Holidays would be different if we had unlimited amounts of time for them, but we do not. So they are what they are, which largely means: always too short. As a rule of thumb, the more affluent people are, the more often they will go on a vacation, but – since the time available for…
Two scenic train rides from Nice into its alpine back country are on the itinerary of most Riviera visits: the Train des Merveilles (to Tende near the Italian frontier) and the Train des Pignes (to Digne-les-Bains in the northwest). Ticking off the Train des Merveilles from our own travel schedule was one of the first things we…
Half-German-half-Polish Usedom is used to playing second fiddle among Germany’s Baltic coast islands, but has a unique distinction Usedom is Germany’s sunniest spot. Talk about damning with faint praise, eh? But before any of you can accuse me of sneery sarcasm, let me point out that Usedom gets an almost Mediterranean 1917 hours of sunshine…
Apricale may well be the most beautiful but is certainly the most visually stunning of all the towns on the Ligurian hills. It is not only picturesque but also a great base for hiking trips into the Riviera’s mountainous hinterland. Growing out of the cliffside like something perhaps not altogether benign … … the town…
From Limani to Valmas and back to Chora – a perfect introduction to the charms of Ios Our first walk in Ios, and – of necessity – a short one. Such is the nature of the busy schedule that the municipality of Ios has prepared for us. In the morning, we were chauffeured around the…
Walks in Germany A Historic Walk in French Rococo Garden in Germany The trail around the Bagno Park in Steinfurt-Burgsteinfurt (in northwest Germany) makes for the perfect winter walk. It is not too long to be exhausting, but not too short either (just right, as a matter of fact, to get you going after all…
What to See in Germany The Most Famous Operation Chastise Target What was the greatest military feat of WWII? If you are from North America, you might say: the D-Day landings, while Russians would probably go for the defence of Stalingrad. But I suspect that, if you are English, you will be thinking of a less…
Hiking near Paris Chevreuse and our Beaujolais Nouveau Hike Out of all the walks we have done in Paris, the Chevreuse walk is the best. It provides a balanced blend of the rustic and the civilized, the rough and the smooth, nature and culture. (A perfect easy hiking trail near Paris.) To anybody staying in…
A guest post from Ted Nelson Easy hiking, as its name hints, should be a leisurely and enjoyable activity, but anytime one ventures out into the great outdoors there are certain items to bring or lessons to follow that can avoid a dangerous situation. There is always a risk when taking a hike into nature….
