I am really digging the North Sea vibes. Whenever I am up north, I feel relaxed, happy, am totally in balance and extremely fit. It’s like the fresh breeze is my natural energy source.
This time, I explored Bremerhaven and was surprised by its chill atmosphere. It wasn’t crowded, rather quiet and peaceful, great nature spots for my fitness routine and magical moments at the water front. Will definitely come back.
I also took a little detour to Cuxhaven in order to go for a swim and to relax at the beach. Though I love the sea, Cuxhaven is not a place I would recommend. Didn’t like the vibe at all. Next time, I will be back at the beach in Norddeich or Schillig.
But all in all, it was an awesome road trip and I cannot wait to plan my next one in early October.
If you ever wanna take a break, need to unwind, simply getting away from everything, this is your place to be: Jenesien, northwest of Bolzano. Here are some impressions from a long weekend.
And if you are looking for a wellness hotel, I can recommend the Hotel Saltus: no TV, no screen time, no social media, pure relaxation, peaceful and quiet, excellent food.
I for myself will take more days off for the rest of the year, simply taking care of myself, staying in balance and refueling my energy from these crazy past months.
Hello Vitamin Sea. I gotta say that I am starting to love the North Sea, especially since I have found my own routine to relax and refuel my energy. Either it is a day trip with my bike or a whole weekend filled with sports, sun and beach time.
Norddeich has become a regular spot for me, since it is not too far from my new home and can be reached by both, car or public transportation.
Here are my tips for a beach weekend in Norddeich:
Get ready for the most magical sunsets. I don’t think, I will find any words that do them justice. At around 9:30 p.m. people gather at the beach, sit on the stairs and simply enjoy the calmness of the sea. See for yourself. Pure magic!
Go for an early morning run. Watching nature wake up has always been soothing to me. It is a very special atmosphere in the early morning at 5 a.m. and you are mainly by yourself. Try it!
If you wanna go for a beach day, start early at around 9:30 a.m.. It is better for your skin and not crowded. The crowds will arrive at around 2 in the afternoon, which is your time to go for a swim and then treat yourself with some wellness. Today was my first time I actually went swimming in the North Sea and I loved it. 😍🌊
The water was extremely warm, for me, even a bit too warm, but it was awesome and I will be back soon. Also make sure to book your beach chair online. You pay 10 EUR for a whole day from six till midnight.
Well, if you wanna dine at your hotel, go for it. I recommend: buy a pizza, some cold drinks and have a picnic in your beach chair till the sun sets. Or do it like I did and stop by at the best ice cream shop: Frieseneis.
Watch out: their portions are huge!! One scoop is more than enough. I made the mistake not to look at their size and ordered three scoops. For me, this was lunch and dinner. 🙈 But it is the best ice cream in town.
I have only stayed at one hotel so far: the Regina Maris. Since I am a very private person, I really appreciate this accommodation. Private, extremely cordial and helpful, excellent service, clean and charming rooms, coffee machine in the room and great food. You can even use their small pool and sauna, if you need some time to unwind. If I had to name one thing: missing air conditioning. But seriously, it is not really necessary. I can totally recommend this one and will be back.
If you need any tips for Norddeich, send me a DM or maybe meet me for a coffee at the beach. You can expect me to become a regular this summer. ☀️
I recently traveled to Frankfurt on business and tried to explore the city a little bit, checking out future travel potentials during the NFL German games.
And I gotta say: Frankfurt is probably one of the most underrated cities in Germany. From arts, sports & culture, to nature, architecture & food, this city has a lot to offer.
I attended the Banksy exhibition, checked out some local bars & restaurants and attended the first home game of the local Football team Frankfurt Galaxy.
Though I only got to check out some spots while away on business, I totally digged the relaxed atmosphere and loved the diversity of the city. The only thing I really hated was this high humidity – there were moments when I felt like I was in Singapore.
So, all in all, NFL fans definitely have something to look forward to this fall season, besides the actual game.
Banksy is the pseudonym of a “guerrilla” street artist known for his controversial, and often politically themed, stenciled pieces. He is by far my most favorite street artist.
In Frankfurt I got to check out the exhibition „The Art of Banksy“ and loved it. He makes you think, inspires conversation and always leaves you with a little bit of mystery. Simply love the way he addresses social and political issues.
These are some of my favorite pieces.
If you ever get a chance to check out some of his art work, don’t hesitate, it’s worth it.
At the 5-star Westin Grand Frankfurt you will discover an urban retreat where a well-being-inspired philosophy contrasts with the city’s dynamic pace. The hotel is located at the crossroads of historic and modern Frankfurt and is the natural gateway for those wishing to actively explore the metropolis.
Striking a balance between business and leisure, the property combines a wholesome welcome with a seamless forum for business settings, healthy cuisine and revitalizing spa.
You will step into a refreshing setting where the Westin Six Pillars of WellBeing empowers each experience and allows guests to be the best version of themselves.
They offer 372 calming guestrooms and suites. Newly renovated, each room is defined by features that reference the destination’s history and green spaces, merging functionality with daylight. I stayed in a deluxe king room on the 5th floor and slept extremely well. Calm and quiet, excellent service, free water, a good coffee machine, additional pillows and a soft bathrobe. The whole staff was extremely accommodating and just cordial.
For me, it was the perfect place to combine business with pleasure. I could easily relax and unwind at their spa, used their gym so that I can stick to my training plan and could easily attend my business meetings due to the central location.
I can totally recommend this hotel and will surely come back. Also, I recommend using the Marriott BonVoy App, the hotel company’s loyalty program, allowing you to earn and redeem points for stays at Bonvoy brands including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, Sheraton, Westin and Renaissance Hotels.
You can easily check in and check out online, use your mobile phone as room key, can chat with the reception staff and have access to exclusive deals and amenities. It’s definitely worth it.
I experienced two weeks of pure mindfulness in Mallorca. Together with my family we enjoyed the Mediterranean Sea, local cuisine, great excursions far from mass tourism and loved to watch the local surfer scene. DM me for special tips. 💗🌊☀️😉
It has been pretty quiet, since I am still recovering from my last surgery and was crazy busy at work. Not the best combination, I admit, but now I am finally finding my inner balance again. Hence, I hit the pause button and traveled to Fuerteventura where I slowly started with my training again.
Endless MTB trails Fuerteventura
If you like it less crowded like me, I can recommend Caleta de Fuste: not too touristy, awesome trails and bike routes and not too far away from other beautiful areas on the island.
Here are just some impressions from my short break. I will definitely be coming back sharing more insights.
But for now I will focus on my recovery so that I can offer some guided tours during summer again.
Here is a little tip for everyone who is spending the summer in the city: enjoy a sundowner at the Isar river bank with “Isar on the Rocks”. A date with your hubby, bae, BFF or just with any friend or family member.
The idea is pretty neat. Simply order your picnic box and get it delivered directly to your picnic spot at the river bank between Reichenbachbruecke and Braunauer Eisenbahnbruecke in downtown Munich.
The drinks are served cold on the rocks, the snacks are a great choice as well. Picnic with style. I for sure will test several boxes as long as the weather permits it. Who wants to join me?
xoxo
photo credits: “Isar on the Rocks”, Munich Mountain Rebel
Living through a global pandemic takes its toll on your physical and mental well-being. As the weeks go on under quarantine, lots of people have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings – from sadness and anger to tiredness and feeling groggy. I call it the COVID burnout.
First my MTB accident with a rather severe trauma 2 years ago, then the pandemic. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, I decided to go on my first vacation during the pandemic.
Some might think it’s pretty selfish, others would consider it stupid with me being a person at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. But you know what: you only live once. My life, my rules. However, during a pandemic it is not that simple, since I don’t wanna spread the virus or endanger others. Hence, I self-isolated myself ten days before the vacation and took a COVID test once a week.
Preparations before the vacation to Mallorca
You need to familiarize yourself with all travel restrictions. For Mallorca I needed to fill out the Spain health form in advance and I took a quick PCR test 24 hours before my flight. Make sure the official document is signed by a certified doctor and that it includes your passport number. The costs are not covered by your health insurance. Also, safe the QR code from the health form in your phone’s wallet. You will need it several times.
For my travels, I booked Business Class to feel safer. Up to 12 hours before the flight you need to upload the filled out Spain health form and the negative test result of your PCR test. Make sure to do so in advance to avoid any trouble at the airport. Also, I booked a private Transfer Service to the airport for both destinations avoiding any contact in public transportation. I also ordered more FFP-2 masks for my vacation: one mask per day. Additionally I bought some COVID-19 quick tests, just in case I needed extra precautions on my side.
I strongly recommend to also check the German travel registrations beforehand. The German government tends to make things complicated. When returning from your vacation, you need a certified negative COVID test before boarding any plane or ferry. I recommend to find certified places in Mallorca beforehand, since local doctors and clinics have limited appointments. I chose to book an appointment at the Eurofins MegaLab at Palma Airport: a quick PCR test on my departure day. Make sure to download their app Trust One beforehand and register. Within 30 minutes you get your results and can easily check-in.
As I mentioned before, I felt safer booking Business Class and already checked in via the Lufthansa app. Then I used the self-check in service at Munich airport, since I already had my boarding pass. One scan, dropping off my luggage, no contacts with other people. I was all set within 5 minutes.
At the safety control, it was the same procedure as usual. Only this time I was the only passenger standing in line, nobody else was there. The airport felt like a ghost town.
Then, at the gate, each passenger was checked individually before boarding. You needed to show your passport, the filled out health form and the negative PCR test. After the check you get a yellow sticker on your passport which you needed to show once again during boarding.
When stepping on the plane, everyone received some disinfectant wipes. The board service is limited: they handed out packed chocolate bars and a bottle of water. But honestly: you don’t really need a board service for a two-hour flight. I kept my mask on the whole time.
Hello Mallorca
After landing they called out the respective rows that were allowed to to leave the plane. One row after another.
On the way to the luggage you will undergo several inspections. Health check & screening of the negative PCR test, QR code from your health form. When I arrived, the airport was pretty empty as well. Many sections were completely closed and it was easy to avoid any contact.
Vacation in Mallorca
The reality is pretty sad. Empty villages, closed shops & hotels, empty beaches…. An estimated 75% of all income generated on the Balearic Islands are directly or indirectly linked to the travel industry, which has led to both rising living standards and higher costs of living for its residents. The inhabitants are experiencing rising poverty that’s even spreading to its wealthier quarters. The next holiday season is unlikely to heal the wound from the pandemic….
For me, however, this meant that it was much quieter and safer than currently in Munich. For several days I had the beach completely for myself and it was generally very quiet: in the supermarket, on the streets; but the change of scenery worked wonders.
MTB in Mallorca during COVID
Mallorca is more popular among road & gravel bikers. Due to the pandemic, many shops are still closed and services are simply not available. Hence, you need to be flexible and pragmatic. For me, it meant a road bike helmet for an average Hardtail. I made it work, though.
BUT: there are currently no shuttle services and in order to get to the trails, you need to cover lots of mileage on the hilly roads. With beautiful mountain ranges with an elevation gain of 1,000 m, that’s tough. Sometimes it was the hell of a workout, but always worth it. I discovered so many beautiful hidden gems.
Mask or no mask
The rules are stricter than in Germany. As soon as you leave your home, hotel room or finca, you need to wear a mask at all times. The only exceptions: during outdoor sports or when sunbathing. When walking along the beach, you need to wear a mask. It is strict, the fines are pretty high. But everyone seems to follow the rules.
Just a little tip: rent a bike. This way you can mostly breathe freely without a mask while discovering the island and enjoying scenic moments. I didn’t eat out, though or sat down at a cafe. I mostly avoided personal contacts and simply enjoyed the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea and some personal wellness.
For one exception: I booked a private boat tour at sunrise watching dolphins in Alcudia Bay. I just needed it for my mind and soul.
All in all, I have zero regrets and am pretty sure we will experience new ways of traveling within the near future. And yes, I felt pretty safe and was very cautious myself.
I hope all of you are safe, healthy and also get to refuel your energy during these tough times.
