Beautiful detours, small surprises, honest notes

First-hand travel guides for quieter places, nature escapes and road trips - with honest opinions and practical details from trips I actually take.

By Zane - travel agent, Sustainable Tourism graduate and passionate traveller.

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Places with a particular feel

A mountain view over a river and town in the Aragonese Pyrenees

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Spain: Beautiful detours and nature

Quiet landscapes and nature stops.

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Wild horses grazing in the wetlands beside Lake Engure

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Latvia: Green, calm and worth finding

Historic towns, wildlife and slower days.

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From the journal

Recent posts

The handmade dolls of Sabile Doll Garden arranged in everyday scenes Europe

Kurzeme, Latvia

Kandava and Sabile: Two Small Towns Worth a Stop in Western Latvia

Two short stops filled with poetry, wine, handmade dolls and the quiet character of the Abava Valley.

Kandava and Sabile are two easy, characterful stops in the Abava Valley that make any drive west from Riga feel like part of the trip.

Published: August 9, 2026 Kandava and Sabile
A visitor walking barefoot along the Valguma Pasaule trail Latvia

Kurzeme, Latvia

Latvia's Barefoot Trail

A barefoot walk where every step tells a story.

A sensory guide to Valguma Pasaule, with mud, stones, water and forest underfoot.

Published: 17 July 2026 Valguma Pasaule
Peñíscola castle and old town seen across the Mediterranean coast Europe

Castellón, Spain

Peñíscola and Sierra de Irta: Castle Town and Coast Walk

Peñíscola's castle makes the first impression, but the wild Sierra de Irta coastline is what makes the journey memorable.

A practical guide to Peñíscola and Sierra de Irta Natural Park, with the castle, old town, beaches, coastal walking routes, Torre Badum, coves and 2026 summer parking rules.

Published: August 4, 2026 Peñíscola & Sierra de Irta