europe – Seite 2 – rene bauer photography

Norway – Trolls at Trollstigen?

Traveling further south i had to climb up the famous pass route of Trollstigen.

Just before the climb i stopped to get some photos and took a small hike in the nearby forest. No trolls to see. But even here some tourists tried desperately to get in front of my camera.

On the top of the pass the crowd grew even bigger. Despite the rain started to pour down. I just took some pictures to collect memories, but been happy to find calmer places in the fjords again.

Unexpectedly i heard some trolls calling me on my way. They showed me a nice spot to sleep under their watch.

Dezember 4, 2023Dezember 2, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, history, landscape, nature, tinatortuga, travelTags: europe, fjord, landscape, landscapephotography, mountain, nature, northerneurope, norway, overland, pass, rain, renebauerphotography, river, scandinavia, tinatortuga, Travel, troll, trollstigen Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – Trondheim With Olavsfest

I was expecting a crowd in Trondheim, but little knew about the Olavsfest, what was held on that particular weekend. The famous Nidaros Cathedral was overrun by spectators and entry tickets were sold out for the day. But there was still a lively market place to visit.

Not far from the cathedral flows the river Nidelva, which divides the city in two parts. The old city bridge ‚Gamle Bybro‘ connects them and leads to the neighborhood Bakklandet, what’s certainly worth a visit.

After a long day strolling around, enjoying street life and drinking coffee with sweets, i was longing for a calm place again. Luckily i found a nice hike in the hilly forest just outside of the city. The gentle rain that started to fall didn’t even bother me, but it also gave me a beautiful rainbow.

Dezember 3, 2023November 30, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, landscape, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travel, urbanlifeTags: bakklandet, bridge, cafe, cathedral, church, coffee, europe, forest, gamlebybro, hiking, landscape, nature, nidaros, nidaroscathedral, nidelva, northerneurope, norway, olavsfest, oldcitybridge, overland, people, portraits, rainbow, renebauerphotography, reportage, river, scandinavia, tinatortuga, Travel, trondheim Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – Camping At Arctic Circle

Another calm night drive with the chance to see wildlife along the road, or even crossing it.

Early in the morning I crossed the Arctic Circle again. This time southbound.

Short time later the barren landscape changed to forest. I decided to look out for a quite place to camp. A small forest road brought me to an old path in the wood. This wonderful lonely spot next to a small stream was just perfect to rest for awhile.

Dezember 2, 2023November 29, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: animal, animalcrossing, arcticcircle, arcticcirclecentre, camping, europe, forest, Landrover, landroverdefender, landscape, landscapephotography, monument, nature, northerneurope, outdoor, outdoorshower, overland, reindeer, renebauerphotography, reportage, scandinavia, tinatortuga, Travel, tundra, wildcamping, wood Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – The Lofoten (Part 2)

With lots of sunshine the Lofoten was pure bliss.

Pure? Almost, if there wasn’t those dirty people using the bushes as camping toilet. It makes me angry to see how some tourists pollute the nature, while posting about the their passion for outdoor activities. I guess there will be consequences for other tourists and traveler sooner or later. I wonder how much longer wild camping will be tolerated.

Back on the road i noticed wooden frames with left overs of dry fishes. Stockfish is an important good in Norway and its export was recorded back to the medieval times. Although it’s originally not salted, i found some salt on the bottom of these frames.

There are quite a few villages. Most are suited themselves best for tourism. They’re pretty, some have also museums and other information centre. Probably most important are the restaurants and cafes settled on beautiful places.

After a couple beautiful days on the archipelagos i reached the village of Å , where i had a last hike before boarding the ferry to south at midnight.

Dezember 1, 2023November 28, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, history, humansofplanetearth, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: bridge, cafe, camping, europe, fish, fishervillages, fjord, landscape, lofoten, mountains, nature, northerneeurope, norway, overland, people, renebauerphotography, reportage, scandinavia, sea, stockfish, tourism, Travel, view, villages 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

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

Roma – A Glimpse Of Eternity

A winter day in Rome, known as the eternal city, is perfect for sightseeing. If the sun is shining and the temperatures are mild, even better.

I was surprised how quick i went trough all the entrances and security checks on the main tourist spots.

I’ll spare you all the details of the history and backgrounds, but will link the main attractions to Wikipedia for all those who seek more informations for their own trip to Rome.

For all those ones interested in some pictures, just do it my way: grab a coffee and enjoy what you’ll see:

Februar 25, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, history, reportage, roadtrip, travel, urbanlifeTags: amphitheatre, ancientrome, citylife, colosseum, eternity, europe, italy, pantheon, people, portraits, renebauerphotography, reportage, roma, romanforum, rome, sighseeing, spanishsteps, streetlife, Travel, trevifountain Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

The Vatican Museum

If in Vatican, or Rome respectively, you must go to the Vatican Museum, they said.

But be prepared for very long queue in front of the entrance, they warned me too.

Well, when i arrived there on this cold, but beautiful winter morning, there was only a few people wanting into the museum. I just could walk trough the entrance, literally.

And so i got a glimpse of all the treasures the Catholic church collected over the past centuries and the art, sculptures and paintings they got from various artists in many of the rooms and halls.

The first section i visited was the Egyptian museum. Does these even belongs here to the Vatican, i’ve been thinking. But then more and more sculptures, paintings, mosaics and huge tapestry followed on the other rooms.

The tourists been waving with their phones, tried to capture the beauty of art in their pockets. So did i, more or less. But honestly, it’s hard to get a proper picture from the huge paintings in the wall, if you can’t inhale the spirit of the hall. In this way, it was just right to forbid to make photos in the amazing and world famous „Sistine Chapel“ There are guards, who not only watch out for illegal photographers, but also remind the visitors to be silent.