Lakes of teal -Emanuele Mariotti

There’s one word that comes to mind scrolling through Emanuele’s photos, breath taking. Okay, that’s not one word but still. Scrolling through his pics I can’t help but marvel at the insane places he’s been and seeing these places through his lens (literally) inspires me a ton. Plus, I’m always a fan of seeing gay relationships portrayed the way he and his boyfriend are in Emanuele’s pics. Please, if you’ve gotten this far you HAVE to check out his images down below!

Why do you adventure?

I've always had a beautiful relationship with nature since I was a child. I started camping when I was very young as a boy-scout and I never stopped exploring because I really love the forest and the wildlife.

Why do you explore?

I explore because I'm curious. When I was young I always wanted to see the landscape behind the hill, and now I still want to go beyond the surface of things, to see the hidden beauty behind.

Why take risks in life?

I think that everyone needs to take some risks and get out of their comfort zone sometimes to feel alive, without always being worried about the consequences.

Where are you from?

I'm from Rome, Italy, a city that I love and where I was born and raised.

What is your 9-5?

I do many things during my day, I don’t have a routine. When I’m in Rome I try to work-out in the morning with my boyfriend, the rest of the day is always a surprise. I work as a photographer and I develop personal photography projects. During the weekend I always try to explore new places.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be?

I grew up nurturing many dreams. One of my favorite dreams was to be a wizard like Harry Potter, to have the power to change things and to live in a magic world (which happens also without having superpowers XD)

Favorite place you've visited?

I have many favorite places. One of the latest that I have added to the list of favorites is definitely Lake Braies, which is a lake in the middle of the Dolomites. I've been there because my boyfriend gifted me a weekend there for my birthday and it was amazing. The atmosphere was perfect, and that place looks amazing every time of the year, so you never get bored. Another beautiful place I’ve been recently is Trentino Alto-Adige, in the north of Italy, in particular, Resia and Carezza lakes. I also loved Japan, in which I lived for a month.

Place you most desperately want to visit?

Iceland for sure, but also Canada (I’d love to spend some time in a cabin house in the middle of the forest), Cuba, Thailand. The entire world :P

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? There are many. The ones I liked most are the stories of the old men and women I met throughout my trips. We should learn from those stories, they could be very precious.

What has changed about you because of your travels?

I have become more curious. I think the more you travel and get to know other cultures the more you want to know and discover in the world.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?

My boyfriend for sure. It's thanks to him that I grew my passion for traveling, discovering new places, and sharing experiences with him. He's a really curious person, even more than me, so it's always cool to arrange new trips together. We travel a lot and we never want to stop.

If you could travel with one person in history or in the present who would it be and why?

my grandmother in history, because I loved the way she lived and the passion she had living her life. My boyfriend in the present because of all of the things I said before.

Must-haves for travel?

For sure a camera. I can't imagine traveling without that. For the other things, I don't think I'm the best person to ask this kind of question because It's always hard for me to pack -every time I'd like to carry half of the house with me. The essentials... camera, a good book and someone you love by your side.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before?

You're definitely wasting your time. Open your eyes with the beauty of our world.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

It is very important to understand that everyone is different, and everyone deserves respect. So, respect, learn and listen to who is in front of you. Don't be selfish and accept the world and its differences.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson?

I always feel out of my comfort zone when I do something I don't know. Doing things we don't know can be scary, but it helps us to improve, to prove our limits and be aware of them

What would you say to your former self?

feel free to be who you are because you deserve it. Don't be afraid to do what you like and fight for your dreams.

What gives you hope?

love. Human love is the thing I most need to be hopeful.

Where to next?

I’d like to go to Bali at the beginning of the next year. I’d love to come back again to the mountains of north Italy before it gets too cold.

Is flannel always in season?

I think so. Flannel means forest to me. So it's always the season to go to the forest wearing a flannel shirt.

Travel tips? Live with locals, as a local: taste the local food, explore the historical sites, dive into the daily life and get in touch with people living in the place you are visiting, try to understand their habits

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader?

I had many little ones but I don't think any of them would be very impactful. I think many interesting stories have to come on my trips.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger?

Be more helpful to each other. Because only together can we be stronger.

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Facebook

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