El Clasico

As an amateur of the game of football, I had to see the greatest player of the moment (and maybe of all time?) in action, and what better occasion than the ‘classic’ Barcelona Real Madrid game. I’m talking of Lionel Messi of course, 4 time winner of the Ballon d’Or. 

On my way home after my round the world trip, I made a last stop in Barcelona. After sleeping off my jetlag in the wonderful W hotel I arrived at the Camp Nou stadium for an intense football match.

Lionel Messi probably played better games but it was still very special to see his performance and that of his team. I’m glad to report they won the game 2-1.

And now, I can finally go home…….

Singapore

When flying from Sydney back to Europe a necessary stop has to be made in Asia. I opted for Singapore, mainly because I never visited this tiny place.

Of course, I had to stay in the fabulous Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Not only is the building breathtaking, it also features a 150m infinity swimming pool, an ice skating ring and the world’s largest casino.

As I stayed for just 2 nights, there wasn’t enough time to visit much outside the amenities of the hotel.  But that’s not a problem, I’ve already made a reservation to come back during the Formula Grand Prix weekend in 2014.

Sydney

 Next stop on my journey was the highly acclaimed city of Sydney.  After all the positive stories I heard about the place, and being relatively in the neighbourhood, I thought it would be a good idea to spend a couple of days there.

But then a fire broke out, and what a fire. It was all over the news so no need to get into details here, but it even had an (understandable) effect on the always so laidback locals.

Needless to say, Sydney isn’t a nice place to visit at the moment but I will come back for sure, to enjoy the city and (a big part of) the rest of the country.

Bora Bora

After my 5500 mile roadtrip through the United States I needed a rest, so I went…..to paradise. 

Pictures simply do not do justice to this place, especially if you opt for an Over-Water Bungalow at the Four Seasons Resort. I never slept that well since I was a baby.

Sure, I had some nice dinners, discovered the Lagoon by catamaran and went to the gym a couple of times, but to be honest I didn’t do much at all, and I loved it.

 
It simply is the most relaxing place on earth and it has been a real privilege to spend a week there.

Coast to Coast (4/4)

Back in familiar territories, with the last stint of my fantastic roadtrip: from Las Vegas through Death Valley to the City of Angels. Technically that concluded my coast to coast voyage but there is always more to see and to do so I quickly drove up the Pacific Coast Highway.

Of course I had to stop for a day on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. After Indianapolis another legendary circuit where I got a chance to further improve on my driving skills thanks to the wonderful people of Hooked on Driving.

Then again, after the woods, the plains and the deserts once again the ocean accompanied me to the next destination. And what a destination: San Francisco. Although I have been there before, every visit is very much enjoyable and completely worth it.

And then finally, the last straight towards the end of this trip: Seattle. Not just the Space Needle but the whole vibe of that city makes it a great place to end this unforgettable journey.

It really was a dream come true, crossing the US from one side to the other. I didn’t mention half the things I did (hotels, restaurants, museums) and I didn’t do half the things I wanted to. But I will come back for them, but for now, time to relax (and not drive a single mile) on Bora Bora……..