![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260524_124654-1038x576.jpg "Devín Castle at the confluence of Morava and Danube rivers")
Today, I took a bike trip to the Austrian-Slovakian border, where I explored the March floodplains and Devín Castle. Continue reading Biking to the Castle
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260517_121649-1038x576.jpg "Hluboká Castle")
Half a day in Hluboká
On my last day in South Bohemia, I took a trip to Hluboká nad Vltavou to see the (very impressive) castle there. It belonged to the Schwarzenberg family for almost 300 years until its nationalization in 1947. Continue reading Half a day in Hluboká
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260516_152648-1038x576.jpg "View from the tower of Český Krumlov Castle")
Český Krumlov without canoe
I would have loved to explore the Vltava River bends near Český Krumlov by canoe, but the weather (at least to my liking) did not cooperate. Therefore, I limited myself to exploring on foot. That made it easier to plan around the rain showers. Continue reading Český Krumlov without canoe
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260514_123012-1038x576.jpg "Premysl Otakar II Square (České Budějovice)")
České Budějovice without Beer
I used the long Ascension Day weekend for a trip to South Bohemia. My first stop was České Budějovice. Continue reading České Budějovice without Beer
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260503_145034-1038x576.jpg "Semmering Railway")
The Semmering Railway by foot
As the readers of this blog may have noticed, I do like trains. Today, I not only travelled by train, but also explored a (very special) railway line on foot: I hiked the (Lower Austrian section of) the Semmering Railway Trail, from Semmering to Payerbach-Reichenau. Continue reading The Semmering Railway by foot
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260409_160254-1038x576.jpg "View of Kathmandu from Swayambhunath")
Katman-hin-du and Namo-Buddha
We spent the last two days of our vacation back in Nepal, specifically in (and around) Kathmandu. Since both Hinduism and Buddhism play an important role in Nepal, we visited both Hindu and Buddhist temples – sometimes even both at once. Continue reading Katman-hin-du and Namo-Buddha
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260407_081629-1038x576.jpg "Phobjikha Valley")
Bhutan in 36 Pictures
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260408_093905-1038x576.jpg "Tiger's Nest")
A highlight at the end
The last stop on my Bhutan trip was the same as the first: Paro. And once again, a real highlight was on the agenda there. Continue reading A highlight at the end
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260407_083119-1038x576.jpg "Phobjikha Valley")
Beautiful Phobjikha
Although we missed Phobjikha’s main attraction, the black-necked cranes, by a month or two, I was captivated by the sheer scenic beauty of this valley. Continue reading Beautiful Phobjikha
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/shuk-drak-goenpa-1038x576.jpg "Shuk Drak Goenpa")
The spiritual heart of Bhutan
The last two days were dedicated to the Bumthang district, considered the “spiritual heart” of the country: It is home to Bhutan’s oldest temples, and is also believed to be the birthplace of Buddhism in Bhutan. Continue reading The spiritual heart of Bhutan