Haiku No.6
Look at me always I’m famous, or perhaps not forever etched in stone We started high summer with a blast with three very hot days in Florence. The heatwave continued right until now, with extreme heat, a full work schedule and no end in …
Buying a Caucasian Carpet 101
When you travel with a backpack and a limited amount of cash, buying a carpet it probably not very high on your list. Of course not! And neither may be shopping. But then, we are past the age of thirty, we have a home that …
A Love Letter to Yerevan
Would you have thought that Yerevan is a green relaxed city? I wouldn’t. A trip to Armenia didn’t really appear on my radar until I made plans to visit Georgia. And I thought it would be nice to see the some ancient Armenian monasteries dotted …
Only mad dogs do Florence in July?
Ooooh yes, dear friends, me, who’ll waffle on endlessly about preferring independent travel without crowds, is going to Florence for a weekend in July. It sounds a bit bonkers. Especially since I always try to take my holidays outside main season and school holidays. But then …
New Year, New Travel – what will 2018 have in store?
Yeah yeah, typical, writing this thing about travel plans when half the year is almost over. And I have no excuse. Does this happen to you, when your plans, great and totally practicable in January, become a bit woozy in February, then change again later, …
Eleven Alternative Reasons to Visit Georgia
We returned from a (unusual for me) Easter Holiday… ummm, over six weeks ago. We even celebrated Easter twice. Once in Armenia – a country that is so special that it has its own church and a quarter of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre …
Haiku No. 5
It’s been 5 months since I last posted Haiku, and 1 month since I last posted anything here. I am so sorry! This is not how I planned it. I returned form Armenia and Georgia with a notebook and a card full of pictures. Every …
Our Jet Set Kitty: An International Pet Adoption
Since May 2017, we have a Siamese-mix cat whom we adopted from Spain. Here’s our personal story of our pet adoption/ Why adopt? And why adopt from abroad? Our planet has no shortage of cats. Due to the lax neutering attitude of many people, cats …
Taking the Waters in Budapest
Is a winter trip to Budapest a good idea? It can be pretty cold, and due to its easterly location it gets dark early. But flights to Budapest and hotels cost a lot less than in the summer. Restaurants and attractions are open all year, …
Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh… gifts to bring back from Israel
Compared to most countries in Europe, including my native Germany, Israel is a rather expensive country. So, would I find some special Israel souvenirs? Ryanair hand luggage limitations and an already full apartment aside, my shopping sprees where somewhat limited by my 500 EURO budget …
Athens without the Crowds: 10 Tips to enjoy the Classic City
Athens is great! Almost year-round sunshine, close to the Mediterranean Sea, safe, brimming with ancient history and museums full of artefacts. The food is excellent, and many people speak English. But this means it is extremely popular, and do not let the recent Greek economy …
Move almost accomplished!
At the beginning of a new year, we expect to be full of plans, energy and perhaps some resolutions how to do better – or maybe have a full list of them? I hope you had a great start to the new year, and that …
My Personal World Heritage Tour: Paleochora, Aegina
It has become a fashion to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While this is a great endeavour (beats getting drunk, quad biking in the desert and elephant riding, yes?), it can be a bit hard to tick them all of (there are currently 1073) or …
Volcano to Kailua-Kona… back round the other side of Big Island
We’re half round the Big Island, and just another three days until we return hone to very early nights and frost, and yet we’re just been away from home a week – that’s what happens when you start a new job and move house. We better …
Where to paddle, surf and duck-dive on the Big Island of Hawaii
Please expect this post to be short. I am a rubbish surfer but I love it. When stand-up paddling came along, it was my saving grace, but due to the lack of waves here in Brandenburg, I am still no good. I am middle-aged, fat …