Pink sands, turquoise waters: The bayou of Elafonisi is truly a beautiful beach! But: still too many tourists although it was already September (barely distance - #covid19). I'd never come here in high season. We walked for a good mile through shallow water, passing the crowds, before we found a lovely spot for our own.
Maribor (pop. 112.000) is Slovenias second largest community and a cosy city along the Drava-river, about 20 kilometers away from the Astrian border. We were here before, but never in summer. So this year we took some time to explore downtown. Like the the vintage Vinagova vinska klet: Up to 18 meters below Maribor's central Freedom Square (Trg svobode) hides the city's old wine cellar. For small money you get a guided tour of 40 minutes down there plus a wine tasting afterwards. It's 7 Euros, including three wine samples. More than worth it!
Our probably last trip for this year lead us to Sicily, Italy, to see our friends Sara and Fabian in Pedara, near Catania. Among all the fun, food and music, we shared, one opportunity came unexpected, but the more fun it was: Cruising with Fabian on his Harley Davidson trike! We drove on Mount Etna and towards the south to Syracuse and we also gave Sophia the chance to celebrate halloween. What a wonderful travel this was - thank you so much, Sara and Fabian! Hope to see you again soon, wherever it might be!
The end of our autum trip through Austria led us to Graz, capitol of Styria and Austria's second largest city. We paid a visit to the old town, climbed ap the sun-kissed Schloßberg and had a fantastic Styrian schnitzel, breaded in pumpkin seeds, in a local brewery restaurant.
Spend some marvelous hours at Lake Atter ("Attersee") in Austria. One week after the end of the season we enjoyed a quit and peaceful surrounding on our little lake tour from the villages of Attersee, via Litzlberg to Seewalchen. Ending up with a cup of cappuccino in a nearby coffee shop, wearing t-shirt and sunglasses in the surprising warm November sun. And, no: we did not go for a swim!
Although it's not an insiders' tip anymore, a trip to Loutro on the southern side of Crete is still a captivating experience. Only accessible by ferry, 30 minutes (or 6,10 Euro fee) west of Chora Sfakion, the cosy little village in the hidden bay welcomes its visitors with white house facades, turquoise sea and two small pebble beaches. Slow life here, perfect for relaxation! It was the fourth time within the last twelve years that we took a daytrip there and for sure we will come back another time one day! (13 pictures)
Not only that we had run out of our favourite wine (pinot gris, "Grauburgunder"). We also needed sun after a long dismal winter - needed it badly! So we followed the invitation of Sandra and Karl and drove back to Leutschach in Southern Austria for the Easter holidays to witness the Styrian style of celebrating Jesus' resurrection. But besides Easter bonfire, egg dyeing, consecreation of groceries ("Gott, segne die Kräuter und den Kren!" - not really translatable), lots of hiking, fantastic vistas and excellent wine tasting: above all we experienced the warmth and hospitality of our hosts, who let us forget our everyday solicitudes. Thank you so much, Sandra and Karl, Irene, Maria, Sophie, Hanna and Katja of the Pronegg-Kristeindl winery!
Just to end the hexalogy of my trip to Iceland, here are some remnants of my short visit in Reykjavík: a collection of typical front doors of Icelandic houses. More or less beautiful wooden show pieces (my favourite pic is no. 7)!
What the Opera House is for Sydney and the Elbe Philharmonic Hall will be for Hamburg, is the Harpa in Reykjavík: A modern concert hall and conference centre. A visit there is mandatory. I had the chance to see the backstage areas of that stunning building and I found its architecture more than impressive! The main hall seats between 1600 and 1800 people and is fitted out like the dark red inward of a vulcano.
