Tales and Trails

  Last Sunday, the open road called, leading us on a delightful journey to reunite with my former colleague, Jana, and our wonderful canine friend, Willi, in the picturesque village of Kallmünz, Bavaria, Germany . The day was a beautiful blend of heartwarming reunions, stunning landscapes, and the quiet charm of traditional Bavarian life. We set off bright and early around 8 am, and thanks to Germany's excellent autobahns, the 2.5-hour drive was incredibly smooth and fast. There's truly something special about Bavaria; its pristine landscapes, well-kept towns, and rolling hills always make for a refreshing visit. The Story of Willi: A Journey to His Forever Home Our visit was particularly meaningful as it allowed us to see Willi, a sweet soul who had a rough start. My dear friend Jana, our angel, stepped in at the eleventh hour to give him the loving home he truly deserved. Willi had sadly been returned from an adoption, then moved to a temporary foster home with a strict one-m...

  September 2023 The wanderlust bug bit again, and this time, the compass needle pointed north. Way north. Mia (my canine co-pilot and Chief Sniffing Officer) and I were ready for our next grand adventure: conquering the German Baltic coast! Originally, I had my heart set on the glitz and glamour of Timmendorfer Strand but apparently, everyone else had the same idea. Either way, finding accommodation that didn't require selling a kidney was impossible. Enter Sierksdorf : the quieter, quirkier cousin next door. I found a perfect apartment with a balcony there, and spoiler alert: it was the best "Plan B" ever. The Great Beach Commute Our apartment was a solid 20-minute walk to the designated dog beach. Since it was September, the strict German "Ordnung" (order) was still in effect, meaning Mia couldn't just frolic on any beach she pleased. But honestly? We didn't mind. The walk took us through a lovely park, which served as an excellent pre-game warmup f...

  October 2023 I had heard rumors of a real-life fairy tale castle tucked away in the Bavarian Alps—a place so magical it supposedly inspired Disney himself. The place is called Neuschwanstein , located in Schwangau, Germany. Naturally, I decided I had to see it. But here is the catch: Neuschwanstein attracts an incredible amount of people. To avoid the crushing crowds, I stuck to my golden rule of travel: Go in the off-season. October seemed perfect—crisp air, golden leaves, and hopefully, a little more breathing room for me and my dog, Mia. Since it’s only a five-hour drive from Prague, we packed the car for a long weekend. The drive was easy (and free, since German Autobahns don’t charge tolls for passenger cars!), and as soon as we hit the Austrian border region, the landscape transformed. Mountains rose up, lakes sparkled, and the whole world started to look like a postcard. Day 1: The Warm-Up at Hohenschwangau We arrived in the afternoon and wasted no time. While everyone r...