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On 26 March 2020 from | comments closed

We couldn't end our vacation in France on a better

We couldn't end our vacation in France on a better note: cycling through the vineyards, enjoying French cuisine, clear blue skies, and admiring the half-timbered houses. Au revoir la douce France!

Another day, another castle. This medieval castle

Another day, another castle. This medieval castle was destroyed by the Swedes in the Thirty Years' War, but fully rebuilt by the Germans between 1900-1908. It's now run by the French.

Today was a dream day to take the cable cars from

Today was a dream day to take the cable cars from Chamonix to Aiguille du Midi at 3842m. The skies were clear blue and the surrounding mountain scenery was simply breathtaking. The rounded white peak on the right is Mont Blanc.

In 1008, Bernard of Menthon (St Bernard) was born

In 1008, Bernard of Menthon (St Bernard) was born in this castle, looming over Lake Annecy. He later founded the Great St Bernard Hospice. The castle offers great views all around.

Third and final contender of the most beautiful to

Third and final contender of the most beautiful town in Alsace is Eguisheim. And now it's time for your votes. Please comment:
1. Riquewihr
2. Colmar
3. Eguisheim

Second contender of the most beautiful town in Als

Second contender of the most beautiful town in Alsace is Colmar. Definitely the largest of the pretty towns, although Strasbourg also has a small area of half-timbered houses.

Vacation finally started, and the first goal is to

Vacation finally started, and the first goal is to determine the most beautiful town in Alsace. Pre-trip research narrowed it down to 3 contenders. Today's town is Riquewihr. Stay posted.

It has become a bit of a tradition to break up the

It has become a bit of a tradition to break up the journey between Czechia and the Netherlands with an overnight in a German town/city. This trip's town is a true medieval gem, with its web of cobbled lanes, higgledy-piggledy houses and towered walls. And you can walk around most of the town on top of the walls, for free!

Hiking in the Austrian mountains is always magical

Hiking in the Austrian mountains is always magical, especially after the rain made all the waterfalls bigger. But I'll be honest, I do prefer sunny weather, as I had to adjust plans since it just didn't make sense to go up to 2600m and only be surrounded by clouds. It made me realize again that in the mountains you don't decide where to go, the mountains and the weather do.
1. Me at Preintalerhütte
2. Riesachfälle
3. Waterfall below Unterer Sonntagskarsee
4. View from Neualmscharte (2347m)
5. Me at Obersee (one stick didn't survive)

A trip to the Czech lands is not complete without

A trip to the Czech lands is not complete without a castle visit. This trip's "hrad" is Kokořín, surrounded by some great forest and rocks.

It's good to be back in the city where I lived for

It's good to be back in the city where I lived for almost 2 years. Feels like a trip down memory lane, or more precise: a trip over Charles Bridge 😀
1. Astronomical clock tower, church of Our Lady before Tyn & I
2. Astronomical clock tower, church of Our Lady before Tyn & Old Town Square
3. St Vitus Cathedral & Prague Castle

Spending the weekend in the sunny South of the Net

Spending the weekend in the sunny South of the Netherlands. As there were some belated birthdays, a visit to the local zoo was in order.

1. African lions (during feeding time)
2. White tiger
3. Reticulated giraffe
4. Red panda
5. Cheetah

We spent the last day of our Puglia & Calabria tri

We spent the last day of our Puglia & Calabria trip in Lecce, famous for its baroque buildings.

1. Basilica di Santa Croce
2. Duomo
3. Ice cream from Sensi Gelateria (not the first gelato this trip)

Trulli are truly unique to the region around Alber

Trulli are truly unique to the region around Alberobello, where 1500 of them are found. A trullo was meant to be deconstructed quickly when the tax inspector visited, so it's quite ironic most of them have stood for centuries. Very touristy now, but still fun to wander around.

Iconic Lama Monachile beach from the similarly nam

Iconic Lama Monachile beach from the similarly named bridge is the main postcard view of Polignano a Mare. The other one is of the cliffs with caves from the Adriatic Sea.

The Grave, a 60 metre high open cave (you can see

The Grave, a 60 metre high open cave (you can see the rain streaming in), was for centuries considered the hell by local people, and used to deposit trash. Now it's the starting point of the 3348 metres of caves filled with stalactites, stalagmites and fossils.

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