Hi! I'm Elena! Welcome to my travel blog Creativelena.com.
For me, it is all about “life-seeing instead of sightseeing”: Join me as I create, eat & live my way around the world. Curious?
*Check out my book, “The Creative Traveler’s Handbook”, for learning more about what we mean by creative travel. Travelling means the world to me, makes me fit for everday life and sometimes, I trust, also calmer on the inside. Read this blog with a smile, share what you love and remember to check back regularly: After all, when was the last time you did something for the first time?
Mashteuiatsh. Can you pronounce it? A small community situated at a huge lake, about three hours drive north of the city of Québec. What is so special about it? Well, I guess it’s the fact that you can truly mix and mingle with the so-called “First Nations” here, native inhabitants of Québec in the east […]
“We no jaha we no jaha .. hinooo … weee no jaha we no jaha hinooo …” Even today, the melody of a Quebec indigenous song still echoes in my ears. A legend, told by the proud tribal members of the “Wolf Clan”, describes the mythical transformation of a superhuman son and his return as thunder […]
“And then, when each and everyone in my group realises the untamed power of the Alpine plants, this ‘medicine’ around us, I thank God for my gift and smile …”, says Christine Sperner, who is our hiking guide for the day and a sort of plant whisperer, too. You could also call her the translator […]
“Am Brunnen vor dem Tore, da steht ein Lindenbaum …” Gently, I recall the famous melody to this traditional Austrian folk song written by Franz Schubert, Austria’s famous 18th century composer. We follow in the footsteps of our host, Irene Moser, who leads us around the historical Höldrichsmühle hotel. A property close to Vienna, yet still […]
Linz. I do believe, that the third-largest town of Austria is truly underrated. Years ago already, when we had our Austrian travel bloggers’ meeting in Linz, I have been impressed with what you can do in the city of Linz. Getting creative, that is, baking your own famous Linzer cake for instance. Visiting the internationally acclaimed Ars […]
She is of beautiful growth, smells absolutely wonderful, and has the power to turn people’s heads. She wants to be conquered, doesn’t just “stand around”, but likes to command entire mountainsides underneath her. She likes it when you approach her cautiously, respectfully at first, then visibly moved by her beauty. Wood artists love her, connoisseurs […]
You know what? In Murau-Kreischberg even snow cannons can be sustainable! Really?! I can’t quite believe what they say: Aren’t artificial snowmaking systems in the mountains considered one of the most environmentally unsustainable forms of development? “Not if you draw the water from your own reservoir lakes, and add nothing to the pure mountain water during […]
Since about a year, I’ve turned into “a city girl” from Vienna. As much as I cherish all the advantages of my urban lifestyle, I do miss “my countryside”, i.e. the place I grew up in. Miss taking deep breaths of fresh air, roaming forests and fields, taking a walk without traffic or cars. Let […]
Wernberg Monastery in Carinthia, the south of Austria. Thinking back about my recent trip, I think of one thing in particular: The genuine, radiant smile of Sister Monika-Maria Pfaffenlehner. She is a true force of nature, and one welcoming spirit to our community of guests. Lucky, though, if you can spot her, as she is […]
If coming from Lower Austria to the north, and driving via the Packsattel pass, you can definitely draw “a different breath of fresh air” beyond. Carinthia, the south of Austria, feels just different, more “southern” already! It’s what Pater Maximilian must have thought, as he “applied” to be taken from his original Benedictine abbey of […]
