Journeys of a lifetime
Born in the 60s, I’m a Generation Xer.
I initially created this blog during the summer of 2021 in French, my native language.
Being a Generation Xer born in the 60s travel has been the driving force behind my existence, shaping my work and hobbies.
Through my testimonials, advice, and insights, I aim to share my nearly five decades of travel experience with you.
Forgive any mistakes, as English is my second language. Feel free to contact me if you have any comments or suggestions for improvement.
Enjoy my English travel blog with a French accent 
Jacques.
The objectives of Travels-of-a-life.com
Inspire you!
I’ve been lucky enough to make some very nice trips. I’ll share them with you either to make you dream or to give you ideas.
I won’t replace a tourist guide, but I will give you my vision of the places I visited.
Naturally, this blog is alive and kicking, and I’ll be sharing with you all about my upcoming travels.
Helping you!
I’ve had a long experience of both professional and personal travel.
I’ll give you a few tips to make your travels easier and help you be self-sufficient anywhere in the world.
My way of traveling may speak more to a Generation X audience who don’t necessarily find their way into the blogs of millennials.
Make you think!
With COVID, we experienced a sudden halt to exchanges and travel.
But since then, tourism development has resumed its crazy pace, with many excesses. Can we go on like this for long?
With my experience in transport and travel, I’d like to contribute to the debate and give you some ideas for tomorrow’s travel.
The life should be just that: the adult’s tribute to his childhood dreams
Sylvain Tesson
The countries I visited
(in dark blue)
For Russia, Canada, China, Brazil, the USA, Australia, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Algeria, I have indicated only the regions visited.
Cities I’ve lived in outside France
(Red dots)
Belgium (Nivelles) in 1970
Algeria (Skikda) from 1970 to 1972
USA (Philadelphia) from 1985 to 1986
Sweden (Stockholm) from 2012 to 2013
Netherlands (Amsterdam) from 2015 to 2020
I currently live in Paris
It makes you modest to travel. You can see what a small place we occupy in the world
Gustave Flaubert
My latest articles
If this is your first visit to this site, I invite you to read my Who am I? and How did I create my blog? pages before the articles below.
Kindly note that I haven’t translated all my articles written in French yet. Please revisit later as the blog will be continuously enriched.
If you have any advice or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Keys to a Successful Independent Trip to Egypt
Contrary to popular belief, traveling independently in Egypt is easy, thanks to a highly developed tourism infrastructure.
Egypt by the sea: Marsa Matruh, Alexandria and Sinai
We discovered Egypt’s cultural and geographical contrasts between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
En route to the little-known oasis of Siwa
The Siwa oasis has to be earned, as it takes nine hours by car to reach it from Cairo. But once there, it’s an enchantment!
Take your time and explore Cairo in five days
Cairo is a megalopolis with 24 million inhabitants. At the end of Ramadan, we explored it for five days. It was fascinating!
Egypt off the beaten track
We spent four weeks in Egypt, discovering Cairo, then the hidden oasis of Siwa, Alexandria, and finally, Sinai.
Getting to Puglia by train from Paris
For my second trip to Puglia, I decided to return by train via Zurich and Milan. It was 26 hours of pleasure!
Dublin to Paris via Cherbourg by Ferry and Train
I returned from Dublin to Paris by ferry and train via Cherbourg. This is the last in a series of accounts of a trip from France to Ireland via the UK.
London to Dublin by train and ferry via Liverpool and Belfast
I traveled from London to Dublin by train and ferry, with stops in Liverpool and Belfast. The third story in a series from Paris to Ireland.
London by boat and on foot along the River Thames
I spent two days discovering the River Thames, key to London’s development. This is the second story in a series from Paris to Ireland.
Paris to London by train and ferry via Dieppe and Brighton
I traveled from Paris to London by train and ferry, with stops in Dieppe and Brighton. The first story in a series leading to Ireland.
Visit Hamburg on foot or by bike
Hamburg is a fascinating city oriented towards the world. I propose three walking or cycling routes for you to discover it.
I tested the new-generation Nightjet night train
I tested the new-generation Nightjet night train, in mini-cabin and sleeper, between Hamburg and Innsbruck.
Paris Nice: in the footsteps of the Train Bleu
With its prestigious past, Paris Nice is the ideal connection for night trains. I tested the new service at the end of 2023.
Visit the Stockholm archipelago: a unique place in the world
Tell Stockholmers about the archipelago and you’ll see their eyes light up! If you go to Stockholm, I invite you to visit it too.
Stockholm on foot or by bike: Södermalm, Djurgården and the surrounding area
Discover Stockholm with my best walks and bike rides in and around Södermalm and Djurgården.
Stockholm on foot or by bike: Gamla Stan, the center and north of the city
Discover Stockholm with my best walks and bike rides in Galam Stan, in the center and north of the city. I lived there for 18 months.
Stockholm: Discovering the city and the Swedes
I lived in Stockholm for 18 months and fell in love with the city and the Swedish people. I’ll tell you why and how.
Eurostar: my analysis from a brand and customer perspective
As a transport and marketing professional, here’s my take on the switch from the Thalys brand to Eurostar.
The spirit of Travels-of-a-life.com
Travel is a bit like cooking. Everyone does it but in different ways.
Some are pleased with tourist packages, just as they buy ready-made meals. Others are adventurers, creating extraordinary dishes or journeys that ordinary people don’t make. You may want to specialize in a particular cuisine, country or travel style.
There are curious jacks of all trades who explore unfamiliar flavors but also appreciate familiar ones.
I’m in this category and with my blog I want to share with you everything I’ve learned about travel over my various decades. I’ve traveled as a child, a businessman, a customer, a steward, a backpacker, a cruiser, a tour leader, a backpacker, a VIP, etc… The spectrum of my experience is vast. Sharing it with others in this blog is my main objective.
Finally, this blog does not claim to be exhaustive. Its aim is to make you want to travel, and to give you the keys to do it yourself.
The values of Travels-of-a-life.com
The blog reflects the values I believe in, which can be summed up in four words.
Sincerity: what I write is what I think and the fruit of my experience. I have a lot of travel experience, but it’s not universal. You won’t find an article like “the top 10” or “the ultimate guide” if I don’t have the legitimacy to write it.
Constructive: I want to bring you something valuable. That’s why I’m careful not to get bogged down in useless considerations, but to deliver a feeling, advice, or opinion concisely or well-argued.
Open-minded: I don’t believe in clear-cut positions. I don’t think you “absolutely” have to go to one place or avoid another. A less touristy town is sometimes more interesting than a well-known spot. Everyone has their feelings and desires.
Kindness: On the web, we sometimes let ourselves go too far. Even more so on social networks. I think it’s important to keep a gentle eye. Especially in comments and opinions. Traveling has taught me that the world is more complex than we imagine.
