Picking the right chair
Bolivia seems to have plenty fiestas. Perhaps every religious event is a reason to dress up in colorful clothes and just let go. In my original travel plan, I had intended to be in Oruro for carnaval. However, I was traveling way too slowly and didn’t reach Bolivia until June.…
Culture across the water
I was on the last ferry of the season from Chaitén to Castro, a city on the island of Chiloé. I entered a different world. As the ferry approached the big island, there were many smaller islands we came past. There was so much life here! I saw towns everywhere.…
The birdman tradition
The Rano Kau volcano used to be the scene for a very special Rapa Nui tradition. Every year the people gathered here for a fierce competion. Each clan would send one competitor in a race for the first egg of the Manutara bird. In this race they had to get…
6 unique things in Armenia
There are always certain things that stick out when you first arrive in a new place. Some places have this more than others. In Armenia I was presented with a whole new world. Everything was so different from home, and yet other things so similar. Even the language and script…
Into the belly of Bojnice castle
I’m a big fan of fairytale castles and if I have the chance to visit one, I’ll usually take it. As I researched Slovakia there was an overwhelming choice of castles. All kinds of castles; medieval, fortresses, fairytale, mansions… you name it. Luckily my friend send me a list of…
A walk to the monastery of Chorin
The train passed familiar places like Biesenthal and Melchow, places I had visited on my 66 lakes walk around Berlin. But today I went a little bit further into the state of Brandenburg to explore the Schorfheide nature area. At Britz I started my walk and I discovered another surprising…
The Arkadi monastery on Crete
Taking the bus to the Arkadi monastery Not far from Rethymno stands the beautiful Arkadi monastery. It’s a popular destination for tourists staying in the Rethymno area. If you have a car you can make a great trip visiting the monastery and some other attractions in the area, like the…
I’d had the tea and everything
I just spent two weeks in Morocco and I had a great time. I loved the old medinas, the food, the desert landscape, the mountains and the sea. I will definitely come back one day to see the south part of the country. But throughout my stay in Morocco, one…
Exploring Galicia
So I haven’t been in Spain in ages and I’m about to lead a tour in an area I have never been to. Ok, it’s walking the camino to Santiago de Compostela, so our main activity will be walking, but I could do with a brush up on Spanish culture.…
The world of Vappu
In my country, the 30th of April is not a particularly special day anymore since Queen’s day changed into King’s day and changed dates. In Finland, they go all out. Vappu, or Walpurgis night, is a big celebration in the streets and parks where people dress up and party. Students…