Berliner Mauerweg: Schönefeld to Sigridshorst (22 km)

I continued the Berliner Mauerweg. In fact, I did the next leg across two days: I originally wanted to do this 22 kilometres but during the first day, I was just so bored, even though the weather was actually good. So I just did half of it, about 11 kilometres. And I picked up the remaining half the following weekend.

A Visit to Vienna

So, I recently spent a week in Vienna!

Berlin Boogie: Open House at the Hamburger Bahnhof

I have been to the Hamburger Bahnhof a few times before - the first time was actually in 2013. I remember liking the things that I saw back then. And I remember being there a couple more times when friends were visiting town. This time, I learned that they were hosting an Open House, and entrance was free. So I visited once again.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg: Cuvilliés Theatre

The last thing I saw before ending this trip was the Cuvilliés Theatre. This is in Munich, right in the middle of the city.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg: Dachau Concentration Camp

On my last sight-seeing day, I wanted to head to Munich again. But instead of heading directly into the city, I first wanted to check out something that was nearby. I wanted to see Dachau. In particular, I wanted to visit the Dachau Concentration Camp.

Donau-Panoramaweg: Leg 3 - Pentling to Regensburg (10 km)

This was supposed to be a longer hike. But due to the fact that I have cut short the original Leg 2, and followed that with the remainder of Leg 2 and some of Leg 3, I ended up with a nice day where I tackled the remainder of Leg 3. I wanted to continue further and tackle some of Leg 4, but given that I was staying in Regensburg, and the end of Leg 3 was right in the middle of the Old Town of Regensburg, it was such a climactic ending that I didn't want to be ruined. So I just stopped.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg: Walhalla

There was a day during this trip which I utilised to explore my immediate surroundings. I have been to Regensburg at least twice before, so I know most of the sights that are visited by tourists. However, there is one which I haven't been to yet. That is the Walhalla Monument, on the east of the city.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg: Sebalduskirche Nürnberg

After visiting the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, I had lunch. And after lunch, I took a stroll through the Old Town of Nürnberg. I have been here several times before, but nevertheless there are a few places that I still haven't visited. Like for example the Sebalduskirche.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg: Germanisches Nationalmuseum

On another warm day, I went to Nürnberg for a day trip. I have been to this city several times now and am more or less familiar with it, but there are nevertheless areas which I still haven't explored. Like for example this fantastic museum, which is very close to the central train station.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg: Munich Museum of Egyptian Art

When I went to Munich, it was a Sunday. Hence entrance to this fantastic archaeological museum was just 1 EUR. I didn't know that before, but it definitely made my visit more enjoyable than anticipated.

Donau-Panoramaweg: Leg 2/3 - Poikam to Pentling (17 km)

Poikam to Pentling isn't exactly how this segment of the Donau-Panoramaweg is designated. However, given that an early heat wave somehow disrupted my original plans, I had to modify things slightly. So I picked up the remainder of my second leg in Poikam, and attached a rather large segment of the third leg. I planned to end in Pentling, which is a village just south of Regensburg.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg: Munich Residenz

As there was a brief heat wave during my trip, I went sight-seeing instead of hiking for those days when it was too hot to hike. On one of these days, I went to Munich. And while I was there, I took the opportunity to visit the Munich Residenz.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg: Befreiungshalle

On the first hiking day, I actually started not by hiking, but by checking out the Befreiungshalle, or Liberation Hall. I saw this place already from afar, back in 2024, but I didn't visit it until now.

Interludes from the Donau-Panoramaweg

Similar to last year, I spent an entire week in Germany (this time in Bavaria, in Regensburg) in order to hike parts of the Donau-Panoramaweg. This hiking trail follows the path of the Danube, as it makes its way towards the Austrian border. I started this trail 2 years ago, and I intended to continue it this time, yet once again it seems that the weather has derailed my plans slightly. It was simply too hot during certain days, even though it was just late-May. There was a so-called heat dome which enveloped Europe, which made hiking not the best idea for some days. So I did sight-seeing instead.

Easter in Riga: The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia

The last thing we visited while we were in Riga was the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia. The weather was fairly cooperative, and while it rained slightly, it was not pouring. We took the bus to go to this vast museum outside of Riga.

Donau-Panoramaweg: Leg 2 - Kelheim to Poikam (18 km)

I wanted to continue the Donau-Panoramaweg, which I started back in 2024. So for a week, I based myself again in Regensburg. And I picked up where I left off.

Easter in Riga: An Excursion to Jurmala

It was just early April, so definitely not yet beach weather. Nevertheless, we wanted to see the sea, so we went on a little day trip from Riga to Jurmala, which was a short train ride away.

Easter in Riga: Latvian National Museum of Art

When I am in a new city, I tend to visit the local art museum. This allows me to see and get a glimpse of the local art. I did the same when we were in Riga, by visiting the Latvian National Museum of Art.

Easter in Riga: Art Nouveau Museum of Riga

One of the other things we visited in Riga was the Art Nouveau Museum. This is the only museum in the Baltic states dedicated entirely to the heritage of Art Nouveau (known locally as Jūgendstils). Opened in 2009, the museum provides an immersive look into how the wealthy residents of Riga lived during the height of the movement at the beginning of the 20th century, a period when roughly one-third of the buildings in the city center were designed in this ornate style.

Easter in Riga: House of the Blackheads

We visited perhaps what is arguably the most recognizable landmark in Riga's Old Town. Located prominently in Town Hall Square, the House of the Blackheads is celebrated for its opulent architecture and a resilient history that mirrors the story of Latvia itself.