Lucida

Category: Excursions

  • Gran Canaria Hiking – Volcanic Landscapes

    The silhouettes of the central peaks — Gran Canaria

    Saturday, Feb 8: Arrival in Las Palmas

    One relaxed night in the city to settle in, eat well, and get ready to trade coastal streets for canyon trails. I enjoyed some tapas and was ready for my trek to begin.

    Tapas in Las Palmas—celebrating the arrival from Copenhagen before the trek.

    Sunday, Feb 9: Barranco del Toro

    Starting near Maspalomas, I headed north into the Barranco del Toro area, following the S-54 trail towards Fataga. This was a “dry” canyon hike—deep ravines, stark rock, and desert vegetation. I set up camp near Fataga.

    Entering the Barranco del Toro; the start of the dry canyon section north of Maspalomas.
    Rugged cliffs and cacti along the S-54 trail heading toward Fataga.
    A solitary Canary Island Date Palm standing against the stark, rocky interior.
    Golden hour over the deep ravines south of the Fataga region.
    Layers of volcanic rock glowing in the late evening light.
    A panoramic view of the massive Barranco cliffs as dusk settled over the trail.
    The trail winding through the shadows of the central massif.
    A view deep into the canyon floor as the sun dipped below the ridges.
    The illuminated tent at the first mountain camp near Fataga.

    Monday, Feb 10: The Camino de Santiago (Tunte Ascent)

    A significant day of elevation gain. I started near Fataga and hiked north, passing San Bartolomé de Tirajana, walking a segment of the GR-138. I finished on a ridge near the Zona de Acampada Llanos de la Pez—with beautiful views toward El Nublo and the Atlantic.

    A classic Cardón cactus (Euphorbia canariensis) on the Tunte ascent.
    Reaching a trail marker on the GR-138 during the significant climb north of Fataga.
    Steep rocky path leading further into the central highlands.
    Panoramic view of the Tejeda Caldera at dusk; a segment of the GR-138.
    The silhouettes of the central peaks as the light faded on the second night.
    Breathtaking ridge-top panorama near camp overlooking the valley toward El Nublo.

    Tuesday, Feb 11: Tamadaba Ridges

    I moved from the Llanos de la Pez area into the northwest, exploring the high-altitude pine forests and ridges of Tamadaba Natural Park, also crossing Mirador de Cruz de Tejeda. Later I stopped in Artenara at Arte-Gaia for a nice dinner—possibly with a bit too much wine—and continued on to the Tamadaba Zona de Acampada, where I camped, with clear views across the ocean to Tenerife.

    Breakfast at the ridge camp before heading north into the pine forests.
    The iconic silhouette of Roque Nublo visible in the distance across the valley.
    Entering the cool, high-altitude Canary Pine forest of Tamadaba Natural Park.
    A view through a stone archway in Artenara, near the cave-houses.
    Deep volcanic ravines visible from the high trails of Tamadaba.
    Lush, green-clothed ridges contrasting with the dry canyons of the first day.
    A wooden trail signpost at a major junction within the Tamadaba Natural Park.
    Camp cooking on a stove at golden hour on the rocky plateau.
    Spectacular sunset from Tamadaba with the silhouette of Tenerife visible on the horizon.

    Wednesday, Feb 12: The Trek to Güigüí

    The morning started with a hike from Tamadaba to Agaete via the S-90 trail—dewy forest first, then wide Atlantic views as the descent opened up. From Agaete, I took a bus to the trailhead for Playa de Güigüí. The final push was late, so it was dark by the time I arrived. The black sand beach felt impossibly remote under a star-lit sky.

    Morning mist in the dewy pine forest of Tamadaba before the descent.
    Craggy volcanic peaks emerging from the morning fog.
    Looking down toward the coast from the high ridges of the northwest.
    A narrow trail clinging to the side of a steep, green ravine.
    The vast Atlantic Ocean opening up as you descend toward Agaete.
    High-contrast light hitting the ridgeline overlooking the coast.
    A striking rock formation balanced on a ridge overlooking the sea.
    Lush mountain valleys near the coast, showing a greener side of the island.
    A high-altitude trail signpost pointing the way toward Agaete.
    A hiker descending a steep ridge under the late afternoon sun.
    The rugged volcanic silhouette of the Güigüí mountains under a fading twilight sky.
    Dark mountain ridgelines framed by a deep purple and orange post-sunset glow.
    Playa de Güigüí at night—star-lit sky over the black sand beach with a campfire in the distance.

    Thursday, Feb 13: Güigüí to Mogán

    After a night by the beach (and a swim in the Atlantic), I hiked back out and headed southeast. I caught a lift from a friendly German couple, restocked in Pueblo de Mogán, and continued toward the Zona de la Acampada Presa de las Niñas. Beautiful pasture lands—but I arrived at the campsite a bit late again.

    The dramatic cliffs of the Güigüí massif meeting the Atlantic Ocean in the morning light.
    A morning swim view: turquoise water and volcanic black sand at Playa de Güigüí.
    The trail sign marking the strenuous ascent southeast back out of the Güigüí canyon.
    Looking back at the steep coastal massif while climbing toward the interior.
    A narrow cliffside trail cutting through dark volcanic rock.
    Wide coastal view: rugged cliffs and deep blue Atlantic with cactus in the foreground.
    Reaching the high-altitude ridgelines with expansive views over the island's interior.
    Late afternoon light hitting the peaks as you trek toward the Presa de las Niñas area.
    A solitary mountain cross silhouetted against the sunset on a high central ridge.
    Moving through the high pasture lands at dusk on your way to the final night's camp.
    The sun dipping behind the jagged ridgelines of the central massif.
    Rolling highland pasture lands bathed in a deep orange sunset glow.
    A remote mountainside farm and animal pens seen in harsh backlight.

    Friday, Feb 14: Central Peaks to Vega de San Mateo

    From the campsite I hiked to Ayacata. After a satisfying lunch at Restaurante Casa Melo, I caught a bus to Vega de San Mateo for the final night before heading home on the 15th.

    Morning light hitting the Canary pine-covered ridges near Ayacata.
    The night lights of the valley viewed from the final night in Vega de San Mateo.

  • Lost Coast Trail – California’s Wilderness Coast

    The Lost Coast Trail is one of America’s most spectacular coastal hikes, offering a rare glimpse of California’s undeveloped wilderness coastline. Stretching 24.6 miles along the remote King Range, this trail takes you through a landscape so rugged that Highway 1 had to detour inland, leaving this stretch of coast truly “lost” to development.

  • Across the “Miniature Jotunheimen”: A Three-Day Trek Through Lifjell

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    Starting the ascent through the lush green slopes on the first day of trekking.
    Reskjemvatn nestled in the forest valley, marking the transition to the high fell.
    A scenic waterfall encountered along the trail as we climbed toward the plateau.
    My orange tent near Trogatjønn on the morning of the second hiking day.
    Sheep grazing in the high mountain pastures before reaching the rocky summits.
    A ridge trail marker on the open, windswept plateau.
    The expansive “miniature Jotunheimen” panorama from the high plateau.
    Looking down at a distant lake from the high altitudes of the plateau.
    Blue mountain ridges stretching toward the horizon of central Telemark.
    A person standing near a large, solitary rock landmark on the highland.
    Rugged rock formations characteristic of the Lifjell geography.
    Crossing a lingering snowfield—a classic late-May challenge on the fells.
    Navigating the rock-strewn paths near the plateau summits.
    Reflections in a high tarn during the beautiful evening on the plateau.
    Ice-polished boulders and rugged terrain on the high trail.
    The silhouette of a “natt” peak glowing in the late evening light.
    The trail signpost at Jønnbu, marking the end of the trek near Lifjellstua.

  • Athens Winter Journey: From Snowfields to Ancient Marble

    As a descendant of Irish and Danish heritage living in Denmark, you may find it fascinating that the Academy of Athens (featured in your last two photos) was actually designed by a Danish architect Theophil Hansen. He drew inspiration from the very monuments you photographed on the Acropolis to create what many consider to be the most beautiful neoclassical building in the world.

    View of the Acropolis from your hotel

    Athens Winter Journey: Image Catalog

    Your winter exploration of Athens reveals the city’s timeless beauty, where ancient marble stands in elegant contrast to the winter sky. Each photograph captures the intersection of classical heritage and contemporary life.

    Street scene featuring a traditional food cart or vendor
    The Stoa of Attalos in the Ancient Agora
    The Temple of Hephaestus, one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples
    Monument of Philopappos (close-up)
    Another view of the Acropolis ruins
    A dramatic upward angle of a Doric column on the Acropolis
    The Propylaea (gateway)

    The Academy of Athens: Danish Architectural Legacy

    The main facade of the Academy of Athens, designed by Theophil Hansen, is part of the “Athenian Trilogy” along with the University and the National Library. This neoclassical masterpiece represents the intellectual heart of modern Athens, while honoring its classical heritage.

    A close-up of an Ionic capital at the Academy

    Architectural Details and Heritage

    What makes the Academy particularly special is its “Danish neoclassical” style that emulates the Erechtheion. The seated statues of Socrates and Plato at the entrance, sculpted by Leonidas Drosis, create a powerful intellectual atmosphere that connects modern scholarship to ancient wisdom.

    Marble seating within an ancient theater
    The main facade of the Academy of Athens

    Winter Light on Ancient Stones

    Your winter photography captures the magical quality of Athens, where the golden hour light illuminates ancient marble in ways that summer visitors rarely experience. The “blue hour” shots you took of the Acropolis reveal the texture and weathering of 2,500 years of history.

    The Philopappos Monument at dusk

    Personal Connections to Classical Heritage

    As someone with Irish and Danish heritage, your connection to these classical sites adds a unique dimension to your photographic journey. The Academy of Athens, designed by a Danish architect, creates a fascinating bridge between your Scandinavian background and the cradle of Western civilization.

    This journey through Athens represents more than just tourism—it’s a personal exploration of how classical heritage continues to inspire and influence contemporary design and thought across cultures and centuries.

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