Stavanger: The Convergence of Art and Nature's Beauty

It has been a really long time since I've written a post, and I have a lot of catching up to do!  However, I wanted to start with my most recent trip, because it truly struck me as a place that no matter what the weather, has something for everybody: Stavanger, Norway.  I always wanted to see fjords, and that was my purpose.

The few days before I went to Stavanger, I spent my time obsessing over the weather.  I truly wanted to hike to Preikestolen, and wanted the perfect weather day for the perfect photos.  Of course, the weather had other plans for me, with a weather system causing intermittent rain for the entirety of my trip, but that's just skipping ahead in the story.

Upon arriving in Stavanger, I was initially struck by how picturesque this artsy Norwegian town was. With an adorable old town, full of beautifully manicured gardens, to the street art that decorates the little nooks and crannies of the town.  Who knew that this small town was known for its street art?  I certainly didn't; much less that it is know for its annual Nuart Festival.  I swear, every time I walked through town I found a new bit of street art that never failed to make me smile.  This was probably one of my favorite parts about Stavanger, because every walk brought a little something new, even if it was the same route.

Natural Flair:

In addition to Stavanger's artistic flair, it also has some of the most beautiful landscape I've ever seen!  And, even though the weather wasn't cooperating, I still decided to head out and hike to Preikestolen.  As the Norwegian's say "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing."  Thinking I was prepared, I set off.  I decided not to rent a car, because there is robust public transit to the trail head.  For a mere $40, I took ferry from Stavanger to Tau and then a bus straight to the trail head. 

The weather appeared to be cooperating as I begun the hike, with only some heavy cloud cover. I had read it is a challenging hike, so I made sure to pace myself. The trail itself is well-maintained and well-marked, and mildly challenging.  There are several steep uphill portions; however, they weren't insurmountable.  While not insurmountable, they did require a certain amount of stopping to remove the copious amount of layers I came equipped with.  When I came to the top of Preikestolen, I was awestruck.  The fjord simply opened up, and even with the abundant amount of clouds, the majestic landscape demanded that you stare off and admire it.  The approximately 1 hour I spent on the top of Preikestolen was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had.  The weather changed so frequently.  It would go from heavy cloud cover, to having some patchy areas of sunshine, to having heavy fog, to drizzingly rain, to heavy rain, to hail (yes, yes, hail), to thunderstorms (eek) and everything in between.  It was truly fascinating.  But, let's be honest, as soon as the lightning persisted (and I was soaked to the bone), I began my descent.

The next day, I decided to take a Fjord Cruise to see where I hiked from fjord level.  And, wow!  Boy, I didn't realize how high I was.  Maybe it's because I never really looked down, only out into the fjord, or because the fog that was rolling in and out distorted how high I actually felt.  Whatever the reason, I'm happy for it, because it was absolutely insanely high (and I probably would've never put my legs over that ledge for the amazing photos I had taken).  I also highly recommend the fjord cruise, even if you do the Preikestolen hike, because it's definitely a different perspective of the fjords, and worth every penny.  I would say, if you are going to hike to Preikestolen, and are afraid of heights, I would recommend doing the fjord cruise AFTER your hike (hahaha).

Stavanger taught me a valuable lesson that will stay with me throughout my travels: there is no bad weather, just bad clothing.  Despite intermittent rain and nearly constant cloud cover, I had a fantastic time.  And I also probably took some of the coolest photos, because there weren't as many people packing the trails or the boats as there would've been on perfectly clear blue skies.  So, thank you clouds, thank you rain, and thank you Norway for being absolutely gorgeous.

Beer, Beauty, and Culture - Wonders of Latvia

Before living in Europe, I did not have a lot of interest in visiting the Baltic states (Mostly because I knew very little about them).  Living in such close proximity gives me such a wonderful opportunity to visit and experience places that I never thought I would, and find out how much I adore them.  Latvia is one of those unexpected joys that I have encountered during my time here.  I coupled my trip to Latvia with a trip to Lithuania; however, I'm going discuss them in separate blog entries, because they are so entirely different.

City Life:
I started my trip in Latvia's capital, Riga, and I'm so glad I did. The people
of Riga are so kind, considerate, and fun. The town has such a great vibe!  The last time I went to a city where I felt so welcome and enjoyed the vibe so much, I was in Brussels almost 10 years ago.

Famished from an early morning flight, where I didn't get breakfast, I went straight to get a bite to eat, and stumbled upon the wonderful bar Easy Beer.  The food was great (gastropub-type, not traditional Latvian), but it had an amazing selection of beer from the area.  The coolest part was that you could dispense your own beer! It was a neat concept, and a must-visit for any beer lover.

After lunch, it was time for sightseeing!  I only allotted myself one day for sightseeing in Riga, and I wish I had more!  The city has some of the most beautiful architecture and the city's Central Market is truly a treat for all of the senses--beautiful fruits and vegetables with the delicious smells of the stalls around.  Even though I had just had lunch, I couldn't turn down the delicious smelling freshly made donuts.  All of the cathedrals are simply exquisite, my favorite being the Nativity Cathedral.  Of course, you must also see the famous Riga Cat.

Nature's Beauty:
Even though it rained for most of my time in Latvia, I didn't miss the opportunity to get outside and see the landscape.

My first stop was Ragakāpa Nature Preserve.  Situated along the coast of the Gulf of Riga, it was truly a uniquely beautiful landscape. The dunes and gulf were picturesque sandy beaches; however, in order to get to those sandy beaches, you first had to traverse through a thick, Tolkien-esque forest filled with beautiful trees and extraordinary mushrooms, truly fit for a Hobbit.  There was even an abandon structured--though not quite as inviting as a Hobbit hole.

The rain let up just long enough for a visit to Venta Rapid in Kuldīga.  Firstly, Kuldīga alone is exquisite.  Kuldīga is cute little town situated along the Venta River with so much character, and I'm sure during the summer is a bustling place.  In the autumn, it's quiet and serene, and provides a different sense of excitement.  Venta Rapid is the widest waterfall in Europe, though it might also be the shortest.  I imagine in the summer it's bustling with people, but in the autumn, there are only people walking along the river banks, hoping to catch a glimpse of fish jumping out of the rapid on their trip downstream.  I was lucky to see a few of those such fishes on their journey--truly extraordinary.

But, time was of the essence--It was time to depart for my last stop on my Latvian whirlwind adventure. My final stop is also probably most popular in the summer, Liepāja.  Liepāja is normally a place people visit for the beaches, but I was visiting for a different reason. With the wind howling all around ferociously, my hands shook as I tried to take photos of the Liepāja's Northern Forts.  The Northern Forts were part of the fortifications surrounding Liepāja that were built by Russia in 1890, at the time, they were built to protect from Germany.  A few years later, Germany and Russia signed a friendship agreement, and the fortifications were seen as unnecessary and needed to be destroyed.  These are the remnants of those fortifications.  I rounded my evening out with a wonderful seafood meal including Liepāja's specialty: Liepājas Mencini--a delicious, creamy smoked cod stew--a must-try if you're in the area!

I loved every moment I spent in Latvia; it had a little bit of everything!  I wish I had more time to spend there--maybe I'll just have to go back!

A Whirlwind Tour of Greece

While I was young, I was taught all about Greek history and Greek mythology.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would get the opportunity to visit the land that I read of so many times (which also happens to be the land of feta....oh all the feta), yet in March 2017, I did just that.

(Please take a moment to admire the feta and the delicious salad I had for lunch one day)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, if you guys haven't noticed, my trips all tend to have a similar them: being outside.  I love being outside, and Greece truly lends itself to that.  I had three major stops on my 5-day whirlwind Greek tour: Meteora (1), Delphi (2), and Santorini (4), with a brief stint in Athens (3).  As you can see by the map, I covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time, and each part of my trip was special.

My first stop, Meteora, was quite possibly the most memorable.  For the first time in a long time, I did a guided hike, and as you walk with your guide, these tall rocks begin to encapsulate all you can see. Hilariously, our guide kept talking to us about Wild Boar tracks and how delicious Boar is, and before I knew it, it felt like we were surrounded by these massive rock pillars.  Meteora literally means "suspended in air," and one can see how through dense fog these beautiful pillars might seem as though they were quite literally suspended in air.  However, on this day, the sky was bright blue with the sun smiling kindly upon us, allowing us to enjoy every aspect of the landscape.  It's not long before the first monastery comes into view--these monasteries for which Meteora is famous--are nestled with the pillars, sometimes carved into, sometimes on top of, but always in concert with the landscape, as if the rocks were created purely to house these monasteries.  The shear awe and beauty of this landscape and the peace I felt viewing it can only remind me of my time in Bhutan.  For that, Meteora will always hold a special place in my heart.

After only a brief time in Meteora, it was time to depart to the legendary Delphi.  Arriving in Delphi under the cover of nightfall, hides its true beauty.  However, that didn't keep me from a craft beer and a good meal (of wild boar stew--of which I feel like my guide would've been proud).  The next morning, as the sun rose, Delphi's true beauty could truly be uncovered.  The Greeks regarded Delphi as the center of the world, and I can think of no better place to visit on Greece's Independence Day. Unfortunately, as I was visiting on Independence Day, all of the monuments were closed; however, that didn't stop me from trying to catch a glimpse of some of the most famous sites in Delphi---peasant style.  Many of the monuments are able to be viewed form a distance or on high.  A short, steep hike uphill provides one of the most beautiful views of the Stadium of Delphi.  I can only imagine that this is how folks who weren't invited to attend events (as one of the 6500 spectators that the stadium could hold) viewed events.  The other bonus of being their on Independence Day--nobody else was in my photos (hahaha).  I observed a breath-taking sunrise, viewed some of the most amazing ruins in Greek history, and all before heading back to Athens for my flight to Santorini.

Ok, ok. This paragraph may get me into a bit of trouble.  Santorini is beautiful, but after starting in Meteora, I was a little disappointed.  Perhaps it's because I've hiked many-a calderas and it wasn't the peak season for Santorini.  That said, I did the hike from Oia to Thira, and it was beautiful!  It interwove between several different smaller towns, which really varied the terrain of the hike, and the elevation difference really varied the climate.  The hike ended in Thira, the real heart of Santorini, with lunch and shopping.  Then a quick stop for my favorite part of my time in Santorini: Santo winery!  The wine was very delicious and the view while drinking wine was second to none!

After a brief stop over to see the Acropolis (a must-see if you have the time and are transiting through Athens), I was on my way back home!  Greece is truly an amazing place, filled with delicious food, kind people, and beautiful landscapes.  If you're thinking about visiting, please go! It's worth it!

Walking in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region

When you tell somebody you're on your way to France, most folks think you're off the Paris to enjoy the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and eat crepes.  But, as Federique Mistral said: "Qu'a vist Paris, se noun a vist Cassis, pou dire: n'ai rèn vist" ("He who has seen Paris but not Cassis can say, I haven't seen anything"). I discovered in my research, there's so much more to France, and so much to discover in the complex geographic regions of the area.  I decided to start in the south of France to the popular tourist destination: Cassis.

Many of you may be thinking "Popular?!  I've never even heard of it!"  I suppose it's relatively popular as a European destination, not so much an American one.

Cassis is located in the Provence region of France, and is known for white and rose wines; however, the landscape is something to behold! To be honest, the only reason I went was for some fantastic hiking, and I wasn't disappointed. Between the Sea Cliffs and the Calanques (sheltered inlets), I had no dearth of things to explore during the weekend I was there.

After my flight, I went straight to Cassis, searching for the nature I've been missing!  That day, I hiked along to various Calanques. The landscape was varied, with inclines and declines galore (a far cry from the flat landscape I'm used to). It was about 70 degrees during that day in February, and every time I reached the Calanques, I felt refreshed. Flanked by cliffs on either side, the clear blue waters dominated the landscape.

After hiking several miles, I checked into my hotel, and went downtown and had what every weary traveler wants when they're along the coast: a good seafood meal. And I had just that, for the next day I knew I was about to embark on an even more difficult hike than the one I had just completed.

The next day, after a carb-filled breakfast, I set off to explore the other landscape feature that Cassis is known for: Cap Canaille.  Cap Canaille is known as the highest sea cliff in France, and it was my goal to hike it! The hike itself wasn't technically difficult.  It was relatively easy to get to the top and gaze upon the gorgeous views.  This picture is just one of many views I was able to enjoy throughout the hike.  The hike back was significantly more difficult, even though it was mostly downhill. It wasn't that the terrain was more difficult, it was that the wind was so fierce!  I physically had to sit down until the wind died down enough for me to continue moving, because it was so strong that it was nearly blowing me over!

All in all, it was a fantastic outdoor trip! England in February can be cold, dark, and dreary, but a visit to the French coastline full of hiking adventures is just what I needed to get through the rest of winter!  

Scotland: Paradise of Scotch and Landscapes

'

My first trip to Scotland had only 2 goals: experience what the land of Scotch has to offer in the way of whiskey and explore the landscape.  I feel like these are always my travel goals: discover the landscape and discover local booze.  Both highly worth endeavors, I assure you.

And there's nothing like hitting the ground running: after arriving at the airport, I got my rental car and headed to one of the smallest distillery in Scotland: Edradour. It was certainly small, and the tour was very personal and full of character. It reminded me tours at smaller breweries. I wish I had more time to explore here, but I got here just in time for the last tour.  Interestingly, I never really considered myself much of a Scotch girl...I was a Jack Daniel's girl through and through; however, with this first taste of a Highland Scotch, I was instantly enamored. But alas, it was time to make it to my home base near Inverness.  

The next day I was off to Isle of Skye to Talisker and to play around in the Fairy Pools. Though Skye was beautiful and the Fairy Pools fun to play around in, my truly favorite hike was in Cairngorms National Park. At first I was concerned that beginning my hike at a ski resort would result in a lackluster experience. And it definitely started that way, but I took matters into my hands and took a random stone staircase to some amazing views!  I think somehow I got lost from the hike I was supposed to do, but I'm kind of glad that I did. The views reminded me so much of Alaska!

For me, the most interesting parts of the hike were seeing the size of the boulders...they were huge!  Massive. But, the sizes varied.  It was easy to get lost among them, between them, on top of them.  It was pretty amazing.

Also, in the thick of summer, there was snow!  A very small cow-lick of snow, but snow none-the-less.  

It was a very eventful hike.  Quite possibly one of the most difficult I have attempted.  I got lost (well, not lost..on an adventure!). I pretty much scaled a mountain side to get down into the valley.  But, it was so worth it!

And to reward myself, on the way back to the airport I stopped off at Dalwhinnie.  It was a last minute decision. I called them to see if I can get into a tour, and I was in luck: they could fit me in on the last tour I could take in order to make it back for my flight.  I honestly didn't know what to expect.  Dalwhinnie is significantly larger than Edradour, so I wasn't really thinking that it would be a memorable experience.  However, I was pleasantly surprised!  For such a large distillery, they were able to establish a small distillery feel and a tour that felt rather personal. AND! They pair their Scotch with chocolate.  CHOCOLATE. Yes. You read correctly.  I was in heaven.  Quite frankly, Dalwhinnie became my favorite Scotch.  I'm not really sure whether it's the Scotch I really like or if it's the chocolate pairs, but meh. Whatever.  I'm a fan.

From Riomaggiore to Portoverne

Italy has always been a favorite location of mine.  I spent several weeks there a few years ago, and returned just recently to enjoy more Italian cuisine and scenery, and it truly didn't let me down.

I'm always taken aback when I land in such a beautiful landscape -- coastline and rolling hills greet me as the plane lands into the Pisa airport, and instantly I feel at ease. I check into my hotel and explore the Pisa nightlife - a trip to Orzo Bruno.  This cozy local pub has fantastic food and brew and a great way to enjoy my first evening back in Italy.

The next day on a bright, crisp October morning, I board an early morning train to Riomaggiore.  The reason for my trip is to relax, and for me there is no greater relaxation that hiking. I decide to do a 10ish mile hike from Riomaggiore to Portovenere.  Most hikers choose to hike Cinque Terre; however, large swaths of the main trail were closed, so I chose this hike as one that had the least number of closed sections and beautiful scenery. And this hike surely delivered.  It was well marked and easy to follow and gave me the opportunity to see spectacular landscapes and vegetation.  My favorite part of the hike was seeing the folks foraging for chestnuts! It was contagious!  I found myself also searching for them as I walked along the paths.

As I continued my trek towards Portovenere, I was guided by charming signs and signs reminding me of the latitude and longitude, which I (as a good geographer) noted every step of the way.  I slowly made my way towards my destination, soaking in the sun and scenery, until finally, I arrived at Portovenere.

It was a wonderful, albeit exhausting, hike, and the first thing I wanted was some food.  I ordered a pizza, and while I waited I bought a ferry to La Spezia, where I would pick up my train home.  There was also a wonderful ferry around three islands. I knew I had some time before my train back to Pisa, so I bought that ferry tour as well.  While it wasn't amazing, it was nice to just sit back and see some beautiful scenery and islands around Portovenere. Pretty soon it was time for me to head back to Pisa, but judging by my exhausting I would say I achieved my objective of having a nice, relaxing hike.

McAfee Knob

Day hikers don't normally understand what's it's like to thru-hike, and I am no exception.  I check the weather, make sure that it's not going to rain, grab the appropriate gear for the temperature and set out on the day of. I don't understand the seemingly randomness of weather, expecting the unexpected, and hoping that you have the gear you'll need for the trail ahead...however many thousand miles that is.

I swear this isn't a philosophical tirade.

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Blacksburg, VA area with a friend, but sadly for us the weather wasn't cooperating for our many planned outdoor adventures.  One of which was to hike the 8.3-mile out and back hike to McAfee Knob, considered one of the Appalachian Trail's most photographed places.  I had no idea when I'd have another opportunity to hike this section of the AT, so I told my friend: Let's go for it!  Let's just do it!  She, being the trooper she is, agreed, and we set out to get backpack covers and be on our way!

Up to this point, we had never hiked in the haze or rain--the frozen stuff.. ice/snow/etc ...yes but never rain--so we weren't quite sure what to expect. It was certainly a different experience from hiking knowing it's going to be a beautiful day! Our hike to McAfee Knob was just foggy and hazy, and when we arrived, it was so mysterious--shrouded in fog.

One bonus of our foggy summit was that I had no idea how far it was if we fell, so I was fearless!  My hiking companion had done this hike previously, and was constantly concerned that I was getting too close to the edge.  But, I didn't care; I couldn't tell how high up we were!  For once, I was fearless.  For once, I felt free of my self-imposed constraints!

Our return back to the car was speckled with rain droplets.  Nice, refreshing sprinkles--a nice respite from our sweaty, steamy summit.    

I learned a valuable lesson that day.  Not all hikes need to be enjoyed in "perfect" weather, with the sun shining and cumulus clouds splayed over a ocean blue sky.  Every hike, no matter what the weather, is memorable.

Raven Rocks, WV

New year and going to try to keep up with this blog better than I have in the past!  My friend and I have made a New Year's resolution (I can hear all of your sighs from here, but wait, listen...this one's good--I promise) to hike at least 100 miles together!  We can hike separately, but the only ones that count towards our goal are the hikes we do together.  Here it is January 25th, and we've already hiked over 20 miles, well on our way to our goal.  I plan on using this blog to help document our wonderful adventures, and the growth, excitement, friendship, and just natural beauty that I encounter along this journey.

Anywho, enough of the background.  One of our recent hikes was to up to Raven Rocks, West Virginia.  I bet a lot of you have already heard of this hike...it's a (very small) part of the Appalachian Trail.  You're able to do just this section of the AT as an out-and-back hike in about 5.5 miles...there's a small parking lot for folks to park about 0.4 miles away.

There were SOOO many exciting things about this hike!  Though this was our third hike of 2015 (and I'll try to back track on the other hikes, as we were able to hike some real gems), this hike held many firsts for us.

First, it was our first section of the AT that we were hiking together.  In hindsight it probably wasn't the best timing for us to go, as it had rained the day before, and much of the trail was iced over.  But we braved it!  There are a lot of rocks that weren't icy that we were able to use to keep our balance.  Really only about 1/4 of the hike was icy, and on the way back, much of the ice had melted (thankfully).  Despite the ice, there was one major advantage to completing this hike in the winter: bare trees allowed us to see some amazing views from the trail.

The trail includes several ascending and descending stretches, which brought to another one of our hiking firsts: hiking into a new state!  We were able to cross from Virginia into West Virginia!  (I see all of your eyes rolling--yes, I'm easily amused).

Just a little beyond the state line, you come to Raven Rocks and a wonderful view!  It's the kind of view where you sit and just enjoy life.  It's wonderful to get out of the hustle and bustle of city life, and just enjoy the views and be with nature.

If you're in the area, it's definitely worth the time for the hike.  Soak up the sun, the views, and the peace you find here!

Happy 2015, and Happy Trails :)

Pilot Mountain, NC - various times

Taking a break from around the world adventures, and bringing out an entry from a little closer to home. Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, is located about 25 miles northwest of Winston Salem, NC.

Pilot Mountain, with an elevation of 2,420 feet, is a remnant of the Sauratown Mountains, and after millions of years of weathering and erosion, now is a quartzite monadnock. The Saura Indians first called Pilot Mountain "Jomeokee," or "Great Guide/Pilot;" hence its name today.

Interestingly, the mountain was first mapped in 1751 by Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson, who was Thomas Jefferson's father. It became a North Carolina State Park in 1968 to protect it from further commercial development. Currently, the park contains over 3,000 acres of protected land.

For residents of central North Carolina, the park is a very close sanctuary, to rest, relax, and hike to your heart's content. It has various trails (about 13), and of course, anybody who goes to Pilot Mountain should do the 0.8-mile hike (Jomeokee Trail) around the quartzite monadnock to truly understand the weather and erosion that this feature was and still continues to endure. My favorite trail is the Ledge Springs Trail (~2.o miles - strenuous...and they're not kidding :) ). It has such amazing views, and the most amazing set of stairs at the end!

Source: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/pimo/history.php