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Motorhome vs. campervan + travel checklist (honest review)
On June 4, 2021 by marghevivianiI think many of us think what is actually better, motorhome or minivan? But there is no exact answer, better if you try both 🙂 Here I prepared our own experience, considering that we did seven month of travel in motorhome, and my husband had minivans for more than 20 years. The itinerary. Driving from Italy to Africa Thanks to travellerspoint.com for creating personal travel map. Four months Honeymoon Once we bought our camper we had a trial in Isola D’Elba for two weeks. Almost all that time we spent organising the car in our way and just a little bit to enjoy the trip. After we went to France for the whole September and then I realized that is quite challenging. Because you stay together 24/7 with the person you travel. Yes, it was a big camper but after all, we were always together in a small space. After France, we had to come back to Italy… To marry 🙂 We had passed the challenge of camper! And immediately after that, we went for a very long honeymoon. From Italy, along the seaside in Portugal until Morocco. We saw the biggest waves in Nazare, we saw a real Morocco outside of resorts and big cities, we hid inside of our camper during the trip by boat. And we came back home in three. What to consider while travelling by camper: Motorhome or minivan? It took us months to find a perfect solution for us. My husband is a super experience, he has years of traveling with a Minivan and even a Volkswagen Retro van, which he changed by himself from a normal van to a campervan. But for me, it was absolutely a new experience. And he decided to try a motorhome this time, so at least it was new also for him. Minivan means small space Minivan is way much smaller, which makes it easier to get to some places. But also it means that inside you have much less space. It would be perfect for one person, but I saw people traveling in two, or two plus dog, or even two plus a baby. And I would say that these people are very brave. Because you have to be good at organising your space in a minimalistic way but at the same time functional way. Be ready to switch bed with the kitchen every single day and to search for a toilet in an open space. People who travel by minivan spend most of the time outside, even for a shower and cooking. But exists also the option with a kitchen inside and even a tiny bathroom. It always depends but what kind of van you chose, if it’s already a ready one or a DIY. There are no limits to creativity. For me, honestly, it would be difficult to live five months in a van. I saw plenty of these beautifully designed minivans on Pinterest, with an ocean view from the bed. And is magnificent images, which make you dream about your one. But when you try, you might change your idea. In my opinion, is very suitable for short trips and only in nature. In the case of traveling for many months, and not look like a monkey if you wanna stop in the city is better to get a Motorhome. Benefits of a motorhome Big space, we had enough space for two. Our camper had a kitchen, dining area, shower, and the bad which was always there, ready. We could hide there on rainy days and still feeling at home. There also was hot water and general heating, which was super helpful during cooler days. Imagine how incredible it is, you come back after surfing in the cold ocean, you have your house just a few steps there on the same beach, and you can take a hot warming shower and even dry your hair with a hairdryer. Cool huh? After all, you feel wild the same, but a little bit with more comfort and space. We could take two bicycles, skateboards and surfboards. Traveling with your home on wheels is an unforgettable experience. You see what others don’t see. And if you still think what suits you better motorhome or minivan, I encourage you to make a list of your needs and visualise how you trip might go. Then just go to the store and check what your market is offering, what you like more motorhome or minivan. Hope it was useful. Feel free to leave the comment or contact me here. Also you can follow my Instagram to stay in touch. Yours Marghe.
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Pros and cons of the life in Italy
On March 25, 2021 by marghevivianiCome to Italy once and it will stay in your heart forever. All my friends who have visited Italy say the same thing: “I wish to live here.” But when you start living here you find out that maybe is ok just to come for vacation. It’s a really beautiful country, but then life took me here very unexpected. I can not compare it to Asia, is completely another world. But in every place exist its positive and negative sides. And here I collected my impressions after I became a resident in Italy. Positives Taste of beauty I think Italians have it in their DNA. They do have very good taste in everything. It’s a fact and nothing more I can say here. Comfort zone out of the house From the sense of beauty comes comfort everywhere you are. Doesn’t matter if you are on the city street, on the highway, supermarket or in the village. It feels good everywhere because people are still respectful and trying to keep everything clean and new. People live long and with joy Everyone knows how Italians love life and if there is a time to rest, they rest. Not like us, Russians, even weekend or holidays we spent working. Here if it’s lunchtime means nobody thinks of work. And, very fresh air, good food, and no rush improve the health of anyone. I don’t talk about big cities. And hey, grandmother of my husband is going to turn 100 this July. Everything has fine quality I still don’t find anything that has a sign “made in Italy”, but has bad quality. If it’s a dress or a dining table, is done perfectly and will last long. Bidet is a standard in every house That’s my favorite 🙂 Usually, only rich people put bidet in their villas, but in Italy is a ‘must have’ in every house or apartment. First, it helps to use less paper. And second, you stay clean! High quality public medicine Here public hospitals have the same quality as private in Russia. And is for free! I had not much experience, but going through the pregnancy in Italy made me meet hospital walls few times. And you don’t wanna run away from there immediately 🙂 Negatives Everything is very expensive Houses, food, petrol are costing here. Yes, you might say that people here also have higher salaries, but not everyone. As everywhere in the world, prices only grow but salaries are the same as a few years ago. Many Italian families prefer to have only one child only because with second will arrive much more costs. High taxes for entrepreneurs My husband is a businessman. And he is not the only one who always has to find a way how to pay fewer taxes. You must be smart enough to prove to the government that you don’t own so much as in the reality. If not do so, all the income will be spent on a huge amount of different taxes. People are very materialistic Yes, we are all materialistic. But here things manage you, not the opposite. Especially the old generation likes to collect much stuff until there is not much space in their houses. Kids without vaccines can’t go to kindergarten If your child is not vaccinated with ten obligated vaccines he or she can not go to kindergarten even private. As you see there are more pros than cons. But is objectively my opinion after living here a while. I will never change my opinion that Italy for vacation is a perfect destination. That’s why many of my yoga teacher friends organise plenty of Yoga Retreats in all Italy. I prepared here a list of Yoga retreats in Italy if you consider Italy as your next holiday destination. Hope it was useful. Please feel free to comment or contact me straight if you have anything to share. I will be very happy to get in touch and to know what you think. Also you can follow my Instagam here. Have a great time!
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Sustainable lifestyle. Tips on ‘how to’
On March 17, 2021 by marghevivianiHere I made a list of sustainable habits that helps us to consume less and to become more eco-friendly. For our family became normal to live this way. My husband lives like this already 30 years. So here are our sustainable habits: 1. Use textile shopping bags instead of plastic. This is easy and most of the shops start providing textile bags for free. Just keep in mind to have one-two with you when going out. 2. Drink coffee inside instead of taking it away. Read more5 sustainable essentials for a newborn (tested)Yeah, It looks cool to run for work with a Starbucks cup in a hand, but just imagine how many takeaway cups we throw daily. Just give yourself few quiet minutes to enjoy your drink inside of the coffee shop. 3. Cook as much as you and your family can eat. No need to make more and then leave for another day, and another day, and then throw away. Food has vital energy only three hours after being prepared. The same with ordering in restaurants. Order as much as you can consume in one time. 4. Sort the trash. I know that also sorting trash is not everywhere possible to do. In Europe there are all conditions and also the regulation to let you separate plastic from organic. But in the places like Russia or Indonesia is almost not possible. There, even if you find different trash bins for each material, it doesn’t mean that they are going to recycle them separately. So the sustainable option is simply to try to produce less trash is possible. 5. Keep tissues or paper towels from the restaurant. Read moreUnwrap Joy: Unique Christmas Present Ideas for Everyone on Your ListBelieve me, most of the time we don’t use them completely. Just take it with you. There are many situations when you might need a not perfect tissue. Just keep it in your pocket or bag. This trick I took from my husband. He never buys tissues, already many years. At home, we use only textiles tissues, and napkins also for guests. Try to think different, is not gonna show that you are poor. It showing that you think deeper and care about the environment. 6. No water in plastic. Use your nice bottle to refill with water at home, or some other places where is possible to get drinking water. In Kamchatka and Italy is fine to drink water from the tap, in other places we use filters, in Bali, we were buying 20 liters bottles and refilling them with water providers companies. There is always exist a solution. Again, since I’ve met my husband I have never bought a plastic bottle. Yes, maybe was once or twice because was special conditions, but only that time. Before in China, I used to buy many many bottles every day thinking is normal. 7. Be out of fashion Not literally 🙂 But lately, we buy more and more clothes even if we will wear them just once. I am like this, but let’s try to buy less but good quality. If not possibly find a way to recycle your dresses. There are now tones of eco-friendly fashion brands. 8. When going groceries choose products packed in less plastic possible. In Asia, they like mono dose packing. We don’t buy them! If there is a possibility to choose we prefer glass or paper packages. 9. If shopping, shop local. Imagine how much pollution produce big companies to provide you with what you are buying. I don’t think they use electric cars for the delivery. 10. Water instead of toilet paper. I love that in Italy is a standard to have a WC together with a bidet. It must become a rule for everyone’s house. We talk about less consume right? Think deeper, how many forests must die for all this amount of paper we use every day. 11. And the last one, is to switch petrol car to electric. Or the best is to ride a bicycle 🙂 But if you have your car, search how to make it more eco-friendly. Hope it is useful and please feel free to leave a comment with your own sustainable habits. You can follow my Instagram here. Read also 10 thing to be happy about. Have a great day! Yours Marghe