I first thought about starting a travel blog (or, back then, writing a book) when I was 18. But honestly, I figured the world didn’t need another generic travel guide, so I never bothered. (I am also generally good at starting things, but not finishing them.)

Yet, here we are—because every time someone I know is planning a trip, I get the inevitable “Where should I go?” DM. And the truth is, I love this stuff. Not just the traveling, but the digging, the finding, the fully immersing myself in a city instead of following the tourist herd.

So, City Rebel—this blog, my Substack, and the soon-to-come guides! They’re all about that. Google is free and will happily tell you where to find the main attractions and Michelin-starred spots. But the best hole-in-the-wall dinner, thrift store, gym, or self-organized day trip? That takes work.

And because I live on my phone (and used to work at Spotify), all my guides come with a Google Maps list of my favorite spots and a Spotify playlist—because music sets the vibe, and nobody wants to be copy-pasting addresses into maps like it’s 2010.

For those wondering, I’m European and currently split my time between Berlin and Barcelona, but I’ve also lived in San Francisco and London. As for my favorite cities? Right now, it’s a solid mix of Rio, Mexico City, New York, and Barcelona—but that list is always subject to change (depending on the tacos, beaches, and overall chaos levels).

And speaking of favorites—I’m all about boxing and beach volleyball, thrift shopping, photography, concerts, and sarcasm. I run on coffee and have a slight obsession with hot sauce (I even travel with it). I love tacos—obviously. And I’m weirdly into oregano chips (first discovered in Greece) and watermelon juice (shoutout to Guatemala for that one). Oh, and thanks to my time in Buenos Aires, I’m now also obsessed with Franui raspberries (iykyk)—seriously, where do you buy these in Europe?!