This is me

Hi, I’m Alexandra Te Riele – travel enthusiast, storyteller, teacher. I’m also a bit of a camera-shy amateur photographer (Ironic, I know).
Over the years, I’ve learned that the best travel stories come from slow travel, embracing the unexpected and finding joy in the inevitable mishaps along the way. The strangest things make the best stories! To me, travel is about going at your own pace, laughing through the challenges and collecting memories – even if my knees don’t always thank me for it.

I usually travel with my husband, Marc, who’s my favourite travel companion and partner in adventure. Together we make the perfect travel duo: he’s fit, adventurous, and always ready to jump behind the wheel for a long drive or a spontaneous detour. I’m the trip planner and the one telling him where to drive next. Whether it’s navigating unfamiliar cities, carrying the bags, or lending a helping hand when things get tricky, Marc is endlessly dependable. Travelling as a couple with him isn’t just easier—it’s genuinely better.

Our children, now young adults, are off exploring the world on their own travel adventures – sometimes making our own journeys look tame by comparison. Whenever they join us on a trip, they bring a fresh spark of joy, laughter and energy to our family travels. And they even forgive us for waiting until they were adults to start going big with our adventures.

This blog is for anyone who believes that curiosity doesn’t have an expiration date. It’s for travellers who still want to explore the world – just maybe not at a sprint.

What you’ll find here:

Honest travel stories – the beautiful, the funny and the slightly embarrassing.
Practical tips for travellers who are a little wiser (and a little less interested in sleeping on night buses).
Realistic advice about what is actually doable – because “easy hike” doesn’t mean the same at 55 as it did at 20.

Why I’m writing:

Because travel after a certain age may come with its own set of questions. Can I actually climb that mountain? Is there a cable car somewhere? How steep is “steep”? Is sleeping in a treehouse in the middle of a game reserve wise if you can no longer outrun anything? Will I regret skipping the spa for a sunrise trek? (Answer: sometimes yes, sometimes no.)
If you’ve ever googled the same things, this blog is for you. I’ll share the ups, the downs, the occasional “What was I thinking?” moment – and, most importantly, proof that the wonder of seeing the world doesn’t fade with age.

So, if you’re someone who still loves exploring but wants honest, relatable travel stories – welcome! Let’s explore this big, beautiful world together – just with a little more mileage on the clock.