Archive for personal

The trip that made me fall in love with traveling

exploring Barcelona

I remember my days back at the University when one of the very few safe things I could count on were the little money I had and my parents back home. I was intelligent enough to save something and make wonders with a little. The story that follows was one of them.

I was studying at the University in Czech republic, some 500 km from my home town in Slovakia and the summer of 2007 I decided to go to Spain. To Barcelona, the city I had visited once already but hated it. Why I chose the same place if I didn’t like it remains a mystery to me.

Everyone, both my family and friends were telling me I was crazy to go to Barcelona alone for 3 weeks and without having any accommodation booked.

It was my first trip like that and to be honest I still don’t know if it was my stubbornness, the strong will of standing on my feet or just showing them that I could do it and they were wrong.

The reason now does not matter. What matters though is the fact that going to Barcelona against my parents’ decision was the trip that made me fall in love with traveling. I had only around 1,000 euros with me and no plans for the following 3 weeks.

 

exploring Barcelona

exploring Barcelona

 

I found a hostel a 2-minute walk from La Rambla, the main tourist street. If I remember right, it was the first time I ever stayed at a hostel and let me tell you, it was so much fun! Everyone knew me there already, I started giving tips to other tourists about the best things to do in Barcelona and spent nights talking to my new friend – the receptionist from Argentina. It was there when I also fell in love with the Argentinian accent.

 

Quickly, I changed my opinion about Barcelona. It turned from initial disgust to my favorite city. I fell in love with La Boqueria market, exotic fruit and healthy juices I had never seen before, different beaches close to the city centre, great shopping, good discounts and streets full of life. The famous architecture of Gaudi and the amazing views from the surrounding hills added up the glamour to my visit. I even took some tours with locals in Barcelona.

 

the views of Barcelona

the views of Barcelona

 

This trip taught me a lot. I learned to count on something new – myself – even though being very young in the opinion of many. It taught me to enjoy my own company. It taught me that everyone and also everything deserves a second chance because if I chose any other destination, I would probably still hate Barcelona somewhere deep in my heart with no real reason. It also taught me that healthy food is usually more expensive than junk food but on the other hand it gives me more energy.

This trip taught me that strangers can become my best friends (I am still in touch with the Argentine receptionist) and that just a smile in the morning can make up for a beautiful day. But most of all the trip taught me that save some money is always useful and traveling opens not only my eyes but also my heart.

Since this trip, I revisit Barcelona every year at least once … Was it me who gave Barcelona the second chance or it was Barcelona that gave a second chance to me? I would be missing out way too much if I’d never gone back …

27 reasons why I wish it was the end of the world today

the bright day outside

So the end of the world on the 21st December 2012 is here. The Mayan calendar was misunderstood to make a big deal of it without people really knowing what the Mayas – the intelligent astronomers meant with it.

Not the end of the world, but the end of an era.

 

I woke up this morning to the noise of the neighbours’ children running around the apartment above. I looked out of the window and saw the most beautiful day ever. Sunny and dry in Slovakia in the end of December? I haven’t seen such a bright day for ages! And I hope it’s a sign of our brighter future …

the bright day outside

the bright day outside

But I do wish it was the end of the world today.

 

I wish it was the end of the bad world, the end of the world of:

 

1. sickness

2. wars

3. killing

4. cheating

5. unemployment

6. homeless people (unless we decide to be them and travel the world like I do)

7. lies

8. hurting others

9. chemicals in food, cosmetics and drinks

10. human and animal violence

11. fake things

12. fake people

13. stupidity

14. overpriced things

15. stealing

16. bad accidents

17. hunger

18. unfairness

19. rape

20. bribe

21. visas

22.racism

23. broken hearts

24. unhealthy life

25. orphans

26. no education

27. paying for wifi

 

Yes, there are 27 reasons that make me wish it was the end of the world today! The end of the old bad world … and the beginning of a new BETTER era.

 

There’s at least two easy things on the list that you could try to change right now:

– 24. unhealthy life – that’s what I am trying to change personally too. Head over to my other blog to get the best tips on how to stay fit when traveling.

– 25. orphans – there are many orphans in this world and I really feel with them! I always try to help, give clothes and shoes to charities and donate money too. I was lucky enough not to be an orphan and I cannot imagine how difficult it has to be for little children without their parents. I want them to have a place to stay, get hot meals, go to school and get their education. You can donate straight to two charities Mitrata and VSO Bahaginan by donating $25. I am sure you will not miss those $25 in your pocket, but the poor children will be thankful for them forever as it will help them to survive. And for those $25 you will even get a 2013 calendar full of sexy people 🙂 Find out more about Travel Blogging Calendar 2013 here and order it here today. Remember, don’t let the orphans to experience the real end of the world for them. Help with your $25!

7 reasons why I don’t drink alcohol

alcohol no thank you

If you read about me, then you know I quit drinking on the 1st January 2009. It was just a New Year´s resolution for the year 2009 but during that year I realized I don´t need alcohol any more. I have not tasted alcohol ever since. Not even as a part of any cake, sweets or anything else.

Why?

There are many reasons. Apart from some family and personal reasons which I don’t usually speak about, there are still many more.

alcohol no thank you

alcohol? no thank you … where to go next?

1) I never liked beer, nor wine and I only used to drink cocktails, such as Sex on the beach or something sweet like Malibu (yes, I love coconut!) And you usually drink cocktails only when you go out at night, right? Recently, I work on my blogs at night or only go out with people I really like and to have fun with them, I don’t need to drink.

2) My dad has a pub in my home town Snina, Slovakia. I want him to earn money and not to spend his money on all the free alcohol he would have to give me if I drank alcohol when I am there.

3) No matter how much I used to drink, I could never get drunk. I am serious. I only laughed more. And I already laugh way too much sometimes. So what’s the point of drinking then?

4) I could eat chocolate and ice cream 24/7 so at least I try to do a lot of other healthy stuff. Not drinking alcohol is one of them.

5) Not paying for alcohol, I save a lot of money that I can use on my trips. Woo hoo! I remember when I still used to live in Scotland and I was doing city breaks every week. The others were wasting time and money on drinks and they sometimes spent more than me those days traveling. True story!

6) Each time I wake up next to a guy, he can be sure I will know his name 100% and that I am there because I want to be and not because I couldn’t see him properly due to too much alcohol in my blood the previous night.

7) I don’t have to spend time asking friends ”What happened last night?” (because let’s be honest, it does happen regularly to many) and then stay in shock. “WTF! What did you say? With who? What did I do with him???” … But then, sorry guys, if your performance was bad, I will remember it. Unfortunately … unfortunately for you, fortunately for me… so next time I know it will be ”NEXT”.

No alcohol for me does not mean I cannot visit wine cellars and learn how they produce wine, it is still interesting to me.

Sex and Couchsurfing?

my couch back home

Ok, I know that this title will attract a lot of readers and that is exactly the point of it as I want as many people to hear about this thing as possible.

I think you are all familiar with Couchsurfing concept already – staying on a couch of a person you basically meet via the website only. You stay there for free and sometimes the person that hosts you will show you around the city if he/she has time. In return I try to cook something or invite the person for lunch/dinner (I don’t like cooking!) or just spend some quality time together.

I use couchsurfing pretty often myself, especially when I have no time to book accommodation or everything seems too expensive. Or when I just want to meet locals and spend time with them. I used it a lot in Thailand, Argentina, Bolivia and many other countries.

my couch back home

my couch back home

But then, many people just confuse it with some online dating or let’s be honest – an easy way of finding someone to sleep with! I mean, WTF?! Are you on the right website?? If that is what you are expecting when letting a person sleep on your couch, than you are hell wrong!

Couchsurfing is for free, you offer your place to stay for free and what you should get from the guest is for free too. Where did you get that instead of saying thank you, you should get a night/nights full of pleasure???

I feel like punching the guy who expects that when I stay on his couch.

Once a guy was hosting me in a big city. I came to his apartment and found out that the ”couch” was just an inflatable matress with no space at all, breathing just against the huge TV or into his face on the bed just next to it. Not fun!

Or some people don’t even have a couch and offer you directly their bed instead. What does it mean to me? Back off!!!

Then, a guy in Argentina I spent talking to for more than a month, even asked for holidays to travel around the area with me for a week. Not even once during that time I gave him any chance of something happening in between us. But yes, I bet you are right now when thinking what happened. I came to his apartment … he was nice in the beginning. But then wanted to kiss me, I said no and his behaviour change completely. He cancelled his holidays, went back to work the following morning, so I decided to leave with a couple I spent traveling with for a few weeks and do the route I planned to do with that guy. As we had to return the rented car in the same town after a few days, he told me to leave my stuff I didn’t need in his house. Believe it or not, he was really nasty when I came back, letting me wait outside of his apartment for 3 hours, then shouting at me and wanting to kick me out with all my things at 1 am. Really??? He must have been really desperate. Pay for sex next time!

I am not that easy. Just because you offer me a free bed/couch to sleep on, I won’t sleep there with you! I get free rooms in hotels and whole apartments. Do you think they want sex in return for that?? NO!

Unfortunately, I am not the only one with those experiences.

Each time I have a conversation with someone about Couchsurfing, they come up with those crazy stories. Even gay stories as well. A hetero friend of mine when visiting Germany was being hit by his gay host. Not fun!

And a few months ago I also got an email about a group of people speaking about some people who force you to sex when using their couch.

After this, I even added a sentence into my Couchsurfing profile: If you are expecting sex in return, don’t even accept my Couch request!!!

But not all the experiences I have had with Couchsurfing were of this kind. Many of them were amazingly great and we are still in touch with many of those people who hosted me!

Has anyone of you had the same experience? Don’t be shy, share it with us in the comments.

Interviews with travelers I meet around the world

Alex of we travel around the world in Mexico

Like I said on my We Travel Around the World facebook fanpage a couple of days ago, from now on there will be interviews with travelers I met when traveling around the world. Some are travel bloggers, random travelers, family or friends that ever took a trip with me will be interviewed by me and then published in here. I will also publish a lot of photos on this blog. July 2012 is Philippines month so for Philippines lovers, check out the other posts. Still the main blog with the articles, videos and other photos will remain Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler.

Just to show you how it is going to look like, I interviewed myself to start with 🙂 Every traveler will get the same 5 questions and include 1 photo of her/him, and one with me. In case we did not take any, there will be 2 photos of the traveler. If the traveler is a travel blogger, I will link back to her/his website.

If we ever met around the world, I would love to get an interview done with you so please send me an email to travelaroundtheworldcouple@gmail.com. Looking forward! 🙂

 

Here are my answers:

 

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

 

I am Alexandra, owner of this travel blog and Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler. I was born in Slovakia but have not been living there for the last 9 years already, moving from a place to a place and enjoying our beautiful Mother Earth. I am basically a crazy girl who loves travel and since March 2011 traveling around the world and blogging about it has been the only thing I do and enjoy. I think I have the best job ever. I am a huge lover of beaches, sun, sea, sunbathing, ships, motorbikes and adventures … so put me to the beach, or force me to do skydiving or snorkeling, I will enjoy all of them! Read 39+1 secrets about me if you want to find out more 🙂

Alex of we travel around the world in Mexico

Alex of we travel around the world in Mexico

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)

 

My favorite country is Mexico since I started its history years ago. I love the Mexican accent, Mexican food (not spicy but all the rest), the people are super simpaticos, beaches are breath-taking and the archaeological ruins even more! It is one of those countries I could easily live in and never get bored of.

From disgust to my favorite city is what happened with Barcelona. I stopped counting the times I have been there, it is kind of my rules to go there at least once a year (usually it is more times per year). I love everything about Barcelona, its beaches, architecture, markets, people, atmosphere …

My favorite place? I have many, but our biggest mountains in Slovakia – High Tatras are one of those places on top of my list. I cannot stop looking at them, not even from the train each time I go by.

 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

 

I dream big! I would start in Slovakia and then visist every country in the world, spending in each at least 2 weeks or 1 month. That is my biggest dream and I am working on it!

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

 

Our mountains. We have 9 national parks and all of them are stunning in their own way. Mountains, forests, lakes and rivers are what I miss the most about my country when I am abroad (after my family and friends!) I realize I should write more about them to show people Slovakia is a small big country 🙂 Castles and caves too.

And I cannot live without Slovak food either which is not healthy at all, but very delicious!

And I really enjoy all the Slovak accents and slang words we have as I cannot use them almost anywhere else in the world, just at home.

 

5. How travel changes you?

 

There are many reasons why I travel. And also many things how travel changes me. I started seeing things from other people’s point of view. I started to see other cultures and understand them more even if they live in a different way than I do. I started to realize it can be always worse. I started enjoying simple details every day as you never know, it could be your last day. I started to dedicate all my life to seeing the beauty of our world and show people it is worth it. Travel changes me completely. It makes me a better person. It makes me happy. It makes me to travel more.

in Tierra del Fuego national park

in Tierra del Fuego national park in Argentina

 

Love,
Alex