In late summer 2025, I enjoyed three weeks at the French Riviera and in Provence, with a side trip to Monaco. On the way there and back, I also travelled through Italy and Switzerland, respectively.
The Lofoten Islands were on my travel bucket list for quite a while. In early summer 2025, I finally made it happen: I spent a week taking the train up north (with stops in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden). Then, I spent two weeks in the Lofoten Islands and Vesterålen.
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 the Nordics, 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.
As already mentioned, I am now on my way home. I could have even made it to the night train to Vienna today, but I wanted to treat myself to a short stopover to spread out the train journey a bit. So, today I spent about two hours exploring the city of Mulhouse, located in the border triangle of France, Germany, and Switzerland. Continue reading Two hours in the border triangle→
Today was my last full day in Provence – and I did not even spend it in Provence, but in the neighboring region of Occitania. The reason for this was that today was, in fact, the synthesis of the two previous days: Romans + Bridge = Pont du Gard. Continue reading 2000 years of history→
When you think of the colors of Provence, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the purple of lavender. However, the Provence can also be reddish-brown, almost like the American Southwest: in Colorado Provençal. Continue reading The colours of Provence→
Where there is a gorge, there is a river – and where there is a river, there is (sometimes) a lake. This is also the case with the Verdon river. So, today, I took a trip to the nearby Lac de Sainte-Croix, located just downriver from the Verdon Gorge. Continue reading The lake to the gorge→
A must-see for any nature lover on a holiday in Provence is the Verdon Gorge. Being up to 700 meters deep, it is one of the deepest gorges in Europe. I spent the last two days exploring the gorge – both from the bottom and from the top. Continue reading Europe’s Grand Canyon→
Actually, I have reported that Cassis would be my last stop on the coast. That is also true as far as overnight stays go. However, I had another two hours to fill today on the drive to my next accommodation (further inland). I used these two hours for a short detour to Niolon, just west of Marseille. Continue reading Niol-oh-well-n→
The French Riviera may be known for cities like Nice, Cannes, or Saint Tropez in its eastern part, but when it comes to nature, the coast becomes increasingly beautiful towards the west, I think: As mentioned, I already liked the cliffs of Porquerolles, but the Calanques in the national park of the same name between Marseille and Cassis, my westernmost (and last) stop on the French Riviera, are trulyin a class of their own. Continue reading The Calanques of Cassis→
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250611_102153-1038x576.jpg "View from Reinebringen")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240929_143951-1038x576.jpg "Vall d'Ordino")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240626_085529-1038x576.jpg "Grindelwald")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/20240107_121025-1038x576.jpg "View from Avalanche Peak")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20230530_123243-1038x576.jpg "Glenfinnan Monument & Loch Shiel")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221111_112254-1038x576.jpg "View from Baracán summit")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/20220610_092306-1038x576.jpg "Geisler Group")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/20210913_125951-1038x576.jpg "View from Kanisfluh to the East")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/20200922_114050-1038x576.jpg "Großglockner High Alpine Road")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/trips2016-19.jpg "All across the world")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/OI000547-1038x576.jpg "Fuego seen from Acatenango summit")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/trips2013-15.jpg "Walking the World")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nz2013.jpg "Lake Te Anau, New Zealand")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/trips2010-12.jpg "Exploring Europe")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/rtw2008.jpg "Mamanucas, Fiji")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/trips2003-06.jpg "Trips 2003-08")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251004_183710-1038x576.jpg "View from Pfalz (Basel)")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250915_133329-1038x576.jpg "View of Monaco")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251003_173735-1038x576.jpg "Place de la Réuninon (Mulhouse)")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251002_125839-1038x576.jpg "Pont du Gard")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251001_135413-1038x576.jpg "Pont Saint-Bénézet (Pont d'Avignon)")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250930_161326-1038x576.jpg "Arles Amphitheatre")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250929_122623-1038x576.jpg "Le Sahara (Colorado Provençal)")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250928_101148-1038x576.jpg "Lac de Sainte-Croix")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250927_110911-1038x576.jpg "View from Belvédère de la Dent d'Aire into Verdon Gorge")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250925_103801-1038x576.jpg "View towards the Viaduct of Calanque du Jonquier")
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250923_122450-1038x576.jpg "View of Calanque d'En-Vau from the viewpoint")