About | Beyond Our Footprints

Our Story

Before deciding to travel full time, we lived in Leiden, in the Netherlands for many years. Our lives there revolved around the typical routine: demanding jobs, routines, responsibilities, occasional travel and the kind of stability we were taught we must have from a young age. Although we were having a good life with our friends in Leiden, eventually we felt the need to step away from that structure for a while and experience life differently!

Bright, sunny living room in the former home of Eleni and Alessandro, the travel bloggers behind Beyond Our Footprints, in Leiden, Netherlands, which we left behind to begin our year-long international travel journey. — Our old home in Leiden, The Netherlands.

Sunset view with bright pink and yellow colours from our living room in the former home, in Leiden, Netherlands, which we left behind to begin our year-long international travel journey. — Unforgettable sunset views from our old living room in Leiden.

After months of planning, organising, selling anything we wouldn’t need anytime soon and preparing ourselves mentally for our next big step, we left our jobs in May 2025, moved our things back home (Eleni to Greece and Alessandro to Italy) and spent some time with our families before officially packing our bags for a 1-year trip around the world 🌍

Eleni and Alessandro, travel bloggers behind Beyond Our Footprints, posing in a house holding all 4 backpacks and preparing to leave for their one-year trip — This is us, officially packed and ready to start our long trip!

Very quickly into our trip we realised that we didn’t want to try to fit into a perfect lifestyle or race to see as much as possible and tick all the experience boxes. We tried to see how it feels to record videos for Youtube, or shorter videos for instagram but nothing felt quite right at that time! We just wanted to experience the world in our own unique way and share everything with friends and family without chasing followers and social media success.

Eleni and Alessandro, the travel bloggers behind Beyond Our Footprints, hanging off a stopped train in Sri Lanka next to the rails — We travelled through Sri Lanka..

Eleni and Alessandro pointing their finger to the Tianmen mountain mountain hole and smiling to the camera, in China — ..and China..

We travel on a real budget, honoring our changing energy levels, and navigating occasional uncertainty on the road (well, almost constant uncertainty but who’s counting?). We have a genuine preference for slower, more meaningful experiences over rushed itineraries. Our travels are shaped by curiosity, slow living, local experiences, and meaningful conversations as we learn how to adapt to unfamiliar places while carrying pieces of home with us along the way.

Thank you for following our story, hopefully this gives you a little inspiration! Continue reading to learn more about us individually!

Meet Eleni

Originally from Greece, I moved to London for my Master’s in Information Security and spent nearly a decade abroad, working in cybersecurity for a global fintech company. While I truly enjoyed my career, it left me with almost no freedom over my time, my schedule, or my days.

I always had this nagging feeling that there had to be a different way to live.

After experiencing burnout shortly before leaving my corporate job, I realized how much I needed a slower, more flexible pace of living. This realization naturally shaped how we travel today.

When I am not exploring, you will find me journaling (which is exactly how this blog was born!), getting lost in a good book or jigsaw puzzle, working out, or enjoying a slow evening with friends and deep conversations about life.

If you’re reading this, thank you so much for being here. Feel free to connect with me, I’d love to hear your story too 🙂

Meet Alessandro

After an unforgettable night in Venice trading stories with a crew of artists from Great Britain all the way to Singapore, something struck me. I realized I wanted to live driven by curiosity, surrounded by different languages, connecting with people across the World.

That night of 20 years ago turned into a life spent abroad. First, ten years in The Netherlands, and then later, one year and counting with my passport in the pocket and the backpack always ready.

How We Travel

Slow & Intentional Travel

We prefer longer stays, flexible plans, and getting familiar with places beyond the standard tourist checklist.

Conscious Budgeting

We travel comfortably but mindfully, finding a good balance between unique experiences, daily routines and realistic affordability.

Embracing Local Routines

Finding local gyms and quiet cafés, navigating grocery stores, and taking afternoon walks matter just as much to us as major sightseeing.

Why We Write

We created this space to offer an honest look at long-term travel: the beautiful, the complicated, and the practical. In an online world often filled with high expectations and unrealistic portrayals of life on the road, we wanted to talk about the real deal.

We grew tired of perfectly curated content that felt impossible to match, so we built a space that reflects the reality of it all: the budgeting, the uncertainty, the stress, and the deep reward of traveling as a partner full-time.

We hope this serves as a genuine resource for fellow travelers. Whether you are looking for the inner strength to follow your own dreams, seeking realistic advice for your next journey, or simply wanting to embrace the nuances of a slower, more intentional lifestyle.