PLACES to be: Britta Krämer

1. DO YOU HAVE A DREAM DESTINATION OR TRAVEL TIP?

Istanbul and the Eastern Algarve of Portugal are the places that have touched me most deeply so far and where my soul has unmistakably taken root. The lively, fascinating giant metropolis that simultaneously embraces two continents and whose cultural complexity, its kaleidoscopic light moods and its soundscape weave then and now, Orient and Occident into a beguiling experience. The quiet fishing villages and small harbour towns of the archaic eastern Algarve, by contrast, still defy the hustle and bustle of tourism. The people here follow their own, mindful rhythm without much fuss and with a natural, cosmopolitan hospitality that I have rarely experienced elsewhere.

2. WHAT DOES TRAVELLING MEAN TO YOU?

For me, travelling whether for business or pleasure is synonymous with freedom, openness, and also with courage. At a time when constant mobility is part of everyday life for many of us, being on the road is also an important training in mindfulness. The more quietly and attentively I encounter a place, the deeper the insights it gives me into its true essence.

3. ON FOOT, BY BIKE, CAR, TRAIN, SHIP OR PLANE?

I prefer to travel by car: this way I can yield to my own rhythm and, above all, to the spontaneous insights and vistas that arise on a journey and take small detours when I discover interesting places along the way. But frankly, it's not really environmentally friendly: When travelling I get the deepest, most wonderful feeling as soon as I get
on the plane.

4. WHAT IS YOUR MUST HAVE ITEM IN YOUR LUGGAGE?

Flip-flops – no matter where the journey takes you!