We boarded an early train north for a weekend adventure through western Germany — our own “Training Through Christmas” journey. Our first stop was Wuppertal, known for its steep hills, historic architecture, and one-of-a-kind transportation system.

At the Wuppertal Zoo, we met some of the most interactive penguins we’ve ever seen — diving, darting, and splashing just inches away behind glass. The zoo’s lush, hilly layout made every enclosure feel like a walk through a park. The aviary was another highlight, alive with color and song — a peaceful contrast to the winter chill outside.

From there, we took a ride on the world-famous Wuppertal Schwebebahn (Suspension Railway). This hanging monorail opened in 1901 and is still in daily use, carrying passengers above the Wupper River and city streets. It’s one of the oldest electric elevated railways in the world and remains a masterpiece of engineering. A famous story from 1950 tells how a visiting circus elephant named Tuffi was once taken aboard the Schwebebahn for a publicity stunt — she panicked, broke through the car, and fell into the river! Amazingly, both Tuffi and her rider survived.

That evening, we continued to Dortmund, home to one of Germany’s largest Christmas markets. The centerpiece is the world’s tallest Christmas tree, built each year from nearly 1,700 Norway spruce trees stacked and decorated into a single 45-meter-high marvel. With the smell of roasted chestnuts and the sound of carols all around, it felt like stepping into a storybook.