What I’ve been up to + what’s next

It’s been awfully quiet on Travel Cake these past few week. So quiet in fact, some of you have been wondering if maybe I’d left the blogging scene.

If you’re following on Instagram or on Facebook you’ll already know that’s not the case.

So what have I been doing? Why the silence?

I’ve been traveling…

…IN MONTENEGRO

My trip started in Montenegro, where I spent a couple of days exploring the south of the country. I must admit, I was a bit nervous when I set off—I knew almost nothing about Montenegro and hadn’t planned anything besides my flight. I had no idea what to expect: do the locals speak any English? How far is the city centre from the airport, and what’s the best way to get there? What are the people of this country called? Monte-negr***?

This was going to be the ultimate “winging-it” trip. Never have I been this badly prepared. But you know what? It turned out not to be a problem at all. I smoothly found my way to the lovely town of Kotor and stayed in a charming hostel where I met some truly inspiring people. I learned about the history, culture, food, language—and even how to catch a bus—right there on the spot. I was marveling at everything, because I had zero expectations going in.

I spent my days wandering through medieval towns and gaping at majestic mountain landscapes. I reconnected with myself during a solo picnic on a pebbled beach, and had a true “YOLO moment” when I jumped into icy waters with no one around to tell me whether it was safe or not.

All I can think about now is going back—with a car, more time, and maybe a friend.
(And in case you were wondering, the inhabitants of Montenegro are called Montenegrins.)
you can read about my flash visit to Kotor.

…IN ALBANIA

Now I know Albania isn’t exactly a “top of the bucket list” destination for most people, but I’d always been curious about it. Once again, I crossed the border with next to no expectations.

Albania’s overwhelmingly stunning scenery, mostly organic food, and incredibly welcoming people completely took me by surprise. It’s a rugged land with an edge. Everything I attempted—no matter how banal—turned into an adventure. Cycling to town, buying a loaf of bread in a corner shop, catching a bus… suddenly, all of it felt like exciting challrnges.

It wasn’t the easiest destination for a female solo traveller, but it wasn’t too hard either.
I don’t think I’ve ever said “WOW” out loud as often as I did in Albania.
It’s a country that fascinates and mystifies.
Another place I can’t wait to return to.

…IN KOSOVO

Due to an unexpected turn of events, I suddenly found myself in Kosovo. I spent 24 hours in the city of Prizren, trying to get a feel for what makes Kosovo unique. Though I didn’t have enough time to figure it out, I did enjoy a sunny day by the riverbanks and a lively night in this charming city.

I attended TBEX, a travel bloggers conference

TBEX is the most renowned conference for travel bloggers, taking place in North America and Europe every year. This time, it was hosted by the city of Athens—and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to meet fellow bloggers and visit Greece for the first time.

So off to Athens I went.

The sessions at the conference taught me a lot about the ‘art’ of travel blogging: both the technical and the social sides. More importantly, it was a chance to connect with colleagues and people in the industry.

I met a wonderful community: creative individuals with strong drives, looking to grow and to inspire.

What’s next?
A PARTNERSHIP WITH VizEat

I’m happy to announce a new partnership with VizEat,, a revolutionary way to share a meal with a local—whether you’re traveling or at home.

It’s a concept that I think will excite the traveling foodies among you. The idea is simple: book a home-cooked meal with a local host in the country you’re visiting. Your host joins you for dinner, creating a cosy opportunity to get to know each other (and to get the inside scoop on the place).

It works the other way too: you can welcome travellers into your own home, sharing stories, food, and friendship.
I’m excited to try it out and share the experience with you.

A TRAVEL DREAM COME TRUE

I’m writing this post at the airport, waiting to board a flight to a destination that’s been on my dream list for years.
I’m off to… Iran!

I can’t wait to experience firsthand what it’s really like there—to meet the people, roam the bazaars, and immerse myself in the remnants of ancient Persian myths and culture.
I’ll be blogging all about it when I return.

WE’RE MOVING AGAIN!

Although we loved living in Bali, it’s time to try something new. So… we’ve decided to settle on the other side of the world.
We’re moving to Latin America!

I’ll share more details before the end of the year.

If you can’t wait that long, make sure to follow Travel Cake on Facebook or sign up for the free monthly newsletter to get the inside scoop.

Have you been traveling recently? Where have you been? Any travel plans coming up? 

The post “What I’ve been up to and what’s next” first appeared on Travel Cake