19.12.2022

Canada finally eased their entry restrictions so I was able to visit my family, after 3 years! When I arrived it was +25C, after a couple of weeks it changed to almost -30C (yes, you did read that right!), and eventually settled between 0C and -10C. Yikes! I had to go buy winter boots because there was so much snow, lol.

Despite the bad weather, it was an amazing trip. Being able to catch up (in person) with family and friends was priceless, and I did manage to get out and take some photos, mostly in and around High River, AB, and then some in Banff National Park. I must admit though, that as hard as it was to say goodbye, I was happy to get back home to the warmth and the sun ...and Andrzej, of course.

More pictures in the gallery Canada.

Shona



23.10.2022

I tumble, struggling to ride the turbulent winds.
I flutter, wondering how I ended up like this.
I drift, helplessly seeking a safe place to land.
I fall, unable to control my descent into madness.
I soar, I have been gifted a second chance.
I settle, into the gentle embrace of the earth.
I am safe.

Shona



02.10.2022

I'm still enjoying experimenting with my camera, and considering the purchase of a new telephoto lens. But, yikes, pricey! Lately I've been fascinated with long exposure and ICM (intentional camera movement). Tricky to find a good balance but a lot of fun to play around with. We're lucky to live near a good beach with a variety of weather conditions, and I could spend hours clicking away. So far I've been doing everything holding the camera by hand but next I will try using a tripod. It's definitely not for everyone but, for now, I'm enjoying the process.

I've also recently decided to try Vero, as, sadly, Instagram is slowly pushing aside traditional photography posts. Here's a link if you're interested in checking out more of my work. Mostly black & white, with the occasional splash of colour.

https://vero.co/shonapaget

Shona



10.09.2022

I just spent a few very intense days hiking and scrambling in the north-east part of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The weather was excellent, sunny with only a mild wind. I managed to summit quite a few three-thousanders including Cerro Pelado (3182 m), Puntal de Vacares (3144 m) and Picon de Jerez (3088 m), at the very north end of the range. The most interesting and challenging rock section, between Collado de Vacares and Puntal del Goteron, offers very nice scrambling with a spectacular view of the Alcazaba north face.

More pictures in the gallery Sierra Nevada.

Andrzej



31.08.2022

On this date, 35 years ago, with a small backpack and 200 dollars in my pocket, I left communist Poland. My first stop, after crossing the “Iron Curtain”, was Munich, Germany, where I spent two years figuring out the western “ways of life”, hahaha.

I decided to go back this year, and what a trip down memory lane it was. The city looks and feels as interesting and cosmopolitan as it was back then.

Andrzej



18.08.2022

Driving through Madrid in the early morning rush hour can be very stressful and exhausting, especially after spending almost the whole night behind the wheel. I needed to get out of the car for a while so I decided to stop for a short sight-seeing break, in the city of Toledo.

From Wiki: Located on the banks of the Tagus in central Iberia, Toledo is known as the "Imperial City" because it was the main venue of the court of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in Spain, and as the "City of the Three Cultures" for the cultural influences of Christians, Muslims, and Jews reflected in its history. It was the capital of the Visigothic kingdom, which followed the fall of the Roman Empire, and the location of historic events such as the Councils of Toledo. The city, seat of a powerful archdiocese for much of its history, has a Gothic Cathedral, the Catedral Primada de Espana, and a long history in the production of bladed weapons, which are now common souvenirs of the city.

Wandering around the narrow, empty, peaceful streets in the morning air was very refreshing and revitalizing.

Andrzej



14.08.2022

Toulouse-La Ville Rose (The Pink City) on the banks of the River Garonne, is the fourth-largest city in France and the centre of the European aerospace industry, with the headquarters of Airbus, the SPOT satellite system, ATR and the Aerospace Valley. The city's unique architecture made of pinkish terracotta bricks has earned Toulouse the nickname. Worth a visit.

Andrzej



11.08.2022

Finally, I managed to visit Milan, Italy. It’s a beautiful and vibrant city. Interesting architecture, museums (major works by Leonardo da Vinci), art galleries, brand name stores and, unfortunately billions of tourists in the front of the Duomo. I guess the pandemic is over, too bad not every government thinks that way (WTF Canada!!!). I’m thinking that maybe August is not exactly the best time to go there, hahaha.

Andrzej



08.08.2022

On my way back home I decided to visit Switzerland again, this time the only entirely Italian-speaking Ticino canton. The Alps are as spectacular as in other parts of the country, the climate definitely not-swiss like (plus 38 C in Lugano!).

Andrzej



30.07.2022

Today, I ran a mountain half-marathon, the Grand Izerska Loop, in Szklarska Poręba, for the third time (previously in 2013 and 2014). It was a very wet day (rain all the way) and the route was very muddy, slippery, and demanding (320 m elevation gain). I survived, yay. My time: 02h, 17m, 02s (8th place in M60+ category).

Andrzej



10.07.2022

An exciting long weekend in the Totes Gebirge (Dead Mountains), a moonlike-looking mountain range in Austria. Two friends from our mountaineering club (Barbara and Janek) and I decided to try one of the more remote klettersteig (via ferrata), Tassilo on Schermberg mountain (2396 m). If you decide to do it in one day, be prepared for a long and exhausting one. Around 3 hours to approach, 3 to 5 hours of climbing (we did it in 3.5 h), and then (the worst part, hahaha) 4 to 5 hours of descent to the nearest mountain hut. In total, almost 1800 meters of elevation gain. Masakra!

Andrzej





30.06.2022

The rest of my trip to Poland took me through some very interesting places in Austria, Germany, and Czechia. It's probably the best thing about living in Europe, that in relatively short distances you can find such diversity in history, culture, and lifestyle.

Andrzej



27.06.2022

When we went to Liechtenstein for the first time, in 2011, it was raining so hard that Felix refuse to leave the car, hahaha. This time was better, I guess the second time is a charm. Contrary to popular belief, the tiny principality is very interesting, at least in my opinion. Alpine scenery, medieval castles, and modern art, what else is there? Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein is an absolute must.

Picture nr2: Instalation by Diamond Stingily, Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein.

Andrzej



25.06.2022

Switzerland - cuckoo clocks, purple cows, and yodeling? Not quite, hahaha. My plan was to spend a few days hiking in Grindelwald area, and do some sight-seeing in Bern. Unfortunately, the weather in the mountains didn't cooperate (surprise, surprise) so a sight-seeing trip it was.

Bern was pretty relaxed and quiet with some interesting things to see. Zentrum Paul Klee was a letdown, with only one exhibition on display, but having a little bit more time I also went to the city of Luzern (Lucerne), which is spectacularly located on a beautiful lake. The city is definitely worth visiting.

Andrzej





20.06.2022

The next stop on my way north-east was one of the most popular tourist attractions in France, the picturesque city of Avignon.

Set on the Rhone River, in southeastern France’s Provence region, Avignon was the seat of the Catholic popes, from 1309 to 1377. It remained under papal rule until becoming part of France in 1791. This legacy can be seen in the massive Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace) in the city center, which is surrounded by medieval stone ramparts.

The historic city centre, the Popes' Palace, all the episcopal buildings and the Saint Benezet Bridge are listed as world heritage sites by UNESCO.

Andrzej



15.06.2022

Zaragoza, also known in English as Saragossa, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain. It lies by the Ebro river and its tributaries, the Huerva and the Gallego, roughly in the center of both Aragon and the Ebro basin.

The city is famous for its folklore, local cuisine, and landmarks such as the Basílica del Pilar, La Seo Cathedral and the Aljafería Palace. Together with La Seo and the Aljafería, several other buildings form part of the Mudejar Architecture of Aragon which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Fiestas del Pilar are among the most celebrated festivals in Spain (from Wiki).

Andrzej



29.05.2022

We finally managed a trip to Cordoba! We've been talking about going there for the last 4 years, lol. I've been there before but it was over 30 years ago ...yikes. We decided to combine it with a visit to the city of Jaen, which is famous for its beautiful cathedral. Also, on the way, we stopped at El Torqual de Antequera, which is a nature reserve in the Sierra del Torcal mountain range and famous for its unusal rock formations.

We didn't pick a very good time for this trip, there were so many people everywhere and it was insanely hot. We didn't even make it inside the famous Mezquita in Cordoba because the lines were too long. Nonetheless, we had a really nice time wandering the narrow streets and soaking up the lively atmosphere, and of course we took loads of photos. It was nice to have a change of scenery and we know we'll go back another time, when there are less tourists and it won't be so hot.

Shona






02.05.2022

1st annual Estepona Coastal Path Half Marathon. A surprisingly hilly and very complicated route. Add an insanely hot day to this and you have a recipe for a disaster. And a disaster it was. I finished the race but my time was sooo bad that it's not even worth mentioning, hahaha. Personally, I think that May is already too hot for long-distance running in southern Spain (but maybe it's just me, hahaha).

Andrzej



28.04.2022

Just over 30 years ago, I embarked on my first solo backpacking trip. How is that even possible?! I'm sure I'm only a few years older! Never having been further than Mexico, and never having travelled by myself, this was a big deal for me. Armed with my brand-new Let's Go guidebook, and a 35mm film camera, I jetted off to Europe, where I spent 4 months travelling around Spain and Portugal. I almost went to Morocco, too, but I was warned off travelling there alone and I couldn't find anyone to go with. You couldn't use credit cards in many places, there were few ATMs, and certainly no internet cafes. Over 20 rolls of film and I ended up with maybe a dozen decent photos, lol. I walked, and walked, and walked, soaking it all in. I met a lot of amazing people from all over the world and learned to see the world through new eyes.

There's no doubt that it had a huge influence on the person I've become, and it certainly cemented my desire to see the world.

Shona





28.03.2022

I ran the Bahia De Cadiz half-marathon from San Fernando to Cadiz for the third time. The weather was not too bad, I'm not in the worst shape, so hopes were high. Unfortunately, a sudden strong head wind for the last 4k was a reality check, hahaha.
My time: 02h, 01m, 56s.

Andrzej



24.02.2022

Sierra Crestellina is a small mountain range located in the southeast of Malaga province, in Spain. Protected since 1989, the area extends over 470 ha within the municipality of Casares. Due to high annual rainfall and not overly hot summers the range is covered with lush vegetation of holm and cork oaks, and maquis and wild olive trees. The highest point is Cerro de las Chapas at 946 m. The hiking trails in the area are  accesible year round, and the nearby picturesque town of Casares is also worth visiting.

Below are a few pics from my latest hikes.

Andrzej



07.01.2022

Despite the challenges of the current situation, we managed to find a way to ring in the new year, and celebrate my birthday, with some beach vibes. A trip to Playa de Bolonia on the Atlantic coast of Spain, where we enjoyed the sun, sea, and sand, and I even managed to brave the cold water for a few minutes! Let's hope that 2022 brings about the return of some semblance of normality and freedom. Cheers!!!

Shona