Staying in a fancy adult hotel in Cala Mesquida, we made a few road trips and hikes in the surprisingly remote (by contrast to the beaches?) mountains of Mallorca, especially in Serra Tramuntana, but also in some of the coastal hills. June 2008
Following the classical route of the trek around the Jebel Toubkal, finalised with climbing the very top of the mount. In addition a road trip from Marrakech over the Atlas passes to Ait Benhaddou and towards Sahara — and a day and a night in Marrakech. April/May 2008.
Getting rid of the jet lag by hiring a car in Phoenix, Arizona, and driving out via Sedona far north towards Utah. One day in Zion, one night on the way back by the Grand Canyon. December 2007.
A round travel via North Thailand to Laos, started by the train trip to Nong Khai by Vientiane. The highlight was Luang Prabang and its surroundings as well as the two-day boat trip upstream the Mekong River. Closed the loop via Chiang Mai, Sukhotai and Bangkok. September/October 2007.
Learning to cook the Laotian way in Luang Prabang, from the early morning market purchases to the final feast. 1st October 2007.
Too few days in the Walliser Alpen. After a night in Arolla, we reached Cabane des Dix over Pas de Chèvres and Glacier de Cheilon just in time for a birthday party. Climbed lazily La Luette next day. Turning back to Arolla, the ladies preferred Pas de Chèvres again, while the gentelmen went over Pigne d’Arolla and dropped for a beer in Cabane des Vignettes. August 2007.
Yes I admit, it was just an idea of mine… A short trek in the central and then the remote eastern part of Nízke Tatry in Slovakia, unfortunately still affected through large areas of trees broken by a strong hurricane a few years ago. We have managed, but it was partially very disappointing. Closed the loop in Liptovský Ján. June 2007.
Just two days in the southern Vogesen Mountains in fine company. Parking by Lac d’Alfeld, sleeping in the ferme auberge du Gresson, climbing Ballon d’Alsace and visiting Colmar the next day. May 2007.
Playa de las Américas. The best place for a December visit to Tenerife, but we carried out a number of hikes elsewhere: Guajara, the Cumbres, Paisaje Lunar, Roques de García, and finally climbed the Teide very top. December 2006.
Tempted by a trekking agency in Leh, we have taken a monk(!) as a horseman with two beasts of burden for a trek from Ladakh through Zanskar over a novel route. Ended up joining a larger group from the same agency and trying to realise our (novel) route against all odds — and it was an exceptionally rainy summer in Ladakh & Zanskar. After reaching Phuktal Gompa it was finally all new too us — until the Leh-Manali road. August 2006.
Before going to Venice, read Joseph Brodsky’s “Fondamenta degli Incurabili”. It will sharp your senses to the essentials. Otherwise you will see the town just as a large tourist trap. And Venice is not guilty for this. See it with poet’s eyes, a poet hit hard by his fate. Otherwise you’ll miss it. And don’t ask me what “it” is. May 2006.
Taking the advantage of that time newly introduced border crossings for mountain tourists between Slovakia and Poland, we have joined a group from a hiking club on the border, just to leave them to follow our own route further on. A typical Beskid Niski tour, forests and meadows, low hills, empty valleys, wooden churches, the first world war cemeteries. Re-discovering Bardejov and its surroundings. April/May 2006.