2019: A year of travel blogging and traveling

One year. 52 weeks. 365 days. 54 blog posts (55 including the one you’re reading at this very moment). Over 5,000 views from more than 100 countries all over the world (I’ve even had 4 views from Brunei). These are some of the stats for my blog. 9 trips abroad. 7 countries. 2 islands. 27 flights (I do like my stop-overs). It is not a secret that traveling is one of my favorite activities; in 2019 I have been fortunate enough to travel back to some of my favorite places (Vienna, Rome, Kos, and California), but also to visit new ones (Cortina, Trondheim, Isle of Man, and Tromsø). These travels have inspired me to write, another favorite activity of mine. It has already been 18 months since I started travel blogging. As 2019 is now coming to an end, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on this year’s traveling and travel blogging. 

Travel blogging in January 2019

5 tips to achieve New Year’s resolutions’

I kicked in the year with my ‘5 tips to achieve New Year’s resolutions’, a post that was not about traveling, but about wellbeing, something else that I like writing about (I’m a Psychiatrist after all). In 2019, my New Year’s resolution was to read one book a week (52 in total). Having read a total of 71 books since the beginning of the year, I can now proudly say that I have achieved my New Year’s resolution. Some of these books have actually inspired me to write posts on my blog, whereas others have provided me with knowledge and insights that I have also shared with my readers.

For 2020, my New Year’s resolution is to self-teach myself Norwegian. I strongly suspect that my ‘5 tips to achieve New Year’s resolutions’ will come handy again in a few days’ time, with the advent of the New Year.

The Traveling Psychiatrist: Wanderlust & Wellbeing

In ‘The Traveling Psychiatrist: Wanderlust & Wellbeing’, I reflected on what I am most passionate about and what I like writing about. I then set out my plan to continue travel blogging and writing about traveling, wellbeing, healthy eating and reading.

Skyros: the island of wellness & wellbeing

This was my first post about traveling in 2019. I certainly did not choose Skyros at random. Not only this is one of my favorite (if not the most favorite) Greek islands, but it is also my late grandfather’s home island. Skyros is also a great place to unwind, relax and enjoy some peace and quiet. One may argue that most Greek islands are such places. True. However, there is a very good reason why Skyros tops that list. The island is home to Skyros Center, Europe’s first course-based holiday center, which is unsurprisingly included in the Wellness Escapes. Located in Atsitsa in the north-western part of the island, it is one of the 4 retreats in Greece featured in the Lonely Planet edition. Now in its 41st year, Skyros Center offers yoga, health and wellbeing retreats, but also art and writing courses. For all these reasons, it is the Greek island closest to my heart.

9 Secrets to Happiness from the Cultures of the World

First published in 2011, ’Happy: Secrets to Happiness from the Cultures of the World’ was one of the first books I’ve read in 2019. In the introduction, I read that ‘it’s some of the most basic aspects of life found in every culture that bring us the most joy – connection, mindfulness, gratitude, play’. As a Psychiatrist, I’ve learned how important these aspects are for our wellbeing. However, despite being a travel enthusiast, I had not previously considered these very important aspects in the context of traveling. Reading this book, I put two and two together and realize that traveling and the subsequent contact with different cultures can teach us so much about wellbeing, and help us live happier lives. And this is how I got inspired to write this post.

Travel blogging in February 2019

Serifos: the Greek island where time stands still

In June 2017, Kate Lough shared her ‘10 reasons why you should visit the Greek island of Serifos’. She wrote that she ‘found a Greece that seemed to have stood still since the 1960s and where island life remains unspoiled by mass tourism’. I visited Serifos a year later, in August 2018. Oblivious to Kate’s article at the time, I came to the same realization: Serifos reminded me of a Greece of a different era: it was the Greece that starred in the 1960s movies I used to watch as a child. In February 2019, I published my tips for Serifos, and this post has been the second most popular of the whole year. 

Religion, maps & meditation

I have previously written about meditation and mindfulness, which, as a Psychiatrist, I consider essential ingredients to one’s wellbeing. Both these practices are linked to Eastern traditions and religions, such as Buddhism. For this reason, one February morning I found myself at the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green in East London.

The day was fully packed with talks, workshops, meditation, and yoga. I attended a mindfulness meditation session followed by the very inspiring talk ‘How to live a more human life’. Amongst other things, Maitrivajri talked about the maps in our lives, maps that are often somebody else’s, not our own. They can be the maps thrown to us by our culture, the government of our country, the media (overconsumption being a prime example of how media and the advertising industry can lead us astray), the society, our family, our educators, or even our super-ego. Having always been fascinated by maps, geography and traveling, I found this concept of maps very interesting. I soon found myself reflecting on a particular map in my own life: religion.

Sifnos: the island of Greek gastronomy

I visited Sifnos in August 2018, and I certainly enjoyed my time on this small Cycladic island. When I published my tips for Sifnos in February 2019, little did I imagine then that this would turn out to be my most popular post of the entire year.

Buddha’s Brain: The neuroscience of happiness

‘Buddha’s Brain: The practical neuroscience of happiness, love & wisdom’ co-authored by neuropsychologist and meditation teacher Rick Hanson and neurologist Richard Mendius was another book that sparked my interest and I subsequently read at the beginning of the year. The key is in the title. Even though I am an atheist, Buddha has fascinated me since I was eight years old and first visited Thailand. As a psychiatrist, I am interested in spirituality and the mind, as well as neuroscience and the brain, or perhaps I am a psychiatrist because of these interests. And then there’s happiness, a topic that interests me on a both personal and professional level, a topic that I’ve been reading and writing a lot on lately. Inspired by this book and informed by my professional experience, this posts explores some of the key ingredients to one’s mental health, wellbeing and happiness. 

Travel blogging in March 2019

Folegandros: the secret alternative to Santorini

When Jade Conroy’s article ‘the secret alternative to Santorini’ was published in the Telegraph on 22nd February), Folegandros immediately sprang to my mind. I was right. This off-the-beaten-track island has a small population of fewer than 1000 inhabitants. Every summer, however, it comes to life thanks to a wave of mostly Greek, young, hipster and arty visitors, who seek an alternative, more authentic and less crowded destination than the world-famous Santorini, only an hour away on the ferry.

Aristotle ’s Way: Ancient Wisdom & Happiness

The World Book Day is observed on the 7th of March. To mark the occasion, I published a post inspired by Edith Hall’s book ‘Aristotle ’s Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life’. Despite what its title may suggest, this is far from a self-help book. To borrow a phrase from the book, ‘Aristotle’s Way’ may indeed offer a philosophical highway to happiness; at the same time (to borrow another phrase) it is also an intellectual inquiry, a journey, and a walk into the mind of one of the greatest philosophers of all time.

A walk and a recital in hip Shoreditch

To help visitors navigate through the city’s maze of history and culture, I teamed up with Airbnb and launched an alternative, unique and unforgettable experience for those who want to get to know the real London. Originally called ‘A walk and a recital in hip Shoreditch’, the experience has now been renamed to ‘A recital and the secrets of Shoreditch’ and is available most Tuesdays.

Finland and the World Happiness Report

The International Day of Happiness is observed each year on the 20th of March. The United Nations World Happiness Report, published on that day, ranks most countries from the happiest to the least happy, based on a number of variables, such as real GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. In 2019, Finland is for a second consecutive year the happiest place on Earth, followed by Denmark (the happiest 3 years ago), Norway (the happiest 2 years ago), Iceland, and the Netherlands. 

Island-hopping around the Cyclades

Having already shared my top tips for Serifos, Sifnos, and Folegandros in February and March, I put it all together in a 2-week itinerary from Athens (Piraeus) all the way to Santorini. 

Travel blogging in April 2019

Vienna: Search for Meaning & the Mozart Effect

Vienna: Music, Psychotherapy & Coffee

In March 2019, I visited Vienna for the fourth time in my life. Even though I was there for just a long weekend, I got so inspired that in April I shared two posts with tips for the Austrian capital. But Vienna is not only an excellent travel destination; it is also a great place to live in. In fact, it has been named the best city in the world to live in – for the tenth year running. According to the annual Mercer Quality of Living survey, Vienna topped the list of 231 cities around the world. I personally associate Vienna with three things I am passionate about: (classical) music, psychotherapy, and coffee, but also with some very influential historical figures (Mozart, Freud, and Frankl).  

During one of my previous visits, I went to the Opera and saw Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’. This time, however, I opted for a rather more low-key concert with music by Wofgang Amadeus Mozart. The concert took place in St Peter’s Church (Peterskirche), a beautiful baroque church situated in the heart of Vienna. I also visited the apartment where the famous composer lived between 1784 and 1787, now known as Mozart Haus.

I then visited the Sigmund Freud Museum, where the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis lived and worked for 47 years. Freud may be the best-known figure in psychotherapy associated with Vienna, but he is not the only one. Alfred Adler, an Austrian doctor who began his medical career as an ophthalmologist, became the first president of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. He later diverged from Freud’s psychoanalytic ideas, and founded his own school of psychotherapy, which he named ‘individual psychology’. 

Viktor Frankl worked as a psychiatrist in Vienna for a few years before World War II. A Holocaust survivor, he is the author of the book ‘Man’s Search For Meaning: The classic tribute to hope from the Holocaust’, which I read during my trip to Vienna. In this captivating book, Frankl doesn’t simply talk about his experience as a Holocaust survivor, but uses this very experience to explore the role of meaning in one’s life. Based on his insights, he later founded the school of ‘logotherapy’, a type of psychotherapy that ‘focuses on the meaning of human existence as well as on a man’s search for such a meaning’. 

LOVE + FEAR, Love and Angst, & Meaning of Life

In April 2019, I attended ‘Life Lessons with MARINA’, a conversation between two influential women: Marina Diamantis, a Greek-British singer-songwriter, and Professor Tanya Byron, a clinical psychologist and writer. The event was organized by The School Of Life, a global organization headquartered in London. Named after two basic emotions, ‘LOVE + FEAR’, Marina’s fourth studio album was released in full on 26th April 2019. This concept album of two halves was inspired by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, famous for her writings on dying, bereavement and the five stages of grief. 

Inspired by ‘Life Lessons with MARINA’, I then read ‘The Meaning of Life’, a beautifully written book published by the School of Life, which encouraged me to reflect on what constitutes a meaningful life. In the introduction, I read that a meaningful life is different from a happy life; a meaningful life aims at fulfillment rather than day-to-day contentment. The book then explores eight different sources of meaning: love, family, work, friendship, culture, politics, nature, and philosophy. The chapters about work and culture resonated with me the most. In the former, I read about creativity as an ingredient to meaningful work. But creativity is not just about something big like art or literature; it can also be about ‘(sometimes very small) ways of improving life’. In the chapter about culture, the meaning is explored from different angles and perspectives: home, music, books, clothes, and travel.

A few days later, I visited an art exhibition at the British Museum in London. Already a fan of Edvard Munch, I wanted to learn more about the renowned Norwegian painter – his life as well as his art. Interestingly, the exhibition was named after two emotions: love and angst. In that sense, it reminded me of ‘LOVE + FEAR’. While Marina explores her emotions through music, Munch explored his through painting.

Oslo: Nesbo, Munch, Music, Opera & More

In June 2018, I traveled to Norway. My itinerary included Oslo, Bergen and Ålesund. However, it was only in April 2019 that I decided to start sharing my tips for these Norwegian cities, as well as those that I would visit later in 2019. My first post was about Oslo. Bergen, Ålesund, Trondheim and Tromsø would soon follow…

Travel blogging in May 2019

My Happy Place(s): London, Greece, Norway

Emma Bunton’s new album ‘My Happy Place’ was released on the 12th of April 2019. It inspired me to reflect and write about my own happy places. I actually wrote this post sat in a café in London, the city where I have been living for the last couple of years. I had just returned from Greece, where I had spent Easter with my family. At the same time, I was looking forward to my upcoming trip to Trondheim, the third largest Norwegian city, which I visited in May to attend the JazzFest.

Bergen: the city of the Seven Mountains

Surrounded by seven hills and seven fjords, Bergen is also known as the city of the Seven Mountains. Having visited Norway’s second-largest city three times (once in 1998 and twice in 2018), I finally shared my top 7 tips in May 2019.

Beyond Eurovision: A musical journey in Europe

I have to admit that the Eurovision Song Contest is one of my guilty pleasures. Every May for several weeks (before and after the contest) all I listen to is europop – quite a departure from the music I usually enjoy (jazz, country and indie). Last May, however, I decided to embark on a musical journey around Europe, and listen to music (not necessarily Eurovision songs) from different European countries. I started this journey with classical music from 12 different countries, and I overall visited a total of 22 countries around Europe. 

How to spend 24 hours in Ålesund

This beautiful port town on the west coast of Norway may not be the most famous city in the country, but it’s the birthplace of Sigrid, the Norwegian singer/songwriter who rose to international fame when she won the BBC Music Sound of 2018. Ålesund is also the birthplace of Natalie Sandtorv, a Norwegian jazz musician whom I saw at Trondheim JazzFestival (JazzFest) in May 2019. I had visited Ålesund in June 2018; yet, it was only in May 2019 that I published a post dedicated to this small Norwegian town.

Travel blogging in June 2019

Take me to Church (or a chapel)

Jazzfest takes place every May in various venues around Trondheim, including several churches. The Nidaros Cathedral (Nidarosdomen / Nidaros Domkirke) is one of the most photographed buildings in Trondheim; it is also the northernmost medieval cathedral in the world and Scandinavia’s largest medieval building. I had the opportunity to attend Emilie Nicolas’s concert inside the cathedral; it was such an awesome experience. Only a few blocks away, there’s Vår Frue Church, a medieval parish church, where Tamara Obrovac, a Croatian ethno jazz singer, and Karl Seglem, a Norwegian jazz musician, gave two beautiful back-to-back performances. Bakke Kirke is another parish church in Trondheim. It is located in the Bakklandet area of the city. I had the opportunity to listen not only to some beautiful jazz music there, but also to poems by Rolf Jacobsen, one of Scandinavia’s most distinguished poets. 

Trondheim: Alex’s Top 7 Tips

My love affair with Norway and its music dates back to my early childhood. I must’ve been about six when I became interested in maps, geography, and the countries of the world. Soon afterward, my aunt traveled to Norway (admittedly without me). Trondheim was one of the places she visited. Fast forward a few years later, my interest in Scandinavia rekindled, and I found out about the jazz festivals that take place around the country. Having already been to Oslo, Bergen and Ålesund, it was only in May 2019 when I finally visited Trondheim. My visit coincided with JazzFest which took place between the 8th and the 12th of May 2019. A few weeks later, in June 2019, I shared my top 7 tips for Norway’s third-largest city.

Traveling solo and jazz festivals in Norway

My trip to Trondheim in May 2019 was the first time I traveled solo from start to finish. Reflecting on my experience, I realize that jazz festivals are a great opportunity for solo traveling, especially if you’re not accustomed to it. 

9+1 Greek islands to visit this summer

The article ‘10 great Greek islands: readers’ travel tips’ was published in the Guardian in June 2018. My tip ‘Hiking in Amorgos, Cyclades’ was not only included but it was also the winning tip. A year later, having written extensively about Norway, I went back to where it all started: the Greek islands. In this post, I shared one tip for each of the 9 (+1) Greek islands I’d visited in the last couple of years.

Beyond hygge: The Atlas of Happiness

I first came across Helen Russell a couple of years ago during one of my trips to Copenhagen. At that time, according to the United Nations World Happiness Report, Denmark was the happiest country in the world (this year Finland holds the title, with Denmark on the 2nd place). At the same time, the Danish concept of hygge had taken the world by storm. Keen to learn more about why the Danes are so happy, I read Russell’s ‘The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country‘. 

Then, in June 2019, I stumbled across ‘The Atlas of Happiness: the global secrets of how to be happy‘, Russell’s latest book; I immediately knew I wanted to read it. On the one hand, I have always been fascinated by maps, geography and traveling. On the other, as a Psychiatrist, I help people in their pursuit of their happiness, and guide them through the long and winding road of life, usually at times when they’re the least happy. 

In this post, I focused on ten countries/regions from ‘the Atlas of Happiness’: Australia, Bhutan, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Greece, Hawaii, Iceland, Norway, and Syria. I discussed concepts from these countries that are closely aligned with my personal and professional values and beliefs.

Travel blogging in July 2019

Chiswick: Top 12 tips by an (almost) local

Ealing Summer Festivals & 12 tips by a local

In July 2018, Lovebox and Citadel Festivals relocated from Victoria Park in the East End of London to the lesser-known Gunnersbury Park in West London. Since Gunnersbury Park is located in the London Borough of Hounslow between Acton, Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing, the relocation of the festivals helped put these districts on the map. As a local to this part of the capital (I live in Brentford, in the London Borough of Hounslow), I am very familiar with Chiswick and Ealing, and in July 2019 (a few days before Lovebox and Citadel Festivals returned to Gunnersbury Park, as well as a few days before the Ealing Summer Festivals), I shared my top tips for these West London neighborhoods. 

Summer in London: top 20 tips by a local

The number of (mostly but not exclusively music) festivals taking place every summer in London is one of the many reasons why I love spending my summers in the British metropolis. In this post, I shared my top 20 tips for an unforgettable summer in London, a summer that includes music festivals, outdoor film screenings, and, of course, food and drinks.

Summer in Rome: top 7 tips

The 29th of June was the hottest day of the year (up till then) in London; it was also when the Gelato Festival came to town. Not long afterwards, in July 2019, I visited Rome, where the temperature routinely rises to (and above) the mid-thirties during the summer. And, of course, gelato is there all year long. In this post, I shared my top 7 tips for the Eternal City. 

Travel blogging in August 2019

Summer in Verona: top 7 tips

Summer in Florence: top 7 tips

And then I shared my top 7 tips for two more Italian cities: Verona (which I had visited in the summer of 2018) and Florence (which I had visited several times before). 

Watermelon 3 ways: recipes from the Cyclades

If I had to pick one fruit that takes me back to my childhood summers in Greece, this would undoubtedly be the watermelon. During July and August, the hottest months of the year, there would always be a huge bowl with freshly cut watermelon on the table at the end of each and every family meal. The same happened when we dined out; watermelon would always be served there too. In the afternoons, I remember waking up from my nap only to find that my grandmother had prepared a slice of watermelon served with some feta cheese. Perhaps because it is ubiquitous during the summer in Greece, perhaps because when served in taverns, it is always complimentary, I’d never really thought too much about watermelon. Until I moved to the UK, and started missing the clear-blue skies, the crystalline waters, the heat, and this large oval red-fleshed refreshing fruit. Fortunately, the recipes I shared in this post (watermelon and feta gazpacho soup, Mykonos-inspired watermelon and feta salad, and Folegandros-inspired watermelon pie) made me feel a bit less home-sick during last summer.

Explore the Isle of Man in 3 days

Bank holiday weekends provide a perfect opportunity for a short trip away from home. Yet, with the Brexit disaster fast approaching, weekend breaks in Europe may soon be a thing of the past. Halfway between Great Britain and Ireland, lies the Isle of Man, a small island in the Irish Sea, which is neither a part of the United Kingdom, nor of the British Overseas Territories (such as Gibraltar, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, and 10 other territories spread across the world). The Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey are the three so-called Crown Dependencies; all three of them are located off the coast of Great Britain and basically are self-governing territories for which the UK is responsible, as opposed to sovereign (independent) states. Interestingly, none of the three has even been part of the European Union. In this post, I shared my top tips for the Isle of Man, which I visited last summer.

Now & then: a musical journey to Greece

It was not until the end of August 2019 that I visited my home country for my summer holidays. Whilst in Kos, I was reminded of all those contemporary artists whose music travels me back there no matter where in the world I may happen to be. This inspired my musical journey to Greece; the soundtrack included some of my favorite artists (including Natassa Bofiliou and Dimitra Galani, who I saw live at the Union Chapel in London in May and December 2019 respectively) and songs that my compatriots enjoy on the radio or in live concerts.

Travel blogging in September 2019

A musical journey to Norway

A musical journey to Iceland

My musical journey to Greece was followed by a musical journey to Norway, and another one to Iceland, a country, nonetheless, that I am yet to visit. These musical journeys were not long before I saw some of my favorite Norwegian (Madrugada and Broen) and Icelandic musicians (Björk and Ólafur Arnalds) performing live in London in October and November 2019. 

Back from holidays: routines and structure

September. It’s this time of the year when for most of us the holidays are over and we’re back to business as usual. Establishing routines and structure is the first of the 10 tips that can help beat those post-holiday blues and get back on track as soon as possible. In this post, inspired by the book ‘My Morning Routine: How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired’, I reflected on my own morning routines and structure.

A musical journey to California

As soon as my holidays are over, to help me avoid those post-holiday blues, not only I go back to my routines and structures, but I also write about my holidays and listen to music from the places I visit. In September 2019, I traveled to California, and one of the first things I did on my return to London was to embark on a musical journey to the Golden State.

Travel blogging in October 2019

Los Angeles: 3 days in La La Land

When I first visited California in 2017, I stayed in Los Angeles for only two nights, so I simply had to go back and spend more time in La La Land. This is exactly what I did in September 2019, a few weeks before I shared my top tips for the City of Angels.

World Mental Health Day 2019

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognizes World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. The objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilize efforts in support of mental health. In 2019, the focus of World Mental Health Day was on suicide prevention. According to WHO, every 40 seconds someone loses their life to suicide. Or, more than 800,000 people die by suicide every year, making it the principal cause of death among people fifteen to twenty-nine years old. As a Psychiatrist, I took this opportunity to reflect on and begin a dialogue on suicide. I specifically discussed the strong connection between San Francisco and suicide. Between 1937 and 2012, an estimated 1,600 bodies were recovered of people who had jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge. Jumping off this iconic San Francisco bridge holds at least a 98% fatality rate; however, it is speculated the fatality rate is actually higher because of people whose bodies are never found after they make the jump.

I Left My Heart In San Francisco

Originally recorded by Tony Bennett, ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ perfectly captures how I felt after my first visit to one of the most iconic American cities (back in 2017). Perhaps I am being a bit melodramatic, but few would argue with the charm of San Francisco. Despite the very large number of homeless people sleeping on the streets of this Californian city, San Fran is the highest rated American city on world liveability rankings. But it is not only the locals who enjoy living there. As a first-time visitor, I had such a beautiful time that I knew it wouldn’t be my last time in San Fran. And it wasn’t. In September 2019, I was back in San Francisco and a few weeks later I shared my top tips for this charming American city.

A cinematic journey to the Nordic countries

This cinematic journey to the Nordic countries was inspired by the BFI London Film Festival which I had attended earlier in October 2019. Two of the films I watched at the festival were Icelandic. ‘A White, White Day’ (‘Hvítur, Hvítur Dagur’) is a 2019 Icelandic drama starring Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson. Hlynur Pálmason’s film is about Ingimundur, a Police Officer mourning the loss of his wife. In the aftermath of her tragic death, he discovers that she’d had an affair with another man, and goes on to investigate… ‘A White, White Day’ has been selected as the Icelandic entry for the 92nd Academy Awards. And the Oscar goes to… Iceland perhaps? The other Icelandic film I watched was ‘The Juniper Tree’ (‘Einitréð’). This 1990 film was directed and written by the American Nietzchka Keene; it was restored last year by the Center for Film & Theatre Research, in Wisconsin. It is a very minimalistic film shot in black and white and stars only 5 actors, including Björk.

A cinematic journey around Europe

When I embarked on a cinematic journey around Europe, my first stop was the Nordic countries (Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland). I then continued my journey to East (Estonia, Russia, Poland), Central (Germany, Austria, Belgium) and South Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece).

Travel blogging in November 2019

A cinematic journey to France

In November 2019, I continued my cinematic journey to France, a country with a rich cinematic tradition. Taking place from 1st November 2019, the French Film Festival UK provided a great space to watch French films.

Leeds: 9 tips by a (former) local

It’s been two years since I left Leeds and moved to London, but I often feel nostalgic and go back to visit friends and family. Leeds has changed a lot since when I first moved there, and it continues to change. Some things, however, have stayed the same and make Leeds feel like home every time I go back. One of them is the Leeds International Film Festival which takes place every November. This year it took place between the 6th and the 20th of November, and provided me with a perfect opportunity to spend a weekend in Leeds and also share my top tips for this West Yorkshire city.

Napa Valley: Wine, food & film

The Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) took place from 13 to 17 November 2019. Even though I was not physically there during that period, I took the opportunity to reflect on my visit to this fine wine-producing region and share my tips.

My California wine-tasting road-trip

My California wine-tasting road-trip was inspired by ‘Sideways’, one of my favorite films, and winner of the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Directed and co-written by Alexander Payne, ‘Sideways’ was set and shot in the Santa Ynez Valley. Starting from LA, my itinerary took me to Santa Barbara, and from there to Big Sur and to Carmel-by-the-Sea. I also drove to the Yosemite National Park before finishing my road-trip in San Francisco.

Music, film & wine: 12 days in California

In this post, I combine all my tips for California, and describe a 12-day itinerary which includes Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, and, last but not least, San Francisco.

Travel blogging in December 2019

Keep Calm and Carry On & Secrets to Serenity

Despite being a Psychiatrist (and therefore charged with diagnosing and treating anxiety disorders), I personally experience stress on a daily basis: during my commute, at work, even in my leisure time or when traveling (I have to admit that the fear of missing out largely contributes to this). So, when I – a stressed traveling psychiatrist – came across the Lonely Planet book ‘Calm: Secrets to Serenity from the Cultures of the World’, I was immediately drawn. Tips on how to stay calm coming all the way from Japan, Bhutan, or Brazil? Yes, please.

Divided into four sections (nature, rhythm, sharing, and focus), the book shares 50 tips from a total of 37 countries. As I was reading these tips, however, I realized that most of them could easily fit within the 10 key areas of mental health and wellbeing (for a happy, healthy, and well-balanced life) that I have previously written about.

Chasing the Northern Lights in Tromsø

In order to experience the Northern Lights first hand, I recently traveled to Tromsø. Also known as Aurora Borealis (named after the Roman goddess of dawn, not the Norwegian singer-songwriter), the Northern Lights is a spectacular natural phenomenon observed around the Arctic (the same phenomenon when observed around the Antarctic is called Southern Lights or Aurora Australis). In brief, the auroras are due to the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth’s magnetosphere. Simply put, they are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind. The Northern Lights are visible from Tromsø (as well as other places in Northern Scandinavia, Russia, Canada and Alaska). Yet, Tromsø is a city that has much more to offer than the Northern Lights, and is worth visiting not only in the winter, but also in the summer. In this post, I share my top 10 tips for Tromsø.

Keep Calm & Bake for Christmas

Every December, I spend Christmas at home. A perfect opportunity to bake. Once I have put the tree up and posted my greeting cards (with Christmas classics playing in the background), I am covered in flour (and not just for the snow effect) whilst my flat smells of all those lovely Christmas scents and spicy aromas: orange, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and the list goes on and on… There is something profoundly calming (even therapeutic) when I mix the basic baking ingredients together: flour, butter, eggs… Perhaps, the secret is in the knowledge that I am creating something delicious to share with my friends, family or colleagues. But, when I add those Christmassy spices to the mix, it is magic. This December, I have been experimenting with the British Christmas classics, the best of which I shared in this post.

Travel blogging in 2020

In 2020, I plan to continue travel blogging along similar lines as this year. Since the 2020 Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020 in Tokyo, I am going to kick off the year with a post about Japan, specifically about Japanese literature.

I also plan to finally publish my tips for Kos, the island of Medicine, that I last visited in August 2019. One of the best known Greek islands, Kos is a popular destination for the European holiday-makers. Yet, Kos has a rich history that is often overlooked; this is where Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, began his medical career. Built upon the slopes of a hill about a couple of miles northwest of Kos Town, the Asclepieion overlooks the Aegean with the Turkish coast on the background. Although it dates back to the fourth century BC, the ruins were only unearthed about a hundred years ago, at the beginning of the twentieth century.

On traveling

2019 was not only a year of travel blogging, but also of traveling. Over the last 12 months, I was fortunate enough to go on 9 trips abroad. I visited a total of 9 destinations in 7 countries. Half of these destinations were old favorites (Vienna, Rome, Kos, California, and my home-town Thessaloniki); the other half newly-visited ones (Cortina, Trondheim, Isle of Man, and Tromsø). Half were in warmer climates; the other half in colder ones. Some of these trips were no more than a weekend; others a bit longer. One was solo; the rest either with family or friends. But I enjoyed them all the same.

In 2020, I can only hope to travel as much and visit beautiful and interesting places. The first (and so far the only) trip I have planned is at the end of January: a weekend in Nantes, to visit a very good friend of mine. I have specifically planned it to coincide with La Folle Journée, a classical music festival taking place in the sixth-largest city in France.

To follow my travels around the world, simply subscribe to the Traveling Psychiatrist (subscription button on the left-hand side).

Have a wonderful New Year!

Alex

(the Traveling Psychiatrist)