Category: Year
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Arriving in the Capital of Europe 🇧🇪
We arrived in Belgium’s capital after an easy morning train ride, excited to experience one of Europe’s most spectacular summer traditions — the Brussels Flower Carpet, an ephemeral work of art covering the Grand Place with hundreds of thousands of begonias. Every two years since 1971, volunteers carefully assemble these blossoms into intricate patterns that…
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When Guests Come to Town, You See Wiesbaden Differently 🇩🇪
Having visitors in town has a way of making you slow down and truly appreciate where you live. With guests in Wiesbaden, we found ourselves rediscovering familiar places through fresh eyes — and being reminded just how special this city really is. We started in downtown Wiesbaden, wandering through the elegant streets and open squares…
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Touring the Cochem Bunker 🇩🇪
Our visit to the Cochem Bunker offered a fascinating — and slightly unsettling — glimpse into Cold War Germany. While the guided tours were conducted only in German, the experience was still deeply engaging, and the historical context alone made it well worth the visit. The bunker was constructed in the early 1960s, at the…
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A Living Fairy Tale: Visiting Burg Eltz 🇩🇪
With family in town, we set out to visit Burg Eltz, a castle that feels less like a preserved monument and more like a living fairy tale. Hidden deep in a wooded valley above the Moselle River, the castle rises suddenly from the forest, its clustered towers and half-timbered walls looking almost unreal. The approach…
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The Ring of Rüdesheim: History, Views, and Small Moments 🇩🇪
A visit along the Ring of Rüdesheim always delivers, but this time it was the details along the way that made the experience especially memorable — layers of history, quiet woodland paths, and moments that delighted the kids just as much as the adults. One of the highlights is the Niederwald Monument, standing high above…
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Müllerthal: Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland 🇱🇺
We closed Memorial Day Weekend with a visit to Müllerthal, a region often called “Little Switzerland” for its dramatic rock formations, forests, and winding trails. After the emotional weight of the cemetery and the intellectual depth of Luxembourg City’s history, Müllerthal felt like a natural exhale. Massive stone pillars, mossy paths, and narrow gorges created…
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Luxembourg City: A Fortress, a Trading Power, and a City of Stories 🇱🇺
Luxembourg City surprised us in ways we hadn’t expected. What at first looks like a compact European capital reveals itself, layer by layer, as one of the most strategically important cities in European history. Perched dramatically on cliffs above the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers, Luxembourg was shaped less by aesthetics and more by necessity. Its…
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Memorial Day at the Luxembourg American Cemetery 🇱🇺
The heart of our weekend was the Luxembourg American Cemetery, where more than 5,000 U.S. service members are laid to rest, most of them lost during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. This cemetery is where General George S. Patton is buried, standing among his soldiers just as he did in life….
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Saarschleife Treetop Path: Memorial Day Weekend Begins in the Canopy 🇩🇪
We started Memorial Day Weekend 2022 surrounded not by crowds or cities, but by trees and sky. The Saarschleife Treetop Path in southwest Germany offered exactly the kind of quiet, reflective beginning that felt right for a holiday rooted in remembrance. The path winds high above the forest, leading visitors through the treetops before opening…
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A Taste of Tradition: Clara Maria Cheese & Clog Farm 🇳🇱
Returning to the Netherlands for a second time offers the wonderful opportunity to delve deeper into its rich cultural tapestry, beyond the bustling canals of Amsterdam. My recent adventure took me to a quintessential Dutch experience: the Clara Maria Cheese & Clog Farm. Nestled in the picturesque countryside, this family-run farm provides an authentic glimpse…