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Tilted Map - sustainable travel and sustainable living blog, with eco-friendly travel tips for Europe and reviews of plastic-free products.
Home / Travel / Travel Stories - Page 2

Travel Stories

It’s 2020… Is Couchsurfing Still a Thing?
Portugal | Travel Stories | Travel Tips & Hacks

It’s 2020… Is Couchsurfing Still a Thing?

A colorful ceiling in downtown Detroit's Guardian building. ©EmanueleZambolin2019
Sustainable Travel | Travel Stories | USA

Detroit, USA: Attempting Train Travel in the Motor City

The turquoise Mediterranean Sea of Italy's Cinque Terre – one of the most popular vacation spots for Italy's Ferragosto holiday.
Destination Guides | Italy | Travel Stories

What is Italy’s “Ferragosto” and WHY Am I Not On Vacation?

When you visit France, sit on the dock in the town of Annecy and watch a pink and blue sunset like this one, and contemplate why all the flowery, pink French toilet paper has a matching motif. ©KettiWilhelm2019
France | Travel Stories

What Pink French Toilet Paper Taught Me About Globalization

getting married in Italy
Italy | Travel Stories

Life in Milan: We Got Married!

The sunset behind a nearly empty street in Milan, Italy.
Italy | Travel Stories

August in Milan: Surviving the Heat & Enjoying the Quiet

Instead of stressing over my expat travel blog, I should be relaxing like this older couple on a bench in Siracusa, Italy. ©KettiWilhelm2017
Italy | Travel Stories

Writer’s Block, Too Much Free Time & Living Abroad

"Freedom is dialog," a political sticker in Sofia that I found relevant after experiencing the 2016 US election while traveling there. ©KettiWilhelm2016
Bulgaria | Travel Stories | USA

“Apocalypto:” The 2016 US Election as Seen from Europe

A few clouds and mostly blue sky on the road to Mount Cook, New Zealand. ©KettiWilhelm2016
Destination Guides | New Zealand | Travel Stories

We Live in a Van Down by the River! [New Zealand Photos & Vanlife Tips]

Smog and traffic in Suzhou, China – two big reason I'm ready to stop being an expat in China. ©KettiWilhelm2015
China | Travel Stories

Letter From an Expat: China, This is Why I’m Leaving You

Offline shopping in China – a man delivering good on an overloaded bicycle. ©KettiWilhelm2015
China | Travel Stories

“Singles’ Day” in China: NO MINGLING, I’m Online Shopping.

Traveling on crutches - specifically swinging from my crutches in Belarus. ©KettiWilhelm2015
Europe | Travel Stories

Cripple’s Guide to International Travel: Backpacking 10 Countries on Crutches

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I recently had the absolute honor of being a guest I recently had the absolute honor of being a guest on the @souloftravelpodcast ! To get ready for our recording, I started binging previous episodes (big mistake) and got pretty intimidated. The host, Christine, has had some big names in travel (and especially alternative thinkers) on the show, so I’m feeling incredibly grateful to be on that list. A few of the topics from our conversation: 🚆 How to make sustainable travel appeal to wider audiences (and why it’s not just a niche topic – it’s a perspective to apply to ANY kind of travel) 🟢 Greenwashing in content creation & brand partnerships (and how to avoid it) 🌍 Carbon removal vs. carbon offsetting – I gave it my best effort to simplify this and explain why I think REMOVAL is a better investment for your money than offsetting... hopefully I did a good job? (Shout out to @tomorrowsair_ , who I’ve talked about here, and on the podcast, and will probably never stop talking about.) 🚴‍♀️ The Tilted Map e-bike tours in Italy! (Join us in 2025!) LINK to listen my stories and my b!o @tiltedmap to listen to the episode! ❤️ @journeywoman_original #sustainabletravel #naturetravel #climateleadership #itravelbecause #responsibletravel #travelbloggervibes #ecowarrior #thetravelwomen
How would you rather spend winter – playing in t How would you rather spend winter – playing in the snow, or kicking around the beach? ❄️🏝️ I genuinely love both, but 2024 was one of those years I was ready to escape from at the end. (An intense one! See my recap post.) A bit of beach time with a book & no cell service has been just what the doctor ordered. 😊🩺 #wintertravel #winterescape #mexicotravel #oaxacatravel #beachvibes #mexicomagico #kick
For the past month, I’ve been rehashing this yea For the past month, I’ve been rehashing this year in my head, thinking it was really difficult one, with waves of highs and intense lows. But in creating this, I realized it’s really been a lot of highs, a lot of movement, and only one (very low) low. It’s been a cathartic process, as writing often is for me. I’m curious – have you had a similar experience? If so, I hope sharing this might help you focus on the optimistic notes in a tough year. Happy holidays and happy new year to you, wherever you are! 💚 #itravelbecause #responsibletraveller #creatoreconomy #contentcreatorlife #travelbloggervibes #thetravelwomen #2024recap #newyears
The secret destination next to the famous spot – The secret destination next to the famous spot – have you heard of the islands at the mouth of Norway’s fjords? ↓ Our mini sustainable travel guide for a day on Runde Island: —— New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! 👋 @tiltedmap helps you find more sustainable travel options anywhere. Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability! —— 🏨 HOTEL: - We stayed at the locally-owned @runde_panorama , where the stand-alone villas are beautifully designed to show off the coastline. (My only critique is that the walls were a bit thin – something to keep in mind depending on your group, but I would absolutely stay here again!) 🐧 MUST SEE MUSEUM: - The local Runde Environmental Center @opplevrunde was a perfect stop to get to know the area. Our excellent tour guide told us about the migratory birds that pass through the area – especially puffins! - … and the ship wreck that was discovered by local scuba divers in 1972, with the largest coin treasure ever found. 🥣 LUNCH: - Bonus: the restaurant at the Environmental Center was top notch! We had an excellent lunch there before our tour and hike. 🥾HIKE: - It’s a short walk from the Environmental Center to the trailhead for the ~ 1.5 hour hike. - According to our guides, Runde is the best place in Norway to see puffins. 📆 WHEN TO GO: - Puffin season (see above) is from late March to late July… - But that also means it’s the busy season in Runde, as one of our guides said: “As soon as the puffins leave the tourists leave.” - If you want a break from the crowds, the area was quiet and peaceful in November, but trails, restaurants and attractions were still open. 🎨 DINNER & ART: - Given the rural locations, I was expecting something quaint and homey from the Horisont art gallery @horisont_fosnavaag (created and owned by a local woman) but it was the opposite – completely cosmopolitan with a stunning variety of Norwegian and international art. 👉 Which part would YOU visit for? #norwaytravel #VisitNorway #visitnorway🇳🇴 #mynorwaystories #winterinnorway #experientialtravel #europeantravel #sustainabletravel
A fun example of how travel gives you a different A fun example of how travel gives you a different perspective — share this with someone who’d appreciate a reminder! ↓ The place to visit if you love dry humor. 🇳🇴 “I don’t think it’s legal to build a door that’s only 80 cm tall [2 1/2 feet], but it comes from Viking times — when your enemies tried to come in the door, it was easy to chop their heads off.” That’s what the owner of this hotel told me when I asked why the door was so short, and I *think* he was joking. 😂 🤨 (Doors did used to be short like this in Norway, to save energy, but now it’s more of an aesthetic choice.) 📍 This is the “ceremony room” at the @juvetlandscapehotel in western Norway. The property was designed for guests to reconnect with nature – and to leave as little lasting impact as possible. It was a farm before it was hotel. All of the new buildings were built with concrete, dynamite, excavators or permanent foundations. So they can be lifted up off their slits and taken away. (The hotel is closed for the winter, reopening in March 2025.) Would you stay here? —— New here? 👋 Hi, I’m Ketti! @tiltedmap is all about *realistic* sustainable travel… and also joy and fun and the interesting little things we get to notice in the places we visit. Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability! —— #norwaytravel #VisitNorway #visitnorway🇳🇴 #mynorwaystories #winterinnorway #experientialtravel #europeantravel #sustainabletravel
This Norwegian rock is a climate solution. Did you This Norwegian rock is a climate solution. Did you have any idea this was a thing? Cause I didn’t until recently! 🤯 ↓ How it works, in as few words as possible. ——— New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! 👋 Follow @tiltedmap if you’re passionate about sustainability and sustainable travel! ——— 🤔 WHAT IS ERW & why do we care? ERW = Enhanced Rock Weathering = one of the climate technologies travelers can invest in for a few dollars a month with @tomorrowsair_ . 🪨 Basically, you crush up a certain kind of rock (called olivine — up there in the museum in Norway!) and spread it on farm fields. 🧪 The acidity of the soil makes the rock dissolve… 🪄 which ABSORBS CO2 FROM THE AIR! Permanently!! 🌈 This is a natural process. Putting the rocks on the fields just speeds it up. ⚖️ It also balances the pH of the soil (so crops grow better)… 👩‍🌾 Which means farmers don’t have to buy a more expensive thing (agriculture lime) to do the same job. (Saves farmers money!) 🤝 Tomorrow’s Air works with a company called Eion to do this. (They’re not on the ‘gram, but look ‘em up, they’re great.) 🇳🇴 They source the rocks from a mine near where I was in Norway, because it’s powered by 100% renewable energy. So even though they’re shipping rocks back to the US, mining them there means the lowest carbon footprint for the whole provides. 👉 Do YOU want to hear more about this and other kinds of climate solutions? Then SHARE THIS WITH SOMEONE who would find it interesting. 👉 And comment your favorite rock related emoji! (We’ve gotta work to beat the cats for attention on this app. 🤘🗿🎸🧗‍♂️) #climateleadership #climateactionnow #environmentallyconscious #ecowarrior #geologyrocks #sustainabletravel #climatesolutions #circulareconomy
How’s my Norwegian? 😂 Sunday funday ride! I How’s my Norwegian? 😂 Sunday funday ride! If you’re watching this, COME RIDE BIKES WITH ME IN ITALY! I promise I speak the language muuuuch better. 🇮🇹🚴‍♀️ #norwegian #norwegianlanguage #bikeride #travelers #travellife #smallgrouptravel #smallgrouptours #languagelearning
Everyone says to take the train for the environmen Everyone says to take the train for the environment, but do they ever actually show you why? ↓ Climate numbers AND Bergen travel tips below – save this post for a trip to Norway! —— New here? Hi, I’m Ketti! @tiltedmap helps you find joyful and *realistic* sustainable travel options everywhere. Follow if you’re passionate about sustainability! —— 🌍 THE CLIMATE PART: Normally, I make these reels because taking public transit has a better climate impact than a taxi… 🇳🇴 But in Norway, more than 90% of new cars are electric, and less than 2% of electricity comes from fossil fuels… Which might make you think the difference between driving and taking a train is irrelevant here? Not so! 😯 The difference is way bigger than I expected: - About 69 grams of CO2 for the trip from the Bergen airport to the city center on the train… - Versus: 167 grams in an EV (assuming the car brought someone else to the airport, then picked you up. So a special round-trip like an Uber would be double.) - Versus: 635 grams in a diesel car (same generous assumption) - Bottom line: The light rail is BETWEEN 2 AND 20 TIMES BETTER THAN DRIVING. 🚊 Plus, taking public transit reduces congestion, and it’s the best way to show your support for the existence of sustainable transit options. 🎫 BERGEN PUBLIC TRANSIT TIPS: - You can buy a Bergen Card for about $34 USD (380 NOK) for one day, which includes free entry to lots of attractions AND free public transit. (Or $55 for 4 days.) - Otherwise, buy your tickets for the Light Rail like I did with the machine, or using the app “Skyss billett”, or even by SMS. - The light rail from the airport runs every ~ 5 minutes from early morning until after midnight, so you’ll be covered no matter when you land.🛬 👉 Do YOU try to take public transit when you travel? Where are you traveling next? Tell us below, and if I’ve been there, I’ll make you a public transit reel! #greeninfrastructure #traintravel #norwaytravel #VisitNorway #ecowarrior #europeantravel #sustainabletravel 🧮 Calculations from @visitbergen & the climate NGO @framtidenivarehender (page in Norwegian, but they have resources in English on their website.)
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