Day trip to Enschede

I ended the year with a nice day trip to Enschede in the Netherlands. I totally digged their easygoing lifestyle, positive attitude and very laidback atmosphere.

The city is pretty small so that you can easily walk through the whole city center – it’s just a ten-minute walk from the train station and you can get everywhere by foot.

Oh, and their cuisine: loved it. 🫶🏼 🇳🇱

If you ever get a chance to visit during the holiday season, do it. And not just for some Christmas shopping, enjoy this peaceful break.

xoxo

Best Christmas Markets in 2023

I have been living in my new hood for almost a year now and love exploring new places. These are my three favorite Christmas markets this season:

I. Essen

Twinkling lights as far as the eye can see and endless inspirations for your Shopping Spree. There are Christmas decorations from Israel, jewellery from the Baltic States and delicacies from Italy, Greece and France. An excellent range and quality, for which the Essen International Christmas Market was voted 6th in Europe and even 1st in Germany in the “European Best Christmas Markets” online voting.

II. Bückeburg Castle

Majestic views, gorgeous light installations and breathtakingly beautiful settings inside the castle. This one is a must for all holiday lovers.

III. Christmas lights at the Munster Zoo

Though it is a bit expensive, the interactive walk through the themed light show was simply magical.

Wishing everyone happy holidays with your loved ones. 🎄♥️ Stay healthy and happy and see ya back in January 2024.🍀

A weekend in Bremerhaven

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.

So, see ya soon.

xoxo

San Genesio Atesino in South Tyrol

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.


xoxo

Destination Norddeich

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. ☀️

xoxo

Frankfurt will be a real gem for NFL fans

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.

xoxo 

Banksy Exhibition

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.

xoxo

*ADVERT* Marriott BonVoy: Business travel staying at the Westin Grand Frankfurt

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.

© Marriott International

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.

© Marriott International

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.

xoxo

Travel tip for outdoor & sports lovers: Fuerteventura

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.

xoxo