Guide to Peru ‘s Five Mountainous Highlights

So here comes my guide to the Mountainous Highlights of Peru – and this pun is totally intended!

Indigenous Man in the Andes, the mountainous highlights of Peru
The indigenous people living in the Andes still wear their traditional attire – and not for touristy purposes.
(Photo: Fred Wanderley Fred on Pixabay)

While Peru does invite its visitors to experience the sierra, selva, and costa – hence, the mountains, the jungle, and the coast – the first-mentioned is definitely the most unique and alluring of those regions.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

EL CALAFATE & EL CHALTEN – Argentina’s Winter Wonderland

The mountains and glaciers around El Calafate and El Chalten are an eternal winter wonderland and therefore an unmissable highlight of a trip through Patagonia.

Couple taking pictures of the Perito Moreno Glacier close to El Calafate in Patagonia, Argentina
…and this is only a fraction of the gigantic glacier Perito Moreno!
This Way to the Whole Story ->

Best Things to Do in BARILOCHE – a Swiss Town in Northern Patagonia

Dramatically jagged mountains, covered by a picturesque layer of eternal snow overtowering fir-covered hills – Bariloche is a Swiss Vacation, however, on the Opposite Side of the Globe.
Trouts jumping in ice-cold turquoise waters of glacier lakes, rivers, and creeks.
Still not Swiss enough?
Well, the town of San Carlos de Bariloche cranks it up a notch by manufacturing some of the world’s best artisan chocolate and making you pose with a Saint Bernard dog – including the small barrel of rum around the neck; his neck, not yours.
In this post, I’m introducing some of the best things to do in Bariloche, a Swiss town in Northern Patagonia.

Renata Green standing on the shore of Lago Puelo close to El Bolson on a day trip from Bariloche - enjoying a Swiss Vacation
Embracing Beauty!
This Way to the Whole Story ->

Guide to VINALES – Cuba ‘s Rural Paradise

Vinales, a couple of hours west of Havana, is Cuba ‘s rural paradise: Still dreamy, but not sleepy anymore. Since from Havana, most travellers pay also Viñales a visit.

Mogotes in the mist in Vinales, Cuba 's Rural Paradise
The early birds catch the worm view: To see the mogotes between the veils of mist, you have to get up early.

And most travellers are right to do so because it’s truly beautiful. Coffee and tobacco, mysterious caves, endless fields, and mist-covered mogotes. Vamonos, hop on your bike and let’s explore pastoral Vinales!

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Rocking it in METEORA: Monasteries and Beyond

I must admit that till the moment I began to plan my trip to Greece, to me, Meteora was not a mesmerizing place packed with monasteries.

Holy Trinity Monastery at Meteora, Greece
The Holy Trinity Monastery is not the largest of the six remaining cloisters, however, the most picturesquely positioned one.

It was just the name of my favorite CD by one of my favorite bands, Linkin Park.

Since last Christmas, I know better; much better: Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece, about 350 kilometers north of Athens. It is famous for one of the largest complexes of monasteries.

So my initial rock-band reference was not that mistaken, after all: Meteora is rocking – big time!

This Way to the Whole Story ->

KAWAGUCHIKO – Taking a Shot at Mount Fuji

I’ve heard that there are people travelling periodically to the Lakeland of Kawaguchiko west of Tokyo just to take a good shot of Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji seen from Kawaguchiko
This is the picture I intended to shoot.

This majestic, perfectly shaped volcano – that erupted lastly in 1707 – seems to be hiding behind clouds most of the time. Therefore, it can be a challenge – or a hobby – hunting the best view. Or at least a glimpse.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

The Highlands: Guide to NUWARA ELIYA and HAPUTALE

Let me guide you to Nuwara Eliya and Haputale in Sri Lanka’s Highlands, an earthly Garden Eden where the world-famous Ceylon Tea is growing.

Tea plantations on the Highlands around NUWARA ELIYA and HAPUTALE
Tea plantations make the landscape seem so soft – albeit, the plant itself is pretty sturdy.

While I was soaking in the dreamy landscape around Nuwara Eliya, the rolling hills covered with tea bushes, the skies opened and within minutes, everything was….soaked.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Guide to GEORGE TOWN in PULAU PENANG

This is a guide to George Town on Pulau Penang, after all, one of my favorite cities in all of Asia.

What makes it so special?
I don’t even know where to start.
It was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and became – together with Singapore and Malacca –  a British crown colony in 1867.

View of the modern part of the city of George town from the Kek Lok Si Temple on Pulau Penang.
View of the modern part of the city of Georgetown from the Kek Lok Si Temple.

George Town, counting about 710,000 inhabitants, is Malaysia’s second-largest city and the capital of Penang Island.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Guide to CURITIBA – and a Day Trip to MORRETES

Let me guide you further South to the laid-back city of Curitiba from where you can venture out on a memorable day trip to scenic places like Morretes.

Streetcar in Curitiba
One of Curitiba’s great public services is this ancient street cart. It is housing a library, and you can even leave your kids there while shopping.
This Way to the Whole Story ->