vivreenguadeloupe

[vivreenguadeloupe]

T H A N K Y O U

a big THANKS goes out to everyone who followed my blog. who saw the stories, pictures, videos and updates about my life on the island and travelling.

writing a blog helps me to reflect, to remember and to appreciate what I am doing and what I am going through.

I do appreciate that you took the time to read about my experiences and I was glad about the cute feedback I got. Not only writing a blog for myself, but others who are happy to get little updates makes ME very happy.

kisses and until next time, Kat

[vivreenguadeloupe]

surfing & home bound

the next days of surfing went quite well - the surf teacher took me to the big waves even though I was scared :))

he pushed me in some big waves and sometimes I managed to get up.. only because of his help (I don't paddel fast enough :))).

I really enjoyed the days in Zipolite. I love this cute little village. We went out every night to eat, played wizard, smoked flower cigarettes and talked a lot. I had my own room in the accommodation and enjoyed my alone-time. On friday the 13th I dropped my phone and the screen went black so I spent the last days in Mexico without my beloved smartphone (which wasn't that bad after all).

On my last day of surf lessons I (and the surf teacher Mango) broke another surfboard (Zach already broke one before) cause the wave caught us badly.. nevertheless he took me out on the ocean to watch the sunset (cute mexicans).

We left Zipolite on the 14th (without being able to say goodbye to Mango - and you know I hate not being able to say goodbye!!) and went back to Oaxaca at night on the worst busride. The road was bumpy and we didn't manage to sleep.

Chrix left 2 days earlier because he went to see some ruins, which I had definitely enough of, so it was just Eric, Zach and I.

Eric left after one day in Oaxaca to see his girlfriend in playa del carmen and Zach and I went to Puebla and Cholula, where we were supposed to see the Volcano from the top of the biggest pyramide, but the fog was very dense this day.

On the 17th we arrived back in Mexico City where we stayed one night and we finally flew home on the 18th at 13:35!! I was so excited to go back to cold Austria - and a bit sad to leave warm Mexico. We flew to Toronto (4hrs without any snacks - thanks to Air Canada) where we met a nice guy from Switzerland and 7hrs to Munich where Zach made friends with a old Canadian couple.

We took the train to Vienna (it was 0°C!!!) and met with our uni friends because they were already going away on their semester abroad to Denmark (Aarhus) and France (Montpellier).

Since I broke my phone I don't have any pictures from the last days.

I am glad to be back but feel a bit empty and overwhelmed. I think it takes some time to get fully into it again. I hope that I took some relaxed vibes home from Guadeloupe and that I don't fall into old habits of being too stressed, too worried too this too that.

[vivreenguadeloupe]

The public transport we take here is called ‚colectivo‘ and it lookes like this:

You just wait besides the street and wave your hand when it passes. It costs around 1€ to drive ~15minutes and if there is not enough space the people just stand in the back and hold onto the metal pieces.

Taxis are everywhere if the colectivos are not someone’s thing. The buses are also very easy and cheap once you find them. We paid 55 pesos (MX$) which is like ~2,75€ for one hour to go to Mazunte :)

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Zicatela Mazunte Zipolite

We stayed around 4 days in Puerto Escondido (first in the ‚center‘, later in Zicatela). In Puerto Escondido we did a bioluminescence tour - Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism (yes, wikipedia) so if you swim in water you see blue light around your body. It was an amazing experience and it felt really magical.

Then we went to Zicatela which is very touristy and there are heaps of surfers - we rented surfboards once but the waves were crazy and I didn’t try it there. Most of the time I was lying on the beach, tanning, reading, relaxing. Finally a destination had vegetarian options. The streets were full of fancy restaurants and cafés with even vegan options. Since it was very crowded and the waves were not the best for us we booked a surfcamp in Zipolite where the waves are smaller.

On the way there we stopped in Mazunte one night and I loved it there. It was like Zicatela but calmer and the vibe was great. We went to a raggae party and had great fun on the beach and on the party. Since that village my mood got better and I even manage to counterfeit the guys sometimes. It‘s not too easy to travel with three guys who constantly make fun of you or tease you (which is really disturbing after some time tbh). We talked that issue out but I still have to fight to be treated respectfully sometimes.

The first day in Zipolite (which is even smaller than Mazunte) was great! We stay in a rather old and shabby hostel but the owners are so friendly and I love the oldish vibe there. Everything is laid back and on the beach there is almost only naked people. :))

My first surf lesson (I only tried it by myself once in Guadeloupe) went very well I‘d say. We had a great teacher and I managed to get up on the board almost every time. Some times I also got a great nose-mouth wash with saltwater but I really enjoyed it and had so much fun. Plus, we surfed just when the sun set so we had amazing views while catching the waves.

I can‘t wait to improve my skills, to stay in this beautiful place and to hopefully stay as happy as I am now ✨

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Mexico - Puebla y Oaxaca

On the 28th we went from Mexico City to Puebla, a cute, colorful city. Mole is a traditional food there (a chocolaty sauce usually eaten with chicken). We stayed there one night and went to Oaxaca where a friend of Zach (Eric) joined us. We went to another historical sight (Monte Alban), where we saw more pyramides, and the markets there. I got my hair cut for 2,50€ (new year new me :))).

For new years it’s a tradition to wear either red or yellow underwear for good luck in love or career. We spent the night in Oaxaca with some people from France, Switzerland, Australia and Germany. We went out just before midnight and had a fun time in one ‚club‘. On the 1st we relaxed, went out to eat (vegan!!!) and took the night bus to Puerto Escondido (on the pacific coast). Couldn‘t wait to be back on the seaside with warm weather.

I am very moody since I started travelling with the guys. I hope that this is going to change now with the weather and the sea cause right now I can‘t wait to be back although I wanted to travel so bad and wanted to stay as long as possible.

Autriche, tu me manques!!

[vivreenguadeloupe]

already missing guadeloupe a bit

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Christmas

we spent christmas giving footballs, jumping ropes, hula hoops and coloring pencils to the kids in la paz and el altro. we went to eat in a chinese restaurant, drank a bit and waited until 1:30 when we went to the airport. The trip was La paz - Lima - Mexico City. We expected it to be a bit warmer than bolivia but it was actually much colder (we were happy that in our dorm of 8 there were only the three of us - like that we collected the blankets from the other beds and slept in the same bed to keep us warm).

I enjoy Mexico City wayy more than La Paz. Everyone says that Mexico City is not that safe but I didn’t feel unsafe at all. The first afternoon the city was empty (taxi driver told us it’s because everyone was hungover from christmas) and it rained heavily. Next day the street was CROWDED.

We took our first trip to the Teotihuacán pyramids which was impressing (most of the pyramid city hasn’t even been dugged out and it is already massive!!) The next day we visited the Mexica (Azteca) museum and saw a small concert in the center. The third day we visited the archeological museum where all the cultures were showed. Thee days of learning about the history of mexico is definitely enough for me.

The food here is (of course) mostly with meat but I managed to get some vegetarian options. The people are very friendly and helpful (mostly if you‘re able to speak at least a bit of spanish..).

Thanks to Chrix we‘re able to communicate because most people can’t speak english at all.

Now we’re goign to Puebla and then Oaxaca. Hopefully in a few days we‘ll be at the pacific coast, surf and enjoy the sun ✨

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Bolivia - Sucre & La Paz

After spending 30hrs to get to Sucre in Bolivia (because | had visa and boarding struggles - yesss me and 50 other people missed the boarding and didn't make it to catch the plane) Zach and Chrix

picked me up at the airport.

Driving through the dry, cold landscape full of mountains was the first change witnessed. I saw the poverty of the people before even arriving there.

In Sucre we went to a market and ate a menu for like

2€. As always it's not that easy for vegetarians but Chrix managed to get something for me. I was kinda shocked by the hygiene at the market but I think I have to get used to this.

The last 2 weeks in Guadeloupe I felt exhausted and a bit sick. I got really sick the day after I arrived in Bolivia and have only left my bed to travel from Sucre to La Paz. After a week in bed I am slowly getting better but am still very exhausted when doing the bare minimum. That might also be because of the height - 2800m altitude in La Paz.

First impressions of Bolivia ...

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Au revoir

After 3,5 months of being in the caribbean it was time to say goodbye. As you know, saying goodbye is a really hard thing to do for me. I know I will see some people again and I will probably come back to see Guadeloupe again but it hurts so much to leave this beautiful island where I made so many incredible memories.

A big thanks goes out to the people I met here. I appreciate that I got to know new friends and new cultures.

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

Now it’s time to leave Guadeloupe and start a new adventure in south america. I am more than thankful to have the opportunity to do what I am doing right now. lots of love

13/12/2022

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Mes parents

My parents came to visit me for one week. They stayed in our apartment. I saw the well-known places for the 15th time here but I also managed to see new sights I that were still on my list. Including a waterfall where we had to walk through mud an steep trails to get there (dad was very happy :))).

Since this was my last week I had many things to prepare, a backpack to be packed and exams to be written. I kinda managed all of that (with some stressful angry moods and surely one failed exam). I‘m happy that they visited me, that we got to see many stunning places together and that they got to know my (3rd) home and my friends. 🫶

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Soufrière, Vieux Fort et Route du Rhum

the weather on basse terre (other side of Guadeloupe; other wing of the butterfly) is almost always cloudy and rainy. We were lucky enough to catch a good day to go to the volcano. Although we only had some short moments without fog and clouds, a looot of wind and my shoe got stuck in the mud just when we arrived at the top I really liked it. It was a special feeling to be on a volcano and smell the sulphur in the air.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at vieux fort where we jumped off the cliffs and sat by the lighthouse.

Route du Rhum: this is a sailing competition which first took place in 1978 to promote guadeloupe (and ofc it‘s rum). It takes place every 4 years and now, in 2022, there were 138 sailors from all over the world in 6 different categories (boat types) who took part to sale across the atlantic ocean from saint malo to guadeloupe in between 6 days (new record this year) and ~15 days. It was great to welcome the first sailor at 5am and to see all the concerts and events taking place since mid-november.

Besides that Zach had a visitor and we did a trip together and saw &bathed in great natural basins. We spent a great day with Neal and Julie (the friends we made here) and slept on the beach in hammocks and watched the sun rise. Zach left on the 29th of november and this was last on his bucket list to do here.

Zach leaving means that my last steps are the visit of mom and dad, last exams and then off to new adventures in south america. I don‘t want to think about saying goodbye to all the friends I made here and all the places I fell in love with. Tears are ready to be cried.

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Dete & Sandra

Getting many visitors means exploring new places together. I spent only 2 days with them but I really enjoyed it. We saw waterfalls, natural baths, beaches, sunrises, had great food and drinks.

Stairs of slavery (pic 8) - at the harbour of petit canal where the slaves arrived. Only in 1848 slavery was forbidden.

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Kathi 1.2

We went to Caravelle and market of Sainte-Anne on Monday and picked up Dete and Sandra from the airport in the evening. On Tuesday I skipped university to do a snorkeling boat tour in the middle of Grand Terre and Basse Terre. We saw the Mangroves (which are amazing trees that can filter salt water), saw the coral riff (which is dying fast!!!), the bird tree, the natural pool and a ship that sunk 50 years ago. On the boat we had Planteur (rum mixed with fruit juices) which made me a bit tipsy. After our tour we went to cross training (which was – as always – very exhausting and probably not the best idea when being tipsy).

On Wednesday I went to university (yes, that also happens from time to time) and Zach and Kathi went to see turtles. On Thursday we also had university until 18:00 and then packed to move to our new apartment.

After some drama with our old flat we moved into a very pretty apartment farther away from university, in the direction of Sainte-Anne. We spent the day moving in, buying souvenirs and dropping Kathi at the airport.

I was very happy to explore the Island a bit more and saw places I haven’t before. Visitors from Austria make me realize how used I got to life here and how many things I see as normal, which are a bit strange to others. To sum up I had a great but also tiring week.

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Kathi 1.1

Kathi arrived just after our holidays in Marie Galante, on Wednesday evening. The next day we had university and swam to Ilet de Gosier (before that we saw Leguans on the beach) in the afternoon. On Friday we had university, went to eat vegan in Pointe-à-Pitre (finally a restaurant we were not disappointed after) and walked around the city (spices market, jewellery stands, … In the evening we went to the market in Gosier (which takes place every Friday). We already had a car booked for Saturday but the weather was very rainy so we changed the dates. On Saturday we went to a Rum Distillery with Degustation.

On Sunday the weather was not too bad and we visited a beach Anse Laborde) and cliffs in the north of Grand Terre (Trou a Man Loui and Pointe de la grande vigie) which gave me some Cliffs of Moher vibes. We ended the day with beer and fresh juice at Kabana beach restaurant.

[vivreenguadeloupe]

Marie Galante

in our 3 days of holidays we went to another island, 1 hr away from Guadeloupe, called Marie Galante. It's a really small and cute island. We were a bit late with booking but everything worked out perfectly fine! We couldn't rent a car (they were all fully booked, cause many people used the opportunity to go there this weekend) but we got a Scooter and it was amazing to explore the island like that.

We stayed in a tipi village which was amazing and in a very calm and beautiful place. Really romantic but I was there with my best friend (dommage!:)) ).

We went to see some cute beaches, the Gueule Grand Gouffre, some beautiful cliffs and saw the mangroves. Besides old buildings and distilleries there is not much to see so we took the scooter straight through the island which was beautiful. There are lots of farmers and it is sooo green - I loved it. It was an amazing trip. Our friends from Erasmus stayed there 4 days without accommodation and ways of transport. They slept in hammocks and walked around the island once. We took the comfortable way to travel around.

impressions of the romantic island: