Contributors

Alexandra Aldea
Writer
— trips
Writer Aldea grew up surrounded by the medieval walls of Lucca, Tuscany, but now lives out of a suitcase, driving from place to place with her husband. For this issue, she took a roadtrip through the historic area of Zagorohoria in Greece’s Pindus mountains. “Everyone was very friendly,” she says. “I look Greek but I don’t speak the language, so I often ended up in passionate conversations with people who had no idea that I didn’t understand,” she says. “I hope that no one tried to tell me about the best restaurants to eat at.”

What do you do to relax and get away from it all?
I love to walk barefoot to the sound of thundering waves on 13th Beach in Barwon Heads, Australia; lie on the grass of the Santa Croce bastion in Lucca in spring; float anywhere in the Aegean in summer; and ski down gentle slopes in Courmayeur come winter.

Duangsuda Kittivattananon
Photographer
— trips
Bangkok native Kittivattananon is a photographer, part-time illustrator and keen baker. She has previously worked for several Thai and South Korean magazines. We dispatched her to eastern Thailand for this issue. “It was my first time visiting Koh Chang island,” she says. “It was so restful.”

Where do you like to hole up on holiday?
One of my favourite places to visit is Mojiko, a port town near Fukuoka, Japan. It has a beautiful harbour and a fascinating mix of retro-style buildings and Western architecture.

Alexandra de Cramer
Writer
— trips
Istanbul-based, Hanover-born writer De Cramer spent her childhood in the coastal town of Izmir. For The Escapist, she returned to the region to capture the serene beauty of Macakizi in Bodrum. “This commission was like finding the perfect tan line – just the right balance of work and play,” she says jokingly.

Where is your favourite place to unwind?
Forest-bathing along the Philosophers’ Way in Heidelberg is my only constant. This picturesque German town, nestled on both banks of the Neckar river, is home to my aunt and uncle. I have been walking this route, which poets traversed in the 19th century, for as long as I can remember. The last time was in August and I can’t wait to return.

Marco Argüello
Photographer
— trips
Former producer Argüello was born in the US but moved to Greece in 2017, where he now works as a full-time freelance photographer. In his spare time, you might also find him honing his racquet skills at the tennis court. He captured the beauty of northwestern Greece for this year’s edition of The Escapist.

A lesser-known destination you’d recommend?
My family is originally from Paraguay. I love how laidback it is. Other than that, I like to visit the island of Sifnos, where I was married.

Florian Siebeck
Writer
— wishlist
German writer Siebeck was born and raised in Berlin. He relocated to Frankfurt several years ago, though his work as a monocle correspondent means that he is often on the road. “I have probably spent about 3,300 hours on planes, which is equivalent to some 20 weeks in the air,” he says. We asked him to travel to New York for this issue, where he reported on recently opened hotel The Manner. “The Hannes Peer-designed interiors have this touch of Italian sophistication. They exude the ambiance of a grand, ultra-luxurious mansion.”

Where do you go for a little R&R?
I have only visited São Tomé and Príncipe once but this small island nation left an indelible impression on me. The phrase “léveléve,” which loosely translates to “take it easy”, is something of an unofficial motto there. It perfectly captures the country’s serene, unhurried atmosphere. I also love to catch up with friends in Iceland’s sundlaugar (public thermal pools). Conversation flows until our hands become alarmingly wrinkled. It’s a fulfilling way to reconnect.