europe – Seite 3 – rene bauer photography

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 – 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.

November 21, 2023November 19, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, food, gastronomy, history, landscape, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travel, urbanlifeTags: balticstates, buildings, cafe, camping, cathedral, church, coffee, coffeetime, daugava, easteurope, historical, history, Landrover, landroverdefender, latvia, market, markethall, northerneurope, oldtown, overland, parks, people, rainbow, renebauerphotography, reportage, riga, river, roadtrip, skyline, sunset, tinatortuga, tram, Travel, urbanlife, vanlife, ww2 Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Along The Coast From Lithuania to Latvia

Just cruising trough the beautiful countryside on minor roads, stopping by some unknown landmarks, watching the local sunbather at the crowded beach or listen to their nightly party music on a picnic spot next to a lake on a weekend.

The Baltic people love the outdoors. They spend the weekends out camping, enjoying fishing at the lake or just chilling at the sea. That’s why there are easily to find picnic spots in beautiful surrounding for a overnight stay including a refreshing dip in the lake after a day driving.

November 20, 2023November 19, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, humansofplanetearth, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: balticstates, beach, bordercrossing, camping, coast, europe, jurkalne, klaipeda, lake, landcape, Landrover, landroverdefender, latvia, lithuania, nature, northerneurope, overland, people, renebauerphotography, reportage, roadtrip, sea, tinatortuga, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Lithuania – Hill of Crosses

It’s a catholic pilgrimage site, not known by certain when or by whom it started.

What is believed is in the 19th century people started bringing crosses to the site of a former hill fort. Probably in memory of perished rebels, who fight against the Russian Empire.

This hill, now know as Hill of Crosses has estimated more than 100’000 crosses, rosaries and statues, brought from all over the world.