Map of Paris

This place is special to me because it’s emotionally connected to the memory of my youth. I discovered Berlin at a time when I was figuring out who I wanted to be, so every corner evokes intense emotions, memories and life expectations. I have recently moved back after ten years (who would have thought!). Reencounters can be a little bittersweet. The city has changed a lot, and so have I, but I am pretty sure it still remains one of the big love affairs of my life. Here goes a bit of the old and a bit of the new Berlin, some of my favorite places to share with the many visits you receive when you don’t live in your country of origin. Hope you enjoy the walk!

This place is special to me because I live in Amsterdam Eastside, which is the most amazing colourful neighbourhood. With colourful I mean there are people of so many cultures living here, it's wonderful. And the last couple of years many students have come to live here too, which means it's the most lively area you can possibly imagine!! You can get food and foodstuffs from all over the world and cafes and restaurants everywhere....see for yourself....

This place is special to me because it is where i spent my childhood summers, at my grandparents’ house. Bueu is a charming fishing village where you can eat the best seafood, octopus, fish... and spend the day at any of its beautiful beaches! Worth the visit just for that sea breeze in any corner.

Map illustrating Southwest France

This place is special to me because I grew up visiting Wales a lot, as my father was born there. I still visit Wales every year, sometimes twice a year to enjoy the great outdoors. Wales is not so well known by many people but it has such amazing things to offer, so I decided to make a map especially for the contest about Wales and in particular the south. I hope this map will encourage you to explore it as well and I hope you will enjoy it just as much as I do every time I visit.

This is a very special place to me because when I lived in Paris as an au pair I was so charmed by the city’s flair that I could just walk around aimlessly while gathering impressions. I remember stopping by each and every patisserie, admiring the window displays of the most elaborate cakes and tartes in delicious colours. I could only imagine how they tasted (they were expensive). Many years have gone by since then! My map features some of the finest and most famous addresses of patisseries one can find in Paris.

Tenerife was the first of the Canary Islands that I visited a few years ago. The reason for the trip was my wish to experience the second biggest Carnaval in the world after Rio de Janeiro. And it was amazing! I was even more impressed by its lovely nature parks with volcano and moon landscapes, the diversity of plants, sweet little towns loaded with history, delicious food, a lot of sun and mild temperatures in February! So after this trip I was sure that I have to visit the remaining six islands of this beautiful and very special place for me!

This illustration is an autobiographical map of many of the places dear to me. It's got anything from stupid and fun things I did as a kid, to my girlfriend Meg & I buying our first house this year and doing it up.
And lots of tea, beer and coffee!

This place is special to me because it has opened me the doors to the world of whales and has given me inspiration, good friends, illustration projects, work, contacts, relax, adventures and even an art exhibition at the Húsavík Whale Museum! Every time I’m there, I feel like being home and there is always something good to do! Go see the whales, relax at the sea baths looking at the bay, get inspired by the mountains, a coffee or a tasty lobster soup, explore the town museums, walk around the harbor or near the river, or just breathe and feel that you exist! This is my heart’s home, a place where I’ve always belonged to.

This place is special to me because it's where we go on vacation every summer to visit my mother-in-law, who moved to the town of Carvoeiro over 20 years ago. Drawing this map, I kept thinking of all the wonderful reasons I love it here. The rocky cove beaches, the amazing azulejos (tiles) covering the outsides of buildings and insides of churches, delicious fresh fish (grilled sardines!), the scent of eucalyptus trees up on Monchique, where you can refill your water bottle directly from the spring, the beautiful doors everywhere, the crystalline turquoise water and deep blue skies, the curious cork trees halfway stripped of their bark, (and shops that sell everything made of cork), the dolphin sightings, the delicious pastry called pastel de nata (custard cups...think flan pie!), the fabulous soaps I bring back, the hill towns and medieval castles. The soulful fado singing. The fields of crooked almond trees, and almond liqueur. The piri-piri hot sauce that I'm obsessed with! A million stars pinned against a clear black night sky. Sooooo many good things. My daughter took her first steps and went to her first beach here, on Praia Grande. The weather is always sunny and perfect, and each time we go it's a combination of visiting all of our favorite places (like Porches, for pottery) and trying new ones. One time we drove to Sagres which is the most southwestern point in Portugal. You can walk out to the tip of the cape, atop tall vertical cliffs, surrounded by water on 3 sides. The place is magical and really feels like the edge of the world. A nearby beach made of smooth black rocks is a good place to watch surfers. The people in the Algarve are so friendly and welcoming, it really is an easy place to just be. By the end of our visit we always realize how this place has taught us to slow down and relax.

Just my take on one of the most magical places on earth.

This place is special to me because I studied here at the Savannah College of Art and Deign for four amazing years. You can bet I became acquainted with every coffee shop that stayed open past 6pm! From the hangout across the Illustration building to the coffee shop that has s'mores, wine, AND tacos, these are my favorite places to get a caffeine fix!

This place is special to me because of the wonderful chilhood memories I have there. I grew up in Brussels and I remember my weekends being full of museum visits, bike rides and waffle breaks. What inspired me the most to create this map was to think about all the places I go to when I have international friends coming for a short visit and I have to introduce them to my hometown in only a weekend. You can be sure that food is always a big part of the experience!