Vanilice (The Serbian Little Vanilla Cookies)

Vanilice means “little vanillas,” and these bite-sized Vanilla Cookies are a type of Serbian Sitni Kolaci, or “tiny cookie”. This delicate class of cookie is most commonly served around the Christmas season, or in my case, I always make them in the Spring.

These cookies are a favorite; every time I make them! I often get requests to bake these. I have been making these cookies regularly for about seven years. I have slightly altered the recipe from the original from Serbia. Two ingredients are hard to find in America; one being vanilla sugar and the other being leaf lard. 

Vanilla sugar is the most crucial ingredient, yet it is tough to find it. However, I have realized that it is widespread in most stores in Europe or NYC during Passover. So I stock up when I see it; you can buy it off of Amazon, but they come in these small packets, and they are a lot of money, and you need too much of it. 

These are very traditional favorite cookies that are crowd favorites; try making them at least once; you won’t regret it! 

Here is how to make vanilla sugar yourself:

Slow Method: Put powdered sugar or regular table sugar in a jar with a vanilla bean split; shake every go often for the next two weeks, and have vanilla sugar!

Fast Method: mix two cups of granulated sugar with one tsp vanilla. Mix well using a whisk or fork until the vanilla is evenly distributed. Spread the sugar out onto a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Let the sugar dry for one hour. Stir the sugar and spread it out again. Let it dry for another hour. Pour the dried, flavored sugar into the bowl of your food processor. Process the sugar until it is finely powdered. 

Vanilice (The Serbian Little Vanilla Cookies)

These cookies are traditionally made 1-2 days before serving to allow the flavors to meld together and the cookies to soften. Highly recommend.

Ingredients

For the Coating
  • 1 ½ cups powdered vanilla sugar
For the Cookies
  • 2 cups walnut halves
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening (or leaf lard if you feel bold)
  • 1 stick salted butter; softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon zest
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
For the Filling
  • ½ cup jam, apricot or rosehip are traditional; homemade strawberry is also delicious

Instructions

For the Dough
  1. Place the walnut halves in the bowl of your food processor. Grind them until they are evenly and very finely ground. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the shortening and butter together with an electric hand mixer. Add the sugar and continue to beat until creamy.
  3. Beat in the egg yolks, vanilla extract, and lemon zest, until evenly mixed.
  4. While beating on a low speed, add the ground walnuts. Add the flour 1/2 cup at a time, mixing until an even and soft (but not sticky) dough forms. (You may not use all of the flour called for.)
  5. Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball and wrap each separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the wrapped dough for at least 2- 3 hours (up to overnight). The dough can last in the refrigerator for a few days; you can also freeze it.
Rolling and Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 325F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Working with half of the dough at a time, dust your counter top with flour and roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick.
  3. Using a 1 inch, round cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and place them one inch apart on your baking sheet. (I used the lid to a spice jar as our cookie cutter!)
  4. Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes, until just before they start to turn golden around the edges. (You want the cookies to stay that nice white color.)
  5. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Filling and Powdering
  1. Once the cookies are completely cool, make sandwiches out of them with the jam. Take one cookie at a time, spread about ½ tsp of jam on it, and top it with another cookie.
  2. Once all the cookies are sandwiched, place your powdered vanilla sugar in a medium bowl or gallon bag. Roll each sandwich in the powdered vanilla sugar until nicely coated.
  3. Store the cookies in an airtight container on the counter. The cookies will be good now, but traditionally they are stored for one to two days before eating. Something magical happens in these two days, so do wait, if you can!

Christmas in Prague 

When people talk about going to Europe for the first time, they typically go to Prague in their early 20s. It was never on the top of my list of places to go; I did not think it would be much different from the rest of Eastern Europe that I had already seen. However, during my many months abroad this past year, I visited to see the hype. I spent five days in Prague during the Christmas season. I get it. It is stunning. It is your typical European vibe. Easily in my top 10 favorite cities in Europe. 

I would highly recommend going to Prague during the holiday season; it is one of their peak seasons, but for a good reason. Unfortunately, I went in the winter of 2021, so there were no full Christmas markets due to covid; however, I do not think we missed them as it was a little less crowded in the center, and there were plenty of shops that made local items in the city center. 

I was worried about the weather since it is in northern Europe and December. The weather was milder than I had imagined it would be; it was cold; ranging from 20-30degrees. Primarily overcast and light snowfall. However, nothing was unmanageable. 

Here are my top things to see and do in Prague:

The Charles Bridge 

The most famous bridge in Prague is, without doubt, the Charles Bridge. Named after King Charles IV, for hundreds of years it was the only structure connecting the two banks of the Vltava River.

The bridge was never super crowded for us like I had seen in pictures of pre-covid and/or in the summer. The bridge connects you to two different parts of the city—both equally appealing sides. Highly recommend taking your time walking across and embracing all of the histories attached to this bridge.

Gingerbread Shop (Pernickuv Sen)

The Gingerbread shop is very close once you exit the Charles Bridge on the old town side, the opposite side of the city center. From a few hundred yards away, you can instantly smell the gingerbread. I adore the taste; some do, some don’t. You don’t need to enjoy the flavor to appreciate the craft of gingerbread making. There are tons of hand-designed cookies to take home for the holidays and as gifts. If you like the taste, take one of the freshly made cookies and sip it with hot wine that you can find all over the city.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. The castle is very medieval and a site to see. One section of the castle is what looks to be the town market/town village homes. Known as the Golden Lane, they are painted in beautiful bright colors. Additionally, the viewpoint from the castle gives an overview of the city below.

The Prague Astronomical Clock or Prague Orloj is a medieval astronomical clock attached to the Old Town Hall in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still in operation.

There is a little show the clock puts on during the start of the whole hour, and there will be tour groups crowing the area at the beginning of each hour. So if you care to see, the show arrive ten til the next hour. However, I don’t think there was much to see, so I would do 30mins past the hour, so there are fewer crowds. 

Resturant: Restaurace Mlejnice was very good! Best Goulash in town; also, they had a fabulous white bean soup; much like Grah I Varivah from Croatia I make often.

Trdelnik is a famous cone-wrapped pastry eaten alone or filled with ice cream. You can find them almost on every corner, and they are all good. I had these for the first time in the mountains of Romania many years ago, then again in Budapest. It is a central/eastern European dessert. They have a top-rated store even in my hometown of Temecula, CA, yet I have never seen one in NYC. You may get lucky and have a shop in your local town if there are Eastern Europeans in your city!

Additionally, there are plenty of beer and brandy tastings around the city!! Some of the most famous beers and brandy come from this region; if you drink, this is a must! Fun Fact: Budweiser originally started in the Czech Republic!

Overall, I would love to experience Prague next in the summer and see more of the countryside in Czechia.

How to make the most of your week in Iceland

I went to Iceland the first week into August 2021, during covid, but you would have never known the difference. We went for a week and did it all independently, with no tours, which was very doable and high recommended. 

We stayed in Reykjavik, the capital city and the only “large” city. It is not even that big and not much to see or do in the city. If you are going to Iceland on a budget, stay in one hotel and rent a car for a couple of days. However, if you have more cash to spare and are more adventurous, I recommend the following. 

*Please note I have no tips for catching the Northern Lights since I went in summer* 

Rent a car for your entire trip, pick up and drop it off at the Airport. This is a must; it will save you time and stress in the long run. Parking is straightforward. Driving in Iceland is a breeze; it is mostly one way in and one way out highway system. 

Day 1 & 2 – Arrive & Blue Lagoon & Golden Circle

Day 1 – Golden Circle 

This morning, you’ll start early from Reykjavik to visit Gullfoss and Geysir before the crowds and buses arrive when you have these magnificent places all to yourself.

On your drive, consider a short detour Kerid Crater where you can walk around the rim of the volcano or down to the bottom to see the blue lake below; Nina and I loved this!

At Gullfoss (“Golden Falls”), you can walk along a few different paths to see the tremendous falls from different angles and perspectives. You’ll want to spend some time here admiring the incredible amount of water that flows over the edge every second.

Next, continue to the Geysir geothermal area where the Strokkur geyser shoots into the sky like clockwork every 5-10 minutes. In between eruptions, walk around the hot pools, steam vents, or climb the small hill above it for a great view.

End your tour of the Golden Circle Route at Thingvellir National Park and learn about the traditions of the old Icelandic Parliament that met each summer at Law Rock. Then, walk between the giant rock fissure where the tectonic plates meet. In the visitor center, you can learn more about the history and geology of the area. 

Extra Stops: 

– Fridheimar – Tomato Farm – Soup & Bread lunch; so good! I recommend a reservation 

– Secret Lagoon – Oldest thermal natural pool in Iceland 

Day 2 – Blue Lagoon, MUST DO! & Rejekiak

-When purchasing your tickets, buy the premium package. It is around $10 more but so worth it! 

– There are several restaurants to eat at when you are there; I recommend the cafe spa, it is away from everyone it is pleasant and relaxing and less pretentious. 

The spa packages looked amazing since you got extra pool access and services, but I was not willing to spend the money since I was in Europe for an extended time. However, I do recommend that as well. Next time I visit Iceland, it will be a must-do. 

After you have visited the blue lagoon, you can head back to the city center and see all that the city offers. 

Day 3 & 4 – South Iceland 

South Iceland is a MUST!! We did the must-dos and drove back to the capital the same day. It is double able, but I recommend spending the one or two nights. 

You can mix & match your own south Iceland itinerary; these are my must-sees!! It is one highway in and one way out. My recommendation is to do everything on the way to Glacier Bay, then the following day, you explore the glacier and drive back to Reykjavik.

Best things to see along the South Coast:

Day 1

Seljaladsfoss Waterfall is one of the first touring the South Coast from Reykjavik. It’s one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, best known for that you can walk behind it. The waterfall is extremely popular South Coast, so I recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Pro tip: when you exit down the stairs, turn to your right and keep walking, and a few hundred feet down, you will see a cave walkway walkthrough, and you will see a stunning hidden waterfall. 

Skogafoss Waterfall: is another must-see! It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Iceland. Also one of the backdrops for Games of Thrones. 

Reynisfjara – Vik Black Sand Beach: a stunning black sand beach with incredible rock formations.  

Day 2

Diamond Beach: At the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, you’ll get the chance to see one of the unique sights in Iceland: icebergs floating out to sea and beach on the black sand. Climb the hill to better view the entire area or follow the river under the bridge to the ocean for smaller icebergs along the black sandy shores of “diamond beach,” where waves crash against them. It’s quite the sight! In addition, you may be fortunate to see seals, porpoises, or small whales that sometimes hang out in the lagoon or near the shore.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon: The rock formations in Fjadrargljufur Canyon look like they’re from another world. There is a trail less than a mile from the parking lot along the canyon ridge, where you will find some fantastic viewpoints where the river curves around these strange rock cliffs. You can admire the views the entire time and go as far as you like. 

Skaftafell & Svartifoss (optional ice-caving & glacier walks): You could spend several days hiking all the trails around Skaftafell. If you’re short on time, the most popular hike leads to Svartifoss, a thin waterfall surrounded by columns of basalt. The walk is around three miles long (weather dependent) and offers excellent views alongside the river and towards the ocean in the distance. You can join an ice cave/climbing tour or glacier walking tour based here if you like. 

Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon: A few minutes before Jokulsarlon, you will find another Glacier Lagoon about 10 minutes from the parking lot. Here you are much closer to the glacier than at Jokulsarlon, and you’ll have better views of all the cracks and crevices.

Hof: A quick trip off the main road will bring you to Hof’s turf church. The practice of covering the roof with turf dates back to medieval times throughout Europe to protect from the harsh weather.

Day 5 – Iceland Snæfellsjökull Peninsula 

I did not have time to do Snæfellsjökull; next time!! There are some fantastic itineraries you can follow from other bloggers! 

Day 6 – Sky Lagoon

Brand new; opened in 2021! A must-see, similar to the Blue Lagoon but with better views and natural surroundings.

Day 7 – Leave 

When you leave; arrive at the airport hours in advance!! It took me four hours just to check-in.

For extra days – you can fly to Greenland or the Arctic Circle. 

My Next Chapter – Promotion & Moving (again!)

Over the past few months, I have had a lot of thoughts go through my mind on my next advancement. I kept most of it private from most people besides close friends and family. The last few months have felt like a dream; everything I have wanted and wished for is coming true.

I asked for what I wanted, and I got what I wanted. It was not lucky, and it was hard work. I knew Seattle was not where I wanted to be after my apartment lease was up. However, I loved my job at Amazon and knew I would never quit. I debated if I should apply for a new position at Amazon that would let me move elsewhere. However, the ultimate reason why I love Amazon is mainly due to my team and boss. I got fortunate with the leadership that cares for their employees at work and in their personal life.

I do not regret moving to Seattle; if I did not, I would have always wondered what if, and that saying is one of the worst feelings in life, what if. I had always wanted to live in Seattle since I was a child; I fell in love with Seattle many years ago; when I lived in NYC, all I could talk about was moving to Seattle. If I had moved straight from Southern California to Seattle, I probably would have thought this was the most fantastic place, but it is game over once you add NYC to the mix. Seattle was excellent for the six months, and I am glad I did it while it was still covid. I do regret not doing and seeing more of Washington. Maybe I did not give it a fair chance, and I will admit that, but from what I saw and noticed of the people, it is not a place I see myself spending my future.

When I was thinking about where I wanted to move next, my boss allowed me to move to any Fashion Amazon office. It was a hard decision I did not take lightly; I went back and forth for months, I narrowed it down to NYC, San Diego, and Santa Monica. I grew up halfway between San Diego and Santa Monica in a small yet globally known town (Temecula). Everyone would assume I would pick California, and I think my parents were hoping for it, and part of me was as well. I have always said if I made enough money to live in Los Angeles, that is the place I would want to be. Now that I make enough money, I am not picking it; I know the realities of living in Los Angeles and the mess that comes with it, but every city could be said the same. So again, it comes back to I was not finished in NYC. I love it; I did not honestly want to leave, my heartbroken when I left. So I have picked to move back to NYC.

This past week, I received a promotion at Amazon. I have also completed one year at Amazon. It is infrequent to get this promotion so early on at Amazon. I am lucky my boss saw my passion and appreciated what I was offering to the team. I am forever grateful for my opportunities.

Overall I am thrilled with this next chapter; I live the life I have always dreamt about, and I can’t wait to see what is next—also, PS. I am not looking forward to moving across the entire country for the third time and my fifth out-of-state move; I promised myself that this is it for a long while.

Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com

A Week in Ljubjana, Slovenia

Slovenia is easily my favorite country, especially in the autumn. However, I could easily live in Ljubjana. It is their most prominent city, but it is small and community-driven. It is the most developed country in Yugoslavia and similar to other countries nearby (Italy, Austria, Germany). Ljubjana is also the most environmentally friendly city in the European Union.

I spent one week in the capital of Ljubjana, I came up from Split, Croatia, and when I left Slovenia, I flew to Rome. Typically when people travel to Europe (Americans), we tend to visit more than one country. Because of this, I will share a helpful hint to getting to Ljubjana. I found flying in and out of Ljubjana was highly costly, and the flights had strange layovers that were long also. 

Split to Ljubjana: Take a flight from Split to Zagreb; typically about $100, then take a car from Zagreb to Ljubjana, which was about $45, for a total of $145, whereas my flight from Zagreb to Ljubjana was $300 and a five-hour layover in Munich.

Ljubjana to Rome: Take a car from Ljubjana to either Venice or Trieste, both in Italy; I went to Trieste, and my car was $20. Then I took a flight from Trieste to Rome, which was $50. So for a total of $70, whereas a flight from Ljubjana to Rome was $800 and a 10-hour layover in Munich. 

Where I booked my cars: Go Opti

I would highly recommend going to Ljubjana in the fall; I went in October, the air was crisp and cool. It was sunny most of the time, and the trees were perfectly warm tones. I stayed in the city the majority of the days as I worked remotely at night. However, on the weekend, I rented a car and traveled around the country. 

What I did:

Lake Bled: I drove to Lake Bled, which was a 40min drive. I have always wanted to go to this lake as the pictures made it look stunning. It was great but was not as great as I thought it would be. Hallstatt in Austria was a lot nicer. 

Lake Bohinj: I drove to Lake Bohinj on the same day as when I went to Lake Bled; it was about another 30mins. This lake is a lot larger and has more places to hike, picnic, outdoors spots, and a bigger city.

Predjama Castle: is a Renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in south-central Slovenia, a 13th-century castle built in a cliff face cave, with restored living areas, dungeons & secret tunnels. There are also caves near by that I highly recommend.

Walking Tour: I love taking a walking tour in cities I have never been to before. It was a fabulous tour that included a boat tour, and it was exceptionally well priced. I found the experience on Airbnb. I highly recommend this tour.

Overall the city had a magical feel of fall. It felt like I was in a Hallmark movie; it was a week I would never forget. The prices in the city were similar to the prices in Germany, lower than average in Europe but higher than other parts of former Yugoslavia. 

Split & Hvar; Croatia

I spent the last two weeks in Croatia, a country of pure beauty, countrymen full of life, a language I can speak exceptionally poorly, but a place I love. I picked Croatia as one of my stops as my family is Croatian/Slovenian. Although, as my mother says, we are just Yugoslavian, which is not politically correct; when they left, they were Yugoslavians turned into Americans, so it is justified, I suppose. 

Croatia is naturally beautiful with the coastline and countryside. Over the past decade, Croatia has made a name for itself with tourism. When I tell people I am going to Croatia, they love to advise me on what to see and do as if I haven’t been there several times. I like to listen to what they say to see and do, and it is always Split or Dubrovnik during yacht week. I have never been to Croatia during yacht week, and I don’t personally plan to. It is like the Octoberfest of the Balkans. You don’t see the culture of the country or get to know any Croatians. It is full of tourists from America, Germany, and England. Now there is nothing wrong with that, know you should come back to see the culture. If you have only been for a weekend during yacht week, did you experience Croatia? I encourage everyone who wants to see Croatia to see more than the tourist cities.

Since I have already seen and done most of what they have to offer in Croatia, from the north to the south to the tourist cities to the small villages this time around, I solely stayed in Split and did nothing for the most part. I loved it. Every day, I went to the same cafe and just sat and read, wrote for this blog, or just watched people. I don’t need to find excitement every day to have a good time on vacation. 

Each Sunday, I did decide to go out and see other places. On my first Sunday, I visited Mostar, Bosnia. I had never been to Bosnia, even after all my times visiting the Balkans, it was different from the surrounding countries, but they shared a lot of culture and language. I will do a whole separate post about Bosina on what I did and would I go back.

The following Sunday, I went to Hvar, Croatia, another place I had never been to. It was stunning and a must-see! I went during October, and the weather was perfect, but I know there can be rain during the fall. It is no longer swimming weather; some people were still okay with swimming. The temperature was a fair 68 and sunny. Hvar was one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. It was a quiet and slower pace. While I was there, there was a significant American film production happening; it was like I was in Croatia but back home in Los Angeles. Hvar was slightly more experience than Split, but both cities are higher than average for eastern or central Europe, which is expected because it is typically flooded with American tourists. 

When visiting Croatia, you must try the following traditional foods:

  1. Burek – is a filled pastry made of a thin flaky dough such as filo with various fillings, such as meat, cheese, spinach, or apples. 
  2. Cevapi – is a grilled dish of minced meat found traditionally in the countries of southeast Europe. It is considered a Bosnia and Herzegovina national dish typical in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. It is served with bread, onions, and ajvar. 
  3. Splitska Torte – a delicious cake that was created in Split. It is a walnut base cake with dried fruit and orange buttercream.
  4. Since you are directly on the coast, seafood is a must: fresh fish, octopus, and oysters. 

Top places to visit in Croatia:

  1. Split, Croatia 
  2. Dubrovnik, Croatia – four-hour ferry ride from Spilt or 30min flight for $40. 
  3. Kotor, Montenegro – a five-hour drive from Split, two hours from Dubrovnik, or fly for around $50.
  4. Hvar, Croatia – a one-hour ferry ride from Split
  5. Mostar, Bosnia – a two-hour drive from Split 
  6. Zagreb, Croatia – four drive from Split, for 45min flight for $40. 

There are no restaurants I can recommend, and I don’t find any of them worthy of a mention. My recommendation is to eat where you see the locals. 

A Week in Berlin

I kept going back and forth; should I cancel Berlin or go for it! My original plan was to go to Budapest for the week after being in Austria, which made the most sense; because I could get there by train. I had already been to Budapest, and I knew I loved it. However, at the time, Budapest was not allowing American’s to enter very easily, there were some loopholes since I was already in the EU, but I did not want to find a loophole to go. So ultimately I decided to go to Berlin since I had never been before and generally would like to go.

After spending a week in Munich that I did not care for, and previously being in Hamburg, I also did not enjoy I thought Germany was a lost hope for me, and maybe I should count my losses and cancel Berlin and pick a new place. However, I felt I would regret not going, so I went. I am so glad I did; I enjoyed myself.

I did not do any planned tours or have a destination in mind. I just woke up each day and decided what to see and do as I wanted. I went in Fall (October) the weather was significantly fall-like; crisp. It drizzled a few times but no heavy rain; I was lucky with the weather.

Berlin is like an NYC meets Seattle. I stayed in the hip area of the city, with many vibes of the PNW (Pacific Northwest). It is large and has tons of different types of people, just like NYC. A few districts I visited felt like I had stepped back in SoHo, and I loved it! Berlin was a great city, one I probably would not need to return to as I live in a huge city just like it. I am happy I went; it restored my hope for Germany as in hoping I would like it.

One thing I noticed about being in Germany is how cheap everything truly is. Eating out is half the price as Austria and Croatia, similar prices to Italy. I could get an ice cream cone 2€ or a lunch pasta for 5€ at a nice sit-down restaurant in the city center. In addition, Berlin did not have rude, impatient people as I had experienced in Munich and Hamburg. This could be that the people I interacted with are not actually from Germany.

My Highlights:

Zeit für Brot:

They had the best sticky bun of my life! The walnut caramel one was superb, and it was soft gooey but still crunchy. However, it was their seasonal flavor, so they may not have that when you go, but it is a must if they do! I went there every day; I had the original still great but not as good I would recommend getting something other than original. I also had their cheesecake, so delicious, very similar to an American cheesecake but less sweet.

East Side Gallery:

The East Side Gallery memorial in Berlin-Friedrichshain is a permanent open-air gallery on the most extended surviving section of the Berlin Wall in Mühlenstraße between the Berlin Ostbahnhof and the Oberbaumbrücke along the Spree. It was so cool to see all the murals.

Memorials:

There were several memorials around Berlin to remember different groups that died during the Second World War and the Russian occupation of Germany. I loved seeing this because I got a different vibe while in Munich.

10 Days in Austria, what did I do and see?

When I picked Austria, it was simply to check a box off of the countries left I needed to visit in Europe. I have always heard such amazing things about Austria and about all of its beauty. It was never on my top list of places to see, but it was definitely on my father’s. We were told we couldn’t go until we went with him; he is a big sound music fan! Anyways now, with his health, he won’t be able to go, so I decided to go and, of course, send tons of photos!

I took the train from Munich to Salzburg exceptionally quickly, and I highly recommend doing it this way if you are coming from Munich. It was a 90min train ride, with no transfers. I am not sure what I was expecting out of Salzburg. My exceptions were high; I do know that. I was picturing enchanted gardens with Julia Andrews singing on every corner with picture-perfect views everywhere you look. I have never seen the Sound of Music, but I have seen enough clips and photos to understand the plot and what it is supposed to look like.

Salzburg was precisely how one would expect it. I think my exceptions were unreachably high, so I was slightly disappointed, but barely I truly enjoyed the city. The city you can do in one day it is not very big, think the size of Portland, OR. I recommend renting a car so that you can see more of Austria than just Salzburg and Vienna. The true beauty of the country is outside of the city centers.

My friend Amy met me in Salzburg and stayed for ten days, and we traveled all over Austria. While in Salzburg, we went to the towns of Hallstatt and Villach. Hallstatt was about an hour drive from Salzburg and so worth it, and it is a must-do!

Hallstatt’s claim to fame is the most instagramable city globally and the inspiration for the movie Frozen. It is a small town that has not changed much since the 1800s. You can take a paddleboat onto the lake, enjoy a nice lunch along the water, and then soak up the beauty of this little gem of a village. I went in fall of 2021, kids were back in school and covid is still a thing, so there was not a lot of tourist. We read that this town averages 10-30k tourists each day! The population of this town is less than 1k.

Villach was on the border of Italy, Austria, and Slovenia. It was a three-hour drive each way, and we went on a Sunday, our mistake (if you don’t know, Europe is mainly closed on Sundays). I was not wowed by Villach and probably wouldn’t need to return. If you want to say you visited all three countries by hopping over to each one, then it is worth it for sure. We did not because we were not allowed to take our rental car across borders. If you end up renting a car, let them know you will be entering different countries, especially Germany, if you are staying in Salzburg!

Once we hit Vienna, we had about three days to see the city, which was plenty! On our first day in Vienna, we took a walking tour of the city, which I highly recommend you do in all cities you travel to. This way, you learn the history and know what you are looking at throughout your days. On our last full day in Vienna, we decided to take the train to Slovakia to their capital city. It was a short 50min train ride! The city is a typical Eastern European city that I have been to in the past. We spent about four hours looking around, visiting the castle, having one of the best lunches, and then taking the trip back to Vienna.

Our top moments in Salzburg:

Strudel Making Course:

This was an Airbnb experience, and it was excellent!

Cafe Sacher Salzburg:

You must try the Salzburger Nockerl. You can only find it in Salzburg, and it was so good! One is enough for 3-4 people.

Fortress Hohensalzburg:

It was very medieval, like you were stepping back in time, it also gives you a panoramic view of the entire city!

Out top moments in Vienna:

Vienna Walking tour:

Another Airbnb experience gave us a good insight and history into Vienna. I am a history buff and already know a ton, but I learned things not that tour I did not know.

Schoenbrunn Palace:

We did not go inside the palace, but we went and walked the ground at sunset, and it was stunning; I highly recommend it! We also went to a Mozart concert on the grounds that evening.

Holocaust Memorial:

One of the “newer” memorials in the world was finished in the early 2000s. It was very moving, and it is located in the Jewish quarter of Vienna.

Belvedere Palace:

The Belvedere is one of the most famous art museums in the world. If you are a Klimt art fan, I highly recommend going. They have a great collection and one of his most famous paintings, The Kiss. However, if you are not a huge art museum fan or don’t even know who Klimt is, I would skip it as there are not many rooms to explore for the price. However, Klimt is my favorite artist, so it was worth seeing for me.

Overall, Austria was a stunning country with history we overlook, but that is very important to know. It is worth visiting Austria even if you have a mixed group of people. There are plenty of hiking opportunities in the alps, great city life, and small towns with some of the prettiest lakes I have ever seen. I would most definitely revisit Austria.

What to See and Do in Munich!

I promised everyone an explanation on why I picked each city. These past couple of weeks, I went back and forth about whether I would skip talking about Munich or go for it anyway. Finally, I have decided to share my honest thoughts; the keyword here is opinion; after I complete all the cities I will be visiting in Germany, I will share my thoughts. Then, I will let you all know if my perception of Germany has changed; or not. 

However, Munich was not what I expected, not in a bad or good way; it was just different. I spent a week in Munich, but you only need about three to four days in Munich. Note: everything is closed on Sundays, and most places are cash only. 

Photo by Kylene Hashimoto on Pexels.com

Day 1: Neuschwanstein, Germany 

One of the things I wanted to do in Munich was to see Neuschwanstein Castle, which is located in the city of Neuschwanstein. So I decided to take the train. Although it was a two-hour ride each way, once you arrive, there will be a city bus to take you to the castle, straightforward and a way cheaper option than booking a tour. 

The castle was used as the inspiration for the Disneyland castle and very picture-perfect for that traditional castle we remember growing up in fairytales. However, the inside of the castle is very Bavarian feel not impressive like a French palace, for example. I would recommend going if you have always wanted to go, but if you have never seen a picture of the castle, I would probably skip it. The history of who lived in the castle is fascinating. I won’t spoil the story!

Day 2: On my own, Munich 

On my second day in Munich, I did my walking tour. I saw the highlights and ended my day at a beer garden to celebrate Oktoberfest. 

My itinerary (for if you want to copy): 

Stop 1: City-Center; Marienplatz 

This stop is probably the most recognizable building in Munich; it has been the city square since 1158! Take this time to take in the beauty of the buildings and research the history behind the beauty. 

Stop 2: St. Peters Church 

My next stop was right next to the Marienplatz; it was the St. Peters Church. You can climb the stairs to reach the church’s top with breathtaking views of the entire city. They only allow 25 people every 35 minutes, and people start lining up about 15 minutes before entry. It is first-come, first-serve, no pre-booking. The tickets are five euros and are worth the ticket price for these views. The only thing to keep in mind is the stairs are very steep and a lot of them. By the time I reached the top, I had needed a break, and I was ultimately out of breath. For five euros, you get a free gym session too. 

Stop 3: Viktualienmarket:

Our third stop is again next to the square and church; it is a cute farmers market type, in which local farmers sell their vegetables and fruits, but there is also so much more! People sell local handmade souvenirs and plenty of places to try local food or stop for lovely ice cream or juice. 

Stop 4: Cafe Kreutzkamm

Stop and enjoy a cafe latte and a slice of local cake from that region. 

Stop 5: Choice Nymphenburg Palace or Residenz 

  1. This royal palace, which is about 700 meters in length, now a vast museum complex, was the summer residence of Bavarian kings. The palace dates back to 1664, and in 1792 royal palace park was opened to the public. Most famous German, Italian and French architects and garden designers from the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries, like Agostino Barelli, Enrico Zucalli, Giovanni Antonio Viscardi, Joseph Effner, Leo von Klenze, Dominique Girard, and Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell, were designing or redesigning different pavilions and gardens of the famous royal palace, predominantly, in baroque and later in rococo and neoclassical style.
  2. The Museum is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria and was built in phases as each age of the royal family sought to display their status and grandeur in style appropriate to their times. Many buildings are highly impressive, reconstruction due to war damage, but this does not detract from the experience.

Stop 6: Your hotel or Airbnb 

Relax, take a nap, get ready for an evening out 

Final Stop 7: Hofbrauhaus 

This is a fun place to meet new people, locals, and tourists alike. This is the most famous beer hall in Munich, and it did not disappoint. It was so much fun watching everyone cheer and drink. The food is traditional but delicious. 

Day 3: Dachau Concentration Camp 

Dachau served as a prototype and model for the other German concentration camps that followed; it was created in 1933. Dachau was the concentration camp in operation the longest, from March 1933 to April 1945, nearly all twelve years of the Nazi regime. In the postwar years, the camp continued in use. From 1945 through 1948, the Allies used the camp as a prison for SS officers awaiting trial. After 1948, when hundreds of thousands of ethnic Germans were expelled from eastern Europe, it held Germans from Czechoslovakia until resettled. It also served as a military base for the United States, which maintained forces in the country. It was closed in 1960. However, at the insistence of survivors, various memorials have been constructed and installed here.

I highly recommend visiting this camp; this is not the first concentration camp I have been to. However, this is the first camp I have been to that kept saying “potential murder” this was upsetting, so please be aware and ask questions. 

It is straightforward to get to Dachau on the train, just put it into your apple or google maps and press the train options and it will take you straight there on the subway (not train), and it takes about 20min then a 10min bus ride. The entrance is free, and no need to book ahead. 

Overall, Munich is not a city I would need to visit again. However, I did enjoy my time there, and I am glad I had the opportunity to go. 

Skipping Through Europe – WFH

Why am I going to Europe for almost four months? The simple answer is why not, which is my only answer. As soon as Amazon announced, we would not have to be back in the office until January; that day, I decided to buy a ticket to Munich, leaving at the end of September. I love to travel, and I have been to Europe for months at a time before but never for almost four months. So I am just as excited as I am terrified. The weeks leading up to my departure have been very stressful; there is a lot of planning involved on all accounts.

My itinerary of cities I will be visiting (in order). I will be spending 1-3 weeks in each location.

Munich, Germany
Salzburg, Austria & Vienna, Austria
Berlin, Germany
Split, Croatia & Hvar, Croatia & Mostar, Bosnia
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Rome, Italy, Capri, Italy & Florence, Italy
Lisbon, Portugal
Prague, Czech Republic
Nuremberg, Germany

Is anyone coming with me?
I am doing this trip 70% solo, which is precisely what I wanted, for the most part. However, I am thrilled with my couple of visitors along the way! My first visitor will be one of my very close friends, Amy, and we will be doing Salzburg and Vienna together. Then my mom will be meeting me in Italy and will be doing all of Italy together. So again, I’m excited to do this alone for the most part; it will challenge me.

What and how am I packing for almost four months?
When I first thought of this, I was going to do it all in one carry-on. That was a funny thought; this has probably been the most stressful for me, I would say (besides covid). I have decided to go with one regular checked bag and carry-on. My suitcase is already packed to the max; I know I will buy things while I’m over there, so I have to pick and choose what the essentials are and what I can forgo. It isn’t easy because I have to pack extra items you wouldn’t have to on a regular vacation. Like nail care, laundry detergent, full-size bottles, and shoes for all weathers. Also different climates, from warm to snow, winter coat to sundresses. Living on only 50 pounds for four months is proving to be challenging.

What about Covid?
Covid is changing every second; I don’t have to explain that one. However, bans and requirements are changing daily. Today, I am allowed to enter all the countries on my list due to being vaccinated. I am keeping a very watchful eye on restrictions and requirements.
I have to explain myself to those who think this is selfish and unproductive to society. Since I am going the majority of the time alone and vaccinated (including my visitors) and will be tested just about every week, I do not feel like I will get covid as cases are much lower in Europe than in the USA. Also, I am fully vaccinated with the booster, and I will not be breaking any laws nor finding any loopholes to continue with my trip. I will not be infecting anyone with Covid by going. I will be getting a PCR test 24 hours before my flight to Munich, even though it is not required. I will then do a rapid test when I land three days later, again not needed. After that, I will be taking a rapid or PCR test weekly. It is my reasonability to keep myself healthy and the others around me, and I believe anyone can travel safely and reasonably during covid.

On this trip, I am keeping as flexible as possible and just going with the flow. If I need to change a country due to their requirements, then that is precisely what I will be doing.


Why the places I picked?

Well, you will have to read each post after each city! I will be posting tips, tricks, and recommendations for each city. All the cities have a meaning behind them. I am excited to share this adventure with everyone; I have to use my top-tier EA skills to organize and plan all of this, so there are no hiccups along the way (we all know there will be, already has).