1
BASQUING IN THE SUN
Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, Córdoba, Marbella, Ibiza, and so many others, there’s no denying, are fantastic places to visit in Spain. Now, I’m not saying not to go there, but if you’re like me and prefer to do things a little differently, why not try another corner of Spain that is lesser known, yet offers some fairly unique options, and yes, including, “basquing” in its idyllic scenery (and I hear the food is incredible!). From CN Traveller, the Basque Country, Spain: “Some say they are Berbers, others that they descend from a small tribe in the Caucasus, but in truth no one has any idea. Their language bears no relation to any other in the world. The 19th-century abbot and scholar Pierre Diharce de Bidassouet declared it ‘the original language spoken by the Creator’.” Now how many places have people with serious names like Pierre Diharce de Bidassouet? Cool.
2
(NOT SO) SECRET INSTAGRAM GARDENS
It’s amazing to think about the power of social media and the impact it can have on otherwise, sleepy destinations tucked away in most remote parts of the world. That’s what happened in mystical Chefchaouen, Morocco, with almost half a million Instagram posts to its name. Safi, a sleepy fishing village, also in Morocco, known for its amazing winter surf is now starting to experience the same phenomena: “A two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Casablanca, Safi is a town known more for factories, fish scales and swell-racked cliffs than for influencers, tour guides and Airbnb’s. While the mystical Chefchaouen has 490,478 Instagram posts to its name…Safi has just 131,341…But its beachside charm and the authentic experience one gets staying in a traditional Riad in the medina (away from the hotels closer to the train station) have captured the hearts of a certain demographic of traveller: surfers.” Do you know of any local hidden treasures being influenced by Instagram in the same way? Don’t tell us about it.
3
TAKE A HIKE, IN AN ANCIENT FOREST
While I’ve taken a hike in many interesting places from grand canyons, beachside cliffs, desert mountains, active volcanoes, and a bunch of other places, one thing I cannot claim to have done yet is hike in an ancient forest. Perhaps something to consider on my next visit to Japan. From National Geographic, a Hiker’s Guide to Japan: “Yakushima is known as the island of ancient forests and waters. The name is well-deserved, as there are many trees within the forest that are at least a thousand years old. Registered as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1993, Yakushima is not only home to large forests but sky-scraping mountains that reach heights of almost 6,500 feet.”
4
EU PROBABLY HAVEN’T BEEN HERE
$10 if you can tell me the least visited country in the EU (credited towards future Waywinds t-shirt sales, which you will want, of course). If you’re guessing it’s got to be a small country, you’re right. If you’re also thinking it’s probably land-locked, you’re right. Can you guess which it is yet? Here’s the last clue: “Founded in the fourth century and one of the world’s oldest republics, [this country] survived from the time when city-states proliferated across Europe—a critical stage for developing democratic models across the globe. Ramble around the car-free capital also named [this country], a UNESCO World Heritage site with a medievalized layout punctuated by three imposing fortresses standing testimony to a turbulent past.” I’m practically giving it away here…
5
AM I DREAMING?
The thing I love most about movies is that it immerses me in far, faraway lands, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So, who invited everyone? Lonely Planet has put together a list of real-life destinations that look like they were made for movie sets, from Dragonstone (Game of Thrones) to Wakanda (Cape Town): “Raise your hand if you’ve ever watched a fantasy or sci-fi movie and then thought to yourself that you really, really wanted to visit the places the story was set in, if only they weren’t fictional, of course. However, while you might not get to go to the actual fantasy location, you can always try to plan a visit to its closest real-life alternative.”
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!