Destinations - broadening horizons

The Orient Express Has Just ArrivedThe train from Paris arrives at Sirkeci Station in a cloud of steam. Porters move quickly along the platform, lifting trunks and hat boxes down from the train carriages.

Galicia, Spain - One year ago, almost to the day — around February 14th, 2025 — I arrived at Playa de las Catedrales in northern Spain at low tide. The beach was nearly empty. The sky clear. The air cool, but gentle.

Yucatan, Mexico - The Tren Maya is Mexico’s newest railway, running through the Yucatán Peninsula like a long silver thread. Much has been said about the cost overruns, the delays, even the army’s role in building sections of the track. But once you step on board, it feels less like politics and more like possibility.

Nevada, USA - Las Vegas always overwhelms me. No matter how often I've been, it keeps surprising me - bold, loud, and full of life. This time I arrived at the height of summer, where the air hits like a hairdryer and shade feels like shelter. Dry heat and desert winds sweep past colossal hotels that try to outshine the sun.

Texas, USA - In the U.S., most people fly or drive. Hardly anyone takes the train. So I thought — why not try it? I boarded the Amtrak Texas Eagle in Dallas-Fort Worth, heading south to Austin. 

Texas, USA - First time at the Stockyards in Fort Worth — and suddenly, I’m in the middle of a cowboy movie. Boots clicking on the sidewalks, hats tilted against the sun. Women in denim hot pants and the guys look like they walked off a ranch, all jeans and laid-back cool. It's not a costume party, it's just life here.

Himmafushi, Maledives - The Maldives are famous for their water — and still, nothing prepares you for it. Turquoise, crystal clear, shifting through endless shades of blue. Every step along the shore feels slightly unreal, as if the colors had been turned up just a little too much.