Reisestil

16 December 2022

Colombia 🇨🇴

Janet DannehlBackpacking, Continents, Reisestil, South America

A week through Colombia 🌴

My 🔝 visited places!

1. Bogotá📍

Plaza de Bolívar

the Square of 1000 Doves 🕊️ 🕊️

Surrounded by beautiful buildings such as the Palacio Liévano, the Capitolio Nacional and the Catedral Primada,

is the central square " Plaza de Bolívar“. In the middle of the square, hundreds of doves gather, and occasionally, an alpaca crosses their path 😃. For a small fee, you can buy dried corn here to feed the doves or take a photo with an alpaca 📸. In the past, the square served as a bullfighting arena and public market square.

Take a sip ☕️ + 🧀

,,Chocolate caliente con queso“

A hot chocolate with cheese might sound a bit strange to some 🤔. At first, I was almost certain that this combination couldn't taste good 😆! It somehow reminded me of people who used to eat cheese sandwiches with Nutella. Weird people. But like in any other country, I wanted to try the "delicacies" of the land 😌. When the infamous drink finally arrived, we had no idea how to drink it ☕️. Bite the cheese first, then take a sip of the hot chocolate.

! ❌ WRONG ❌ !

The cheese must be added directly to the cup so that it can melt with the hot chocolate 🤓. Admittedly, the taste of the traditional "Chocolate con queso" is a bit strange at first, but afterwards, it's somehow tasty. 😋

Conclusion: I would buy it again. ☑

La Candelaria 🧑🏻‍🎨

The Old Town of Bogotá

Just let yourself be carried away by the fascinating streets and admire the colorful colonial houses, the numerous sights, and charming cafes and restaurants. Don't miss out on the graffiti and urban art either! 🎨

Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen 🔔

This impressive Catholic church dates back to the 20th century. Its striped color makes it so extraordinary. 😯

Due to the narrow streets, it's not so easy to get a good picture of this landmark 😂. When we arrived, it was very rainy, so we didn't stay long. Still, it was worth a short visit 😉.

Museo del Oro 🏅

The Gold Museum

In this museum, you'll find plenty of information about indigenous peoples and a detailed history of gold, silver, and copper mining. The entry fee was just under 3 euros per person in November 2022.

Places we unfortunately missed:

Mount Monserrate

Due to time constraints, we didn't manage to visit Cerro de Monserrate. The mountain is 3,152 meters high and located in the Santa district.On-site, you have two options:

either lace up your hiking boots and take the 2-hour hiking route, or hop on the cable car for around 5 euros per person. The view is said to offer a spectacular vista over Bogota and part of the Andes. It's a shame we couldn't see that!

2. Cartagena📍

The Old Town

Of course, you shouldn't miss the colonial Old Town of Cartagena 😊. In 1984, the historic city center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains a sought-after destination to this day. You can either stroll through the labyrinth of streets on foot or even explore the city in a horse-drawn carriage 🐴. There are countless shopping opportunities available, and especially in the evening, it's lovely to sip a cocktail on one of the many hotel decks. 😍

Especially in the evening, the Old Town exudes its own charm. ✨

San Felipe de barajas ⛫

The Fortress of Cartagena

The fortress Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, built in 1536, is located on the hill of San Lázaro. The highest point of the fortress can be reached in just a few minutes on foot. Along the way, there are small, dark underpasses that add excitement to the excursion. 👻 Especially at sunset, the view from above is truly impressive! 🌆

Get Semani 🧑🏻‍🎨

the colorful hippie neighborhood

A perfect place to buy a beer and stroll through the crazy streets 🤩. Everywhere, there are vibrant colors, hanging flags, artworks, and chalk-painted paths. For me, one of the most beautiful places in Cartagena! 📸

But it's not just the houses and streets that amaze you, but also the people and the talking parrot! 🦜

Playa Blanca 🏝️

the little paradise

Just about 1 hour away from the city center of Cartagena, you'll find Playa Blanca beach ☀️. In most cases, you can reach the beach on foot. We had to walk along a really narrow stretch of beach for about 10 minutes with our luggage to reach our glamping accommodation. However, you have the option to have your luggage transported by wheelbarrow for a fee. These are usually readily available at the parking lot. Unfortunately, my stay was a bit disappointing as everything was just filled with sunbeds, people, and accommodations. Next time, I would prefer a different beach or only visit for excursions.

Isla Rosaria 🌴

From Playa Blanca, we took a boat to the Islas del Rosario 🚤. There are 28 different small islands here. From there, we did a shipwreck dive, which was pretty cool! I must add that the visibility underwater was very murky, and there were few underwater creatures to see 🫤. Nevertheless, it was an amazing experience to dive through the sunken ship 😍!!!! On another day, we went on a snorkeling tour, which was only partially worth it. Unfortunately, almost all boats visit the same hotspots, so it was quite crowded. However, we found a spot where we had some peace and could admire the spectacular underwater world 🐠!

🦚 Aviario Nacional de Colombia 🦚

Definitely one of my highlights on the trip through Colombia! The birdlife was extremely impressive 😍! I have never seen so many different bird species like here. The facility was lovingly designed, and the animals had plenty of space 💕. Some birds, such as the parrots, even lived in complete freedom 😯. For only 7 euros per person, it's an absolutely fair price. Honestly, I would have paid three times as much 😉.

Take your time as the park is quite large. Also, it's really nice to just sit on a bench and enjoy the bird sounds 🥰.

Conclusion

All in all, Colombia was an unforgettable adventure. Besides Peru and Chile, Colombia is now also one of my favorite countries in South America!

9 November 2022

Armenia 🇦🇲

Janet DannehlAsia, Backpacking, Continents, Reisestil

. 🔝 Highlights from Armenia

1. Yerevan📍

The International Hot Air Balloon Festival

On the Republic Square, early in the morning on October 14th, hot air balloonists from all over the world gathered 🗺. I had been looking forward to this day for weeks. At half past seven, it was finally time. The Brazilian hot air balloonist was already waiting for our arrival. In total, there were five of us, standing shoulder to shoulder. Shortly after, not only did the balloon rise, but so did our excitement 😁. It felt somewhat insecure. "So helpless, so unpredictable." Max even said he found it worse than paragliding 😯. But for me, it was the opposite. In the first half-hour, we ascended up to 2000 meters and enjoyed the incredible panoramic view 🥰. Then I felt nauseous for five minutes, and luckily I felt better afterwards 🤮 🤣. I don't usually have a fear of heights, but even for me, that was pretty high 😂! (By the way, the ride lasted an hour).

An experience that will probably stay in my memory forever. ✨

Cascade Complex 😎

One of the most beautiful viewpoints over the city of Yerevan is probably the 118-meter-high staircase complex, the Cascade. Don't worry: There are enough escalators available that slowly take you up through the interior of the Cascade 😁. Meanwhile, you can admire the artful exhibits and make a stop on the outdoor terrace at each level. ☺️

Mother Armenia Complex 🙂

In Victory Park, you'll find the "Mother Armenia" monument, which consists of a mausoleum, military museum, and a large statue. 🤗

From there, you also get another impressive view over the city! 😇

Modern Art Museum 🎨

In Mashtots Avenue, you'll find the modern art museum, where you can find various paintings and some statues. The artworks are truly impressive, allowing your imagination to run wild. 🎭

Vernissage 🛍️

A paradise for all souvenir buyers and shopping enthusiasts. ❤️

Here you'll find a good mix of knick-knacks and high-quality craftsmanship! At some stands, you can even see how the chessboards are made. Did you know that chess is a separate subject in Armenian schools? ♟️

Dancing Fontains 💦

In the evening, you'll find illuminated water fountains at Republic Square, presenting their water display with diverse music and changing colors 😯. Additionally, you'll have a view of the Marriott Hotel, the Post Office, the Government Building with Clock Tower, and former buildings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 🥰

Freedom Square 📸

At this city square, you'll find the Opera and Ballet Theater. It's the most important and largest music theater! 🎶

Also, a cool spot to zip around in an electric car 🤙.

Yerevan Zipline Airlines 🙌

A zipline that runs directly under the bridge! 😱

The first route starts at a height of 123 meters and is 870 meters long. The second one is slightly shorter, only 650 meters in length. You don't really need to worry about much since the track has an automatic stop system installed. That's why it was pretty easy. The only important thing is to ensure that the minimum weight is met, so you don't get stuck halfway 🤣.

Max and I rode together, which was pretty cool! 💨

2. Garni📍

The Symphonie of Stones, Garni Gorge

This majestic natural monument is only about 23km away from the capital and is truly admirable! ✨

Das majestätische Naturdenkmal liegt nur ungefähr 23km entfernt von der Hauptstadt und ist wirklich bewundernswert! ✨

Next Stopp: Back to Camperlife! 🤙

19 October 2022

Montenegro 🇲🇪

Janet DannehlEurope, Continents, Reisestil, Uncategorized, Vanlife

7 schöne Orte in Montenegro :

1. Herceg Novi📍

In Herceg Novi, you'll find a fortified medieval old town with several churches, narrow cobblestone streets, and many steps 😁. Adjacent to the town is a small harbor & some ice cream parlors 🍦. I particularly liked the Clock Tower, which you can see in the middle picture.

Top attractions include 🔝:

Savina Winery, Promenada of Herceg Novi, Monastery Savina, Church of Michael the Archangel, Forte Mare, Herceg Novi Old Town, Kanli Kula Fortress & Mamula Fortress.

2. Perast📍

Perast is a small town belonging to the municipality of Kotor. Situated below the St. Elias Mountain directly on the shore, it is known for its mild climate & the most hours of sunshine per year ☀️. We strolled along the promenade and enjoyed the great view of the sea 🌊. For those interested, there's the opportunity for a boat trip to the small islands of St. George (Sveti Đorđe) and Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela). Departures are every 15 minutes 🚤 . . . . .

3. Budva📍

Budva is known for its beautiful sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife ⛱. In the old town, you can wander through the alleys and admire the small boutiques. Additionally, don't miss the Citadel, Mogren Beach, Budva City Walls, the Church of the Holy Trinity, and the Saint Ivan Church. 🤪 .

4. Starigrad – Kotor📍

One of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Kotor is located in Stari Grad 🥰. The medieval town is protected by UNESCO World Heritage and creates a fairytale atmosphere 🧚🏻‍♂️. A few days are enough to explore the essentials. In the alleys, numerous cats cross your path, and the scent of fresh pizza and pasta fills the air 🍝.

5. Tivat📍

Located on the Bay of Kotor, the city of Tivat is often referred to as the city of the "rich," as everything is meticulously maintained, and you'll find one expensive boutique after another 🤑. Furthermore, the city offers many upscale hotels and fine restaurants 🤩. What I find most beautiful is the emphasis on plants! 🌴🌿.

6. Sveti Stefan📍

Near Budva, you'll find the small Adriatic island of "Sveti Stefan." It looks particularly impressive from above 🥰! Unfortunately, we found out on-site that access for tourists is prohibited ⛔️. The island is managed by Aman Resorts and is privately owned. If there's a huge interest in exploring the island, you should contact the owner. Prices are on the higher side 😉. For us, the exterior view was sufficient – after all, there are still plenty of other places to discover 😁. Additionally, there is a beautiful beach in front of the island 😊.

7. Stari Bar 📍

A bit hilly inland is the town of Stari Bar ☺️. Colorful, oriental lamps are sold everywhere, and fresh pomegranate juice is available at every corner 🤤. For me, it's a perfect city to simply go for a coffee/tea! ☕️ We were able to park directly in front of the city for 1 hour, worth 2 euros. The hour was sufficient to see the essentials 😉.

1 October 2022

Europe Trip - Croatia 🇭🇷

Janet DannehlEurope, Continents, Reisestil, Vanlife

11 Highlights from Croatia:

1. Plitvice Lakes 📍

A day ticket for Plitvice Lakes National Park costs about 26 euros per person. Additionally, there are 15 euros parking fees for a camper. With the fuel consumed just to get into the inland, it was a bit more costly affair 🤑😁. Unfortunately, we arrived on probably the worst day, a Sunday. Silly us… 😁 Naturally, it was packed to the brim 💀! For this reason, I recommend visiting during the week and as early as possible! Nevertheless, the visit was really worth it! The water was sometimes as blue and green as I had never seen in my life… 🥰 There are various hiking trails in the park: We opted for the "H" path. First, we were taken to the National Park by bus, then we followed the well-signposted paths, and finally, there was a little boat tour included.

Don't forget: Bring snacks, plenty of sunscreen, and sturdy footwear!

2. Zadar 📍

The beautiful old town truly enchanted us 🪄! Especially at night, the city exudes its own charm. You can shop in smaller stores (the quality is somewhat questionable 😆). The big shopping stores are located outside the city center (Zara/H&M…). After the shopping tour, it's perfect to watch the beautiful sunset by the sea. Looking for some party? Then hop onto the illuminated floor plates at the Greeting to the Sun – II Saluto al Sole and then head to a cool bar with live music. Here you'll also find 1-liter cocktail offers 😉. There's supposed to be a sea organ nearby too. If you like churches, don't forget to visit the Zadar Cathedral.

Best Pizza? 🍕

Don't get ripped off – avoid big tourist spots and eat outside. I recommend the pizzeria "Broj 1".

Truly delicious and incredibly cheap prices (They only accept Kuna!! No Euro!! And the Jumbo Pizza is enough for 2 people 😉).

3.Biograd Na moru📍

During our walk at the harbor, we immediately felt like we were on vacation 🥰. Endless souvenir shops 😄! The beaches are unfortunately packed during the high season – but you can find a nice spot a bit further out. One of my top highlights was the Wine-Tasting Tour at the Ilirija Resort (50 Euros) 🍷. . .

There we also met new people with whom we went on a boat tour to Vrgada ( Don't forget snorkeling gear! 🤿). .

Best Pizza 🍕?

Casa Vecchia 😉 – I just love the pizzas in Croatia 😃!

: .

4. Island of Murter & Tisno📍📍

On the Croatian island of Murter lies the small village of Betina. You can easily and freely cross over to the island via the drawbridge. There you'll find many beautiful restaurants & bars. A perfect place to stroll through the alleys and grab an ice cream 😉.

: 📍 Tisno

5. Šibenik📍

A perfect stopover! Sibenik is located between the tourist towns of Zadar, Split, Vodice, and Trogir.It's important to know that this place isn't really suitable for wheelchair users! Hardly anything is barrier-free... Don't miss out on the beautiful sights, like the Cathedral of St. James and the various fortresses!

6. Split📍

One of my highlights in Croatia is Split. This city is beautiful 🥰! In the city center, you'll find a fortress-like complex of Diocletian's Palace, which was built in the 4th century by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. All the old buildings mixed with modern restaurants, cafes & bars have their own unique style!

⛔️ CAUTION ⛔️: ⛔️ :

Avoid the peak season! Otherwise, you'll be overrun by crowds!

7. Cetina River Spring📍

We visited the source of the Cetina River. The spring water was really ice-cold at about 7 degrees Celsius 🥶! Nevertheless, we grabbed our inflatable mattress and took some amazing shots 📸. Unfortunately, you can only see the true wonder of this spring from above, which is why I recommend a visit with a drone 😉.

Nearby, you have the opportunity to take a beautiful hike to the highest mountain in Croatia, Mount "Dinara" 🏔.

With its 1831m height and steep ascent, you should be reasonably fit, but it's definitely doable. 🤙

Good to know:

The locals don't like people swimming there. Unfortunately, we only found that out afterward. 🙁

8. Omis📍

The perfect place for a bit of action 😎! Whether it's rafting, hiking, or climbing 💥, in Omiš, you'll find a variety of activities at a fair price!

Small ice cream tip 🍦:

The flavor "White Kinder Bueno" is super delicious! 🍦🤭

9. Trogir📍

In Trogir, we started our next adventure. We booked a sailing holiday for young people! Max & I were complete sailing beginners, so we were pretty excited 🤩. One thing I can tell you: We were not disappointed! It was incredibly fun, especially when we were sailing at a complete tilt 😱!! Additionally, we met great new people and didn't party a little 🥳. Another meeting with the crew is already planned ☑️.

10. Hvar📍

With a speedboat, we went to the Croatian holiday island of Hvar. There we ate, with our sailing group, at a slightly overpriced restaurant 🤑. From there, we had a wonderful view of the luxurious yachts lined up at the harbor. The place definitely represents wealth, which was reflected quite noticeably in the price 😅. Additionally, you'll find one party mile after another here! 🎉

11. Dubrovnik 📍

A city in southern Croatia that everyone knows. The filming location of the series Game of Thrones 👑. Dubrovnik has always been high on my list and now the time had finally come. As we strolled through the well-preserved old town, the new series of Vikings was being filmed. Totally exciting 🤩. Afterwards, we of course checked out the highlights (city walls, Old Town, Placa, the churches....). Also, you should definitely see Dubrovnik from above 🫶🏼.

7 August 2022

Europe Trip Part 2

Janet DannehlEurope, Continents, Reisestil, Vanlife

From Germany -> through Austria -> through Slovenia -> through Italy towards Croatia 😛

We start our second journey through Europe with our self-converted camper van 😊! An incredibly exciting backpacking trip through South America is behind us. We've also been able to explore Cuba and Morocco within a few weeks 🛫. Despite all the wonderful experiences, we longed for our little home again – our camper ♥️. So, we packed all our things again and set off. We started our trip from Magdeburg and drove 3 hours towards Bavaria.

Beautiful Bavaria 🏔

City of Hof

Here we were now. In the small Bavarian town called Hof. Wow. Who would have thought it would be so beautiful? Honestly, I've never heard of "Hof" before 🫣. But the botanical garden and the charming town center convinced me! A nice place to "arrive" again and relax a bit 😉.

The city center was quite empty in the afternoon. But you can find something to shop at every corner 🛍.

Parking spot: You'll find plenty of free parking spacesin Hof. Ultimately, we decided to stay at Untreusee, which was a good decision. (Camper type: Self-sufficient.)

Small tip: Don't be fooled by the paid camper van parking lots. If you drive into the street towards the "Car Park", you have to turn left at the first intersection!! The parking spot there is free and only a few minutes' walk from the lake 😉. No guarantee!

Zum Mittagessen gab es eine leckere Gnocchi-Pfanne 🤤. Dafür nutzten wir, wie immer, unseren Gaskocher 😊. Am nächsten Tag zogen wir auch schon wieder weiter & machten einen schnellen Zwischenstopp bei der Waschanlage💦. Unser Zuhause muss ja schließlich sauber gehalten werden 😜.

Bayreuth 🙂

Die Stadt Bayreuth gehört zu den schönsten Städten in Bayern🥰. Hier findest du viele verschiedene Sehenswürdigkeiten, wie Schlösser, Museen & historische Parkanlagen. Irgendwie haben wir noch ein bisschen “mehr“ erwartet – aber das liegt wahrscheinlich auch daran, dass wir nur ein grobes Bild von der Stadt erhalten haben😌. Am Abend schauten wir uns noch den neuen Teil von Jurassic World im Kino an🍿. Übrigens: Abends geht hier die Post ab💃. Gefühlt laufen hier 1000 Studenten herum! Alle sind im Alter zwischen 25 und 35 Jahren🥳.

Stellplatz: Easy mit der App Park4night gewesen 😉

Regensburg☂️

Von Bayreuth aus fuhren wir weiter nach Regensburg, wo wir unseren Stellplatz direkt mit Blick auf die Donau hatten. In der Altstadt bummelten wir durch die kleinen Gassen. An dem Dom St. Peter wurde, wie in fast jeder Stadt, natürlich gerade gewerkelt, sodass ich natürlich nicht das schönste Foto machen konnte😁 ( unten links ). Regensburg hat schon irgendwie was! Erst gehst du über die coole Steinerne Brücke aus dem 12 Jhd. und dann triffst du auf das gut erhaltene mittelalterliche Zentrum😊. Nice!👍

Landshut🤠

In Landshut traf ich endlich meine gute, alte Freundin Jessi wieder🥰. Wie du vielleicht noch von meinem Australien Post weißt, war Jessi meine aller erste Reisebegleitung 1️⃣. Gemeinsam machten wir für ein ganzes Jahr ein Work and Travel in Australien🇦🇺. Eine Zeit an die ich mich so gerne zurück erinnere🕰! Übrigens ist das auch ein Punkt, den ich besonders schätze : Erinnerungen teilen. Wenn du alleine unterwegs bist ( so schön es auch sein mag ) , kann niemand im nachhinein deine Erfahrungen richtig verstehen oder sich in deine Situationen einfühlen. Deshalb genoss ich es so sehr die alten Erinnerungen mit Jessi hochzuholen und herzlichst mit ihr über unsere peinlichen, dummen, witzigen & schönen Momente zu lachen😁! In Landshut angekommen hatte uns Jessi ein tolles bayerisches Essen gezaubert🤤! Ganz traditionell gab es also : Weißwürste, Brezeln, Wurstsalat, einen selbstgemachten Obazda von der Omi & nicht zu vergessen ein schönes Weißbier! Obazda ist übrigens ein Aufstrich, der total lecker ist (mit Weichkäse,Zwiebeln…!!).❤️

Am nächsten Tag erkundeten wir schließlich die Altstadt von Landshut. Einmal durch das Ländtor Landshut und schon bist du dort. Am besten fand ich die pastellfarbenen Häuser, mit ihren verschiedenen Formen 😋. Auch den Blick über die Isar fand ich toll!

Am späten Nachmittag suchten wir uns ein ruhiges Plätzchen zum Angeln🎣. Dort angekommen haben Jessi & ihr Freund Max ( ja ihr Freund hat den gleichen Namen wie mein Freund ) uns die Grundkenntnisse vom Angeln beigebracht. Und tatsächlich – wir haben einen Fisch gefangen🐟! Ich habe unglaublich viel gelernt, aber eine Sache besonders: Beim Angeln brauchst du jede Menge Geduld🙇🏽‍♂️ ! Selbst wenn der Fisch gefangen ist, musst du diesen noch vorbereiten (ausnehmen, entschuppen…), damit du diesen anschließend grillen oder in einer Pfanne braten kannst… Was ein Aufwand für so eine kleine Mahlzeit😁. Aber angeln ist dennoch ein witziges Hobby😉. Diese Aufregung, wenn einer anbeißt, ist unbeschreiblich. Es wird beinahe zu einem richtigen Erfolgserlebnis🤩! Schon irgendwie komisch. Für uns Menschen ist es super normal in einen Einkaufsladen zu gehen und sich da einfach fix den Tiefkühlfisch in den Einkaufswagen zu schmeißen. Doch, wenn wir Jahre zurückblicken waren die Menschen darauf angewiesen sich selbst ihre Nahrung zu beschaffen😵. Wie viele Menschen können das noch? Es war für mich extrem interessant, den Prozess mitzuerleben! Danke an Jessi & Max!🤓

Doch dann war es leider wieder so weit… Zeit ,,Tschüß“ zu sagen….Warum das auch einfach nie leichter wird, frage ich mich ständig??😒 Das sind wohl die Schattenseiten einer Reisenden. Immer wieder musst du erneut Abschied nehmen. Na ja, nun erstmal noch ein großes Danke für die tolle Zeit an Jessi & ihren Freund Max 💐 und bis zum nächsten Mal 👋🏻!

Stellplatz: Wir parkten eine Nacht neben dem Haus von Jessi’s Mami & in der anderen Nacht bei Jessi auf einem öffentlichen Parkplatz… Daher denke ich, dass es keine Probleme geben sollte irgendwo im Dorf zu stehen 😉.

Erding 🛝

Auf der Fahrt zu unserem neuen Stellplatz suchten wir noch nach einer Station um Wasser aufzufüllen👀. Es ist wirklich nicht besonders leicht in Bayern etwas zu finden, außer natürlich auf einem kostenpflichtigen Campingplatz😩! Als wir kurz vor Erding waren erzählte ich Max schwärmend von meinen Erfahrungen aus der Therme Erding. Ich versuchte ihn noch fix zu überreden einen Abstecher zu machen, doch Max äußerte sein Desinteresse – und das nicht zu wenig🙄. Schließlich fand ich mich damit ab und wir wechselten das Gesprächsthema. Plötzlich aber landeten wir auf dem Parkplatz der Therme Erding😮. Was? Hä? Was ist nun los?😯 Wir gingen in das Hotel und es dauerte nicht lange bis das Personal uns empfing. Max hatte anscheinend schon vor Wochen eine Überraschung für mich geplant😍. Alles war bereits reserviert. Schock Starre🤩. Ich habe mich so riesig gefreut, dass kannst du dir gar nicht ausmalen! Ich mein, ich hätte mich schon über einen ganz gewöhnlichen Tagesaufenthalt gefreut, aber stattdessen hatten wir zwei verschiedene Lounges und schliefen im coolen Victory Hotel. Der absolute Hammer🔨! Und jetzt sag mal einer – ich habe nicht den besten Freund der Welt 😛!

: Hotelzimmer

: Hotelzimmer Bad

Unten auf den zwei Bildern siehst du wie unser Alm Chalet aussah. Wir hatten eine Sitzecke, einen Kamin & eine Kuschelecke 🥰. Das Badezimmer befand sich außerhalb des Zimmers! ( Man achte auf das Pissoir neben der normalen Toilette 🎷 im Bild unten rechts )

Später machten wir es uns in der Diamond Lounge gemütlich! Schöne XXL Pizza & ein Sekt’chen – läuft! 😍 *Promi-feeling* 🤩

Was ein Erlebnis, sag ich dir! Ob Action oder pure Entspannung – es fühlt sich immer wieder wie ein Stück’chen Urlaub an! Besonders mit meinem Schatz ♥️ Im Winter werden wir bestimmt wieder kommen ⛄️😛!

Chiemsee & Umgebung

Als nächstes machten wir uns auf zum Chiemsee. Unser kleines Problem’chen mit unserem Wasser bestand immernoch. Wir fanden einfach keine Auffüllstation😖! Schließlich blieb uns nichts anderes übrig, als an verschiedenen Tankstellen nachzufragen⛽️ ( Ja wir hätten auch auf kostenpflichtigen Campingplätzen nachfragen können, jedoch hatten wir damit eher negative Erfahrungen gemacht, da es nicht gern gesehen wird “nur zum Wasserauffüllen“ vorbeizufahren). Tatsächlich hatten wir an der dritten Tankstelle erfolg🍀. Tanken mussten wir sowieso und als Dankeschön taten wir noch eins, zwei Taler in die Kaffeetasse🤑. Anschließend genossen wir die schöne Aussicht auf den Chiemsee♥️.

Als wir weiter fuhren machten wir noch einen Zwischenstopp an einer kleinen Burg und beendeten schließlich unseren Tag mit einem himmlischen Sonnenuntergang🌅.

Stellplatz: Beim Chiemsee war es etwas schwieriger einen schönen, kostenlosen Platz zu bekommen. Aus diesem Grund entschieden uns weiter nach Gmünd zu fahren.

Ab durch Österreich🏔

Gmünd🧑🏻‍🎨

Für die Grenzüberquerung von Deutschland nach Österreich kauften wir uns eine 10 – Tages Vignette für ca. 10 Euro💸. Auf der Route nach Gmünd mussten wir noch einmal 13 Euro Mautgebühren bezahlen. Danach wählten wir bei Google Maps, die kostenfreien Strecken 😉. In der schönen Künstlerstadt Gmünd schlenderten wir wieder einmal durch kleine Gassen. Trompeten hingen über uns, kleine Stoffhasen lagen vor uns im Gebüsch & Skulpturen baumelten die Füße von den Dächern. Eine voll coole Stadt 😎🎨 !

Ausgesprochen schön war auch der Ausblick von der Burg! Danach suchten wir verzweifelt nach einem Parkplatz für die Nacht. In Österreich ist das Campen, außerhalb eines Campingplatzes, gesetzlich verboten… Und mit den 100 Verbotsschildern machen sie es einem nicht leicht…! Miste Kiste☠️

Stellplatz: Park4night App auf eigene Gefahr🙈

Villach🎉

In der Innenstadt befanden sich Artisten, die stolz ihre Kunststücke präsentierten. Direkt neben der Show kamen “Influencer“ reihenweise aus den Geschäften gelaufen. Im Hintergrund wurde die ganze Stadt von fröhlicher Musik beschallt. Was ist denn hier los? Ich schätze, wir sind direkt zu einem Fest angetanzt 😁. Die Stadt war proppevoll, aber mein Eindruck von Villach war trotz dessen richtig gut!👍 Am besten aber fand ich Max seinen “Kirchen – Hut“ (siehe Bild mitte) 😛.

Slowenien🇸🇰

Kranjska Gora🐟

Ab geht es über die Grenze. Wir verlassen Österreich und sagen “Hallo“ zu Slowenien 😛. Einen schöneren ersten Stopp hätte ich mir wohl kaum vorstellen können. Da waren wir nun in ,,Kranjska Gora“. In diesem Fall bin ich froh einen Blog zu schreiben und nicht einen Podcast zu führen. Dieser Ortsname ist schon ein Erlebnis für sich😁. Naja… Vor uns lag also nun der extrem klare See mit wundervollen, prachtvollen Bergen im Hintergrund🥰. Definitiv ein MUST SEE auf meiner imaginären Liste von Slowenien😉.

Stellplatz: Wildcampen ausdrücklich verboten -> Ansonsten hohe Strafen 👮‍♀️

Bled ⛪️

Natürlich hat Slowenien nicht nur einen See zu bieten, sondern eine ganze Menge😛. Deshalb machten wir Halt beim Bleder See. Statt dem leicht grünlichen Wasser vom See zuvor, bekamen wir diesmal einen kräftigen Blauton zu sehen. Auf dem linken Bild wurde kein Filter benutzt!!! Unglaublich oder??? 😍 Auf dem rechten Bild unten kannst du die Wallfahrtskirche Mariä Himmelfahrt sehen, die auf einer kleinen Insel liegt. Am Festland befindet noch eine Burg aus dem 11. Jahrhundert, die hoch oben auf einem Fels sitzt.

Hauptstadt : Ljubljanski

Zeit für einen kleinen Städtetrip durch die Hauptstadt von Slowenien 😊! Mit unserem E-Scooter waren wir wohl die schnellsten Touris im ganzen Ort. Besonders toll fand ich die Restaurants & Bars direkt neben dem Fluss & den Sonnenuntergang mit Picknick im Park! 🌅

Stellplatz: Park4night App // Generell ist es auch in Slowenien gesetzlich verboten außerhalb eines Campingplatzes zu übernachten… Daher ist es nicht allzu einfach… Wir hatten jedoch keine Probleme.

Italien🇮🇹

Triest

Ohh, wie habe ich die Apertivo Zeit vermisst. Endlich einen schönen Aperol Spritz trinken & dazu die kleinen Leckereien genießen😍. In Italien ist es üblich, dass du zu deiner Getränkebestellung gratis Snacks bekommst (bspw. Pizzastück’chen, Chips, Wraps, kleine Brote ect…) 😛. Aber natürlich waren wir nicht nur deshalb hier, sondern auch um die bekannte Großstadt zu erkunden. Ein bisschen doof fand ich jedoch, dass die Straßen durch die halbe Innenstadt führten, sodass oftmals eine große Geräuschkulisse im Hintergrund war. Aber tief im inneren, inmitten der Gassen, fanden auch wir schließlich ein ruhiges Plätzchen, um unseren lang ersehnten Aperetivo vollends zu genießen 😁.

Stellplatz: Parkplatz verfügbar, direkt am Hafen, jedoch ohne Schatten. Kostet ein paar Taler.

Endlich in Kroatien🇭🇷

Wir fuhren noch am selben Tag von Triest weiter nach Kroatien. Es hat nur eine Nacht gedauert & schon stand die Polizei vor uns. FUCK!

In meinem nächsten Blogartikel über die Europareise werde ich dir mehr über unser unangenehmes Erlebnis erzählen & wie unsere Reise von dort an weiterging…

Vielen Dank an jede/n Leser/in und bis zum nächsten Mal ♥️

Next Stopp: Kroatien 🇭🇷

27 June 2022

Cuba - Carribean 🏝

Janet DannehlContinents, Reisestil

First Stop: Havana

You arrive in Cuba and are immediately catapulted into another time. Suddenly, the vintage cars in various colors are back on the streets. Which car would you choose? Right or Left? 😜😂

Matching this, we checked into the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, which was built in 1930.

We also visited the El Floridita Restaurant, where we learned about the process of making Daiquiris. 🍸

This drink has made it onto my favorite cocktail list! 😅

For preparation, you'll need:

5 cl white rum, e.g., Havana Club 3 Años.

3 cl freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice.

2 cl sugar syrup (either bought or dissolved sugar)

6 – 8 ice cubes.

Of course, a city walk through Havana, the capital of Cuba, is also worthwhile. Here, there's a lot to see, such as:

Plaza de Armas, the Malecon waterfront, the Capitol, many museums, Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, John Lennon Park & much more! 🫶🏼

One of my absolute highlights in Cuba are definitely the cabaret shows. One was held at the Hotel Nacional and the other in an open-air revue theater at Tropicana. Both performances were absolutely amazing! Overall, a show lasted about 2 hours. Whether dancers, singers, quirky costumes, acrobats… you'll find everything here! 🤩

Not to forget: our visit to the art gallery ❤️ I would have loved to buy 1000 pictures, but as it is with world travelers 😁…….

Later, we enjoyed ourselves at the Packard Hotel's infinity pool. Great view! 🔥

For a fancy dinner, the Hotel Gran Astor La Habana was great. At the same time, we enjoyed the excellent sunset there! ☺️🌅

A little ride to the Mural of Prehistory. This mural is one of the largest outdoor paintings in the world and is located 4 km west of the town of Viñale, on the wall of the Pita-Mogote in the Sierra de los Órganos. My horse was a bit stubborn, but somehow it worked out haha 😅🐴

An breathtaking view of the beautiful nature of Viñales at Mirador los Jazmines! 🌿

In addition, we made a stop at the Cueva del Indio, where we took a small boat tour inside the cave. 🚣

The Puente de Bacunayagua is definitely also a must-see! The birds were particularly impressive 🦅!

We spent our remaining nights at the Hotel Internacional de Varadero. Pure luxury with all-inclusive! On the right in the picture, you can see the view from our balcony. We could overlook the second most beautiful beach in the world 🤩 ❤️

Another romantic dinner we had at the Xanadu Mansion. From there, we also had a beach view & got a tour of the 1928-built Dupont family building.

One day, we visited the cave "Saturno Cave". Here we had the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear, blue water.

But remember: It's quite cold ☃️! 😂

We had quite a bit of action on the safari tour 🚘! Here, I handed the steering wheel over to Max – better safe than sorry 😂

However, I also drove myself during the motorboat ride! That was so much fun!!!! 🤩

A particularly beautiful day was the private catamaran tour to Cayo Blanco. ☀️ The beach here is powdered sugar white!

In between, we jumped from the boat into the water and admired the beautiful underwater world while snorkeling. 🐠

Lastly, I'll show you some more pictures from beautiful Viñales: Viñales:

Conclusion:

Cuba is a socialist state in the Caribbean. Here you will find the most beautiful beaches in the world and friendly people ❤️. As you've seen in my pictures, the country has incredibly much to offer! 😉

In general, I recommend: Inform yourself thoroughly about every country before traveling! Of course, here there wasn't the same standard as in Germany! ☑️**

Next Stop: Morocco 🇲🇦

9 June 2022

Australia - Part 2 🦘

Janet DannehlAustralien, Backpacking, Continents, Reisestil

2018/19 Recap:

Continuing the Journey Alone ☀️☀️

Jessi and I both received different job offers, so our paths diverged. Sad, but true 😢😀

I had found an au pair job where I earned $350 a week looking after three children aged 7, 5, and 2. Additionally, I could live and eat with the family for free. In the afternoons and on weekends, I mostly helped out on the farm to earn some extra cash. Usually, I was paid $600 - $700 a week. 🤑 I'll admit, I was pretty nervous! 😨 Solo travel all of a sudden? Can it really work out? 😰 Anyone who knows me knows I can be a bit scatterbrained at times 😳. Sometimes it's good, but when it comes to finding my way back to the right place, it could be challenging. My sense of direction is not the best, to be honest. And believe me, I thought it would get better during my travels. No, it didn't. You can't even imagine the bizarre places I've ended up sometimes. THANK YOU, THANK YOU for Google Maps – otherwise, my dear ones – you probably would never see me again 😀 So..., let's continue with the story... Jessi got a job in Sydney, so she didn't need our car anymore, and I could drive Apollo (our car) to my job as an au pair and farm worker in the Outback. And here's where the first point comes in. Outback? Totally dangerous! So many people have died there. Thirsty. Accidents. Driving this route alone? Who doesn't know these horror stories? My host mother offered to pick me up, but in the end, I decided to drive alone. For whatever reason... I can tell you one thing: It was incredibly beautiful! 🥰 Along the way, I saw so many animals, and hundreds of eagles were circling above me 🦅. Once, a flock of sheep blocked my path ⤵️😀.

On the next image, you'll see in the upper right corner, in beautiful, ultra-poor quality, an emu crossing the road. Unfortunately, I had a really bad phone camera during my travels in Australia, so I can't offer you anything else – just consider it as retro/vintage or whatever. Actually, my journey to the Outback took 7 hours and 19 minutes. With all the animal stops and admiration, it took at least twice as long 😄.

When I finally arrived shortly before evening, the host family was already expecting me. 😊 Over the next few days, I looked after the incredibly lovely children of my host parents! I've heard so many bad things about au pair work in Australia from some backpacker stories. However, I must say that I absolutely loved it! My host family was really super nice! 🙂 And I also loved the farm work on weekends. You can't believe how much fun it was for me 🤩! The family had around 450 cattle, plus 2 pigs, a goat, 3 dogs, chickens, and more. During my time there, one pig died (most likely from a snake bite – as the nest was completely disturbed 😢).

I helped with the cattle work, assisting in moving the cattle slowly for kilometers into the yards. You're full of adrenaline when you stand in front of such a huge bull and try to drive it forward. Did you know? When a bull becomes aggressive, it runs straight toward you and doesn't stop! 😃 😃

One day, I visited the neighbor who had a sheep farm. It was incredibly interesting to learn about his daily life and see how the sheep were sheared. This only happens 1 - 2 times a year, so I was glad to experience it once. Overall, the work looked quite strenuous. I mean, a sheep weighs quite a bit. Did you know that sheep spend most of their time eating? 🐑

Overall, I learned a lot and gained incredible experiences: I rode a motorcycle for the first time, learned to shoot with various guns, drove through the Outback on a quad, and so much more... It was such an exciting time, and I wouldn't want to miss a second of it! 😊

Did you know that kangaroos are a real nuisance for most farmers? They're just everywhere. In a report, I once read that there are twice as many kangaroos in Australia as there are residents. Unfortunately, kangaroos cause a lot of damage to the fields. As you can see in the bottom right image, there's a kangaroo accidently caught on a fence, or at least what's left of it... ☹️ Kangaroos try to jump over the fences, but sometimes they get stuck in the wire. They're then so tightly trapped with their legs that they can't free themselves. A cruel sight ☹️!

Repairing fences was also part of my duties in the Outback. The weather was very hot, usually around 45 degrees Celsius. Your mouth dries up just from breathing. So, cold water was an absolute delight for me! Fortunately, there are tablets for dehydration! The flies in the Outback are particularly annoying! They stick to your whole body. I would have gone crazy without music in my ears 😃🪰🪰🪰. buzzzzz buzzzzz buzzzzz 🤯😬

After about a month, it was time to say goodbye. 😢 But I was also a bit excited to finally be around people again. With loud music blaring, I headed towards civilization 🙂. The road was sandy, and the sun beat down on the car. There were occasional grooves on the ground, so I had to drive a bit slower. And then it happened. So fast. And unexpected. When I hit the brake to slow down, the car swayed to the right. Then to the left. Then to the right again. Then back to the left. I lost all control of my vehicle. It felt like an eternity. In that moment, I knew exactly what was happening. "Janet, you're going to have an accident. And you can't do anything about it." So, I let fate decide.

POOF. POOF. I was dead straight. My whole body was tense. It took a while for me to realize that my car was on its side. The music was still blaring in the background. I'll never forget this song. Tim Benzko. "Ich Laufe." Well, in any case, after struggling to turn off that stupid music, I had a little panic attack. CRAP. What if the car starts burning? Or if it explodes? 💥 I have to get out of here 😨!!! Yep. That's what happens when you watch too much TV 📺❌. After finally managing that, I unbuckled myself from the seat belt – which wasn't easy when you're lying on your side in the car. Then I tried to open the door above me to climb out of the car. Unfortunately, the other door had become one with the ground 😃. After somewhat clumsily getting out of the car, I moved a few safety meters away from it (explosion risk and all 😋). My body felt heavy. I can't describe it. I was full of adrenaline. There was blood running down my shin, and I thought – now I'm going to die. But believe it or not. Apart from a tiny scratch, I was perfectly fine. No injuries at all. You know how it is when you cut yourself and the blood just flows, but it doesn't hurt at all & it's not serious at all. Yeah, it was kind of like that with me. So, it could have been worse 😀. After checking that everything was okay with me & cursing and spreading more panic, I finally pulled out my phone. And YAY. Almost forgot. There's no network in the boonies. Great 😠! The nearest house was extremely far away, and there was no one around. My host family goes to town about once a month 🚘. Well, hope started to emerge. But... For some reason.... For some reason, I always have such luck, I got reception for about half a minute. Practically impossible in that place. I just shouted into the phone: "Accident. Accident." After about an hour, my host father arrived and took care of me. Thank goodness 🙏.

Our beautiful Apollo... There he lay. Half-dead... I was so angry. And sad. And ohhh.... Everything at once... Well, long story short: The car was taken to the workshop, in the nearest village. They wanted 1000 euros for the repair there. So I said goodbye to my hard-earned money 🙋🏼‍♀️💸. A night in the village where the workshop was located cost about 200 dollars 🤑. Exorbitantly expensive and unaffordable for me at the time 😵! I tried my luck and went from shop to shop looking for a job 👀. Nobody... 😔 Nothing... 😞 The people there were just happy they could keep their stores running at all. But my search paid off anyway. I met Debbi. A wonderful person 😊! She supported me so much during this time 🙏. I was allowed to sleep in her vacation apartment, which saved me a lot of money 🐷!

I was also mega happy that our car was at least repairable... 😍 Hahahha, wrong thought... I drove about 30 minutes towards the beach – full of anticipation... and POOF. Our beloved car died for good... 😢 I stopped right in the middle of the road and had to be towed. Engine failure. I still haven't received a cent from the "unnecessary 1000 euros repair"... & so I paid everything completely in vain... So much savings... I was so angry 😡. Really angry 😤. In the end, I had to leave our Apollo there & move on by bus. You wouldn't believe how many things I had to leave in this car... I couldn't carry everything... 💔

New Castle☀️

So I drove to New Castle. There I met great people, so I could almost forget the whole nightmare 😌! I stayed there for a while because I started a job at a café ☕️. Plus, I could sleep for free in the hostel, in exchange I just had to clean for 1-2 hours a day. In New Castle, I had found a perfect way to quickly refill my cash 💰💰💰.

A better remedy for sorrow than the sea does not exist! 🥰

Coffs Harbour☀️

After some time, I left Newcastle again and drove to Coffs Harbour 🚍. There, I worked in a cool bar 🍸. Additionally, I once again slept for free in a hostel, in exchange for providing a shuttle service. The coolest thing about the hostel was that I could go stand-up paddling for free, and the lake was only 5 minutes away. Here, I saw brightly blue crabs & hundreds of stingrays 😍. Did you know that stingrays can jump? I have a video on my Instagram profile where you can see it! There, they were hopping about 1 meter high just before sunset! Really crazy! 😦

Once again, I must emphasize how AMAZING the beaches in Australia are!!! 😍☀️🏖

Brisbane☀️

Then the time finally came, and my then-boyfriend and my best friend came to visit me. After such a long time, you really get homesick occasionally... That's why I was really, really excited! We explored Brisbane together (beautiful city!!!) & chatted endlessly. I had a lot to tell... 😀! In Brisbane, we visited, among other things, the world-famous Australian Zoo. Steve Irwin (the "Crocodile Hunter") was buried on this site. I thought he was sooo cool. When I was a kid, I watched his show a lot... Unfortunately, he died during his filming from the effects of a stingray barb. ☹️ Also really nice to see in Brisbane: the botanical garden, the Story Bridge & South Bank!

Mooloolaba☀️

Mooloolaba is a small town in the southeast of Queensland and belongs to the Sunshine Coast. If you love walking along the harbor or sunbathing on a beautiful beach in the sun, this is the place for you! The place is very quiet, but you can also find some bars with great live music! 🎶

Townvsville City☀️

Townsville is a coastal town in northeastern Queensland. There is a great waterfront promenade here! In the evenings, we always hung out at the sports field and played basketball with some cool people! 🏀

Magnetic Island☀️

An absolute dream! My absolute highlights here were: snorkeling along the spectacular reefs, our hike ("Forts Walk"), and

spotting the rock wallabies & koalas. Also, you shouldn't miss the sunset! 🌅

Mission beach☀️

Oh, I loved jogging along the beach at Mission Beach. The beach was deserted! 😍🙏 I actually only went to Mission Beach because the hostel promised me a farm job, which unfortunately I had to wait for way too long... In the end, I moved on again... Unfortunately, not everything always goes according to plan, but despite everything, I enjoyed the time! ❤️

What's better: Traveling alone or together? ☀️☀️

There are pros and cons to both options! Clearly... But one thing I've learned: I was never really alone on my solo travels. I met thousands of people and definitely much more than on my trips with another person. Strange, isn't it? When you have another person with you, it's usually natural to sit down with them somewhere at a table for two, plan activities together, and chat with each other. But if you're alone, firstly: Other people are more likely to approach you and talk to you. Secondly: You're more likely to approach other people or just sit down at larger tables. At first, I was a bit hesitant, but I realized how easy it is to connect with other backpackers! And if you're not brave enough to approach others, I promise you - it won't be long before someone talks to you 😋 Because we backpackers all have one big thing in common: We love traveling!

Next Stop: Cuba - Caribbean 🏝

30 May 2022

Australia Part 1 🦘

Janet DannehlAustralien, Backpacking, Continents, Reisestil, Work & Travel

Off to Australia in 2018 ☀️☀️

Australia. Australia has always been a dream for me. As a child, I used to watch animal documentaries on Animal Planet 📺.

"When I grow up, I'll become a wildlife researcher 😌!"

Well, that didn't quite work out 😄. But still, I managed to make it to the other end of the world & experience incredible adventures on my journeys.

Many people know that it's not so easy to just take a trip to Australia. If you're lucky, you might get maybe 3 weeks of vacation in a row 😒. That sucks, right? But that's somehow life & you just have to accept it. NO. I don't have to! A dream should eventually come true & why not make the most of it 🤔? After considering 1000 different options, and watching 1000 YouTube videos of various travelers, I finally decided to do a Work & Travel. Well, in any case, this decision was one of the best and has completely turned my life upside down to this day. 🙃

As I told you in my Thailand blog post, initially, I traveled around with my travel buddy (and now good friend) Jessi 🥰. Our first stop was Melbourne. One thing I really don't miss is jet lag ☠️! This time we had real trouble falling asleep in the evening, but you should always make the best of it. So, we immediately bought a bottle of champagne & a few beers. Of course, we didn't drink it in the hostel room. Or did we? 😂

Melbourne☀️

Melbourne is one of the largest cities in Australia and is the capital of the state of Victoria. We stayed in the suburb of St. Kilda and visited the St. Kilda Botanical Garden & some sights, like Luna Park. But the absolute coolest thing was that at the end of St. Kilda Pier, we could see penguins among the rocks 🐧! How cute is that??? 🤩

Apollo – Our Ride 🚙🔥.

After just one week, we decided to buy a car 🙌. We got our Apollo for an incredibly good price, only paying 4200 dollars (around 2600 euros at the time). We were a bit lucky because the sellers were backpackers who had to fly to Thailand the next day. 🍀 An absolutely great car... It had everything a backpacker could wish for. There was a rooftop tent on top, we had plenty of space for all our stuff, lots of camping gear, and if we were ever too lazy to set up the tent, there was even the option to sleep in the car. I still mourn our beautiful Apollo... 😢 More on that later... 😪

Roadtrip😎☀️

We didn't waste any time & got our car ready to go. The registration of the car went quickly & smoothly. Then we drove along the Great Ocean Road. One of my favorite routes in Australia and highly recommended!! ❤️ At the 12 Apostles, we almost got blown away, it was so windy 😄 & in the parking lot, we saw a fox 🦊 That was cool!

Apollo Bay😎☀️

This place is an absolute must-see! 😍 I've never seen such baby-blue water before!!! 🤩💦 In Apollo Bay, we found friends and even started our first job as cleaners. Our task was to do the laundry, iron, and clean the rooms. What a tough job! Believe me! Anyone who has never worked as a proper cleaner can hardly imagine it. After just 4 days, my fingernails were split about 4 times. Everything hurt. My back... My hands... Terrible! 😩 As if that wasn't enough, we also had a really peculiar boss. He liked to hold someone's hand when he wanted to show something. Okay?? And he even wanted to happily hop around the place. We'll never forget the shrill voice when he called out "It’s Tea – Time" at break time. Well, it was time to go. 😁 Definitely. But one thing we learned: Cleaners really deserve respect (and tips 😅)!

Except for a fallen tree on the road, we never really had any problems on our journey. Oops, I almost forgot 😳. When we started driving and had only been on the road for about an hour, a kangaroo suddenly jumped out of the bushes – right onto the car! 😢 "That's a great start," I thought at that time. My heart was pounding like crazy 😧. Luckily, I wasn't driving too fast (about 50 km/h) & the cute kangaroo survived the impact. At first, it lay briefly on the ground, but when we got out, it hopped off into the wild. 🦘 You can probably imagine now how scared I was that another one might jump out of the bushes. And yes... my fears were confirmed. It wasn't the only kangaroo that crossed our paths.

Good to know: Kangaroos are really everywhere & they like to hop across the roads! Some backpackers told me that they didn't see a single one on their travels. How is that possible? I still wonder... 😄 Probably they were too often trapped in the spell of the big cities. Oh, when you're in Apollo Bay – don't forget to visit the Eucalyptus Forest!! There you can see looooots of koalas 🐨. At lunchtime, one was hanging about 2 meters above us in a tree. 🌳 Unbelievable...

Towards Adelaide 🚙🚙

On the way to Adelaide, we saw beautiful, deserted beaches 🏖. The sand looked like powdered sugar at times, and sometimes it was pitch black. The sea was once again baby-blue. That's exactly how I always imagined the beaches in Australia! And believe me – I've been disappointed before! Almost everything looks more enchanting on Google images than in reality. But one thing I can say: In Australia & New Zealand, it's even more beautiful in reality! 🥰 🥰

Also great was our trip to Admirals Arch. There we could see sea lions in the wild. Absolutely awesome!! 😍🦭

We continued on to Warrnambool, where we rode along the beach for the first time. We were able to park our car here at a hostel in the garden & only had to pay half. 🤑 On another day, we visited the Grampians National Park (highly recommended!) & went for a beautiful hike. 🥾❤️

If you love waterfalls, don't forget to visit the McKenzie Falls & Fish Falls! 😉

The Last Stop 🐧 🐧

Another highlight was the Hot Springs in Mornington Peninsula ♨! The hot springs are located right in the middle of nature 🌿& one pool was even up on the mountain, with an insanely great view! As we continued on to Phillip Island, we saw a penguin parade for the first time 🐧. In total, 1904 little penguins waddled from the sea to their nests. It was super cute 😍. The penguins walk in a line and occasionally one falls over. You can imagine it a bit like the old Domino blocks. 😄

My Conclusion:

On our road trip, we saw a lot of nature. Looking back, it was a really good decision to buy the car right at the beginning. We were much more mobile with it & felt a bit more independent as a result. Plus, we could blast music and cruise through the streets while admiring the scenery 🌿. The best part was that we could stay wherever we wanted 🏕. During our road trip, we met some great people & got our first job experiences (W&T Jobs: https://janetsworld3.de/2019/06/14/worktravel-jobs/ ). Plus, a great friendship developed with Jessi, for which I am very grateful. When you spend days on end with one person, 24/7, you get to know that person in a hundred different ways & one thing I can tell you, we sometimes really got on each other's nerves -

Next Blogpost : Australia Part 2

15 May 2022

Costa Verde Tour - Brazil

Janet DannehlBackpacking, Continents, Reisestil, South America

Our road trip from Rio to São Paulo ☀️

After Carnival in Rio, we embarked on an 8-day car rental tour along the Costa Verde. Our first stop was Ilha Grande.

A stunningly beautiful island & definitely one of my MUST SEEs in Brazil! 😍☀️

On the first day, we took a speedboat from Angra dos Reis to Ilha Grande🚤. The crossing took half an hour in total. When we arrived, we were completely speechless😶. A beautiful golden beach, crystal-clear water & in the background, the green jungle🥰. Where have we landed? In paradise?😮🙌

It was simply indescribably beautiful. But the best part: the deserted beaches! Absolute peace & pure nature!

In our first accommodation, we had a cute balcony overlooking the sea. What could be better than relaxing in a hammock & listening to the birds chirping? Maybe a hearty breakfast? I don't know. I found both awesome! 😄

In the evening, we strolled around the small village. Here you'll find shopping opportunities & plenty of restaurants on every corner. Prices for a good dinner range from about 20-30 euros per plate, so quite high! In the supermarket, prices are roughly the same as on the mainland - but of course, with slightly less choice. You can get clothes here at fairly reasonable prices.

The tours are inexpensive. We paid 20 euros per person for our 5-hour snorkeling tour. Totally okay 😛 With this water, snorkeling is also one of the MUST DO's! The underwater world was incredible!

The tours are inexpensive. We paid 20 euros per person for our 5-hour snorkeling tour. Totally okay 😛 With this water, snorkeling is also one of the MUST DO's! The underwater world was incredible!

Overall, we had a lot of fun! Ilha Grande was one of my absolute highlights on our tour🥰! It definitely won't be the last time we visit this beautiful island! So, if you love snorkeling with turtles, sunbathing on a deserted beach, & swimming in crystal-clear water - you're in the right place! ☀️😍

Paraty☀️

Next, we headed back to the mainland. From there, we got our rental car to drive to Paraty🚘. The car ride was super easy. Finally, no potholes on the roads! 👍 Fuel prices are around 1.20 euros per liter. ⛽️

When we arrived, we were initially enchanted by our new suite at the Hotel Pousada do Ouro! The whole building, like the city of Paraty, is kept in a chic, colonial style. Incredibly cool! 😎

In the afternoon, we explored the beautiful old town of Paraty. There were restaurants and small boutiques on every corner🛍. Jewelry makers sold their handmade works in the narrow streets. Everything was very well maintained. I was particularly fascinated by the beautiful, brightly painted doors! 🖍

In the evening, the city exuded a romantic charm. It reminded me of the sweet fishing village in Faro - one of my absolute highlights from Portugal. I love those gold-yellow lanterns❣️

São Sebastião 😊

On the way to São Sebastião, we made a few stops at great waterfalls! That's what I love about road trips. Just stop wherever you want. Max took the pictures - Doesn't it look like something out of a storybook, right? ☺️

When we arrived at our new accommodation at Maui Maresias, there was a little gift for me on the bed🎁. Have you ever received a piece of jewelry from a hotel? It was definitely the first time for me! 🥰 Later, we had a freshly squeezed juice outside. Meanwhile, a saxophonist played his music - absolutely delightful atmosphere! 🎷🎶

The next day, we spent a night at our final accommodation called Nau Royal Hotel Boutique and Spa. As the name suggests, there was a large spa offering & outside there was a swimming pool, as well as a whirlpool with a sea view. We also enjoyed the view during the rich breakfast! The staff were once again very nice & fulfilled our every wish. A nice end to our Costa Verde tour!

Conclusion: The Gateway Tour was one of the best parts of our Brazil trip. My absolute highlight was definitely Ilha Grande - this island simply enchanted me🪄. The waterfalls were also particularly beautiful & of course, the chic accommodations - with the super delicious breakfast! It was sooo nice not to have to plan anything. The organization went smoothly - there were no problems at all👏😍! A big thank you to the great Gateway Team 💐!

Mehr Informationen über die Tour findest du hier:

Gateway Latin America´

Next Stop: Who knows... 😄

5 May 2022

Carnival - Rio

Janet DannehlBackpacking, Continents, Reisestil, South America

Here's what you should know before going to Carnival: 🥳

Usually, bags are not allowed! However, I didn't have any problems and could simply bring my big fabric bag. 😛
Each person can bring 2x 500ml plastic bottles (alcoholic drinks are allowed too! 🍻)
Each person is allowed 2 snacks🍫.
It's not common for spectators to dress up big. A bit of glitter here & there is totally sufficient. ✨
Food & drinks are affordable at the counter! 🍽
Each samba school performs for a maximum of 2 hours - then there's a 20-30 minute break. ⏸
Toilets are free & easily accessible. 🚻
You should be there about 2-3 hours in advance to secure a good spot! 🪑
There's plenty of space & you won't feel crowded (at least that was our experience). 🙂
Wear comfortable shoes or just take them off (there's plenty of dancing) 💃
Bring a cushion or a blanket as you'll be sitting on stones. 🥰
Find a group to party with before the event, e.g., on Facebook. 👯‍♀️
The event is on Brazilian time. So, don't expect German punctuality! 🕦
If you want to see all 6 samba schools, expect to be there all night! 🎇
You won't need a jacket in these temperatures! It's more likely to be too hot than too cold! 🥵
Book tickets & accommodation early!!! (around 50 euros per person) 🎫
Don't forget your good mood! 🥳

Off to Rio de Janeiro 🥰

This year, due to Corona, Carnival was postponed to April 20-30. On April 23, 2022, we took our flight at 03:00 in the morning from Fortaleza to Rio. So we arrived pretty exhausted. 😄 Our accommodation was right on Copacabana Beach. A beautiful beach! 🥰 Of course, hotel prices were extremely high again. For a really shabby hostel, you'll have to reckon with 60 euros per night (for spontaneous booking). Luckily, we got the last relatively good accommodation! 😌

During our last stay in Rio, we met a group via Facebook, which we met up with again. At first, we thought there would be a lot going on at the beach, but no such luck 😄. That's why we quickly got tickets for one of the biggest events in the world - the Carnival Parade 😍. Here, a total of 6 different samba schools performed. An incredible experience! 💃

Small tip: Always book tickets in advance! We paid double - so 100 euros per person! 🤓🤦‍♀️

In total, there is space for about 90,000 people. The best samba schools (escolas do samba) parade along the 700-meter-long street of the Sambadrome. I couldn't stop marveling. 🤩 One artistically decorated float after another passed by us. I don't even need to start on the fascinating dancers. It was simply impressive! 😍

There was also a totally beautiful fireworks display 🎆! The music was great & everyone was singing along loudly. Some even danced samba in the stands. It was a totally crazy feeling. You didn't know where to look first! 👀

Fact is: You should see this breathtaking event at least once in your life! Believe me ☺️

I can only say it again: It was breathtaking! 🤩 Here's another before & after picture:

In the end, we finally took an UBER back to the hotel & fell asleep with our earworm. 😴 Despite the shower in the evening, everything, but really EVERYTHING, was covered in glitter the next morning 😄 And let me tell you, that glitter is stubborn! Days later, we found glitter in our washed socks. Hallelujah. Finally, we set off for our next adventure: an absolutely amazing road trip from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo! 😍

Next Stop: Costa Verde Tour