7 Europe Destinations for a Truly Unique Winter Experience
Whether it is warm and sunny, or snow has taken over its beautiful cities, Europe is absolutely gorgeous. There are so many things to do and places to see, that choosing only one destination for your winter holiday can be very...
Touring France and Germany with These Two Books
“Despite everything, Ruby had loved living in Europe. She loved having history envelop her as she strolled the streets; she loved the French word ‘flaneur’ – to amble along or to hang around. It applied here...
A Quick Day Trip to Bruges
from the followsummer archive Today is All Souls Day and a holiday in Belgium and indeed much of Europe. It is also our last day in Europe and we must do our final repack and organize the return of the car when we arrive for our...
Craving Sun and Warmth in Croatia
Vienna to Primošten: 713 kilometres Like seemingly everyone else in Northern Europe, we are craving some sun and warmth, and like seemingly everyone else in Northern Europe, we are heading to Croatia to find it. We are heading to...
Last Day In Primošten
Like the pension in Forster’s “A Room with a View” our little villa keeps changing personalities. We all meet over breakfast and exchange our pleasantries. I find that it is either John or I that make the initial attempt at...
Heading Down Argentine Way
Kilometres driven in Europe since June 16: 19,796! It is a sad day today as we leave the comfort of Yves and Marc’s great home, and Europe, to continue our journey to Argentina and the last leg of this year-long journey. Our time...
Crossing Finnish Borders
Helsinki is draped in low-lying, grey clouds this morning and a cool, continuous rain is falling as we head downstairs for breakfast at 9:00. There is chaos (in a Finnish way!) in the breakfast room as clearly every hotel guest,...
Silent Reminders in Köln, Germany
The Dom, Köln’s cathedral is the major building on the skyline and it dominates everything else. One of the largest Gothic buildings ever constructed anywhere, it was mercifully spared during the night blitzes of WWII – the...
An Entire Year of Following Summer.
A day of travel and time for contemplation. The beginning of a year of living in the moment, following an intense period of planning, when it often seemed that we spent all our time living in the future as we laid the groundwork...
Traveling in the Land of Charlemagne
N 51° E 003° Köln via Aachen to Gent: 303 kilometres Charlemagne is in evidence everywhere through these parts: his name, in its Latin, German, Dutch and Flemish forms appears on road signs schools, and bars as we drive through...
Much is Revealed On the Road to Prague
We say goodbye to Dresden, and look forward to the delights of Prague. A Sunday drive through some very picturesque German country side is scheduled this morning. Part of our route is indicated on our map as a scenic route and it...
Diving Day in Dalyan, Turkey
Saturday, May 15th, 2004: Dalyan, Turkey A free day. Most of the group head for the beach, followed by the mud baths. They collectively decide to take a pass on the ruins – we have all been feeling a bit ruined out, and there are...
Gone fishin’ for two weeks in Canada
Tuesday, June 1st, 2004: Home in Canada: Stratford, Toronto, Ontario We are spending some R & R time with family and friends at home in Stratford and Toronto before hitting the next part of our trip. Please check the site...
Arriving Home After Six Months of Followsummer.com
Sunday, June 6th, 2004: Toronto, Stratford, Ontario N 43° W 080° Southwestern Ontario is lush and green from a cool and wet spring. Our rush hour drive home from the airport takes us through the gentle rolling hills of both...
Picking Up Our Followsummer Transportation in Frankfurt
Wednesday, June 16th, 2004: Köln, Germany N 50° E 006° Frankfurt to Köln: 205 kilometres Renault provides a seamless service as we pick up our brand new car – we are met at Frankfurt airport by a happy German who vigorously...
Europe Greetings: Which Cheek is Offered First?
N 55 E 012 Hamburg to Køpenhavn: 485 Kilometers Today we will cross a major bridge, 24 kilometres long, connecting 2 regions of Denmark, Fyn and Sjælland, over the Storebælt. This bridge opened 4 or 5 years ago, at about the same...
Land Sighting: East Germany
Sunday, July 18th, 2004: Berlin, Germany N 52 E 013 Sassnitz to Berlin: 333 kilometres The alarm rings and wakes us both at 6:45 – we quickly shower and pack the car. Despite the promises of the night before that breakfast would...
Berlin: An Emotionally Complex City
Monday, July 19th, 2004: Berlin, Germany Our apartment is comfy and cosy; small enough for us to be in each others’ way and big enough for it not to matter. I sleep in, as usual, and John makes his way to the corner to buy some...
No Need to Rush Berlin
Tuesday, July 20th, 2004: Berlin, Germany Berlin is a huge city with so much to see that we have decided to stay a few days longer and not rush our visit. It is sunny and gloriously warm again today. We enjoy our morning and...
Shoe Shopping on the Ku’damm in Berlin
Wednesday, July 21st, 2004: Berlin, Germany Today is a shopping day. John has pretty much worn out his shoes, wearing them practically every day for six months. We both had expected to be sporting more summer oriented foot wear...