Tales and Trails

  September 2023 The wanderlust bug bit again, and this time, the compass needle pointed north. Way north. Mia (my canine co-pilot and Chief Sniffing Officer) and I were ready for our next grand adventure: conquering the German Baltic coast! Originally, I had my heart set on the glitz and glamour of Timmendorfer Strand but apparently, everyone else had the same idea. Either way, finding accommodation that didn't require selling a kidney was impossible. Enter Sierksdorf : the quieter, quirkier cousin next door. I found a perfect apartment with a balcony there, and spoiler alert: it was the best "Plan B" ever. The Great Beach Commute Our apartment was a solid 20-minute walk to the designated dog beach. Since it was September, the strict German "Ordnung" (order) was still in effect, meaning Mia couldn't just frolic on any beach she pleased. But honestly? We didn't mind. The walk took us through a lovely park, which served as an excellent pre-game warmup f...

 This post recounts an epic 4,000-kilometer road trip from Prague to Corfu undertaken by me, the author and my two rescue dogs, Angie and Paula, in May 2025. The journey's purpose was to return to Corfu and volunteer at Marketa's dog shelter , a place dear to my heart. The narrative details the extensive planning involved, including documents, routes through six countries (two non-EU), and ferry travel. It describes various stops, from the serene Lake Balaton in Hungary to the bustling city of Belgrade, and the challenging yet scenic drive through North Macedonia. The highlight is the arrival in Greece, the ferry to Corfu, and the fulfilling daily routine of volunteering and exploring the island with my dogs. The return trip becomes an unexpected adventure when we transport a third dog, Elli, back to Czechia, turning a planned three-day journey into a non-stop 1,500 km drive filled with "vomit saga" challenges but ultimately successful. The post concludes ...

October 2025 Let’s be honest: summer vacations are overrated. The beaches are crowded, the pavement is too hot for paws, and you spend half your time dodging umbrellas. That is why I have discovered the Golden Rule of Dog Travel: Go in October. From October 1st to the end of May, a magical transformation happens across Europe. The "No Dogs Allowed" signs disappear, and almost all beaches open their sandy arms to four-legged visitors all day long. No searching for tiny, fenced-in "dog zones." No restrictions. Just pure, unadulterated, sandy freedom. So, we loaded up the car, packed enough dog food to feed a small army, and headed northwest from Prague to explore the autumn charm of Belgium and the Netherlands. Here is everything we learned—including the expensive lessons. Part 1: The Journey Begins (Prague to the Coast) It is a long haul from Prague to the Belgian coast—roughly 9 to 10 hours of pure driving time. Since my dogs (and my sanity) have limits, we split th...