Munich, Prague & Berlin Road Trip!

Before I get into the road trip I need to express my love for Christmas time in Germany and more specifically the Christmas Markets. Taylor and I did our first market in Trier and it was beautiful. There were stands filled with gifts, candles, wreaths, ornaments and anything Christmasy you can think of! There were food stands with desserts, nuts that smelled incredible, and of course sausages. The food and Christmas decorations are all fine and dandy but let's not forget the real reason people go to the markets... Gluehwein! Gluehwein is a mulled wine mixed with various spices. It is advised to drink slowly because these warm drinks served in little cute mugs are no joke!

Okay, road trip time! 

My best friend, Kaitlin, arrived to Germany in December. She was teaching English in Taiwan for a few years and when that came to an end she set off on a few month traveling spree! Right before she came to Europe she was trekking the Annapurna circuit in Nepal and traveling India East to West. 

Before she came we didn't have much of a plan except to catch up and see some major European cities along the way! The first few days were spent showing her around our small town and surrounding areas and then we devised a mini road trip plan to Munich, Prague and Berlin.

Munich

Taylor and I had been to Munich before and really loved it. The Bavarian city is probably more ideal during Oktoberfest but I still think it's must-see in Germany. 

Kaitlin and I got into Munich around 4PM, just as the sun was setting. We stayed at the 4You Hostel the first night which was located in a nice area right downtown. We made our way to the Christmas Market that was completely packed full of people and of course got some Gluehwein and a brat. 

The next day we wandered around the city sightseeing where we found some pubs and street entertainers. I told Kaitlin we had to see the famous river surfers but by the time we were walking over to them it was already dark. Sure as shit, they were in wetsuits surfing in the cold water with a spot light on them! 

Prague

Munich to Prague was about a three hour drive. I didn't know that you needed a vignette to drive in the Czech but thankfully they sold them right at the border. I also wasn't aware that they used the Koruna as currency. Easy enough we found a bank and grabbed some out! 

Driving in big european cities with small streets is insane and Prague was no different. At one point I was driving on the cobble stone street following a light rail train wondering if I was supposed to be in that lane. I pulled over to let other cars pass me so I could follow them and it was indeed a lane. The next thing I know I am being chased by a different light rail train. Thankfully we made it to our hostel after lots of deep breaths and holy crap moments.

We stayed three nights in Prague at the Hostel One. The staff was incredibly friendly making sure we got a tour of the map and what to see in the city. The night we arrived they were doing a pub crawl/night tour that included dinner and free drinks so we signed up right away for that. We saw some interesting statues and sights and were able to sketch some graffiti on the Lennon Wall. 

The next few days were spent sight seeing with the people from our dorm room. Prague instantly became one of my favorite cities in Europe with the cobble stone streets, the old building structures, and the beer that is cheaper than water.

Berlin

This was my second time visiting Berlin but I think it's one of the best cities in Germany so I had no problem going again! 

We stayed at the Wombat's Hostel that was situated in the center of the city and next to a metro station. I wasn't impressed with the staff but it was super clean and had a bar, restaurant and a community kitchen which is great for long stays!

We did sightseeing during the day and decided to go to the Jewish museum as well. We also made our way to the Berlin Wall (East Side gallery) which was something I didn't see on my previous trip! Unfortunately we didn't make it to the wall until it was dark because the sun sets so early but it was still extremely impressive to see. 

Hindsight, we should have spent more time in each city but being able to visit all these places in just a week was pretty incredible and especially the time I was able to spend with Kaitlin! Until our next adventure, friend!!!

New Year, New Adventures!

2014 was filled with many adventures so we decided to keep the fun going by celebrating the New Year in a new country!

Brussels, Belgium
We decided on Brussels because we wanted a big celebration with firworks, people, bars, and the whole vibe! Plus, it is only three hours from us!

Shortly after arriving were eager to get some Belgian beer in our bellies so we walked the ten minutes to the city center and sat down at a bar outside and made our taste buds very happy!

Before our trip I got in contact with a friend of mine from college who currently lives in Brussels with her husband who plays professional basketball in the city. In fact, he played basketball at Utah and she was on the gymnastics team while I played soccer.  We of course met up with them that night to catch up and celebrate the New Year! We had some gyros for dinner and went to a few local bars where we drank belgian beer, popped champagne and danced the night away!

 Malaga, Spain
A few months ago my friend Dana told me that her and a bunch of wives had booked tickets to Malaga and that I should join. With little hesitation I booked it instantly for 50 euros round trip through RyanAir! The trip finally approached us at the end of January and it couldn't have come at a better time. The winters here in Germany are incredibly gloomy and cold so going to a beach in 65 degree weather sounded like heaven!

The night before our flight I stayed over at Dana's so that we could all pile into her car at 4am and drive to the Frankfurt Hahn airport. I was super impressed with flying RyanAir for my first time. They allow you to bring one free carryon within a certain weight and size. My GoLite backpack falls perfectly within that limit which is all I need for a weekend trip anyway! Check-in and security was a breeze and the staff on the plane were extremely friendly.

Our group consisted of nine wives all in need of a vacation, warm weather, wine and girl time! We found an incredible house through AirBNB that easily fit us all comfortably. It was located right on the beach with the view of downtown Malaga and of course the ocean. Wasting no time we jumped right into a bowl of Sangria and sat outside soaking in the sun.

Oh! In case you don't know where Malaga is... It is located on the southern coast of Spain touching the Mediterranean. In the distance and during the right time of day, you can see Morocco!

That night we all had bought tickets to a traditional flamenco show in downtown Malaga. The family band included a flute player, a drummer, a guitarist and a singer along with a dancing lady in a pretty dress. It was breathtaking and we all had a blast!

The beauty of this trip was that everyone got to do whatever they wanted. Some people did a workout on the beach while some people (me) sat on the back patio and watched them. Some girls did a tapas tour, a bike tour, and even a tour of the lounge chairs next to the pool. By the end of the trip we were all secretly planning how to get stuck in Spain and not return back to snowy cold Germany.

For every new city or town I visit, I want to see 100 more. My travel bug is itching even more than it did last year so I am excited for 2015 travels! Taylor and I already have some adventures up our sleeves for the next few months!