Nature/Environment Travel World

Winding down the week

Sunday afternoon: In a village in Oxfordshire, England

Jeff and Ella on the move ©Rebecca Hillauer

After the stressful ordeal with the bulls in Spain, I am relaxing in the afternoon sun in the garden—with my new companions, Jeff the tortoise and Ella the cat. More here.

Nature/Environment Politics Travel World

60 bulls in 10 days

The “Running of the Bulls” in Pamplona: Death awaits every bull.

Officially, it is a massive festival in honor of the city’s patron saint, San Fermín. Yet the bulls driven through the city in the morning are forced to “fight” in the arena that afternoon—and die a wretched death. More here.

Pamplona 2026 ©AnimaNaturalis
Nature/Environment Travel World

Scotland #4: Dolphines and farewell

My final days in the Highlands are dedicated to nature.

Chanonry-Point_Inverness_Scotland_dolphines_Rebecca-Hillauer
Strand am Chanonry Point ©Rebecca Hillauer

My time in Scotland is drawing to a close, so I’m visiting the sights that are a “must” for me. Loch Ness, of course—and the dolphins at Chanonry Point. More here.

Nature/Environment Politics Travel World

Yulin Dog Meat Festival

Despite worldwide protests, the slaughtering is taking place in China again.

Yulin dog market / Facebook

On the day of the summer solstice, the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival begins in the southern Chinese city of Yulin; each year, at least ten thousand dogs and cats are slaughtered, butchered, roasted, and eaten there. More here.

Culture Travel World

“Good old” Berlin #3

Stuttgart Square: “Kommune 1” and a moon bathtub

Tree near Stuttgarter Platz ©Rebecca Hillauer

Historically, Berlin consists of a multitude of villages, and even today each district has a distinctive character. The neighborhood where my apartment is located and the the one where I’m spending a few days couldn’t be more different. More here.

Travel World

Road trip 🚗: Route 1, end

Berlin – Spain – Portugal. I’ll be back soon.

My “red lightning” stays in Portugal ©Rebecca Hillauer

We were on tour for four months. And the road trip should actually end according to plan. But now I’ll just carry on after a break. That’s why I’m flying back to Berlin while my Volkswagen Fox stays in Odeceixe. More here.

Culture Travel World

Road trip 🚗Portugal: The Malhão Stupa

A Buddhist symbol in the Algarve mountains

Whatever I expected in the middle of nowhere around Sarnadinha – certainly not a stupa. But it only takes me half an hour by car to reach the structure. It sits atop a mountain, six miles outside of Salir. More here.

To Stupa ©Rebecca Hillauer