Balkans: several in one…

Now that we are stranded at home due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it is time to write (I just finished my 8^th book, ‘Circus Improbus’, soon available to order) and read a lot, making plans and bringing up some of the travels that passed unnoticed…

I have recovered this 3’48’’ video (https://youtu.be/F7fX-W6ifRU) about some of the Balkans summits, which in fact includes images from Montenegro and mountain tops of Kosovo, Romania and Ukraine (these 2, together with Nuno Marques).

The years between 2013 and 2016 were quite productive to my project “Summits of every country in Europe”… In 2013 I’ve climbed the highest of Slovenia (Triglav, 2.864 m) and the highest of Greece and Bulgaria. ‘Several in one’ was a way of climbing more than one summit on the same trip: climbed the Bulgarian Musala (2.925 m) in September that year, 2 days after the Greek Mytikas (2.917m); in September 2014 I’ve reached the top of Slovakia (Gerlchovsky Stit, 2.655 m), Poland (Rysy, 2.499 m) and Hungary (Kékestetö, 1.014 m) in 3 days (8-10^th Sept.) and on the 24-25^th, same month, reached the summits of Macedonia, Albania (Golem Korab) and Kosovo (Great Rudoka, 2.658 m).

2015 was a productive year with 21 summits reached in Spain, the Balkans, Turkey (Mt. Ararat) and the Andes. In July (3-7^th), from Montenegro, I’ve reached 5 summits in 5 days, including the one of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Serbian Deravica (2.656 m, claimed by Kosovo).

The video images refer to Deravica (and Montenegro lakes) and to the Romania-Ukraine trip, in June 2016. In 2 days, Nuno and me reached the Romanian Moldoveanu (2.544 m) in the Transylvanian mountains and, after letting the rented car at the border and taking a bus, the Ukrainian Hoverla (2.061 m). The bad weather did not stop us! Later that year (September), I’ve also got to the top of the Damavand (5.671 m), in Iran, and the Aragats (4.090 m), in Armenia.

Good experiences to remember… But now, there is a new trail that crosses the whole Balkans – via Dinarica White Trail, of over 1260 km – that is running around my head!!!

The video: https://youtu.be/F7fX-W6ifRU

Some photos: 

Around Menorca by kayak

     Menorca is a beautiful island, we all know... The question seems to be: is it still preserved or always too crowded? Out of July and August the island is still pretty much visitable (meaning: not so busy). Last May, Sofia, me and a little dog did a kayak journey around the whole island, as one of our projects for 2019 (as described on the prior report, below). We wanted to navigate and experience some of the many sandy 'calas' with turquoise colour waters around the 216 km of coast of Menorca. In 6 days we paddled 150 km to complete the whole surrounding of the island, untill we were caught by strong northeast winds and big waves, just around Cap Negre. We managed to get shelter in cala des Murtar and decided to hike through 'el cami des Cavalls' the last 6 km separating us from Es Graus (our starting point).  
     Furthermore we hiked some 22 km (of which 15 km were part of the path 'cami des Cavalls' that surrounds the whole island), visiting back some of the calas we liked the most. We spent a morning 'callejeando' through the streets of Ciutadela, and wandered along the coast of Mahón. Our favorite spots: cala Galdana; cala en Porter (unforgetable bocadillo de tortilla de berengenas at the bar next to the beach), cala Fustam, cala Binibequer, cala Talaier, cala Macarella... 
     Amazing experience! 'Carmencita Jones', our doggy (one eye blind and one bad knee), did great on the kayak and through the waves. Now she got a new middle name - she's called Carmencita Marinera Jones.
     Here are some of the best photos:

Video 'Around Menorca by kayak' (6’47’’): https://youtu.be/RNjuJypDR7g

     Menorca é uma ilha linda, todos sabemos... A questão parece ser: permanece preservada ou está sempre a abarrotar de turistas? Fora os meses de Julho e Agosto a ilha permanece bastante visitável. Neste mês de Maio, a Sofia, eu e uma pequena cadelinha realizámos uma volta em kayak a toda a ilha,  como um dos nossos projetos para 2019 (tal como descrito no texto anterior). Queriamos navegar e experimentar algumas das muitas 'calas' de areia branca e águas de cor turquesa em redor dos 216 km de costa de Menorca. Em 6 dias remamos 150 km para completar a volta à ilha, até que fomos surpreendidos por fortes ventos de nordeste e ondas altas, ao passar o Cap Negre. Conseguimos refugiar-nos na cala des Murtar e decidimos percorrer a pé, pelos caminhos 'cami des Cavalls', os últimos 6 km que nos separavam de Es Graus (o nosso ponto de partida).  
     Depois, caminhamos um total de 22 km (15 km dos quais faziam parte do 'cami des Cavalls' que rodeia toda a ilha), visitando de novo algumas das calas de que mais gostámos. Passámos uma manhã pelas ruelas de Ciutadela, e vagueámos pelo passeio marítimo de Mahón. Os nossos locais favoritos: cala Galdana; cala en Porter (inesquecível bocadillo de tortilla de berengenas no bar junto da praia), cala Fustam, cala Binibequer, cala Talaier, cala Macarella... 
     Experiência incrível! 'Carmencita Jones', a nossa cadelinha (cega de um olho e com um joelho em mau estado), portou-se extraordinariamente bem no kayak e través das ondas. Agora, ganhou um novo apelido - chama-se Carmencita Marinera Jones!
     Aqui ficam algumas das melhores fotos: