Life, Thoughts, Travels

If nothing else, this year has taught me that "plans" mean nothing.  I planned so many exciting things for my 40th birth year and then....I broke my leg.  Cancelled beach trip, cancelled Scotland Hiking Trip, cancelled work travel etc etc.  That may seem sad, but so many great things came out of it.  I learned how to survive without driving, thanks to friends and the internet.  My job was gracious enough to let me work from home.  I never once wanted for anything or to get out of the house as I had so many great people around to help me.  I believe I even grew closer to many people that I might not ordinarily had.  But as for the last handful of years, I had already planned a trip for my birthday.  NO way, I was letting that go.  I rehabbed hard as much as I could and I thought I was ready.  But I was still worried and though I had the first 3 or 4 days planned, I couldn't figure out where I wanted to be on my actual birthday a...

Today was mostly travel.  Up early, cab to Nurmeberg HBF, train to Brussels.  I slept most of the way. Once here, I got to my AirBnB with a lot of trouble and asking for directions.  It's so hot here!! I finally made it, dropped off my bags etc.  I was honestly quite discouraged and ready to call Delta and fly home soon (after Ireland of course).  But I finally got things situated and went for a walk. OMG - I feel like I am in beer Heaven.  The first bar I went to, I felt like I would never leave.  I started the day with a Kwak - felt right, and then moved on to Delirium.  I MAY NEVER LEAVE. Now, I am hanging in my hot Airbnb with some Lindemans sour and washing come clothes for the rest of the trip. My how beer turns a challenging day into an amazing one. Tomorrow, Ghent!!

After a couple hour drive, we arrived in Nuremburg.  What a cool town.  We had no plan so we parked at my hotel (the rest of the peeps were heading to Prague) and started to explore. First, a Biergarden at the bottom of the Castle, a tour of the Nuremburg Castle and a lot of churches. This is were my leave my peeps, they are heading off to Prague and I am staying the night and headed to Brussels tomorrow. We part ways! I spent a bit of time in the hotel icing up the leg but then headed out for some great beer bars and Schnitzel. Called it an early night, watched "Like my Dad" Netflix movie in my hotel room and went to bed early 

The last full day in Munich, we woke up to have a Munich Beer breakfast - basically sausage and beer. Unfortunately, the bees had other plans and generally made us all grumpy.  But we finished our food and beers and then proceeded to visit other items.  Unfortunately google maps failed us and when I agreed to visit a place 1/2 mile a way, it was really more like 2 miles a way and my leg simply gave out.  In tears, I told my friends to keep going and just sat down in a park on the grass.  It was ok though, after some rest I decided to find a restaurant and found a Vietnamese street food place around the corner with great food and a mai tai.   When life gives you lemons, make a mai tai - or something like that. It had been 3 days in a row of 16k+ steps each day. However, we met back up, took the train and proceeded for more beer drinking and dinner. We hit the best beer garden near the market and even met and chatted with some other Americans from...

After Dachau we headed to Munich City Center.  I will be honest, the side of town we stayed in, left much to be desired.  The rest of the peeps were at the Courtyard while I stayed down the street at the Conrad hotel Ville de Munchen.  Honestly, it was a fantastic hotel with great breakfast and friendly people. After arriving, we hit the ground running toward our first Biergarten.  Luckily, some friends I met in Ireland once, who live in Germany also met us out.  It was a great night.  Beer, the Market for some Schnapps, more beer, dinners full of meat etc.  We stayed up until 11:30pm which when you fly overnight is the ideal.   Great night and then bed. Day 2 we woke early and left Munich for Neuschwanstein Castle.  I have come to love visiting Castles over the last few years visiting Europe and this one did not disappoint.  We had to take a carriage up the hill due to my leg, but I think it was quite enjoyable and everyone...

So Days 1-3.5 are with the Charleston's and Mason.  Alex turns 50 on the 19th so he was dying to go to Prague.  They found a cheap trip from Nashville via KLM to Munich, so I decided to join. I flew directly from Atlanta to Munich and met then in the Munich airport.  The leg held up alright, I slept well on the plane and was ready to hit the ground running. The peeps were waiting for me at the rental car counter (sorry guys) and then we were on our way. Side note - April and Alex took such great care of me during the months I couldn't drive, I hated that they were waiting but it was so nice to spend this part of the trip with them. We took off from the Airport to Dachau.  Wow, what an experience.  Most of you probably know that I have studied a lot of WWII and I know a lot of the history but seeing this concentration camp in person was mind blowing. There are barracks where it was meant to house 200 people, that wound up housing 2000 people and when y...

Well, I see it's been since October since I have last posted....as if you don't know, let me catch you up. I broke my leg on April 1, skiing at Alta, Utah.  I was alone, as is typical of my travels but luckily my friends were coming in on April 1.  So, on April fools day, I broke my leg.  I then had Surgery in Utah on April 3rd.  What craziness. Now, I could write the world about how that has permanently changed my life but let's talk about how it's changed my travels, since that's why I started this blog.  Weeks later, I had a simple trip with my "Bro: Jeremy, Jen and my Nephew Conor to Florida.  Easy get away with family for a few days.....CANCELLED. Well, then in May I had a 7 day trip to Scotland planned....CANCELLED - still couldn't even walk. So in late June I was given the go to start putting weight on my leg, I then at least made a trip to Brighton Michigan which has become one of my favorite trips to the Lake Chemung Fire Works show for ...