My Ancestor's Journey

18/09/2024

It's time for getting to know each other and connecting with likeminded ancestry-inspired travelers! I’ll start by sharing some (fun) facts about my journey so far, my mixed ancestry and my travel struggles.

Who are you? Where are you from? Where are your ancestors from? And what are your most burning questions and struggles with when it comes to planning your ancestry-inspired trip to Germany?

Introduce yourself in the comments! I am looking forward to hearing from you! 👋

03/09/2024

Leipzig in Saxony, eastern Germany, is a treasure trove city full of history, culture, and modern charm.

Based on my own experiences of sightseeing in the city, here is the complete rundown of the best things to see and do in Leipzig:

Leipzig in Saxony, eastern Germany, is a city full of history, culture, and modern charm. Here is the complete rundown of the best things to do in Leipzig.

02/09/2024

Final tour day, a final trip back in time.

Christianne and I met my mom, Elisabeth Irani, at the open-air museum in Cloppenburg.

Even though Christianne’s ancestors came from southern Germany, we found out that there are quite a few shared experiences about living in 19th century rural Germany.

On a guided tour, we learnt everything about the daily life of the rural population in northwest Germany in the 19th century. Quite a though life - that’s for sure.

Work from the age of 12, smoker’s lung by 15 at the latest and one pot meal prep for a whole week! 🤢

Yeah, quite happy to be living in 2024… 😂

01/09/2024

Walking in your ancestor’s footsteps continued!

After traveling from Bremen to Bremerhaven on a river cruise boat, we discovered the very pier from which Christianne‘s ancestor Bernhardt set sail to America.

We also re-created the emigration journey ourselves in the interactive emigration museum in Bremerhaven.

31/08/2024

New guest in town! ☺️

We explored Bremen on a guided tour, walking in the footsteps of Christianne’s ancestor Bernhardt. Seeing many of the same buildings as he would have seen.

Back in 1834, he traveled all the way from Baden-Württemberg to Bremen, then Bremerhaven and finally America as a 19-year-old with his 14-year-old brother.

26/08/2024

Are you dreaming of traveling to your ancestral German hometowns? So you can walk in exactly the same paths as your German ancestors once did?

But you don’t know how to start planning your trip to Germany? Maybe even feel a bit overwhelmed by it all?

Don’t worry. We have got you covered. Here are 7 simple steps to plan your ancestral dream trip to Germany in manageable portions:

Are you planning a trip to Germany to learn more about your German ancestors? This guide will show you how to plan your ancestry trip to Germany in 7 steps.

21/08/2024

New post on the blog: In Lübeck, northern Germany, you can immerse yourself in medieval history, marzipan sweetness and even laid-back beach life.

Read more about this versatile destination in northern Germany:

Whether you are tracing your German ancestors or simply seeking a charming medieval town to enjoy while in Germany – Lübeck is definitely worth a stopover.

12/08/2024

Dear ancestry-inspired travelers! I hope you all had a chill weekend! This past Saturday (August 10th) was "National Lazy Day".

The perfect excuse to start your Germany trip planning journey from the comfort of your couch, right?

So, here are three lazy (and fun!) ways to start learning more about your German ancestors from the comfort of your home. Check them out in my new blog post:

Are you curious about your German roots, but not quite ready to pack your bags? Here are three ways to connect with your German ancestors without leaving home.

06/08/2024

A row of colorful houses in Berlin, Germany (Sophieneck).

05/08/2024

The " " sign in Bremen, northern Germany is a popular photo opportunity.

"Moin" means "hello" and is a greeting that is ONLY used in northern Germany.

In southern Germany, this would be really strange to say. There, you say "Servus" or "Grüß Gott" to greet someone.

This, in turn, would be quite strange to say in northern Germany. 😬😄

04/08/2024

Planning to visit Berlin on your ancestry-inspired trip to Germany? These 7 places are not to be missed if you want to use your time here wisely to find out more about the history of Germany and your own German roots!

Check out the new blog post below:

For American travelers tracing their German roots, Berlin offers a variety of fascinating experiences. Here are 7 top things to do to in Berlin.

03/08/2024

A few impressions of my recent day trip to Lübeck in northern Germany, which is just a 2-hour train ride away from Bremen and 1 hour from Hamburg!

In the medieval times, Lübeck was one of the most important trading cities in Europe and the main hub of the so-called “Hanseatic League”. This means that I had to check out the “Hansemuseum” of course.

But I also had some time to just stroll around, join a food tour and taste some marzipan-flavored coffee and a delicious cake at the famous Niederegger cafe. 😋☺️☀️

Who has been to Lübeck too or would like to go on the next ancestry-inspired trip?

30/07/2024

Are you planning an ancestry-inspired trip to Germany? Be sure to check off these 7 trip elements that will transform your ancestry-inspired trip from "alright" to "amazing"!

Start to plan your trip today with our new $0 Germany Trip Planning MINI GUIDE PDF. You will get instant access to the 18 most popular ancestry-inspired activity ideas.

Download the guide now from:

https://myancestorsjourney.com/mini-guide/

28/07/2024

When planning your ancestry-inspired trip to Germany, one of the first questions that will come up is when to travel to Germany.

Check out this blog post to get an overview about the pros and cons of all 4 seasons in Germany: spring, summer, fall and winter.

As you start planning your German ancestry trip adventure, you will eventually ask yourself when to visit Germany. So here is an overview of the weather in Germany.

25/07/2024

Lübeck, northern Germany

24/07/2024

The Hamburg Speicherstadt is the largest warehouse storage district in the world.

Even though the Speicherstadt is a pretty recent construct (built betweeen the 1880s and 1920s entirely on oak timber piles!), it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015.

Today, the former working area is an attraction in itself as many Hamburg visitors come here to take their souvenir photos on the pretty bridges or to take a harbor cruise through the canals.

There are also several museums in the area, such as the Hamburg Miniatur Wunderland (the most popular museum in all of Germany!!), the Hamburg Dungeon and the Spicy’s Museum.

23/07/2024

A detailed look at the Hamburg's City Hall (Hamburger Rathaus) from the inner courtyard.

The Hamburg City Hall is the seat of the Hamburg Parliament and the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

It was built between 1886 and 1897 in the style of the North German Neo-Renaissance.

22/07/2024

The German parliament building in the capital Berlin

Who has been here or would like to go on your ancestry-inspired trip to Germany?

21/07/2024

Munich from above

19/07/2024

It's never too early to plan a trip to the Oktoberfest in Munich, southern Germany (if that is your thing!).🍻😁 This year, the one and only original Oktoberfest on the Theresienwiese in Munich will take place from September 21, 2024 to October 6, 2024.

But the capital of the federal state of Bavaria is worth a visit at any other time of the year, too! 🤩

If you are looking for 10 fun things to do in Munich on your ancestry-inspired trip to Germany, read on below:

On a visit to Munich, you will experience Bavaria at its best! Here are the top ten things to do and see in Germany's third largest city.

18/07/2024

Is your dream to travel to Germany to learn more about your German ancestors? But you keep postponing your trip time and time again?

Then, you might want to consider joining the non-binding waiting list for my upcoming online course (with monthly live calls with me to ask all your Germany trip planning questions!)

More info at: https://myancestorsjourney.com/waitinglist-masterclass/

17/07/2024

Planning a trip to Germany? Imagine walking in the footsteps of your German ancestors, feeling the connection to your heritage with every step you take. Our new Germany Trip Planning MINI GUIDE is your key to unlocking these unforgettable experiences.

This guide is more than just a list of activities; it’s a journey into your past, a way to honor your roots, and a chance to create new memories in the land of your ancestors.

By downloading this guide, you will discover the places that are most relevant to your personal German ancestors as well as 18 fun ancestry-inspired things to do in Germany. Each activity is designed to bring you closer to your heritage. Thus making your trip not just a vacation, but a deeply personal adventure.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with your German ancestry in a fun and engaging way!

Download the guide now and start your journey of discovery and connection from the comfort of your home! 🌍❤️

More info at: https://myancestorsjourney.com/mini-guide/

PS: What part of your German ancestry are you most excited to explore?

16/07/2024

The town hall (Rathaus) with Glockenspiel (carillon) in Munich, southern Germany.

Have you been here or are you planning to go?

15/07/2024

Final call! Get $100 off per person on the 3-day emigration-themed weekend tour in Bremen departing August, 30th - Sept, 2nd, 2024!

Ever dreamt of walking in your ancestors’ footsteps in Germany? Make that dream a reality with our 3-day emigration-themed tour in Bremen, Germany! 🤩

What’s included in your Bremen tour package? 🌟

🌟 Centrally located 4-star hotel
🌟 3 Breakfasts and 3 Dinners
🌟 Expert tour leader and local guides for the duration of your trip
🌟 Transportation (including a river cruise from Bremen to Bremerhaven)
🌟 Emigration-themed experiences (including two museum entries)

Don’t miss out! Use the limited time promo code SUMMER2024 to save $100 off per person! Book by July 15, 2024!

Ever dreamt of walking in your ancestors’ footsteps in Germany? Make that dream a reality with our 3-day emigration-themed tour in Bremen, Germany departing in August 2024! 🤩

What’s included in your Bremen tour package? 🌟

🌟 Centrally located 4-star hotel
🌟 3 Breakfasts and 3 Dinners
🌟 Expert tour leader and local guides for the duration of your trip
🌟 Transportation (including a river cruise from Bremen to Bremerhaven)
🌟 Emigration-themed experiences (including two museum entries)

Don’t miss out! Use the limited time promo code SUMMER2024 to save $100 off per person! Book by July 15, 2024!

Book now: https://myancestorsjourney.com/tours/3-day-emigration-themed-weekend-tour-in-bremen/

14/07/2024

The river front of the river Weser in Bremen, northern Germany. 🌞

Reminder: Tomorrow (July 15, 2024 at midnight EST) is the very last day you can make use of the promo code SUMMER2024 to get $100 off our 3-Day Emigration-Themed Guided Group Tour from Bremen departing on Friday, August 30, 2024 and ending on Monday, September 2, 2024.

Ever dreamt of walking in your ancestors’ footsteps in Germany? Make that dream a reality with our 3-day emigration-themed tour in Bremen, Germany departing in August 2024! 🤩

What’s included in your Bremen tour package? 🌟

🌟 Centrally located 4-star hotel
🌟 3 Breakfasts and 3 Dinners
🌟 Expert tour leader and local guides for the duration of your trip
🌟 Transportation (including a river cruise from Bremen to Bremerhaven)
🌟 Emigration-themed experiences (including two museum entries)

Don’t miss out! Use the limited time promo code SUMMER2024 to save $100 off per person! Book by July 15, 2024!

Book now or contact us to schedule a 1:1 Zoom Call to talk about your trip to Germany.

More info at: https://myancestorsjourney.com/tours/3-day-emigration-themed-weekend-tour-in-bremen/

13/07/2024

It's easy to fall into these 7 traps if you are planning your ancestry-inspired trip to Germany. But it's also easy to avoid them with just a little bit of planning in advance.

If you are planning an ancestry trip to Germany, make sure to read this first to make the most of your dream trip to Germany!

Are you planning to visit your ancestor’s hometown on your ancestry trip to Germany? If so, make sure you read this first!

13/07/2024

A summer's day in Bremen, northern Germany. 🌞The soap bubbles are always a lot of fun for the kids. 😁

The town hall and "Roland" statue (a medieval knight) are 620 years old this year (built in 1404) and Bremen's two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The church you see in the back is the "Liebfrauenkriche" (Church of Our Lady) from the 13th Century.

If your ancestors passed through Bremen (either because they emigrated from here or nearby Bremerhaven from 1830 onwards), they would have had the exact same view from the Bremen market square.

Just a little reminder: Tomorrow is the last day you can make use of the promo code SUMMER2024 to get $100 off our 3-Day Emigration-Themed Guided Group Tour from Bremen.

Book now or contact us to schedule a 1:1 Zoom Call to talk about your trip to Germany.

More info at: https://myancestorsjourney.com/tours/3-day-emigration-themed-weekend-tour-in-bremen/

26/10/2021

From October 2017 in Munich to October 2021 in Nürnberg: A North German Tourist has arrived in Bavaria, part 2!

This time, I took my mom for a weekend to the south German city of Nürnberg (Nuremberg in English). Nürnberg is located in the north of the modern federal state of Bavaria. However, you should not call the locals Bavarians. They are "Franken", which is the traditional / historical region region in this part of Germany.

Beers and Pretzels are still big here, though. Plus, Nürnberg is very famous for a special kind of gingerbread (Lebkuchen in German) and the local Christmas market. 😉😋 🥨🍻