The Connoisseur
Kenya inspired my passion for travel
Travel Buff
Courtesy
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us”-Alexis de Vilar, Spanish author, photojournalist and modern-day explorer. De Vilar’s thirst for solo travel begun when he was just 16 years old. For over five decades, he has visited more than 30 countries and immortalises his experiences through the camera that remains his inseparable companion. In addition, he has written several books and novels outlining some of his experiences in leading publications and also presenting his work in art galleries and museums across Africa, Asia and in his native Spain. Yet even with such long list of destinations, to him travel is not just about collecting a checklist of countries and stamps in the passport, but about friendships and knowledge. Kenya has a special place in his heart because this was his first journey outside Europe. “It was in 1972 when I was sent to East Africa by a domestic newspaper from my home town, Barcelona, to cover the Uganda war. Most international journalists used to hang out at The New Stanley in downtown Nairobi and the Thorn Tree bar at street level. I recall a safe and clean city where one could walk at any hour without fear of being attacked. There were also less cars, more trees and no pollution with trees everywhere,” he reminisces.......