Kaskögerlweg Volcano Walk, Styria It looks like a giant camel far off in the distance, the two matching humps over 40km away but still clearly visible from any number of elevated points around here. I’ve grown used to being surrounded by the Alps, but I hadn’t realised that those twin peaks, the Gleichenberg volcanoes, are the centre of a large volcanic region known as Vulkanland in south-eastern Styria. I certainly had no objection to setting off to explore the area…
Egg Hunt in Styria I’ve never thought of the Oldies as eggheads, but they certainly have eggs on the brain at the moment. With Easter just round the corner, they’ve started an egg hunt with a difference. They’ve been seeking out places with egg in the name. It’s not the most egg-citing activity I can think of (sorry, couldn’t help that one), but I don’t mind. At least it gets me out and about again, even if it is a…
Vogelbeer Panoramaweg Nature Walk The hills are alive with the sound of … footsteps, chatter, picnics being unpacked, neighbours hailing each other in greeting. Yes, it was that time of the year again when Austrians escape the fog down in the valleys and head for the hills in search of winter sunshine. I don’t know if it is anything to do with the covid situation, but I don’t think I’d ever seen so many walkers out, especially mid-week. There certainly…
Terceira Island Crater Walk The day started out cloudy and unpromising. I think the Oldies knew themselves that they were being overly optimistic, setting off to drive up to the top of Serra de Santa Barbara which, at 1021m, is the highest point on Terceira. ‘Ah well, the weather’s so changeable, it’ll probably be gorgeous by the time we get thereʹ they said. Half an hour later, we were sitting in the car on the summit, in impenetrable cloud and…
Visiting Fajãs on São Jorge, Azores São Jorge Island is full of them. Fajãs – small plains of land around the coastline that were formed by debris from either rock falls, landslides or volcanic eruptions. For piles of debris, they sure are pretty. The first one we visited is perhaps the best known, Fajã do Ouvidor. The road down was seriously steep. When His Lordship, an Austrian, says it’s steep, believe me it is steep. But it was well worth…