No longer an unknown collection of sleepy coastal towns on the Italian Riviera, the Cinque Terre still holds all of its natural beauty and charm. I'm not sure I've ever felt more generally at ease as I have sitting in our rented apartment overlooking the pristine blue waters of the Ligurian Sea from the town of Corniglia. It was just a few days after our wedding and I'm sure some of the stress subsiding after the fact didn't hurt, but the atmosphere was a huge help.

Up, Up and Away

Each day we climbed the steps up to Corniglia (thirty-three flights of steps to be exact) and walked around the beautiful little village that felt like time had forgotten about. It was early May and the large tourist crowds hadn't arrived en masse, so we had a bit of the tiny streets to ourselves. Coffee by the sea. Local wine and cheese on a terrace. All with a pristine view of water like I'd never seen before. Boats whizzed by taking early season tourists to the more accessible towns of Vernazza and Riomaggiore. At one point the entire village shut down because of a loss of power. The Entire Village.

We ate a cold breakfast on our last day in Corniglia and basked in the feeling of extreme calm. As we sat and sipped on juice, I couldn't help but feel the pull of a simple life. The power was out and everyone in the town generally seemed to not care. Their senses were attuned to life at a different pace, one that I seem to crave more and more with each passing day.

But What About WiFi?

The more I travel, the more I recognize my ability to complain about even the smallest things. I've been in hotels with slow wi-fi and uncomfortable beds and it's thrown off my whole trip.  But for some reason, in Corniglia, nothing mattered beyond the fact that I was there with my bride. I accidentally booked the apartment at the bottom of the hulking stairs so we got a great calf workout every day. It rained on us a couple of times. The wi-fi at our little place was spotty at best but we were together and that's all that mattered.

Every destination brings with it different quirks and living with them is half the adventure. We definitely didn't validate our train tickets on the platform and got a stern talking to from a railway attendant on how things work in Italy. The truth is, if everything ran smoothly, what kind of stories would you have to tell. 

I recently read How Not To Travel the World by blogger Lauren Juliff and her stories of travel adventures captivated me. She's been robbed, found herself on the wrong side of an intrusive massage and even got caught in a tsunami during her travels. But what kind of life would it be if we never ventured beyond our little borders? Lauren's stories show just how wide, varied and beautiful this world is.

Destination Unknown

I've got it in my mind to visit some more off the beaten path places. Ones that aren't necessarily tourist towns, whether big or small and finding what makes them beautiful. I'm starting a list of smaller European cities that put you closer to the culture of the people. There's something intoxicating about finding yourself in a cafe, not knowing the language and relying on the kindness of the people around you to get by. It can restore your faith in humanity with every little act.

I've talked of my love for train travel before and there may be no more epic of a trip then on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Beijing to Moscow portion stretches almost 5,000 miles. Starting off in northern China, through Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, you then pass into the Siberian wilderness of Russia. 

Filmmaker Dennis Schmelz really takes care to show the vastness and the many differing cultures you will encounter along the fabled route in his short film Transsiberian Dream.

Film by Dennis Schmelz
Gear Used:
A Camera
B Camera
Gimbal
Drone

You can find out more about the Trans-Siberian Railway here.

Let's start off by wishing one of my favorite photo/video/magic geniuses, Peter McKinnon, a happy one year YouTube anniversary. If you've not seen any of Peter's videos, you're missing out on some great knowledge and an even greater guy. Check out his channel here. 

Still got Black Panther on the brain? Check out Travel Noire's list of 5 African Cities You Should Visit If You’re Dreaming Of Wakanda.  

For all those not wearing an Apple Watch, this great timepiece from Form•Function•Form is on sale, as is this one from Armogan.

Gear Patrol takes a deep dive into a fourth generation bootmaker in New Hampshire's White Mountains. 

This map covers all the bases for the fan of English Premiere League football in your life? 

Finally, this look at the New Cathedral in Linz, Germany continuously mesmerizes me. Shot with one of my favorite cameras, filmmaker Martin Lachmair really captures the beauty and solitude of walking through churches in Europe. 

I've carried a Bull & Stash journal with me basically everyday for the past two years and I've found no better way to store my ideas, schemes and plans. Recently the company revamped their lineup with the introduction of the Market, Leonard and Allison journals, each one representing a different size in the line. The Market Pocket Journal is my favorite for an on the go life. It fits easily into a pocket or purse and the refillable pages make it easy to keep the ideas flowing. 

A while back I was able to demo the Leonard size journal and it quickly became my go to for meetings and long form writing. I'm a creature of habit and the ability to carry the same journal with me everywhere I go, day in and day out, no matter how much I write in it, is ideal. 

The new models have introduced a much needed pocket to store spare business cards or receipts, a spot to hang your pen and a few new colors as well. The Leonard even has enough room for a small tablet to be held in it's pocket. Check them out at Huckberry right now, who's got them at a little bit of a discount. 

Looking for perfect gift for the wanderluster in your life? Whether you want to make their trip easier or inspire future adventures, we've got you covered with five gift ideas under $50 for the traveler in your life. 

1. World Scratch Map

A great way to keep track of where your adventures have taken you, the World Scratch Map is a great keepsake for a world traveler. Show off all your adventures for visitors to see and spark conversation! 

2. Travel Cord Roll

Electronics are a part of life now and when you leave home, cords are a necessary evil. Give your traveler a way to keep things organized in a minimalist fashion with a Travel Cord Roll. Not only will everything stay in one place, it'll decrease space for carry-on travelers. 

3. Anywhere Travel Guide

Finding yourself bored in a new city shouldn't be a thing. Instead, take the Anywhere Travel Guide with you for instant adventure inspiration. A deck of 75 prompts for a good time, no matter where you find yourself. Sure to illicit adventure from even the most basic of travelers. 

4. Pack-It Cubes

Keep all your things neat and tidy with Pack-It Cubes from Eagle Creek. Made from ultralight silnylon ripstop, the Pack-It cubes add organization without all the weight. Your muscles will thank you in the long run. 

5. Convertible Travel Pillow Infinity Scarf

Getting to your destination is half the battle and showing up tired can really throw off the first few days of your trip. With the Convertible Travel Pillow Infinity Scarf, you get the best of both worlds while saving space in your luggage.