The West Highland Way is a 96-mile trail from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. There are loads of suggested itineraries online and it’s pretty easy to get caught up in what some perceive to be the proper way to walk it, but we decided to begin partway through, spend two nights in one place when possible, and take day hikes to get off the beaten path. Day 1 - Tyndrum Day Hikes The 2-hour train from Glasgow to Tyndrum was easy and scenic. The town itself is tiny - just a few homes, restaurants, inns and campgrounds, all of which exist mainly because the West Highland Way goes through it. We stayed in a tiny, cylindrical hobbit cabin (see photo), identical to what is found at most campsites along the ... read more

Belgians I’ve met have said Brussels is surprisingly sketchy and that’s certainly the impression I had venturing out from Midi Station. It didn’t seem fitting for the capital of the EU, though I suppose some would claim it is fitting. But once in the city center the scene shifts to a high concentration of waffle stands, chocolate shops and Delirium umbrellas. And architecture that rivals the other great capitals of Europe, in particular the incredible Grand Place: https://youtu.be/ZtXNropBqUM It’s been awhile since I’ve seen such ostentatious spoils of colonialism. I wonder what the second generation of recent immigrants will think of some of the statues around the city. In contrast, the EU diplomatic buildings are uninspiring. But it’s fun to walk around the area under the gaze of security and picture what big decisions the suits ... read more

I’ve always wanted to try out part of El Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a pilgrimage that (at least the St. James Way/French Way approach) begins in France and goes 1,000km to the Atlantic. I only walked about 100k, from Pamplona to Logroño. It’s easy to follow and heavily trafficked, so there’s no reason to provide directions or other details. Instead, here are some brilliant observations to make room for photos and videos: Puente Magdalena When I arrived in Pamplona I couldn’t figure out where I could pick up the Camino the next morning. The only thing I could find online is that it crosses the Magdalena Bridge. But the city walls made it hard to get to, so it took a good 40 minutes. I found it and followed the signs and markers, which passed ... read more

With only one bus connection, getting to Torla from Huesca was pretty easy without a car. Getting out will take some creativity, luck, or money. The scenery was pleasant and the road - which is only mostly finished - is an architectural wonder in itself, winding along ravines and through sheer rock cliffs, all with the first-world luxury of guardrails. Torla is a picture-perfect Spanish town. Its charm, remoteness and proximity to Parque Nacional Ordesa y Monte Perdido make the accommodations expensive. I had to make reservations ahead of time since it was the start of the high season and because of the illusion that if you can’t find a place online, it must not exist. But there were several options that I couldn't find online. Most of the tourists were older, so maybe they booked ... read more

The train from Madrid clocked at a steady 300km/hr, turning a 3+ hour drive into an hour and ten-minute ride through the torrid Spanish plains. Walking from the station, I saw a digital bank thermometer that read 51 degrees (124 degrees Fahrenheit). But it felt like nothing close to as hot as other parts of Spain I’ve visited since it was very dry and breezy. Maybe I just prepared myself well for the worst. I dropped off my boots and warm clothes at Pension Estrella, which is where I’m staying before my flight to Belgium in 2 weeks and continued on to Hotel San Valero, which is in the Old Town. My short stay in Madrid reminded me of what “great location” means there: hardly any Spaniards and hordes of student tourist groups. Zaragoza was quite ... read more