Hi there!
I’m Aleks, and this is my blog. I have a few hobbies and interests. Some of them are traveling and photography. So this is exactly what you’ll find here: stories, reviews, and observations from my trips, practical tips and recommendations, of course, with photos.
I enjoy both the usual must-see attractions and non-touristy spots, places where locals go.
If it’s my first time in a new city, I’ll visit the main, well-known places, not explore the residential outskirts. Only snobs turn their noses up at guidebooks and well-trodden paths. I see nothing wrong with seeing famous landmarks with my own eyes.
Don’t be afraid of well-trodden paths. They’re well-trodden for a reason. If millions of people before you gasped at the sight of Notre-Dame de Paris, don’t be shy to gasp too.
/Petr Vail, The Word on the Way
I don’t travel just to tick off another country. I like to visit some countries multiple times. I don’t think spending a weekend in Paris qualifies as having been to France.
I’m more into slow travel. I don’t make top lists of places in Rome you must see before you die. I usually choose just one main spot so I’m not running around all day just to check in. You can’t see everything anyway; in good cities, I often leave many guidebook spots for later. Sometimes I just enjoy walking the streets, sitting in a café, and watching life around me.
Oh, and cafés and food! I love eating. Street food, local spots — these are always top of my list.
I should warn you right away: this is not another broke backpacker’s blog. Because millennials invented couchsurfing.
I’ve never used Couchsurfing — I don’t stay for free at someone’s apartment. I’ve never slept (and don’t plan to) in a hostel dorm with 20 people. I snore — that’s one; I don’t want to hear someone else snoring—that’s two; I’m not ready to smell someone else’s farts all night and sit on a toilet warmed by someone else’s butt—that’s three and four.
I prefer a clean, private room in a 1–5 star hotel, hostel, or guesthouse, with just two conditions: a private bathroom and no strangers nearby. But that’s a personal choice — I’m all for freedom of choice; if you like something else, I’m happy for you.
I’ll never forget my first hostel experience. Edinburgh, Scotland. There were only six people in the room. I slept on the top bunk, and across from me was a drunk, fat guy. He snored terribly at first. Then, apparently, he got hot and took off his underwear, lying there with his butt right in front of my face. I tried to fall asleep, turned away, but he woke up, started counting coins, then dropped them. A clink across the room. Then he lay down again, and the bed shook from his weight when he turned over. I felt sorry for the guy sleeping below. Then, at the end, he stood up on all fours and farted loudly across the room.
/From the internet
That guy could have been me. So I don’t want to create such discomfort for anyone.
I don’t have articles like “How to travel a month through Norway on 25 euros, eating at the Salvation Army and sleeping in a phone booth.” I’m for a reasonable balance of price and quality. Of course, I know how to travel for two days by bus to save 5 euros, but I don’t practice that and don’t plan to.
I love trains; I love flying even more. I enjoy the airport atmosphere, takeoff, and landing. I like looking at airline liveries, flight attendants’ uniforms, even reading safety instructions. Sometimes I even steal them; at that moment, I feel guilty, but I can’t help myself.
I don’t write long-winded texts, rewriting Wikipedia. That amount of information is of little interest to anyone, and no one remembers when in 1723 Charles stole something from Clara. If I find an interesting story related to a place, I’ll definitely share it.
I’m not into info-marketing — I don’t give paid advice, sell courses, host webinars, send boxes, or ask you to leave your email in exchange for some nonsense. I don’t organize group tours. I won’t ask you to donate, and you won’t get that from me either.
If you want to ask something — go ahead, ask. If I know, I’ll always answer and help. Maybe the answer will be useful to others, so it’s best to ask in the comments.
For those who are shy or want to talk privately there’s a contact form. Fill it out, and I’ll definitely reply. I check my email constantly, wherever I am, and respond to all messages within 24 hours. If I haven’t replied, it means you’ve entered your email address incorrectly—write again or leave a comment under the article.
English isn’t my first language, so apologies for any mistakes, I do my best to make it as good as possible.
So, what else…
Three random singers from my Spotify playlist – Ed Sheeran, U2, Robbie Williams. Writer – currently Fredrik Backman. Movies – any Marvel up to Avengers: Endgame, anything by Guy Ritchie, Sherlock with Cumberbatch and Breaking Bad. Seasons – summer, autumn. Coffee – black. Wine – Vinho Verde (Portuguese). Beer – in Prague.