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thedeadnotesofficial · 4 years

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Vienna (AT), 10.03.2020

We stayed at Mario‘s (Blackout Problems) flat last night in Munich. The former plan was to head off to Vienna at 8 am latest to have some spare time to hang out in the city, which when touring, rarely happens. Of course the early departure ended up being unrealistic , since we arrived at the accomodation very late last night again and the next morning our travel party of six need showers!

Anyway, smart like TM Darius is, he knows us too well and factored in spare time that we would still arrive on time even when leaving with 1:30 h delay. Genius!

We arrive in Vienna in the afternoon with still two hours left until load in and the usual set-up routine starts. Even though the latest news and updates regarding Coronavirus are making waves everywhere, all the shops, cafés and bars are still open.

We‘re relieved when we receive the news that our show tonight will still be going on even though the same day the Austrian government has passed a ban for events and public gatherings with more than 100 people.

The capacity at the beautiful 'Rhiz' is now limited to 99 people but to be honest, even without any restrictions I don‘t know how you could squeeze that many people into the small venue. At this point we‘re still not really worried about the whole situation but a little shook up by the news and updates that come in any minute.

We park the van right in front of the venue and split the travel party. Darius, Jakob and Paul found a cozy café via Google Maps that seems to have free wifi so they can set up their mobile office there and get some laptop work 'off their chests' like Paul uses to say.

Anton, Martin and I decide to just stroll around, do pointless shopping and errands and eventually we find a cozy place to hang out at and have a beer.

I really need to buy some 'natron' to get rid of my heartburn and also find a new film for my new but actually very antique analog camera. Unfortunately I only find the 'natron', so what. I wash down the whole packet with an extremly fizzy lemonade which turns out to be a really dumb idea. I can‘t stop burping but hey… at least the heartburn is gone.

We try to find a shop that sells postcards to send them to our friends and family back home. Easier said than done. However it‘s great to finally have the time on this tour to get all this done. Slowly the time is running out though and we still didn‘t have a beer.

Luckily we then find a small shop AND a bar right on the next street corner. The postcards there turn out to be unbelievably corny and the bar is showing horse racing on a massive screen, but we have low ambitions and very few demands so that‘s just fine. I know my grandma will be happy about a little update from her grandson too.

Obviously at this point we didn‘t know we would be back home way earlier than expected and at the same time as the postcard.

On the way back to the venue I get the impulse to photograph one of these totally ordinary tram stops. The same moment I whip out my cam and focus the scene through the viewfinder, the doors of a tram open and someone is screaming 'Oiiiiiiii!'. It's Paul & all the other guys waiting in the exact the tram I just photographed, so we try to squeeze in too. It‘s so packed that it‘s nearly impossible to move. In retrospect it‘s really no wonder that the virus spread so fast.

Every f‘n time we stick to the schedule, we just end up standing in front of closed doors. I sometimes feel like it‘s so common for bands to be late that many promoters don‘t even bother to arrive on the agreed time anymore.

It follows a very stressful backline set-up and soundcheck. In all this hectic rush the nice people in Nervus from the UK who are also playing tonight receive a parking ticket while they are standing only a few meters away from their van that is definitely neither disrupting the traffic nor a problem for anyone else than two bored cops. I try to help out as a translator between both parties but the officer doesn't want to hear it.

„They don‘t keep you safe!“

The awesome locals from Jeanny kick off the show tonight and play a great set. It‘s day 13 of the tour and i've now got huge blisters on my hands and fingers from drumming so much. Playing a headline tour with long sets each and every night is really something else. I go and tape my hands and try warm up for the set a little bit.

Literally every corner of the super small venue is packed with kids and next Nervus play an absolute killer set. I‘m pretty sure my whole kit is now detuned and my toms at least 50 Hz deeper due to Jack's intense drumming. Why am I am even bothering to tune them perfectly still. Haha. Anyway. It‘s the perfect evening. Our first headline show in Vienna ever and the kids are freaking out even though it‘s a Tuesday night!

After all the gear is loaded out and everyone says goodbye, we end the evening in style and go for a few canned beers and some bog-standard falafels from one of the Gürtel' shops nearby. And again it‘s late when we leave for Zock‘s flat, who is our good friend (forever!) and host (tonight!). Shout out to you buddy, you‘re the best.

Good night Vienna! We‘ll be the first ones who are back when they open the borders again! <3

Photos: Paul Ambrusch

#thedeadnotes #couragetour2020 #vienna #rhiz

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180abroad · 5 years

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Day 153: To Vienna

Today marked the end of our brief but enjoyable stay in Eastern Europe (the merciless heat notwithstanding) and our return to the German speaking world, which we had briefly touched back in Lucerne, Switzerland. The day started out well--sleeping in and reveling in the luxury of not feeling delirious with heat and sleep deprivation. The rest of the day proved nearly as pleasant, apart from a bit of stress on the train.

We took an Uber--Prague's metro is fine, but it's a perfect city for ridesharing--and made it to the train station with plenty of time to spare. Poking around, we saw a memorial to US president Woodrow Wilson, who played a significant role in the international recognition of Czechoslovakia as an independent country after WWI. I also found much less somber collection of "mapy" maps in the station's bookstore.

We didn’t have assigned seats for the ride and knew that the train was going to be crowded, so we made sure to find a spot on the platform where there wasn’t too many other people. Usually this works out for us. As the train pulled in, however, we realized that it was going to overshoot us completely.

Jogging through an increasingly dense crowd of other people who had been overshot, I managed to squeeze into the back coach of the train. We weren’t the first ones in, but we should at least be able to find some seats together. Right?

Well, no. Unlike most other trains we’d been on, this one had it’s first-class coach at the back. So we would have to move down to the next coach before even looking for seats. I thought about getting back out and walking down the platform, but the crowd was already oozing onto the train behind me and I didn't want to risk getting shut out.

We squeezed and shuffled my way to the next coach, which–of course–was more first-class seating and the dining area. I didn’t realize it, but at this point an attendant checked Jessica’s ticket and actually forced her to go back out the door and walk down to the second-class coaches. Apparently she didn’t want us riffraff even passing through first class.

The third coach was the beginning of second class, but it was already nearly full. I thought I had hit the jackpot with two empty seats right by the door. I had taken my backpack off and begun to wave at Jessica--who had caught back up with me--when I finally noticed the tiny electronic "reserved" indicator above the seats. Moving on…

The fourth coach's seats were unreserved but full up. The train had already started at this point, and we could barely move at all because of other people pushing in both directions to try to find seats as well.

After making our way through almost the entire train–and seeing plenty of duos coming the other way from the front–we gave up and settled for separate seats. So much for watching a movie along the way.

I took the fourth seat in a quartet occupied by a family of three Asian travelers. The mother gave me a polite smile, but I was certain that I was making them at least borderline uncomfortable. The nervous sweating certainly didn't help.

After about an hour of sitting as compactly and inconspicuously as I could manage, a seat opened up closer to where Jessica was sitting--one in a section of the coach where all of the seats faced the same way. I jumped on it. About an hour after that, my new partner detrained, and Jessica joined me. So at least we got to spend the last hour of the train together.

There wasn't any time for a movie at that point, but we were able to get some planning done. I also listened to a Rick Steves podcast about Viennese café etiquette.

Cafés are just as important in Vienna as they are in Paris or Rome, if not more so. Here, you enter into a space that's like a cross between a fancy restaurant and someone's living room, find a table, and sit down. Sooner or later, an extremely well-dressed and Germanically curt host will ask you what you want. If you want an espresso, you ask for a mocha. If you want a cappuccino, you as for a melange. If you want a latte, ask for a kaffee verkehrt (which literally means "coffee [made] wrong"). If you want something special, ask for an ice coffee, which is actually coffee with ice cream in it. For something a little zestier and more adult, a Maria Theresia is an espresso with a shot of orange liqueur and a topping of whipped cream.

Anyway, once we arrived in Vienna, things got easier. It was breezy, not too hot, and the train station was easy to get out of. We called an Uber and were at our flat about fifteen minutes after stepping off the train.

Our flat in Vienna wasn't the largest we stayed in, but it was a mansion compared to our place in Prague. For starters, the bed had its own room with a door separating it from the rest of the flat. Imagine that. And even with the sofa bed out, there was actually floor space left over for walking around.

Best of all, it had fans for both of us.

As I marveled, part of me wondered what it will feel like to be back in the States, where even my fairly modest bedroom is still bigger than some of the places Jessica and I have shared in Europe.

Our apartment building was nice, with a surprisingly modern elevator. It was elegant and ornate, but also slightly shabby--albeit in a mostly charming way. Which turned out to be a fairly fitting introduction to Vienna as a whole

The historic city center was about a 40-minute walk or 15-minute bus ride away from our flat. We had thought about going into town the first night--a great choice whenever time and energy allows it--but we decided to take it easy instead. We had a very busy week in Munich ahead of us, and we were still running on dangerously low batteries after the Great Krakow-Prague Heatwave.

Instead, we took a short walk down to a train station near our flat (not the one we'd arrived at earlier) and bought tickets for our next travel days. It was an automated kiosk, so on the one hand, we didn't have to worry about embarrassing ourselves in front of a local human. On the other hand, we didn't have a local human on hand to explain how the system worked. We figured it out quickly enough, though, and ended up buying tickets for the next two legs of our trip, which would take us to Munich. We actually could have booked our tickets within Germany too, but we wanted to do a bit more research first.

We walked back to our flat and picked up some groceries at the Billa literally right across the street from us. (Billa is an Austrian supermarket chain that we'd first run into in Prague.) Vienna is definitely a beer city and not a cider city. But luckily for me and Jessica, it is also a wine city. Apparently, it has the largest acreage of urban vineyards anywhere in Europe.

I grabbed a bottle of Grüner Veltliner–the main varietal grown in Austria. Neither of us had tried one before, but I had been curious about it for a long time. It turned out to be really good. It’s a light white wine, and ours had flavors of citrus and tart green apples.

Sipping Austrian wine in Vienna on a warm summer evening. How cool is that? After five months on the road, I sometimes needed to force myself to step back and appreciate just how amazing this trip really is.

After dinner, Jessica gave her brother Nic a call to wish him happy birthday. We would be meeting him in Amsterdam in less than a month. Which means that we would be heading home in just over a month. It was one thing to be halfway through the trip, or two-thirds through it. But to be five-sixths through was crazy. When we started, I didn’t know if I could do six months. Now, I wished I could keep doing this for another six months. Or at least three…

At the very least, I wouldn’t mind getting to sleep in my own bed and eating real California Mexican food. So there’s that. Oh yeah, and my friends and family. Them too, I guess.

Next Post: Vienna (The Habsburg Hustle)

Last Post: Prague Castle (and the Window that Sparked a War)

#180abroad #vienna #austria #travel day #reflection #trains #all seats reserved

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nic-and-annie-in-france · 6 years

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Belated Christmas Thoughts: Munich

Munich

When Annie and I arrived in France, we adjusted to the cultural idiosyncrasies of France. Or at least we tried to. We’re still drinking large cupfuls of coffee every morning, but we’re used to bringing our own bags to the grocery and buying baguettes regularly. Traveling to Germany brought its own adjustments. While the portion sizes were bigger (more American!), water was not free. People were friendly, but they said hello a lot less often. It almost felt antisocial not being showered in bonjours everywhere we went.

We arrived at our hostel in Munich after 45 stressful minutes trying to figure out which bus/metro to take in this unfamiliar German public transit system. We went to check in and found out the night attendant didn’t speak English. Through hand signals and gestures we learned we have to pay in cash, which we did not have on us. We deciphered from the attendant that there was an ATM a few blocks away. We set out to find it. We passed over the ATM several times because it sat in front of a parking garage and looked like a ticket dispenser. After a bit more wandering on the streets of Munich at night, we had our cash and were checked in to the hostel.

Breakfast

We knew the hostel had a breakfast, but we didn’t know what to expect. At the very least I knew it would be nice to wake up knowing we could eat without needing to navigate to a cafe. It turned out that the breakfast buffet was one of the highlights of our trip! The dinning room had two hot beverage dispensers: one for coffee/hot chocolate/water and one specifically for specialty coffee beverages. This alone would have made it great. But there were hard boiled eggs, fresh fruits, bowls of yogurt, jams (which came in mini-sugar cones), and several types of bread. Typical of a German breakfast, there were cold cuts, slices of cheese, and even cucumbers and tomatoes. They had milk, orange juice, a red fruit juice, and a bright green, slightly minty flower-flavored beverage called Waldmeister. Annie and I woke to this every morning. And we feasted.

The Feast!

Christmas Markets

Christmas markets are a big deal in Europe, particularly in Germany. City squares, wide streets, and parks are transformed into little Christmas villages. Vendors are set up in cozy, wooden stalls and usually have festive decorations. Christmas trees, ornaments, and lights adorn the pathways. People meander along, taking in the lights, trinkets, and smells, and the crowd is full of people doing the same thing and enjoying the whimsy of the Christmas market.

One night, Annie and I found a vendor set up in a round booth that looked like a merry-go-round, and they served grilled meat! It sounded like a good dinner to us, so we ordered a bratwurst and an adventwurst. We had no idea what the adventwurst would be like, but ’twas the season, after all. We were delighted to find out it was a delicious, spicy bratwurst.

Christmas markets in different regions also have their own special drink. In France it’s vin chaud. In Germany it’s Glühwein. In Copenhagen it’s gløgg. They’re all essentially hot, spiced wine. It’s as ubiquitous as hot apple cider at an outdoor event in Kentucky in the fall.

Several vendors in Munich sold Glühwein, but everyone we saw drinking it had a special ceramic mug. In France, Annie and I drank our vin chaud in cheap plastic cups for half the cost of this Glühwein. While it would have been nice to get a special mug out of it (or at least I thought so; Annie said we already have too many), we didn’t know if we were up to the challenge getting home in one piece. Eventually we realized you leave a deposit and, if you turn the mug back in, you get your deposit back. So we had our Glühwein without the stress about taking a breakable dish home.

Christmas market in Munich!

Christmas market at night!

Glühwein

Museums, Churches, and Palaces

As Annie and I tend to do when we travel, we visited a lot of art and history museums. One art museum had a whole section devoted to Flemish art. I wasn’t familiar with this art style, but enjoyed getting to experience something different. These museums also displayed a lot of religious medieval art. Many of these works showed biblical scenes with characters wearing what would have been contemporary dress at the time the painting was made. It would have been easy to pass these by, thinking the time period was medieval rather than Biblical, but the people viewing when it was first painted would have recognized their current style. I tried to image these scenes redone in today’s fashion: Roman guards in military fatigues and Jesus wearing a cardigan and jeans.

Annie and I visited several big, beautiful churches and the Royal Apartments in Munich. When we started our visit to the Royal Apartments, we still had two hours until they closed. One of the workers asked us if we would rather come back earlier the next day, since there are over 100 rooms in the palace. Annie and I took our chances. We didn’t see every room, but we saw all we wanted to. There were a few interesting and unique rooms, such as a long hall of Roman busts and statues and an atrium with seashell encrusted wall fountains. Several of the other rooms run together in my memory. High-ceilinged rooms with silk wallpaper and aristocratic furniture aren’t always that different. We took our time and enjoyed ourselves, but two hours was plenty of time for us to take in the fancy decor.

Shell-encrusted fountains

A royal bedroom

A Little Bit of America

My family celebrated Christmas in Kentucky on December 23. All my brothers and their families arrived at my parents’ house and brought presents to play Dirty Santa. If you’ve seen the Christmas episode of The Office’s second season, it pretty much sums up my feelings toward the game. That is to say, while Annie and I missed being with family on Christmas, we didn’t mind not being included in the game. My parent’s FaceTimed us so we could watch the rest of the family play. Despite not being there in person, Annie and I were happy we were able to see my family on our computer screen. My normally gentle and soft spoken father held the camera and gave us a spirited commentary of who was opening what and the drama that ensued. His play-by-play helped us feel at home even thought we were in Germany.

The next morning, the morning of Christmas Eve, Annie and I said goodbye to Munich by eating at a small American-style pancake restaurant. We both love pancakes, but they aren’t a breakfast staple in Europe like they are in America. At a time when it felt like everyone was “home for Christmas” except us, the pancakes brought a little bit of home to us in Germany. As one of my favorite Christmas traditions, my father makes a big spread of delicious breakfast food—eggs and cheese, biscuits, bacon, hash browns with onions and peppers, cinnamon rolls, muffins, and lots of coffee. Though the pancakes weren’t the smorgasbord my father usually puts out, they were our comfort food while we were away from our family during the holiday. And they even came with little American flags.

Red, White, and Blue(berry pancakes)

#nicolas #nic #travel

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cflaesgems16 · 7 years

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Grand Bisous

I am so grateful for my amazing, eight month long study abroad experience in Strasbourg, France. I met some great people and made friendships that will last a lifetime. I saw places in the world, I never thought I would see at such a young age. I have grown, personally and have learn many life lessons. Studying abroad is the best decision I have ever made in my life, and I am so thankful to my family and Bowling Green State University for allowing me this opportunity. For those of you thinking about studying abroad--DO IT! You will not regret it. But first, after reflecting on my time in Europe and my experiences (and even some regrets), here are sixteen tips, I think you will find useful.

1. Appreciate your host city/country

Get to know your host city/country, especially if you’re spending a long time abroad. This place will become your home. Learn about it’s history, it’s culture, it’s food. I love Strasbourg, it is truly such a diverse city. I especially fell in love with it’s Germanic culture and Christmas markets. I also, really love France! It’s crazy to see so much geographic diversity in one small country. I absolutely love the culture and I can’t wait to explore more of this amazing country in the future. Give your host city and host country the love it deserves! You don’t know what you have until it’s gone!

2. Travel alone/in a group/with an old friend/with a new friend

Travelling in all these different settings gives you a unique experience. I traveled alone, a lot and I really enjoyed that, because I had the freedom to do what I want. In a group, you lose that freedom, but you always have people to hang out with, and you can always break off into small couples and do things you want (like my trip to Italy). I went to Amsterdam with my friend Maya, she’s a friend from high school and she knows me and my personality, so it was great I got to share this experience with her. Sydney, who I met first semester, we went to Munich together and it was nice to have that one-on-one time to develop our friendship.

3. Keep a journal or blog (or both)

I know you’re going to be super busy while abroad, but keeping some sort of account of your time abroad is really useful. By having a public blog you can share with your friends and family what you're doing. It can also look good to future employers because it shows you have an understanding of blog websites which are becoming a popular marketing tactic. Also, you can look back on your blog when you’re back home and remember the awesome places you went.

It is also a good idea to keep a personal journal. That way you have somewhere to share your personal feelings. You can talk about school, your friends, vent if you're upset, angry, sad or stressed. It’s a more private place where you can record your challenges and how you overcame them.

4. Talk to people who don’t speak your native tongue/aren’t from your native country

During my time abroad, I noticed that people tend to group with other students from their native country or who spoke the same language as them. This is okay at first, especially since you're nervous about meeting new people and making friends, but don’t be afraid to branch out! Becoming friends with people from other countries not only gives you an opportunity to learn about their culture, but you can also visit them in the future, after your time abroad. For example, I’m planning to visit Jackie in Mexico after I graduate!

5. Plan your trips and vacations

I’ve always been a person who is very organized and plans everything! However, on my spring break trip to England, Ireland and Scotland I didn’t plan that much...and boy, I wish I had. By planning your trips, transportation, housing, and sites you want to see in advance, you can save yourself A LOT of money and time! I could’ve saved at least 500 euros if I had planned my spring break trip, a little better.

6. Stay safe

Obviously, this is a common tip, but I can’t stress this enough. Things are different abroad, cultures are different and you might be in a country that doesn’t speak English. I have heard many terrible stories from my friends about being followed, stalked and assaulted. Always be aware of your surroundings. If you’re taking public transportation at night, sit towards the front, so you’re close to the conductor. Make sure before going out for drinks at night your phone is charged, and you have a plan to get home. Trust me, you don’t want to be stranded alone at 5am waiting for the tram to go home. And always be sure that you are following the laws in your country, for example it’s illegal to have mace in France, so instead if you feel like you need something to protect yourself, carry around hair spray or aerosol deodorant.

7. Keep in touch with friends and family

You’re going to miss your friends and family, and they are totally going to miss you. Be sure to keep in touch, especially with your parents who definitely supported you so you could have this amazing opportunity. You can video chat via skype, Facetime, Whatsapp; message them through Facebook or Whatsapp; or even been old school and mail them postcards! I mailed my best friend Lydia, postcards from everywhere I went and she loved them.

8. Join a club or sport at your host university

This is one thing I regret not doing after studying abroad. By joining a club or sport at your host university, you can meet more people with similar interests. At EM Strasbourg, we didn’t mix with French students that much, if I had joined a club I could’ve met more people and practiced my French. Plus, joining a sport can help you not gain all the weight from eating and drinking all the amazing food in your host country.

9. Actually go to school, please

The first word in the phrase “study abroad” is “study”, so please actually go to class and take school seriously. Yes, my lectures at EM Strasbourg were 3 hours long per session and that was hard to get use to, but I went to all my classes and did well. I understand that you want to travel and go places all the time, but you’re there for school first, and exploring second. Plus, most schools understand this, and encourage that you travel so they will give you an additional free day (so every weekend is a long weekend).

10. Rest

Traveling every weekend is not only exhausting for your wallet but also your physical health. Make sure to give yourself a few breaks on the weekend and stay in your host city, binge watching Netflix and napping. You might feel guilty doing this, but your body will need to get rest. Sleeping on buses, trains and in airports really takes its toll. And you don’t want to be sick abroad, trust me even having the common cold is a bummer (especially since medicine may be extremely different and not as effective as the brands you find in your home country).

11. Don’t be afraid of hostels

One regret I have, is not staying in hostels as often. First, because they are a lot cheaper and usually closer to main tourist sites. They also may offer discounts to museums, and provide free or discounted tours, too. Lastly, you meet super cool people from all around the world, who may have similar interests as you and can offer advice on future travels. I met one of my great friends, Ben in a hostel in Lyon, we ended up going on the small trip to Annecy together which was unforgettable!

12. Say “yes” to (almost) everything

As long as you feel safe, and it’s nothing illegal, say “yes” to everything. New food; a spontaneous weekend trip; going to see a movie or going out for drinks. Saying “yes” and going out of your comfort zone is how you grow as a person and meet new people, and have new and exciting experiences.

13. Know you will change and accept it

Before I left for France, my friend Meredith who studied abroad during the summer told me I would change. At first, I didn’t believe her, I already enjoyed the person I was and the personality I had, so I didn’t think I would change that much. However, reflecting on my study abroad experience and the person I was eight months ago to who I am now, I have changed. I’m more focused on my goals, I’m more passionate and full of love and motivation. I’m itching to help people and help the world. I’m more patient, understanding and independent. I am nice to everyone and strangers on the street, because you never know when a smile or a simple “hello” to a stranger could help and change someone’s bad day into a good one. Honestly, I think these changes not only came from traveling alone, or being in a foreign country but from the experiences I had in everyday life in France as well as the friends I made. My friends were some of the biggest influencers, especially my best friend Jackie.

14. Try to speak/learn the language of your host country

In my opinion, nothing is more flattering to a person than attempting to learn and communicate in their native tongue. It shows that you are interested in their culture and are open to learning new things. Although it can be scary to speak a foreign language, try to speak it as much as you can to get the practice. At EM Strasbourg, we didn’t mix that much with french students so it was hard to practice my french. When I would do on solo trips, I tried my best to speak french, and yes at first I was very nervous and I did embarrass myself A LOT (I told my Uber driver in Paris that I loved him…). But practice makes perfect, and I’m sure the people you interact with will be willing to help you. The more you speak it, the better you’ll get at communicating. In second semester, when I was traveling alone and speaking french by myself, I noticed after a few days o just speaking french, I could carry on conversation with my Airbnb hosts, with ease!

15. It will be an adjustment at first

Things will be different in your host country and it could be frustrating at first. Getting all the appropriate paperwork settled, and opening my bank accounts and insurance was extremely stressful and overwhelming. But after a while you will get use to the flow of things in your host country. You’ll fall into a routine. You’ll remember to buy groceries on Saturday, since all the markets are closed on Sunday. You’ll learn the bus schedule and public transit schedule. It takes time and patience, and if you feel overwhelmed, vent! Vent to your friends back home, your family, your journal or even your classmates abroad, who are going through the same things as you!

16. Live in the moment

As someone who loves punctuality and planning, and being an American, my brain is always on and active; always thinking of “what’s next”. But while in Europe, I learned to stop and appreciate the moment. Whether it was walking through a park in Nancy, sipping a coffee near the cathedral in Strasbourg, looking at the end of the Earth at the Cliffs of Moher, or marveling at the ruins of Pompeii, I would stop and reflect. I would sometimes say a little pray and all-in-all just be thankful that I was in Europe seeing these amazing places, I only ever dreamed about. So, if you find yourself in a perfect little moment, stop for a few seconds and take it all in. The smell, the touch, the sight, the sounds and maybe the taste, too.

My eight months in France, honestly flew by. I thought it would be enough to explore all of Europe, but it wasn’t and I can’t wait to go back! I hope you’ve learned something from my travels, and hopefully I’ve inspired you to travel and provided you with quality advice and ideal destinations. Until next time. Grand bisous, Caroline xx

Je suis très reconnaissante pour mon extraordinaire expérience de huit mois à l'étranger à Strasbourg, en France. J'ai rencontré des gens formidables et j'ai fait des amitiés qui dureront toute une vie. J'ai vu des endroits dans le monde, je n'ai jamais pensé que je le verrais à un si jeune âge. J'ai grandi, personnellement, et j'ai appris beaucoup de cours de vie. Étudier à l'étranger est la meilleure décision que j'ai prise dans ma vie et je suis tellement reconnaissant à ma famille et à l'Université Bowling Green State pour m'avoir permis cette opportunité. Pour ceux d'entre vous qui pensent étudier à l'étranger - FAITES-LE! Vous ne le regretterez pas. Mais d'abord, après avoir réfléchi sur mon temps en Europe et mes expériences (et même quelques regrets), voici seize conseils, je pense que vous trouverez utile.

1. Êtes sensible à votre pays/ville organisateur

Apprenez à connaître votre ville/pays organisateur, surtout si vous dépensez longtemps à l'étranger. Cet endroit deviendra votre maison. En savoir plus sur l'histoire, c'est la culture, c'est de la nourriture. J'adore Strasbourg, c'est vraiment une ville si diversifiée. Je suis surtout tombé amoureux de la culture germanique et des marchés de Noël. J'aime vraiment la France! Il est fou de voir tant de diversité géographique dans un petit pays. J'adore la culture et j'attends pour explorer plus de cet incroyable pays à l'avenir. Donnez à votre ville organisateur et pays organisateur l'amour qu'il mérite! Vous ne savez pas ce que vous avez jusqu'à ce qu'il soit parti!

2. Voyagez seule/dans une groupe/avec un ami vieux/avec un ami nouvel

Voyager dans tous ces différents paramètres vous offre une expérience unique. J'ai voyagé seul, beaucoup et j'ai vraiment apprécié ça, parce que j'avais la liberté de faire ce que je voulais. Dans un groupe, vous perdez cette liberté, mais vous avez toujours des gens à traîner, et vous pouvez toujours vous séparer de petits couples et faire des choses que vous voulez (comme mon voyage en Italie). Je suis allé à Amsterdam avec mon ami Maya, elle est une amie du lycée et elle me connaît et ma personnalité, donc c'était génial je pourrais partager cette expérience avec elle. Sydney, que j'ai rencontré le premier semestre, nous sommes allés à Munich ensemble et c'était sympa d'avoir cette fois-ci pour développer notre amitié.

3. Écrivez un journal ou blog (ou le même)

Je sais que vous allez être très occupé à l'étranger, mais garder une sorte de compte rendu de votre séjour à l'étranger est vraiment utile. En ayant un blog public, vous pouvez partager avec vos amis et votre famille ce que vous faites. Cela peut aussi être bon pour les futurs employeurs, car cela montre que vous avez une compréhension des sites Web de blogs qui deviennent une tactique de marketing populaire. De plus, vous pouvez regarder en arrière sur votre blog lorsque vous rentrez chez vous et rappelez-vous les endroits géniaux où vous êtes allés.

C'est aussi une bonne idée de garder un journal personnel. De cette façon, vous avez quelque part pour partager vos sentiments personnels. Vous pouvez parler de l'école, de vos amis, si vous êtes en colère, triste ou stressé. C'est un endroit plus privé où vous pouvez enregistrer vos défis et comment vous les avez surmontés.

4. Parlez avec les gens qui ne dit pas votre langue/qui n’habite pas dans votre pays

Pendant mon séjour à l'étranger, j'ai remarqué que les gens ont tendance à se regrouper avec d'autres étudiants de leur pays d'origine ou qui ont parlé la même langue qu’eux. C'est d'accord au début, d'autant plus que vous êtes nerveux à l'idée de rencontrer de nouvelles personnes et de faire des amis, mais n'ayez pas peur de vous brancher! Devenir amis avec des gens d'autres pays ne vous donne pas seulement l'occasion de connaître leur culture, mais vous pouvez également les visiter à l'avenir, après votre séjour à l'étranger. Par exemple, j'ai l'intention de visiter Jackie au Mexique après mon diplôme!

5. Planifiez vos vacances et voyages

J'ai toujours été une personne très organisée et tout planifiée! Cependant, lors de mes vacances de printemps en Angleterre, en Irlande et en Ecosse, je n'avais pas prévu autant ... et pfff, j'aimerais avoir eu. En planifiant vos déplacements, votre logement et vos sites que vous souhaitez voir à l'avance, vous pouvez économiser beaucoup d'argent et de temps! J'aurais pu économiser au moins 500 euros si j'avais planifié mon voyage de printemps, un peu mieux.

6. Mettez sûr

Évidemment, c'est un conseil commun, mais je ne peux pas le souligner assez. Les choses sont différentes à l'étranger, les cultures sont différentes et vous pourriez être dans un pays qui ne parle pas l'anglais. J'ai entendu beaucoup d'histoires terribles de mes amis à propos d'être suivis, harcelés et agressés. Toujours être conscient de votre environnement. Si vous prenez des transports publics la nuit, asseyez-vous vers l'avant, vous êtes donc proche du contrôleur. Assurez-vous avant de sortir pour les boissons la nuit, votre téléphone est chargé et vous avez un plan pour rentrer à la maison. Croyez-moi, vous ne voulez pas être bloqué seul à 5 heures du matin en attendant que le tram soit rentré à la maison. Et assurez-vous toujours que vous suivez les lois de votre pays, par exemple, il est illégal d'avoir du gaz lacrymogène en France, donc, si vous sentez que vous avez besoin de quelque chose pour vous protéger, transportez la laque à cheveux ou désodorisants en aérosol.

7. Restez en contact avec votre famille et amis

Ils vous manquent vos amis et votre famille et vous les manquez totalement. Assurez-vous de rester en contact, en particulier avec vos parents qui vous ont soutenus afin que vous puissiez avoir cette incroyable opportunité. Vous pouvez faire un chat vidéo via skype, Facetime, Whatsapp; les envoyer les messages sur Facebook ou Whatsapp; ou même été vieille école et leur envoyer des cartes postales! J'ai envoyé ma meilleure amie Lydia, des cartes postales de partout où je suis allé et elle les aimait.

8. Devenez un membre d’organisation ou un sport à votre université étrangère

C'est une chose que je regrette de ne pas faire après avoir étudié à l'étranger. En rejoignant un club ou un sport dans votre université étrangère, vous pouvez rencontrer plus de personnes ayant des intérêts similaires. À EM Strasbourg, nous ne avons pas melange avec les étudiants français, si j'avais joint un club, j'aurais rencontré plus de gens et pratiquer mon français. De plus, rejoindre un sport peut vous aider à ne pas prendre tout le poids de manger et de boire tous les aliments incroyables dans votre pays organisateur.

9. Allez aux vos cours, si vous plait

Le premier mot dans la phrase «étudier à l'étranger» est «étudier», alors, s'il vous plaît, partez en classe et prenez l'école au sérieux. Oui, mes cours à EM Strasbourg ont duré 3 heures par session et c'était difficile, mais je suis allé à toutes mes cours et j'ai bien réussi. Je comprends que vous voulez voyager et faire des places tout le temps, mais vous êtes là pour l'école d'abord et en explorant le deuxième. De plus, la plupart des écoles comprennent cela et encouragent votre voyage afin qu'ils vous donnent une journée gratuite supplémentaire (donc chaque week-end est un long week-end).

10. Restez

Voyager chaque week-end n'est pas seulement épuisant pour votre portefeuille, mais aussi votre santé physique. Assurez-vous de vous donner quelques pauses le week-end et de rester dans votre ville organisateur, en regardant Netflix et la sieste. Vous pourriez vous sentir coupable de faire cela, mais votre corps devra se reposer. Dormir dans les bus, les trains et dans les aéroports prend vraiment son péage. Et vous ne voulez pas être malade à l'étranger, croyez-moi même si le rhume est un bummer (surtout que la médecine peut être extrêmement différente et pas aussi efficace que les marques que vous trouvez dans votre pays d'origine).

11. N’avez pas peur des auberges

Un regret que j'ai, ne reste plus souvent dans les auberges. Tout d'abord, parce qu'ils sont beaucoup moins chers et habituellement plus proches des principaux sites touristiques. Ils peuvent aussi offrir des réductions sur les musées et proposer gratuitement des excursions à prix réduit. Enfin, vous rencontrez des gens super cool du monde entier, qui peuvent avoir des intérêts similaires à ceux que vous et pouvez vous conseiller sur les voyages à venir. J'ai rencontré un de mes grands amis, Ben dans une auberge à Lyon, nous avons fini par faire un petit voyage à Annecy qui était inoubliable!

12. Dites “oui” à (presque) tout

Tant que vous vous sentez en sécurité, et ce n'est rien d'illégal, dites «oui» à tout. Nouvelle nourriture; Un voyage de week-end spontané; Aller voir un film ou sortir pour boire un verre. Dire «oui» et sortir de votre zone de confort est la façon dont vous grandissez en tant que personne et rencontrez de nouvelles personnes, et avez des expériences nouvelles et passionnantes.

13. Saviez que vous changerez et l’acceptez

Avant de partir pour la France, mon amie Meredith qui a étudié à l'étranger pendant l'été m'a dit que je changerais. Au début, je ne l'ai pas cru, j'ai déjà apprécié la personne que j'étais et la personnalité que j'avais, alors je ne pensais pas que je changerais autant. Cependant, en réfléchissant sur mon expérience à l'étranger et la personne que j'avais il y a huit mois à qui je suis maintenant, j'ai changé. Je suis plus concentré sur mes objectifs, je suis plus passionné et plein d'amour et de motivation. Je me passionne pour aider les gens et aider le monde. Je suis plus patiente, compréhensive et indépendante. Je suis gentille avec tout le monde et les étrangers dans la rue, parce que vous ne savez jamais quand un sourire ou un simple «bonjour» à un étranger pourrait aider et changer la mauvaise journée de quelqu'un dans une bonne. Honnêtement, je pense que ces changements ne viennent pas seulement de voyager seul ou d'être dans un pays étranger, mais des expériences que j'ai eu dans la vie quotidienne en France ainsi que les amis que j'ai faits. Mes amis ont été parmi les plus influents, en particulier ma meilleure amie Jackie.

14. Essayez parler la langue/apprenez la langue de votre pays organisateur

À mon avis, rien n'est plus flatteur pour une personne que de tenter d'apprendre et de communiquer dans leur langue maternelle. Cela montre que vous êtes intéressé par leur culture et qu'ils sont ouverts à apprendre de nouvelles choses. Bien qu'il puisse être effrayant de parler une langue étrangère, essayez de le dire autant que vous le pouvez pour obtenir la pratique. À EM Strasbourg, nous ne mélangeons pas autant avec les étudiants français, donc c'était difficile de pratiquer mon français. Quand je ferais des voyages individuels, j'ai fait de mon mieux pour parler français, et oui, j'étais d'abord très nerveux et j’ai embrasse moi-même beaucoup (j'ai dit à mon conducteur d'Uber à Paris que je l'aimais ...). Mais la pratique est parfaite et je suis sûr que les personnes avec lesquelles vous interagissez seront disposées à vous aider. Plus vous parlez, mieux vaut vous communiquer. Au deuxième semestre, lorsque je voyageais seul et que je parlais en français par moi-même, j'ai remarqué, après quelques jours, que je parlais français, je pourrais entretenir la conversation avec mes hôtes Airbnb.

15. Ce sera un ajustement, au début

Les choses seront différentes dans votre pays organisateur, et cela pourrait être frustrant au début. Obtenir toutes les formalités appropriées réglées, et ouvrir mes comptes bancaires et l'assurance était extrêmement stressante et écrasante. Mais après un certain temps, vous allez utiliser le flux de choses dans votre pays organisateur. Vous allez tomber dans une routine. Vous vous souviendrez d'acheter des épiceries samedi, car tous les marchés sont fermés dimanche. Vous apprendrez le calendrier de bus et le calendrier de transport en commun. Il faut du temps et de la patience, et si vous vous sentez débordé, faites-le vent! Entrez vos amis à la maison, à votre famille, à votre journal ou même à vos camarades de classe à l'étranger, qui font face aux mêmes choses que vous!

16. Vivez dans la moment

Comme quelqu'un qui aime la ponctualité et la planification, et étant un Américaine, mon cerveau est toujours actif; Toujours en train de penser à "quoi de suite". Mais en Europe, j'ai appris à arrêter et à apprécier le moment. Que ce soit en parcourant un parc à Nancy, en sirotant un café près de la cathédrale de Strasbourg, en regardant le bout de la terre aux falaises de Moher, ou en s'émerveillant des ruines de Pompéi, je m'arrêterais et réfléchirais. Je dis parfois un peu de prière et tout-en-tout, je suis reconnaissant que j'étais en Europe en voyant ces endroits étonnants, je n'ai jamais rêvé. Donc, si vous vous trouvez dans un petit moment parfait, arrêtez-vous pendant quelques secondes et prenez tout. L'odeur, le toucher, la vue, les sons et peut-être le goût aussi.

Mes huit mois en France ont honnêtement volé. Je pensais qu'il suffirait d'explorer toute l'Europe, mais ce n'était pas le cas et j'attends peu de revenir en arrière! J'espère que vous avez appris quelque chose de mes voyages, et j'espère que je vous ai inspiré pour voyager et vous ai fourni des conseils de qualité et des destinations idéales. Jusqu'à la prochaine fois. Grand bisous, Caroline xx

#strasbourg #france #europe #study abroad #college #university #erasmus #em strasbourg #university of strasbourg #amazing #adventure #travel #memories #friendship #unforgettable #tips #bisous

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travelguy4444 · 6 years

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7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe

Updated: 6/26/18 | June 26th, 2018

Traveling around Europe can be fairly expensive. Airline tickets, high-speed trains, overnight trains, ferries – they can all eat into your limited and precious travel budget. I mean you came to spend money on delicious food and wine, not transportation!

However, there are a few recent trends that have helped travelers get around Europe cheaper: weaker currency exchange rates, the rise of the sharing economy, new bus options, and lots of new budget airlines.

The 7 Best Ways To Travel Europe Cheap

Travelling Europe by Megabus

Megabus is a cheap way to get around the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales) as well as to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Tickets can cost as little as 1 GBP if you book at least a month in advance on popular routes to get these fares. However, even if you don’t scoop up these amazingly cheap deals, you can still travel for a more reasonable price than on the national bus system, as fares rarely top 20 GBP. I recently took a 5 GBP bus from London to Bristol. (The train? 45 GBP!) That ticket was only bought the day before too! Additionally, Megabus also operates trains to some destinations around the UK, starting at 10 GBP. Megabus is definitely the cheapest way to get around the UK and now is also the cheapest way to get to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam.

Travelling Europe by Busabout

Busabout is a hop-on/hop-off bus service primarily used by backpackers, similar to the Oz or Kiwi Experience in Australia and New Zealand, respectively. You can get on and off whenever you want along one of their set routes. You can buy tickets that let you travel their whole network with a set number of stops. For example, a nine-day flex-pass, which gives you nine stops from your starting city. The only downside to Busabout is that if you want to visit a city not on their route, you have to make your own way there at an added cost. A lot of backpackers use this method of travel to get around as well as meet other travelers. The pass also comes with a guide and sometimes include group activities. A two-week pass is $299 USD. If you figure you can visit about 6 cities in two weeks, that’s $50 a trip. When you consider the soft benefits of a guide, included trips, and meeting people, Busabout becomes price comparable to trains and flights, though still more expensive than a regular public bus! Their unlimited passes for $1,499 for 6 months of travel is the best long-term transportation deal.

Travelling Europe by Flixbus

Over the last few years, a new company has come on the market that has totally changed the bus system in Europe! German based Flixbus has routes in 20 European countries and thousands of cities with prices starting as low 5 EUR. Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, up to three 3 free bags, and comfy seats. It’s essentially Megabus, but less sucky and for the whole of continental Europe. Flixbus quickly became my favorite non-train way to get across Europe cheaper after it came out. It’s the best and cheapest way to get around continental Europe!

Another option is to take Eurolines. Every country in Europe has its own national bus service but for international long distance bus routes, they sort of combine into the umbrella company, Eurolines. While they serve more destinations than Flixbus, I prefer the comfort and prices of Flxibus if I have a choice between the two. Eurolines prices usually start at around 20 Euros for a 5-6 hour journey.

Travelling Europe by Budget Airline

By far one of the cheapest ways to travel long distance in Europe is by budget airline. These airlines are hugely prolific on the continent and competition leads to incredibly cheap fares. You can often find fares as cheap as 1 Euro. When I need to go somewhere and I don’t want to take a long bus or train journey, I fly budget airlines. My favorite budget airlines are:

Vueling

Ryanair

Easyjet

Aigle Azur

Wow Air

Eurowings

Flybe

Norwegian Air

Wizz Air

I use Skyscanner and Momondo to search for the best deals. They do all the legwork for ya!

It’s important to remember that these budget airlines make most of their money through fees, and the second you mess up, they whack you with a fee. They are very strict about baggage limits or forgetting to print out your boarding pass. Be sure to follow their rules to the letter. Sometimes these budget airlines cost more money because of all their fees so if you’re traveling with a lot of bags, it may be cheaper to fly with one of the larger airlines (which have also lowered their fares in the face of tough competition).

For more information, here is a complete guide to finding cheap flights around Europe.

Travelling Europe With A Eurail Pass

Getting a rail pass is a good option if you are going to be traveling across vast distances and don’t want to fly. The European rail system is one of the best and most extensive in the world. I love traveling by train. Sitting in a big seat, relaxing with a book, and watching the stunning landscape go by. It’s more comfortable than a bus and much less stressful than air travel.

If you’re going to travel by train, it’s hard to beat them on price and convenience for short city to city travel. For longer journeys (overnight journeys, between countries, or rides that require a high-speed line like Paris to Bordeaux or Berlin to Munich), trains tend to be very expensive. If you plan to travel around Europe in a grand tour, a rail pass is your best money saving travel option. Your cost per trip will be a lot lower than if you were to buy these tickets separately.

For more information, here is a complete breakdown of Eurail passes and when they should be used to save money.

Travelling Europe Using BlaBlaCar

The rise of the sharing economy has allowed people to hop a ride with locals going their way, and BlaBlaCar is the reigning king of this service. Hugely popular and widespread in Europe, I’ve used this service many times. This website lets you rideshare with people who have extra space in their car. You find a ride, they agree to take you, and off you go. You can find rides for as little as 5 Euros. It is the best, BEST paid way to get around Europe. You get to meet a local, have a friendly conversation, save tons of money over bus and train travel, and get off the highways and more the countryside.

Alternatively, there are websites where you can ask for rides so long as you pitch in for gas. Gumtree is the most popular among backpackers.

The Cheapest Way To Travel Europe: Hitchhiking

The best way to travel Europe cheap is to not pay for it. Hitching is quite common in Europe, and I’ve met a number of travelers who have done it. I myself traveled this way in Bulgaria. It’s important to use your head when hitchhiking.

***

There are a lot of ways to get around Europe on a budget. But what’s the best way for your trip? MIX AND MATCH YOUR TRANSPORTATION. The key to traveling around Europe on the cheap is to know when to use each one of the listed transportation methods. For short trips, I like trains and BlaBlaCar. For medium length trips (half a day), I’ll take a bus, BlaBlaBla car, or train. For long distances, I fly, take a high-speed train, or overnight buses. If you have no preference on how you travel – you just want the cheapest – use a website like Rome2Rio. All you have to do is enter where you are going and they will find all the ways to get there and list the prices for each method.

When you are looking for cheap ways to travel Europe, use the transportation options above that suit your needs and you’ll always get the best deal!

Next step: keep planning your trip to Europe with these articles:

Continent-Wide Europe Travel Guide

The Cost of Western Europe Travel

The Cost of Traveling Eastern Europe

Is a Eurail Pass Worth the Cost?

Photo Credits: 2, 4

The post 7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

source https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/cheap-ways-to-travel-across-europe-2/

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melissagarcia8 · 6 years

Text

7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe

Updated: 6/26/18 | June 26th, 2018

The 7 Best Ways To Travel Europe Cheap

Travelling Europe by Megabus

Travelling Europe by Busabout

Travelling Europe by Flixbus

Travelling Europe by Budget Airline

Vueling

Ryanair

Easyjet

Aigle Azur

Wow Air

Eurowings

Flybe

Norwegian Air

Wizz Air

I use Skyscanner and Momondo to search for the best deals. They do all the legwork for ya!

For more information, here is a complete guide to finding cheap flights around Europe.

Travelling Europe With A Eurail Pass

For more information, here is a complete breakdown of Eurail passes and when they should be used to save money.

Travelling Europe Using BlaBlaCar

Alternatively, there are websites where you can ask for rides so long as you pitch in for gas. Gumtree is the most popular among backpackers.

The Cheapest Way To Travel Europe: Hitchhiking

***

When you are looking for cheap ways to travel Europe, use the transportation options above that suit your needs and you’ll always get the best deal!

Next step: keep planning your trip to Europe with these articles:

Continent-Wide Europe Travel Guide

The Cost of Western Europe Travel

The Cost of Traveling Eastern Europe

Is a Eurail Pass Worth the Cost?

Photo Credits: 2, 4

The post 7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/cheap-ways-to-travel-across-europe-2/

0 notes

theladyjstyle · 6 years

Photo

Updated: 6/26/18 | June 26th, 2018

The 7 Best Ways To Travel Europe Cheap

Travelling Europe by Megabus

Travelling Europe by Busabout

Travelling Europe by Flixbus

Travelling Europe by Budget Airline

Vueling

Ryanair

Easyjet

Aigle Azur

Wow Air

Eurowings

Flybe

Norwegian Air

Wizz Air

I use Skyscanner and Momondo to search for the best deals. They do all the legwork for ya!

For more information, here is a complete guide to finding cheap flights around Europe.

Travelling Europe With A Eurail Pass

For more information, here is a complete breakdown of Eurail passes and when they should be used to save money.

Travelling Europe Using BlaBlaCar

Alternatively, there are websites where you can ask for rides so long as you pitch in for gas. Gumtree is the most popular among backpackers.

The Cheapest Way To Travel Europe: Hitchhiking

***

There are a lot of ways to travel around Europe on a budget. But what’s the best way for your trip? MIX AND MATCH YOUR TRANSPORTATION. The key to traveling around Europe on the cheap is to know when to use each one of the listed transportation methods. For short trips, I like trains and BlaBlaCar. For medium length trips (half a day), I’ll take a bus, BlaBlaBla car, or train. For long distances, I fly, take a high-speed train, or overnight buses. If you have no preference on how you travel – you just want the cheapest – use a website like Rome2Rio. All you have to do is enter where you are going and they will find all the ways to get there and list the prices for each method.

When you are looking for cheap ways to travel Europe, use the transportation options above that suit your needs and you’ll always get the best deal!

Next step: keep planning your trip to Europe with these articles:

Continent-Wide Europe Travel Guide

The Cost of Western Europe Travel

The Cost of Traveling Eastern Europe

Is a Eurail Pass Worth the Cost?

Photo Credits: 2, 4

The post 7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe https://ift.tt/2Iuy55x

#Nomadic Matt's Travel Site digital nomad

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years

Text

How to Plan a German Christmas Market Trip

Last year, I spent a week hopping around Germany’s Bavaria region in December, exploring several different Christmas markets. What a great trip! I knew I’d have fun, but I was genuinely surprised at what a relaxing and delightful week it was. How could you not enjoy a week of holiday spirit, mulled wine, and delicious food?

At the time I wrote a post showcasing my favorite parts of the trip, but I pointed out that it was December and it would make more sense to publish a trip planning post in September or so. And here we are!

Why plan a German Christmas markets trip?

I’m not super-big on Christmas. As an American, I find that most of our country’s Christmas events revolve around two things: children and consumerism. If it’s not about Santa and reindeer taking center stage, it’s about trying to get you to spend as much money as possible, stressed-out shoppers swarming as cheesy Christmas music blasts in every direction. (I like exactly one Christmas song and it’s “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway. “Dominick the Donkey” can jump off a cliff and die.)

If you’re looking for an adult-oriented Christmas activity, your two choices are watching Love, Actually and drinking your face off at an office Christmas party.

That’s not the case in Germany. German Christmas markets are located in virtually every town. Though they have their share of children’s sections and goods for sale, these markets are first and foremost for adults looking to have a good time. They’re about eating delicious food, munching on lebkuchen (gingerbread) and drinking glühwein (mulled wine) or kinderpunsch (nonalcoholic fruit punch). They’re about spending a jolly good time with your friends — but they’re not about getting drunk.

My German friends tell me that starting in late November, nobody goes out to bars — everyone just meets at the market!

Here are my tips for planning a German Christmas markets trip:

Spend time researching the best Christmas markets in Germany.

If you’re planning a Christmas markets trip, make sure to hit up one of the best ones. I encourage you to do your own research and see what appeals to you personally, but here are some of the notable ones:

Nuremberg is home to the largest Christmas market in the world.

Dresden is home to the oldest Christmas market in the world.

Berlin has more than 60 different Christmas markets; Munich has more than 30.

Konstanz is famous for its stunning location on the banks of Lake Constance, the Alps in the background.

There are LGBT-oriented Pink Markets in Munich, Frankfurt, and Cologne.

Plan a trip for late November through December 23.

Germany’s Christmas markets usually start around November 20-25 or so, and the final date is almost always December 23, as Germans celebrate Christmas on December 24. Double-check the dates before you book your trip. Whatever you do, don’t come to Germany and expect markets to stick around after Christmas!

Concentrate on one region in Germany and explore it in depth.

As tempting as it may be to cover Germany from corner to corner, I recommend planning a trip concentrated on one region. Distances will be shorter, but there will still be a lot of variety in the cities and towns you visit, and you’ll get to know the nuances of a region and the slight variations in the different towns.

I recommend basing from two or three cities and using the train to make day trips.

Get a German Rail Pass.

Take it from me — the best way to travel Germany is by train! I absolutely love traveling Europe by train and Germany has some of the nicest trains on the continent.

Getting a German Rail Pass can be a great way to save money. You can either get a pass that covers 3-15 days of unlimited travel or get 3-15 days of train travel within a month. I recommend the latter. For my trip (see the itinerary below), a pass for 5 days of rail within a month would cover all the trains I needed.

In Germany you don’t need to book reservations on most trains, so you can simply show up at the station, hop on a train, and show your pass to the conductor when he or she comes by. That’s a big difference from France or Spain, where you often have to book trains in advance and pay a supplemental fee, even with a pass.

Even so, it’s a good idea to plan out your journeys in advance and price them out on bahn.de, Germany’s rail site. It might be cheaper to buy tickets individually or just buy the rail pass to cover the long journeys while paying for cheap short journeys out of pocket.

Visit small towns as well as cities.

Over the years I’ve noticed that American tourists visiting Europe tend to travel from major city to major city, concentrating on the big names and ignoring the smaller towns. European tourists are different, however — they tend to visit one major city and travel around the surrounding region. For exploring Christmas markets, take the European approach.

Many of my German friends tell me they prefer the Christmas markets in smaller cities, as they tend to be less congested.

Don’t think that for a Germany trip you need to visit Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg. You could concentrate on Munich and visit Augsburg, Regensburg, Passau, and Nuremberg. You could concentrate on Berlin and visit Potsdam, Leipzig, and Dresden. You could concentrate on Hamburg and visit Lübeck and Bremen.

As much as I enjoyed Bamberg and Passau, I haven’t visited as many small towns in Germany as I’d have liked to — some high on my list Rothenberg ob der Tauber, Quedlinburg and Trier.

Try each town’s local delicacies.

Each German town has its own food specialties, whether it’s a certain kind of sausage or a baked good you’d struggle to find elsewhere. Try them all! Any dish that has the name of the town in it is usually a local dish. Not sure? Ask! Most Germans speak at least a little bit of English and all Germans are eager to show off their towns.

Each town has its own handicrafts, too. The prune people, pictured above, are a specialty of Nuremberg and can be found throughout Bavaria.

Dress warmly and wear good shoes.

The forecast might not look too cold, especially if you’re used to freezing winters, but the cold compounds when you’re outside for hours at a time. Likewise, you’ll be standing for hours, and you’ll want your feet to be as comfortable as possible. This is a trip for your heaviest winter coat, gloves, scarves, hats, thick socks.

I am a huge fan of Speakeasy Travel Supply scarves, which have a secret passport pocket and are ideal for travel. Get 10% off with the code ADVKATE.

Consider investing in smartphone gloves, which allow you to keep your fingers warm while Instagramming away.

For shoes, you don’t have to wear sneakers — but wear shoes that are warm and have good support. I wore knee-high leather boots most days.

Collect the glühwein mugs!

Glühwein is the primary beverage of German Christmas markets, and each year, the cities create new designs for their mugs. When you order glühwein, you pay a small deposit for the mug — usually around two euros. You can return the mug if you’d like and get your deposit back, or you can keep it! They make great souvenirs to bring home.

I would love to have a Christmas party at my place this year. We’ll see if that actually happens, but if I do, I am going to have everyone drinking out of my glühwein mugs!

If you see something weird…buy it!

You’ll see the occasional weird and awesome item for sale at a Christmas market, buy it! Don’t assume you can find one in the next town — you might not see another one again. And I guarantee you will find a use for it, or a friend for whom it’s a perfect gift.

One of my regrets is that I didn’t buy any of the hunky merman ornaments for sale at the Pink Market in Munich. At the time, I told myself, “What are you even going to do with that, Kate?” Well, I bet you I would have found a use for it!

My Bavaria Christmas Market Itinerary

Last year I traveled around Bavaria, which is a beautiful part of Germany. I joke that Bavaria is the “Texas of Germany” — it’s home to traditions like beer steins and lederhosen that people tend to associate with all of Germany but happen to be Bavarian, not German. You see lederhosen in Berlin about as often as you see cowboy hats in New York — it’s not a thing there.

Bavaria is absolutely gorgeous, though. Rolling hills and rivers in the countryside. Pastel-colored old towns. Gothic churches. And plenty of biergartens and beer halls! Bavaria by no means represents all of Germany, but if you want to concentrate on one region, it’s a terrific choice. Here was my itinerary:

Two nights in Munich spent at a conference

Three nights in Nuremberg, including a day trip to Bamberg

One night in Regensburg

One night in Passau

One more night in Munich

This itinerary worked well, but I’m not the biggest fan of switching accommodation frequently, so I would recommend spending two nights in Regensburg and doing a day trip to Passau instead. Another Bavarian city that I love is Augsburg; I recommend adding it to your itinerary if you have extra time.

Essential Info: I flew in and out of Munich and traveled by train throughout Bavaria. My tickets were purchased a la carte, but you might save money with a Eurail (non-EU resident) or Interrail (EU resident) pass or the German Rail Pass, which is strictly for Germany. I recommend pricing out your legs and comparing the total cost. Don’t forget day trips! Germany is one of the best countries to use rail passes because you almost never have to pay additional reservation fees for the fast trains, unlike France, Italy, and Spain. Plus, if you’re over 26, you’re automatically in first class.

For a Christmas market trip or a trip where you’re doing lots of day trips, I find it best to stay in a hotel within a short walk of the train station (especially in small towns) because it will make your life a million times easier.

In Munich I stayed at the Hotel Präsident, a good, central three-star close to the main train station and in walking distance of a lot of Munich attractions. Rates from 192 EUR ($199). I also stayed at the Westin Grand Munich Hotel, an excellent five-star business hotel, but it’s not in the center of town; it’s well connected by U-bahn though. Rates from 438 EUR ($516). Find more Munich hotels here.

In Nuremberg I stayed at the Congress Hotel Mercure Nürnberg, which I do not recommend because it’s isolated and far from everything (11-minute walk to U-bahn or 14 EUR ($16.50) taxi to the train station), and one night the front desk gave my key out to a stranger who barged into my room. (Always double-lock your door!!!) The manager was good about making things right, but I wouldn’t stay there again because of the location. Rates from 94 EUR ($111). Find other Nuremberg hotels here.

In Regensburg I stayed at the Hotel Central Regensburg City Centre, which was spacious, comfortable, close to the train station and a short walk from the old town. Rates from 84 EUR ($99). Find more Regebsurg hotels here.

In Passau I stayed at the IBB Hotel Passau City Centre, a good mid-range hotel, which was right across from the train station and a short walk from the old town. Rates from 75 EUR ($88). Find more Passau hotels here.

Don’t visit Germany without travel insurance. I use and recommend World Nomads. On this trip I had to visit the hospital after hitting my head and sustaining a concussion. The ER I visited in Munich, Klinikum der Universität München, charges non-EU insurance-holding residents 300 EUR ($353), but because I use World Nomads, I got that money refunded!

Have you been to Germany’s Christmas markets? What tips would you give?

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