Author: Anja

How I made my own wedding dress  (and did not turn it into a disaster)

How I made my own wedding dress (and did not turn it into a disaster)

As I skipped through my Forties, little hope did I have to marry at some point in my life.  That I made my own wedding dress is an added bonus, really. Well… “It always comes as a surprise” is a rather fitting tune from the 

Shopping in Sicily

Shopping in Sicily

My Shopping in Sicily post will be relatively short.  But it’s not to say there aren’t many wonderful things you can bring home from Sicily. Despite the dreaded virus, I finally managed a weeks holiday this year! We went to Sicily. And, as usually, I 

Travel in Sicily in times of coronavirus – my socially distant summer holiday

Travel in Sicily in times of coronavirus – my socially distant summer holiday

When the main holiday season, here from the beginning of the school holiday in late June to some time in early September came, we were still at home, watching as our government suddenly offered free (!) COVID tests to all travellers.  Many went abroad for 

Flying in Europe during COVID-19

Flying in Europe during COVID-19

For someone who catches the travel bug easily, I have been travelling only a little this year. Flying in Europe during COVID-19 can’t be fun –  or is it not that big a deal? Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, I did travel a bit, including flying 

Hotel Review: Nomads Hotel Petra, Jordan

Hotel Review: Nomads Hotel Petra, Jordan

This January, when COVID-19 had been heard of but not experienced, I went to Jordan for a week. I was looking for winter sun but got my first snow of the winter. Despite the loess than favourable weather,  I fulfilled a long-held dream by visiting 

Turkey Aegean road trip: Akyaka to Fethiye

Turkey Aegean road trip: Akyaka to Fethiye

Our Turkey Aegean  road trip continues! After a day of alternating long drives through mountainous scenery and two major archaeological sites, we decided to move  a little slower this time. We only had 100 km from the “slow city” of Akyaka to Fethiye, our next 

Fabric Shopping in Nuremberg, Germany

Fabric Shopping in Nuremberg, Germany

Fabric shopping in Nuremberg – a totally gratuitous post, you may ask? Is she scraping the bottom of the barrel now as she’s stuck at home with all the COVID-19 issues going on, sticking essential travel only (business, a funeral and visiting my in-laws)? Well, 

Hotel Review: Kerme Ottoman Palace Akyaka

Hotel Review: Kerme Ottoman Palace Akyaka

Between the large resorts of Bodrum and Marmaris lies a small village-like resort deep in a protected bay that really is not on the radar of most international tourists: Akyaka. It is yet another “Slow City” on Turkey’s Aegean Coast and a beautiful stop for 

What I learned about face masks

What I learned about face masks

Not a stranger to the surgical  mask, the last six months have been pretty taxing in terms of extreme caution. Throughout this time, I have used medical-grade FFP3, FFP2 and surgical face masks as well as made  homemade masks. From my first feeble attempts of 

Review: Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko, Aegina: a small hotel with charme and history

Review: Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko, Aegina: a small hotel with charme and history

Want to soak up the sun and enjoy a city but only got a few days? Go to Aegina, and stay at the Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko. You could do worse than fly to Athens, take a bus to Piraeus, and be in Aegina and on 

Thank You Japan Airlines! Japan Airlines refunds due to COVID-19

Thank You Japan Airlines! Japan Airlines refunds due to COVID-19

Japan Airlines refunds due to COVID-19 are, in my experience straightforward, fair and don’t take long to process.  I would like  to thank Japan Airlines for their responsible handling of the Coronavirus travel restrictions and flight cancellations. This goes to show that with so many 

Flying during the coronavirus pandemic – what can you expect?

Flying during the coronavirus pandemic – what can you expect?

Is flying during the coronavirus pandemic advisable? And if not, why on earth would I fly anyway? Well, let me tell you. While previous summers  saw me working, tending our garden and enjoying a bit of quiet, this summer kicked me in the guts real 

Coronavirus train travel in Germany  –  a critical journey

Coronavirus train travel in Germany – a critical journey

As of 15th June, we are free to travel to most countries in Europe again. I haven’t been anywhere but work since 25th of January since I returned from Jordan. Three cancelled trips later, I made my peace with the inability to travel for leisure 

A Visit to Studio Aalto, Helsinki

A Visit to Studio Aalto, Helsinki

When in Helsinki…. you can take a trip out to the islands, sweat in the sauna or… visit Studio Aalto! The entrance fee is fairly steep, so you may ask yourself: Is it worth visiting Studio Aalto? I think it is, and here is a 

Amsterdam in summer 2020:  Time to travel again

Amsterdam in summer 2020: Time to travel again

Slowly, slowly, I am dipping my toes back in the travel pool. I am going to travel to Amsterdam in summer 2020! But will it be safe and enjoyable? Hotels opened to tourists at the end of May here in Germany, the EU and Schengen