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Atlas

China – Beijing, Forbidden City – Part 2

Post-Christmas, Beijing-Style (AKA: How I Froze, Found Mao, and Touched Heaven)

The day after Christmas, though truth be told, this year it was more of a non-Christmas, we kicked off part two of our China adventure: three days in the frosty heart of Beijing. Armed with neatly packed notes, camera in hand, and enough curiosity to power a bullet train, I was ready for a cultural marathon in sub-zero temperatures.

The flight from Shanghai was a breezy two hours, and when we landed in Beijing, our local guide Jack was already waiting for us at the airport. Jack wasn’t really “Jack,” of course. Like many Chinese guides, he picked an easier-to-pronounce name for European tourists, because let’s be honest, even after he repeated his real name three times, I still couldn’t get it right. Read more

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Atlas

China – Horns, History & a Hint of Chaos – Part 1

“Ni hao, Communist nostalgia!” – My First Days in Shanghai

The moment you land at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, you feel it. That vague, stiff air of communism, like a flashback to a different era, especially if you’ve lived through one. The border agent looks at you like you’ve just been caught with a suitcase full of secrets, eyes sharp, posture military. Maybe it’s just the uniform. Maybe it’s my 17-hour flight-induced paranoia. Either way, I found myself wondering if I’d accidentally broken a law just by blinking too often.

One thing’s for sure: do not take photos in the airport. I made that mistake with the enthusiasm of a clueless tourist and was swiftly, politely-but-firmly shut down by the Chinese police.

Welcome to China, land of dragons, dynasties, dumplings… and very clear rules. Read more

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Atlas

Cape Verde Island – Sun, sand and (mild) panic

I’ll admit it, I boarded that plane to Cape Verde with the same level of preparation I give to IKEA furniture assembly: overconfident and underinformed. Life had been hectic, and unlike my usual travel-nerd self, I hadn’t done my homework. Originally, we wanted to go to The Gambia, but apparently, so did half of Europe, no vacancies. So, second choice was Boa Vista, Cape Verde.
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The next city

One Week in Den Helder: Blue Skies, Fairytales and Chocolate Cravings

Saturday morning started the only way any good Saturday should: coffee first, always. (Coffee addict here, remember?) Once the caffeine hit just right, we packed a few bags and headed off on a little adventure to the north of the Netherlands.

Our destination? Julianadorp aan Zee, a charming village just 4 km south of Den Helder, the northernmost city in the Netherlands. We booked a cozy bungalow in Strandslag, nestled right at the foot of the sand dunes lining the North Sea. Read more

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