![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241005_174135-1038x576.jpg "Neues Schloss Stuttgart")
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?
Trip: Pyrenees 2024
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241004_112008-1038x576.jpg "Dune du Pilat")
Dune (of Pilat)
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)
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_125033-1038x576.jpg "Place de la Bourse (Bordeaux)")
Stopover in Bordeaux
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
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241001_162550-1038x576.jpg "Tarbes City Hall")
Waiting in Tarbes
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
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241001_120817-1038x576.jpg "View from the ridge up towards Pic d'Estibat")
Farewell to the Pyrenees
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
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240928_143703-1038x576.jpg "Andorra la Vella")
Unfamiliar Andorra
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
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240927_121358-1038x576.jpg "Estany de Sant Maurici")
… y Estany de Sant Maurici
Today, I finally visted Estany de Sant Maurici, the “second half” of the Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes y Estany de Sant Maurici. Continue reading … y Estany de Sant Maurici
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240926_140742-1038x576.jpg "Gausac")
Transiting through Val d’Aran
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
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240925_145508-1038x576.jpg "Estany de Llebreta")
Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes …
After the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park, it was time for the next national park (take a deep breath!): Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes y Estany de Sant Maurici – or more precisely, the “first half” of the park (so to speak), i.e. Aigüestortes. A visit of the “second half”, i.e. Estany de Sant Maurici, is scheduled in two days. Continue reading Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes …
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240924_115010-1038x576.jpg "Aínsa")
A few hours in Aínsa
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
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240923_125714-1038x576.jpg "Bujaruelo valley")
Bernhard perdido?
Today in the Spanish course for beginners: two more meanings of the word “perdido” (lost, strayed). But before anyone worries too much: It was not quite that bad after all – but not everything went smoothly today. Continue reading Bernhard perdido?
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240922_125059-1038x576.jpg "Circo Soaso")
Monte Perdido Lluvioso
My first stop in Spain was intended to be (mainly) dedicated to the Monte Perdido National Park. Unfortunately, this “forgotten mountain” (Monte Perdido) was also a “rainy mountain” (monte lluvioso) for me. In addition, access to the park was scheduled to be closed for around ten days starting the next day, Monday, due to road construction works. This of course further complicated things. After heavy rains basically all day yesterday, I had to bite the bullet today, and try my luck despite the mediocre weather forecast. After all, this was the last day that the area was accessible. Continue reading Monte Perdido Lluvioso
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240920_123415-1038x576.jpg "Col d'Aubisque")
Crossing the Pyrenees
My next destination was actually less than 35 kilometers away as the crow flies. However, as the Pyrenees lie in between, the journey by road was more than four times as long (and around three and a quarter hours’ drive). To break up the journey a little, I went on a short hike at the Col d’Aubisque en route. Continue reading Crossing the Pyrenees
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240918_112022-1038x576.jpg "Valley at Sers")
On the slopes of the French Pyrenees
The weather forecast for my last two (full) days in the French Pyrenees was not so good. Therefore, I did not drive deep into the mountains anymore, but rather went hiking on the mountain slopes around my accommodation. Continue reading On the slopes of the French Pyrenees
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240917_134205-1038x576.jpg "Cirque de Gavarnie from Pic de la Pahule")
The mountain cirques of the French Pyrenees
I dedicated my first two full days in the French Pyrenees to a few mountain cirque – although some of them were originally not on my list. Continue reading The mountain cirques of the French Pyrenees
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240915_141114-1038x576.jpg "Lac de Gaube")
Welcome to the Pyrenees!
Today, I finally managed to reach the Pyrenees: After picking up my rental car in the morning (not without some hiccups), I went on a leisurly hike from Pont d’Espagne to Lac de Gaube in the afternoon. Continue reading Welcome to the Pyrenees!
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240914_115351-1038x576.jpg "Cimetière du Montparnasse")
Across France
Today I spent practically the whole day on the train, travelling across France: My train journey began at 7:32 a.m. in Karlsruhe, and at 7:21 p.m. I finally arrived in Tarbes just North of the Pyrenees. Continue reading Across France
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_180219-1038x576.jpg "Karlsruhe Palace")
Is this the way to France?
I never thought that my holiday in the Pyrenees would start in Karlsruhe. However, the night train to Paris that I wanted to take was cancelled due to track construction work in Germany, so I had to look for alternatives. Continue reading Is this the way to France?