It's not often that Marika Favé, our impish, fast-talking mountain guide, falls silent. It's a spring morning on the packed, sun-streaked gondola to the peak of the Marmolada glacier, the highest point in the Dolomites. A former national skier for Italy whose family has lived in the Fassa Valley for generations, Favé has been telling Jack, the photographer I'm traveling with, and me about the grimly determined Austro-Hungarian soldiers who dug a small city into the ice up here during the Great War. But as the gondola passes another rocky bluff and great blankets of untouched shadow-draped powder come into view, the war stories cease and a grin spreads across her face. We don't know exactly what the plan is when the gondola clanks to a halt at the Punta Rocca, a viewing platform at 10,700 feet that looks out over all of the Dolomites. But the mountain air seems charged with the palpable sense that, on this exact Thursday morning, something very good is about to happen.
In Lagos, Nigeria, Creative Identity Thrives in Community
09.12.2024 - 18:21 / cntraveler.com
Urban Africa is a love letter to the bustling African metropolises south of the great desert—Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg, to name a few—that are dynamic, diverse, and more traveler-ready than ever. Find more inspiration here.
Lagos is not a city that gently introduces itself: It grabs you from the moment you arrive—the air, thick with a blend of heat, humidity, and the unmistakable hum of life moving at breakneck speed. It’s a blur of noise, color, and relentless ambition—ever-enticing yet overwhelming. But beneath its chaotic exterior, a different Lagos breathes, one that is not solely about survival or hustle. This Lagos is about community, connection, and creation. It is the Lagos of third places.
It’s a humid Saturday evening on Lagos Island when I meet Jomi Marcus-Bello, a cofounder of Waf.lagos, a streetwear brand and skating collective, at its much anticipated Skate Noise festival hosted in collaboration with Spotify Africa. The park is alive, a symphony of music, clattering boards, and high spirits. Jomi, skateboard in hand, glides through the crowd like a local hero, pausing to cheer on skaters as they perform tricks. He tells me about his childhood and the love that gave birth to this place—not just a love for skateboarding but also for his neighborhood, the kids on the streets, and the city itself.
“I grew up like these kids,” Jomi tells me, gesturing toward a group of teens lining up for their turn. “But I didn’t have a space like this. Now I’m living the life I used to dream about but right here in my city.” What began out of a passion for skateboarding and the desire for community has evolved into a full-fledged cultural movement. For Jomi, Waf.Skatepark is more than a skate park; it’s a communal hub where different subcultures meet and thrive. For visitors, Waf offers a glimpse into Lagos’s creative and rebellious spirit, where youth are not merely participating but also reshaping the culture of the city.
“Waf represents inclusivity,” says Adedolapo, a photographer and loyal member of the community. Nearby, Aisha, another regular, shares, “It’s a home for like-minded individuals, a space for those with niche interests.” She introduces me to Mohammed, a creative who recently moved to Lagos from Abuja, the nation’s capital. “For newcomers like me, places like Waf offer a sense of belonging,” he explains. “Lagos is a city of opportunity, but it’s communities like this that make you feel part of its fabric.” In a city of over 30 million, it’s the sense of belonging that many seek, even if just for an evening.
Waf’s influence extends beyond the skatepark, inspiring initiatives like Dencity—a collective founded by Blessing Ewona to create safe spaces for femme and
In Kenya, Community-Based Initiatives are Redefining the Conservation Model
At Ol Pejeta, a private conservancy in Kenya where lions and cheetah roam, the Ugandan Ankole cows look a little out of place. It would be easy to think they had wandered away from a nearby village, destined to become unlucky prey for the big game animals. But actually, the cows are supposed to be here: They create biodiversity hot spots for other herbivores by stripping the grass, and they function within a beef enterprise that generates a supplementary source of revenue for Ol Pejeta—money that ultimately goes back into conservation of the land and wildlife.
12 of the best places to go in Europe in spring
Dec 23, 2024 • 10 min read
In Georgia, Wine Forges National Identity—and Deep Pride
Editor's note: This story was reported in the summer of 2024. Recently, Tbilisi has marked by protests against the government, and harsh crackdowns on activists—the history of its wine is just one peephole into the country's political tensions, though far from the complete story. We encourage you to read more for a fuller picture.
An insider’s guide to Austin’s 19 best LGBTIQ+ bars, clubs, community spaces & events
Dec 16, 2024 • 11 min read
This Artsy Hotel Pairs Modern Fittings With Classic London Views
Europe’s perkiest hospitality brand puts chic lodging, art, extracurriculars, and gastronomy under one roof. And, in the case of art’otel Battersea Power Station, that roof is topped with a vertigo-inducing infinity pool and cocktail bar overlooking London’s powerful landmark.
Dakar Style Is a Lived Experience
Urban Africa is a love letter to the bustling African metropolises south of the great desert—Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg, to name a few—that are dynamic, diverse, and more traveler-ready than ever. Find more inspiration here.
In This Addis Ababa Skatepark, Weekends Belong to the Girls
Urban Africa is a love letter to the bustling African metropolises south of the great desert—Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg, to name a few—that are dynamic, diverse, and more traveler-ready than ever. Find more inspiration here.
The Best of African Cities
Africa’s riches are staggering. Yet, while its baobab trees, lions and gorillas, and deltas like the Okavango have long captured the world’s imaginations, its cities have been too often overlooked by travelers from beyond the continent, despite being equally exciting cultural ecosystems, and destinations in their own right.
Kigali Is Africa's Most Exciting Food City—and the Time to Visit Is Now
Urban Africa is a love letter to the bustling African metropolises south of the great desert—Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg, to name a few—that are dynamic, diverse, and more traveler-ready than ever. Find more inspiration here.
A Guide to Africa’s Best Cities for Music and Nightlife, Courtesy of Afropop Star Mr Eazi
Urban Africa is a love letter to the bustling African metropolises south of the great desert—Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg, to name a few—that are dynamic, diverse, and more traveler-ready than ever. Find more inspiration here.
Johannesburg Is an Art and Design Lover’s Delight
Urban Africa is a love letter to the bustling African metropolises south of the great desert—Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg, to name a few—that are dynamic, diverse, and more traveler-ready than ever. Find more inspiration here.