My final stop in Germany was Frankfurt. I went on day trips to the resort town of Baden-Baden, The Black Forest, and I took a cruise down the Rhine River. I am writing from the Frankfurt airport as I begin my journey home. I am looking forward to warmer weather and sharing my stories and adventures with my friends and family in person!

 A picturesque town on the bank of the Rhine River

 The winding streets of Baden-Baden

 The Black Forest shrouded in snow and mist. It's easy to understand how it inspired so many fantastical Grimm fairy tales

 Handmade Cuckoo Clocks

 The famous and decadent Black Forest Cake

After Tiffany and I's Eastern European road trip, I returned to Germany. I am currently in Munich, where I have partaken in the city's food and beer. I visited the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. This is one of the places I have most wanted to visit my entire life, and it started snowing as soon as my group and I left for the castle. At first, I was disappointed with the weather because on a clear day, you can see the Neuschwanstein Castle as you hike to it. But my group and I couldn't see the castle through the wind, fog, and snow until we were directly beneath it, which turned out to be one of the most breathtaking things I had ever seen. The castle was suddenly visible, as if it had magically appeared before our eyes. The castle was shrouded in ice and snow, which gave it an ethereal and fantastical appearance. It's easy to see why this castle would have inspired so many fairy tales. I did not get to see the Neuschwanstein Castle as most people are able to see it, which made my experience all the more incredible.

 The Linderhof Palace

 Fog rolling in over a lake in the Bavarian countryside

 Frozen trees lined the trail to the castle

 The Neuschwanstein Castle as so few people are able to see it

 The inner courtyard of the castle

 The snowy mountainside on which the castle is built

The Neuschwanstein Castle barely visible through the snow and mist

Tiffany and I continued our road trip by crossing into Romania. We stopped countless times to take in the astounding beautiful scenic landscapes. We arrived at the Bran Castle at dusk, when the castle was silhouetted against the night sky, which added to its spooky and fantastical ambiance. We then made our way to Bucharest, Roman's capital. We toured the city and dined at its oldest restaurant. We then visited the coastal city of Constanta, situated on the Black Sea. Greek mythology believes that Constanta was one of the places Jason stopped on his quest for the Golden Fleece.

A small church in Bucharest 

 A monument to Vlad the Impaler

 A vintage light fixture silhouetted against the evening sky

 Historic streets of Bucharest

 An alleyway in Constanta

 A mosque in Constanta

 The Romanian countryside

Bran Castle

Tiffany and I met in Sofia, Bulgaria, and we have embarked on a road trip across the country. We toured the gorgeous city Sofia and learned about its cultural and historical significance during the Cold War. We then traveled South and visited the remote Rila Monastery on our way to Melnik, the smallest town in the country. There, we toured a vineyard and indulged ourselves in a wine tasting. Our next stop was the city of Plovdiv, which still contains an abundance of ancient Roman ruins. Our final stop in the country is the Belogradchik Fortress, an ancient Roman stronghold. Tiffany and I hiked in the rock formations above the fortress, where we were met with some the most extraordinary landscape views we had ever seen.

 Historic street of Sofia, Bulgaria

 A country road in Melnik leading into the Pirin Mountains

 Exquisit Eastern European architecture

 Tiffany and I stretching our legs during a scenic drive through the Bulgarian countryside

 Rock formations of the Belogradchik Fortress

 Stunning view from the mountain top above the Belogradchik Fortress

 A traditional Bulgarian breakfast

 Photographing the Rila Monastery

 Murals on the exterior of the Rila Monastery

Sunrise over the Pirin Mountains

"Gutentag" from Berlin. I am soaking in the history, food, and culture of German's capital city. I went on a four hour walking tour, and while my feet were numb from the cold and walking, I was able to see all of the major historical sites around the city. I spent an evening atop the Kollhoff Tower, watching the sunset over panoramic views of the city. It is astounding to realize that less than thirty years ago this bustling and modern city was literally divided down the middle. The city is still healing, but it is a beacon of progress and hope.

 On my walking tour of the city

 Evening view of the city from the Kollhoff Tower

 The bustling Potsdamer Platz in the heart of Berlin

 There German flag flying atop the Reichstag

 The Holocaust Memorial

The Brandenburg Gate

Hello from Hamburg, Germany! I am visiting my friend, Tiffany, and her city is extraordinary. When I was planning this Germany trip, I was most excited to visit Berlin because of its history. But Hamburg is just as critical the last one hundred years of German history as the country's capital. I went on two walking tours of the city, and I wish that free cultural walking tours were more prevalent in the United States. I walked along and under the Port of Hamburg, visited several historical churches, toured the eclectic Saint Pauli Neighborhood, and saw where the Beatles performed in Hamburg before they were a sensation. Tiffany and I also experienced the legendary Fischmarkt.

 The Port of Hamburg

 The Old Elbe Tunnel runs underneath the Port of Hamburg

 Street art in the Saint Pauli Neighborhood

 St. Michael's Church

 I had uneventful travels

 A German chocolate croissant

 Tiffany and I at the Fischmarkt

The Elbe River

When you're safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home” ~Thornton Wilder

I am back from Thailand! The trip was the perfect blend of sight-seeing and relaxing. I can't wait to tell you all about my adventures in person!

Shopping for our cooking ingredients

Our cooking instructor

One of the dishes I created

The beginning of my flight home