London is easily one of our favorite cities in the world. It also helps that we have loads of experience there and friends willing to help show us around. With that in mind, we recently jumped on a fantastic flight sale and are headed back to the UK capital in a few weeks. 

We're preparing for the city to be packed and buzzing because we're landing just a few days before the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19. Sadly, I still haven't received my invite, but I'm not too chuffed about it. 

The Royal wedding also falls on the same day as the FA Cup Final, which is apparently a break from tradition as Royal weddings usually take place on a weekday. Featuring in this year's FA Cup Final is my beloved Chelsea FC taking on Manchester United at the home of football, Wembley Stadium. 

Seeing as Kim has already been to Wembley for one of Adele's final concert's, I'm a bit jealous and wanted to be as close as possible to the game as I could. 

So we're currently filling up our itinerary and looking for suggestions for places to eat and drink, so please let us know in the comments below.  

I (Kevin) haven't been back to London since 2014 and am looking forward to enjoying some of my favorite people and culture in the world. Oh, yeah, and hopefully Chelsea wins to top it off. We're also going to visit the spot that we got engaged at on my last trip there, just a few weeks after our 3rd wedding anniversary.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram to keep up with us on the ground. I'm packing my new camera and looking for some great views!

P.S. The cover image was taken almost 10 years ago with a Pentax K110D using only a kit lens. It was my first real DSLR camera and only has a 6.1 megapixel sensor. 

The Eternal City is a sight to behold. Equal parts chaos, ancient beauty, and modern intrigue. Before you land at Ciampino airport for your Roman adventure, get a feel for the land with these five films.

1. Roman Holiday

When it comes to romantic films, there may not be any better than Roman Holiday. Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn dazzle in the story of a princess who wants to be ordinary for a day. The 1953 film highlights the beauty and magic of Rome like no other. 

2. The Talented Mr. Ripley

Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Phillip Seymour Hoffman headline this psychological thriller full of assumed identity and intrigue. If you're looking for a more nuanced look at Rome as a city of excess, The Talented Mr. Ripley is right for you. 

3. Spectre

Oddly enough, until Spectre, James Bond had never been to Rome. Director Sam Mendes sets some significant scenes in the Eternal City as Bond struggles to unravel the mystery behind a secret organization that keeps rearing its head in his life. It may not be the best of the Daniel Craig Bond films, but it doesn't skimp on the exotic locales. 

4. Angels & Demons

Ron Howard's Dan Brown novel adaptations may not be for everyone, but Angels & Demons is easily the best entry in the category so far. From the Vatican to a plethora of Roman churches, Angels & Demons is a thrill ride that pulls you along as it races against time to save the lives of four Cardinals kidnapped by the Illuminati. Far superior, and much shorter, than The Da Vinci Code, Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer and Stellan Skarsgard deliver an exciting thriller in Rome. 

5. La Dolce Vita

No list of Roman films can be complete without La Dolce Vita, Federico Fellini's 1960 masterpiece that follows a journalist played by Marcello Mastroianni as he covers the decadent life of elite Roman society. A visual feast for the eyes, La Dolce Vita, is a must-see for any Roman traveler. You'll never see the Trevi Fountain the same. 

I'm a big advocate for travel and photography but as I watched the above video I can't help but wonder what taking the exact same pictures is doing to our view of the world? 

Do I really need the same picture of the Eiffel Tower as x number of people have taken before? Does taking that photo diminish my ability to experience the real site? 

The more I travel, the idea of slowing down and savoring the moment while in it becomes more real. Sure you can take pictures of travel sites, but put yourself in the frame or stretch your creativity and find a lesser known angle. Not only will you remember it more but you'll probably stumble upon different things because of the experience. I've been reading Away and Aware: A Field Guide to Mindful Travel by Sara Clemence and was immediately struck by my need to unplug a bit on trips. After all, a vacation is supposed to be a vacation whether you're a slow or fast traveler. 

So next time you're standing in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, think about what you're taking a photo of. Is it the site or is it the way you are experiencing it? Why not find a new way, even if it's only new to you, to interact with the landscape. You never know what hidden gems you might stumble upon. 

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The Checklist is your weekly guide to travel inspiration, tips, and recommendations from around the web.

Last night I got out for a bit and took a photo walk, a practice that I've not been very good at lately. The image above is from Lee's Fried Chicken and Donut's, a pretty great place to get a donut in the morning, or at night. 

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The Checklist

Photographer Alain Cornu captures the magic and beauty of rooftops in his series "Over Paris". The images are captured in a 4x5 large format that really brings out the unique charm of the Parisian skyline and all the intricacies that it can sometimes hide. (via PetaPixel)

I've long been a Gear Patrol reader and their recommended lists are some of my favorite. Now the GP staff shares what they never leave home without when they travel. (via Gear Patrol)

Buzzfeed writer Alison Wilmore talks about the "church of traveling light" and how, for her, it's not all it's cracked up to be. I don't particularly agree with all her ideas, but it does raise a lot of questions about why someone would choose to travel light, which I most often do. (via Buzzfeed)

I'm excited to read the new book from Sally Kohn, "The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide To Repairing Our Humanity." Before it comes out on April 10, check out this interview with Afar about the idea behind the book and Kohn's travels around the world. (via Afar)

Ever heard of fika? In Sweden, it's a coffee break that is designed to slow down life and promote the connection between people. Sounds like something I need more of in my life. Learn more about fika via the Huckberry Journal.

The new video from Glen Hansard keeps me watching all day long. Check out Time Will Be The Healer below. 

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.