A friend of mine is working from Croatia for two weeks and we spontaneously decide that I am going to visit her. I am always fascinated by the change that a few hours of flying can achieve. Leaving grey and cold Germany behind me, I sit on her balcony overlooking the Mediterranean and listen to the waves in the afternoon. A little stroll down the hill brings me to tranquil Cavtat. It is a small town with two beautiful natural harbours. First, I watch the sunset from the hill and then the moon appears over the bay. It is so peaceful and I feel like I have really arrived. The song of a nightingale follows me through the darkness on my way pack to the apartment. It feels wonderful to escape the grey November weather for a few days.

The next day I take the bus to the city. The view of the Old Town from the highway is so beautiful. In the pale sunlight the red roofs shine. The houses stand close together within the city wall and only a few church towers break the colour scheme. I am very much looking forward to exploring this UNESCO world heritage site.

The city is eerily empty. November really is not the main tourist season. The Christmas decorations are already hanging in the main street and on one of the towers it even says 2022. I put my phone away with the map and just follow the alleys and streets. It is such a pleasure to loose myself in the city. I walk up and down endless flights of stairs. Behind every corner there is something new to discover. The residents of the old town keep lots of potted plants by their doors. And I love the washing lines strung between the houses. Cats certainly appear to be the secret owners of the Old Town. They are everywhere I turn: strolling down the alleys, lying on unused chair cushions in front of restaurants, congregating on overgrown plots between houses.

Spots of blue sky are visible between the clouds and sometimes even the sun gets through. The 18 degrees Celsius feel wonderful. It is perfect weather for exploring a city. I sit for a while on one of the benches in front of the Revelin Fort overlooking the old harbour. This is the perfect spot for a morning mandarin break. By midday it is getting fuller. Schoolkids play football in front of the cathedral. A lot of Croatians sit in cafés. A few tourists stroll by. I buy something for lunch in one of the bakeries and continue my exploration of the city until the evening. Even a little rain takes nothing away from the beauty of the city. I am very happy that I decided to come to Dubrovnik.

No visit to Dubrovnik is complete without a walk on the city wall. This is my plan for the next day. The sun is coming out a little and the red roofs shine. The wall goes completely around the city and is at times impressively high. The views of the Old Town, the sea, the nearby island of Lokrum… it all looks spectacular. I take my time and enjoy the solitude up here. The hustle of the city seems far removed. The Minčeta tower forms the highest point of the 2 kilometre wall. Stairs lead down towards the sea. On the right hand side the walls drop dramatically to the sea and on the left hand side houses and gardens reach up to the wall. Mandarin trees and wine mainly grow here. Freshly washed laundry is flapping in the wind and a few cats walk by.

Outside of the Old Town, up the hill is a look-out point. I sit on one of the benches for quite a while in the afternoon. The sun is shining, it is nice and warm and just so beautiful. I could stare at this view for hours. After a late lunch in the Old Town I walk back up the hill for the sunset. The rose-coloured clouds, the blood-red sun, the Old Town and the sea… The changing colours of the sky are wonderful. Slowly it grows darker and the lights come on below me.

While waiting to meet my friend for dinner I stroll through the beautifully lit city. Shadow and light form an intriguing contrast. Everything looks a little different than during daylight. 

I had a fantastic time in Dubrovnik. Thanks for having me.

Der Beitrag A spontaneous trip to Dubrovnik erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

We have made it to our hotel. The storm is raging outside. Rain is pounding against my hotel room window. It does not look like this is going to end soon. The rain radar, however, promises an end to this storm in the late afternoon so that I can at least leave the hotel to get some dinner without getting soaked. And yes, I am lucky and the rain stops.

The next morning I wake up to a bright blue sky and I can barely believe my luck. It is only 7.30am but I set out on my morning walk through beautiful Boston. It is a wonderful feeling when the weather forecast is right with its prediction.

The squirrels in the park happily pose for a photo. The colourful trees form a perfect backdrop for them. Mist is still lying on the grass and the street lights glow in the early morning sunlight that is beginning to peak over the houses.

Historic Beacon Hill is so beautiful this early. The street lights and the lights over the entrances glow down the streets. Many of the entrances are nicely decorated with pumpkins and autumn wreaths. There are only very few people about this early. I feel transported back to another century. But instead of horse drawn carriages I hear the newspaper delivery man slowly driving down the street and throwing the newspapers out his window in the vage direction of the steps leading up to the houses.

Some of the beautiful town houses on Chestnut Street have plaques attached to them informing the interested passer-by on the former inhabitants. The narrow cobbled lane of Acorn Street is beautiful and the row houses line the street up the hill. Some streets are dominated by free standing mansions; others are lined with row houses. Every corner I turn there is something new to see and admire.

After a stop in a sweet little bakery I continue my walk towards the harbour. The sun is shining brightly now and it is getting warmer. In parts I follow a signed path and see some of the historic sights of Boston. The glass skyscrapers provide a contrasting backdrop for the colonial buildings.

In one big loop I walk back to the hotel. By now there are lots of people out doing their Saturday shopping, meeting friends for brunch or just hanging out in the park. By the time I reach my room my feet are pretty tired and I relish that I have at least 30 minutes for a power nap before I have to get ready for the flight back.

Bye, bye Boston. I had a lovely time.

Der Beitrag Beautiful Boston erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

The alarm goes off and as I open my eyes I can already see the rain drops running down the window pane. It feels like my plan of walking to the city centre for breakfast followed by a stroll through the old town gets washed away with the water. However, it does not seem to rain heavily and I would really like some fresh air. Time on short-haul rotations is precious and so I quickly decide to stick to my original plan.

Stepping out of my hotel room I smile as I see the beautiful view over Vilnius from the eight floor. And as I cross the bridge over the Neris in a light drizzle I am glad I decided to go out. The weather is not as bad as it appeared from the window, as is so often the case. It is still early on this November Saturday and there are few people out bracing the wind, rain and cold air.

I had looked up a nice breakfast café and this is going to be my first stop. It feels wonderful to open the door and get enveloped by the warm air smelling of freshly baked pastries. A pot of Earl Grey tea, Eggs Benedict and my book: this is such a lovely start into the day. I could sit here all morning.

After breakfast my walk through Vilnius continues. I love the beautiful houses: their architecture and the colours. Everything looks washed clean in the rain. I only have an hour left before I need to return to the hotel, but I love strolling around, getting lost in the streets.

The narrow lanes of the former Vilnius Ghetto are lined with shops, restaurants and bars. Somewhere I can already spot some Christmas decoration. The shops are slowly opening and more people are out on the streets now. On the way back I pass by the Vilnius cathedral with its separate bell tower. I stop at a supermarket to buy some lunch for my flight later. And walking along the river I see the castle on its green hill overlooking the old town.

It was only a very short breakfast outing. But it felt wonderful to be out and walk through the city. Now I feel ready for another work day.

Der Beitrag Breakfast in Vilnius erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

With the first light of day I get up and get ready for a morning stroll through Montreal. The jetlag always makes me wake up very early in North America. So why not make the most of it? It is still before 7 o’clock in the morning and I have the streets mainly to myself. The call of the seagulls follows me on my way to Le Vieux Montréal. The Saint Laurence River is not far. The sun is shining from a bright blue sky. It is still a little chilly in the streets, but the sunshine promises a beautiful day.

I like the grey houses. The doors and windows are often painted red, blue or green. Flowers adorn the windows. In the main pedestrian street most houses contain a souvenir shop or a restaurant. At this hour I am forced to contend with window shopping. There is so much to see. However, there are also a lot empty shops. Covid seems have taken its toll here as well.

On my way to the Quai d’Horloge I pass a pair of bright turquoise Muskoka chairs. I love them and for me they are the quintessential Canadian furniture. I continue my walk to the river. The white clock tower shines brightly in the morning sunlight. A few joggers and dog walkers pass by as I sit down on a bench with my book and read a little. The grazing Canada geese comment every passing dog with their loud chatter. It is so beautiful here. The sun shines warmly in my face and I feel very relaxed sitting here.

On my walk back to the Old Town I stop for a coffee to go. A nice spot in the sunshine is the place to indulge in some people watching. The streets are busier now with joggers, dog-walkers and people going to work. It is getting warmer as well.

A big loop through one of the residential areas brings me back to the hotel. I like the wooden verandas in front of the heavy stone buildings. A stop at the supermarket for some lunch before the flight back is the last item on my Montreal agenda.

Der Beitrag A Morning Stroll Through Montreal erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

For this May/June holiday I have no clear idea of where to go. Covid is still very much a thing and I do not want to venture too far. Well, who knew that Albania would have so much to offer?  I buy a plane ticket and book three nights’ accommodation in Tirana to start with. Other than that I have no plans and no clear idea where I want to go and what I want to see. I love the spontaneity and relaxed atmosphere of this “slow travel” trip. I am simply following wherever my feet guide me; or rather, where the next bus takes me.

Tirana

I start my trip in Tirana. The city has a lot to offer and I love discovering the different areas, monuments, the history and the culture. It is fun to walk around and to slowly get my bearings. The walking tour on my first day is a good introduction to the city: socialist monuments, byzantine mosques, museums, and the everyday street life. I get some useful background information to everything that I see.

I am mostly alone, exploring something different every day. A trip to the turtle sanctuary outside of the city with a local woman is a welcome change and my first trip into the countryside. We have a delicious dinner while observing the turtles crawling around us and stay by the fire pit for a long time after it already gets dark. At the end of the night the fireflies guide us back to the city.

I am excited to see more of the country.

Berat

After leaving Tirana my next stop is Berat. I have heard a few things about the „city of a thousand windows“, which have made me curious to continue my trip south. My accommodation is on the other side of the river in Gorica and offers beautiful views of the castle and the famous houses underneath. The castle is also my first stop after dropping off my backpack. The view is beautiful and sitting up here I feel like I am on top of the world. I find a quiet spot and sit, look and listen for a while. It is so peaceful: birds are chirping and lizards race across the stones in the hot midday sun.

Walking up and down through the cobblestone lanes of the old quarter is so much fun. You never know what you find around the next corner. The wooden balconies overhang the paths, potted plants adorn some of the doors and sometimes you have to back-trace your steps because you ended up in a cul-de-sac. A small restaurant, which a friend recommended, offers delicious home-made food and only has a few tables in a small courtyard. Even though I am eating alone I enjoy the atmosphere and the fact that I am free to observe everything around me.

Gjirokaster

I continue south to Gjirokaster.  The older part of the town is nestled against the mountain side. The cobblestone streets are steep and offer great views of the castle and the valley of the Vjosa River. In the morning I have my breakfast on the roof terrace with a spectacular view of the castle. It makes for a wonderful start into the day and I am already looking forward to discovering more.

My first stop is the castle. I like strolling between the ruins, through the high grass, where lizards and butterflies live. The views over the wide Vjosa valley are beautiful. The villages are all more at the foot of the snow-covered mountains, away from the river.

Apart from the castle and strolling through the city, I also visit the Skenduli House. I love the byzantine houses, their style and layout. This one in particular gives a good impression of how people used to live around here.

Permët

The river Vjosa is titled to be the last free flowing wild river of Europe. I stop in Permët to see it. As I hike up the mountain the views of the River and the plain are ever changing. The heat is tough today as I continue to walk up to the Mount Djembel pass. There is not a lot of shade as I pass a few horses and cows. The wild flowers bloom everywhere and make this hike a special one. Shade is at times hard to find, but under a tree I find a nice spot and I stop for my lunch break; the view over the valley is spectacular from here. I bought Byrek and cherries (because of the language barrier I ended up with a kilo of cherries, half of which I am eating today and the other half is for tomorrow).

I continue on in steep serpentines. Along the way I meet a few hikers but otherwise I am alone. Down from the pass on the other side I spot wild Primroses. They are deep red and look a little out of place as I only know them from gardens. I pass through birch forests and continue steeply down the path. The views, the smells, the sounds… it is such a beautiful hike.

As I began my descent from the pass I had picked a walking stick. At some point I hear sheep bells in the distance and dogs barking and I am glad that I have my walking stick. Hikers are being warned everywhere about sheep guarding dogs. These two are no different. I have to fend them off with my stick. At the bottom of the mountain I gladly gift my walking stick to the two French hikers I meet.

Thermal Baths

The next day I take the bus to the thermal baths of Bënjë. The hot day is perfect for exploring the sulphur pools that stretch along the canyon. Right now I share the pools only with a few Albanian pensioners if at all. The small pool directly by the ottoman bridge is my favourite. Figs grow along the stony pool border and provide some shade. I slowly walk into the valley. I pass several hot pools and I stop at each and every one of them.

The river is cold and I wish I had shoes to wear as I continue walking up the canyon. Even so, I go slowly and love the views. At times the gorge is very narrow and it is an adventure to walk in this spectacular nature. Before I get on the bus in the late afternoon I lounge around the warm sulphur pools with views of the bridge and the snowy mountains in the background. This day can certainly be added to my collection of beautiful days spent on this holiday.

Albanian Riviera – Ksamil

Coming from the Southern mountains I only briefly stop in Sarandë before heading to the very south of Albania in Ksamil. There are lots of small coves and beaches. In summer it gets very crowded here, they say. But now, at the beginning of June, it is still pretty quiet. I’m fascinated by the intense colour of the water. The turquoise water combined with the white beaches and the lush greenery is spectacular.

Every morning I enjoy my swim before breakfast. Usually I’m not a „lounging by the beach all day“-kind of person, but here I can get used to it. Also because this holiday has been very active so far, I enjoy my leisure time filled with reading, swimming, talking to my neighbour and seafood dinners.

In between, I visit the archaeological site of Butrint. The different monuments are spread out over the peninsula and I love strolling through the lush forest in between. I feel like a true explorer discovering walls and buildings.

Turtles swim in the little natural ponds. I spend the afternoon sitting on a low wall by the lake having lunch and reading. A snake swims by the shore, dragonflies chase each other and I listen to the concert of the cicadas.

Albanian Riviera – Himarë

Himarë is my next stop along the Albanian Riviera. It’s quieter than Ksamil and I hike along the coast to the smaller beaches that are less accessible. Unfortunately, there is a lot of trash at the beaches here as well. But if I sit looking out over the turquoise water then I can blend it out a little. One of the beaches is only accessible through climbing down the steep coast with the help of a rope. I have the whole beach to myself for the day and cannot believe my luck. This feels very much like a holiday. I love it here.

Valbona to Theth

If asked about „the hike“ in Albania people always tell you that you have to do the Theth to Valbona hike. From Shkoder I go on a three day round trip to the mountains. The ferry ride across the Komani Lake is already spectacular. At first it is still cloudy, but later the sun comes out and the emerald water shines against the blue sky and the imposing grey mountains. The views are so beautiful. I could stay on the ferry and on this sparkling emerald lake for the rest of the day.

The next morning I start early on my hike. The first eight kilometres I follow along the road to the end of the valley. It starts out as paved and after a while it turns into a 4×4 road with river crossings. The snowy mountain range draws nearer and looks more imposing with every step I take.

At the end of the valley I start the long ascend to the pass. Past the 1400 meter mark I encounter the first snow. Even though it is June there is still snow covering the pass. I picked a walking stick yesterday because I had anticipated this. My feet are quickly getting wet, but it is so worth it. Every few hundred meters I stop, take a short break and enjoy the view. It is still a good way up to the top. The path is very steep now and I have to be very careful with my footing in the snow. The feeling of standing on top of the pass is incredible. I can now look towards Valbona valley as well as into Theth valley.

Before I start with the long descend to Theth I have my lunch break. It feels good to relax my muscles a bit and to sit for a while.  The path down is snow free and easy to follow. I meet so many people going up to the pass and I feel proud of my accomplishment today. After seven and a half hours I walk up to the Guest House. The British couple, who I have met on the hike today, is here as well and we end up spending a nice evening together full of talking and marvelling at the mountains around us.

Theth is a beautiful mountain village. The stacks of drying hay remind me a bit of the Swiss mountains and the little church looks picturesque in the middle of the fields and with the snowy mountains in the back.  Before my bus leaves at noon, I walk around the village and to a nearby waterfall.

I had a wonderful time in the Albanian mountains and loved that I got to do this hike before my holiday ends.

Shkoder

Coming back from the mountains I spend the last couple of days in and around Shkoder. The town has a nice size and is easy to navigate. My first stop is the Rozafa castle. The view from here is beautiful. The snowy mountains rise to the one side behind the Shkodra Lake and to the other side the Mediterranean shimmers in the distance. I stroll between the ruins and am a little sad that I did not come here for the sunset, which is supposed to be even more beautiful.

Walking through the pedestrian streets in the evenings when it has cooled off a little, is a nice way to see the city and the locals. I grab a drink in a bar and observe the world passing by. The lights come on and illuminate the old houses.

Shkodra Lake is the biggest lake in the Balkans and almost feels like a sea. The views around are so beautiful. Pomegranate and olive trees line the narrow road along the shore. Most of the time the lake lies quietly and just a few loons or seagulls pierce the quiet. The snowy mountains to the other side provide the perfect backdrop. I could stay here for days…

Der Beitrag A Holiday in Albania erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

The rotation with the Ms… First stop: Moscow, second stop: Madrid.

It is already 3 o’clock in the afternoon by the time we reach the hotel in Moscow. Traffic was the usual hectic experience. But I made the most of the hour and took a nap.

Now I am ready to go for a stroll. Initially, I am a bit lost as to where I want to go. It is supposed to rain later today. Once I step outside and cross the street over to the canal, I quickly decide to head to the Red Square. I wanted to get some “fresh air”. Well, fresh air… on one side of the canal the traffic jam is long and on the other side dust clouds rise from the road construction. I do not mind, I just want to be outside and walk.

There are a lot of people in the street; some sit in cafés, others do their shopping and others return from work. It is warm. A pharmacy sign says 24° Celsius. And the rain, which was forecasted for midday still has not arrived.

The colourful domes of the Saint Basil’s Cathedral shine across the bridge to where I am walking. The church serves as a backdrop for two bridal couples. There are a few groups standing in front of the Kremlin’s walls and lots of families walk across the square. The golden domes of the churches shine brightly, even in front of the grey sky.

I enter the GUM, the big department store through the main entrance. I love the arches, the glass ceiling and the general grandeur of the building. What it must have felt like to shop here in its heyday?

I sit to the side of the Red Square for a while and observe the world going by. There is so much to see. The red Kremlin wall, the white towers behind it, everything shines so brightly.

On the way back to the hotel it starts raining. That is not too bad, as I had planned on using the sauna this evening anyways. Luckily, I had grabbed my umbrella just as I left my hotel room.

After enjoying the sauna I treat myself to a plate of pelmeni on my bed and watch a little TV. The alarm is going to ring at 3am tomorrow morning.

Back in Frankfurt I say goodbye to my crew and change planes to meet the crew heading to Madrid. By midday we are in Spain. Seeing four A380s parked on the tarmac makes me a bid sad. I miss that plane… I am the only one of the crew getting off here. For once I have to find my own way through the airport and cannot simply follow behind the others. The instructions are simple enough and I quickly find the driver.

26° Celsius! And sunshine. I quickly change into a dress, put the sunglasses in my hair and off I go. It is Saturday and everyone is out in the city. I walk down the pedestrian street and love stopping in different shops. Beautiful houses flank the street. Stopping at a little square I buy an ice cream, orange and mango-passionfruit, and sit down in the shade. I brought my book, but I only read a few pages. There is too much to see.

I continue on through the streets of Madrid. I go wherever the streets take me and most of the time I do not even exactly know where I am. I pass squares, beautiful shop and restaurant fronts, I admire balconies and observe life in the streets. It is marvellous.

Everything is full. It is not so easy to find a restaurant, especially because I am alone. 4 people are allowed to sit at a table and Spaniards are not alone today. They are always surrounded by friends or family. But I do find a spot and enjoy my patatas bravas, a glass of wine and berenjenas con miel y mostaza. Getting off my feet and eating something was perfect.

I walk as far as I can walk. Then I look for the nearest Metro station and return back to the hotel. I am dead tired tonight. It was a really long day. And I love that I have the morning in Madrid as well. While eating breakfast in the sunshine I write this e-mail and sort through my photos. By midday I am back on my way to the airport. What a lovely three-day rotation!! I enjoyed getting to fly again.

Der Beitrag Moscow to Madrid erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

We are still in the middle of a pandemic, but the Communitat de Valencia is no longer on the travel ban list for us. My sister and I have dreamed of a spring holiday for a while now and are so happy that we can fly to the South of Spain. Our backpacks are once again packed only with bare necessities for a 10-day hike.

We only arrive late in the afternoon, but after strolling through the city for an hour we already feel like we have been on holiday much longer. Sitting under the spectacular trees of Plaza Portal de Elche and enjoying our take-away dinner is the perfect end to our first day here. One of our favourite spots is the Santa Cruz area. The planters in front of the white and colourful houses look so bright. The quarter clings to the side of the mountain and feels a bit removed from the center down below. The city is cute and the view from the Castillo de Santa Bárbara is spectacular. The blue sea stretches in front of us. We feel like we are on top of the world. Alicante was the perfect start to our holiday.

A short tram ride to the beach outside of Alicante brings us to our starting point of the GR92 hike. The first kilometres we hike along the beach promenade. The sun is shining from a blue sky, the sea is turquoise clear and lots of people take advantage of the perfect weather. Every five minutes or so one of us exclaims “I can’t believe we’re here.”, “This is so beautiful!” or “What a start to our hike.”.

Every night we sleep in a picturesque little town. The towns are either dotted with very colourful houses or with Moorish white houses. Both are beautiful. Even though in the evenings we are dead tired from our hike, after a reviving shower we stroll a little through town and have a look around. In Villajoyosa we actually leave the sight-seeing part for the start of next day’s hike.

The narrow alleys with colourful houses remind us a bit of last autumn’s hike along Italy’s Ligurian coast.In Altea, even though our feet can barely go on, we walk through the white old town set on the hill beneath the castle to the supermarket. The light begins to fade and the white houses take on the rose shimmer of the sky. It is so beautiful strolling a little through the town and taking in all the charms of this cute town.

The Costa Blanca is just magical. We cannot believe the colour of the sea. The limestone contrasts with the turquoise water and the green plants. Between towns we often hike through Natural Parks. It is spring and despite it being a very dry landscape everything is blossoming right now. Along our paths grow lilac, rosemary and lavender, olive trees and white cistus roses, yellow gorse, pink heather, palm trees and many more plants. It is so beautiful. Butterflies and dragon flies soar past, bees hum between the flowers and birds chirp in the bushes.

During the day we like to stop for lunch at a restaurant. This way we get to properly sit down, drink a bit of extra water, have a good meal and enjoy the scenery. The Menú del día is a perfect option for us. We always share and eat lots of delicious food this way. Dinner is often a simpler affair; also because by the end of the day we are pretty tired. Twice we stop at the beach promenade. We are in our hiking gear all sweaty sitting between the beach strollers enjoying our well-deserved lunch.

Benidorm is quite a site. We walk along the coast and suddenly, as we round a bend, we see the densely built skyscrapers appear in front of us. The town is not to our taste, but still we are fascinated by the sheer size of it. Luckily, there are not that many tourists around. We are glad as we hike into the hills behind Benidorm and leave the urban area behind us.

Hiking out of Calpe we pass a salt lake. The mid-day sun is burning down on us. But we still stop at the lake and gaze at the flamingos stalking through the flat lake, sifting the ground for food. Taking the photo the exact moment when they raise their heads out of the water becomes a bit of a sport. We could stand here for a while, just observing these graceful animals, but we have to hike on.

In the mornings we usually start by hiking along the beach. The first part of our hike along the Costa Blanca we have to climb a few hills. But the views more than make up for it. The turquoise water, the coastline is simply stunning. At some point during the day we usually pass holiday houses. It is so much fun to see the different styles, some houses are Spanish inspired, others ultra-modern cubes. We love taking a peek into gardens and houses. Spotting infinity pools becomes our speciality.

The hiking path leads us through varied landscapes; along the beach promenades, through Nature Reserves, through residential areas, over hills and along the coast.

The smell of orange blossom is following us for much of our hike. We have oranges every day for a break and feel truly like hiking in Spain. Hiking out of Denia we follow the old railway track through orange plantations. The smell is almost overwhelming. For six kilometres we have orange trees ladden with the small white star blossoms on either side of us. It smells heavenly.

One day shortly before reaching Valencia it is overcast, but we get to hike for 10 kilometres along the beach. Despite the clouds it is such a beautiful morning. Anticipating how high the waves are going to crawl is so much fun. Our usual Ensaimada break is coming up and so we are distracted by the smell of a bakery and tadaaa… a bigger wave hits us, the water enters my shoes and I get wet feet. The good thing about a multi-day hike is that you have your spare clothes with you. I change socks and we continue on, still laughing about getting distracted by bakery smells.

Before we arrive in Valencia we pass the Albufeira, an area famous for rice fields. While for all the wildflowers it is nice hiking in spring, the rice fields are at their prettiest in autumn. We walk between the brown fields, greet the farmers we meet several times during the day as if they were old friends and observe the herons. We cut the monotony of the hike by singing all the songs that come into our head. This way the kilometres pass quicker. Each time my sister’s watch vibrates and announces another kilometre achieved we cheer. From El Palmar we take the bus into Valencia and as we pass the magical looking buildings of the Ciutat de les Arts I les Ciències it slowly begins to sink in that this is the end of our beautiful hike along the Costa Blanca from Alicante to Valencia.

Valencia greets us with sunshine and a spectacular final day of sightseeing. We just stroll through the city centre enjoying all the sights. The streets, the houses, the churches; there is so much to see. We marvel at the beautiful houses. It is Sunday, families gather to celebrate the Holy Communion and later walk through the city.

After hiking for 10 days we soak up all the city energy. Sitting by the fountain on the Plaça de la Mare de Déu we people-watch and listen to the music of the street musicians. We have ice cream and then one last sea food lunch.

What a holiday. We had so much fun and enjoyed ourselves immensely during those one and a half weeks.

Der Beitrag Hiking from Alicante to Valencia erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

It is freezing and snowy and beautiful in Finland. -20° C is written on the display as we exit the terminal building late in the evening. Huuu, quickly into the bus.

The next morning the sun is shining, the harbour is frozen and I can see all the way out to the Baltic Sea. Even from the 7^th floor I can see that people wear think winter clothing. I put on all the clothing that I brought with me before I walk to the bus terminal. I want to visit Porvoo today. It is only an hour bus drive from Helsinki and I am excited to see what the town has in store for me. Porvoo is famous for its beautiful old town and cute wooden houses.

I snuggle into my Uzbek camel scarf, put on my gloves from Tallinn and brave the freezing cold. I instantly love Porvoo. The houses and streets are covered in snow. Icicles hang from the roofs and window frost draws intricate patterns on the windows. The sun shines from a clear blue sky. The river is frozen and so are the streets. It is quite handy that the pedestrian crossings are marked with signs as well. However, there is not a lot of traffic. An arctic hare crosses the street in front of me and disappears into a garden.

I wander aimlessly through the small streets. I cannot get enough of the small and big wooden houses. Yellow, red, blue and green, the houses sparkle in the sun. I cannot take my gloves off for long. Even now the temperature still only says -16°C. In the sun it is warmer and so I stay out longer than I imagined.

I like the unique shape of the Cathedral on the hill. It is a big, ornamental building with a beautiful shingled roof. Everything is frozen, but the birds are singing. Maybe even here the first signs of spring arrive. Many of the windows are decorated, sometimes it is artful, and sometimes it is kitschy. At times I can even catch a glimpse of the inside of the house and I see a mix of Ikea furniture and antiques, delicate chandeliers and simple design. Cross-country skis and sleighs sit on the verandas.

I am frozen through and through and so I take a break in a small café. A warming winter latte, a piece of cake by the fire, I can appreciate this even more as restaurants are still closed in Germany. In the Old Town there are little shops offering all sorts of handicrafts. I love strolling through the streets and entering a shop here or there.

The sun is slowly descending towards the horizon as I take a walk on the frozen river. The view of the iconic red houses is very different from this angle. I have only seen photos of Porvoo in the summer. But I have to say, the town is definitely worth the trip in winter also. I had a fabulous time and enjoy the view from the bus window on the drive back to Helsinki. The frozen landscape is tinged in rose colours. What a sight.  

Der Beitrag Snowy Porvoo erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.

What warmth, what sunshine, what a lovely blue sky!! The sun is greeting us as we open the cabin door on the tarmac at Barcelona airport. It feels like a warm hug after the cold German weather we said good-bye to a few hours earlier. I feel lucky to have gotten activated for this rotation. It is already a quarter to five in the afternoon by the time we reach the hotel, but my colleague and I meet 15 minutes later for a walk through Barcelona.

As we step outside the hotel we can already see the Sagrada Família. It has been 12 years since I have seen her the last time and a lot has happened since then. The thin, tall towers are illuminated by the last rays of sunshine of the day. It might not be the most beautiful church, but it is definitely impressive.

It is still 13° Celsius outside and lots of Spaniards are out and about. Barcelona without tourists is a bit of a weird site. From the Sagrada Família we follow the Carrer de Provença until we reach the Plaça Verdaguer. The house I used to live in when I was a student here in 2008 is being renovated right now. The glass of the balconies shines through the protective cladding. Just as we pass the door two workers exit and we sneak in. It looks just as grand as it used to be, glazed tiles, high stuccoed ceilings, the wooden staircase.

We continue till the Passeig de Gràcia and pass a lot of small shops. The fruit and vegetable seller, where I used to shop, still has his doors open. The sky turns pink and we walk past the luxury shops on the Passeig. There are so many people about. We chat and admire the buildings.

Casa Battló is one of my favourite buildings in Bacelona. The colourful tiles shimmer like the scales of a mermaid in the lantern light. It is slowly getting dark, but we both enjoy the evening stroll through the city. Over the Plaça de Catalunya, past the big fountains, we walk onto the Ramblas. At the Mercat de la Boquería the first two stalls with the beautiful fruit and vegetable towers are still open. We buy a fruit juice, just as I used to do whenever I came here. Two older ladies still do their shopping at this hour.

In the Barri Gòtic smaller shops are open. It is easy to lose all sense of direction in the small alleyways of the quarter. We just stroll along. My colleague loves churros and so we stop by a small café and buy a bag of churros and some hot chocolate. The steps of the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi are perfect for a little break. The orange trees around the square emit their sweet smell.

We walk all the way down to the harbour. Past the beautiful old harbour building it is dark. The clinking of the sailboats can only be heard. It has gotten colder now and we turn around and head back up the Ramblas to the Plaça Catalunya. The Metro brings us back to the hotel.

A tapas restaurant would have been the perfect end to an otherwise perfect evening stroll. But restaurants are either closed or only offer take away. However, we don’t want to be ungrateful. It was such a lovely evening and felt much longer than three hours.

Der Beitrag A walk down memory lane in Barcelona erschien zuerst auf Where in the world is... Susanne?.