Blissfulbritt | Page 2

- Venice, Italy – Pt. 1
  
  Posted at 6:30 AM by Brittany, on February 18, 2019
  
  This past summer when I was working in Yellowstone, I often worked 10 hour days – five days a week. I did have consistent weekends, but never anything more than two days off at a time. My current job in Germany doesn’t give me consistent weekends, but I’m working FAR less hours (which is GREAT) and sometimes the cookie crumbles in my favor and I have MORE than two days off. Last week the cookie crumbled in all the right places and I had four days off…IN A ROW.
  
  Living in Europe means that even a two day weekend calls for a trip out of town, but a four day weekend calls for an even further trip out of town. After weighing my options I decided I wanted to go to Venice as a “get my feet wet traveling solo” trip. Venice is rated as a very safe city, so I pulled the plug and bought myself a round trip bus ticket for around $45.
  
  The bus to and from Venice from where I live was about 7 hrs, but the ride wasn’t bad at all. Aside from the Italian bus driver talking to me in Italian about a rattling noise he wanted me to check, the trip was smooth and I was able to take in the sights around me. I was lucky to find a direct bus both to and from Venice, which isn’t a common find.
  
  I arrived in Venice around 8pm my first of three nights there, so I made sure to book a hostel that was close to the bus stop. Venice might be rated as safe, but after dark a city is still a city. My hostel was literally around the corner from the bus, was eclectic and modern, and cost me a whopping $11. The only downside was that this room had EIGHT beds in it, and the girl underneath me was a snorer. But…$11.
  
  The following morning, I walked 2 minutes from my hostel to the train station, and took a train into the city center. I started my day around 7am because I wanted as much time in daylight as possible. I arrived in the city center around 7:30a and I watched the city come to life. The people I was walking around with were clearly locals, some probably on their way to work. Most of the shops were still closed, so I spent my first two hours wandering the alleys and allowing myself to get lost.
  
  The canals were like something out of a movie. The houses had laundry hanging out to dry, and garbage bags in their windows to be collected. There were flower plants on the side of buildings and uneven sidewalks with twists and turns allowing multiple options for exploration. Venice isn’t a huge city, so you can’t really get lost, but at the same time you want to get “lost” aimlessly wandering. Eventually you’ll find a familiar building, or stumble upon a well known sight, but the true experience is found without a map.
  
  I spent my day bouncing in and out of as many cathedrals as I could find, eating as much local food as I could stomach, and immersing myself in as much Italian culture as I could. I wandered the farmers market, I wandered the local neighborhoods, I wandered the outer streets and inner alleyways, and covered a total of 16 miles on my first day in the city. I spent 9 hours soaking up as much as I could, and I’m happy to say there was nothing I wanted to see or do that I didn’t on the first day.
  
  I sat at a restaurant on the Grand Canal for over an hour just watching the city come to life. I watched the Gondolas come and go, I watched the tourists window shop, I watched the locals rush off to work, I felt the sun on my cheeks and the espresso in my veins. Any fear of being alone in an area I’d never been washed away with each crashing wave that entered my auditory system.
  
  By mid day I made my way towards the Piazza San Marco, Venice’s most popular city square. The square is home to many beautiful buildings, including a gorgeous cathedral rich in history known as the Basilica di San Marco. The Basilica is free to enter (you can pay for additional exploration when inside) and was one of the most amazing interiors of gold and painted walls I’ve ever seen.
  
  From here I wandered more on the outer edges near the water to soak up the remaining hours of daylight. I had no set plans for this trip, other than to wander as much as possible and soak up as much culture as I could. I found buildings I’d only ever seen in photographs, dogs walking next to their owners without a leash, locals and tourists alike eating gelato and cannolis and seafood galore.
  
  Of all the cathedrals I found, my favorite was Santa Maria Della Salute. I saw the building from across the canal, and walked all the way around so that I could see it up close. What made this my favorite of the day was the inside beauty, paired with a right place/right time moment. As I arrived a live organist was playing music for a one hour time slot. I sat in the pews and listened to the music play for a good ten minutes wondering how this was my life.
  
  This trip was the perfect confidence boost for traveling alone. My only concern when traveling alone is getting lost, but I’ve managed to loophole my maps using wifi (I don’t have a cell phone plan here and no data) and asking as many people as needed to ensure I’m on the right train before it leaves. I made sure to find my hostel for the night first thing upon arriving in the city, just in case. My second hostel in Venice I was blessed with the room to myself. I paid $27 for this stay, and had a great nights sleep.
  
  My view from the room wasn’t shabby either.
  
  My first day in Venice was a dream, and it was just the beginning. Day two in Venice was spent island hopping, and listening to Italians serenade me with classical music. More on that later. My eats from day one consisted of two items Italy is known for: pizza and gelato. I sometimes splurge when I travel in order to soak up the culture regardless of the physical symptoms I might feel. I’d never had gelato before, and I admit I now know what the hype is all about.
  
  I wanted to eat seafood pasta, and cannolis, and chocolate too…but I have to be mindful and decided to save those other items for my next trip to EATaly.
  
  The city center of Venice is a place you have to see for yourself to fully grasp the beauty. I accomplished a long time goal of drinking espresso in Italy and it was just as delicious as I anticipated. Up next is part two of my Italy adventure, full of colorful houses and beautiful music. Ciao!
  
  Q: Would you rather: pizza, gelato, cannoli, seafood pasta, seafood?
  
  | 37 Comments Tagged Europe, Italy, Living Abroad, Venice
- Munich, Germany
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 11, 2019
  
  Last week I took a day trip into the city of Munich, which is just over an hour long bus ride from where I am living. I had originally planned to visit the city alone, but when I discovered two of the girls I went to Innsbruck with were also going, I changed plans to go with them. The weather was perfect the entire day – it was cold, but the sky was cloudless and sunny.
  
  Before arriving, I searched the Google for a few places that were on the “must see” list, and planned to spend the rest of the time wandering the streets. I like to have a balance of knowledge and spontaneity when traveling to new places. This ensures I see a few top spots, but also opens the door for places I’d not have stumbled upon otherwise.
  
  Munich is a high end city and a lot of people visit to shop, but I came for the sights. I came for the architecture, for the cathedrals, for the parks, and for the food. The Marienplatz (city center) area is home to Neues Rathaus (Munich’s New Town Hall) which was at the top of my list of must see’s. The gothic style building dates back to 1867 and the inside was like a labyrinth. This was the first stop of the day, and we happened to arrive just in time to see the Glockenspiel perform, which only happens a couple times a day.
  
  Neues Rathaus on the left, Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) domes in the middle, Mariensäule (St. Mary’s column) on the left.
  
  There is something magical about seeing a building in real life after seeing a photo, like meeting Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Walking around the corner to see Neues Rathaus was one of those magical moments. As touristy as it may be, the building is a must see when visiting Munich. When walking around inside the building there were children everywhere, one of them was flaunting his money at me and I wasn’t sure if he thought I was a prostitute or just trying to brag.
  
  Based on my thick puffy jacket and long pants I’ll go with the latter.
  
  After wandering around the Marienplatz area for a bit, we headed off to find some cathedrals. I absolutely love the strong faith in Europe, and although I don’t identify with Catholicism (despite being raised catholic) the beauty of these old churches is awe inspiring. Our first stop was Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady.) The cathedrals iconic domes can be seen in one of the above photos.
  
  This was a good start to the cathedral crawl, and I felt that each cathedral after was better than the one before it. My only complaint was that my group didn’t want to spend more time inside each place we stopped (perks of traveling solo.) We also visited St. Peter’s Church and Holy Ghost Church, but my all time favorite of the day AND of all time thus far in my life was Asam Church. Usually when I think of a cathedral, I think of bright lights and stained glass windows. I think of white walls and a victorian themed decor.
  
  Holy Ghost Church
  
  However, upon walking into Asam Church all my stigmas surrounding cathedrals were shattered by the dark gothic vibe. The walls were dark, the decor was dark, and the ambiance was dark. It was the most beautifully dark cathedral I have ever seen, and I will return to Munich just to sit inside of it for longer than 5 minutes. The inside is much smaller than the other cathedrals we visited, and I can only imagine what the hymns sound like inside those walls.
  
  Such beauty.
  
  A trip to the city isn’t complete without sustenance, and although the Hofbräuhaus is very touristy, it’s a traditional beer hall that dates back to the 16th century. Inside we were lucky to get a table, because if you don’t sit you don’t eat. People are known to scoot into a booth with strangers because it gets so busy at times. I’m not a beer drinker, but I did partake in a bowl of potato soup and a “side” of sauerkraut which was enough for three people.
  
  I ate it all.
  
  The inside was beautiful and we listened to traditional live music.
  
  I look forward to going back to the beer hall during Oktoberfest.
  
  After our feast, we were off to the Englischer Garden, a public park created in 1789. Even the parks in Europe have deep history, it’s amazing. There is currently a lot of snow in Germany, which made the park look like a true winter wunderland. I can’t wait to return and see this park in the summer months. I envision myself sitting on the grass, having a picnic, eating bon bons and wading in the river.
  
  For those who like to partake in the hops, there is also a biergarten nearby.
  
  After making a pit stop into Starbucks for my compadres (the sign was in German, it was fun) we made our way to the last must see spot on my list. The Siegestor Arch was originally dedicated to the glory of the Bavarian army, and underwent serious damage after WWII. The arch was almost demolished in 1945, but was partially restored and now promotes peace. The total distance covered in Munich was 12 miles on foot, and I’d say we covered some solid ground.
  
  Munich is a city for everyone. If you like to buy expensive unnecessary items, go to Munich. If you like to learn about history and visit museums (I need to go back to see some museums), go to Munich. If you like to explore old architechture and historical buildings, go to Munich. Just outside of Munich are two other must visit places: (I haven’t been to either yet, but they’re on my list ASAP) Dachau Concentration Camp, and Neuschwanstein Castle.
  
  That wraps up my second trip outside of my “home” town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. I’ve officially been living in Germany for three weeks (today) and I still feel like I’m on an extended vacation despite the fact that I’m working. Life is wild, and I’m happy to be along for the ride.
  
  Q: When visiting a big city would you rather: shop, visit museums, or visit landmarks?
  
  | 18 Comments Tagged Cathedral, Germany, History, Living Abroad, Munich
- Innsbruck, Austria
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 4, 2019
  
  The town in Germany that I live is in the southern tip of the country just a hop, skip, and a jump away from both Austria and Switzerland. I’ve been in Germany for two weeks as of today, and I didn’t hesitate to start my travels. My first day off was last Wednesday, and I made plans with a few of the other newbies here to take the FlixBus to Innsbruck. The bus ticket was $14 round trip, and took about an hour each way.
  
  We arrived in Innsbruck around 930 am, and the only “plans” we had were to see the river with the colorful houses, and I really wanted to visit Ambras Castle. The rest of the day was free to roam and soak up as much of the city as we could. We started at the first cafe we could find for some espresso and a treat.
  
  This was the first of many encounters with locals that didn’t speak English, but we made it work eventually.
  
  After our pick me up we wandered into the Old Town area. These medieval buildings are paired with contemporary architecture, all surrounded by the Alps. There was a City Tower we stumbled upon that provided a panoramic view of the city, and was well worth the 3 euro to climb the stairs. The Old Town is also home to the Golden Roof, which is the cities most famous symbol. The roof is made of copper tiles and was for Emperor Maximillian I to mark his wedding.
  
  I love history.
  
  View of Golden Roof from the tower.
  
  City Tower, circa 1442-1450.
  
  After being awed by the view from City Tower, we wandered around Old Town a bit, and I ended up buying a souvenir. I never buy souvenirs because I don’t like to accumulate “things,” but this one spoke to me. My room in Germany is very empty, to the point where the housing manager thought I had moved out when he came to do a room inspection.
  
  What can I say, I’m tidy and I’m a minimalist.
  
  You had me at the hiking boot.
  
  From the Old Town area, we migrated towards the river. When Googling Innsbruck the river houses were one of the first images that caught my eye. These colorful buildings are a must see, and a perfect spot for a tourist to take a photo. We walked the river for a while, wandered down random roads, stopped into open cathedrals, and then made our way outside of the city center towards Ambras Castle.
  
  Ambras Castle is about a 2 mile walk from the city center, and Google Maps was the real MVP on this trip. I just learned that I can download maps of any city to use offline, which will be such a life changer while I explore without data for my cell phone. We stopped in to use the toilet at a gas station along the way, which was stop number two where no one spoke English. We were beginning to stick out like sore thumbs, but everyone was kind.
  
  I’m a sucker for a good castle tour, so when I saw Ambras Castle pop up as one of the must see places in Innsbruck I knew it needed to be one of the main stops for the day. Archduke Ferdinand II rebuilt the castle using part of it to display his collections of armor, weapons, oddities, rarities, and precious items, making this the oldest museum in the world dating back to 1570.
  
  The exterior of the castle alone is enough to summon a visit, but my favorite room on the inside was The Spanish Hall. This room was used for balls and special occasions, and upon entry you can immediately see why. Some of the portraits that line the walls are comical, and I can’t help but wonder if the men actually posed the way they were portrayed.
  
  My favorite pose. What’s going on with that hand, and that hip pop is on point.
  
  The castle has a cafe where we ate lunch, and this was the third and most difficult encounter with a woman that didn’t speak English. She was sweet as candy, but my goodness did I wish I knew Google Translate allows language downloads to use offline before I visited this cafe. I learned this life hack as well as the Google Maps offline hack AFTER this trip. I tried to order a chicken salad, and I don’t know what she was saying, but I ended up guessing she was telling me they didn’t have anymore. Instead I ordered a tuna salad, which was delicious.
  
  We were all given coupons to get a free espresso, so I also ordered an espresso. When it came time to pay I presented my coupon, and she became confused. I had no idea what she was saying, but I kept presenting the coupon hoping something would happen. I’m still unsure, but I think perhaps she thought I was trying to use the coupon for my entire meal. Eventually she said “OHH Espresso” and it was taken care of.
  
  We all laughed, and did the best we could.
  
  The castle grounds had three peacocks roaming around, which was random as hell, but also fun. After we finished with the castle we took a bus back into the city, and my copilots stopped for a warm drink and some cake to kill time before our bus disembarked back to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We also stopped at a place called Mamma Mia where I ate the biggest slice of pizza I’ve ever seen.
  
  I payed for it later, but when in Austria.
  
  Our bus left Innsbruck at 735p, giving us ten hours in the city. I couldn’t have asked for a better day, my company was perfect (we all got along great and were happy to go with the flow) the sights were beautiful, and the food was delicious. We walked a total of 12 miles – a perfect first trip while living abroad.
  
  Q: What are your favorite things to do while traveling? For me I like to try new food, coffee, museums, and anything outdoors.
  
  | 31 Comments Tagged Ambras Castle, Austria, Castle, Europe, Innsbruck, Living Abroad
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 28, 2019
  
  I’m slowly settling into my new home in Germany, and I already love the local town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The town was once two separate towns, Garmisch and Partenkirchen, but they were brought together by Adolf Hitler in 1935 with the anticipation of the 1936 winter Olympic games. The town is quiet, with an older demographic making the way of life perfect for an old soul like myself.
  
  Most people that visit this area during the winter come here to ski or snowboard on the surrounding alps. I don’t do either, but will probably try skiing at least once while I am here. I used to snowboard when I was in high school, but I haven’t been in over 12 years. Fun fact: I broke my collarbone snowboarding when I was 13 and to this day during certain activities it gets sensitive.
  
  I am living on a United States Army Base about a 25 minute walk from the center of town, and no matter where you go the surrounding mountains tower over everything. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is at the foothills of the alps, near Germanys tallest mountain Zugspitze. The views from the resort I am working and living at are enough to keep me wondering if this kind of landscape is real life.
  
  Front of hotel.
  
  View from my room.
  
  Side of hotel.
  
  This past weekend I ventured into town for a cup of coffee and a German treat after a rough day. I was feeling a bit homesick and needed some self medication in the form of exploration, caffeine, and sugar. Drastically changing my environment always has a bit of a shock on my system until I adjust and my mindset isn’t always in the right place, but after a good chat with my close friends (and engaging with some of the locals) I’m feeling better.
  
  I was struggling to connect with the people I’ve met here, but I tend to get in my head too much when I’m in a new setting, automatically closing myself off because of my lack of self esteem. I throw myself into these situations because I know if I don’t continue to challenge myself I will never grow. Thankfully my roommates (I have two, and we live in a loft so I have the entire downstairs to myself) are wonderful, and my coworkers are nice too. However I’ll always be somewhat of a lone wolf, so this solo town day was needed.
  
  It can be a bit intimidating to live in a country where you don’t speak the language, but I am making it a goal to learn a little bit each week, even if just the basics. I went into two cafe’s on my walk into town, one for coffee and one for a treat, and both of the women inside the shops began speaking German at me faster than a cheetah chasing a wildebeest. After a brief deer in headlights look, I replied with “Sprechen sie Englisch?” to which they both replied “yes.”
  
  While I don’t plan to become fluent in German, I want to respect the local culture as much as possible even if I’m only able to say the above phrase (do you speak English) and “Ich spreche kein Deutsch” (I don’t speak German.) The above German treat was a shortbread like cookie sandwich filled with a nougat and it was divine. I’m usually an all things chocolate gal, but I took the suggestion of the employee at the cafe and was not disappointed.
  
  I plan to explore more of the town as time goes by, it will be something easy to do after work or on a day off when I don’t want to go far. Currently there is a lot of snow here, with more coming every few days. I don’t usually enjoy snow, but I haven’t been too bothered by it yet. The temps are cold, but with my jacket and boots I’m usually ok. On the days where the temps were in the teens (Fahrenheit) I was in pain, but thankfully the forecast is mid to high 30’s for the next week.
  
  I never thought I’d be excited for temps in the 30’s.
  
  One of the things I love most about this small Bavarian city is the art on the buildings. On the hotel building alone there are at leave five different murals, and more along the way into town. One of my favorites is the one of a woman clearly in distress about forgetting the jam for her picnic, next to two male elk about to battle for a female elk (with one of the males bugling his little heart out), all while the jam-less woman’s husband is rock climbing instead of eating with his wife (probably because she forgot the jam.) My second favorite is the one of Dwight Schrute doing a German jig with the locals.
  
  All that to say I’m enjoying the culture in Germany thus far, and look forward to more not only in the local town, but throughout the country as well. As for my job, I came here without knowing what I would be doing other than some kind of hotel work. I was placed in the food and beverage department and am currently working at one of two restaurants in the hotel. This restaurant is buffet style, which means no serving required and I’m 100% OK with that.
  
  Serving in a restaurant when working in Yellowstone just about broke me.
  
  Once I am trained in this restaurant, I will train in the cafe next door and ideally I will bounce between these two places. Serving Starbucks coffee (back to my roots) and the myriad of tasks in the restaurant. The other restaurant is an “order off the menu” style restaurant and while the money would be better, I don’t want that stress.
  
  What I have to say about unwanted stress.
  
  I’m working for the Department of Defense which makes me feel much more official than I actually am. I’m within walking distance to local German grocery stores, as well as the military base commissary and exchange for home goods and food. I am shopping mostly in the local stores because they’re cheaper, and I prefer the European food quality over the shipped in American food at the commissary. I have been eating a bit more freely than I normally do, and am trying not to obsess or stress about it.
  
  One of these days my disordered eating brain will be a thing of the past, and I’m hoping my time here helps me conquer my mental health struggles.
  
  For now that’s all I have. I’m hoping to visit Austria this week on my day off. The bus ride into Innsbruck is just a little over an hour, making it a perfect day trip. Ideally I would like to travel to a different country once a month while here, but we shall see what happens in time! I’m also hoping that the guy living a floor below me stops singing love songs at 2am, but I won’t get too excited about that one.
  
  Q: Do you ski, snowboard, or partake in any other winter sports?
  
  | 25 Comments Tagged Coffee, Europe, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Travel Abroad
- Deutschland Hier Komme Ich
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 14, 2019
  
  Translation: Germany, here I come.
  
  After my trip to Scotland I had every intention of laying low for a few months before searching for my next job. I knew I wanted to do another seasonal position similar to what I had done in Yellowstone this past summer, but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next. I was home for about a week before I decided I needed to find a job, and I needed to find one STAT. I’m blessed to always have a fall back job watching my sister (I get paid by Washington State to provide care for her, she has autism,) but downtime and me do not mix.
  
  Downtime for me equals more anxiety, more depression, and more binge eating episodes despite my seemingly endless list of food sensitivities. Yes, I eat the foods I know I’m sensitive to, which in turn causes the anxiety and depression. It’s an ugly cycle and I can only chalk it up to having nothing to fill my days, so I fill it with food. It’s not an every day occurrence, but the “episodes” are more frequent when I’m back home with too much free time. I loose myself too easily in my thoughts when I have down time, which I’m learning is quite common with us humans.
  
  “An idle mind is the devils workshop.”
  
  I’ll take a scoop of every flavor, thanks.
  
  Knowing my tendencies, I knew it was not a good idea for me to be home for too long without a plan. So I started to brain storm my next move. During my time working in Yellowstone, one of my coworkers had told me about a resort in Germany that hired Americans. At the time I thought nothing of it, saved the name in my phone, and went back to eating my lunch. When I decided I needed to do something after Scotland, the name popped into my head and I sent an email to the hiring department.
  
  I’ll spare you the details, because this plan to work in Germany has literally taken two months to come to fruition, but I leave this Sunday and I will be in Germany for a little over a year. I have no idea what my job will be, it’s a “place you where you’re needed kind of position” until you’ve been there for three months, after which you can apply for a different position if you’re unhappy with the one you’ve been given. It’s a hotel/resort so I could be doing anything hospitality based. I won’t make jack shit for money, and I’ll be living in an old Nazi hospital.
  
  Continuing to put my bachelors degree to good use eh?
  
  “Old hospital? Lingering spirits? Sppoookkyy.”
  
  The resort is a US military resort where American military families vacation, so I will be working with other Americans from all over the states. I’m trying to learn a bit of German for the days I go out into town, and so far I know how to say “please and thank you, goodbye, I am a woman, you are a man, they are children, and bread and water.” You know, the essentials. I will be living in south Germany, close to the Austrian border, and the photos I’ve seen of the town are adorable. I’ve read blogs written by previous employees, and they were able to travel to surrounding countries at least once a month.
  
  If I do my math correct, I have the opportunity to visit at least 15 countries during my time living in Germany, which is why I am going. I’m not going to make money, I’m not going to work my dream job, I’m going because when will I have another opportunity like this to live in Europe for over a year, for free? I anticipate the employee demographic and culture to be very similar to where I worked in Yellowstone, and have no doubt I’ll find a fellow travel lover to explore with.
  
  I assume that will be why most of us employees are there – to see Europe.
  
  “Hey, you wanna explore with me?”
  
  I really don’t know much else, I was keeping this under wraps until everything was finalized. As I mentioned it took nearly two months, and was a pain in the ass at times because of all the government background checks and hoops to jump through, but we made it, they purchased my ticket, and I leave this Sunday. Technically I am a US government worker, and I will be paid in US currency.
  
  In 2017 I took a trip to Ireland that changed my life, I knew after that trip that seeing the world on my own terms was not only possible, but necessary. I immediately came home and researched what I needed to do to move to Ireland, but it proved to be difficult without a job. Fast forward to now, and I’m given the opportunity to live in Europe. I would have never guessed it would be Germany, but I’m enthralled nonetheless. If you would have asked me where my path would take me in 2019 I would never have thought it would be to Germany.
  
  This is a prime example that sometimes our paths are much different than we expected, while at the same time very similar to something we may have manifested years prior.
  
  I’ve spent the last two months visiting friends and family, trying not to drown too deep with all my free time, and prepping for my upcoming move. I visited California and Arizona last month, and am soaking up as much time with my family this week before I leave. I’d be lying if I said the last two months were smooth sailing, they’ve been quite destructive on my mental health, but I continue to try to learn from my actions and am confident I will find my balance. I refuse to quit trying to find what works for me.
  
  I will be living at the base of Germanys tallest peak, and I already have a goal to climb it at some point in 2019. My only other goals this year are to travel as much as I can, live in the moment as much as I can, and continue to heal my body physically and mentally as much as I can. I will have access to local German markets as well as the commissary to purchase and make my own meals, but you’d better believe I’m going to eat schnitzel and pretzels while wearing a dirndl.
  
  All about that local market life, even in Europe.
  
  I will be putting my cell phone number/plan on a hold while overseas, and as of right now have no plans to get a German phone number. I look forward to unplugging, but will be bringing my MacBook and my iPhone to use wifi for blogging, e-mail, and other social media. Friends and family that need to contact me can message me in one of those ways. I will be given a PO Box upon arrival, and charges will be all US based so please be my pen pal when I get that set up.
  
  I will be blogging my adventures as much as I can, so I hope you’ll follow along as I explore, eat, and maybe even drink my way through Germany. I hear Glühwein is a good way to warm up during the cold winter months. Auf Wiederhören.
  
  Q: Have you been to Germany?
  
  | 30 Comments Tagged Europe, Germany, Living Abroad, Seasonal Work
- 20 Hours in Amsterdam
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 10, 2018
  
  When I originally booked my flight to Scotland, I was scheduled to have a three hour layover in Amsterdam both flying into Scotland, as well as flying home to Seattle. Anything less than this would cause some anxiety for me, because I like to have plenty of time to get from one gate to the next without having to rush. Three hours was literally perfect, but unexpectedly a handful of months after my tickets were purchased I got an email advising me that my flight had changed.
  
  Oh great, what does that mean?
  
  My flight to Scotland had remained the same, but my flight home had a longer layover than I was expecting. 17 more hours to be exact. Initially I was peeved, what the hell am I going to do in Amsterdam for 20 hours. After realizing the opportunity this presented I became excited, I now had time to leave the airport and get a brief taste of the Netherlands.
  
  In an attempt to prevent overwhelm, something I struggle with, I decided on one activity I knew I needed to do. I needed to visit the Anne Frank House. Growing up the only period of history I had interest in was the Holocaust. I often tuned out when learning about most time periods, but when we talked about the Holocaust in school I was voracious in my studies.
  
  Tickets for the museum can only be purchased online, so two months prior to our trip I bought the tickets and our reservation was set. Upon arrival in the Netherlands we took a shuttle to our hotel, and then took a bus to the city center of Amsterdam. I was slightly uneasy upon arrival because English is not the native language here, but our bus driver spoke perfect English and was immensely helpful telling us where to go/how to get back after our day.
  
  We arrived in the Netherlands around 1pm, and our time slot for the museum was at 545pm.
  
  Pictures are not allowed inside the museum, but this was everything I hoped for and more. To be able to walk through the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid was an emotional piece of history I could never fully put into words. Talk about an inspirational human being, I can’t even imagine living through what she lived through.
  
  After we had our cores shook to the bone, it was time for a pick me up. Right next door to the Anne Frank House is a traditional Dutch pancake house, and ya’ll better believe I needed some caffeine and sugar in my bloodstream. I was enthralled in Scotland when I discovered a churro and gelato shop, and finding a restaurant specific to pancakes (not like IHOP in the states) in Amsterdam was the perfect ending to my Eurotrip.
  
  I got the apple crumble pancake with vanilla ice cream and a doppio on the side. The pancakes in the Netherlands are more like crepes, so it’s quite easy to eat your entire pancake…plus the leftovers of your friends. This place was literally called Pancakes Amsterdam and I found this to be very fitting. It was here that I received my only souvenir of the entire trip, a small white wooden clog keychain with the words “Pancakes Amsterdam” on it.
  
  It was free, and I love free.
  
  With a belly full of cakes and veins raging with caffeine it was necessary to walk around the city some more. After all, we had to make best use of our 20 hour layover. By the time we finished with pancakes it was around 8pm and we began to wander with no specific destination in mind. Amsterdam is extremely bike friendly, and even into the dark hours of the night there were so many people out biking. I have never seen so many bikers in my life. If I lived here I’d surely bike along the canals everyday.
  
  Before we arrived in Amsterdam, we would tell people about our layover and the reactions were all very similar. We’d get a laugh, followed by “it’s very different,” followed by an additional laugh. I knew Amsterdam was 420 friendly, but so is my home state so this didn’t phase me (granted it’s still illegal to smoke in public where I live.) One of our Scottish taxi drivers warned us about sex shops as well, but even this was something I could handle.
  
  What I ended up discovering was far more than I ever expected.
  
  I like to think I’m a cultured human being. I’ve done my fair share of youth fueled activities that would make my parents cringe (sorry mom and dad), but within the last decade of my life I’ve turned into a quiet homebody. I tell stories of my past and people are shocked, but I like to emphasize that I don’t in fact live under a rock. All this to say I HAD NO IDEA prostitution was actually a thing, and that it was so “out in the open” like it is in Amsterdam. While wandering the streets we decided to follow the crowds, and found ourselves SMACK in the middle of the Red Light District.
  
  Endless windows of women dancing in their underwear, peep shows, sex shows, sex shops, “coffee shops” aka bar like settings where people smoke weed and drink alcohol. I was emotionally dumbfounded and was so beyond the point of overwhelm. Despite being culturally out of place, it was like a car crash that you just couldn’t stop watching. The oddest part was that this is completely normal in their country, and after a short period of time it started to feel less taboo.
  
  People were everywhere and most everyone seemed unfazed, which was contagious.
  
  That’s not to say I wasn’t continuously shocked that this was normal, but it was interesting to see how starkly different one culture is to the next. In America this is so unbelievably illegal, yet in the Netherlands it’s not only legal, but almost felt like it was normal. Some people come to Amsterdam for the “coffee shops” and sex shows, but I’ll be going back for the waffle shops and bike canals. I can only handle so much, and my drug of choice will always be sugar.
  
  Around every corner there are shops with waffles covered in whatever your heart desires, and candies and cookies, and pizza. It makes sense with so many “coffee shops” that people get the munchies, but I had eaten myself silly with pancakes, ice cream, and endless samples of Tony’s Chocolonely that I couldn’t stomach anymore food despite my desire to continue binge eating sugar (yes it’s a problem, no I don’t want to talk about it.)
  
  My one regret is not buying a damn waffle to bring with me on the plane the following morning.
  
  The busses run 24/7 in Amsterdam, and we arrived back at our hotel around midnight. Our flight was around 10am giving us plenty of time to digest what we had seen and what we ate on our quick adventure in the city. Although if I’m being honest, I’ve still not fully digested the Red Light District…it’s truly something you have to see for yourself to fully grasp. I’ve seen so many things I cannot unsee. **Disclaimer: I DID NOT see any live shows…I’m simply referring to the (barely) clothed women in the windows.
  
  Such a welcoming bright shop with so much sugar.
  
  I’ll definitely return to Amsterdam to explore more of the museums and cultural history, but I don’t anticipate needing more than three days here. Let’s be real though, I’m mainly going back to eat as many waffles as I can. What can I say, I’m a glutton for punishment, and I don’t know the meaning of portion control.
  
  And just like that, my second trip to Europe was complete.
  
  PC: feedmetasy IG
  
  Q: Had you heard of the Red Light District?
  
  | 25 Comments Tagged Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Biking, Europe, Pancakes, Red Light District
- Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 3, 2018
  
  After a few days on the Isle of Skye, it was time to make our way back down south to Glasgow. From here we would take the train to Edinburgh and see as much as we could in the limited time we had. We took the train from Fort William to Glasgow, but before we left we stopped at the most amazing cafe. The Wildcat is an all vegan cafe right in the heart of the Fort William city center. An unexpected stop, but worthy of mentioning.
  
  A wee long black.
  
  The train from Fort William was simple enough, and we arrived in Glasgow with a few hours of daylight left. I wanted to take a quick stroll around the city center, so I chose Buchanan Street and got a brief taste of Glasgow. We didn’t plan much time in Glasgow, other than using it as a launch pad, but I feel I saw enough for this trip.
  
  The real star of the Glasgow show was the hotel, I mean castle we stayed at our first night back in the city. Throughout our trip I chose a handful of hostels because I am cheap as hell, but my friend Sam chose this one. I don’t like spending a lot of money on a place I plan to sleep, but I admit it was worth the price tag.
  
  We arrived here early enough to be in our mini suite as long as we could.
  
  The Sherbrooke Castle Hotel was built in 1896 as a villa for a man, and still has the historical feel of that time frame. The castle is in a neighborhood we called the Beverly Hills of Glasgow, pinky’s up. The staff was wonderful, and the food was exceptional. Our server for the evening was the kindest, most down to earth girl we’d met all trip. She really made our experience wonderful. 10/10 recommend if you want to splurge a little.
  
  Cathedral across the street.
  
  After a leisure morning in the castle and delicious breakfast the following day, we took a taxi to our B&B for the night to drop off our backpacks. We stayed at the Clifton Hotel our final night in Scotland, where we stayed our first night as well. Bags were dropped and we walked the catch a train to Edinburgh for the day. Until this point of the trip, I never quite felt like I was in another country.
  
  Sure, the castles were amazing and the waterfalls were endless, but the climate in Scotland is a lot like my home state of Washington.
  
  I’d have moments where I knew I was somewhere else, but ultimately it wasn’t a true feel of another country. Until I arrived in Edinburgh. My only regret for this trip was not making more time to spend in Edinburgh, this city is AH-MAY-ZING. We had a loose schedule for this day, but we knew we needed to go to Edinburgh Castle, and walk the Royal Mile. Upon arrival, we were spit right in front of a beautiful cafe, where I tasted the most amazing coconut milk latte of my life.
  
  Immediately as we walked around the corner towards the castle and onto the Royal Mile I felt it. The buildings were amazing, and the streets were wobbly. The culture was rich (though touristy of course) and the street performers were traditional. The cathedrals were large, and the cafes were quaint. I was in love, and I was excited to wander.
  
  Admittedly, the Edinburgh Castle was my least favorite spot. While it’s definitely a must see, I found it to be far too touristy, too crowded, and overall the experience felt very commercialized. It was also FAR too big (must be niceee) and I was overwhelmed by all there was to see. I did however find the dungeon area very fascinating, and they have original doors from the 1700’s with prisoners carvings.
  
  Regardless of my opinion, this is such a place of history in Scotland that it’s a must see, even if just from the outside.
  
  After the castle it was time for a snack. I quickly remembered reading about a cafe in Edinburgh where J.K. Rowling spent many hours writing the beginnings of Harry Potter, and ten minutes later we found ourselves in line at The Elephant House. This cafe is busy, for obvious reasons, and there is no wifi. They have a sign as you walk in that says: “we do not have wifi. Talk to each other. Pretend it’s 1995.” I loved that.
  
  I also loved the chocolate cake and espresso I consumed, as I daydreamed about what it must have been like to write a book with Edinburgh Castle out the window. The bathrooms in The Elephant House are completely graffitied, with endless praise for J.K. Rowling. It was quite the sight, and reading the words as I relieved myself was entertaining to say the least. This is a definite must see if you’re a HP fan, or if you like a good espresso and cake.
  
  After my Isle of Skye splurge, it was game on for “eat whatever I want.” I payed for it when I got home, but YOLO.
  
  View of the castle up on the hill from where we sat.
  
  The Harry Potter tour doesn’t stop here, Edinburgh has plenty of other HP themed shops and locations. One street in particular is well known for its different colored buildings, and is said to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley. Even if you’re not a HP fan, Victoria Street is another must see. The buildings alone are a blast. On this street you’ll find shops like The Boy Wizard, and Museum Context, a Harry Potter themed museum.
  
  There is so much yes about this photo.
  
  After channeling my inner witch, it was time to wander the streets and soak up the culture. We visited St Giles Cathedral, watched street performers, and went into tourist shops. We ended our adventure at Byron for a chicken burger and chips. It was delicious, and our Barcelona bred server was equal parts accommodating as he was charming. I told him I’d be back (for both a meal and his face.)
  
  After our meal it was time to head back to the train, which proved to be an adventure in itself. Our platform to get back to Glasgow was changed not once, but twice. We quickly discovered the majority of train riders around us were also tourists and we all had to scramble to find the new platform. It was comical, and we eventually departed the city. Perhaps this was a sign we should have stayed longer.
  
  There is so much more to see in Edinburgh, the seven hours we were there wasn’t nearly enough time. Until we meet again.
  
  The final highlight of my trip to Scotland, was upon arrival back in Glasgow. I had seen a gelato/churro shop as we walked to the train station earlier that day, and despite the fact that it was nearing 10pm I knew I had to have some. So there I was, sitting in the Loop and Scoop (among many other late night sweet tooth’s) consuming the most ingenious flavor combination of my life. Homemade churros, and gelato, what more could you ask for?
  
  Life was good. Life was really, really good.
  
  Q: Are you a Harry Potter fan?
  
  | 22 Comments Tagged Castle, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow, Harry Potter, Scotland, Victoria Street
- The Isle of Skye
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 27, 2018
  
  With a week left in Scotland after completing the West Highland Way, my friend and I were positioned perfectly to spend a few days on the Isle of Skye. The WHW ended in Fort William, which is relatively close to Skye, so we picked up a rental car from the Fort William train station (within walking distance from our Fort William B&B) and off we went.
  
  Our first stop was actually not on the Isle of Skye, but a small detour the opposite way to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct, AKA the bridge for the Harry Potter train. We didn’t get close to the viaduct, but close enough to see it and fan girl for a moment. Across the way is the Glenfinnan Monument, and amazing views over Loch Shiel.
  
  Our next location of the day was just before the bridge to Skye, and is the most photographed castle in Scotland (for good reason.) Eilean Donan is rich in history, and has undergone some amazing renovations allowing the public to continue to appreciate its magic. The overcast weather we had on this day added to the experience of what it was like living in this giant castle.
  
  After playing princess, we were able to fit one more adventure into day one, and made our way to the Fairy Pools. We were officially on the Isle now, and as we arrived the rain decided to come out to play. I don’t mind driving in the UK, being on the other side of the road felt natural after doing it in Ireland last year, however driving in the rain on backcountry roads made me nervous.
  
  On the Isle, the backroads are only large enough for one vehicle, and have pull outs along the way for cars to pull over into if you find yourself head on with another vehicle. Before realizing this system I would get anxious if I saw another car coming. Once you get the hang of it it’s not so bad, but I never like driving in heavy rain, even in Washington. The pools were amazing, and worth the gripped steering wheel to arrive. The walk is about a mile and a half roundtrip.
  
  Our first night on the Isle we stayed at the Hazelbank B&B, which was VERY nice. The host was amazingly friendly, and she was helpful when we told her about our upcoming plans. She helped us map out an alternate route and offered some local suggestions. The breakfast was delicious too, well worth the extra cost.
  
  Day two started just a 20 minute drive from our B&B at Neist Point. Neist Point is home to a lighthouse that was built in 1900, which now runs on an automatic system. Neist point is one of the most famous lighthouses in Scotland, also for good reason. The walk to the lighthouse and back is a mere 1.4 miles, but the views are anything but minor. This visit won’t take long, but is worth the stop.
  
  The weather was meant to be wet this day, but as we set off to our next destination the sun came out and surprised us. We drove from Neist Point to the Old Man of Storr, which is by far on my list of top three most amazing things/places I’ve seen/been. The drive itself around Skye is enough to feel like another world, but The Storr was on another level.
  
  Before arriving, we stopped for a snack in the adorable town of Portree – which was a delicious mistake.
  
  Those who know me, know that I have a bit of an all or nothing personality. Especially when it comes to food. Because I have to be on my “A game” at all times in order to moderate my autoimmune symptoms, anytime I take a “break” and eat something that doesn’t necessarily make me feel my best I go hard. MacKenzie’s Bakery is true baked good heaven, and I was in trouble the moment I walked in the door. This bakery is a MUST, I repeat MUST visit. The baked goods are amazing, and the prices are stupid low.
  
  Things started innocently enough, I bought two treats – a cinnamon donut and the below photographed cream stuffed donut with a cup of black coffee. I stood outside in the sunshine soaking up the instant high I received from the caffeine and sugar, two substances I do not include in my regular diet. Once they were gone, it was game over. I went in and bought three more items, two of which I ate right away.
  
  I told you, I go hard.
  
  Upon arrival at the Old Man of Storr I was so pumped full of sugar and caffeine I needed to get out of the car STAT. I crashed shortly thereafter, but it was worth every painful breath I took climbing up the hill. The ascent to The Storr is not small, but the climb is worth every step. Once you make it to the “top” the possibilities are endless for exploration.
  
  So many different twists and turns making you feel like you are truly on another planet. In many ways this place reminded me of Skellig Michael in Ireland, but it was still so very different. The walk is 2.36 miles up to the “Old Man” and back, but there is plenty of room for more wandering.
  
  After getting lost on planet Storr for a couple hours, we made a quick pit stop at Kilt Rock before making our way to our bunkhouse for the evening. Kilt Rock is a waterfall coming off the side of the cliffs, and is a quick and easy pull off. Our home away from home for the night was called T he Cowshed, and was the most modern, adorable bunkhouse I have EVER seen.
  
  We slept in a POD, which was basically like my tiny house dream home.
  
  Kilt Rock
  
  Our third and final day on the Isle of Skye took us first to The Quiraing. This walk is a little over 4 miles round trip, and likely one of the most beautiful places to walk on the Isle. I say likely, because the day we went had the worst weather I have ever seen…like…in my entire life. The rain was one thing at first, but rain quickly turned to downpour, temps quickly dropped, and the wind was STRONG. The wind blew the rain so hard it felt like needles on my face.
  
  Also, keep in mind I’m still walking everywhere in my Teva’s.
  
  “Excuse me, how do you LIVE with this wind!?”
  
  I would like to visit The Quiraing again on a nicer day, to get a better view of the vastness of it. After this “adventure” I was done, but we had one more stop before heading back to Fort William. Armadale Castle ruins reside on a preserved estate, but are unsafe for people to walk into. Of all the castles I’ve seen thus far, this was the first one that I was unable to walk close to.
  
  Personally, I’d have been OK to skip this one. Perhaps I was just too cold and wet, but I didn’t find it worth the stop.
  
  And just like that, our quick trip to the Isle of Skye had come to an end. We made our way back to Fort William to drop off our car at the train station (this was a great set up, literally just left the keys with the train employees) and walked back to our B&B. We stayed at the same B&B we had stayed upon arrival in Fort William the first time, and our host was even more enjoyable the second time.
  
  Oh, and how could I forget one the highlight of Skye? HEILAN COO’S!
  
  Q: Of all the places listed above, which one would you like to visit the most? I’d reallllyy like to find my way back to MacKenzies….
  
  | 35 Comments Tagged Eilean Donan Castle, Fairy Pools, Highland Cow, Isle of Skye, Neist Point Lighthouse, Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Scotland
- The West Highland Way
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 20, 2018
  This is a long, moderately informative post for those who are interested in learning more about a first hand experience walking The West Highland Way in Scotland. This post will break down my route day by day with a small detailed snippet, including where I stayed.
  
  Last year I was sitting on my couch finishing up a homework assignment, when I decided to take a break and read some blogs. I somehow stumbled across a blog post about a distance walk in Scotland I’d never heard of, but that immediately intrigued me. After learning the very basics of the walk, I told myself “after you graduate, you’re doing this walk.”
  
  Fast forward to a year and some change later I graduated college, and had a trip booked to walk the 96 mile trail. My friend and I planned the trip ourselves, however there are options to have others plan your trip if you don’t want to do the dirty work yourself. We went in October, which meant the fall colors were alive, there were very few people on the trail, and when it rained…it POURED.
  
  Good thing we’re from Washington.
  
  The trail starts in Milngavie, which is about a 10 minute cab ride from where we stayed in Glasgow. We flew into Glasgow, took a bus to our B&B, and took a cab to the start of the trail. We stayed at the Clifton Hotel the night before we started, and the woman that checked us in was very helpful. We didn’t use a GPS, and we didn’t use a map, but if I could provide one travel tip for a well marked walk like this it would be: plug the end location for each day into the map app on your phone. You won’t have step by step directions, but this way you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction because the location dot still moves without a wireless connection.
  
  Let’s start from day one, shall we? With a belly full of black pudding, we headed to the start of the trail.
  
  Day one: Milngavie to Drymen – 12 miles
  
  The start of the trail is in a small shopping center, which felt a bit odd. Especially after coming from five months living in Yellowstone. I quickly learned it was going to be impossible to get lost, and was thankful for the trail markers along the way. Day one walked along the road quite a bit, and was a warm up for the days to come.
  
  Don’t let this day be the judge for the days to come, it felt more like a walk around country neighborhoods, but you have to start somewhere. The walk was quick on day one. We arrived a mere five hours after we started, with plenty of time to prepare for day two. Once arriving in Drymen, we got a bite to eat at the only pub in town which had delicious chicken and crispy chips. The town was quiet and quaint. We slept at The Drymen Inn, which was clean and cozy.
  
  The thistle trail marker.
  
  Pub grub
  
  Day two: Drymen to Rowardennan – 14 miles
  
  We ate a delicious breakfast at The Drymen Inn, and headed off for day two. Day one and two had something in common – they both had never-ending farm gates we had to walk through. The gates meant we walked past plenty of farm animals, which is always a good time. The sheep and cows were just as exciting the fifth time I saw them as they were the first. I also saw my first Highland cow this day, which was 95% of the reason I wanted to visit Scotland.
  
  This section of the trail took us into Loch Lomond National Park, where we would spend the next couple days of the walk. The route took us up a solid mountain, giving amazing views of Loch Lomond. This day was a bit blustery, (and by that I mean I literally almost blew off a mountain and it was slightly terrifying) but the first half of the walk was dry.
  
  The second half of the day it started to rain, and I mean RAIN.
  
  We arrived in Rowardennan around 5pm sopping wet, and this area is even smaller than Drymen. There is literally one hotel with a restaurant, and a couple hostels down the way. We stayed at the Ben Lomond Bunk House, which is a hostel run by the park rangers. All the funds go back to supporting the park. How cool. At this bunkhouse we met a girl from Germany who was solo walking the trail, and we ended up seeing her everyday after that.
  
  Day two was much more isolated than day one, which was nice, but still walked into towns and along the road. The terrain was ever changing from mountains, to meadows, to forests, to lakeside. It was bizarre, in the best way possible. I met a nice man at the Loch Lomond Visitor Center, and he gave me a national park pin for my collection. He was a grand fella.
  
  Loch Lomond
  
  Day three: Rowardennan to Inverarnan – 14 miles
  
  The perk of staying at a bunkhouse was that we spent a whopping 18 euros per person, the downside was that they didn’t serve breakfast. We hiked 6 miles on an empty stomach, which was a mistake. I thought my partner in crime was going to pass out, or quit, or both. The first half of this day walked alongside Loch Lomond, up over rocks and trees. It felt like an adventure through Lord of the Rings.
  
  We stopped for food at the Inversnaid Hotel along the way, where we met up with our German friend. The hotel was beautiful, and the staff was very accommodating to walkers. We were rained on about an hour after we started, and continued to get good use of our ponchos. This day introduced us to the waterfalls in Scotland. I have literally never seen so many waterfalls in my life. I also discovered what Scottish mountain goats smell like, it wasn’t pleasant.
  
  The second half of this section felt like a scene from Jurassic Park.
  
  Our day ended at the infamous Drovers Inn, which was decked out for Halloween. The building is over 300 years old, and it was amazing. The food was great, the staff was amazing (and quite attractive), and the room was cozy.
  
  Drovers Inn
  
  Day Four: Inverarnan to Tyndrum – 12 miles
  
  By day four the walk felt like second nature, after two back to back 14 mile days it was nice to have a 12 miler. The weather was dry, and we got our first real taste of the Highlands to come. This route was nothing short of magical, the colors, the views, and the animals. We walked through open farmland, and came face to face with herds of cattle free ranging everywhere.
  
  One of the main perks of going in the off season is having the hills to yourself. Sure, we saw a few people, but nothing like it would have been in the peak of the summer. Plus, I’d rather need a jacket and a poncho than be dripping sweat or overheating. Upon arrival in Tyndrum we stayed at Muthu Ben Doran Hotel, which had amazing staff and a beautiful garden look, but mediocre food. We ate dinner down the road at the Tyndrum Inn, which is where I’d stay next time.
  
  Muthu Ben Doran
  
  Day Five: Tyndrum to Inveroran – 9 miles
  
  Day five should have been the easiest day of the walk, however for me it was the hardest. On day two I started to notice discomfort in the arch of my left foot, but ignored it thinking it would pass. Day three and four it didn’t pass, and by day five the pain was so bad I could barely walk. The route from Tyndum to Inveroran is mostly flat, and the terrain is like a gravel backroad, but I was hobbling behind my friend a good 50 feet almost the entire way.
  
  About a mile into the walk I decided to ditch my hiking shoes (which I last minute decided to wear, I should have stuck to my gut and wore my Nike Free’s) and walk in my Teva sandals. Yes, sandals. I wore two pairs of wool socks and tightened up my sandals and embraced wet feet. Thankfully this day for us was the sunniest of them all, and it was amazingly beautiful. I cried for a few hours on this day, because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to continue.
  
  I had planned to do this walk for over a year, and was destroyed by the thought of having to quit because of a rookie mistake. I cried, and cried, and cried some more, and then I pulled my shit together and told myself to take each step at a time. I enjoyed this route as much as I could, and upon arrival into Inveroran we were officially in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Talk about AMAZING. From here on forward, we no longer walked through roads, neighborhoods, or even woods – this was the true Highland experience.
  
  We stayed at the Inveroran Hotel, which was by far the best stay along the way. The hotel is in the middle of no where, and follows the route perfectly. The staff was WONDERFUL, and the food was the most amazing food I’d had since arriving. 10/10 would recommend. The rooms felt like a room in your grandmothers house, and the food was all handmade from scratch – you could truly taste the love.
  
  Day Six: Inveroran to Kinlochleven – 19 miles
  
  I ended up throwing away my hiking shoes in Inveroran, and planned to walk the remaining 35ish miles in my Teva’s. Where there is a will, there is a way. Now, before you drop your jaw to the floor, we didn’t actually walk 19 miles this day. Usually people stop halfway at a place called the Kingshouse, however due to reconstruction the Kingshouse was closed. After hiking my ass off in Yellowstone, including plenty of 12-16 mile hikes and one 20 miler, I wasn’t phased by 19 miles. Until my foot failed and my partner in crime lost interest in the walk all together.
  
  I had every intention of walking to the Glencoe Ski Resort about 8 miles from Inveroran with my friend, and then continuing on alone to Kinlochleven.
  
  The weather on day six was great (so thankful for expansive views of these amazing hills) just until we hit the ski resort, and then it was absolutely atrocious. Winds strong enough to knock over a horse, rain hard enough to flood a small city, and it got COLD. The second half of this route takes you up to the highest point of the walk, and my ego really wanted to finish this part of the trail. Realizing there would be zero visibility, and that climbing a mountain in sandals while the wind was roaring would be miserable, I decided to skip this section with my friend and take a bus from Glencoe to Kinlochleven.
  
  My ego is still a little bruised, but now I have a reason to return. I ended up skipping about 10 miles of the overall trail.
  
  We took a bus from the ski resort to the heart of Glencoe, and ended up meeting a Scottish woman coming home from her trip to Greece. She offered us a ride in her taxi, which we accepted. We arrived in Kinlochleven shortly after and this was the first time in a few days we were in actual civilization. The town was adorable, and we stayed at the Blackwater Hostel. We ate dinner with our German friend at the MacDonald Hotel, where I had the most amazing chicken and sweet potato fries.
  
  So cold I lost blood flow.
  
  Day Seven: Kinlochleven to Fort William – 16 miles
  
  The final, and most amazing day of the entire trail was day seven. I ended up walking the final day solo, and while I love my friend (hi Sam!) there was nothing more meditative than walking a trail like this alone. I was in my element, and all the pain and stress from the previous few days disappeared. My foot still hurt, but the Teva’s were still better than my other shoes that were long gone in the trash.
  
  I ate breakfast at the MacDonald Hotel, because the hostel in Kinlochleven did not provide breakfast (usually people make their own food in the communal kitchen.) I’m a big fan of the traditional English/Irish/Scottish breakfasts. They’re very similar, with a few small differences. The start of this route climbs a hill to get out of Kinlochleven, which ends up bringing you DEEP into the hills of the Highlands. It was pure, and absolute bliss. The weather was moderate, with rain here and there, and my feet were soaked from the get go, but there was nothing that could dampen my spirits being surrounded by the Scottish Highlands.
  
  I passed a few people, but for the most part had the entire 16 miles to myself, aside from some sheep of course. This part of the trail had plenty of rolling hills, but nothing overwhelming physically. Upon arrival in Fort William, I felt a wave of emotions. I was sad that the walk was over, but excited to have completed it. Once I made it to the town center of Fort William, I was ready for a meal and a shower. My friend arrived by bus, and had checked into our B&B for the night, which was an adorable house right next to the city center. The Gowan Brae House is a highly recommended spot in Fort William, our host was amazingly accommodating, friendly, and the breakfast was wonderful.
  
  Did you really complete the WHW if you didn’t take a photo with the man on the bench?
  
  Fort William
  
  It can be hard to prepare for a distance walk, if you have no idea what the terrain or weather will be, but here are my main takeaways and tips for walking the WHW.
  - Be in shape. You don’t need to run marathons everyday, but I spent my entire summer hiking at least once a week before doing this walk. This made my experience enjoyable. The trail itself is not difficult, but you mustn’t be fresh off the couch or you’ll be in pain.
  - Hiking shoes are great, but tennis shoes will do just fine. Or in my case, Teva sandals. If you’re a big stickler about wet feet, then definitely bring waterproof shoes (even in the summer, it’s Scotland.) October wasn’t a cold month, so wet feet were fine for me.
  - Don’t buy a GPS. It’s just not necessary. The way is very well marked, and it is difficult to get lost. I didn’t even buy a map.
  - Use your cell phone GPS instead, just as a worst case scenario.
  - This website is super helpful for getting started, as well as a reference while walking. It has a more detailed breakdown of each day.
  - Depending on the time of year, pay attention to when it gets dark and leave early enough to avoid walking in the dark.
  - You’re able to camp along the way, which might be nice in the warmer months, but planning to stay at B&B’s ensured we had a big, hot meal before we started (aside from the two hostels.) A nice meal before the start was necessary, and I didn’t need to eat again until the end of each day.
  - Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to the blueprints.
  - Don’t overthink it. Just walk. Whether you complete this in seven days, six days, eight days, or five, it goes by quick. Enjoy it because it’s a memory that will last a lifetime.
  It’s been a handful of weeks since I completed this walk, but I constantly crave the simplicity of this type of activity. I really enjoyed waking up and thinking of nothing more than what I wanted for breakfast (which was always the same) and where I was going to end up that night. This was the deepest form of meditation I’ve experienced, and it was amazing. I can’t wait for the next distance walk, I’m officially addicted.
  
  Q: Would you/have you ever done a distance walk?
  | 19 Comments Tagged Distance Walk, Highlands, Scotland, West Highland Way
- It’s Just So, Yellowstone
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 14, 2018
  
  Grab some coffee, this is a long one.
  
  You know when you’ve been doing something for so long it becomes second nature, and whatever the activity is seems somewhat easy? How about when you stop doing this activity for a significant amount of time and then try to start again. It feels like walking through molasses with cinderblocks attached to your feet. That’s how I feel right now trying to write a blog post. It feels like trying to find the ground in a deep pool of water.
  
  I’ve been home from my adventure in Yellowstone for over a month, but I’ve struggled to find the motivation to blog. Granted I took a trip to Scotland somewhere in between, but I felt overwhelmed by all that I had to share. When I get overwhelmed, instead of diving in and tackling things I tend to do the opposite. I shut down. Despite feeling overwhelmed, I still had a desire to write and to create.
  
  How could I possible share my experience in a single blog post?
  
  Simply put there is just too much to share from my time working in America’s first national park, but a few moments stick out as highlights. My job itself was nothing exciting, I was a server in the Grant Village dining room. I made a shitton of money, but that was not the goal. I worked my ass off (literally, but a month back home with access to almond butter has brought it right back) with long shifts, early mornings, endless “clopens”, and brutally annoying foreign customers.
  
  “I’d like the BEE-SON (bison) BOUR-GAIR (burger)”
  
  I lived in one of these cabins, and my neighbor sometimes had visitors help with lawn work.
  
  Despite the chaos that was my job, the people and adventures kept me lusting for the weekends. I made lifelong friendships, explored over 200 miles of backcountry trails, went on 32 (35 if you count repeats) hikes, met hundreds of bison and elk, but most importantly I discovered a piece of myself that I knew was missing. My desire to travel and explore was nurtured in a way I hadn’t been able to do before. Spending nearly five months living in a national park is truly life changing.
  
  I saw endless beautiful sun rises over Lake Yellowstone while working morning shifts at the restaurant.
  
  I hiked my tallest peak to date, with three of the best hiking partners I’ve ever met.
  
  I discovered another planet…over, and over, and over.
  
  I made friends with people from all over the world.
  
  I survived the biggest mind game while hiking 20 miles straight on Mary Mountain with my favorite person in Yellowstone. Getting lost over and over again, yet somehow managing to find our way out. Nothing was impossible after this, and there’s nothing quite like being 10 miles into the backcountry before heading towards civilization again.
  
  I saw waterfalls a plenty, but none more magical than Union Falls, and suddenly any hike under 10 miles felt like child’s play.
  
  Union Falls
  
  Mystic Falls
  
  Moose Falls
  
  Fairy Falls
  
  I drove the Beartooth Highway, one of the most beautiful highways in America.
  
  I fell deeper in love with the Teton Mountains the more I drove past them. Grand Teton National Park was my neighbor, and a common destination for my days off.
  
  I rode a horse through a valley and up steep hills, which was equal parts terrifying and painful. My horses name was Slim Jim, and he pooped a lot.
  
  I swam in the Firehole River, which isn’t actually on fire. Though my chest was from the adrenaline I felt after jumping into a raging rapid.
  
  I learned how to get lost, and not to panic. To trust my instincts and use a compass/map.
  
  I met a bison I named Biscuit, who became the mascot for my adventure. I was then gifted a bison stuffed animal on a very hard work day, which resulted in tears. Naturally I named him Biscuit (jr.)
  
  I white water rafted on the Yellowstone River…twice…for free. #employeeperks
  
  I said a very hard goodbye to my closest friend, that I still miss everyday. Living with people for months, eating together, working together, playing together, and then suddenly leaving is quite an emotional ransack. I’m emotionally crippled, but I’m not as emotionally dead inside as I thought.
  
  It’s not often we find ourselves surrounded by people that are so similar to us, but I found that those who seek out seasonal work have a similar mindset. Sure, we had plenty of differences (I don’t drink, smoke, or stay up late) but we all came to work, and play in Yellowstone for similar reasons. We’re all a little lost, ironically trying to find ourselves by getting lost in other ways.
  
  Leaving the woods and returning to society was hard. It was not only a physical shock, but I felt depressed without the comfort of isolation from society.
  
  I was able to turn my mind off for the first time in years, all I had to think about was “where are we going to hike this weekend?” It was incredibly freeing. I didn’t worry about “what am I doing with my life” or “where do I want to live,” I was given a place to live, and food to eat, and all I had to do was show up. Thanks to my parents instilling good financial habits, I was able to save so much money, still contribute to my retirement fund regularly, all while exploring the world.
  
  It’s more than possible to cultivate a future for yourself without a 9-5 job. It just comes down to preference.
  
  My adventure doesn’t stop here, I plan to do seasonal work until I feel ready to settle down. I found that I was a bit older than most of the people that I’ll likely find in this type of work, but that didn’t stop me from finding a great group of friends. All it takes is confidence in your own lifestyle and people will have no choice but to respect you. I would have never been able to experience Yellowstone the way I did had I not done this, and like any first time, Yellowstone will forever have a special place in my heart.
  
  We do this type of work because we want to live our lives right NOW, not tomorrow. Work and play can go hand in hand, you just have to know where to look.
  
  Grant Village was small, and not a big tourist spot like Old Faithful or Mammoth Hot Springs, which made this the perfect spot for me. The feeling of being submerged in the wild would not have been possible staying anywhere else. I enjoyed walking outside, or walking to work and not running into hundreds of people. Visiting the bigger spots felt like visiting small towns. A smaller location meant the employees became like a family.
  
  I became known as the girl who ordered chicken breasts at every meal. I couldn’t eat 95% of the food served unless I wanted to suffer (holla food sensitivities!), so I literally survived off of chicken breasts, cucumbers, steamed veggies, and hummus. All of the Taiwanese girls that worked in the employee dining room were super accommodating.
  
  Not everyone was younger than me, here we celebrate Gail turning 70. Gail made my eating experience much less stressful by ensuring I had foods that I could eat. She will never know the blessing she was to me. Homegirl to my left is Katy, she was my roommate and we accidentally killed a mouse together while trying to intentionally kill it. We’re forever bonded, and I still feel guilty. RIP Marvin.
  
  This CliffsNotes post barely scratches the surface of my time in Yellowstone, there was obviously so much more. No amount of blog posts will ever capture the magical adventure that was my summer. However, like anything in life, for every moment of magic there was a moment of pain. Stressful nights of endless tables, managers and employees not showing up to work, foreigners that didn’t understand what it meant to tip (I’m still salty that I got $0 on a bill that was over $200.) Seasonal work is not for the weak, but once you know…you know. I now understand why people return year after year.
  
  In the words of a woman from a 1990’s documentary I watched in the Grant Village Visitor Center, “it’s just so, Yellowstone.”
  
  | 42 Comments Tagged National Park, Seasonal Work, Xanterra, Yellowstone National Park
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- BRITTANY- Self proclaimed minimalist "granola" striving to maintain a balanced, healthy life with good food, long hikes, strong relationships, exploration, lots of broccoli, and laughing like it's my J.O.B. Currently living and working in Germany, join me on my adventures abroad!
- Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com
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