• annalovestraveling
  • annalovestraveling

Little Europe adventures

Weekend trips around Europe Weiterlesen
  • Beginn der Reise
    20. September 2016

    La torre reunion 1

    20. September 2016 in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    This was a really special week: after almost two years of not seeing each other, my Monterrey roommates Argelia and Philipp came to visit me in Tübingen. Until the last moment I couldn't believe it would really happen, for it was a pretty spontaneous trip for both of them and Mexico is but exactly close. However, when they arrived it felt like we had just jumped right from the exchange to Tübingen without ever being separated.
    We started of by buying some of the last wine and chocolate at the already closing annual market with vendors from Italy and Spain (as we had to wait half an hour for the next bus, they didn't quite make it all the way to my flat).
    The next day, we took a good long walking tour through the town, including a ride on the Stocherkahn (a little boat resembling the Venice gondolas). Through it was a long day, after a nice quesadilla and guacamole dinner plus some tequila Argelia had brought with her, we were fit for the karaoke party at the Black Sheep.
    While I had to work the following day, the two others had the chance to go to the chocolate factory of Ritter Sport.
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  • La torre reunion 2

    21. September 2016 in Frankreich ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    After two days in Tübingen, it was time for a change of scenery, so we went to my home town. However, we literally only spent the nights there. Instead, we took a day trip to Strasburg in the Alsace, France, which is only about 1,5 hours away.
    The traffic in town was terrible, but after finally finding a parking spot, we met my study friend Pauline and afterwards went for Flammkuchen (a French kind of really thin pizza with sour cream instead of tomato sauce).
    The rest of the day we passed walking around the cute little streets (and back to the car in order to pay another 2h parking period in turns). Towards the evening, we went to see a contemporaneous circus on the town square. Though they had a pretty interesting show, it was also quite weird. And our lesson of the day was: even though you speak a different language than everyone else, don't speak behind the backs of other people: they might still understand you :D
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  • La torre reunion 3

    22. September 2016 in Deutschland ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Our last day trip took us to Heidelberg, where we visited the historic center, the castle and “Schmelzpunkt“, the best desert place I know :P
    After that we had a rather tiring train ride back to Tübingen, since we didn't know that one of the train stations on our way was in construction. Therefore, we ended up taking three different trains and to buses before finally arriving back at my place. Although we all were so tired that we fell asleep for a short while, we somehow still made it to hit the bars for a last night's party before Philipp and Argelia left the next morning.
    I'm really grateful for the chance to pass such an awesome week with those two friends that are like family to me. After a total of 3 nights stuffed together in my tiny room, I actually had to get used to having space again.
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  • Sintra & Cascais

    27. September 2016 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    We started our day trip at the tiny village of Sintra, where we visited the Palácio dos Mouros, a castle built by early Muslims - maybe that's why it resembles the Chinese wall. We also made our way up to Palácio da Pena (second picture), but didn't enter.
    After Sintra, we took a bus to the western-most point of continental Europe: Cabo da Roca, with an amazing view of the ocean. Climbing around the cliffs was one of my personal highlights of today. The other one was just lying at the beach of our third destination Cascais. Though it's end November, it was still warm enough, and some brave even tried attempted a swim in the icy sea.
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  • Setúbal Odyssee

    29. September 2016 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    My last day in Portugal started out to be a bit of a fail. Originally, Jacqueline and I wanted to do a day trip to Porto. We already knew that we were going to be on a tight schedule, as trains and busses from Lisbon take around three hours, but we decided we could do it if we just got up early enough. However, when we couldn't even book the tickets ahead, we had to accept that there would be no Porto for us.
    Instead, we chose to go to Setúbal, having read that it was only 50 minutes away and that trains ran at least hourly. It turned out that they didn't, so we decided to take a ferry to Cacilhas, from where busses were supposed to run every 15 minutes - no chance. Even after having traveled to different countries in Latin America and Asia, we couldn't believe how much information on public transportation varied and how wrong each of it was. Not even the employees at the ticket counters gave you right answers to your questions.
    After another little labyrinth to visit the peninsulas main attraction, the Cristo Rei, and out of pure frustration already waiting for the next ferry to bring us back to Lisbon, we found another little place called Copa da Caparica with a decent beach and gave it a try. We were absolutely amazed to get there and back without completely getting lost, so in the end at least that place was worth the trouble.
    We almost didn't care anymore about the frat party at the other side of the street (the third in five nights), which was so loud that it was hard to sleep. But still we were glad to be offered earplugs by a roommate.
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  • Frioul Island, Marseille

    16. Februar 2019 in Frankreich ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    I just had to create a second entry for today as otherwise I wouldn't have been able to fit in enough pictures of this beautiful island Mariano took me to. It's only a half an hour boot ride from Marseille and right next to a fortress. On the island itself there is a small (and, as we're here off-seasion, pretty deserted) town and a lot of stunning hiking routes. Most of all we saw loads of seagulls - all of them hunting a poor little bird :(Weiterlesen

  • Parc national des Calanques

    18. Februar 2019 in Frankreich ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    I can't tell how much I appreciate the recommendation to visit the Calanques. This national park consist of beautiful cliffs along finger-shaped bays of the Cote d'Azur. The views are breathtaking!
    We hiked around 15 km, starting at the fisherman's village of Cassis. More than once we got a little lost (our hiking guide gave orientation points like "green gates" - of which unfortunately there were about 10), but in the end we always found our way back onto the path. To wrap up the day we had some coffee and pastries while watching the sub slowly setting above the sea.Weiterlesen

  • Family & friends day(s)

    25. März 2019 in den Niederlanden ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    I finally got to see my cousin Ella again - for the first time after 5 years! She's here on a visit from the USA, where she had been living since age 11. As she's only going to be um Europe for a week, we decided to also travel a bit. We chose Amsterdam.
    Coincidentally, it turned out that I would even be able to meet some friends here. The first of them was Mandy, a friend from Monterrey who used to study in the Netherlands and now only came for a short visit.
    Ella and I joined a "free walking tour" in the afternoon and then went to some stores, just to be anywhere a little warmer. When Mandy arrived, we walked around a bit longer, got some waffles and then met two of Mandy's friends for dinner: Juan Carlos from Mexico and Anna from Russia
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  • Amsterdam arts

    26. März 2019 in den Niederlanden ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    Most of today we spent in the Rijksmuseum, a 4-floor museum full of Dutch art that was by far more than just Rembrandt and van Gogh. We had also tried to get into individual museum about those two, as well as the Anne Frank house, but apparently there's no chance if you haven't booked your tickets 3 days to 2 months upfront.
    We managed to meet Philipp (we didn't take a picture together, but he's included in some other blog entries) and some of his colleagues at the museum. Weird enough, one of those colleagues teaches at Ella's (not that huge) school - it's just a small world.
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  • Rothenburg & Tauber valley

    31. Mai 2020 in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    For the Pentecost weekend, Julia and I had planned to visit Berlin's Carnival of Cultures again (the 2018 edition was pretty amazing). Since it's Covid-19 year, however, we swapped this plan for an active weekend at Julia's (kind of great too ❤).
    This is day 1, an easy 15 km hike around Rothenberg ob der Tauber, along the mills at the river and to a beautiful lake called Lindleinsee.
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  • Close culture shocks

    16. Juni 2022 in Österreich ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    So Bovec (in the Soča valley, Slovenia) is calling again. Since it will be Julia's and my fifth time in the same place doing the same thing I am figuring I will not be posting a lot. Let's see though, I might still change my mind and open another designated trip after all 😁

    At least one thing is new: instead of taking the train down to Ulm (southern Germany) and go the remaining 6+ hours together with Julia by car, this time we meet all the way down in Villach, an Austrian town just a one-hour border crossing via Predel pass from our destination. I am currently switching trains in Salzburg and a little stunned by two (seen from outside potentially minor) things:
    1. All of my six trains (counting also the trams in Cologne and Munich) were one time or delayed by at most three minutes. Even with my heavy luggage - carrying equipment not only for kayaking, but also for climbing - I reached all my connecting trains. While as a non-German stereotypes may lead you to think of this as obvious ("German punctuality" and so on), this is indeed highly irregular. Turns out that in international comparison our trains are among the top-ranking regarding delays. And even when they are not delayed, they may change the schedule to an earlier departure and not even notify the train staff.
    2. My way to Austria and towards Slovenia took me through Bavaria - the most strict German state regarding Covid rules. Consequently, when using public transportation you are not only required to wear a face mask, but one of FFP2 standard. So in Salzburg, I boarded my final train, still wearing the FFP2 mask, only to discover that I was the only one. Apparently, without the outside world realizing, Austria has abolished masks altogether. I'm choosing to consider this a good sign indicating that we are finally about to put Covid behind us.

    In summary, my trip definitely starts with some little joys 🌞
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  • Family weekend to Chiemsee (1/2)

    30. Juni 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    A few years ago, my parents noticed that one of the only times they get to see both their daughters was at Christmas. To change that, we started to go one a weekend trip once a year. After an interruption due to Covid, we took up this tradition again.
    This year we meet at Chiemsee, the biggest lake in Bavaria. Our schedule includes a hike around Kampenwand, a sail across the lake and a stroll around the farms close to the village of Bernau.
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  • Volksfest Crailsheim

    16. September 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Ever heard of Oktoberfest? Probably you're thinking of the famous one in Munich. However, especially in the German south almost every town and village has its own Oktoberfest, a few of them almost as big as in Munich. For instance, Julia's (farther rural) town has the third biggest of them. Now that there are no Covid-based restrictions anymore, I finally got to attend it.Weiterlesen