Ready for some fairytale castles? This post provides the historical context and cast of characters behind two of Germany’s most famous castles: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, near Füssen in Bavaria, Germany.
All in Europe
Theft and Extortion in Budapest, Hungary
Boy did we get suckered, again and again in Budapest. Outright theft at a metro ticket machine, extortion by metro agents, and tasteless restaurant meals that looked nothing like the pictures on the menus. We spent five days in Budapest, which was three days too many…
Stages 1-2 of the Slovenian Mountain Trail: Pohorje Hills
Stages 1 and 2 through the Pohorje Hills of northern Slovenia involved four days of hiking through pine forest, finding our trail legs….
Stage 3 of the Slovenian Mountain Trail: Kamnik Savinja Alps
The Kamnik Savinja Alps are a giant mountaineering playground. We had so much fun in this area that we stayed two weeks exploring the peaks of Ojstrica, Grintovec, Skuta, Kočna, Križ and more…
Stages 4-5 of the Slovenian Mountain Trail: Storžič and the Karavanke
The coolest aspect about the Karavanke is being able to see where you’ve come from (Pohorje Hills and Kamnik-Savinja Alps) and where you are headed next (Julian Alps)…
Stages 6-8 of the Slovenian Mountain Trail: Julian Alps
The Julian Alps are the crown jewel of Slovenia, with 8500+ foot peaks, alpine meadows, crystal clear turquoise rivers, and waterfalls galore. During Stages 6 through 8 of the Slovenian Planinska Pot, we climbed to the peaks of Triglav, Cmir, Razor, Prisojnik, Mojstravka, Sleme and Jalovec…
Stages 9-11 of the Slovenian Mountain Trail: Mines, Lace, Wine and Caves
Stages 9 through 11 became more of a cultural experience. We improvised a lot, taking extra days to explore various attractions and enjoy the slow pace of Slovenia…
Stage 12 of the Slovenian Mountain Trail: Istria on the Adriatic Coast
To be honest, we hiked just one day of stage 12 (which is intended to be 3 days). There are a few reasons for this…
Hiker's Guide to the Slovenia Mountain Trail
The Slovene Mountain Trail — also known as the Slovenska Planinska Pot, SPP-1 and Transversala — is a nearly 350 mile continuous trail criss-crossing Slovenia through the Alps and to the Mediterranean Sea. In the following posts, we share what we learned about terrain, equipment, cost, accommodation, food, culture, side-trips and other tidbits within the various stages.
Brief History of Oktoberfest in Munich, 1810
Did you know that Oktoberfest actually starts in September? Don your dirndl or lederhosen and join the locals for the kickoff parade! This post puts Oktoberfest in its historical context and points out a few traditions and foods you don’t want to miss…
San Sebastian and Hondarribia
The best beaches in Basque Country are in San Sebastian and Hondarribia, on the northern tip of Spain.
Zumaia and Getaria
Within a short driving distance from San Sebastian are small coastal port towns like Zumaia and Getaria, with beautiful beaches and fantastic seafood restaurants.
Gorbea Natural Park and Otzarreta Forest
On our roadtrip to the southern part of Basque country, we took the scenic route through Gorbea Natural Park, where we sought the enchanted Otzarreta Forest with its mossy trees.
Rioja Valley, Spain
Rioja is wine country and our local expert guide, Inma from Rioja Wine Trips, helps us make the most of it. Through her patient teaching, we discover the religion of wine (hint: it's a meditation).
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a small island that has served several purposes throughout the ages - monastery, fortress, and witch-hunting ground. The 240+ staircase to the top is a mini-pilgrimage, with crosses along the way to remind you to say a prayer or think of a loved one.
Guernica and snippets of the El Camino Way
Guernica is also infamous for the 1937 bombing by the Nazi German Luftwaffe, acting to support Francisco Franco's efforts to overthrow the Basque government. The small city was almost entirely flattened and perhaps a thousand people were killed. Picasso memorialized this horrific attack in a painting.
Bilbao, Basque Country
Bilbao is home of the Guggenheim museum, designed by famed architect Frank Gehry. The city is also renowned for its Michelin-star restaurants, but $150 for a "tasting" lunch (per person) was hard to rationalize...
Getxo, Basque Country
Although located within the borders of Spain, the Basque region bordering the Atlantic ocean is a completely unique culture, with its own language and heritage. Getxo is a town located in the Biscay province of Basque on the outskirts of Bilbao and was once the residential neighborhood of the bourgeois industrialists of the early 19th century.
Road Trip Along a Portion of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way
The West Coast of Ireland is famous for its dramatic cliffs, rocky shorelines, and massive wave action!
Road Trip from Athlone to Ireland's East Coast
Wicklow National Park is about an hour south of Dublin and the location of several commercial films, including Braveheart and Excalibur.