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Welcome to TravAgSta!
A Swedish summer dream – Stockholm in August!
18. April 2020
What a cheesy headline and yet so accurate. Our second trip and first flight since Tilda’s birth lead us to Stockholm. Tilda is a very lively baby and quickly bored. We were nervous thinking about flying with her. Can she stay calm for a while or will she be constantly screaming throughout the flight? And because we know nervous parents have nervous kids, we tried a short trip to Stockholm. A one-hour flight is always possible. For this reason and because summer 2019 was a hot nightmare for us (as mentioned in our Denmark post before) and because Stockholm is great, we made our way to Sweden’s capital in August 2019. Yes, I know, it’s been a while, but I just couldn’t make it sooner. No one’s interested in the details, so I keep it short: Apart from landing and take-off, when she wasn’t sleeping, we had a good first flight. Other than that, we were those on the flight, idiots think ‘Oh my God, why can’t they stay at home with a baby?’ Those who feel concerned now can now admire my virtual middle finger. Keep being pissed off. We really don’t want to annoy anyone, but you. Bless you! How to city trip with a baby Tilda was five months old and slept most of the trip (the younger they are the better; they sleep most of the trip and you can explore everything in peace). Carrying her cute diaper bum all day long in her baby carrier was a huge task for our backs (and it doesn’t get better over time). Facts: You need a travel buggy, an infant car seat and a baby carrier. We have an Ergobaby carrier and we and Tilda get along very well with it. A so-called half-buckle sling or a baby sling is something we would have had to practice before, and it takes forever compared to the full-buckle carriers. The baby needs to like the baby carrier. Anyway, you’re way more flexible with them. A buggy is good, especially for putting your baby down whenever you want or must. And of course, to put stuff in it. We don’t have to tell parents how much stuff babies need. With good organization (it’s fundamental, to not forget something and more to keep your sanity) everything worked out well for us. We started early. Tilda is an early bird; means we left our Airbnb early and came back around midday. We started again in the early afternoon. Our plan always worked out like this. Tilda is very curious, and all those new impressions made her very tired very quickly. We had seen a lot and had amazing family time. The weather was so, so good and we were in some kind of bubble the whole time. It was her second trip and as her parents were relaxed during the trip, she was too. Ergo Tilda loves traveling. And now, for the non-baby part. Gamla Stan What is there to say in detail. Gamla Stan is the Old Town of Stockholm and a huge joy for the eye. We felt like every other tourist in this city was here with us at the same time despite being here in the morning. Especially the Stor Torget (the main square with the famous colourful buildings) was partly unbearable. Maybe you have to come even earlier because nevertheless, it’s super pretty. What we didn’t plan because it’s not predictable with Tilda was seeing the guard change at the palace. It was pompous and glamourous, my dear ladies and gentlemen. The horse droppings on the street were not so much. Café in the Kungsträdgården A beautiful café in the middle of the park near the palace. We could rest here for a while and take Tilda out of the baby carrier. Södermalm Södermalm is a big, very popular part of Stockholm and therefore, you’ll find many sights and eating possibilities here. For example, the market in Hornstull during the weekends. It’s beautifully located at the water (not a surprise in Stockholm) and we could get something delicious right away after our arrival. There is a variety of all kinds of food and people just love food trucks. The crowd was mixed. More young people and families. But actually, everyone enjoying a good atmosphere. Hornstull The whole Hornstull area is a dream. We could move here right away: with the metro or the bus, the city is within easy reach. At the same time, our Airbnb was directly at the water and despite the apartment is really old, we felt really well. It was a small, Swedish idyll in the middle of the city. View from Monteliusvägen On the same evening of our arrival (as it wasn’t exhausting enough), we made the decision to walk to the Monteliusvägen viewpoint. Especially during sunset many people gather here and enjoy what’s called a perfect Stockholm view. We haven’t made it to all sunset views of the city, but at least to this one. All kinds of people are here, and the atmosphere is amazing. It’s also great for family vacation pics. Lasse i Parken Please, make it to this beautiful Café/Restaurant/beer garden/whatever. The rustic atmosphere in the middle of the beautiful garden and the delicious food is so convincing, even Tilda loved this place without feeling bored. The atmosphere here made her really calm. Fjällgatan viewpoint To be honest, this place was okay. If you’re short in time, you can skip this one. There is a busy street that kills the vibes in my opinion. But the old half-timbered houses in this part of Södermalm are really pretty. Eating in Södermalm, Stockholm Of course, we know about the duration of many restaurants, etc. We just recommend you, what was good and affordable in not-so-cheap Stockholm. Meatballs for the people This great place is no secret for quite some time now. Actually, it’s more of an institution. It doesn’t have to be the fancy secret spot all the time. It was delicious and if you have the time and feel like hanging out, be part of the crowd enjoying their evening at the Nytorget with wine and beer. Pre-Tilda we would surely have been part of this crowd. Sthlm raw We’re not vegan, but we love vegan food. Sthlm raw has a small, but delicious menu and was just the right thing for us. To say it with Tilda’s ‘words’: Mam! Cinnamon Bakery and Café Delicious pastries and coffee for a good price. Many locals come here in the morning. For us early birds, this café in our neighbourhood was very welcome. Afghan Restaurant (Lil Kabul) Perfect for those who need to take care of their pennies. The food was astonishingly good for the price. For around 10€ each, you can ‘All-you-can-eat’, which is very unusual for Stockholm. Stockholm’s tunnelbana – metro stations Kungsträdgarden, T-Centralen, Rådhuset, Stadion By now, it must be well known, Stockholm is the queen city of artsy-fartsy metro stations. The tunnelbana is the only underground railway in Sweden and some of them are staged in style. It’s best to buy a day ticket and combine it with other sights, you can’t reach by walking from your hotel/Airbnb etc. Set some time in it. For some stations, the drive takes longer than expected. Djurgården As mentioned, we had fabulous weather and amazing light when we took the tram to Djurgården passing Strandvägen. The kind of light, we only know from the Atlantic Ocean. In Waldemarsudde, we found peace on earth and made a walk in the area enjoying the perfect light. Tilda really loved this place. Heading back, we passed Gröna Lund and took the ferry to Gamla Stan. Stadsbibliotek The most hipsterish thing to do now is to visit a fancy library. The Stadsbibliotek in Stockholm comes quite in handy. Tilda was sleeping, so we gave it a try. It’s actually only allowed for whisperers. Stadshuset The town hall of Stockholm is in Kungsholmen. If you want, you can go up to the town hall tower. I mean, if you’re in a time or rather order the tickets online in advance. Which we both didn’t do. We’re true heroes. Nevertheless, it’s a nice place to visit and again the light here made it even more perfect to enjoy the view of Stockholm along the water. I always mention the light. No idea, if the pictures can transport the feelings. But for the future, this kind of light and the vibes of a city will be the only reason for upcoming city trips. We will definitely come back to Stockholm and we really want to travel around Sweden. We’ll see what we’ll do. It will be good. If you have any questions, contact us. Maybe we can help you! Booking.com...
Danish Idyll in Syddanmark – our first trip with our baby!
13. March 2020
It has been very quiet on this blog for a very long time now and we’re happy we’ve finally found the time and the feels to go on with a new post. In March 2019 I gave birth to our beautiful little Tilda and of course, she brought us a new form of joy, love, exhaustion and new priorities with her. Which doesn’t mean we forgot to travel. In contrary. Outside my belly, Tilda traveled to five countries already being only 11 months old. We think, this is awesome and will definitely continue to see more and more with her. She enjoyed all of it. Baby and child-friendly Denmark Scandinavia fans know, Europe’s north is perfect for traveling with kids. The infrastructure is perfect and the weather isn’t too hot. The hot summer of 2019 made us almost think about leaving the country, anyway. I don’t know what it’s like for other mommies, but I can imagine so many better things than mommy-baby-sweat during breastfeeding. It definitely doesn’t become too hot in the north. Therefore we made our first trip (including Jan’s part of the family) to Denmark. To be exactly to Southern Denmark, Syddanmark, an idyll between North and Baltic Sea. From Frankfurt, we had an 8 hours drive which is quite long especially with a screaming three-month-old. It was worth though, once we had arrived. This way we could also somehow ‘practice’ to travel with a baby and had luckily additional help from my parents-in-law. We had a beautiful house in Bredebro not far from the dike. It was perfect for a nice evening walk with a cute little squaller. When it was raining (it’s Denmark and it happens quite a lot) we could watch the rain from our beautiful winter garden. Some eggheads think, traveling with a baby is too exhausting, especially for the baby, not worth the time, blah blah blah. Meanwhile, there are more than enough family blogs to prove those wrong. Traveling is a great change during everyday family life. It breaks your routine even if you still have to prepare bottles. You do and see something new while your baby can watch the new environment. Tilda made her biggest development leaps during our trips and she loved the fresh air in Denmark. She was in a very good mood this week. Syddanmark – what to see here Some might find it boring, others find peace on earth here. There’s nothing spectacular happening here and those coming don’t expect it. From our house in Bredebro, we made some trips to the beautiful surrounding. Rømø The most classic thing to do in Syddanmark is taking a walk at the car beach of Rømø. Tilda didn’t like the North Sea wind, but we all enjoyed the fresh air. The sheer size of the beach is impressive. What you have to take with plenty of humor, is the German presence in Southern Demark. Being neighbors on the one side and for historical reasons on the other, there are lots of ‘tysker’ to find here. The question is whether it’s necessary to play annoying German songs at the pølser booths of Havneby. There’s not a lot of Denmark feeling coming up here. It might be a type of person thing whether to like this or not. But the backdrop of the basin is nice and you have the possibility to take the ferry to Sylt. Tønder There are definitely more spectacular places than Tønder. The Old Town is ok for a walk with the baby. For those of you who want to eat a Pølser without the annoying sound of German bogan music, you’ll find it here. It’s definitely worth a short visit. The shopping street is really cute. Near Tønder, there’s another cute place called Møgeltønder with the Schackenborg Slot (Castle). We definitely should have looked up opening times before. Maybe visiting is only possible with guided tours. You have to look this up yourselves if interested. It looked nice from the outside. Ribe We were in Ribe a few years ago and we really loved this place. It’s Denmark’s oldest town and we would come back at any time. The Old Town is beautiful and if you’re a self-provider like we are, the market is good to buy some delicious stuff. Sønderbørg This place here was really nice. We made our first little road trip with Tilda here outside of Germany and it was a great success. We had amazing weather in Sønderbørg and the color of the Baltic Sea was mesmerizingly blue. The colorful houses at the promenade were the cherry on the top. There’s a little castle here and lots of restaurants in the main street (which is not very long) which are quite affordable for Denmark standards. Here, Tilda fell asleep in my arms for the first time without me breastfeeding her or doing other weird stuff. There are a few nice corners and the view from the other side to the promenade is definitely worth making a stop here. If you’re lucky and here in summer, you can see the royal yacht in the harbor. Dybbøl Banke At Dybbøl Banke we wanted to give Tilda her first history lesson. As expected she was not very interested and preferred treating this place with her ultrasound like voice. Nevertheless, Dybbøl Banke is a historically important place in Denmark on the one hand (1864 is the year for you to google) and beautifully landscaped on the other hand. Trips to Germany From Bredebro, it’s a one-hour drive to make short trips to Flensburg and Glücksburg. We had some nasty weather here, but we will definitely return sometime. Flensburg As said, due to the weather, we couldn’t do a lot here (I’m not sure whether we could have otherwise). But we enjoyed our walk at the harbor and our bread roll with fish at Gosch’s. The Old Town was pretty, we love Hanseatic architecture. Expectedly, Tilda slept most of the time. Germany’s northernmost city is not to miss when in the area. Glücksburg Castle This is a really beautiful renaissance water castle and absolutely photogenic. Our little baby was not in the mood, so we couldn’t stay for long. But you also don’t have to. The week was over so fast and our first trip with Tilda a great success. We definitely wanted to do more after this trip. Denmark will definitely happen a lot in the future. If you want, click here to see my Instragram page with a few more pictures! You can find more about our Denmark trips here! Booking.com...
Short trip to western Lake Constance in fall!
19. March 2019
As mentioned in the previous post, a part of our short trip in fall was a detour to western Lake Constance. Lake Constance is a well-visited place. Nevertheless, we think it’s one of the most underrated destinations in Germany. Our time here was short. You could easily spend a week here without getting bored. Nevertheless, you’d surely like to know what to do with a short time here. Konstanz/Constance Constance is a really idyllic place. Many students, many families, many tourists, many… It’s a diverse city and Switzerdütsch is widely spread here. Of course, for a reason. Of course, we‘ve just been to the Lake and in the Old Town. Sitting at the Konzilhaus with a cup of coffee, enjoying the fall sun…There’s worse and our time was well spent. Konschtanz (as people around the area might also call the city) is famous for its Imperia Statue, which turns on its own axis within a few minutes. The statue caused controversy as it was female and scantily clad, which is something that’s just not done. The statue is supposed to make fun of the Council of Constance (1414-1418). The Pope is sitting on one of her hands while the emperor is sitting on the other. And while the mighty men acted like they were doing mighty things, the real winners of those years, were the whores of the city. As always actually. The pilgrimage church of Birnau The Birnau pilgrimage church was actually not on our radar. On our way to Meersburg, we were looking for a bathroom for my preggo blatter and a place less pretty than this would have been totally ok for that purpose. From far we saw this beautiful pink church which is close to the heavily trafficked B31. Down at the church one hardly notices the noise and the view over Lake Constance becomes even more astoundingly beautiful. The church is really beautiful inside as well as outside. This short detour should be done even without an annoying blatter. Meersburg Another gem at Lake Constance. Surrounded by vineyards lies beautiful Meersburg. The Old Town is beautiful with its half-timbered houses. It’s beautifully restored without the effect of being fake-old. The new palace has a beautiful garden with a café and a view over the lake. The region’s wines are delicious. There’s a good variety in the ‘Georg Hack, Haus der Weinhandlung’ wine store. Jan can confirm that and hopefully, me too soon! Booking.com...
Short trip to beautiful Württemberg and the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) in Fall!
16. March 2019
You know it. There’s a bank holiday in sight and you miraculously you can make an extended weekend out of it. But of course, you don’t know what to do with your precious time. Naturally, we have some ideas for you. For example, spending a few golden fall days in Southern Germany. Sounds kitschy and it is. But still a good idea. To be exact, we made a trip to Lake Constance, South West Germany (Swabia) and the Black Forest. While we visited South West Germany (Swabia) before, the Black Forest and Lake Constance were partly new to us. Especially the Black Forest was something I thought was totally for boring people. But it’s actually quite nice here and it’s worth visiting. The food, in particular, is really delicious here. But enough with the banter. In the following, we’ll show you what to see in this corner of Germania. Swabia Spaetzle and Swabian ravioli. being stingy, weird dialect. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The Kehrwoche. Hard-working. “Work hard, work hard, build a wee house” (Swabian saying) … Interesting how Swabians got their reputation and how funny and unimportant that is. What’s even more important was where we stayed overnight. Staying at Charly’s House in Tuttlingen We can absolutely recommend Charly’s House in Tuttlingen. It’s clean and comfy, location is central and offers breakfast if you want to. The hotel itself is a good base to explore the region. Of course, with a rental car, that you can book here. Furthermore, there’s a kebab man nearby (Diyar Kebab) who makes many people happy with his delicious meals. If you want ‘real’ dinner, go to Vinzenz Weinkeller. Exquisite cuisine and very good wine. Prices are decent considering the food being a bit more upscale. Tübingen Tübingen is home to one of Germany’s famous universities and famous for its beautiful Old Town. Also for the row of houses along the Neckar river. Tübingen is definitely worth a visit. Schloss Lichtenstein/Lichtenstein Castle What we really loved was Lichtenstein Castle in the Swabian Alps. The castle was built in the 19th century and belongs to the rural area of Reutlingen. It’s a very well visited castle. Entry fee is 2€ for the outside area which is a very moderate price. The view over the castle on the rock is picture perfect. Burg Hohenzollern/Hohenzollern Castle Hohenzollern Castle is one of Germany’s most famous castles. First versions or mentionings of the castle are from the 11th century. Its current form was built in the 19th century. All this information is unfortunately really unuseful when it comes to the question of whether to see the castle just from the outside or more. The famous view over the castle is actually from the Zellerhornwiese. If you want more, means seeing the inner court or the dorms, you have to take the shuttle from the parking and participate in a guided tour. This way there’s no chance to have a view at the castle. That’s why we decided on the first option. It takes a short walk from the parking spot at the Mariazell Church to enjoy this view. Donauquelle in Donaueschingen/Donau source in Donaueschingen As the name says it, it’s the Danube’s source which is located between the city church of Sankt Johann and the castle. It’s nice to look at and of course historically and geographically interesting. Schwarzwald/Black Forest As mentioned before, The Black Forest is a part of our beautiful country we successfully neglected in the past. Typically German so to say, While Chinese or American people do notice this part of Germany very well, it’s otherwise still mostly people from the area, spending their vacation here. (Which are still quite a lot, but you know what I mean.) The rest of Germany (at least people of our age) not that much. Titisee This lake is really called Titisee, and we think it’s hilarious. It’s a beautiful lake where you can spend some relaxing time. This place is all about tourism. Souvenir shops and restaurants everywhere. And many people. Really many, many people which we didn’t expect. But Maybe just because we underestimated the Black Forest area. Doesn’t matter. It’s a nice place. Triberg with its waterfall and the world’s largest Kuckucksuhr (cuckoo clock) Triberg is THE place in the Black Forrest and famous for its 163m high waterfall. It’s one of Germany’s largest waterfall. On the other side, Triberg is a cuckoo clock city. In Triberg you’ll find the biggest cuckoo clock in the world. Actually, in a place a little bit outside of the city in a beautiful valley. The cuckoo clock shop in Triberg is an attraction for itself. It’s hilarious to see what people are ready to pay for this stuff. Amazing! Baden-Baden Strictly speaking, Baden-Baden belongs to Baden and not Wurttemberg, but on our way home to Frankfurt, we thought it was a good idea to make a little stop here. Baden-Baden is a really quiet and really rich spa town. The city’s wealth derives from its thermal baths which attract people from everywhere since the 19th century. Baden-Baden is not really the place to be. It’s boring and I actually think, that’s what people in this town want. For a drink or a meal at the café of the Kurpark Trinkhalle, it’s worth a visit. Yes, it’s called Trinkhalle and shouldn’t be confused with the Trinkhallen of the Ruhr area. Booking.com...
Madeira’s inland!
12. March 2019
Madeira is not only all about green and the sea. The island’s sights are not limited to the coasts. The inland is equally beautiful offers scenic viewpoints and has a lot to offer especially for hiking fans. Madeira may be just a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic. But its mountains reach far in the sky and this gives you the great and rare opportunity to see the clouds from above, (rare at least outside from a plane). Seriously, this is beautiful. Pico do Arieiro Pico do Arieiro is the third highest mountain of Madeira and the highest to be reached by car. Some meters below the summit there’s a parking lot and the start of a great hike to the two higher summits of Pico Ruivo and Pico das Torres. On clear days you can even see Ponta de São Lourenço from up there. But even if not, the view over the valleys and the clouds is worth the drive up here. For our small rental car, it was really a challenge, though. Tip: For your way up, we recommend you take the panoramic route. To get there, leave the VE6 in direction of Eira do Serrado and then turn right to take the steep road up. It’s less crowded and offers plenty of great viewpoints. Definitely worth the steep drive. Miradouros do Paredão One of those lesser known viewpoints on the panoramic route. Two views, to be precise. One covers the view over Funchal, the second is in direction of Curral das Freiras. Eira do Serrado As I just mentioned it: You’ll have the best view over Curral das Freiras from here. So, of course, plenty of buses take the narrow and steep road up here, too. Curral das Freiras The Valley of the Nuns is one of the most beautiful and impressive places on Madeira. Our opinion. The houses in this small town seem to be so small compared to the huge mountains surrounding it. We wondered whether the people were afraid of the mountains sometimes. We would be! Sitting in the Sabores do Curral restaurant in great afternoon light, enjoying great food and the splendid view – you can’t beat this. Ribeiro Frio Another great place in Madeira’s inland: Ribeiro Frio. It’s famous for its trouts and as a starting point of the Balcoes Hike, which takes just 30 minutes and is very easy. Actually, it’s not a hike but an easy walk. But the view is amazing and you wouldn’t expect it after walking through the woods. After your walk, go for lunch in the village and enjoy a trout. Of course, it’s quite touristic but delicious. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Or if you want us to add something to the list. More about Madeira here: Funchal and Southern Madeira! The North and East Coast of Madeira! Our Babymoon in Madeira! Booking.com...
The North and East Coast of Madeira!
10. March 2019
The advantages of a rental car are obvious. How else could you easily reach other parts of Madeira, without following a strict time plan? There aren’t any earth-shattering distances on the island. It’s still not easy without a rental to reach east and the northwest coast of the island. Which would be sad because the island’s landscape is diverse and like in a picture book. Without any exaggeration, Madeira’s nature reminds of some kind of Rivendell (Lord of the Rings). It’s blooming everywhere. Waterfalls along the streets and the coast are the cherry on the top. It reminded us a little bit of Norway. Our big city lungs were a little bit overstrained with all the fresh air. I should stop now! Ponta de São Lourenço This nature gem called Ponta de São Lourenço is located at the most eastern part of Madeira and reminded us strongly of Ireland. Also, a little bit of Brittany, but most of Ireland. Somehow a lot of parts of the island reminded us of certain other areas in Europe. The Atlantic Ocean shows a lot of talent forming stones and offshore islands. The most famous viewpoint is the Miradouro do Ponta do Rosto. Miradouro do Ponta do Rosto Santana The small community of Santana is located at the north coast of Madeira and famous for its thatched houses, which everyone must have seen before. They’re as cute at the inside as they look from outside. Some of them got restored recently and prettied up. Not far from the houses, there’s the restaurant Serra e Mar. There’s no huge variety on the menu but what they offered was delicious. Hiking up the mountain after lunch being six months pregnant was an effort I didn’t include in my plans. (It was actually just a little steeper hill, but still.) Porto Moniz Porto Moniz is located on the north west of Madeira and famous for its lava pools filled with seawater. Porto Moniz is really focused on tourism which is why there are lots of hotels and restaurants. We ate at the Restaurant Olhos d’Agua, as it’s supposed to be with a view. Miradouro da Santa That’s the name of the viewpoint throning over Porto Moniz. Our little rental car wasn’t very delighted by the steep ride up, but we ignored it successfully and got rewarded. Ribeira da Janela & Ilheus da Rib Ribeira da Janela is also in the northwest of the island and belongs to the Porto Moniz district. Here’s one of the famous photo spots of the island, called Ilheus da Rib. It ‘s a rock formation reminding of needles looking out of the water. It looks really pretty. Miradouro do Véu da Noiva As if all this wasn’t picture perfect enough, there’s another pretty corner with a Miradouro. This time the Véu da Noiva and we actually had the feeling it was unreal. We’ve really seen worse on this planet. For all those who think this is all too boring, just looking at nice things: You are very welcome to pack your hiking shoes and hike your jittery butts up to the many viewpoints of the island. Madeira and especially the north are perfect for it. More about Madeira here: Madeira’s inland! Funchal and Southern Madeira! Our Babymoon in Madeira! Booking.com...
Funchal and Southern Madeira!
7. March 2019
We spent most of the time of our week on Madeira in the southern part of the island. Obviously, because our hotel was here, but also because there’s much to do and see here. In Funchal, there are several parking garages which won’t cost a fortune. Actually, we’re not sure about the quality of the public transportation system, but at least in and around Funchal, it should be ok. Funchal There are several advantages of being near the Capital. People who, like us, enjoy civilization at least from time to time, will have enough choices to eat out. We chose the Coachella Restaurant, but there are several similar options in the area. Confeitaria offers delicious sweets. Highly recommended if you’re not on a diet. Famous sights in Funchal are the Port area, the CR7 Museum, the Cathedral, and the Mercado Lavradores market. It’s a pity we didn’t see the latter because we just walked by and forgot it. Well, next time! Parque de Santa Catarina offers a really nice view over the port including a pretty Café and a relaxed atmosphere. Thanks to the Cruise Ships, there will always be hordes of people, filling the lovely places and consuming only in some cafés, if only. We don’t want to argue here, BUT, we can hardly imagine anything more annoying than hundreds of people crammed up in beautiful places expecting to be treated like kings and queens. Well, ok, we were really angry sometimes. But well, we can’t change it so let’s try to ignore it! When in Funchal, you shouldn’t forget the Cristo Rei Statue of Christ and the beautiful view over the coast of Funchal. At sunset, this is a popular spot. Let’s just continue to the lovely sights of the island, which most of the Cruise Ship tourists won’t see. Café/Restaurant Doca do Cavacas This nice café/restaurant is close to our hotel Orca Praia and near the Forum Madeira shopping mall. It has a seating area with an amazing view over the bay or you can sit inside. By the way, the Forum Madeira is a great option for shitty weather. Meu super ajuda In case you’re hungry and like good and cheap sandwiches, this place is perfect for you. Value for price is extraordinary good. And oh my, the guys there are so nice. One lady asked if I had twins inside my tummy because it seemed to appear so big. But I forgave her. It’s just the perfect place and ‘a super help’. Camara do Lobos One of the island’s most famous places is Camara do Lobos. You can enjoy the famous Churchill View over the port with its colorful boats and the green and rocky background. The village looks nice but was kind of deserted by end of November. In summer it’s probably quite the contrast. Miradouro da Torre This viewpoint is just above Camara do Lobos. By the way, Madeira seems to be the Island of Miradouros, we will mention them more often in the following posts. You can enjoy an amazing sunset and the view over the village and surroundings from here. Restaurant O Polar To make this place even better, the Restaurant O Polar is just around the corner. Tourists and locals love the place. They will serve you the famous beef skewers, hanging from the ceiling over your table. They call them ‘Espetadas’. The beef is cut from filets, delicious and ridiculously cheap. In the later evening it will be crowded, so either make a reservation or come early (around 6 pm). Cabo Girao Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you a Miradouro with Skywalk. The view is quite nice and I really love this picture of Jan and some duck clouds. But well, what do I know? More about Madeira here: Madeira’s inland! The North and East Coast of Madeira! Our Babymoon in Madeira! Booking.com...
Our Babymoon in Madeira!
4. March 2019
It’s been quite a while since our trip to Madeira. End of November we spoiled ourselves with a week of relaxation on the beautiful flower island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean. We’re expecting a baby in March and thought, a last little trip just the two of us, couldn’t hurt. As many travel regions are out of question for pregnant women (Zika), at least for us. Madeira was the perfect babymoon destination for us. I was able to eat almost everything. The island is famous for its sweet wine, which I don’t like anyways. So everything was perfect for my current condition. Before we show you all the beautiful things we’ve seen and done, here are some hard facts for Madeira newbies. The weather in Madeira in November It’s called flower island because it is a flower island. Thanks to the all-year-round mild climate it’s blooming and green everywhere and it just looks beautiful. The little Madeira bananas prospering everywhere are very delicious. There’s no wrong travel time to Madeira. What we heard from others: It could be rainy all summer long while winter is dry. As it was the case in 2018. Or the other way around. As Madeira is an Atlantic island, there is no relying on the weather forecast. At the end of November, we two half rainy days and otherwise a lot of sunshine during our one week. And of course, fresh air and 18 to 23°C. In conclusion, you can pack anything that has to do with summer or raining. The good thing about Madeira is, this small island offers choices for every weather. Hiking, other sports or tanning or relaxing in a nice wellness hotel, you’ll always find something to make you happy. Where is Madeira? The island of Madeira belongs to Portugal. It lies 951km southwest of Lisbon and 737km west of Moroccan coast. The island was discovered before Christ but just populated in 1420 by Henry the Navigator. More hard facts as always here: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeira Because, as you know, we want to tell you about our experiences. Where to book your accommodation Depending on which side of the island you are, there are different landscapes. During the following posts, you’ll see what we mean. Of course, according to this, you’ll have to decide on your own. Depending on your need for rest, you should avoid or choose Funchal or the surrounding area. Hotel Orca Praia near Funchal Our hotel was a little bit west of Funchal. We decided for the Orca Praia because firstly there was a good offer back then and secondly because of its location: It was directly at the sea but well connected with the motorway, including parking. The rooms are nice and clean. We had a great view of the sea and the only sand beach near Funchal right in front of the door. It’s a black beach and together with a great sunrise and sunset, we could see almost every day, it was perfectly beautiful. Breakfast was delicious and, let’s say rich. Actually, way too much for us. Of course, we feasted nevertheless but thankfully lost the overweight back at home. White, first-world-people and their problems. More about Madeira here: Madeira’s inland! The North and East Coast of Madeira! Funchal and Southern Madeira! Booking.com...
The island of Senja in Norway, Part 2: What to see and to do!
26. December 2018
We’ll keep it short simple. After an introduction in part 1, here’s what you’re actually interested in. What to see, to hike, to photograph. You’re welcome! Panoramic terrace over Bergsbotn at Bergsfjord in Senja Bergsbotn is the village at Bergsfjord. The view from the panoramic terrace and next to it is quite okay. It was the first stop we made after Finnsnes and the first iconic sight we saw in Senja. A really photogenic fjord. We were delighted! Tungeneset Tungeneset is one of the most beautiful places on the island of Senja. From the viewpoint, you can see the mighty massif Oksen which is also called ‘devils teeth’. Take advantage of the good evening lightning and you’ll be rewarded with excellent pictures. As if it wasn’t enough that this place and the view of the Oksen look like a painting. Of all places, we’d seen the best northern lights here. And oh, how the sky was exploding. The Northern lights were so strong, for the first time, I could capture them via my mobile phone (though the quality was really bad of course). Again, we were delighted! Ersfjord As mentioned in the first Senja post, the resting place at Ersfjord was our base. We already mentioned the very expensive, golden toilette cabin and I don’t think we have to go deeper into that topic. Otherwise, I might forget telling you how pretty Ersfjord itself is. Due to its location, there’s a lot of shadow. The sun doesn’t appear for too long and you should enjoy it, while she’s here. Husøy The drive here is worth for everyone interested in photography. It was a very rainy day and the little island itself was, unfortunately, a little bit unspectacular. Husøy is a populated island and there’s actually not much to see. The only café on the island looked like an abandoned saloon that hasn’t operated for a long time now. The moment we turned our back on the island, it stopped raining and the little island showed its picture-perfect side. And we have another pretty photo to delight us. Region of Skaland We had the region on our radar but not as this beautiful. But positive surprises are always welcome. A dream beach and a dream bay together with a perfect sunset after an actual rainy day. No one believes it until they see it. Of course, our supper (actually just a picnic) took place here. Don’t even think about to stay here overnight, means camping in any form is not welcome. There are many signs here telling you exactly this. And the locals were telling us exactly this. We drove back to our base at the ‚golden shithouse‘. The mighty Segla in Senja Oh, Segla! How many times we adored you on our IG feeds before we could finally see you in real life. The hike up the Segla takes around one hour starting from Fjordgard towards the Hesten. There’s another route, but the view of the Segla is better from Hesten Mountain. It’s actually an easy hike. Just the last bit is difficult. But you can leave this one if you want. The Segla and its surrounding are very photogenic and it’s probably THE Senja motif. The hike up here is probably THE hike on Senja. Senjatrollet/ Senja Troll If you have to see this one or not, is an individual decision. Kids would be most happy about a visit here. In this, let’s call it leisure park, is the world’s largest troll. Together with his wife, they’re looking angrily at all the humans. Everything looks very nice. It was closed on our arrival but it was on our way anyway. With kids, it’s definitely worth coming. For everyone else only if you like stuff like this. Sukkertoppen Another hike, another amazing view. At the Sukkertoppen you can choose between a longer hike and a short one. The short one is already worth it: a one km hike and the view looks like this. It’s definitely worth it! Hamn i Senja The view we enjoyed from the Sukkertoppen is over Hamn i Senja. A dreamy bay we fell in love with immediately. So much that we spontaneously booked a room here. The afternoon light made it definitely more inviting than any other time. Actually, we just wanted a resting place and a shower. Spontaneously we decided to pay the extra charge for a room and had a comfy night with breakfast and a great shower. It was definitely worth for us. It’s also a perfect place for photo motifs. No matter if it was the Northern Lights or the bay with its lighthouse. We were delighted. Gryllefjord Last but not least there’s the unspectacular, but beautiful Gryllefjord. If you’re not interested too much in photos, this place is definitely not a must for you. It’s nice here nevertheless. We hope this list gives you a good overview of a touristically not yet grazed island of Norway! Booking.com...
The island of Senja in Norway, Part 1: What you should know about!
26. December 2018
It’s been already quite some time now, but as mentioned in our Tromsø post, our main reason for this year’s Norway trip was the island of Senja. Not surprising at all. At least for us. Throughout the previous years, we fell in love with the Northern Lights and by last year we already knew, we would come back this year. Again in September. Again a good idea. It was not cold at all. The Northern Lights were doing their best and the streets were still passable. We spent three nights in Senja including a buffer for rainy days. Where is Senja? Senja is located around 350km north of the Arctic Circle. Depending on the time of the year, either the best place to see the Midnight Sun or the Northern Lights. How civilized is Senja? Yes, exactly. With this question, we want to advise you to get your supplies in Finnsnes at the latest, before you’re heading in the direction of nature. Every so often there are a few small shops, but they’re expensive and more for emergencies. There are a few places with a few houses. Senja is so sparsely populated, we assume everyone knows everyone in Senja. Other than that, there’s a lot of nature, fresh air and tranquillity. And probably one of the best places to see the Northern Lights explode. For all future campers among you: The best stopping place is at the Ersfjord beach. At the Golden ‘Shithouse’ (restroom for the more decent speakers). What a luxury place to do some business regarding the 300.000€ this little house cost. ‘Shithouse’-game to tha next level. You could also spend the night at Tungeneset. But as beautiful as it was, the people staying here were really weird. Which of course doesn’t have to be the case when you’re there. Why Senja? As much as we loved Lofoten and Vesterålen last year, we wanted to discover a new corner of Norway which of course gets along with our Northern Lights spleen. We stumbled upon Senja by accident reading a post online and soon saw an offer by the holiday pirates. At first, we thought: Okay, if they spotted Senja already, this is definitely not a secret place anymore or maybe even crowded. This was not the case at all. You’ll definitely meet other travellers. At least, Senja was one of the Instagram spots this year (in our filter bubble) which of course, attracts many hipsters (no offence, but they’re just so obvious). Nevertheless, it’s really calm and there are only a couple of accommodations to find. Those which can be found are really expensive. Tourism is still in its infancy. Maybe this will change the next couple of years. It didn’t matter to us. We had our Volkswagen Camper, which we booked on Airbnb before the trip. In the middle of our trip, we spoiled ourselves with one night in the most beautiful hotel of the island, in Hamn i Senja. But more about that later. What to do in Senja There’s plenty to see, plenty to wander, plenty to photograph. But more about that in the next post. Please click this link. Thank you! Booking.com...
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