Now Boarding

There’s something wildly humbling about stepping onto an international flight and heading to a totally different part of the world for the very first time. Somewhere between Nate losing his boarding pass in Canada (just briefly thankfully), realizing he couldn’t sleep on planes, and both of us staring bleary‑eyed at a Lufthansa airplane cabin ceiling at 3 a.m., it hit us: this trip was going to change both of us. And that, as it turns out, was the most exciting part.

Koblenz, Castles, and Finding Our Group (Tour start)

Our first big scramble came when we overslept and nearly missed our train to Koblenz to meet with our group. We splurged for First‑class train tickets (highly recommend) and took in every moment of the german county side as we made our way to the starting point. We exited the train, grabbed our bags, and hiked across town, arriving just in time… well, almost. We walked into orientation an hour late, sweaty and embarrassed (we misread the schedule)—but instantly welcomed. Carlos, our tour guide, made us feel right at home instantly.

Koblenz surprised us. At the dramatic meeting point of two rivers stood the largest statue I’ve ever seen, symbolizing the reunification of East and West Germany. That night, overlooking the Rhine with a glass of wine and our new travel companions, the trip began to feel real.

Baden‑Baden: Comfort Zones Are Overrated

If you had told us we would willingly spend three hours naked in a co‑ed Roman bath with strangers, we would have laughed nervously and changed the subject. But Baden‑Baden has a way of dissolving inhibitions.

What started as sheer terror turned into one of the most freeing experiences of the trip. Warm pools, cold plunges, quiet meditation rooms, and whispered conversations with people who were strangers just hours before—it was oddly bonding and deeply relaxing. By that night, after wine, rain, and a spontaneous dinner with a former meteorologist from our group, we slept through the night for the first time since arriving. Turns out, Roman baths were just what the doctor ordered.

Munich: Beer Gardens and Big City Energy

After days in nature, Munich felt gritty at first—but it grew on us fast. Beer gardens buzzing with laughter, music floating through the English Garden, surfers riding a river that very clearly warned “Do Not Swim—Death.” Somehow, it all worked.

One night, after too much heavy food and beer, Nate wandered off alone to explore but quickly got lost. For a moment, it was terrifying. New city, new culture, different language, and lost. But then he realized, as part of every tour, your guide teaches you major landmarks, how to navigate around, and how to make sure you stay safe. Fear quickly became empowerment as Nate spotted the towers in the square the group visited that morning and navigated his way back to the hotel, proud and quietly more confident than before.

Why Rick Steves Got It Right

This wasn’t just a trip. It was an education in patience, humility, history, and connection. Rick Steves’ philosophy—travel as a respectful guest, not a consumer—came alive in every train station mishap, shared meal, and local guide’s story.

We came home exhausted, jet‑lagged, and sore… but also more open, more curious, and deeply grateful for this incredible adventure. Turns out the best souvenirs aren’t things at all—they’re the moments that change how you see the world.

And once you’ve watched the Alps glow in morning light from a tiny Swiss balcony, it’s hard to ever see home quite the same way again.

A Wake‑Up Call in Frankfurt

We arrived in Frankfurt after nearly 20 hours awake, jet‑lagged and confident… until the trains promptly humbled us. Red line? Green line? Wrong station? Even ChatGPT betrayed us. A kind local employee working at the airport train station gently corrected our course (and saved us from what ChatgGPT insisted was a “shortcut”). Lesson number one: travel rewards curiosity, not certainty.

Once we finally made it to our hotel, we happily paid for early check‑in and settled in for a little nap. Five hours of sleep later, we rallied and wandered down to the Rhine River. There, we enjoyed three incredible beers, laughed with the locals, people‑watched, and started to immerse ourselves in this new culture in a new country.

Germany, One Castle at a Time

The next days unfolded like pages from a fairy tale: Eltz Castle, owned by the same family for over 30 generations; a village of 150 people where time seemed frozen; and one of Europe’s largest fortresses with walls so thick they laughed at modernity. Between history lessons and panoramic views, Nate also learned that tour buses and his stomach are not always on speaking terms—but somehow, it all worked out and just became another part of the adventure.

Into the Black Forest and Up to the Alps

The Black Forest delivered exactly what you hope it will: open‑air museums, cherry schnapps, traditional dress (including red pom‑pom hats that once signaled dating availability), breathtaking landscapes, and a luge ride that reminded us we are still kids at heart.

Then Switzerland happened.

Mürren, perched impossibly high in the Alps, took our breath away—literally and figuratively. Clear skies, cowbells echoing through valleys, and views that felt almost fake in their beauty. On our free day we rode gondolas, walked glass platforms clinging to mountainsides, and hiked for hours along the North Face trail. We picnicked on our balcony with grocery‑store bread, local cheese and beer, feeling like we had cracked the code to happiness.

Our legs paid dearly for it, but our souls had never been happier.

The Route

Salzburg, Reflection, and the Weight of History

Salzburg brought beauty—and contrast. Sound of Music gardens, ancient cemeteries, Mozart dinner theater inside a building from the year 800… and then, a concentration camp memorial that stopped us cold. We cried. You see, travel isn’t just joy; it’s remembrance, reckoning, and learning to hold discomfort alongside gratitude as you bear witness to history.

By the time we reached Vienna—after abbeys, boat rides on the Danube, local beers, museums, and long but incredible walking tours—our hearts felt full and we were ready to head home.