Wayfaring With Wagner

28/01/2020

75 years ago yesterday, Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Army - paving the way for the horrors of this camp to be fully recognized by the world. Even 75 years later, it's hard to comprehend what happened here. When I visited in 2016, I found it really difficult to go inside some of the rooms and buildings. Let us never forget and never let history repeat itself.

This past May, I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camps. It has taken me a few months to collect my thoughts and adequately express myself.

23/01/2020

No shame to admit that this is me! 🙋‍♀️ Not only do I plan all my travels and trips in Google Sheets, but I create color-coded maps with symbols on Google Maps for each trip. You should see the one I'm currently planning for my honeymoon...😂

Why are millennials turning to the same suite of tools we use at work—Google docs, spreadsheets, Powerpoints—to meticulously plan out their travel?

23/12/2019

Is this not the cutest mug ever? 💕 I snagged this a few years ago in Vienna and still love using it!
I’m back in Traverse City, Michigan right now with my family and all the snow is melting. 🤦🏻‍♀️😭❄️ It’s a super warm Christmas and we are all wishing for the Christmas miracle of snow!
But while I wait for snow to hopefully fall (🤞🏼), I’m trying to finally get over my cold and finish all administrative tasks so I don’t have to stress after Christmas!
My family and I are off to tonight for yummy beer, excellent food, an igloo (!), and great conversations. It was one of my favorite things we did last year and I can’t wait to do it again.
How are you relaxing this holiday season? 🎄🎅🏼🍻

21/12/2019

I’ll be home for Christmas...🎄🎅🏼.
Christmas in Northern Michigan with my family might be the most perfect time of the year - lots of snow, an amazingly decorated house, crackling fires, and delicious food/baked goods. There really is nothing better than being with family for the holidays.
I love all our family traditions - my mom reading (and inevitably crying) “The Polar Express” on Christmas Eve, waking up super early on Christmas Day to open presents and being lazy the rest of the day, and Thanksgiving Part 2 (turkey 🥰). There’s also a constant stream of fudge and cookies appearing in our kitchen!
We’re off to the USA right now. ✈️ What traditions do you have in your family for the holidays?

19/12/2019

Raise your hand if you’re a Christmas Market mug hoarder. 🙋🏻‍♀️ I think the Prince might kill me if I bring another one home! We are going on 30+ mugs from various Christmas markets around Europe.
I love Christmas mugs because they’re cheap, unique, and make great souvenirs. 🎄 With my large mug collection, I definitely have my favorites! The ones from Vienna are, hands down, the best. The Prince and I headed to Vienna 2 years ago and I stuffed about 10 mugs in my carry-on suitcase. 😂 They had a gingerbread one, an angel one, a Santa one (with a Santa body one and they could stack together!).
What’s something that you collect on your travels? ☕️

17/12/2019

24/11/2019

It's the most wonderful time of the year! ❄️☃️ Where are you headed this year? Every year, I choose a new Christmas market/area to explore. The past few years I've done Nuremberg/Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Basel/Bern (Switzerland), and Weimar/Erfurt (Germany). Any guesses where I'm headed this year?! 🎄 Hint: it's in Germany!

From Germany to Estonia (and back again).

15/09/2019

{New Post} In case you missed the news, the Prince and I are excited about this new adventure in our lives! 💍

The Prince and I are ready for life's next big adventure. Our American-German romance is now an American-German engagement! We're so excited for this.

04/08/2019

{New Post} 2 posts in less than 2 weeks? It must be a new record for me! Here's a thorough post on visiting Pearl Harbor Memorials on your own. As Hawaii's top tourist attraction, here are all my hints and tips for visiting Pearl Harbor and not missing out on anything!

Pearl Harbor is a must-visit location in Honolulu, Hawaii! Here are all the tips and hints for visiting Pearl Harbor on your own!

30/07/2019

Stop giving away my favorite European island 😂 Sylt, Germany! Can't wait to explore the island more in September. What's your favorite island (European or not!)?

Head for these destinations to avoid the crowds.

26/07/2019

Between the coffee farms, sandy beaches, quaint towns, delicious food, off-roading adventures, and volcanoes, there are an endless amount of activities on the Big Island of Hawaii! Check out how to make the most of your time with this 7-day itinerary!

If you only have a week on the Big Island of Hawaii, take advantage of everything there is to see and do with this Big Island itinerary for 7 days!

03/07/2019

Honored to have been interviewed for this article on Deutschland.de! My biggest piece of advice when traveling around Germany - don't try to see it all! Stick to one region and really try to explore it thoroughly. It's an excuse to come back in the future ;)

Interrail, backpacking, work & travel or road trip? We asked four international bloggers about their personal highlights.

03/07/2019

Welcome to the gorgeous northern Italian town of Trento! I was here a few weeks ago for 4 days immersing myself in everything to do with travel blogging and the industry. When I started my blog 6 years ago, I never imagined the people I would meet and the places I’d go. And who knew you’d actually be able to make money from a blog (albeit not that much, but still!).
I’m a firm believer in always learning, always challenging myself, and always growing. You’ll probably find me reading 3 different books at once or learning a new skill. Just because I’m not in school anymore, doesn’t mean the learning stops!
So how do you stay a life-long learner? What are you trying to learn or accomplish right now? 🤗

30/06/2019

{NEW POST} Who else is a Type-A traveler like me? 🙋‍♀️ Here are 20 signs that you're a Type-A traveler! Anyone else book their trips months in advance, and have endless lists and itineraries?

Get to the airport 3 hours early? Plan your travels by the hour with several spreadsheets? These are just a few signs that you are a Type-A traveler!

03/06/2019

| . My lovely Hamburg - I just absolutely adore this city that I call home ❤️ When I moved here in 2016, I probably had spent a collective 2 weeks in the city total. But love makes you do crazy things 😜. . It's always fun to play tourist in your own city, especially when it involves gorgeous views and yummy food 😍.vdb has lived in Hamburg for almost 10 years and it's still fun finding new places together. Thanks to , it's easy to visit touristy places, book tours, and have a random Tuesday date night! . One area both of us haven't really explored? The HafenCity! We took a food and neighborhood tour through the HafenCity to learn more. No one else showed up so it ended up being a private tour for the two of us for 3 hours (and our guide Anna was fantastic!). . The HafenCity is the largest urban redevelopment project in Europe. It's adding new housing (luxury, affordable, and subsidized), shops, restaurants, businesses, and cultural destinations to the city of Hamburg. Due to be completed between 2025 and 2030, the area will have 12,000 residents and be the workplace of 40,000 people. . The highlight of the HafenCity? The beautiful Elbphilharmonie. Even though I've seen it hundreds of times, it still takes my breath away whenever I catch a glimpse of it. And I really don't think it looks better than at golden hour 😍. . What's the cultural highlight and landmark that defines your city? http://bit.ly/2KlzXCd

03/06/2019

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My lovely Hamburg - I just absolutely adore this city that I call home ❤️ When I moved here in 2016, I probably had spent a collective 2 weeks in the city total. But love makes you do crazy things 😜.
It's always fun to play tourist in your own city, especially when it involves gorgeous views and yummy food 😍.vdb has lived in Hamburg for almost 10 years and it's still fun finding new places together. Thanks to , it's easy to visit touristy places, book tours, and have a random Tuesday date night!
One area both of us haven't really explored? The HafenCity! We took a food and neighborhood tour through the HafenCity to learn more. No one else showed up so it ended up being a private tour for the two of us for 3 hours (and our guide Anna was fantastic!).
The HafenCity is the largest urban redevelopment project in Europe. It's adding new housing (luxury, affordable, and subsidized), shops, restaurants, businesses, and cultural destinations to the city of Hamburg. Due to be completed between 2025 and 2030, the area will have 12,000 residents and be the workplace of 40,000 people.
The highlight of the HafenCity? The beautiful Elbphilharmonie. Even though I've seen it hundreds of times, it still takes my breath away whenever I catch a glimpse of it. And I really don't think it looks better than at golden hour 😍.
What's the cultural highlight and landmark that defines your city?

29/05/2019

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Trivia time: What’s the most popular tourist attraction in all of Germany?
Schloss Neuschwanstein 🏰?
Reichstag in Berlin 🇩🇪?
What if I told you it was Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg 🚂 It‘s the largest model railway in the world and it's located in Hamburg's Speicherstadt, the old warehouse district.
It's been a bucket list item for me in Hamburg and .vdb and I have tried to go twice previously (but turned back after the long lines!). Thanks to , we were able to skip to the front of the line! Bonus tip: go on a Sunday evening - we were able to have some of the rooms almost entirely to ourselves!
So what exactly is Miniatur Wunderland? It's a perfect miniature replica of different countries and cities around the world. Some fun facts: there are 389,000 lights, 15.5 kilometers worth of tracks, 263,000 figurines, 1,040 trains, and has taken a total of 795,000 hours to build - and it's not even complete!
I felt like a giddy child - running from room to room and squealing over everything. There's even an airport based off the Hamburg Airport that has planes taking off and landing every few minutes. The above picture is a replica of Hamburg's downtown area and I have to say, it is quite accurate. Did you even notice at first glance that it wasn't actually a live picture of the city!?
It was the perfect date-night activity and .vdb and I are already planning our return - there was too much to see and not enough time! Plus, Monaco and the French Provence opens later this year!

27/05/2019

My German bucket list is ever growing - I fear I’ll never see everything that I have on this never-ending list! However, I was able to cross off the adorable town of Cochem along the Mosel last weekend.
Known for its imposing castle, colorful buildings, and delicious wine, and I had the best time snapping a million pictures 📸, eating spaghetti eis (vanilla ice cream that looks like spaghetti with strawberry sauce and whipped cream - so good!) 🍦, and hiding away in a cute wine bar - complete with a patio overlooking the water 🍷🍷.
I’m now trying to drag .vdb along for a weekend getaway because the Mosel is just one of the most romantic places in all of Germany 💕 Unfortunately, he’s told me that our travel schedule is done for the year 😂. We will see about that if I have any influence...
So what’s on your Germany bucket list? Or what’s been the best place you’ve ever visited in Germany? My list could always use a few more places 😂🏰

21/05/2019

Number one rule in my life: 🙅🏻‍♀️ hiking. So when I realized that there was no way to get to this castle without hiking, I had to make some tough decisions. We were on a time crunch, didn’t have a car, and the bus times didn’t match up to our arrival/departure. A taxi was an option but seemed insanely expensive for a short trip.
So my best friend and I packed a bottle of wine (seemed fitting given that we were celebrating her upcoming wedding and we were in the Mosel!) and prayed for the best! Things unplanned? Not having hiking shoes (heeled boots for me 💁🏻‍♀️), excessive amounts of mud, and judgmental German stares. But off we went! And I’d say the 5.0 km hike up was actually...doable?!
After snapping photos of this gorgeous view and thanking the rain gods for sparing us a thunderstorm, we began to get a bit cocky. We decided to take a different trail I hadn’t researched back down to the train station. I mean, if we made it up, it would surely be easier to make it down...right?!
Well, we didn’t realize that while this route was technically shorter by 0.4 km, it was meant for seasoned hikers 🤦🏻‍♀️ I was never so happy to be back at the train station! We destroyed our shoes, sweated profusely through our clothing, and actually thought we might die at one point 😭.
So moral of the story? Castle was gorgeous but I’m never going there again 😂.

13/05/2019

This weekend was absolutely perfect - brunches, afternoon naps, lots of quality time with .vdb, a tour through the Hamburg neighborhood of Blankenese and the Treppenviertel (Stair Quarter), a surprise ice cream date, pizza night, and lots of sunshine. 😎🍕🍦. The proper way you should spend your weekend!
I had signed up for a tour of Blankenese and the Treppenviertel, hoping the horrible weather forecasted wouldn’t come true. Luckily, we had sunny skies, warm weather, and not a drop of rain! Plus, it was Hafengeburtstag (Harbor Birthday) this past weekend and thousands of boats came into port to celebrate Hamburg’s harbor birthday 🎂🎉.
If you’re visiting Hamburg, you must head to Blankenese and the Treppenviertel. One of the hilliest places in all of Hamburg, the neighborhood is home to Hamburg’s rich and famous. The Treppenviertel has 58 different staircases winding through the narrow passageways - all the houses are super old and a lot of them used to belong to captains and fishermen.
The colors and atmosphere are reminiscent of the Mediterranean - colorful villas and manors, narrow cobblestone staircases, and easy access to water. It’s an 20-minute train ride from the center of Hamburg to the heart of Blankenese. After walking around the area, reward yourself with a beer along the water 🍻.
What’s your favorite beach or harbor? Are you a saltwater or freshwater person? 🌊

09/05/2019

This is the sunny Hamburg that I remember. Too bad rain is in the forecast for the next 10 days. I thought April showers brought May flowers?! 🌸🌼🌺.
Who’s figured out their summer plans? 🙋🏻‍♀️ While I am trying to embrace the summer months of Hamburg (and I’m working on a *secret* project involving the city and region), I can’t help but plan more trips! Knowing that fall is already filled with multiple weddings in the USA, several siblings coming to visit me (🎉), and Oktoberfest, my travel options are a bit limited after September.
Starting this month, I’m off to the Mosel Valley for wine tasting, Zürich with a dear friend, Italy for a conference, outside Berlin for a water park, London for another conference (hopefully!), a surprise trip somewhere in Germany planned by .vdb, Mallorca for relaxation, and Brighton for an end-of-summer couple’s trip. Would also love to squeeze Annecy in there somewhere 🌎.
Let me know where you’re headed this summer! Also, am I the only one already planning my trips for 2020? 😂 Goals: Israel, Iceland, Istanbul (the year of the “I” countries!), and Central Asia!

05/05/2019

{New Post} Hand raise 🙋‍♀️ Who's actually heard of the unrecognized country of Transnistria? I finally finished this monster post on planning a day trip from Chișinău (Moldova) to Transnistria. I've included how to do it, history of the unrecognized country, safety facts, and tips on visiting the cities of Bender and Tiraspol. Take a trip to the secretive state Transnistria, a place that still yearns for the Soviet Union!

03/05/2019

Still dreaming about the perfect warm weather, colorful rooftops, and gorgeous views of Lisbon 💕 Now that has changed its flight schedule, there are no Friday evening flights to this city from Hamburg! So a return visit to Lisbon probably isn’t in the cards anytime soon for me and .vdb!
Anyone else obsessively check flight schedules? Because I have to be back in the USA a few times this year for weddings, I’m limiting trips around Europe to weekends only (if possible!) 👰🏻. Obviously this makes traveling a bit more difficult, but also a bit more creative!
So what do you love more - longer trips or weekend adventures? Where’s your next destination?

29/04/2019

Just got back from Kyiv, Ukraine and I have so many thoughts and feelings. It’s been a struggle trying to process all my emotions because Ukraine has so many layers. . Resilient. That’s how I would describe Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. So extremely resilient. From the man-made genocide of the 1930s by Stalin that killed around 7 million people (!!!) to the destruction during WWII, from the Soviet oppression for 60+ years to the 3 revolutions in the past 15 years, and finally to the ongoing war with Russia in the east of the country. Ukraine and Ukrainians are Resilient. . Resilient because most people have seen death and violence, and experienced injury and poverty. Yet, there was so much joy and song and dance in the country. . I only just began to scratch the surface of Ukraine and Kyiv. There’s so much more I wanted to do and see, and I’m already planning my next trip back! . Have you been to Ukraine? What were your initial impressions and what would you recommend visiting outside of Kyiv when I go back? http://bit.ly/2ZJtHt9

29/04/2019

Just got back from Kyiv, Ukraine and I have so many thoughts and feelings. It’s been a struggle trying to process all my emotions because Ukraine has so many layers.
Resilient. That’s how I would describe Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. So extremely resilient. From the man-made genocide of the 1930s by Stalin that killed around 7 million people (!!!) to the destruction during WWII, from the Soviet oppression for 60+ years to the 3 revolutions in the past 15 years, and finally to the ongoing war with Russia in the east of the country. Ukraine and Ukrainians are Resilient.
Resilient because most people have seen death and violence, and experienced injury and poverty. Yet, there was so much joy and song and dance in the country.
I only just began to scratch the surface of Ukraine and Kyiv. There’s so much more I wanted to do and see, and I’m already planning my next trip back!
Have you been to Ukraine? What were your initial impressions and what would you recommend visiting outside of Kyiv when I go back?

17/04/2019

A few thoughts on the Notre Dame's fire and why it is so impactful - "But at the end of the day, the Notre Dame is not just a building – it’s history, it’s culture, it’s stories, it’s a symbol of a nation. And it reminds us that nothing lasts forever."

It's only a building. Then why are we so profoundly affected by the burning of the Notre Dame? In retrospect, the outcome is better than expected - the main facade and towers are still standing,

15/04/2019

This is absolutely sickening to watch right now. Hoping everyone is safe.

A major operation is under way to tackle the blaze at the 850-year-old Gothic building.

12/04/2019

Headed to Kyiv next weekend for the first time and I'm so excited! Absolutely love this region of the world

Come for the history, stay for the trendy hotels and insanely cool and unique experiences – like getting behind the wheel of a tank.

12/04/2019

This town of Heidelberg will forever hold a special place in my heart ❤️ I love the cobblestone streets, the long pedestrian way, the colorful fascades, the Neckar river going through the town, and the castle looming high above. Another trip in the books - filled with seeing old friends, eating at all our favorite restaurants, and enjoying time together. As they say in Heidelberg: „Ich hab‘ mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren.“ (“I’ve lost my heart in Heidelberg.”) 💕