Kids and Cows on Mount Rigi

26 juli, 201526 juli, 2015 / Leya / 10 kommentarer

So, we are back to Mount Rigi. I promised Cows and Kids! At 8.30 a.m we went by car towards Seebodenalp. From Küssnacht a 7 km narrow and meandering road leading up to 1030 m where the starting point is for many walks. We entered the Panorama walk with stunning views over Vierwaldstättersee and the small villages of Küssnacht, Merlischachen and Luzern. An easy walk, but a hot one – 30 degrees C. Breathtaking views in the early morning light. We knew the Swiss to be pros on hiking and organizing walks, but we were still impressed by the standards of these, the informative signs and the facilities, Whenever a great view was offered, there were designed, wooden chairs or benches to rest upon. Here some of the big moraine stones typical for the area. The stillness in the air and the soft sound of cowbells followed us around the mountain. Sometimes I wondered how they could walk those steep hills – sometimes they even ran down them.

Hiking school classes were not unusual, and sometimes they reminded me of fairytales like Snowwhite, or maybe stories about Hobbits? When we caught up with them they were playing happily while one of their leaders was making a fire and looking after their things. Happy schooldays!

Before the turning point around the mountain, we had a glimpse of ”the real deal” – what was to come on our next hike. There is always something special about those snowcapped mountain tops. On our way back we met several fellow travellers – and spoke for a while with them all…

Some of them more friendly and talkative than others…

These people were fixing the roof of the house – which is a weather station for measuring the air quality here. A friendly shake of the bell around this pretty lady’s neck, and we were ready to leave this lovely area. I bet she knew it was a farewell shake!

On our way down the mountain we stopped to buy freshly picked cherries – a real treat after this hot walk.

This nice young girl had done a good early morning job.

Mount Rigi – Kids and Cows

22 juli, 201523 juli, 2015 / Leya / 9 kommentarer

A walk on Mount Rigi was very refreshing – I hope this will give you a teaser!

#303 Svårfångad – Hard to Catch (204/365)

19 juli, 2015 / Leya / 11 kommentarer

We could hear them clearly, the marmots – but to catch one on a photo…

# 338 Vandring – Hike /trek (200/365)

12 juli, 201512 juli, 2015 / Leya / 30 kommentarer

WPC: Symbol

10 juli, 201510 juli, 2015 / Leya / 22 kommentarer

To show a symbol is the challenge this week from WP. I have chosen maybe one of the most used symbols in the world. Something that stands for so many things…so many thoughts.

# 176 Lyftkraft – The power of lifting (192/365)

9 juli, 20159 juli, 2015 / Leya / 11 kommentarer

Travel Theme: Fantastic

14 mars, 201514 mars, 2015 / Leya / 20 kommentarer

There are many fantastic writers and authors, and now one of them, Sir Terry Pratchett, has left us – at least for a while…

If you look up the word ”fantastic” in a dictionary, it says ”wild and strange; grotesque; absurd; marvellous; wonderful.” What am I to do about such a theme?

I will pick three shots – trying to picture the definitions. All of them from New Zealand, the land of wonders.

From Weta Cave, Welliwood, and all its fantastic gear – unfortunately I never noted down who this is…

And fantastic Milford Sound – even more beautiful than Norway.

For more of Fantastic – visit Ailsa’s here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Scale

6 februari, 20156 februari, 2015 / Leya / 49 kommentarer

New Zealand’s great glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox make their visitors feel exceptionally small. The Franz Josef (Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere in Māori) is a 12 km (7.5 mi) long glacier located on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km (12 mi) to the south, it is unique in descending from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level, amidst the greenery and lushness of a temperate rainforest.

Walking up to the glaciers was very easily done, and we were greatly rewarded. I have walked glaciers in several countries in Europe – but these two are the most remarkable ones of all. Imagine the rainforest coming down almost to the floor of the glacier, and you could touch them both from the path!

The photos show the scale very clearly, but the feeling of walking there is impossible to convey…you have to be there yourself.

For more of Scale, click here.

Travel Theme: Freedom

13 december, 201422 december, 2014 / Leya / 19 kommentarer

Freedom…a magical word. To those who live in countries with dictators, to those who live under dictators at home, to those who are chained to their jobs, to those who…

The word freedom I think belongs to those words that never will be worn out. Partly because there are so many ways of enterpreting its inner meaning.

When I think of freedom, in my life, I would say it means freedom of thought and freedom to live some days without any ”musts”. Those days are so precious…and without doubt, they are often connected to being alone, hiking and travelling. Travelling in a mindblowing book or travelling over geographic land and sea.

I will try to picture my Freedom, and I’m grateful to Ailsa at Where’s My Backpack, for being allowed and able to. I looked through pictures I thought would give me that feeling, and my final choices were these:

Lastly, hard to admit it, but…

Home again

20 juli, 201420 juli, 2014 / Leya / 44 kommentarer

After being totally enchanted by Scotland and the Scots – I hardly know where to begin…so much to catch up on of reading and so much to tell!

First of all, I want to thank my blogging friend Seonaid at breathofgreenair , for having us a whole delightful evening in her lovely home. Unforgettable hospitality and my admiration is neverending. More time – I think both of us wished for that…. Hopefully we will meet again – I still have not experienced the Tattoo either…

If it hadn’t been for Seonaid’s advice – we’d never had seen her beautiful Plockton near the Isle of Skye. A drizzle early in the morning, but the views truly calm and serene. Not a wind.