Stories from my life and travels as an American immigrant in Germany!

Quedlinburg, Germany: Hilltop Castles & Cheesecake

Quedlinburg street

Full disclosure, Quedlinburg only has one castle on a hill (that I know of). So, the title is kind of a lie. The singular form just didn’t sound as nice, OK? And, no, I can’t explain why; it’s not like a have a degree in linguistics or something. Just a lousy English degree. Moving on. Quedlinburg is a single-castle town…Continue Reading

Hiking in the Lüneburger Heide

lüneburger heide

Lüneburg, Germany is best known for its fields of heath, which bloom from early August to mid-September. Heath, which is called Heide in German, is a big tourism draw for the city. Not only can visitors enjoy numerous hiking trails, they can also buy heath-infused products like liquor and soap. Earlier this month, my husband and I hiked two trails…Continue Reading

Hiking up the Brocken in Winter

The Brocken is the highest peak of the Harz mountain range in Germany. It’s also the highest peak in Northern Germany, at 1,141 meters. This, of course, pales in comparison to the 2,962 meters of the Zugspitze in Bavaria…but who’s comparing? You can easily climb to the Brocken in a few hours, making it perfect for a day trip; especially for us,…Continue Reading

No Kangaroos in Austria: My Visit to Vienna

Mozart statue Vienna

I’ve recently returned from an amazing two-week stay in Vienna, Austria. I was there for the Goethe Institute’s 2-week language and culture course. We spent about 4 hours learning German every morning, and the rest of the day was centered around leisure activities. Of course, you’re under no obligation to do any of these activities. If you want, you can explore…Continue Reading

Back…to Los Angeles!

Hollywood Los Angeles

For the last few days of our vacation, we stayed in the Historic Core of Los Angeles. Our AirBnB didn’t seem to have the best insulation, as you could hear every conversation (and screaming match) on the street below, even though we had the windows shut tight. Thankfully, we brought ear plugs, so the arguments that went on well past 4AM…Continue Reading