Blissfulbritt | Page 17

- Assisi, Italy
  
  Posted at 5:00 PM by Brittany, on October 30, 2019
  
  When booking our trip to Rome, I gave my family and I four days in the city just to be sure we were able to “see it all.” After two and a half days we decided we had seen enough, so we spent one of our days exploring a different part of Italy. A bit north of Rome is a city called Assisi, which is a well known city among catholics as this is the city where St. Francis is from.
  
  Growing up I remember reading the above prayer on the wall of my moms bathroom, and although I don’t know a lot about Catholicism (despite being raised Catholic) I have always been aware of St. Francis. He was also a big animal lover, so he and I would have been pals for sure. Assisi is in the region of Umbria, which is often called the green heart of Italy.
  
  The city sits high on a hill, and the drive up is a bit steep. There are two things that make me nervous when driving a car: driving up steep gravel roads, and driving in places I am unfamiliar with. Navigating Rome in a car was only stressful when I had a hard time finding the streets to turn on, because there is no room for pause in that city.
  
  Mopeds drove wherever they wanted, the streets were always packed, and the people drove quickly. A slight pause in the road would have resulted in a honk or a bumper bump.
  
  When we were driving out of Rome towards Assisi, I had hoped because we were leaving early in the morning that the locals would still be asleep. Once again I was wrong, and it seems that no matter what time of day it is in Rome, the streets are chaos. I felt surprisingly calm driving in Rome overall, and most of the time we were laughing at the clusterfuck of the other drivers, but I wouldn’t do it again.
  
  After getting far enough away from the city, I was able to breathe a bit easier. We arrived in Assisi around lunch time, so we stopped at a market for me to grab something to eat. I bought a can of tuna, because Italian tuna is packed in olive oil and it’s SO good. I realized I didn’t have a fork, so instead of using my fingers I used the lid of the can.
  
  No cuts happened while eating this tuna.
  
  After some snacks we found a place to park the car near the city center and walked around for a few hours. Assisi is a small town that doesn’t require much time to visit, a half day was more than enough for us. We went inside two churches, ate some pizza and cannolis, and bought some locally made olive oil.
  
  The Italian man I bought my olive oil from was a local of Assisi. He spoke great English and was very handsome. Tall and lanky, one of my types, but then I saw him later in the day smoking. ALL.THE.CUTE.EUROPEANS.SMOKE. I guess despite their love for the environment, they haven’t fully caught onto the problem of smoking.
  
  After we spent our time in Assisi, we headed back towards Rome for our final night. Along the way we found a basilica to check out. I love road trips because of the flexibility they provide. A lovely day in a new city, and another bucket list visit for my mama.
  
  My sister was such a champ on this trip, and she kept her cool no matter what we did. My sister has autism, and she used to not handle stressful situations well, but these days she rolls with the punches like it’s nothing. She would laugh harder than my mom and I when we were navigating the chaotic streets of Rome.
  
  I think her laugher is what kept me laughing. Life is too short for anything but laughter.
  
  My sister and I, her looking like she’s about to consume a small child for lunch.
  
  Q: Have you heard of Assisi?
  
  | 16 Comments Tagged Assisi, Brittanys Life Abroad, Italy
- Roma, Italia – Pt. 3
  
  Posted at 2:00 PM by Brittany, on October 28, 2019
  
  If you read my previous two posts about Rome, you’ll know that Rome wasn’t really the city for me. Ironically I will be returning next summer for a family cruise, and will spend some time visiting the sights I didn’t get to see. One sight I hope I get to visit again is the Colosseum. Of all the things I saw in Rome, this was by far my favorite.
  
  Sadly I only had two hours to split between the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, which meant I didn’t have nearly enough time to wander these two locations. These two locations alone made my trip to Rome worth it. The Colosseum is a large amphitheater that held between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.
  
  It was used for gladiatorial contests, public spectacles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on classical mythology. The Colosseum stopped this type of entertainment use in the early medieval era, and it was later used for housing, workshops, religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a christian shrine.
  
  For fear of missing the last Hop on Hop off bus back to the Vatican City where I was staying, I quickly rushed through the Colosseum in 30 minutes. This was enough time to grasp the awe of this place, but not enough time to read the plaques and soak in the energy. I was hoping to see some stray cats, but no such luck.
  
  I hope to not only see some cats when I return next summer, but I also hope to spend more time inside the Colosseum.
  
  Right next to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum, an ancient city that is still partly intact. It served as a public area in which commercial, religious, economical, political, legal, and social activities occurred. This place is less busy than the Colosseum, but I found it to be much more fascinating.
  
  I spent a little bit more time here than I did at the Colosseum, but again it wasn’t nearly enough.
  
  After I made my way back to the Vatican City, I stopped by the store to grab supplies for dinner. I was hooked and obsessed with fresh gnocchi, fresh pasta, and fresh pesto. I literally ate the same meal every night I was in Rome. Two of the three nights, I made the meal myself.
  
  This was a lovely way to spend our final day in Rome. Although we were sleeping in Rome for another two nights, the next day we took a day trip outside of Rome. I have slight PTSD about driving out of Rome, and then back INTO Rome, but I also think I am capable of absolutely anything now. Stay tuned for our day trip to Assisi, and how I managed to make it out of Rome alive.
  
  Q: Who else wants to watch Gladiator now? I’ve actually never seen it!
  
  | 17 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Europe, Italy, Rome
- Roma, Italia – Pt. 2
  
  Posted at 2:00 PM by Brittany, on October 25, 2019
  
  Day two in Rome was dedicated to visiting the Vatican Museums. Otherwise known as “the human cattle herd halls.” Before going into the Vatican Museums, I wasn’t fully aware what they were. After going into the Vatican Museums, I’m still not fully aware what they are.
  
  All I know, is that the Vatican Museums are endless, and most people (myself included) visit just to see the Sistine Chapel.
  
  I’ll admit after finally making it into the Sistine Chapel, it was not what I expected. The famous painting of Adam touching fingers with God took up only a small portion of the ceiling, but all this time I thought it was the majority of the ceiling. I sneakily took the above photo despite the “no photos” rule. I’m glad I took the photo, because I felt so rushed and crammed into the building I could hardly appreciate the ceiling while inside.
  
  The walk to get to the chapel was packed wall to wall in each room we passed through. It was intense, it was hot, and it was a lot of things I didn’t care much to see. I’m not a museum person, so this was a bit of a struggle. Some of the art work was amazing and I don’t regret going into the museum, I just don’t think it would have been something I would have prioritized had I not been with my mom.
  
  Alas, even she agreed it was not a necessary visit.
  
  The line to get into the museums is long…really long…so I purchased our tickets online with a time slot months before we went. I can’t recommend this enough for anyone else interested in visiting Rome/Vatican Museums. If you don’t buy your tickets in advance prepare to wait a few hours to get in.
  
  We passed by St. Peter’s Basilica to get to the museum where I saw the most disturbing sight.
  
  A scruffy looking man who I’d presume might be homeless, was bent over a flock of pigeons eating what looked like a saltine cracker. I was curious what he was doing, so I looked his way and watched as he let crumbs fall from his mouth onto the ground. I thought to myself, “how nice, he is feeding the birds.” Just as this thought passed through my brain, the man reached out with the quickness of a cheetah and GRABBED one of the pigeons.
  
  Pigeon in hand the man walked off as if nothing happened. I can only imagine what he was going to do with the pigeon, and I tried to tell myself he was just hungry and needed to eat, but the process of what I saw freaked me out. I also don’t think pigeons are the cleanest of animals, but I suppose hunger has no limits and I now just feel sad for him.
  
  Rome has an intense homeless problem, and it was sad to see. I suppose this happens with bigger cities, but since living in Europe I haven’t really seen many homeless people until arriving in Rome. This was another thing about Rome that surprised me and shattered the “Romantic Rome” vision I had in my head. After dinner the previous night I had leftovers, and while walking the streets a man asked for my food. Without hesitation I handed my box to him.
  
  I digress.
  
  After the Vatican Museums we made our way to lunch at a local cafe, where no one inside spoke English except us. Our adorable waiter spoke great English, but apologized to us for not speaking more fluently in English. Are you joking!? HE apologized to ME for not speaking MY language in HIS country. It was love at first word. I ate a delicious salad before walking my mom back to our Air B & B.
  
  By this point, my mom had seen all she wanted to see, so I took off solo for a bit to explore more of the city. I headed towards the Colosseum and Roman Forum, where I had purchased tickets in advance as well. This is another place buying tickets ahead of time is highly recommended. Stay tuned for my next post about my visit to these two amazing historical locations.
  
  Q: What would you have thought/felt after seeing the man and the pigeon? I literally cannot look at pigeons the same way…
  
  | 8 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Europe, Italy, Rome, Vatican
- Roma, Italia – Pt. 1
  
  Posted at 2:00 PM by Brittany, on October 21, 2019
  
  Roma, ohhhh Roma. Just the thought of you makes me think of romance, history, religion, and Lizzie McGuire. My mom (and sister) came to visit me in Europe last month, and when I asked her (my mom) where she wanted to go (other than Germany) she immediately said: “Rome.”
  
  My mom is a devout catholic, and Rome is to a catholic like Disneyland is to a small child.
  
  Rome wasn’t high on my list of “must see’s,” but I was happy to oblige her desires, so I did all the dirty work to plan for our trip to Rome. Everything went smoothly…until it didn’t. My mom’s flight was canceled into Germany and she had to spend a night in Dublin, putting us behind half a day. Then when I picked up our rental car, I was given a boat instead of a compact.
  
  Did I mention I was driving to Rome? Where the streets are narrow and the drivers are intense?
  
  I drove my boat and myself to the Munich airport to pick up my mom the morning we were to drive to Rome (which is about 11 hours from Munich) and I waited an hour and a half to change the car. It was worth every minute’s wait, and I ended up getting an Audi A3 Limo style.
  
  I fell deeply in love with that car. Much better for an 11 hour drive.
  
  Driving to Rome was…interesting. The drive was surprisingly smoother than I anticipated, and my anxiety about the Autostrade tolls was unnecessary. The tolls were simple, you just get onto the Autostrade – get a ticket – and pay when you exit. I only paid once getting off in Rome. I felt like a local in no time.
  
  Arriving in Rome was another story. I hoped because we were arriving late (around 11pm) the roads would be less…populated. I was wrong. The streets at night are just as crazy as the streets in the day, and Italians are just as aggressive as they say when it comes to driving. Finding our Air B & B was an adventure.
  
  It took an hour to find, and I had to call the host at midnight.
  
  We couldn’t find parking despite the Air B & B listing stating they had parking (which is why I booked it) so I parked on the street a bit away from the place, which was annoying. After all the hoops were jumped through, the car was parked, and we were inside our apartment, we went to bed to prepare for our first full day in Rome. We’d made it, we’d arrived, it was time to breathe.
  
  We arrived on a Saturday, which meant we were able to attend Sunday mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
  
  The weather was perfect, and arriving for mass at 9am allowed us to beat some of the crowds. On Sunday’s the Vatican Museums are closed, so the entire Vatican City is less chaotic. Did you know that the Vatican City is considered its own separate country? Although I had already been to Italy before this trip, I can still count this as a new country visited thanks to this fun fact.
  
  Mass was beautiful, as was the inside of the Basilica. My mom claimed this was the highlight of the trip for her (other than seeing me of course.) That alone made all the hoops jumped through worth it. Helping facilitate this visit for my mom was very rewarding.
  
  Mass is held multiple days a week at the Basilica, but I was happy we made it for Sunday mass.
  
  After mass we ventured off to get some lunch. We quickly learned that tourist traps are everywhere, and we ate at a restaurant that charged us $60 for a kitten sized portion of pasta, and a medium pizza. Prices aside the food tasted like cardboard and we didn’t make the same mistake twice.
  
  While sitting there eating, a man walked by playing music. After he finished he stuck his hat out expecting money from us, to which I declined. I am all for paying street artists if I feel inclined, but this is another example of how touristy this city is…locals expect and receive money from people who don’t know any better.
  
  After we ate, we took a tour of the city on the Hop on Hop off (HOHO) bus.
  
  Rome is a large city, and a lot of the attractions are spaced far apart. It’s not a driving friendly city, so in order to get the full taste of everything it’s advisable to be in good walking shape. My poor mom hurt her knee pretty badly before she came, making her trip a bit difficult to enjoy at times. Rome is also not nearly as romantic as I originally assumed.
  
  Rome is dirty, it smells, there are tons of tourists, tourist traps, pushy street vendors, and despite it being September it was HOT.
  
  Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we went, but I don’t feel the need to go back anytime soon. Aside from all that, there were plenty of beautiful buildings and statues to gawk at. The HOHO bus took us towards a handful of attractions, but there were a few we skipped out on like the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. I guess I do need to go back after all.
  
  After a full first day, we decided to try again with dining out. We found a slightly touristy place, which was still moderately expensive, but the food was AMAZING. Worth it. I let my hair down and ordered pesto pasta, which set the tone for the rest of the trip.
  
  After dinner we walked back to our Air B & B in Vatican City to prepare for the following days adventure. Stay tuned for our visit to the Vatican Museums, and the traumatizing sight I saw with a homeless man and a pigeon.
  
  Q: Do you like big cities?
  
  | 23 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Europe, Italy, Rome, Vatican
- Oktoberfest 2019
  
  Posted at 2:00 PM by Brittany, on October 14, 2019
  
  This post could easily be summed up with one sentence: “a 30 yr old body does not tolerate spinning rides quite like a 20 yr old body.”
  
  I have skipped out on a handful of fests here in Germany, because a lot of them involve nothing more than sitting in a beer tent…drinking beer. There is nothing wrong with this, but for someone who doesn’t drink beer this doesn’t appeal to me much.
  
  “Here, hold this beer for the photo!”
  
  When I learned that Oktoberfest not only had beer tent, upon beer tent, upon beer tent, but also had rides like a carnival…I knew I had to go. Growing up I made sure to visit the county fair every year to get my fix of sketchy rides that threatened my safety. The faster they spun, the harder I laughed, and the more fun I had.
  
  Fast forward to now, and I managed three rides before feeling my guts and my brain sloshing inside of me. I’d have been better off sticking to the Ferris wheel.
  
  A group of girls and I decided to go after work on a Tuesday because the rides were supposed to be half price (they were not, but such is life) and I anticipated riding as many as I could within a few hours. We took the 4p train to Munich, (which had multiple delays and unexpected train changes) and arrived an hour later than expected around 6p.
  
  Before we embarked on rides, we stopped into a beer hall for the girls to get some beer, and for me to get some brathendl.
  
  We got lucky when we walked in, because this was our fourth beer tent we tried to find space in. They were all packed, but we walked into this one and a waiter saw us, grabbed us, and led us to a table right away. All it meant was that the 11.80 euro beer cost the girls 15 euros after an automatic tip (he didn’t even ask, but again, such is life.)
  
  After spending a good hour enjoying dancing on benches and stuffing our bellies, we made our way out into the darkness of the night. As we were leaving the crowded tent myself and one of the other girls were groped multiple times. I hate that I have to even say this, but a pro tip for ladies planning to attend Oktoberfest: be aware.
  
  It was more annoying than anything, but sadly this happens often at Oktoberfest.
  
  We didn’t let the creeps stop us, it was time for some rides. Only one other girl out of the five of us wanted to go on the “intense” rides, so we split up and she and I took off towards the roller coaster. I should have known when the cost for one ride was ten euros that it wasn’t half price, but when at Oktoberfest (I also spent 13 euros on half a chicken when I normally pay 3.50 euro back where I live!)
  
  Two of us on the far left are the daredevils!
  
  The roller coaster (above) was ride number one, and it was a blast. This was a good ride to ease into the sketch. Right next to the roller coaster was a ride that looked fun at first glance, but I lost my shit when I got onto it. It started slow, but as it got faster and began to spin more I felt the chicken in my belly trying to claw its way out.
  
  The ride never went fully upside down, but it got close, and the higher it went the more fear I felt.
  
  I never got to the point where I needed to barf, but I started to feel all kinds of funny. We took a break and went through a fun house before ending the night with the worst of them all. I couldn’t find an exact GIF, but it’s similar to the scrambler. Which is appropriate because my brain was a mush of scramble after this ride.
  
  The ride was never ending, and although in the moment it was comical, I felt like I was drunk when I got off. I felt sick and had a throbbing headache the remainder of the night. Despite the discomfort, I regret nothing and had a great time with the group of girls I went with. We only stayed for a few hours, but I got all I needed from Oktoberfest.
  
  I will likely go to at least one more fest during my time in Germany, but it’s not until the spring. It’s like a mini Oktoberfest, which seems more my speed. At this fest, I’ll stick to the swings and the Ferris wheel where my 30yr old body belongs. I think I need the entire winter to recover after Oktoberfest.
  
  We took the 10p train back to Garmisch, and I had a lovely chat with a German named Andy. His neighbor works as a server, and got him a free spot in a beer tent box where he had unlimited beer and food. Andy was living the life at Oktoberfest, but I don’t think his 50yr old body handled the beer quite like his 20yr old body.
  
  Q: Would you go on the rides at Oktoberfest, or stick to the beer tents?
  
  | 12 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Carnival, Germany, Munich, Oktoberfest, Rides
- Ulm, Germany
  
  Posted at 2:00 PM by Brittany, on October 7, 2019
  
  One of my roommates is dating a German who lives one state over from Bavaria (where we live), in Baden-Württemberg. He lives in a town called Ulm, and my roommate often escapes here on her weekends to spend time with him. I have heard stories of this quaint town for months, and I finally managed to spend a night in Ulm after our roomie trip to Belgium.
  
  Ulm doesn’t draw a big crowd, which somewhat surprises me because the city is home to the Ulmer Münster, a beautiful church with the largest tower in the world. I suppose this would take a very specific search to discover, which is perhaps why few people know about it, but the 768 steps inside the tower lead to a beautiful view of the city.
  
  Ulm hugs the Danube river, which is the second longest river in Europe, running through ten different countries. After we climbed the church tower, we walked along the river and I couldn’t help but think about what it would be like to ride my bike along this path through all ten countries.
  
  Apparently my roommates boyfriend knows someone who has attempted this, and the path eventually looses lackluster.
  
  We were lucky with the weather on this day, and after wandering the city for a bit we settled on the other side of the river, in Neu-Ulm for lunch. Neu-Ulm is actually in Bavaria, so we walked back and forth between two states eating lunch in one, and exploring another. The view from Neu-Ulm is what brought us to the other side.
  
  Also, can we talk about how creative Germans are with naming cities? Ulm…and Neu-Ulm.
  
  One of my favorite thing about Germany is the architecture of their houses. They look like gingerbread houses out of a fairytale. I often feel like I am back home in Washington here in Germany, but then I visit a town or an open field of green hills and am quickly reminded I am in fact in Germany.
  
  Speaking of fairytale, the Fisherman’s Quarter in Ulm is a must see. It’s small, but mighty. I felt like I was in a scene out of Snow White walking around these streets. I got my first taste of fall in this area, when I stumbled upon a building with pumpkins next to it.
  
  I am so glad this trip to Ulm worked out, I don’t know when I would have gone otherwise. I would certainly return, and I now see why my roommate loves spending her weekends here (aside from her boyfriend of course, who was kind enough to host us!) A worthy stop on any German road trip, and be sure to climb the church tower!
  
  Q: Would you climb the tower?
  
  | 9 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Church, Europe, Germany, Ulm
- Höllentalklamm
  
  Posted at 2:00 PM by Brittany, on October 3, 2019
  
  Although in my last post I mentioned I’ve been biking more than hiking lately, I still get out and hike once in a while. The mountains surrounding where I live in Garmisch are too amazing not to explore. I was lucky enough to have a day off with BOTH of my roommates a bit ago, and I convinced them to hike the Höllentalklamm with me.
  
  There are two Klamm’s in Garmisch, the Höllentalklamm and the Partnachklamm, and I’ve now been to both. Klamm translates to a few words such as “clammy”, “damp”, and “gorge.” The Höllentalklamm is a gorge that is both damp AND clammy, which made this a great activity on a rainy day.
  
  Backyard path towards the Klamm.
  
  Our end goal was the Höllentalangerhütte, which is a bit further than the end of the Klamm. The walk from where we live to the beginning of the Klamm is about 4.5 miles, and from the beginning of the Klamm to the Höllentalangerhütte it’s about 1.2 miles, so we walked 5.7 miles from where we live, through the Klamm area, to the Hütte.
  
  The Höllentalklamm is a bit less crowded than the Partnachklamm, likely because it takes about an hour just to hike to the entrance. I didn’t mind this, because while I enjoy hiking with others around, I don’t enjoy an overly crowded path.
  
  It was a light drizzle the day we went, but overall the weather was perfect. I prefer hiking in cooler temps because I tend to overheat easily. The Klamm itself was cool, but I enjoyed what came after the Klamm more. Hiking to and through the Klamm is good for families as it’s not too intense.
  
  It costs 5 euros to walk through, but if you wanted to skip the Klamm and visit just the Hütte there is an alternate route.
  
  We stopped for a moment to enjoy some lunch at the end of the Klamm before walking the remaining 45 minutes or so to the Hütte. The Hütte is a popular destination for those hiking the Zugspitze, Germanys tallest mountain. Hikers often do this hike in two days, stopping at a Hütte along the way for a night.
  
  I would love to stay in this Hütte just to explore the area!
  
  Lunch views.
  
  After my roomies enjoyed a beer, and I enjoyed the view, we made our way back home. I couldn’t have asked for a better day off with two of my favorite girls. I enjoyed the Höllentalklamm a bit more than the Partnachklamm, but either one is a great choice for an adventure in Bavaria.
  
  Q: Would you rather camp along the way on a multi day hike, or stay in a mountain hut?
  
  | 7 Comments Tagged Bavaria, Brittanys Life Abroad, Germany, Gorge, Hiking
- Biking in Bavaria – Pt. 2
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 30, 2019
  
  I’m halfway through my contract for my current job working in Germany, which has me thinking about what I will miss most when I no longer live in Bavaria. I still have plenty of time here, and there is the possibility to extend my time should I choose to do so, but for now I plan to leave here next April.
  
  There are many, MANY things I love about living here, but one of the main things I love are all of the BIKE PATHS!
  
  My weekends quickly switched from: “where can I rush off to outside of Germany for two days,” to: “where can I ride my bike to for two days.” Trying to travel too much is a thing, and I quickly learned after a few months here that weekends need to be savored, even when living in Europe.
  
  Hiking seems to have taken a back seat to bike rides, but I’m just going with what feels right.
  
  My go to bike path the last few months has been towards a town called Farchant. Once I reach Farchant, the possibilities are endless for not only biking, but for hiking as well. It only takes about 25 minutes to bike to Farchant, and a few weeks ago I was wanting to explore further.
  
  I found a bike path that hugs the Loisach river and decided to follow it for a while.
  
  I ended up biking to a town called Eschenlohe, which is only about 11 miles away. I wanted to go further, but needed to be back to Garmisch for a movie night and started too late in the afternoon. I ended up biking for about four hours this day around Bavaria.
  
  There is something magical about discovering new places on a bike. It’s less intimidating than hiking for me, because I am still nearby civilization should something go wrong, and I move quicker covering more ground in less time. Eschenlohe is a small and quaint town, similar to most towns in Bavaria.
  
  I first went into the town church, which is one of my favorite things to do in a new Bavarian town.
  
  The church was beautiful, as are all European churches, but that chandelier was what caught my eye first. I sat and savored the warm inviting ambiance before heading outside to enjoy my lunch by the river. I wish I’d had more time to explore, but I will return soon for this exact bike ride. Maybe next time I’ll get some gelato.
  
  A few weeks later I embarked on another worth while bike ride (they’re all worth while, but some more memorable than others) in a similar direction, just a slightly different path. The bike paths here are like a labyrinth at times, and no two paths are the same. They might lead to the same destination, but they are all different.
  
  Sounds a bit like a life metaphor if you ask me…
  
  While trying to find the same bike path I had ridden to get to Eschelohe, I made a wrong turn and found myself on a walking path. I didn’t realize it was a walking path until I came face to face with some locals enjoying their lunch and scratching their faces on the benches.
  
  The brown cow has the most beautiful colors, and was blocking the path with two of her friends. Admittedly I was intimidated by those three ladies, and one of them was walking towards me quite briskly. I went out of my way to go around them, as I felt slight PTSD from my time in Yellowstone when hiking near Bison.
  
  These cows could have cared less that I was there, but I gave them space nonetheless.
  
  It won’t be long before these cows are no longer on the hiking paths enjoying grass and saying hello to the passersby. The weather is changing and these big beauties will soon return to their barns where it’s much warmer during the cold winter months. I will miss hearing their bells rinding through the hills of the mountains.
  
  I eventually found the path I was looking for, after a 40 minute detour. It was no bother though, as I mentioned above I enjoy discovering new paths by bike. I also now look closer for the “no bike zone” signs so I don’t make the same mistake as I did on this adventure. Makes sense now why some of the German walkers were giving me weird looks as I attempted to ride my bike up a decently steep hill.
  
  These calm weekend bike rides quickly became one of my favorite things to do in Bavaria, and are a great recharge after a long work week. Thankfully I don’t have to think about my weeks without these paths for a while. If there is anything that could keep me longer in Germany, these bike paths are at the top of the list.
  
  Q: Would you leave your life behind wherever you are, and move to a different country for a while?
  
  | 21 Comments Tagged Bavaria, Bike Path, Biking, Brittanys Life Abroad, Cow's, Germany, Mountain Cow
- Schloss Neuschwanstein
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 23, 2019
  
  A couple of years ago, I was browsing articles online and stumbled onto an article about a castle in Germany called Neuschwanstein. I was immediately struck by this castle, or “Schloss” in German, because this was one of the inspirations for Walt Disney when designing the iconic Cinderella castle.
  
  Germany was never on my radar back then, but I added it to my list of “must see places” because I love me anything Disney.
  
  Fast forward to my current life in Germany, and not only do I live close to Neuschwanstein, but the hotel I work for has organized tours multiple times a week. The tour is an all day adventure, and for guests the tour costs $50. For employees, if we’re lucky enough to snag a spot on the bus (when the tour isn’t full) we can go on the tour for $17.
  
  It took me over six months to finally snag a spot on the bus, but the day I went was absolutely perfect. The weather was ideal, and I was happy I waited. The tour starts at 8:30 sharp, and the morning of the tour I made my way down to the hotel lobby to see if there were any spots. Sure enough, I was able to jump on board and I spent the next nine hours exploring parts of Germany I hadn’t seen yet.
  
  Before we made it to the castle we stopped at the above church, called Weiskirche. Here we were able to look around the church, and stop for an espresso and locally made donuts at Gasthof Schweiger. I didn’t partake in the donuts, though they looked amazing. Instead I fed my soul with the nearby rolling hills and beautiful houses.
  
  Another place we stopped before the castle, was a local woodcarving shop. Woodcarving is a big thing in Germany, and the small mom and pop like shop we stopped at was adorable. Even better than the woodcarvings however, was the view. I will never get over the green rolling hills of Bavaria.
  
  Pit stops complete, we made it to the parking area of Neuschwanstein around 11. We had a formal tour at noon, and were given three options for getting to the castle: walk up the hill/trail area, take a bus, or take a horse and carriage. I’ll let you guess what I chose.
  
  I chose to walk, and first made my way to Marienbrücke, the bridge providing the above view of the castle. After admiring the view for a bit, it was time for the tour. The tour was mediocre, lasting all of 15 minutes, but it was worth it just to see the inside of this castle.
  
  The castle was only 1/3 finished, as its creator King Ludwig II mysteriously died before it was complete.
  
  King Ludwig was busy building two other castles as well, only one of which was completed. He was spending funds he didn’t have, using money from the city to build his lavish homes. He was deemed clinically insane after refusing to react rationally when foreign banks threatened to seize his property. Rumor has it he and his psychiatrist drowned in Lake Starnberg after Ludwig checked into a mental hospital.
  
  Whatever actually happened, there is no denying the extravagant vision Ludwig had with Neuschwanstein, I’ve never seen an interior of a castle quite like it. I suppose when one plans to spend most of their time alone and inside (Ludwig was a severe introvert), an extravagant home is necessary.
  
  The above view from the castle wasn’t too shabby either.
  
  After the castle tour, we made our way to a nearby brewery for dinner. I sat with a few women that were staying at the hotel while their significant others were attending a conference. They were lovely women, and we had a fun time chatting about all things Germany.
  
  I would love to return in either the fall or the winter to see what the surrounding areas look like. I can only imagine what the trees look like when the leaves change color. I didn’t manage to get any photos from the front of the castle, but I found the below photo online. You can see the beautiful similarities to the classic Disney castle.
  
  (Source)
  
  I was stoked to be able to check Neuschwanstein off my list, and for $17 I’d say it was a steal of a deal.
  
  Q: Did you know Neuschwanstein was an inspiration for Cinderella’s castle?
  
  | 20 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Castle, Disneyland, Germany, Neuschwanstein, Wanderlust
- Gent, Belgium
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 16, 2019
  
  First impressions can be misleading. If I lived my life based solely on first impressions I’d be missing out on some amazing opportunities. My first impression of Gent was not a good one. The city had a lot of constriction happening which seems to be a reoccurring theme for all of Europe, the weather was hot making me moody, and there were a lot of people…everywhere.
  
  I don’t like being uncertain of where I am when driving a car, and while searching for a parking garage upon arrival in Gent, the car navigation system continuously tried to take me down roads that were closed. There were bikers EVERYWHERE, and I ended up driving onto a pedestrian only street. I wasn’t aware I couldn’t drive here until someone stopped me and kindly advised I turn off the street.
  
  Thankfully one of my roommates had access to Google Maps, and she guided us a back way to the parking garage. I have never been happier to park a car for two days in my life. All I needed was to be mobile by foot and my first impression started to change.
  
  We stayed at an amazingly convenient Air B&B right next to the city center, and this made a perfect home base for our two days in Gent.
  
  There is a bridge that brought us into the city from our Air B&B, and I can confidently say I have never seen a city that looked quite like Gent looks from this angle as I approached. It was absolutely stunning and I was amazed at the architecture.
  
  We arrived in the evening after our day in Dunkirk, so we made ourselves some dinner and planned for the following day. There was a walking tour starting on the above bridge (3 min walk from Air B&B) at 10am, which was the perfect start to the day. I’ve grown quite fond of the free city walking tours, they are a good way to become somewhat acclimated with a new city.
  
  The tour was two hours, and took us to some of the main highlights in Gent as well as some local known neighborhoods.
  
  We did a free walking tour in Brugge as well, and our tour guide in Brugge told us a story about how Brugge and Gent used to have animosity towards each other. The rivalry is now all in good fun, but once upon a time the two cities were enemies.
  
  According to Brugge, Gent came and stole a golden dragon from their town, and placed it upon their Belfry tower.
  
  According to Gent, Brugge stole the dragon from the vikings (I think) so regardless the golden dragon didn’t belong to either of them. The dragon still sits atop the Belfry tower in Gent, and I don’t anticipate it being stolen a third time. I found it fitting that the two cities I chose to visit in Belgium had this kind of history.
  
  Dragon atop the tower.
  
  Our tour guide took us through an area he originally referred to as “the ghetto of Gent” which was a misrepresentation of what’s actually just an alley where it’s legal and acceptable to spray paint the walls. The city covers the walls with fresh paint every so often for a naked canvas, and people come to paint their hearts out.
  
  I found a little bit of myself in that alley.
  
  It me.
  
  Fake news: this can was actually empty.
  
  After the tour, my roommates and I split ways for a few hours to explore on our own. I wandered my way down backroads and cobblestoned streets for a while, and decided to splurge on a shot of espresso. I don’t drink coffee for a myriad of reasons, but sometimes I splurge regardless of the repercussions. I wasn’t going to splurge on food in Gent, so coffee it was.
  
  I stopped into a local shop called Barista Coffee and Cake, and my suppressed foodie coffee lover was swooning. Vegan treats and coffee galore. Big sigh.
  
  Coffee in hand, I decided to do a boat tour, because anytime I find myself in a city with canals I gravitate towards the boats. The tour was only 7 euro for an hour, and I loved seeing areas of Gent I wouldn’t have seen by foot. Despite the morning clouds that greeted our day, the sky quickly turned to sun after noon and the boat ride was HOT.
  
  My boat tour guide covered things my walking tour guide did not, but my walking tour guide covered the most important topic. He told us the best place to buy chocolate from in the city, and since I’d come all the way to Belgium and hadn’t bought any chocolate yet I decided to trust his recommendation.
  
  I trusted him because he recommended a local shop, and when I walked in I could peek over a ledge to see them making the chocolate below.
  
  I planned to buy a small pack of chocolate for my mom, but that quickly escalated to 22 single pieces of chocolate of which I ate 11 of upon my arrival back in Germany (I DID space it over two days, which is a big deal for someone with BED.) The other 11 are safely awaiting the arrival of my mom and sister next week. The woman at the chocolate shop was wonderful and patient with my never ending “and what’s this one” question.
  
  My box of goods was only 15 euro, and let me tell you…it was worth every penny. That was some of the best chocolate I’ve ever had. I later discovered this chocolate shop is a family business of a father and son, with two shops in different areas of Gent. I visited Cédric Van Hoorebeke located closer to the city center. Both father and son are married, and their lovely wives handle the shop front while the men make the chocolate.
  
  Now that’s a family business I can support.
  
  After buying my chocolate and dropping it off at our homebase, it was time for dinner. I had stuck to eggs, avocados, and apples for breakfast and lunch, so dinner had a bit more flavor. I eat the same things most everyday, which usually consists of chicken in some way. Half chickens are my go to in Europe, and Belgium was no different.
  
  My meal was good, and I was mostly full, but after meeting back up with my roommates I helped my roommate finish her fries. Belgium is the home of the French fry after all, and I had never eaten fries with mayo before so I gave it a try. HOT diggity dog…I saw the light. Fries and mayo IS A THING and it’s wicked delicious.
  
  To wind down the evening we sat at a bar for a beer (not for me) and soaked in the remainder of the day.
  
  The following morning we had until around noon before we planned to drive back to Germany, so I spent an hour exploring Gravensteen, also known as the Castle of the Counts. This castle has a self guided audio tour and was hands down the best castle tour I’ve ever done. The commentary was informational and FUNNY.
  
  It kept me focused and entertained, which is sometimes hard to do.
  
  The castle is smack in the middle of the city and dates back to 1180. The history behind this castle was fascinating, and the views were worth the 10 euro entrance fee. This was the perfect way to end the quick trip to Gent. My first impression of this city was not an accurate representation of what I later discovered. This city is rich in history and beauty.
  
  This wrapped up my roomie trip to Belgium, and I once again was so glad Spain didn’t work out for us. Everything happens for a reason. and I couldn’t have asked for a better week with two of my favorite people in Europe.
  
  Q: Can you think of a city you had a first impression of that turned out to be wrong?
  
  | 13 Comments Tagged Belgium, Brittanys Life Abroad, Chocolate, Gent, Travel, Wanderlust
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