Around the corner - eine hour drive - from Palm Spring is Joshua Tree National Park. Famous for it's twisted trees, which are in fact not trees but weird looking palm trees (Yucca), and for it's giant rock formations, including skeleton rock. Located along San Andreas fault. We hiked in the sun and drive through … Continue reading Joshua trees and giant rocks
Downtown L.A. used to be a dirt hole, and for sure in some corners it still is. But downtown also has an up- and coming hipster scene. The art district with its galleries (like the Swiss "Hauser & Wirth"), lots of hipster coffee shops and overpriced hipster boutiques. That all basically two blocks away from … Continue reading Up and coming: Downtown L.A.
I love this street! Packed with little boutique stores, special food stores - so much to see, so many "typical L.A. stuff". I think I spend almost an hour in a "luxury" supermarket and could not stop being amazed about all the products. And even more - the prices... Who the f*** needs "Organic Parasite … Continue reading In Venice on Abbot Kinney
OMG!!!! I always wanted to go to New Orleans, but it's never been "along the way". So "only" being 3 hours away by car in Pensacola... it was more than tempting to make the detour via New Orleans. And, despite of all that boring extra driving (the highway there is mega boring), it was so … Continue reading Hey, let’s go to New Orleans!
When your flight into Miami can't be changed to a different location and when you don't want to stay more days in Quito - than you end up in Miami despite hurricane Irma. So it all went a little bit different than planned (original plan was to spend some days in Miami and drive down to … Continue reading Detour because of hurricane Irma
2.850m above sea level in the middle of Andean mountains and volcano's: there is Quito, the capital of Ecuador. The highest capital in the world (La Paz in Bolivia is much higher at 3.600/4.000m - but it is not the capital of Bolivia). My last stop on my Ecuador travel and I spend almost 3 … Continue reading Quito – highest capital in the Andes
La Florestra is a nice residential area, filled with lots of street-art, nice cozy cafés. Happy to experience this area and stroll through the streets, since this is not at all typical for South American cities. I enjoyed a very nice 3 hour walking tour and got so much insights into Quito, La Florestra, a … Continue reading Street-art in Quito’s La Floresta
I still need a bit of time to sum-up my Ecuador experience - also in relations to the other countries (Colombia, Bolivia, Peru) which I visited. But I would love to share some pictures, which for me pretty much summarize the Andean region of South America.
A day-trip to Otaval,mostly known for its indigenous market, is one of the most popular trips from Quito. I decided to spend a little more time in the region, to combine: Otavalo + indigenous market Train trip to the North (touristy, I know - but I like train rides) Cotocachi Volcano and Cuicocha Laguna - horseback … Continue reading Otavalo and around
Biking Dutchman? Really? Well... despite the name (insider joke, nothing against the Dutch!!) I opted-in for a full-day bike tour at Cotopaxi volcano. Almost did not make it to the tour: a) the day before I incurred an eye infection due to flying sand during the Quilotoa hike and b) they almost forgot to pick … Continue reading Mountain Biking at Cotopaxi volcano