Hi there!
After browsing VoyageForum, I noticed there isn’t much info about Bulgaria and North Macedonia, where I’m currently traveling.
So, I’m sharing my blog if it can help you plan your Bulgarian or North Macedonian trip...
https://bulgaria2026yan.blogspot.com/
My blog is meant to inform and introduce these destinations—please spare me the comments!
But I’m available here on VoyageForum for any questions.
Happy travels!
Members' personal websites · Eastern Europe
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Hi there! I’m Simon, and for years I’ve been exploring some of Europe’s most beautiful and well-equipped bike paths. My passion for cycling led me to start a blog where I share my travel impressions, practical tips, and photos taken along the way. I ride both well-known routes like the Alpe-Adria, the Loire à Vélo, and the Rhein Route, as well as lesser-known but equally charming regions.

In my stories, I pay special attention to the quality of infrastructure, cyclist safety, and route accessibility—for young and old, experienced riders and beginners alike. I love discovering and sharing spots that are truly welcoming for cycle tourists: well-marked, with rest areas and easy train access.
On the blog, you’ll find ready-to-follow route suggestions, tips for preparing your bike trips, and plenty of inspiration for your next adventures. I travel with my panniers, a camera in the front bag, and always keep an eye out for what’s around me. Feel free to check out my blog, Cycling Thread—you might find some ideas for your next bike getaway! :-)
* * *
I hope this won’t just be a one-off post—I’ll try to share our bike trips with you here regularly. To start: our May trip on the Elberadweg, the queen of German bike paths, between the stunning city of Dresden and Magdeburg. I invite you to visit:
Elberadweg in Germany – From Dresden to Magdeburg
The Elbe bike path is about 1200 km long, following the river from its source in the Giant Mountains in the Czech Republic to its mouth in Cuxhaven, on the North Sea. The route crosses a variety of landscapes: mountain valleys, vineyards, open plains, and coastline. As is often the case in Germany, the signage is excellent and the route easy to follow.
But what surprised us was the number of cobblestone sections! Sure, the cobblestones are well-laid and fairly smooth—but they’re still cobblestones. And when they disappear, they’re often replaced by concrete slabs, typical of river dikes. That’s just part of the face of this 30-year-old "queen"—a heritage that’s hard to replace entirely with fresh asphalt.
Along the way, don’t miss the many cultural highlights. Dresden impresses with its restored old town, the Frauenkirche, and the Brühl Terraces along the Elbe—it’s one of Germany’s most elegant cities. In Meissen, you can visit the famous porcelain factory and its Gothic cathedral. Wittenberg is a must-stop to follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps, with its castle church and Reformation Museum. And to finish, in Dessau-Roßlau, besides the Bauhaus, don’t miss the stunning Dessau-Wörlitz landscape gardens—one of the oldest English-style parks in Europe.
A few photos to give you a feel for the route and inspire you to check out our blog! :-)





Happy cycling!
Simon

In my stories, I pay special attention to the quality of infrastructure, cyclist safety, and route accessibility—for young and old, experienced riders and beginners alike. I love discovering and sharing spots that are truly welcoming for cycle tourists: well-marked, with rest areas and easy train access.
On the blog, you’ll find ready-to-follow route suggestions, tips for preparing your bike trips, and plenty of inspiration for your next adventures. I travel with my panniers, a camera in the front bag, and always keep an eye out for what’s around me. Feel free to check out my blog, Cycling Thread—you might find some ideas for your next bike getaway! :-)
* * *
I hope this won’t just be a one-off post—I’ll try to share our bike trips with you here regularly. To start: our May trip on the Elberadweg, the queen of German bike paths, between the stunning city of Dresden and Magdeburg. I invite you to visit:
Elberadweg in Germany – From Dresden to Magdeburg
The Elbe bike path is about 1200 km long, following the river from its source in the Giant Mountains in the Czech Republic to its mouth in Cuxhaven, on the North Sea. The route crosses a variety of landscapes: mountain valleys, vineyards, open plains, and coastline. As is often the case in Germany, the signage is excellent and the route easy to follow.
But what surprised us was the number of cobblestone sections! Sure, the cobblestones are well-laid and fairly smooth—but they’re still cobblestones. And when they disappear, they’re often replaced by concrete slabs, typical of river dikes. That’s just part of the face of this 30-year-old "queen"—a heritage that’s hard to replace entirely with fresh asphalt.
Along the way, don’t miss the many cultural highlights. Dresden impresses with its restored old town, the Frauenkirche, and the Brühl Terraces along the Elbe—it’s one of Germany’s most elegant cities. In Meissen, you can visit the famous porcelain factory and its Gothic cathedral. Wittenberg is a must-stop to follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps, with its castle church and Reformation Museum. And to finish, in Dessau-Roßlau, besides the Bauhaus, don’t miss the stunning Dessau-Wörlitz landscape gardens—one of the oldest English-style parks in Europe.
A few photos to give you a feel for the route and inspire you to check out our blog! :-)





Happy cycling!
Simon
Check out my blog about Crete and Gavdos:
https://iledecrete.wordpress.com/
You’ll find ideas for getaways and discoveries
Hi there! There are so many valleys to discover in Cappadocia—it’s hard to figure out which ones to visit and in what order before you’re actually there. So, I put together a 3-day itinerary after my trip in October, packed with useful info: the cost of visits, how to book a hot-air balloon flight, which valleys to explore, and more.
Here’s the link: https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2023/10/3-jours-pour-visiter-la-cappadoce.html
Hope this helps! :)
Hope this helps! :)
Hi there, if you're looking for info on a 2-week itinerary in Albania, I’ve detailed everything in this post:
https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2025/09/itineraire-de-15-jours-pour-faire-le.html
> how to do the Theth to Valbona hike and return via Lake Koman > what to visit across the country > our favorite spots and what we don’t recommend > the budget > where to rent a car
PLUS tons of other useful tips!!
> how to do the Theth to Valbona hike and return via Lake Koman > what to visit across the country > our favorite spots and what we don’t recommend > the budget > where to rent a car
PLUS tons of other useful tips!!
Hi there,
In September/October 2018, we toured Albania with a quick detour into Macedonia and another into northern Greece (Lefkada Island, the Zagoria region, and Vikos Gorge) in our fitted-out van. First, the drive to Albania (crossing France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro), then Shkodër and Valbona, Lake Koman, Krujë and Elbasan, Lake Ohrid, the thermal springs of Përmet, Gjirokastër, Ksamil and Butrint, the Albanian Riviera, Zvërnec, Berat, Karavasta, and back via Venice.
We wrote a travel journal of this trip, including our stopovers, on our website here: https://www.unendroitoualler.fr/albanie-2018/
Hope this helps future travelers to this country... Anne
Hope this helps future travelers to this country... Anne
Hi everyone,
I just got back from a 10-day trip to Albania, and I wanted to share a great discovery for those looking for spots still untouched by mass tourism: the Karaburun peninsula.
It’s a pretty wild area, with impressive cliffs, coves only accessible by boat, and water in an incredible shade of blue. It’s easy to get there from Vlora, by water taxi or on an excursion.
For accommodation, we preferred staying in Vlora itself, which makes it easy to explore the region without moving around too much.
I put together a little practical guide for those interested (with info on access, beaches, boat tips, etc.): 👉 Karaburun
If you’ve also visited the area or have other little-known spots to recommend in the region, I’d love to hear about them! 😊
I just got back from a 10-day trip to Albania, and I wanted to share a great discovery for those looking for spots still untouched by mass tourism: the Karaburun peninsula.
It’s a pretty wild area, with impressive cliffs, coves only accessible by boat, and water in an incredible shade of blue. It’s easy to get there from Vlora, by water taxi or on an excursion.
For accommodation, we preferred staying in Vlora itself, which makes it easy to explore the region without moving around too much.
I put together a little practical guide for those interested (with info on access, beaches, boat tips, etc.): 👉 Karaburun
If you’ve also visited the area or have other little-known spots to recommend in the region, I’d love to hear about them! 😊
Kalimera,
Take a look at my blog about Crete:
https://iledecrete.wordpress.com/
You’ll definitely find some great ideas for getaways and discoveries there...
Hi everyone,
At the end of October 2024, we were lucky enough to spend a little over a week in Turkey—heading to Antalya. We then set off on a 6-day road trip exploring southern and western Turkey! Since planning a trip isn’t always easy, we’re sharing our itinerary and feedback on the different places we visited.
With a few photos, we hope to wow you 😎!
Here’s our loop itinerary starting from Antalya (a packed schedule, but it let us see so much):
Day 1 - Antalya (Kaleiçi, the historic center of Antalya) and Lara Beach

Day 2 - The Lycian site of Myra and the port of Kaş


Day 3 - The Turquoise Coast: Kaputaş Beach, the beach and dunes of Patara, the Saklıkent Canyon, the “ghost village” of Kayaköy, the ruins of Telmessos, and the Tomb of Amyntas



Day 4 - The Iztuzu Beach and the village of Şirince


Day 5 - The ancient city of Ephesus and the rural village of Birgi

Day 6 - Pamukkale and Hierapolis, then the seaside resort of Side before returning to Antalya (Day 7 in the morning).

So, does this make you want to take a little road trip in Turkey or what 😉?
For each visit, we’ve shared on our personal blog https://ideesdevoyage.fr (type it directly into your address bar) the practical info you need to know (hours, prices, etc.), but most importantly, tips to make the most of your visit (where to park for free, how to avoid crowds, the best time for great lighting, must-see photo spots, and more).
We hope this itinerary and our tips will inspire you and help you plan your future trip to southern and western Turkey.
If you’d like to react or have any questions, don’t hesitate!
At the end of October 2024, we were lucky enough to spend a little over a week in Turkey—heading to Antalya. We then set off on a 6-day road trip exploring southern and western Turkey! Since planning a trip isn’t always easy, we’re sharing our itinerary and feedback on the different places we visited.
With a few photos, we hope to wow you 😎!
Here’s our loop itinerary starting from Antalya (a packed schedule, but it let us see so much):
Day 1 - Antalya (Kaleiçi, the historic center of Antalya) and Lara Beach

Day 2 - The Lycian site of Myra and the port of Kaş


Day 3 - The Turquoise Coast: Kaputaş Beach, the beach and dunes of Patara, the Saklıkent Canyon, the “ghost village” of Kayaköy, the ruins of Telmessos, and the Tomb of Amyntas



Day 4 - The Iztuzu Beach and the village of Şirince


Day 5 - The ancient city of Ephesus and the rural village of Birgi

Day 6 - Pamukkale and Hierapolis, then the seaside resort of Side before returning to Antalya (Day 7 in the morning).

So, does this make you want to take a little road trip in Turkey or what 😉?
For each visit, we’ve shared on our personal blog https://ideesdevoyage.fr (type it directly into your address bar) the practical info you need to know (hours, prices, etc.), but most importantly, tips to make the most of your visit (where to park for free, how to avoid crowds, the best time for great lighting, must-see photo spots, and more).
We hope this itinerary and our tips will inspire you and help you plan your future trip to southern and western Turkey.
If you’d like to react or have any questions, don’t hesitate!
An interesting destination to discover for the end-of-year holidays, the Baltics. We visited Riga in Latvia (5 nights) and Tallinn in Estonia (4 nights) over 9 days in December 2024.
We loved Riga—the calm of its old town, its atmosphere, its architecture, and all the things to explore. Its little Christmas market is really nice. A great discovery.
Tallinn is a beautiful city, both modern on one side and with its medieval old town rich in history on the other. A bit livelier and more touristy than Riga, Tallinn is a city worth discovering by the Baltic Sea.
These two countries aren’t necessarily "cheap" compared to France. At this time of year, expect gray skies, short days, cold weather, and snow.
Our day-by-day travel journal is available here.
We loved Riga—the calm of its old town, its atmosphere, its architecture, and all the things to explore. Its little Christmas market is really nice. A great discovery.
Tallinn is a beautiful city, both modern on one side and with its medieval old town rich in history on the other. A bit livelier and more touristy than Riga, Tallinn is a city worth discovering by the Baltic Sea.
These two countries aren’t necessarily "cheap" compared to France. At this time of year, expect gray skies, short days, cold weather, and snow.
Our day-by-day travel journal is available here.
If you're torn between visiting Knossos and Phaistos during your trip to Crete, here are a few points to help you decide!
Knossos is the island’s most famous and most visited archaeological site, largely thanks to its impressive Minoan palace and its proximity to Heraklion. It’s a must-see for history, mythology, and archaeology buffs.
That said, to avoid disappointment, you should know the site is completely reconstructed according to one archaeologist’s vision. So, it’s all very concrete...
See the full details on Knossos
Phaistos, on the other hand, is quieter and less crowded, which can make for a more intimate and peaceful experience. Its palace is less restored than Knossos’s, but Phaistos has its own charm thanks to its stunning views of the Messara Plain and the Libyan Sea. The site is simpler but just as fascinating, with its ruins and the famous "Phaistos Disc," a mysterious artifact that still puzzles researchers.
Check out the info on Phaistos for some photos
That said, to avoid disappointment, you should know the site is completely reconstructed according to one archaeologist’s vision. So, it’s all very concrete...
See the full details on Knossos
Phaistos, on the other hand, is quieter and less crowded, which can make for a more intimate and peaceful experience. Its palace is less restored than Knossos’s, but Phaistos has its own charm thanks to its stunning views of the Messara Plain and the Libyan Sea. The site is simpler but just as fascinating, with its ruins and the famous "Phaistos Disc," a mysterious artifact that still puzzles researchers.
Check out the info on Phaistos for some photos
Hi there,
We’d love to share our adventures with you through our travel stories and journals on MyAtlas.
What makes our travel stories and journals special is that they’re all written day by day:
- a month in Laos 🇱🇦 - a month in Thailand 🇹🇭 - a month in Vietnam 🇻🇳 - a week in Marrakech 🇲🇦 - 2 weeks under the Mexican sun 🇲🇽 - hiking the "Mare a Mare" trails in Corsica (South / Central / North) 🇨🇵 - Prague and Wrocław in December 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 - Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest in December 🇦🇹 🇸🇰 🇭🇺 - a Christmas in New York / back for Christmas in New York 🇺🇸 - New Year’s in New York 🇺🇸
We’re also on social media, where we share our best photos: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok (chris.et.lolo) / Pinterest.
We’d love to share our adventures with you through our travel stories and journals on MyAtlas.
What makes our travel stories and journals special is that they’re all written day by day:
- a month in Laos 🇱🇦 - a month in Thailand 🇹🇭 - a month in Vietnam 🇻🇳 - a week in Marrakech 🇲🇦 - 2 weeks under the Mexican sun 🇲🇽 - hiking the "Mare a Mare" trails in Corsica (South / Central / North) 🇨🇵 - Prague and Wrocław in December 🇨🇿 🇵🇱 - Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest in December 🇦🇹 🇸🇰 🇭🇺 - a Christmas in New York / back for Christmas in New York 🇺🇸 - New Year’s in New York 🇺🇸
We’re also on social media, where we share our best photos: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok (chris.et.lolo) / Pinterest.
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