Probearoundtheglobe

31/03/2025

2025 Hiking challenge March update

Goal: Hike 2025 km in 2025. That is 169 km per month, 39 km per week and 5,5 km per day 😬

March was filled with abundant sunshine ☀️ and hiking in different regions! And I loved it. We had a weekend by the sea side in Zeeland 🇳🇱 and walked in the lovely region of Nijmegen and Arnhem (also 🇳🇱).
Closer to home I try to practise with a fully loaded pack and slog trough as much loose sand as I can find ⏳ and I must say, it is a lot harder now the sand is dry and loose then when it was frozen and solid from all the rain 🥵

I’ve had a few very intense training days, of which I really needed to recover but I think it is all good training and I’ll come out stronger 💪🏼 in the end.

1. With better temperature and more sun, it is now possible to take breaks, relax and enjoy nature a bit 😎
2. Spring is here!! 🌸 The Magnolias are 💯
3. Weekend by the beach in Zeeland 🇳🇱
4. Amazing sand dunes, but tough going 😮‍💨 but excellent training
5. Welcome to Renesse 🇳🇱
6. Backpack fully loaded including 3,5l of water is making the walking tougher and tougher 💦
7. The Netherlands is flat as a pancake, except for some areas. I headed to Nijmegen for the famous N70 route and banked 500m altitude gain in a day
8. New places, new routes ❤️
9. Checking the map to see if there are any nice hiking areas around if we need to go somewhere. That is how we ended up at the Posbank for another lap with loads of ⬆️⬇️
10. Sand. Enemy or friend? It is so so hard slogging through the soft sand. Once I’m done, I think I might never do this lap again if I can avoid it 🏖️

With all that great sunshine and great places to walk, I smashed my monthly goal out of the park! Awesome! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2️⃣5️⃣ days of walking
215.2 km this month
Distances ranging from 4 km to 23.5 km 🙌
27.68% of 2025 km done!

01/03/2025

2025 Hiking challenge

Goal: Hike 2025 km in 2025. That is 169 km per month, 39 km per week and 5,5 km per day 😬

February is the shortest month of the year so getting the same kilometers in as a 31-day month would be challeging. I also decided to finally get treatment for some foot problems, which caused me quite a lot of pain and less walking than I’d have liked to.

Overall, it was a good month. With ice cold chilly hikes on Ameland 🥶. Sunny hikes whenever I could ☀️and the start of a new trail 💪🏼

1. Sunshine and frost makes for great pictures and great walking
2. A weekend of hiking on the island of Ameland - change of scenery ❤️
3. Dunes, sand, beaches - excellent training for Portugal 💪🏼
4. But so, so cold 🥶 Full head winds, with sub zero temperature ❄️ but what a view of the Wadden Sea
5. New challenge, change of scenery: I started the Heuvelrughike in the middle of the country. Getting some good trainings km
6. Gorgeous sunny weather, with wind, but amazing hiking ☀️
7. 2x 22km walking in one weekend through gorgeous woodland areas
8. The sun is like medicine for me 💊 ☀️ so amazing to feel the warmth on my face and be outside

Almost hit my monthly goal but I’m not feeling too well this weekend. Tired, not comfortable in my own skin. 🤒 Sometimes I feel like I should just push through it, but I think it is wiser for me to take some time, relax and hopefully recover for next month 💪🏼

2️⃣0️⃣ days of walking
154.8 km this month
Distances ranging from 2.3 km to 22km 🙌
17.05% of 2025 km done

01/02/2025

2025 Hiking challenge

Goal: Hike 2025 km in 2025. That is 169 km per month, 39 km per week and 5,5 km per week 😬

New year new goals! I decided to go big and set a high goal. The first days I was a bit intimidated 😳 but I decided: just take it step by step, day by day. Get outside and move and we’ll see where it lands me. 💪🏼

And January paid off with another 20k in the bank 👍🏼 January was mostly grey, foggy and occassionally a sunny day but overall very cold 🥶 but every day outside was a small 🎁 with the cold wind on my face and my body getting stronger every day! ❤️

1. Muddy, muddy slushy walking. Ugh 😵‍💫
2. Rain. Fog. And loads of wind. Trying to get out every day, rain or shine ☔️
3. And even snow ❄️ it snowed for half a day and some stuck!
4. + 5. Winter walking when the sun is out is just golden 🏆
6. Slaying dragons and getting some km in at my fav theme park
7 + 8 + 9: getting my training in for soft sand walking at the national park here, the Loonse and Drunense duinen. It is a vast woodland area and with a huge sandpit in the middle. But also with gorgeous morning sunshine but also a lot of wet trails 🌧️

2️⃣7️⃣ days of walking
190.5 km this month
Distances ranging from 4 km to 19 km 🙌
9,4% of 2025 km done

01/01/2025

My on Instagram for 2024!

Sicily, Tunisia, Fez and hiking Hadrian’s Wall. It does sum up the best in travel for 2024. Let’s see what 2025 has in store for me. Which is your favorite? #2024

31/12/2024

Hiking challenge - December update

Goal: Hike 1200 km in 2024 (100 km per month, 23,5 km per week and 3,3 km per day 🤪)

Smashed the 1200 km goal in October already. Did very little in November and decided to up my game for December. I really had to step up and hike every day and do some big days. I needed nearly 365 days but managed the new 1500 km goal 🥾💪🏼🍾

1. Grey, misty, wet and cold 🥶 Most of the days in December were not really inviting to go outside but I did it anyway. I feel better and getting more used to being outside when it is not splendid weather.

2. National Park Loonse en Drunense duinen is a vast place. Without a good route I would get lost in a second. These markers make a good route. But it is a big workout with all the sand and dunes 🏝️

3. Despite the hailstorm I went out for a big walk. ⛈️ Felt super good to be outside, moving and with the wind in my face.

4. But when the sun comes out, it is soooo much nicer ☀️. What a great day to be outside all day.

2️⃣0️⃣ days of walking
163.1 km this month
Distances ranging from 2.3 km to 22.5 km 👍🏼

Total:
1505.4 km of 1200 >> 125 % done 💪🏼Exceeded the year goal with 25%. I feel great and eager to find new hikes for 2025.

03/12/2024

Hiking challenge - November update

Goal: Hike 1200 km in 2024 (100 km per month, 23,5 km per week and 3,3 km per day 🤪)

This has been the worst month of the whole year and the whole challenge 😒 maybe it was because I already hit my 2024 goal or a lack of motivation, or the stomach bug that shattered my confidence of being away from a toilet 🚽 It all has something to do with it.

1. New surrounding for hiking: Loonse and Drunense Duinen, a major sanddune area close to where I live and a national park in 🇳🇱 usually I avoid it as I hate walking in loose sand but now it will be part of my preparation

2. Because… I have a new hiking goal for 2025. In spring I’ll go to Portugal to hike the Fishermen’s Trail along the coast. 226,5 km in 2 weeks. Very much looking forward to it but I still have a long way to go 🇵🇹

3. Winter is here. Cold wind. Snow. Ice. Ugh. I really rather stay in with a hot coco and a nice book. It is very hard to motivate myself to get out there. I need to find some interesting routes to make things more appealing 🥾

🔟 days of walking
40.5 km this month
Distances ranging from 1 km to 14.3 km 👍🏼

Total:
1342.3 km of 1200 >> 111.8 % done 💪🏼Smashed my year goal in 10 months but secretly wanted to hit 1500 this year. It will be a challenge to make that a reality. 🤨

17/11/2024

Chefchaouen, the blue pearl in the north of Morocco was quite the drive but worth a visit. Every nook, stairs and side street is fairytale beautiful and BLUE!

Unfortunately, the weather was very moody and I had to make good use of the very rare moments it was dry and the sun came out. I still think I managed to snap a few decent blue pictures.

10/11/2024

The village of Moulay Idriss, not far from Volubilis is built on 2 hills and considered the Mekka of Morocco for muslims. The mosque is the main focus of the village, together with the town square.

Unfortunately, it is off limits for non-muslims so I climbed to a viewpoint 😅 for views of the mosque and village at sun set. Stunning views!
The village is super nice and safe but as a solo female traveller, I felt a bit uneasy with all the curious stares. I was glad to have dinner at my guesthouse, which also had stunning views. All in all a nice place to visit but not per se to stay overnight.

09/11/2024

Volubilis, the ancient Roman sight not far from Fes and Meknes was the reason for my visit to Morocco. It once houses over 20k people and was the heart of the administration of this region of Roman.

Nowadays, the sight is an amazing walk through history and you can see some impressive buildings and in-situ floor mosaics. I mostly enjoyed the views of the mountains, the view of the sights and the feel of history!

04/11/2024

Hiking challenge - October update

Goal: Hike 1200 km in 2024 (100 km per month, 23,5 km per week and 3,3 km per day 🤪)

So close to my year goal, I knew I would smash it in October and I did! With another trip and a few walking days, I managed to surpass my goal 💪🏼

1. I went to Morocco and although it was wet and cold, the sun came out occassionally 🇲🇦

2. It took me a lot of steps, climbing to this viewpoint but it was worth it to see the sun set over Moulay Idriss 🌅

3. Earlier in the month, I walked around Den Bosch with Daniela, fellow blogger, for some catching up 🇳🇱

4+5. Walking more in my region with another stage of the Biesboschpad near Drongelen and the Castle of Dussen

6. I always walk 2.8 km on my lunchbreak but found a new route and now walk 4k per day ⬆️

7. Fes in Morocco was amazing and I did walk a lot 🥾

8. I’m in my happy place, roaming around Roman ruins in Morocco 🏛️

9. The blue city if Chefchaouen is great for just walking around and climbing a lot of steps, occassionally taking a break

10. Returning home, it is now truely and really autumn with very changing weather conditions 🍄

2️⃣1️⃣ days of walking
136.7 km this month
Distances ranging from 2,8 km to 16.5 km 👍🏼

Total:
1301.8 km of 1200 >> 108.5 % done 💪🏼Smashed my year goal in month 10. Very happy 🎆

30/10/2024

The old medina of Fes is exactly what you’d expect from an old oriental walled city with market. Hidden doors, blind alleyways, and beyond the brown and grey of the streets and the walls, the burst of vibrant colors, patterns and details. The smell, the sounds and the textures all beckon to take a closer look. Luckily, that is no problem in Fes. Yes, you are greeted at the door and invited to look around but no hassle, no yelling and no pulling your sleeve. Overall one of the most relaxed souk experience I had in this part of the world 👌🏼

29/10/2024

Fes (or Fez) one of the three imperial cities of Morocco has been an amazing discovery tour of hidden alleys, rooftop views and impressive detailed decorations.

A lot of the monuments and sights remain hidden for non-muslim travelers but with a few stairs to the rooftop terrace, a piece of that vail of secretcy is lifted

14/10/2024

More Sicily on the blog. The Etna Wine Train Tour is the best Sicily has to offer: sweeping views of the sea and the volcano from a train combined with wine tasting, which is win-wine-win in my book!

Check out this fun day tour by train, with Strada Del Vino dell'Etna

The Etna Wine Train Tour is the best Sicily has to offer: sweeping views of the sea and the volcano from a train combined with wine-tasting

07/10/2024

My first Sicily post is live! Check out my 10 Foodie Tips to Eat Like a Local in no time when you going to discover Palermo's Night Street Food Markets. The post is full of yummy mouthwatering pictures and tips for getting to those secret local places in Palermo.

Streaty Tours

Read my 10 magic foodie tips to eat like a local and why it is a great idea to join the best Palermo Street Food Tour at night.

02/10/2024

Hiking challenge - September update

Goal: Hike 1200 km in 2024 (100 km per month, 23,5 km per week and 3,3 km per day 🤪)

This month it was super easy to hit my hiking goal as we were exploring the island of Sicily. Besides a lot of driving, swimming, cycling and lazying around, we also walked a lot!

1. Exploring Catania on foot

2. Climbing the steps in Taormina to find interesting side streets

3. Walking around Ortigia and Siracusa was one of my fav days 👍🏼

4. Walking tour of Medieval Randazzo

5. Exploring Ragusa, Modica and Noto on foot on one day: so. many. stairs ! 🤪

6. There is a lot of walking involved to see the tempels in Agrigento 🏛️

7. Sciacca offered some of the best views

8. Although we did get around by golf cart , there was still a lot of walking and climbing at the tempels of Selinunte 🏛️

9. More tempels at Segesta, luckily there was a bus but we still walked a lot

10. And back home. Time to get the jackets and umbrella out ☔️

This was one of my best months and it was super easy to get the km in! It was super hot though ☀️🥵 and usually a lot of stairs were involved too, but the views were worth it!

2️⃣6️⃣ days of walking (most)
189.5 km this month
Distances ranging from 2,8 km to 14.5 km 👍🏼

Total:
1165.1 km of 1200 >> 98.1 % done 💪🏼Nearly there!

01/10/2024

Joining a vintage Fiat500 tour in Palermo with was one of the best ideas of our Sicily trip. On our last day, we toured the city of Palermo, driving the small streets, piazzas and markets in a beautifully restored Fiat500.

It was awesome, unique, a totally different view on the city and just plain FUN!!

30/09/2024

Honestly, I didn’t expect much of Palermo. It didn’t sound like a place I would enjoy so I didn’t allocate a lot of time there. Actually zero time. But we joined an evening street food tour of Palermo with (gifted) and also drove around the city a bit during the day.

And I must say: the city is really diverse, buzzin’ and it has a great vibe! I 100% get why people like it so much and I wouldn’t have discovered it if it wasn’t for the evening food tour.

28/09/2024

Segesta was the last of the great Greek temples in Sicily I wanted to see. It was a bit of a rainy and humid morning, so thank the person who came up with the idea of a shuttle bus between the temple and the Greek theater.

The views were striking, the temple stood prood and tall and it was fun walking in and out this one 👍🏼🏛️

It was much busier than the others as it is so close to Palermo. But worth a stop!