finding paradise and Caribbean savoir-vivre, Guadeloupe
February 2020 – Rather by chance than by choice I found my favourite place on this planet. Guadeloupe is one of the most beautiful places I have seen and it offers so many different things to see, explore, experience, that one year would not be enough to do it all. From hiking La Soufriere to diving in the Cousteau Reserve, from bathing in secluded grottos in the rain forest to soaking up the sun on the most stunning beaches, from eating fresh local cuisine to drinking Ti Punch – this place will exceed your wildest dreams of paradise.
winter in the Baltic countries
December 2019 to January 2020 – I was finally able to do the road trip through the Baltic countries, which was on my mind for such a long time. And yes, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are a great travel destination in winter, too – just embrace the cold and you’ll be rewarded with empty streets and amazing sunsets.
Tallinn surprised me a lot and has probably become my second favourite city – it has a perfect mixture of old and new architecture, an amazing food scene, great urban art spots and a hip, vibrant, cool vibe. The city has an astonishing memorial for the ‘victims of communism’, which has become my first recommendation to visit when in Tallinn. Tartu is still on my to-see-list, and I am eager to go to this student gem on my next trip to Estonia, surely with a day or two in Tallinn to be spent.
Riga instead is like a time warp with its beautiful architecture and parks, with lots of odd little things to stumble upon on a day’s walk. Great restaurants are plentiful in the old city center and it is hard to choose, where to eat. A perfect weekend getaway when you enjoy local cuisine.
Vilnius is full of churches, and every single one of them is built with absolute beauty. But since I am not so much of a church enthusiast, I spent my time in museums and walking around the city center, which was just as rewarding as a heavenly blessing. The city is built in a grand style and I enjoyed the flair. Crossing the Vilnele river, you find yourself in the free republic of Uzupis, a mecca for quirky art installations and life outside-the-box. On every corner, there is something extraordinary to be explored and it’s the simple yet genius ideas that make this place so heartwarming.
Patagonia – a dream comes true
October to November 2019 – Patagonia was on my travel list for a very long time and I fell in love with this beautiful place from the first moments on. I admit, some parts of the hike were challenging and I wish, the weather would have been slightly better. But I am absolutely ecstatic about every minute I spent there, not only in the National Parks Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares, but the charming towns of Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, El Chalten and El Calafate as well.
Hiking and driving through Patagonia has left me with such appreciation for nature and nurtured my mind and soul to an extend I did not expect or experienced on any of my other trips. This is a truly unique place and this trip has made me longing for even more travel adventures.
dee ree 