Tag: travel

A Traveler's Reading List

A Traveler’s Reading List 48/2016

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Christmas is right around the corner and I’m feeling very busy shopping for gifts and still finding time to explore Christmas markets in Bavaria. I haven’t been reading anything yesterday and my Traveler’s Reading List 48/2016 today will also be quite short. I myself have published a post on my recent Liebster award nomination – if you want to read a lot about me, check it out and leave me a comment!

A Traveler's Reading List

#blogpostsaturday

I loved Ellen’s post on the importance of disconnecting. With the holidays coming up (and in general) I just couldn’t agree more: We spend way too much time in front of electronics (hello from my Macbook) and sometimes we just need to let go and go out. I myself have recently turned off all my notifications on my phone and I must say that I have become much more productive and chill. No more buzzing and beeping, I still check my phone regularly, but if there should be any emergency I believe that people will simply call me.

Lena shares with us how she plans her trips. I always find that interesting to hear from a different perspective, there are just so many ways to plan a trip and so many good tips and tricks out there! I recently posted that I rely a lot on free travel apps, simply because I try to minimize luggage space and always have my iPhone at hand.

Also, I can totally relate to Silvia’s post “13 Reasons You’ll Wish I Never Came Home for the Holidays“! I remember when I came home for the holidays while I was teaching abroad in Ohio and how awkward it all felt. Mostly because I was very aware that I had experienced many things and made different friends which was just hard to share!

Millie’s post is a collection of the 8 museums that you must visit. Clearly the museum nerd in me soaked that post up! Awesome collection, I must admit, and unfortunately I have only been to one.

Having been to Seattle recently I loved all the cute coffee shops they have besides Starbucks. See this post if you want to read about three unique coffee shops in the Seattle area. Sadly, I visited none of them, but that will just be one more reason to return then.

Stephanie shares her first solo hike up Montserrat mountain. If you look at her pictures, you know that the view certainly was a reward!

A very cool post comes from Shannon who planned a cheap trip to Birmingham and shared it with her readers. It’s funny because very often I do that as well – plan a trip that I don’t take.

Hannah’s post is on battling jet lag and contains so many great tips! I had collected some of my tips here when I arrived in Seattle in July!

As some of you know, I’ll be going to Lindau and Prague next. Both in winter and I’m expecting very cold temperatures. Just in time today I read Christine’s advice on how to prepare for winter travel! She mostly focuses on driving by car, but the whole “pack light but wisely” is something that I need to remind myself of all. the. time.

Christmas markets in Paris look awesome! I have been writing about Munich’s markets and will add some Bavarian markets soon enough, but this post by Kristine just makes me want to hop on a plane to Paris and spend some time there!

My blog feed

I’m still not sure what to get most people for Christmas, so I think I’ve now read almost every gift guide of 2016: 35 Gifts For the Wanderlust-Obsessed Person In Your Life

Instagram amazes me every day. I love following all the wonderful people there and especially seeing all the heavenly places that they visit: The Top 20 Worldwide Instagram Spots Of 2016 For some reason LAX is on there and I keep asking myself: WHY?!

Traveling Abroad: Do’s and Dont’s: It’s College Humor but in some way so heart-breakingly accurate.

It always makes me so happy to see photos from Malaysia. That really was a great trip. I may not have been to all of these places, but there is always something left to do: 16 Incredible Malaysian Destinations That Aren’t Kuala Lumpur

Enjoy the read! I’ll be exploring Lindau at Lake Constance next week and hopefully be back with fresh memories, great pictures and in time for a new edition of A Traveler’s Reading List. Stay wanderlustig!

A Traveler's Reading List 47/2016

A Traveler’s Reading List 47/2016

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Good evening everyone! How has your week been going? I’ve been busy catching up with old Gilmore Girls episodes before I can finally watch the new season. I have managed to escape a few spoilers for while, but I don’t know how long I want to do that! Except for that I spent my weekend at home like a hermit typing in many words of my PhD thesis. It feels good to be productive and to have a weekend for myself every once in a while. But let’s start: Here comes my Traveler’s Reading List 47/2016!

A Traveler's Reading List 47/2016

#blogpostsaturday

As always, I have been incredibly late with catching up with all the amazing blogposts that are shared every Saturday.

A pleasant surprise awaited me on Friday though: I was nominated for a Liebster Award by Neha and Abhishek from Revolving Compass and I’ll thus be working on my blogpost for next Thursday. If you want to know what it is and if you are curious of the questions that I have to answer, please check back next week! This week’s post was on 10 Christmas gifts for travelers, all of them chosen wisely by me!

I’ve been reminded of my ignorance and laziness when I read Vicki’s post with so many great social media & SEO tips for newbie bloggers. Let’s see how many tips I will be able to integrate in my daily blogging!

Christina shared how she monetized her travel blog. I’m not really good at that yet and don’t expect to make much money any time soon, but I’d love to one day earn enough to finance my blog and a bit of my travel expenses.

Laura shares her strategies on how to save money each month to spend on traveling. Sounds great, but I still have to work on my shopping habits!

I loooove travel fails and have encountered so many myself. Of course I had to read Jennifer’s entry from this week! I also shared a story of mine in her comments.

Anne shares her packing list for world tour which includes some great tips and tricks!

I’m always so happy to read on places in Romania. Sibiu does really look like a fairytale city, so you should check out Mihaela’s post! If you like traditions, then Cory’s post on 7 Romanian customs which will make you superstitious will be a great read for you!

Let’s all say a big congratulation to Naomi on her one year blogiversary on her travel blog Probe around the Globe! Her Q&A is super interesting and shows how much work she spends on her travel blog!

My blog feed

My blog feed has been swamped with news on the new season of Gilmore Girls, so there weren’t many posts that I could read, unfortunately!

12 Brilliant Packing Hacks If You Don’t Wanna Check In Luggage

I Tried 5 Sleeping Hacks For Long-Haul Flights And It Was Damn Uncomfortable

21 Cosy Winter Comfort Foods Everyone Must Eat In Scotland

Why This Couple is Traveling Africa, and You Should Too!

How To Quit Your Corporate Job To Travel Without Burning Bridges

A Charming Charleston Destination Guide

Digital Nomads: The Uplifting Beauty Of Living And Working Anywhere You Want

How to live a life of travel even with a full time job

What have you had on your Traveler’s Reading List? What did you do last week?

10 Christmas Gifts for Travelers

10 Christmas Gifts for travelers

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Christmas is right around the corner, just a month away! Have you started with your Christmas shopping yet? Each year I promise myself to start in October, plus to make a list of ideas for myself so that I can share my wishes with others. This year I’ll share my list of 10 Christmas gifts for travelers which mostly consists of things that I wish for myself or have wished for in the past. Maybe it’ll help you for yourself or a loved one who loves to travel as well!

10 Christmas Gifts for travelers

1. An external hard drive (155 USD)

I got that one from Western Digital to save all my photos and memories during and after my trips. There is nothing more frustrating than losing all your pictures because something happened to your laptop.

 

2. A power bank for their phone (15 USD)

It is really tiny and easy to carry in your back pack when you are out and exploring new places which makes it one of the smaller Christmas gifts for travelers. Very often there is only little time to plug in your phone and charge it, so a power bank can do that on the go and save you from running out of power.

3. A travel guide (15-20 USD)

I always recommend the travel guides by Lonely Planet, simply because I myself have trusted them for the last 10 years and collected an impressive library already. Their suggestions are always thoughtful and mostly accurate, plus they cover all kinds of budgets. If you know in advance of a future destination, a travel guide as a Christmas gift for a traveler can never be wrong.

 

4. A bag for their DSLR (35 USD)

I own this one from Kalahari since 2013 and am not disappointed. I take it with me on all bigger trips and use it as my day pack with or without my DSLR in it. It has proven itself to be very durable!

5. Any other camera accessoires, i.e. a new lens (175 USD)

If you intend to spend quite a bit more, I promise you that accessoires for a DSLR always are  great Christmas gifts for travelers. I myself had a new lens for my Nikon on my wishlist last year, because the one that I had, wasn’t great for taking on trips.

6. A travel bag organizer (20 USD)

It is a great help when you need to stay organized, not only during a trip, but also in everyday life. It fits most of the cables that you need for your laptop, cell phone or camera. When I’m not traveling, I simply use it for storage. It makes it easier to find everything.

7. Weekend travel guide (15 USD)

The NY Times 36 Hours in USA & Canada is guide with suggestions for shorter trips such as weekends! Very well made and with great ideas! The book or rather the series make great Christmas gifts for travelers!

8. A weekender (30 USD)

This bag is cabin approved, i.e. you won’t have to check it. It’s perfect for shorter trip such as a weekend city trip. I chose the bag from Karabar because it comes with a 3 year warranty! Plus, it really looks cute, don’t you think?

9. Packing Cubes (70 USD)

I know, I know, these packing cubes from Eagle Creek look incredibly expensive, but I have tried them myself this year and I’d say that they were one of the best purchases that I made! They fit everything for a three week’s trip and they help so much to stay organized during the trip. They simply do their job very very well and they are very durable!

10. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 (70 USD)

If you liked playing with your parents’ polaroid when you were younger, you will love the Fujifilm Instax Mini as well and so will the person that you gift it to. Easy to handle and a lightweight, so the Fujifilm can be taken on a trip for these instant photos!

 

All these things may seem random, but they are just not as obvious as you’d think. Still, it is mostly stuff that in my opinion everyone could use. So tell me now: What is on your list for this Christmas? Feel free to share it with me!

A Traveler's Reading List 46/2016

A Traveler’s Reading List 46/2016

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How did your week and weekend go? I’ve been really busy so that I’m just getting around to catch up with my reading list. #blogpostsaturday becomes more and more a Sunday thing for me, but I sincerely hope that that’s ok with everyone. I published one post on Thursday, as always, and I’ve been busy on Instagram sharing pictures from Pittsburgh in 2014. It’s as much blog time as I can spare each week, I guess. But let’s continue with what I started last week: A traveler’s reading list 46/2016!

A Traveler's Reading List 46/2016

#blogpostsaturday

Although I’m not sure whether I want to make my blog a business or not, I was glad to find Madi’s post. I’d love to at least earn as much as I spend on my blog, so I’ll have to get to work on some points that she is talking about!
I l loved Emily’s very honest post on why she and her fiancé stopped traveling half-way through their adventure year. I believe that it is so important to listen into oneself and evaluate what one wants from life.
Shannon reviewed google trips, which I will have to see for myself, but it sounds quite good!
Becca has been nominated for the Liebster Award (congrats!) and thus answered 10 questions about herself and her blog!
A very funny and a bit sarcastic post came from Katie with “How to Save Money For Travel – The Tricks Nobody Will Tell You”.
To read about a visit to Landsberg am Lech made me incredibly happy, because I keep telling people to go there. It’s such a cute little city!
Meg writes about first week travel blues which I totally think is a thing, it is basically what I meant with homesickness in my post a few weeks ago.
Ever heard of Boerum Hill?! I hadn’t which is why Victoria’s post cam just at the right time.
Here is a list of some travel hacks if you don’t know them already. Even though I technically do, I sometimes forget to follow them…
Another post on visiting a city in Germany: Kristine went to Trier, and it looks like she and her boyfriend had a really good time!
Ever since my trip to Thailand, I looove Thaifood (if it is not too spicy). See this post for five fav dishes to try! And this post will make you want to go to Bangkok! Which makes me want to agree with Bidisha who in her post names seven reasons to revisit places.

My blog feed

Adventurous Kate (who I have been following for quite some time and admire A LOT) writes about The Conversation. I’m sure everyone has been there, probably with different topics.

5 budget European destinations

How To Survive Being An Exchange Student In 5 Simple Steps

6 of the best art stops in Oxford, UK

Ultimate Female Packing List for Ireland in Summer (with camping tips)

How to unplug from and minimize your possessions

13 Things Every Person Can Look Forward To For Winter In NYC

On the Shores of a Pink Lake in Australia

That’s that for this weekend! Leave me a comment if you liked my list or think that I need to read something special for next weeks list!

 

My most helpful free travel apps

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I have to be honest with you: Traveling, and especially traveling solo, requires a lot of planning for me, before-hand and during the trip. I myself like to stay on top of all bookings and reservations, but I also hate to carry my Macbook with me all the time. This is why for my last trip I started to look into apps for my iPhone and/or iPad. Today I’ll share with you my most helpful free travel apps, i.e. the apps that helped me to stay organized in the past.

My Most Helpful Free Travel Apps

1. Airline apps

Airline Apps are simply convenient for me since they allow me to look up my flight info, access information on any airports and let me check in on time or choose my seat. So far I have used Air France, Fly Delta, KLM and Lufthansa on various occasions. All of them have worked just fine and proven to be very helpful when I was already stressed out and had to hurry between connecting flights. Can you guess how often I have to check which gate I need to find when I am tired?!

2. AirBnB

AirBnB LogoAirBnB is an awesome App that is just so easy to use! It lets you check for accommodation, look at pictures of the listings and you can book directly and stay in contact with your future host. If you want to book via AirBnB or already have a booking then this is really one of the must-have travel apps! I sometimes use it to just look for dreamy accommodation that I would like to stay at some day.

3. Hostelworld

nps6tqk5A must-have for all budget travelers in my honest opinion. I have booked most of my hostel accommodations via hostelworld so far and while I prefer to actually book via a computer, I love the app to have all infos such as room type, check-in dates and the address at one place. It will also alert you after your stay to leave a comment and rate the hostel so that other people can check ratings before they book.

4. guides by Lonely Planet

guides_icon2x-iosAs a huge fan of and believer in the Lonely Planet Guides, this is an app that I found out recently about: It features different city guides that you can download to have them available offline. When I started using the app, the list of cities was quite small, but it keeps growing. They even ask you to send in your recommendations on which city guides to add next! There are many more features like saving sights to a list or calculating a budget that this app offers!

5. Google Maps

unnamedOccasionally, my sense of direction is totally off and I tend to get stressed out when I feel lost in a new city. As fun as it can be to get lost at a new place on purpose: Being lost with all your luggage on your way to the hostel or while looking for a place to be, just sucks. This is where I rely on Google Maps. If it needs to be, I just follow its directions, track myself or use it to find public transportation.

I’m aware that there are many more apps out there, that others recommend in their posts. Most of them I have tried at home but actually never used them on a trip. Some I simply find confusing or it turns out that you should upgrade to some paid content. These five apps are basically my essentials, especially on trips on my own.

Now share with me: Do you have any apps that I should absolutely try? Which are your essentials  or do you always bring your laptop? I’d love to hear from you!

A Traveler's Reading List 45/2016

A Traveler’s Reading List 45/2016

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A Traveler's Reading List 45/2016

I love reading, I always have. In the last few months, my blog link list has grown steadily and for the last weeks, I also started following the #blogpostsaturday on Facebook. Many awesome travel blogger share their posts each Saturday and people read and comment on each others posts. I love the commitment to eachother and the knowledge that spread between eachother. Which is why I decided to create a (hopefully) weekly traveler’s reading list in which I can share the blog posts that I have read each Saturday.

We can probably all agree that this week has been intense with media and especially social media overflowing with articles on the US election – whether it was people mourning or gloating. I myself was too surprised or shocked this week to keep up reading my blog feed. It took me quite some time to catch up and I’m still not done with #blogpostsaturday.



 

Here is what I read this week:

#blogpostsaturday

Nika published a post on her visit to the concentration camp in Dachau and whether it was worth the visit in comparison to Auschwitz, also in regards of how emotional prepared one has to be to do so. I was a bit careful at first when I saw Laura’s post on how to stay in Europe for $2.80 per day, because it sounded too good to be true. The secret is house-/ pet-sitting and I’ll need to look into that now! I really loved this post on Amsterdam in the fall, especially her pictures are wonderful and make me want to head there immediately! Taylor’s gift guide with ideas for backpackers is inspirational, I have planned a post in ideas myself, but it is good to see, that each one of us has different ideas!  I loved Alice’s reflections on the concept of home, it’s something I have thought about a lot myself lately. Daphne from girlswanderlust collected 10 possible jobs that one could do while traveling the world! Brigitte reflects in her post on Remembrance Day in Germany. I’m a bit torn on that subject, but I also always question the concept of heros in general. Cristina shared a sample one week itinerary for Italy, it would be too short for me, but for someone coming to Italy for the first time and with only a week-long vacation it might be great! If you are looking for a winter getaway, you should check this post on winter in Romania. I always rather dreamed about Christmas in the sun, but I get that people like the fluffy white snow! Stacey shared her adventures in London for one day and Sarah the perfect 16 hours in Bristol! Maybe I really need to do more of those shorter trips! Katie’s guide of things to do in Talinn was a good read, I always like these guides, they give you an overview of things to do! And I wholeheartedly agree with Carly that Rothenburg ob der Tauber deserves more than one day – I’d say that almost every city deserves that! I found this post on what to bring in your hand luggage on a long flight quite helpful! Have you heard about the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) that opened a while ago in DC? Marissa shares her first visit there!

My blog feed

A poem on being a long-term traveler

49 ways to travel (and live) better

4 Things I Learned Backpacking Solo

For When You Feel All Too Small In This Big World

This Is For The People Who Crave Travel

How To Plan And Have A Kickass Time On Your First Solo Trip

Why Traveling Solo Isn’t Always Glam

Enjoy the read if you find the time and have a wonderful week!

E.

How to beat homesickness

How to beat homesickness when traveling alone

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Traveling can be a wonderful, mind-changing experience. It can also mess with your head and make you feel homesick when traveling alone. It took me quite a while to find strategies on how to make myself feel better when I’m alone in a hostel and need to beat homesickness.

Here are a few things that I do, so that I won’t feel lonely when I’m traveling alone:

1. Get out and explore!

Even if you feel tired and jet lagged and alone in a city that just feels different: Get out and explore your surroundings. I often that fresh air is the best for me and that seeing other people and new places takes my mind off feeling lonely. I get some coffee and start walking or I sit down in a nice café and just enjoy some people-watching!

2. Enjoy the peace and quiet around you.

Life is busy all the time. Being away from home is an opportunity to sit down, put your feet up and enjoy a few moments of silence. Choose a nice spot or use your hostel bed for that, in no case, do ever feel bad for doing so. It’s your time, and you should spend it the way you want! Make yourself feel relaxed and beat this dreadful homesickness!



3. Stay in contact with your loved ones.

Time difference and distance can be a bummer! Thanks to social media and skype you are still able to keep up with your loved ones! I find it helpful to text or skype with family and friends if I start to get homesick. Just talking about what I have seen and been doing, helps and always makes me realize just how lucky I am and how much I like traveling!

4. Step outside your comfort zone!

As a very introvert and quiet person myself, this is always the hardest part for me: Getting to know other people. I usually start by introducing myself to the girls in my dorm, making small talk and asking about their destinations. Many of them are solo travelers as well and appreciate a chat. Very often this has led to great company for dinner, a drink or even longer parts of my travel.

5. Find a good streaming service!

Most hostels and hotels provide free Wifi which often works quite well. For me, I prefer to have a streaming service such as Netflix and/or Amazon Prime Video set up on my Macbook or iPad. Netflix is great in the US, whereas when you are coming to Germany you might want to get Amazon Prime Video instead! In case that I feel exhausted or lonely, I simply watch one of my favorite shows or start a new one. You’ll often see people doing the exact same thing and there is no better way to start talking to people than about a TV show!

What are your tips and tricks against that dreadful feeling that sometimes comes up? How would you beat homesickness? Feel free to share!

How to beat homesickness when traveling alone. Traveling can be the most amazing experience, but it can also leave you lonely in an unknown place. I'll share with you my secrets of how to beat homesickness when traveling alone. | www.travelthewholewideworld.com

Travel Dreams – Future Destinations

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Where would you go if you could choose anywhere in the world? What are your possible future destinations?

Travel Dreams - Future Destinations. Where would you go if you could choose right now? What is on your bucket list? | www.travelthewholewideworld.com

As always I have been well for three months after I arrived back in Munich. Now my wanderlust is back!

Possible destinations on my list include:

  • Canada

Canada has been on my bucket list for a while now. It’s close enough to the US so that I could do a short stopover and see some friends. I also always wanted to combine a trip through its beautiful nature with a tour of the cities Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal and Québéc. Canada sounds like an awesome mix of nature and city sightseeing for me. I even read about taking a train from one end to another, with some stop overs of course!

  • Japan

I’m the girl who always said that she never wanted to go to Japan. I simply wasn’t interested for a very long time. Now, after sharing an office for over a year with my colleague, my opinion slowly changes and I’m becoming more and more interested. Look at her blog and you’ll know why! The language barrier still scares me a bit – as well as my total ignorance of Japanese culture and history. I should maybe start reading up on that before I even think about going!

  • New Zealand

Most people dream about going to Australia once in their life. For me, this is New Zealand. I’ve been reading books set in New Zealand when I was younger and I’d love to see it for myself now. Plus, as far as I know, New Zealand has no poisonous animals! I’m very much scared of snakes and spiders – one of my must-do’s before each trip is to read up what could kill me – so I’d be probably more relaxed.

  • South East Asia

Been there, done that, one could say. But then South East Asia is so much larger than I ever imagined. I have been to Thailand and Malaysia for a month each and it has been great. It’s cheap, so a perfect for backpacking and being on a budget, the food is amazing and you are able to find your own mixture of traveling and relaxing on one of the many beaches. I’d probably try to go to Vietnam next time or Cambodia! What do you guys think?

Which one would you choose if you had to? I’m trusting my luck and will keep my eyes open for any cheap flights. It’s still a long time until 2018 when I’ll hopefully be free to wander anywhere I want, without a PhD thesis sitting on my back. It’s also nice to dream and research for places whenever I get frustrated or bored at my desk.

Stay tuned for any updates!

E.

San Francisco memories (Part I)

San Francisco Part II

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My first recap last week has been incredibly long, even for my taste and my style. I actually had to cut it in half! So read on for more of my highlights in San Francisco and more of my photos!

Free tours.

I would have loved to join more free tours. It’s a great way to learn more about landmarks in San Francisco if you are travelling on a budget plus the tour guides are extremely nice and helpful in every way. One of the tours was on controversial murals in the old post office building in San Francisco. Then we did a walking tour through Chinatown which was really informative (plus I bought fortune cookies) and even visited a temple there.

Food!

If you haven’t noticed yet, I like to eat. A lot. And I crave unhealthy food almost all time. In-N-Out Burger is probably the best food I had. Next to that came the burrito that I had in the Mission District. Hands down, best burrito I ever had. And then cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Yum. Why don’t we have that stuff here in Munich?! You might notice that I never managed to take a picture before having the first bite.

Exploratorium at night

What an awesome experience! It’s a science museum where you can do fun experiments. On some Thursday nights they stay open late and offer drinks. No small kids, but many adults turning into children again! I’d certainly recommend going! We skipped standing in line for drinks and instead tried out as much as we could.

Wave organ, i.e. being close to water!

Having grown up closer to mountains than to the sea people always assume that I like hiking or taking walks in the mountains. I don’t! I’m a sea person, I like water and the salty air, the wind and boats. One afternoon my friend Julia and I took a bus to the wave organ which depending on the waves and winds is supposed to make music. Although it was rather chilly, it was a nice enough to take a walk and look at the city from a far.

Enjoying the hills of San Francisco!

It’s the best workout that you can get, simply take a walk. I spend one day wandering around rather aimlessly, simply exploring the neighborhoods. Whenever I saw something or some place that I liked, I stopped and took a break to soak it all in. I climbed hills and Coit Tower to find the best views over the city which was exhausting, but worth it. No photo could capture all the impressions that I had!

Of course that is not all of it! So many cool things may have slipped my mind right now, every now and then I remember stuff that I should maybe write about, but then again, memories are beautiful when they come and go!

Talk to you very soon again,

E.

San Francisco memories (Part I)

San Francisco memories (Part I)

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Guys, San Francisco was truly amazing. It has been almost three months since I have been back to Germany and I am still missing being there or rather being a traveler. It’s a serious case of wanderlust or travel addiction. Back home things got crazy again very fast, that I came back with a severe cold didn’t help, too. I’ve been wanting to write this post for the last three months, but it never felt right: I was always too tired, too unfocused, too lazy. Does it even make sense to write about something that has happened so long ago I wondered a couple of times? Shouldn’t I just skip this post and focus on something else (maybe my PhD thesis)? Do I even remember enough of what I did there to write about it? Nonetheless, I really want to share my San Francisco memories with you!

Maybe I have forgotten some things, some details, but maybe I have gained some distance or a different perspective of my stay there. This post will certainly be different to all the other posts before that I typed on my phone in my bed, just to share some pictures and some of my adventures. This quite long introduction is probably proof enough!

Again: San Francisco was awesome – it had its ups and downs, but all the ups made the downs feel small and unimportant.

Arrival in San Francisco – Longest train ride of my life

I arrived in San Francisco bright and early after a very long and cold train ride (17 hrs!!!). The first impressions were overshadowed by my exhaustion – all I really wanted was a hot shower, sleep and some breakfast. It took me a while to get used to big city life again, after Portland San Francisco was loud and busy. I walked to my hostel which was a couple of blocks away, simply because I was too tired to find out which bus to take and afraid to fall asleep while on it. The staff at my hostel was generous enough to let me take a shower and store my luggage so that I could go for a walk and get some breakfast. Most expensive pancakes that I ever had, but it felt good to get some food!

On planning and being adventurous

The first day was then really uneventful: I checked in, met up with my friend Julia who had arrived from Portland the day before and unpacked my packages from amazon that I had ordered. I also made plans with my friend for the next day. Since it was my third stay in San Francisco, I didn’t have many fixed plans beforehand, which can be very relaxing and made me feel adventurous. My friend Johnathan, who is from San Francisco, made me a google map with fun places to visit (if you read this, thanks again!).

My down(s)

The biggest down happened after my first night in San Francisco. I was stupid and naive enough to pack my daybag the night before and when my alarm clock sounded, I jumped out of bed and into the shower. Either during the night or at some time during my shower one of the three girls who stayed in my dorm opened my bag and stole all my money. I only found out later when after a free tour I wanted to tip the tour guide and simply couldn’t. Turned out that whoever did this took all my cash and thankfully left my other valuables such as my credit card, passport and camera!

Very stupid of me – I should have locked it away – and very mean of whoever did this. It took me a few hours and a phone call home to get over this. After some thinking I decided against calling the police and only reported it to the hostel front desk because I didn’t want to spend any more time dealing with this. Lesson learned: Always lock your stuff away because people can be mean!

My ups

Pretty much everything else was great. I’ll do better explaining with photos! And I’ll try to explain some of the things deeper later. I really plan on doing that because my stay in Portland and Seattle still seemed too short as well!

Very non-San Francisco related, but I genuinely enjoyed playing Pokémon Go which I had downloaded there. San Francisco was full of Pokestops and other people playing on Union Square or on every corner of the city. You would know who played by looking at them and people would come up and ask which team you joined.

Museums, museums, museums…

I visited the SFMOMA where I had been in 2010 before it closed and now right after it opened. I originally planned to spend only 2 hours there which is my personal max. time in a museum before my brain freezes and I start walking around aimlessly. After 3 hours I looked at my watch and was surprised how fast the time had flown by. On the day that my money got stolen I visited the de Young Museum. It calmed me down and cheered me up at the same time.
It’s surprising what art can do to you!

I’ll leave it with this revelation for today and I will continue this post next week: It is all too much for one post!

Have a wonderful day,

E.