Uncategorized
The Final… and the future!
Dear Friends and Followers!
This is the end of Before33. And the beginning of something new.
It really took me 33 years and these 3 weeks under pressure before I got 33 – on this trip travelling on my own through Portugal and Spain. Just to find out: Everything is possible – and being crazy is ok.
20 points fit on my list – of things I had to do before getting 33 – and in the end i received so much much more i just didnt dare to expect. I got to know so many new great people, amazing places, inhaled the southeuropean culture and got to know even myself little bit better.
Now I m back and i will continue what already started some months ago. The absolutely enourmous change of my life. Actually I just got myself agin – and found out that it s not only ok to do what you like. But if you believe – everyting is possible.
Thats why i want to close the capitel before33 by now – and start tomorrow with something new. As i enjoy writing that much – i will keep blogging for the future in my private blog called crazy is ok. Just some stories and thoughts of a young crazy single entrepreneur in vienna. Hope you stay tuned. Keep u updated when the blog starts!
So… follow me! And have fun – because CRAZY IS OK!
PS: Some pictures of my trip – you can finally see on this link:
https://before33.wordpress.com/the-pictures-of-the-trip-a-summary-2/
Before33 Party… some pictures finally.
Finally – some pictures of the before33 party i decided to be just a familiar Sunday afternoon champagne and coffee meeting… with over 50 people in the end… so thats what i call my closer circle of people… thanks to all of you coming to my home town… and everybody who knows me… can be sure… this is just the beginning of a big party session to be continued…
Shoes from Portugal arrived…
Hi again…
3 weeks passend since i m back from my great backpack trip… and arrived immediately back in life.
It happend to me during the last weeks that i was asked many times if these were the shoes i bought in Lisbon… sometimes i wore them… but sometimes not.
So…. i promised you a picture of them… and of course – here they are. My two lovely pairs of sandales – i wore already many times on party trips in vienna – and the really fancy ones… which i didnt dare to wear yet… still scared of the 12 cm height. But next time for sure…
So…. acutally i recognized that still some of you are visiting my blog… maybe you really liked it.
Thats why i decided to continue – altough my list is finished. But as my therapist told me (i tell you more about my therapist later 🙂 ) – that all the year during the 30ies are the best years of a women…. so i guess there will be some more things to tell…
And at the moment… it doesnt seem at all… that life gets more boring from now… absolutely not.
For the beginning… here are my shoes. Like I promised. And there will follow some more pictures of my lovely trip. I just didnt have time yet to put them in an order. Some pictures of our nice before33 party… and much much more – as long as anybody reads it.
And as i started writing before33 – just before i got 33 – i think this can be continued anyway. One more hint for the future blog: crazy single entrepreurs life in vienna… and all the stories around. Have fun! And stay tuned!
22. 11-22-33 THE SURPRISE
Dear friends and followers of before33!
It seems like 22 days were enough for travelling – and I am already back in real life…. Started working again. But – as I promised – there is a little suprise for you.
Celebrating my 33 th birthday, after fulfilling 20 points on my list – with 288 blog followers on the peak times…. Was my best birthday present at all! So thanks soooo much to all of you who read my blog continuesly during the last 3 weeks. I hope you had fun as well – i defenitely had!
And i think thats definetely a good reason for a Party: And yes – This party will be already next Saturday – on the 11 th of August. So I would like to put this invitation to everybody who read my blog and wants to join.
But there is only one condition how to get the further information about the exact dates and locations. Depending on how many people will come… this can differ. One point it advance – it s not in Vienna.
Anyway – PLEASE: if you have time and pleasure to celebrate
· My birthday
· Being Back to vienna
· And the Launch of our company NOHO
Write an email to: verenabefore33@gmail.com
But you have to use a CODE – to get the further details:
Use my saying from Point Nr. 18 concerning to Partys – thats the CODE – but you have to find out by yourself!
Latest application time for the before33-Party is Wednesday, 8 th of august, 18.00 h!
Thanks for being spontenous!
Hope to see many of you……
LOVE, Verena
21. SPECIAL: Travel Pack List
Extra:. Tips how to Pack for a Couchsurfing-backpack-trip
As i Met some people during my Trip i saw really different Kind of backpacks, suitcases, plastic bags, even paper boxes – with whAt People Used to Carry their Things around when getting from A to B. But the more interesting Part where the Priorities – when they decided what to take and Why and how much weight they were willing to Carry for the Price of having all the Luxus they were Used to have in normal Life.
Actually this Part is a Tribut to the lovely German Girls i Met in Lagos – where we Shared 50 m² for 3 days. At this Time they had just Started their long term Trips lasting 6 months- Leading them through europe, asiA and australia. So thanks to yvonne and matje for this inspiring meeting. Actually during These 3 days all 3 of us rearranged our packaging Strategy ( i was Not that much better than them in the „taking only the Most important Things“-topic ) anyway- we all Skipped some Things and Sent them Home.
Out of this experience, some Tips i got from my 1-Year-World-Trip- experienced friend martina and finally my own conclusions i made during travelling – i created a list with what u should and what you definetely shouldn t take on a backpack Trip:
Important things:
• Light sleeping bag (like sheets)
• ohropax ( the things to put in your ears when its loud- i always forget them…)
• Moskito Spray
• credit Card, Not too much Cash
• light cheap pillow – but Not the ones to blow up
• light scarf; what u can wear as Dress, as scarf or Even use As a towel
• one extra Big light bag- for Example a jute-bag for your Things during travelling (or also for cheap Airline flights. U are allowed to take only One Cabin baggage-Not Even a Small handbag)
• 1 Big Travel towel for Beach
• 1 Small Travel towel for Bath
• 1 smartphone and maybe 1 Camera extra and the Adapters to reload – but Not more cables or Adapters for any electric Devices.
Clothes:
•Max 10 underpants
• Max 3 bras (1 sport, 1 fancy Black, 1 komfortable Travel – sorry Martina cant follow your advice wearing no bras – i m not Ready for that.)
• 2 Bikinis
•Max 3 shoes (1 closed – maybe Sports shoes, 1 wlaking Sandals, then Flip Flops or fancy ones for going out- take only One of them – the other option Buy there)-i couldnt follow this rule 😦
•1 Long light trousers
•1 comfortable travelling Shorts
•1 shorts
• 1 skirt (Uni colour)
• 8 shirts (tops, with arms, without, At least One fancy One for going out)
• 2 Dresses ( 1 for the Beach, 1 fancy for going out)
•3 pairs of socks
•1 rain Skin
• 1 Long sleeved Shirt or Pullover
For the south: no Jeans, nö jackets – really u dont Need it!
Medicine;
• painkillers (pArkemed and ibumetin)
• omniflora: for Stomach Problems
• soventol gel: for sunburn and Moskito bites
• Hansaplast
• Moskito Spray or Tiger balm (that Works also… And u can use for muscle pain)
• Small bepanthen creme
Thats enough!!! Really.
Cosmetics:
• Small Shampoo – there is even a Shampoo Stone – like a Soap- Small and lasts 6 months (tip from Yvonne)
• better Soap than shower Gel
• conditioner: No – Not in 500 ml tubes! Yvonne!!!!
• Small toothpaste, toothbrush- but Not your Electric teeth cleaning Station!
• no suncream – Buy there
• no bodylotin- only aftersun – but Buy there
• 1 Mechanic shaver
• Deospray
• 1 Parfüme – would suggest to fill in in Small Spray bottles – no Big Glas Flakon (my Tip: Biotherm refreshing Sprays)
• hairbrush if needed
• hairgel or wax if needed – in Small boxes. No Haarspray.
And absolute NONO:
•electric nailskin remover
• eyebrow colouring devices
• 6 different nail polishes
• nail polish remover
• extra Alarm clock
• 10 cm thick lonely Planet Travel Guide Books
• adapters for all kind of different Electric Devices
• actually nö Electric devices than mentioned in the beginning
Make up: only for Girls
• Mascara
• 1 eyeshadow light
• 1 eyepencil
• 1 Small Fluid make up (Sample)
• 1 lipgloss
-> its Hot there and u wont use anything more and will look fabolous anyway with the Brown Teint 🙂
• cream for face and Eye wrinkles (i could Not Skip that – Most important Factor of Looking like 22)
• Small Washing Gel (there are Small ones available… Don’t take the 200 ml !!!)
• peeling small – if u really need it. (or use the sand from the beach with the washing gel)
• 1 make up remover And 1 cleaning water – if u really need it – but in small ( in fact I do – as this is a part of my looking young secret- I learned from my cosmetic expert renate that the most important thing for a good looking skin is the cleaning… See- that’s at least my priority)
• ok: 1 nail polish- better a light colour – you dont See it that much when its Loosing colour
• 1 manicure Set (only the Basic Equipment)
Important:
• if u have wifi and a smartphone: One Book is enough for Reading. If u Need more , Change You’rs with other travellers or borrow One
• One smartphone is enough. No Netbook needed
• with good enough smartphone u don’t Even Need a Camera – And its easY to make pics immediately nicer with instagram and can post afterwards on fb. You Save Adapter for camera and the time to sort pics out After the Holiday. I Never do that finally;(
Special for Couchsurfing:
• a Gift from your country- what is typical and light to Carry ( maybe fridge magnets.. Or needles….)
• Your personal cards… Maybe with some space for a nice message (at least I would like it)
This list is for all People who just don’t believe that this really is enough – believe me- it is! I Hope for the Next Time i will believe it by myself.
And: if u choose the Size for your backpack. Take 40 l+10 l – Maximum 50 l + 10 l – then theres Not more Space anyway – and u will thank God if there wont Be a Bus somewhere in the Middle of nowhere and u have to Carry it 😉
20. ARRIVED. Finally. Some Conclusions – being crazy is ok.
Its the end of a Trip. But actually its the beginning.
When i started this Trip i had this very strong Feeling that i needed some distance. From everything. Vienna. Work. Friends. Maybe from myself.
The last vacation was already A Long Time ago and so many things happened during the last 6 months… And there was Not much Space or Time to Calm down.
I definetely had to do something just on my own. So i Booked this Flight and decided to become a Blog writer.
So… What now? 3 Weeks passed – and nothing changed….?
Actually Not.
The only Thing that happenend. I took my Time to discover again – what i already knew. Just like mentioned in the 4-Hour- workweek. Find out your pAssion and Live it.
I Found out that tHe Main problem of the last Years – where i felt unhappy, tired, just without Energy – was, that i forgot to listen to my inner voice. If somebody asked me: what mAkes u happy? I didnt hAve really good answers… Because it seemed i had forgotten it.
And this made me wondering about myself. I asked myself many Times: where is my Energy? And Couldnt find an answer. I already thought that this Crazy Energy maybe just disappears when we get Older and Living a serious Life. But thats exactly the Point: the Life that i Lived was Not my Life anymore. And i forgot to Listen to my inner Voice – but She told me finally really loud – that there is a Problem – with causing this really Bad disease – and then i had to Listen again. And thank God – i did.
Getting Older doesnt mean – getting boring.
Studying Law and Economics doesnt mean – Making a Great career in a Big Company.
Being a girl in the 30ies doesnt mean – getting married and having Kids.
Not at all.
Getting Older only means – that it sometimes Takes just more effort to keep the Spirit of your Kid Inside you.
And Yes. Thats how i always was: Full with energy, Love to laugh, being spontanous and flexible, Need my Freedom, Love my Friends and Family – but still Open to get to Know everytime new People, Travel around, dancing and partying, sometimes just Be Crazy – and Be an entrepreneur.
The fact is: i just had to accept how i am and that its ok to Live like this although i m getting 33. And to accept As well – that this Things will Never Change – i guess also Not if i m 77.
I tried to fit in structures that didnt fit to me which made me unhappy and took all my Energy.
So finally i Found out my conclusions for a happy Life and i will also Read them in the Future, if i tend to forget them. so just to remember for myself:
• you are Little Bit crazy-but thats ok.
• when u Feel like Dancing – just do it
• being cool is Not a matter of Age. The attitude Counts – Not the age (and: you don’t have to Tell your real Age if People think you are 22 😉
• you don’t like travelling in 4 Star hotels – better always take a backpack and stay with locals
• See the positive Sides – And the positive Sides will See you
• keep the everything is possible Feeling
• expect nothing – and get everything
• if u don’t Feel like going out- Call a friend – that normally helps
• doesnt matter what will come: now you know you can adopt to all Kind of circumstances – so dont worry
• if u Feel Bad and u don’t Know exactly Why – sleep a Night over it – this will Pass by
• there is no need to Be afraid of travelling alone – there might Be some people there already
• just smile – and the right People will find you
• you will always love Partys – thats in your genes ( sorry mum!)
• you will always Be An entrepreneur – so don’t dare Even to think about being an employee Ever again.
• And u love to write: you should keep your Passion and make once in a while other people happy with writing your Blog.
So… Thats my Personal list with Things to remember.
And maybe you can use One or two of my conclusions for yourself.
And whats now?
Life goes on. Actually life Starts right now.
And i m Lucky to say that i m looking forward to come back to vienna and Start working with my lovely collegues Tomorrow.
Big thanks to lukas and Stefan who made it possible for me to go on vacation – duringwhile they were preparing everything so Great – that we will have our official Noho launch already Next Week.
Isnt that Great? Coming Home After vacation and Looking forward to everything that comes!
And don’t forget: still 2 Points Left on the List- but will Be Completed Soon.
20. Finally arrived. Accepted that being Little Bit crazy is ok and there s no Need to Change Never Ever!!!!
19. Make the 4 Hour work Week become Reality
The List is nearly finished. But there is One more important Point missing. And this is about my work Life. I mentioned already sometimes the book the 4 – hour -work Week. What was the last advice Book i read. Just to explain in a Short overview…. The Main content is how everybody can handle it to work only 4 hours a week. Ok / this won’t be possible in all cases… But of course it’s not only about the 4 hours – but how you can use your time efficient and just do these things u like – and then you will be good at it – and finally successful. The point is to get rid of all excuses that prevent yourself from realizing your dreams. For me there was one essential question that tim ferris asked in his book: if you just dare to do what u really want. – and then imagine the worst Case what could Happen, if u fail? So… What is it? When i quit my Job, put all my Money in a project in which i believe… Work with subjects and People i like. What could Be the worst Things that could Happen, if it fails..? i Loose Money. But would i loose Time – no. I would have learned from the faults. Will i starve or Be homeless? I guess No. I can afford food, i have an appartment, i have an insurance. And i can Even Travel. So – unfortunately there were no more excuses Left for Not doing what i always dreamed of. Having my own company, Be my own Boss, Be the Chief of my schedule.
Finally the worst Thing what i could Imagine was – that i havent tried it.
So… Living the 4 Hour work Week doesnt only mean to work only 4 hours – but just dare to Be what u really are. Find out your Passion and Live for it. And u will Be successful. So did i. At least i did The First step.
More than a Year ago i got to Know my collegue Lukas – who just moved in One Apartment Above me. He was a Young entrepreneur Too and we joined for a Kind of spontenous Co working Space. After a while suddenly a New door was opened for both of us – and we decided to put our competences in a Pot – with a Great Change to build something Even bigger together.
Finally Lukas, his friend Stefan and me Founded our Company noho – the anti- hangover Drink-Company. I guess duringwhile you have all heard about it 😉
You might think this is a very risky Plan … And Maybe it is. But thats the point of being an enteepreneur – you Never Know it in advance. The only Thing we can do – is to work As good As possible to make it work. And don’t regret in the future – that we didnt try.
So i guess we are expecting pretty exciting Times – and i am absolutely Looking forward to it.
19. Live the 4-Hour-work Week – and become an entrepreneur! CHECK!
On the Pictures below u can See my collegues being really busy working duringwhile i was only working 4 hours a Week! Thanks for that Guys!
18. Spending my birthday on my own on ballermann, Mallorca
You might Be already curious how i spent my birthday – finally on my own. No Couchsurfing – no Company from russia anymore – just me checked in at a 4 star Hotel somewhere on the beach of Palma de mallorca.
Spent the Day on the Beach on my Air matress and relaxing. And blogging of course and having phone calls and answering all your Nice birthday wishes of course.
But that u already Know. I guess its more important like how i managed to have a Kind of birthday Party without knowing anybody here. Come on….. I m on Mallorca! You wont think i sat sad at Home and watched tv. By He Way – i didnt even Switch only One Time a tv on during the last 3 weeks. I didnt Even think about it. Actually hat should Be a Point on my List As well – but the List is already Full – i just have to post the missing Parts.
But Yes- back to the birthday evening on the Party Island: the evening started with a really Bad Buffet at the Hotel. What i just Booked because it was only 3 EUR more. Now i know Why and will Skip this tonight. So i had Dinner in 10 min – i just had to get out of a crowded restaurant with Lots of bored couples and Holiday Stressed familiies – who were overloading their plates with everything was available and didnt fit together. I ate really Bad tasting Fish and a awful Mouse o cafe – and decided to Skip this all – As i had already a Nice birthday cake – tasting like mothes reisauflauf. At least One Gourmet highlight.
Anyway decided to fill my Stomach with Cocktails instead and Headed Direction Party Zone. With the Great Name megapark. So there i was: at megapark, ballermann6, Mallorca. Finally. My Dream came true. Celebbrating 33 th birthday on the Party Mile of Mallorca with Lots of Drunk German People. Even Not really my age. But i couldnt help it. I just could make the Best out of the situation and remembered One sentence that i always like to Tell other People: the Party is where i am. In this Case i just had to Tell this to myself. And i really believed it 😉
So i decided to hAve a Look around And get an impression of the Party Feeling on a spanish Island in German. It didnt take Long As some Funny Guys Barked at me like Wuff wuff. And Said like: o we Know each other from yesterday… I thought to myself that this People seem at least funny and that it might Be hard anyway to find other Germans here with Humor – because everybody was German there. Of course/
So i joined them for Cocktails – and As they were experienced Mallorca travellers – they introduced me to the hotspots in the partyarea. At the Next stop Bierkönig i saw what i expected in A Way – but would Not have believed if somebody Else Have told me. Hundreds of Germans drinking out of really Big bowls, with 1 m straws, Dancing and einging to German songs i Never heard before – And actually just having fun. As i didnt have much other possibilities – i started to like it. I got to Know really fast all people just Standing around the Table and even gave advices to really Young girls – you Know the ones for Life… Like One of them complained that always her friend was the One who attracted the Guys and She was always the One ständig beside being sad. I just proposed that She should maybe try it Next Time With a smile 😉
Anyway- the evening got funnier according to the Sizes of the drink bowls and the Size of the straws. And i even borrowed a Great straw hat. Some impressions you can See below. As there is finally nothing Left to Be embaressed about i put this time also the really Bad Pictures As a Proof of my saying: the Party is – where i am.
Remember this also for the Coming surprises on Point 22.!
18. Finally had a Funny birthday on Ballermann, Mallorca – with People i didnt Know before . CHECK!
17. Doing the Couchsurfing Thing Or: if this my Mother would know (so please don’t Tell her)
Maybe you were already thinking..what the hell is She doing down there and who are all those People She is posing with on the Pictures…
Yes. Thats a good question. And the answer is: Couchsurfing.
For those of you who have Never heard of that…just keep reading. But in Advance: its nothing illegal or dangerous!
2 Weeks before i decided to do this Trip on my own – it was the First Time that i heard of the Couchsurfing Community. In a Way it seemed weird to me… But on the other Hand i thought – my parents also have a bed and breakfast and Host People they don’t Know before. The difference at Couchsurfing is that you stay at somebodys private House or Apartment. And those People who either Surf or Host are mainly Keen on travelling and want to get to know New People and New countries from the View of a Local. This Kind of Attitude Makes it easy for somebody travelling alone to Feel everywhere like Home. But to get some impressions i will just describe u my Trip until now:
-1. Pretrip: I registered just one week before I left – but got already a. Request from Bernard from Malta – also a Young entrepreneur to Hang out in Vienna for some hours. So we did – and finally i could already get my first Tips how to Be a Active member of the cs Community.
And finally my own couchsurfing experience started:
1. Card tricks with juanito in Málaga: stayed at Juanitas Apartment with another couple from poland – Close to the Center. He had two extra rooms for couchsurfers and He just Liked to Host People from all over the World – As He was Not travelling that much. He had really amazing Card tricks… i still believe that He is actually a magician. But in málaga i didnt meet only Juanito – but also Sebastian – original from argentina – but now Living in spain and studying. We had a really Funny afternoon and He introduced me to tinto de verano…. Red wine with lemonjuice and ICE – already drinking in the afternoon on the beach – and told me about the Historic spanish Empire. What Sounded really interesting at that Moment As i remember it – but because of my Short Term Memory in history – already forgot it.
2. Alhambra at night with antonio in Granada: there i stayed at Antonios Apartment what He was Sharing with His Brother Santiago. This was a real mens Apartment – but still had One room Left for couchsurfers. Antonio just prepared His own Trip to do the camino – so we went Shopping together to Buy a backpack for him and we tried together to organize it As light As possible. After tight sightseeing schedule Dinner was always just starting at 11.00pm – and afterwards of course going on Party with Other couchsurfers.
During visiting the Alhambra i Met even a Young couple from prague – who also travelled with cs – and we spent a day Sightseeing together. By coincidence i Met them 2 Weeks later again in Porto – while they were just waiting for their cs host. World is really Small.
3. Students party with Mimi in Sevilla: After Granada i decided to visit sevilla altough i had to expect 46 degrees there. So i stayed only One night. At the students Room of mimi Garcia – a Erasmus Student from mexico. She spoke Hardly english – so this were the 2 days when i improved my spanish on 200%. for 2 days i felt like being on Erasmus again: Living with 4 international Students, having breakfast at 12 am, and going in the evening on a Students Party. And especially Lot of Tricks from mimi how to get as much As possible for less money. Loved this sweet mexican Girl.
4. Sardines and beach with Nuno in lagos: After spain i moved on to the algarve in Portugal. And landed at nuno’s Place. With 2 German girls on 50 m2 and Nuno sleeping in a hangcock on the balcony. May sound strange – and yes it was in the beginning – but finally worked out to a great Austrian german partying connection and Nuno was absolutely uncomplicated.I even could borrow his car to visit sagres. And he went with us to eat the best sardines in town. Experience of Lagos: weird – but great !
5. Codfish and shoes with filipe in Lisbon next to the pope: instead of 4 people in 50 m2 – filipe provided a big couch in the center of Lisbon with 150 m2 – just opposite to the embassy of Vatican. I explored the city by walking and buying shoes – but was introduced to the art of cooking codfish – prepared by filipe himself.
6. Portwine and introduction of portugese history:
Last but not least I stayed at davides.place in Porto who showed me the city and the secret of the portwine. He was also really into the topic explaining me the connection with the portugese colonies and the civilwars and the regime Portugal had until 1972. again my old problem- sounded absolutely interesting at that moment – but unfortunately forgot it already again. Sorry davide.
7. No couches available on Mallorca – but met katja from st. Petersburg in a hostel In Palma – also an experienced cs – and we decided to do room sharing for 6 days on the island.
That was actually the point where the real Couchsurfing experience After 13 nights and 6 great, funny and interesting hosts and lot of other nice people I met during this time ended. 6 days in hostels and apartment followed – as I m not really 22 anymore – I needed already some time for relaxing. And how I finally spent the day of my birthday – read on the next point on my list.
17. Do the couchsurfing thing was definitely one of the best decisions how to spend a vacation traveling alone. Discovered Portugal and Spain with making new friends. CHECK!
See some impressions below: and try to fit the Stories to the Pictures – didnt have more Time . Have to go out now for Party.
before33 