September 9th 2022 The morning in Bilbao begins with a very special light. As I open the window, the cool, clean air of the Basque Country sweeps in to greet me. The city, affectionately called “El Botxo” – the hole or the hollow – by locals, lies nestled within a deep, narrow valley. It is […]
Awakening in the Green Heart of Bilbao Read More »
September 8th 2022 When I open my eyes this morning, a completely different world welcomes me than maritime Bilbao. Pamplona, the historic capital of Navarre, rests proudly on a rocky plateau high above the Arga River. The air here is noticeably drier, carried by a touch of mountain wind blowing over from the nearby foothills
Pamplona – A Path of Stone and History Read More »
September 3, 2022 The morning begins with the comforting hum of the engine as I turn off from Adrall onto the C-14, setting a course southward. The road follows the wide path of the Segre River, which snakes like a silver ribbon through the valley. After just a few kilometers, the face of the landscape
From Montferrer to Torla-Ordesa Read More »
Pyrenees panorama: On the N-260 through historic Catalonia Day 1: Through the Stone Heart of the Pre-Pyrenees The morning air in Camprodon is still cool and fresh over the valley as the first rays of sun touch the dense, wooded slopes of the Pyrenees. The gentle murmur of the Ter River accompanies every step through
From Camprodon to Montferrer Read More »
Hiking the Jaunbach Gorge near Broc: Wildly Romantic Nature and a Historic Finale A wild river forcing its way through millennia-old rock faces, spectacular wooden boardwalks right on the edge of the abyss, and a reward of a brilliant blue reservoir set against a majestic alpine backdrop: Hiking through the Jaunbach Gorge (French: Gorges de
Gorges de la Jogne – Jaunbach Gorge Read More »
From the Valley into the Realm of the Ice Giants Even the ascent with the Gornergrat Railway feels like a journey into another world. Slowly, the train chugs up from the valley, passing the sun-browned wooden chalets of the alpine village of Zermatt, which spreads out far below. Right from the very first minute, the
The Gornergrat Railway Read More »
The Awakening of the Mountain World in Val Piora The adventure begins with a gentle jolt. Beneath us, the historic Ritom Funicular rattles, and as we stand inside the red carriages, we feel the dizzying incline of up to 87.8%. Outside, the green Ticino landscape flashes past at a rapid pace while the train doggedly
The Three Lakes Hike Ritom – Tom – Cadagno Read More »
Our adventure begins in Rodi-Fiesso. Together with my wife Hania, my son Simon, my sister-in-law Basia, and her daughter Anja, I step into the small cable car that catapults us steeply upwards. As we leave the mountain station, it lies right before us: Lago Tremorgio. The deep blue water rests like a sapphire in a
From the Leventina to Val Lavizzara: Our Loop Around Pizzo del Prévat Read More »
The wind carries a dry warmth today as I step off the Blue Line at Court House. I pause for a moment, letting my gaze sweep over the distinct grid pattern of the streets. It is fascinating to think that right here, in this once semi-arid valley, Brigham Young stood in July 1847 and, with
Granite, Glass, and Pioneer Spirit: A Walk Through the Heart of Salt Lake City Read More »
It is a profound feeling to stand before the Utah State Capitol. Even from a distance, the building thrones majestically upon its hill, its massive white dome catching the sunlight and radiating softly over Salt Lake City. As I approach the main entrance, I feel the monumental power of this place. Architect Richard K.A. Kletting
Vox Populi on Capitol Hill: Where History and Legislation Converge Read More »
