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World trip
  • Melissa
Nov 2022 – Jul 2023

World trip

A penguin trip around the world Read more
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  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    First flight São Paulo was still fine!
    My first meal at the airportMy bed after being awake for more than 24 hAirport São PauloBad weather kept us from leaving the airportAt least i had a whole row for myselfAfter almost 2 days i finally arrived in Medellin!

    Stuck at the airport

    February 27, 2023 in Brazil ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    Yes I think the title says it all! On the 27th of February I was planning to fly to my next destination Medellin in Colombia 🇨🇴. But the trip turned out so much different than I expected. My flight got cancelled, as the company I booked my flight with went bankrupt over night! What are the odds…
    It then took me more than 24 h to get a new flight to Medellin as the internet at the airport was so unstable that booking a flight over the browser was impossible. At the check-in they also told me it is only possible to book a ticket online. Finally I was able to book a plane ticket by downloading the app .. at this point I had been awake for 24h already…
    Boarding and everything was fine but it then took us another 1 h to finally take off to Colombia due to bad weather conditions.. So of course I missed my connection flight from Bogotá and even had to run through the whole airport in order to catch the next flight which was also the last flight of the day..
    Even though this experience sucked it also put everything back into perspective. I have been so lucky this whole time - I was not robbed in Brazil and my credit card was also not copied (which apparently happens a lot), I have been so lucky with all my flights so far, with the people I met, with my trip to Antartica and also with the weather.. so a cancelled flight is nothing. Happy that I made it to Colombia though! Haha and sorry Brazil I liked you but you could have still let me go a little sooner ;)    Read more

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    Medellin

    February 28, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    The 7th country on my world trip is Colombia 🇨🇴. After a rather difficult Start in Colombia I was happy to make up for the lost time. First stop in Colombia was Medellin. This city which in the past has know to be one of the most criminal and dangerous cities in the world has evolved in the past 10 years to a vibrant gem. Not only is this city full of history, but also incredible artwork and surrounded by nature. What however stuck with me the most was how modern this city is, containing several cable cars 🚠 that bring the people from the lower part of the city to the upper parts, as well as an electric escalator.
    And even though the gangs are still present in the city until this day everything remains quiet because of the tourism which ultimately controls the crime.
    I really hope that some day this will be different but for now Medellin seems so much safer than I expected! The first day I was able to look at the nice and quiet Botanical garden which is an oasis in itself in the city and invites people of all classes to relax. Because the climate in Medellin is all year round really mild this region is also called the eternal spring. Next our girl group went to the parque Aví which is a nice National park a little outside of the city. To get there we had to take two cable cars which was already a breath taking experience because you have a wonderful view of the whole city from above! We then walked around the park, had the National dish (bandeja paisa) for lunch there and even were able to pass by a waterfall. The next day I went on a free walking tour around the art district or graffiti district of Medellin. Every art piece has its own story.. but what I found very interesting is that most art pieces are only there for 2-3 years until they get overpainted to make room for new pieces. All the art that you see in the streets is art from people that live in that part of Medellin.
    Of course we also had to check out the night life of Medellin, but as everywhere in South America.. parties usually don’t start until late night or early morning. So when we got to the club at 11:00 pm not a lot of people were there. We still had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves. I just love the music here.. Salsa, bachata and reggaeton. Music that reminds me of my younger self as my sister brought the music back from Argentina when I was only 13 years old.
    Medellin was definitely an amazing place to start my almost 5 weeks journey through Colombia.    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    Beautiful GuatapéTuk tuk - the only transportation in GuatapéStairs going up the RockStill counting the stairsThe view from my bed and breakfast

    Guatapé

    March 4, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 22 °C

    Guatapé! Only 2h in the east of Medellin you can stroll around the beautiful town of Guatapé. Even though most people visit this colorful town only on a day trip I really wanted to enjoy it and therefore stayed one night in a very cute bed and breakfast right by the lake. Once you get to Guatapé you can definitely tell why it is so touristy. The houses are just amazing and art works themselves and it is just a cute little town with its main attraction „the Rock“ only a 20 minute tuktuk ride away. Apparently from „the Rock“ which contains more then 700 stairs you have „the best view in the world“. It is true? Well I think the view is amazing but this is mainly because of the nature surrounding „the Rock“. Once we made it to the top we ordered a michelada not knowing that the beer we would get would be a combination of beer and saltwater. Some people love it here but I would have not minded skipping this experience :DRead more

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    Feeling like a coffee farmer

    March 6, 2023 in Colombia

    Only a 9h bus right south of Medellin in the middle of the zona cafetera lays the pretty town Salento. Salento is known for its surrounding coffee haciendas as well as the cacoa valley with the highest palm trees in the world. This was also the reason why I wanted to go there. But the weather was not as I expected.. it was cold and rainy every day.. sometimes we even had pouring rain for more than 3 ours.. my clothes and shoes, my camera gear and my backpack got so wet the day I hiked to the cacoa valley that it took almost 3 days to dry..
    On the second day however I got more lucky when I booked a tour to a coffee farm. This tour was truely amazing! I learned everything about the different types of coffee, which coffee has the best quality and walked through the 100 acre land that was full with coffee plants. I was even able to dress up like a true coffee farmer and harvest my own coffee. The thing that however surprised me the most is that in Colombia it is „illegal“ to drink the coffee with milk and coffee should not lead to stomach ache usually. It should be smooth and taste a little bit like tea.
    I truely loved this experience especially because we are true coffee lovers in my family. In the evening I met up again with two very nice girls from the Netherlands which I met during pouring rain in the cacoa valley and had some beers. We also played the typical Colombian games called Tejo. This games was an experience in itself but it was so much fun. The game consists of stones which you try to throw into a circle that is surrounded by gunpowder. When the gunpowder explodes you receive points but also when you through into tue circle. The person with 21 points in the end wins. Everywhere in the place which had the feeling of a saloon from the Wild West it smelled like gun powder.. something that would never be allowed in Germany. We played one round and had the fun of our lives.. I will never forget this experience :)    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    The red desertThe grey desertOur group :)Trying artisanal beer

    Tatacoa desert - Rain?

    March 9, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 25 °C

    7 hours by bus from Salento lays the second largest desert in Colombia called Tatacoa desert. This desert covers 330 km² of grey, red and ochre canyons and peaks, interrupted only by the vivid green of its cacti. The name ‘Tatacoa’ refers to the rattlesnakes that once lived in the region, and the area is sometimes known as the rather more poetic “Valley of Sadnesses”. In fact, this Colombian desert is not a desert at all, but a dry tropical forest. Scientists estimate that during the Tertiary Period it was a beautiful garden, full of thousands of tropical flowers and trees that gradually dried into a desert. This is also what I experienced when I arrived there. In contrary to all my expectations this desert was not at all hot and dry.. we literally had rain everyday and even so much rain that we were afraid to not leave this place…
    Besides the rain however I loved Tatacoa. The red desert was my favorite! However every part of the desert was individually special, including the grey desert which almost looked like you would walk on the moon and then swimming in the natural pools there! Unfortunately due to the weather conditions I was not able to see any stars or planets (even though this was the main reason I went there to do a stargazing tour). But this trip showed me one again that you should never underestimate the weather conditions even though you are in a South American country and a desert.
    The pictures also show my little group including two lovely guys from the Netherlands who I met on the bus to Tatacoa and who I now share incredible memories with! On the last day we also did a beer tasting and tried local artisanal beer. One beer even included chili 🌶️ and another one coffee. Crazy combinations but definitely worth trying! The chili one was very spicy though!    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    Went to the coffee shop in style. Can you tell that i had to wash my shoes too? :D
    chocolate con queso y mi dos amigasJohanna and i in BogotàSooo happy to hsve clean clothes again! Crazy that this is all i own for 8 mothsOn the way to Santa MartaSunset in Santa Marta

    Bogotà/ Santa Marta-dealing with bedbugs

    March 11, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    After Tatacoa desert I went back to the place where my trip to Colombia started - Bogotà. As I only had a layover the first time I really wanted to go back to the city and also I wanted to pick up my friend Johanna who was going to visit me for almost 3 weeks here in Colombia. As I traveled through the south of Colombia on my own I really wanted to do the northern part with her which also includes the Caribbean Sea!
    But.. for some reason my initial days in Bogotà did not go the way I planned them.. I stayed in a very nice hostel which also had good reviews.. i booked this hostel because 3 girls from France which i met before in Medellin also were in that hostel and we wanted to see each other again as we had such a great time in Medellin :)
    But.. the bed I slept in was contaminated with bed bugs.. I already felt it during the night as everything got really itchy and it was worse than a mosquito bite. Bed bugs can always be there when lots of people change beds and usually it is not a hygienic problem. It can happen to 5 star hotels as well as hostels. And the girls from France also had the same problem.. their skin also had many bites.. crazy! But if you have ever had the chance to read about bed bugs they are extremely resistent and it is difficult to get rid of them once you have them. Some people even through their clothes away because they don’t get rid of them.
    The hostel did not do anything of course and said it was all our fault. This all happend only 2 days before Johanna arrived. So in a short amount of time I had to figure out a new place to sleep (obviously I would not stay in that place), and I got a new set of leggings and tshirts in order to be able to chemically wash everything twice including my backpack, camera gear and all the small bags I own. Even Pingu got a 2nd wash.
    I just needed to make sure they are all dead. On top of that I also sprayed my whole bag beforehand with desinfectant and bug repellent just to make sure!
    But those days were stressful. Luckily I reacted quickly and I was able to get rid of them just in time so Johanna would be okay.
    We only stayed in Bogotà for a day to look at the city and meet my new and amazing friend Anna who I met when I was stuck at the airport for 24 h in Sao Paulo. She showed us this very nice place where you can drink: eat a real speciality which is hot chocolate with cheese. Yes it is basically a mozzarella stick that you dunk into the hot chocolate so it gets melty.. I liked it. Would I recreate this in Germany probably not but I‘m always open to new tastes and I think it was for sure worth trying. Especially because it is apparently really Colombian.
    The next day Johanna and I left for Santa Marta which is nice city at the coast of Colombia. After the 3 h flight we were still able to walk around town and even watch the sunset which was nice - just a perfect preparation for what awaits us the next 4 days!! The biggest adventure so far for Johanna and for me just another crazy hiking tour - how many times did I think back to Torres de Peine. But it was again so worth it!    Read more

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    Ciudad Perdida - we found the lost city!

    March 16, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Wow what an adventure! When I booked my trip to Brazil at the beginning of the year I really wanted to go to Peru. But the situation in Peru has been really tough right now.. it got a little better but still their are sometimes riots and especially Cuzco (the gateway to Matchu Picchu) has not been the safest lately. This is why i decided to change my plans and go to Colombia instead and wanted to now do the trek to the lost city Ciudad Perdida or how they actually call it Tyrona. It is 4 day hike through the jungle on which you have to carry your own clothes and sleep in hammocks or bunkbeds along the way. In the end we made it! But it was a 65 km demanding hike. I would say it was not as challenging as Torres del Peine but still difficult as you have to climb up hills and the walks are long and can also be in the afternoon sun (which is actually the hottest time of day).
    But we made it and we got so rewarded! This hike did not only show us our strengths, our weaknesses, but also the mental power we have and the strength inside. Everyone probably thought about giving up once but we had such a supportive group and together we all made it! Since in other groups some people had to be picked up early. To say the least I‘m so proud that Johanna and I made this hike together! And even though she probably wanted to kill me at times because it was really exhausting I‘m sure she will always remember this time when she conquered her fears and the desire to give up! Instead we were able to keep going and we’re rewarded not only by beautiful scenery along the way but also by the most incredible open space that lays right in the jungle and is the heart of the lost city.
    I also loved all the fruit we got to eat along the way. Their were so many fruit stops!    Read more

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    Minca - in the heart of the jungle

    March 20, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    After we conquered Ciudad Perdida we definitely needed a break and what better way to relax than in the middle of the jungle with so many hummingbirds and animals.
    I truely loved Minca. The city is only 40 minutes away from Santa Marta but you definitely get the feeling you are in totally different place!
    The fist day in Minca we were already able to witness an amazing sunset which made me so emotional because I felt so grateful in that moment about all the opportunities I have and that I can travel the world right now. And I also thought about my dad how proud he would be of the woman i have become!
    The next day we only spend relaxing at the pool which was a natural pool and just enjoyed time for our legs recover.. And on the last full day in Minca we got up pretty early to do a birdwatching tour where we saw so many different species including a Tucan! I always wanted to see one and this once was very nice! I was so happy the whole time that I could capture all these Moment with my good camera. In the afternoon we then had a stroll around Minca which is nice little town only consisting of couple of streets and finally got back ti our nice hotel for dinner. The next morning we then left early to get back to Santa Marta and finally to Cartagena in order to start our Trip to San andres island which is a Caribbean island next to Nicaragua. It is the only island in the Caribbean Sea where you can pay with pesos as it belongs to Colombia.    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    Beautiful San AndrésTypical caribbean foodSome birthday surprises!Me after the diving class in the hospitalMe preparing for the 1h flight which i was so scared of because of my ears

    San Andrés - Island paradise?

    March 24, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Welcome to the beautiful Caribbean island of San Andrés! We were both very excited for San Andrés especially because Johanna had never been to the Caribbean!
    We were so happy to spend some time at the beach just to relax! BUT the first day we thought about taking bikes around the island because we thought it would be more convenient.. well it was not exactly what we expected! San Andrés actually contains come hills which is also represented by their different city parts with names like San Francisco for instance. But it was nice to feel the wind in your hair and the weather was perfect. Maybe a little hot sometimes but that also the reason why we rewarded ourselves with the evening at the beach. The next day we spend more time at the beach just enjoying the water and the quietness and tanning of course.
    The main purpose of the trip was however to celebrate Johanna’s birthday in the Caribbean as you only turn 30 once. So I actually surprised her with this trip!
    We then decided to fly into her birthday and booked a parasailing experience over the shore of San Andrés! What a remarkable experience.. nothing for people who are afraid of hights. We were okay however we still got down with a parachute a little shaky. Having experienced this once in my life in New Jersey I can definitely say that you get much more scared when time passes. I was so much more courageous or let me say more naiv when I was at the beginning of my 20s :D
    We had some small and intimate birthday celebrations and the hotel we stayed at even organized a birthday surprise which was amazing!
    The last day we decided to do something that most people do in San Andres! We wanted to have a look at fish in the open sea. So we booked a snuba diving class which is an experience in between snorkeling and scuba diving. In this case you can even dive 5 meters deep if you want to. But the experience was not at all what I expected! The diving instruction was poor and we had to wait so much to finally be able to dive. Then they went down with me so quickly that my ears could not handle the pressure and I suffered a third degree barotrauma. And when my gut feeling told me I have to go see a doctor at the hospital they still did not take it seriously and made fun of me even though I had the worst pain I ever experienced in my life!
    Well so the last day Johanna and I spend time in the hospital where they then helped me find a ear specialist in the island! Yes there is actually one!
    I went there the next day and he definitely confirmed that I have a barotrauma due to the quick and high pressure under water. Luckily I did not dive any deeper.. this could have been worse. And luckily the doctor also allowed me to fly to Cartagena the next day where I will now rest and recover before I will start my journey to Panama with the sailing boat. So excited for this! But lesson learned I think scuba diving and diving in general is not meant for me and i feel so grateful and lucky again that my eardrum did not explode despite the fact that bloodvessels were broken..    Read more

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    Back in Cartagena - Recovery

    April 1, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    After San Andrés i took the plane back to Cartagena - Colombia. Over the next days in Cartagena I just went to some museums (the gold museum and an art museum) which were very informative, experienced some wild life and recovered my ear. So far it has gotten better luckily! But still a long way to go I guess! I also saw a doctor again and she told me it already got better and the blood is almost gone. Such a relief! Cartagena itself is a beautiful city and there is so much to do here so my time here was very well spend. The city itself is very picturesque and you can go to a lot of different places to take pictures. I also met two very sweet girls from Mexiko city and spend some time with them!Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    Last night in Cartagena before the trip on the open sea started.
    Our cabin for the next 5 days. I was sharing the cabin with two girls.1As the water was so clear we could see many sharks, rays and fish.Just relaxing after the first three days being sick.Our sailing boat. Big fish 1 🐠Amazing sunsets!

    „Sailing“ to Panama

    April 5, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Oh what did I get myself again into… I guess I just seek discomfort! After some relaxing and recovering days in Cartagena I decided (don‘t know why?!🤦🏼‍♀️) to sail to Panama City! Yes sailing… on a boat with only 10 people.. The trip included being on the open sea for 3 days and then sailing around the picturesque San blas islands which belong to Panama.
    Well this trip was after all so different than I expected.. Haha now I can laugh about it but it was seriously 3 days of hell until we reached paradise. After crossing the Drake passage in Antarctica which is supposedly the most dangerous passage, having winds of 120 km/h and 8 m high waves I thought I had it all. But I definitely underestimated being stuck on a nutshell.. Wow I got so seasick.. even though I took medication. But luckily I was not the only one. Even the captain was struggling.. Being on his own boat for 20 + years this actually shows how rough the sea was at the time of our crossing. Even though the food on the ship was really good, fresh fish, fresh shrimp or other delicacies.. I was only able to eat half of it and I usually skipped breakfast.
    The trip was also so different because we were never truly sailing. Maybe because the captain was sick or he just didn’t want to sail, but in the end we only sailed for 1 h around one of the San blas island. But despite all of this.. it was all worth it to enjoy San Blas and I think the pictures speak for themselves. Apparently there are 365 islands that belong to San Blas! But all of them have a true Caribbean vibe and after being sick for so long the only thing we did was relax, read, spend time on the boat (when it was not moving haha) and just enjoy the beauty of nature! I have never seen such blue water in my life and we even got to see several sharks, rays and fish and amazing sunsets!    Read more

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    Panama city - so much to see!

    April 10, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    After we arrived Panama (to be more exact Povenir which is an island just off the coast of Panama) we had to take a 4-Wheel truck for 4 hours to Panama city. I stayed 4 days in Panama city 🇵🇦 and wow what a diverse city! First of all Panama city is very modern, you can also pay in American dollars and their local currency Balboa which is equal. Unfortunately this also makes Panama not the cheapest destination to travel to. Despite that I had a wonderful time exploring the city and the surroundings, also realizing that their public transport system is pretty epic. It is cheap and so straight forward. I therefore took the metro or bus almost everywhere. On my first day I rented a bike for the day and drove around the Amador causeway which is made from rock extracted during the excavations from the Panama Canal. It was wonderful bike ride and along the way are nice restaurants, coffee shops and even some museums like the biomuseum (Frank Gehry the same architect who also designed the Guggenheim in Bilbao designed this one). It was also beautiful weather and I just enjoyed the time for myself. The following day I met some girls from China and the Netherlands and we wanted to have a look at the Panama Canal. One of the „must dos“ in Panama City! Even though we didn’t go to the more expensive tourist center we still got a good view of the canal and were even able to see a big ship 🛳️ going through it. The US formally took control of the canal property on May 4, 1904. Apparently the Panama Canal is therefore also the reason why you can nowadays pay in dollars in Panama as the Americans brought their currency to Panama. After seeing the Panama Canal we went on a free walking tour around the city center. Getting some insight into the history of Panama City, seeing the oldest church, the oldest elevator or the oldest hotel where once gang members were in power. On the last day I went to the parque natural metropolitano which is a beautiful parque perfect for observing wild animals like sloths, monkeys and turtles. And in deed.. I was able to see all three animals! Loved it!Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    First impressions of colorful Antigua!Chocolate making class :)Our own chocolateTypical guatemala food!HobbitenangoIs this New Zealand or Guatemala?

    Bienvenidos a Guatemala 🇬🇹

    April 15, 2023 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Onto the next adventure! From Panama I took a 2,5 hour flight to Guatemala City and then from there a shuttle to the beautiful town of Antigua. My lovely sister visited this place 11 years ago (crazy!!) and she always told me guatemala has been her favorite country in Central America! And I can definitely say what I have seen so far has been amazing! Antigua itself is a cute little town with colorful houses and so many cute coffee shops which lets my coffee heart beat faster! On my first day I went to a coffee shop close by and made a wonderful new friend from New York! Kerry and I spend the rest of the day together, went to a chocolate 🍫 making class and even had some laughs about the children during class who were keeping all the sprinkels to themselves. Later that evening we treated ourselves to some authentic Guatemalan food and wow was that delicious. Tamales, bean paste and guacamole 🥑 😍.
    The next day we decided to check out Hobbitenango. Yes! You heard correctly next to New Zealand Guatemala has its own little Hobbiton called Hobbitenango. It’s a little but cute amusement park known to be a great spot to take some instagram pictures. I liked it there since I will not visit Hobbiton in New Zealand and only concentrate on the South Island. We took some nice pictures there, had a beer and then headed back to town to get ready for our volcano hikes. Coming up one of the most challenging things I have done so far..    Read more

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    Hiking 2 volcanoes in 2 days!

    April 16, 2023 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Did I expect to do 2 volcano hikes🌋 in two days? No! What a rewarding challenge however! The first volcano was called Pataya. Again Kerry and I booked a tour and we went on a 1,5 hour hike up the volcano. On top we were even able to roast some marshmallows in the lava. Loved it! Luckily this tour was just one day and we did not need to carry all our things with us. As we thought the perfect hike to start. Little did I know how challenging the next two days would be. The Acatenango hike is the most known hike in the region and there are plenty of tours going there. I booked a tour through my hostel while Kerry booked a different tour. This time we would not tackle the hike together.. but we were in spirit with each other! For this hike you definitely needed some mental strength. After Torres del Paine, el Chaltén and Ciudad pertida I have hiked in so many different terrains ranging from lush forests to stones, fields.. and more than once I have shown myself what I can achieve. But this hike on volcanic sand, slippery, being a steep climb for roughly 5 hours including the altitude which went up to 3900 m and the cold was definitely a different type of struggle. So happy though that I made it! I also had girls around me which were equally as crazy and extreme. Can you believe most of these girls were Germans? It might be in our blood to seek the challenges.
    In the end I was able to hike both volcanoes 🌋 and even got up at 4 am to see the sunrise on top of the summit. What a breath- taking experience. I could not be more proud of myself for putting myself out there and once again proofing myself. Even if you struggle, even if you think about giving up.. you are so much stronger than you think and if you want you can achieve anything.    Read more

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    Lago de Atitlán and Monterrico

    April 19, 2023 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    After so much hiking I definitely needed some reward and some time for myself. So Kerry and I went to the lake Atitlán first and i continued to Monterrico. Lago de Atitlán is the second largest lake in Guatemala. The lake is surrounded by 3 volcanoes and is therefore known to be an amazing place to relax, enjoy nature and the scenic views. On top of that many people will attend a Spanish class here! I will skip learning Spanish here but i had a nice day at the lake and took a boat to San Juan which is a nice little town. Later Kerry and I even went on another „hike“ haha to have a view over the lake. So beautiful and the weather was just perfect.
    The next day Kerry, Vanessa (who I met on my Acatenango hike) and I went to the Chichicastenango market. I just love markets and this one was so colorful! The ride itself to get there was however an experience. We as „white“ girls took the chicken Bus which is the local bus. And indeed in the first couple of buses we were the only foreign people. But I really liked this experience and we never once felt uncomfortable. Guatemalan people are also very friendly and when you try and speak at least a little Spanish they are very willing to help you.
    The next day I had to get up at 4 am in the morning to take a bus for 6 hours to Monterrico which is at the Pacific coast of Guatemala. Monterrico and the hotel I‘m at right now is definitely a hidden gem, mostly known by locals and the black sand Vulcano beaches are just perfect to relax. I really have to say thank you again to my wonderful sister who has been here 11 years ago but suggested the place and hotel. Love it! 🥰♥️    Read more

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    Semuc Champey - A magical place!

    April 25, 2023 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Guatemala is just stunning! I love how diverse this country is and how much you can explore. My next stop was Semuc Champey! Wow but it was this time definitely a crazy ride to get to my hostel. Located just a stone throw away from the National park the roads are definitely not the best. Luckily I was not the only one on the back of the truck that got stuck in traffic and then crawled up the mountains at night. Once we all arrived we were so happy to have survived.
    The next day I started my morning early and went to the park at 8 am. I would highly recommend going there if you have the chance! So far this has been one of my favorite places in Guatemala. The blue water, surrounded by wild life (I saw big monkeys this time!) this place is just magical and I was happy to spend almost a full day here!
    The next day, since my hostel was so nice I just spend relaxing at the pool. But it was also a nice day to just enjoy the beauty of my surroundings.    Read more

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    Flores and Tikal

    April 30, 2023 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Next stop on my trip through Guatemala was the island of Flores which is surrounded by the third biggest lake in Guatemala called Peten Itza. For many, the main reason to visit Flores is because of Tikal the most famous Mayan ruins in Guatemala. But the city itself is a wonder — dense with colonial, red-roofed buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, a historic church and Spanish plaza, and restaurants that are easy to stumble upon walking the city's charming streets. That is also the reason why I stayed in Flores almost 4 days, not only to enjoy Tikal but also the other surroundings.
    On the second day I visited Tikal which is Guatemala’s most popular tourist attraction. Located deep in the jungle in the country’s Peten region, Tikal was the most prosperous city of the Mayan Classic Period, and the beating heart of the Mayan empire. Tikal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and its jungle towering pyramids draws visitors from all over the world there everyday.    Read more

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    Crossing the boarder to Mexico!
    On the way to the Maya ruins we had to cross a river. Looks like a great habitat for crocodilles ;)Went into some Maya ruins and were surprised by Bats.. scaryOur group when we visited the two Maya ruins!

    Searching for more Maya ruins - Palenque

    May 1, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    And when one Maya ruin is not enough you just visit multiple. When talking to several people in Guatemala they all said that the Maya ruins of Palenque, which are located in Mexico are equally nice! That’s why on a very sunny day I left Flores, little nervous but also excited to cross the boarder to Mexico. Luckily everything worked out and crossing the boarded was more relaxed than I expected.
    On my trip to Palenque I then met two guys from Spain - one who is very passionate about Mayan culture and the history. They told me about this hidden place where you can only go by boat to see Maya ruins in the jungle. Me seeking even more adventures I then asked them if I can join them! And wow it was so worth it! We went to Yaxchilàn and Bonampak which were equally beautiful! The tour was going the whole day but I was so ready to learn more about Mayan culture and history! Apparently, Yaxchilan, located on the banks of the Usumacinta River in the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico, was an important Late Classic Maya centre. The Maya dated the founding of their city to 320 CE, but Yaxchilan flourished between c. 580 and c. 800 CE. Bonampak, which means “painted walls” is known for it’s highly detailed frescoes —drawings telling the history of the people who lived here— painted on the inside of the walls and roofs of three buildings, which make Bonampak a true experience and major attraction for archaeologists and visitors alike. The frescoes are incredibly well preserved and the highlight of a visit to Bonampak. I just loved strolling around those archeological sites and seeing something so completely different. Once the boys and I got back to Palenque we went out for dinner and grab some drinks! So happy I could join both of them and really dive into the Mayan culture! Especially because all the tours were only offered in Spanish they helped me with translation and were the sweetest always making sure I understand. So thankful for that!    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip

    The hidden gem - Campeche

    May 4, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    Not knowing what to expect from Campeche I started my journey from Palenque which was a 6 hour bus ride and got to the Melisa hostel at like 2 pm. Obviously this has been the best hostel on my journey so far. :D This hostel was seriously so wonderful. The people were very sweet and it is really clean and just the outer area was very nice! Also Campeche is a beautiful and charming little city. And because it is mostly skipped by tourists on the way to Palenque or Merida it is not very crowded and can truly be seen as a hidden gem. It’s the perfect place to relax and spend some time to refill your batteries. I even went to the beach there which was a perfect day to relax and just enjoy being in Mexico for the first time! I‘m pretty sure this place will be crowded at one point so if you even have the chance to visit this hidden gem please do! I just loved it there!Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    Casa de MontejoTacos 😍Salsa night!

    Mérida - the safest city in Mexico

    May 8, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C

    I really enjoyed Mérida. The hostel i stayed at was amazing. They offered lots of different things to do so on the first day I signed up for a empanada cooking class! Loved the concept of learning something new and having a great and free dinner! Mérida is the largest city in the state of Yucatán. Apparently Mérida is one of the safest cities in Mexico which is due to the fact that most gang bosses have there families here and they wanted to create a safe space for them - at least this is what our guide from the free walking tour told us. Also Mérida is supposed to be one of the pretties post-Colombian cities with lots of colorful houses. One of the most things to do in Mérida is to have a look at all the museums. One of them the casa de Montejo was originally housing for soldiers, but was soon converted into a mansion that served members of the Montejo family until the 1800s. Today it houses a bank and museum. I also had a look at the cathedral on the main square which is not only one of the oldest cathedral in the country but also contains the largest Jesus cross in the whole world. And of course one should not forget about the food in Mexico! I just loved tacos and could seriously eat them every day! Soo good! And like any good mexican city there was so much party and dancing going on at night! We were able to witness traditional dances on the streets and later also joined a salsa class organized by the hostel! Haha so much Salsa along the way I should actually be a pro by now 😅Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip

    Bacalar - carribean feeling in Mexico

    May 13, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Bacalar - also called the Maldives from Mexico is definitely worth a visit! Even though this place what not initially on my list and also pretty far from everything else i really enjoyed my time there! The crystal clear water with its different shades of blue is just picturesque and the Lagunes are amazing to visit and just enjoy some time with friends or family! I got a recommendation for a bike ride from one of the hostel people in Mérida and really looked forward to the idea of being active, and hoping from one Lagune to the other! Little did I know that the way to get there was very exhausting because there was not exactly a bike lane and we all had to ride our bikes right next to a highway! Thankfully I didn’t have to do this craziness on my own, as I met two girls and a guy who were equally crazy and joined me on this adventure! Not to forget the girls and me were already pretty exhausted because we spend the whole morning stand-up paddling on the Lagune to see the sunrise! Which was amazing, but imagine doing a bike ride the same day for another 8 hours. I was just so tired once we came back. But it so was so worth it!
    Other than that I did not do much in Bacalar, just enjoyed the Lagunes, which is also the one thing you must do. In total I spend 3 days there and then took another „wonderful“ bus ride over 7 h to get to the harbor of canotes Valladolid.    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    Cenote Secreto Maya
    light show in Valladolid

    Valladolid - Cenotes

    May 16, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    After spending 3 days in Bacalar I still wanted to go to Valladolid. The one thing this city is known for are the amazing cenotes! A cenote are water-filled sinkholes that naturally occur in limestone rock when an underground cave collapses in on itself and exposes the groundwater underneath. In Mayan times a number of the cenotes were used for sacrificial purposes and objects such as gold, pottery and even human and animal remains have been found at the bottom of some cenotes. Apparently 6000 of the worlds 10.000 cenotes are in the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico.
    People therefore told me you cannot leave this city without at least visiting one of the cenotes! So the first day I went and looked at the Secreto Maya cenote which was amazing to swim in! Definitely a pro tip to come here early because we had the place almost completely to ourselves!
    Valladolid itself however is also a very pretty town with cute colorful houses and lots of music on the streets. We were even able to witness a traditional Mexican dance when we passed the main square. On my last night on Mexico I had to try the traditional lime soup which is known for Yucatán! And wow that soup did not disappoint. Also the tacos I ate were amazing! Mexican food was definitely one of the best on this trip so far! We all just had a wonderful night, especially after me and one girl from Switzerland and another German girl were invited to do a Tequila tasting! Haha the guy in the shop poured us about 10 different types of tequila and mescal with flavors ranging from mango, over passion fruit to coconut! All of them tasted good - obviously.. and for some reason they got better and better over time :D Once we had dinner (which we desperately needed after the tequila tasting) we ended the night by looking at the daily Lightshow Valladolid has about the history of the city! I really enjoyed it, getting some background information and seeing the church light up in so many pretty colors!    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip
    unexpected Magic Mike show :)
    Barbeque :)Stock yards! :)Penny and Pingu 🐧

    Dallas Cowboy feeling

    May 18, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Couldn’t imagine a better place to start my United States trip than spending time with my amazing friend April in Dallas! So I traveled from Valladolid to Cancun and then flew directly to Dallas! April and I met 6 months ago where my journey started in Antarctica sharing many wonderful memories on the ship together (also seasickness unfortunately :D) and connecting through our love for penguins! As time passed we stayed in contact and it seemed so natural when we decided that I would visit her over a long weekend in Texas. Actually April was the one that told me she would save the dates right away in her calendar which made me book my flights too! And I really appreciated some girls time. We did so many fun things kicking off the weekend just right with a magic mike show that we did not plan before but turned out to be one of the most fun nights! The next day we went to a rodeo which is apparently a must do thing in Texas! We also had some Texas barbecue including deep fried pickles (weird at first but very tasty after) before the rodeo and then enjoyed the cowboy show which was apparently also the championship of rodeo - such a coincidence!
    The next day we walked around Dallas which is actually a very nice city! I was also impressed on how clean the city is and how much green spaces there are! One additional highlight for was the Aboretum. Unfortunately April had to work that day so I had to explore this huge botanical garden on my own but I really loved the landscaping and all the blooming flowers. For me as I have never been to Texas before and hearing all the stories about guns I must say I still felt really safe there and did not see one gun the whole time I was there.. luckily I must say.. to be honest i felt way more unsafe in Brazil.
    Also I‘m so grateful April hosted me the whole time, she is truly an amazing woman and I‘m impressed by all the strength she has! Also it filled me with so much joy that Penny and Pingu were finally able to meet for the first time.. we were talking about this all the time during our trip to Antarctica! Overall I‘m so happy and amazed how a 10 day trip and a connection over penguins can result in such a great friendship! Hope to see April in Germany one day - or anywhere else in the states once I come back :)    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip

    San Francisco

    May 23, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    After being on a high after Dallas i thought it would be so difficult for any other place to continue with this feeling.. but oh boy did San Francisco and the Bay Area not disappoint! The main reason why I wanted to go there was to visit my good friend Dominic which I met randomly at a food stand 5 years ago in Prague. I was in Prague over a long weekend to spend some time with a friend from Canada and he was traveling for one month around Europe. After Prague we stayed in contact and always wanted to see each other again - haha I actually thought he would come sooner back to Germany than I would fly to the States.. but the pandemic postpones many of his and my plans and so we didn’t see each other for 5 years and basically became great Skype friends :)
    As I didn’t want to go to Hawaii on my own after SF I asked Robert my friend from university if he wants to come too! That was back in January.. and coincidently we have been friends for 5 years too! So Robert and I met in SF and spend a week there. As I arrived a little earlier than Robert I was able to check into the hostel beforehand which had an amazing view over the Golden Gate Bridge! It was sunny but sooo windy and way colder than expected coming from Dallas, however I still enjoyed the view just by myself for more than an hour.
    Almost frozen to death I then picked up Robert from the bus station. That evening we drove with Dominic over the Golden Gate Bridge, had in-n-out for dinner (can you tell how excited I was? :D) and spend some time „hiking“ to an amazing view over the Bay Area (great insider spot).
    The next day was fully packed with touristy things. First thing in the morning Robert and I took the trolley downtown, walked crazy steep roads, went to the biggest and most authentic Chinatown for lunch, saw the pained ladies, went to fisherman’s Warft and also did the night tour around Alcatraz. Dominic also made time to join us on that tour! Overall San Francisco was amazing and it did not stop from there. Dominic was all along an amazing tour guide and was able to give us a wonderful glimpse of how life could be in SF especially he showed us many places „off the beaten track“ which I loved.    Read more

  • MelissaTravelerWorld trip

    Yosemite National Park

    May 26, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    After spending 3 days in SF it was actually Dominic’s idea to travel to Yosemite National park over Memorial Day weekend since most people have time off and he and his friends wanted to go Rock climbing there. We therefore headed that night to his grandparents cabin which is located about 2 hours from the park! The next day we got up early and spend most of the day in Yosemite! And wow this National park did not disappoint! I was a little critical at first since I have been to so many countries already, saw amazing landscapes and also so many waterfalls.. but the waterfalls in Yosemite were outstanding! This year the park is especially beautiful because it was cold for a long time and the snow just melted.. making the waterfalls even bigger but also flooding the park.. so we were also lucky to be able to go there since the park is often closed due to the flooding. I have never experienced so much water in my life and when Dominic, Robert and I did the hike to the Vernal falls we truly experienced how much power the water has.. we also got soaked.. but it was an amazing experience!
    That night we also met some of Dominic’s friends which joined us for the weekend at the cabin. The next day we went all together to a huge and impressive cave and then drove to see the giant redwood trees. It was such a fun day! Oh and not to forget I almost beat the champion Dominic in Minigolf :D
    Since he and his friends all do rock climbing they all brought the gear with them so that Robert and I were also able to get out of our comfort zone and try rock climbing ourselves. It was soooo much fun and so rewarding! Loved it!
    I will for sure treasure this time we spend in Yosemite since it reminded me so much of the many USA road-trips we did with my parents many years ago. Dominic did an amazing job of showing us all the highlights the park has to offer and even though it was sometimes a lot for Robert and myself (we were pretty tired once we landed on Maui) I’m so happy that this trip brought back many memories of my dad and the many trips we experienced together! So thankful for all the thoughts and effort Dominic put into planing this and making our trip amazing on top of driving the whole way there and back! I can’t wait to go back one day, beat him at Minigolf :D or rock climb again. So happy we stayed in contact over these past 5 years and hope we will see each other again sooner and don’t have to wait another 5 years :D    Read more

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