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[30 Aug 2010 | No Comment | ]
How to…. travel Norway on a budget

My dear motherland, Norway, is known as one of the world’s most expensive countries, but also one of the most beautiful (and yes, I am very objective in this case). When trying to sweet-talk Norway to people, the first thing I get asked about is if it’s true that a beer cost 10 euros and how one can afford to travel there. During my three years of studying in Bergen …

[25 Aug 2010 | One Comment | ]
Escape the winter and win a trip to New Zealand

Dear travelettes,
While surfing the web for interesting travel ideas I stumbled over a competition to win a trip to New Zealand. Just when it starts to get dark and cold in Europe, you can escape to the beautiful beaches and unspoiled nature of New Zealand.

The travel agency STA and the travel portal 4trips are making it possible for 14 lucky adventure travellers to spend almost two weeks in the land …

[9 Aug 2010 | No Comment | ]
Traveling veggie on a budget: dining with the Hare Krishna

If you’re from a bigger city, you might have noticed a group of people chanting “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna” dressed in some kind of peach colored Indian looking outfit your local park. I haven’t had a deeper look into their ideology, but they’re extremely friendly and I’m definitely into their cuisine.
As a vegetarian, sometimes it can be a bit challenging to find a nutritious and CHEAP meal. Being a pescatarian …

[6 Aug 2010 | No Comment | ]
Studying abroad: Parties, culture and languages

5 years ago I made the choice to go abroad alone for the first time. Yes, I was going to be an Erasmus student (for the non-Europeans among us: exchange program initiated by the EU). The impression most have (including me) is that Erasmus students are on a semester or two long vacation with a minimum of effort studywise and a whole lot of partying with other international students. This …

[15 Jul 2010 | 3 Comments | ]
Lisbon, my city of “saudades” or nostalgic longing

The Portuguese have their own word for expressing the feeling of nostalgic longing for someone or something that one adores and now is lost. They call it “saudades”. This is the feeling that fills me sometimes when I think about places I adore, people I love and experiences I never know if I will see or feel again.
New friends, a boyfriend or a crush, new hobbies, a couple of new …

[6 Jul 2010 | One Comment | ]
Beginning to surf

I always dreamed about learning to surf, and found it such an attractive sport, but coming from the cold north, snowboarding (and a short-lived attempt to be a skater girl as a teenager) came first. Now that I call Lisbon my new home town, however, I finally started surfing and it is definitely my new favourite lifestyle.
Just sitting on your board waiting for the next wave and finally catching that …

[25 Jun 2010 | One Comment | ]
Santo António: When Lisbon turns upside down

When I first saw the decorations for Santo António, one of Lisbon’s national holidays, my first reaction was that it looks like a German Christmas market, the whole city is filled with lights, decorations and food stands. My Portuguese friends were talking about this day for months, so it had quite a reputation to live up to.
The inhabitants of the different districts of the city have been preparing for this …

[3 Jun 2010 | 2 Comments | ]
Portuguese temptations: Cakes in Lisbon

Dear Travelettes,
Let me make a confession: Since I arrived in Lisbon I’ve eaten a cake, or some kind of traditional sweet, every day. That is more than 100 cakes the last few months, something that should make me quite a cake-expert (although it’s not the best preparation for the bikini season). When that is said, I read somewhere if you leave Portugal without gaining a couple of kilos you haven’t …

[23 May 2010 | No Comment | ]
Oceanne – travelette and vintage expert

I met Oceanne as she was Couchsurfing at my friends’ place in Lisbon. Originating from here and there, travelling around the world with great style and on top of this she has a vintage swap project called Covert Candy. Oceanne is a true travelette and a great personality!

1. What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Oceanne, I’m from all over. I was born in Australia, and lived there until …

[6 May 2010 | 3 Comments | ]
Hiking in Norway

Ever since I moved away from Norway I find there is something magical about returning to the fjords and the mountains. After spending time in the ”concrete jungle” or in small green spots in the city it is liberating to go walking for hours and get some fresh mountain-air. Sometimes you can also find a nice spot to take a (freezing) bath.
When I go back to visit my family, I normally try to …