These days, when I go to Germany I go to relax rather than sightsee…there’s something about the rhythm of life in Germany that makes it both productive yet calming. This was once again true for my Autumn 2023 trip to Germany.
Germany Autumn 2023 Trip
My family enjoyed a November holiday in Germany since my wife could not get off during the Christmas and New Years’ holidays (for the first time in many years, we’re home this week). It’s a rare time for us to be in Germany, but it was very nice spending a week here during the autumn season.
These days, I don’t go to Germany to see anything at all besides my in-laws. They live in a small border city in southwest Germany where France, Switzerland, and Germany come together. In fact, you can walk to the top of the hill where my in-laws’ live and see all three countries from one vantage point.
We do a lot of walking…both with the kids and just Heidi and me. It’s a great time. While I run exclusively indoors in Los Angeles (the roads are far too dangerous for running), my wife and I go for a morning run each morning which is quite an invigorating way to start the day. After a family walk in the afternoon, Heidi and I also end the day with a long walk each night, sometime stretching several hours. The air is always fresh and I’m thankful to say that after nearly a decade of marriage we still have much to talk about it!
It’s so simple, yet so enriching. And I sleep well here. Jetlag wasn’t an issue on this trip. Blogging is so much easier when you’re six hours ahead of New York and dealing with my clients at Award Expert or legal clients was also no problem without keeping me up late.
Every afternoon I’d go out for coffee at Café Pavilion and most days I’d take the kids along and we’d have ice cream too at Michelangelo, our favorite Eiscafe. There’s nothing like Spaghettieis, which I’ve shared about many times before. In fact, I’ve shared about my routine before too, but it has truly turned travel upside down for me. No more trying to fit in as much sightseeing as possible. Instead, just taking in each day like a local resident. It’s really an endearing way to travel and I always look forward to returning. Each trip is a bit different, but mostly the same…and that’s exactly the way I like it.
However, while we did not do much in Germany, we did spend a couple days in Basel where were took in quite a lot…I’ll detail that in my next post.
Your kiddos are so cute! What a nice travel lifestyle they have.
Beautiful kids. Lovely settings. And so glad, and not surprised, that you enjoyed your visit to Germany. While you were relaxing in the Fatherland, I was taking a 15-night cruise from Rome to Fort Lauderdale But back to German home in time for Christmas markets and holidays. We’ve got to get you to Bavaria on one of your longer visits. The German wife and I would love to take you to dinner (German or Thai only!) if you’re ever in our neck of the woods. Have a happy and healthy 2024.
Thank you Michael, same to you! And I do hope to take you up on your invitation.
Thanks! And I hope so. Also, I know this isn’t the post … but I am trying to catch up after 9-10 days of not reading and just saw the post on your niece. That is horrible and I simply don’t have words. My condolences to the entire family.
“there’s something about the rhythm of life in Germany that makes it both productive yet calming”
Your statement resonates very much with me. Every time I go back home to Germany (near Wuerzburg, Franconia, Northern Bavaria), I feel time just slows down and the stress of my normal every day life in Asia disappears, yet I still get a lot of things done without feeling stressed.
Maybe just the small town environment with little to no background noise?
I had friends of mine from Asia comment on that when they visited South Germany – they always went for early morning walks because they appreciated the calmness of the surroundings so much.
Also seems people spend more time on the essentials of life there then elsewhere – I can’t really back this statement up with “real” evidence, it’s just a gut feeling, if you know what I mean.
Big fan of your German travel (now non-travel) posts!
When I go to Germany my wife says I’m a different person as my stress disappears. We were just about to move there too but… life. Hopefully can make it work in a few years as raising a kid there is just infinitely better than in America.