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What to do in Bremen, Germany
Visiting Bremen and curious on what to do in Bremen, Germany? Or maybe Bremen has never been high on your radar when researching places to see in Germany. There are so many beautiful cities around Germany like München or Dresden that are more popular and touristy. After spending a day in Bremen, It is clear that it is an underrated city. There are so many things to do and see in Bremen. Bremen is home to one of Germany’s most famous town halls (Rathaus) that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a giant cathedral called Dom St Petri, the famous Town Musicians of Bremen, and a district with narrow alley ways known as the Schnoor. Of course, one of the most famous beers to come out of Germany, Becks is from Bremen. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where in Germany is Bremen? Bremen, Germany is located in the German state of Bremen. With a population of more then 570,000 people, Bremen is considered the second most populous city in Northern Germany, after Hamburg. Bremen is located along the Weser River about 60 Km from the North Sea of Germany. What to do in Bremen, Germany Being Germany’s 11th biggest city, there is plenty to do and see here. Bremen has everything from historic World Heritage Sites and cathedrals to Germany’s tiniest house. Most attractions are found within the altstadt (old town) and are easily walkable. Although Bremen is a huge city, many of the sites within the altstadt can be seen in a single day. But to full experience the city and see museums, parks, and maybe even attend a concert, then it is recommended to spend at least two days in Bremen. We spent a day and night in Bremen and here are a few of the main attractions and activities we saw and did while exploring the city. Attend a Carnival or Fest if Occurring There always seems to be some kind of fest or event occurring in some of Germany’s largest cities. Whether it be a holiday festival or simple town festival, they are always a good time and the food is excellent. When we visited Bremen in October this year, there was a small festival going on in from of the Bremen Rathaus. It might have been a part of the Bremen Freimarkt because we saw carnival rides in numerous locations of the city. The festival we found ourselves at had rides, game booths, drinks, and a lot of food! We walked around the festival during the day looking at the booths and eating. At night, I set up my tripod with my camera and took some interesting night photos using long exposure techniques. I absolutely love carnivals and festivals in Germany, mainly because of the affordable and delicious food. This time around, I could not pass up a bratwurst with mustard on a hard brötchen. Jill and I also split a butter pretzel. Butter pretzels are fantastic and simple. Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen) Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen) is a fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm. I used to listed to this growing up as a kid. Here is a brief summary of the fairy tale. A donkey, dog, cat, and rooster were growing old and seemed useless to their masters. The four animals did not want to be thrown out, mistreated, or even worse, killed by their masters. One by one, the animals left their masters houses and ventured off to the city of Bremen in hopes of becoming musicians. Bremen was much to far to reach in a single day. During the night, the four animals saw a house with a light on. The house was occupied by robbers. The four animals put their heads together and decided to come up with a way to scare the robbers off, they made noises and successfully scared the robbers. The animals then ate what was on the table and rested in the house throughout the night. One robber returned to the house later in the night as ordered. The cat scratched the robber, the dog bit the robber on the leg, and the donkey kicked the robber while the rooster made terrifying noises. They believed the house was haunted and no one ever dared enter the house again. The animals never made it to Bremen because they liked the house so much that they would stay and they did happily ever after! Today, there is a bronze statue of the Town Musicians of Bremen next to the Rathaus. Apparently, rubbing the nose of each animal on the statue is supposed to bring good luck. The statue is a very popular attraction in Bremen. Because of this, there is always a line of people waiting to rub the noses for good luck or do touristy things like take pictures with the Town Musicians of Bremen. Drink a Becks Beck’s Brewery or Brauerei Beck & Co is from Bremen and can be found all throughout the city. Beck’s Brewery does offer tours but I found the dates and times to be odd, so we unfortunately missed out on a Beck’s Brewery Tour. Not to mention, reservations are required. If interested, check out the Beck’s Website to check the times and make a reservation. Beck’s is most famous for their traditional Pilsner beer. I actually like this beer, it has a nice refreshing taste. I’ve also had their Dark beer, Oktoberfest Lager, Haake-Beck Pils, and Beck’s Gold. Eat German Food If visiting Germany, obviously, you have to try some local cuisine. Some of Germany’s most famous foods include Bratwurst, Schnitzel, and käsespätzle. One of my favorite meals in Germany is the schweinshaxe. This dish is a gigantic ham hock or pork knuckle. Usually, the outer skin is crispy and the meat inside is tender. It’s great paired with knödel (German dumpling) or bratkartoffeln (fried potatoes) with sauce. We found a brewery/restaurant in near the Böttcherstrasse called Shüttinger Gasthausbrauerei. I ordered a schweinshaxe here with a couple of beers and it was phenomenal. Grab a Bite to Eat and Enjoy the Nightlife at the Schlachte The “Schlachte” refers to an area in Bremen located along the Weser River that is popular for outdoor seating, nightlife, and an abundance of restaurants. In the morning, there are a few cafes open here, but it’s nice to walk the Schlachte at night to grab a drink and nice meal. Not sure if they are a part of the Schlachte, but there were a few cool historical looking ships docked in the area along the Weser River. See and Visit the Rathaus The Rathaus (Town Hall) in Bremen is one of Germany’s most beautiful. Because of it’s uniqueness and historical importance, the Town Hall was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. The Rathaus in Bremen was built around the early 1400’s and is a prime example of Brick Gothic architecture. Visitors can tour the inside of the Rathaus and learn more about its history and purpose. Unfortunately, we were unable to schedule a tour, but still enjoyed the building from the inside. View the Bremen Tourism website for more information on admission and times. The Bremen Rathaus is located at the Market Square. Many events, markets, and festivals are hosted here. The time we visited, there was a fest going on, so I could not get a decent photo from the front of the Rathaus. Visit Dom St Petri (Cathedral of St. Peter) Dom St Petri or Cathedral of St. Peter is a 1,200 year old cathedral in the heart of the city next to the Rathaus. The Cathedral of St. Peter is a beautiful architectural masterpiece both outside and on the inside. Entrance to the cathedral is free but visitors can pay a small fee to enter the southern tower. Walk the Schnoor area One of my favorite things to do in Bremen is to stroll the Schnoor area. The Schnoor is within walking distance from other attractions like the Rathaus and Cathedral of St. Peter. The Schnoor is a cute area of Bremen full of winding alley ways, some only a shoulder width in length. There are many shops and several restaurants tucked away in these small alley ways. Common Questions About Traveling to Bremen What is Special About Bremen, Germany?– Bremen is a huge city in northern Germany with enough attractions and sites to see for a full day if not more. The Bremen Town Hall is a UNESCO site, the huge dome is over 1,000 years old, and the Town Musicians of Bremen (Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten) is one of Germany’s most famous fairy tales, visitors can see the iconic statue. Is Bremen Worth Visiting? – Yes, Bremen is worth visiting. Based on my experience traveling in Bremen, I found this city to be very interesting with much left to explore. I think Bremen is the perfect city to stay overnight in. There are many attractions to see both during the day and at night. What Airlines Fly to Bremen, Germany? – Bremen does have an airport. Bremen Airport has access to other major airports throughout Germany and other destinations in Europe. Major airlines that fly to Bremen include Lufthansa, Ryanair, and KLM. Is Bremen Safe? – In general, Bremen is a safe city for its size. That being said, always use common sense and be aware of your surroundings. Petty and violent crimes to exist, but it is not frequent. What Region and State is Bremen in?– Bremen is located in northern Germany. The state is Bremen, technically called the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen or Stadtgemeinde Bremen in German. Conclusion For a day trip or multi day trip to Bremen, there are plenty of activities and attractions to enjoy and experience. From taking a photo at the famous Town Musicians of Bremen statue to catching a festival, there is something for everyone in this less traveled German city. Whether you are trying to visit UNESCO sites or interested in art, culture, and history, Bremen offers it all. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a Beck’s! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

10 Things I Love About Germany
Germany will always be home to me. I was born here, lived here, have family that still resides here and have made friends for life here. I try and visit at least once every other year and always feel at home when visiting. I would be a little biased to say Germany is my favorite country, but I would like to think that people traveling to Germany from other countries would think the same. I mean Germany is a beautiful and diverse country with towering mountains in southern Bavaria to ocean coastlines in the North and East Sea. Throughout Germany, you can find castles, palaces, fairytale like cities and even modern cities, basically it offers something for everyone. I love Germany for many reasons and have listed some of my favorites that come to mind when traveling around Germany. This list includes 10 things I love about Germany! Autobahn I’ve never actually driven myself on the autobahn. But I’ve zipped around on the autobahn all throughout Germany with friends and family. For those that don’t know, the autobahn is a highway network throughout Germany, known for not mandating speed limits, basically you can drive as slow and as fast as you would like. You would think the autobahn would be full of sports cars racing 200 km an hour. Is that true? Eh, sometimes but most of the time it is full of huge semi trucks and vacationers driving at reasonable speeds. The autobahn is not as exciting as foreigners think but I still love it. I love it because it drives through the beautiful country of Germany. I love how easy and stress free the autobahn is, once you are on it, there are rarely stops or slow downs, obviously unless you hit traffic or need to exit. But you could get on the autobahn near Würzburg and be in München (Munich) in a few hours. Occasionally, you will see cars max out their speed limit and zip right by, that is exciting. One time near Frankfurt, I saw a Porsche and BMW racing in between cars and the whole time the BMW was right behind the Porsche. Bier/Beer I feel like Germany and beer just go together like salt and pepper. I believe one of the top things that pops into people’s minds when they think of Germany is the German beer, and for good reason. In Germany, you won’t find the variety or styles as you would in America, but what they do have the Germans have perfected. I mentioned this in my beer post, but many breweries around Germany still practice the Reinheitsgebote or “German Purity Law,” which basically states that only a few simple ingredients (grains, hops, water, and yeast) can be used to brew beer. The Beer flows like water in Germany, almost anywhere you go, one can find a real good solid beer. I generally like hefeweizen’s or wheat beer or some of the darker styles. During the hot summer months, I enjoying sipping on a radler which is a drink mixed with beer and lemondade, it is highly refreshing. Beer pairs well with the German diet as well. In München it is nice to enjoy a hefeweizen with a weisswürst before noon or drink a dark ale with a salty pretzel. The Germans love their beer, and I can’t think of a better evening then spending time with friends and family in a biergarten enjoying one’s company while enjoying a great German beer. Castles The castles scattered around Germany are probably what excites me more then anything. I love all types of castles from the beautiful ornate palaces to the ruins resting on a hillside. As a kid, my dad and myself used to hike hills throughout Germany trying to find ruins and would bring our metal detector along. I don’t think we ever found anything but it was a great way to get out and explore. A quick internet search shows that there are over 20,000 castles in Germany. Although most of them are small or ruins there are several castles in Germany that are very famous. Let’s look at the famous castles of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Everyone knows of or has seen photos of Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairytale castle perched on a hill. His other castles are Linderhof (my favorite), Herrenchiemsee, Nymphenburg Palace and Hohenschwangau Castle are also associated with King Ludwig II. These castles are all beautiful in their own way and well worth visiting. I am more interested in some of the medieval castles around Germany like the famous Burg Eltz or Wartburg (Martin Luther was here and translated the the New Testament into German). Some of my other favorite castles around Germany are the Marienburg (Würzburg), Nuremburg Castle (Nuremburg), Veste Coburg (Coburg), Mespelbrunn Castle (Mespelbrunn), and of course all the castles that rest along the Rhine River. Fests Germany does fests right. I’ve been to numerous fests throughout Germany. Oddly enough, I’ve yet to go to Oktoberfest in München. One thing I hate about the United States is their fairs and fests, it’s an excuse for them to sell cheap food at a ridiculous high cost. German fests are the exact opposite. Here you can find delicious food at very low costs, like a Euro or two for a bratwurst or a couple Euros for a fantastic beer. Germans know how to have a good time and it is reflected in their fests. My favorite fests in Germany have to be stadtfest or local town festivals. Basically the whole town gets together and celebrates. There are food and drink stalls everywhere with bier gardens throughout the ground and live bands. The stadtfest I usually attend in Bad Brückenau is always such a fun time. The food at these fests is always amazing, not only can you find bratwurst but you will also find steak sandwiches, schweinehaxe, kebabs, fish, and other local goods. I am always curious how many kegs these fests go through because all day long their are lines at the beer stalls and people are drinking and celebrating for hours and hours. For anyone going to Germany, I highly recommend finding fests as they are so much fun and quite a local experience. Food Germany is well known for their food. In my favorite food post, several of my favorites come from Germany to include the Döner Kebab and Schweinehaxe. If you like meat, then Germany is a great place for you because it’s everywhere and they do it well. Who doesn’t love a bratwurst on a hard brötchen or warm leberkase sandwich from the metzgerei. My opa (grandpa) was the best cook, growing up we always ate traditional meals around lunch time and I always remember how extensive our meals were with great meat, salads, side dishes, and desserts. In Germany, we used to eat a full meal around lunch time and have brotzeit in the evening. Brotzeit was just a small meal which usually consisted of a few cold cuts and bread, these food memories at my grandparents house will always stick with me. Some of my other favorites are Spaetzle which is basically an egg noodle. Spaetzle comes in a wide variety but I prefer kase spaetzle (cheese spaetzle). I love German potatoe salad, and every German has their own recipe. My mom’s is still my favorite! Beyond the basics, there are other German foods that I love to include cheese pretzels from street vendors, Weisswursts in München, fish sandwiches from the Nordsee restaurant chain, and of course all the delicious pastries that can be found in bakeries throughout Germany. Ice Cream Typically, people don’t really think of Germany as being an ice cream destination, but I can assure you it is. To this day, I believe Germany has some of the best ice cream out of all the other countries I’ve visited. You can find ice cream shops all throughout Germany. You can find your typical shop selling ice cream by the scoop but most notably, Germany has ice cream shops, where you can sit down and enjoy intricate and delicious ice cream creations. These sit down ice cream shops have menus where they have premade bowls of ice cream with various flavors and toppings. I’m talking rich gelato ice cream with whipped cream, fruits, chocolate, you name it. Some of my favorites are the After Eight, which usually consists of mint ice cream, mint chocolate, and alcohol. Oh yes, many of these ice cream creations do include a splash of alcohol for flavoring. The most notable and probably my favorite is the famous spaghettieis. It’s a dessert made to look like real spaghetti. The traditional one consists of vanilla ice cream on top of whipped cream, strawberry sauce, and coconut shavings made to look like grated parmesan. Every time I go to Germany, I have to at least get one spaghettieis. Restaurants There seems to be a common theme here and it’s food related. First food, then ice cream, and now restaurants? I guess, I really love the food scene in Germany and that includes the lovely cozy restaurants that can be found throughout the country. I especially love the small town local restaurants which seem to be everywhere. Generally, they are smaller in size with cute and traditional decorations, and the hosts are usually dressed very nicely or in traditional outfits especially in Bavaria. You won’t find televisions in these restaurants thank god and it takes time for the food to come out as it is usually cooked fresh and from scratch. Food wise, I won’t really say any specifics as this varies from region to region and I’ve had great food all around Germany in every restaurant I’ve been to. Usually portions are big and also super satisfying. One of my favorites about German restaurants is the check out process. The waiteress comes to your table with a large wallet and you pay right there usually in cash. For tipping, it’s not risiculuos like in the States, you generally round up a bit to make it easier on everyone. For example, if your meal comes out to 27 Euros, just tell the waitress to make it 30 and everyone will be happy! Small Towns A lot of the charm and culture that comes from Germany comes out of the small towns. Generally if you see photos of towns in Germany either in the Bavarian Alps or tucked away in a farming community it is of these small towns that get little tourists. There are towns like Rothenburg or Oberammergau that see their fair share of tourists but nothing like the crowds that München or Berlin see and I love it. I even love walking through German dorf’s or villages in the country side. Usually they don’t have any major attractions, but they will have a small church and beautiful old style homes and farms. You can see great examples of fachwerk or timber framing in the older homes in some of these smaller dorfs. I lived in a smaller town outside Würzburg named Giebelstadt. It had everything necessary, it had grocery stores, restaurants, a local bakery, metzgerei (butcher), and even had two castles. Many of the smaller towns even host their own festivals which are usually a blast. My recommendation is to visit all the major cities like München or Hamburg, but venture out into the country a bit and walk around some of Germany’s smaller towns. Soccer I don’t really pay to much attention to soccer outside of the Euro and World Cups. When the time comes, I always root for Germany, I am also a Bayern München fan when it comes to clubs. Soccer or Fussball as it is called in Germany and most parts of the world is almost a religion in Germany, the Germans love their fussball. But when the Euro or World Cup come around, it is a whole different ball game, believe me I’ve been in Germany during the summer

My Favorite and Most Surprising Beer Destinations
I would be lying if I said beer does not have any impact on my travels. Before I venture out to a new destination, I always check my Untappd app and do research on potential breweries and taprooms where I’ll be staying. I love finding places in town and trying local brews. When Jill and I travel, we are out all day on our feet walking 40,000 steps give or take. To break things up or at the end of the day we always find ourselves at a brewery and honestly it is usually a highlight of my day. There is something about the atmosphere of breweries/taprooms, the people there, and the excitement of trying new beers. Usually, if we walk by a local brewery we stop, it gives us a breather, chance to use the restroom and further plan the day, win-win for everybody!!! After visiting 32 countries and sampling beer from around the world, I found that beer styles and tastes are different from country to country, heck it’s different from state to state even town to town. There are some countries I go to mainly for the beer while other countries I might try a few brews just to log them into Untappd. On the other hand, some countries have completely blown me away with their beer scene. Let’s talk beer! I’ll rant on a bit of the little knowledge I have on beer and then share some of my favorite beer destinations! Beer has been brewed and enjoyed for thousands of years, there is even written history about it from the Ancient Egyptians (I wonder what their beer tasted like). Even before written records, archaeologists have found sites from Mesopotamia over 10,000 years old where they have found pieces of barley and bowls with fermented yeast and grains. Fast forward a bit and beer made its way all over Europe. As water was filthy during these periods, people resorted to drinking beer instead. Around the Middle Ages, beer became more then just a fermented drink. People began experimenting with this drink to offset the bitterness. They would add natural ingredients and spices to the brewing process to produce a more enjoyable drink. I read that around the 1100’s, monks would start adding hops to their recipes simply because it added a refreshing taste to the beer. Back then monasteries were the place to be if you enjoyed beer. Monks seemed to love brewing beer and almost every monastery had their own brewery. One historical beer event was when Germany established the Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law). In 1516, this law was created by the Duke of Bavaria, Wilhelm IV. In short, this law was created to ensure that only water, barley, and hops (yeast was unknown at the time), were used to brew beer. With the arrival of Europeans to the New World (The Americas), they to brought beer with them, and it has been loved all around the world to this day! Styles First things first, there are hundreds of styles of beer and it continues to grow as brewers are becoming more skilled, curious, and experimental. For now, I will stick to the more common styles that are widely found and enjoyed. For the most part, beers are generally lagers or ales and all beers will fall into one of these categories. Lager – The most popular style of beer with a light crisp taste. A lager is created using bottom fermenting yeasts at cooler temperatures. Some popular Lagers that everyone knows are of course Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, and Heineken. Ale – Ale’s are basically the opposite of a lager, they are made with top fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures. Popular styles of ale’s are IPA, Pale Ale’s, Stouts, and Belgian Quads. Pilsner – A type of lager, and named after Pilsen, a town in Czech Republic. Usually clear in beer terms with a thick head and the addition of hops. Pale Ale – Pale ales were first popular in the UK, when they used pale barley malts making a lighter colored beer. Today, a pale ale is an amber color with a fruity fresh taste. India Pale Ale (IPA) – One of my favorite styles, the IPA originated in the UK and is loaded with hops. In the late 1700’s ales were being shipped between the UK and India and adding more hops allowed the beer to survive the long voyage at sea. Today, IPA’s come in a variety of styles to include Double/Triple, West-Coast, and New England Style. Stout – We all know Guinness and it is a prime example of a stout. A stout is usually dark in color because of the roasted barley and dark malts and are known to have a smooth creamy taste. Belgian Double/Trippel/Quad – Another one of my favorites, these beers have a higher alcohol percentage and have a sweeter taste. These beers are Trappist ales, ales brewed by monks in Belgium for hundreds of years. Favorite and Most Surprising Beer destinations United States It’s a shame that the world still associates the USA with Budweiser and awful beer. This might have been the case 15 years ago, but in the last 10 years or so the craft beer scene has exploded! To be honest, most countries including most in Europe all have lagers that are similar to Budweiser and they love it, so no idea why they judge the beer in the US. This is no longer the case though and you can get an amazing beer in just about any town throughout the US. It’s hard to keep track of local breweries in cities because it seems every weekend a new one opens up. Normally, you can find breweries in industrial areas kind of tucked away which adds to the atmosphere. I feel when it comes to experimenting with flavors and trying new things, America is leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else. Every year a new style appears whether it be spicy beers, sours, hazy, etc. Some like the hazy style IPA’s I can definitely get behind and hope it sticks around. The USA is also home to many beer events but none is more popluar then the Great American Beer Festival that takes place in Denver, Colorado every year around the end of September and beginning of October. 3 days, 60,000 people, 4,000 beers, and 2,200 breweries. The concept is simple, walk in, grab a sample cup, and sip on as many beers as possible for 5 hours. It is a fantastic event and one of the best days of the year, something I always look forward to. The United States is home to many world famous breweries and here are some of my favorites I’ve been to. Boulevard Brewing Company – Kansas City, Missouri Stone Brewery – San Diego, California Ballast Point – San Diego, California New Belgium – Ft. Collins, Colorado Odell Brewing Company – Ft. Collins, Colorado Wicked Weed – Asheville, North Carolina Green Man Brewery – Asheville, North Carolina Tailgate Brewery – Nashville, Tennessee Germany I’ve been drinking German beer longer then any other place. Germany does not offer the variety that the US does, but what they have is done to perfection, they definitely focus of the quality of the beer. My favorite German beers are definitely a Heffeweizen, which is a wheat beer and a German Radler. A Radler meaning cyclist in German is a 50/50 mix of beer and lemonade and is incredibly refreshing. Another love of mine about German beer is the glassware. Each type of beer gets a specific type of glass and drinking beer out of a plastic cup is unheard of. The bier steins and Mass Krug are what Germany is most known for glass wise. The beer atmosphere in Germany cannot be beat. Most towns have small guest houses or restaurants with beautiful beer gardens sometimes overlooking giant cathedrals or castles. When I visit Germany, I spend most my time in Bavaria, here are some of my favorite Breweries. Kreuzberg Monastery – Bischofsheim an der Rhoen, Bavaria Schlenkerla – Bamber, Bavaria. Famous for their smoked beers. Hofbräuhaus – Munich, Bavaria Bayerische Lowenbrauerei – Passau, Bavaria Czech Republic I have been to the Czech Republic three times now. I don’t really know as much about their beer scene or culture like I do the US or Germany, but the times I’ve been here I ordered beers at restaurants and bars and liked what I drank. Their beers are similar to German Styles a lot of lagers and pilsners. I found the beer here to be very cheap, a few bucks for a pint if that. When going out to a restaurant in Prague and ordering a hardy dish, a good dark ale pairs very nicely with it. I found their beers pair nicely with food here more so then any other place. Cities like Prague are very medieval, so add that on to the whole experience. Drinking an ale or lager in the Old Town Square or overlooking Charles Bridge and Castle. One of my favorite meals here are the pop up food trucks in the Old Town Square. They have huge hunks of ham roasting over a fire, they cut a chunk off with some sauerkraut, order a beer and enjoy! There are some popular beers that have came from the Czech Republic. I would say Pilsner Urquell being the most famous. Pilsner Urquell is a brewery in the town of Pilsen that opened in 1842. According to sites, they were the first brewery in business to come up with a pale lager or pilsner. There is Budweiser Budvar, which I am still confused about since it is not related to the Budweiser we all know in the States. There have been legal battles over naming but when it comes down to it, they are two completely different breweries, brewing different beers with different backgrounds. Other beers from the Czech Republic that I enjoyed are Kozel Cerny/Dark, Primator Weizen, and the Master Altbier from Plzensky Prazdroj. Peru Peru, my most surprising beer destination. When I think of Central and South America, I think of light beers. You know, hot tropical locations, I need a refreshing light drink and not a dark stout or bitter. I stayed in Peru for about 2.5 weeks and spent about half that time in Lima, I had no idea they had a big craft beer scene. My first taste of craft beer here was in the historical center, I went to ChocoMuseo, a chocolate museum and they had beer in the freezer, a a Premium Triple from Cerverceria Nuevo Mundo, a Belgian Tripel, it was phenomenal. Right away, I knew I had to find the source (Nuevo Mundo). I did find a tap room from them near the Miraflores area and I ranked all their beers pretty high on my app. Wandering around Lima and Cusco as well, I found taprooms serving craft beer from all over Peru. I could go to a restaurant and order an IPA or Belgian, it was amazing. One of my favorite taprooms in all of Lima is called Mi Tercer Lugar Bar de Cervezas Artesanales. It seemed more like a cafe, serving cakes and pastries, but they also had a long list of craft beers to try and a cozy atmosphere. I came here twice just to relax after a long day and sample brews. Peru’s most popular beers are definitely, Cusquena from Union de Cervecerias Peru Backus y Johnston. Heck, you can even find Cusquena in the States. Cusquena is decent for a large Macro Brewery. I can’t wait to go back to Peru and explore their beer scene.

Würzburg, Germany: What to Do, See, and Eat
A city rich in history and culture, Würzburg, has always been a favorite city of mine in Germany. I lived here for three years and continue to come back time and time again. There is something about this city that makes me want to explore more. Würzburg has one of the most beautiful Residence’s in all of Europe, from here you can walk through the old district, cross the Old Main Bridge, and hike up to the Marienberg Fortress, a huge medieval castle perched on top of the hill overlooking all of Würzburg. Perhaps it’s the size of the city I love so much. With a population just a little over 126,000 it makes for the perfect sized city, not to overcrowded, yet big enough you will never get bored. Is drinking of interest to you? Perfect! Würzburg has a great brewery. Vineyards surround the city, so you know there is great wine to be found. Do you enjoy German food as much as I do? Würzburg all the good Bavarian food like Schweinehaxe, klöse suppe, bratwurst, on and on. I love Würzburg and it will always be among my favorite cities! **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Brief History of Würzburg Würzburg is known for the Residence, a UNESCO site and the Marienberg, the huge castle sitting on top a hill overlooking the city. Like most cities in Germany, Würzburg has a rich history that goes back over a thousand years. Where the Marienberg now stands, there was another castle there build by the Celts and then the Franks took over before the area became Christianized by missionaries from Ireland. One of Würzburg’s most popular Saints is St. Kilian. St. Kilian is well known throughout the city, there is a statue of him on the Old Main Brucke (bridge), there is the St. Kilian’s Abbey, and there is even a fest that takes place in Würzburg, known as Kiliani Fest. St. Kilian was an Irish bishop and apostle in Franconia. While on his way to Rome through Gaul territory, he stopped in Würzburg in hopes of converting the Duke here to Christianity who was a Pagan at the time. St. Kilian mentioned to the Duke that he violated his scripture by marrying the widow of his brother. She was not to happy about that and murdered St. Kilian. The Marienberg Fortress was built for the Prince Bishops, but over time, it became to small. One of the Prince Bishop’s had an idea and wanted to construct a second building something similar to Versailles. From here, the Residence was constructed. After years of war both the Fortress and Residence were continuously being rebuilt. The Prince Bishops reached their downfall after continuous war, Würzburg then became a member of Bavaria. Fast-Forward to WWII, Würzburg was almost completely destroyed, about 90% of the city was turned to rubble after bombing raids on March 16, 1945. Most cathedrals were destroyed as well as the Fortress and Residence. Thankfully, workers at the Residence had enough time to collect all the valuables and stash them in safe locations. Through photographs and descriptions, the city of Würzburg was able to rebuild itself after WWII. Like most cities in Germany, the cities were so well built according to historical records that you would never know they were almost entirely wiped out. The fortress still looks as if it is a thousand years old. Würzburg, Germany on a Map Würzburg lies in Lower Franconia in the state of Bavaria along the Main River. It is about a 1.5 hour car ride east of Frankfurt or 3 hours north of München (Munich). There is no real airport nearby, but they do have a great Hauptbahnhoff (main train station) 🚊. Things to Do and See in Würzburg There are countless things to do in Würzburg. Where do I start? If you only have 24 hours in Würzburg you have to check out the Residence (Residenz in German), Festung Marienberg (Würzburg Castle), churches, and wander around the city. But there is so much more to explore in Würzburg. Listed here are some of my favorite attractions and hidden gems in Würzburg. Don’t Miss the Käppele One hidden gem in Würzburg is the Käppele ⛪️. The Käppele can actually be seen almost anywhere you stand in Würzburg. It sits on a hill near the castle. I say hidden gem, because the entrance is difficult to find so most visitors will only enjoy it from a distance without actually visiting the Kappele itself. The Käppele is a very cute pilgrimage church. The inside is stunning as the interior is so decorative and unique. To get to the Käppele, Instead of going right after the bridge toward the fortress, you would turn left and pass a few residential areas before hiking up to the Käppele. On the way up there are several steps that zigzag past 14 stations of the cross that are represented by small chapels. From several viewpoints on the way to the Käppele there are gorgeous views of the Marienberg Fortress. Escape the City and go on a Nature Hike If you look at a map of Würzburg, there is a lot of nature surrounding the city🌳. There are vineyards on the outskirts of the city and many forested areas beyond that, not to mention you can walk along the Main river for hours on end. To really escape the city, just a few kilometers out are dense forests where you can hike for hours and hours. Last time we visited Germany back in October of 2022, my cousin took us to the Waldkugel (Natulehrpfad). We did a short hike, no more then an hour but the air was fresh and it felt great to discover something new, get some exercise, and enjoy nature. Exercise and Get Fresh Air Along the Main River The Main River flows directly through the city of Würzburg. Würzburg has done an incredible job at creating a path and parks along the river. The path is several kilometers long, even connecting to other smaller towns. Along the path and parks on the Main River, there are camp grounds, parks for children, exercise equipment, and even spots to get into the river for a nice swim. Jill and I usually end up walking about 2 kilometers along the trail every time from a bus station to downtown. It’s always an enjoyable walk and nice to see that many people use the trail. Get Lost in Würzburg’s Downtown Area When visiting Würzburg, I highly recommend knocking out the main attractions like the Residence and castle but some of my best discoveries of the city have been made simply by walking around random streets and alley ways. Würzburg is not a gridded city, there are roads and small streets branching in every direction. I’d recommend putting time aside and just walk, go inside some of the churches, sit down at some of the small hidden restaurants, you never know what you will find. Last time we were in Germany, we found a beautiful park with unique flowers and plants, we found an awesome German restaurant with an old timey theme, and found a great Döner Kebab place. Hike to Festung Marienberg and Enjoy the City Views Within walking distance from The Residence, is the Festung Marienberg (Marienberg Fortress or Würzburg Castle) 🏰. Upon entering Würzburg from the autobahn, you can’t help but notice the gigantic castle that sits on a hill overlooking the city. Like the Residence, the Marienberg Fortress is a symbol of Würzburg 🏰 and an important and historical landmark. On the current site where the Marienberg Fortress is today, there used to be an old Celtic Castle. In the 6th century the Franks dominated the area a placed a church at the current site. Over time, a castle was built around the church and expanded. Unfortunately, during WWII, the Würzburg Castle was almost entirely destroyed. The castle has been rebuilt since to the point you would still think it’s hundreds of years old. Today, the Marienberg Fortress is a popular tourist destination in Würzburg. Many visitors including myself choose to walk to the fortress from Würzburg’s altstadt. If parking at the Residence, you walk through town, cross the Old Main Bridge, and make your way up the hill to the entrance of the castle. For those that have difficulty walking or you’ve done this so many times already, conveniently there is a road and parking lot on the back side of the castle. If visiting the Würzburg Castle, I recommend walking the castle grounds, visit the castle gardens, and enjoy the views of Würzburg. Visitors can look inside the church and see the tombs of buried Saints and walk into the central tower. There are tours at specific times where you can go inside the well house. For more information on hours and prices for tours, I recommend viewing the Stadt Würzburg website. Sample Bavarian Food at the Markplatz Don’t forget to visit the Marktplatz or Market Square, right next to the beautiful Marienkapelle and City Library. There is always something going on, whether it be a wine festival, the Christmas Market, or just vendors selling local goods. I like to come here and just order a bratwurst 🌭 and beer 🍺 at one of the food stalls. Stroll the Gardens, Visit the Museum, and Admire the Würzburg Residence The Residence is probably the most notable building in all of Würzburg even more so then the prominent Würzburg castle. The Residence is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A giant parking space dominates the front of the Residence. It’s convenient and cheap to park here but I feel it takes a way a little bit of the beauty of the Residence itself. To make up for the parking lot, there are gorgeous gardens on one side and behind the Residence. These gardens change and are maintained throughout the year. Besides the beauty of the gardens, the best thing about the gardens is that they are entirely free to visit and walk around. Another free and highly recommended feature of the Residence in Würzburg is the Hofkirche der Residenz Würzburg (Court Church of the Residence). This is one of the most remarkable churches I’ve seen in Germany. The interior is elaborate with every inch of it covered in beautiful paintings, gold, and marble. If visiting Würzburg and the Residence, I highly recommend taking the tour to learn more about this magnificent building and learning more about the history of both the Residence and Würzburg. While attending the tour visitors learn a lot about the Prince-Bishops who called the Residence home, more about the city of Würzburg, and more on the destruction of the city during WWII. Thankfully, individuals working at the Residence during WWII were able to store most of the valuable artifacts and paintings. There were pictures of the building as well, so it was restored to its former glory after WWII ended. For more information on the Residence to include tour admission and hours, I recommend visiting the Residenz und Hofgarten Würzburg website. Facts about the Residence The Residence is huge and houses nearly 400 rooms. One of the most fascinating rooms is home to the Grand Baroque Staircase with a fascinating mural painting on the ceiling. The Residence was completed in 1744. During WWII, much of the Residence was destroyed. The central building remained, but other sections of the Residence to include the roofs were destroyed by fire. In 1981, The Residence was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Churches, there are Many to See Würzburg is considered to have the most churches of a city of its size ⛪️. I believe there are over 70, so I can’t continue

Danube River Cruise from Germany to Hungary
Embark on a journey through several countries in Europe with a Danube River Cruise from Germany to Hungary. Relax along the Danube River on a luxurious ship. Enjoy the rich history, gorgeous landscape, and cute towns while floating down the Danube River. Each day brings new discoveries from picturesque towns like Dürnstein and Melk to world class cities like Vienna and Budapest. A Danube River Cruise from Germany to Hungary will certainly be a trip of a lifetime for many and hold forever memories. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Welcome Aboard our Ship, the MS Amelia The MS Amelia is luxurious, a 5-Start resort floating above the water. As you enter the main entrance you are kindly greeted by professional staff. A chandelier hangs above the elegant staircase near the multi-level restaurant. Play Mini-Golf on deck, relax in the hot-tub or just lay down on a lawn chair as the MS Amelia takes you along the Danube River from Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. To this day, the Danube River Cruise remains one of our favorite trips, thanks to the MS Amelia and its staff. MS Amelia Statistics Length – 135 Meters Number of Passengers – 216 Number of Crew Members – 42 Number of Decks – 4 Length of Time on Board – 8 Days Meals per Day – 3, which includes a breakfast buffet, light lunch, and 4 course meal for dinner. Desserts and late night snacks were also included. For booking and finding River Cruises, we used Phoenix Reisen. The site is in German, but very easy to navigate and find great deals! Our Crew and how we Decided on a River Cruise My mom was the ultimate decider on the cruise. A river cruise (specifically a Danube River Cruise) has been her dream for many years. 2019 just so happened to be the year everything fell into place and my mom, Jill, myself, and several of my mom’s friends all agreed upon dates and made it happen! In total, there were 8 of us, and we all just had a remarkable time. My mom’s friend Heidi was phenomenal and planned/booked the trip for all of us. Jill and I, flew to Germany and met up with my mom who was already there. We had friends from Colorado meet us in Passau a day prior to the journey. So began our Danube River Cruise. The Route and Locations There are so many River Cruise companies and routes throughout Germany, making it difficult to select what route to take and where to visit. For starters, I think we all kind of wanted the popular Passau to Budapest cruise. After picking the cruise and number of days, the next step was to select a cruise company. Myself and many people in the U.S. are familiar with Viking River Cruises, but who wants to pay $10,000 on a trip when you can get the same experience for $1,000? That is right, $1,000 for an 8 day cruise, everything included. The ship that was ultimately decided upon was the MS Amelia. The cruise started in Passau, Germany and ended in Budapest, Hungary. I don’t think I would ever do a Caribbean Cruise, I can’t see myself at sea for days sitting there drinking, and watching people stuff their face at the buffet daily, not my style. I guess, if I got a free vacation on a cruise I would take it, but that is it! The River Cruise is much different, you are on a smaller ship, surrounded by scenic towns and nature the entire time not to mention you port somewhere daily. Below are the stops the MS Amelia made port at along our Danube River Cruise. The Danube River Cruise left port from Passau, then stopped in Durnstein, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, Melk, before returning to port in Passau, 8 days later. Passau, Germany Passau, Germany – The start and end to one of the most wonderful trips we’ve had. I’ve been to Passau before, at a much younger age, so I was very excited to get a chance to see this beautiful city once again. Passau is located in Southern Bavaria not far from the Austrian border. It is known as the “City of Three Rivers” because the Danube is met here by two smaller rivers, the Inn and Ilz. I find Passau to be the perfect size city, it is not a big city by any means nor is it small. It is a University City, so there are a lot of young people here as well as great restaurants and bars/breweries. Passau is very walkable and most the attractions are within the Altstadt (Old town) area. The St. Stephan’s Cathedral is a must, I believe it has the world’s largest musical organs, they have daily concerts, which visitors can attend. There is also a castle on top of the hill that is worth exploring. After working up an appetite, go to the Löwen Brauhaus for a local beer and traditional Bavarian Food! Dürnstein, Austria After leaving port from Passau, Germany the first stop along the Danube River Cruise was Dürnstein, Austria. Dürnstein was a lovely town and their claim to fame was Dürnstein Castle which sits atop a hill overlooking the town and river. We had around 8 hours to explore Dürnstein. If fit, I recommend hiking to the castle right away. Rumor has it that King Richard I of England was imprisoned here. The hike was not to difficult, the views are absolutely worth it. You can explore the ruins for a bit before coming back to town. While in town, there is a cute cathedral that stands out. Unfortunately, it is part of a museum and there is an entrance fee, well worth it though. Whatever time there is left, I recommend walking the side streets and try some Marillen. Marillen is a fruit that grows in the area and of course they make it into Schnapps! Dürnstein and the surrounding area is part of a UNESCO site, known as the Wachau Cultural Landscape. I wrote more on the area in my Top UNESCO World Heritage Site Post. Vienna, Austria Vienna, Austria, probably my favorite city in the world. I’ve been here twice and just fell in love with it the first time around. I was amazed by the massive baroque style buildings here, the cathedrals and palaces, not to mention to food is world class! Our ship arrived at port in Vienna at night, so we have an evening to explore and the entire following day. You have to see Vienna at night, it is just as beautiful as during the day. Vienna is a massive city with an amazing transportation system and is very bike/pedestrian friendly. Just walking around historical Vienna I am always fascinated by the Baroque Buildings and how massive they are. After exploring at night, the following day we did a hop on/hop off bus. I highly recommend hop on/off buses, especially if visiting Vienna for the first time. The tickets are good for two days and the bus stops at all the “must see” locations. Be warned, you won’t see everything! Start the day off at Schönbrunn Palace, it gets crowded! From the Palace you can check out the Belvedere Palace, Hofburg Palace, the Prater (Biggest Ferris Wheel in the world), or just get back to the Altstadt and explore by foot. I think Vienna deserves its own post, one day. I can’t write a quick post on Vienna without mentioning food. Of course, try the apfelstrudel. You can find this anywhere although the best I had was at the Café Restaurant Residenz, in Schönbrunn Palace. You can’t leave Vienna, without trying their famous Sacher Torte at the famous Hotel Sacher. The Sacher Torte kind of gets mixed reviews, many people think it’s overrated. I found it to be very good, not the best cake I’ve had, but I am glad I tried it. Budapest, Hungary You could say Budapest, Hungary was the main event, as it was the farthest point before turning around. We arrived at Budapest in the afternoon, and had until the following afternoon to explore. No one in my crew has been to Budapest so we definitely did the hop on/off right away. Budapest is a huge city and two days does not give it justice. Most people are probably aware of this, but in case you are unfamiliar with Budapest, it consists of two cities Buda and Pest. Eventually the two cities merged into one to form Budapest. Both sides are very different, each worth minimum a day to see. As a reference the Parliament is on the Pest side and the Fisherman’s Bastion inside Buda Castle is on the Buda side. Besides the Parliament, the Vajdahunyad Castle (replica of Hunyadi Castle in Romania) was probably my favorite site in Budapest. The Castle reminded me of something you would see in Romania, very Dracula like! The Hungarian Parliament in Budapest is one of, if not the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen. According to our tour, it is the third biggest Parliament in the world after the Palace of Westminster in London and the Palace of the Argentine National Congress in Buenos Aires. You can tour the inside but must either go very early when they open or make reservations. Luckily, I went in the morning and managed to squeeze in the second tour of the day. Budapest is also known for their food and drinks! I had to find goulash at some point and had my first bowl at a small pub on the Buda side. Goulash is a hardy stew paired perfectly with a local brew. Beer wise, I tried Soproni, Bocskai Freedom, Stari Sor, Dreher Sorgyarak and they were all pretty average, not as good as I was hoping. Lastly, I heard getting shit on by a bird is good luck! Um, well that was a first for me, just so happened to be in Budapest. Bright and early, on my way to the parliament, a pigeon pooped on my shoulder :(. Although I cleaned most of it off, I had to walk around Budapest all day feeling defeated. Bratislava, Slovakia Bratislava, Slovakia was one of the biggest surprises along the cruise. I was excited to visit but really had no idea what to expect. Bratislava gets tourism but it seems Budapest and Vienna get all the love. Bratislava has a huge castle overlooking the town and a very nice and manageable historic center. Honestly, I think one day is good enough here. I recommend walking to the castle, but no need to go inside as I’ve heard it’s pretty bland. The exterior is very unique, it is not a medieval castle anymore, in fact it looks quite modern. The castle architecture is pretty boxy but there are a few remnants of older castles built within the wall that are shown, making it pretty unique. Once going downtown, I recommend just walking around. Bratislava is easy to familiarize yourself with. Many of the small narrow alley ways have restaurants and bars. There is an ice cream chain here called Arthur Ice Cream, they had some of the best I’ve ever had. Another recommendation I have is the Underground Tea Room. I am not a huge tea drinker, Jill is, but this place was well worth a visit. It is located in an old bomb shelter and the rooms are separated each having their own theme. I would love to come back to Bratislava to try some more cuisine and do some day trips. Melk, Austria Melk, Austria was the last stop before reaching Passau. Prior to our trip, I’ve never heard of Melk but now I

My Favorite Food From Around the World!
Food is a major contributing factor as to why I travel. Food is regional and differs from state to state, country to country. In my lifetime of travel, I’ve never really had a bad food experience abroad. Sure some cuisines I like more then others, but sampling food excites me no matter where I am. I’ve been to some surprising locations, like Lima, Peru that had some of the most flavorful and authentic dishes. Other places like Guatemala where the food was not as exciting, but still can’t go wrong with basic tortillas, beans, and a side of meat. Regardless of the location, I do my research prior to visiting a country so I don’t miss out of any of the must eats! I love food, and trying new things, so I want to share some of my favorite dishes from around the World. Burek – Bosnia & Herzegovina I’ve never heard of a Burek before my trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sure, I’ve had similar baked goods but the Burek might be my favorite savory pastry. A Burek is basically a flaky pastry filled with ingredients like meats, cheese, and/or vegetables. It is usually rolled up in a spiral or cooked in a large pan and cut into pieces for serving Jill and I took a day trip to Mostar, Bosnia from Split, Croatia and our tour guide stopped along the route and surprised us with a sampling of two types of Burek’s. One was filled with meat and the other with cheese, they were both phenomenal. This was our first encounter with Burek, so we instantly knew we had to find a bakery in Mostar that served fresh Burek. We did find Burek at a local bakery and it was ridiculously cheap, less then a dollar and oh so good! Cracked Conch – The Bahamas Conch, my favorite snail of the sea! They are found throughout the Caribbean, but the Bahamas in particular is known for them. In fact, many countries have Conch seasons, but not the Bahamas, you can eat them all year long. For being a Mollusk they are very cute and their shell is beautiful. There are many different recipes and styles to prepare the conch. You can have Conch Fritters as a snack, fresh conch salad, and cracked conch, which was my favorite. I ordered cracked conch at every restaurant I went to in both Nassau and Exuma. I know not very healthy, but oh so tasty! I mean conch is hard to come by in Kansas. Cracked Conch is a meal in itself where they take the conch meat and tenderize it, coat it in batter and fry it to perfection! In the end you get fried little conch pieces generally served with fries, beans, or some type of slaw. Most restaurants in the Bahamas have outdoor seating, so eating fresh seafood while starring at the waves in the picturesque setting of the Bahamas is Paradise! Döner Kebab – Germany Oh, the Döner Kebab. I literally have day dreams about it. It seems like such an easy creation, yet does not exist in the United States. It can be found in Europe, particularly Germany, on every street corner. The Döner Kebab is filling, flavorful, and just down right mouth watering. The closest thing to a Döner Kebab is a Gyros, but trust me, no comparison, the Döner is 100x better. The Döner is a German creation created my Turkish immigrants. It seems like many food creations start this way. You bring a traditional dish to a new area and realize everyone is on the go, so you wrap up the ingredients in a type of bread and Walla! you have a tasty meal on the go! So yes, the Döner was invented in Germany. So what is a Döner Kebab? The meat is layered and seasoned on a rotating spit, that way it gets evenly cooked. It is then shave off the spit and added to somewhat of a pita bread layered with cabbage, onion, tomato, and smothered in a white garlic sauce. Such a simple and quick meal and relatively cheap for the size of the kebab. The Döner Kebab dominates the late night and fast food industry in Europe, kind of like a fast food burger joint in the States. People, including myself crave these after a late night out, or after swimming, hiking, watching tv, you get the idea, I crave them 24/7. It’s weird, I love Döner so much, I have Döner stories, but that is a whole other topic! I absolutely love the Döner Kebab and lets be honest, I love most German Dishes. But I don’t want to make this post all about German food. Instead, if you want to learn more about popular German dishes or love them as much as I do then check out these 16 mouthwatering foods that are a must try. Fried Seafood – Lima, Peru and New Orleans, USA A mound of fried seafood on a plate might just be my favorite all time meal! I’ve had fried seafood in several states and countries but two places really stand out to me of having the best. The cities of New Orleans, LA and Lima, Peru. One city is in the northern hemisphere on the continent of North America while another cities lies in the southern hemisphere in South America. One thing they each have in common is their proximity to the ocean and fresh seafood. In New Orleans, you can order a mix of seafood and you will generally get crawdad tails, crab, and a variety of shrimp and fish. I am not entirely sure about the mariscos (seafood) platters in Lima, my best guess is a mixture of fish, shrimp, and clams. For sides in NOLA the seafood will usually come with slaw and fries. The mariscos platters I had came with yuca fries. Yuca is starchy like a potato, but it is a root and so delicious! The seafood platter in Lima is about a third of the cost as in the States. I paid anywhere from $7 to $12 for a gigantic portion along with a pisco sour! In the states you are looking anywhere from $15 to well over $30 for a platter of fried seafood. Price is not really an issue to me when it comes to seafood. Living in Kansas I am deprived from great/fresh seafood. Lomo Saltado – Lima, Peru Both Jill and I have never heard of Lomo Saltado and had no idea it was a staple in Peru even after doing research beforehand. After a day of traveling, we went to the nearest restaurant we could find near the Historic Center of Lima. The restaurant was named Tanta and we asked the waiter a recommendation and he referred us to Lomo Saltado. Lomo Saltado is pretty basic and some sort of dish is found throughout the world, but it was so good! The dishes we had were stir fried strips of steak mixed with onion, peppers, tomatoes usually served over rice or fries. The food in Lima is multi-cultural with a lot of Asian influences regarding rice and spices. Lomo Saltado comes in different varieties based on traditional Peruvian spices or Asian spices, or a mixture of the two. You get your veggies and protein all in one flavorful dish! Mofongo – Puerto Rico Mofongo is another dish we randomly stumbled upon while asking for local recommendations. We both love plantains in all variations. Mofongo is probably my favorite dish that consists of plantain. Basically, Mofongo is mashed plantain that is used as a base with a combination of chicken, pork, seafood, or any type of meat or anything you want really! I had mofongo at several restaurants and it is served in various forms whether it be as a side dish or crusted on the inside of a soup bowl, which happened to be my favorite. Poutine – Montreal, Canada Poutine is the weirdest name for a food item. I read that the names origin is not exactly known but possibly derived from the English word for pudding. What is poutine exactly? Well, it’s definitely not the healthiest dish. Canadians need a hearty meal to get through the brutal winters. Poutine is a Canadian dish that consists of french fries smothered in gravy and topped with cheese curds. I like the squeaky-ness of the curds, they have a fun texture! Poutine to me sounds like a great hangover cure. In fact restaurants in Canada don’t just have poutine listed on the menu as an appetizer. You can find restaurants that specialize in different variations of poutine. My first dish in Montreal was poutine served with pulled pork! They must have had at least 15 other combinations of poutine available. I wish poutine was more popular in the states, maybe it is in the northern US, but not where live. Schweinhaxe – Germany Picture a caveman with a huge hunk of meat and the bone is protruding out. That is the image I see when I think of a Schweinhaxe. These are a delicacy in Germany, at least in Bavaria and can be found on most menus. Beware! Come Hungry! The Schweinhaxe is basically a ham hock or pork knuckle where the meat is left on the bone. The Bavarian style is super crispy and slightly salted on the outside and beyond tender on the inside, usually served with gravy and knödels (knödels are dumplings typically made from flour, bread, or potatoes). The meat is so tender and flavorful it just falls off the bone. Schweinhaxe is one of my favorite cuts of meat served at restaurants especially when paired with a dark German bier! Torta, Mexico City Mexico City is a food mecca with everything imaginable. I would say traditional Mexican food is far different then Tex-Mex, I mean Burritos aren’t even widely served throughout Mexico. Tacos with a hard shell loaded with lettuce, onions and cheese don’t exist in Mexico, weird right? A traditional taco in Mexico consists of a smaller corn tortilla, with just meat and pico de gallo or something similiar. But I am not here to talk tacos or other dishes. My favorite food in Mexico City was the torta! In fact, we had a torta for the first time on our last night, it was so good we went to another restaurant to try one. While walking around Mexico City, we noticed a lot of restaurants with a spit out front with meat, similar to the Döner Kebab. The spit had a pineapple, onion, or orange on top allowing the juices to run down the meat, this is known as Al Pastor deriving from Lebanese immigrants. I was honestly surprised I walked by so many and didn’t stop to try until the last day. As I sat down at a restaurant, I wanted to try something new, I had a torta with al pastor. To me, a torta reminds me of a combination of a taco and sandwich, basically you have the taco fillings between two buns. The bread was fluffy and the fillings were phenomenal. Our tortas consisted of al pastor, beans, guacamole, and a variety of veggies. Now I know, next time I am in Mexico, I will live off of Street Tacos and Torta’s! Zapiekanka – Krakow, Poland Zapiekanka, or as I call it a Polish Baguette. Is a popular street/fast food item in Poland. I only spent a day in Krakow, but saw these all over the place. I don’t really know much about Zapiekanka or its origins but they make for a great quick bite to eat while on the go. Basically the Polish baguette is a baguette or some type of bread, with sauce, toppings and melted cheese. The toppings vary as you can decorate your own, I had one with mushrooms and prosciutto, such a delight! I love the zapiekanka so much, I make them at home all the

Die Rhön, Deutschland – Nature and Villages
Die Rhön is a vast area of low mountains located in the central region of Germany. The mountains here are a result of volcanic activity, although no active volcanoes remain today, the hills are remnants of old volcanoes. Die Rhön is a fairly large area and can be found where the three German States of Bavaria, Hesse, and Thuringia meet. The Wasserkuppe is the highest point in Die Rhön at 950 meters. Not only is Die Rhön popular for its hills and volcanic landscape, but there are beautiful meadows, large forests, and even marshes. Because of the unique landscape, Die Rhön was listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1991. This area is popular amongst locals for its tremendous hiking trails, hütten (huts), and many other activities. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Why Visit Die Rhön, Deutschland? Simple, Die Rhön is just beautiful! The area is full of nature and small German villages. People come to this area to enjoy nature and hiking. There are several areas in Die Rhön to include the Wasserkuppe, Kreuzberg, and Schwarzes Moore to name a few. Most of these areas have trails that are anywhere from a few kilometers to several days of hiking. Many of the hikes you can go to the Guesthouses where you can find a traditional German meal and a good German Bier! Germans enjoy hiking as a past time and Die Rhön in my opinion, offers some of the most scenic trails around. Interested in learning more about Die Rhön then check out their official site at rhoen.de Popular Hiking and Sightseeing Destinations Die Rhön is a vast area. Many travelers who come here for only a day or two might have trouble figuring out where to start or which area to discover. Do you want to go for a days hike or simply sit down at one of the guesthouses and enjoy a beer? The places listed below are some of the recommended sites and attractions that I revisit time and time again and absolutely love. Kreuzberg Kreuzberg is one of my favorite places not just in Die Rhön, but all of Germany! Not far from Wildflecken, you can drive or bike to the Kloster (monastery) and Church. The church has been active since 1681 by the Franciscans. In my opinion, Kreuzberg gets its fame because of their Kloster Bier! The bier (German spelling) has been brewed at the same spot since 1731. Honestly, it is some of the best and strongest bier I’ve ever had. Picture this, you order a bier in a ,5L or 1L stein, sit among the monastery, and watch monks with huge St. Bernard’s walk by, meanwhile you are enjoying a bratwurst or Schweinhaxe (my favorite) sitting next to friendly Germans! There is so much more to Kreuzberg then just enjoying their Kloster Bier. Afterwards or beforehand you can hike the miles upon miles of rolling hills here. You can walk to the Neustädter Haus for lunch, or walk the stairs to the Drei Golgota Kreuze or Three Crosses. Wasserkuppe Wasserkuppe lies in my home-state of Hesse and is the tallest mountain in Die Rhön. One of the most noticeable attractions here is the gliders. You can see them all lined up on the runway, being set for take off, and flying around. Paragliding is pretty popular around here as well. One other thing that is hard to miss is the big radar dome that was left standing by the Air Force. Out of all the places to visit, Wasserkuppe has the most activities for both the young and adults. Other fun activities at Wasserkuppe include a climbing forest, which is like an obstacle course, and my favorite Rodelbahn, or Rhönbob in the area. Rodelbahn is German for Alpine Sledding. There are two different courses here, I recommend doing both as they are different, but so much fun! Wasserkuppe is also known as a great place for hiking and mountain biking! Schwarzes Moor The Schwarzes Moor or Black Moor, is another destination recommended by me in Die Rhön. The Schwarzes Moor is mainly a hiking destination. The name is derived from the fauna that grows in the area, when dense it looks rather “blackish.” Hiking here is quite nice, there is a wooden board walk covering the entire trail, which makes walking easy and protects the delicate ecosystem. All together the hike is about 2.2 km round trip. After walking the Moor, there is some interesting historical sites to check out. There are remnants of a border from The German Democratic Republic (GDR). There is a watch tower and wall still standing. Near the entrance to the Moor is a stone gate from the Reich Labor Service (RAD). After exploring the Moor and the historical sites, there is a small café here where you can get a Bionade which is a fermented organic drink from the area, Thuringian Bratwurst, and a slice of cake! Sandberg Another destination in Die Rhön, Deutschland that offers endless hiking is Sandberg. I’ve been here often to hike with my oma (grandma) and usually the goal is to start early and make our way to the Kissinger Hütte for lunch. Along the route you hike through pine forests and open meadows before getting to the hütte. After hiking several kilometers meals and bier are necessary. The Kissinger Hütte offers great traditional cuisine like kase spaetzle, bratwürste and currywürste with pommes (fries), don’t forget to wash the food down with a refreshing radler or bier aus dem fass (from the tap). After lunch, explore the top of the hill, you get a great 360 degree view of the area and surrounding mountains. You can either back track the same route or try a different trail to see where you end up! Towns in Die Rhön Not only is Die Rhön a great place to unwind and enjoy nature. There are also many beautiful small towns scattered throughout the area that are worth exploring. Many of these towns have a few attractions, pretty downtown area, and restaurants. Here are a few of my favorite towns in Die Rhön. Bad Brückenau Bad Brückenau is a beautiful spa town located in Die Rhön. Not a whole lot of people visit or even know about Bad Brückenau. My oma, aunt, and several friends live here, so I’ve been traveling to this region since I was born and still go back every other year. Bad Brückenau will always hold a special place in my heart. For visitors, Bad Brückenau has a lot to offer. When driving by the town the most notable feature is the beige/orange colored church surrounded by beautiful hills. Bad Brückenau has a town square surrounded by traditional Bavarian houses and buildings. Restaurants and shops can be found throughout the town square. There is a phenomenal swimming pool called Sinnflut that I’ve spent countless summers days here. Bad Brückenau has an amazing stadtfest (town fest), usually held in June where the whole town gets together to celebrate their city and enjoy themselves. Stadtsbad Stadtsbad is a part of Bad Brückenau but is a ways from town. Stadtsbad is a place for locals and tourists alike to visit, relax, and enjoy a slower pace of life. Stadtsbad is rich in history, King Ludwig I spent a lot of time here to escape the crowded city life of Munich. There is a large tree here in Stadtsbad that is said to be a thousand years old and King Ludwig I used to rest under its shade. Today, visitors can slowly walk the trails within the park, attend a concert, participate in health and wellness treatments, or sample their world-famous mineral water. Bad Kissingen Another spa town in Die Rhön, Bad Kissingen is the largest city in the area. Bad Kissingen has a rich history, even Kings and Emperors have stayed here to relax in the spas. Now, you don’t have to be either a King nor an Emperor to enjoy Bad Kissingen. Every time I come here in the summer, I am reminded of a tropical paradise. The river is lined with palm trees, flowers are decoratively planted throughout the town, there are fountains, and beautiful historical buildings. After relaxing in the park, stroll through the old town, sit at a café and enjoy an ice cream. Fladungen Fladungen is a small dorf (village) located in the Bavarian side of Die Rhön. Fladungen is a cute little village that is well worth a visit. The most notable attraction here is the Freiland Museum (open-air museum). After visiting the museum, stroll the village and view the medieval wall, the old mill, and grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? 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