travel – Seite 11 – rene bauer photography

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.

November 19, 2023November 18, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, history, reportage, roadtrip, tradition, travelTags: balticstates, catholic, crosses, easteurope, faith, hill, hillofcrosses, history, landscape, lithuania, northerneurope, overland, pilgrim, pilgrimage, pilgrimagesite, religion, renebauerphotography, reportage, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Lithuania – Island Castle Trakai

Not far from the capital Vilnius lies the beautiful Trakai Island Castle.

It’s certainly worth a visit, despite the mass of foreign and local tourists.

After exploring the old walls from the 14th century, there are cafes to relax with a splendid view over the lake.

November 18, 2023November 18, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, reportage, roadtrip, travelTags: cafe, castle, coffee, easteurope, landscape, lithuania, overland, renebauerphotography, reportage, roadtrip, sightseeing, trakai, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Lithuania – Vilnius

Just by coincidence i found a city camp near the Republic of Uzupis, a neighborhood in Vilnius, which declared themselves independent. It suppose to be open for all people to live have happy life here. On a wall at the entrance of the community is displayed the constitution of the republic in many different languages.

A stroll trough Vilnius brought me to a few sighseeing spots in the old city, such as the cathedral with the distinct bell tower or up to the Gediminas tower for a great view over the city.

November 17, 2023November 18, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, travelTags: balticstates, belltower, capital, castle, cathedral, citytour, easteurope, gediminas, gediminastower, history, lithuania, oldcity, oldtown, overland, renebauerphotography, republicofuzupis, tower, Travel, uzupis, vilnius Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

A Rough Start To A New Road Trip

Time for traveling was limited this summer, but at least an extended road trip should bring me to a few interesting places. Going north, so was the plan!

In my mirrors i saw the sunset when i hit the road. I like night drives to cover long distances. Especially those long stretches on German Autobahn. Just filling up my diesel tank, get some strong coffee and driving into the night.

Then finally reached Poland. Not long until i crossed the bridge of Wroclaw, what felt like to enter a new section of my trip.

Crossing the bridge of Wroclaw

That new phase of my road trip wasn’t going as smooth as expected. After a break, my Land Rover, called #TinaTortuga , won’t start anymore. Not even a sound when i turned the key, just nothing.

It took five hours until a guy from the road assistance turned in. Meanwhile i found the issue. A main fuse was broken. Unfortunately i didn’t bring these kind of fuses with me, but at least i could send a message to the road assistant. So, i just had to wait and prepared myself for another night drive as the sunlight faded.

What a lovely sound to my ears, when the diesel engine of #TinaTortuga started again. I thanked the nice man who brought me the fuse, and hit the road again. There was another night on the highway with just a few hours sleep. But at the next day i crossed the border to Lithuania. Here, so i felt, finally will start my Northern Europe road trip.

listen to the characteristic sound of an Land Rover TDI 300 engine 🙂