Tag: blog

Tribute to San Siro, the Scala del Calcio in Milan

By wanderlustale August 7, 2022

In Milan, there are two teams – AC Milan and Inter Milan. The rivalry between these two teams and their fans is tremendous and can divide families, however close they are, or turn peaceful neighbourhoods into civil war zones. Or make me rethink my friendships/love affairs.

I’m not Italian, and it’s true that the culture of football is not very deep-rooted in Switzerland, where I come from, but I consider myself a true tifosa. The word tifoso, which means supporter, comes from the infectious disease typhus (Italian: tifo) which, if left untreated, causes a high fever, just as the tifoso, a football fan, “suffers from football fever”.

Europe North Macedonia

Matka Canyon – A breath of fresh air outside Skopje

By wanderlustale July 2, 2022

The Matka Canyon is certainly the main natural attraction in the vicinity of Skopje and one of the most beautiful places to visit during a stay in North Macedonia. If you want to make a short day trip from Skopje, this natural wonder will enchant you.

I went there during my stay in North Macedonia for my friend Viktoria’s birthday. We definitely did not have to worry about how to get there, as my friend booked a taxi for us. There are many activities in Matka, however, we just enjoyed the boat ride, having 2 hours to spare before heading back to Kumanovo for Viktoria’s birthday party.

A full guide, however, is provided below to help you appreciate the beauty of these green hills that descend steeply into a deep fjord-like gorge filled with sparkling turquoise water. Isn’t it enough to blow you away ?

Europe North Macedonia

Skopje, the dashing kitsch capital of North Macedonia

By wanderlustale July 2, 2022

I can’t thank my friend Viktoria enough for showing me a part of her country, North Macedonia, and its capital Skopje.

It all started when she told us that to celebrate her thirtieth birthday, she would organize a party in her home country, Northern Macedonia.

Not going to lie, I took the opportunity to celebrate my friend, of course, but also to discover a country that was still totally unknown to me. Various twists and turns in planning this escapade made me couple this trip with the discovery of the capital of Kosovo – Priština (remember my wish to visit the European capitals before my 30th birthday).

This post tells the story of my discovery of Skopje, the country’s capital, with my friend Viktoria, one of her childhood friends living in the Macedonian capital, a Swiss friend of Viktoria’s family and (suspense) my dad. I was talking about twists and turns, and my dad was one of them. I was delighted to discover these two countries with him.

Lausanne Switzerland Vaud

5 hidden Cafés in Lausanne

By wanderlustale March 14, 2022

In Lausanne, whether it’s in the sub-station district, in unusual alleys or nestled in public monuments, if you’re looking for a good place to enjoy a cup of coffee, you’ll be spoilt for choice. So much so, that over the years, I have developed quite a long list of cafés that I recommend. At the end of this article, you will find an interactive map of the best cafés in Lausanne.

Shall we go for a coffee?

Whether it is a consensual social habit, a sacred ritual or a need for caffeine to wake up, the café (whether it is the drink in French – coffee, or the place – café) is a gathering place. A stimulating environment in terms of architecture, the art of living and atmosphere, but also a place to relax in a friendly setting.

Switzerland Ticino

6 places off the beaten track in Ticino

By wanderlustale January 15, 2022

Ticino, land of water. There’s nothing wrong with this, as the Italian-speaking Swiss canton is full of beaches, rivers, gorges and waterfalls. It is enough to develop a cascade of memories in Ticino.

With its two lakes (Lugano and Maggiore) and its many valleys, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland is a canton to be discovered and a favourite place to get away for German-speaking city dwellers. A place which for them does not seem so out of place, as the Swiss-German language has become common in Ticino (which is a pity, as Italian is much more melodious).

Europe Porto Portugal

8 steps to discover the vibrant city of Porto

By wanderlustale December 2, 2021

There is an old Portuguese adage putting Porto into context: “While Lisbon is being beautiful, Coimbra is studying, Braga is praying and Porto is working”.

Although I had visited Porto on a previous family trip, I had no memory of the Portuguese city, which made it an ideal destination for a friend’s trip. However, I had a feeling I was going to enjoy Porto; a guaranteed crush with its good and positive vibes between its dazzling colours and its messy azulejos.

Glarus Switzerland

A daring hike to the Limmernsee

By wanderlustale October 13, 2021

Switzerland is full of breathtaking hiking trails that lead to stunning destinations. Most of them are already well known (Grosse Mythen, Augstmatthorn, etc), but there are still some real hidden treasures (such as la Tine de Conflens). The Limmernsee hike I am presenting to you today is one of them, hidden in the canton of Glarus.

It’s a canton that is still unknown but worth visiting, especially because it has majestic mountains called the Glarner Alps. And where nuggets emerge, such as the Limmernsee hike, which I’ve been eyeing for some time (thanks Instagram!).

Admont Austria Europe

Admont Abbey, Austria’s hidden treasure

By wanderlustale August 27, 2021

Admont, a quiet village

7:00 am the alarm clock rings, painfully early after a short night in the youth hostel in Graz. The 10:40 train ride of the day before is also felt, and I’m about to undertake a short 2-hour journey to the centre of Austria, to discover a timeless place.

A surprising place that was the main reason for my trip to Austria in the summer of 2021. I will take you to Admont, a small Austrian municipality located in Styria (whose capital is Graz).

Edinburgh Europe Scotland United Kingdom

The complete guide to Edinburgh

By wanderlustale November 20, 2020

“There’s no leaving Edinburgh, No shifting it around: it stays with you, always.”

Alan Bold

With my eyes fixed on the gloomy sky that covers Lake Léman with an opaque mist, I see no ray of sunshine emerging from my balcony. I am simply reading but my thoughts are elsewhere. My heart too. I am nostalgic, happy to be back in my beloved Switzerland, but I can’t repress the tiny depression that hugged me when I returned at the beginning of the year 2020. It seems that students often feel this feeling when they return from a university exchange. I miss it, I miss my adventure, I miss my Scottish life, and above all I miss Edinburgh!

This state of mind doesn’t go away but, life goes on, you get used to it again, you start classes again. Then, Covid-19 takes over… It’s almost a year since I left for Edinburgh. But I look back and ask myself: How did this city manage to fascinate me so much, to give me an incredible feeling of freedom? Everyone is different and will experience the same thing in a totally distinct way, yet Edinburgh is worth visiting, worth living, and I will reveal its secrets in this article. This is the complete guide to discovering the Scottish capital.

Europe Sweden

The must-sees of the Swedish capital, Stockholm

By wanderlustale November 19, 2020

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, appears to be a quiet and trouble-free little town. However, beneath its apparent tranquillity, it hides a dynamic city. Situated on the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is built partly on fourteen small islands at the mouth of Lake Mälaren and is mainly grouped into five districts that are not to be missed (Gamla Stan, Ostermalm, Södermalm, Djurgården and Norrmalm).