My time living abroad in Germany is slowly coming to an end. 11 1/2 years is a long, long time to fall in love with my expat homeland and became fully integrated into the culture. There are many things I have both struggled to adapt to during my time here and have fallen head over heels in love with. Leaving behind both is a bit bittersweet and as the time comes to an end, it’s making me a bit more emotional. Here is my list of favorite things I will miss about Germany!
Meissen has historically been synonymous with porcelain. Since 1710, Meissen has been home to the largest production of china porcelain, outside of China and has been drawing in trickles of tourists. Come discover Meissen for your self and see why this still relatively unheard of, charming little town should be on your next German travel itinerary!
Looking to to travel to Belgium soon and want to explore Belgium deeper than just hitting up Brussels? By using this guide, you can explore Belgium and tweak it to accommodate your needs and desires in this 3, 5 or 7 day guide! After all, you’ll need plenty of time to enjoy all that beer, chocolate, frites, waffles and more!
The Rhein River is one of Europe’s most important rivers and one that is world famous for its stunning landscapes. One of the most popular stretches of the Rhein River is that of the Middle Rhein, meandering from Bingen to Koblenz is home to some of the best wines in Germany. The region is lined with steep rolling hills of vineyards, castles in ruins and quaint little wine towns that time forgot and is nicknamed the “Romantic Rhine”.
Few wineries in the world are as important in the wine world as Schloss Johannisberg has been nor is there another name so synonymous with ‘Riesling’ as Schloss Johannisberg. Perfectly situated atop a hill overlooking the beautiful Rhein River in the Rheingau, this historic winery has been the world’s first Riesling winery since 1720 when it was decided it would exclusively produce this decadent wine. Pull up a chair, grab a glass of wine and come discover Schloss Johannisberg!
As one of the best preserved medieval towns in Tuscany, San Gimignano is considered a “Medieval Manhattan” with its medieval skyline of towers dominating the Tuscan countryside. This hilltop town is one of the best towns to visit in Tuscany and there are plenty of things to do in San Gimignano worthy of spending a full day here. Wander down picturesque cobble stone alleys, gaze over the lush Tuscan countryside, enjoy a panoramic bird’s eye view from one of the many towers and take a step back in time!
Have you ever been influenced by a book you read to visit a place? Siena, Italy was such a town for me. A book set in the heart of a medieval Tuscan hilltop town, riff with rivalries between neighborhood families, taking their frustrations out in a horse race through the heart of a burnt siena city center which still takes place today. Sounded intriguing enough for me. I researched Siena and added it to my Italy bucket list and now this medieval jewel should be on your list of places to visit in Italy too.
For red wine drinkers, Chianti red wines needs no introduction and few wines trigger nostalgic memories like enjoying a glass of Chianti with a plate of pasta at your favorite Italian restaurant. And it was possibly while you were drinking said glass of wine that you suddenly wondered, “Where does Chianti wine come from?” Believe it or not, but Chianti wine comes from one of the most iconic regions in Italy, known as Tuscany. And here, you’ll find a “strada” (street) meandering through Tuscany’s most beautiful wine producing villages.
When people search for the best beach destinations in Europe, they often think Italy or anywhere along the Mediterranean Sea. And while a trip to the French Riviera in France or the Almafi Coast or Cinque Terre in Italy sounds idyllic, there are other places to consider for a beach holiday in Europe. For example, there are a plethora of more affordable beach holidays in the Balkan countries such as Croatia and Montenegro. So let me introduce you to a collection of gorgeous seaside towns along the Adriatic Sea at a fraction of the price you might pay anywhere else in Europe.
Everyone is a newbie at something at some point or another. We all live and learn by our mistakes or the mistakes of others. Now, after nearly 10 years living in Europe and having spent most of my adolescent years traveling primarily to Europe, I’ve learned from a lot of mistakes that will help you travel with ease in Europe!
