Cape_Verde - In the 18th century, the capital was moved to Praia after attacks on the old town. A walled fortress was established on a rocky plateau 37 meters above sea level. This still forms the heart of the historic center of Cape Verde’s capital. To reach the ...

Senegal - As we are about to turn right to head back to our hotel, we hear drumming from the other direction. A large group of children runs through the streets. We follow them. Suddenly, they turn around and dash past us. We are witnessing the Kankurang masquerade, ...

Poland - Today we explore the old center of the city. We begin our walking tour in the old Jewish quarter, as our hotel is located here. Right on the corner of the street stands the first Jewish temple. Already in the 19th century, the Jewish population concentrated ...

Georgia - The weather clears, and the sun even breaks through. On the boulevard, most of the beach tents are being dismantled and cleared away—the season is over. Behind the boulevard stand tall apartment blocks and skyscrapers of unusual shapes, giving the skyline ...

Slovakia - At breakfast, we realize there were more guests staying at the hotel after all — we thought we were the only ones. Near the hotel lies the museum village of Vlkolínec in the mountains. It’s less than a fifteen-minute drive away. Due to its sheltered ...

Slovenia - The capital Ljubljana lies in the center of the country. We continue driving into the center of Ljubljana and search for a parking spot. Most parking garages have a height limit of two meters. We need an extra 50 centimeters. Fortunately, there is also ...

Ethiopia - Lalibela is famous for its eleven rock-hewn churches, carved from stone by order of King Lalibela. He intended these churches to be a representation of Jerusalem. The churches are grouped into two clusters. Today, I am visiting the first group. First, ...

Italy - Florence is located in the photogenic region of Tuscany, in the heart of Italy. Known as the cradle of the Renaissance, the city is filled with architectural masterpieces and artworks from that era and earlier. The most famous example is Michelangelo’s ...

Namibia - Fortunately, today we can sleep in until seven o’clock. We leave at half past eight. After breakfast and packing, we drive toward Swakopmund. On the way, we visit Cape Cross. At Cape Cross lies a seal colony of about 100,000 seals. Thomas points out ...

Iceland - Thingvellir, also known as the Parliament Plains, is a fascinating lava field located at the rift between the European and American tectonic plates. This rugged terrain served as a meeting place for chieftains, who gathered here in the year 930 to discuss ...

China - Looking across the square, I see on the opposite side a large flagpole and Mao’s portrait hanging on the wall of the Forbidden City. The familiar image. I cross the square diagonally towards the Forbidden City. Walking under Mao’s portrait, I enter ...

Turkmenistan - Through the large white marble buildings, the wide boulevards, and the expansive parks, the streetscape looks very similar throughout. From the bus, I see the 2x4-lane wide boulevard. White apartment complexes line both sides. In the median lie several ...

Martinique - The Bibliothèque Schoelcher, located in Fort-de-France, Martinique, is an impressive architectural gem that embodies the island’s rich history and cultural heritage. This beautiful library, named after French abolitionist Victor Schoelcher, was built ...

Martinique - The Cathedral of Saint Louis, located in Fort-de-France, the capital of Martinique, is an iconic symbol of the island’s religious, cultural, and architectural heritage. This magnificent cathedral, named after King Louis IX of France, is known for its ...

Ecuador - Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an ancient Inca city. The city lies at an altitude of 2,850 meters. Despite the severe earthquake in 1917, the city has been well preserved, especially the historic center. ...

Belgium - Durbuy is for the most part situated on the right bank of the Ourthe River, nestled between steep and wooded slopes that seem to squeeze it in. On one of these slopes, you will find the famous anticline — a bend in the river that was drained in the ...

North_Macedonia - The city has a unique architecture. It feels as if all architectural styles have been mixed together. Old and new buildings surround the central square. Ostentatious fountains and numerous statues adorn the square. The overall impression is quite bombastic. ...

Lebanon - The center of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is known for its lively atmosphere, historic charm, and impressive architecture. Old buildings with a rich history stand side by side with modern skyscrapers, reflecting Beirut’s tumultuous past. On August ...

Switzerland - We planned a walk around Lake Oeschinen with a picnic, but plans change upon arrival. The lake is inaccessible by car. We can either take a cable car or hike to the lake; we choose the latter, carrying lunch in our backpacks. Kandersteg sits at 1,174 ...

Hungary - Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe. It lies in western Hungary and has an elongated shape: 79 km long and up to 15 km wide. Its maximum depth is 12 meters, but the average depth is just three meters, making the water relatively warm in ...

Denmark - Egeskov Castle is located in the south of the island of Funen. The castle is Europe’s best-preserved Renaissance water castle. The history of Egeskov dates back to the 14th century. Due to problems caused by civil war, most Danish nobles built their ...

Oman - This night feels cooler than the previous one. Wrapped in the warmth of my blanket, I get up briefly to use the restroom. As I step out of the tent, my gaze is drawn to the magnificent starry sky stretching above the desert. With a peaceful feeling, I ...

Morocco - Amtoudi is an off-the-beaten-track attraction for most tourists in Morocco and yet one of the most captivating stops to visit. The reason is simple: Amtoudi has one of the oldest and best-preserved granaries, or agadirs, as they are called in North Africa. ...

Transnistria - In Bender, we make a brief stop at a monument. Opposite is the Sheriff supermarket. Much in Transnistria is owned by the Sheriff family: gas stations, hotels, the football stadium, and sports parks. Oleg considers them smart businesspeople, albeit involved ...

Tunisia - The Great Mosque of Kairouan, also known as the Mosque of Sidi Okba, is one of the most prominent and oldest Islamic monuments in the world. Located in the city of Kairouan in central Tunisia, the mosque was originally founded in 670 AD by the Arab general ...