11 years of life on a bike. Europe

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After returning from the silk trail, I was sure of two things - I don't want to settle in Warsaw. And actually - so far "settle". The grayobure days effectively lead me to the depression, and the hunger for bicycles in winter is badly affected by the brain and waist. The second desire is to screw a "riding" screw a bit. To catch the context, please refer to first and other part of the history of my life on the way, cycling.

I wanted to sit on my butt longer, Not only in the saddle. Continuous movement began to tire me - physically and mentally. On the one hand, it's wonderful to be free, draw a life and get to know the world, But I had an impression more and more often, that something bypasses me at the same time. I met people in the passage, I didn't have time to read, to develop, and my gaps in universal knowledge – this important and completely unnecessary – growing at an alarming rate (who is the president of France? What is this mysterious netflix?). I had to sit with a book (Now I'm aiming at audiobooks) and finally approach ... my writing. Yep, Yes - it started then!

To sum up - I wanted to leave, but somewhere closer. There was Türkiye on my traveling and stations radar. I got a desire in the summer, But I missed the southern coast because of the heat and crowds. Türkiye was (yes?) tania, and the sun likes to host there (although, as it turned out, In winter, a change with a wind and a downpour). I was lucky - I took the rental of a flat quickly, Although for several weeks I was lying on the sofas of friends and family. Do not know, will I ever repay them.

In mid -December 2018 year I landed in Cyprus. Two Christmas and New Year weeks on the island of Aphrodite have passed without any celebration, and then I got on the ferry and I was in Turkey again. I planned to go west, towards Alanya - 300 km coastal serpentine, noser, and, bike and a ton of luggage.

The local cyclist encountered recommended me for the night. teacher's house – These are hotels for the teaching staff, But if there is a place, anyone can sleep. The hotel was new, Located on the very seafront. The cheapest rooms cost 35 LIR, which was equivalent then 8 EUR. And instead of one night I stayed .. two weeks. Breakfast was abundant and delicious.. In the restaurant with a sea view I spent an hour at breakfast, adding cheese, vegetables and olives and contemplating the views. And driving here and there, of course.

I finally started my two wheels, But after driving the next 200 km I checked in ... in another teacher's house, where the views from my room were even more beautiful, and breakfast even better. I had a room on the top floor with a panoramic view from morning to evening, so beautiful, that I was collecting my jaw from the floor. Between its collection, reading, writing, driving around the area and visits to the local place (where you could eat deliciously), Every week I went to the reception to extend my stay. And so "ogretmenevi" - teacher's homes - became my first reference point when looking for accommodation in Turkey. In the summer there were never free places in them, But in winter and yes.

I sat there for 5-6 weeks, But with each subsequent booking I thought: good, But this money eats all my income, that is, the rent for an apartment in Warsaw, And savings from China melt. And then I remembered about housesitting - that is, caring for animals in their home in exchange for an apartment, an idea taken from other travelers. I signed up for one of the portals, I sent the first application, I got the answer quickly, I talked to the owners and ... I got an invitation to Tuscany! For almost a month. Well ok, I was a lot of luck.

And so at the beginning of March 2019 I flew from Alanya to Rome, and then I was north.

I found myself in paradise: Three cats Maine Coon,  A house with a view of the Tuscan hills, great owners.

This is how my adventure with housesittingiem, which from 2019 year regulates my logistic movements. I returned to the house and cats in Tuscany five times at different times of the year.

Housesitting is a response to my needs, But it's a risky game. A fixed place may "fly into space" from hour to hour and stay on the ice. It was like that 3 years ago, When one day two places were canceled, where I was supposed to spend a few months. I do not have a roof over my head in 100, and even in 50 percentage, But I don't always want it either. I am looking for places mainly for the winter, Because as soon as it gets warmer, An irresistible desire for bicycle exploration of the world speaks in me.

The money is not on the street, Because I would like to raise. The ones from China are over, So you had to get up again. I focused on an international English teaching certificate and planned to fly to Vietnam, to repair the budget. I borrowed, to do it, I flew to Barcelona. Then the pandemic.

Suddenly I didn't have a flat, nor travel opportunities, nor money, nor a certificate. I was in danger of sleeping in a tent or building a hut in the forest, asia in, One of you, They made their house in Masuria generously. Thank you! Over there, in complete peace, I waited the first months of the pandemic. The course was finished online. I am writing this, żeby rozwiać romantyczną aurę tego „życia na rowerze” – od zaplecza bywa różnie. Potem podczas pandemii pomieszkałam na własnych włościach w Warszawie, ucząc w szkole językowej. Gdy sytuacja się poprawiła, znów ruszyłam w drogę. Na południe, w stronę słońca oczywiście 🙂

Kilkakrotnie wynajmowałam sobie jakieś miejsca zwykłą drogą na kilka tygodni – Airbnb np. w Czechach i Chorwacji. Przed wojną na Ukrainie było to molżiwe, potem ceny skoczyły.

I tak turlam się po Europie. Końca nie widać!.

Polska rowerowo

jest super! – od wiosny do wczesnej jesieni. Zdjęcia są tylko z 2021 year – aż się zdziwiłam, byłam chyba wszędzie 🙂

Odkryłam, że Europa rowerowo ma coraz więcej do zaoferowania. I choć jazda po sznurku tras rowerowych nigdy mnie nie interesowała, it turnes out, że czasem to nawet fajne – nie musieć uważać na samochody, przysiąść albo i przenocować przy jakimś miejscu postoju. Ale dawkuję je sobie z umiarem. Po dwóch dniach na jednej z tras Eurovelo, jadąc wzdłuż rzeki i wysłuchawszy tony podcastów, musiałam z niej zjechać „dla zdrowotności”. Za łatwo było.:)

Włochy trasy rowerowe

Włochy przejechałam wzdłuż i wszerz, choć do kompletu brakuje północnego zachodu. Policzyłam, że w ubiegłym roku zrobiłam częściowo 36 after. And there are more chicken. I look forward to it, that although in a limited form, But I will release this ebook.

Francja rowerem

It's a fairy tale. My favorite country, Although I have a lot to discover in Europe. There was azure coast, Oxytania, Aquitory, Alsace, Jura, A piece of burgundy, Normandy, Brittany, around Paris.

There is still Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria a bit, Germany.

And still so much to discover here, So much delight, that I postpone far -reaching bicycle plans for later.

Na zakończenie – thank you!

If you read/read to the end – yeah, "bravo.."! I am really touched, that someone devoted so much time to my piece of biography. Thank you.

What next? How much more will you live like that? And I don't know the answer myself. I only know, that as long as I feel joy in my heart, When I get on the bike, As long as I have curiosity about the world and people, As long as health allows, I can share it with others - I want to do it.

This is why, that you are here, you read, you comment, You support me with a nice word - it means a lot to me. If you want to support me also financially - add a brick to the next kilometers and add accommodation - thank you very much.

Spring is already here, Preliminary plans are, But I still have a mission to fulfill. About this soon.