Justin - Author Biography
I’m Justin, an Aussie who swapped the land down under for the charm of Italy.
In my other life I was an industrial Electrician and a business owner. After building and leading teams in various businesses, I made a bold decision to leave my career behind. The allure of Italy, its rich history, and the opportunity to embrace a different lifestyle proved irresistible.
So, we sold our house, packed up our lives into boxes (including our faithful dog, Cooper), and started our new life in Italy, on the Ligurian coast close to Cinque Terre and Pisa.
My Adventures So Far
My travels began a long time before moving to La Spezia, Italy.
As a young ice hockey player, I played for the Blacktown Flyers in Sydney and also spent time playing and coaching in Canada. The thrill of competition and time on the ice were a big part of my life. But my adventurous spirit couldn’t be confined to the rink.
Some of my other happiest travel memories include a safari in Limpopo, South Africa where we spent hours tracking a cheetah and watching a pride of lions devour a recent kill. During a backpacking trip through central and eastern Europe, I learned the art of bartering for free accommodation, and off the Island of Tonga in the Pacific, I stayed off the grid on a minuscule island and learned to kite-surf.
My love for other winter sports also introduced me to the travel and hospitality industry when I worked in guest services in Thredbo Australia. This same passion has also taken me to Asia and Europe. And if I’m being honest, I feel most at home in the mountains skiing or snowboarding on fresh powder and with the feeling of the world floating on by.
Sport and adventure, combined with travel to new countries, have helped define who I am today.
Travel in Italy
Before moving here we had been to Italy on multiple occasions and visited the trulli in Puglia, wineries in Tuscany, the ancient archaeology of Pompeii, and the Alps in Piemonte and the Dolomite mountains to name a few.
I often get asked where’s my favorite Italian place. And if I had to pick one, absolute must-see place, it would have to be Venice. I guess because I come from a technical and trade background, this feat of engineering is jaw-dropping.
But besides the whole place being built on a lagoon, the windy alleyways, beautiful bridges, gondolas, and Cicchetti bars all make for a unique and fun place to visit.
Living in Italy
Today, I call La Spezia home.
When I’m not at my desk, you’ll likely find me exploring the stunning hikes of Cinque Terre National Park, cycling through in the hills of the Ligurian Alps, and running on the trails close to our home.
These outdoor pursuits help me appreciate the beauty of my surroundings. But it’s also an important part of seeing firsthand what’s happening in La Spezia and the Ligurian Riveria. I believe that real-life experience is invaluable when it comes to recommending activities to our La Spezia Guide readers.
Another passion of mine is eating out! I like to find new and interesting restaurants where I can feast on the culinary specialties of the area. Coming from Australia, I’m obviously a lover of great seafood and it’s fortunate that we have an abundance of seafood restaurants in the La Spezia. Check out our blog posts for our top foodie recommendations.
How I Contribute to La Spezia Guide
As co-owner of La Spezia Guide, I combine my passion for travel with my business skills. I’m involved in crafting the content you see on our website and I also work on the website backend, ensuring that everything works and functions as it should.
You’ll also find me on our YouTube channel sharing tips and travel advice to help you plan your vacation.
The Vision for La Spezia Guide
Our vision for La Spezia Guide is to encourage more visitors to explore beyond Cinque Terre.
When we first came to the famous 5 towns in 2019, we spent a few days hiking the ancient trails and exploring the villages. Even then we felt we could have added more time on our trip to visit the wineries, explore the coast by boat, and visit interesting places like Porto Venere, Sarzana, Lerici and Tellaro.
But the reality is that most people fly through the famous UNESCO area in just one day. They power walk through the villages, take some token photos, eat a gelato and head onto their next destination. It’s sad but true that Cinque Terre has become a victim of its own Instagram fame and has attracted too many hit-and-run tourists.
We hope our blog will help people see that there is so much more to the Cinque Terre villages and encourage visitors to spend a few days to truly appreciate more of what there is to see and do around the Gulf of Poets.
If that’s the kind of travel that excites you then you’ll find my content packed full of information and ideas to help you embrace and connect with this beautiful region.
Wishing you safe, happy travels packed with adventure!
Justin
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