Western Wonder- California

Week # 1

*San Francisco *Yosemite National Park *Las Vegas *Grand Canyon *Colorado River *Los Angeles

7- day camping and hiking tour: It started on a monday in San Francisco, but we've landed there the Saturday before and met with a friend of ours. So we've had some time ahead to do some sightseeing stuff: the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Baker Beach and the Fisherman's Wharf. 

On Monday we've got to know the group which consisted of the American tourguide, five Koreans, one Australian, one Norwegian, one Japanese, one English, two Germans and of course us :-) 

In one week we've spent so many hours of sitting in a van, but we drove through three states (Arizona, Nevada, California) and to different places which were just AMAZING! We've also had a group name: GRANOLA because we were eating many granola bars while hiking and driving :) 

I couldn't believe that the U.S. is that huge, the vast lands and beautiful sights! Camping and hiking in the national parks were a lot of fun (Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Colorado River) although it was pouring the night we've stayed at the Canyon. I loved it the most and took pictures of every single corner we've been! Hiking there and just standing IN the living Canyon was stunning for me! The two days in Vegas were great, too. The first night we've had a limo ride with the whole group and spent partying :) The second day Tabea and I have spent walking up and down the strip, we saw some free shows and it was just like a big playground for adults. Oh and pretty dry and hot in Nevada: 110°F!!! The last night with the group was at the Colorado River, we went swimming and had a nice BBQ altogether and then had to say goodbye the next day in Los Angeles. 

There are no pictures of L.A. and San Diego above because downtown L.A. with the star walk and Universal Studios wasn't as interesting for me. 

Week # 2

*San Diego *Venice Beach *Santa Monica *San Jose

The second week Tabea and I tried out couchsurfing. So it was our first time but everything worked out perfectly! We've spent two nights in San Diego and three nights in Venice. 

San Diego was nice and very spanish influenced but not so thrilling. We took buses to travel around so it wasn't too expensive. 

Venice was just AWESOME! I loved it there! When we first arrived on a tuesday, I've noticed a lot of good looking people, some yoga places and nice shops. At the beach and on the famous Ocean boardwalk were a lot of surfers, skaters, beach bikers and artists. We checked out the famous canals with beautiful homes and boats. And we've discovered so many painted walls while strolling through Venice!!! I love the beautiful buddha above! We've got sunburned from the pacific ocean and did a little bit of shopping as well. We walked to Santa Monica with its Pier and went to a concert series on our last night there. And that was just like a huge picnic or festival with lots of people and good music. Did I mention that you can get a license in California to smoke weed legally? :-D 

I just fell in love with that place, I was thinking: either lovely New York or Venice, people there are very health conscious, eco-friendly and everyone just smiles and looks fit! It's definitely the sun, the palms and hey! living at the ocean!!! :)

Tabea and I left friday and took a bus for 7hours to get back to northern california. Our friend picked us up in San Jose because we were planning to take our return flight on saturday morning but it got cancelled. Instead we've spent the day together with our friend, which was also great! We went out for lunch saturday. The last picture shows some hummus and falafel at an Israeli restaurant. We also hit a fruit market in San Jose and then finally took the plane back home that night. 

I arrived back home on sunday. 

To sum it all up: I have had a wonderful time!!! The westcoast is totally different from the east but I loved it out there. My highlights were the Grand Canyon and Venice! I still have to admit that I did miss the city a little bit, maybe because I'm more familiar with it and I just don't like to be a tourist :-D 

Thank you to my friends and to the people 

I've got to meet and share stories,

will never forget it! 

Take care and much love,

M

Back on the east coast

Hello my dearest!

I'm back from the west and just wanted to let you know that a huge california post with a lot of pictures will come soon! I just needed some time to get myself organized and find some peace back here. I went to my yoga session this morning and it was good to take deep breaths and to be aware of what's happening right now. A lot will change.. Well, today in two weeks I'm leaving the U.S., not for good but for a while.

Hope you're doing alright and enjoying your vacations!

Much love,

M

Travel journal

Back from the city, I've finished packing and now it's already midnight! I need to get up in 5hrs to get to the airport and yes I'm tired! I'd love to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games 2012 in London, but I think I need some sleep. Will I be able to sleep? I'm so excited!!! :)

I will definitely take my travel journal with me because I think it is the best way to capture special moments in life, in your travels and I do this every day :-)

In addition I'd say that having a journal you'll become more mindful, you're able to look back and really be aware of what you've did or what you're doing at that moment.

I started really early having a diary, but with a lot of (long) breaks when I was younger. Sometimes you just forget or you're too lazy to write something down, but now being in the U.S. I just HAVE TO write down the experiences I've made, the adventures I've been to, the people I've met and all the funny stories I can tell in the future! It's just really nice to read about the old days and you can see how you've grown or became wiser. And sometimes YOU just forget what have happened during a year and then it's good to look up the stories in your journal ;-)

Why don't you start a journal if you haven't started yet?

Here are 5 Blessings of keeping a journal from Mind- Body- Green

Take good care, safe travels and come back with a refreshed mind, body and soul.

Lots of love, inspiration and 

enjoy your vacation!


I'll meet you back here in 2 weeks with lots of pictures! ♥

M 

Again and again NYC!

and I just can't get enough! :)

Yes, I was in the city today! One day before I'm leaving for my two- week california trip! I took the boys of my hostfamily into the city and we've did a bunch of cool stuff, for teenagers I guess.

No I'm just kidding! It was a lot of fun to hang around with them and being the tourguide, haha :-D

Me, the tourguide! And no, you wouldn't see all these touristy things with me although I still need to check some places out, for example I haven't been to Ellis Island or I haven't been on the Empire either.. Let's see if I can make it before I leave.

So, we went to Momofuku's noodle bar for lunch. We've had the pork and shrimp buns as an appetizer and different ramen noodles. It was delicious! I loved the pork buns :-)

Afterwards we checked out Questlove's Hoodie Shop. Really nice hoodies, but kind of expensive though. But you can still go there and check out the interior design, a lot of fun! I like hoodies, they are comfortable! But that's a different topic, another time..

The boys couldn't help and needed to go to Economy Candy on Rivington close to Chinatown, there was so much trash! :-D It was my first time in that store and it looked so packed! Full of candy, they've had everything! Of course also chocolate from good old Germany! A paradise for kids and a nightmare for their teeth! We were walking towards Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho and the kids wanted to get more candy! What about cupcakes this time? :-D They've got mini cupcakes from Baked by Melissa and they've said: OMG! They were SO GOOD! I'm sorry guys, I cannot give you good reviews on candy or cupcakes because I'm trying to stay away from everything- sugar! :-D

Packing for California!

On Saturday I'm going to Californiaaaaaaa! :)))

And I'm so excited!!!

Westcoast for two weeks: San Francisco- Yosemite Nationalpark- Las Vegas- Grand Canyon- Colorado River- Los Angeles. My friend Tabea and I, we booked a tour with a group of people with camping and hiking. This tour will last 7days and the rest of the second week we're planning on visiting San Diego and Santa Monica. I hope everything will work out! Wish us good luck!

And now back to packing, I don't even know where to start!

Luckily the tour agency gave us some sort of packing list for the 7- day tour :)

✓ Warm sweater/Fleece ✓ Shaving supplies

✓ Casual 'evening out' clothes ✓ Waterproof jacket

✓ Hiking shoes / Boots (optional) ✓ Waterproof sandals or flip-flops

✓ Hat / Gloves ✓ Comfortable day shoes

✓ Swim wear ✓ Sunscreen / Sunglasses

✓ Camera ✓ Alarm clock / Watch ✓ Small Flashlight (Torch)

✓ Insect repellent ✓ Travel power adaptor (optional) ✓ Sleeping bag

✓ Towel & face cloth ✓ Toiletries / Personal medicine 

We're spending the second week in San Diego, Santa Monica and San Francisco again,

so I'd add more clothes :-D so you're not going to wear the same clothes over and over again, 

what about your sporting gear as well? Sports bra, running shoes :)

Some basic accessories/ jewelry, maybe one or two scarves (rain and fog in San Fran!), handbags, sandals, nailpolish, of course you want to get nice pictures of you as well ;-) 

I'd just recommend not to overload your suitcase, think easy, comfortable and mix and match your outfits!

I cannot wait to see these beautiful places and being out in nature!

Just to be away from the computer for a couple of days is refreshing for me and hopefully the weather will be on our side! Hello bears, I'm coming! Mosquitos, please stay away from me! 

I hope you guys can get out of the house, city, country, continent as well!

Let's finish packing :-)

M