Nomadic Tales My perception of small countries is that the chances of finding a secluded spot to pitch a tent without being seen are very low. The land tends to be expensive and fully utilized, and I imagined that landowners wouldn’t appreciate tents on property they’ve paid dearly for. I resisted the temptation to try even a single night of wild camping in Switzerland, fearing a hefty fine. However, I did camp in Luxembourg, not one, but two nights. In Kehl, Germany, just across the river from Strasbourg, I managed one night of wild camping, but it was far from comfortable. Two men walking in the distance kept watching me for about half an hour. Despite my green tent blending into the grassy ground with a forested backdrop, and being 400 meters from the road, they appeared suspicious, stepping left and right, perhaps trying to get a better view. Since wild camping is generally frowned upon in Germany, I usually avoid it, but I wanted to try anyway. I had spent a full week near ...
Nomadic Tales As I look back through my photos and notes from Portugal, I’m struck by how few there are. The sparse documentation owes itself largely to the sensory overload I experienced during the seven intense weeks in Morocco. After the vibrant chaos and saturated colors there, the serene whitewashed towns of Portugal felt almost muted by contrast. I still remember the wave of disappointment that hit me as I crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, finding little that captivated me for days. It felt like a kind of withdrawal, and for nearly a month I struggled to stay motivated, with only a few places managing to reignite my curiosity: Cádiz and El Puerto de Santa María - Both towns are deeply connected to the life and voyages of Christopher Columbus. Cádiz, in particular, has a park filled with South American plant species, including towering sequoias that some claim were brought back by Columbus himself. The city also impresses with an abundance of ornately decorated metal...