Finally hitting the slopes again!
My first days in Val Thorens After a successful off piste course two years ago, I decided to book another off piste course with UCPA for my first ski trip since COVID started. On the first morning we got our backpack with avalanche equipment and checked everything was working. Taking…
Pre-departure madness
Months ago I booked a ski trip because this year nothing would stop me. Normally I arrange my trip and transfers through the same company, but this year I found out they didn’t offer transfers. That was the first red flag. Since the trip had already been paid for, I…
Into the belly of Bojnice castle
I’m a big fan of fairytale castles and if I have the chance to visit one, I’ll usually take it. As I researched Slovakia there was an overwhelming choice of castles. All kinds of castles; medieval, fortresses, fairytale, mansions… you name it. Luckily my friend send me a list of…
A loop through Prielom Hornádu
Of all the canyons in the Slovak Paradise national park, Prielom Hornádu is one of the few, if not the only, that is a two-way street. This made it perfect for a loop, taking a detour via Kláštorská roklina, monastery gorge, up to the monastery ruins, down a steep forest…
Sucha Bela, such a beauty!
Sucha Bela is one of the most famous hikes in the Slovak Paradise. While researching I’d read it could get pretty busy, so busy even that there may be small traffic jams on the trail. Imagine my surprise when I found a pretty quiet Slovak Paradise. It turns out October…
A rainy race
The Firmenlauf, or company run, is a 5,5km run around the Tiergarten area in Berlin, open to companies to sign up for. I hadn’t done a race since I was a teenager, so when the sign up sheet was published in our company, I decided to go for it. I…
Topping it off in the Tatras
For my last day in the High Tatras I took a train to Strbské Pleso and chose the popular route to Popradske Pleso. It felt so much busier than the other trails I’ve done. Perhaps it was because it was Friday, perhaps because the sun was finally out and the…
Feeling winter in the Tatras
A holiday in October… anything can happen. October can bring the unexpected sunshine that makes you think it is spring. It can also quickly remind you that winter is around the corner. Today was one of those days. I woke up to find out the temperature was around zero and…
Berlin lights up again
For the third year in a row I visit the Festival of Lights in Berlin. This year’s theme was creating tomorrow, supporting the climate pledge, so there were plenty of images of nature and renewable energy. The main three places displayed man, nature and technology on the Brandenburg Gate, Bebelsplatz…
A walk through history on Rhodes
Rhodes’ medieval citadel is one of the best preserved ones in Europe and earned its place on the Unesco heritage list. We can thank the Knights Hospitallers for much of what Rhodes looks like now. They moved to the island in the 14th century and left their mark in the…