Blog

Adventures

Varadero Venture

Varadero is Cub’s resort paradise. It is basically a peninsula lined on one side with a never-ending white sand beach. Unlike all my other destinations in the country this one is not drenched in history unless you call the constant construction of new resorts history. However I felt I needed to see this famous place for myself, so I made the most out of it by applying my usual tactic of infiltrating resorts for free stuff. You can read my full experience below. If you want to check out my entire Cuba itinerary, click here.

Read more “Varadero Venture”
Adventures

Santiago by Storm

Santiago de Cuba is a city on the far North-East of the island. It is a long way from the usual tourist hotspots like Havana, Trinidad, Viñales and Varadero. However this city is the birthplace of Fidel’s revolution and you can still feel and see this everywhere in the city. It is also ground zero for Cuba’s traditional Trova and Son (from which salsa was born) scene. For these reasons I decided I could not skip this city. Read the story of my Santiago day trip here. For the entire Cuban itinerary click here.

Read more “Santiago by Storm”
Adventures

City-Tripping Trinidad

Trinidad is Cuba’s colonial pearl. The city lies between some beautiful green mountain tops, filled with hiking paths and waterfall, and picture-perfect beaches. In Trinidad there is a little bit for everyone. You can visit sugar plantations with an old steam train, beach all day long and enjoy the wild nightlife. Even though Trinidad is a city it has a very cozy town-like feel to it. Find out how I spent my days in this paradise in the post below. For a full overview of my Cuban itinerary click here!

Read more “City-Tripping Trinidad”
Adventures

Cienfuegos en el Cielo

Cienfuegos is a small city on the South coast of Cuba yet not directly situated at the ocean. A huge Bahia which is filled with the ocean saltiness through the small inlet near Jagua. It is not as picturesque as Habana Vieja nor as charming as Viñales, but the sunset over bay are incomparable. This make it an ideal stop on your way East to Trinidad. Find out how I made the most of a day and night in this city and get inspired. For my full itinerary click here.

Read more “Cienfuegos en el Cielo”
Adventures

Venturing through the Valle de Viñales

Viñales and its valleys are the green heart of Cuba. The island has many fantastic nature to offer both above and below the waves but the spectacular views of the mogotes are not to be missed. It is also a hive of outdoor activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, spelunking and many other fun filled adventures. In this post I’ll tell you how I experienced the Valle de Viñales. For more inspiration and a full Cuba itinerary click here!

Read more “Venturing through the Valle de Viñales”
Adventures

Havana Nights, Cuban Days

Havana truly is the heart of Cuba. Many other cities have played a crucial role in Cuba’s turbulent history but none as actively as the country’s capital. In this post you can read the report of my first and last days in the country. I tried to capture the essence of the city in the short time I had. For my full two week Cuba itinerary click here. You can also find a custom google maps there that can help you plan your visit.

Read more “Havana Nights, Cuban Days”
Adventures

Cuba Two Week Itinerary

Cuba is a huge country and has a lot to offer for each type of visitor. I chose to backpack the island in two weeks. I soon realized that was not a lot of time but, thanks to recommendations of fellow travelers and locals I met along the way, I was able to capture the essence of this beautiful country in this short time period. Here you will find my cuba two week itinerary and short explanation per destination. You will also find links to stories of my experiences at each place and on the road. Enjoy and hopefully my experiences can help you plan your trip!

Read more “Cuba Two Week Itinerary”
See and Do in Madrid: The View from the Palacio de Cibeles Adventures

11 things to see and do in Madrid

The Spanish capital is a city of millions, the 6th biggest one in Europe. Hence it has the entertainment factor to match it and finding things to see and do in madrid can be overwhelming. Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1561. However it has been intricately involved in the rich history of Spain even way before. A lot of this history can still be felt and even seen throughout the city. In later times, Madrid has modernized along with its country, becoming the modern metropolis it is these days. Although it has managed to so while always respecting its legacy.

This makes the city enormously rich in activities and sites to see. I’ve lived in this city for almost 2 years now. But there are still so many things I need to explore. I can only imagine how hard it must be to try and capture the essence of the city in only a few days or even a short weekend. So I have tried to make life easier on you by providing my selection of sites and activities. This list will probably grow over time, while I continue to explore new possibilities. So stay tuned and enjoy my list of things to do and see in Madrid.

Read more “11 things to see and do in Madrid”

Playa Virgen de la Nueva: It just needs a dash of sunshine to be perfect Adventures

The 8 best day trips from Madrid

We have lived in Madrid now already for a year and eight months. During that time we have discovered some really nice places in the city that we now regularly go to: restaurants, parks, whole neighbourhoods, … the Spanish capital can dish up something for the most diverse tastes. I will certainly come back to those in a different post. Here I would like to list my favorite places outside the city. We have done various day trips and weekend trips in the past year. Here I wanted to share the crème de la crème, the cherries on the delicious cake that is Madrid. Here are my 8 favorite day trips from Madrid.

Read more “The 8 best day trips from Madrid”