Author: Renata

The world is my oyster: I'm Renata, founder and editor of this travel blog. bye:myself - no, that's not a typo, it's referring to me saying bye to my comfort zone and heading for new shores solo. Having been a solo traveller, flashpacker, and poverty jet setter for ages made me an avid and savvy planner and organizer of worldwide travel. Since I've been an author and journalist practically all my life, I love to put my travel experience into writing to encourage, inspire, and assist you. Looking forward to meeting you somewhere on this planet!

IF WALLS COULD SPEAK: The Best Street Art Project in Amsterdam

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There are dreamy canals and cute house gables. They have some of the most famous art museums and far more bikes than people: All this is Amsterdam, the quaint’n’quirky capital of the Netherlands. But the city is also famous for some of Europe’s most vibrant urban art. Some of the best pieces were created during the street art project If Walls Could Speak in the otherwise uneventful Eastside of Amsterdam.

IF WALLS COULD SPEAK: The Best Street Art Project in Amsterdam - Better a good neighbor than a distant friend by Smug One.
Better a good neighbor than a distant friend – muralist Smug One from Australia is so right!

In this post, I’m guiding you to the murals that were created on the walls alongside Platanenweg. So tie your trainers, polish your camera’s lens, and just follow me.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Four Days in AMSTERDAM – Unique Things To See on a Long Weekend

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Four days in Amsterdam: Just the perfect amount of time to get to know the most iconic spots and landmarks as well as some truly unique gems on a long weekend.

Boats on the Amstel in Front of the Brug 76.
Rush hour on River Amstel in front of the Brug 76 bridge.

During a long weekend in Amsterdam, I got to experience a lot. In this post, I’m introducing my long list of activities and places for you to follow. Or you just pick what suits you most. Either way, you’ll spend a highly inspiring city break.
And if this time, you have only one day to spend, I also have you covered: In my post 24 hours in Amsterdam, I put together custom-made itineraries for either a sunny or a rainy day.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

How to Visit the NordArt in 2023

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The older I get, the faster time seems to go by. The advantage of time just flying by, however, is the fast return of annual events such as the wonderful art fair NordArt. Every year, this fantastic art event transforms the northern German provincial town of Büdelsdorf for a couple of months into a vibrant and exciting international art mecca. So come on, join me on my train ride into the boonies, and let me show you how to visit NordArt 2023.

Heads are rolling, literally, at the first, pebble-covered exhibition hall.
Spanish artist Samuel Salcedo casted them from iron and aluminum.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

MURANO – BURANO – TORCELLO: A Self-Guided Island Tour

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Sure, there is a lot to see in Venice’s Centro Storico, the historic center, yet, there are also those smaller gems. In this guide, I show you how to visit Murano, Burano, and Torcello, comfortably on a self-guided tour. It’s actually pretty easy and inexpensive to visit these three islands on a day trip from Venice.

Getting to Murano by Vaporetto
Travelling between the islands in the Venetian Lagoon is very easy. Therefore, you can happily visit Murano, Burano, and Torcello on a self-guided tour.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

Weekend in FRANKFURT – 25 Best Things To Do

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One of Germany’s most misconceived cities is certainly Frankfurt on the river Main. Derogatorily nicknamed Mainhattan, it is mainly recognized as Germany’s financial hub, hence, economically relevant but otherwise absolutely neglectable. Well, since this vibrant metropole is one of my favorite German weekend trip destinations, in this post, I’m introducing you to the 25 best things you should by no means miss on your visit to Frankfurt. Also, they’ll prove that the city is absolutely worth a trip!

View of Frankfurt from the Eiserne Brücke. Weekend Frankfurt 25 best things
View across the love locks on the Eiserne Brücke of what Frankfurt is all about: A bold mix of ancient history and powerful bank buildings.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

Best Street Art in MALAGA

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Like in many other cities, too, the best pieces of street art do not welcome you in the busy center of Malaga. You have to venture a couple of kilometers west to the formerly a bit sad district of Soho where now art’n’culture amazes you at every corner – literally.

Street Art by Belin in Malaga
Málaga is the hometown of Pablo Picasso – and it shows at every corner. This hommage was painted by Miguel Ángel Belinchón aka Belin.

However, this neighborhood – which is by no means comparable to the eponymous district in London’s West End – is not the only spot in Málaga where to find mind-blowing urban art.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

As Easy As ABC: Island Hopping Between ARUBA, BONAIRE, and CURACAO

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Turquoise waters and tropical fish, swaying palm trees, and pink flamingos – this is what you would expect on a Caribbean island. But where do the Flemish gable houses come from? And why are locals speaking Dutch on tropical islands just north of Venezuela?
Well, the history and fusion of different cultures are surely one of a kind on the so-called ABC islands. Hence, put on some sunscreen, grab your snorkel gear, and join me in my island hopping between Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.

Couple on a jetty in Kralendijk in Bonaire, illustrating the post on Island Hopping between Aruba Bonaire, and Curacao.
Beauty in alphabetic order.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

MOUNT TEIDE – the Highlight of Tenerife

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Whether you get to the top hiking or if you opt for a ride on the cable car: Mount Teide is definitely a highlight of every visit to Tenerife. In this post, I’m introducing various ways to visit this majestic mountain.

Majestic Mount Teide and the amazing stone formation below.
Majestic Mount Teide and the amazing stone formation below.
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A Fantastical Visit to the Imperial Cities of Morocco

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The four cities Fez, Marrakech, Meknes, and Rabat, are the so-called imperial cities of the Kingdom of Morocco. They have in common that at some point in Morocco’s history, each of them used to be the capital of the country, as it was ruled by powerful dynasties.
The respective rulers designed’n’developed their capital so magnificently that to this date, a visit to the imperial cities is an absolute must when travelling to Morocco.

Guard on a horse in Rabat, one of the Imperial Cities of Morocco that everyone should pay a visit. #rabat #fes #fez #meknes #marrakech #imperialcity #royalcity #morocco #maghreb #africa #northafrica #femalesolotravel #byemyself
Back on the horse for King and Country.

I’ve put together individual posts on each of Morocco’s imperial cities, you’ll find the links at the end of this post. In those guides, I’m taking you to the most iconic spots. Also, you’ll get tons of information and tips that will prepare you for the unexpected and make your Morocco trip smooth and fun.

This Way to the Whole Story ->