Trans Africa 2019

Ume lalaje?
(Swahili, means “how did you sleep?”)

Well, to be honest, not at all 🧟‍♀️ I’m scared of the altitude, scared of not making it to the top 😬 (by the way, just the day before someone was picked up with a helicopter due to severe height sickness).

But today is the big day: Summit day🗻 (yes, one day earlier than initially planned 💪🏃‍♀️). At 2am Gaston and I start climbing - it is freezing cold, even with 5 layers of clothing. Gaston carries my daypack due to the pain in my neck ... I don’t know how he did it... but he did, without complaining even once.

This climb is pretty tough. Mostly solid rocks and 7 hours of walking up (no plateau in between). Physically and mentally I am definitely at the edge ... next to aching muscles, a sore neck, headache, no sleep and freezing like crazy, I can now feel the height. I have to vomit 🤢. My body refuses any food and I panicked 😱

But again it is due to Gaston that I keep going. Coca Cola brought my energy levels back to normal and every time I started to cry (😢 - I don’t actually know why I cried), Gaston motivated me to keep going (“you are so strong”, “everyone is feeling like you”, “you can do this”).

And then in the early morning, we have reached Stella Point 😱🙏(5,756m - this is not the top, just a milestone)!

Please have a look at that sunrise ... it truly is the most beautiful I have seen ☀️Читать далее

The Kilimandscharo chapter is finished now and it’s time to start off to a new one: Me time on Zanzibar 🌴🐬🧜🏻‍♀️

I am staying at this beautiful place called „Zanzibar Retreat Hotel“ 🌴 - it is right at the beach (Matemwe).

I seriously have never seen a beach this beautiful. Not even Thailand or Mauritius can beat this beauty! The water is turquoise everywhere, warm like a bathtub and the sand ... oh my ... the sand is as soft as the flour we use at home for baking (no kidding).

So a week of relax and chill? Actually yes, but it’s going to be a challenge. You know how I need stuff to do. On top of that I’m all by myself surrounded by couples, honeymooners and small groups of girlfriends ... but when the waiter asks for my order at dinner time my answer shall be “yes, just me” ... and I shall feel great about it every day 💛

This week’s challenge: Be happy all by yourself, alone yet never lonely 🙏🥰👩🏼💛 - without having anything to do (believe me, this is a tough one) 😱😬Читать далее