My travel inspiration

Lenzerheide Switzerland

The mountains, the lake, the nature ! I have visited Lenzerheide several times for work, and it is always nice to be there.
From Crans Montana to Lenzerheide by truck

An unforgettable trip to lenzerheide from Crans Montana by truck over the Nufenpass. Click here for the video.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Went there shortly for only 3 days this year, but will be back in november for more time.
Paris, France

Just walk and see where this city brings you.
New York

Always a good idea.
Sevilla

What a nice city, so much history and the food, so good !
Lyon France

The culinary city.
Vallnord, Andorra

The small country on high altitude.
Schotland UK

A visit for my job, love the nature and the friendly people.
Namibia

The most magical country I have ever visited.
Tokyo, Japan

Went to Tokyo twice for the Olympic Games, want to go back !
Lissabon, Portugal

Went to Lissabon with my sister, such a nice city, and the food !
Berlin, Germany

I visited the city with my mother and son.
Shanghai & Xiamen, China

Such an interesting country, want to go back.
Samnaun, Switzerland

Skiing trip to Samnaun with the family.

View of a waterfront harbor in a coastal town with colorful houses on a hill, docked boats, and a clear blue sky.

5 days to Sweden and Norway

November 2023 I went to Sweden and Norway for a little trip of 5 days. With the ferry from Kiel, Germany to Gothenburg in Sweden with Stenaline. One night on the boat and the next morning you are in Sweden. We took our dog Bram with us and it was very convenient to travel with him. Aboard there is a special deck to walk your dog and the cabin was also dog friendly. Its was freezing cold already, so warm clothing and beanie was a must when you got on deck.

November was quite cold already and I had to get used to it the first morning when we arrived in Gothenburg. All the lovely coffeeshops with delicious swedish pastries were a good excuse to go inside and get warm again.

Assorted pastries including cinnamon buns and cardamom buns displayed on a counter with chalkboard signs showing prices.

Red and yellow wooden houses with snow-covered roofs along a calm body of water under a clear blue sky, with rocky shoreline and dock structures visible in the foreground.

Interior of a seafood market or store with display cases of fish, a refrigerated section, shelves with various products, and welcoming signs in Swedish.

Photo taken from the side of a ship showing the open ocean with waves and a partly cloudy sky.

A woman in a beige knit beanie and black jacket takes a selfie outdoors near the ocean during twilight with a visible moon in the sky.

Snow-covered porch with a view of a snowy landscape, trees, and a body of water in the distance on a cloudy day.

After staying two nights in the little cosy home we travelled to Oslo. We decided to hike the Holmenkollen, which has a great view over Oslo. A very nice walk, steep but doable. Our dog Bram loved it. The view over the city is indeed very nice. After our hike we did a quick visit into the city, which was beautiful decorated for Christmas coming up.

That night we stayed just over the border with Sweden at the coast. A beautiful area as well.

The next day we visited Fjällbacka, a very nice town near the coast, just like you imagined how Sweden would look like. Wooden houses, some on poles, in various colors. A lot of fishing boats, fishing equipment and shops where you could buy fish. We had a nice lunch over there and then drove back to Gothenburg to catch the ferry back to Kiel.

The most memorable for me about this trip is the daylight, that is so short, only from 09.30 till 15.30. That was little hard for me. When you want nature, rest, silence it is the perfect trip to go to Sweden or Norway.

Snow-covered hilltop with trees, a cityscape, and a cloudy sky in the distance.

A person standing on snow-covered ground, wearing a black puffy jacket, plaid shirt, black pants, and gray hiking boots.

A yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a black harness standing on snowy ground in a winter forest.

Snow-covered outdoor area next to a red building with stacked lobster traps along the wall, overlooking water with rocky shoreline and trees in the distance under a clear blue sky.

We travelled to a little village near Charlottenberg. The snowy landscape was beautiful to drive through. We had booked a little house near a lake. It looked really cosy with a porch in front, small but convenient. The next morning we went to the lake to do some skating. The ice was covered with snow, so first we had to make a path. It was a nice and easy day, some walking, some reading, some coffee & food and in the evening the sauna, that was next to the little house. What an experience !

There was wood to fire the sauna up (all allowed to do by yourself) and next to the sauna was the lake for cool down. Since we were the only people there, we could easily walk naked from the hot sauna to the freezing cold lake…such a good feeling ! Didn’t expect from myself that I would try to jump in the cold water, but it was the best !

A woman sitting on a bed with her feet resting on a dog lying on a bed cushion in a cozy compact room, with a window, TV, and cups on a desk.

A wooden sign that reads 'SAUNA' is mounted on a dark wooden wall next to a snowy porch. A plant in a pot is on the porch and a black door with a small round window is present. An animal skull with horns is mounted above the door. A light fixture illuminates the scene.

Snow-covered rural landscape with a curved road on the left and distant buildings and trees under a cloudy sky.

Person dressed in winter clothing walking on snow-covered ice with fish caught and laid out on the snow, in a snowy landscape with trees in the background.

City street lined with luxury storefronts including YSL, Gucci, and Chanel, with holiday string lights. Pedestrian benches and planters along the sidewalk, with a few people walking, in the evening.

A scenic harbor view with boats docked along the water, colorful houses, and clear blue sky.

Smiling woman with long gray hair wearing a tan knit beanie hat and a dark jacket, standing outside during sunny weather in front of a yellow wooden wall and white-framed window.

Wooden sign with the word 'SAUNA' carved into it, mounted on a dark wooden wall, with a faint spider web in the top left corner.

Flower shop storefront with an arch of pink and purple flowers above the entrance and various potted plants and flowers displayed outside on wooden crates and baskets.

London City trip

Mother & daughter trip 2019

In March 2019 I visited London with my daughter Ginger. We made it a real shopping trip, no touristy sightseeing, just enjoy shops, coffee and food.

We flew out of Rotterdam-The Hague Airport (very small and convenient) to London City Airport with British Airways.

From London City airport it was just a small ride by train and underground (approx. 30 minutes) to our hotel. We were staying in the San Domenico House in Belgravia. A lovely old building with beautifully designed rooms furnished with antiques, paintings and classical furniture. This boutique hotel is located only 5 minutes from Sloane Square and fashionable Chelsea. After a very friendly welcome in the lobby, where the burning fireplace gave an immediate feeling of coming in a warm home, we were brought to our room, top floor and with our own balcony. A perfect start of our trip.

A woman standing on a train station platform with suitcases, wearing a brown coat, white sweater, black pants, and white sneakers. Tall buildings and cloudy sky are in the background.

We were given the cutest room with a balcony and a lovely view over Belgravia. After settling in we went for lunch at the Elan cafe at Brompton Road. A stylich cafe, pastel coloured, gold details and full of flowers. These flower walls were something that we saw a lot around London in the following days. We had a lovely lunch, sandwiches and I ordered a beetroot latte. A very soft , rich creamy coffee taste. Subtle.

A wall decorated with pink, peach, and purple roses with the word 'Eden' illuminated in the center.

The image shows a small boutique store called Mungo & Maud, specializing in dog and cat clothing. The store has a gray door and window frames with decorative trim, a checkered black and white tiled entrance, a small black railing, a potted tree, and a sign hanging above the entrance. The building has a cream-colored façade with an ornate balcony above.

Pink storefront decorated with pink and red flowers spelling out "love" above the door, with a large heart-shaped floral arrangement hanging in front. Sign reads "Peggy Porschen Cakes."

A woman with long gray hair sitting on a windowsill at an airport terminal. She is wearing a cream sweater, black pants, white sneakers, and has a tan coat draped over her shoulders. She is looking out the window at the airport tarmac and buildings in the distance, with a cloudy sky above.

Shopping bags placed on a plush, pinkish-orange sofa in a bright hotel room with a bed, lamp, and balcony doors in the background.

A latte with latte art on top, served in a glass cup on a purple saucer with a spoon, on a marble table.

After our lunch we walked up to the famous Harrods Warehouse. If you visit London and you like shopping, this is definately a must visit. The building is beautiful, immense large and all luxury brands are available. Clothing, jewellery, beauty products, home and furniture and a large section of food. The walk from Elan Cafe to Harrods, both on Brompton Road, is packed with beautifull shops and restaurants.
London in march was already filled with blossom and the soft pink colours contrasting to the white buildings looked so lovely. Walking around London (or most of the cities actually) is giving me always a sense of happiness. Just enjoying the stroll, no need to hurry and just enjoy the architecture, the nature you find and the lovely shops and restaurants you see while walking around, I like it a lot.

After our visit at Harrods we went to the Knot Churros in South Kensington. A colourfull cafe where Ginger decided to take an enormous blue coloured Freakshake topped with candycane floss and for me a cappucino, to balance it out... The cafe was quite busy and we had to wait 20 minutes before we could have a table. But the neighbourhood is nice to walk around while waiting.

After our sugar dose we took the underground back to Sloane Square, close to our hotel. We had a nice italian meal at Caffe Concerto at Kings Road. Back in the hotel we got into our bathrobes and slippers, offered by the hotel, and put on our facial masks we bought at Boots earlier. Time to relax from a perfect first day in London.

A young woman with glasses and a cream-colored sweater excitedly looks at a large blue cotton candy and a milkshake with whipped cream and colorful sprinkles on a marble table. There is a yellow cup and saucer, and a pink decorative object to the right, with a geometric pink and purple wall in the background.

Flower shop entrance decorated with a large floral arch of pink, purple, and peach roses, with various potted plants and flowers displayed in wooden crates and buckets outside on a wet sidewalk.

Table with bread in a metal bucket, salt and pepper shakers, a glass, and a potted pink and green patterned plant, with a background of purple flowers and greenery in a restaurant setting.

Three cups of coffee with foam art, a heart-shaped cookie with jam and powdered sugar, a slice of vanilla cake with white frosting and a macaron, and a cupcake with white frosting and red sprinkles on pink plates on a white table.

A smiling woman walks down a sidewalk holding a pink umbrella in front of colorful row houses painted in pastel shades of white, lavender, pink, and gray, with black iron fences and stairs leading to the entrances.

A young woman with glasses and a red hoodie sitting at a bar in a restaurant with pink walls decorated with colorful artwork.

A young woman with glasses and long brown hair, wearing a tan coat, sitting in front of a pink building with black iron railings and greenery.

Smiling woman with gray hair, beige coat, black pants, white shoes, holding a closed umbrella, standing on a city street in front of pastel-colored townhouses, with parked cars along the curb, overcast sky.

A burger with lettuce and sauce in a toasted bun, served with a side of French fries on a small black serving tray.

After some shopping at Oxford street we decided to have a dessert at Sketch. Also seen on Insta, this pink restaurant with the beautiful mosaic floor was on my wishlist. No idea, if we were allowed to visit (since it was quite late and ginger was only 14) we walked over there. The man at the entree allowed us to enter for a dessert, I think he thought it was quite funny. It is a very extraordinary place, the entree is already amazing and the pink restaurant feels very elegant. Pink walls, pink velvet chairs and a beautiful mosaic floor. The ceiling has a big round glass window. The walls are decorated with sketches. We had a seat at the bar and ordered two desserts, they looked like art, tasted like heaven. Ginger thought it was quite an experience. Especially the bathrooms, they are extraordinarily. White stairs leading up to a colourfull glass ceiling, where egg shaped bubbles are the toilets....you just have to visit this place once...

A white bowl with a creamy white soup topped with a pink sphere, small pink and yellow pieces, and green sprigs.

Small decorative statue of a person holding a candle, dressed in a red shirt with gold patterns and a wide-brimmed hat, placed on a wooden surface with a mirror behind reflecting soft lights.

A young woman with glasses and brown hair in an orange sweater sitting by a large window at an airport, holding a coffee cup, with an airplane flying overhead in the sky outside.

A dessert plate with a chocolate cake garnished with microgreens, decorated with chocolate shards, and a dusting of cocoa powder on the plate. In the background, a bowl of sugar cubes, a cup, a glass of water, and silverware are visible.

Close-up of a patterned wooden and marble tile floor in a herringbone design.

Living room with a fireplace, a portrait hanging above it, candles, a desk with a laptop and flowers, and a cozy armchair with a pillow.

A woman sitting on a white bench in an indoor space with large glass windows, wearing a beige coat, black pants, white sneakers, a black hat, and glasses, with a black bag on the floor beside her.

Decorative sign with the phrase "Life begins after coffee" in gold and white cursive lettering on a dark textured floor.

A white multi-story residential building with classical architectural features and black iron balcony railings. The entrance is framed by columns, with a black door numbered 8. In front, there is a small garden with green bushes, a magnolia tree with pink blossoms, and a black metal fence.

A shopping bag with the text 'Mungo & Maud Dog & Cat Outfitters' on a white outdoor table, outdoors on a city sidewalk with cars and pedestrians.

A narrow outdoor patio or walkway flanked by walls covered in green ivy and other plants, with a tiled stone floor and black planters along the sides.

Peggy Porschen was on both of our wishlist. This beautiful pink colored cafe, instagram famous, with their lovely decorated entree and delicious little pastries, cupcakes, tarts and cookies. We were lucky to have a table outside and we ordered some delicous goodies, not a typical lunch, but the sweetest and prettiest.

After our fun at Baywater street we walked back King’s Road to Sloane Square. where we took a taxi to Oxford street. King’s road is also a nice shopping street, we visited Gap, Nike, Kiehl’s and Lululemon.

Oxford street is one of the biggest shopping streets in London, with big chain stores like Zara, Topshop, Urban Outfitters. We walked over to Selfridges for dinner at Aubaine Restaurant. This restaurant is inside Selfridges, decorated with lilac flowers. Lovely place in a very nice store, with good food. We ordered the Aubaine Burger with a side order of sweet potato fries, which were covered with feta cheese crumbles and pomegranate seeds. A combination that was very nice.

Sweet potato fries topped with pomegranate seeds and crumbled cheese served in a white bowl on a plate.

The next day we flew back home. We stayed two nights in London, but 3 would have been better, I suggest. We still have some addresses on our wishlist for the next visit. I do suggest flying to London city airport, very convenient when visiting the city. And when you fly back the look at the runway is spectacular. The area where our hotel was located is also a good suggestion. If you like specialty shops, quiet neighbourhood and nice cafes and restaurants, please visit Elisabeth street and the area around Sloane Square.

I am writing this blog one year later, 2020 and the whole world is currently in lockdown. When we will be back in ‘normal’ life again, we all don’t know. But probably it will take some while and travelling in the near future will definitely change. Therefor I am even more thankful for this nice trip I made with my daughter. Let’s hope the world will be better soon. Health first, stay safe all.

A woman standing in front of Buckingham Palace in London, wearing a tan coat, orange sweater, plaid pants, and black boots, with a blue sky and some clouds overhead.

Red brick Victorian townhouse with decorative columns, potted plants, and a banner reading "San Domenico House." A streetlamp and bus stop sign are also visible.

A woman dressed in a tan coat, black leggings, and lace-up boots walking on a sidewalk in front of a white residential building with a black fence, a blossoming tree, and a small garden.

The next day we decided to have breakfast in the neighbourhood before walking to Peggy Porschen on Elisabeth Street. We went to Colbert on Sloane Square, it felt like a parisian style brasserie. The walk to Peggy Porschen, the pink colored cafe, was through beautiful Belgravia. Lovely architecture from the majestic white buildings contrasting with the green of the parks and small gardens. Also Elisabeth street is very nice to stroll around, a lovely street with small shops and cafe’s. I loved the entree of the Moyses Stevens flowershop, another flower wall. We also visited Mungo & Maud, a lovely dog and cat outfitters shop. We bought some biscuits for our labrador, Bram.

A multi-story white building with ornate architectural details, including decorative windows, small balconies with plants, and a prominent cornice at the roofline.

A woman with long gray hair, wearing a tan coat and black pants, sits at an outdoor cafe table drinking from a white mug. She has a white handbag on the chair next to her. The cafe has pink walls, white tables and chairs, and decorated with green plants and pink flowers. A heart-shaped floral arrangement with pink and yellow flowers is visible in the window behind her.

After our delicious lunch we walked back to Sloane Street, where we visited Jo Malone, my favourite perfume brand. I discovered this brand at the Bijenkorf and it stole my heart. The natural scents of their products, all possible to layer with eachother, is the best. Their stores are completely decorated in their classic black and white design, the products all displayed in nice cabinets. They have a counter where they can show you their products and even give you a little hand and arm massage, while using their product. If you are in the possibility to visit one of their stores, I highly recommend it. Their packaging is also stunning.

Sloane street and Sloane square are full of nice shops, like Maje, Cloe, Emilia Wickstead, more the exclusive brands. We decided to walk to Baywater street. It started to drizzle a little, so we picked up an umbrella from the hotel and put our shopping bags at our room. We have had a lot of fun making photos at Baywater street. Do you like to make colourful photos, please visit.

Hotel room with a bed, nightstand, lamp, and pink curtains. Two shopping bags on a pink velvet tufted bench near a sliding door leading to a balcony.

A woman standing on a sidewalk holding a pink umbrella, wearing a brown coat, black pants, and black boots, near a pink building with white trim and black iron fence.

Woman with gray hair sitting on stone steps in front of a blue door, smiling, wearing a beige coat, black pants, and white sneakers. Two potted trees with twisted trunks flanking the door.

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a beige coat takes a selfie in a mirror with a colorful stained glass ceiling above her Sketch London

Time to go to bed, we took a taxi back to the hotel. In the lobby from the San Domenico House we took a cup of tea before going to our room. This lobby is very nice, fireplace always on and a big samovar with hot water for complimentary tea. We just had the best day !