Happy New Year everyone! It’s not only January 2nd, but it’s the beginning of a new month, a new year, and not to mention a new decade – let’s make it a good one!
I celebrated new years eve with a great group of friends and had a great time. We hosted new years this year and I had fun setting the table, making a delicious turkey dinner, the most delicious chocolate mouse for dessert, and of course enjoyed some bubbles.. New faces were introduced and great conversations were a part of our celebration, which we always enjoy. How was your celebration of the new year? Regardless of how you celebrated, I hope you had a great time! 🙂
I just bought a new cute day planner, where I’ll be writing down all my appointments and goals & resolutions for 2020. This year I have decided to include my goals for 2020 instead of solely writing a Bucketlist, even though I will have a complete Bucketlist as well! My clear focus this year is to word hard to achieve financial independence and save money for upcoming travel plans, which I’m really exited about! I’ll be sharing my goals & resolutions for 2020 in my next blog post, so stay tuned! 🙂
I posted a Leiden Travel Recommendation on my blog a while back and to follow up on the post (in case you decide to take my recommendation and actually visit Leiden) a restaurant/coffee shop guide is a necessity! 😊 Whenever I visit someplace new, I’m always exited to check out all the restaurants and coffee shops – it’s a mission to locate all the hidden local gems. We all need food & drinks to fuel out bodies and in order to avoid bad dining experiences, I always try to do a little research before traveling. However, when moving to Leiden I was determined to just try out different places and it turned out it was the best thing ever – I came across so many great places! Even though it’s a fairly small city compared to Amsterdam, Leiden still offers a great selection of restaurants and coffee shops!
So without further ado, here are my favorite places to eat & drink in Leiden;
This is the place for anyone that appreciates a good beer (of any kind!), wine, a good drink, and delicious Dutch bar food! As an upscale bar with a wide selection of over 200 types of beer, you’re guaranteed to find something you like. If going out for a drunken night, order the fries and mayonnaise from the bar food menu! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable so if in doubt, don’t hesitate asking for recommendations. This place also offers a food menu (which I unfortunately haven’t tried) and have a big backyard/outdoor patio for warmer days. I actually lived above this place in the Netherlands and it’s very popular, especially during the weekends.
Anne & Max is located on the Fanfetje, right next to the canal and close to the shopping street De Breestraat. It’s the perfect place for coffee, lunch and people’s watching. This all organic place has an inviting contemporary vibe, often filled with locals having lunch and catching up with friends. They have a great menu including delicious coffee/tea, sweet treats, and nutritious breakfast and lunch options. For drinks, I recommend their delicious homemade ice tea with mint and cappuccino. To satisfy your sweet tooth for breakfast, I recommend sweet morning on the menu (freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee or tea, a croissant, a warm flax-seed scone, clotted cream, strawberry jam and yogurt topped with a fruit salad). For a warmer breakfast try the oven-baked eggs with salmon/ham/bacon, sourdough bread and avocado on the side. For lunch, try their avocado toast or super club sandwich (chicken, bacon, avocado and a side of vegetable chips).
If you like a good grilled cheese sandwich, this is the place for you! Located in the heart of Leiden, this place offers the best grilled cheese sandwiches you have ever tried. They have a wide menu of sandwiches including chicken tex-mex. spicy choritzo, goat cheese, tropical, choco-banana, and the classical ham and cheese. I recommend the sandwich with multigrain bread, smoked ham and organic cheese with a side of pesto mayonnaise – it’s so good! This place is often filled with families or hungry students, but offers a cozy vibe. Try to get one of the spots outside if you can!
When I was living in Leiden, this was my go-to-spot. If you would ask anyone where to find me, the answer would always be coffee company (of coffee co as we called it). It’s located across the street from Anne & Max and on the corner of De Breestraat. I recommend their iced latte with caramel and their au natural homemade ice tea – they’re both winners! You can also grab a delicious cookie or a muffin with your coffee. This place is a typical student coffee shop where the tables are set up for studying. Being a fairly small place, you can almost expect a fully packed place all the time. If the weather cooperates, you might be able to get a spot outside if you’re lucky!
De Waag is more of a “high end place” compared to many places in Leiden and even though it’s a little pricey, it’s definitely worth a visit! This restaurant offers great food, delicious drinks and a great atmosphere in a monumental building in the center of Leiden – it’s a culinary hotspot! I recommend their Mexican burger (with an ice cold corona on the side of course!) and the Portuguese chicken. If you’re lucky try to get a spot outside by the canal. This place is very popular among the Dutch population and especially after-work events/drinks, so a reservation is recommended.
As indicated in the name, this restaurant is located inside the City Hall of Leiden. The great combination of a beautiful location (right next to the canal!) and a characteristic building, makes this restaurant unique. I highly recommend the pizzas and pastas, which both are amazing. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday every week from 17.00-19.00 is “pizza pasta mania” where you get all pizzas and pastas for only €10! My favorites include pizza margarita, pizza with parma ham & zucchini, and penne pasta with chicken and pesto. For starters I recommend the focaccia with Parma ham, buffalo mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes. This place also have a large outdoor seating area, but a reservation is definitely recommended as this place is very popular.
This charming cafe probably has the most perfect location in the city of Leiden; located right next to the canal, the cafe also has a small outdoor area and a deck to sit on outside (if the weather cooperates). I recommend their ice coffee (that are served in cute mason jars), smoothie bowls and a sandwich of any kind.. they’re all delicious! They also have a great variety of cakes to satisfy your sweet tooth. This place is fairly small so it fills up quickly inside, so you better be early to make sure you get an table!
This was my go-to-place for having pizza when I was living in Leiden for two reasons; it’s very cheap (their most expensive pizza is €11!) and the pizza is the best – thin Italian crust loaded with any toppings you want! I recommend the pizza Hawaii (Ham and pineapple), Pollo (Smoked chicken, sweet peppers, red onion and pesto) and Italian (Pancetta (Italian bacon), fresh mozzarella and spinach). In addition to pizza, they also soups, salads, and a great selection of pastas. If heading to Amsterdam Schipol airport, this is an ideal place to grab lunch/dinner as it’s located only 5 minutes from Leiden Central Station and the food usually comes pretty quick. On a sunny day, try to get a seat outside on the deck!
Have you ever been to Leiden before? If not, please go and eat & drink yourself through town! 😊
Growing up, one of my childhood dreams was always to study abroad (you can read more about my college experience at an American university here.) This was my dream for as long as I can remember and it was never given that I should have ended up study at an Norwegian university. I have always been a very curious and open-minded person who’s been eager to discover everything that the world has to offer (and I still am!), so to study abroad was the perfect option for me!
When I jumped on a plane overseas back in 2010, I had no idea what to expect. Sure, I did had some thoughts of what I thought I could expect, but it wasn’t even close to the reality – it was so much better! Luckily I wasn’t affected by the so-called “culture chock” many experience when moving abroad (I took care of that during my first time living in the US), which made the transition much easier. Because culture chock is a real thing you shouldn’t joke about, it can be really uncomfortable. Not only are you moving to another country with different customs, traditions and cultures, but everything is different from speaking another language to not finding your favorite items at the grocery store. These things might seem small to you, but let me tell you, it’s the small things that makes the biggest difference. For me personally, the things I missed the most when living in the states was to drink the clean, delicious tap water (Norway truly has the cleanest water in the world!) and to be able to walk everywhere. Despite this, it was truly a life changing experience and more importantly, it taught me a lot.
Here are some of the most important things I learned from my study abroad experience;
Studying abroad makes you a stronger person Studying abroad is a great opportunity to leave the comfort and familiarity of your home country, because that’s exactly what you’ll do. You’ll realize that you are more independent, tolerant and adaptable than you think. You’ll gain a new number of skills and you’ll be strengthened by hardship, because it will be hard sometimes. You’ll learn to be more independent as you need to find your way around, whether it’s dealing with housing situations, register for classes, or find your way around town/campus. Moving abroad also brings you into contact with people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, which requires you to be respectful of people and develop a great level of tolerance. This is also a huge strength and asset that will help you navigate through life. Studying abroad also makes you more adaptable due to a number of reasons; you moved to a foreign country and the sense of order/control you felt at home won’t exist. In order to have a great study abroad experience you must learn to adapt pretty fast to your “new life”. Overall, you’ll learn new skills including everything from communicating and handling situations in a different language to stepping out of your comfort zone, meeting deadlines, making new friends, etc. At the end of the day, you’ll realize you are capable of way more than you think!
You develop a wanderlust and get bitten by the travel bug I’ll preface this by saying that I have always loved traveling. While I think I was born with the wanderlust and travel bug inside, it for sure increased my desire after my study abroad experience. During my time in the U.S. I was lucky enough to visit several states (and also got to experience the local side of America) and visit Canada + Mexico. One of my greatest memories was a road trip in the U.S. with my now husband; we booked flight tickets to LA, rented a car and hit the road with absolutely no plans. We saw so many great places and had so much fun – it’s a memory I’ll cherish forever. I have found myself filled with desire to travel the world someday… The world truly is an oyster and I can’t wait to see more of it!
You meet people from all over the world and walk of life One of the greatest benefits of studying abroad is the lifelong friendships you make with people from around the world! While I had a really great group of friends back home, I think it’s safe to say that some of my best friends today are people I met when studying abroad – people I lived in dorms with my freshman year, whom I meet at parties, randomly at coffee shops and while traveling.. These are all people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, all whom I had so much fun with. A trip down memory lane includes going out every weekend (college life!), dinners together, hot tub and pool pre-parties, weekend trips to Canada, different sporting events, late night coffee runs, movie nights and more traveling. While some reside in Norway, some in the U.S. and some in other countries, they are still people I consider to be my best friends and I know it will remains that way regardless of how often we talk/I see them! ♥
Seize every opportunity This is probably one of the important aspects of studying abroad and something I learned pretty fast; seize every opportunity! Whether it’s smiling and talking to a stranger, meet someone you barely know for coffee or accept the invite to attend a party where you don’t know anyone – these are all situations that led to some of the best experiences and funniest memories I have had. On a academic level, I decided to challenge myself and asked my professors to participate in research & editing, I was a note-taker in another course and I completed independent research credits in areas of my major. Not only did I learned new things, but I polished my language skills, I gained more confidence and made some valuable connections/expanded my international network. The moral of the story is – seek out and seize every opportunity!
You will never be the same again Studying abroad just changes you, you will never be able to return back home being the same person as before you left. Studying abroad provides you with eternal memories of incredible experiences, you see so many beautiful things/places and you meet so many extraordinary people on the way. You live in a “bubble” that’s hard for people to understand unless they’ve been in the same situation. I actually suffered from “reverse culture chock” when returning to Norway after three years, which was rather difficult. Six years has gone by since I returned to Norway and it will always be the country I consider home, however, I do miss living in the US sometimes. In the same way as things will never be the same again, I will never be the same again – but in a good way I guess! 😊
Overall, studying abroad is something I would recommend to everyone. If that’s something you’re thinking about, I hope this post will give you a new perspective on the study abroad experience. In addition to receiving an academic degree (because let’s face it – it’s why you’re there in the first place!), you’ll also polish your language skills, make lifelong friendships with people from around the world, experience new cultures, find new interests, become more confident/independent, create connections and expand your international network, and lastly, see more of the world! 🌍
Did you ever study abroad? And what was the most important thing you learned? 😊
I love traveling and feel fortunate to be able to travel as often as I do, it’s not something I take for granted at all.. I have gained many favorite destinations throughout the years and today I want to recommend one of my absolute favorites; in 2016 I moved to the Netherlands to complete graduate school, more specially the city of Leiden, a small town approximately 30 min by train from Amsterdam. Imagine a cozy small town that are steeped in rich history, cable stone streets, cute cafes along the canals (some even have decks to sit on!), lot’s of shops, local markets twice a week (Wednesday + Saturday), lot’s of cats and great restaurants, all combined with charming houses along the canals providing the absolute Dutch feeling – that’s Leiden for you!
I believe pictures says more than a thousands words, so I’ll let the pictures speak;
Have you ever been to Leiden before? If not, I highly recommend it! It’s cheaper to live and be in than Amsterdam, but just a short train-ride away from Amsterdam and Rotterdam (which I also recommend!) if you want to visit.
KLM provides direct flights from both Oslo (OSL) and Sandefjord (TRF) to Amsterdam Schipol Airport. After arrival, a train will take you directly to Leiden Central Station in just 15 min/one stop. It’s super easy!
I recommend staying at City Hotel Rembrandt, a 3 star hotel located in the middle of historic center of Leiden, approximately 5 min walk from Central Station. The hotel was completely renovated in 2018 and provides modern and comfortable rooms with private bathrooms. If not included in your price, the hotel offers a delicious breakfast buffet every morning for just €10!
For the longest time, one of my goals has been to discover more of Norway and I love being outside, so what’s better than going on a hiking trip?! 🙂
Last week I checked of another point of my Bucketlist; I hiked Gaustatoppen!
Gaustatoppen rises majestically above Rjukan in Telemark, Norway and with it’s 1833 meters above sea level, it provides one of the best panoramic views in Norway! On a clear day (which we we’re blessed with!), you can see as much as 1/6 of Norway. The trip is approximately 4,5 km one way and takes about 3 hours included breaks. One the top you’ll find Gaustadtoppen Tourist Cabin – the lodge under the sky where trekkers and mountaineers meet. They serve warm and cold drinks, a small selection of food, and the most delicious waffles I have ever tasted!
Here are some pictures if you’d like to see;
I have wanted to see more of Norway for the longest time, so I just decided to get started! Have you been to Gaustatoppen before? If not, it’s a trip I highly recommend! 🙂
Have you ever had a “life-changing experience”? And what really is the definition of “life-changing”? The answer to that question would probably differ from person to person, but to me, a life-changing experience refers to “what it takes to transform your life in a way that you find greater meaning and satisfaction in what you do on daily basis” – in other words, an experience that encourages you to go after what you want!
I look back at my study abroad adventure as one of the most life-changing experiences of my life. Not only because it was my childhood dream coming true, but because of all the things I learned academically and about myself, the friendships I formed with people from around the world (you know who you are!), all the new places I got to see, and all the fun things I got to experience!
Growing up, to study abroad was my childhood dream. I dreamed of going to an American high school and to do all the fun things you see in movies, such as hanging out with friends, have a sleepover, go to prom, go on a road trip and to sporting events. Unfortunately it wasn’t an option for me (due to the major I choose in high school, I wouldn’t get the year abroad approved in Norway), I therefore decided to go to college instead and let me tell you – that was one of the best decisions of my life!
In January 2010 I jumped on a plane overseas alone and started one of the best adventures of my life – my study abroad college experience! I attended the University of North Dakota and majored in Criminal Justice Studies.
Some of my best memories from my study abroad experience includes;
♥ Springbreak in Florida with a great group of people
♥ Many road trips (The longest one was from Grand Forks, ND – Miami, FL)
♥ A great weekend trip to Winnipeg, Canada with my best friend Fe
♥ Countless fun parties over many weekends with amazing people
♥ I got to experience a real Thanksgiving celebration with American families
♥ Spring break in California/Nevada with my husband; we flew into Los Angeles, rented a car and hit the road – we visited Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Malibu and ended our trip in Las Vegas. It was so much fun!
♥ Many birthdays (among them the big 21st!) and Halloween celebrations
♥ Different cultural and sporting events
♥ Spring-fest (celebration at the end of spring semester – day drinking and concerts!)
♥ Forming friendships with amazing people from around the world
♥ A week in Minneapolis and graduation with my husband and family, followed by a nice vacation in Mexico
Here is a trip down memory lane.. ♥
It’s fun to look back at pictures that was taken 6-8 years ago, which also reflects the bad quality of some of the pictures, hehe.. So many good memories!
Have you ever had a life changing experience? If so, do tell! 🙂
When thinking about European big cities, places such as Paris, Barcelona, and Rome comes to mind, Krakow is hardly ever mentioned. However, there has been a chance in the market, as this destination has become very popular among Norwegians and for many reasons; it’s such a beautiful city in many ways – charming cable stone streets and impressive architecture, great shopping, a deep history tracing back all the way back to WWII, and a wide selection of great bars & restaurants – what’s not to love?!
I have been to Krakow 3 times and below I display some of my favorite areas, hotel recommendations, attractions/must see’s, and most importantly; some amazing restaurants, If you’re planing an upcoming trip to Krakow, I hope this guide might be useful for you!
Hotel Recommendations
There are two hotels in Krakow I highly recommend. Both hotels are rated as 3 star hotels, but I would personally bump both of them up to 4 stars!
Pergamin Royal Apartments (***) This hotel is rated great (8,7/10) by it’s customers and for various reasons; high standard, fresh interior, friendly staff, and great location! This luxury-style hotel is located in the heart of Krakow – right on the main square. This is the perfect hotel if you want to live in the middle of Krakow. The downside is the noise you might hear outside any time of day + they don’t have any breakfast options available. However, there is a bakery right next to the hotel and Cafe Camelot with the most amazing breakfast selection is located only 5 minutes away. The hotel also provides airport transfer for a fixed price, which is especially convenient if you have an early morning flight.
Benefis Boutique Hotel(***)
This hotel is rated fantastic (9,2/10) by it’s customers and not without reason; this is one of the best hotels I have stayed at! Benefis hotel is a high-standard boutique hotel located in the historic district of Debniki, just 1 km from the main square (10 min walk). Upon arrival, we were greeted by a sweet receptionist with a big smile on her face. We had booked the standard room, but got a free upgrade to a studio, which included a spacious hallway, separate bedroom, a lounge area with couches and a TV, and a big bathroom. It was a great way to start our trip! A great breakfast buffet was included in the price and included hot options (scrambled eggs, bacon, omelette, and pancakes), espresso coffee/tea, fresh cut fruit, various cheeses and meat, dairy, and various types of bread. The hotel also provides airport transfer for a fixed price, which is especially convenient if you have an early morning flight.
Restaurant Recommendations
Moo Moo Burger & Steakhouse
This is one of the best steaks I have ever had! I highly recommend the tomahawk and the filet Mignon steak with bacon and fresh pepper (aged) with a side of Belgian fries, roasted vegetables and the mushroom sauce. If going for lunch, I recommend the Cesar salad or the burger and try their homemade ice tea. Make sure to book a reservation in advance, especially for dinner, as this is a very popular place! Ps; this restaurant has two locations in Krakow (I tried both!), but there is a difference in quality and service. The best location is the one I linked to.
Pasta Bar Restaurant & Wine This Italian restaurant is situated in the heart of Old Town and just a 2 minute walk from the main square. The restaurant is cozy and intimate, it’s delicious food are made from real Italian ingredients, and they have an impressive wine list. I recommend the garlic bread with fresh mozzarella cheese, the papardelle pasta with steak, mushroom and parsley in creme sauce, and the tiramisu and chocolate fondant for dessert. Their fresh homemade raspberry lemonade is also amazing! They have a cute outdoor deck with heaters and blankets, so you can even use it in the wintertime!
Cafe Camelot This is definitely one of the best breakfast spots in Krakow! It’s an cool old Jewish residence (you definitely get the vibe) turned into a restaurant. They have a great variety of options for both breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I have only tried the breakfast. I recommend the scrambled eggs (in any way you want) with a side of avocado, the omelette and the breakfast pancakes. All the breakfast options comes with a side of fruit and free coffee/tea. The fresh squeezed orange juice is also worth trying!
Moment Resto Bar & Music This place is located in Kaizimerz (the Jewish Quarter of Krakow) and we stumbled upon this place randomly, but their breakfast didn’t disappoint! We were greeted by friendly staff and it’s reasonably priced. I recommend the English breakfast and the scrambled eggs with avocado and bagels, and the fresh squeezed orange juice. They also have a cute backyard during the summer!
Restaurant Bianca
This restaurant serves the best high class Italian food you’ve ever tried! It’s located on the main square (and is one of few that actually are good and reasonably priced – stay away from the others ones!). We tried the pizza and pasta, both which were excellent. The house wine and local polish beer is very good and try the tiramisu for dessert. Make sure to book a table in advance.
Attractions/Must See’s & To-do’s While there are many to-do’s and must-see’s in Krakow, I decided to pick out my top 5 recommendations. Enjoy!
Visit the Auschwitz & Birkenau Concentration Camps If you’re interested in this, I would suggest booking an organized tour to the camps, as the experience will not be the same without a proper guide walking you through each step of the history. Our guide was full of knowledge, which shined through his passion, commitment, and dedication as a guide. Set aside a full day for this, as you will need about 1 hour to get reach out to the camps and a total of 8 hours for your visit. Auschwitz represents one of the worst and most horrific sides of our world history and to walk of the grounds where those horrible events took place, was a powerful experience.
Grab a “catpuccino” at Krakow Cat Cafe If you love cats and coffee as much as I do, this is the place to go! Located across from Galerya Krakowska shopping center, it’s a cute cafe displaying scratchable furniture and a good selection of coffee and sweets to customers. There are some rules about handling the cats (you’re not allowed to wake them up if they sleep, pick them up, or have a loud voice), but if you’re lucky a cat will find it’s way to you and be ready to play. The cafe is run by a charity organization that aims to set up a cat adoption service and you can support their work by donating or buying products – we bought postcards displaying pictures of the cats.
Explore the Old Town by foot Krakow old town is the historic district of Krakow and one of the most famous districts in Poland today, also referred to as “Stare Miasto” by the Poles. Krakow is one of few cities that escaped the destruction of World War II and it’s Old Town was acclaimed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Famous for it’s cobblestone streets and interesting architecture, the Old Town’s many activities are worth checking out – do a free walking tour of Krakow hosted by guides who knows the city like their own pocket (for times and meet-up points check out this website), see the view from the St. Mary’s Basilica Church (also known as the Maria Church), to explore the best bars and clubs in Krakow while meeting new people, sign up for the Krawl Through Krakow pub crawl, or simply just walks the streets, sit down and enjoy a beer (hopefully in the sun!).
Take a walk along the Green Belt Planty Park (most ideal in the summertime) This area reminds me of Krakow’s answer to Central Park/Hyde Park (in a way smaller scale obviously!), but is a nice green oasis running in a ring around Krakow’s historic Old Town. In the summertime it will be packed with families & children, tourists trying to navigate their way through Krakow, and countless little blue carts selling pretzels to people on the run. The park is filled with colorful flowers, fountains, statutes and lots of green benches. Grab a coffee on-the-go and enjoy a nice little stroll away from the sometimes hectic city center.
Explore the buzzing streets of the Old Jewish Quarter of Krakow (Kazimierz) I have seen very little of the Jewish Quarter, but what I have seen just increase my desire to explore it even more. Once a independent city, this area is now a bustling bohemian neighborhood filled with interesting architecture, cute cafes & bars, art galleries, historical sites, and a vibrant cultural life. I have only tried food and snacks on-the-go in this area, but a co-worker of mine recommended the Israeli restaurant Hamsa Hummus & Happiness, primarily serving Mediterranean and middle-eastern food. To make the most of your time in this area, check out Culture Trip’s article on “The Top 10 Things To Do And See In Krakow’s Kazimierz“.
Have you ever been to Krakow before? If you have any recommendations, feel free to drop them in the comment section below!
«Every man dies – not every man really lives» – William Ross
Do you ever feel like your life is flying by in the blink of an eye? Do you worry about all the things you want to do, often before hitting a certain age? Or maybe you just need that extra push to get off the couch and get moving? Looking back on the past six months, have you reached any goals, visited a place you’ve always wanted to visit, or maybe taken that one chance you’ve been thinking about? If not, now is the time!
I’m a big fan of Buckelists – they’re fun and often gives you the extra push you sometimes need to accomplish something or reach a goal you set for yourself. Summed up, a Buckelist is a list over all the goals, dreams, and life experiences you want to achieve/do before you die. Personally, I would rather regret all the things I did, rather than the things I didn’t do. I encourage everyone to create a Bucketlist, and in case you would like some inspiration, here’s mine;
My Top 100 Bucketlist Goals 🌍
1. Visit New England in the fall 2. Spend the night at a local Bed & Breakfast in the U.S. 3. Voluntair for a cause I’m passionate about ✔️ 4. Be a foodie at Mathallen, Oslo 5. Visit Svalbard (October 2018) ✔️ 6. Visit Brooklyn Flea Market in NYC 7. Become a certified spin/yoga instructor 8. Gamble in Las Vegas ✔️ 9. Visit 20 countries 10. Visit 50 countries 11. Drive Highway One from San Diego – San Francisco 12. Live in another country for more than a year (The U.S. + the Netherlands) ✔️ 13. Travel the world (set foot in every continent) 14. Quit I job I truly hate ✔️ 15. Attend a mediation retreat 16. Shoot with a weapon (in the Air Force) ✔️ 17. Try paddle-boarding 18. Complete a cooking class 19. Pursue higher education abroad (Went to college in the US + Netherlands) ✔️ 20. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in another country 21. Learn to surf 22. Work in another country 23. Work as an aupair (i the US in 2007) ✔️ 24. Help someone in need ✔️ 25. Learn a new language 26. Become an organ-donor ✔️ 27. Spend the night at a relax retreat 28. Ride the cable cars in San Francisco ✔️ 29. Create my own blog ✔️ 30. Swim in the Dead Sea 31. Travel solo 32. Go on a road-trip in the US (Drove from ND-FL)✔️ 33. Try couch surfing 34. Serve in the military (Air Force) ✔️ 35. Spend a full day at a SPA 36. Take a mud bad 37. Ride a bike like a local in the Netherlands ✔️ 38. Go to the movies alone 39. Go swimming at Miami Beach 40. Eat street-tacos + drink margaritas from a food truck in California 41. Fly first class on an international flight 42. Celebrate a local holiday (Thanksgiving + Kings Day) ✔️ 43. Party on a New York City rooftop 44. Host a theme party (Great Gatsby for my big 30!) 45. Spend the night in a tree house 46. Go snowboarding in the alps ✔️ 47. See the northern lights 48. See the midnight sun 49. Be portrayed in the media for something I’m proud of 50. Shop at Portobello Road Market, London ✔️ 51. Walk the High Line with a take-away iced coffee 52. Eat a lobster-roll from a local crab shack in New England 53. Watch a drag show (Both Drag King + Queens) ✔️ 54. Celebrate my 30th birthday with style (I had a Great Gatsby Party!) ✔️ 55. Swim in a waterfall 56. Try zip-lining (Down Holmenkollen ski jump) ✔️ 57. Celebrate Halloween in the U.S. ✔️ 58. Become debt free 59. Visit the Auschwitz/Birkenau concentration camps ✔️ 60. Start a non-profit organization 61. Attend a book signing with a favorite author + buy a book 62. Shop at a flea market in Los Angels 63. Go to a drive-in-movie theater (We saw Grease) ✔️ 64. Visit Rotterdam Markthall ✔️ 65. Be in the audience in a TV-show 66. Go on a girls trip abroad ✔️ 67. Get a tattoo 68. Eat a meal with locals in another country ✔️ 69. Try pole-dancing 70. Live in a big city (San Francisco + Leiden) ✔️ 71. Pay for a strangers coffee 72. Try a new profession 73. Stay at a 5 star Hotel (Mexico) ✔️ 74. Have a fish pedicure (Kos, Greece) ✔️ 75. Drink afternoon-tea in England 76. Visit Lofoten ✔️ 77. Be on the cover of a magazine 78. See the House of Anne Frank in Amsterdam ✔️ 79. Climb Gaustatoppen ✔️ 80. Live in NYC for a month + get to know the city as a local 81. Eat a meal from a food-truck ✔️ 82. Get to know people from at least ten different countries ✔️ 83. Read a book at the NYC Public Library 84. Meet a celebrity 85. Manage to do 10 grandstanding push-ups 86. Climb the Pulpit Rock, Stavanger 87. Attend an American college keg party ✔️ 88. Have a picnic in Central Park, NYC 89. Attend a local food festival 90. Go skinny dipping outdoors ✔️ 91. Eat pasta at a local sidewalk restaurant in Italy 92. Sleep outside in a hammock 93. Get payed to travel 94. Go on vacation in the Hampton’s 95. See the Red Light District in Amsterdam ✔️ 96. Hold a management position 97. Eat at Jamie Oliver’s Restaurant ✔️ 98. Eat a meal at a restaurant all by myself 99. Have a meaningful conversation with a stranger 100. Ride a helicopter (in the Air Force + in Lofoten) ✔️
