It is over!

Now I'm almost a week back home. It is a little bit strange after this long time, I have to integrate myself into the family life again. A long trip is over, I traveled approximately 64.000 km with 22 flights, 3200 km on water, 36.000 km on land and walked 2900 km.

In total over 100.000 km in 7 1/2 months. It was a long journey and even bigger a plan to see so many different places around the world. In the end I did it and it was 100% worth it! I learned so much it is unbelievable. All the different experience, place and people I met on my journey made it so unbelievable! It is very difficult to realize everything or even a bit, i guess it's going to take a while until everything is sorted, realized and ordered. 

Last but not least it's time to thank everyone. Frist Thanks to my Family and Friends which supported me on my trip around the world. Special thanks to my american family for letting me stay at there place for a while. Thanks to you, who read my blog and where intersted in: "What Steffen is doing around the world" ;) If someone has questions or what ever, don't hesitate to contact me in which way you like. Of course a huge thanks to all the people a long my way!!! You made my trip as sepcial and unique as it was! Without you it wouldn't be so awesome!! Thanks to you all!!!! If you ever coming close by let me know, I'm looking forward to see some of you again :)

Now it is time to get back in normal life. It was the best decision of my life! Thanks everyone!!!

Cheers
Steffen

Finish in Rio

I arrived at 4am in Rio. The strange thing was I couldn't get cash from any of the 20 ATM's... Lucky I had some from my Dad.
I try to do a lot, but also take my time and not rush it! First I went to Lapa to just walk around a bit and see the city.

After taking this picture I had the first time a strange and  insecure feeling on my whole travels. Two people run to me and asked for money but not nicely... They kind of forced me to give them something. Of course they didn't get any money for nothing, I just continued walking and after making them clear here is no money to get the backed off.

Cathedral

The afternoon I checked out Copacabana :D To be honest it is nice but not one of the nicest I saw, the girls a good ;P
Next day I climbed the two Brothers Mountains, close to a favela and Ipanema Beach.

Because the weather wasn't that good we just walked around and saw the sunset.

On Wednesday we actually wanted to do one of the best and toughest hikes, but because of the weather we could do it -.- I changed my plan to go to Cristo, but the weather wasn't good enough either. Change of plans again, free walking tour in Lapa and Downtown.

In the evening we got a quite big group together to hang around and go to the beach!

My last day came Wow! I can't believe it on the next day I'm flying home... It was fast! But first enjoy the day and go finally at the third attempt to the Cristo!

Weather wasn't so good but I could see everything! Literally the weather changed when I left, lucky me! Rest of the day was relaxed, just preparing for flying and party ;) We got again a big group together for my last night out!

Now I'm flying 12 hours back home! Bye bye world and hello Germany!

Cheers
Steffen

!The Amazing Machu Picchu!

After the next delay of 2 hours I arrived in Cusco. Cusco was the capital during the Inkan Empire, with an altitude of 3300m. The first day was relaxed, just walking around the city and checking out, how I'm going to travel to Machu Picchu.

Main Square

In the evening I grabbed a beer with a roommate in a bar around the corner. It was so funny :D A local lightly inebriated joined us, he talked so much shit :P But his English was quite good. The police looked a bit surprised to find us in this bar, so they waited outside until we left ;) Ups maybe again not the safest choice ;P But again nothing happened and we had a funny evening.
I left right away at the next morning to Aguas Calientes, the city close to Machu Picchu. Because I wanted to travel as cheap as possible, I selected for both ways a 6-7 hours bus drive and 2-3 hours walk. This choice was the reason for a two nights stay because there was not enough time to go also to Machu Picchu Mountain and be back at the bus stop on time. I met two crazy New Zealanders at the bus station and we had a great time together.

In the bus on the way

Even on the way amazing view

Last part of the track was a dirt road close to the precipice 

Hiking view

After the day of traveling the day has come, I went to Machu Picchu or should I better say I hiked it! Not like the lazy guys from NZ :D For the handicapped and elderly people they have a bus. ;P

Green is my way

So I had to get up at 4am to be on time at the gates, they open at 5. I was even faster them the bus people ;) Bia a girl from Brazil joined our group to explore Machu Picchu. In the package we all booked was a guide included. It is definitely good to have one, you get more out of it! I can you explain everything what he told us, but that you have to do on your on :D Ask me in person or even better go on your own! Now enjoy the pictures!!! It was unbelievable amazing, awesome, stunning and remarkable, hard to find words for it!!!! I loved it!!

Waiting -.-

Sunrise

Sun Temple

Coca leaf

Main Temple

Team Photo + Guide :D

Symbolise for a condor

After we got our tour we had the whole day time to explore it on our own.

The guys and me also booked a ticket for a Machu Picchu Mountain, which is 3100m high. Again stairs from 2400 to 3100... We had to say goodbye to Bia. At the entrance we had to wait long and met Jasmin. She hiked with us the Mountain. It was mental, but worth it so a good view!

Our destination

We made it!

Only sweated a bit ;)

Selfie time :P

Enjoy the view!

We had such a good time! Our guide told us, he saw 4 condors in 4 years, guess what we saw on the top? Yes a condor, but not only one we saw 3 at once Wow awesome!!!

After this amazing time it was time to go back down to Machu Picchu to get the Postcard Picture.

Way down

After 10 hours on my feed we went back down. It was an unbelievable day! I had so much fun and enjoyed Machu Picchu so much! If you ever can go, don't hesitate and go!!! You are going to love it! Literally a dream come true! Thanks guys for the amazing time. I was so happy to stay two nights, I was dead and needed to relax.
In Cusco I met the guys again and we had a relaxed an easy time.

Sunset on our way home

Bar of the hostel

I had to leave Cusco after two more nights to flight to Rio, my last destination before my last flight to Germany. Less then a week until I'm home! Let's enjoy Rio and get ready to go home!

Cheers
Steffen