Germany

  • Germany

    Dresden

    August 12, 2016 - By 

    When we started our Euro-road trip in February 2016, our first stop was Prague after buying a motorhome in Berlin. Along the way, we passed through Dresden, a city unknown to us yet big enough to be labeled on Germany’s map, and beautiful enough to lure us back upon our return to Berlin at the end of our Eurotrip. Driving through painfully cold Dresden at sunrise in February: We returned in August to a warmer, livelier Dresden. Albeit shaded by Germany’s summer clouds, Dresden’s reconstructed beauty still shined. Despite the grandeur of the seemingly aged buildings, most of Dresden and…

  • Germany

    The Black Forest

    August 8, 2016 - By 

    After spending a week in the Austrian and Swiss Alps, I knew no hike in Germany’s remote, southwestern Black Forest would leave a lasting impression on us.  But we weren’t there for the hikes, despite the nature-bound name.  We came for the rich Bavarian culture, the villages oozing with quaint adorableness, and the widely known Black Forest Cake and Black Forest Ham! And better yet?  Despite being just as cute (if not more cute) than Germany’s famous Rothenburg, the Black Forest still remains quite untouched by foreigners.  Instead of being flooded by buses full of tourists, the smidgen of towns we visited in…

  • Germany

    Hamburg

    March 7, 2016 - By 

    Despite being Germany’s 2nd largest city, Hamburg doesn’t offer a whole lot for tourists, but as Germany’s largest port, Hamburg houses a pretty spiffy financial district, and more famously the seedy red-light district.  We only dropped into Hamburg briefly for a couple hours on our way to Amsterdam from Copenhagen, primarily to fulfill a childhood dream of mine: to eat a hamburger in Hamburg.  Really. We found street parking near a subway and took the metro into the heart of Hamburg. First, the main square: Then we walked over to Buck’s Sports Bar in the financial district to try their well-reviewed…

  • Germany

    Bremen

    February 24, 2016 - By 

    I wonder how often Bremen is overlooked by Cologne and Hamburg, because I had never heard of it until I looked at a map for a place to stay in Northern Germany en route from Cologne to Copenhagen. As soon as I saw the charming buildings online, I knew I had to stop by. It resembled a cross between Munich and Rothenburg, an enchanting blend of neo-gothic and charming medieval architecture. Bremen was and still is a major port city as it is situated along a river that empties out into the North Sea. Our morning spent in Bremen was…

  • Germany

    Cologne Cathedral

    February 23, 2016 - By 

    Let’s face it. There really isn’t a whole lot to do in Cologne.  It’s just another big city (Germany’s 4th largest) with plenty of shopping, restaurants, and museums.  And a handful of bridges and a zoo.  We also happened to be in Cologne on a Sunday, which is the worst day to explore any city in Germany because everything is closed. First things first.  We spent our first night about 3 km north of the cathedral along the river, just down the street from the zoo, at a €10/night stellplatz (Reisemobilhafen Köln). Surprisingly, there were quite a few RVs when we…

  • Germany

    Rothenburg ob der Tauber

    February 22, 2016 - By 

    Despite having a mouthful of a name, the historic town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber was tiny. But it didn’t matter that it was tiny. What mattered was how irresistibly adorable it was, and the fact its medieval façade wasn’t simply a show to lure tourists. This was the stereotypical Bavarian town, and I couldn’t wait to see it. To our surprise, there was even a convenient stellplatz across the street from the south end of the walled town. With impeccably clean bathrooms, water (100 liters for €1), waste disposal, electricity, and a location just a stone’s throw away from…

  • Germany

    Neuschwanstein Castle

    February 21, 2016 - By 

    Here is a weird fact: the only three things I knew about Germany before my arrival were Oktoberfest, WWII, and the Neuschwanstein Castle.  I sampled a tiny bit of Oktoberfest while in Munich, I shuddered at the Dachau Concentration Camp, and now I fulfilled my dream of walking in a magical winter wonderland at the Neuschwanstein Castle. I read that if you visit the castle in the winter, when the forests and rooftops are dusted with snow, it would be a magical experience.  Because we were already spending February in Germany, I knew we HAD to go.  Winter also meant the…

  • Germany

    Munich

    February 19, 2016 - By 

    I never knew that Munich, nevermind Germany, exploded with culture. Even in mid-February, the opposite time of year from the world famous Oktoberfest, locals and especially tourists filled the air (primarily beer gardens) with the boisterous festivities known to Bavarian culture. I’ve already mentioned that I’m not fond of beer, but in Munich, beer is not a beverage but a staple, like bread. Beer in Munich is not only integral to their culture—it is the reason why people visit. To avoid beer in Munich would be like avoiding pizza in Italy. Blasphemy! Two of the closest options to Munich where…

  • Germany

    Dachau Concentration Camp

    February 19, 2016 - By 

    As Americans who had the atrocious history of WWII and Nazi Germany burned into their education since grade school, we knew that a visit to a former concentration camp was a must during our visit in Germany.  However harrowing and heart wrenching the experience may be, we knew that this brutal past time was crucial in shaping the country and the world today. Visiting a country isn’t all about enjoying its beauty, culture, and gastronomy.  Like how the Hiroshima Peace Memorial is to Japan, or the Civil Rights Museum of Memphis is to the U.S., the Dachau Concentration Camp and Memorial is a scar to Germany,…

  • Germany

    Berlin

    February 14, 2016 - By 

    All my friends told me Berlin was edgy, hip, and grungy.  Other than the murals and scribbles of graffiti sprayed every few meters throughout the city, I didn’t think it was that at all.  Maybe that thought will change when I see the rest of Europe, but for now I’ll say Berlin was incredibly clean and pleasant.  Even slumming it on the sidewalk waiting for a spätkauf, or convenience store, to open upon our arrival wasn’t too bad of an experience. Graffiti like this could be found EVERYWHERE.  Seriously, I had never seen so much graffiti in my life. Major U.S. cities…