Budapest is one of the most beautiful metropolises in Central Europe – a city I was finally able to visit and explore for a few days this past October. It captivates visitors with a fascinating blend of historic architecture, magnificent boulevards, and the mighty Danube River, which divides the city into its two districts: Buda and Pest. While the hilly Buda side is home to the historic Castle District, featuring the Castle Palace and the Fisherman’s Bastion, the flatter Pest side is defined by elegant, grand buildings, lively squares, and wide avenues.

Perhaps the most iconic landmark of the Hungarian capital is the Parliament Building on the Pest side; with its Neo-Gothic facade, numerous turrets, and imposing dome, it stands directly on the banks of the Danube. This magnificent structure is one of the most striking buildings in Europe and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. The Parliament is particularly impressive when viewed from the opposite Danube bank in Buda – whether amidst the vibrant, colorful hues of autumn or during the blue hour, when the building with the famous Chain Bridge in the foreground is artfully illuminated.

The Chain Bridge connects the two halves of the city, Buda and Pest. Together with the Castle Palace, the Parliament Building, and the historic riverside promenades, it creates one of the most beautiful urban vistas I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

I’m delighted to announce that my 2027 calendars from Basel & Laufenburg, Outer Hebrides (Scotland), Hawaii (USA), Southwest USA, Tasmania (Australia), New Zealand, Switzerland, Canary Islands, Norway, El Hierro, La Palma, the Caribbean, Indonesia and Namibia can now be ordered in online shops (delivery within EU) and in local bookshops via ISBN. They are available in sizes A2, A3 and A4 and can be ordered from Amazon, Buch24.de or in your bookstore. The price depends on the size and starts at 20.90 Euro.

The following calendars are also available in English: Tasmania (Australia), Windward Islands (Caribbean), Switzerland and Outer Hebrides (UK) as well as one Switzerland calendar in French.

You can view all calendars with page-by-page previews and all purchase options on Sandra Schänzer’s Calvendo author page or browse through the calendars on my Calendar information page here in my blog.

A highlight of my journey through Turkmenistan was spending a night in a tent in the Karakum Desert, nestled within the wonderfully colorful Yangisuw Canyon. After a long, high-speed jeep ride, the first glimpse of these canyons – situated on what was once the floor of the ancient Tethys Sea – was truly overwhelming. I found myself in a landscape that holds its history deep within the Earth’s past: millions of years ago, this area was covered by the Tethys Sea. Over vast stretches of geological time, sediments, limestone, and other rock layers accumulated on the seabed, only to be thrust upward by the immense forces of the Earth’s crust. Where seawater once surged, there now rise arid, rugged mountains and canyons – a more than fascinating example of how profoundly a landscape can transform over the course of geological history.

Following another two hours of a bumpy, fast-paced drive, we reached a plateau that offered a spectacular, magnificent view of the Yangisuw Canyon and the vast desert beyond. I was particularly struck by my first look at the vibrant canyons, with their rock faces glowing in shades of red, orange, yellow, and white. Over millions of years, wind and water have sculpted the soft rock layers, carving out deep gorges, bizarre formations, and craggy cliffs. Amidst the barren landscape, these colorful strata appear almost like an abstract painting, making this former Tethys seabed an extraordinary subject for photography – one to which I would dedicate plenty of time over the hours that followed!

The colors of the canyon were especially beautiful in the golden light of the setting sun; under the moonlight, with the stars and the vibrant hues, the atmosphere became even more magnificent – a moment I savored all on my own, in absolute silence in the middle of the desert. After a very warm and uncomfortable night in my tent, I was able to capture this fascinating landscape in the first light of day, revealing yet another facet of the canyon. What an incredible landscape, deep within the Karakum Desert!

You can view photos of the Yangisuw Canyon and read about my experiences in the desert in the Turkmenistan chapter of my travelogue. Enjoy!

Southeastern Kazakhstan was the final stop on my summer journey through Central Asia. I spent two days at Kolsay Lakes National Park, located on the northern slopes of the Tian Shan mountains, about 300 kilometers from Almaty. The Kolsay system comprises three mountain lakes at varying altitudes; I visited only the lower lake, an emerald-green gem nestled in a wooded valley at an elevation of 1,800 meters. Surrounded by dense coniferous forests and steep mountain slopes, the two-kilometer-long lake reminded me almost of my home in the Black Forest!

The Kolsay Lakes were formed following a massive earthquake in the late 19th century. Huge quantities of rock and soil slid into the gorge, creating natural dams that blocked the river and allowed the lakes to form.

Hiking along the lakeshore is a wonderful way to explore the area. The path offers constantly changing views of the clear water, dark forests, and the Tian Shan mountain backdrop. I enjoyed strolling along the shore in peace – far from the tourist crowds – breathing in the fresh mountain air and photographing the landscape from various angles. It was a nearly windless morning, and in the calm conditions, the surrounding forests and mountains were perfectly reflected in the clear mountain lake. A symphony of green and blue!

For those wishing to hike further, a moderately challenging trek leads from the lower Kolsay Lake to the middle lake; the latter is located a two hours walk away at a higher elevation. I didn’t do this hike, and it wouldn’t have been worth it for me either: the second lake and the landscape don’t look much different!

The “Golden City” of Prague in the Czech Republic had long been on my travel bucket list, and in mid-September, I finally spent nearly a full week in this beautiful city. Naturally, photography was high on the agenda alongside sightseeing -especially during the early morning or early evening, at the “blue hour.”

For me, the Charles Bridge – offering a view of Prague Castle – was one of the most beautiful and atmospheric spots in the city. This historic bridge connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town and has spanned the Vltava River since the Middle Ages. Construction began in 1357 under Emperor Charles IV after the older Judith Bridge had been destroyed by a flood. Particularly impressive are the numerous Baroque statues of saints adorning the parapets since the 17th century – some are original, while others are replicas. A walk across the bridge offers repeated views of the Vltava, the towers of the Lesser Town, and the vista up to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. The Charles Bridge takes on a truly special atmosphere in the evening during the blue hour, just as the city’s lights begin to twinkle on.

One of my favorite views of this Prague landmark was from the Old Town Bridge Tower. From up there, the Charles Bridge appeared as a sparkling line across the Vltava during the blue hour, while the city’s warmly illuminated buildings and towers were reflected in the water. In the background, Prague Castle loomed majestically over the city – an evocative sight where Prague’s historic silhouette blended beautifully with the unique evening light. It was an absolute dream for photographers, offering a wonderful array of ever-changing subjects.

The Crozon Peninsula on Brittany’s Atlantic coast captivated me immediately with its wild and diverse landscape when I visited this beautiful region in June. Rugged cliffs, striking granite formations, hidden coves, long sandy beaches, heathlands and the endless expanse of the Atlantic define this fascinating area. Along the red-and-white marked GR 34 coastal trail – known as the Sentier des Douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path) – spectacular views of the beautiful landscape of southwestern Brittany constantly unfold.

The Customs Officers’ Path winds its way for over 1,800 kilometers along the Breton coast. The Sentier des Douaniers was originally established in the 1790s to allow customs brigades to monitor the coastline. At that time, the coast was divided into sections, each overseen by a brigade of customs officers. Their task was to patrol in pairs,day and night, from small guard huts and to track down smugglers arriving primarily from England or the Netherlands. Today, hikers can traverse almost the entire Breton coastline along this path and admire the scenery.

The coast is no less spectacular when viewed from the water, as I discovered during two boat trips from the little harbour of the town Morgat.

In fact, the entire Crozon Peninsula is composed of sedimentary rock with stacked layers that are clearly visible on the cliff faces. More than 360 million years ago, this region lay entirely underwater. Layers of sand and mud gradually accumulated on the seabed, where they were compressed and transformed into sandstone and shale. Later, tectonic forces came into play: they folded, bent, and tilted these rock layers, shaping the landscape as it appears today. The once-grey, smooth rock faces are now adorned with vibrant hues, shades of red, yellow, white, and green. These fascinating colors result from a chemical reaction between iron-rich minerals and the algae and lichens covering the rock faces. The two photos here offer a glimpse of this true spectacle of color.

You can view all the photos from the boat tours along the Crozon Peninsula coast and the landscapes at Cap de la Chèvre in the Crozon Peninsula section of my travelogue website. Enjoy!

Kyrgyzstan boasts some stunning landscapes, and the Skazka Canyon – also known as “Fairytale Canyon” – on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul is certainly one of them. This landscape truly lives up to its name! As soon as I entered the canyon, I was immersed in a surreal world of reddish-brown, ochre, and yellowish rock formations. Over millennia, wind and water have sculpted the soft sedimentary layers into fantastic shapes resembling castles, towers, animals and mysterious figures. The deeper I ventured between the canyon walls, the more the landscape shifted; around every bend, I discovered a new, unusual formation – I was in a rock-lover’s paradise!

I found the varying color layers in the rock particularly fascinating. Depending on the position of the sun, the rocks glow in vibrant shades of red, orange, and brown, creating a striking contrast against the deep blue sky of the Kyrgyz steppe. From the canyon’s higher vantage points, the view stretches far across the barren landscape to Lake Issyk-Kul, its waters appearing like a blue ribbon amidst the mountains. The combination of bizarre rock formations, arid steppe, and the vast lake made Skazka Canyon one of the most unique and beautiful photographic subjects of my journey through Kyrgyzstan.

The name “Skazka” means “fairytale” in Russian, and indeed, I felt as though I were wandering through a fairytale landscape crafted by nature. As a photographer, I found the colors endlessly captivating; with every step, the perspective, light, and shadow shifted, making the rocks appear different each time. For me, Fairytale Canyon is therefore one of the places at Issyk-Kul that impressed and delighted me the most.

Looking back, Kyrgyzstan was the country I enjoyed the least overall, yet the Tash-Rabat plateau – with the historic ruins of its caravanserai – was an absolute highlight. Surrounding Tash-Rabat, located in the Naryn Region of southern Kyrgyzstan, is the impressive high-mountain landscape of the Tian Shan range.

The historic caravanserai sits at an altitude of approximately 3,200 meters in a secluded, treeless valley framed by gently rolling green pastures and stark, towering mountain slopes. The mountains and meadows glowed beautifully in the golden evening light, and I found the contrast between the lush green of the summer pastures, the bare mountain ridges, and the clear sky truly captivating. Horses and yaks graze on the expansive meadows, while traditional yurts stand nearby – a landscape that still offers a glimpse into the nomadic way of life in Kyrgyzstan’s high mountains.

The valley’s remoteness, the majestic mountain backdrop, and the near-total silence made Tash-Rabat a particularly memorable stop on my journey through Kyrgyzstan.

The caravanserai is a massive stone structure that, set amidst the vast green mountain landscape, looks almost like a fortress. Its exact date of construction remains uncertain; the complex was likely built in the 15th century upon the remains of an older structure. It served as a sheltered resting place for travelers and merchants along a Silk Road spur that wound through the high mountains of Central Asia.

Inside, numerous small chambers are arranged around a central courtyard; here, merchants, travelers, and their companions could find shelter from the extreme weather. Their goods and livestock could also be safely accommodated within the complex. History felt somehow alive here, and I could easily picture how caravans with horses, camels, and precious goods used to stop here centuries ago.

Traveling along the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan – bordering Afghanistan and flanked by the towering peaks of the Hindu Kush – was one of the scenic highlights of my journey through Central Asia. After leaving the border zone, we reached the Tajik National Park in the GBAO region, where the landscape underwent a dramatic transformation. Gone were the high-altitude ranges with their snow-capped peaks; in their place lay a mountain landscape of breathtaking colors, dotted with deep blue-green lakes.

GBAO stands for Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast; visiting the region requires a special permit that must be obtained prior to the trip. This vast mountainous area covers nearly half of Tajikistan’s territory yet remains sparsely populated, encompassing large sections of the Pamirs with their deeply incised valleys, high-altitude lakes, and colossal mountain scenery.

In the Tajik National Park, I was particularly captivated by the mountains, whose rock faces glow in varying shades of red, brown, gray, and yellow depending on the light. Combined with the deep blue sky and the clear water of the lakes, the result was an almost surreal color palette. One of these bodies of water is Yashilkul Lake – meaning “Green Lake” – and it certainly lives up to its name. The landscape here feels incredibly vast and devoid of human presence; only the occasional yak or bird can be spotted.

Yashilkul Lake is undoubtedly one of the most impressive lakes in the eastern Pamirs. Situated at an altitude of around 3,700 meters, this freshwater lake – shimmering in shades of turquoise and green – is nestled amidst expansive, barren mountain terrain. Yashilkul lies within the extraordinary high-mountain world of the GBAO and is also part of the Tajik National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013.

A stunning landscape in Tajikistan that shouldn’t be missed on any trip.

To kick off my summer trip this year, I spent a week in late June on the idyllic Channel Island of Jersey. As the largest and most scenically diverse of the British Channel Islands, Jersey lies just a few kilometers off the French coast, fascinatingly blending a British way of life with French charm.

The island captivated me with its varied landscape of rugged cliffs, golden sandy beaches, picturesque bays, and green pastures. Interspersed among these are historic fortresses, lighthouses, and charming towns that tell the story of Jersey’s eventful past. A perfect combination!

I was particularly drawn to the north coast with its green cliffs; I explored the area by bike, on foot, and – for a completely different perspective – by boat. One especially delightful attraction is the larger-than-life “Kissing Puffins” sculpture in the northwest of the island. The two puffins are crafted from a steel framework wrapped in woven willow branches. With their beaks touching, they look like a pair of lovebirds – simply adorable!

The local company Jersey Seafaris offers various boat tours, such as trips to the Écréhous islands – a place I’ve already written about in my blog post regarding the terns that live there. Another tour takes you along the rugged north coast, offering fantastic views of the shoreline, colorful rock formations, and caves. I was particularly impressed and fascinated by the vibrant colors of the rock strata.

You can find my full travelogue about my week in Jersey – complete with photos, hikes, bike rides and boat trips –  in my Jersey trip report chapter  on my travel website. Thanks for stopping by!