Journeys and destinations...

Typical view in the black forest We have lived in Germany for more than ten years and have explored quite a bit of the country. We travelled around Germany the most during the years after COVID, when international travel was not recommended. We took it as an opportunity to explore Germany by car, and it turned out to be absolutely lovely! I wrote about some of those adventures but never got around to documenting others, such as the Harz Mountains or the stunning landscapes of southern Germany, with their snow-capped mountains and beautiful lakes.  Here is one of the road trips I wrote about back then: North Germany Road Trip - Highlights from Our Adventure . Recently, my cousin and her husband came to visit us for a few days. We started thinking about which of Germany's hidden gems we should introduce them to. The Rhine Valley was an easy choice. We decided to turn the visit into a road trip, explore the Black Forest, and finish in Munich, where my relatives would continue their Eu...

In the autumn of 2023, after exploring Toronto , reconnecting with family and friends, and marveling at the iconic Niagara Falls , we flew to Calgary. The flight from Toronto took about 4.5 hours. Upon arrival, we rented a car from Calgary Airport and began our scenic drive to Lake Louise, which is around two hours away. We were filled with excitement as we anticipated experiencing Canada’s famous national parks. We chose to stay at the Lake Louise Inn, a charming hotel located in the picturesque village of Lake Louise. This spot is perfectly situated as a hub for exploring nearby national parks such as Banff, Yoho, Glacier, and Kootenay. Entry to these parks requires a park pass, which we had purchased in advance and displayed on the car dashboard—a necessity for passing checkpoints. The Drive from Calgary to Lake Louise Leaving Calgary, the expansive prairies slowly transitioned into the towering Rocky Mountains. Along the way, charming mountain towns like Canmore and Banff made for ...