Europe

Our birth continent and a continent full of history that we always enjoy exploring. We still find it surprising that you can, if you want, drive through multiple countries in a day each with their own distinct language, culture and traditions. Cheap plane tickets and relatively small distances as well as great accomodations and food make exploring Europe a breeze especially if you travel within the Schengen Area where you literally don’t notice that you enter a different country.

Map of Travels

Trips

• 
  Impressive Madeira, beautiful Lyon and beyondAugust 16, 2025
  We spend three weeks exploring Madeira and then France between Lyon and Saint Tropez with friends and family during a heat wave
• 
  Trip to Romania visiting friends in Munchen on the wayOctober 3, 2024
  Our team is split again for a couple weeks as one of us travels to Germany, Romania and Hungary to meet friends and relatives
• 
  Southern France and Tenerife, an exciting mixJuly 21, 2024
  During this trip we explore Nice and the surrounding area with one set of relatives and Tenerife with another for two quite different special experiences
• 
  Three weeks, four countries, two very tired peopleSeptember 24, 2023
  Milan, Prague, Switzerland and a dash of Romania made for a tiring but exhilaring Europe romp
• 
  Unexpected and sad trip to RomaniaAugust 12, 2023
  This one week trip to Romania was unexpected and for a sad reason due to a death in the family so we didn’t really do or expect to do any tourist stuff
• 
  Two weeks in Cyprus and WalesMay 8, 2023
  Two week trip split between a longer exploration in Cyprus and a shorter expedition through Wales
• 
  Three weeks visiting Estonia, Latvia, Hungary and RomaniaSeptember 23, 2022
  Three weeks visiting two of the Baltic countries, seeing bears and then sightseeing through Hungary and Romania while visiting with family
• 
  Our first Covid trip to Romania (and Turkey)September 20, 2021
  On our first trip back to Romania during Covid we explore Dobrogea after being quarantined for a few days and then spend a couple of fun filled days in Istanbul
• 
  Trip to the Arctic Circle in FinlandJuly 22, 2012
  We meet in Finland with relatives to enjoy cooler weather see magnificent castles and cities enjoy nature and of course cross the Arctic Circle
• 
  Solo trip to Germany and RomaniaMay 25, 2012
  This trip is more to visit with friends and family with most touristy stuff done around the historic Nuremberg city in Germany
• 
  Grand Tour de France with a bit of Morocco and MonacoOctober 16, 2011
  A grand tour of Southern France starting and ending in Paris with a couple sidetrips to Marrakesh and Monaco
• 
  Last evening in France and ParisOctober 15, 2011
  In the afternoon we walk from the Catacombs area towards the Seine passing imposing buildings and green gardens like Luxembourg Garden
• 
  The unsettling and worthwhile Catacombs of ParisOctober 15, 2011
  The major stop for the day for us is the Catacombs of Paris a really worthwhile stop even though difficult to get into
• 
  Arc de Triomphe to Eiffel TowerOctober 15, 2011
  In the morning we start with a walk from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tour on Champs Elysees sightseeing along the way
• 
  Medieval Avallon, last stop outside ParisOctober 14, 2011
  Last stop for the day is Avallon a small historic town with some interesting sights
• 
  The famous Fontenay AbbeyOctober 14, 2011
  The second stop of the day is at famous Fontenay Abbey an Unesco WHS and the oldest preserved Cistercian Abbey in the world
• 
  Beaune, a historical townOctober 14, 2011
  We spend the morning visiting the major attraction in Beaune the Hospices de Beaune a beautiful hospital founded in 1443
• 
  Chambery, the historical capital of SavoyOctober 13, 2011
  We end our day in Chambery the historical capital of Savoy where we spend an hour exploring before making our way to Beaune for the night
• 
  Through the Alps towards ChamberyOctober 13, 2011
  From Briancon it is a long and windy drive through the Alps to Chambery passing through mountain passes and tunnels along the way
• 
  Briançon, the Vauban fortified cityOctober 13, 2011
  We spend the morning exploring Briançon the highest city in France and an area fortified by Vauban against Austrian attack
• 
  On the highest through road in Europe over Col de la BonetteOctober 12, 2011
  We spend the afternoon in the high alpine Alps passing through Col de la Bonette on the highest through road in Europe
• 
  In the mountains around Saint-Martin-VésubieOctober 12, 2011
  In the morning we hike and explore the area around Saint-Martin-Vésubie part of the Mercantour National Park
• 
  Dinner and a drive through MonacoOctober 11, 2011
  Today we add one more country to our list, Monaco, but it is a very cursory visit before we turn north towards the Alps
• 
  The Enchanting Village of EzeOctober 11, 2011
  We arrive late in Eze and have less than one hour to explore the enchanting village and wander around the beautiful alleys
• 
  Hiking and sightseeing the Verdon GorgeOctober 11, 2011
  Today it is time to turn east passing through the beautiful Verdon Gorge where we hike and sightsee on the way to Monaco
• 
  Roquefavour aqueduct, are we seeing double?October 7, 2011
  Last stop in France is at Roquefavour aqueduct inspired by the ancient Pont du Gard that we have seen the previous day
• 
  Historic CabriesOctober 7, 2011
  We start the day with an exploration of Cabries a small historic village near our accomodation
• 
  Pont du Gard, a magnificent aqueductOctober 6, 2011
  Last stop for today is at Pont du Gard the tallest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and one of the best preserved
• 
  Arles, the former major Roman townOctober 6, 2011
  Out of the Camargue we stop in Arles a Unesco WHS given its extensive Roman ruins and importance
• 
  In Camargue looking for flamingoes and horsesOctober 6, 2011
  Next we explore the Camargue and extensive protected area looking for flamingoes and the famous Camargue horses
• 
  The dead waters of Aigues MortesOctober 6, 2011
  We start our day with Aigues Mortes the previously important city that history seemingly forgot
• 
  Beautiful Saint Cirq LapopieOctober 5, 2011
  Last stop of the day is Saint Cirq Lapopie a famous village considered to be the most beautiful in France
• 
  Grotte du Grand Roc and other closed cavesOctober 5, 2011
  We explore the cave region of Dordogne for a few more hours but with everything closed we decide to move on
• 
  Font de Gaume cave after a night at Domaine de la RhonieOctober 5, 2011
  Leaving picturesque Domaine de la Rhonie we are almost the first in line at Font de Gaume snatching some highly coveted tickets to visit the prehistoric cave
• 
  Chenonceau Castle, the water castleOctober 4, 2011
  Last of the Loire castles we visit is Chenonceau castle a beautiful castle built to span over the Le Cher river
• 
  Amboise, home of Clos Luce CastleOctober 4, 2011
  Amboise is home to both the Amboise Castle and Clos Luce a castle that hosted Da Vinci until his death
• 
  Blois, a short stop in the evening to see the castleOctober 3, 2011
  In the evening we make a short stop in Blois to see the castle and also buy some provisions for the next day
• 
  Chambord Castle, a dreamy “hunting lodge”October 3, 2011
  Chambord Castle is the largest and probably the most recognizable in the Loire Valley and is the first we stop at during our trip
• 
  Chartres Cathedral, an imposing buildingOctober 3, 2011
  We start our first day outside of Paris with a vist to Chartres Cathedral, an Unesco WHS
• 
  Half day in Paris to start our tripOctober 2, 2011
  Half day in Paris exploring the area near Ile de France before starting on our tour
• 
  One week in ClujAugust 15, 2011
  One week extension of our Ireland trip to visit family in Cluj, Romania
• 
  Ireland ExplorationAugust 13, 2011
  One week trip to Ireland making a grand tour of the Republic of Ireland with one day in Northern Ireland.