SANTA MARTA – Spectacularly Unspectacular

Santa Marta is a wonderful, spectacularly unspectacular place.

Coffee vendor on a street in Santa Marta
Good morning, Santa Marta! The coffee lady is pushing her cart on Calle 19; who needs Starbucks, anyways?!
In the afternoon her place is taken by the gentleman who sells cheese-filled arepas. A very pleasant fast-food culture far from chain companies. 

The perfect place for those who don’t suffer from FOMO but are very well able to observe and enjoy the small things of truly Colombian life.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

A Day at PARQUE TAYRONA

Before I begin to tell you about my amazing day at Parque Tayrona, I must admit that I skipped one stop.

Parque Tayrona
Getting sneak peeks at the cool, blue ocean is very encouraging. Like the carrot dangling in front of a mule.

After we left the pleasure hell of the beaches of Cartagena, we made it to Santa Marta, a city by the sea. A little colonial, a little touristy, a little average, but very unpretentious. A healthy mix of good crowds.

And adjacent to the fantastic natural reserve Parque Tayrona.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

24 hours in ISTANBUL

Since Turkish Airlines often offers the best prices when going to South East Asia – and I heard that sometimes they might even be your best bet going to Latin America – a short stay anywhen soon might be quite probable.

Therefore, here comes another issue of my 24 hours in… series, designated to transform a short stay like a layover into an extra vacation.

Touristy Center of Istanbul during 24 hours.
Like One Thousand and One Nights.

Of course, this itinerary – one for a sunny and an alternative for a rainy day – is great not only for a layover. It comes in handy for any kind of brief stay – for instance when you’re on your way to a beach vacation on the Turkish coast.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Best Things to Do on a Long Weekend in COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen has many sides that can be explored even in a short city break. There are romantic castles and quirky neighborhoods, the world’s oldest amusement park, and exciting contemporary art. In this post, I’m showing you how to experience some truly unique things on a long weekend in Copenhagen. The city is known for its cool Scandinavian design and the hottest trends in the gastro scene – including a couple of Michelin star-decorated restaurants. In contrast, there are original vintage shops and fun communal eateries where you can rub shoulders with locals without breaking the bank.

Nyhavn in Copenhagen
Nyhavn is Copenhagen’s most picturesque but also its most touristy part. In this post, I’ll also take you to some more hidden and serene quarters.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

24 hours in SINGAPORE

24 hours in Singapore: Obviously, I couldn’t miss out on adding Singapore to my series on 24 hours in the world’s most frequented hubs. After all, Singapore’s Changi Airport is one of the busiest airports in Asia.

The Merlion, the most important landmark in the powerful city-state of Singapore
Iconic view of Singapore: The Merlion and the Marina Sands Bay in the backdrop. But this is not half of it!

As always, I put together a comprehensive itinerary for a sunny day as well as another one in case it rains. This way, you’ll know exactly how to spend a short city break or layover at Asia’s glittering mega-city whether rain or shine.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

The Island of NEUWERK – where the way is the goal

“So, by which ferry did you get here?” asks the chubby little lady and her accent gives her away as Southern German. “Well, I came here walking”, I beam at her, still thrilled by my hike from the mainland to the island of Neuwerk.

Hike on tideland from Cuxhaven to Neuwerk
To Neuwerk – this way! You cannot blame people if they don’t believe that you came to an island on foot.  

The lady looks over the rough sea where the huge waves are rolling towards the shores of Cuxhaven. She frowns and shakes her head and is, obviously, thinking I’m trying to tell her a cock and bull story.

Little does she know: Visiting the island of Neuwerk, the way is most definitely the goal!

This Way to the Whole Story ->

24 hours in LONDON

In this post, you’ll find excellent itineraries that will miraculously transform an annoying layover at one of the six London airports into a brief extra vacation of up to 24 hours. However, since my itinerary is so inspiring and fun, make sure you don’t miss your connecting flight!

Phone booths in London
Gone are the days when people had to stand in the iconic red phone booths. Yet, they remained one of London’s many trademarks.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

24 hours in FRANKFURT

Germany’s busiest international airport is located just minutes from the city of Frankfurt on the Main. This might give travellers the opportunity to explore this often underrated city on a layover. In this post, I’ve put together a perfect itinerary for up to 24 hours which will enable them to make the best of their stay in Frankfurt.

View of the Main River at Frankfurt
Just see for yourself how idyllic Frankfurt can be!

This special category on my blog is designated to transform any kind of a layover into a short extra vacation.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

24 hours in ZURICH

So here comes an itinerary for a stay of up to 24 hours in Zurich. Designed for instance for a layover. Or a very short city break. Or as an appetizer for a longer stay.

24 hours in ZURICH around the Zurich lake
Look back at…Zurich.
(Photo: Zürich Tourism / Martin Rütschi)

Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. Located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland – like the country’s capital Bern – It is mainly known as the rich, expensive financial center.

But the river Limmat, the Zurich lake, and of course the circumjacent mountains make Zurich one of the cities with the highest quality of life. Albeit, at the same time the highest costs of living.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

24 hours in COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen is a fascinating mix of romantic castles and quirky neighborhoods, the world’s oldest amusement park, and exciting contemporary art. Furthermore, Copenhagen is said to be the happiest city in the world. And finally, it is a gateway not only for travellers going to various places in Scandinavia: When SAS has one of its incredible offers, Copenhagen can also be a major hub for those travelling between continents. No matter for what reason you have a layover in Copenhagen, with my itinerary for a stay of up to 24 hours, you’ll enjoy some of the city’s best sides’n’sights.

Rosenborg Castle visited during 24 hours in Copenhagen
In Copenhagen, it’s very easy to combine culture with leisure.
This Way to the Whole Story ->