Why We Started Catsitting + How to Start Housesitting to Travel

It all started with a cat named Monday. At least, that’s what we called her. And after finding a forever home for her, we wanted to have more cats in our lives without the drama and the tears. More happy stories of beloved felines that receive regular veterinary care. Fewer stories of kittens discarded on a hiking trail or born in a colony on a rooftop. Just taking care of cats for a few days or weeks or months and then handing back the responsibility to their pet parents who missed them dearly and are grateful for the help. ThatContinue reading

Kayaking the Agger, Sieg, and Rhine – Zucchini’s Recertification River Trials for the Danube

We kayaked the Agger, Sieg, and a bit of the Rhine rivers on Thursday, the 29th of February, 2024. Besides having fun, this was also an important test for our inflatable kayak Zucchini, which had been in storage for over 4 years since paddling the Morava River. Will she float? If she passes her shakedown cruise on these three rapid rivers, we shall take her to Mohács to kayak the rest of the Danube River this year. Four Years, Four Months, and Twenty-Nine Days of Slumber Inflating Zucchini + Testing for Leaks Before we could take Zucchini back to theContinue reading

Vlieland: 5 Days of Quietude, Craft Beers, and a Lighthouse (Walk + Work)

We stayed on the carfree island of Vlieland from the 21st till the 26th of January, 2024. As part of the Walk + Work Dutch Coastline Hike, we stayed here and walked a section of the coast every day. Since this is a continuation of the original Walk + Work trip, the hiking days count up, starting at 21. 1. Arriving in Vlieland (Day 21) 21 January, 2024 Ferry ride to Vlieland After visiting my family in the middle of the Netherlands for a week, Jonas and I departed to the country’s far north. My mom dropped us off atContinue reading

Drouseia to Neo Chorio, Revisiting Akamas – E4 Cyprus Hiking Day 9

We hiked this section of the E4 on Monday the 8th of January, 2024. Since we based ourselves in Polis, we took the bus from there to the start in Drouseia and hitchhiked back from the end in Neo Chorio. We’ve tried to do as much of the E4 in Cyprus as possible without a car. Planning + Bus 648 to Drouseia Two days before the hike, we plotted a route via a section of the E4 with overlapping bus lines. My OSM map showed a route of bus 648 going to Drouseia, which is on the E4, and oneContinue reading

Avakas Gorge Nature Trail: A Popular Canyon Hike near Paphos

We did this touristy hike on the 30th of December, 2023. Despite traveling to the Avakas Gorge in the low season, it was rather busy Driving to and Parking at the Avakas Gorge The day before, Jonas and I did some shallow research into doing the Avakas Gorge hike. As we were doing a catsit in the mountains near Paphos, we had access to the pet parents’ car. Normally, we would do such a trip with public transport, hitchhiking, or not at all when the internet says it’s too touristy. If we’d done it by bus, we would have gottenContinue reading

Accommodation in Crete: Where we stayed in Heraklion, Paleochora, and Chania

What to expect of accommodation in Crete as a digital nomad? We stayed on the Greek island of Crete from the 25th of October till the 24th of November, 2023. These are the places we booked to both work online from, pet a lot of cats, and have fun day trips. Heraklion / Iraklio From the airport in Heraklion, we took the bus to the city and walked the last bit through the old town. We found the apartment and did a self-checkin. There was a small elevator that brought us to our floor. The apartment itself was liveable forContinue reading

Accommodation in Estonia: Booking Homes in Tartu, Tallinn, and Kärdla

What to expect of accommodation in Estonia as a digital nomad? We stayed in Estonia from the 9th of October till the 25th of October, 2023. These are the places we booked to both work online from and have fun day trips. Cruiseferry from Mariehamn to Tallinn Since this bit already appeared in the accommodation in the Åland Islands article, I tucked this one away. But yes, we arrived in Estonia on a booze cruise. Tartu⭐ From Tallinn Port, we walked to the train station and took the train first class to Tartu. This is a 2.5-hour journey. Jonas reservedContinue reading

Housesitting Checklists: Before, During, and After Catsitting

So you’ve decided to become a catsitter? In this post, I’ve gathered all the housesitting checklists for questions to the pet parents and things to do before, during, and after the catsit. In this way, you’re making sure it will be a streamlined process from start to finish. These housesitting checklists are tickable and it will save your choices in the browser when you come back to this post. But first, let’s make sure you score that first catsit via Trusted Housesitters. Questions to Ask on an Application Call When you’ve scored your first video call for a potential housesitting gig,Continue reading

Accommodation in the Åland Islands: from Eckerö and Kökar to Mariehamn

What to expect of accommodation in the Åland Islands as a digital nomad? These are the places we booked to both have adventures and get some work done. We were in Åland between the 24th of September and the 9th of October. Åland is part of Finland, so read about accommodation in Finland here. Eckerö (Couchsurfing) We spent our first two nights in Åland couchsurfing with a local in Eckerö. It’s quite unusual for us, but a friend of mine brought me into contact with the guy she couchsurfed with in Åland a few months prior and he invited usContinue reading

Accommodation in Finland: Where We Stayed between Kilpisjärvi and Turku

What to expect of accommodation in Finland as a digital nomad? We stayed in Finland from the 3rd of September till the 9th of October, but from the 24th of September till the 9th of October we were in the Åland Islands part of Finland. Since Åland is quite a special place, accommodation in the Åland Islands is a separate post! Kilpisjärvi, Lapland After Tromsø in Norway, our plan was to travel to Finland through one of the ‘bunny ears’ called Enontekiö. The most obvious place to stay in that area right across the border and into the Eurozone andContinue reading