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!
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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 😉).
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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 😃!
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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 😉.
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📍 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!
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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!
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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. 🙁
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8. Grandmas📍
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 ☑️.
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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! 🎉
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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 🫶🏼.
Europe Road Trip Part 2 — Balkans, Greece & Türkiye
There are trips that change you. Europe Part 2 was one of them. The colors, the scents, the hospitality. In this travelogue: culinary highlights, photo spots, and practical tips.
The diversity thrilled me. Whether beach, hiking or culinary delights — Europe Part 2 offers everything.
Arrival and first impressions
Easy arrival, flights cost between €100 and €500 depending on the season. A rental car is recommended for flexibility.
My boutique hotel: charming, personal, fantastic breakfast.
Culinary Highlights
Food = Understanding culture. Europe Part 2: A culinary delight. Local cuisine: fresh ingredients, traditional recipes, passion.
Best restaurant found through word of mouth. No website, handwritten menu, fantastic.
Photo spots
Golden hour for the best photos. Visit popular spots outside of peak hours.
Practical tips
Travel time
Spring or autumn are ideal.
budget
Position
€/day
Accommodation
60-120
Eat
25-45
transport
25-40
Activities
10-30
In total
120-235
FAQ
Safe for single women?
Yes.
How many days?
5-10 is ideal.
Card or cash?
Mix. Have €50-100 available locally.
About the author: Janet Dannehl is one of Germany's most influential travel influencers with over 2.3 million followers. She specializes in lifestyle, culinary topics, and visual stories from her travels. Cooperation requests here.
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!
For lunch we had a delicious gnocchi dish 🤤. As always, we used our gas stove 😊. The next day we moved on again and made a quick stop at the car wash 💦. After all, our home needs to be kept clean 😜.
Bayreuth 🙂
The city of Bayreuth is one of the most beautiful cities in Bavaria 🥰. Here you'll find many different sights, such as castles, museums, and historic parks. Somehow we expected a little "more"—but that's probably because we only got a rough idea of the city 😌. In the evening, we saw the new Jurassic World movie at the cinema 🍿. By the way: Bayreuth is really buzzing in the evenings 💃. It feels like there are 1,000 students around! They're all between 25 and 35 years old 🥳.
Parking space: Easy to find with the Park4night app 😉
Regensburg☂️
From Bayreuth, we continued on to Regensburg, where our campsite had a direct view of the Danube. We strolled through the narrow streets of the old town. As in almost every city, St. Peter's Cathedral was undergoing renovations, so I couldn't get the best photo (bottom left). Regensburg definitely has a certain charm! First, you cross the cool 12th-century Stone Bridge, and then you come across the well-preserved medieval center. Nice! 👍
Landshut🤠
In Landshut, I finally met up with my good old friend Jessi again 🥰. As you might remember from my Australia post, Jessi was my very first travel companion 1️⃣. Together, we did a year-long working holiday in Australia 🇦🇺. A time I look back on so fondly 🕰! Incidentally, that's also something I particularly value: sharing memories. When you travel alone (as wonderful as it may be), no one can truly understand your experiences or empathize with your situations afterward. That's why I enjoyed reminiscing with Jessi so much and laughing heartily with her about our embarrassing, silly, funny, and wonderful moments 😁! Upon arriving in Landshut, Jessi had conjured up a fantastic Bavarian meal for us 🤤! So, in true Bavarian style, we had: Weisswurst, pretzels, sausage salad, homemade Obazda from Grandma, and, of course, a delicious wheat beer! Obazda, by the way, is a spread that's absolutely delicious (with soft cheese, onions…!!). ❤️
The next day we finally explored the old town of Landshut. Just walk through the Landshut gate and you're there. I especially loved the pastel-colored houses with their different shapes 😋. I also loved the view over the Isar River!
In the late afternoon, we found a quiet spot to go fishing 🎣. Once there, Jessi and her boyfriend Max (yes, her boyfriend has the same name as my boyfriend) taught us the basics of fishing. And we actually caught a fish 🐟! I learned so much, but one thing in particular: fishing requires a lot of patience 🙇🏽♂️! Even after catching a fish, you still have to prepare it (gut it, scale it…) so you can grill or fry it… What a lot of work for such a small meal 😁. But fishing is still a fun hobby 😉. The excitement when a fish bites is indescribable. It almost becomes a real sense of accomplishment 🤩! It's kind of strange. For us humans, it's perfectly normal to go to a grocery store and just quickly throw some frozen fish into the shopping cart. But if we look back years, people were dependent on providing their own food 😵. How many people can still do that? It was extremely interesting for me to witness this process! Thanks to Jessi & Max! 🤓
But then, sadly, it was that time again... time to say "goodbye"... I keep asking myself why it never gets any easier?? 😒 These are probably the downsides of being a traveler. You always have to say goodbye again. Anyway, a big thank you to Jessi and her boyfriend Max for the wonderful time 💐 and see you next time 👋🏻!
Parking: We parked one night next to Jessi's mom's house and the other night at Jessi's place in a public parking lot… So I think there shouldn't be any problems parking anywhere in the village 😉.
Erding 🛝
On the way to our new campsite, we were still looking for a place to fill up our water tank 👀. It's really not easy to find anything in Bavaria, except of course at a paid campsite 😩! When we were almost in Erding, I was raving to Max about my experience at the Erding Thermal Spa. I tried to quickly persuade him to make a detour, but Max expressed his disinterest – and quite emphatically 🙄. Eventually, I resigned myself to it and we changed the subject. But suddenly, we found ourselves in the Erding Thermal Spa parking lot 😮. What? Huh? What's going on? 😯 We went into the hotel and it wasn't long before the staff greeted us. Apparently, Max had planned a surprise for me weeks ago 😍. Everything was already booked. I was in shock 🤩. I was so incredibly excited, you can't even imagine! I mean, I would have been happy with just a regular day visit, but instead we had two different lounges and slept in the cool Victory Hotel. Absolutely amazing! 🔨 And now tell me – I don't have the best boyfriend in the world! 😛
hotel room
Hotel room bathroom
Below, in the two pictures, you can see what our alpine chalet looked like. We had a sitting area, a fireplace, and a cozy corner 🥰. The bathroom was outside the room! (Note the urinal next to the regular toilet 🎷 in the bottom right of the picture.)
Later we relaxed in the Diamond Lounge! Delicious XXL pizza and a glass of sparkling wine – perfect! 😍 *Celebrity vibes* 🤩
What an experience, I tell you! Whether action-packed or pure relaxation – it always feels like a little vacation! Especially with my sweetheart ♥️ We'll definitely be back in winter ⛄️😛!
Chiemsee & surroundings
Next, we headed to Lake Chiemsee. Our little problem with our water supply still persisted. We simply couldn't find a filling station! 😖 Finally, we had no choice but to ask at various gas stations. ⛽️ (Yes, we could have asked at paid campsites, but we'd had rather negative experiences with that, as stopping by "just to fill up on water" isn't appreciated). We actually had success at the third gas station. 🍀 We needed to fill up anyway, and as a thank you, we slipped a couple of coins into our coffee cup. 🤑 Afterwards, we enjoyed the beautiful view of Lake Chiemsee. ♥️
As we continued our journey, we made a stop at a small castle and finally ended our day with a heavenly sunset🌅.
Campsite: It was a bit more difficult to find a nice, free spot near Lake Chiemsee. For this reason, we decided to drive on to Gmünd.
Off through Austria 🏔
Gmünd🧑🏻🎨
To cross the border from Germany to Austria, we bought a 10-day vignette for about €10. On the way to Gmünd, we had to pay another €13 in toll fees. After that, we used Google Maps to find the toll-free routes. In the beautiful artists' town of Gmünd, we strolled through the narrow streets once again. Trumpets hung overhead, little stuffed rabbits lay in the bushes, and sculptures dangled their feet from the rooftops. A really cool town!
The view from the castle was absolutely beautiful! Afterwards, we desperately searched for a parking spot for the night. In Austria, camping outside of a designated campsite is illegal… And with the hundreds of "No Camping" signs, they don't make it easy…! What a mess! ☠️
Parking space: Park4night app at your own risk 🙈
Villach🎉
In the city center, performers proudly presented their acts. Right next to the show, "influencers" streamed out of the shops in droves. Cheerful music filled the air in the background. What's going on here? I guess we've stumbled right into a festival! 😁 The city was packed, but despite that, my impression of Villach was really good! 👍 But what I liked best was Max's "church hat" (see middle picture) 😛.
Slovenia🇸🇰
Kranjska Gora🐟
And off we go across the border. We leave Austria and say "hello" to Slovenia 😛. I couldn't have imagined a more beautiful first stop. There we were in Kranjska Gora. In this case, I'm glad I'm writing a blog and not doing a podcast. The name of the place is an experience in itself 😁. Anyway... before us lay the incredibly clear lake with wonderful, magnificent mountains in the background 🥰. Definitely a MUST SEE on my imaginary list of Slovenia 😉.
Campsite: Wild camping is expressly prohibited -> Otherwise, heavy fines will be imposed 👮♀️
Bled ⛪️
Of course, Slovenia doesn't just have one lake to offer, but a whole lot 😛. That's why we stopped at Lake Bled. Instead of the slightly greenish water from the previous lake, this time we saw a vibrant blue. No filter was used on the left picture!!! Incredible, right??? 😍 In the right picture below, you can see the Church of the Assumption of Mary, which is located on a small island. On the mainland, there's also an 11th-century castle perched high on a rock.
Capital city: Ljubljana
Time for a little city break in Slovenia's capital 😊! With our e-scooter, we were probably the fastest tourists in the whole place. I especially loved the restaurants and bars right by the river and the sunset picnic in the park! 🌅
Parking space: Park4night App // Generally, it is also illegal to stay overnight outside of a campsite in Slovenia… Therefore, it's not too easy… However, we had no problems.
Italy🇮🇹
Trieste
Ohh, how I've missed aperitivo time! Finally, a lovely Aperol Spritz to enjoy with all the little treats 😍. In Italy, it's common to get free snacks with your drinks order (e.g., pizza slices, chips, wraps, small breads, etc.) 😛. But of course, that wasn't our only reason for coming here; we also wanted to explore this famous metropolis. I did find it a bit annoying, though, that the streets ran right through half the city center, so there was often a lot of background noise. But deep inside, amidst the narrow streets, we finally found a quiet spot to fully enjoy our long-awaited aperitivo 😁.
Parking: Parking available directly at the harbor, but without shade. Costs a few euros.
Finally in Croatia🇭🇷
We drove from Trieste to Croatia that same day. It only took one night and the police ahead of us. FUCK!
In my next blog post about our European trip, I'll tell you more about our unpleasant experience and how our journey continued from there…
Thank you to every reader and see you next time ♥️
After great effort, we finally made it to the top!💪
We camped here at an altitude of around 2500 meters!
For me, it was the very first time sleeping without a proper tent, right in the middle of nature.
We set up a hammock with a tarp between two trees and made ourselves comfortable.🙂
All the setup made us pretty thirsty, so we went in search of water!
Just half a kilometer further, we found the first stream.
YAY! Water!👏
We had a special bottle with us, which I can really recommend to any nature lover. With this bottle, almost all impurities are removed from the water. You simply click once on the lid to turn on the UV-C LED light. After just one minute, the water from nature is safe to drink. How cool is that? It's a bit expensive, but you'll have it for a long time! (The bottle is called: Quartz Bottle)
Quick snack: Instant noodles
2. Barcelona☀️🌴
Oh beautiful Barcelona.
The narrow streets in the city center, the sweetly decorated shops, the expansive beaches, the street music on every corner.
Definitely, I would also recommend going up to the Riesenrand. From there, you have a beautiful view over the entire city!🎡
Of course, there are also many shopping opportunities! Whether in the store or right on the roadside.🛍
Here you can find everything, whether real brands or fake products. It's funny to see that as soon as the police pass by, people suddenly fold their blankets into a bag and dash away very quickly.😆
In Spain, it was pretty hot! In the camper, the thermometer rose to up to 45 degrees Celsius during the day.😅
Scorching heat! Quite foolish when you had bought a delicious watermelon the day before and had to discover the next day that it had completely burst🍉. We can count ourselves lucky that it was in a wooden bowl, otherwise our whole camper would probably have been underwater. The bowl was almost filled to the top with the fruit water. YUCK! And it stinks, I tell you! With gloves and a bucket, we emptied it bit by bit. Disgusting mess🐷! It stank so much, was as slimy as anything, and we had to throw away our bowl.🤢
Well, you learn from mistakes!
Two weeks later, we left Barcelona and immersed ourselves back in nature 🌿:
3. Valencia🍹
Speechless. Just speechless. These stunning architectures of Valencia really blew us away! 😯
See for yourself:
City of Arts and Sciences
We whizzed through almost every city with our e-scooter🛴!
Totally cool! Here in Valencia, there were even charging stations!
Shopping is of course also possible here! Colorful!🛍
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4. Costa Blanca⚓️
Ohhhh how beautiful the coastline of the province of Alicante is! Totally in love!🥰
During our exploration, we even came across flamingos.🦩
How awesome is that!!!
The next days, we snorkeled endlessly🤿! I have never in my life seen so many huge fish in one place😍. It was simply indescribable! We had a snorkel mask that covered the entire face. I can only recommend it! Of course, it's not suitable for diving, but that wasn't really necessary here! Huge schools of fish swam around us, in their various colors.🥰🐠
The clear water provided excellent visibility.
Just perfect!💕
The cave was also particularly cool!!!👻
Nothing is better than watching a fantastic sunset after a long day of snorkeling!🌅
After we continued driving, we found a new campsite along the way.
But OOPS😧. It didn't take long, and we were chased away. There was an overnight ban 🚫. No problem!
We could still admire the turtles in the water!🐢
Besides, our new campsite wasn't bad either!😌
5. Marbella🌺
A perfect day to stroll through the city and admire the beautiful colors of the flowers!
6. Alhambra🏰
Alhambra is a really pretty city castle located in Granada. Especially great were all the flowers!💐
Gibraltar⛰
Hike up to the top
Wow. Gibraltar was definitely worth it! Gibraltar is a British overseas territory consisting mostly of a large limestone rock. Right on our arrival day, we climbed the 426-meter-high rock in quite a heat.🥾
The best part: Sweet monkeys crossed our paths multiple times.🙉
When we conquered the rock, we arrived quite sweaty!😅
But we had an amazing view!😍
In the underground tunnels of the rock, many ancient stories are hidden 📖:
Great Siege Tunnel
An incredible light show underground. Definitely a highlight in Gibraltar!💥
SAINT MICHAELS Cave
7. Tarifa🏝
A dream for kite surfers🌊
Oops. Where have we landed here?
Beach party despite Corona? In Tarifa it was possible!🍾🎊
At every beach bar, you could hear the sound of drum music from afar. The sun shone stronger and stronger every day. The sand was bright yellow, the water clear. It didn't take long, and we were invited to BBQs or parties by other campers.
A huge mile full of like-minded people 😃.
The surf fever quickly caught on, so Max immediately bought himself a new kite surfing equipment and spent days on end in the water.🌊
Definitely still on my MUST DO list - but at that time, I had no experience at all, and other things were the focus for me.
You arrive in Tarifa and are overwhelmed by the so-called "Beach-Vibes", "Party-Vibes", and "Surfer-Vibes".
Great place!
8. Cádiz⛴
Port city in the region of Andalusia
It's time😍. Janet turns 26 years young. How time flies….. Max was super, super sweet and distributed 26 red balloons throughout the camper for me. Additionally, he woke me up early in the morning at my birth time and surprised
I contemplated the candle on my muffin... But what does one wish for when one is infinitely happy?🤔
9. Gijón🌊
Fantastic views of the sea! Many skyscrapers and wonderful sights!
10. Santander 🏦
Santander. The bank. We know it!
We took a look at the city. Once again, we zipped through the streets with our e-scooter, and what did we see: magnificent trees, the vast sea, small beaches, impressive sights, well-kept houses, and a clean city. Beautiful! 😊
What could be tastier than good Brie cheese with crunchy baguette? Perhaps a fresh crêpe filled with white chocolate!
I loved France not only for its food but also for its impressive cities, beaches, and mountains.
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
In Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, we found a campsite on a mountain. Except for a few donkeys in the background, there seemed to be no one else around. Haha. That would have been nice! After just a few minutes, a Frenchman approached us. He wore a loose, half-buttoned shirt and shorts. His hair was grayish, short, and a bit tousled. With a loud "Boooonjoooouuur," he greeted us loudly, trying his best to stand upright and suppress his swaying. A blind person could have guessed from his first sound that this man was definitely drunk. To our misfortune! The Frenchman talked and talked. Things that were not particularly interesting and, BY THE WAY, not understandable to us (due to his language). After hundreds of remarks, he started speaking English. That didn't make it any better. Now he told us about the donkeys he owned, his non-existent wife, and his life. Somehow, one could feel sorry for this man... When he finally got closer to our camper, we decided to look for another campsite.
And OFF we went.
Welcome to Saint-Tropez
Best crêpe in France!
Our campsite was only a 10-minute walk from the center. What more could you ask for?
Free campsite right by the water. Off to Hyères.
Off to Hyères
In Hyères, it wasn't easy to find a campsite. We first drove up the castle hill: That was not a good idea!
Then it was back down again backwards, winding. What fun!
Finally, we parked on a meadow with a view of the castle. Not bad either!
Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer
After the beautiful sunset, we made some fresh pizzas with our Omnia oven!
Via Ferrata
The scariest Via Ferrata
Like in a horror movie! For some, a hanging bridge is probably already a scary experience, but the fog here tops everything!
Even though I didn't really see much: I knew it went verrrrry deep down!
No Risk – No Fun.
Nîmes
Bullfighting in the amphitheater
For the first time in our lives, we visited an amphitheater where a bullfight took place.
With mixed feelings, we finally sat down in one of the many rows. After being supplied with beer, it started. At first, we only saw the fighters in their white clothes standing in the middle of the amphitheater.
What now? No red cloth? No.
Suddenly there was a short warning signal, after which the big bull, somewhat cautiously, marched into the fight with his powerful horns. The goal was now for the white men (fighters) to touch the bull's forehead and to do so without getting injured.
It got exciting!
After a while, someone finally managed to touch the animal's forehead. Oh my goodness... Now quickly. He ran for his life and "SLAP" - he collided with the barrier. Our breath stopped. In seconds, he was pulled over the railing by several staff members. Lucky again, I'd say! The bull also collided with the barrier shortly afterwards. That could have gone wrong! The game was so exciting that I couldn't look away for a second. "Deux Euro". "Deux Euro" echoed through the speakers. Every time the bull's forehead was touched, the player received 2 euros. Risky 2 euros. Life-threatening 2 euros. The game continued. Occasionally, the bull slammed into the barrier with full force. It also happened that the bull protruded half over the railing because he had such speed that he struck over. Horrible to watch. Only the next day, traditionally, the head of the animal was cut off alive with the help of a knife. The horns were then pulled out and proudly handed over.
Shocking tradition. We agree on that.
We don't need to be part of such a "game" again.
Montpellier
On the way to Montpellier, a large truck drove in front of us, from which a big stone hit our windshield.
Great!
The windshield cracked bit by bit. So it was off to the workshop as quickly as possible. Fortunately, we were ADAC members, so we received reimbursement for a hotel night worth over 100 euros + transportation.
Crazy. One phone call and everything was arranged! It's definitely worth being an ADAC member!
The next day, with our repaired windshield, we found a new campsite in the middle of nowhere. After a quiet night, I prepared breakfast. Suddenly we heard a strange noise from outside. We opened the camper door and behold:
As if out of nowhere, the white horses appeared. It was like a dream. A magical world. Indescribable!
Cassis
Right by the Mediterranean Sea is the beautiful fishing harbor with the pebble beaches and clear water.
Quick Conclusion:
France was a great experience. Every city here just has its own charm, and it was once again totally easy to find good & free campsites! Perfect.
Marignane
In Marignane, we scored a great (and as always, free) campsite right by the sea.
What a beautiful campsite!
Plus, there was also a great sunset with pink clouds.
With our camper van, we definitely stood out here! Italians mostly drive small cars, like Fiats or similar vehicles. That's more than sensible considering the narrow streets. Often, we couldn't even make it around the corner or had to take a completely different route.
So, never trust Google Maps 100 percent. It will lead you to the most bizarre places.
When we crossed the border, there was no check at all. I had read online beforehand about what to consider before entering: negative COVID test, entry form, and so on. None of it was checked. Just like when entering Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
But that doesn't mean that COVID is not taken seriously here. Some of the citizens take it more seriously. So, it wasn't uncommon to see joggers running alone through the forest wearing an FFP2 mask. Even when cycling up a steep hill, they don't forego protection here. Restaurants, shopping centers, and bars were open again as usual. You didn't need a test to buy a new pair of shoes or enjoy your pizza in the restaurant. A piece of normal life returned.
What is Italy without a delicious Aperol Spritz? One of my favorites in Italy is definitely the small treats that you get for free with your drink.
That's the life!
Lake Maggiore
A Place of Relaxation
Lake Maggiore is one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy. If you want a relaxation vacation, this is the place to be.
There are many small mountain villages, and there is a quiet atmosphere. For us, it was almost too quiet.
Venice
The City on the Water
For Venice, you first have to buy a ticket for the water taxi. Otherwise, you can't get there! Instead of cars, boats drive here. Eventually, we made ourselves comfortable and set off. It was like in a picture book. The houses on the water are colorful, have many small windows, and stand close together.
An incredible panorama!
In the city itself, we walked around and visited the sights:
St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, Burano, and everything else that was an absolute MUST.
We also met Max's family, with whom we enjoyed delicious pizza right next to the water and explored the area together.
Milan
An endless long bar mile, delicious & large pizzas, and endless sights.
Milan is a BEAUTIFUL city and definitely worth a visit!
Boccadasse
It was also beautiful in the Boccadasse district in Italy. The pastel-colored houses near the water were very impressive!
Rocche del reopasso
Harness on and up we go!
Once at the top, we had an incredibly beautiful sunset!
A little hanging out does good too!
Italy also has great beaches!
Ponte dei Salti
Ponte dei Salti is also known as the "Roman Bridge". A simply impressive stone bridge with two large arches.
Today, let's rewind to the beginning of our story.
How it all started, a few tips, and our first stops with the camper on our Europe trip.
With broad grins on our faces and unbelievably good spirits, we set off with the campervan towards freedom.
Of course, we sang the silliest classics like "Eisgekühlter Bommerlunder" and the weirdest rap songs loudly in the car.
Who doesn't know that?
Our intoxicated state, without any drug consumption, is probably thanks to our dream of traveling the world. At this point, I must quote something that reminds me of my indescribable trip to Australia, almost two years ago, with my good friend Jessica:
"PLANLESS PLANS WORK OUT"
And that's exactly how it is. Without any time limit or knowing where we'll be next week, Max and I started our big adventure again.
But this time, together.
Back then...
I remember as if it were yesterday, returning from my big trip to New Zealand and moving to Braunschweig. I settled into my new job well, and my chic maisonette apartment gradually got more furniture. Somewhere in between, I met Max. Full of zest for life. He enchanted me right from the first meeting. We went hiking together in the Harz Mountains, ate campfire bread in a cave, and shooting stars streaked across the sky above us. How romantic!
Just three meetings later, Max asked me if I wanted to come along. Come along on the big European trip with his camper.
,,ABSOLUTELY!“ ,
was clearly my answer.
A lot of euphoria set in.
But wait.
What about my apartment? My job?? My friends? My family? All my stuff?
Emotional turmoil.
This time, I had firmly decided to stay longer in Germany!! No way. Life always seems to turn out differently than you think. Okay. A thousand imagined worst-case scenarios later, I was determined to go. Overhaul life and leave everything behind for a complete stranger.
A little tip, on how I managed to overcome my fears more easily:
Write down the worst-case scenario,,
so the worst that could happen in your case.
If it's worse than you could bear - Let it go! But I promise you, in most cases, there's a solution!
One of my 1,000 worst-case scenarios, for example, was:
,,Max and I could have a big fight in the camper during the trip, and then I'll be without an apartment, without a job, and without my stuff!!“
So then I thought about what steps would be necessary to make this negative, "possible" event turn out as well as possible.
Without an apartment :
Okay, I'd always get accommodation. In the worst case, I can definitely stay with my family or friends 100%.
Then I could just look for a new apartment!
Without a job:
Okay, I'd always get a job too. But whether it's a good one? Whether I'll like the team then?
Well, Janet, maybe not, but maybe it's even better, and if not, just find a completely different job!
Without stuff:
Okay, I guess there are some savings for that, right? Just buy new stuff - or even better, look on eBay and get half of it for free. And let's be honest: How much stuff do you really use? I had 1,000 dresses, shoes, and maybe I only looked at 1/10 of them. So I sold all my excess stuff and even got a lot of money for it!
Tada, there's the increase in savings!
Turn negatives into positives. Somehow it always works out. Except if you don't really want it or if there's something more meaningful to you. Which is totally okay too!
Many people often say to me:
"I'd love to do that too." "Just travel the world and leave everything behind.".“
Not true. Because then you would do it.
Apparently, something else is still the focus for you (the security of money? A steady income? Your daily exercise? Your family? Your friends? Your routine? Your overall security? Who knows, who knows. But goals change, and it's never too late to start. No matter what dream you have. Write it down and find steps to get closer to your goal! Because that's what life is all about: Living. Life.
"Close your eyes and go for it!"
Ten years ago, I would have thought everyone was crazy if they told me that one day I would see Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, South America, and so many other countries. So many times I left my normal, safe, routine life behind me, and every time I was incredibly afraid. Worst-case scenario. Worst-case scenario. Worst-case scenario!
Back to the past...
So. I didn't even really know Max. Three meetings? What's that?
But we were head over heels in love. And when you're in love, you're naive. And being naive isn't always bad! So, with a heavy heart, I quit my beloved apartment, my job, sold my furniture, my clothes, my car - until eventually, I was sleeping on a small water mattress on the bare floor of my apartment.
Our first stops on the Europe trip...
Oker Dam & Hahnenklee
Our first stop was the Okertalsperre near Altenau in the Harz Mountains in the Goslar district. Thanks to the beautiful weather, we skated around with our inline skates. Unfortunately, we also noticed the restrictions due to Corona. The restaurant "Der Windbeutel König" was closed and didn't even offer delivery service. What a shame!
However, the sunset and the incredible view from the dam provided us with the necessary comfort.
Kassel – Wilhelmshöhe Mountain Park
With the currently "typical April weather," we headed to Kassel. At Max's request, I'll describe the weather a bit more precisely: By typical April weather, I meant a snowstorm accompanied by bright sunshine and cold wind.
The museum, the Löwenburg, and the castle, reachable with hundreds of steps, were just a few of the many highlights of the beautiful park near the city center. It was so beautiful!
Saxon Switzerland
We headed to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains of the Saxon Switzerland National Park. There we hiked to the classic sights. The Bastei is a huge rock formation with a viewing platform that offers a view over the Elbe Valley and the Lusatian Mountain Range.
Next, we climbed the large, rugged rock group "Die Schrammsteine".
But my absolute highlight was the Häntzschelstiege climbing trail. We put on our climbing harnesses and climbed along steep and narrow rock walls. I felt like I was transported into the middle of an adventure movie. It was
Tip:
Buy yourself climbing equipment. It's actually a free activity that Corona hasn't taken away from us yet!
Oh, and be sure to knock your shoes off beforehand!!!
Stuttgart
In Stuttgart, we met two friends of Max who gave us a private tour. For the first time, I was introduced to the so-called
"Foodsharing".
Translated, this means "sharing food." In a small storage room, groceries from large supermarkets or private households are made available to everyone for free. This serves to prevent major food waste. The products are no longer suitable for sale due to overproduction or expiration dates for the companies. But residents also like to add something from their overly full refrigerator.
How often do we throw away food when we could make someone else happy?
Luckily, it had just been restocked, so we happily nibbled on our delicious pretzel snack.
We often used the app: "Too Good To Go"
This is an app for your phone where various restaurants offer their "unsold" food. It's just too good to throw away, and believe me, we had huge portions of sushi, fresh pizza, delicious bowls, and 1000 other great dishes, at one-third of the original price. Just give it a try!
P.S.: Pay attention to the reviews, as you can usually tell in advance whether it's worth ordering there!
Würzburg
Living in the city
From our pitch, we had a direct view over the whole of Würzburg. We stood right in the middle of the vineyards, while the city presented us with a unique light show from above. The next day, we explored the city center. We didn't miss the Residence, Marienberg Fortress, the old Main bridge, the Cathedral, and the pilgrimage church.
Würzburg at night
The Bodensee
Pure vacation feeling.
First of all, I have to say that the shape of Lake Constance looks like a floating diver. Because of this, I thought more than once that a diving school was in front of us.
The water is crystal clear, the paths are well maintained, and the flowers bloom brightly on every corner. A typical tourist place, but there are hardly any tourists this year. Often, the streets in the city center were deserted.
When we got some food at the Greek restaurant, the current Corona situation became even clearer. The owner explained to us in his Greek accent that he had been waiting for government support for his restaurant for 6 months already, and due to the pandemic, visitors always stayed away. Desperation spread in his voice. How many people have probably lost their jobs in this crisis? A little sparkle returned to his eyes as he handed us the lovingly prepared food. So now all that's left is hope. . .
And our hope to still be able to see the world, despite massive limitations, eventually led us to move on to the next small towns, like Konstanz, Sipplingen, Überlingen, Meersburg, Friedrichshafen, and Lindau.
And of course, not everything can go well in every city. After my wonderful crash on the grass, due to my non-existent ability to brake while inline skating, I went home to the camper with a few added abrasions.
But as fate would have it, things continued. Upon my arrival, Max's head was halfway into the trunk of the water system. We can count ourselves lucky that it only flowed into the tub at first. After wringing out the cloths several times, replacing the hose adapter, and tightening the screws, we mastered that too. At least we thought so. The next problem arose. Max used his phone as a light source, and when he closed the trunk, he squished it. Not a big deal, if it weren't for the complete hole in the screen. The nerves were more than frayed. In the meantime, Max's hands started bleeding in various places.
In such a tight space, bad moods tend to escalate together.
The huge mountains, the brown-colored cows with bells around their necks, the yellow flowers on the lush green meadows, the cheese on every corner, the Swiss accent, and last but not least, the currency, the Swiss Franc.
Our first destination was the beautiful Lake Walen.Crystal-clear, turquoise water.
The perfect spot to quickly mix up a nice milkshake in the camper and get cozy!
Of course, we also did some hiking. In the mountains, it's an absolute MUST in Switzerland. But who would have thought that we would also be lucky enough to see snow avalanches? Just amazing!
"We did it, high-five!"
In this picture, you can see the small snow avalanches sliding down from the mountain, creating an incredible noise.
While we couldn't close our mouths from amazement, others were calmly fishing.
Eventually, we continued our journey: And once again, we saw the wonderful, radiant, yellow flowers in the meadows.
From winter to spring?
Why not end the day with a nice barbecue?
A few days later, we went hiking again.
This time, we made a campfire and grilled again.
While the fire flickered below, the stars began to sparkle in the sky. It felt like we were the only people on the planet.
Just us and nature.
Different sounds echoed from the forest. A hint of pure freedom.
The next day, we blasted the music in the camper! Allow me to introduce: DJ MAX
At the climbing trail Zwillingsstieg
Oh my God, is that high!!! When we climbed the mountain, I stood rooted more than once and initially had no idea how to proceed. The climbing trail we chose this time was not for beginners, and I clearly felt that. Max motivated and helped me enormously, so I managed to get through it without dying.
Brave is not the one who does not know fear, brave is the one who knows fear and overcomes it.
Khalil Gibran
Of course, we didn't want to miss out on city life, so we also visited the beautiful city of Zurich. Lively. Enchanting. Beautiful.
Lastly, we visited the largest waterfall in Europe:
,,The Rhine Falls“
As always, we found great pitches again. It was super easy to stay overnight for free in Switzerland!
Sooooo... after long action-packed days between adventure and work:
Put your feet up in front of our own little camper cinema!
Must-Have: Screen with projector
Next Stop: Italy!
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I’m Janet Dannehl, and I’ve been a passionate travel influencer for over 7 years. On my Instagram channel, I share my lifestyle, travels, and a variety of adventures with my community every day. Authenticity is very important to me, which is why I only feature products or services that I truly identify with. I’m especially excited about topics such as sports, outdoor adventures, nature, photography, fashion, and accommodations.
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