I can't tell you how incredibly blessed I feel to be able and travel for every birthday, holiday, or anniversary. We recently celebrated our three year anniversary in Crete! Please try not to secretly hate us after you see these gorgeous pictures of breathtaking beaches. Instead immediately put this on your bucket list. Make. It. Happen. Crete is a Greek island, and it is nothing short of amazing. There's not too much to say about it. The pictures speak for themselves.
**Tips**
This was a little bit trickier of a trip logistically. Flights are expensive out of Frankfurt International airport and the Ryanair Frankfurt Hahn location doesn't fly to Crete. However, Ryanair Dusseldorf Weeze airport does. It's a 3 hour drive from Wiesbaden, and the flight out on Friday mornings is 6:30 AM. Do yourself a favor and drive down the night before and have some close-enough-to American Burgers at Beef Brothers in Dusseldorf while enjoying their awesome restaurant pedestrian zone. The atmosphere reminded me of a Thursday college night. Then stay the night at Best Deal Airport Hotel, so you can roll out of bed and catch your flight in the morning.
Rent a car! You will need it to get around this giant island. We stayed over a four day weekend and only saw the west side of the island. Our car rental was through the Ryanair website. Super easy, no hassle. Well the first car had to be returned because we got in the car and the gear shift knob immediately fell off, but after that we got upgraded. I'll take it!
We stayed at the Grand Bay Beach Resort on the northwest side of the island. The staff was extremely accommodating. They upgraded us to one of the two suites that had swim-up pool access, gave us a free mini bar restocked daily, a free 45 min massage, and upgraded our all-inclusive meal status. Can you believe it? It finally happened to us! Couldn't have asked for a better anniversary weekend! The resort served a traditional Cretan breakfast every morning that was delicious. Be aware that while this resort is located on the water the beach is filled with rocks, so make sure to get out of the resort and check out the gorgeous beaches of Crete.
Elafonisi beach is a far and treacherous drive. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the beach when you get there because you will NOT want to leave. We also visited Falasarna beach, which was a much easier drive and had gorgeous water as well. There's still nothing like the pink sand beach. Make sure you take the trek to Elafonisi!
On to why you come to the blog. Pictures! I got a fancy camera for my birthday (thanks, Sam!), so hopefully you'll notice a difference between my old blog posts and my new ones. Probably not though, because I've only taken a 1 hour course on how to use it. I'm open to any and ALL suggestions (I'm talking to you Jenn)!
We'll never forget laying on these amazing beaches, sitting under our tiki umbrellas while enjoying drinks and food from the beach huts, and our precious time together. Here's to three of the most amazing years and many more to come!
Cinque Terre means the five lands in Italian. On the west coast of Italy there are five towns connected by hiking paths. As we hiked (more like did 1000000 lunges) through these five towns I thought about the five towns I've called home and how they've shaped me.
Town 1: I was born in Decatur (Decatur where it's greater). I have a few memories one being the loss of my first dog, getting stung by a bee in my outdoor play tunnel, and of my sister threatening to hit someone who made fun of me with her cast on a walk home from school (I had a lot of hair and bullies loved it). Oh, the things we choose to remember as kids.
Town 2: Next I moved to Norcross where I went through grade school all the way to high school. I made great friends, learned independence, and became a young adult.
Town 3: I headed off to Athens (GOOOO DAWGS, Sik 'Em). This is where I learned how to start anew and make friends (even if it took a whole year to meet one of my current best friends who lived on my freshmen dorm hall), learn networking skills, and where i found my passion for research.
Town 4: That passion lead me to my fourth town Columbus, OH (OH - IO!). My new affinity for the Big Ten didn't surpass my love for the Bulldogs, but it sure was nice to wear a hoodie instead of heels to a football game (it's too cold for all that cuteness). This is where I was molded into a scientist and had a twisted love affair with a protein called NOD2 and the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Town 5: After five years, a PhD, and a new husband, my journey led me to my fifth town Clarksville, TN (Clarksvegas). We only lived there two years, but it was my first time living in a home, becoming a professional, and my introduction to the Army.
While the five towns that have shaped me could be hiked to, I don't think I'd ever want to make that journey on foot. The five towns of the Cinque Terre - Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are only about 7 miles total if the normal hiking trails are all open. Much more doable. A few of the connecting trails were closed due to a flood in 2011, so we were lucky enough to be able to hike (more like lung) up into the mountains. Thank you Nike Training Club App for the many lunges I suffered through in preparation over the past few years. We hiked up, up, up and over several mountains. It was a relief each time we made it to a new town. We celebrated by drinking wine and eating a new Italian appetizer along with taking a few dips in the water.
**Tips**
We took a late flight out on Ryanair to Pisa. Stayed overnight in Pisa at Hotel Ariston, and then ate breakfast with the leaning tower as a gorgeous view. Then walked to the train station to head to the Chinque Terre. It was about a 2 hour train ride and a pretty decent price.
In the Chinque Terre we stayed in Vernazza at Camere Giuliano. Giuliano is welcoming and hand built all of his rooms (#1 on Trip Advisor as of 9/2014). The architecture is amazing!
Make sure you check the ferry times if you want to enjoy a relaxing boat ride back to the city you're staying in. If you're like us and forget, you can always take the train back.
Get to Montorosso early. The umbrellas on the nice beach are quickly reserved, and you'll feel like beggars going from each company asking if they have a place for you to take off your giant backpack that you just hiked with. Also, be prepared to pay 25 Euro for two lawn chairs and an umbrella (this was after 1PM). The beaches are privately owned and there is very little space on the public beach.
Make sure to buy your ticket early if you are leaving late in the day to catch your flight. We stood in a long line at the ticket kiosk and almost missed our train. Why didn't we learn from our trip to Barcelona?
We woke up to this view outside our hotel window!
From our room in Vernazza
Why didn't anyone tell me about pesto lasagna?!?!
Okay, so after stuffing ourselves with Italian seafood and frying like an egg on a rock, which may have lead to getting a bit dehydrated, we called it a night. We woke up early and started our trek to see each town.
Vernazza --> Corniglia (Regular hike open)
Leaving Vernazza
Corniglia!
We deserved this wine and cheese
Corniglia --> Manarola (Alternate hike)
Hiking through vineyards on a mountain
Manarola
Olive pizza in Italy = whole olives dumped on olive oil covered pizza
Manarola --> Riomaggiore (Alternate hike)
Leaving Manarola
Riomaggiore
We ended the day soaking up the evening rays
After watching to sun go down while looking at how much land we had covered, we ate some delicious seafood and took the train back to Vernazza. The next morning we woke up and finally used our backpacks for what they were made for. What a workout!
Vernazza --> Monterosso (Regular hike open)
Leaving Vernazza
Looking back at the Cinque Terre
Monterosso
BEACH!
What a crazy few days! This trip was definitely a workout, but we loved the breathtaking views along the way and learning the little quirks of each towns. If you enjoy hiking and a good workout this trip is for you! If you don't enjoy hiking or working out this trip is still for you! There are alternate modes of transportation to get around and see the cute little towns. Have fun!
Yesterday I turned thirty. I was a bit torn celebrating my birthday knowing that my nephew would not be celebrating his this year, but if I've learned anything this past year it is that life is short and we should live every moment of it. So this year I decided to get out of my comfort zone and do something a little bit crazy. For my sister's thirtieth birthday she went sky diving. Since, I'm definitely not that adventurous I decided to check out the Irish-Roman bath in Wiesbaden. You might be thinking - how is this adventurous? Well, in a Roman bath it's textile free. Meaning this southern girl would have to shed her inner microbiologist and her clothes. Eek! I was excited and nervous at the same time. Adam and Eve did it, so why can't I? And to be immersed in the German culture by doing something the Romans did on this land was somewhat surreal. We saw the remains of a Roman bath that Constantine built on one of our first trips last year to Trier. How could I pass up this experience? Did I make you proud big sis?
Located in the heart of downtown near the restaurant Alex
Wiesbaden is one of the oldest spa towns in Europe and is known for its hot springs. The hot waters are around 64.6°C and are known for their treatment and healing powers. I'm secretly hoping the water healed my thirty-year-old wrinkles and overused basketball /runner's knees... Actually the whole experience wasn't as scary as I thought it would be but actually freeing. All of the Europeans are totally used to this culture and nobody is ogling. I also figured that going during the weekday was a safe bet that I wouldn't see anyone I knew. #awkward It was cool for once to let go of all the social norms I'd been taught and to take on this challenge I'd given myself.
Gorgeous, right?
The Roman-style architecture and luxury of the bath was amazing. I enjoyed going through each area of the spa. There was a Finnish sauna with temperatures from 85°-90°C with a new aroma poured over the hot stones at the top of every hour, a Russian steam bath where you could barely see through the steam to your seat, a stone steam room where a contraption dipped hot coals in cold water throughout the hour, a tropical ice-rain shower, a whirlpool of hot spring water, a still pool of hot spring water, and a refreshing cool water pool. I was hoping to sum my experience up with a partial massage, but they were all booked for the day. I still had a relaxing experience. The most memorable being the hot sauna with the aromatic scents poured over the coals. The spa attendant pours it over the coals and then whips it through the room with her towel. It felt like my skin was on fire when that air came my way. Yikes! The funniest experience was turning the corner and seeing a man eating a banana. Is food allowed in the Therme? I guess when you need your potassium, you need your potassium.
It only costs €4.50 per hour and they give you this cool watch to wear that logs your time and opens your locker.
Book any massages a few days in advance. The massage price usually includes one hour of spa time too.
Bring your own towel. They have towels to rent if you forget one.
Some people wore robes and shower shoes throughout the Therme. No shoes in the sauna's though.
When you arrive tell the person at the front desk it's your first time at the Therme. They will give you a map (in English) and direct your toward the locker room.
In the unisex locker room, find a changing room and wear your towel out. Put your things in your locker (don't forget your number) and head toward the female or male showers to rinse off. Then head out and choose what you want to experience first.
When in the sauna make sure to sit on your towel (because if not that would be gross). If you move up a few levels make sure your feet are on the towel too. Don't bring a book into the sauna because it's against the rules. Learned that one from personal experience. For any of the pools, just hang your towel up on the hooks and channel your inner Adam or Eve. Good Luck!!
I'm glad I completed this challenge on my thirtieth birthday because it was definitely an experience that I'll never forget.
You guessed right, "I got a fever and the only prescription is more cow bell!" My favorite SNL sketch is spot on about my love for Murren, Switzerland. In case you need that in your life right now here's the link to the video. Can't ever get enough of that one. This trip was somewhat whimsical - being surrounded by gorgeous glacier silt ridden mountains, green grass, and hearing the distant sounds of bells on cows littered over the mountain tops. We were itching to get out and do a trip that involved hiking, and what better place is there in Europe than to the Swiss Alps? We stayed in a car-free village that only allows access by taking a cable car followed by a train ride around the mountain. This was paws-down Emma's favorite trip. She even earned a Swiss patch on her collar for this one!
**Tips**
When you enter the town of Lauterbrunnen there is a parking garage on the left that is connected to the cable cars. Remember, the last cable car up to Murren is at 20:31 (as of August 2014). Also, dogs are free on the cable car and train (no need to buy a child's ticket like in Germany).
We stayed in a friendly hotel right across from the train station called Eiger Guesthouse. We loved the owner, Ema. She was welcoming, and the staff was great at giving ideas for what hiking routes to take based on the weather for the day. Also, the owner was sweet and allowed our small dog to stay free! This hotel is also kid friendly because they have a few rooms with bunk beds and adjoining rooms. Oh, and don't be discouraged that this hotel has shared bathrooms on each floor. Ours was always extremely clean. After our Venice trip, we were more confident about staying in shared bathroom hotels. If you don't stay here, then take Trip Advior's advice and eat at their restaurant (#1 of 19 as of August 2014).
From what I've read, the weather forecast for Murren always says rain and cold weather. All of the research I did said that it was completely different when guests arrived in Murren. We were still a bit nervous and were hoping we didn't make a huge mistake by choosing this for our four day weekend, but the Alpine summer Gods were in our favor and the weather was gorgeous for both days of hiking.
If you have a dog, then you should definitely plan to take them on this trip. After this trip, I can honestly say that I know Emma will die a happy dog. My favorite part was watching her excitement as she bounded through the grass, peeked her head in marmot holes, and looked back at us to see if we were still coming as she led the pack on the trail.
If you're driving down you should stop in Interlaken to see where the two lakes meet (Lake Thun and Lake Brienz) via the Aare river. We had a late lunch there and wandered around the city before heading to Lauterbrunnen to take the cable car.
Interlaken
On the wooden dam bridge
Day 1:
We started our first day off with an Alpine bar crawl - because, why not? We hiked to various restaurants on the trails and stopped for our beer reward while being immersed in the scenery.
Happiest dog on Earth
Stopped for some fun on the Children's trail
Hiking friends and our first stop on the crawl
Up we go
Leading the pack
Our hiking buddies
GI-Joe and GI-Jane for the day
Apparently Emma likes Alpine dogs, who knew?
Breathtaking sunset
Day 2:
On the second day we went to the top of the Schilthorn Mountain and ate breakfast at the famous rotating restaurant (Piz Gloria) built for the James Bond Movie in 1969. If you want to skip the breakfast you can always go up and order a dessert. After taking in the views of Lauterbrunnen, Junfrau Mountain, Eiger Mountain, and the Bernese Alps, we took the cable car down to the Birg station and took a hiking trail from there. We were told by the woman selling the tickets that it would be too icy, but we made it with our Keen's and Emma's bare paws (because we're hard core, duh). On our visit in early July there really wasn't much snow/ice, so take your chances. If you're not feeling it you can always turn around and take the cable car back down.
View from Schilhorn
You can see one of the lakes of Interlaken in the distance
New Bond girl
Trail from Birg station
Army crawl to the edge to check out the steep drop
Nothing our Keens can't handle
Glacier water break
Dominating the North Face trail
An usie on the Alps
The hiking trail went through this herd of cows!
More cow bell!
This cow was not happy with Emma
Giant cow bell
Paragliders were everywhere during our hikes
Can't leave the Swiss Alps without an Edelweiss
I can't get enough of the views. I know I say this every time, but this is one of my favorite places so far. It involved outdoor activity with gorgeous views of the Alps. Please, take me back there! I'll leave you with a video of the soothing cow bells - ignore the dog barking to protect the pack.
