Reset search
Michael Spies
Michael Spies

Michael Spies

traveled in 23 countries Read more🇩🇪Icking
FollowMessageStatistics
  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    a gigantesque brand new 6 lane highway with ultra modern bridge crossing the Isthmus into Asia
    Istanbul in the distanceour first Moshee with singing Muezzin. We must be in the OrientThe modern way of parking long vans at a shopping center in Ankara

    ...on to the asian side

    October 18, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Since we were last here, Turkey has changed dramatically, new modern highways, huge modern cities in the middle of nowhere. Everything new and gigantesque!
    The State has been spending incredible money on developing infrastructure. This can be felt everywhere! But when countries spend money they don't really have it always ends in inflation, and Turkey has "buckets" of that, with last September hitting over 80%, which is frightening!

    On the more beautiful side of things, are the huge moshees with their minarets marking every corner of the landscape, and at prayer time the muezzin singing his call to prayer which echos across the town. This sound warms our hearts and is full of memories. It is the symbol of the orient!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Turkish coast before the Isthmus leading to Asian continent
    The best Fresh vegetables on the streetThe "we sell everything" shop

    ...and on to Turkey

    October 17, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Today we entered Turkey, a country full of beautiful memories from our 4-month road trip in 2014.
    The Difference was the boarder crossing which took hours with km long waiting trucks, armed Greek boarder posts angry at us for traveling to Turkey! And then when we passed the last Turkish boarder guard he smiled with a huge smile at the car "you Deutschland? very good!"
    We immediately felt back in the Turkish "Gastfreundschaft" of our last visit.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Dream location for worst night yet!
    polishing the smallest corner of our beautiful composting toiletnow, where is that screw that fell into the sand?all tools in their first emergency use

    The night catastrophy hit us.

    October 16, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Quite a beautiful location, wouldn't you agree?
    well it was the night of the catastrophy!
    And I shan't give you the details to save your stomachs!
    Well at 3am I went to the toilet to do what one does at night! and wondered why the normal splashing sound in the container was missing!
    Half asleep I opened the toilet to check the container for liquids. It was full to the brim. The rest of the pee had gone into the toilet, through the bottom onto the floor and under the cupboard.
    We had forgotten to empty the toilet the day before!!!!!
    The rest of the night, with head lamps on our foreheads we dismantled the toilet, dismantled the cupboard, mopped floors poured vinegar every where and used the rest of our water on-board to shower the toilet clean. The result was a short circuit that followed us for days.
    this was a night that will remain in our minds for the rest of our lives    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Standing at the sea listening to the waves
    cotton fieldscottonThe "cotton eater" harvestingfull of cottonthis man didn't even need a sheep dog, the sheep reacted to his voice immediatelyFilling our water tank. First in a bucket, then pump it through the UV-light into the tank. Best d

    The sea at last!

    October 15, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    just before Alexandropolous, we are now spending the night directly next to the sea, with incessant waves pounding the rocks.
    What a beautiful sound❤
    coming here we passed cotton fields that were just being harvested by a "cotton eater" 😀Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Irony! "Easy credit" on the sign in front of the dilapidated Park with one of the national heroes whBroken down and left there!A few meters further, this sign pointing to where you can buy Japanese machinesEnjoying my last Bulgarian Bahnitza. Previously at every corner, today difficult to find

    Leaving Bulgaria!

    October 14, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    As we exited Bulgaria amidst depressing rain and mist, it seemed this beautiful country wanted once again to show us its broken buildings and roads.
    So sad, so deject and yet I feel deeply connected with this country.
    Just before the border, I insisted on eating a final Bahnitza (leaf pastery with sheep's cheese) eaten together with a Bulgarian yoghurt, shaken and punctured on both ends of the lid to drink. This is an ancient tradition here and was found in kiosks throughout the country 20 years ago. Today when I ask young people look at me questioning, the old ones smile. We drove from shop to shop l searching and finally found one in a petrol station. This meal is full of memories from the past.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    A little bit VERY drunk with the wine makerBeautiful vines as far as the eye can seethe most modern equipment and analytic toolsNot yet so drunk, but astounded at how Margot was getting going🤣Margot trying to focus on the glass in front of herbetter empty the glass before it evapouratesOak vats from Bulgaria, USA , and France accompanied by a fascinating lecture on OakSand stone tunnels under ground with vine in bottle stored everywhereMavrut, the original Melnik grapeone of the breeds stemming from Mavrutthe wine that came out in the year where hail destroyed the majority of the harvest

    I think I am a little bit very drunk!

    October 13, 2022 in Bulgaria ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    So!
    As we drove along the road, we pass this wine farm and Margot mentions that we can under no circumstance leave this wine region without a wine tasting.
    So!
    A quick "U-Turn" and back, to discover the most unbelievable winery.
    The Bulgarian Wine-maker, a true "wine cook", personally gave us the tour. When he noticed my burning interest and my hundred questions bombarded him, he rose-up to to "top-form", explaining how the original ancient "broad leafed Melnik vine" that ripens very late in November, was crossed with other vines to ripen earlier while keeping its dark red colour and body.
    We then walked from vat to vat trying literally every wine he was busy "constructing" with a multitude of grape names all grown on the farm.
    As we stood swaying to-and-fro in front of the huge wall of gold medals from every major wine competition in the world, the owner joined us. He had sold the brewery he owned to Carlsberg an bought this wine farm to spend the rest of his life doing what he loves.
    It was then, that the actual wine tasting began!
    But I don't remember anything anymore, only, that at the end we drove 100 meters to the field next door and fell straight into bed.🙄    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Romantic dinner in the most kitch of "original bulgarian" restaurant.parked off at Rozhen Monastry

    Melnik and Rozhen Monastery

    October 12, 2022 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    So now the new route is through Greece to Istanbul and on to Van lake and the Iranian border..
    En-route we stopped by at Melnik near Blagoevgrad and on to the nearby "Rozen Monastery" where we parked off on a field at full moon.
    But not before having had a traditional Bulgarian dinner in the mot touristy Bulgarian restaurant all to ourselves.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies

    A change of plans

    October 12, 2022 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Last night the message came-in from MANTOCO (organizer of the trip) saying he has to cancel the trip due to the German foreign office having issued a travel warning for IRAN. After an evening of e-mails racing to-and-fro it was decided that we will move forward the entry date into IRAN to the 26th Oct, enter the country for a short route to get around Syria and then exit into Irak and on to Jordan and then continue the trip the other way round into Saudia Arabia and ending in IRAN at the end of our journey in the hope that things will quieten down till next March.
    So, now everyone is racing to Kapiköy on the Turkish border with 1 1/2 weeks cut off our arrival time which also means the end of our plans to slowly discover Bulgaria together.
    How sad😪    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    on the way into the Rila mountains
    untouched nature,Entrance Rila Monastery at 1.300 metersRila monasterySpending the night in front of the monastery"Snow White" the Princess, taking a shower in our amazing indoor masterpiece showerthe shower hangs from the ceiling into the shower pan

    Rila-Monastery

    October 11, 2022 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Drove high up into the Rila mountains today to the Rila Monastery (1.300m). Everywhere gushing streams with beautiful autumn forests in reds, yellows and browns.
    Spent the night in front of the monastery and tested our magic shower for the first time. What a pleasure to take a hot shower inside the van while it's freezing cold outside.🤗Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    The night covers the brokenness. Near the NDK Palace of culture where we spent the night on a parkin
    Old Panelak buildings from communist timesSofia cityVacil Nevsky cathedralThis cathedral was built end 18th century to celebrate the victory against the Ottoman turks who occpresidents Palace, grandeur in a crumbling nation!1

    Old Footsteps revisited-Sofia

    October 10, 2022 in Bulgaria ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Visited Boyana this morning in search of the house that was my home from 1996-2000. Rather difficult without an address! But I remembered how I used to drive home in the evenings and was able to reconstruct.
    Very sad to see that nothing has changed since then, the same destroyed streets and broken houses. Angry faces betrayed by a corrupt government and a life that has only given you hardship. I would so have wished that the EU entry would have fetched them out of their poverty.
    We spent the.Night on a parking lot in the city center.😃    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Ilica 10a, My small refuge over the rooves of Zagreb 20 years ago
    endless evacuation tunnel under the capitolold gas lanterns making this town so romantic at night1delicious cocktails with Ajax cleaning as decorationMost elegant Restaurant with pissoir view in backgroundWeekly Market with freshest vegetables. Margot in her element shopping for dinnerZagreb marketdelicious Porcini mushrooms, fresh from the forestporcini mushrooms for tomorrow's dinner

    In search of old footprints-Zagreb

    October 7, 2022 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Zagreb where I lived for 2 years in 2003. Walking in the streets we slowly put together our memories to find where my appartment was and where I used to jog in the mornings. Ilica 10a near the market😃
    Visited our favourite Sushi "Takenoko" which still existed after 20 years but in a new location with the cook being the only connection to the past.
    But the same tables and the same delicious food🤩    Read more

  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Our neighbour Angie's Angel to accompany usA love card from one of Margot' patients

    And finally we have left, !

    October 6, 2022 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We have finally left!
    I don't believe it!
    The stress of these last weeks that seemed to be getting worse and worse is past!
    Getting a house ready for 7 months of absence over winter actually felt like moving house to a new address. You know that feeling where the moving van is booked for a certain day and the appartment has to be handed over to the owners, and you still haven't started packing the first box. That's what it felt like!
    But now we are gone!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBrothers on the moveMichael Spies
    2

    Sunrise this morning

    April 10, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
  • Michael SpiesBrothers on the moveMichael Spies
    Shepherd and his dogs
    BIG JOE THE PAPA GOATStanddown

    Real shepheards still do exist

    April 8, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Was witnessed to a real shepherd. When pushing on his flock, a small lamb kept on falling behind, so he picked it up and carried it. My heart melted ❤️
    Then big JOE the daddy goat 🐐 decided he prefers to stay here.After having called it several times, he spoke I a quite voice to his dog walking next to him. Immediately the dog ran the 100m to the goat and started running in circles around it barking in a way that would have made my heart freeze if I had been the goat. It tried to charge him a few times and then gave up an trotted to the rest of the heard. The dog ran back to his master and walked on his side.
    WOW! What a theater!!!!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBrothers on the moveMichael Spies
    Sounds of the night

    Camping in gods garden

    April 7, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    This evening I walked I to a future commune project in the making, "monte do aniche" to be found in facebook.
    Two persons have bought 100Ha of Land with huge eucalyptus forests which they are now cutting down to replant indigenous trees and shrubs. All over they have constructed water retention basins aimed at raising the water table and regreening the area. In a next phase they want to invite people looking to live in a sustainable way to join them.
    Sounds really exciting!
    One thing is for sure, I have never heard such a Night concert of cricets. (See recording)    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBrothers on the moveMichael Spies
    Tree of lifeThorns from aboveThorns from the sideThorns from belowNature takes back what came from nature

    This kind of day makes my heart leap

    April 7, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Today I have been walking through the wildest of landscapes along sheep tracks and fire breaks in the middle of a nature untouched. Ancient Cork oaks, hundreds of years old looking like the "tree of life" in the film "Avartar" make my heart jump with joy. This beauty still exists on our troubled planet. WOW! ❤️
    I am totally in my element, my heart overspilling with joy    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBrothers on the moveMichael Spies
    Destruction of landscapes by planning eucalyptus in an area with too little waterA beautiful George with rocks pools and verdant greenTerraces with eucalyptus. Dryness, run-off and massiv erosionHigh above the george, a totally different climate.

    And now, on alone to Tamera

    April 6, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Alex left for Germany today dropping me off on the way at Tamera, a commune of 200 people In the Center of Alentejo where I will be doing two seminars: "Introduction to Tamera, their spiritual work and philosophy and "Water retention landscapes". As I have 4 days till the start, I have decided to hike around this part of Alentejo with its unbelievable landscapes.Read more

Get your own travel profile

Free

QR code

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice