Tag: Travel

• Small Town Sweden

  Posted at 10:30 AM by Brittany, on October 28, 2022

  This is my final post covering my recent travels to Sweden. For those of you who have made it thought them all, thank you. This trip helped bring me back to life, and reminded me why I love to travel. We have all been in a weird place the last couple years, and it was so wonderful to take a step to the side and just live a little.

  For our last two days in Sweden Derek and I spent time with his aunt and uncle, exploring locally and getting prepared to travel back home.

  Anne, Dereks aunt, wanted to take us to a town called Vaxholm for a jaunt while we still had our rental car, but we made a quick pitstop at his uncles workplace to see what he does. In Sweden the drivers have to have regular checks on their vehicles to ensure the cars are safe to drive, and Ollie, Dereks uncle, gave us a rundown of what needs to be checked. He even let Derek and I into one of the cars to see how he checks the breaks.

  I could tell Ollie was so excited to show us what he does, and that made this moment extra special for me. After this, we headed to Vaxholm.

  

  The streets were quiet, but we wandered for a bit imagining how busy it gets in the summer months. Vaxholm is an archipelago island popular for fishing and littered with traditional red and white buildings. This quickly became a symbol of Sweden for me, as these beautiful buildings were everywhere. With this theme you can imagine my surprise seeing a pink house amongst the red and white, and while it definitely didn’t fit with the rest, it was beautiful in its own way.

  

  

  We popped into a bakery to grab some kardemummabulle before we left, and on our way back home we stopped by Bogesund Castle which was a short drive from the city center. We could not go inside the castle, but this felt like a good spot to eat my kardemummabulle while walking around the crunchy leaves and staring at the beautiful building.

  

  

  We kept it simple for the day, as we were scheduled to have dinner with Dereks aunt and uncle at 1800. I wanted to do something nice for them because they were such kind hosts, so Derek and I took them out to a restaurant of their choice. They chose a place called Melanders which is a restaurant, cafe, and also a storefront. They sell fish and other seafood at their storefront, while also making this fish for their menus.

  Talk about delicious, my mom said this looked gross, but I had seconds of the creamy dill potatoes.

  

  We came back after dinner and enjoyed an evening fika, where I decided to partake in coffee after dark. Not only did it not affect my sleep, but it allowed me to relax with the family while learning more about how Ollie and Anne met. Fika is a strong part of Swedish culture, consisting of coffee and usually some kind of treat so I had some oat milk ice cream with bananas to accompany my coffee.

  What a magical evening.

  The following morning we were scheduled to go to a nearby lake where we walked to a farm to have Swedish waffles. This area was adorable, a large lake that people were walking or running around, and the farm in the middle was like a cherry on top. If I lived here I would come run around the lake all the time, ending with an afternoon fika. WITH WAFFLES.

  

  

  This waffle, just like the cardamom bread, is a prime example of how less is more. You don’t need much to make a dish taste good. I chose strawberry as my topping, as did Derek and his aunt, while his uncle chose blueberry. Paired with a dollop of whipped cream, I could have easily eaten two. Or three.

  We spent a couple hours here walking around, playing with the cows, and enjoying the sunny fall day. The yellow trees in Sweden stole my heart, and I couldn’t not stop taking photos of them. These small towns are just as magical as the larger ones.

  

  

  I have realized that there is a difference between the words travel and vacation. It’s not often that I take a true vacation, but rather I prefer to travel. At the end of traveling I think feeling tired is normal and expected. Seeing as much as possible while traveling is something I have grown to crave, whereas a vacation is somewhere you go to rest.

  Vacation in my mind is visiting a resort, a beach, or a tiny island where you don’t do much movement.

  This trip to Sweden was certainly to travel. I love the non stop movements seeing new things, and Derek and I certainly packed a lot into our stay. I suppose you could say these last two days were the vacation portion of this travel escapade. I was thankful to have a day to recoup before going back to work which is a must for me, and I am still trying to settle back into real life. Big thanks to Anne and Ollie for being the most wonderful, gracious, welcoming hosts. Anne went out of her way to buy food I could eat (I still splurged sometimes), and Ollie was always willing to drive us when we didn’t have a rental car.

  We started as strangers and left as friends. I hope I see them both again someday.

  Q: Do you prefer travel or vacation?

  

  | 29 Comments Tagged Sweden, Travel, Vaxholm, Waffles

• Stockholm, Sweden – Pt. 1

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on October 11, 2022

  I have officially survived my first trip back on European soil since coming home from Germany at the end of 2020. This trip was a long time coming for me. I had no idea I would be going to Sweden for my first trip back to Europe, but I knew I needed to get myself back to that side of the world. The entire trip was a very fast, whirlwind of decisions, and overall I would say it was a success.

  I have a coworker/friend named Derek who I know is up for most any adventure. These days it can be difficult to find someone who is: a.) up for the adventure, and b.) can afford the adventure, so I knew I couldn’t be picky if I wanted to travel with another human. I walked into our break room at work one day in late July and said to him: “do you want to go to Ireland?” He said yes, and we mulled over that for a bit before he said to me later: “what about Sweden, I have family we could stay with?”

  Slap my knee and call me Sally, a brand new country to conquer and a free place to stay?! Sign me up.

  

  

  I’d be lying if I said this was an easy decision. I wondered if Derek and I would be compatible travel partners, and I wondered if staying with his family would hinder my experience without having the freedom to come and go as I please, but I went into this trip with the mindset that it was strictly to rip off the bandaid of traveling so that I could potentially feel comfortable going alone again.

  By the first week of August we booked our flights (which were only $650, unheard of), and by the end of August we had booked two Air B&B’s for some extra exploring down south as well as a rental car. I spent nearly an entire month wondering if I should go, and Duncan continually pushed me out the door knowing how much I needed to get out of America.

  He and Derek are also friends, as well as roommates, so there was no weirdness about me traveling with another guy.

  

  

  

  Dereks family turned out to be the most wonderful, welcoming, kind people who I hope to stay in touch with for life. More on that in later posts.

  Our first three days in Sweden were dedicated to visiting Stockholm. Dereks aunt and uncle live just on the outskirts of the city, making it easy to take a train into the heart of Stockholm. I had forgotten how much I adore public transportation in Europe, the efficiency of the trains and subway systems are something I will forever long for where I live. We spent a “quick” five hours exploring our first day, just to get a lay of the land, as well as to honor the jet lag and get home before dark.

  We wandered the streets of Gamla Stan (shown throughout this post), which is the overly touristy, but wildly beautiful old town. The cobblestone streets and tiny alleyways filled my soul more than I can describe. And the bikes, ohhh the bikes. Everywhere I looked I saw bikes and bikers and bike lanes. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss biking in Europe.

  Just in time for lunch we managed to find one of the destinations I wanted to see called Östermalms Saluhall – an old market hall built in 1888.

  

  

  Food sensitivities do not exist while traveling, so I made sure to try a few of the items that screamed “this is Swedish“, but I made sure to keep it to just one or two a day so that I didn’t completely crash. The splurge of this day was a piece of brown bread with shrimp on an egg, smoked salmon, and shrimp mixed into a sauce.

  I have no idea what all was on this sauce wise, but it was delicious.

  We spent the remainder of the day wandering and seeing as much of the old town as possible, with a bit of the larger area of the city as well. The following day we would arrive earlier and stay later to explore more of the bigger parts of the city. Day one highlights were seeing a black cat, seeing the colorful buildings in Gamla Stan, walking by the waters, and seeing an Ikea. When in Rome…

  

  

  

  

  Jet lag hit me hard that night, yet I still managed to walk 8.5 miles around the city. We had a lovely wind down with Dereks family, and prepared ourselves for the following morning. There are few things I enjoy more than getting “lost” wandering a new city. Up next: Stockholm days two and three.

  Q: Have you traveled internationally since COVID restrictions have lifted? The entire travel process, albeit long, was a breeze. I did not want to travel via airplane until ALL the restrictions were lifted.

  

  | 16 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Europe, stockholm, Sweden, Travel

• Challis, Idaho

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 26, 2021

  I have always been one to save a penny wherever I can. When I first started traveling regularly, saving money was like a game to me. I’d ask myself, “how can I spend as little as possible, while still seeing as much as possible?” In the beginning this was great. I’d spend $12 a night on a hostel where I would share a room with countless other humans, but where I saved in dollars I paid for in energy.

  Don’t even get me started on the two times I “slept” in the airport to get the cheaper flight.

  I quickly discovered a good nights sleep while traveling is worth far more than a cheap hostel (or flight.) I still find other ways to save, and I will search for cheap places to sleep, but I also don’t mind spending a little more on proper accommodations. The newest lesson I have learned is that spending more to stay closer to a desired destination is also worth the extra money.

  

  When I decided I wanted to hike in the Sawtooth Mountains, I checked for accommodations close to the wilderness. Granted, the options were slim as the towns surrounding this area are quite small, but I also didn’t want to spend a lot of money. When I settled on the town of Challis, I didn’t think the hour and 20 minute drive to the Sawtooth area would be a big deal. For the most part it wasn’t, but when trying to beat the heat it made for very early wake up calls.

  Staying so far from the wilderness meant we spent more time in Challis than I thought we would.

  Challis is likely the smallest town I have ever stayed in, but our Airbnb was modest, adorable, and enjoyable to be inside of. We spent a handful of days lounging as it was too hot to go outside and there wasn’t much to do in the area. I got a little restless at times, so I expended that energy by going for morning runs or evening walks while trying to get a lay of the land.

  This didn’t take long, and by the end of our time in Challis I felt like I knew all the roads.

  

  The town is nestled between the mountains, and I only wish there were more accessible trails in the area. There were plenty of private trails, which is great for those who own the properties, but limited access for people like me who want to explore the nearby mountains. Instead I spent some time in the town cemetery where I saw plenty of deer and unique birds.

  I also found a small park with a lake for people to fish in.

  

  I did enjoy running in this town. The small country roads are very peaceful, and the farmland fields and animals always bring a warmth to my soul. The heat was brutal at times, but my favorite way to explore a new area is by foot or by bike. I spent the remainder of these lounge days watching movies or playing Monopoly, which admittedly was difficult for me multiple days in a row. I don’t love downtime, but I sometimes do TOO much when I travel.

  Downtime allowed me to feel refreshed and ready to come back to real life after this vacation.

  All in all Challis was an enjoyable town for a short term stay. Time seemed to move slower here, and life felt simple. The houses weren’t fancy, the cars weren’t expensive, the yards were slightly run down, but it had a carefree charming vibe I find myself longing for in my own life. We make things way too difficult at times, always needing more. When in reality, oftentimes less is more.

  

  I don’t think I’ll stay in Challis again (the grocery store had slim pickings for my needs), but I’m glad I experienced it once. Next time I visit this area I hope to stay in Stanley, or better yet I hope to camp the entire time. I’m thankful for the time to press pause while here though, and to savor the quiet moments.

  Q: Do you spend much time resting on vacation, or do you prefer to be doing things most days? I definitely prefer to be doing things most days, but a day here and there to recoup is welcomed.

  

  | 16 Comments Tagged Idaho, Running, Travel

• Grazing Hills Alpaca Ranch

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 1, 2021

  Back in April I sat down at my kitchen table and planned out a 12 day road trip/vacation with the goal of hiking in Glacier National Park, and the Sawtooth Wilderness. I recently returned from this amazing trip, and my next few posts will highlight my adventures, but this post will highlight something else. About a week before I was scheduled to leave I realized my standard weekend aligned perfectly with this trip, giving me an additional three days off.

  Why not add an extra two days onto this already longer than any vacation I’ve had in lightyears?

  It took me and my partner in crime all of ten minutes to decide we wanted to break up the drive from Washington to Montana, and we let Airbnb decide where we would go. I pulled up a map of Eastern Washington, and the first space that popped up I immediately fell in love with. Take me to a farm, with endless rolling hills and I am a happy camper. Take me to a farm with alpacas, cats, dogs, cows, sheep, etc and I am an ecstatic camper.

  

  

  We found an adorable ranch area located in Viola, Idaho – just a hop, skip, and jump away from the Washington border. The goal for this Airbnb weekend was simply to rest before our actual vacation started. It was like a vacation for our vacation. While I am usually very active when traveling, if I am staying somewhere in the country like this I have no problem relaxing for a couple days.

  The Grazing Hill Ranch acts as both an Airbnb and a farm providing tours with a store selling local goods. The family running this farm lives on the property, but we didn’t see them much at all. We were free to wander the area as we pleased, and you’d better believe I quickly made friends with the local farm cats. I saw three adult cats, and two kittens. Be still my heart.

  

  

  

  Furry friends aside, the space itself was extremely welcoming. I don’t always love the idea of the hosts being so close, as I enjoy more of the isolation of a space, but this room felt separate enough and the interior was gorgeous. The colors and decor were minimalistic, immediately providing a feeling of calm upon entry. The host had a bottle of wine waiting on the table, and filled the fridge with yogurts, juice, cinnamon rolls, and fruit for our breakfasts.

  Talk about going the extra mile.

  

  

  

  We spent most of our two days here lounging, watching movies, playing board games, going for short walks, and I enjoyed a couple runs on the winding backroads. My copilot would likely say I didn’t relax much, but I assure you this mini getaway was the most relaxing I’ve done in a while. My kind of relaxing still involves going for casual walks, or exploring the area around me.

  

  It’s not often I dedicate an entire post to an Airbnb location, but this one really resonated with me. It was unique, and the thoughtful touches pushed this stay towards the top of my Airbnb experiences. The landscape reminded me of Europe, and perhaps this is why I felt such a connection to the area. I would without hesitation stay here again, and it was only a 5 hour drive from where I live.

  If the landscape, relaxation, farm animals, and solitude don’t sell you on this adorable Airbnb, perhaps the five golden retrievers will. If you hurry, you’ll see the puppy before he grows up.

  

  

  The ambiance of a space can either make or break the overall experience of a stay, and this was a great start to our trip. Not all Airbnb’s are created equal, but this tiny getaway has planted a seed in my mind. A daydream of sorts, to have my own tiny space to rent out similar to this one. I don’t plan on owning an alpaca farm, but at this rate anything can happen. I never anticipated I would be where I am today, and I am open to just about any possibility.

  If you live near the Pacific Northwest and are looking for a relaxing getaway, I highly recommend this farm. If you don’t, I hope this post encourages you to find a weekend getaway nearby. Life is too short not to travel.

  Q: Do you prefer to rent an entire space in an Airbnb for more $$$, or a single room for less $$$? This varies for me, I have stayed in a few Airbnb’s that were bed and breakfast like that I adored. But for longer stays I prefer the entire space.

  

  | 14 Comments Tagged Airbnb, Alpaca, Farm, Idaho, Travel

• Leavenworth, Washington

  Posted at 1:38 PM by Brittany, on June 7, 2021

  It’s no secret I miss Bavaria. Sure – I miss the landscape, and the ease of access to endless adventures, but I also have a soul tie to this state. I worked through a lot of self discovery and growth during my time living in Bavaria, and Germany as a whole is more than just a travel destination for me. I don’t think anyone truly understands how moving to another country changes you unless they’ve experienced it for themselves.

  Needless to say, when a weekend trip to Leavenworth was suggested to me (aka the Bavaria of Washington) I said yes quicker than the blink of an eye.

  

  

  

  Upon arrival we snagged a coffee at the Bavarian themed Starbucks before having a sit by the river behind our hotel.

  

  

  I was immediately transported to the Loisach while sitting here, a river I spent so many hours biking next to, and I can’t describe how wholesome this moment felt for me. I often told people in Germany how similar Washington was to the landscape and climate of Bavaria, and Leavenworth really seals the deal with that.

  I could have sat by this river for hours, and that’s exactly what we did.

  

  

  After spending ample time by the river, and exploring a bit around town, it was time to check into the hotel. While perusing options for places to stay in Leavenworth, my initial instinct was an Air B&B. When I discovered most of the Air B&B’s were within the $200-$400 a night price range, I redirected my search. I don’t love staying in hotels, because I like having a kitchen to make my own meals, but after stumbling onto LOGE hotel I quickly made an exception.

  When you read a review that says: “if REI created a hotel”, you know you’re in for a treat.

  

  

  For starters, the staff at LOGE were all incredibly welcoming, friendly, upbeat, and I immediately envisioned myself working with them. The hotel cafe (which doubled as the front desk) was completely my speed, and I would happily pick up my barista apron to peddle lattes in Leavenworth all day. The ambiance of the lobby was adorable, and I immediately knew I was going to enjoy my stay.

  This hotel has the communal atmosphere of a hostel, but with the class and privacy of a hotel.

  The rooms come equipped with gear for guests to use (at no charge), and this gear can also be purchased if guests decide they like the product. What an excellent marketing technique. Our room had a hammock, headlamp, hats, a cooler, snacks, games, a Rumpl blanket, and more. If you’re a lover of the outdoors and appreciate more of a simplistic sleep environment, this is the hotel for you.

  

  

  Side note: I didn’t notice the hammock wasn’t locked into place, and I definitely face planted after attempting to climb into it. Thankfully it was over the bed.

  This hotel also had the nicest communal showers I have ever seen in all my years of travel. I paid more to have a private shower, but had I been alone I would have gone for the cheaper room and used these communal showers.

  

  Check in complete, it was time for an evening hike. When choosing hikes for this quick weekend getaway, I was mindful of a few things: time, location, popularity, and elevation. I wanted to experience the mountains, but I didn’t want hiking to suck up the entirety of the trip. I chose two relatively popular trails, but we hiked them during “off times” to ensure minimal human contact.

  First up: Icicle Ridge Trail – a five and a half mile round trip hike, with an elevation gain of 1870 feet. I haven’t don’t many hikes lately with elevation, and despite the fatigue I had the view at the top was well worth the climb. This trail is popular for its wildflowers, and it’s close proximity to the city center. We saw a total of around nine people the entire two hours it took to hike, and for a popular hike I would call that win.

  

  

  This hike knocked the life out of me and I was hopeful for a good nights sleep, but I had no such luck. Dehydration, too much sun exposure, and a room that was too hot made for a very poor nights sleep. Nothing a coffee can’t (temporarily) fix. After lying awake for hours, having a casual morning, we payed visit to Starbucks again around 0700 before walking through the city center in the early morning light.

  The day we arrived we walked around in the early afternoon, and the town was bustling with people. I adore waking up in a new city earlier than most to experience the town before it comes to life.

  

  

  

  What I love most about this city center is how authentic it feels. Traditional German towns are small, with a pedestrian only zone, filled with random shops, bakeries, eateries, and a park if you’re lucky. The small park in Leavenworth was adorable, and had me remising on all the summer nights I’d spent listening to Musik im Park (free park concerts) in Garmisch.

  

  Once the world started coming back to life, we packed up our things, checked out of our hotel, and headed on one more hike before making the trek back home. Hike number two had a similar name, but with a very different trail. Icicle Gorge Trail is a 4.5 mile loop with only 387′ elevation. This trail was about a 30 minute drive from the city, with some of the most beautiful driving views I have seen in a long time.

  The trail was very mild, a welcomed reprieve from the previous hike. Had I slept better I think I would have enjoyed myself more, but I was so unbelievably tired on this hike. Thankfully I was still able to appreciate the views, and I can see why this is an equally popular trail. Accessible for anyone, this trail hugs the river weaving in and out of tree covered woods to open fields.

  

  

  

  This hike took us equally as long to complete (granted we ran down most of the previous trail), despite being a mile shorter with little to no elevation. I was wrecked by the end of this hike, but I would do it all over again. I have become much more mindful of my physical activity as I have gotten older, something I have to do in order to keep my Sjogrens at bay, but sometimes the discomfort is worth the temporary joy. I no longer spiral when I feel a flare up coming, and I no longer avoid the things that cause them (except food, I try to avoid those triggers 90% of my days.)

  I cannot avoid life just to keep my body in its happy place.

  

  

  And just like that, the quick and somewhat last minute trip to Leavenworth had come to an end. I plan to revisit again this summer, hopefully with more hikes and more nostalgia. I had been to Leavenworth before, and I knew I would want to revisit after living in Bavaria, but I had no idea how connected I would feel to this tiny town this time around.

  Oh, but I do have one complaint…how the hell can you justify having ONE restaurant with half of a chicken on the menu, and sell it for $20. Absolutely erroneous.

  Gone are my days of eating half chickens, roasted Bavarian style, for €3.50.

  

  Q: Are there any towns you have visited that left you wanting more?

  

  | 31 Comments Tagged Bavaria, Hiking, Leavenworth, PNW, Travel, Washington

• 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

• Dunkerque, France

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 9, 2019

  Anyone who has been reading my blog for the last year will know I have an interest in all things WWII. The beaches of Dunkirk are a memorable place where the British and French allies were “pushed” to by Nazi Germany during the war. I’d read about Dunkirk, watched the Hollywood movie about Dunkirk, but never thought I’d actually visit Dunkirk.

  When booking my most recent trip to Belgium, I was looking at a map and noticed Dunkirk was just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Brugge, where I spent the first half of my trip. You’d have thought I was a five year old waiting for Santa when I realized I could drive to Dunkirk and stand on the beaches of history.

  

  I was thankful that my roommates also had an interest in seeing this beach, so we scheduled the drive into our plans. We had no idea what to expect, but we weren’t aware that Dunkirk is currently a very popular beach to lounge on. We all agreed it felt a bit morbid to go swim in the waters of Dunkirk, so we spent the morning on the coast of Belgium in a town called Ostende.

  

  

  I can’t remember the last time I swam at a beach, but this calm water was very inviting. We arrived before the crowds and spent a good hour and a half sunning our skin and soaking our toes. For a girl that doesn’t care much for the beach, I sure enjoyed my time in Ostende more than I thought I would.

  I remember thinking to myself (and then aloud to my roommates) “I’m in the North Sea, in Belgium, swimming at the beach. What is my life.”

  

  We made sure not to spend too much time in Ostende, because the goal for the day was Dunkirk, and I wasn’t sure how much time we would need to explore the area. Upon arrival in Dunkirk I was a bit surprised to find that the town was bustling with half naked French folks on the beaches like any other European beach.

  I believe there are many things in life that signify success, and one of the biggest for me is the ability and willingness to never stop learning things. Things about the world and things about yourself. Something I have learned about myself is that I often let myself down when I have preconceived expectations. I am a work in progress with this, but I am trying to expect less when traveling somewhere new.

  

  As I said, I’m a work in progress, and I had expectations of Dunkirk that were not reality. I had images in my head of a historical war memorial, with visitors coming to pay respect to those who lost their lives. I envisioned a beach lined with plaques recalling the events that took place, providing a brief synopsis of history for younger generations to read and learn.

  Instead, I was met with the above photo of beach lockers and bronze French folks. I was met with teenage kids blasting French rap music weaving a soccer ball around the other people walking on the boardwalk. I was met with endless restaurants and gelato shops feeding the masses of people sunbathing when they should have been at work.

  I was met with life, continuing on.

  

  At first glance, I thought I was in the wrong area. I wandered around until l found a tourist office and went in to ask where the memorial was. I found the only English speaker and asked him where we could find the memorial. His reply shocked me when he said: “what memorial?” I hesitated and asked where the memorial for the war was, to which he replied, “there is a museum around the corner, at the end of the board walk there is a memorial wall, and on the other side of town is the British memorial.”

  He then handed me a map and sent me on my way. 

  Thankfully my roommate found an additional pamphlet that had spots along the board walk signifying historical spots such as: “this is where the British hid”, “this is where the evacuation took place”, and “this is where the ships came in to save the men.” This was a great concept, but as we walked the boardwalk it was impossible to know exactly where these places were. Hence the desire for my original expectation of plaques along the beach.

  

  The memorial wall was beautiful, and I was thankful to have found it. I still expected more, but as my dad perfectly put it this was now “a solemn place (history) that sounds fairly ordinary today.” Perhaps my original expectations were too skewed, and perhaps the best way to honor the men who died during this tragic situation was to enjoy the freedom the beach provided.

  I didn’t go into the museum, so perhaps I was looking too much outside of the museum for remembrance. After walking the boardwalk a bit we drove over to the British memorial, which was exactly what I was expecting. 

  

  

  I sometimes feel odd discussing war so passionately, because while we always feel the need to choose sides, a human life is a human life regardless of what side you’re on. Each person makes a decision based on what they believe to be correct and they then stand behind this decision regardless of the outcomes.

  The human mind is a complex web of tangled emotions that some are better at untangling than others. 

  I can only hope we continue to find success in learning about the world and about ourselves in an attempt to prevent history from repeating itself, however this is sadly a problem I don’t think will ever be “solved.” All I know for certain is I find great joy in visiting historical places and sharing them with my small circle of a community here on this blog.

  

  Dunkirk was not what I expected, and if I had the power to I would make the simple addition of boardwalk plaques for just “a little bit more.” If you don’t know much about the Battle of Dunkirk I highly recommend reading more about it. I’m glad I visited regardless of what I thought I would see, and it was another reminder to let go of expectations and live more in the moment.

  Q: How do you bounce back when you have expectations that are shattered by reality? Were my Dunkirk expectations unrealistic? 

  

  | 24 Comments Tagged Beach, Brittanys Life Abroad, Dunkirk, Europe, France, Travel, WWII

• Brugge, Belgium

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 4, 2019

  Ahh Brugge, the romantic historical town in the northwestern part of Belgium. Brugge was not on my radar until I moved to Europe, and it was as if The Google knew I wanted to see the world, because Brugge popped up on my suggested browser a few months after I arrived. I subconsciously tucked this popular destination in my brain for a later date, and that later date arrived after a series of unfortunate events.

  

  

  You see, I was scheduled to take a trip to Spain for the month of August with my two roommates. We had requested time off for this trip months in advance, booked a rental car, found wonderful Air B & B’s, and did extensive research – aka watched The Cheetah Girls 2. I was ready to strut like I meant it through the streets of Barcelona.

  A few days before our scheduled departure, we received an e-mail advising us there was a scheduled strike at the Barcelona airport the day we were meant to arrive, and we were informed our flight might be cancelled. Um, what? There wasn’t much we could do, so we waited to see what the fate of our trip would be the day of departure.

  

  According to our tour guide who graciously took this picture of us, Colin Ferrel jumped out of the window between my head and my roommates head to the left of me during filming of the movie “In Bruge.” Also – HBD to the pretty lady on my right.

  

  I suppose I should be thankful that we got notice a day and a half before our travel day (instead of the day of) that our flight was indeed cancelled, and truth be told I didn’t really want to go to Spain anyway, but it’s been over a week and I’m still awaiting my refund. I’m a bit perturbed by the entire situation, but it was out of my control.

  With some quick cat like reflex planning, we planned our backup trip in an hour. My roommates asked me,” Switzerland or Belgium?” Without hesitation I screamed “BELGIUM” and my subconscious vision of Brugge reappeared into my frontal lobe. I told them I wanted to see Brugge, and I wanted to see Gent, and badda boom badda bing we officially shifted gears towards Belgium.

  

  

  

  Just when we thought everything was squared away, I got notified that there were no more rental cars at our local Europcar (after we already booked places to sleep in Belgium), which brought momentary panic to us all. We decided to take a train to Munich to rent a car from the airport, and drive it back to Garmisch the day before our trip.

  It took five hours round trip. 

  This was almost the trip that wasn’t thanks to all the hoops we had to jump through, but perseverance gave us a lovely trip to Belgium I shan’t soon forget. Brugge is just as fairytale like as they say, and it’s no wonder this city brings flocks of tourists to see its cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, and Venice like canals.

  

  

  

  The drive to Brugge was brutal, and as the only driver (shoutout to being an old lady and not having an extra rental car charge) I was feeling the 12 hours of open road hard by the time we reached our hostel. We stayed at Hostel Europa, which had free parking (what I cared about), was less than a 2km walk to the city center (what they cared about), and had free breakfast (what everyone cared about.)

  By the time we started our following day in the city, I had forgotten all about the long drive west. We didn’t have much planned for this city, other than to find some colorful houses, eat a waffle, eat fries, eat chocolate, find the sheep, and find the windmills. We stumbled upon a free walking tour at just the right time, and we were able to learn some history about the city.

  

  

  

  Old hospital. This one’s for you dad.

  After we did the walking tour, we went to eat at House of Waffles per the suggestion of our tour guide. I was intrigued by the idea of savory waffles, but sadly this BLT waffle wasn’t worth the splurge that comes with eating gluten for me. My only regret of this trip was that I ate a savory waffle instead of a sweet waffle. I didn’t want to splurge too many times, so I didn’t eat anymore waffles on this trip.

  I should have known better, waffles are meant to be sweet.

  

  The waffles provided just enough energy to wander the residential streets of Brugge in order to find the sheep. Tucked away from the tourist streets is a small park called Hof De Jonge. This park is home to local sheep that graze on the grass, and is known as one of the hidden spot to visit in Brugge. Our trip to Belgium occurred during one of the countries few heat waves, and the 90 degree air had the sheep hiding for respite.

  I turned the corner and was saddened to find no sheep in the park. Just when I lost all hope, I saw one lone sheep running towards the shade. Success. 

  

  After the sheep it was off to the windmills. Four historic windmills are left standing along the ramparts of one of the canals in Brugge. In the 16th century there were upwards of 23 mills in the area, and the remaining four offered a break from the bustling city center. My roommates humored me on my walk across Brugge to find these mills, and the last one of the four offered a small view of the city below.

  

  

  

  

  At the top of the windmill stairs were two local girls enjoying a beer and escaping from the late afternoon sun. I couldn’t help but think this was a terrible place to drink alcohol because of how sketchy the stairs were climbing up and down…does this make me old?

  I used to frolic in the face of danger and now my fear radar is continuously maxed out.

  Our final “scheduled” adventure was to take a boat tour on the canal. This was a cheap ten euro adventure where we didn’t learn anything we didn’t already know after our free walking tour, but it was fun to see the city from the view of the water. Plus our trilingual captain was nice to look at.

  

  

  The rest of our evening was free to wander and refuel. After my waffle lunch I wanted something “safe” for dinner, but continued the vacation mindset and ordered my chicken with fries. When in Belgium. Did you know, fries originated in Belgium?

  American soldiers stationed in Belgium were first introduced to French fries during World War I. As the official language of the Belgian army was French, soldiers nicknamed the delicious fried potatoes “French fries.” The name stuck, and decades later we’re still giving credit to the wrong country.

  

  Brugge is a lovely city, and I’m thankful to have crossed it off my list, and I’m thankful for the mysterious way God works. Had it not been for that Barcelona strike, we’d have gone to Spain instead. Not to say Spain wouldn’t have been enjoyable, but something tells me Belgium is more my style.

  Regardless of where we went, I was just happy to spend a week with my roommates. I am thankful that we not only live well together, but we’re close friends too. 

  

  

  

  

  

  Who can guess which cat pillow is my favorite?

  

  Q: Would you have called it quits after the cancelled flight and no local rental cars, or adapted the “where there’s a will there’s a way” mindset?

  

  | 21 Comments Tagged Belgium, Brittanys Life Abroad, Brugge, Europe, Travel

• Postojna & Metelkova, sLOVEnia

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 26, 2019

  Day three in Slovenia was dedicated to visiting the Postojna caves. I say “was dedicated” because it ended up taking up most of my day due to public transportation. I wasted a lot of time waiting for busses, but I’m glad I went nonetheless. The caves are in the town of Postojna, about 49 km from Ljubljana. I took a morning bus and arrived with the hopes of seeing the caves and the castle.

  Getting to the caves was a bit of a goose chase. The bus station is a good 20 minute walk from the caves, and I don’t have data for a map on my cell phone. Thankfully an older asian couple was also trying to find the caves and we walked together until we stumbled upon the entrance. The woman didn’t speak English, but the man did and we stopped a few times to reevaluate the map before continuing on. It was a comical sight I’m sure.

  

  

  

  I purchased the castle/cave combo at the bus station, something I never do. I discovered once I arrived at the caves that I’d need to take a taxi to the castle because there was no shuttle running this time of year. I was annoyed, and was reminded why I typically buy tickets at the location.

  Had I not wanted to be back in Ljubljana in the evening to meet with my hostel friends for a concert I’d have walked the 12 miles round trip, alas I took the loss and moved on.

  

  

  Once inside the caves I forgot all about the wasted castle money, and I was in awe of the passage ways. There is a train that takes you 2km into the cave, we walk another 5km, and then take the train the 2km back out. The walking tour took about an hour, and it was so cool. Literally and figuratively, which I was thankful for on this 90 degree day.

  

  After the cave tour I had a lot of time to kill before the bus came to take me back to Ljubljana. I walked around Postojna a bit, however there wasn’t much to see. I eventually found my way to a mom and pop burger shop, and was given amazing service for my specific food needs. The woman spoke perfect English, and I modified my order to accommodate my food sensitivities and she was so kind about it.

  10/10 recommend and the food was amazing. 

  

  

  

  I splurged and ate the fries.

  

  

  I finally made it back to Ljubljana around 5pm, and had plans to watch a classical concert on the river. My first night in Ljubljana I saw the advertisement for a boat cruise with a classical concert, but missed the last boat by 1 minute. I had my heart set on this concert for two days and the girls in my hostel wanted to come too.

  I discovered that there were no classical concerts that night, but there was a jazz concert instead. I figured a change of pace would be nice, so I messaged the girls and gave them the update. Cornelia and Coti had done the city walking tour that day, Coti made another friend, and she decided to spend the evening with him. So Cornelia and I met up for the jazz boat and it was AWESOME.

  

  

  I had told the man I bought my tickets from I was dying to get on one of these boats, and he told the musicians. The musicians then dedicated a song to Cornelia and I. These musicians are fresh out of high school (the one on the far left is still in high school) and they were so good! Cornelia had recently done a swing dance camp, and the jazz music brought back fun memories for her.

  After our boat ride, Cornelia and I met back up with Coti and her new German friend for a drink before retiring back to our hostel for our last night together. Or so I thought. We all had plans to leave the following morning/early afternoon, but I decided to stay another day because I wanted to spend more time in the city.

  

  Cornelia also ended up staying another day because her train to Salzburg was delayed. Coti headed off to Munich, and Cornelia and I soaked up one final day in Slovenia together. Day four we walked to Metelkova, an alternative district of artists, hippies, students, punks, and creative minds aggregating in an old military headquarters. The street art was worth the walk to Metelkova.

  

  

  

  

  

  If you haven’t caught on by now, sLOVEnia was a LOVEly time. I couldn’t have imagined this last minute trip going any better. Sometimes the most unexpected things happen when we don’t have any expectations at all. This is one of those trips that can never be recreated in the same way, and for that I will always have a special place in my heart for Slovenia.

  

  

  

  I hope to visit Coti in Chile, and Cornelia in Sweden someday. It’s not everyday you meet people you immediately bond with. We have messaged each other here and there since meeting over a month ago. Don’t cross Slovenia off your list, it’s a MUST see. While my posts were more focused on the people I met, there is so much history and beauty to the cities I visited too. My heart was just more focused on the friendships.

  

  

  Q: Have you ever thought about visiting Slovenia?

  

  | 11 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Slovenia, Travel

• Salzburg, Austria – Pt.2

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on April 23, 2019

  Before I went to Salzburg, I knew that the city was famous for some of the Sound of Music filming locations. I did some Google searching to find out my options to visit these locations, and settled on a three hour bike tour. I’m not normally one to take a formal tour, but when there are bikes included I can be convinced. The tour turned out to be one of the best decisions I had made all month. 

  

  

  Most people take a bus tour, but I knew I wanted to ride a bike around Salzburg so this was the perfect activity for me. My group had eleven people consisting of mostly other Americans, some British folks, and a cute Australian guy. The tour took us to multiple filming locations, and through some of the outskirts of Salzburg. Getting out of the city center was so much fun, and the weather was absolute perfection.

  

  Maria’s Abbey

  

  The lake terrace scenes at the von Trapp’s family home were all shot at the baroque Leopoldskron Palace dating back to 1736.

  

  The actual “16 going on 17” gazebo.

  

  View of Untersberg Mountain – referenced in movie.

  While riding through the outskirts of the city, we had a stereo playing songs from the movie. The wind was slightly blowing, the sun was out, and I couldn’t slap the smile off my face if I’d tried. 

  One of my favorite filming locations, which I visited multiple times while in Salzburg, was the Mirabell Palace and Gardens. The gardens at the palace are said to be among some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. I visited the gardens the previous day, as well as later that evening for a concert.

  

  

  

  

  

  My only regret of this tour, was not being able to visit Werfen, aka the picnic meadow where they sang “Do Re Mi.“ This town is about a 40 minute train ride outside of Salzburg, so I plan to return to walk the “Sound of Music Trail” INTO the Austrian alps. Overall this was such a fun way to see the city and to see some of the filming locations. I wish I had watched the movie the night before (my hostel shows the film every night at 8p) but I’m an old lady and need my sleep.

  After the bike tour I lost my morals and grabbed a Salzburg Pretzel, which was basically a pastry in the shape of a pretzel covered in chocolate. The pretzel was the size of my face…twice. It was intense. I chomped on my sins as I walked towards Mozarts Geburtshaus, aka Mozarts birthplace. It only made sense to stand in the room where Mozart was born, before listening to his music at a concert in Mirabell Palace later that evening.

  As regular readers know, I’ve made it a priority to see a classical concert in each new country I visit while living in Europe, and Salzburg was no exception.

   

  

  

  “In this room Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756.”

  

  I stood in the birth room for a full five minutes soaking in the music playing through the speakers. It was a surreal moment to stand in this room. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of his music or not, Mozart was a huge influence on classical music. His talents will live on forever. Sorry, I think the sugar rush from the pretzel was seeping through my fingers as I typed that.

  After I visited Mozarts birthplace, I made sure to walk past the house the Mozart family moved to next. I didn’t feel the need to go inside, and I started to feel the effects of the pretzel and the Mozartkugel I had eaten and needed a small break from wandering. I headed back to my hostel for a bit to shower and change, and then it was time to visit the Mirabell Palace and Gardens again, but this time to go inside. I had booked a ticket for a Mozart concert and I got a front row seat.

  

  The palace was built in 1606, and is used today for concerts and weddings. The room where the concert was held is full of gold and marble, I can see why people want to get married there. The palace staircase felt like a scene from Titanic, and every detail was immaculate. The musicians were amazing, and they all looked so young.

  I’m constantly in awe of those who can play a musical instrument. I played the clarinet for a few years when I was in school, but couldn’t play a song if my life depended on it today (except for hot cross buns, forever for the HCB.) I’d always wanted to learn piano, but never made the time for it. I’m a sucker for piano, and my future husband will not only be able to build me a house in a flannel with a beard, he will also play the piano.

  

  I left the next morning around 10am. I would have stayed a bit longer, but the weather turned crummy and I felt I’d seen all I needed for this trip. Plus the longer I stay places the longer I’m off track with my eating and start to feel like I’ve been hit by a train. I had a great last minute trip to Salzburg, and am happy I live so close to such amazing cities full of history.

  Q: Are you a Sound of Music fan?

  

  | 28 Comments Tagged Austria, Bike, Brittanys Life Abroad, Mozart, Salzburg, Sound of Music, Travel, Travel Abroad

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