Category: Backpacking

My Love-Hate Relationship With Starbucks

Mitchell Labiak2 Comments
A Starbucks in Guangzhou, China

Following on from my Love-Hate Relationship with Lonely Planet, the lovely Mitch (AKA The Ambling Bristolian) has written about another thing we have a love-hate relationship with while travelling… Starbucks. The first time I went to Starbucks, I was 17 years old (it was one of those dates that wasn’t actually a date but I really wished it was a date) and I was told to order a chocolate coffee milkshake sort of thing. You know the one I mean. Anyway, I loved it (because I was 17 and my taste buds were about as sensitive as Donald Trump’s sense …

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“You’re Living Your Dream & This Shit Should Be Fun”

bristolianbackpacker2 Comments

Ain’t nobody want to see you down in the dumps because you’re living your dream and this shit should be fun. The title of the blog post comes from a new Ed Sheeran song, Eraser. Granted, he’s talking about his life as a high-flying, global singer-songwriter. Alas, I am not. But the line is relatable and something I’ve been meaning to write about for a while: Living The Dream. We’ve met a lot of people on our travels who said they were so envious of our lifestyle. We’re “living the dream” they’ve said. Travelling and working combined is certainly a blessing, …

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Thoughts about my time (so far!) in Mexico

bristolianbackpacker0 Comments

We’ve now been in Mexico for just over five weeks. It’s gone extremely quickly and I’m already worrying about how little time we have left with a whole bunch of places left that I still want to see. We’re currently in Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-biggest city. Our Air BnB is a little outside of the city in a new apartment block with a swimming pool and a lovely bright, modern room with excellent views from the 11th floor we’re staying on. Apart from nice weather, a Spanish-speaking population, and tacos, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Mexico. Here are some thoughts …

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My Love-Hate Relationship with Lonely Planet

bristolianbackpacker0 Comments

I recently read Lonely Planet’s guide to Europe’s Best Road Trips. Yes, the photos are stunning and it makes me want to learn to drive and travel all over. However, what annoys me about this list is their lack of diversity. According to the United Nations, there are 44 countries in Europe. All of the countries listed in Lonely Planet’s guide are in Western Europe. What about all the other countries? I’ve travelled around Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, and many others and they boast breathtaking landscapes. Why are these countries ignored? Calm down Helen, it’s just a list Maybe I am …

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Helen’s 10 Best Hikes and Climbs in the World

bristolianbackpacker0 Comments

When travelling, I often find myself doing monstrous hikes that put my unfitness into perspective. That being said, hiking is one of my favourite things to do while travelling. No matter how strenuous the hiking is, the views are usually pretty spectacular. From my current location in Mexico, all the way to China and the UK, here are some of my top hikes across the world. Teotihuacan, Mexico Our most recent hike was both epic and tiring. Teotihuacan is an ancient city (about 2000 years old) found about an hour outside of Mexico City. There are two big temples to climb: the …

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A Catholic’s Dilemma: Travelling During Lent

bristolianbackpacker0 Comments

Despite not being a practising Catholic, each year when Lent rolls around, I still feel the Catholic desire to give something up or do something extra. Facebook, alcohol, cheese, and chocolate detoxes have all been completed in the past. I like to give something up which is challenging to go without and that I know I often over indulge in. Travelling and Lent: Easy Peasy? While travelling, you’d think that this would be easy, right? But I’ve actually found it significantly more difficult deciding what to give up for Lent the past three years (the years I’ve been backpacking in …

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