Oh so sweet.

When life hands you lemons, squeeze them!

The sour aspects make the sweet ones so much sweeter.

 Just a whole bunch of blooming pretty flowers!

 ... and a dandelion.

 Or is that a dandy lion... 

 Now, let's see that monkey face!

Mmmm, Goulash

It was a beautiful early summer afternoon, goulash was on the menu and I was hungry!

Ingredients:

2.5 kg beef cut into cubes
2.5 kg pork cut into cubes
6 finely chopped onions ( missing from pic )
5 kg potatoes cut into cubes
Paprika to taste
Black pepper, herbs and spices
Rosemary as a final touch
Olive oil for frying
1.5 large pots of water
Beer ...Just for refreshment whilst cooking.

Goulash, goulash how delicious, goulash, goulash, one of my favorite dishes...

Firstly it's important to make sure after stoking the fire in the furnace, that you place the pot securely in to the drum. Add your olive oil and wait for oil to heat up considerably before adding the onions. When you have done so and the onions are glassy it's good to add firstly the beef, brown it and then add the pork to the mix. Let this cook up before adding the salt paprika, pepper and spices. Next toss in the potatoes and add your water.

Whilst mixing...once all ingredients are happily in the pot it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy the wait as it will be at least 4 hours till its time to eat! It is good to let it cook with the lid on for the last hour, as after the water has boiled off you give the flavors a chance to settle. A meal for those who can stomach their hunger.




Whilst waiting, perhaps you can snack on somewhat of a caprese salad, super simple. Mozzarella, fresh basil and cherry tomatoes...
Mnam! With a drizzle of olive oil just superb.

But do not despair, your goulash is not far in the air. Only 3-4 hours and it will be there. It is also optional to add Chillie and/or rosemary to taste, I like mine with a bit of a bite.
Once think and full of flavor enjoy your goulash with fresh Slovak potato bread, which in my opinion is the best!

Dobru chut!
Bon appétit!

Venice

What an inspiring day. We found ourselves in Venice this morning, After leaving Bratislava, Slovakia and yesterday by early evening we boarded a train from Vienna headed to Italy.

Our bags ladened, minimal amount of this load consisting of clothing and about 3/4 food. Slovak potato bread, Slaninka ( beacon fat) Salami, cheese x 5, peppers and chillies. Anything I have left out will be mentioned...oh yes..Instant noodles, pastieka x 30 (pate), and then, most necessary, a bag of goodies.
After me running off to check the possibilities of a reservation for the night train, usually recommend, but not compulsory when traveling through Italy, I saw 3 minutes till departure, got the information, backed up and rushed off to the train which was caught in the nick of time. The answer to my question regarding space was a negative, but we boarded anyway. We had till Salzburg in a cabin shared with a Ozzie, 2 Hollanders and a South Korean as well as the inter-mediated company of two New Yorkers who kept popping in. We settled in and prepared tea on our cabin floor using our gas cooker. All was well till parting with our seats.
Now expedited to the corridor with another 16+ travelers, 1st sleeping on our back packs and later opening up the mattress to afford a luxurious journey we were on our way.

The next morning awaking in the hills of Italy was a magical experience, we entered a tunnel, had darkness which felt like a life time and arrived in the still snow caped mountains, being summer time this was a magnificent sight to behold, I could feel the crispness of the air as I flung my head out the train window inhaling the morning in deeply.

Destination reached and besides running on empty after the great nights sleep we had enough energy to discover Venice. What a beautiful city, a tourist attraction, geared at enticing and luring in unsuspected shopping victims is needless to say pricey and over the top, E1.50 to use the loo!
 The architecture is however beautiful and well deserving of all the hails it receives. The mask shops and little waterways, as well as the flower pots hanging out the windows, tuscan shades and gondolas create a most inciting atmosphere.

This time of year is renowned to art exhibitions...the city is full to the brim with them, there are a series of galleries that get together to have on display art from all over the world. All styles imaginable and another wonderful aspect is that the galleries are not only official sites but we had the interesting experience of stepping into an old stately home where there was a sweet old woman in her dressing gown, looking a little confused as we browsed the collection in her home.

Besides venice being a bit of a tourist trap I'd say it's a worthwhile experience and a part of Italy fit to add to the holiday list.

Arthur Conan Doyals, The Lost World.

One of the most challenging yet amazing journeys ever. Roraima in Venezuela. Where at 2800m high , 90 m squared meets Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana. Starting from the base village of Paraitepui, where in bed after finding a scorpion I was filled with excitement and horror for the 8 day hike that lay ahead.

Welcome to the jungle.

Having 18kg on my back consisting of Tent, Sleeping bag, instant noodles, porridge, and local bread, cassava. An amalgamation of corn and water, I felt set.

The 1^st leg of 15km of walking along a savanna like plain, green grass, clear blue skies up above, picturesque, an inspiration for windows xp screen saver.

Well, all clear until the rain started threatening.The skies broke and we trudged on to cross a raging river to our refuge for the night. Making it across alive I managed to dry my clothes whilst avoiding being eaten by Simulidae, black flies who don't only bite, but eat away at the wound after. Next morning after shaking my things free of black ants, Vente quatro, wisely named as one suffer 24 hrs of illness once bitten, we were off.

12km, rain, inclines, heat of mid day. And our resting spot was in sight, the base of the mighty mountain. Roraima, the mountain which inspired the 'Lost world' . The gab between the two table tops being bridged by a 30km plank for dinosaurs to cross. Of which neither I saw. Rained in I was snug in my tent wondering about all the magic that lay ahead. It had been said to us that the locals believe that climbing this mountain will bring bad luck. I realized it a few days later.

We started fresh, heading up the mountain, through the tropical jungle below, leading under a cascading waterfall and reaching the top, cold, wet, hungry. Yet in awe.
It was like the moon. Black slate like rocks, taking on a multitude of shapes and styles, my favorite being the cartoon cat with a machine gun as well as the formations of red native indians guarding the mountain. Hundreds of dispersed puddles and another 8km till the hotel, an overhanging rock/cave.

Setting up out snug camp and falling asleep to the sound of ...nothing, was incredible.

We awoke to the freshness of pure mountain air, finally with the sun shining and a the sheer hight of our journey to be seen, as well as a circular rainbow where my reflection could be seen.

We ventured forth, learning about the life on the mountain...which in such extreme condition was not much.
We spent the rest of the day exploring caves and coming up to our next camp, paradise! Little hidden jungle within the caves not to mention the near by natural jacuzzi.

We spent the night, hidden from the rain and the next day went onto discover an incredible waterfall within the mountain. It was treacherous climbing, but well worth the danger...Magnificent! Finally, a shower and a place to cool my feet which had now trudged hundreds of kilometers.

Exhausted, starved, longing for a dry bed but in this being the last night on Roraima an end was insight.

Meandering our way down the mountain, the final beauty to behold of this incredible masterpiece. A bed of crystals. Lain before our feet. Glinting in every direction. Most mystically giving me energy to reach the base where we lay, under the full moon looking up at the wonder that broke me...

Pure serenity!

In creating this blog I hope to be able to share all my travel stories, exciting events as well as the challenges I have taken on and overcome of course, I also want to encourage other readers and writers to send me their stories that I may post them here.
All languages and happenings are welcome.
I want this to be a collaborative spot for all who may want to diarise events they may want to share and remmember...

Please join me and start posting. :)