Senior Solo Traveller in Germany, France & Spain

I am a member of 5W (Women Welcome Women World Wide) and recently traveled solo to a “Gathering”  in Menden, Germany. We had the most marvelous host who organised a great week of interesting things to see and do. Cycling around the castles of the Munsterlands was one of the most memorable things we did. Very scenic, nice flat countryside for cycling and we had weather that was perfect.

I had allowed myself 29 days for my trip in total. The Gathering was only 7 days long so I had some planning to do. My first destination was Masseret in Limousin, France where I stayed with a 5W member. Then I journeyed on solo to The Lot et Garrone in Bordeaux.

The big adventure was getting myself to Bilbao, Spain to see Frank Gehrey’s wonderful Guggenheim masterpiece. It took a whole day to get there travelling by 3 different trains plus a tram and taxi to find accommodation!

From there I used my Eurail pass and trained to Barcelona where I took in as many of the sights as  I possibly could in  3 days. Gaudi’s Park, Casa Batllo, Picasso Museum, La Rambla, Cathedral… I walked the old town and conquered the Metro.

When it was getting near time for me to return home, I took an overnight train from Cerbere to Paris where I had a really great time. Loved Paris. And then another memorable train trip back to Frankfurt to fly home to Australia.

If you are ever in Germany I recommend the train from Frankfurt to Hagen along the River  Rhine. The most beautiful train trip anyone could take.

Except for when I stayed with 5W Women, I hostelled on this trip . Hostels have everything that a budget traveller needs — hearty breakfasts, hot showers, a clean bed, Internet access and, for a solo traveller, company!

To help me relax and give me something to do in the evenings  I created Junk Art Collages from whatever I found laying around on any given day. I have many wonderful memories in the pictures I have created.

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