Author Archives: marimbathepangolin

Like tens of thousands of others who take on the challenge each year, I’ve finally decided to attempt Europe’s premier- perhaps its most popular – mountain hike, the Tour du Mont Blanc. A circuit of Western Europe’s highest mountain, the route involves around 10,000 metres of ascent and descent, in my case, over a periodContinue reading “Taking on the Tour du Mont Blanc”

Jeni and I were finally reunited last night in the little village of Bagnoli in Italy. It’s been over five weeks since we were last together in Dollach in Austria, back on Day 3 of my trek. At one point it looked touch and go whether her flight would be cancelled but luckily it wasContinue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 37”

After five weeks, I’d finally reached my penultimate day’s hiking. But some have overtaken me! Edwin and Gerjanne, who I met on the trail near Ossiach, and who started after me, arrived in Muggia last night – congratulations to them. And thanks to you both for all your useful advice on the way. I meanwhileContinue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 36”

The day didn’t start well. Just as I was leaving the hotel I found a cockroach in the washbasin. Then I just missed a bus. After waiting half an hour for another, I missed the stop for Prosecco and ended up in Trieste, and had to wait for the bus to come back again. SoContinue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 35”

It was distinctly cooler when I left today at about 8:30: ideal hiking weather in fact, in the low 20s. The sun was behind the clouds almost all day, and for a short time I was even treated to some light drizzle. It really was a pleasure to walk in and so much easier thanContinue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 34”

Well I’ve seen plenty of the Alps, and, since leaving them behind, the hills and vineyards on the borders of Slovenia and Italy. Today I finally had my first glimpse of the Adriatic Sea. Originally today was to see me hiking from Gradisca d’Isonzo to Sistiania, a long hike comprising the whole of stage 33Continue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 33”

Some of the comments about this stage of the trail on the Alpe Adria trail app are a bit disparaging. So I wasn’t holding out particularly high hopes for it. With low expectations, it turned out actually to be a decent day’s walking for the most part, despite ending up being quite a lot longerContinue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 32”

The wind rattled through the window during the night, but by morning the air was still and the sun was beaming strongly, heralding another hot, dry day. It was forecast to be at least as hot as yesterday, in the low to mid 30s, and was already baking hot when I left Smartno around 9:00Continue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 31”

Thump, thump, thump. I wake up with a start. Was that noise real, or was I dreaming? Silence. Thump, thump, thump I put the light on. It definitely is real and I’m staying on a remote farm in Slovenia. It feels like the middle of the night. I’m a bit freaked out by it. CautiouslyContinue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 30”

Cividale del Friuli is a beautiful little town, and dates back over 2,000 years, being founded by Julian Caesar in the year 53 BC. It’s full of winding little streets, a bustling central square and little nooks and crannies. There’s an attractive little bridge, museums and buildings of interest. Which makes it all the moreContinue reading “Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail: Day 29”