Travel the World: A few of the most beautiful libraries

Updated: January 2025.

 

Endless rows of bookshelves with kilos if not tons of books. Libraries are an ode to lifelong learning; they are temples of education. On a city trip, libraries are ideal places to spend some quiet time. The amazing atmosphere one experiences, when surrounded by books amplified by stunning architecture, is an exquisite experience. Follow me around the world. If you are a curious traveller, a bookworm, and a fan of architecture, you are going to want to visit all these magnificent libraries.

15 inspiring books to read for your trip to New York City

Do you know what is so great? Visiting New York and reading stories about it or reading stories about it before you visit. Either way, you can dig deep into a place the more you read about it. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote or The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald are probably the classic tales that made you want to visit New York City (ever since you first read these).

The Unfair Traveller - Symptoms and Treatment - Travel Etiquette

Travelling is what I love to do, in recent months alone I visited seven different countries, and you can well imagine that I spend a lot of time in, on and around public transport, like train stations, bus stops, airports, planes, boats and trains. I always expect the very worst things that can happen to me on my travels. I’m fully aware that I’m at risk of experiencing profoundly disturbing or utterly bothersome things, as soon as I leave my home. I love that with my expectation comes a feeling of being prepared (up to a certain extent).

The Unfair Traveller - Symptoms

Looking at the state of things when travelling I have serious doubts that we will ever achieve world peace.

Travel and Feel the Vibe. Street Art explains places

Imagine a life full of blue or red balloons, dogs that wear golden crowns, flying hearts, little black men in street signs, sunglasses-wearing elephants, cheeky video game characters, cherubs who carry devil horns... When travelling to a location, one wants to see the hotspots – the Tour Eiffel in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, the Tower of London, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the list goes on. But what about all the street art that is out there? Some call it vandalism. Vandalism according to the Oxford dictionary is: Action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property. When I travel I hunt for street art and I see it as art. Next time when you see street art as vandalism, think again. Please, it tells you so much about a place. 

Nominated for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award (4): The Touristin

The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award goes to female bloggers around the world. I was seriously surprised that I have been nominated a fourth time (within a few weeks) and this time by Maria from Travel with G. Thank you so very much for thinking of me Maria, I love to talk to you whenever we meet in the virtual world, be it on twitter or Instagram  and I hope we meet one day in the real world. It feels so special that someone in another country thinks of you right? 

As per the rules, I answered Marias' ten questions about travel, created a new list of ten questions and awarded ten female bloggers. Go and visit their blogs and please say hi.

And this is what Maria was interested in.

Stop at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner on a road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

 Updated July 2023.

The article ‘Stop at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner on a road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas’ tells you about a visit to Peggy Sue’s Diner in Yermo, an ideal place to visit on a stop on a road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. You find info about the atmosphere, food, distances, drive times, and general information about Peggy Sue’s 50's Diner.

Is travelling all about the food?

If you ask me which country in the world has got the best food I would say Cambodia. The food I had there was simple, lots of vegetables and rice and all these exciting flavours. But again, how can I pick just one country? 

What about those perfectly cooked Paccheri Pasta in cream of Provolone del Monaco cheese garnished with black truffle slivers I ate in Italy? Once I tried Avocado Toast in Australia I was lost forever, it is now a breakfast staple of mine. My olive addiction started in Spain ... And then there are Koeksisters in South Africa, grilled vegetables, halloumi cheese and balsamic glaze in Athens, Greece, homemade bread in Botswana … and the list goes on. 

In Australia, breakfast is only complete with Avocado toast

Foodie moments enhance the experience of travelling

All these foodie moments surely enhance the experience of travelling, since most dishes were created over a period of time, most often centuries, and are deeply rooted in each countries culture. 

If you travel you often find food you have never seen before. That is what happened when I went to Cambodia, where I saw they sold fried Tarantulas at the roadside and on markets. A Cambodian lady at a market in Phnom Penh told me the country’s population started eating spiders during the Khmer Rouge regime when food was scarce to most people. Whenever I tell this, people get all disgusted and say they would never eat things like that. I always answer, don’t be a hypocrite, it is just the same as eating a cow, a rabbit or a pig. To me, there is no difference at all. It is funny how people’s perception of things gets blurred easily out of, let’s call it, ignorance.

Visit local food markets

When you visit local food markets you can be sure to learn most about the country you visit. This is where people do their grocery shopping, no matter their income or their age or gender. You will surely meet a wide variety or to be more precise representative sample of the local population. Some of my favourite markets are the Farmers Market in San Francisco, USA, the Mercate del Rialto in Venice, Italy, the Churchill Island Farmers’ Market in Victoria, Australia, the Toul Tom Poung (Russian Market) in Cambodia, the Neighbourgoods Market in Cape Town, Torvehallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the ever so popular Viktualienmarkt in Munich, Germany.

Recently I travelled to Positano in Italy for no other reason than to visit restaurants, and I had the best foodie time ever. Now I know where to eat in one of Italy's prettiest villages. It takes a lot of effort, true, to visit a place for its food alone, but try it, there is nothing to lose.

Where is your favourite foodie place? 

From Berlin with love

10 of the most vibrant food markets in the world

Farmers' and also food markets are places where traders are passionate about their wares. I try to explain this with a mushroom. These markets are places where someone not only sells you any mushroom but the mushroom that person truly believes is the best mushroom out there. Farmers know the story behind the mushroom, they might even remember the day they started mixing the right ingredients for the compost before they put them in their dark rooms. Or they can recall the very day they went out to gather mushrooms in the forest. They know how much effort it takes to get the perfect product, they respect their food naturally. It is so very lovely to see this pure affection for a product. My secret tip for a great experience at farmers markets is, to start chatting to the farmers. You will most certainly hear the most amazing stories about the food. A visit at a market is about connecting growers and consumers. Do you get that at your local supermarket?

These markets are places where locals and visitors have been buying their wares for decades if not centuries (at least that is the case in some parts of the world). If you are on vacation and visit a market you will be part of that community, if only for a short time. You sure will be able to try food staples you can only get at this particular place, and you will most certainly be longing for these things forever. It is almost as if you tasted the place, literally. A market tells you a lot about a town, you will find out about the relation people have with their food. Why do people eat? What do they want to express? Do they want to express anything at all?

How to best describe food markets? Take passionate farmers and regional food and scatter them around a beautiful landmark. Add the excitement and hunger of locals and visitors, and finish off with the scent of herbs, spices, bbqs and freshly brewed coffee. If that isn’t a recipe for a feast, I don’t know what is.

Come with me on a tour around the world, and see the most vibrant food markets ...

Los Angeles: 2 places to visit between sunset and dusk

I don't know about you, but I have seen it for years in films. Couples, most often madly in love, holding hands and looking at the most beautiful sunset over Los Angeles. And eventually I have done it myself and all I can say is that reality is once more so much better than in the movies.

Griffith Observatory

Everybody has seen the in 1936 built Griffith Observatory on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in the film Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean. I went to Griffith Park just on time before the sun set. The hills became slowly darker and surroundings started to glow softly. The different shades of orange grew directly into the bright blue evening sky. The blue hour can best be described as magical. After dusk the city lights below me glistened just as fantastic, the sea of lights seemed to go on forever.

Hollywood Bowl Overlook

Drive up Mullholland Drive between sunset and dusk, try to park your car somewhere, the parking spot is tiny with only 9 spaces or so. Sorry the brag, but when I arrived, someone just left and I secured my very own spot. Bring enough time to just look at this vast city. Stay, relax, and enjoy the moment. This is special indeed. If you walk up the stairs the view gets even better. Put on insect repellent not to get bitten by mosquitoes. And who knows, you might even see a bobcat or a coyote.

Please follow this link to check the times for sunset.

Which places do you recommend? Looking forward to hear from you.

From Berlin with love

Eyewitness New York City. Nicolette Orlemans from CultureTrav

Nicolette Orlemans is the face behind the blog Cultural Reflections. She is interested in all sorts of stories about moving to the USA, and in how expats handle the new culture in their lives.

She is the founder of #CultureTrav, which is on every Thursday. Everyone working in Social Media, knows, it is best when enjoyed together, because it is all about community. So go on then, join the fun and play together. The more the merrier.

Nicolette is so lucky to call New York City home, and tells us about her special places in the city.

THE TOURISTIN: Three words that characterize New York City?

Nicolette Orlemans: New York City is vibrant, diverse, and interesting!

THE TOURISTIN: How do you get around New York City?

Nicolette Orlemans: The best way around is with the subway. You can (usually) get to where you need to be quickly, and it's a relatively easy system to figure out. Walking is also enjoyable and allows you to get some exercise while discovering new parts of the city.

THE TOURISTIN: What is the best kept secret about New York City?

Nicolette Orlemans: Revealing that wouldn't keep it secret much longer...but I do love the historical High Line. It provides people with the unique perspective of seeing New York City "from above." When you go, be sure to bring a camera, a cup of tea or coffee, and enjoy a leisurely walk! It can be a little bit windy, so keep that in mind.

THE TOURISTIN: What is your favourite borough/suburb/area in New York City and why?

Nicolette Orlemans: The West Village, Chelsea, SoHo, and the Upper West Side (around Lincoln Center) truly represent what New York City is all about, to me. I work in Midtown (very close to Times Square), so I usually leave the area quickly to avoid the crowds. Brooklyn and Queens are wonderful as well, and you'll find fun restaurants, cozy cafes, museums, and other events there. In Brooklyn, I especially enjoy Greenpoint for its Polish cuisine, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and DUMBO for its art community. In Queens, I've explored Astoria and really like it there as well.

THE TOURISTIN: The best place for a hot chocolate or coffee in New York City?

Nicolette Orlemans: Jack's Stir Brew Coffee in the West Village. Specialty coffees, interesting menu, and love the cute cafe with portraits on the wall.

THE TOURISTIN: What is one restaurant we must try out while in New York City?

Nicolette Orlemans: Two of my favorite restaurants are in my own neighborhood in Harlem. Red Rooster has a nice ambiance with live music and tasty food, while at Chez Lucienne you can enjoy authentic, delicious French cuisine.

THE TOURISTIN: Where would we meet you on weekends?

Nicolette Orlemans: The beauty of living in New York City is that weekends are never quite the same. There are many events, art galleries, museums, festivals and other activities happening in all parts of the city throughout the week. I have subscriptions to several newsletters that alert me to events. Even though I've lived here for more than two years, I feel that there is always something to explore.

THE TOURISTIN: Do you have a favourite museum/gallery we all have to visit when in New York City?

Nicolette Orlemans: The American Museum of Natural History and the MoMA remain favorites, but another gem is the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD). The museum showcases the artistic process behind making the art, and you can easily wander around without getting lost in a crowd or feeling overwhelmed.

THE TOURISTIN: What are some of your favourite places to shop for A) groceries and B) clothes?

Nicolette Orlemans: Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have great, fresh grocery selections. Both will be crowded on any day (especially on the weekends), but the lines move quickly and have convenient locations throughout the city! Another smaller, specialty grocery store with a wide assortment is Fairway.

If you enjoy shopping, SoHo is wonderful. There are not only many popular (designer) stores around SoHo, but also fun restaurants and cafes to stop by for lunch or coffee. On a rainy day, the mall at Columbus Circle offers fun, indoor shopping!

THE TOURISTIN: What souvenir shall we bring back from New York City?

Nicolette Orlemans: I find that the best souvenirs are your own photographs since they let you hold on to fun memories, but magnets are a nice, lightweight memento, as well.

THE TOURISTIN: Thank you so very much for your time Nicolette and safe travels.

Meet more eyewitnesses from South Africa, USA and Europe here.

From Berlin with love

Travel USA - Stay at a haunted hotel

Death Valley is an impressive area to visit. It is a little bit out of the way, you have to be on the road for 850 kilometres if you would like to go to San Francisco airport from this dry and hot National Park. 

While driving towards San Francisco, the sun began to set and we realised we had to stop over somewhere in the middle. After I checked the map and without any further research, I booked a night at a hotel in Bakersfield, which is the oil capital of California in Kern County. Little did I know what I was about to experience that night. Even writing it down today, gives me goosebumps.

An evening at the Padre Hotel

Travel USA: Slow day in Big Sur – magic moments

Some places remind me of paradise, I have to admit I like most places I travel to. Aren’t you the same? A long time ago, long as in over a decade (and more) I went to Big Sur and loved it. I always hoped to go back one day, but so many other trips came in the way. But now it felt just about the right time to go again. Big Sur on Highway 1 is on California’s Central coast at the Pacific Ocean. 

The coast strip of Big Sur is idyllic and pretty wild at the same time. Waves are crashing heavily onto grey granite while the colourful flowers standing at the wayside remind me of an English country garden. Driving along Highway 1 is easy since there is hardly any traffic at all. I make a longer stop at Bixby Bridge to take a few snaps, go for a little walk into the canyon, and to simply marvel at the scenery. There is a massive drought going on, all fields are beige, but in contrast the canyons are all lush and green. I look at the sheer vastness of the more than thousands miles of blue ocean and true, I am easy to please, I feel a deep happiness.  

Henry Millers Library 

As I drive further down the highway I discover that the Henry Millers Library is (unsurprisingly) still in the exact spot under the big old trees. There is a cat laying in the front and the furry fella adds to the romantic atmosphere of the place. Have you read Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch? I have a proper look around while a Lady asks for Wi-Fi. 

The guy running the store seems very amused and lets her know that the internet connection is probably slower than snail mail in this place. The early afternoon sun comes through the windows, the rays tint the library in a very light orange, and who needs internet right now? 

Nepenthe Restaurant and McWay Falls waterfall

Before I become too nostalgic I leave the library and head further down Highway 1 to drink a coffee at Café Kevah. Ordering at the counter of the make shift Café on the terrace on the lower deck of Nepenthe Restaurant I decide that an apple cinnamon muffin would make my already perfect day even sweeter. There I am, again looking at the massive ocean. The feathers of the stellar jays, swooping down to steel some left behind cake from fellow customers, have the same deep blue as the water. To the left, next to the road, are rows of green-beige hills under the sunny sky. Someone tells me that I really need to go and see the McWay Falls waterfall in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. 

New world vultures

I wanted this to be a slow day, where I don’t do much, and a browse in the late afternoon is just the thing to do. The guy who send me on this walk along a dirt track was right to do so, never before have I seen a waterfall plunging onto a cove by the ocean. This magical place is beyond beautiful. I spot some Californian condors, they are new world vultures, circling over the trees, their head is bold, and red. They seem to feed their chicks. As I said right in the beginning, some places remind me of paradise. 

Info Big Sur

Henry Miller Memorial Library 48603 California 1, Big Sur, CA 93920.

Nepenthe Café Kevah 48510 California 1, Big Sur, CA 93920.

Eat and Sleep: Romance, style and lots of nature at Glen Oaks Big Sur and Big Sur Roadhouse. 

Have you been to a magic place recently? What did you like best in Big Sur? I would love to hear from you and thank you so much in advance. 

From Berlin with love

5 top destinations I have to return to because they are so amazing

I often go back to places I love. It is a no brainer for me to pick five places that I would like to revisit.

Cape Town, South Africa. I go there once a year and so far visited a whopping 12 times. Still not enough, trip No 13 is booked. Trust me it is heaven - from A as in amazing beaches all the way through to Z as in zesty people. This is also where I start all my road trips in Africa, a massive bonus.

Melbourne, Australia. The city was my home town for full 7 years, so I like to go back there obviously. It is all about coffee, film festivals, street art and trips to the ocean.

Los Angeles, USA. I was there only for a few days and it felt simply too short. Need to go back to develop a better feel about it. So far I am in love.

Tokyo, Japan. To me this a pretty exotic place, I need to go back to discover more of it.

Namibia. The landscape, people and wildlife of Namibia are all breath-taking. I took this picture in Walvis Bay.

What do you think? Where do you like to go back to over and over again and why?

From Berlin with love