How do you handle the aftermath of a once-in-a-lifetime trip?
I still haven’t figured it out. But two and a half weeks ago I left on a journey with my mom and sisters to explore our German heritage. Our journey took us from the U.S.A. to Iceland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, and then Germany. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. As much as I’d like to let my author-beast out and try describing everything for you, I’ll let the camera do the talking:
Day One: ICELAND! Flew into Iceland with Walter Mitty music blaring in my headphones.
Panorama of Reykjavik taken from the top of a cathedral. Yeah….
Odd things we learned/did in Reykjavik
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Me getting ready to try rotten shark. BARF!
We learned that Santa Clause’s mother is actually the ugliest troll in the world. It’s recorded in story books. Now you know.
- Tried weird seafood like whale and the local delicacy…”rotten shark.” It was the most foul thing you will ever taste on the planet. Word of the day: putrescence.
- Nobody opens for breakfast. We arrived there at 6am and the first store opened at 11am. This was common most places we traveled in Europe. What about morning coffee, people?!
Day two: FRANCE! Stayed in a French manor. Died of happiness.
Ate in a hunting lodge in a small abbey town in France. Died of happiness. 😛
Things we did in France:
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Dorky selfie with Eiffel. That person’s umbrella photo bombed.
Toured the manor and the local gardens. No big deal.
- Took a dorky selfie with good ol’ Eiffel. You know, he’s really too tall for selfies.
- Drove the giant roundabouts in Paris and DIDN’T DIE! It’s simple. No rules.
- Had an authentic French breakfast, all home-baked bread with berries and jam from the manor’s garden.
Day Three: BELGIUM! Traveled to Brugge and stared at the canals and rooftops for hours on end.
Want to play “pronounce that street” with me?
The city square of Brugge, Belgium.
Things we did in Belgium:
- Explored the city by foot and ended up walking a good 10 miles (new stuff for this puny author.)
- Ate dinner at The Pomperlut (“The mushroom”) — an old cottage restaurant inspired by fairies, mushrooms, and Harry Potter. *Dies of geekiness*
- Discovered the history of authentic lace makers — a lost art. Tiny two-inch pieces of woven lace by hand costs around $100! And it’s not made anymore. Very rare.
Day Four: NETHERLANDS! The canals and culture of Amsterdam were delightful. All the bicycles inspired much of my cultural setting for Ivanhoe.
Things we did in The Netherlands:
- Listened to Dutch rap. Yup.
- I almost got killed (aka: run over. “Move, stupid American!”) by a bicycler.
- Visited the Anne Frank house
Day Five: GERMANY! Sailed to the island of Baltrum where my grandmother (Omi) worked when she was seventeen.
Visited the clay hut museum in Moordorf, Germany (no, not Mordor). My great grandmother was born in a clay hut in this same town.
Day Six: Stopped for lunch in a town that houses the most perfect castle in the world. Took about 200 pictures of the same scene.
This is me being dorky excited about the castle and colorful houses.
This is me being even MORE dorky when we stayed in Heidelberg…another castle.
Things we did in Germany:
- Ate schnitzel! I’ve also learned that German food portions are equivalent (if not larger) than American food portions. Whereas France is equivalent to child-sized food portions. My poor stomach didn’t know which way to run.
- Toured the castle in Heidelberg where my great ancestor, Mary Queen of Scotts visited. Her daughter married the prince from Heidelberg! I’m royalty. Bow to me. 😛
- Visited Triberg — the town of cuckoo clocks (and bought an authentic weighted cuckoo clock.) It felt very much like Pinnochio’s little town. Wood carvings everywhere!
Well, that’s a brief summary of my trip in a nutshell! Did I get new story ideas? You betcha (like about the jester who guarded the largest wine barrel in the world in Heidelberg and then died the day he drank his first glass of water…true story. Look it up.) Did I sketch and create new storyworlds? Uh…duh. Did I come back inspired? Just wait until you read my next book. 😉
Thank you for sharing this journey of bummeling with me! Someday I’ll rent a castle and host a giant retreat in Europe for everyone. Someday…
So, of all these places, which one would you most like to spend a day in? 🙂
Enjoyed reading about your trip and loved the pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Ann! 🙂 It was such a blessing to be able to take it!
I want to go to your perfect castle! Then split a German meal with someone else who couldn’t eat it all.
Split it with me! 😀 And I’m still working on renting that perfect castle. 😉 😉
Ah sigh……. Heidelberg!! My parents used to live there and my sister and I have LOTS of dorky memories there (along with a bunch of really good, sweet normal ones). SO fun to see the pictures and highlights of your travels!
You used to LIVE there?! That’s awesome! I must hear these stories someday. 😛
Oooooh … trying not to envy!! You do some great trips. I’ve been wanting to do a Rhine and Neckar River cruise to see the route my German ancestors traveled to come to the US. My husband wants to go to Iceland (he’s a photographer), but I looked into it and decided the food looked repulsive … and you just confirmed my suspicions! (Gotta admit the Blue Lagoon looks pretty interesting though) Thanks for sharing your trip highlights 🙂
Ooh, we saw a bit of the Rhine and there are a lot of castles along it. You’d LOVE a cruise! I almost wish we’d done that on our trip. And not ALL of Iceland’s food was horrible, but I did feel like spending one day there was plenty. At least for Reykjavik. If you fly with Iceland Air, they let you stay anywhere from one night to 7 nights in Reykjavik without changing the cost of your ticket. Like an extended layover. Might be something you and your hubby could do! 😀
Looks like an awesome trip! I’d love to spend a day in all of those places!
It would inspire you so much! 😀
Reykjavik! Iceland!
I’m a fan of the “Thor” movies, which use the Dettifoss falls in Vatnajokull National Park (for Asgard, I believe), among other places in Iceland. It would be cool to check out those filming locations 🙂
Thanks for sharing the pictures and highlights of your trip! I’ve been wondering if we would get to hear about it. . . so glad you wrote about it 🙂
I look forward to seeing all this new inspiration sneak onto the pages of your future books!
P.S. I pride myself on being able to eat any kind of food, with the exception of mushrooms, just because of my adventurous spirit 🙂 . But, uh, the “rotten shark” goes just a little too far! 😉
Woah, I didn’t realize that! *runs to re-watch the Thor movies* 😛
Thank you for commenting and for sharing in my adventure! May you never have to eat rotten shark. 😉
Your trip sounds awesome! Eep! You looked like you were having so much fun in the pictures. 😀
Rotten shark??? I am not so brave…
Ooh…I look forward to reading your future books.
Hmm…Paris would probably be my place to spend a day in. Then I could write a book that takes place there!
You would love Paris! Sitting in a coffee shop with the Eiffel tower in the background and a notebook in front of you…. *sigh*
This just may be my favorite post!!! And castles-Love!!! They’re on my bucket list . 🙂
Thanks Megan! May your future hold much traipsing through castle-filled lands! 😉
I would love to go to France! Looks like you had a great time 😀
France was my favorite country (shhh…don’t tell!) You’d love it.
Nadine, what a LOVELY post! (I tried to like it, but my computer wouldn’t let me. Aaargh!) Anyway, thanks for sharing your travels–it’s a joy to read about/see in pictures/live through your “Adventuring Author” travels. I’ve been way behind in reading your posts, so I’m glad I didn’t miss this one. 🙂
Thank you Angie! 🙂 I wish, somehow, I could bring everyone there with me to experience it for themselves. Writing retreat someday? 😉 😉