In early autumn 2024, a (to me) previously unknown European mountain range was on my agenda: the Pyrenees. I explored both the French and the Spanish side, and I also spent some time in Andorra.
After quite a long time, I finally visited Switzerland again in early summer 2024. This time, I also explored the Swiss Alps in depth (or should I say: heights?).
Unbelievable, but true: From October 2023 to February 2024, I went on a round-the-world trip for the second (!) time. The main focus was New Zealand, but I also visited the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.
The idea of a visit to a musical in London finally grew into a three-weeks-long vacation in the United Kingdom (with the focus on Scotland). Due to a conference visit in London just before my vacation, I was even away a whole month (including a short workation in France).
In fall 2022, I tried out something new: I combined (a bit over) three weeks of vacations with (a bit under) three weeks of teleworking. In total, I spent six weeks on the Canary Islands – more precisely, on Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
After two years of Corona, it was finally time for a trip abroad again in early Summer 2022 – though still quite close to home: I spent three weeks exploring South Tyrol and Slovenia.
After touring the central region of Austria the year before, I focused on the West (i.e. Vorarlberg and Tyrol) during my trip in the second year of the pandemic. In the end, I (almost) crossed the whole country from West to East – including a day trip to Liechtenstein.
After spending most of my vacations further abroad in the past few years, the Corona crisis made me explore my home country Austria in more detail. Luckily, there are a lot of beautiful places to be found even that close to home.
Between autumn 2016 and autumn 2019, I was criss-crossing the globe on my travels: China, the United States, Ecuador, South Africa, Lesotho, and Vietnam were all on my itinerary.
In Winter 2016, I got to know the culture of the Mayas (in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador). I also had some relaxing days on the beach, and went hiking in the Guatemaltecan highlands.
In autumn 2013, I spent a relaxing holiday in Croatia. In the years 2014 and 2015, however, the focus was more on hiking: in Scandinavia, in the Caucasus, and in the Himalaya.
Thanks to two months of unpaid vacation, I could spend eight weeks in New Zealand in February/March 2013. Again, I really fell in love with this beautiful country and its friendly people.
After an initial trip through the United States in Spring 2010, I explored Europe on several trips between autumn 2010 and summer 2012: I have been to the Balkans and the Baltics, to Spain, and to Norway.
In just under eight months, I literally travelled around the globe. The main focus, however, was on New Zealand/South Pacific and Central America, respectively.
From Summer 2003 to Winter 2007/08, I was travelling overseas a lot: a term abroad in New York (including a trip through California before the start of the term), a month each in Australia and South America, and trips to both Western and Eastern Canada. But I also spent some time abroad in Europe.
I should actually be on the night train from Brussels just before Vienna – but I am just getting on the train in Stuttgart. So, obviously something has gone wrong (again). The blame lies (again) with the railway infrastructure in need of repair– more specifically, the flood damage on the railway line between Salzburg and Vienna. Continue reading Stuttgart? Why Stuttgart?→
On my last “true” vacation day, I went out into nature once again: I made a trip to the Dune du Pilat, the highest wandering dune in Europe. Continue reading Dune (of Pilat)→
Who says you can only make a stopover when flying? As my train journey back home took me through Bordeaux, I stopped there for three nights (but actually only two days). I used one of these days to explore the city. Continue reading Stopover in Bordeaux→
Actually, Tarbes only made it onto my travel plan as a base for renting a car. But then I thought that I could give it at least a morning for some sightseeing. Unfortunately, that did not quite work out as I had hoped. Continue reading Waiting in Tarbes→
Today, I drove back to Tarbes to return my rental car. In order to see a bit of the Pyrenees one last time, I did not choose the (slightly) faster but longer route via the motorway, but instead took a more direct route over a Pyrenees pass, the Col de Port. Continue reading Farewell to the Pyrenees→
My last stop in the Pyrenees was the tiny state of Andorra, which is relatively unknown to many Central Europeans– reason enough to take a look! Continue reading Unfamiliar Andorra→
In order to get from Aigüestortes to Estany de Sant Maurici, you either have to hike right through the national park or drive around it by car. Since my rental car unfortunately did not fit in my backpack, I decided to do the latter. From the two possible routes, I chose the one via the Val d’Aran. Continue reading Transiting through Val d’Aran→
The location of Aínsa is definitely excellent: at the confluence of two rivers (Río Ara and Río Cinca), with (the remains of) a medieval fortress on a small hill, and the Pyrenees in the background. But can it keep me busy long enough to fill the time until I can drive on to my next accommodation? Continue reading A few hours in Aínsa→