Industrial Regeneration So nice to read about the pride in local industries in the Ruhr region, Katha, and how the old buildings have been converted and are used as attractive spaces today. I come from an industrial region in England, and also enjoy places of industrial rejuvenation like this. Nice that you were able to spend good time with your friend again.
Beautiful Italy You really do Italy justice in your blog entry here, I felt as though I was travelling along with you. I love how you interspersed your visits with hiking and sightseeing, along with enjoying some good food, wine and down time along the way. And what a smooth journey both there and back, well done! 😊
Re: Beautiful Italy Thank you for travelling along with me :-) Yes, I had the feeling that it was the right mix of sightseeing, hiking, relaxing, and indulging in all the good food and wine!
Re: Tuscany Thanks for commenting! There are many fantastic places in Europe, but Italy is definitely one of my favourite countries to go to and I can highly recommend it!
We're with you Tuscany is one of those places that pulls you back--not only the beauty but the food. This looks fantastic. Thank soft r taking us along.
Bella Italia Oh my goodness... I'm reading this on a rainy grey autumn afternoon in southern Australia and I can't get enough of your stunning blue-sky photos. You are so lucky to have so many travel options on your doorstep! I love Italy and Tuscany too and your adventure sounds so lovely - full of sunshine, beautiful architecture, local life and delicious food :)
Re: Bella Italia Oh yes, it is a good thing to have so many travel options closeby. I am sure you guys are still enjoying the memories of your wonderful trip to Greece!
Tenerife Wow, great to read about Tenerife beyond the tourist hotspots and busy-ness. It looks like a really beautiful island with amazing hiking, and you really made the most of it. I completely understand the uncertainties felt when travelling just after the restrictions were lifted, I felt the same with some trips I did too - well done for braving them! And the walk with the rain and slippery surfaces sounded scary - well done, and good advice in mindfully putting one foot in front of another until you got there. I also get to airports in plenty of time, I prefer this to stressful rushes! 😊
Re: Tenerife Thank you for coming along and commenting! Tenerife has much more to offer than beaches and sun. And I agree, travel restrictions and regulations really made travelling more effortful, but it was always worth the effort. Good that you kept travelling and sharing your experiences in spite of it all as well!
First trip out of the country I totally understand the uncertainty you felt before your trip. We had similar feelings, and a lot of energy was taken up with checking on things and making sure we hadn't missed anything. Lovely to see all the beautiful hiking options available on an island I usually associate with parties on beaches and tourist nightlife... although the canyon hike in high winds sounded very scary! Good to hear you were safe :)
Re: First trip out of the country I agree, checking all the regulations and never being sure what would change in the last moment took up a lot of energy and even made me a bit reluctant to travelling, although I am usually so fond of it! Reading your blog posts with all the great experiences, I am sure that all the hassle was worth it for you as well. Regarding Tenerife: It has many faces and is a great place to explore, I can only recommend it.
Thanks for the memories... In the early 1980s we stayed in the Harz Mountains in Goslar, which is also has the Imperial Palace of Emperor Friedrich I "Barbarossa" Hohenstaufen, 21st Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, who I recently discovered is our 28th great grandfather. While living in Germany from 1977 to 1984 we loved to visit the many castles and walled cities. We also loved hiking the German forests, and volksmarched almost every weekend. We are like you when it comes to celebrating New Years. Fortunately for us, midnight in New York is 10 pm in Colorado, so we get to bed two hours early!
Re: Thanks for the memories... Wow, you are descentants of Friedrich I Babarossa! Interesting that life took you to Germany for a few years. Hiking in the forests and visiting castles is fun, I love it very much, too. And great to hear that there are others who perfer an early night on New Year's Eve. My friend Mizzi lives in Melbourne, and she says she would be perfectly happy with the fireworks for children that take place at 9pm; she would not need to stay up until midnight to see the fireworks for adults and start the new year. I could not agree more.
Wernigerode Castle If ever I venture to Germany it will be to see the castles, among other delights our kids have experienced. I have posted yours on TB's "Palaces & Castles' thread in the Photography Forum. Check 'em out. You have an interesting life Katha, so even without dancing due to Covid and requiring a hot water bottle on New Years eve, I trust you had a great time!!! My New Years Eve was on a Queensland Beach (my sister's place) and the only down side was we had to wait for the hour delayed broadcast of the Sydney fireworks due to Queensland not being on Daylight Saving Time. Mustn't grumble. Every New Year is expectation of the Year ahead. May your 2023 be a good one!
Re: Wernigerode Castle Thank you Dave for coming on the journey with me and for commenting! Also found the pics on the Photography Forum, together with so many excellent photos of great castles and palaces.
We had a very good time in Ilsenburg, and the good thing about the early night on New Year's Eve was that we could enjoy New Year's Day because we were not hung over.
Sounds like you had a very good New Year's Eve too. I can imagine there are worse places in the world than a beach in QLD ;-) All the very best for you in 2023, and I look forward to reading your stories from different places in the world!
Through local eyes It's nice to see a country through the eyes of its residents. It looks like a great area to hike through... thanks for taking us along :)
Re: Through local eyes Thanks for coming along and commenting :-) One good thing about the Corona pandemic is that it made me explore my own country a little more. I probably would not have done this otherwise, at least not now.
Re: Germany Thank you for coming along and for commenting :-) I have to say that I did not mind too much not being able to leave the country for some time. There are definitely beautiful places in Germany.
I started this blog in late 2007, before heading off to Australia for a hang gliding adventure. After my first solo flight in a hang glider all I wanted to do was fly as much as possible. I gave up my job as a human resources consultant and headed to Australia to live my dream of hang gliding. When I returned after four months, I wanted to build my life around the sport I loved so much, and I did. I was also determined to make it into the national hang gliding team and started flying competitions with only one year of flying experience.
My dream was shattered in earl... full info
alex waring
Alexander Waring
Industrial Regeneration
So nice to read about the pride in local industries in the Ruhr region, Katha, and how the old buildings have been converted and are used as attractive spaces today. I come from an industrial region in England, and also enjoy places of industrial rejuvenation like this. Nice that you were able to spend good time with your friend again.