I spent some time thinking about what to share as a first post. I felt like it should be about a place and time that captures the mood, the calmness and contentment that I long for in most of my travels.
In December 2016, I decided to go to the Abruzzo region of Italy. There, along the Adriatic coast, lies a small town called Tortoreto that I have visited countless times since my childhood.
We went there at all times of the year - whenever there was a holiday. But my fondest memories of Tortoreto are from winter. It is a quiet place then, with that special magic that holiday spots often have off-season: a nostalgic, sleepy atmosphere, similar to that of places built for crowds when they are empty.
I remember spending hours there reading. I remember discovering video games at the arcade on the beach and walking along the long esplanade. And I remember a moment of walking on the beach during light rain, watching the raindrops leave little dents behind in the sand beneath my feet.
Unsurprisingly, I thought of Tortoreto again when I was looking for a place to flee from the busyness and noise of Christmas time, to spend some time alone, to reflect, read, and take long walks - but mostly, just to enjoy the quiet. I was happy to find that Tortoreto had not lost its charm.
The pictures were taken with an iPhone 5s, and I think they hold up surprisingly well. In fact, to this day, they are some of my favourite pictures.
