Imagine a snow-covered town among mountain peaks without cars - this is Avoriaz, the only ecological ski station in France. There is a total ban on car traffic here, and there are skiers and horse-drawn carriages and sleighs on the streets. The system of city lifts allows you to ski anywhere, from the very moment you leave the hotel. What else makes a special impression on tourists? The chasm overlooked by a part of the residence and the amazing futuristic architecture of buildings, somewhat reminiscent of multi-story beehives. In the 1980s, they were designed by an architect named Avoriaz, to whom the town also owes its name. It was then that the Gates of the Sun, or Les Portes du Soleil, were created, connecting Swiss Morgins and Chamery and French La Chapelle, Morzine and Chata.

The highest station of the Gates of the Sun - Avoriaz

Personally, I went to Back Yard Austria with no expectations. It was strange for me because I usually have this expectation quite high which does not serve such ideas. This time, after quite a long period of consolidating the group, we reached the point where the car was packed and we were ready to mentally detach ourselves from the everyday life of the last weeks. It's like scratching in a notebook and suddenly, after turning the page, you realize that you could work on the calligraphy. This time, after quite a long period of consolidating the group, we reached the point where the car was packed and we were ready to mentally detach ourselves from the everyday life of the last weeks. It's like scratching in a notebook and suddenly, after turning the page, you realize that you could work on the calligraphy. The road from Żywiec to Hippach took us less than 10 hours. It went smooth, easy and fun. We got there just before dark. We were warmly greeted by Brian and Gustaw, who keep their finger on the pulse of the whole Back Yard. A beer and an invitation to Jurgen's birthday; our good friend, snowboarder and boss BY. The night was short. The next day passed under the banner of preparation and organization. Reconnaissance of the area, lifts and options. Flags, banners, a weekly plan, and talking to Jurgen. In the evening the first part of the team arrived, and late at night the rest. It started to snow, which undoubtedly influenced further conversations and the search for the best, potential off-route lines on the maps and on the Internet.

BACK YARD AUSTRIA

We all know how most fairy tales begin. However, if one asked where the fairy-tale-sounding Transylvania actually lies, many people would have a problem with the answer. Meanwhile, it is not that difficult - Transylvania is another name for Transylvania. It sounds equally mythical, although it defines a completely real place. Specifically, a region in central Romania. This exotic country can be reached by train via Hungary or Ukraine, but it's best to go there by car. Such a journey is safe, and it also makes it easier to navigate through small villages with lots of sights worth seeing.

A fairy tale about transylvania

Winter is approaching, the worst time for our car. We must do everything possible to prepare the car for this unpleasant time of the year. It should be done properly now or soon. You should not wait for the first snow and bitter frost. Only road workers work this way. Our cars are unique and you should take care of them in such a way that there are no problems with their operation at any time of the year. Let's secure our cars for the next winter months to eliminate possible problems, which unfortunately arise very often when the temperature drops below zero.

Take care of your car before winter

Budapest, called the little Paris of Central and Eastern Europe, is considered by many tourists to be one of the most beautiful cities of our continent. Monumental buildings, bridges, hanging on the water like beautiful, modern cobwebs, as well as radiating avenues, perfectly visible from the most representative place of Budapest, Castle Hill - it must be admitted that the city's architecture is thoughtful, majestic and often a real work of art. If we only have a weekend to visit Budapest, it must be a very intense weekend. There is so much to see. At the beginning, it is worth noting that most tourist routes in Budapest lead along the Danube - the most beautiful and most important monuments stand on both its banks, and the Buda itself with Pest is connected by seven road bridges. They have been built in various styles, thanks to which they create a wonderful panorama, which is best seen from the Gellert Hill. The first bridge that connected parts of the city was the Chain Bridge, built on the initiative of politician István Széchenyi. Both ends are guarded by beautiful stone lions.

A blissful weekend in Budapest

The condition of Polish roads leaves much to be desired, and the cars traveling on them are exposed to extreme exploitation. The group of vehicles particularly vulnerable to damage includes largely large vans, as well as recreational vehicles such as motorhomes. Usually they are loaded to the permissible limits, and this affects the extremely frequent and rapid degradation of the suspension or its components. Broken springs, broken rod ends, damaged bearings are just an example of what you can deal with when using the vehicle in extreme conditions. The worst thing about it is that the damage does not appear suddenly, but gradually, and it is difficult to detect it in the initial stages of damage, so any repairs only take place when the vehicle has a serious breakdown that effectively immobilizes it.

Air suspension in motorhomes

Who hasn't heard of bullfighters and bullfighting? Today, Spain is faced with a great problem, the halls of the bullfight are closed, animal protectors are speaking. And corrida is a very important aspect in the Spanish tradition, although the way of fighting should be changed so that the bulls do not suffer so much. In this case it is impossible to make both the wolf and the sheep satisfied. Now some of the performances have simply been moved to the south of France. Bullfighters are associated with macho, with typical Spaniards - male, brave, brave. After the bullfight, flamenco stands in line, then Don Quijote, created by Cervantes, known here as Don Quixote, asks for his Sancho and windmills in Castile. Castile, probably, is very picturesque, H. Popławska mentions it in Spanish romance, writing "Castile ... the strongly beating heart of Spain, under a sky so bright and clear that when you look at it, you fear the infinity of the universe". Besides, when we say "Spain", we see an image of the homosexual director Almodowar and former prime minister Zapatero. That's it… Is there anything more to Spain, which has recently been hit by an economic crisis? Of course !!!.

Viva Espania!

The standard heating option is a system based on a gas furnace (eg Truma or Dometic) powered by gas from a cylinder. The walls of the motorhome trap warm air, and the insulation is also the double floor, which more and more models have. Some people install electric strip heating directly on the walls, gathering heat in the room quietly (no fan), safely and evenly. An alternative to these systems is independent diesel heating. Companies such as Webasto and Eberspaecher, which offer air or water auxiliary heating, specialize in it. In the case of water, warm air is blown inside with special blowers, and some of it heats the engine. However, with the second option, the air is heated directly in the room. Air heating is most often installed in motorhomes because it is quieter. Its advantage is also low power consumption and instant heat. Devices are switched on using a digital clock or remote control.

Heating and air conditioning in the motorhome and caravan

Barcelona is the capital of the Spanish province of Catalonia. It is colorful, bustling and teeming with life - which also has its disadvantages, as it is simply crowded in high season. And it is mercilessly. Barcelona fans say its popularity grew even more after Woody Allen's film "Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona", set in this beautiful city. Every avid fan of Allen's work had to come here and see with your own eyes the places where the characters of the film walked. However, if we go there out of season, we will miss not only the crowded streets, but also the greatest heat. The Catalan capital is beautiful all year round, the winters are light here (about 10 degrees), and to taste all its tastes, it's best to come in autumn or spring. The weather will be beautiful enough, but not bothersome as in summer, people a little less - in a word, perfect for sightseeing. Upon arrival, it is worth buying the Barcelona Card, thanks to it we will receive many discounts, including on public transport and admission. An important information is the possibility of free admission to some museums - you need to check in advance on which days the offer is available.

Barcelona - a city of senses and artists

The risk of staying overnight in a motorhome or caravan is particularly high if we decide to use an unguarded place. In this way, we endanger not only our property, but also our health and, in extreme cases, our lives. A number of anti-burglary security measures and caution will help to minimize the risk of organizing night stops in dangerous areas, to say the least. The basic division of security systems is to distinguish them into mechanical and electronic security. Mechanical security is the basic type of device that protects the trailer against falling into the wrong hands. Anti-theft locks and wedges are popularly used, which prevent the trailer from moving freely. Companies specializing in the production of this type of equipment include LAS, Venus and AL-KO. The cost of buying a blockade does not exceed PLN 200 and in a large number of cases discourages the thief from committing theft. However, it is not a reliable system, besides, it is necessary to dismantle the set frequently and then reinstall it.

Security systems in motorhomes and caravans

Anyone who traveled to Toulouse while visiting France, surely knows why it is called the pink city. Situated on the Garonne river in the south-west of France, the second largest academic center after Paris is full of dark pink buildings. Besides the color of the bricks and the number of students, Toulouse is known for several other things. These include, inter alia, St. Saturnina and the Church of Jacobins.

Toulouse - the city of violets

A toilet in a camper or caravan is now a standard that you could only dream about in the past. It is a certain luxury that distinguishes this type of vehicle from other recreational vehicles. Undoubtedly, having a toilet in the car is highly appreciated and contributes to the high comfort of traveling. What types of toilets are there in a recreational vehicle? A vacuum toilet is a novelty on the market. Dometic specializes in its production. This device uses vacuum cleaning of the shells with grinding the impurities, even before they reach the faeces tank. An additional advantage increasing the comfort of use is the ability to adjust the height of the shell. Another advantage of this type of toilet is the fact that you do not need to use chemicals to eliminate unpleasant odors. The toilet is powered by 12 V. In most cases, however, toilets are used that need chemicals, hence the name - chemical toilets, but beware, chemistry cannot be used in every model. These are mainly types of toilets that do not have their own separate flushing water tank. Chemical toilets are devices made of two parts separated by a latch. We are talking about the lower part, in which impurities accumulate, and the upper part, which is a shell with a lid and often a water tank for flushing such a toilet.

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The highest station of the Gates of the Sun - Avoriaz