Author: Renata Green

The world is my oyster: I'm Renata, founder and editor of this travel blog. bye:myself - no, that's not a typo, it's referring to me saying bye to my comfort zone and heading for new shores solo. Having been a solo traveller, flashpacker, and poverty jet setter for ages made me an avid and savvy planner and organizer of worldwide travel. Since I've been an author and journalist practically all my life, I love to put my travel experience into writing to encourage, inspire, and assist you. Looking forward to meeting you somewhere on this planet!

24 hours in ZURICH

Posted onAuthorRenata Green2 Comments

So here comes an itinerary for a stay of up to 24 hours in Zurich. Designed for instance for a layover. Or a very short city break. Or an appetizer for a longer stay.

24 hours in ZURICH around the Zurich lake
Look back at…Zurich. Photo: Zürich Tourism / Martin Rütschi

Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. Located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland – like the country’s capital Bern – It is mainly known as the rich, expensive financial center.

But the river Limmat, the Zurich lake, and of course the circumjacent mountains make Zurich one of the cities with the highest quality of life. Albeit, at the same time the highest costs of living.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Complete Guide to COMO – a Lake to Like

Posted onAuthorRenata Green95 Comments

I love Italy: The gelato, the papagalli, the dolce far niente. Somehow my head got tangled in these clichés like a fork in a heap of spaghetti. The funny thing is: On my frequent trips to Bella Italia, I actually find these clichés reflected in the reality around me. Just like around the North Italian lake land.
Need proof?
Here is a complete guide to the wonderful Lake Como – truly a lake to like.

Sail and motorboats quay at Colico, the Northernmost village at Lago di Como - a lake to like
Sail and motorboats quay at Colico, the Northernmost village on Lake Como’s shores.
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LUBECK – a guide to Germany’s most ravishing city

Posted onAuthorRenata Green48 Comments

Somehow Lubeck, Germany’s most ravishing city, has always reminded me of Venice. An innocently cute and relatively small city that used to possess such political influence and economic power – reaching all over Europe and beyond.

Lubeck Germany's most ravishing city: Holstengate
There are quite a few lions in Lubeck – honoring Henry the Lion, the Bavarian King who after Munich founded also Lubeck in 1159. In the Backdrop the iconic Holstentor and right next to it the ancient salt warehouses.

Although Lubeck has incredibly beautiful buildings and alleys, seven church towers, three Nobel prize winners and world-famous marzipan, it does not suffer from destructive over-tourism. I don’t want to change that, however, I’d like to show you around one of Germany’s most ravishing cities.

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The Ski Instructor of Sri Lanka

Posted onAuthorRenata Green17 Comments

I’m often asked how it is to travel by myself. If I’m not scared. If I don’t get lonely. If I’m not afraid that the sky may fall on my head tomorrow.

A Ski Instructor by himself in a snowy landscape
No, Sri Lanka looks nothing like this. Definitely not.
(Photo: Sondrekv, Påske, detail, cropped to 2:3, CC0 1.0)

The answer has always been no – and meeting Sri Lanka’s only ski instructor was clearly another proof that travelling solo is a great chance to come across people that open up to you in a blink of an eye.

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TAKAYAMA – travel back in time; and a side trip to SHIRAKAWAGO

Posted onAuthorRenata Green7 Comments

Takayama and Shirakawago are the perfect places if you are ready for a trip back in time. Nestled between the mountains of the Gifu prefecture, they invite you to walk narrow alleys lined with old wooden merchants’ houses dating from the Edo Period. You can visit a dozen of fascinating museums. And last not least, you absolutely need to sample Hida Beef that just melts in your mouth.

Renata Green in TAKAYAMA on a travel back in time and a side trip to SHIRAKAWAGO
Once in Shirakawago, you absolutely have to walk up to the Ogimachi observation deck. There is already a photographer with a couple of props waiting for you – say cheese!

It might be already challenging enough to fit all the landmarks in downtown Takayama into your itinerary. Nevertheless, you should by no means miss a little side trip to Shirakawago. This hamlet made it to the World Heritage Site list in 1995, after all.

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4 Days in KYOTO: A Guide to Japan’s Treasure Box and a Side Trip to NARA

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4 Days in Kyoto should actually be the minimum to explore Japan’s Treasure Box – plus, you absolutely need to add a Side Trip to Nara.

Two Geishas at 4 Days Kyoto Treasure Box of Japan
Yes, this is such a stunning sight. However, according to my experience, every Geisha under the age of 55 is prone to be a Chinese tourist in disguise. Sometimes stunning just the same.
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HIROSHIMA – risen up from the ashes; and a side trip to MIYAJIMA

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Hiroshima is one of the names inextricably connected to the first atomic attack in human history and therefore a must when visiting Japan. However, Hiroshima is also a great gateway for a trip to idyllic Miyajima.

Atomic Dome in Hiroshima, a city HIROSHIMA - risen up from the ashes; and a side trip to MIYAJIMA
A Dove of Peace spreading its wings in front of the Atom Bomb Dome.

Before visiting Hiroshima, I wasn’t able to imagine a place with a little over a million inhabitants plying their trades as if their city never had been practically erased and went down in history as one of the biggest humanitarian disasters.

What I found was a charming city – risen up from the atomic ashes of 1945.

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most instagrammable – till death do us part: a rant

Posted onAuthorRenata Green32 Comments

Yes, this is a rant on how Instagram deteriorates the art of photography to death. But it also makes the world a dangerous – and endangered – place.

mural of a guy taking a picture. most instagrammable - till death do us part: a rant
You’d be surprised at how many pictures death is present – even though not always visible.

I love good photography. That’s why I hate Instagram.

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Guide to ANURADHAPURA and MIHINTALE

Posted onAuthorRenata Green6 Comments

Here comes my guide to Anuradhapura. Anu… what? Read my lips: Anuradhapura. It is one of Sri Lanka’s ancient capitals. A visit can easily be combined with a trip to Mihintale, a holy place of Sinhalese Buddhism.

the Abhayagiri Dagaba in the northern part of Anuradhapura
O come, all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant….to the Abhayagiri Dagaba in the northern part of Anuradhapura.

Although it’s also famous for its ruins of an ancient Sri Lankan civilization, there are pleasingly few tourists around, but huge numbers of truly faithful.

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