World Travelers

Related to Timmer's adventure at Everest, here's a rather creepy fact: dead bodies are used for orientation:
http://www.fundalize.com/other/Achterge … st-206078/

A few weeks ago we decided to postpone our SST 1st pacific gathering. I also decided then not to do the Around The World In 30 days trip.

To compensate this I booked a short 8-day trip to Andalusia.

Here the program:

Dec 31st: Malaga
Jan 1st: Granada
Jan 2nd: Córdoba
Jan 3rd: Sevilla
Jan 4th: Sevilla
Jan 5th: Puerto Santa Maria/Cádiz
Jan 6th: Torremolinos/Benalmádena
Jan 7th: Flight back home.

If you want to meet me and you are there in that period, please let me know

I think that Sevilla holds the record for the hottest place I have ever been. If I remember correctly, temperatures approached 120°F (48-49°C) - and that might have been in the shade. It was hot!

Yes!

I was there when Spain won the World Cup. Everyone jumped into fountains. Never seen so many women in wet shirts. Very atmospheric city with lots of cost squares. And the largest cathedral in the world. Inside it was rather a dissapointment.

I trust you do not mean the women of Sevilla?

Not really "world" travelling, but I'm off to Tromsø tomorrow, for one week at the Tromsø International Film Festival. Ironically, it's warmer up north than here in Oslo right now, where the temperature reads -15 C. It will mostly be clouded during my stay, so I'm not sure I'll be able to catch some aurora borealis. But I hope so.

I'll fly there. But I have driven from the South to the North before (with my family). Not sure there will be time for pictures and stuff, but I'll bring my camera in any case.

There isn't much daylight up there, that's true. 3-4 hours, maybe.

Here's a professional pic that someone took of Tromsø during an aurora borealis:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/b_olsen/81 … /lightbox/

(there are some other great pics there too)

No, there aren't any polar bears on mainland Norway. You'd have to go to our island Svalbard off the Northern coast.

According to a fairly recent Hollywood film, we apparently also have aliens and predators on one of our other islands, Bouvet Island.

The best week of my life was the first week of my honeymoon, on safari in Kenya. Strongly considering another safari this year. Found what looks to be a fantastic trip which takes in the Maasi Mara and other highlights in Kenya and a few days each in Uganda and Rwanda, the latter including a day's trekking to see mountain gorillas which sounds extraordinary.

It's cheaper than I'd have expected - but unlike our last one (when we stayed in lodges), this one's a camping safari and you stay in tents. I wonder if anyone here (Thor maybe?) has done a camping safari and what that was like.

Just returned from Tromsø after a week of moviegoing and MASSIVE partying. On Friday, we just kept it going all night at the hotel room (with 20 other people) and went directly to the hotel breakfast at 7. Almost the same thing on Saturday.

Obviously, this week has fucked up my head considerably because when I arrived back home last night, I couldn't find my house keys. Assuming I had left them at the hotel in Tromsø (the staff couldn't tell me untill this morning), I had to take another cab and spend the night at a friend's place.....only to discover this morning that the keys were jammed inside the lining of the suitcase! And then when I left their house a couple of hours ago, I discovered that I had forgotten my toilet bag at THEIR place!

How was the festival, if you should remember. Did you see northern lights? Took some pictures!?

Translated means, "I couldn't remember where I put my camera."

Past Sunday I was again present at the alternative travel fair in Bruges. Together with 250 other people, I was informant. I did this for Iceland and Corsica this year. The idea of this event is that people come to my table and ask feedback about their plans or an introduction or ideas for an upcoming trip. I share my experiences, practical info and ideas. I bring maps, brochures, my travel diaries, ...

What a success! Like last year, Iceland was extremely popular and I think I had chats with about 20 people/couples, and only 3 for Corsica (which is an underrated destination if you see it this way, except for the long distance hikes). I literally had only a break for half an hour break in a 9 hour shift! Luckily, the evening ends with beers (to get the throat working fine again) from Bruges and a good dinner with similar minded people. Met a guy who has been travelling to Scandinavia and Iceland for about his whole life. Fascinating what he has done there! I'm really a junior, a noob at this event!

But in the mean time I have no idea where my big trip should go this year (preferably combined with a fine long distance hike)! Slovenia? Northern Spain? But a city trip to Valencia during the Fallas next month should get my year starting!

I will be in Valencia for 5 nights from Friday on to celebrate the Fallas!
www.fallasfromvalencia.com

It will be CRAZY.
http://mediterraneanexile.blogspot.be/2 … as-de.html

There will be lots of explosions, kids with bombs, fireworks two times a day, fires, lots of alcohol and no sleep! Valencia seems to become a war zone during this time. I might not survive it.

Has anyone (Spanish guys???) been there during that time?

It's been on my To-Do list for a while. Apparently it's a ..ahem...blast.
Enjoy, Bregt!
Likely I'll go next year.