TRAVEL INSPIRATION

BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN LISBON: LAPA 82 REVIEW

10/14/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. 1 Comment

On my recent trip to Portugal, I fell in love with Lisbon. You find some tips on what to do, see and where to eat in my “Quick Guide to Lisbon”. I loved Lisbon not only for it’s amazing food scene, hipster vibes (yes, it’s Europe’s new hipster capital) and beautiful architecture. I loved it because we were so lucky with our hotel in Lisbon too. I’ve had trips where the destination itself was wonderful but because the accommodation was crap (sorry for the bad language) and I couldn’t get my proper beauty sleep, I didn’t enjoy my holidays as much. Not in Lisbon. Our boutique hotel was heaven, a great place to come back to after a long day exploring the city.

Where: Lisbon, Lapa, Portugal
Stayed at: Lapa 82 Boutique Bed & Breakfast– Rua de S. Domingos 82, 1200-836 Lisboa, Portugal
When: End of August 2016 at 29-31°C/84-88°F
Why: A petite boutique hotel in Lisbon with delicious breakfast, stylish rooms and friendly staff. For the traveler who seeks a calm space close to Lisbon’s busy city center and appreciates a relaxing morning with freshly baked croissants in the courtyard. Lapa 82 is located in the upscale neighborhood Lapa, a residential and less crowded area that is close to Bairro Alto and Chiado. …

ROMANIA’S PRETTIEST CITY – WHY YOU NEED TO VISIT SIGHISOARA IN 20 PHOTOS

09/14/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. Leave a Comment

Sighisoara in Romania is without a doubt (at least in my little world) the prettiest city of Romania. I would even go as far and say it’s the most colorful town. And thus (again, at least in my opinion) the happiest place in Europe. We stopped at Sighisoara because Lonely Planet‘s introduction to Sighisoara reads “So pretty it should be arrested”. After spending 5 min in the city centre I couldn’t agree more.

This city is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved in all of Europe. You don’t need to spend more than an afternoon in Sighisoara. Or maybe a whole day if you (like me) have to take loads of photos because every corner is just so preeeeetttttyyyyy. And because your dress matches the colorful streets and your travelite UPTOWN* suitcase goes so well with Sighisoara’s bright and vivid homes. As yellow is my favorite hue, I was in color heaven. Despite gloomy evening hours the, the city still felt like one happy place. …

A QUICK GUIDE TO LISBON

09/04/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. 7 Comments

For most people it might seem adventurous and exciting that I’ve been to over 60 countries. And I myself have to pinch my arm sometimes. Have I really seen so much of this world? And what is more to come? Will there ever be more fascinating places than the ones I have already seen? And that is when the downside, my very personal downside, of traveling begins. It’s like getting overloaded with toys as a little child. The first few dolls and trucks and puzzles were exciting but then the excitement slowly fades. Then you find yourself thinking that country x or city y is actually quite boring. And you wonder if this is because your mind and soul are overwhelmed with impressions and experiences from previous trips. Or is that certain city or country just not as fun as you expected it to be.

I tell you, it’s a nagging thought. It’s an unpleasant thought because you don’t want to end up with a life that seeks for the next more challenging, more thrilling, more adventurous, more exciting trip. You also want to appreciate quiet moments and soothing journeys. You want to wander a city, walk aimlessly through its hilly streets, enjoy a refreshing drink on cobbled squares, stop at the bakery to inhale the smell and a freshly baked pastry shortly after. And you want to think “Oh, this city is simply beautiful”. Then you realise that all your worries were for nothing. Because just when you thought you had seen it all and will never be impressed again, then there is Lisbon. Portugal’s quite capital. Not in terms of noise. But in comparison to other European capitals like London, Paris or Berlin, Lisbon is not the most popular travel destination. Wrongfully….

A PICTURESQUE STAY: TAS OTEL ALACATI REVIEW

08/16/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. Leave a Comment

Looking for a weekend getaway from Istanbul? Or relaxing stay away from the big and crowded hotels at the Turkish sea? Head to Alacati near Izmir and stay at the ever so charming Tas Otel.
I picked Tas Otel for our extended weekend stay in Alacati because I absolutely love small boutique hotels with a unique style. Tas Otel is located at the center of Alacati and consists of one main house, a pool and garden area as well as a quaint little garden house. There is also a small and large villa that are situated right next to the hotel.

Where: Alacati, Cesme, Turkey
Stayed at: Tas Otel Alacati – 32, Yeni Mecidiye, Kemalpaşa Cd., 35950 Alaçatı/Çeşme/İzmir
When: July 2016 at 30°C/86°F
Why: Tas Otel is the oldest boutique hotel in Alacati, a place that charms its guest with adorable character and a warming hospitality….

5 DELICIOUS HIGHLIGHTS OF ALACATI, TURKEY

08/05/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. Leave a Comment

When I did my first draft for this post about Alacati’s delicious highlights I was like “Let me keep this short today because words can’t express the beauty of Alacati but pictures can”. That is still true but I want to add a few words to give my story a personal touch.

I won’t start talking politics on my blog (or Instagram) because this space is not meant for it. However I’d like to quickly talk about the attempted coup in Turkey a few weeks ago. And the impact it had on my inner life. After the coup happened, I felt tired, unmotivated and without any energy. Everything in Istanbul reminded me of that weekend. The country itself was still in shock and the city’s streets were crowded as usual but quiet. The atmosphere was overwhelming and almost depressing. In times like these you need to be careful not get stuck in a black hole. It’s easier to see only the drawbacks of a place when everything around it is surrounded by so much negativity….

TALLINN FOOD GUIDE: 10 PLACES YOU MUST TRY

07/18/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. Leave a Comment

Tallinn is a city that will surprise you and so will Tallinn’s food. At least, it did surprise me. As the capital of Estonia, Tallinn is a must-see on every trip to the Baltic States. Located at the Baltic Sea, Tallinn is an exciting mix of medieval churches, hip coffee shops, baroque palaces, cozy side-streets and an amazing food culture.

Before I went to Tallinn I asked my Instagram Community for tips on where to eat. The response was overwhelming, a slight indicator that our 3 days in Tallinn would be very tasty. I quickly decided that food would be the main focus of our travels because I didn’t think that tasting testing every recommended eatery in Tallinn sounded like a bad idea. And it wasn’t. So if you are planing on visiting Tallinn any time soon and are looking for a delicious adventure, I’ve got you covered. Here is my personal Tallinn Food Guide with a list of my favorite restaurants (and one coffee shop)….

A QUICK FOOD GUIDE TO PARIS

06/30/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. Leave a Comment

Paris, mon amour. It’s been a while that I last visited the city of love…love of food that is. Having been to Paris a few times before I didn’t come for any sightseeing this time. I came for the food, sunshine and a few days of relaxation with my boyfriend. As with every big city, the culinary scene is constantly changing and with the health trends finally reaching Europe, I knew I would have a delicious time. With some research and the help of my amazing Instagram community I had bookmarked a few places that I wanted to visit and made a food itinerary for each of our three days. The result? A quick food guide to Paris….

THE BEST PHOTO LOCATIONS IN CAPPADOCIA

04/28/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. 14 Comments

Cappadocia is probably one of the most photogenic places in the world. Long before we even talked about moving to Turkey, I saw photos of Capaddocia’s dreamy landscape, golden hills and balloon filled morning skies. It stayed on my bucket list for nearly two years and finally in April this year I went to Cappadocia on an extended weekend trip.

Before I even booked the flight and our hotel, I was looking for great photo locations in the Cappadocia area. I had seen these beautiful shots of other travel and lifestyle bloggers but didn’t find a lot of information or hints on where to go. So I compiled a list of my favorite photo locations in Cappadocia. I also added the exact coordinates so you’ll be able to find it easily and snap away memorable shots….

6 FAVORITE BREAFAST SPOTS IN CENTRAL ISTANBUL

04/23/2016 by Kati | black.white.vivid. Leave a Comment

It’s a Saturday morning in late April, just after sunrise. I’m sitting on my sofa wrapped in a blanket, one cat to each sides. The window is open bringing in the first ray of sunlight and some brisk air. This is the season for enjoying breakfast outside. The sun will soon warm Istanbul and this fresh morning will become a pleasant day. Grab a book, a group of friends or just yourself and have breakfast at one of my favorite spots in Istanbul….

10 REASONS TO TRAVEL TO EAST AFRICA INDEPENDENTLY

11/26/2015 by Kati | black.white.vivid. 1 Comment

Maasai Mara in Kenya

Did you know that travel makes you a much more awesome and happier person? You know what’s even better? Skip the jam-packed itinerary of a guided tour and travel independently. We did exactly that on our recent trip to Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. We loved the freewheel, without any guidelines, timelines or other rules and regulations. We had the freedom to do what we want and when we wanted. Although daunting at first because East Africa doesn’t have a reputation for being a backpacker destination, travelling to the beat of our own drum was the best thing we could do.

For years Asia has been known for being the perfect place to explore by travelling independently. Africa on the other hand is much courted by travel agencies and there doesn’t seem to be a big backpacker scene in East Africa. But travelling independently in countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda grows you in a way that any organised tour won’t. So I’ve compiled a list of reasons why everyone should travel to East Africa independently.
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TRAVEL INSPIRATION