Western Europe Experience

I absolutely loved my time in Western Europe! It was so beautiful and there were so many great cities and delicious food. Here I've put together travel tips and lists of some of my favorites.

Favorite cities:
Prague- It was my favorite city from the whole trip. Prague had this undeniable energy and warmness that I loved. It was a fantastic place and definitely worth visiting as many days as possible.
Heidelberg- It was my favorite city in German. Heidelberg was beautiful and also had a great energy. It seemed like a young, hip place.

Favorite castles:
Prague- The castle was probably the most beautiful building I have ever seen. It was so grand and had intricate decorations all over the walls. And at night it was lit up so beautifully.
Landstuhl- The castle in my German home was a total surprise. It was unexpectedly gorgeous. I enjoyed that it was partly in ruin and had a definite functionality rather than simply being ornate.

Favorite museum:
German Film Museum- The film museum in Frankfurt was one of the coolest museums I have ever been to. It had exhibits for every aspect of filming. I really enjoyed the museum and highly recommend it.

Favorite beer:
Bischoff Hefeweizen- It was without a doubt my absolute favorite beer. The beer was so smooth and flavorful. It was a well-crafted German brew.

Favorite Snack:
Doner Kebabs- They originated in Turkey and are absolutely delicious. It is a pita-shaped bread filled with meat slow-cooked on a rotisserie, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and a fabulous sauce. Doners were a tasty, cheap treat available on practically every corner.


Favorite Chocolate:
Milka- Milka bars were pretty much equivalent to Hershey bars, i.e. widely available and cheap. But they were so much better. The chocolate is very rich and creamy, and the bars come in a variety of flavors.
Happy Hippos- They are adorable and delicious. They're hippo-shaped wafers filled with creamy, tasty milk and white chocolate. So fun and so yummy!

How to get around:
Trains were a great option for getting around within Germany. Tickets and pricing can be looked up at bahn.com The system offers a lot of deals, including the weekender pass. It is good for travel anywhere in Germany for up to five people for 39 euro on Saturdays and Sundays. The catch is that you can only travel on regional trains, so the faster, more comfortable trains don't accept the ticket. The lander tickets are also a good option if you are traveling Monday through Friday in a specific area. The tickets are good for up to five people, and prices increase with each additional person from two to five people. They are also only for regional trains, and are specified for certain areas. The best way to know if they can be used is to look up pricing online.
Buses were a great option for international travel. Tickets and pricing can be looked up at eurolines.com Buses are nice because they are usually a little cheaper, and you don't have to worry about transfers.