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From Alpine Meadow in 1938/39 to One of The Best Family Ski Areas in 2018/19: 80 Years Alpi di Siusi / Seiser Alm / Mont Séuc - Van Alpine Meadow in 1938/39 naar Één van de Beste Familie Skigebieden in 2018/19: 80 jaar Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm / Mont Séuc Photo credit: Seiseralm.it Between the rough and majestic Dolomite Mountains (UNESCO World Heritage) lies Europe’s biggest mountain pasture called: Seiser Alm /Alpe di Siusi and if you really want to do it right call it with its Ladinisch name Mont Séuc,  and is located near Bolzano in South Tyrol, in the North of Italy. The mountain pasture covers an area of 57 km² and lies at an altitude of 1680m to 2350m.  Together with the Schlern mountain it is part of the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park. This winter it celebrates it’s 80th birthday as the first sledge ski-lift was build in 1938/39 named “Slittovia Joch-Panorama”. Photo credit: seiseralm.it -  Slittovia Joch-Panorama ...

It always seems impossible until it's done.  In memory of a great man. - Het lijkt altijd onmogelijk totdat het klaar is. Ter nagedachtenis van een groot man. Nelson Mandela Day Today, July 18, 2018, 100 years ago a small boy was born named Rolihlahla Dalibhunga. This little African boy became a great man named Nelson Mandela and died on December 5, 2013. Nelson Mandela  was a South African anti-apartheid warrior and politician. In a nutshell: From 1944 Mandela was involved in the fight of the African National Congress (ANC) against the apartheid regime in South Africa. As leader of the military branch of the ANC he was arrested in 1963 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. From 1964-1982 Mandela was imprisoned on  Robben Island . After 27 years of imprisonment, he was released in 1990 by order of Premier F.W. de Klerk and the ANC became legalized. Together with President F.W. de Klerk, Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 ...

Grossglockner High Mountain Road. Fascinating with a Capital F! - Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße. Fascinerend met een Hoofdletter F! Leftside Grossglockner still hiding in the clouds and the Pasterze Glacier I myself and many others use the expression: “The Mountains Are Calling So I Must go”,  from John Muir. Besides the Dolomites, I think the Grossglockner with its height of 3.798m and surrounding fits this expression as-well. A 48 km long scenic drive deep into the Hohe Tauern National Park An area that never bores and you always have lack of time, if you spend here 3 hours or a whole day there is always something you have missed or overlooked as every time the view is different. During my latest trip, the night before crossing this high mountain road, I stayed in Heiligenblut.  My room had view on his majesty himself and waking up with such a view is magnificent. The weather was predicted to be nice so top of the car down and ready to enjoy the day.  View from my room ...

Hans-Frieden-Weg & Unterstell - Pichhof: Both part of the 100km long Meraner Höhenweg - Hans-Frieden-Weg & Unterstell – Pichhof: Beide onderdeel van de 100km lange Meraner Höhenweg Naturpark Texelgruppe During my European trip I hiked 2 parts of the  Meraner Höhenweg  (More details below). Information on the Meraner Höhenweg The Meraner Höhenweg is one of the most beautiful hiking loops in the Alpine region. The road marked No. 24 was created by AVS (Alpenverein Südtirol) mountain guides and opened in 1985. In five to eight day stages, experienced and tread-resistant mountain hikers walk nearly 100 kilometers past the Texelgroup Nature Park, accompanied by views of the mountain landscape of the Merano / Meran country, the Vinschgau and on clear days views of the Dolomites and the Ortler Massif. The numerous entrances and exits of the Meraner Höhenweg make it possible to start the walk at different places or to descend to the valley. The access po...

The Mountains are Calling & I Must Go.  John Muir protector of Nature in the Sierra Nevada, California - John Muir Beschermer van de Natuur in the Sierra Nevada, Californië John Muir, Protector of the Sierra Nevada / Photo Wikipedia Tomorrow 21 April 1838,  180 years ago, a man with a heart for nature was born and due to this special man we are able to visit  Yosemite National Park  &  Sequoia National Park . Those who have been to California have heard the name of this special man, maybe because you have visited John Muir Wilderness or Muir Woods National Monument. Being only a part of the full quote: “The mountains are calling & I must go & I will work on while I can, studying incessantly”, many know John Muir for the expression: “The Mountains are Calling & I Must go” Many, from all over the world, have used this quote to expresses their love for wilderness . Yosemite Valley seen from Tunnel View...

The Netherlands, A Tiny Country Rich in Castles - Nederland, Een Kikkerlandje Rijk aan Kastelen The Netherlands is a small country, has many inhabitants and we do often speak before we think, but what the Netherlands also has is a lot of history and many castles. And yesterday I was able to get acquainted with one of those castles during my bike ride. One of the most beautiful castles in the Netherlands:  Het Muiderslot The castle was built at the entrance of the river Vecht in the Zuiderzee, where nowadays the IJmeer lies. Immediately at the castle lies Muiden with its harbor. Little is known about the very beginning of the castle and it is suspected that the spot where this large square water castle was built, has been a toll booth where tolls were levied on ships that made use of the waterway that connects Amsterdam to the east of the Netherlands. . The history of Castle Muiderslot goes back to the end of the 13th century. The castle is a...

Donjon Den Ham: An Iconic Landmark - Woontoren Den Ham: Een Iconisch Orientatiepunt. For years I cycle through Vleuten and I see the Hamtoren but due to the new bike path you see the Hamtoren in a different and more impressive way. The Hamtoren is the remainder and I can say an impressive remainder of  Castle Den Ham in Vleuten in the Province of Utrecht. In the Province of Utrecht there are many  Ridderhofsteden as they where called in the past.  (See  my blog  about Kasteel Loenersloot and the explanation of Ridderhofsteden). It is mentioned for the first time in 1325 and it is assumed that it was built around 1260 as a residential tower (donjon) and in the following centuries wings were built, until there was a castle with an area, about six times larger was the current Hamtoren. A pen drawing from J. de Beijer: Castle Den Ham around 1750 It was strategically chosen at an inlet of the old Rijnloop because it was better defens...