New Country, New Routine, Same Coffee ☕ (and a Little Surprise Inside)

Hey, Johannes from GearUpYourLife here..

You know that feeling when you finally slow down enough to notice the details again. The smell of coffee, the sound of the sea, the fact that you’re really far from home?
That’s been my first week here in Zadar, Croatia.

I’m slowly finding my rhythm again , learning a few local words (emphasis on few 😅), figuring out which grocery stores actually have good fruit, and of course, discovering where to get the best coffee in town, probably the most important part at this point.

We also took our first little trip out to explore the Plitvice National Park ,one of Croatia’s most famous natural wonders.
And honestly, even after spending time in Canada, big parts of South America, and Vietnam, I haven’t seen landscapes like this a longer time now.
It’s this surreal mix of turquoise lakes, wooden trails, and waterfalls everywhere ,a place that feels calm and alive at the same time.
It was one of those rare moments where you just stop and take it all in. And it was just 12 miles “hiking” 😅 so no rush, just wow.

I’ve added a few photos down below and uploaded the full gallery on Instagram as well.
So far, Croatia has been nothing short of inspiring, sunny, peaceful, and finally warm again (that’s over 70°F for my 68% U.S. readers ☀️).
And yes… I still haven’t needed my Outdoor Research rain jacket, which might be a new record for me haha.

Alright, let’s talk about the important part — the Giveaway!
If you read Wednesday’s special edition, you probably already know what’s going on.
But since many of you only catch the Sunday issue (which I totally get — I’m also more of a weekend reader 😅), here’s a quick recap of what you can win and how to enter.

What you can win:

🎒 NayoSmart Urban U6 Backpack 
A true community favorite. It’s sleek, durable, water-resistant, and super practical for both travel and daily life.
And I honestly can’t thank the NayoSmart team enough — they’ve believed in this little community since we had just 700 subscribers. Now we’re at 7,000, and they’re still here supporting. That really means a lot.

🧴 Sea to Summit Toiletry Bag 
One of my Top 10 Travel Gadgets and also one of the top 5 most purchased items from this channel.
It’s lightweight, organized, and built to last — I literally take it everywhere.

🧳 LEVEL8 Rolling Carry-On Luggage 
My favorite carry-on under $200. Sturdy, minimalist, and a perfect match for the backpack giveaway.

How to join:
It’s super simple — just reply to this or one of the next two newsletters with the product you’d like to win.
Not because I secretly want 700 emails (haha), but because there’s no comment section here — so that’s the only way I can see who’s entering.

And if you missed it:
The YouTube Giveaway also went live this Thursday, featuring three more amazing products — the NayoSmart Backpack, the Sony WH-1000XM5, and the Anker MagGo Powerbank.
So if you want to double your chances → go check it out!
🎥 Watch it here → [ Click Here ]

Good Luck to all of you taking part in the Giveaway — I can’t wait to read your messages and see which gear you’re hoping to win.

This past week really reminded me why I started all of this in the first place: connecting with people who love travel, adventure, and good coffee just as much as I do.

Safe Travel,
– Johannes

PS:
I’ve added a few photos from our trip on Instagram — they’re from Plitvice National Park , one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in a long time.
Once we hit 100 followers, i’ll be giving away a TRTL travel pillow there too. 😄