Lago Trasimeno, Cioccolato e Cashmere

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Umbria On the Blog Video and Travel Bloggers who Unite

Umbria

First of all, Umbria is great. I can say nothing else. Green, lovely, friendly, lots of history. It is not the little sister of Tuscany, it is the beautiful, wise sister of Tuscany.

How it all started for me

This February I got interested in travel blogging. I was always interested in travel, but blogging about it is another step on the road to travel wisdom. Why wisdom? Well you really have to start thinking what it really is you like about travel. It is not just a feeling anymore you experience on your own. Question is: What do you really want to share?

On my internet surfing board I did find a whole new world. Not some lonely island for lost web surfers.

Travel Bloggers Unite. Lots of people like to travel – news!! – Am not alone.

I am from the Netherlands, which to me is like the lonely island for travel bloggers. Not a whole community of bloggers waiting to mingle and meet. Dutch people go on vacation or leave the country all together. Travel as a way of life is not so common (yet?). That is what I have noticed so far.

Point to the story is: I decided to go to Umbria, to meet the Travel Bloggers who Unite.

Road Trip to Umbria

I arrived in Umbria after an eighteen hour drive from Amsterdam. Going by plane is fine for me, getting to know the road between me and the destination is the best way for me.

Somewhere between Ingolstadt and Florence, but in Italy, on the Autostrada del Brennero, I stop to get LPG at the gas station.

Hitchhiker from Denmark

The attendant wants me to know that in Italy they say GPL not LPG, just the other way around, that is the Italian way. Makes sense to me?

After filling up the LPG, GPL… he points out to me the hitchhiker who has been there for a while already. If I can give him a lift? Advice from family and friends, tv shows about mysteries yet unsolved, flash through my mind as if it is my last thought.

The attendant really has his mind-set on helping the hitchhiker. I tell him as a woman it is not so smart to transport hitchhikers or do anything that includes the word hitchhike. With all the fire in his voice: “I think he is from your country, if he were Italian I would not recommend it” (sorry Italians, his words not mine, and no it did make me feel more at ease). Turns out he is from Denmark and appeared harmless enough Who is going drive away from fellow Danish far away from home, on the Autostrada del Brennero?

He turned out a friendly hitchhiker. Telling me all about his adventures and travels up until that point. From truck drivers who propose to runaway brides and drivers who dropped him off in dangerous little triangles in the middle of the road. Our way separated just before the dark roads of the Florence country side. I hope he will make his way to Malta, Thailand and Kentucky in the United States (before August am not sure…). Safe traveling!

Travel Bloggers did Unite in Santa Maria degli Angeli

Valle di Assisi hotel and resort was the scene of the TBU conference. Very nice location. Close to Assisi.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. What kind of people would I meet? Are travel bloggers and tweeters real people or just fiction…? Who do you recognise from their Twitter account?

Is the hotel going to be filled with avatars who claim to be travel bloggers but  in fact are aliens from another planet ready to brainwash me and have me travel till the end of times to the far corners of the milky way?

It’s a strange transition. But educational as travel blogger to be. And the travel bloggers turned out to be lovely, friendly human beings blogging great stuff.  note: I did not draw their blood to see if it is actually red – since that would make unpopular right from the start

After arrival day all the TBU fun did start, workshops, meeting and greeting, finding your spot in travel blogger paradise.

I missed dinner a few times since I was actually just to tired. Lots of new stuff in a short period of time (in fact I was going to need space for all the luscious food still ahead on the post conference tour).

be aware: travel blogging and diets don’t mix – unless you start blogging about bikini boot camps… mm I can put this in my travel blogging think-tank

After the conference we left on a post conference trip of our own choice. Me and other lucky bloggers went on the Chocolate and Cashmere tour. Great trip. I really had a few #TravelToTheEndOfTheWorld moments.

Back to Amsterdam

The way home I took a more scenic route through Pisa-Italy, Innsbruck-Austria and Luxembourg City-Luxembourg. Luxembourg really is the green heart of Europe.

To be short

TBU was a learning experience and I really met some great, travel blogging friends. Along the road I had time to think, so I am 100% sure!

Travel Blogger Stay United!

Umbria On the Blog Video and Travel Bloggers who Unite