November 2023 – rene bauer photography

Norway – The Lofoten (Part 1)

The very famous Lofoten belongs to the best known region of Norway.

As beautiful the landscape is, in summer saison it’s overrun with tourists. All the visitors want enjoy the fjords with crystal blue water, hiking the many peaks or just relax by a good meal or refreshing coffee along the route.

Once i’m here as a tourist myself, i gonna take a hike too, i was thinking. But it wasn’t easy to find even a free parking lot near a hiking spot. The more famous hiking routes i had to skip because of that. Eventually i found a less popular hiking path on a top of a mountain. Surprisingly few wanderer on the route. Maybe they were scarred of the steep slope, especially at the top. But it was definitely worth to stand on the peak with its breathtaking view.

November 30, 2023November 28, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: landscape, nature, roadtrip, travelTags: beach, fishervillage, fjord, hike, hiking, landscape, landscapephotography, lofoten, mountains, nature, northerneurope, norway, overland, peak, people, renebauerphotography, scandinavia, sunset, trail, Travel, Village Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – Island Senja

Friends told me not to miss the island Senja. And they were right!

Typically Norway weather with quick changes from sunshine to rain and dropping temperatures also. The landscape however was stunning. In every weather situation. Especially at the cooler morning when the mist is floating around the mountains or falling from the cliffs.

I also had a hike on smaller mountain peak or a stroll along a beach. But not boring longer with words, let’s show some pictorial impressions.

November 29, 2023November 22, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, flower, landscape, nature, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: beach, ferry, fjord, flower, fog, hike, island, islandsenja, landscape, landscapephotography, lighthouse, mist, mountain, nature, northerneurope, norway, overland, people, renebauerphotography, reportage, scandinavia, sea, senja, ship, sunset, tinatortuga, Travel, tunnel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – From Alta To Tromsø

Alta is not only a pleasant town in northern Norway, but also has some prehistoric rock carvings to offer. A nice walk at the shore lead me to impressive prehistoric art. But before i was visiting the Alta Museum for more information about the history on this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After the endless ways inland in the past days, i enjoyed the roads along the fjords very much. Many times i felt to stop for the view or having a coffee break in a breathtaking landscape. So i arrived Tromsø too late for visiting any museum or the famous Arctic Cathedral. However, there was enough light to stroll trough the town and get an impression before leaving for the fjords again.

November 28, 2023November 22, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, tradition, travel, urbanlifeTags: alta, arcticcathedral, fjord, history, landscape, museum, nature, northerneurope, norway, overland, people, prehistoric, renebauerphotography, reportage, rockcarving, scandinavia, tinatortuga, Travel, tromso, unesco, worldheritagesite Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – The Northern Cape

Another long drive trough beautiful landscape of northern Norway. Even the sun comes out for awhile, just when i was on a hike at Silfar Canyon. Another traveler approached me for a chat. So we went together along the the canyon, shared travel stories and enjoyed the nature around.

Due maintenance the North Cape Tunnel was closed for a couple hours. This roughly 6.9 kilometer long tunnel dives 212 meter underneath the sea and connect the mainland with the island Mageroya.

Just to make it clear: The North Cape is not the most northern spot, neither from mainland Europe (what is at Sletness Fyr), nor from Europe as in general (what is on Svalbard ). It’s simply the most northern point one can reach on road from mainland Europe. When i arrived there unfortunately strong winds brought dense fog too. With that the midnight sun was hidden behind clouds. Just for a minute there was some sun rays pushing through the thick mist, slittering over the surface of the Barents Sea and reached the foot of the cliffs.

A nice surprise to meet my old traveler friend Paolo, who i met before in Africa. He’s traveling for years around the world with his motorcycle. There’s a lot to catch up, and so we spent hours in the cold to share stories.

November 27, 2023November 21, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: barentssea, canyon, fishfarm, friends, island, landscape, mageroya, midnightsun, nature, northcape, northcapetunnel, northerneurope, norway, overland, people, reindeer, renebauerphotography, river, roadtrip, sea, silfarcanyon, tinatortuga, Travel, tunnel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – Most Northern Point Of Europe

Who was expecting to see now the famous North Cape will be disappointed, because I was talking about the most northern point on mainland Europe. And this is in fact at the lighthouse Sletness Fyr, which also is the northernmost mainland lighthouse on Earth!

It’s situated outside the small fisher village Gamvik. What is now a fairly busy tourist region, the village was only accessible by boat until they build a road in the 1980’s. But nowadays it’s a long, but easy drive trough stunning, barren landscape. Especially in summer time, when i was traveling there. To my surprise my weather app told me, the sun still won’t set for the next few days up there, and this was end of July. No hurry to find a place for overnight, since there won’t be a ’night‘ anyway.

Once reached the town, i found also an abandoned fortification from World War II. This region near the Russian border had a strategical importance. From there it was only a couple kilometers to get to the lighthouse, and get a coffee at the busy, but cosy restaurant.

A walk along the windy coast brought me finally to the most northern point of mainland Europe, since the Northern Cape is actually on a island, but read more about it in my next post.

November 26, 2023November 21, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travel, UncategorizedTags: europe, gamvik, landscape, landscapephotography, nature, northerneurope, norway, overland, renebauerphotography, reportage, scandinavia, sletness, sletnessfyr, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Finland – Lapland – Rovaniemi

Long way up north. The weather wasn’t really welcoming, but this way I just cruised across Finland from south up to Rovaniemi.

The Arktikum in Rovaniemi is a museum which explains life and culture on the arctic circle in a interesting and wonderful way. One shouldn’t miss it when up here.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Santa Claus Village just bit north of the town. It’s a tourist trap, no question about that. Next to restaurants, hotel and souvenir shop, there’s also to meet Santa Claus himself. ‚Free Entrance!‘ a sign told me. I found it ridiculous to queue up for a photo with the white bearded, old man in red dress. So I skipped the line and went straight to the souvenir shop, located just after the room where Santa Claus awaited his visitors. There, the young cashier explained me, I wouldn’t be allowed to make a selfie with him anyway, but could buy a photo from the shop, starting prices from €30.

I stepped out from Santa Claus house, passed the famous Santa Claus Post Office and just stepped over the line of the Arctic Circle. Finally i made it to the ‚real north‘!

And with this i made it definitely also to Lapland, the land of reindeers. Along the way i spotted some of these majestic, but shy animals. Still mid-summer, the long daylight allowed me to drive till late, stopping for observing some reindeers and to cook a midnight meal before finally get some rest.

November 25, 2023November 19, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: animal, culture, europe, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: arctic, arcticcircle, arktikum, culture, europe, finland, forest, lake, landscape, landscapephotography, lapland, museum, nature, northerneurope, overland, people, reindeer, renebauerphotography, reportage, rovaniemi, santaclaus, santaclausvillage, tinatortuga, Travel, wilderness, wildlife, wildlifephotography, woods Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Finland – Lahti And Kangasniemi

It’s a short ferry ride from Tallinn to Helsinki. Just after i was experiences the vast land of Finland with its endless forests. Also the dusk seemed already endless, but i found a quite spot next to an idyllic lake for a short sleep.

Next day i stood under the mighty pillars of the ski jump of Lahti. To my surprise it was possible to get up to the top. The view over the lakes and forests was stunning.

My first real stop was in Kangasniemi, a small town surrounded by even more forests and lakes. I planned a few quite days resting on the campsite here. The arrival of roughly ninety (!) students from Helsinki on their holiday seemed to threaten my plans. After all, they behaved surprisingly calm, I even got into some nice chats sometimes. I decided to like Finland 😉

November 24, 2023November 19, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travel, waterTags: boat, europe, ferry, finland, forest, kangasniemi, lahti, lake, landscape, landscapephotography, nature, northerneurope, overland, people, renebauerphotography, reportage, roadtrip, rowingboat, scandinavia, Travel, woods Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Estonia – Tallinn

On my way north i had also a brief visit of the Estonian capital Tallinn.

Just see some impressions i got from here…

November 23, 2023November 19, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, history, humansofplanetearth, portrait, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, tradition, travel, urbanlifeTags: balticstates, bordercrossing, cafe, capital, cappuccino, castle, cathedral, church, city, citywalk, easteurope, estonia, hill, marketplace, northerneurope, oldtown, overland, people, portraits, renebauerphotography, reportage, stroll, tinatortuga, tourist, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum

Settled in a big forest just outside of Riga is the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum.

It supposed to be one of the oldest and biggest in the world and held typically buildings and cultural goods from all part of the country.

Beside gathering knowledge and many interesting facts about Latvia and its culture, it’s also a beautiful walk in the woods, what was very welcome after the days in the hustling city.

November 22, 2023November 19, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, roadtrip, tradition, travel, urbanlifeTags: balticstates, building, church, culture, easteurope, ethnographic, farmhouse, forest, handicraft, landscape, latvia, nature, northerneurope, openairmuseum, overland, people, portraits, renebauerphotography, reportage, riga, tradition, Travel, windmill, wood, woodenhouse Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Latvia – Riga

I played tourist in Riga.

Just strolling trough the old town, looked at historical building, visited churches and parks and learned a bit from its history.

Not going to bore you with many details about Riga, what you could find in a better way online, but post some impressions on my walk trough the city, before i found a quite place for the night just at the bank of the river Daugava.