Category: Travel

  • Things to Do in Tallin

    If you’re looking to visit an old Medieval city with a historic appeal but equipped with modern amenities, Tallinn would be the perfect city to visit. It’s one of Europe’s hidden gems, home to UNESCO-listed Old Town, centuries-old architecture, and pretty cobblestone streets. Below, let’s find out some of the best things to do in Tallinn.

    Photo via Unsplash

    Experience Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform

     

    The Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform is one of Tallinn’s best viewpoints and is where you can admire the city’s most picturesque views. It’s in Toompea Hill, which you can get to by climbing through narrow cobblestone streets.

    The Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform is on a terrace area offering stunning views of Tallinn. You’ll see the city’s signature red roofs, high-rise buildings, and the hustle and bustle, with the Gulf of Finland in the backdrop. There are also cafes in the area, where you can enjoy refreshments before going downhill.

    Learn the History of Toompea Castle

     

    Another attraction you’ll find in Toompea Hill is the Toompea Castle, a medieval castle recognised for its pastel pink walls. Nowadays, it is home to the Estonian parliament, commemorating Estonia’s independence, with a flag-raising ceremony taking place in the tower every morning. It’s worth taking the free guided tour of the castle, where you can explore the interiors of the beautiful rosy building and learn about its colourful history.

    Visit the Old Town

     

    Encompassing endless historical treasures, Tallinn’s Old Town is a joy to walk around. As one of the best-preserved town centres in the world, it features charming cobblestone streets lined with lively cafes and centuries-old architecture.

    When going around the Old Town, there are opportunities to partake in Estonia small group tours which will help guide you around the top sights. Alternatively, head down towards a circular stone with a compass, giving you a unique vantage point to admire the five historic churches around the city. Make your way inside the Town Hall and admire the stunning Gothic arches and magnificent works of art.

    Relax at the Port of Tallinn

     

    After going around the city, head to the Port of Tallinn, where you can relax while surrounded by picturesque ocean views. You will find outdoor cafes where you can order a cup of coffee as you enjoy people-watching. The port is also home to souvenir shops and some restaurants. You will also find a craft market nearby selling arts and crafts and local produce. If you have enough time, consider taking a boat tour from the port.

    See the Architecture at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

     

    The Aleksander Nevski Katedraali is one of Tallinn’s most fascinating buildings and will remind you of Russia’s St. Petersburg. The cathedral, which you’ll find right across Toompea Castle, features a Russian Orthodox Style, complete with bulbous onion domes and an ornate white and brown facade.

    The Alexander Nevski Cathedral also houses eleven bells, including the largest bell in Tallinn, weighing a whopping 15 tons! It rings throughout the day, and you’ll hear its sounds all over the city. Despite its magnificence, many Estonians are not pleased with the cathedral since they consider it an oppressive symbol from Russia.

  • Porto Instants

    Porto Instants

    We’re back from spending 4 great days in Porto, exploring the city and visiting a selection of cafés, restaurants, shops and places to include in our new City Guide. While we work on the guide, here’s a little preview of some of the images we shared on our Instagram profile during our trip.


    Porto views from the Douro river.


    Casa de Serralves, an art deco mansion and park that now houses a contemporary art museum.


    Inside Coração Alecrim, a beautiful shop stocking a curated selection of clothing, homeware and other new and vintage objects.


    Porto’s typical tiled facades.


    BOP Café, great music and some of the best burgers we’ve ever had.


    Douro views from the Granja de Baixo district.


    Capela das Almas, one of the most visited chapels in Porto, known for its walls covered with tiles painted with scenes from the lives of various saints.


    The walls of Ó! Galeria, a shop and gallery selling artwork by illustrators from around the world.

     
     

  • 10 Benefits Of Living As A Digital Nomad

    10 Benefits Of Living As A Digital Nomad

    The barriers to entry for becoming a digital nomad are all but gone. No longer is it the preserve of wealthy tech entrepreneurs and intrepid world travellers. With a laptop, an internet connection, and some basic skills, anyone can start working and living from anywhere in the world.

    Image Credit

    If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into this exciting and rapidly growing lifestyle, here are ten benefits of living as a digital nomad that might just convince you to make the switch.

    1. You Can Live and Work from Anywhere in the World

    The biggest advantage of being a digital nomad is also the most obvious one: you can live and work from anywhere in the world.

    This freedom to choose your own location is something that’s simply not possible with a traditional 9-to-5 job. Instead of being tied to one place, you can explore new cities and cultures while working remotely. For example, if you’re drawn to the Netherlands, you can enjoy the local culture while searching for housing in eindhoven and other vibrant cities that offer convenient rental options for digital nomads. This flexibility allows you to settle into a new environment without long-term commitments, making it easier to balance work and travel.

    As a digital nomad, you have the opportunity to live in some of the most beautiful and exotic locations on earth, all while working and earning an income.

    2. You’re Not Tied Down to One Place

    Another great benefit of digital nomadism is that you’re not tied down to any one place.

    With a traditional job, you’re usually stuck in the same city (or at least the same country) for the long term. But as a digital nomad, you can pick up and move to a new location whenever you want.

    This gives you the chance to experience lots of different cultures and lifestyles without being tied down to any one place.

    3. You Can Make a Good Income

    Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be wealthy to become a digital nomad. In fact, many digital nomads are able to make a very good income while they travel.

    Of course, your earnings will depend on your skillset and experience. But if you’re good at what you do, there’s no reason why you can’t make a great living as a digital nomad.

    4. You Don’t Need Much to Get Started

    Another major benefit of digital nomadism is that you don’t need much to get started.

    All you really need is a laptop, an internet connection, and some basic skills like knowing how to free up space on your computer. And in many cases, you can get started without any upfront investment whatsoever.

    This low barrier to entry means that anyone can become a digital nomad, regardless of their circumstances.

    5. You Can Work on Your Own Schedule

    One of the best things about being a digital nomad is that you can work on your own schedule.

    If you’re a night owl, you can work late into the evening. Or if you want to take a few hours off in the middle of the day to go exploring, you can do that too.

    This flexible approach to work is something that’s simply not possible with a traditional job.

    6. You Can Spend More Time With Friends and Family

    If you have friends or family members who also live a digital nomad lifestyle, then you’ll get to see them a lot more often than if you were tied down to one location.

    But even if your loved ones don’t live the nomadic life, you’ll still be able to spend more time with them than you would if you were working a 9-to-5 job.

    Image Credit

    7. You Can Choose Your Coworkers

    Another great thing about being a digital nomad is that you can choose your coworkers.

    If you want to work with like-minded people, there are plenty of coworking spaces and digital nomad communities around the world that you can join.

    But if you prefer to work alone, that’s fine too. As a digital nomad, you have the freedom to work however you want.

    8. You Can Learn New Skills

    When you travel to new places, you’ll inevitably be exposed to new cultures and lifestyles. And in many cases, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn new skills.

    For example, if you want to learn how to cook a specific cuisine, you can simply travel to the country where it originated and learn from the locals.

    This hands-on learning is something that’s simply not possible when you’re tied down to one location.

    9. You Can Meet New People From All Over the World

    One of the best things about being a digital nomad is that you’ll meet people from all over the world.

    In fact, this is one of the main reasons why many people choose to live a nomadic lifestyle in the first place.

    If you’re tired of meeting the same kinds of people over and over again, then digital nomadism is definitely for you.

    10. You Can Live a More Adventurous Life

    Last but not least, one of the best things about being a digital nomad is that you can live a more adventurous life.

    If you’re the type of person who loves to travel and explore new places, then digital nomadism is the perfect lifestyle for you.

    In Closing

    As you can see, there are plenty of great reasons to become a digital nomad. If you’re looking for a more adventurous and exciting life, then this lifestyle is definitely for you.

  • Cascabel’s London

    Cascabel’s London

    Cascabel is a multidisciplinary creative studio, founded in Buenos Aires by Estefi Panizza and Diego Jalfen, and based in London. Cascabel specialises in unique bespoke experiences, working with global lifestyle clients across a wide range of industries – from art and gastronomy to design and technology.

    Estefi and Diego are also the founders of Radio Cascabel, a project we’ve talked about before and that they describe as “an online platform for the musicians and artists who are creating the sounds of tomorrow.” Radio Cascabel works with NTS Radio, the British Council, Resonance FM/Extra and hosts a monthly column on Monocle 24, as part of their art and culture review program. Radio Cascabel’s latest event, Greetings from Space, will take place at the new EXP Cantina by the canal in Hackney Wick on August 10th and will bring together the best of Argentinian and British music, food and culture – you can find more information about the event on Resident Advisor.

    We asked Estefi and Diego to share with us some of their favourite places in London.

     

    Institute of International Visual Arts

    This place is a visual arts organisation based in East London that collaborates with contemporary artists, curators and writers. We discovered them through this music exhibition inspired in London’s first magazines for improvisers, sonic artists and musicians during the 70’s and 80’s.

    1 Rivington Place, EC2A 3BA

    Second Home

    This amazing co-working space is where we choose to work every day, have meetings and attend to workshops. We produced an event for their cultural programme based on silence walks around East London to contemplate the sounds that surround us, WALK AND LISTEN PROJECT, with their support and with Argentinian sonic artist Ulises Conti. Second Home describes itself as ‘a new type of workspace and creative hub‘.

    68-80 Hanbury St, E1 5JL

    Rough Trade

    As you might know, London is a very musical city. This is our favourite record shop and where we go to see lots of live music shows, such us Factory Floor, Mac Demarco and Angel Olsen Music among others.

    The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Ln,  E1 6QL

    Rochelle Canteen

    This is the place where we love to have lunch. It looks out onto the grassy playground and the trees of Arnold Circus. Whenever it’s warm enough the tables are set outside for a peaceful meal in the sun. The food is provided by Arnold & Henderson, who established the Rochelle Canteen in 2004 and since then, it has rapidly become one of London’s destination restaurants.We handpicked this spot for one of our Seasonal Banquets, a marketing activation we developed for a winery group in the UK.

    London Centre for Book Arts

    This is an artist-run, open-access studio dedicated to book arts and artist-led publishing. We love this place because you can see the work process and how things get done.  It is a hidden gem, located in Hackney Wick and one block away from Exp Cantina, the new venue where we will host our ‘Greetings from Space’ event.

    Dace Road, E3 2NQ

  • The Jaunt, art and travel

    The Jaunt, art and travel

    The Jaunt is a project by Jeroen Smeets sending artists all over the world to find inspiration and create a new artwork which is printed in a limited edition. Before the trip, you can purchase the print sight unseen only knowing about the artist and their destination – a place they’ve never visited before. During the trip, you can follow the artist whilst they get immersed in the destination and get inspired to produce their artwork.

    In this short interview, Jeroen tells us about how the idea behind The Jaunt started, how people have reacted to this innovative project and the last trip with artist Kristin Texeira.

    www.thejaunt.net

    Photos by The Jaunt

    Jaunt #021 – Scott Albrecht – Masaya

    Can you introduce yourself and tell us about how The Jaunt started?

    My name is Jeroen Smeets. I’m from the Netherlands originally, but living in Copenhagen these days with my family. I’ve been working with artists for a while now through different jobs and projects. Ranging from editor-in-chief, creative director, art agency, gallery manager, publisher, journalist and everything in between.

    The Jaunt started about five years ago when I first started talking about this project with friends and artists, trying to shape this idea I had of sending artists on trips all over the world to find inspiration. After a year of conversations we organised our first trip in April 2013, and have been running ever since up to trip number 35.

    Jaunt #030 – Jean Jullien – Marfa

    The Jaunt is an innovative take on the traditional artist residency. Can you explain briefly how it works?

    We send artists on trips all over the world with the sole purpose of finding inspiration. There is no agenda and no briefing. The artists make their own trip and their own adventure. Once the artist returns from their trip, they create an artwork which we then produce as a limited edition silk screen print. We sell this print before the trip takes place. Meaning you have no clue about the outcome of the artwork until the artist has returned and you receive your print at home.

    This way when you buy a print you become part of the experience and make it possible for the artist to go on their trip.

    The Jaunt #007 – Jordy van den Nieuwendijk at work on location in Los Angeles

    We love the surprise element of buying the print before the artist travels to their destination, without knowing what they’re going to create. How did your first customers react to this? Can you share some of the feedback or comments you’ve received since you started The Jaunt?

    We work with a variety of established and upcoming artists, and this way we get to introduce artist whose work we admire to a new audience. One of the things I personally enjoy hearing the most is when people order a print from an artist they did not know before, but are very pleased with in the end and the artwork ends up hanging on the walls in their house.

    The screenprint studio of Joris Diks where the artworks are printed

    Your last trip has been with artist Kristin Texeira, whom we’ve interviewed before. Why did you choose Kristin and her destination, Newfoundland?

    I actually just stumbled upon her work by clicking through different hashtags on Instagram, and it immediately captured my eye. Her work is to me a great example of an artist putting her own feelings and experiences into the artworks. Meanwhile she is able to tell a vivid story with her quite abstract work. So I got in touch with her and two weeks later her tickets were booked.

    Originally I was looking into the Caribbean islands for her trip, but Kristin expressed a bigger interest in less tropical climates, enjoying the different elements of the weather and nature. Newfoundland, Canada seemed like a perfect fit for her.

    Jaunt #012 – Cleon Peterson – Athens

    You have published a book about your first 10 artists and their trips. Are you planning a second volume or other ways to expand the project outside of prints?

    It’s in the works. The first book was self-published which is a big challenge, especially on the distribution end of things. So ideally I would like to collaborate with a publisher on the second book and make sure it gets the proper international distribution.