“No way!” Anna and Arthur shout almost in unison. It’s the end of August, and we are sitting on a tree stump on the rugged slope of a peak in the Dolomites. Marie-Laure and I have just shared our plan to go on a round-the-world trip as a family. “Are you serious?” And then, when … Meer lezen over The preparation – part 1
Categorie: English
The preparation – part 2
Where to start when planning a round-the-world trip with family? And what does the path to it look like? Well, that depends on whether you're preparing for a round-the-world trip under normal circumstances or during a global pandemic. In our case, it’s the latter. I can say that these past few months have been very … Meer lezen over The preparation – part 2
Rough Landing
"What did all those men want?" Anna asks. We are in our rental car on the way to the hotel. It’s 9 PM, pitch dark outside, and the traffic in Amman is chaotic. I try to focus on the road while cars, vans, and trucks zoom past me, honking from every direction. To make matters … Meer lezen over Rough Landing
Welcome!
With gestures, he makes it clear that he doesn’t want my money. His hands, covered in grease, refuse the bills I extend with a big smile. “You are welcome!” he says as we sit on chairs behind a garage in Ibbin, a suburb of Ajloun, about 150 kilometers northwest of Amman. The mechanic has just … Meer lezen over Welcome!
Abdoullah and the Wisdom of the Bedouins
I feel a sharp pain piercing through my spine. I know this pain all too well, and I realize it’s not a good sign. My back is acting up again. Just yesterday, we were scrambling through Petra, following our guide who kindly offered his services and his donkey. The kids jumped with joy: “Can we … Meer lezen over Abdoullah and the Wisdom of the Bedouins
White World
It’s 3 degrees, foggy, and when we step out of the car, we find ourselves in snow up to our ankles. “Where are we? No idea, but according to Google Maps, we’ve arrived.” Having exited the Desert Highway 150 kilometers north of Wadi Rum, which we left this morning under the sun, we’re met with … Meer lezen over White World
The Slow Waltz of the Turtles
People who have traveled know that the hardest part of traveling with children is finding the right pace. You don’t want to plan every day for six months if you don’t want to come home exhausted after six months. But you also want to discover these countries that we probably won’t visit again. It’s all … Meer lezen over The Slow Waltz of the Turtles
Crossed Glances
When our gazes meet, I sense in her the same curiosities and questions that I have within myself. Between women, sometimes just a glance is enough. She is heavily made up for what we’ve just done—false eyelashes, lipstick, foundation, blush… She adjusts her hair after getting onto the boat with the help of the man … Meer lezen over Crossed Glances
Goodbye Middle East, hello Asia!
A wave of warm, humid air greets us as we exit the airport for the third time on our journey. A mass of people, packed tightly together in three rows, crowds the sidewalk in front of the terminal entrance. Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka. And it’s only 5 a.m. Flights from Europe will likely … Meer lezen over Goodbye Middle East, hello Asia!
The Secret of Happiness
The lights go out, but I barely notice. Another power cut. Tonight is my birthday. We’ve ordered a nice bottle of wine, savoring it after a month and a half of sobriety in the Arab countries. A few days ago, we experienced power cuts caused by storms when we first arrived in Sri Lanka. Now … Meer lezen over The Secret of Happiness
Selfie
It’s Friday, and today we’re in Udawalawe. Udawalawe National Park is one of the most beautiful natural parks in Sri Lanka, home to a large population of elephants. After a jeep safari through the park, we visit the elephant orphanage, a sanctuary where orphaned or herd-rejected elephants are cared for until they are ready to … Meer lezen over Selfie
In Our Bubble
We’ve settled into an improbable hotel. Built on a rocky slope, the hotel was the creation of a man who refined his work over time. A series of concrete floors, added over the years, are connected by irregular stairs and hallways, all leading to terraces, balconies, and galleries overlooking the mountain, with a dizzying view … Meer lezen over In Our Bubble
La Java Bleue
We are in Kampot, a charming and laid-back town in southeastern Cambodia, near the border with Vietnam. It sits by the river, with wide roads leading to large, empty squares. The sleepy, grid-like downtown is known as the French Quarter, filled with old colonial architecture. Rows of colorful, beautifully designed shops are slowly crumbling. You’ll … Meer lezen over La Java Bleue
Lazy days
The wooden plank that connects the boat to the jetty is two meters long, barely 30 cm wide, and bends dangerously under the weight of our backpacks. For a moment, I’m afraid it will break, plunging all of us into the depths of the sea. Carefully, one by one, we make it to the jetty. … Meer lezen over Lazy days
Temples, tuk-tuks and ice creams
We’re eating ice cream on a terrace in Siem Reap, a city in northwest Cambodia from where we’ll visit the temples of Angkor Wat. The kids have just ordered a scoop of vanilla ice cream for Anna and a scoop of chocolate for Arthur. Always the same. We try to encourage them to try something … Meer lezen over Temples, tuk-tuks and ice creams
Behind the Smiles
"Uh, can we put toilet paper in the toilet here?" Arthur asks, sitting on the toilet in our hotel room in Los Angeles. It’s clear we need to get back into our usual habits. After traveling for three months in the Middle East and Asia, we’ve almost forgotten how things work in a Western country. … Meer lezen over Behind the Smiles
On the road
We are on the road! America! The land of endless possibilities. The country of the American dream. A place where the culture seems very similar to that of us Europeans. At least, that’s what we thought. But America is also a country of stark contrasts. Now, after two weeks, we’re finally starting to get a … Meer lezen over On the road
Abbey and the Junior Rangers
I started reading Desert Solitaire by chance while we were in Oman. The beauty and accuracy of the desert descriptions touched me and left me craving more. And here we are, finally, in the national parks of the Southwestern United States. Arid expanses, layers of colorful rocks, and nothing in sight except for a few … Meer lezen over Abbey and the Junior Rangers
You’re in Bear Country!
"Watch out, you’re in bear country," said Lee, the park ranger who greeted us at the information center. "They’ve just come out of hibernation. They’re busy searching for food and not paying much attention to their surroundings. If you happen to come across one, it can be dangerous. Very dangerous! Especially if it’s a mother … Meer lezen over You’re in Bear Country!
When the Land Meets the Sea
Slowly, our camper climbs the slope. Each time it gets a bit steeper, the engine shifts down and growls. The sun is just starting to rise. Snow is falling, and everything is covered in a thick layer of powder on the mountain slopes. Just before the summit, we find ourselves in a snowstorm, and by … Meer lezen over When the Land Meets the Sea
Happy birthday!
The kids were thrilled when they saw our camper for the first time. “Wow, it’s so cool! The colors are amazing!” Our rental agency (Escape) paints each van with a unique and colorful design. We had already seen them on the West Coast and decided to book one for our two weeks on the East … Meer lezen over Happy birthday!
Struggle
We’re sitting at a table in the restaurant of the Game Ranch, savoring a delicious menu of local game: pumpkin soup, springbok carpaccio, oryx frikadelle, and roasted Kalahari lamb leg. It’s all paired with a delightful bottle of Tokara Red Cabernet Sauvignon. Anna and Arthur are sipping apple juice from wine glasses, tasting everything and … Meer lezen over Struggle
Our first blog (by Anna and Arthur)
This is the first time we’re writing a blog. Arthur and I often read our parents' articles, and now we want to share our own thoughts. We are currently in America. We’ve seen so many beautiful landscapes, and we’re really happy to be on this journey, but six months is quite a long time. We’re … Meer lezen over Our first blog (by Anna and Arthur)
Around the World in 180 Days
We Did It! We’re back in Windhoek, settled in at the hotel while we wait for our flight home. The kids are jumping on the bed, playing with their stuffed animals, and later, they’ll be sprawled out watching cartoons on TV. The hotel room is cluttered with our stuff, and we’re wondering how we’ll manage … Meer lezen over Around the World in 180 Days
Full moon in the desert
It’s nine o’clock in the evening, and the desert is quiet. The campfire is still slowly smoldering, but otherwise, it’s pitch black. In front of us, the sharp silhouette of Spitzkoppe stands out against the dark sky. Behind us, a full moon is slowly rising, casting its light over the thousands of stars scattered across … Meer lezen over Full moon in the desert
The big, the small and the ugly
If there was one thing that truly captivated the kids during this journey, it was the animals. From the dogs and donkeys in Jordan, to the sea turtles and camels in Oman, the elephants in Sri Lanka, and the bears and bison in America, they’ve been fascinated at every turn. So, they’d been eagerly awaiting … Meer lezen over The big, the small and the ugly
Globetrotterdammers 