💭 I Wasn’t Supposed to Travel Again So Soon... Yet Here I Am in Croatia.

Hey, Johannes from GearUpYourLife here

This week’s email is a bit different.
I just arrived in Zadar, Croatia, and before settling down here for the next month, I wanted to take you along on the road that got me here.

It’s been a wild ride: from Cologne to Munich for the Oktoberfest (where, thanks to pneumonia, my drinks of choice were tea and cola 😅), through the mountain roads of Austria to Salzburg and Hallstatt, then across Slovenia, Lake Bled and Ljubljana, and finally down to the Croatian coast.

It felt like crossing seasons in just a few days: from cold alpine air to warm sea breeze.
And after a tough couple of weeks being sick, this trip honestly felt like the first real deep breath in a while.
Now that I’m here, it’s time to slow down, catch the sunsets again, and get back into the creative rhythm, new videos, new guides, and maybe a few quiet coffee moments by the sea. ☕🌊

Each stop on the way felt completely different ,almost like traveling through Five versions of Europe in just one week.

Munich was chaos and laughter, people from everywhere, traditional outfits, and the smell of pretzels and roasted almonds everywhere. Even though its my third time in Munich and I couldn’t join in on the beer this time , it was still impossible not to feel the energy.

Then came Salzburg, calm, elegant, and completely Underrated,Walking through the old streets, with the mountains right behind the rooftops, it honestly felt like a movie.
Hallstatt was the direct opposite, small, quiet, and almost unreal ( but very touristy ). The kind of place where time seems to slow down, and you just stand there staring at the lake wondering how it’s even real.

From there, the drive into Slovenia was pure freedom. I stopped at Lake Bled, watched the sun rise over the island, and then spent a few hours exploring Ljubljana ( Still can’t pronounce it properly, but I promise it’s great 😅) small but full of life, cafés, and one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

And now… Zadar. My home for the next month.
The first Night here already reminded me why I love this lifestyle so much, slow mornings, warm evenings, and that mix of routine and adventure that keeps probably everyone grounded.

I’ve uploaded a few photos from the trip below, and the next days I’ll start sharing the first pictures from Croatia too.
Next Sunday’s post will include a little photo tour of my cozy Airbnb setup here — because this week’s YouTube video actually fits that theme perfectly.

If you haven’t seen it yet:
🎥 12 Travel Gadgets That Turn Any Airbnb Into a Home — it’s all about those small upgrades that make a rental space feel truly yours.

👉 Watch it here on YouTube

P.S. If you want to see all the new travel photos from this week — including the road trip through Austria and Slovenia — check out Instagram: @gear_upyour_life.