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 😉
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 aboutRiga, 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.
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.
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 🙂
After a long drive trough the Negev desert along the Jordan border, the road ends in Eilat at the Red Sea.
It appears as holiday destination like so many others on this world. Israeli and tourists all over the world coming here for some relaxing days, parties or a foodie weekend at the sea.
There’s not much more than the beaches in front of big hotels, food courts and bars. The landscape around is stunning tho. If you get on an elevated point you can overlook the Red Sea and its riparian states, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. All within a coastline of approximately 35 km.
Very calm and quite lies the Sea of Galilee in front of me. To my surprise i was almost alone on the shore and enjoyed the calm atmosphere here.
The village Capernaum was already mentioned in the bible and supposed to be a place where Jesus lived and thaught his disciples. Here you could imagine, how he went out with them in a fisher boat, and eventually even walked on water. It was enough for me to walk on the pier, but started to consider to hike the gospel trail, which starts in Nazareth and ends here in Capernaum.
But not this time. Then a few kilometer further south i reached Tabgha with the church of multiplication, also known as the church of ‚the loaves and fish‘. That’s the place where Jesus supposed to feed the crowd of 5000 people by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fishes.
The amount of busses all around this church let me think they try this wonder again by gathering 5000 tourist here. Groups after groups arriving, squeezing themselves trough the entrance, praying, singing …and making selfies.
But then a wonder happened indeed. Suddenly I found myself alone in that relatively small church. While i still could hear some rustling murmurs from outside, i enjoyed the calmness for a few minutes inside the cool church.
My last stop at the lake was in Tiberias with his rich history. Nowadays a holiday spot and resting place for pilgrims. Along the lake promenade are cafes, shops and guys shouting out for a short boat trip on the holy Sea of Galilee.
So many times i passed Milano, the big, fashionable city of the North of Italy, but never stopped by here. Till now.At least getting a glimpse of the city, i thought. But why i come in the cold autumn, i asked myself after a cold night looking into a misty, cold morning.
First comes first. A real cappuccino with marmalade filled croissant in a typically Italian coffee bar. What a delight. Although this has not lifted my mood for a city walk, i have to admit.
But since i’m here anyway, i approached the famous Cathedral of Milano. At its wall i discovered a relief with the scene of the expulsion from paradise. Paradise, as i would define it, a bright, peaceful place with enough space and food for everyone, and warmth. Instead i found myself between huge pillars in a gloomy dark and cold room.People scurry by, whispers floating in the air, swallowed by the flickering candlelight and incredulous prayers are sent to the unreachable dome.Only the beautifully windows brings some bright colors into that dark mystic room and tells some stories of hope and light.
Talking about places of worship, there's this huge 'Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II'. A palace of consumption, excess and decadence. Just next to the catholic cathedral, also equipped with a huge dome, people flock in to get lost in shopping. Those who don't believe in their prayers for luck only, has the change to get some more luck by placing their heels on the balls of a bull figure on the floor and turn themselves three times around. My walk lead me to the famous 'Teatro alla Scala'. There i passed the statue of Leonardo, certainly one of the most famous person of all times. Finally i reached 'Castello', but didn't visit it, took some time in the big park behind it, where joggers run between trees and lovers meet up at the bridge, where they hope to lock their love at the rail.I need a break, i decided, and rattled towards my camp by public transport...
Many times I hear or read people saying, it feels like coming home, when they turn back to a favorite holiday destination of them. In my ears, it sounded often pathetic and unreal. But arriving at farm of my beloved friends, meeting all family members and seeing my Land Rover again comes this feeling very close. It’s not exaggerating to call my Land Rover my home, since it’s not only my travel car, but also my house on wheels for many months every year.
This time was a long waiting to get back, due the pandemic situation. Finally I landed in Johannesburg, had to spend a night in the city, but caught the first bus in the morning to the province of Limpopo. There was a warmly welcome by my friends and family, and much to talk about. Only one person was really missed, the head of family passed away, caught by that spreading disease and leaves a big void. The good memories remains and despite the difficulties, there shouldn’t be untried to collect more. In such a warmhearted family I have no doubt of it.
There it stands. My Land Rover is parked under a roof just next to the farmhouse. One of my friends was so friendly to replace the broken starter battery, and so it starts with the first try. A new journey can begin, actually. But first I want give my travel car a proper service and maintenance.
And despite my refuse over all these years, i consider again to give my Land Rover finally a name. I carry already a name for it with me since many years actually.
What are you guys thinking? Does it deserve a name?
Any recommendations?
Please give me your opinions in the comments below 🙂
Should my Land Rover get a name? Yes or No? Recommendations in the comments please 😉
rene bauer photography 