Blog
Aug 09
This is my first Blog ever! I will try to keep it short and hopefully interesting. At least my friends and relatives will be able to keep track of my whereabouts. Roughly. Without too many details or names :).
Me
First class
My mum, (not so) little brother and I
Daddy, me and my brother joining the demonstration (in the first line of course)
My name is Nadia Isakova. Now I live in London, UK, but I was born in Russia, in the Leningrad region, close to the one of the most beautiful, proud and romantic cities in the world – Saint Petersburg. When I say close I mean close by the Russian standards (as my country crosses over 11 time zones) - about 250 km away. I did some photography when I was in the school but not that much. I've always dreamt of travelling though, of the far away adventures, of seeing new places and people and trying out different things. Well, back then, in USSR, these were dreams I've never really expected to come true. Most of all I wanted to go to Greece – I fall in love with that country after reading Gerald Durrell book “My family and other animals”. However my first ever “foreign land” was Finland where I also tried my first ever hamburger – at a tender age of 15 or so. Then Hungary. UK. USA. And only then Greece. And so I've got a “travelling flu” and at a later stage a “photography bug” too.
Let start my photography blog from this year. What have I done so far? Well, these 8 months have been a very difficult emotional time for me so my mind and my heart were not really in the right place and state. I have not visited many places or done a lot of photography. In January I spent one week on a photo workshop in Glencoe, Scotland. Then I briefly revisited St. Ives in Cornwall and Norfolk broads. At the end of March I travelled to a country from my “childhood travel list” - Cuba. For us, Russians, it's always have a special side to it. Castro, revolution, communism, free healthcare and education, no visas for Russians, cigars, rum, pina colada – I always wanted to go there. Well, it did not disappoint. Though it was quite shocking to see how poor most of those people are – but at the same time so happy, friendly and proud. It made me feel so privileged but at the same time missing some things – simplicity of their lives, their ability to be happy about small pleasures of life, friendship between neighbours, dancing and singing during the day just because they feel like doing so… Yes, I did enjoy that trip even if I prefer landscapes to people and architecture photography.
St. Ives, Cornwall, Jan 09
Suffolk, Jan 09
Glencoe, Feb 09
Havana, Cuba, March 09
Our swimming pool, Cuba
Cuban paparazzi, Trinidad
Me in Havana
In May I spent one week in my Russian motherland which is always relaxing and wonderful.
In July I photographed lavender, sunflowers and hill-top villages in Provence. We (I joined a photo workshop) were very lucky with the weather – not only sky was blue (which is nice enough for “normal” people but can be boring for photographers – I know, life is tough!) but there were occasional clouds of the right fluffiness which – believe you me – happens very rarely, both in UK and abroad! So, now in my portfolio I have images of my favourite “Big Four” – lavender, sunflowers, poppies and rapeseed. Finally I am (at least photographically ;)) happy.
Windmill (and me) in Provence
Now in my "wanderlust" plans are a long photo weekend in Bruges, Belgium, in August, and a short vacation in Russia in the autumn. Write to you soon! Nadia
Sept 09
Just back from Russia… As always fabulous and very relaxing but did not manage to do much photography – my parents needed help to dig out potatoes at our dacha. Tough job but somebody has to do it! Still, I was lucky with the weather and took few images of Somino, traditional Russian village, and of the Tikhvin monastery.
Me in Russia
Before my Russian holidays I and my friend Virginia spent a photo weekend in Bruges, Belgium. Again, we were lucky with the weather and were blessed with few reflections. As for food and wines – perfect, really enjoyed it!
Oct 09
Not doing a lot of the "field" photography – working on a huge backlog of the images from my previous trips/ submitting to the libraries, busy days in the office, buying a new flat, joined fencing club (saber), partying, etc... In plans so far – a weekend in the Lakes in November, few evening/ morning shots of London, frozen Russia and joining a photo workshop in Namibia next year – V. excited about this! More details later.
Nov 09
Just back from the Lakes – yes, most people who know me will guess – it was raining and windy and mostly grey. For the 9th time in a row. But, thanks to Virginia’s “weather magic” there was a bit of light on Saturday and I hope I've got few images I wouldd be proud of. I also got a bad cold there but this is normal – as long as it is not of a swine type!
Love the Lakes District – not only for its “photo” beauty but for its inspiration and spirit and feeling of freedom. It never fails to soothe and encourage me. It recharges my “life batteries”. It is my “muse”.
Rydal Water, Nov 09
Jan 10
Just back to London from my winter Russian holidays. In a few words – home, sweet home… Weather was rather grey and cold (-25c) so I did not really have a chance to take images I wanted. Now back to London and to more snow and cold!
Feb 10
So many things to do so little time! And so many images… Getting excited and ready for the Namibia trip - and a bit scared too, deeply afraid of the scorpions and snakes and like plus have to take many flights. But all the locations there look so great, cannot wait to start my next adventure!
March 10
Just back from my big African adventures – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! Namibia was same and more than I expected and hoped for. Stunning landscapes, amazing wildlife (I saw animals I’ve only seen in the zoos or in books I read as a child), superb accommodation, delicious food, friendly, smiling people. I would never forget a feeling of the sheer joy and amazement when one morning, just after another beautiful sunrise, a vast group of swifts streamed around me catching their breakfast. Springboks leaping in the air. The grace and the soulful eyes of a giraffe. The magnificence and scale of mountains and dunes. Whisper of the grass. Cool champagne after morning balloon flight. Torrential rain hitting my skin and the heat of the sun. Baboons screeching around my tent. The understanding and the banter of the fellow photographers. The feeling of the belonging. The space, the shapes, the smells, the uniqueness, the dreams coming true – this is Namibia for me. I’ve fallen in love, and I have to come back!
Apr 10
Moving into my new flat and new office with no or little access to the internet and my images. Cannot wait to settle down and start working on Namibia!
Sept 10
For a week in July I went to Russia and visited Veliky Novgorod, one of the most ancient cities of the East Slavs, founded in 869. It is a beautiful city full of monasteries and churches. Images to come shortly.
In September I travelled to Biarritz, France. Long sandy beaches, excellent surf, plentiful drinks and food. Rather relaxing!
March 11
"The Valkyrior are warlike virgins, mounted upon horses and armed with helmets and spears. When they ride forth on their errand, their armour sheds a strange flickering light, which flashes up over the northern skies, making what men call the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights."" Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
One week in Lapland, Finland, hunting Aurora Borealis. I have to say it is really hard work to photograph – or even see – Aurora Borealis. You never know where, when or even if, she will appear. All you know you need clear skies . Which means cold. Which means snow. And lots of patience. Ok, I did see her twice. It was surreal, magical and ever changing. Will I ever be back to find her again? I am not sure. As Finland is very similar in nature and even way of living to my homeland, Russia. But I loved huskies and reindeer sledding. And reindeer race. Photos to come soon!
Sept 11
In August I spent one week in Russia and apart from eating and sleeping as usual while at home, visited three beautiful monasteries in Lodeinoe Pole region, Leningrad Oblast, very close to its border with the Republic of Karelia. So much forest. So much water. So few villages around. Beautiful, spiritual and wild.
One day trip to Dungeness in Kent. Nuclear power stations, shingle beach, fishing boats - old and new, derelict huts, miniature railway, fish & chips. In other words, a great day out!
Dec 11
Short trip to Venice, Italy. Fortunately not too many people wondering into my shots but still rather busy. Was hoping for the dramatic clouds and even a bit of fog but all I got was endless blue sky! But ok, was not that bad, and sunsets did not disappoint. I do not find Venice that romantic but it is beautiful indeed, and every time I go there I find new locations to be admired and photographed.
And of course Christmas and New Year at the(second) home, in St. Petersburg. Skies were grey, no snow and lots of rain so not too much luck with the photography. But as always wonderful time with my family and friends.
March 12
Long waited-for trip to the Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland. What can I say – I liked the place but the weather... famous Scottish weather... Hurricanes, horizontal rain, hail, never ending veil of grey skies, sheep flying around (well, just about). First time ever I’ve seen waterfalls flowing upwards - weird but fun. We did manage to get few hours of reasonable light and even some definition in the clouds but unfortunately I did not have a chance to photograph the locations I was interested in the most. Guess, another place to revisit! PS Local whisky is good. Local Hungarian goulash is quite exceptional too :). As well as Haggis, Neeps and Tatties.
April 12
A very short Easter break in Russia. Weather was cold and grey apart from one day when sun finally did come out. At the moment I am planning two very adventurous (at least for me!) trips to Russia during next 12 months – one is around Golden Ring and Moscow, and another a 2-days train trip plus a week of sea and photography in Krasnodar and Sochi. Watch this space!
May 12
Just back from the fantastic workshop in Iceland. In short – waterfalls, rainbows, ponies (sorry, horses!), volcanoes, smoke, steam, icicles, roads, mist, rain, wind, ash storms, hot chocolate, derelict objects and crushed planes (do not panic. just one plane. of many years ago. very rusty) etc. Surreal and beautiful!
Sept 12
One week holiday in Formentera, Balearic islands, Spain. MAGNIFICENT beaches. AMAZING water. SOFTEST sand. Would advice to avoid summer months as guess it gets very crowded. Public transport is rather limited so a car/ moped hire is essential despite small size of the island. Lots of nude people :). Really relaxing place, and really photogenic.
Nov 12
A long weekend in Lake District, one of my most favourite places on Earth, and few days in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Feb 13
Just back from very dusty and hot but amazing Burma. Completely charmed by that country. Beautiful, exotic, smiling, welcoming, colourful, slightly mad :). Full of monks, Buddhas, fishermen and oxen. Fortunately have not seen a single snake or a scorpion. Could be seriously bad for your wallet - the jewellery is simply stunning! As per photo opportunities – endless, simply endless! Another location I am fully intended to re-visit!
Apr 13
A long weekend in Northumberland, one of my favourite places in UK. I have never ever seen such sandstorm as this time!
June 13
A lovely week in Pyrenees and Camargue, France. The most definite exciting highlight of the trip was meeting, shooting and feeding beautiful, gentle, graceful and a bit naughty white horses of Camargue... Loved it, and want to go back! Black bulls were interesting (and pretty fast and mean) too, fortunately all photographers survived the experience :)...
Dec 13
A Christmas weekend in Moscow... I have not visited Russian capital for more than 15 years and I have to say I am amazed how beautiful and grand Kremlin is; how intricate, cheap, clean and efficient Metro is run, and how expensive everything else is! Unfortunately instead of cold and snow we were met with rain and sleet but at least we had a couple of hours of a really heavy snowfall. Definitely another place to revisit!
Apr 14
A short weekend in Southwold, one of my favourite locations in the South of UK. I just cannot get enough of the happy beach huts, freshly caught fish and relaxed people.
Apr 14
My second visit to Santorini – the most amazing, inspiring and friendly Greek island. “Perivolas” hotel we were staying in was fantastic too – nothing was a problem. Great food, classic “blue & white” views, multitude of churches and steps, intricate jewellery, soothing cold wine - what else one can wish for :)?! Maybe only for less tourists around...
May 14
A weekend in Amsterdam. Simply amazing stunning tulips in Keukenhof garden – never seen anything like this in my life! Neither have I ever seen so many people in one place... Lovely reflections of the old traditional houses, friendly locals and delicious food.
July 14
A long weekend in Cotswolds shooting lavender fields near delightful village of Snowshill. So beautiful, so lilac :). I only wish I could also take a photo of the lavender smell!
And a great day photographing and admiring the iconic Routemasters, more than 150 of them were brought together in Finsbury Park, London, to celebrate their 60th anniversary, 1954-2014.
Sept 14
A fantastic day out on the magnificent "Tolkien" among other Tall Ships participating in the Parade of Sails, London.
And a week in Dordogne, France. Romantic castles, lovely weather, very French :).
Nov 14
A 2 weeks adventure in Morocco, an epic journey from Casablanca to Marrakesh through the endless roads, mountains and kasbahs. It was a great fun and I enjoyed activities I've never tried before, like 2 hours camel ride on clean and friendly “Fatima” (following by 3 days of pain in the certain parts of my body), a night in a desert camp (not sure about the quality and comfort of the facilities but countless, amazing, clear stars in the velvety black and low sky were worth the discomfort), everyday tagine (or couscous) and mint tea, lovely Riads and lots of bargaining in the shops. But in the contrast, there were some things I have not enjoyed at all – poverty, harassment, evident dislike of being photographed etc.
Feb- Mar 14
Two weeks trip to Yunnan & Guizhou, China. This was an adventure in many ways. I have to confess that I have not really enjoyed this location as much as enjoyed other places – at least when I was there. Now, when I look at the images, and re-visit places in my memory, it does not seem that bad . We visited rather isolated, very un-like Western life places. Most of the local people have never met Westerners in their life before. We were photographed, touched and stared at every moment and every step. It was not really in a threatening way but rather in a ... “you are an alien” way. Life there is so unlike from what the life we are used to – and what we take for granted so easily. Personal space, comfort, quiet, hygiene are so different there, sometimes even absent. And do no not even ask me about the toilets! Food was very good but after 2 weeks of stir fried dishes and tea I was more than ready for a steak, pasta and cappuccino. On another note, expecting China to be mostly a poor country, I was shocked to see so many Chinese photographers in some of the locations with the latest cameras and tripods. And mobiles – so many mobiles and selfies. Especially popular were the actual photography of the sunset and sunrise. Will I ever be back to China? Not in my soonest plans though never say never :).
May 15
A long weekend in Bilbao & Navarre, Spain. Delicious food and excellent wine. Fell in love with Bilbao modern architecture – Guggenheim is amazing as well as its bridges and modern buildings.
Sept 15
A week in one of my most favourite parts of the world – Scotland. We were lucky to have still conditions for some lovely loch reflections, and some wind and rain for the moody Glencoe. Great food, lovely whiskey – what else one can wish for :)? For a first time ever visited Isle of Arran. I like it enough… but not as much as l like other Scottish islands… perhaps too close to the civilisation :)?
Oct 15
Finally, after 11 visits to the Lake District, I found what I was looking for (well, almost – a bit of mist and fluffy clouds would make it perfect) – reflections! It was a last moment decision – after seeing that the forecast for the next couple of days is ideal (calm, fog, sunny), I bought train tickets, booked a hotel, and just went there. And I was right :). Reflections were so perfect, so mirror-like, they made me speechless and staring in wonder at the beauty of the Lakes… Next time, I want drama - and more reflections :)!
March 16
Few days in Transylvania, Romania. Lovely countryside, great castles, lovely people, generous portions of food and a lot of drinking. Definitely a place to come back to :)!
A week in Harris and Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This was my second visit, and it was as beautiful, inspiring, calming and fun as first time. Felt so good to get way from London crowds and traffic… just sky, sea and land… and huge portions of delicious food and smooth whisky :). Weather was not that great but I did not mind it at all.
April 16
A weekend in Paris - not much photography but friends, fencing and fun. One can never tire of Paris....
April 16
A long weekend in Teignmouth, Devon. Yummy fresh seafood! Fresh air, long walks alone the sea. Make sure you check if the beach huts are removed for the winter – they were in this case, rather disappointing as I love beach huts.
May 16
Few days in Barcelona. Love this city! Great architecture, lovely people, fantastic food and nicely chilled wine. Will be back :)!
August 16
My second long weekend in the Bronte Country, near Haworth, Yorkshire. Apart from trying to differ my Heathcliff from my Mr Rochester, and wandering for miles in the rain and mud on the way to Top Withens; a rather relaxing time of fighting huge Yorkshire portions and enjoying a lovely chilled champagne. Do not miss to ride a steam train on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, a lot of fun!
October 16
A long weekend in Norfolk. Always liked that part of the country for its lovely windmills, unspoiled beaches and yummy seafood.
November 16
A week in Scotland, this time in Torridon and Isle of Skye. Love Scotland, and even more so I love Scotland in autumn. Ah, those reflections....
January 17
My second trip to Burma! Despite multiple flights and a constant luck of sleep I simply adore Burma. Those misty sunrises over Bagan, acrobatic fishermen, serene Inle Lake, colourful umbrellas and friendly smiles. I thought two visits will be enough but now I am so tempted to revisit it again. Mind, in four years since my first visit in 2013, Burma has changed - too many tourists for my liking.
May 17
A lovely day out photographing one of my favourite flowers - bluebells. I have never seen so many in one place, absolutely stunning!
July 17
My second visit to Provence, France. Beautiful countryside, endless fields of blooming lavender, lovely wine and food. Just do not leave your dinner or lunch for too late - or you will get disinterested "non" in reply :).
And a long weekend in the Loire Valley, France. Excellent wine and beautiful castles.
Nov 17
A long weekend revising my favourite Lake District area – Grasmere, Rydal Water and Derwentwater. Autumn colours were not as vibrant as expected this year but as always, Lakes do not stop to impress me with their beauty. I will be back :)!
Dec 17
A weekend in Brighton. Lovely seaside town but too many people for my liking.
Jan 18
A long weekend in Valle d'Aosta, Italy. Though I am more of a cross country skier, seeing all those slightly "crazy" and certainly very brave souls rushing down the slopes filled me with awe :). Yummy food and beautiful wines, lovely!
March 18
A long weekend of spa (for some) and skiing (for some) with my fencing friends in Bansko, Bulgaria. Lots of yummy food and drinks, dancing and walking. A bit old fashioned in places but friendly and so convenient for me as I could speak both Russian and Greek, and also understood Bulgarian. Easy :)! I strongly recommend visiting Rila Monastery, the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, with the most amazing icons on the exterior walls - loved it!
May 18
A weekend in the seaside resort of Hastings, Sussex, UK. Not so busy with the tourists as Brighton, yummy fresh seafood, lovely traditional fishing boats on the beach, maybe slightly old-fashioned but in a nice, welcoming way.
June 18
A day out in Dungeness, England. I like this place but only in sunshine. There used to be many interesting old boats and derelict fishing sheds rotting around but they are too much of the ruin for me now. Cute miniature train and lovely fish and chips.
July 18
A long weekend in Budapest. I've been there once before but a very long time ago. Really lovely, great architecture, yummy food, friendly people, easy to get around. Can get too overcrowded around the tourist spots. Would love to come back!
Sept 18
Few days in one of my favourite UK places - Northumberland. Such beautiful, long, sandy beaches. Majestic castles. Dramatic scenery. And not so many people, at last!
Sept 18
A long weekend in Copenhagen. A place where I feel myself of the average height :). I was impressed by the quality of food and drink. Efficient underground. A LOT of cyclists. A LOT of people around tourists sites, even at the end of September. A bit impersonal atmosphere. Beautiful, colourful Nyhavn (unfortunately it was too windy to get perfect reflections). I would like to go back there, to get those elusive reflections!
Sept 18
A day out in Cambridge. Raining and full of people but still lovely.
Oct 18
A weekend in Bosham, Sussex. Really nice and quiet and very English. No reflection though, sigh. Will have to be back!
Nov 18
An amazing trip to Vietnam. Though Myanmar still stays as my most favourite Asian travel destination, Vietnam is a very close second. Excellent food, beautiful landscape, friendly (and rather fit/ healthy people) - I just wish I had another week to explore! Definitely would love to go back to the North Vietnam and Mekong Delta. Ha Long Bay was really lovely and peaceful though I was rather disappointed not to see those iconic sails as on so many photos of that area... Loved, absolutely loved visiting bamboo fish traps makers and blue fish net menders and incense sticks makers. Hotels are great, and service is of a high standard. Will be back, Vietnam, please do not change much!
Jan 19
One week in St Petersburg, Russia, and a long weekend in Paris, France. I've never seen Eiffel Tower "half missing" in the fog! Had a bit of a trouble with the streets and tube stations closed off by police due to the "yellow jackets" Saturday trouble but eventually found my way back to the hotel.
March 19
Few days in Bansko, Bulgaria. Small town/ ski resort, few nice restaurants, lovely Kempinski spa but not much photography.
Apr 19
A long weekend in Moravia, Czech republic. To be honest it was a wrong time for the images that I wanted to take (not my fault :)!) - a couple of weeks earlier or the autumn would work so much better for the beautiful patchwork patterns of the rolling hills of this location... I will be back another time, I promise! A telephoto lens is a must.
May 19
Few days in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I've been here a couple of times before and really like this city - restaurants and bars, canals and architecture. But I have to say it is even busier nowadays. We also visited Zaanse Schans, a traditional Dutch village and windmills nearby, and though this is not an authentic village but the relocation, it feels very real, and it is pretty and charming. Beware of the tourists though - I would recommend getting there either earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.
May 19
Just a small relaxing weekend in Florence, Italy - looks beautiful but again, so many people! Would like to come back at another, quieter time, and when the scaffolding is removed from the truly magnificent Duomo.
May/ June 19
Two weeks in St Petersburg, Russia. Beautiful, amazing city! But of course I would say that :) - do go at least once, and see it yourself!
July 19
A week in Iceland. My second time here and I still cannot get over the beauty and sheer vastness of this country! This time we spent few days in the Highlands. I have to admit I do prefer magnificent waterfalls of the South but the pure isolation, craters, mountains, colours, roads, geothermal locations here - simply whoa... Will be back again and again if I am lucky but would avoid camping at all costs - sorry, really not my "thing". A girl does need her hairdryer, even "in the mountains" :)! Btw, do not go in the summer unless you want to venture into the Highlands (they are accessible only in summer months) or if you are into the hordes of the "penguins" - or tourists, as they are called by the locals. And do hire 4x4 if you go to the Highlands!
Oct 19
A weekend in Dungeness, Kent, and Rye, a medieval town in East Sussex. Cute half-timbered houses, very photogenic cobbled Mermaid Street. Worth visiting at least once.
Nov 19
A few days in one of my most favourite locations in the world – Lake District! I believe this was visit No 13… and we got lucky! To my shame I did manage to oversleep the sunrise of the beautiful, still and misty morning but still managed to get few photos. And for the first time ever, thanks to the supporting and encouraging help of my long-suffering husband :), I hiked to the 3 summits I was always tempted by – Silver How and Loughrigg Fell near Grasmere, and Cat Bells near Derwentwater. Tough going but what views! My lovely Cumbria, I will be back, always :).
Dec 19
A visit to another location I love – Glencoe in Scotland. You never know what is going to happen with the weather in Scotland. And so we were greeted with Narnia! Orange glow of the hills and black and white wonder of the frost. Hot/ cold. Absolutely amazing, never seen anything like this before. Next day – rain and wind, obviously. I will be back, Scotland, always :)!
Jan 20
A New Year in Moscow! What can I say… beautiful decorations, super clean streets, amazing coordination and control of so many people – and there were THOUSANDS of people. Superfast, timely and clean Sapsan train from St Petersburg to Moscow. Unfortunately, snow lasted only a couple of hours, and fireworks did not impress much but the rest was awesome. Well done Russia!
Feb 20
Did not I say I will be back, Scotland :)? So I was, for a long weekend in Edinburgh. Even in winter, lots of people. Beautiful architecture, yummy food, a sea of whiskey and lots of shops with wonderfully soft cashmere scarves… We stayed in the amazing hotel, The Witchery, straight next to the castle. We climbed all the highest fells around and almost died on one of them - choose your paths carefully, they can be very dangerous. The weather was not great but not as bad as it could have been. I will be back, Scotland :)!
March 20 - rest of the year 2020
I had so many amazing adventures planned for this year but covid 19 postponed them all...
Aug 20
A long sunny weekend in Canterbury, Kent. Lovely architecture, a stunning cathedral, lots of beautiful villages around. But also lots of people and cars.
Sept 20
A long weekend in the Peak District. Lots of walks, lots of sheep, lots of green - and lots of people! Chatsworth House was lovely, and so was Castleton. Hathersage was very busy, though we really enjoyed a dinner in the Bank House Hathersage - the quality of food and service was fantastic. And I think autumn or winter in the Peak District would be more enjoyable as hopefully there would be fewer crowds...
Oct 20
Two weeks in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Though I spent in that beautiful city a few years way back into my youth :), I've never really photographed it in the autumn. And it is stunning. Spring and summer may have better weather but it is too busy, too green for me. This city really is at its best in the autumn and winter - the softness of the light, the melancholy, the colours, the mist, the mystery... We also visited Tsarskoye Selo in Pushkin ( a complex of parks and palaces, once home to the Romanov imperial family) and Pavlovsk. Beautiful walks and amazing colours. But unfortunately, also a lot of people. I would highly recommend hotel Ekaterina if you stay in Pushkin - it has the best location, quiet rooms and great service.
Dec 20
Somehow in between coronavirus lockdowns, we managed to fit a long, pampering weekend in Bath, Somerset. We stayed in a wonderful hotel The Royal Crescent. Excellent service, one of the best breakfasts I've ever had, quiet and beautiful. Bath is a fantastic city to visit. I bet it gets very crowded in the summer but in December it was surprisingly quiet... I would love to go back one day.
May 21
Finally, we are let out again! I actually enjoyed working from home, a quieter, slower pace of life. No crowds, no tourists, no long and busy tube journeys. But at the same time, I missed travelling so much, missed my family and my friends... Here is to no more lockdowns, ever! And so it continues - few days with friends in Suffolk. Beautiful villages; lovely, long beaches; green, lush, still quiet. Would love to come back!
June 21
A weekend in Ramsgate & Margate, Kent
Somehow we managed to guess sunny, hot weather! And, fortunately, we went during the week, so it was not very busy. By George, it does get super busy over there! I never particularly liked Margate, too messy/ diverse for me. Ramsgate is better; lovely long beach, and you can walk for miles along the coastline. Broadstairs is my favourite location around there.
June 21
A weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon & Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Stratford is full of history and Shakespeare, swans and people. we especially liked visiting Anne Hathaway's cottage (childhood home of Shakespeare's wife). And Stratford Butterfly Farm is magical. I would recommend a really good restaurant, The Opposition - great food, attentive service. Leamington Spa is not so impressive, the only place we enjoyed visiting there was Jephson Gardens.
July/ August 21
Wonderful 3 weeks in Saint Petersburg, what a beautiful city! Not many foreign tourists are around due to covid but lots of Russians.
September – October 21
Weekends in Whitstable, a lovely seaside town in Kent, Haywards Heath, to visit an amazing Ouse Valley Viaduct, Castle Combe and Bath, beautiful places in Cotswolds, and a relaxing weekend drinking wine and enjoying the nature walks in Halnaker/ Tinwood vineyard.
Maldives, November 21
Finally, the long-awaited honeymoon, postponed three times due to covid. Ah, Maldives… beautiful, serene, hot… we will be back!
Saint Petersburg, Jan 22
Winter in Russia is wonderful and so unpredictable weather-wise!
Eastbourne, Jan 22
A lovely, if slightly old-fashioned, seaside resort in Sussex, an excellent base for a long walk up and down the Seven Sisters.
March - April 21
A weekend each in Deal and York. Great food, lovely surroundings, highly recommended, especially Knaresborough near York.
Extremadura, Spain, Apr 22
Splendid architecture, wonderful weather, great food and wine, reasonable prices, I really enjoyed that trip with my friends.
Saint Petersburg, Summer 22
Two months in my favourite city, majestic architecture, plentiful Russian food, clean streets, lots of Russian tourists, and hot, very hot. This time I visited two very interesting places, the museum at the Stieglitz Academy for Art and Design (Applied Arts) and St. Anne’s Church, or Annenkirche.
Lake District, November 22
My No 14 visit to this one of the most amazing places in the world! Wondering around my friends Grasmere, Derwentwater & Buttermere. Of course, it was raining! Surely, it was windy! But so beautiful and rewarding. I will be back :).
Leeds Castle, November 22
I think I found a new hobby - living in the castles or rather staying there for a few nights. By pure luck, our already lovely booking in the Leeds Castle Tower was upgraded to a stay in the castle itself. Fantastic experience. I think I even met a ghost! The falconry experience was also great, with lovely birds and lovely people.
Saint Petersburg, January 23
A month in my favourite city. Beautiful New Year celebrations but not enough snow!
Leigh-on-Sea, February 23
A coastal town in England. We went to the sea but could not find the sea! The tide was out, it was moody and atmospheric, a lovely place to visit. So many dogs so will definitely take my husband over there, he adores them!
A long weekend in Hever Castle, Kent, England, April 23
A delightful spring break staying in Hever Castle, where Anne Boleyn spent her early youth. Lovely castle, beautiful gardens, great food.
A few days discovering beach huts, boat wrecks and lighthouses in Essex & Suffolk, April 23
I wanted to take photos of Osea beach huts on “sticks”, boat graveyard in Pin Mill and High and Low Dovercourt lighthouses in Harwich for a long time. Finally, I made it there! Wonderful few days, pretty quiet as this was still out of the season, plentiful food, and lovely landscapes. Will definitely be back!
A week in Guernsey, Jersey and Sark, Channel Islands, May 23
Jersey holds a special place in my heart and my life and – it is the home of Durrell Zoo, now called Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. From the moment I discovered Gerald Durrell books, my life changed. My love for animals, Greece, England, and travel is so much inspired by him. I became an official member of the Conservation Trust in 1999, and the first time I went to Jersey was back in 2003. Why did I wait for such a long time to come back?? It was so emotional and amazing to be there again.
And this was the first time I visited Guernsey and Sark. Such lovely places with friendly people and amazing nature. I hope it stays this way. And seafood, such amazing seafood…
A weekend in Lille, France, June 23
Great food, lovely architecture, and lots of tourists. What I would remember the most are the amazing cakes in Meert, beautiful and yummy!
Saint Peterburg, July 23
My Motherland, my childhood, my family. Bittersweet, and always too short. Most awesome skies, to match the architecture. And pastry from Sever, a confectionery founded in Saint Petersburg in 1903. Proper cakes that are full of real butter, sugar and calories!
Castellon & Valencia, Spain, September 23
A long weekend in lovely Spain. I’ve never been to Valencia before and was really charmed and impressed by the beauty of this city, both traditional and modern. Definitely need to go back!
Harris & Lewis, Outer Hebrides, and Perthshire, Scotland, October 23
10 days in beautiful, wild, ever-changing Scotland! Harris & Lewis is one of my favourite places on Earth. Every time I go there, I see different mood, different light, lovely people, and endless miles of unspoilt, quiet beaches. But his time it was very, very windy. So windy, that our flight back to the mainland was cancelled. It was so windy that I was terrified for the whole duration of our return flight to Edinburgh. I might think of taking a ferry there next time! This was the first time I visited Perthshire, and it is beautiful, quiet, and full of rather silly pheasants. And friendly dogs. And yummy food. And of course, friendly, humorous, generous Scottish people.
New Forest, November 23
I have lived in the UK for so many years, yet, to my shame, I’ve never been to the New Forest before. And when I got there, I could not stop smiling! With the beautiful autumnal colours, the sound of the rain in the forest, amazing trees, cute (if a bit unfriendly) ponies, forever munching pigs and elusive deer, I would try to go back there asap! But I would give Lymington a miss next time, I was very disappointed how soulless the whole place appeared to me, a “haven for yachts and their owners”, indeed, and not so much for anybody else. Milford on Sea was fun, though, with views towards the Isle of Wight, crashing waves and colourful beach huts.
Windsor, March 24
A couple of days in this lovely, if a tad too touristic, town full of history and Royal memorabilia. A tour of the castle and watching the changing of the guard are strongly recommended - make sure you do this out of the season, though!
Saint Petersburg, January 24
Finally, some of the famous Russian cold and snow, -25c in the city, this was both freezing and wonderful!
Rome, Tuscany & Marche, Italy, May 24
A week photographing one of the most beautiful places in Europe! Unfortunately, there were no poppies this time, or much mist, but Tuscany is so poetic! Lovely people, plentiful wine, yummy food, what not to love! Marche was much less touristic and full of a quiet beauty that non-Italians have not yet discovered. May it stay this way!
Alicante, Spain, June 24
A few days in lovely, if busy and hot, Alicante and the surrounding areas. I fully recommend visiting colourful Villajoyosa and a wonderful beach in L'Albir.
North Yorkshire, July 24
Whitby, Staithes, Robin Hood Bay… Such wonderful seaside places! Shrouded in mist abbey ruins in Rievaulx, miles and miles of moorland covered in heather, seafood, long walks, fresh air… I love Yorkshire!
Saint Petersburg Sept – Oct 24
Autumn is one of my favourite seasons, and in Saint Petersburg, it is sublime! And to my utmost joy, my mum and I took a week-long, wonderful boat cruise to Kizhi and Valaam, the most beautiful and spiritual places in Russian Karelia and beyond. This was my second time in Kizhi and third time in Valaam, and I sincerely hope to visit them again.
Bodiam & Scotney Castles, Kent, Nov 24
I’ve always loved castles. And moated castles, reflected in the water, surrounded by the autumnal mist and colours are my particular delight!
Brighton, Jan 25
My husband and I spent a couple of days in Brighton, solely to witness starling murmuration. Well, I had tears running down my face, such a pure magic it was. I hope I will see it again and again.
This is my first Blog ever! I will try to keep it short and hopefully interesting. At least my friends and relatives will be able to keep track of my whereabouts. Roughly. Without too many details or names :).
Me
First class
My mum, (not so) little brother and I
Daddy, me and my brother joining the demonstration (in the first line of course)
My name is Nadia Isakova. Now I live in London, UK, but I was born in Russia, in the Leningrad region, close to the one of the most beautiful, proud and romantic cities in the world – Saint Petersburg. When I say close I mean close by the Russian standards (as my country crosses over 11 time zones) - about 250 km away. I did some photography when I was in the school but not that much. I've always dreamt of travelling though, of the far away adventures, of seeing new places and people and trying out different things. Well, back then, in USSR, these were dreams I've never really expected to come true. Most of all I wanted to go to Greece – I fall in love with that country after reading Gerald Durrell book “My family and other animals”. However my first ever “foreign land” was Finland where I also tried my first ever hamburger – at a tender age of 15 or so. Then Hungary. UK. USA. And only then Greece. And so I've got a “travelling flu” and at a later stage a “photography bug” too.
Let start my photography blog from this year. What have I done so far? Well, these 8 months have been a very difficult emotional time for me so my mind and my heart were not really in the right place and state. I have not visited many places or done a lot of photography. In January I spent one week on a photo workshop in Glencoe, Scotland. Then I briefly revisited St. Ives in Cornwall and Norfolk broads. At the end of March I travelled to a country from my “childhood travel list” - Cuba. For us, Russians, it's always have a special side to it. Castro, revolution, communism, free healthcare and education, no visas for Russians, cigars, rum, pina colada – I always wanted to go there. Well, it did not disappoint. Though it was quite shocking to see how poor most of those people are – but at the same time so happy, friendly and proud. It made me feel so privileged but at the same time missing some things – simplicity of their lives, their ability to be happy about small pleasures of life, friendship between neighbours, dancing and singing during the day just because they feel like doing so… Yes, I did enjoy that trip even if I prefer landscapes to people and architecture photography.
St. Ives, Cornwall, Jan 09
Suffolk, Jan 09
Glencoe, Feb 09
Havana, Cuba, March 09
Our swimming pool, Cuba
Cuban paparazzi, Trinidad
Me in Havana
In May I spent one week in my Russian motherland which is always relaxing and wonderful.
In July I photographed lavender, sunflowers and hill-top villages in Provence. We (I joined a photo workshop) were very lucky with the weather – not only sky was blue (which is nice enough for “normal” people but can be boring for photographers – I know, life is tough!) but there were occasional clouds of the right fluffiness which – believe you me – happens very rarely, both in UK and abroad! So, now in my portfolio I have images of my favourite “Big Four” – lavender, sunflowers, poppies and rapeseed. Finally I am (at least photographically ;)) happy.
Windmill (and me) in Provence
Now in my "wanderlust" plans are a long photo weekend in Bruges, Belgium, in August, and a short vacation in Russia in the autumn. Write to you soon! Nadia
Sept 09
Just back from Russia… As always fabulous and very relaxing but did not manage to do much photography – my parents needed help to dig out potatoes at our dacha. Tough job but somebody has to do it! Still, I was lucky with the weather and took few images of Somino, traditional Russian village, and of the Tikhvin monastery.
Me in Russia
Before my Russian holidays I and my friend Virginia spent a photo weekend in Bruges, Belgium. Again, we were lucky with the weather and were blessed with few reflections. As for food and wines – perfect, really enjoyed it!
Oct 09
Not doing a lot of the "field" photography – working on a huge backlog of the images from my previous trips/ submitting to the libraries, busy days in the office, buying a new flat, joined fencing club (saber), partying, etc... In plans so far – a weekend in the Lakes in November, few evening/ morning shots of London, frozen Russia and joining a photo workshop in Namibia next year – V. excited about this! More details later.
Nov 09
Just back from the Lakes – yes, most people who know me will guess – it was raining and windy and mostly grey. For the 9th time in a row. But, thanks to Virginia’s “weather magic” there was a bit of light on Saturday and I hope I've got few images I wouldd be proud of. I also got a bad cold there but this is normal – as long as it is not of a swine type!
Love the Lakes District – not only for its “photo” beauty but for its inspiration and spirit and feeling of freedom. It never fails to soothe and encourage me. It recharges my “life batteries”. It is my “muse”.
Rydal Water, Nov 09
Jan 10
Just back to London from my winter Russian holidays. In a few words – home, sweet home… Weather was rather grey and cold (-25c) so I did not really have a chance to take images I wanted. Now back to London and to more snow and cold!
Feb 10
So many things to do so little time! And so many images… Getting excited and ready for the Namibia trip - and a bit scared too, deeply afraid of the scorpions and snakes and like plus have to take many flights. But all the locations there look so great, cannot wait to start my next adventure!
March 10
Just back from my big African adventures – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! Namibia was same and more than I expected and hoped for. Stunning landscapes, amazing wildlife (I saw animals I’ve only seen in the zoos or in books I read as a child), superb accommodation, delicious food, friendly, smiling people. I would never forget a feeling of the sheer joy and amazement when one morning, just after another beautiful sunrise, a vast group of swifts streamed around me catching their breakfast. Springboks leaping in the air. The grace and the soulful eyes of a giraffe. The magnificence and scale of mountains and dunes. Whisper of the grass. Cool champagne after morning balloon flight. Torrential rain hitting my skin and the heat of the sun. Baboons screeching around my tent. The understanding and the banter of the fellow photographers. The feeling of the belonging. The space, the shapes, the smells, the uniqueness, the dreams coming true – this is Namibia for me. I’ve fallen in love, and I have to come back!
Apr 10
Moving into my new flat and new office with no or little access to the internet and my images. Cannot wait to settle down and start working on Namibia!
Sept 10
For a week in July I went to Russia and visited Veliky Novgorod, one of the most ancient cities of the East Slavs, founded in 869. It is a beautiful city full of monasteries and churches. Images to come shortly.
In September I travelled to Biarritz, France. Long sandy beaches, excellent surf, plentiful drinks and food. Rather relaxing!
March 11
"The Valkyrior are warlike virgins, mounted upon horses and armed with helmets and spears. When they ride forth on their errand, their armour sheds a strange flickering light, which flashes up over the northern skies, making what men call the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights."" Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
One week in Lapland, Finland, hunting Aurora Borealis. I have to say it is really hard work to photograph – or even see – Aurora Borealis. You never know where, when or even if, she will appear. All you know you need clear skies . Which means cold. Which means snow. And lots of patience. Ok, I did see her twice. It was surreal, magical and ever changing. Will I ever be back to find her again? I am not sure. As Finland is very similar in nature and even way of living to my homeland, Russia. But I loved huskies and reindeer sledding. And reindeer race. Photos to come soon!
Sept 11
In August I spent one week in Russia and apart from eating and sleeping as usual while at home, visited three beautiful monasteries in Lodeinoe Pole region, Leningrad Oblast, very close to its border with the Republic of Karelia. So much forest. So much water. So few villages around. Beautiful, spiritual and wild.
One day trip to Dungeness in Kent. Nuclear power stations, shingle beach, fishing boats - old and new, derelict huts, miniature railway, fish & chips. In other words, a great day out!
Dec 11
Short trip to Venice, Italy. Fortunately not too many people wondering into my shots but still rather busy. Was hoping for the dramatic clouds and even a bit of fog but all I got was endless blue sky! But ok, was not that bad, and sunsets did not disappoint. I do not find Venice that romantic but it is beautiful indeed, and every time I go there I find new locations to be admired and photographed.
And of course Christmas and New Year at the(second) home, in St. Petersburg. Skies were grey, no snow and lots of rain so not too much luck with the photography. But as always wonderful time with my family and friends.
March 12
Long waited-for trip to the Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland. What can I say – I liked the place but the weather... famous Scottish weather... Hurricanes, horizontal rain, hail, never ending veil of grey skies, sheep flying around (well, just about). First time ever I’ve seen waterfalls flowing upwards - weird but fun. We did manage to get few hours of reasonable light and even some definition in the clouds but unfortunately I did not have a chance to photograph the locations I was interested in the most. Guess, another place to revisit! PS Local whisky is good. Local Hungarian goulash is quite exceptional too :). As well as Haggis, Neeps and Tatties.
April 12
A very short Easter break in Russia. Weather was cold and grey apart from one day when sun finally did come out. At the moment I am planning two very adventurous (at least for me!) trips to Russia during next 12 months – one is around Golden Ring and Moscow, and another a 2-days train trip plus a week of sea and photography in Krasnodar and Sochi. Watch this space!
May 12
Just back from the fantastic workshop in Iceland. In short – waterfalls, rainbows, ponies (sorry, horses!), volcanoes, smoke, steam, icicles, roads, mist, rain, wind, ash storms, hot chocolate, derelict objects and crushed planes (do not panic. just one plane. of many years ago. very rusty) etc. Surreal and beautiful!
Sept 12
One week holiday in Formentera, Balearic islands, Spain. MAGNIFICENT beaches. AMAZING water. SOFTEST sand. Would advice to avoid summer months as guess it gets very crowded. Public transport is rather limited so a car/ moped hire is essential despite small size of the island. Lots of nude people :). Really relaxing place, and really photogenic.
Nov 12
A long weekend in Lake District, one of my most favourite places on Earth, and few days in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Feb 13
Just back from very dusty and hot but amazing Burma. Completely charmed by that country. Beautiful, exotic, smiling, welcoming, colourful, slightly mad :). Full of monks, Buddhas, fishermen and oxen. Fortunately have not seen a single snake or a scorpion. Could be seriously bad for your wallet - the jewellery is simply stunning! As per photo opportunities – endless, simply endless! Another location I am fully intended to re-visit!
Apr 13
A long weekend in Northumberland, one of my favourite places in UK. I have never ever seen such sandstorm as this time!
June 13
A lovely week in Pyrenees and Camargue, France. The most definite exciting highlight of the trip was meeting, shooting and feeding beautiful, gentle, graceful and a bit naughty white horses of Camargue... Loved it, and want to go back! Black bulls were interesting (and pretty fast and mean) too, fortunately all photographers survived the experience :)...
Dec 13
A Christmas weekend in Moscow... I have not visited Russian capital for more than 15 years and I have to say I am amazed how beautiful and grand Kremlin is; how intricate, cheap, clean and efficient Metro is run, and how expensive everything else is! Unfortunately instead of cold and snow we were met with rain and sleet but at least we had a couple of hours of a really heavy snowfall. Definitely another place to revisit!
Apr 14
A short weekend in Southwold, one of my favourite locations in the South of UK. I just cannot get enough of the happy beach huts, freshly caught fish and relaxed people.
Apr 14
My second visit to Santorini – the most amazing, inspiring and friendly Greek island. “Perivolas” hotel we were staying in was fantastic too – nothing was a problem. Great food, classic “blue & white” views, multitude of churches and steps, intricate jewellery, soothing cold wine - what else one can wish for :)?! Maybe only for less tourists around...
May 14
A weekend in Amsterdam. Simply amazing stunning tulips in Keukenhof garden – never seen anything like this in my life! Neither have I ever seen so many people in one place... Lovely reflections of the old traditional houses, friendly locals and delicious food.
July 14
A long weekend in Cotswolds shooting lavender fields near delightful village of Snowshill. So beautiful, so lilac :). I only wish I could also take a photo of the lavender smell!
And a great day photographing and admiring the iconic Routemasters, more than 150 of them were brought together in Finsbury Park, London, to celebrate their 60th anniversary, 1954-2014.
Sept 14
A fantastic day out on the magnificent "Tolkien" among other Tall Ships participating in the Parade of Sails, London.
And a week in Dordogne, France. Romantic castles, lovely weather, very French :).
Nov 14
A 2 weeks adventure in Morocco, an epic journey from Casablanca to Marrakesh through the endless roads, mountains and kasbahs. It was a great fun and I enjoyed activities I've never tried before, like 2 hours camel ride on clean and friendly “Fatima” (following by 3 days of pain in the certain parts of my body), a night in a desert camp (not sure about the quality and comfort of the facilities but countless, amazing, clear stars in the velvety black and low sky were worth the discomfort), everyday tagine (or couscous) and mint tea, lovely Riads and lots of bargaining in the shops. But in the contrast, there were some things I have not enjoyed at all – poverty, harassment, evident dislike of being photographed etc.
Feb- Mar 14
Two weeks trip to Yunnan & Guizhou, China. This was an adventure in many ways. I have to confess that I have not really enjoyed this location as much as enjoyed other places – at least when I was there. Now, when I look at the images, and re-visit places in my memory, it does not seem that bad . We visited rather isolated, very un-like Western life places. Most of the local people have never met Westerners in their life before. We were photographed, touched and stared at every moment and every step. It was not really in a threatening way but rather in a ... “you are an alien” way. Life there is so unlike from what the life we are used to – and what we take for granted so easily. Personal space, comfort, quiet, hygiene are so different there, sometimes even absent. And do no not even ask me about the toilets! Food was very good but after 2 weeks of stir fried dishes and tea I was more than ready for a steak, pasta and cappuccino. On another note, expecting China to be mostly a poor country, I was shocked to see so many Chinese photographers in some of the locations with the latest cameras and tripods. And mobiles – so many mobiles and selfies. Especially popular were the actual photography of the sunset and sunrise. Will I ever be back to China? Not in my soonest plans though never say never :).
May 15
A long weekend in Bilbao & Navarre, Spain. Delicious food and excellent wine. Fell in love with Bilbao modern architecture – Guggenheim is amazing as well as its bridges and modern buildings.
Sept 15
A week in one of my most favourite parts of the world – Scotland. We were lucky to have still conditions for some lovely loch reflections, and some wind and rain for the moody Glencoe. Great food, lovely whiskey – what else one can wish for :)? For a first time ever visited Isle of Arran. I like it enough… but not as much as l like other Scottish islands… perhaps too close to the civilisation :)?
Oct 15
Finally, after 11 visits to the Lake District, I found what I was looking for (well, almost – a bit of mist and fluffy clouds would make it perfect) – reflections! It was a last moment decision – after seeing that the forecast for the next couple of days is ideal (calm, fog, sunny), I bought train tickets, booked a hotel, and just went there. And I was right :). Reflections were so perfect, so mirror-like, they made me speechless and staring in wonder at the beauty of the Lakes… Next time, I want drama - and more reflections :)!
March 16
Few days in Transylvania, Romania. Lovely countryside, great castles, lovely people, generous portions of food and a lot of drinking. Definitely a place to come back to :)!
A week in Harris and Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This was my second visit, and it was as beautiful, inspiring, calming and fun as first time. Felt so good to get way from London crowds and traffic… just sky, sea and land… and huge portions of delicious food and smooth whisky :). Weather was not that great but I did not mind it at all.
April 16
A weekend in Paris - not much photography but friends, fencing and fun. One can never tire of Paris....
April 16
A long weekend in Teignmouth, Devon. Yummy fresh seafood! Fresh air, long walks alone the sea. Make sure you check if the beach huts are removed for the winter – they were in this case, rather disappointing as I love beach huts.
May 16
Few days in Barcelona. Love this city! Great architecture, lovely people, fantastic food and nicely chilled wine. Will be back :)!
August 16
My second long weekend in the Bronte Country, near Haworth, Yorkshire. Apart from trying to differ my Heathcliff from my Mr Rochester, and wandering for miles in the rain and mud on the way to Top Withens; a rather relaxing time of fighting huge Yorkshire portions and enjoying a lovely chilled champagne. Do not miss to ride a steam train on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, a lot of fun!
October 16
A long weekend in Norfolk. Always liked that part of the country for its lovely windmills, unspoiled beaches and yummy seafood.
November 16
A week in Scotland, this time in Torridon and Isle of Skye. Love Scotland, and even more so I love Scotland in autumn. Ah, those reflections....
January 17
My second trip to Burma! Despite multiple flights and a constant luck of sleep I simply adore Burma. Those misty sunrises over Bagan, acrobatic fishermen, serene Inle Lake, colourful umbrellas and friendly smiles. I thought two visits will be enough but now I am so tempted to revisit it again. Mind, in four years since my first visit in 2013, Burma has changed - too many tourists for my liking.
May 17
A lovely day out photographing one of my favourite flowers - bluebells. I have never seen so many in one place, absolutely stunning!
July 17
My second visit to Provence, France. Beautiful countryside, endless fields of blooming lavender, lovely wine and food. Just do not leave your dinner or lunch for too late - or you will get disinterested "non" in reply :).
And a long weekend in the Loire Valley, France. Excellent wine and beautiful castles.
Nov 17
A long weekend revising my favourite Lake District area – Grasmere, Rydal Water and Derwentwater. Autumn colours were not as vibrant as expected this year but as always, Lakes do not stop to impress me with their beauty. I will be back :)!
Dec 17
A weekend in Brighton. Lovely seaside town but too many people for my liking.
Jan 18
A long weekend in Valle d'Aosta, Italy. Though I am more of a cross country skier, seeing all those slightly "crazy" and certainly very brave souls rushing down the slopes filled me with awe :). Yummy food and beautiful wines, lovely!
March 18
A long weekend of spa (for some) and skiing (for some) with my fencing friends in Bansko, Bulgaria. Lots of yummy food and drinks, dancing and walking. A bit old fashioned in places but friendly and so convenient for me as I could speak both Russian and Greek, and also understood Bulgarian. Easy :)! I strongly recommend visiting Rila Monastery, the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, with the most amazing icons on the exterior walls - loved it!
May 18
A weekend in the seaside resort of Hastings, Sussex, UK. Not so busy with the tourists as Brighton, yummy fresh seafood, lovely traditional fishing boats on the beach, maybe slightly old-fashioned but in a nice, welcoming way.
June 18
A day out in Dungeness, England. I like this place but only in sunshine. There used to be many interesting old boats and derelict fishing sheds rotting around but they are too much of the ruin for me now. Cute miniature train and lovely fish and chips.
July 18
A long weekend in Budapest. I've been there once before but a very long time ago. Really lovely, great architecture, yummy food, friendly people, easy to get around. Can get too overcrowded around the tourist spots. Would love to come back!
Sept 18
Few days in one of my favourite UK places - Northumberland. Such beautiful, long, sandy beaches. Majestic castles. Dramatic scenery. And not so many people, at last!
Sept 18
A long weekend in Copenhagen. A place where I feel myself of the average height :). I was impressed by the quality of food and drink. Efficient underground. A LOT of cyclists. A LOT of people around tourists sites, even at the end of September. A bit impersonal atmosphere. Beautiful, colourful Nyhavn (unfortunately it was too windy to get perfect reflections). I would like to go back there, to get those elusive reflections!
Sept 18
A day out in Cambridge. Raining and full of people but still lovely.
Oct 18
A weekend in Bosham, Sussex. Really nice and quiet and very English. No reflection though, sigh. Will have to be back!
Nov 18
An amazing trip to Vietnam. Though Myanmar still stays as my most favourite Asian travel destination, Vietnam is a very close second. Excellent food, beautiful landscape, friendly (and rather fit/ healthy people) - I just wish I had another week to explore! Definitely would love to go back to the North Vietnam and Mekong Delta. Ha Long Bay was really lovely and peaceful though I was rather disappointed not to see those iconic sails as on so many photos of that area... Loved, absolutely loved visiting bamboo fish traps makers and blue fish net menders and incense sticks makers. Hotels are great, and service is of a high standard. Will be back, Vietnam, please do not change much!
Jan 19
One week in St Petersburg, Russia, and a long weekend in Paris, France. I've never seen Eiffel Tower "half missing" in the fog! Had a bit of a trouble with the streets and tube stations closed off by police due to the "yellow jackets" Saturday trouble but eventually found my way back to the hotel.
March 19
Few days in Bansko, Bulgaria. Small town/ ski resort, few nice restaurants, lovely Kempinski spa but not much photography.
Apr 19
A long weekend in Moravia, Czech republic. To be honest it was a wrong time for the images that I wanted to take (not my fault :)!) - a couple of weeks earlier or the autumn would work so much better for the beautiful patchwork patterns of the rolling hills of this location... I will be back another time, I promise! A telephoto lens is a must.
May 19
Few days in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I've been here a couple of times before and really like this city - restaurants and bars, canals and architecture. But I have to say it is even busier nowadays. We also visited Zaanse Schans, a traditional Dutch village and windmills nearby, and though this is not an authentic village but the relocation, it feels very real, and it is pretty and charming. Beware of the tourists though - I would recommend getting there either earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.
May 19
Just a small relaxing weekend in Florence, Italy - looks beautiful but again, so many people! Would like to come back at another, quieter time, and when the scaffolding is removed from the truly magnificent Duomo.
May/ June 19
Two weeks in St Petersburg, Russia. Beautiful, amazing city! But of course I would say that :) - do go at least once, and see it yourself!
July 19
A week in Iceland. My second time here and I still cannot get over the beauty and sheer vastness of this country! This time we spent few days in the Highlands. I have to admit I do prefer magnificent waterfalls of the South but the pure isolation, craters, mountains, colours, roads, geothermal locations here - simply whoa... Will be back again and again if I am lucky but would avoid camping at all costs - sorry, really not my "thing". A girl does need her hairdryer, even "in the mountains" :)! Btw, do not go in the summer unless you want to venture into the Highlands (they are accessible only in summer months) or if you are into the hordes of the "penguins" - or tourists, as they are called by the locals. And do hire 4x4 if you go to the Highlands!
Oct 19
A weekend in Dungeness, Kent, and Rye, a medieval town in East Sussex. Cute half-timbered houses, very photogenic cobbled Mermaid Street. Worth visiting at least once.
Nov 19
A few days in one of my most favourite locations in the world – Lake District! I believe this was visit No 13… and we got lucky! To my shame I did manage to oversleep the sunrise of the beautiful, still and misty morning but still managed to get few photos. And for the first time ever, thanks to the supporting and encouraging help of my long-suffering husband :), I hiked to the 3 summits I was always tempted by – Silver How and Loughrigg Fell near Grasmere, and Cat Bells near Derwentwater. Tough going but what views! My lovely Cumbria, I will be back, always :).
Dec 19
A visit to another location I love – Glencoe in Scotland. You never know what is going to happen with the weather in Scotland. And so we were greeted with Narnia! Orange glow of the hills and black and white wonder of the frost. Hot/ cold. Absolutely amazing, never seen anything like this before. Next day – rain and wind, obviously. I will be back, Scotland, always :)!
Jan 20
A New Year in Moscow! What can I say… beautiful decorations, super clean streets, amazing coordination and control of so many people – and there were THOUSANDS of people. Superfast, timely and clean Sapsan train from St Petersburg to Moscow. Unfortunately, snow lasted only a couple of hours, and fireworks did not impress much but the rest was awesome. Well done Russia!
Feb 20
Did not I say I will be back, Scotland :)? So I was, for a long weekend in Edinburgh. Even in winter, lots of people. Beautiful architecture, yummy food, a sea of whiskey and lots of shops with wonderfully soft cashmere scarves… We stayed in the amazing hotel, The Witchery, straight next to the castle. We climbed all the highest fells around and almost died on one of them - choose your paths carefully, they can be very dangerous. The weather was not great but not as bad as it could have been. I will be back, Scotland :)!
March 20 - rest of the year 2020
I had so many amazing adventures planned for this year but covid 19 postponed them all...
Aug 20
A long sunny weekend in Canterbury, Kent. Lovely architecture, a stunning cathedral, lots of beautiful villages around. But also lots of people and cars.
Sept 20
A long weekend in the Peak District. Lots of walks, lots of sheep, lots of green - and lots of people! Chatsworth House was lovely, and so was Castleton. Hathersage was very busy, though we really enjoyed a dinner in the Bank House Hathersage - the quality of food and service was fantastic. And I think autumn or winter in the Peak District would be more enjoyable as hopefully there would be fewer crowds...
Oct 20
Two weeks in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Though I spent in that beautiful city a few years way back into my youth :), I've never really photographed it in the autumn. And it is stunning. Spring and summer may have better weather but it is too busy, too green for me. This city really is at its best in the autumn and winter - the softness of the light, the melancholy, the colours, the mist, the mystery... We also visited Tsarskoye Selo in Pushkin ( a complex of parks and palaces, once home to the Romanov imperial family) and Pavlovsk. Beautiful walks and amazing colours. But unfortunately, also a lot of people. I would highly recommend hotel Ekaterina if you stay in Pushkin - it has the best location, quiet rooms and great service.
Dec 20
Somehow in between coronavirus lockdowns, we managed to fit a long, pampering weekend in Bath, Somerset. We stayed in a wonderful hotel The Royal Crescent. Excellent service, one of the best breakfasts I've ever had, quiet and beautiful. Bath is a fantastic city to visit. I bet it gets very crowded in the summer but in December it was surprisingly quiet... I would love to go back one day.
May 21
Finally, we are let out again! I actually enjoyed working from home, a quieter, slower pace of life. No crowds, no tourists, no long and busy tube journeys. But at the same time, I missed travelling so much, missed my family and my friends... Here is to no more lockdowns, ever! And so it continues - few days with friends in Suffolk. Beautiful villages; lovely, long beaches; green, lush, still quiet. Would love to come back!
June 21
A weekend in Ramsgate & Margate, Kent
Somehow we managed to guess sunny, hot weather! And, fortunately, we went during the week, so it was not very busy. By George, it does get super busy over there! I never particularly liked Margate, too messy/ diverse for me. Ramsgate is better; lovely long beach, and you can walk for miles along the coastline. Broadstairs is my favourite location around there.
June 21
A weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon & Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Stratford is full of history and Shakespeare, swans and people. we especially liked visiting Anne Hathaway's cottage (childhood home of Shakespeare's wife). And Stratford Butterfly Farm is magical. I would recommend a really good restaurant, The Opposition - great food, attentive service. Leamington Spa is not so impressive, the only place we enjoyed visiting there was Jephson Gardens.
July/ August 21
Wonderful 3 weeks in Saint Petersburg, what a beautiful city! Not many foreign tourists are around due to covid but lots of Russians.
September – October 21
Weekends in Whitstable, a lovely seaside town in Kent, Haywards Heath, to visit an amazing Ouse Valley Viaduct, Castle Combe and Bath, beautiful places in Cotswolds, and a relaxing weekend drinking wine and enjoying the nature walks in Halnaker/ Tinwood vineyard.
Maldives, November 21
Finally, the long-awaited honeymoon, postponed three times due to covid. Ah, Maldives… beautiful, serene, hot… we will be back!
Saint Petersburg, Jan 22
Winter in Russia is wonderful and so unpredictable weather-wise!
Eastbourne, Jan 22
A lovely, if slightly old-fashioned, seaside resort in Sussex, an excellent base for a long walk up and down the Seven Sisters.
March - April 21
A weekend each in Deal and York. Great food, lovely surroundings, highly recommended, especially Knaresborough near York.
Extremadura, Spain, Apr 22
Splendid architecture, wonderful weather, great food and wine, reasonable prices, I really enjoyed that trip with my friends.
Saint Petersburg, Summer 22
Two months in my favourite city, majestic architecture, plentiful Russian food, clean streets, lots of Russian tourists, and hot, very hot. This time I visited two very interesting places, the museum at the Stieglitz Academy for Art and Design (Applied Arts) and St. Anne’s Church, or Annenkirche.
Lake District, November 22
My No 14 visit to this one of the most amazing places in the world! Wondering around my friends Grasmere, Derwentwater & Buttermere. Of course, it was raining! Surely, it was windy! But so beautiful and rewarding. I will be back :).
Leeds Castle, November 22
I think I found a new hobby - living in the castles or rather staying there for a few nights. By pure luck, our already lovely booking in the Leeds Castle Tower was upgraded to a stay in the castle itself. Fantastic experience. I think I even met a ghost! The falconry experience was also great, with lovely birds and lovely people.
Saint Petersburg, January 23
A month in my favourite city. Beautiful New Year celebrations but not enough snow!
Leigh-on-Sea, February 23
A coastal town in England. We went to the sea but could not find the sea! The tide was out, it was moody and atmospheric, a lovely place to visit. So many dogs so will definitely take my husband over there, he adores them!
A long weekend in Hever Castle, Kent, England, April 23
A delightful spring break staying in Hever Castle, where Anne Boleyn spent her early youth. Lovely castle, beautiful gardens, great food.
A few days discovering beach huts, boat wrecks and lighthouses in Essex & Suffolk, April 23
I wanted to take photos of Osea beach huts on “sticks”, boat graveyard in Pin Mill and High and Low Dovercourt lighthouses in Harwich for a long time. Finally, I made it there! Wonderful few days, pretty quiet as this was still out of the season, plentiful food, and lovely landscapes. Will definitely be back!
A week in Guernsey, Jersey and Sark, Channel Islands, May 23
Jersey holds a special place in my heart and my life and – it is the home of Durrell Zoo, now called Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. From the moment I discovered Gerald Durrell books, my life changed. My love for animals, Greece, England, and travel is so much inspired by him. I became an official member of the Conservation Trust in 1999, and the first time I went to Jersey was back in 2003. Why did I wait for such a long time to come back?? It was so emotional and amazing to be there again.
And this was the first time I visited Guernsey and Sark. Such lovely places with friendly people and amazing nature. I hope it stays this way. And seafood, such amazing seafood…
A weekend in Lille, France, June 23
Great food, lovely architecture, and lots of tourists. What I would remember the most are the amazing cakes in Meert, beautiful and yummy!
Saint Peterburg, July 23
My Motherland, my childhood, my family. Bittersweet, and always too short. Most awesome skies, to match the architecture. And pastry from Sever, a confectionery founded in Saint Petersburg in 1903. Proper cakes that are full of real butter, sugar and calories!
Castellon & Valencia, Spain, September 23
A long weekend in lovely Spain. I’ve never been to Valencia before and was really charmed and impressed by the beauty of this city, both traditional and modern. Definitely need to go back!
Harris & Lewis, Outer Hebrides, and Perthshire, Scotland, October 23
10 days in beautiful, wild, ever-changing Scotland! Harris & Lewis is one of my favourite places on Earth. Every time I go there, I see different mood, different light, lovely people, and endless miles of unspoilt, quiet beaches. But his time it was very, very windy. So windy, that our flight back to the mainland was cancelled. It was so windy that I was terrified for the whole duration of our return flight to Edinburgh. I might think of taking a ferry there next time! This was the first time I visited Perthshire, and it is beautiful, quiet, and full of rather silly pheasants. And friendly dogs. And yummy food. And of course, friendly, humorous, generous Scottish people.
New Forest, November 23
I have lived in the UK for so many years, yet, to my shame, I’ve never been to the New Forest before. And when I got there, I could not stop smiling! With the beautiful autumnal colours, the sound of the rain in the forest, amazing trees, cute (if a bit unfriendly) ponies, forever munching pigs and elusive deer, I would try to go back there asap! But I would give Lymington a miss next time, I was very disappointed how soulless the whole place appeared to me, a “haven for yachts and their owners”, indeed, and not so much for anybody else. Milford on Sea was fun, though, with views towards the Isle of Wight, crashing waves and colourful beach huts.
Windsor, March 24
A couple of days in this lovely, if a tad too touristic, town full of history and Royal memorabilia. A tour of the castle and watching the changing of the guard are strongly recommended - make sure you do this out of the season, though!
Saint Petersburg, January 24
Finally, some of the famous Russian cold and snow, -25c in the city, this was both freezing and wonderful!
Rome, Tuscany & Marche, Italy, May 24
A week photographing one of the most beautiful places in Europe! Unfortunately, there were no poppies this time, or much mist, but Tuscany is so poetic! Lovely people, plentiful wine, yummy food, what not to love! Marche was much less touristic and full of a quiet beauty that non-Italians have not yet discovered. May it stay this way!
Alicante, Spain, June 24
A few days in lovely, if busy and hot, Alicante and the surrounding areas. I fully recommend visiting colourful Villajoyosa and a wonderful beach in L'Albir.
North Yorkshire, July 24
Whitby, Staithes, Robin Hood Bay… Such wonderful seaside places! Shrouded in mist abbey ruins in Rievaulx, miles and miles of moorland covered in heather, seafood, long walks, fresh air… I love Yorkshire!
Saint Petersburg Sept – Oct 24
Autumn is one of my favourite seasons, and in Saint Petersburg, it is sublime! And to my utmost joy, my mum and I took a week-long, wonderful boat cruise to Kizhi and Valaam, the most beautiful and spiritual places in Russian Karelia and beyond. This was my second time in Kizhi and third time in Valaam, and I sincerely hope to visit them again.
Bodiam & Scotney Castles, Kent, Nov 24
I’ve always loved castles. And moated castles, reflected in the water, surrounded by the autumnal mist and colours are my particular delight!
Brighton, Jan 25
My husband and I spent a couple of days in Brighton, solely to witness starling murmuration. Well, I had tears running down my face, such a pure magic it was. I hope I will see it again and again.