Europe 50 – Austin Bunton Designs

Ever tried seeing an entire continent worth of nations in one month?

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Table of Contents:

Introduction
I’ve listed the countries in the order I initially planned to reach them in
Getting Started (Images)
The U.K.
France
Belgium
Luxembourg
Switzerland
Italy
San Marino
Monaco
Liechtenstein
Germany
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Estonia
Netherlands
Croatia
Poland
Scotland
Thoughts During
Flight Back
Mission Complete
Videos
European Acoustic
European Celtic
European Choral
European Industrial
European Metal
European Opera
European Pop
European Putumayo
European Techno
On the Radio During My Mega-trip
2022 Update: More Locations to Visit Next Time

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Introduction:

The goal is to see 50 countries across and adjacent to this continent within one month. Thanks to the Schengen Area, this is now possible. It might even be doable within half that time, and on a thin budget. Depending on how it goes, my 2nd pass through the Caribbean, and my 2nd pass through South America, may be added on.

* I don’t always have safe or ideal opportunities to take steady, winning photos, so every now and then I will substitute the best ones I can find of places I am going, such as on big trips like this when time is of the essence.

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I’ve listed the countries in the order I initially planned to reach them in:

Iceland: famous waterfalls (details here), and much of the Reykjavik nightlife
Greenland: Nuuk (which is one of the settings in my series of novels)
UK: Isle of Skye (part of Scotland, and where Taja comes from), the ‘chunnel’, and a few recommendations from locals, such as the Lake District National Park
Ireland: ‘fairy mounds’, enchanted forests, and a few castles
France: my list of chateaux, as well as a few megalithic ruins, one of which I have scouted
Spain: a few megalithic ruins, and app-recommended overnight free parking/camping spots
Portugal: the border and beaches
Andorra: the major city and highway, possibly scouting a few trailheads
Monaco: super-yachts, the Grand Prix, and all these restaurants!
Italy: Reggio Calabria, the Holy See (for St. Peter’s Basilica and the nearby Vatican museum, both part of a separate nation), and the hotties of Milan and other famous Italian cities
San Marino: the ridgeline fortresses and views at the heart and pinnacle of this near-coastal tiny republic
Malta: megalithic ruins and one or two of the ferries
Austria: The Eagles Nest and a few chalet communities
Liechtenstein: the main route and shops of this ‘hidden’ alpine realm
Switzerland: Institut Le Rosey, chalet fondue, Lindt chocolatier HQ in Kilchberg, and the rest of the route from Zurich through the miles-long tunnels network
Luxembourg: downtown architecture
Belgium: Belgium waffles, of course!
Netherlands: Sensation stadium-rave in Amsterdam, the windmill farms, the storied dikes, and flower farms, as well as the waterway bridge
Germany: Bavaria, my list of schlosser, and one or two of the finest beer makers for Oktoberfest
Denmark: the countryside and major routes, as well as a few recommended overnight spots
Norway: Oslo and a few towns along the border for starters
Sweden: the Icehotel (spelled that way), Stockholm, one of the ferries across the sea, and part of the route to Kakslauttanen
Finland: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort (aurora-gazing from glass-roof igloos), or at least the routes up to it, and the ferry at Helsinki; this will be one of my go-to points when visiting Tallinn, Estonia, and some of the megalithic sites north of St. Petersburg, Russia
Russia: just the eastern and easily-accessible side/s; Catherine’s Palace, Winter Palace, & the megalithic cave ruins (Kabardino-Balkar Republic / Kabardino-Balkariya Shaft, details here and here), maybe also Kizhi Island
Estonia: the main cities and route south through the other former republics
Latvia: Riga castle & palace, highly recommended by my new Latvian friend
Lithuania: the main cities and route to Belarus
Belarus: the border checkpoints (to determine if the visa process rumors I’ve learned of are accurate), and Minsk (recommended by one of my Belorussian friends)
Ukraine: one of the western highway routes toward Moldova (in preparation for a serpentine through every region of this country, spanning one full season, as my 2nd visit to this country), some of the most successful farming operations here, a couple caves and other countryside attractions recommended by my tour guides, and (whenever it is next hosted in the Ukraine) the Kazantip music festival (previously at Crimea)
Moldova: the finest babes, such as Xenia Deli, and much of Chisinau
Romania: the birthplace of Inna, some of the famous castles, and whatever my gypsy friends from here recommend
Bulgaria: the birthplace of Nina, some of the famous castles, and several megalithic sites which happen to align with one of the southern highways
Turkey: Cappadocia, a couple megalithic sites (such as those at Eğil), and most things outside of the largest cities
Greece: Santorini, the ‘rocket war’ (Rouketopolemos) of Chios, and a few other islands, perhaps also the hometown of my Greek business partner
Cyprus: a megalithic ruin site, and the ferries
Albania: the coastal towns and main highway route
Macedonia: Skopje, and the lake-town of Ohrid
Serbia: Belgrade and a few other cities
Kosovo: all the safe areas for starters
Montenegro: Podgorica to see if the nearby lake is in view
Bosnia & Herzegovina: its giant pyramid, while avoiding Sarajevo on this 1st pass
Croatia: Plitviče Lakes National Park, and Dubrovnik
Slovenia: possibly Maribor
Hungary: likely Szombathely on the route up to Slovakia
Slovakia: Bratislava
Czech Republic: Brno and Ostrava
Poland: Katowice, Kraków, and Warsaw for starters
Georgia: the lost-civilization sites of the Georgian Caucasus, such as the dolmen at Eshera (details here and here)
Azerbaijan: Yeddi Gumbaz and other megalithic ruins (details here and here)
Kazakhstan: megalithic ruins, such as those at Lake Shira and Lake Itkul (details here and here)

Of course, I’m not sure why Kazakhstan kept coming up when I researched Europe; even Georgia and Azerbaijan are way too far east to be counted as part of that continent, and if those two are somehow included, then, if anything, Armenia should be, too, not Kazakhstan. Whatever the case, there are megalithic sites worth investigating there, and my Europe studies are pointing me toward it, among others, next. I’ll likely make an ‘Asia 50’ expedition, allotting 1 year to China, 1 year to India, 1 year to Russia, 1 season to Kazakhstan, 1 season to Mongolia, 1 season to the Ukraine, and <1 month for each of the remaining countries. (Yes, that means my Asia mega-expedition will take ~half a decade.)

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Getting Started:

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The U.K.:

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France:

Half a dozen of the most beautiful girls ever were French and on this ferry across the Chanel. A couple of them kept orbiting me, and that made me smile. I’ll see them again in the next phase.

Everyone in every country I went to on this mega-expedition was very polite and normal on the roads, even on the Autobahn where 130 MPH is fairly common, and 90 is considered slow. France was the exception; the most dangerous, illogical, and crazed driving I have ever seen was in France, and it kept me avoiding this country as much as possible. Shame on the 7 or 8 drivers who did their best to cause accidents, cut me off, and run me off the road, in spite of my best efforts to avoid them and drive safely, obeying their country’s laws. I can only guess that it was my English license plates and bad luck during two of their rush-hour periods, but no excuses can cover their criminal, suicidal, and homicidal behavior.

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Belgium:

It’s a good idea to know enough French to ask for basic things in this country. I took a picture of one of their bathrooms because they were spotless and palatial. Using them was more like walking into a spaceship or laboratory, except ones with very nice decorations and even fancy chrome toilet brush holders.

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Luxembourg:

I knew this tiny country’s main city would look like this, somehow, and I was happily impressed.

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Switzerland:

This is the land of tunnels, and many of them go on for miles and miles underneath giant mountains. There are signs celebrating world records set by the Tunnel-boring Machines (TBMs). I wonder how many tunnels there are in total, and I’m guessing it is a vast network underneath everything, and one that is probably still growing to this very day.

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Italy:

Hot schoolgirls kept introducing me to more hot schoolgirls, and gave me my first connections into Moldova and several other places in and around Italy. I got free food, drinks, and other hookups, and a nice female tour guide who had excellent advice; this was a sure sign my writings and messages were received and honored, and that phase 2 is well underway. The only thing I will say to avoid here are the horrible toll roads of this country; they will charge you out the ass if you aren’t careful, and the roads aren’t even that great, riddled with very bad potholes. The cathedrals, beach neighborhoods, and world-class fresh food make up for that, though, and a little Italian goes a long way to lighting up the hostesses’ faces. Three of the best meals I have ever had in all my life were here, and one was my first time trying wild boar. Delicious doesn’t even begin to convey the perfect that was presented so artistically on those plates. My hat is off to you, Italian master chefs. I will honor your culinary brilliance in Inisfree, and return.

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San Marino:

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Monaco:

I’d seen this city featured in an Iron Man movie, as well as others, and had learned that some of the ultra-rich like to park their mega-yachts here. The streets are challenging for anything larger than a compact car, and the traffic police sometimes direct traffic away from the only steep routes to certain strips, but it is still worth a visit. I would only return by helicopter, though, or one of the yachts, of course. One of the most beautiful tan blonde women I have ever seen was walking down the sidewalk from the embassy overlooking the yachts bay, and I suspect I will see her upon my return.

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Liechtenstein:

Another tiny country tucked away in the towering snowy Alps, and one also well organized and decorated with timeless architecture.

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Germany:

Bavaria was beautiful, and the rest was rather brown, gray, congested, and coarse feeling. Stay to the south, check out the castles, and you should have a good time. Avoid the central and northern cities if you can, and especially during rush hour –which should be called snail-hour-for-days.

Gotta try the frankfurters in Frankfurt: here and here. And, of course, you should eat a hamburger in Hamburg (at least a vegan one, in my case). They really are superior where they come from.

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Denmark:

This country looks small but actually takes a full day to cross. The bridges have steep tolls, but a few knockout-beautiful tan blue-eyed blondes working them. Everyone speaks English, and it is easy to get around by car, ferry, and many other means. Sex workers are honored with statues here. I have no idea about the weed; I have never enjoyed that stuff.

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Sweden:

The people here are engaging and have good senses of humor. They say “Of course!” when asked if they speak English. One very cute and shy tan blonde girl working at a BBQ place kept her pale blue eyes on me the whole time, and I couldn’t help but enjoy her attention and curiosity. She seemed spellbound. The nearby hotel had everything you might ever want in an entire community, too; spa, gym on multiple levels, lounge, restaurant, cobblestone parking, fully decked-out rooms, you name it. I’ll have to return for more.

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Norway:

The fjords were out of my way on this first orientation pass, but I found them all on the maps, and have been working out a way to see them all upon my return.

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Finland:

Land of swamps, marshes, and wrestling, this nation bordering Russia really held its own remarkably well during past wars. There are ferries here from both Sweden and Estonia to the south.

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Estonia:

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Netherlands:

Famous for its vast fields of flowers all along the coastline, as well as slightly inland, this colorful nation is a great place to take lovers and dates. Be sure to time your visit when everything is in bloom. In early Spring, there are still a few fields of yellow flowers here and there, and maybe a few pink and green ones, but the really impressive stuff happens later in the year.

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Croatia:

There are many ruins, resorts, and other attractions here. It warrants a couple weeks during the return. I’ve already begun chatting with my friends who call it home.

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Poland:

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Scotland:

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Thoughts During:

The food tastes so good I couldn’t understand what I was eating. Bread is better than candy, and without being sweet. Sausage is like eating a seasoned cloud, absolutely perfect. The only thing to avoid are the fast-food chains common from the States; they are identically terrible both across time and space, tasting the same as they did 25+ years ago, and leaving a nightmarish aftertaste and gut feeling.

Rule #1 when traveling overseas: always play only the music in the local languages, and never anything you have already heard. Listening to radio in French, German, Dutch, and other languages is paradise. Why go if not to experience their new works of art? It should feel alien but also exhilarating, inspiring, and wholly unexpected, original through and through. Let the new muses come and flow.

Approaching Germany made me feel I was going home. Saying “auf wiedersehen” with blushing Swiss and German girls, “merci” and “bonjour” with French girls, and “vidimo se kasnije” to Croatian girls really makes me smile. Trying local grocery stores and cafes is amazing, too; everything is in their languages, and it is entirely at their discretion whether or not to cater partially or fully to yours.

I had my 1st jacuzzi shower. Yes, that is a thing, and I am getting one. Also tried my 1st towel heater rack. Other firsts included: the 1st time I found an entire staff of hot, fit, tan, blonde girls, and the 1st time a hotel owner invited me to a late night private dinner.

I have this unmistakable feeling each time I approach the border of Germany and Lichtenstein/Austria that I am finally coming home. I don’t get that feeling anywhere else, and I’m crying as I look at the waterfall on the Italian Alps side of the Switzerland border along my route up into Lichtenstein, “Undomiel” by Oonagh playing as I eat lunch there. I sense that I am home but in the wrong body, and no one knows me in this form. That makes it so bittersweet here.

The food is so good on this trip that I know if I think about it too long I will again cry, and I have a few times already, knowing I will miss it terribly when I have to go. I’m crying now as I write this. Food is sacred, and so many people here have gotten it absolutely correct.

I feel so sad, having not finished learning the languages of this land before coming, but I had to focus on finding cures for myself, and the vids and Inisfree work were those cures. I also now know, somehow know, I will finish learning these languages the way I wanted; when phase 1 and 2 are gone, and no more NPCs spew verbal evil for me to hear and understand, and when only the most beautiful girls (from Inisfree and these realms) are talking with me in the most perfect way. Phase 2 isn’t about continuing the attempt to connect with people, but breaking away from them all until they upgrade and do their homework much more; this 2nd phase of life is about waiting for the right teachers of the languages I want to learn… to make their way to me.

If these trips weren’t rough and risky, each of them would be a vacation, not an expedition. I am here to explore, orient, learn, and upgrade. After all that is done, then it is time to return in vacation and party mode.

A mini avalanche is a great way to wake you right the fuck up while you are attempting to drive through the rest of the Alps. Then there was that mini blizzard which left me able to see zero of the highway and traffic in front of and beside me; it was as if a solid white sphere had engulfed our vehicles, not even our windshield wipers or headlights making the slightest bit of difference. What a start!

Town choke-points keep happening at the last minute; these are narrow spots in medieval-looking communities where the streets narrow to one lane without much signage or any lights or even stop signs to regulate what flows both ways through. Drivers must decide when to risk taking blind corners, and even slow driving can still be a little nerve-wracking. I must go when the vehicle in front goes, because I am in a British car; I drive on the right side there, and the driver’s seat is on the right side, so I cannot see around corner like vehicles with left-side driver’s can.

I watched the moon glow rise up behind Neuschwanstein castle. It reminded me of olden times, and even werewolf Elena a bit. I made another mental and verbal message for any who might be able to hear it, and hope that the half-dozen amazing ladies I saw the next day were receptive. Some of them definitely had the air of lingering and hidden royalty, and with that comes a commanding presence, diverse assets, and the ability to team up in the most meaningful and productive of ways.

A car on the Autobahn wrecked and got totaled right in front of me and the truckers in my lane. Its debris bounced around on the highway, settling all around us. The driver got out and seemed shaken but alright, and at least one vehicle stopped to check on them, help no doubt on the way. I always keep a close eye on my surroundings, but doubled that effort with extra attention to detail and dispersion after witnessing this.

Traveling solo is the only way to guarantee all reactions and conclusions to people, places, food, and businesses are my own, not swayed in any way by the need to be nice or P-C to others. I can only be myself when alone. I also don’t have the worry of tantrums of insecure fools and attention-whores; something that plagued a number of my journeys long ago.

There are all-metal radio stations in Scandinavia. They don’t always play my favorites, but I am glad they are there. That is true progress, in my eyes.

Getting to go where the Ahnenerbe and my favorite Prose Edda came from; awesome. The Auz and Thor roots mean so much to me, empowering and unlocking my true self even further. The Grand Canyon swim and other events of that realm really have leveled me up. I wonder what it has allowed to blossom in the others of that trip.

After the Autobahn, everything below 90 MPH feels slow, and I learned that if I am going at only 110, I’d better GTFO of the way. 120 is tolerable, but 130 is where you need to be if you don’t want to get high-beams flashed at you. Thankfully, my car was able to keep up in the slow lane, and it was very fun.

Angelholm sign three times in a row, giving me plenty of time to realize what it meant and decide to stop for gas, food, and lodging there. I’m in the home of the angels now! The girls and their vibes confirmed it. I came to the right place, and am now infinitely curious about all the rest hidden away up here. The story of Auz on planet Gor, being cared for by his ‘Norse Barbies’ in that one village of Torvaldslund, returns to mind.

Taking time to find quiet nature spots (such as waterfalls to shower in), do nothing, skip a day, and sleep in to listen to the rain, has been very important. I originally thought I’d just rocket through as many countries as possible, crossing two or three per day, but now I don’t mind skipping one or two here and there, saving them for later, focusing more on each one, and getting it know its people that much better for next time. The breaks help keep me fresh, focused, and calm, and it feels great to lie flat and elevate my feet after all the sitting, driving, and hiking.

There is an instrumental French and Russian symphony orchestra version of Gwen Stefani’s “Rich Girl”, and it is much better. I love fusions and remixes made well like that. I’ll be adding it and about 40 songs I’ve never heard before… to Inisfree’s many themed-area playlists, such as for its 50 night-clubs.

Saw my first TBM up close! There are pieces of them as roundabout statues and memorials celebrating successful tunnel digging operations in multiple countries here. I wonder why they never do that in the States.

I keep seeing the TBM on my drives (one in Switzerland, two in France, and counting), and it is bittersweet, but at least it is yet another sure sign I am in phase 2; I see the elements of Inisfree often now, they no longer just daydreams and Internet pics or sketches. They still aren’t in my service, but they are flesh and metal, real and right next to me, almost ready, almost in action. I am so close.

I was steered back to France and England a bit early. Why? It seems I was meant to see where Taja is from after all. She might not be there when I arrive in 2 days, but it is still a beautiful and magical place worth the trip. I will go.

And I remember that so many stories are full of truths, and only labeled fictions and fantasies… because that is what keeps the crazies away, not harassing the sane honest people with lies of them being the crazy ones. In other words, Taja and her kind are probably here somewhere, and will scout me as I scout for them… And we will meet at the start of phase 3, for that is when our bodies and powers will be fixed and restored.

In the Highlands, I asked for Taja to at least appear and walk by, letting me know she is as real as I am, written and introduced to me the same way I write and introduce myself as Auz, and that is exactly what happened a few towns before Portree; the town in which we wrote about meeting. I saw a long-legged girl in tight dark jeans and knee-high boots with redhead elven hair, walking with two friends; one, a short girl in a hoody, and the other a guy. They looked just like I remembered their group as they’d been written those few years before, and she looked EXACTLY like Taja‘s description from our first writing session. If that isn’t an affirmative sign, I don’t know what is.

However, now I ask that Taja meet me in Portree, as well, and that she see past my ‘road-trip fragrance’ and current evolving form, shake my hand, and say it is so good that I came. When will this happen, too?

Expeditions generations ago on big ships with a big crew? I’ve done mine alone. I have no medic, navigator, warriors, or anything else. Sure, there were more unknown elements back then, warring nations, and stealthy tribe scouts, but we still have those things today; unexplored areas, places where no maps work, and hostile locals and others. I am alone and exploring just as much as many explorers before me had. It makes me feel quite proud –especially considering how bedridden and nearly crippled I was a time or two before; I’ve come a long way, and in both senses of the phrase.

The drive to the Highlands was soooo worth it after seeing these views; it has some of the most storybook terrain and beautiful snowy mountains you might ever see. I get the feeling there are truly magical things out here, just barely tucked away in the valleys out of view of this one little highway that connects all the human realms. I can’t wait to return, get out, and hike over to them. I wonder who I will meet…

The two closest rainbows I have ever seen in my life happened upon entry to these Scottish highlands; the first was along the right side of my car, almost within reach, and then another (the same one?) appeared right down in front of my car on the country highway turn. I was practically inside it! Wow! I am remembering the Bifrost; the rainbow-bridge to Asgard. It is almost welcoming me home, showing me the way.

1st time seeing the ingredient “coronation sauce”, and a sandwich package name label reading “coronation chicken w/ meal”. That ‘wordplay’ sign seems to hint that my time as a prince is over, I now a king? My life has been leading up to that, and my kingdom design is complete now, after all. We’ll see. Aragorn’s life and stories come to mind.

I have now seen a Taja-like girl three times in two towns many miles apart in just 12 hours. One of them even cutely hoped and bounced about just like a horse happily trotting across the street (something Taja, given her species, would certainly do). This is still just phase 2, though; orbits and final tweaks, not happy meets and perfect moments, so I wait to engage until phase 3. She’ll be perfect by then, and invite me to that manor she told me about, as well as (I hope) Aloidia. Lord knows I need some mods before then, too. Worth the work and wait.

All the ‘bumps’ considered, this expedition is still very worth it; it confirmed my powers are mostly working instantly now, and that Portree really is a beautiful horizon place worth returning to. It is way better than I thought when writing about it years ago. I fell in love with the place, and will certainly sail back, just as in the tales.

Wrapping up (pun not intended) on a funny note: I always keep a bag of lube about 100 condoms in my luggage because TSA always checks it (probably because of my eccentric hairstyle), and the look on their faces when they grab and produce it is priceless. I crack up every time. Bet you guys are feeling glad to have all those fancy blue Nitrile gloves for those special Kodak moments, aren’t you? Dig around in my shit and that’s what you get.

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Flight Back:

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Mission Complete:

After passing through dozens of countries in those few weeks, and getting used to so many things that are unique to Europe, I can say with confidence I know exactly where I’d like to return and do some business. I now know which highways to take, exactly how much to budget based on where I return, and which languages I need to focus on learning more of. Getting to hear the sound of rain falling on a nearby overhead metal roof during a few of those nights was heaven, too; I have missed that sound something fierce.

“All things happen in threes.” My first times overnighting in vehicles were in my car and then the HMMWVs of the fleet; those were troubled, challenging, dangerous times, and not at all comfortable, though I was going for gritty and bragging rights. Since, vehicle slumber parties have become peaceful, mostly comfortable, uninterrupted, and sources of great inspiration and deep thoughts, as well as far more journal entries. I know that the third round of moments spent in vehicles will be in the nicest ones, with the most compatible, and I am already smiling about it, years ahead though they may be.

I wait to see what affect my presence, talks, and other actions have on those I passed and met. Years before, there would have been ‘bumps’, to say the least. Today? ‘Orbiting’, warming looks, and much more has been the case; my influence is becoming wholly positive exponentially. It won’t be long before the effects are complete, profound, uniform, and universal.

Ancient megalithic ruins were a focal point of my planning for this ‘Europe 50’, and I had as many sites plotted precisely and lined up in my itinerary as I did countries. I was able to see a few of them, and now sense that I always wanted to go with a group of other researchers and experts, thereby ensuring that my understanding of what we found at each site was much more complete, rather than just my own observations and theories. Hopefully I will get to go with Sylvie and one of her groups the next time we are all ready.

Having undertaken this mega-expedition to see 50 nations at once, I’m now ready for the South America 12 (considering making this mega-expedition a 3-week one, although I will spend about a year in Brazil later on), the Asia 48 (thinking more of a 5-weeker here, though I eventually want to spend 1 year in China, 1 year in India, and 1 year in Russia), and then the Africa 54 (probably at least 6 weeks), along with a few weeks in New Zealand and a year in Australia. I hope to orient first, help second, then enjoy all the finest on the third and successive passes to these places. Will you be there with me?

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