get a bit tired first so that once you reach it you have the excuse to have a beer or two and some food with these outstanding views from where you sit.
#3 Eibsee, Grainau: One of the many lakes one can find in the Alps. If you’re staying nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen, I recommend you to take the EibseeBus which will take you there in around half an hour. You can find different hiking paths; I did the one that goes all around the lake which was a really nice stroll that gives you the chance to see Eibsee from different perspectives.
#4 Könnigsee, Schonau am Könnigsee: Another one of the many lakes in the Alps. This one in the Berchtesgaden National Park (a not even one hour bus drive from central Salzburg) with several hiking paths that lead you to spectacular sightseeing points.
It also offers the possibility to take a boat ride to St Bartholomew’s Church -at the other side of the lake-. I didn’t take it because I found it to be too expensive for my budget (15’50€ round trip).
#5 Gaisberg, Salzburg: Just a 30 minutes bus ride from central Salzburg; a must in all senses. You can choose wether to stop before the bus reaches the top and hike all the way up or if to go direct to the top, enjoy the views and topped it off with a lovely Kaiserschmarrn mit Apfelmus at Kohlmayr’s Gaisbergspitz (so delicious!).
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WITH FUJIFILM X100F IN GUANGZHOU, CHINA
While on my last long-term trip adventure to Guangzhou (China) for the span of three weeks I walked an average of more than +20k steps every single day. This, translated into photography terms can be understood as to I had a lot of time to wander the city streets and tiny alleys and not just that but paired with my beloved Fujifilm X100F (which I couldn’t be any happier about havinf for my travel & street photography) the result of the equation is basically tons of photos.
Here I am bringing you with some of the photos I took during those long hours walking along different districts and local lifestyle. It’s pretty difficult to not be looked at while strolling around China because of the obvious and physical differences between both of us so it wasn’t that easy for me to blend in and take all the photos I would have liked. Nonetheless, I couldn’t be happy of this experience I got to live!
CONSERVATION OF ANCIENT PATHS WORKCAMP, CATALAN PYRENEES
If you are aware of the kind of traveling I enjoy the most, you might know that sometimes I enjoy joining some kind of volunteering while being abroad as it gives you a complete different approach and perspective of the place, community, culture and lifestyle from where you are.
This time I joined as a camp coordinator a 10-day long Workcamp in Vall de Siarb, Catalunya from September 30th to October 10th on Conservation of Ancient Paths.
At the beginning I wasn’t sure I chose the right project and place for me as it was quite different of anything else I’ve done before.
But once all the volunteers arrived, days started to pass and we dove deeper and learnt and practiced more about the Drywall Stone technique I realized I was in the right place at the right time.
Refugi Vall de Siarb (the place where we stayed for the whole duration of the camp) is a small and cozy refuge run by Marc, who has an awesome project* with the aim of recovering and maintaining a big net of old paths that connect Llagunes (the village where we were) with some other villages around.
The work we did there, mainly consisted in rebuilding some parts of drystone walls that had fallen in the past. This process is a long one and which took us most of the time and days of the camp to complete; one has to take it almost as meditation where rush, frustration nor speed will help but rather patience, awareness and concentration. It’s important to make sure each rock/stone used is put in the right position, stabilized with the ones around, that there are no gaps in between and by that make sure this good job done now will endure over the years. Some other work we did was to widen paths, spread soil, find old pathways and clean & clear them from unwanted bushes, stones and branches.
I want to thank Marc from Refugi Vall de Siarb, Gemma and some locals as well as to the people from SCI Catalunya for giving me the opportunity to coordinate such a wonderful camp.
* If you are interested in getting to know a bit more about the project that Marc is running in Vall de Siarb about the recovery of ancient paths I encourage you to contact them. There’s a lot of work that has been done during the past four years up to now and that still needs to be done; become a part of it!
Down below you can see some of the photos I took during the camp.
FIKA AT ROSENDALS TRÄDGÅRD, STOCKHOLM
On the night of July 25th my mom and I had a plan. It involved taking a plane and flying for almost four hours while heading up north (as per usual). The destination was a country I hold real tight in my heart; my beloved Sweden, more specifically in Stockholm.
Waking up on a Friday in Stockholm is something I was already dreaming for for quite a while. And so the adventure began.
We wrote down a tiny plan about where we wanted to go or what to do and visit during the upcoming four days that we were going to stay there and of course my Fujifilm X100F was going to accompany us on this adventure. I myself have already been to Stockholm few times (despite not ‘liking’ that much repeating destinations, there’s always an exception and this one is mine). So to disconnect, surround ourselves with nature, some good food and literally lay down a bit, on Sunday we went to the Kungliga Djurgården and visited Rosendals Trädgård.
SUMMER VIBES II: USING THE FUJIFILM X100F IN LA COSTA BRAVA
Few weeks ago I got a new camera (secondhand tho because I like giving live to otherwise forgotten items). The camera I got is the one and only Fujifilm X100F; compact APS-C sensor camera with a non-interchangeable 23mm f/2.0 lens (that equals more or less a 35mm) perfect mostly for street and travel photography hence why I ended up choosing it.
Yesterday July 20th we went out with some friends to La Costa Brava. This time we went to S’Agaró and Calonge. The photos that you can see down below were exclusively taken during the walk at S’Agaró Camí de Ronda.
I am still trying to get used to its focal length mainly because I’ve been using a 35mm (on an APS-C which equals more or less a 50mm) for the last three years or so and it’s still a challenge for me to get to think on the new focal length. Anyways, no more talking for today and hope you enjoy the photos.
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: TESTING THE FUJIFILM X-T30 IN BARCELONA
Yesterday decided to join an event with Fujifilm in Barcelona where Joan Vendrell did a presentation about the well known Fujifilm X-T30 and how he uses it on his work in the field (mostly travel photography). He talked about some of the new settings that this upgrade from the X-T20 has and showed us first hand the best way to make the most out of it.
It was my first time at having the chance to shoot both with a Fujifilm and a mirrorless and to be honest I was eager to see and try for myself this small, non-heavy at all and outstanding quality camera.
After the presentation we were given each a Fujifilm X-T30 and a 16GB SD Card and with no further hesitation, hit the streets to try it out.
Let me tell you, it has been so damn long since I last truly enjoyed and feel excited to bring a camera with me around and get back to Street Photography. The X-T30 definitely got me a bit lost with its system and way to change settings before I was able enough to take a single photo but after some trial and error I would say I started to understand it and focused more on composition instead of worrying too much.
Song of the day was The Chain 2004 Remaster by Fleetwood Mac
SUMMER VIBES: A MORNING IN LA COSTA BRAVA
‘After a storm comes a rainbow’
The few last weekends weren’t what were supposed to be.
If you’ve ever been to Barcelona (and even lived here) you will know that when the warm weather comes in, everyone is out in a terrace having ‘tapas’ and beers (or Sangría) and laying down in a beach by the sun. But this time, May has been pretty grey and cold and has taken some weeks to get to that beloved point; but finally, last weekend was THE weekend.
We didn’t thought it twice. Hop on the car and Saturday Sun Roadtrip Time it was. Hit the road to Costa Brava and there was no turning back.
Despite forgetting the swimsuits at home because our first plan was to go for a walk on the Camí de Ronda -recommended lovely hiking path that goes by the shore- and not touching the water even once, we had a blast of a day. Our destination of choice was Blanes and its Marimurtra Botanic Garden with a Fideuà for lunch at the only restaurant in front the Cala de Sant Francesc.
Song of the day was Al Mar by Manel
