November 13, 2015

Krakow - A Photo Diary

November 13, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

Over the course of our long weekend, we were able to explore a lot of Krakow, especially the old town. Our hotel gave us some really good recommendations of places to eat, and where to get the best Pierogi. And on our last morning there, we decided to do one of the free walking tours that are offered. We chose this company since they offer a lot of different tours, and at really convenient times. We also checked out a local flea market and many of the local shops. So, instead of writing a bunch of words about what we did, where we ate, and what we saw, I'm just going to post a bunch of pictures. Think of it as travel porn - cause Krakow is absolutely beautiful and one place I would definitely recommend visiting!

April 24, 2015

6 Things To Do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

April 24, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

This past weekend we took a quick overnight getaway to the famous German town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It is probably one of the most popular and quaint German towns you will ever see, and for good reason. This small walled city is oozing with medieval charm. From the half timbered houses, to the uneven cobbled stone streets, to the ancient walls that surround this city, there is so much to explore. Around every corner is a new sight or alley to explore, but I think the best way to experience Rothenburg is to spend the night there.

April 07, 2015

Exploring Amsterdam

April 07, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

After we finished our visit to the Anne Frank house, Mitch and Carrie and Aaron and I had a couple of hours to explore Amsterdam. We started by grabbing lunch at a small cafe near the Anne Frank house. We all had a famous Dutch dish: half smoked sausage with bread and french fries. It was delicious! Let me tell you, these Europeans really know how to cook a potato.

After lunch, we decided that one of the best ways to see the city was from its famous canals. We hopped on one of the canal tours that departed from near the Anne Frank house. From there, we traveled around the city and saw some of the more famous sites. Amsterdam looks much the same from the water

January 21, 2015

Exploring Pilsen: The Pilsner Urquell Brewery

January 21, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

The morning after our beer bathing experience, we headed on to Pilsen. It was only 45 minutes from Chodovar Plana and made for a nice way to extend our long weekend in the Czech Republic. I had booked us a hotel in the city center of Pilsen, but due to the opening ceremonies of the European Capital of Culture festivities that weekend, car traffic was restricted. Thankfully, there was a parking structure not far away. Our first stop when we got into Pilsen was the Pilsner Urquell brewery. We had planned ...

December 05, 2014

The Speyer Cathedral

December 05, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

Five years ago, when Aaron and I vacationed in Germany after graduating from Michigan Tech, we visited a lot of cathedrals and drank a lot of German beer. We have since dubbed that trip ''The Beer and Cathedral Tour of Germany.'' On the Sunday after we returned from the Philippines, the tour continued. We visited the town of Speyer (pronounced Schpi-er), known for being an ancient city (founded by the Romans) and for having a very impressive Cathedral. Thankfully, it was close to home (only about 20 minutes from Mannheim). A few weeks ago, I had visited the city with work colleagues. I thought it was really cool and wanted to go back with Aaron, so we did.

October 06, 2014

Things to do in Baden-Baden

October 06, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

Last week, Aaron and I celebrated our third anniversary. While it isn't anywhere near a 50th, a 20th or even a 10th, I still can't imagine being married to anyone else and I am so glad that we are experiencing this whole living-in-a-completely-different-country thing together. To celebrate our first anniversary abroad, we booked a weekend in the town spa town of Baden-Baden not too far away from Mannheim. It's one of the most famous spa towns...

August 31, 2014

Karlsruhe

August 31, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

Last Sunday, we headed down to Karlsruhe for the day. As a result of the Germany's history, almost every town has either a castle, or a palace, and their condition varies. In some towns, the castle is more or less in ruins, in others, they are still in remarkable shape and now house museums. The palace in Karlsruhe fell into the...