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Maartentravels, Brussels (2025)

17/07/2025

But then my knee gave up. I thought it was over.

I can't believe I just spontaneously decided to run to Paris. Just one week ago, I was standing at the Atomium in Brussels with only one goal: to run until I reached the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I had just my two feet, a little backpack, a big dream, and no idea what I was getting into.

In the first days, the weather conditions were horrible. It was raining all day, and everything I was wearing was soaked. I couldn't even dry it overnight, and I had to start the next day in wet shoes... the most horrible feeling ever. But I was feeling good and the weather got better, so I thought, "Nothing is stopping me now, I'm going to do it and I'm going to make it."

That good feeling didn't last. On day six, the pain in my knee started. It got so bad that I could barely walk. But I had come so far by now, and I just wasn't ready to give up. After consulting an online doctor, we agreed that I would continue walking to Paris with a knee bandage and some anti-inflammatory medication.

And so I kept walking and kept pushing for days, supported by my online community, and covered up to 63 kilometers a day. I gotta be honest, on the last day I had to drag myself into Paris… but I made it.

I walked and ran all the way from Brussels to Paris in nine days. I set a personal goal and I achieved it, and that is the best feeling. Another adventure to add to my Alive Bucket List.

04/07/2025

I have to be honest with you, I think I’m having a travel burnout.

In my last days in Kosovo, I lost my enthusiasm for traveling. I wasn't excited about going out and seeing new places. I just wanted to stay inside and not think about anything. Even though I had prepared content and stories, I didn’t feel like posting anymore, which made me feel terrible.

So, I think I need to make a change. I've been traveling so much, and it truly has been amazing. It was my passion, and still is, but I need to change my focus slightly. It wasn't just about traveling. It was about feeling alive.

Even though I feel a little bit burned out, I'm still super motivated to do things that make me feel alive. I'm proud of what I've done with my life, and I could never have imagined that I would do all these things. That’s what I want to continue doing. Whenever I have a crazy idea, I just want to do it. Visiting every country in the world is still a goal, but I will focus on more than just traveling. I'm going to focus on feeling alive.

I want to share my journey, thoughts, feelings, and challenges. I hope to hear from you if you feel the same way. Support each other because daily life isn't easy, even if we have everything. Where do we get the motivation? Why are we even doing things? Does it even make sense? I don't know. There are many questions, but there are few answers. So I will just do what makes me excited and feel alive.

That's why I will start at the Atomium in Brussels tomorrow and keep running and walking, day after day, until I reach the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It's the craziest idea that has popped into my head. I think it’s possible for me, a regular guy, but I'm also not sure. And that's what makes it exciting. It's a challenge, and I can't wait to leave.

So, I'm going to prepare now while I'm writing this. I hope you’ll all follow along, because it’s another trip on my own, and I'll need your support.

Paris, here I come.

03/07/2025

Serbia was one of the last countries in Europe I wanted to visit.

To be honest, the complicated politics I’d always heard about gave the country a negative vibe for me. But I decided to follow my own rule: leave the headlines behind and see a place for yourself. My goal is always to meet the people and feel the culture, and that’s what I went to do.

The journey began unusually. I arrived late and barely caught the last bus, which was so crowded I had to sit on the floor. The driver looked tough and didn’t speak any English, but he was incredibly friendly and made sure I reached my destination. That was the first sign that my assumptions about this place might be wrong.

The next morning, I just started walking through Belgrade. The city showed me everything. There were these incredible brutalist buildings that I couldn’t decide whether they were ugly or beautiful. I saw old trams rattling by and souvenirs of Putin, which felt strange. But I truly enjoyed just taking it all in, feeling the rhythm of the city.

My original plan was to leave for Kosovo the next day, but along the way, I stopped in a small city called Kraljevo. I’d never heard of it, but I loved the feeling there so much that I stayed an extra night, just because I could. I ended up visiting a castle in the mountains.

That freedom to change your plans based solely on a feeling is exactly how I want to travel.

My first impression of Serbia was completely wrong. The people I met were incredibly kind, the cities were clean and vibrant, and I only wish I had more time.

What's a place that you had a particular idea about, but it totally surprised you and changed your mind when you visited?

24/06/2025

I don't think anything can beat the feeling of finishing a 60 km run.

Sometimes I get these crazy ideas, and then I just have to do them. So there I was, standing in Ghent, ready to run to Brussels. I felt so unprepared.

This was one of the first times in my life that I was really unsure if I would make it to the end. The goal was to test how far I could get just using my two feet, with the Atomium as my symbolic finish line.

Because I wanted to run as much as possible, I was limited to my small running bag with some water and a few snacks.

The first part went really well. At some point, I even found a little package that said "free gift." It was a little self-made wool puppet for good luck. I took it with me, believing I could use some good luck.

I had a lot of time to think, and I came up with a name for her: Santiaga. I'm planning to take this lucky charm on my walking trip in September when I will do the Camino de Santiago.

About halfway, in Aalst, I took a little break. I was so happy that I brought a fresh pair of socks. It made my feet feel fresh again and gave me extra energy.

After about a marathon distance, I took another lunch break in a cemetery in a small town. I honestly couldn’t have imagined a more peaceful place.

For the last part, I probably walked more than I ran. But I was so happy when I saw the first signs for “Brussels.” When I could see the city in front of me, I knew I was going to make it.

It was the best feeling to see the Atomium, knowing that I had run all the way there from Ghent. 60 kilometers, with my feet, my legs, nothing else.

Now that I know I can do this, I have some wild ideas and big plans. I hope you’ll follow along.

What is a crazy idea you have that you would love to do one day?

16/06/2025

I don't always do the 'tourist things', but for a 360 view like this, I'm glad I made an exception.

I have to be honest, it was one of my last days in Seattle, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go up the Space Needle. I had been seeing it almost every day, but it's a very touristy thing. Also, 50 dollars is a lot of money, which I usually prefer to spend on other things in a city.

On the other hand, it's such an iconic building. It's the first thing I think of when people mention Seattle, and it felt like a 'now or never' moment because I probably won't come back anytime soon.

So, I just decided to go up. It's pretty cool because they take you straight to a 360-degree outdoor platform. On one side, you can see the bay with all the water, and on the other side, you have the downtown city with Mount Rainier in the background. All around, you can see the nature and the mountains.

It was a really nice way to see the city and its surroundings one last time before leaving this beautiful side of the United States.

How do you decide if a famous tourist spot is worth the money and the crowds?

08/06/2025

⛷️ Birthday party on top of Crystal Mountain ⤵️

🌍 My friend Daniela invited me to a birthday party, and the birthday girl wanted to celebrate while skiing in the mountains.

🎿 I’m not the best skier (note to self: take lessons), so I took the gondola up to the top, had a picnic, and joined the celebration there. Honestly, that was so much fun.

🏔️ Crystal is Washington’s most popular ski resort, just 2 hours from Seattle. Even if you don’t ski, the views from the top are incredible, making it a fun day trip into the mountains.

📍 Crystal Mountain, Washington 🇺🇸

❤️ Follow for more raw moments like this.

❓ Have you ever been to a birthday party in a strange or unexpected place?

07/06/2025

🏃‍♂️ Unexpected run to the Space Needle ⤵️

🌍 I’m traveling to every country in the world, and if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I try to go for a run in every place I visit.

🤔 At this point, I’m wondering if I’m unintentionally chasing a world record: running in every country in the world?

🏗️ For Seattle, I mapped out a run to the iconic Space Needle. I had it all planned on Strava… but I wasn’t expecting to pass through such an industrial area. I even saw a plane on a train.

📍 Seattle, Washington 🇺🇸

❤️ Follow for more real stories like this.

🫶 Do you try to stay active when you travel?

05/06/2025

🚲 Cycling trip to Rattlesnake Lake ⤵️

✨ My IG friend .lita invited me for a bike ride in Washington State.

🚵 We took the scenic Snoqualmie Valley Trail to Rattlesnake Lake and stopped at Snoqualmie Falls on the way back.

📍 Snoqualmie, Washington 🇺🇸

♥️ Follow for more stories like this.

04/06/2025

Paradise does exist (It's in Washington) ❄️

One thing that always catches my attention in Seattle is the snow-capped mountain, which you can see almost everywhere in the city. That’s Mount Rainier, and I told my friend Daniela, “I’d love to go check out that place. It looks stunning.” 🏔️

One day she said, “OK, let’s go,” so we drove a couple hours with her cousin to Paradise. At first, I thought it was just a nickname because it must be so beautiful, but no, that’s actually the real name of that point on the mountain 🚙

I expected some snow, but there were meters of it. We couldn’t hike without special gear, so we just walked around and played in the snow. I was honestly stunned by how different the whole place felt. It was perfect with the blue sky, the sun out, and not even that cold ☃️

What's the most snow you've ever seen? ⁉️

03/06/2025

I went to Poo Poo Point 💩

One of the great things about being in Seattle is that you’re surrounded by incredible nature and hiking opportunities. I was so happy that my friend Daniela took me on this trail to Poo Poo Point. Of course, as childish as I am, I thought that was a very funny name for a trail, but it turned out to be such an amazing experience.

It’s not the most challenging hike, just a couple of hours, but the view from up there is absolutely stunning. We sat down between the flowers, with Mount Rainier in the distance, the forest below us, and the sun shining bright. The moment felt perfect.

One of the most beautiful parts was when we encountered a deer. Usually, they run off immediately, but this one was curious. It just stood there watching us, and we watched it right back. It was such a warm and peaceful moment, and I’ve never experienced anything like that before.

02/06/2025

Island escape from Seattle 🏝️

One of the coolest day trips from Seattle is visiting Bainbridge Island. It’s super easy to reach as you just hop on a ferry from downtown Seattle, and 45 minutes later, you’re on the island. You arrive in a small town with many coffee places, restaurants, museums, shops, and nice cultural spots to explore.

We decided to just walk around, check out a few shops, grab a coffee, and then walk all the way to the big wooden troll by Thomas Dambo.

I wish we had more time, but we had to catch one of the last ferries back to Seattle. The ferry back is actually free, so you don’t need a return ticket. And we were lucky, as we had the most beautiful sunset on the way back.

So, if you feel like you’ve seen enough of the city and want a little break, I recommend this trip.

29/05/2025

Why I flew to Seattle 🛸

Ever since my Venezuelan friend Daniela moved to Seattle, I kept telling her, “I’m going to visit you. Just wait for it.” Finally, I made it happen. It was the first flight I booked, months before the rest of my trip even took shape. I had no idea where I’d be going, but I knew my final destination would be Seattle.

Daniela and I go way back. We met in Brussels when she stayed at my place through Couchsurfing. A few years later, when I was in Colombia, I spent New Year’s with her and her Venezuelan family in Bucaramanga. That time together was special. Now, most of them seem to have moved to Seattle, and it was amazing to see them all again. Some of the kids have become teenagers, and they even threw a little party with homemade empanadas. It just felt so good to see that they’re all doing well.

Now that I’m finally in Seattle, I plan to stay a bit longer. It’s honestly one of the only cities I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about. Everyone seems to love Seattle and Washington State. And to be fair, I think this is the perfect time of year to be here. I’m looking forward to going on some hikes and exploring nature.

Have some of you been to Seattle?

Maartentravels

17/07/2025

04/07/2025

03/07/2025

24/06/2025

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08/06/2025

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