A couple of days ago I read an article about the small island of Procida and that it is going to be Italy’s next “Capital of Culture”. Reading it put a big smile on my face and made me sigh with lovely memories.

Back in 2018 my sister and I went on a trip to Italy. We were in Naples and had a couple of days left and my sister found a beautiful Airbnb on the small island of Procida. Snap decision and so the next day we took the ferry out into the Gulf of Naples. The Vesuvius was receding in the distance as we approached the island. We did not know much about Procida. But we were ready to discover the island and all its offerings. We were in for a treat.

Everything about this island is wonderful. From the harbour we take a small bus to our Airbnb. Locals get on and off along the way greeting the driver as they board inquiring loudly after health, family and other local news. The whole island smells of orange blossom, a smell that for me is intrinsically linked to traveling and exotic places. Citrus and orange trees grow in backyards along with fig trees and misple trees.  We walk through the narrow, winding lanes. Most streets are one way streets simply because they are only as wide as one car. It seems like at one point Italian engineers travelled around Italy and measured the smallest streets and only then constructed the tiny Italian cars.

Our favourite place is Corichella. The small harbour with its colourful houses and the big yellow church took our hearts the second we set eyes on it. In the afternoon we observe old fishermen mending their nets and repairing their boats. Later in the evening we sit in front of a small restaurant eating the most delicious spaghetti con cozze, calamari and fresh salad.

The island invites you to relax, slow down and walk the narrow streets discovering new corners of the island wherever you turn. Sitting on the beach and looking out over the sea or collecting glass and shells, chatting to the locals while shopping delicious produce in the small shops, climbing the Terra Murata viewpoint… the list goes on. After a few relaxing days we feel ready for the next stage of our trip and leave the island. As the ferry takes us back to Naples, we wave goodbye to the small island. Grazie per tutti, bella Procida.

Der Beitrag A few days on the island of Procida erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

Something keeps drawing be back to Morocco. My first trip to this beautiful country was in 2013 with my sister and now I have come back in November 2017 for an Arabic course. This time in Rabat I am staying at a guest family’s house with a few other students. In the mornings I attend classes with two other students and in the afternoon it is just me and the teacher.

I learn a lot, but still it remains difficult to communicate with people and I find myself switching to French whenever it gets more complicated. My feeling for the language improves a lot, though and I am proud of myself when I can buy things in the small shop around the corner speaking Arabic.

When thinking about what to do for the weekend Chefchaouen comes immediately to my mind. The last time I was here it rained and I would love to see the blue town in the sunlight. There are a few other students joining me on this trip.

My mornings start with an early stroll through the blue town. The alleyways are still empty, the shops are closed and only a few cats cross my path. There are so many beautiful shades of blue, doors, hidden courtyards. It is just mesmerising. I could walk for hours and just look and take it all in.

There is a viewpoint a little outside of town and it offers spectacular vistas of the cluster of blue and the surrounding hills. We stop at a place a little further for some mint tea and a tajine. The weekend is very relaxing. We have all been studying Arabic or French during the week and look forward to some exploring, some good food, and some nice company.

At the end of my two week language course I continue on to Essaouira. The town is really worth the long journey, four hours by train to Marrakesh and then three hours by bus. By the time I get to my Riad it is dark. Seagulls call, the moon is shining into the open courtyard and the smell of tajine from the owners wafts through the air. This feels like a mini-holiday.

I begin my stay here, the way I love to discover new places; I stroll around aimlessly admiring the sights. It is November, the main tourist season is over and there is a lot of construction and renovation going on. The medina and the souq offer a mix of touristy shops and everyday items for locals. I love exploring it all. My favourite spot is the little harbour. The blue fishing boats are beautiful. And for lunch the small restaurants along the shoreline offer the day’s catch. I brought my book with me and find a secluded spot at the beach. I really plan on enjoying the couple of days in Morocco before I have to head back to wintery Germany.

My last stop before flying home is Marrakesh. The difference between calm and quiet Essaouira and busy, loud Marrakesh could not be bigger. The colourful souqs swallow me and I love getting lost in the many different market areas. Now that there are fewer tourists about I get to talk to people more. I meet so many interesting people: shopkeepers, a man doing the prayer calls from a nearby mosque for his elderly father and many more. The outer rim of the souqs is where a lot of the workshops are. Weaving blankets, sewing leather shoes, banging copper pots, chiselling silver trays; there is so much happening.

Der Beitrag Language School in Morocco erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

I have recently been asked about the Greek islands. This made me think back on my trip when I went island hopping in Greece in 2016. As a child we often went on holidays to Greece. It was always in autumn and it was always a mixture of hiking, snorkelling and swimming and looking at ancient ruins. I have the fondest memories of these trips and so it felt only natural to want to recreate these feelings.

Looking at my emails I smile at the beginning of my email from Santorini. After two delightful days in Athens I hopped on a flight to Santorini and I started my email with an “Aaaahhhh…. I’m sitting in the shade of a small white chapel looking over the blue sea and the greyish brown volcano island, which is located in the middle of the caldera. This is how holidays feel like.”

Of course Santorini is flush with tourists. However, at the beginning of June numbers are still moderate and there are only a few cruise ships anchored in the caldera. Walking the small pathways and alleys away from the centre of Fira provides me with quiet and solitary moments. I love the colours, the blue and white shine in the glistening sunlight. Sometimes I can catch a glimpse of a terrace or a courtyard. I could wander endlessly through the town, sit under a tree and read or people watch.

Evenings on the island are just magical. So much has been written about Santorini but I find everything to be true. The soft pastel colours as the sun slowly sets combined with the street lights around the caldera are indescribable. The sunsets out on the corner of the caldera in Oia are even more magical if that is at all possible. The windmills offer a perfect backdrop for panoramic photos. Somehow, I forget the people around me taking photos and I get lost in the colours, the change of light.

I love the couple of days on Santorini and find the perfect mix between relaxing and hiking, while eating delicious Greek food in between. The early mornings when no tourists roam the towns are my favourite time of day. Locals sweep their doorsteps, delivery drivers stop in front of restaurants and hotels; other than that it is quiet.

Taking the ferry to Naxos is an easy task. Stepping off of the ferry and directly walking into the tiny fishing village feels like really arriving in the Greece that I knew from when I was a kid. Old fishermen are mending nets and sorting fish, a waitress is arranging tables and locals generally go about their daily business.

The hinterlands of Naxos are perfect for hiking. I take a bus to Chalki and follow along the Tragea valley. The path meanders under the olive trees, birds are chirping, buzzards circle overhead and I love every second of it. The smell of thyme and sage accompanies me while lizards give up their tanning spots and make for the nearest hide as soon as I get too close. I pass a few small villages and continue my hike along the terraces of olive trees.

I missed being close to the sea while staying on Santorini. Here, on Naxos, I can hop in the cooling water after my hike. Dinner is a delight I am already looking forward to in the mornings. Small taverns are everywhere and I always find something delicious to eat. Greek salad, stuffed wine leaves, grilled fish, fried calamari, moussaka…. The list goes on.

Just a short hop away from Naxos is Paros. The blue and white colours of the small town are special. Pink bougainvilleas add colour to the white houses. I find my perfect spot in a sea-side restaurant, sitting down for a delicious Greek dinner while watching the sunset. I pass the days here with hiking, swimming and just strolling around the town. In the centre of the island there are remains of a byzantine road that I follow and it turns out to be a wonderful way to discover small villages along the way.

It was such a special holiday, so relaxing and full of Mediterranean charm.

Der Beitrag Island Hopping in Greece erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

Famous among our flight crew is a sunset catamaran tour. This time one of my colleagues offered to organise one and despite the weather forecast showing rain we are excited to set sail.

There are twelve of us standing in the marina on Sentosa Island waiting for our boat. A big thunderstorm has just passed and the clouds are clearing now. I love how everything looks a bit different from the water. Sentosa Island is getting smaller in the distance as we head out into the South China Sea.

We stop in a small bay and swim over to the little island. The water is warm and lovely and I feel a bit like Robinson Crusoe swimming towards the island and walking along the sandy beach. Through the palm trees we can just make out the skyline of Singapore.

The sun is setting and we chat as we are having dinner on board. The water is lapping against the boat as the waves gently rock us. It is getting darker and the lights come on in the city.

Before we head back to the marina we cruise along the shoreline. The skyline is clearly visible. There is a big cruise ship lying at the cruise terminal. Marina Bay Sands is having its lasershow event and the Supertrees are illuminated. What a cityscape.

After the crew fun from last night I seek a bit of solitude before we fly home today. I head towards Gardens by the Bay and loose myself between the plumeria trees, the orchids and palm trees. I sit by the canal for a while and observe lizards running back and forth. It is hot and I relish the shade.

Around the Marina Bay and Clarke’s Quay I head back to the hotel. The little boats are circling on the water and as it is lunch time, the restaurants along the Quay are full. The whole of the downtown area is buzzing as everyone is out for lunch. I love the atmosphere and join the queues at the food court for some Laksa.

Der Beitrag Singapore, my love 2 erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

Snowflakes gently fall from the grey sky. It is still very early in Riga and there are few people with me in the streets of the old town. I am wearing a warm winter coat and my lovely Nordic woollen gloves as I follow the cobble-stone lanes past beautiful houses. The snow creaks softly under my shoes. Other than the distant cries of the seagulls, it is very quiet.

In a small cafeteria I stop for breakfast. I downloaded the newspaper and sit in the window seat for a while with my tea and pastry.  I am reading and observing how the city slowly wakes up.

The rest of the day I work and end up late at night in Hamburg. I fall exhausted into my bed and dream already about the next day that will bring me to Saint Petersburg. Here we have the day off and I want to explore the frozen city a bit.

It is very foggy today and remains so the whole day. I put on my winter clothes and brave the icy roads. The colours are muted: the houses do not shine so bright, the parks are in black and white and the canals are frozen… That somehow only adds to the wintery mystique of the streets.

The Winter Palace housing the Hermitage Museum looms big in the fog along the river. I can barely make out the other side. Today I do not have time to go in, but I would very much like to do this one day. I stop in a small café in a lane close to the Hermitage and warm myself with a hot tea and some sirniki. Exactly for this I carried my book with me the whole day.

There are no queues at the Church Saviour on the Blood and so I decide to go in. The warmth, the glowing gold and the height impress me quite a bit coming from the grey cold outside. The mosaics reach all the way up into the church towers. I love walking around the church for a while and taking it all in.

Walking along the Nevsky Prospect there are now much more people than this morning. I stop in a book shop among other shops and just stroll along with the masses. Walking through the aisles of a foreign supermarket is something I have to do wherever I go. In Russian markets I always look out for tea and beautiful tea caddies. Later on the crew meets up for dinner and we go to a wonderful pierogi restaurant close to our hotel.

I had a wonderful day exploring Saint Petersburg a little and I am now ready to finish this tour tomorrow.

Der Beitrag A Nordic Winter Rotation erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.