Today was another travel day. We had planned a nearly two-hour leg. It was supposed to go around Bordeaux and over the two rivers Garrone and Dordogne. We could have shortened the route by taking the ferry, which would have cost us sixty euros, but we wouldn't have been much faster, so it wasn't worth it. So we drove around the large city on the partly eight-lane highway ring and over the big bridges.

We had set our sights on Arcachon as our destination, but Ines found a free parking spot in Le Teich just before the coast. The local bird sanctuary had a large observation tower, a marina, and a brasserie was also onsite. Perfect.

After our arrival, we took an ornithological tour, but we hardly saw any birds. For dinner, we went to the brasserie. We wanted to observe the sunset from the lookout tower, but there were plenty of clouds, which altered the views somewhat.

As we pass the pharmacy, we decide to buy a bottle of nasal spray. Since it seems that only seawater spray is available in the front section of the pharmacy, I ask at the slightly formal-looking counter in the back. The lady retrieves the appropriate product, then asks for my first and last name as well as my date of birth. She then packages the spray in a neutral bag, labels it with my information, and places the package in a small metal cage that could also be used to take a guinea pig to the vet, securing it with a cable tie.

Now I have to walk about four meters to the actual checkout, where everything is unpacked and I can pay for the product.

Different countries, different customs... 😂

Our enthusiasm for the city is somewhat dampened as we drive toward our accommodation. We pass by townships and informal settlements for a long time. Entire streets consist of poor and broken shacks, and garbage piles up in large areas. We see only black South Africans there. At the intersections, people try to sell tomatoes or drinks to those waiting in their cars.

It makes me sad, and after a short impulse to capture this impression with my camera, I let my phone drop again. I feel voyeuristic. The footage from the airplane is enough.

When we arrive at our accommodation after about 20 kilometers, the area looks solid. Around the corner, we find a restaurant with an appealing menu. The atmosphere is vibrant, and it’s well attended. The fact that you can basically distinguish staff and guests by skin color still irritates me. Apartheid has been history for over 30 years—but its effects are clearly not yet a thing of the past.

In the lodge, we are greeted by the porter dressed warmly, as it is winter here in July and August, and the entrance area is correspondingly cool. After days in a tent and nighttime temperatures around 10 degrees, I’m already afraid that I will be cold in Africa for a long time.

But when he opens our room door, I can already hear the heating humming.

And the best part we discover only later:

The bed has a mattress heater. 🤩

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, or simply Chamonix, has an unbeatable advantage: its location. The extremely high real estate prices alone speak volumes about this. After all, the town is ideally situated for mountain enthusiasts right at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps at 4,805 meters.

Chamonix is certainly not a sleepy mountain village, but a lively, historically grown town with an international flair. Mountaineers love the area. You see them actively climbing, but also strolling through the pedestrian zone. Every self-respecting sportswear company has a branch here. Business is especially brisk in these shops when the weather is bad, because then the climbers head straight to the town instead of the mountains.

Incidentally, the typical visitor to Chamonix also seems to have a fondness for dogs. Australian Shepherds and other dogs of this size are particularly common. They're everywhere, in outdoor boutiques and even in art galleries. I was really surprised by that.

And there's something else I learned: the word "après-rando." It's the summer version of après-ski. In the late afternoon and evening, a young crowd, adrenaline-fueled from challenging mountain tours, gathers to celebrate together. However, I also got the impression that the international elite frequents the area. This chic set simply wants to enjoy the exclusive atmosphere and party without risking their lives on the rock face.

Our hotel was certainly full of guests from all over the world. All of Europe was represented, along with people from Arabia, Asia, America, and even Africa. A young Arab woman with whom I happened to share the elevator was the perfect example. She was extremely fashion-conscious, but completely unsuited to the mountains, and she was constantly applying her makeup during the ride. Chamonix is also the perfect place for precisely this kind of clientele, as it boasts numerous high-end boutiques and, of course, a casino.

So, if you want to climb, party, and spend money, this is the place for you. In summer, the partying goes on outdoors until 10 pm, and after that, the partygoers continue well into the night in the bars and clubs.

We weren't interested in climbing or partying, and our budget wasn't designed for big shopping sprees. But that's the beauty of Chamonix: even ordinary tourists and families can find their own personal highlights in the mountains. In winter, it's a place for skiing, and in summer, the many lifts invite you to glide to lofty heights without any climbing equipment.

For example, we took the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi. While it doesn't take you directly to the summit of Mont Blanc, it gets you incredibly close. My ultimate tip: Extend your trip by driving into Italy along the panoramic route on Mont Blanc.

I've written a separate report about this. Let me just say this much in advance: It was simply sensational!

Also absolutely worth seeing is the tour on the historic cog railway to Montenvers and the Mer de Glace glacier. I've written a separate post about that as well.

You can find the links to both reports below.

https://vakantio.de/reisetante/2026-august-telecabine-panoramic-mont-blanc-aiguille-du-midi?published=1

https://vakantio.de/reisetante/2026-august-montenvers-und-mer-de-glace?published=1

The Herrenhäuser Gardens are among the most significant historic garden facilities in Europe and continue to shape Hanover's cultural heritage today. The ensemble unites baroque gardening art, botanical diversity, and architecture from several centuries. With the Great Garden, Berggarten, Georgengarten, and Welfengarten, they stand as a national monument to gardening mastery, scientific tradition, and city history.

The Great Garden is considered the centerpiece of the Herrenhäuser Gardens and is one of the most important Baroque gardens in Europe. The 50.2 hectares of garden area is nearly unchanged in its basic structure today. Along with the impressive gardening art, there are also various sculptures that are illuminated during special events, as well as a large fountain with a 70-meter high water column.

Consisting of individual gardens, the Great Garden is not only a popular destination for tourists.

The Berggarten in the Herrenhäuser Gardens lies north of the Great Garden and is one of the most significant botanical gardens in Europe. Originally established in the 17th century as a utility and vegetable garden for the Hanoverian court society, it evolved over time into an internationally recognized botanical display garden. The Berggarten is named after an old sand dune, of which the slight elevation is still noticeable in the terrain today.

Today, around 12,000 plant species from various climate zones grow here.

Kamakura is located on the coast of Japan, along the Pacific. The beach offered a lovely view and one could dip their feet in the water. From the beach, a beautiful path leads directly to a large area filled with shrines, ponds, and much more. Along the way, an old VW bus was spotted.

At the Kamakura train station, there is a famous shopping street. There, I bought Warabi Mochi, which came in various flavors: one with matcha, one with roasted soybeans, and another with black sesame. It was quite delicious, but the consistency was a bit oddly wobbly.

After a busy day, I headed out for dinner - still amidst the pouring rain. Opposite the restaurant from last night, I found Les Hirondelles - a lovely little restaurant. Due to the rain, I requested a table inside and was given what I would consider the best table in the restaurant: slightly elevated, overlooking all the tables and also outside. The staff were again super friendly - I also noticed that in Paris, one always receives complimentary water, bread, etc., without having to ask, which I think is wonderful. I ordered a Hugo Spritz (later I realized it contained liqueur) and received a Hugo the size of a fishbowl - it was delightful. The pasta was also excellent. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay long, as I wanted to be at the Arc de Triomphe by 10 PM to see the sparkle of the Eiffel Tower from a distance.

Upon arriving at Place Charles de Gaulle, I took the underground tunnel to the Arc de Triomphe - this is necessary due to the heavy traffic around the roundabout, which makes it impossible to reach above ground. The Arc de Triomphe is impressive; its size and grandeur are difficult to capture with a camera. Downstairs, I went through the security check (yes, my small crossbody bag was opened and checked, and I had to pass through a scanner like at the airport) and then climbed a full 284 steps up (see spiral staircase). At the top, I had some time to take in the surroundings before I joined about 100 others to secure a good spot to fully enjoy the sparkle at 10 PM.

Even the days after Mia's birthday were marked by partly murderous heat. This means that there isn't much exciting to report from these days: Cooling off in the Forggensee, warming up with coffee, Kniffel, and Binokel, cooling down with Gin Pink, and warming up with grilling and cooking.

In between, there was a small concert by singer-songwriter Philipp Lump on the pier, who mainly covered German solo artists like Clueso, Max Giesinger, and Herbert Grönemeyer. It was quite nice (and free), but nothing more. Also quite nice was an event by Antenne Bayern, where there was free beer and sausages. Of course, I (with the beer) and Mia (with the sausage) didn’t say no.

Home Vacation

Knowing that Monday would be a stormy rainy day, we decided to pay a little surprise visit to the two older ones. They were so happy. The home vacation was used to do some laundry (VonVon), answer a few emails, and complete the exam performance of the computer scientists (Dan) or spend some time with the boyfriend (Mia). The biggest shock: how the lawn 'developed' in the 7 days of heat. The greatest joy: that the second banana offset has coped well with the heat and is growing diligently.

Füssen

On Tuesday morning, VonVon and I explored Füssen; or rather, the old town of Füssen. There, we enjoyed both the beautiful old town panorama and a delicious cappuccino from the first Füssen coffee roastery.

Darksiders

The first PS3 game I played was the first Darksiders. The Zelda-like game about the Apocalyptic Rider War immediately captivated me. Great gameplay, awesome art design by Joe Madureira (known for X-Men comics and Battle Chasers), and a story about demons and angels... what more could you ask for? Of course, Darksiders 2 is a sequel that turns the rules up to 11 in every respect and has an even cooler main character in Death than part 1. Unfortunately, Darksiders 3 does not live up to the female protagonist Fury. Due to financial issues, the fourth rider (Strife) never got his own main part, but a few weeks ago, unexpectedly, the fourth part was announced, which will directly connect to the epic ending of part 1 (Uriel: 'Do you want to fight this war all by yourself?' War: 'No, I am not alone' in the background, you can see his 3 siblings ride in).

Why am I rambling about Darksiders? All three parts have been on my Switch 2 eShop wishlist for a long time, and just before the vacation, the first one went on sale, so I grabbed it. I fear I won’t be able to wait for a sale for the second part...

The second day was completely planned out. After returning late from the Eiffel Tower to the hotel the previous night, I started here shortly after 9. According to the weather forecast, it was supposed to rain, so I planned my day accordingly.

The day began with a coffee and a walk to Café Saint Louis. On the way, I passed through the Passages Couvertes, covered passages filled with antique shops, bistros, and bookstores (of course, everything was still closed). After about an hour, I reached Café Saint Louis. These facades adorned with lush flowers seem to be in vogue in Paris. The café is entirely pink, from the tables to the flowers and the parasols. There, I enjoyed three fine creams and did some 'people watching.'

After that, I continued to the Musée Carnavalet. The museum showcases the history of Paris (and France) and provides insights into the former life of the city. Do you see the painting with the houses on the bridge? In the past, every square meter was utilized for living space. The ground floor was mostly shops, while the three floors above were residences. Even cellars were built into the arches of the bridge.

In the afternoon, I booked a guided tour through Montmartre. Lucy, our tour guide, provided us with a lot of interesting information and shared a few funny anecdotes ('Napoleon's tomb is in the Invalides. If you want to see the sarcophagus, you literally have to bow to it because you stand elevated at a railing and have to lean over to see his remains').

The man protruding from the wall is a character from the novel Le passe-muraille, who could walk through walls but eventually got stuck. It is said to bring luck to touch his golden hand.

The Rue Lepic connects the Place Blanche, where the Moulin Rouge is located, to Montmartre. It is also an important street in a novel that inspired me to travel to Paris.

What I learned otherwise: Paris has 2.1 million inhabitants. The city is snail-shaped and divided into 20 arrondissements. Everything outside of these 20 arrondissements does NOT belong to Paris anymore. This is very important to Parisians. When I said to the tour guide: 'I didn't even know Paris had a skyline (La Défense)', she laughed and replied: 'No, no, Paris does not have a skyline; La Défense is located beyond the city limits.'

The tour ended at the Basilica Sacre Coeur. Apparently, it is a famous pilgrimage site and part of the Camino de Santiago. The basilica is made of a limestone that has a self-cleaning property, so it turns white again as soon as it rains.

The tour was truly great! Afterwards, I finally went back to the hotel for a short break.

And off we went to the first dinner. For me, it was something completely new to sit alone in a restaurant, but it was really great. In the many bistros of Paris, one can wonderfully 'people watch'. I ordered a Raspberry Spritz, which tasted good, although there was quite a bit of syrup in it. 'Sweet drink', Papa would have said. My dinner was not very French, a Poké Bowl. Nevertheless, it was super good. Afterwards, I went for a walk toward the Eiffel Tower (see post 'The Eiffel Tower').

I had already booked a boat tour in advance. The music was without a tour guide and instead featured music. I had downloaded the app for the tour beforehand. Using GPS, the app could determine exactly where we were and provided many details through my headphones.

Here are a few interesting pieces of information:

• Do you see the golden flame on the bank of the Seine? In the 19th century, France gifted the USA the Statue of Liberty as a sign of friendship. To thank them, the Americans gave the French a replica of the flame of the Statue of Liberty, which can now be found in its original size in Paris. Why is it also called Diana's Flame? It is located directly above the tunnel where Lady Di tragically lost her life.
• The Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris. The 381 masks are all different and were meant to keep evil spirits away. The bridge connects the Parisian 'mainland' with the Ile de la Cité, where the Notre Dame church stands.
• The houses on the 'right' bank of the Seine show the former residence of Marie Curie. By the way, she was not only the first woman to win a Nobel Prize but also one of the few individuals to have received 2 Nobel Prizes in different disciplines (Physics & Chemistry).

After the boat ride, I headed straight to the Esplanade de Trocadero, where one apparently has the best view of 'La Tour Eiffel', as mentioned during the boat tour.

In any case, yesterday turned out to be a complete bed day. Until this morning – luckily, I feel well enough to embark on the journey to Cape Town.

The transfer to the airport will serve as our last game drive: first through the water, passing by zebras, kudus, warthogs, impalas, and elephants – and then we also surprisingly discover a group of wild dogs. Some of them are wearing GPS collars. These animals have become rare and are therefore observed and researched particularly intensively. A rather special last view in the Delta.

After about an hour, we reach the 'airport,' which would hardly be recognizable as such if small aircraft weren't taking off and landing several times a day. Due to the lack of roads, they are a quite normal part of the transportation system here.

Once again, we see the beautiful landscape of the Okavango Delta from above. Either we are flying lower today – or our eyes have been trained better by now: This time we spot elephants and buffaloes multiple times from the plane. 🤩

In Maun, the co-pilot personally guides us to the check-in, after which we are handed over to the next warm-hearted person. Even at security, the people here in Botswana have a smile for travelers.

Overall: If there's one thing besides the landscape and wildlife that will stay with me, it is the cheerful, warm, and polite way the people in Botswana treat us – and each other.

Good-bye, Botswana. ❤️

We are leaving the coastal town of Swakopmund, but not without having visited the Jetty (pier) and heading further north, into the Erongo Mountains.

Our destination today is Spitzkoppe (1,728m), Namibia's Matterhorn.

On the way there, the roads are once again very 'bumpy' and we are getting shaken up quite a bit 🥴

Here, the poverty of the country is unfortunately very visible. Children run up to the car in groups to sell handmade items or to beg for water. Hopefully, our donations will show them how well they can live 🙏

Sadly, just before we reach our destination, we encounter our second flat tire. This time, a metal part is the culprit 👿 So, it's time to change the tire again before we can continue.

Finally arriving, we hike/climb to the Rock Pool and Rock Arch. The temperatures are now above 30° and we are really starting to sweat 🥵

Our lodge for today is located near the small town of Usakos and is our stopover before heading up to Damaraland. In the midst of the mountains, there's a small oasis with three very sweet dogs. Lenya finally makes it into the pool, but it is veeeeery cold. As a reward, there's a soothing massage. Somehow, we've landed here in paradise; the lodge feels like it belongs entirely to us 🌟

Tomorrow, the first stop will be a tire service in Usakos, which was already closed today.

So it's 6 AM again ⏰️ ring the bell

While searching for a parking space, we unexpectedly(!) came across a historical site. Near Juminda, approximately 40 war and merchant ships of the Soviet Union were destroyed by Finnish and especially German bombers and mines during their retreat from Tallinn in August 1941. Around 12,000 to 15,000 people lost their lives, many of them civilians. A monument commemorates this event with the words 'A new war begins when the last one is forgotten.'

Today, on our last day, we traveled to Reydarfjoerdur and then on to Neskaupstadur in good weather, collecting some lovely impressions along the way. Tomorrow morning, we're taking the ferry to the Faroe Islands.

The roaming agreement does not apply in the Faroe Islands, so we'll have to see when we can get online again.

As mentioned, leaving Iceland is not easy for us, even though there were some really tough days.

We will present our experiences, impressions, and insights about Iceland in a detailed conclusion later on. This will be in a few weeks when we are home and can write it on the PC.

Prior to that, depending on online availability, we will write something about and from the Faroe Islands.

During a walk of about 1 hour, the Eiffel Tower initially appears quite small, just the tip. The closer you get, the more of it you can see. I really have to say, in real life, this monument is even more impressive, looking larger and more massive.

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was not well-received at first and was supposed to be torn down? It was said that 'it does not fit in with the city.' And yet, it still stands. Additionally, research laboratories were set up in the top floors, which is something I also did not know.

After the boat trip (documented in a separate post), I headed to the Esplanade Trocadero, from where you are said to have the best view of the Eiffel Tower. As soon as it gets dark, the Eiffel Tower sparkles every hour on the hour until midnight for a full 5 minutes. Unfortunately, I cannot upload the video of the sparkling; you need an upgrade for that :( The sparkling was breathtaking - today I want to try to experience it once more!

When we are at a vineyard, we couldn't possibly leave without having participated in a tasting - a Dégustation. Last night, we decided to go for the tasting with lunch, which included a meal, followed by a guided tour of the wine cellars and vines.

Just before 12:30 PM, we gathered at the reception. We assembled our three-course menu, and then the tasting began. First, there was the aperitif, which we already knew from the previous evening, followed by a tour through the entire range of the winery. By the time the main course was served, we had already finished our first bottle of water, having set off without breakfast to leave enough room for the entire menu. We did not miss the chance to try a glass of the Superior wine as well. Thus, we spent two and a half hours enjoying very good food and wine. By the time we finished with dessert around three o'clock, each of us had drunk at least a liter of wine. The tour of the vineyards took place in good 30-degree weather under the shade of the trees on a cozy bench. The wine cellar was, of course, pleasantly cool. When we were invited for the aperitif at 5:30 PM by Fabienne for the third time that day, we could hardly decline.

So we took a short break and then returned to the restaurant just in time for the aperitif.

The group this evening was a bit larger and just as international. This time, even three of our compatriots were present, who stopped here on their way back from the solar eclipse in Spain. We had the best conversations with the two Irish people at the table who were sitting right next to us.

After the second Dégustation of the day was over, we joined Gary and played a bit when we were invited by our neighbors, the two Irishmen, to sit together. By chance, we had the parking spots right next to each other. So we sat there until dark with Ger and Alina from County Kilkenny between the two Hymer vehicles, Lilly(1999) and Gary(1988), discussing our respective travels, cars, and Honda motorcycles.

After six and a half weeks of adventure and a brief stop at friends' place, we have returned home to Munich. The tour was fantastic, the weather was good enough, and the impressions linger on. But as the saying goes, after the journey is before the journey, we will look for a new destination and plan a new adventure.

So see you soon and stay curious!

Ute and Jens Thurm

A few stories and facts about extraordinary automobiles. Just like us, every vehicle must meet certain requirements. The 2 CV had to be able to transport 2 farmers in wooden shoes and a 50 kg sack of potatoes at a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The 2 CV conquered both city and country with over 5 million cars sold.

The 540 K and the Bugatti 57 S were the queens of the road in the late 1930s. The conquest of the grand luxury automobile of that time in Europe was a neck-and-neck race between Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes, and Maybach. The DS-8 type with an 8-liter engine is the ultimate Maybach vehicle. With the Royale, Ettore Bugatti designed the most magnificent car in the world. Its 12-liter engine delivers 300 hp to the road; its weight of 3 tons and its price are all oversized. Only 6 cars of this model were built. The hood ornament features an elephant, crafted by Rembrandt Bugatti, Ettore's brother.

Starting in 1937, Bugatti reduced its product range to a single model, the Type 57. This car benefited from the publicity gained from its two victories in 1937 and 1939 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Type A from Luis Renault was an immediate success. Its lightweight and simplicity were convincing. He designed it at the age of 21 with his friend Edward Richet.

On the way to Bordeaux, the vegetation along the route changed noticeably. While the farmers along our previous routes had cultivated corn, grains, or sunflowers, here most of the fields were planted with vines. A few sunflower fields provided some variety, but otherwise, it was vineyards for hectares as far as the eye could see. We had expected something like this, as we had searched for our next stop at a vineyard.

The 'Château Marquis de Vauban' was located 30 kilometers from Bordeaux and had enough space to accommodate 35 motorhomes. Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a bottle of the house wine, a light Merlot that almost resembled rosé, packaged in a colorless bottle.

At 5:30 PM, we were invited for an aperitif. We sat in a circle with Italians, Spaniards, and of course, French people; half of the attendees were couples sharing very similar stories. Many were now retired, had purchased a motorhome, and were traveling around. Some had just given up their apartments, while others had been traveling for two years and were on their way back home; we felt we were in good company. Three wines were tasted: the previously mentioned house wine, which was once an export hit to Britain, a Bordeaux from 2022, and the newly composed Apéro Bordelais, an aperitif with spices and a bit of sweetness. When we left the gathering, the atmosphere was excellent.

In the late afternoon, we decided to take a stroll and visit the Citadel of Blaye. The vast area was a UNESCO World Heritage site because it was part of the fortifications designed and built by Vauban. Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban (later Marquis de Vauban), was the architect for Louis XIV in the 17th century and built countless fortifications, like this one here at the lake access of Bordeaux.

In the evening, we prepared one of our delicious salads, sat by the motorhome, and drank wine. We were then visited by the Marquise of the estate, who initially showed great interest in our salad, but then dismissed the purely vegetarian ingredients and instead demanded some petting.

From my bed, I look out at the untouched nature. What kind of landscape are we actually in?

There is no single “the” landscape in the Okavango Delta. Even during the flight here, it was visible from above how watercourses wind through the plains and frequently branch out. In between, there are floodplains, grasslands, and small, elevated islands.

On the ground, the differences are even more pronounced. In front of our terrace lies a floodplain with tall grass, where even an elephant nearly disappears.

Elsewhere, seemingly endless open grassland. Moments later, the ground is dry and barren, with bushes and individual trees dominating the picture – and again, scattered palm trees. 🌾🌴

In between is a baobab, which stands out with its massive trunk and bare crown just because it's something special here.

And of course, this landscape is never just a backdrop. There’s always something to discover – sometimes just the evidence of who traveled here before us. Fresh lion spoor in the sand immediately lets our Delta boys know that a lioness cannot be far away.

By the way, there is not much left of the giraffe killed yesterday, as other guests reported during dinner. Its young one, which apparently kept returning to the dead mother, nearly fell victim to the lions but managed to escape. If it finds another group of giraffes, it has a good chance of surviving. 🙈

We had already spotted several of these “tower of giraffes” among the bushes and trees. 🦒🦒🦒 Once the giraffes start their journey together, it’s referred to as a journey of giraffes in English. Sometimes, English is simply more beautiful. 😉

Under a Makalani palm, we saw an elephant yesterday. It vigorously shakes the trunk until the fruits fall to the ground, and then collects its breakfast. 🐘🌴

Perhaps that’s exactly what is fascinating about the Okavango Delta: In a short time, not only does the landscape change completely. The animals we see also change – and the way they utilize this landscape.

And while I write this this morning, it's completely quiet outside.

Addendum: The Okavango seems to be reading along. Two elephants are currently strolling leisurely through the water past our tent. 🐘🐘

Game Drive is overrated. 😎

Off to Kamakura, a very popular coastal town with many temples and shrines. First, we headed to the Engakuji Temple, which is a large complex with various temples and buildings.

After that, we went to the nearby Jochiji; there were many other great temples in the vicinity, but it was a bit too much for me in terms of space and time.
Then, we headed to the coast, as will be seen in the next post.

I went to Ikebukuro to try the famous eel there. This is a freshwater fish and a popular dish in Japan. The taste is very similar to regular fish. It was served with a delicious square of egg and a lot of rice. In Ikebukuro, it started to rain heavily and wouldn't stop. So I went back home.

At Ueno Park, there was also a classic festival where people dance on a stage, and others around them are encouraged to join in.

On the streets of Nezu, I noticed a sweet dog just standing at the entrance of a house and watching. Additionally, I bought some treats from the bakery.

You have to be lucky; through a friend's acquaintance, we became aware of the world's largest 'Schlumpf Automobile Museum' in Mulhouse. Right after breakfast, Margit and I set off. We cycled about 70 km without significant elevations through charming villages along the wine route to Mulhouse. The Automobile Museum was our established destination. It is the largest car collection in the world. The 'Musée National de l'Automobile' from the Schlumpf Collection features over 400 exceptional cars on 25,000 m². I have never seen such an amazing exhibition. I took so many photos; my phone was in constant use. Afterwards, we met with Isabelle, who provided us with great tips for the planned senior trip. A big thank you to Manuel for connecting us with Isabelle. In the evening, we took the train back to Colmar. Like every day, we are utterly exhausted again today.

Early morning wakes us up, and we head out into the thick fog towards Walvis Bay (Whale Bay) for our Combi Tour today 🛥🚗

First, we go out to sea with our (almost) private captain. On the way to Pelican Point, we can already admire some Cape fur seals. Once we arrive, we're surrounded by seals. Further out on the open sea, we also spot dolphins and the absolute highlight 🥳 a humpback whale 🐋, and it's right next to us 😱 An intimate experience for all our senses! You can’t even imagine how bad its breath smells 🙊 the giant almost vomited over the railing 🤢

Then we quickly head back to land and continue on to Sandwich Harbour (where the sand dunes meet the Atlantic).

Our guide Bernt safely drives us out to the dunes with breathtaking hotspots. Passing by numerous flamingos 🦩 and the salt pans, he casually shows us a Palmatogecko on the way to Sandwich Harbour, one of the Little 5 in Namibia.

Off-roading up and down through the dune landscape, we enjoy a snack in great spirits until it's time to head back.

Simply Amazing 💞

A diverse and young cultural scene has spread around a former factory site here.

During our afternoon stroll through the Kalamaja district, we saw how well old wooden houses can be restored without looking freshly renovated, but rather preserving their old charm.

In the evening, we discovered a small but exquisite oriental restaurant in a backyard, which treated us to various culinary delights.

Although 'rooms' isn't entirely accurate: We are staying in large tents on stilts, accessed via elevated wooden walkways. There are nine such tent-rooms in total, and essentially everything takes place outside.

What I particularly like is that the lodge is in Botswanan hands, and a portion of the tourism revenue is reinvested back into the region – including early childhood education, support for mothers and newborns, and research and conservation projects.

Here, too, we have the opportunity for game drives. But already as we set off, we notice that this is different from Chobe. We encounter only a handful of other jeeps; our camp has a maximum of three in operation. This time, we are also accompanied by not only one guide but additionally a scout.

Both men are 'Delta Boys,' as they call themselves: born and raised here. They probably know not just each other inside out but also this landscape and its inhabitants. They recognize every animal sound, read tracks, and seem to know every bush in this seemingly endless area. They don't need GPS. All of it is in their heads – or, as they say: They are the GPS. 😉

Despite the trust we have gained in them, I feel tenser than during our previous safaris. The paths are less traveled, the impalas much shyer, and driving 'off-road' seems completely normal – although 'road' is a strong exaggeration. 😅

In between, we encounter research vehicles with crews monitoring the wildlife. Often, we almost get the impression that we're not participating in a tourist activity but getting a chance to accompany the rangers in their work.

Of course, we again come across various wild animals, though not nearly as densely as in Chobe. And when we see the lions that killed a giraffe last night, it's pretty clear what wilderness truly means.

I notice how tense I am, and the encroaching darkness doesn't exactly help my relaxation. Now we are looking for nocturnal animals. The phone must stay off so as not to disrupt the darkness.

When we finally reach the camp, I feel quite relieved. After dinner, we collapse into bed completely exhausted.

But: Wilderness is indeed wilderness at night. It rustles and cracks; something is moving around and on our tent, and when the alarm clock rings at 5:30 a.m., we feel only moderately rested. I also feel a cold coming on, with a runny nose and headache. Great. 🙄

A brief breakfast outside by the campfire – and then it's already time to go: Morning Drive.

Now the delta shows itself from a completely different side. Beautiful morning light, many giraffes and zebras, a large herd of buffalo – and of course, many, many photos. 📸

Afterwards, it gets unusually quiet: We are allowed to take a tour on the water. Traditionally, the boats, called mokoros, were made from hollowed-out logs. To avoid cutting down any more trees for this, the mokoros used here today are made from fiberglass.

And just before we head back after about four hours, a special moment awaits us: a leopard.

We get so close that my excitement eventually turns into a certain discomfort. Especially as he seems to be getting more animated. At some point, I ask to move on.

I'm quite the scaredy-cat. 😅

At lunch, George, another guide, joins us. He is significantly older than the others and seems to be a bit of the boss here. We get onto the topic of poaching.

“Where there are humans, there is poaching,” says George.

However, the government is taking very strict measures against it. There are specific rules about who can move in the delta when and with what weapon. Our mokoro tour's leading boat also had a large rifle on board – “just in case.”

Then George tells us something that makes us swallow hard: If he catches a poacher in the act here, he claims he is allowed to shoot him without any further investigations against him being initiated afterwards. The police would only come to remove the body from the area.

🫢

We can't judge if the legal situation is really that clear-cut. But the ease with which George talks about it clearly indicates how seriously poaching is taken here – and how distanced this world is from our own.

This afternoon, we have decided to take a break. No further safari, no scheduled program.

Just sitting in the tent, gazing at this incredible landscape, enjoying the silence, and reflecting a bit on what we have experienced in the past few days.

That is quite enough.

Although... I need to pause for a moment: Two waterbucks just ran right past our terrace. 🤩

Game Drive seems to be completely unnecessary. 😎

Eating an authentic crepe in Paris - Check! I was warmly greeted at the restaurant - the waitstaff switched to English right away due to my poor French. I was immediately brought free water and asked where I was from. The crepes were delicieux (or delicieuse?). 

Then I continued towards the hotel. On the way, I passed the square of the Louvre as well as the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which should not be confused with the 'real' Arc de Triomphe at the end of the Champs-Elysées. 

I also passed by the Olympic Flame. This 'flies' up once a day, but today it wasn't due to maintenance. Perhaps I will see it tomorrow!

My hotel is located on a quiet street between the opera house and the Moulin Rouge. I was very kindly welcomed and then went straight up the stairs to the 5th floor to my super small but sweet hotel room. Backpack and shoulder bag went straight into the shower and I checked the bed for bedbugs - luckily found nothing. I wouldn’t have even known what to do if I had found bedbugs. Go to the reception and say 'Excusez-moi, j'ai des punaises de lit'? 

On time at 11:38 AM, the train arrived at the Gare de Lyon. I got off and decided to walk toward the hotel, knowing that check-in isn’t until 3 PM. So I set off along the Seine and immediately discovered the Jardin des Plantes. In addition to a small zoo, there are tens of thousands of different plant species in the park.

After a short snack and reading break, I continued my walk along the Seine. I directly visited the Île de la Cité, the island on the Seine where Notre Dame is located. After that, I headed towards the Louvre.

P.S.: In one of the photos, the tip of the Eiffel Tower is hidden!

The bar with a terrace is actually called "Harbor View". It is located on a street at an elevated position in the town of Labuan Bajo. In the fading twilight of the setting sun, hundreds of fishing boats and somewhat larger excursion ships sprinkle the sparkling water below in the harbor basin. I arrived in Labuan Bajo from Lombok on July 24, 2026, and the place immediately... What is the opposite of "inspired"? So: Labuan Bajo immediately left me feeling the opposite of inspired.

Once a fishing village at the far western tip of the Indonesian island of Flores, its name means "Anchor Place of the Bajo" and serves as a reminder that the bay has been a protected harbor and settlement of the Bajo for centuries, a widely dispersed ethnicity of sea nomads who originally lived exclusively on their ships and later settled in various coastal regions of Southeast Asia.

Rapid Growth

In the last 25 years, Labuan Bajo has radically transformed: In 2000, the region had around 25,000 inhabitants, says Alvin, at whose "D'Alvin Homestay" I stayed. Now it is 66,000 to 68,000. The rapid growth is solely attributed to tourism. Although fishermen are still active in the Flores Sea; their fresh catch can be enjoyed in some restaurants and warungs, small food stalls, at night.

At the same time, Labuan Bajo is the focal point of a quickly swelling tourism industry: From here, one travels to Komodo National Park with its beaches, rocky islands, and the famous Komodo dragons.

These are also marketed as "Komodo Dragons", a term stemming from an early American dramatization, as Dario, my guide on Rinca Island, explains: After leading a research expedition to the islands in 1926, the wealthy American naturalist William Douglas Burden (1898-1978) published the popular book "Dragon Lizards of Komodo" in 1927, which introduced the animals to a wide audience.

Pre-packaged Offers

Along Sukarno Street, the unofficial main street of the area, which runs parallel to the shore, restaurants, cafés, hotels, banks, supermarkets, dive shops, and dozens of tour provider offices line up, mostly just improvised wooden shacks with corrugated roofs, under which sits a table with two or three plastic chairs.

The variety of providers is just an illusion. In reality, they all offer the same five or six pre-fabricated standard products: a half- or full-day trip on a boat packed with tourists, with a cold lunch served from a cardboard box at noon. The Komodo National Park comprises 29 islands, but almost all tourists end up at the same five or six beaches and bays, where excursion boats crowd together, and one snorkels or walks the island paths in the company of hundreds of other tourists. Slightly more exclusive, but also very expensive, are multi-day cruises on slightly larger ships.

I do not want to find myself amidst the tourist flow. And the offered cruises do not work for me either, because my minimum requirement for accommodation is a private room, a private toilet, and a private shower. I am too old and too demanding for mass accommodations with shared bathrooms.

A Boat Just for Me

So I exceptionally exceeded my budget and booked my own boat for a day, along with a two-person crew and a travel companion (who does not speak a word of English). The cost is two million Rupiah or just under a hundred Swiss francs or around a hundred euros, which is about a third to nearly half more than a trip with the masses would have cost.

The harbor is the center of Labuan Bajo, and in an attempt to upgrade it, a massive observation tower has been constructed, the upper floors of which are glazed. I board the blue-painted wooden boat docked at the harbor pier via a precarious staircase, and soon we set off; the diesel engine thumps in a slow, lulling rhythm.

Passing fishing trawlers, excursion boats, and the slightly larger, often two-story Pinisi, we head out to sea. Pinisi are traditional sailing ships from Sulawesi used for cruises. These ships have their sails furled, but in reality, they are powered by engines.

Soon, the silhouette of Labuan Bajo and the coast of Flores fade into the hazy background. The route heads southwest into the Sawu Sea, passing smaller islands where the first tourist boats are already gathering.

After about two hours, Rinca Island appears, which I chose as an alternative to the overcrowded Komodo Island. A small lighthouse marks the tip; a sea eagle circles above. Rinca, a hilly island with dry grassland and scattered trees, is about 200 square kilometers large, comparable to Elba or Malta, but very thinly populated with just under 2000 inhabitants in two villages.

Dino comes from one of these villages. The official guide (included in the booking price, as well as the entrance to the national park) grew up on the island. But of course, we did not come for the people, but for the “dragons.”

According to Dino, there are still an estimated 3000 to 5000 in the wild, with nearly half living on Rinca and Komodo Islands, where they are protected by the national park regime, and a few hundred in scattered areas along the northern coast of Flores Island, where they are more endangered.

From the jetty where our boat has landed and the reception hut where Dino was waiting for us, we walk over a long wooden bridge to the visitor center. Beyond that begins the wilderness, and almost immediately, the first dragon, a massive male, ambles across our path. Later, we will spot further specimens of this primitive creature. Thanks to fossil finds in Australia, the Komodo dragon can be traced back at least 3.8 million years; on Flores, it has also been traceable for more than a million years due to fossils.

Rinca Island is not a zoo, and one should maintain a distance of at least ten meters from the dragons, warning signs in the visitor center advise. Not only do the razor-sharp teeth of the dragon demand respect; he also possesses venom glands in the lower jaw. If he bites and tears large wounds into his prey, the venom enters the bloodstream; it promotes bleeding, prevents blood clotting, lowers blood pressure, and causes pain, muscle cramps, and paralysis.

Mr. X Died from His Greed

In a pond, we meet a water buffalo. Buffalos are also on the menu for the dragons. Because buffalo have a strong immune system, Dino explains, it often takes several days for the dragon's venom to take effect. The “dragons” wait patiently until the buffalo becomes weak and then strike.

Dragons only eat about once a month but can consume up to half their body weight. This gluttony proved fatal for “Mr. X.” His skeleton is displayed in a small museum near the visitor center alongside that of “Jessica,” a young female. Mr. X devoured a buffalo with such greed that a buffalo horn got stuck in his throat, and he suffocated.

In the museum, we also learn that several island guides have been attacked by dragons. All survived, although some were seriously injured and required long rehabilitation. According to Dino, it is important to be flown to a hospital immediately and treated with antibiotics, and that the wounds are professionally cared for.

And one more thing: Dragons can smell decay from as much as ten kilometers away. To prevent the animals from digging up the dead, people on the islands have traditionally covered their graves with stone slabs or, more recently, with concrete.

A Pink Beach

Back on board, heading toward Pink Beach. The sea becomes calmer, the water brighter. After about an hour, a narrow strip of sand appears on the horizon. The boat anchors in shallow water; one wades over to the flat beach. This beach is pink because crushed coral mixes with the white sand, which seems somewhat chemical, even though it was created by nature. But getting a photograph of the beach without crowds is almost impossible; we wait a long time for the tourist boats to leave.

Then we continue to Kelor Island, closer to Labuan Bajo. The boat lands in a small bay. I laboriously and sweatingly climb a steep path up a hill; at the top, I am rewarded with a panoramic view over the Flores Sea, nearby islands, and the open sea. The sun is lower, the light softer, but the impression will only remain in my memory; I cannot immortalize it photographically; my phone's battery is dead. Tourist misfortune!

After another short hour, Labuan Bajo appears on the horizon. I disembark and mingle in Suharto Street with the tourists once again.

This weekend, we went to Konstanz, including an overnight stay at 47 Grad. What I didn't know beforehand: The name not only sounded nice but also was quite an accurate statement. The room temperature reflected the name pretty well in the end. A bit of cooling down would have definitely been welcome.

During a Friends get-together with a view of Lake Constance, we really treated ourselves well. Grill, wine, and relaxation.

I was particularly impressed by the Sauvignon Blanc from Aufricht, a wine from Meersburg. I’m usually not so easily impressed, but this one was really good. One or two more servings were definitely a must.

And since a weekend in Konstanz without brunch at Heinrichs is inconceivable for us, it naturally had to be included the next morning.

So

On one hand, we are looking forward to continuing our journey to the Faroe Islands and the return trip; on the other hand, there is also a tinge of sadness about saying goodbye to Iceland. It has been nearly 3 very intense months, intense in every way, both very beautiful and very challenging.

On Day 7, we are going to enjoy ourselves and start with a delicious breakfast with the world's best coffee 🤩 in a small cafe near our apartment. 

After that, sightseeing in Swakopmund and to the delight of the youth, shopping 🛍🤑 

In the evening, we treat ourselves to a delicious dinner at the top address in Swakopmund before we have to get up early again tomorrow.

After working in Zurich, a visit to the radio in the courtyard of the National Museum is a must for me at least once in the summer. For those who are not familiar: The National Museum right by the main train station is the most visited cultural history museum in Switzerland, and this slightly castle-like building, along with the modern new wing, provides a pretty beautiful backdrop. The radio itself is essentially a radio festival that has been broadcasting live from the courtyard of the National Museum every summer since 2004, featuring national and international DJs, bars, food stalls, and people simply winding down their summer evenings. From 5 PM onwards, people gather there to enjoy the relaxed end of the summer days, and that was exactly the plan.

The line was quite long, though, and it took a while before we were able to get inside. But well, that's almost part of the experience now.

Once inside, I first waited for my friends Eli and Fabian. Of course, not without a drink in hand and plenty of people watching. The outfits of the people were really something, which made the waiting time fly by.

When the two finally arrived, we indulged and got pizza and a white wine. Unfortunately, this year there were also wasps joining the party for free. None of us had ordered those annoying creatures.

The beats were consistently really good, and at some point, we were just standing right in the middle of the lights.

To be honest, I did not expect there to be further improvement after the wonderful old town with 'Le Petite Venice'. Riquewihr is located in a valley open to the east. The town is framed by the hills with vineyards of the Vosges foothills. Over the centuries, the town has prospered because of its vineyards and the trade of its wines, which are well-known throughout Europe. This prosperity is also reflected in the old town, which has retained its very dense urban structure. The houses from the 15th to 18th centuries form an exceptionally rich architectural complex.

Now it should finally work out with La Rochelle. We headed to the parking lot at the main train station, parked Gary there, and walked the few steps over to the harbor.

At the 'Tour Saint-Nicolas', we took our first photos, but not of the tower, rather of 'La Belle du Gabut'. This former industrial complex had been functioning as an alternative cultural and event area for some time and greatly reminded us of Leipzig's Feinkost and Werk II. Unfortunately, we didn’t find anything suitable at the stalls that we wanted to buy, but we took the spirit of the place with us.

Then we turned our attention to the historic city and visited the sights one after another; there were quite a few towers here. We had already visited the first and most famous tower, so we continued along the harbor with the 'Tour de la Chaîne', 'Tour de la Lanterne', and the tower of 'Église Saint-Sauveur'.

Then we headed from the harbor into the city, but the theme followed us here as well. Walking between the predominantly well-preserved buildings made of local limestone was very pleasant, as the columned arcades created a pleasantly cool climate. The town hall presented itself once again with a tower and the two striking Gothic-style gates, which of course remained closed on Sunday.

In the little streets, many old half-timbered houses were well preserved, with the timber framework often dressed in slate tiles here.

At the end of our tour, we encountered two more towers. The clock tower above the 'Porte de la Grosse Horloge' and the lighthouse with the green cap, which was not found on any map and in any description, and perhaps was just a harbor signal.

After our city walk, we picked up Gary again at the train station (this building also had a tower with a clock, of course) and continued to Fouras. We had had enough of cities for now; it was back to the sea. Fortunately, our parking spot for the night had its own beach access, which we of course took advantage of immediately upon our arrival.

This year, I had another trip to Barcelona, and I finally snagged some tickets. Then, shortly before, I had to realize that I had made a mistake with the date. How dumb can one be! Fortunately, it's free to return the tickets up to 48 hours beforehand. So the money was saved. And sometimes luck is on your side, as I was able to purchase new tickets for the correct day.

However, I had to reschedule my train journey for that. At the train station itself, there were no storage options due to all the construction work, so I had to store my bags nearby at a high cost. The station is currently under renovation; it's really awful there. But everything worked out in the end.

You can't imagine the crowds standing outside the cathedral taking photos. And the security check at the Sagrada Família is stricter than at the airport. Even after going through the scanner, I still had to unpack my bag, and my stomach drops were scrutinized. Goodness, glass bottles are technically forbidden, even very small ones. But okay, it's important medicine. I was allowed in with my stomach drops.

In the end, I finally got inside. The Sagrada Família fully lived up to my expectations. I had seen many photos and Gaudí's works on other objects before, so I wasn't completely surprised. Light plays a central role here. Everything shines in different colors, and then there’s that cake decorator architecture!

I would love to come back at a different time of day, with different lighting, and especially with fewer people.

Since I booked the combination ticket with the tower visit, I also went up. The elevator takes you up 65 meters. To come down, you have to go alone down the spiral staircase. That was, of course, no problem. However, a proper visit from the top was not really possible. There were here and there a sort of small lookout and a small bridge, but everything was tightly gridded. I tried to take the few photos that were possible skillfully through the grates.

But why am I talking so long here? Just look at the photos of the Sagrada Família for yourself.

Tip: Here is the link to the official ticket site:

https://sagradafamilia.org/tickets-individuals

One can purchase tickets there at the earliest two months in advance. Free returns are possible up to 48 hours prior.

Extra tip: The printed time is taken very seriously by the entrance staff, but arriving 15 minutes earlier is possible.

At the airport, we will be welcomed by Zudu, who will take us to the next accommodation in his Jeep.

The ride there is full of surprises, the reception is warm ☺️

Again, several jeeps arrived, but the first to come by randomly was the driver with whom we had traveled the day before. He warmly greeted us and invited us to get back into his vehicle.

For a moment, we feared that we might be experiencing the same tour again, just a few hours later. But right at the start, he took a different path than all the other drivers. Suddenly, we were alone and could quietly observe a group of giraffes up close.

We learned a lot about giraffes, saw a very old specimen in its likely final years of life, and passed by a hippopotamus that had been lying in the exact same position at the same spot since early morning.

It seemed to be one of the 'losers,' as our guide explained: a male animal that had lost the fight against a competitor the previous night, who was now allowed to surround himself with the group’s females. The trainee accompanying us today told us that veterinarians would examine the hippopotamus and remove it should it die there, considering potential diseases as a cause. Otherwise, nature would take its course – likely involving crocodiles and hyenas.

So it was a calm ride.

Until our jeep got stuck in the sand. 🙈

The day before, I had wondered if something like this could actually happen here. Now I knew.

There might have been something wrong with the differential gear. In any case, the vehicle only sank deeper into the sand with each attempt to free itself.

We were reliant on help and were quite relieved when other jeeps finally arrived. However, the first attempts to pull us out were unsuccessful. There was certainly a certain tension in the air – after all, we had just been on our way to see the lions. 🦁

Eventually, we were indeed freed. However, since our jeep could get stuck again at any moment, the driver who had pulled us out remained nearby just in case.

As a thank you, our guide wanted to show him where the lions were currently located.

They were on the hunt.

In the tall grass, they lay almost invisible, waiting. Meanwhile, a group of elephants with several babies was slowly approaching. We weren't quite sure if we actually wanted to witness an attack or not. Definitely not a successful one.

The elephants moved forward cautiously while the lions remained completely motionless in the grass.

And then it was time for our scheduled drink break. 😳

So we drove a few hundred meters further to the other side of the tall grass. There, we spotted a herd of antelopes. We actually got out, received drinks and snacks, and observed the antelopes – fully aware that just a few hundred meters away, several lions were lying in wait in the grass.

Just a safari break. 😉

Shortly after, we got back in and started our way back. However, we didn’t get far.

Because suddenly, the lions emerged from the grass.

One after another, they moved towards us. 😳

For our guides, it was probably less surprising than for us when they eventually veered off, walking between the jeeps and boats and further towards the antelope herd.

And at that very moment, we had to turn back.

So we don’t know how the story continued for the lions and antelopes.

Nevertheless, we were impressed.

And perhaps a little relieved as well. 🦁🦌

About a year ago, I learned that I would get to go to London for an internship abroad. I still remember exactly how I felt hot and cold all at once when I found out. My brother was visiting me in Cologne at the time, and we toasted immediately with a Kölsch. However, I really realized that I would be living in London for two months only after I passed through customs at Düsseldorf Airport. Suddenly, it was no longer just an internship on paper, but rather a suitcase, a flight, and an unfamiliar city. A new life, at least for a little while.

Not long before, I had completed my bachelor thesis, so I was still somewhat in the university tunnel. My mother accompanied me during the first week, which made things much easier for me. We had a great quality time in London and already made the rounds of the first pubs. Unfortunately, we didn't do well in the pub quiz, but I hope to make it up soon. We tried our best, but it was English listening comprehension level 1000. With the microphone and so many people, it was really hard to understand everything well. For some questions, we just looked at each other confused. Nevertheless, we had fun. We also visited the British Museum. There was classic tea time with scones, cakes, and sandwiches.

I live in Lambeth, about 20 minutes away from my workplace. In many respects, I consider myself very lucky. My roommates are very, very nice, my room, and the area are great (comparable to Cologne-Lindenthal: quiet but central, many cafes, and excellent transport links). Only the initial struggle with the keybox almost made things difficult for me because I had tried to open the wrong one. I already feel very comfortable in London, even though I've only been here for two weeks.

Unlike Barcelona, this is not my first time living alone. I can manage the household more or less well. In preparation for my time in London, I took an English course at the university and renewed my Cambridge certificate. Additionally, I have provided tutoring in English. So, one could say: My English is the yellow from the egg. ;)

I am doing my internship at ZDF in London. On my first day of work, I had to take a second look. While I often walked past kiosks and tram stops in Cologne, suddenly Big Ben was right in front of me. It felt somewhat surreal to pass by a place on the way to work that I had only known from television. This way, ZDF is right at the scene, and we can report quickly if something happens. Just before my internship, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned. Unfortunately, I wasn't there when that happened. However, I was allowed to write an article about the by-election in Clacton-on-Sea, which I really enjoyed. Seeing my name under the article makes me proud, and I feel like I'm one step further on my way to becoming a journalist. https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/ausland/grossbritannien-nigel-farage-wahl-reform-uk-muelleimer-100.html

As an intern, I am entrusted with a lot of responsibilities and can take on numerous tasks. I have already helped with two reports, conducted an interview with an author who wrote a book about the Beckhams, attended several camera shoots, and was given research tasks. I am treated as an equal, and everyone is very helpful.

I often catch myself looking forward to returning to work after hours. Because I never know what awaits me the next day. Last week, I was spontaneously asked if I wanted to go to Bristol to help out for a live broadcast. Just a moment before, I was sitting back and relaxing with my sandwich, and suddenly, I found myself in a van on the English highway towards Bristol. This way, I had the chance to meet the president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

A highlight rarely comes alone, and this weekend, I had a visit from one of my best friends. Lorena and I met during the first week of college and have been pretty inseparable since then. Together, we significantly improved my step count, which had been really low due to all the sitting at my desk. On Friday, we attended a DJ gig by James Hype and Meduza after having delicious pie at a British pub. There, I tried the beer Neck Oil for the first time. Unfortunately, I didn't like it, but the waiter hadn’t charged it on the bill, something I only realized later. A stroke of luck in misfortune.

Arrived and ready for Meduza, only a drug dog stood between me and my happiness. For reasons unknown to me, it found me suspicious, and I was searched, only to be asked for my ID while buying a cider on the premises. But all this couldn't stop Lorena and me from dancing. I found the evening really cool. The music was more house music, and you could sing along. The next day, we visited the British Museum. The entrance was free, which is really nice in London since everything else is quite expensive here. After that, we went to a Japanese place in Soho. Lorena had sushi, and I had katsu curry. Soooo delicious.

Since we don’t usually treat ourselves, we then strolled through St. James’s Park with an iced latte to Buckingham Palace. Hello King Charles; unfortunately, he wasn't home. In the evening, we went to Duck & Waffle. Great view, great cocktails. We had a fantastic evening and were there for almost four hours. This way, we could see both the sunset and London at night. Today, we continued the sporty part of the trip to Tower Bridge, Greenwich, and a total of 20,000 steps. Tomorrow, unfortunately, Lorena is going back, but before that, we're going to have lunch and shop together. I hope you enjoyed my blog post and are eagerly waiting for the next one.

Greetings from London xx

Indeed, we were separately invited to this exclusive party with him and his officers, and alongside snacks and cocktails, there were also photos with the charming and incredibly approachable captain.

But it's not just him who is so wonderfully engaging; our Cabin Steward Russel is also delightful, it's just unbelievable. We really didn't do much other than book a cabin on the Queen Victoria.

Of course, not everything is perfect, and I was quite irritated by some things at first. We are not really experienced cruisers and have previously only been on the two Mein Schiff inaugural voyages of the Relax and the Flow. The concept on these ships: All-inclusive, all drinks, even cocktails are free. Now, I'm not much of a drinker of alcoholic beverages, but on the Queen Victoria, even sparkling water is charged.

Only ice water and coffee/tea are free. Coffee drinks like cappuccino must be paid for. So, clearly a downside here.

And I sometimes had my difficulties with the food too, as it was very much English.

Speaking of food: The concept at Cunard is contact with other guests. The tables are intentionally set close together, and in most cases, a conversation quickly unfolds. Interestingly, it's especially easy to connect with older guests or those of a similar age. My English is good enough for me to understand everything and engage in conversation myself. Younger passengers, on the other hand, are less interested in conversation and are indeed mostly glued to their smartphones.

But no matter where, at least on board, I can attest to this: The English are simply a friendly bunch. And since everyone is on an English ship, everyone else is also much friendlier (including the Germans).

People were chatting everywhere, whether in the restaurant, at the bar, or even in the laundrette. For those who don't know what the latter is: Those are the laundry rooms. You can wash and dry for free there. With the high outdoor temperatures here in the Mediterranean (always over 30 °C), our need was high too and we made good use of it. My ship doesn't offer this service, for example.

By the way, ironing is often done in the laundrettes here too. This is likely due to another special feature of Cunard: the dress code! Yes, there's an emphasis on better clothing for dinner.

Excerpt from the daily program: 'Dear guest/guests, we would like to remind you of our dress code ...

Smart Attire: From 5:30 PM, we kindly ask you to wear elegant clothing in most bars and restaurants, such as collared shirts, elegant blouses, trousers, skirts, or dresses.'

On the multiple gala evenings, the bar is set even higher. I quote: 'Wear your finest evening gown.' Gentlemen are requested to come in suits or tuxedos, and of course with ties or bow ties.

In any case, the gala evenings are high in spectacle; it's practically impossible to be overdressed. You can certainly tell who feels at home in such clothing. Some outfits, on the other hand, look a bit out of place, such as those that remind more of table or crochet cloths or throws. And then there was also this Texan who could have appeared in the original 'Dallas' TV series with his Stetson cowboy hat.

By the way, gala evenings might also appeal to carnival lovers, at least when it comes to dressing up, since each evening has its own theme. During our stay, there was a 'Black and White' evening and a 'Masquerade'. And what can I say, people were prepared for everything. For example, a gentleman in a black suit with a white shirt and a wide white scarf over his shoulder (he must have definitely ironed).

And of course, the most amazing masks were worn for the masquerade. We actually had some, namely cat masks, which we had purchased here. There is always some kind of sale on board with more affordable products, and these were among them.

But how did I even end up on the Queen Victoria? I really wanted to experience the solar eclipse in 2026 aboard a ship, and Cunard, the British shipping company to which the Queen Victoria belongs, simply offered a route that suited me. However, it was fully booked. By chance, I managed to snag a returned cabin, number 8105. The eighth deck is here, by the way, the highest passenger deck.

Fully booked means on the Queen Victoria that there are just over 2,000 passengers on board, in addition to about 1,000 crew members. By the way, most passengers booked this cruise already two years ago, as the captain mentioned.

Our Cabin Steward Russel, by the way, we met right upon entering our cabin. And since then, he knows our first names and greets us personally even in distant corridors.

What actually surprised and also bothered me was the rather outdated standard of the cabins. One single European socket is just too little in today's times, especially when everyone has several devices to charge. Our brought international adapters were also unhelpful because a protruding cover made it impossible to use them. In my desperation, I actually bought a power strip in Civitavecchia. It can always come in handy, right?

I would have certainly found it helpful if there had been plug adapters available for rent on board. But there weren't.

The Wi-Fi through Starlink is actually quite modern and fast, but apart from a free trial hour, it's quite expensive, depending on the package, ranging from 28 to 44 US dollars for 24 hours.

But I still have to tell you about the legendary Teatime: Every afternoon between 3 and 4 PM, it takes place in the Queens Room. You sit at tables dressed in white linens, on which the tea set is already laid out. Then, exactly at 3 PM, the waiters come in with their teapots. Everything is very classic and pleasant. There are sandwiches, sweets, and of course, scones.

And as for entertainment, Cunard doesn't have to hide either. For instance, we saw the Broadway musical 'Come From Away' at the theater. Cunard has its own Royal Court Theatre Company for that. There were also many other artists; we saw a tap dance group called 'The Tap Chaps'. Also very good, although I must admit that in normal life, I would probably not go to a musical or a tap dance performance.

But there's not just shows: Coinciding with our solar eclipse, the astronomer Dr. Chris Crowe was also on board. You can also see my separate report on the solar eclipse (link below).

Just now, we received the last evening announcement from our captain, starting as always with these words: 'Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is the Captain speaking from the bridge.' In his announcement, he again found very warm words for farewell to the 1,301 guests who are now leaving the ship in Barcelona after the solar eclipse journey. He reminded us once more of this very special event that we will all never forget. Of course, he hopes to see us again soon. And I truly believe him!

https://vakantio.de/reisetante/2026-12-august-2029-uhr-sonnfinsternis

Our time in Iceland is coming to an end, tomorrow we are heading east, as in a few days our ferry is first going to the Faroe Islands where we will stay for another week.

In the morning we noticed that the predicted rain had once again not materialized, the country remained dry.

We prepared a proper breakfast and got ready for our trip to La Rochelle. The city has been one of the three most important Atlantic ports of France since the early Middle Ages and at times a stronghold of the Huguenots.

At the reception, we received the bus schedules for the half-hour ride on line 17. The bus was supposed to stop near the campsite at 12:30, and we arrived at 12:20. Just before departure time, a young woman sat down with us in the waiting area; we waited, she waited, it became 12:30, then 12:35, then 12:45. The woman started to nervously tap on her phone, she read, she typed some more, she read again... then she asked us if we were also waiting for the bus, which we confirmed. She then explained to us that she would miss her appointment in La Rochelle because it was a 'Public Holiday' - . So today, not a single bus would run, not now and not in two hours, not at all. We thanked her for the info and looked at each other. Public holiday? That's how we learned that in all of France, 'Assumption Day' is a public holiday. Even if we had made it to the city, everything would have been closed: the harbor towers, the aquarium, the museums; we might have been lucky with the churches.

We returned to Gary and first took a siesta; what else was there to do?

Then Ines researched a bit and found the 'Canal de Marans à la Rochelle.' It was within walking distance, and a few steps by the water wouldn't harm us. Sebb wondered how much water there would be in the current weather conditions since most of the streams and some rivers in the region had dried up by now.

We were surprised because when we reached the canal, it was full of water, and the banks of the rocks into which the canal had been dug were green and lush. The whole ensemble created a stark contrast to the parched fields and gardens of the region and reminded us quite a bit of the Karl-Heine Canal back home.

When the canal was commissioned by Napoleon I in 1805, it was supposed to stretch 44 km from La Rochelle to Niort. But as so often happens, the project was not completed and ended in 1875 after 24 km in Marans, so the planned north-south connection never came to fruition. Rail transport had taken over by then. In the Saint-Léonard Tunnel, we could cool off for a moment before we walked along the bank to the Pont de Belle-Croix.

When we left the artificial valley and made our way back home, the summer temperatures caught up with us again, so we took another shower when we returned to the campsite.

This morning we set off for Colmar. We cycled quickly out of Strasbourg. We admired the houseboats along the canal. The avenue trees provided us with shade. However, the straight stretch along the canal became a bit monotonous over time. The 80 km to Colmar felt quite long. Just as we arrived at the hotel, it started to rain, and a thunderstorm rolled in. We didn't mind; it was a good opportunity to rest a bit. The bad weather quickly gave way to sunshine, and we cycled into the city. The old town with the tanner's district and 'Petite Venise' = little Venice is like something out of a picture book. We were so captivated by this wonderful cityscape.

We leave our dream lodge under bright sunshine. Goodbye rhinos, kudus, oryx, and more...

Today's 'hiking march' takes us into the Namib Naukluft National Park.

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, an oasis in the desert, is the small town of Solitaire.

At Mc Gregor's Bakery, you can get one of the best apple pies, simply delicious 😋

After we have sufficiently fortified ourselves, we continue over the Kuiseb Pass through the Kuiseb Canyon until we can finally see the Atlantic Ocean after 5 hours of pure travel time.

The thermometer drops from over 30° to a breezy 19°. Finally arrived in Swakopmund, we enjoy one of the last sun rays on our rooftop terrace and dine in what feels like icy temperatures right by the sea 🌊

Good night Namibia 🇳🇦 tomorrow a new adventure awaits

For the past two weeks, I have been following the HW1, the Swabian Jura North Edge Trail, one of the oldest long-distance hiking trails in Germany: always along the edge, the northern steep slope of the Swabian Jura.

I pondered for a long time which paths to choose in Germany from south to north. The classic European long-distance trail E1 runs too far west for me and passes through large cities like Darmstadt and Frankfurt am Main. A sequence of Jacob's paths, for example, would roughly create a south-north connection along the A7 route, which undeniably represents the shortest north-south route through Germany. However, since I am not in a hurry, I decided to chain together scenic long-distance hiking paths, even if it means I will not reach the north of Germany directly. So I initially hiked on quiet, lonely roads under old linden trees, eventually enjoying a beautiful view of the town of Tuttlingen below me in the Danube Valley: a tall church tower, red tiled roofs, large factory and office buildings too: Tuttlingen is mainly home to medical technology. Unfortunately, the town church is locked, I get a delicious apple as a gift in the market, and otherwise, I feel less like I am in a small town in southern Germany and more like I am in a Muslim country, both from the people in the streets and the signs of businesses and restaurants. I then reach the HW1 over the still narrow 'young' Danube. Just as it melodiously strikes 12 o'clock from all the churches in Tuttlingen, I arrive at the 'Hungerkreuz' above the town and look back...

The Swabian Jura (limestone from shells and corals of the Jurassic Sea) stretches roughly 200 km through southern Germany; the hiking trail (from Tuttlingen to Donauwörth) is naturally much longer, as the edge does not form a straight line but rather winds and requires constant ascents and descents due to valleys. At the beginning of my path, the Jura often has a truly ‘alpine character’ with rocky, steep, exposed paths and peaks rising above 1000 m. Now the peaks are 'only' around 750 m high, but the ascents and descents are similar, whether the peaks are at 1000 m and the places in between are at about 650 m, or the valley is around 300 m and the heights around 750 m...

I am repeatedly amazed that it is possible to hike for many kilometers and half days in deep silence and solitude on narrow paths through (mostly beech) forest in densely populated (south) Germany! I actually already know some of these sections of the trail, but I have never hiked the HW1 in its entirety. Of course, it is not just solitary forest paths; all the landscape forms characteristic of karst regions are also present: rock faces and steep edges, caves, holes, and cracks as well as dolines. The edge keeps receding; there are landslides or collapses like the big Mössinger landslide in 1983 - by now, the debris field created back then has largely been greened and covered. Since this is an ancient cultural landscape, the path also leads past numerous castles and ruins, as well as even older traces from Roman and Celtic times, including caves where settlement traces over 30,000 years old have been found.

As it has not properly rained for about two months, and it has been very hot, many areas of the Alb high plateau, which is always quite dry (as karst mountains do not hold water), look autumnal or 'African': the grass is golden-dry, the beeches already colorful or brown, the leaves appear partially burned, evergreen plants, shrubs, and young trees hang their leaves, and the blackberries (which are usually a popular snack in August along forest edges) are hard-dried and mostly inedible. A 'local' explains to me from one of the countless viewpoints along the edge paths that this summer the Alb region is called 'Swabian-Sahara' by everyone... I often wonder what the sheep and goats here still find to eat?

Now and then, thunderstorms brew up due to the heat. It may only rain very locally, but I often do not know whether I will stay dry. Dark clouds, distant and near rumblings, and strong winds arise - then dry leaves dance through the air, and I feel as if I need only hold up my skirt to collect them like in the fairy tale 'Sterntaler'... A few times I also get wet, but it never rains for long. Once I seek shelter in a hunter's hide, but the roof proves to be leaky and rain comes in from the open sides - afterward, roots and stones on the steep forest path are dangerously slippery. Just that evening, I fortunately pass the Nagurfreundehaus Bossler, which is open (a children's holiday camp spreads a cheerful mood and life) and I spontaneously stay: wash myself and my clothes, sleep dry, and after the rain enjoy the wide view into the land towards the three 'Kaiserberge' Hohenstaufen, Rechberg, and Stuifen...

I find sleeping places easily: many shelters and resting areas line the HW1, often also at grill places, where however making fires is strictly prohibited everywhere due to dryness and the risk of forest fires. (One morning, I meet two 'official' workers who are renewing the prohibition sign and barrier at one of the grilling spots - and both are smoking away...) Besides, I also sleep simply outside under the open sky, enjoying the wonderful starry sky, given the largely dry weather. I recently saw the most beautiful, brightest, largest... shooting star I have ever seen. One night I sleep in a 'heavenly bed' in the forest in a trailer located near a forest hut: a flat, dry sleeping area, low 'protective walls' around my bed, trees and starry sky above me; in the morning I watch as the outermost, highest treetops and leaves turn golden in the first sunlight that gradually seeps into the surrounding forest. I go to sleep with the beginning of darkness and often get up before sunrise again, so hardly anyone notices me. I enjoy many beautiful sunsets from elevated viewing benches. In the first few days, they are often partially obscured by many clouds, but no less colorful for that. If it has rained briefly, the mists steam, and gradually the many lights in the valley or in the plain light up. Below the Alb edge, the communities nestle in the valleys or the cities, land areas, industrial zones, and roads spread out in the plain. One night I sleep at the Raichbergturm: at sunset, a young man comes up, takes pictures and films. The sun sinks colorfully behind the forest. The pointed towers of Hohenzollern Castle hide among the tops of the firs - I only discover them from this unfamiliar perspective after some time. Two days before, the silhouette of Hohenzollern Castle first appeared in the distance like a jagged crown. Then I saw the castle on its striking 'witness mountain' again and again, always closer and then again farther, from various perspectives.

As it is August, the breeding and breeding season is over, and the heat and dryness are causing difficulties for the birds (at least that’s what a friendly ornithologist explains to me when I ask), it is unusually quiet in the forest; even at dawn and dusk, there is hardly ever a bird to be heard - at most at noon the lonely cry of a raptor. So I often walk for hours in deep silence and complete solitude through open beech forests. On the wider paths, I encounter cyclists; otherwise, there are larger groups of people only where parking lots and special attractions come together - for example, at Lichtenstein Castle or Hohenstaufen Castle. However, I still have encounters on the solitary paths: at night, a fat toad comes close to my sleeping mat, I hear a fox (or a buck?) barking, someone rustling in the leaves... early in the morning I 'catch' many spider webs that were woven overnight over the narrow passages, during the day I encounter deer, hares, butterflies, dragonflies, tiny frogs (where do they still find moisture?), and above all, countless special tree beings. Often it seems incomprehensible to me how such genuinely powerful trees can thrive on this barren, rocky substrate that does not hold water! When a tree falls and is uprooted, one can see how the roots hold countless bright stones, with hardly any soil in between. Or the entire rock edge seems to be held only by tree roots. Occasionally, I walk - with a slightly uneasy feeling - on a 'overhanging' path: looking back sideways, the path is already undercut. On some exposed rocks, I feel a little uneasy when I step to the edge and look down. There are places where colorful paragliders let themselves be carried over the edge, then slowly gliding into the valley like large bright birds.

Many pleasant encounters arise because I often have to ask for water. There is none on the Alb high plateau, and in the mostly smaller communities through which the hiking path leads, there are often no stores, bakeries, or restaurants left, or surprisingly, many close for business vacations precisely now in August / September! So I get water from many helpful people along my way; and now and then even a cup of coffee... One morning, I pass by a gliding site where a table for more than 20 people is set under a sunshade in front of a club house with lots of colorful cups. I call out laughing to the two young men from the path 'where a lot of coffee is being brewed for so many cups, perhaps there is also a cup for a hiker, right?!' 'of course!' comes the cheerful response, 'come over, we have enough coffee!' Another time, I drink coffee with a complete stranger, whom I spoke to while she was gardening over the fence, on her pleasantly shady terrace, we eat cookies and talk long and animatedly. I love these unpredictable surprises at the roadside! It also happens that I walk by a small farm shop at just the right moment, such as at the St. Johann stud (part of the famous Marbach stud), where an older couple runs a small farm shop and café, open only on Saturday afternoons and Sundays for a few hours - I pass by on Saturday afternoons and enjoy delicious coffee and homemade cake, as well as a long animated conversation with the two operators. Of course, it is often the case that I am just not there during opening hours, which applies not only to farm shops and restaurants but also to churches or observation towers (like the narrow white tower at Teck Castle or the one on the Volkmarsberg, from where no views are possible through the surrounding forest without a tower...) In the very first days, I stand at the highest point of the Swabian Jura, the Lemberg (1020 m) + 30 m tower. From here, on clear days, one can probably see Mont Blanc - at about 300 km distance, that would be 'Germany's greatest sight'. However, at this time of year, I do not see the Alps or even the Stuttgart television tower from anywhere; even the heights of the Black Forest are only vaguely visible in the hazy distance.

The HW1 is generally walked from Donauwörth to Tuttlingen. I meet a couple twice who are coming towards me, also with larger backpacks. Each time they say that I am the only HW1 hiker they have encountered, so there are probably hardly any hikers on this path in the current heat, which, besides lonely nature, also leads through historic half-timbered towns like Owen, Weißenstein, or Bad Urach. The associated famous waterfall is currently hardly a trickle and does not deserve the name waterfall. However, it is sufficient for a very refreshing footbath. At Nebelhöhle, I then descend deep underground: more than 140 steps lead down, and visitors can walk for over half a kilometer through a fairy tale world of stalactites and stalagmites - since nobody else is there at that time, I can even sing in the cave room at the end of the developed area: the acoustics are surprisingly good!

At Hohen Warte (821 m), there is a white tower built as a memorial for the 1500 members of the Swabian Jura Association (SAV) who fell in the First World War. Yesterday a large stone by the roadside was dedicated to a master forester from and to Prince (1855-19??), 'Co-founder of our hiking trails and of the SAV'). At Teck Castle, four coats of arms of the princely families of Zähringen, Teck, and Württemberg, who lived here over the centuries, decorate above the entrance portal and then in 1954 to the SAV... In Weißenstein and Lauterburg, there are over 100-year-old colorfully decorated signposts of the HW1. Such signs along the path repeatedly remind me that the hiking network that crisscrosses our country, and which seems so familiar to us, especially here in the south, as if it belongs to the landscape, is not that old, and that it has been laid out, maintained, and cared for by many people, mostly on a voluntary basis. The SAV was founded in 1888 and is still the largest German and European hiking association. I think it deserves a larger donation and I intend to make that a firm resolution. The HW1 is consistently very well and reliably marked with a red triangle.

A few days ago, I was able to welcome my beloved hiking companion at the train station in Gingen an der Fils - as expected with a proper delay from Deutsche Bahn... He has been accompanying me for about three weeks now, which is beautiful but also means quite an adjustment after many months and more than 3200 kilometers alone. First of all, the daily distances will shorten because it would be too much to ask to start at daily 25-30 km right away in this heat. Moreover, he actually brought a sleeping bag that is far too thin since it fortunately cools down at night on some heights (we even slept on the first night near a wind turbine testing facility - so a windy corner. So, three days ago, a trip by bus to the beautiful Staufer city of Schwäbisch Gmünd was essential to buy something warm... Last night, we found shelter in a forest kindergarten, whose nice wooden house is also made available to hikers... We have now arrived in Bopfingen and plan to continue hiking on the Franconian Way from Harburg (Swabia). Rowan trees and rose hips are already turning red, sloes are blue, elderberries black, and I already saw the first delicate pink autumn crocus: 'summer will soon be over'...

That's it - we wrapped up our road trip through Canada and Alaska this week. Thanks to a spontaneous idea, we had the best road trip ever! We covered over 9,000 kilometers in 8 weeks. And every single kilometer was worth it. The wildlife completely blew us away; we really didn't expect it, and Alaska convinced us with its massive glaciers and mountains. The vastness of Canada and Alaska is something we cannot express in words or pictures.

We have quite a bit to process, and we have plenty of time for that ;-)

But perhaps in order: Our week started in Tombstone National Park and the drive towards Whitehorse. On the way, we stopped at Moose Creek Territorial Park and stretched our legs. We spent the night in Pelly Crossing, where the community offers a free campsite, as well as showers for 2 CAD. That's all it takes to convince us.

The next morning, we dropped by the Culture Center and learned a bit about the history of the First Nations People of the region.

Next, we headed to the Five Finger Rapids and then to Carmacks. Here, we stretched our legs on the Ridge Trail.

Back in Whitehorse, we ran some errands and took a few things to our new room at the resort. Since we still had a bit of time before work started, we only briefly visited the city. Julian had training the next morning for one of the tours he would be leading.

Then we set off again to enjoy the last few days. We notice that the past weeks have really taken a toll on us, and we look forward to being in one place for a bit longer, but it’s not quite time for that yet ;-)

In fact, we went back to Alaska once more. There is a small tip in southern Alaska that can only be reached through Yukon and is cut off from the rest of Alaska.

In Haines, there is the highest density of Bald Eagles worldwide, and in the fall, they have the Bald Eagle Festival when the eagles gather and thousands are in the area.

Additionally, Haines has salmon that need to travel only a short 2-kilometer river to spawn in Chilkoot Lake. There is a weir on the river where the salmon are counted. Because the salmon can only pass through one spot in the river, it repeatedly attracts bears to the weir and the river.

This time, we set up our camp at a Recreation Site for 20 USD per night because we could walk 10 minutes to the weir from there. Since it's so warm during the day, bears seem to frequent the area in the morning and evening. Therefore, we headed out on the first evening and took our observation post at the weir.

And indeed: a Grizzly mama and her 4 two-year-old cubs came to the river. The mama tried to catch salmon, but the cubs were being mischief-makers and jumped into the river at the wrong spot. The current swept them away, and the mama had to chase her little ones and bring them back. It was such a wonderful sight to see the bears in the river, with only their heads showing above the water.

The bears moved on, and we returned to our campsite. Right next to the campground, there is a swimming area. And there, the bears were waiting for us ;-) The cubs were on the dock while the mama swam in the water. Behind them was the sunset behind the mountains. You really can't imagine a more beautiful panorama! The grizzlies seemed completely unbothered by the presence of humans, and while the mama swam in the lake, the cubs settled in the bushes and enjoyed munching on plants. Nothing seemed to disturb them.

The first day in Haines couldn’t have gone better!

We were hooked and set off the next morning at 6:30 AM, waiting at the weir for about 2 hours - unfortunately, it was uneventful.

Around noon, we set off again, and indeed, the same grizzly family showed up once more. The cubs were at the weir while the mama was in the water. She then brought the caught salmon up to the weir, and the cubs fetched them, and then they feasted.

Then, they all left the weir together, and the last salmon was eaten on the road. The Bald Eagles, of course, noticed this right away, and one flew down right next to the Grizzly mama onto the road to grab its share.

We were only about 30 meters away and felt like we were watching a wildlife documentary.

Completely exhausted, we spent the hot afternoon by the lake. Unfortunately, the lake is far too cold for swimming.

Four days ago, we booked the ferry from Haines to Skagway to save several hundred kilometers on the way to Whitehorse. On Saturday, we decided at the last minute to ask if we could go directly. And it actually worked. That’s why we’re already back in Yukon and will be driving the last kilometers today, going shopping, and fully moving into our room.

In the upcoming days, the resort will be fully prepared for guests. The first guests will arrive on Thursday.

Everything about the resort, our room, and the work will be shared in the coming weeks :-)

Currently, there are massive wildfires in BC. More than 20,000 people were evacuated this week. The situation has eased a bit on Friday, and apparently, this year is not a severe fire year. Let's hope it stays that way.

Since we are over 2,000 kilometers away, we don't notice anything. Not even any smoke.

The Italian breakfast, however, was completely different from what we know. Unfortunately, there was no Kaiserschmarrn, which left me a bit puzzled for a moment. But the location was really beautiful. I almost suspect that the price was more about the view than the breakfast.

After brunch, we headed back. Fingers crossed and with a small prayer or two that the traffic would leave us in peace.

And because my girlfriend thinks ahead, we had eye patches for the drive. A brilliant idea, as it provided a bit of wellness in the car, and we rolled back toward Zurich quite relaxed.

Planning a trip to Islamabad for the first time? This guide explores some of the best things to do and places to visit in Pakistan’s beautiful capital city. From the stunning views of Margalla Hills and the peaceful surroundings of Faisal Mosque to the cultural experience of Lok Virsa Museum and the lively atmosphere of Saidpur Village, Islamabad offers something for every type of traveler. The city is known for its clean streets, greenery, scenic landscapes, relaxing environment, and unique combination of modern attractions and traditional culture. Whether you are traveling with family, friends, or exploring the city on your own, spending a few extra days in Islamabad allows you to experience much more than just its famous landmarks. This guide also highlights local food, shopping areas, outdoor activities, and useful travel tips to help first-time visitors plan a comfortable and memorable stay.

Although there are indeed many elephants here in Chobe and throughout Botswana, the Africa map is truly alarming: over the last 250 years, the habitat of elephants in Africa has been reduced by nearly 70 percent.

This also gives the ongoing destruction of vegetation, which often catches my eye, a different significance. There aren't simply "too many elephants." Rather, in some regions, a very high number of animals concentrate on a progressively limited and fragmented habitat. Moreover, climate change, with heat and longer dry periods, is making water and food scarcer. When there is less grass available, elephants increasingly rely on trees and shrubs.

The statement from our taxi driver, "Elephants destroy everything," suddenly appears in a different light. It also reflects a conflict between humans and animals that has even been given a name here: HEC – Human-Elephant Conflict.

During our drives on land and water, we also passed by strictly secured anti-poaching areas. For their own protection, the guide explains, entry and photography are forbidden there. The anti-poaching units must protect their locations, work methods, and likely also their identity or movements. Poaching remains a significant problem.

We read on the boards today that over the past 15 years, around 30,000 African elephants have been killed illegally each year for their ivory – an average of more than 82 per day. The international commercial ivory trade has been largely banned since 1989 by CITES, yet the illegal trade continues.

Thus, the initially quite simple image of the worthy-of-protection elephant becomes rather complex: climate change, diminishing and fragmented habitats, conflicts between humans and elephants, and poaching are interconnected.

Of course, much of this also applies to numerous other large and small species whose habitats are under pressure.

And while we sometimes feel that elephants are simply everywhere here in Chobe, the map shows how extraordinary this impression actually is. 🐘

Tomorrow, we leave Chobe and fly with a small plane to the Okavango Delta. The weather seems to want to be kind to me: I am a bit nervous and I don't really care for additional turbulence. I'm soooo excited 🤩

The road from Bansal in the northwest of the island of Lombok to Mataram leads through hilly foothills that extend down to the sea. Monkeys sit on the guardrails nibbling on something. After three nights in Mataram, I continue south on the island on July 17, 2026. The landscape is now becoming flatter; it goes through rice fields, villages, and past hills that lie dry and brown under the blazing sun.

The most important holiday resort on the southern coast is Kuta, and since there is a place of the same name in Bali, I almost booked my accommodation on the wrong island.

Strong contrasts

In southern Lombok, the contrast between traditional ways of life and tourist development is particularly striking. Before we arrive in Kuta, we visit Desa Adat Sade. Sade is a traditional Sasak village, and because it is located on the main road between the airport and the resort of Kuta, tourists often bump into each other here.

The Sasak are the indigenous majority population of Lombok and maintain a culture that combines the predominant Sunni Islam – a significant contrast to the Hindu-influenced neighboring island of Bali – with older Adat traditions.

Immediately, the experiences from the morning come up. Some say that compared to the various other safaris they've taken, that was real ‘mass tourism’.

And yes: My impression of the morning's ‘drive game’ with 50 to 100 jeeps, radio contact, and the collective chase for the recently spotted lions was indeed similar.

As we quietly steer the boat to the spots where our guide suspects or has spotted animals, I ponder about it. Also about supply and demand. If we all want to go on safaris – some of us not just one – then we are ultimately creating the demand that is responded to with corresponding offers. Complaining about the many other tourists while sitting right among them is, at the very least, a small contradiction. 🤔

On the Chobe River, everything is calmer and slower. We have much more time to actually observe the animals, watch their movements, and perceive their behavior. We only continue once everyone has taken their shots – or can no longer handle the proximity of the crocodile. 🫣

And so some of the most beautiful films and photos are created.

Our local guide knows the wildlife impressively well and tells us that he has been in this profession for over ten years and still enjoys it. When we land again after the tour, he thanks us for supporting tourism in Botswana and thereby securing his livelihood.

The statement sticks with us.

Of course, he doesn't answer the question of how much tourism nature and animals can withstand. But he adds another perspective to it. All those boats, jeeps, and lodges indeed involve people and their jobs.

Perhaps the question isn’t whether tourism is good or bad. But rather how much of it a place can bear – and how we want to travel when we are part of it ourselves.

The gentleman who brings us dinner with a beaming smile last night tells us that often an owl flies under the high, open roof of the lodge in the evening. Apparently, the cats sometimes benefit from her catch.

We have already discovered two of them. One had just finished her dinner parallel to us – poor mouse. 🐭🤷‍♀️

One of the cats is missing the tip of an ear. My sympathy is immediately aroused: “Oh, poor thing…” – and already in my mind, I create notions of ‘abandonment’ and neglect.

Then we learn that she is actually the favorite cat of our waiter. And the missing ear tip? Not the result of a hard life, but rather the vet's mark that the cat has been spayed.

I am impressed – and feel a little shy about my hasty story of the neglected African cat. 🙈

Another lesson learned: Not everything that looks like neglect to us is actually neglect.

And while I’m writing this entry, we suddenly hear a noise and look up in search of the tornado.

But it’s just a rolling suitcase behind us. 😂

Africa changes us… 😉

Quickly getting rolls from the local bakery and having a cozy breakfast with the best view.🥖🥐

Then we briefly went into town for some Iceland sweaters.🧶🪡

After that, we headed to Thingvellir National Park because we wanted to do some hiking. However, one must share the experiences in the Reykjavik metropolitan area with many others. Quite busy, overwhelming😖

So just a short round and quickly away.🏎

But we couldn't leave Iceland without a little hike.😉

We then wandered again along the steaming earth in the geothermal area of Rekjaladur.

Just crazy.

To conclude, we enjoyed a delicious lamb burger🐑🍔 at the food truck, just like two weeks ago at the start. He even recognized us again.😄

The Blue Lagoon was then the endpoint of our wonderful Iceland trip.

Tomorrow we head back to warmth.🇩🇪

What remains are unforgettable impressions of a country that can truly take your breath away.

But it is also not shy when it comes to your wallet.🤑

We had a great time together, which is truly priceless.😎

We love each other and our Jimny too.🥰😍

Thanks for staying tuned.

Dine🥰Jeff

Somewhere between Mondsee and Attersee, we left the car and walked on foot up towards the Kienbergerhütte. The view up there was once again absolutely stunning. Unfortunately, the way back was quite slippery, which meant a few of us ended up unintentionally on our backsides.

After getting back down, we went for a swim in Mondsee. And when the suggestion came up to go have ice cream, that was about the quickest unanimous decision of the whole day. An ice cream sundae with fruits and a cinnamon wafer, and with my well-known obsession for cinnamon, it was absolutely amazing for me.

Afterwards, we needed a bit of chill time before we got dressed up for dinner. And that’s when the real fun started. Arriving at the restaurant Das Bräu by the beautiful boutique hotel Aichinger, with a Michelin star and everything, we had to realize that we hadn’t actually made a reservation there. A few villages over, there was a restaurant with a very similar name, and that was where our reservation was located.

At that point, driving to the other restaurant was obviously no longer an option. Our reservation was a thing of the past, and we found ourselves without a table on a Saturday night, which is generally the complete opposite of relaxing.

Somehow, however, we ended up getting lucky. We simply walked down to the main street in Nußdorf am Attersee and found a restaurant that had a table for us more or less right away. After a venison schnitzel with potato salad, we rolled home quite satisfied and thoroughly full.