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Early morning coffee before work • Guest appearance: Arya the Cat #quietmornings #shemayhaveherownchair #justkidding #itsathrownnotachair #shesadictator #catsofinstagram (at Wiesbaden, Germany)

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Our 14 mile hike to Burg Eltz, the castle that has been in the same family for 33 generations.

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Our 14 mile hike to Burg Eltz, the castle that has been in the same family for 33 generations.

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Our 14 mile hike to Burg Eltz, the castle that has been in the same family for 33 generations.

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Exploring Burg Pyrmont

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Wolframs-Eschenbach; May 2018. Medieval walled city dating back to 1057, named after a famous German poet.

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I solemnly swear that I am up to no good 😉 #schnitzel #germany #ansbach #travelgermany #photography #foodporn #foodgram (at Hotel Grünwald)

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Frühlingsfest 🌺🌸

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Flower Pawer 🐶🐾 #cavalierkingcharlesspaniel #everyonewantedtopethim #themainattraction #tulipfestival (at Keukenhof - the Tulips garden, Holland)

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These are a few of my favorite things 🎶

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10 Facts about Heidelberg

1. Heidelberg University is the oldest university in Germany. Established in 1386, Heidelberg’s Ruprecht-Karls-Universität remains one of Germany’s most prestigious universities - it celebrated its 625th anniversary in 2011. It counts an impressive array of national figures amongst its alumni, including the former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

2. Heidelberg is home to an amphitheater. Hidden from view from the town at the top of the surrounding wooded hills, the ‘Thingstätte’ was built in 1935 by the Nazi political party, designed by Heidelberg native Albert Speer. It was used for rallies and solstice festivals during WW2 and is now preserved as a monument, but also still used for festivals and cultural events.

3. The first bicycle was invented by a graduate of Heidelberg University. Karl Drais came up with the ‘Laufmaschine’, which represented the beginning of mechanized personal transport. It was nicknamed the Dandy Horse and was the first means of transport to make use of the 2-wheel concept, even though it didn’t have pedals.

4. The city hosts superb firework displays during the summer. Known as the ‘Schlossbeleuchtung’, there’s a fantastic firework display on the 1st Saturday in June, 2nd Saturday in July and 1st Saturday in September every year. It starts with the Heidelberg castle being lit up as though it is on fire. This is to remember the times in 1689, 1693 and 1764, when it actually went up in flames. After a few minutes of the castle ‘burning’, the fireworks begin. They’re launched from the old bridge and last about 15 mins.

5. Heidelberg is featured prominently in various poems and novels. The city is mentioned in works by the likes of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Heinrich Heine, and Mark Twain, who spent several months in Heidelberg in the late 1800′s. The novel ‘The Reader’, made into a film in 2008, was also set in the city.

6. Heidelberg escaped bombing in WW2. Unlike many German cities, it was not destroyed by air raids and therefore still has original buildings from the later Middle Ages and early Renaissance. It has been suggested that the city escaped substantial bombing because the US Army wanted to use it as a garrison after the war. In fact though, as Heidelberg was neither an industrial center nor a transport hub, there was nothing of particular strategic interest for them to bomb, so they focused on nearby industrial cities such as Mannheim.

7. The first evidence of human life in Europe was found in Heidelberg. In 1907 a jaw-bone was discovered in a gravel pit – it’s the earliest evidence found of human life in Europe. The ‘Heidelberg Man’ is the name given to a member of this extinct human species, considered closely related to “Homo erectus”.

8. It’s home to the world’s biggest wine barrel. The Heidelberg ‘Tun’ holds 220,000 liters. The vat (Fass) was built in 1751 and sits within Heidelberg’s famous castle.

9. 1 in 5 residents is a university student. As you might expect from a city with a university as prestigious as that of Heidelberg, a large proportion of the population are students. This gives the city a lively feel and ensures ample social and cultural offerings for visitors and locals to enjoy.

10. The German Pharmacy Museum is housed in Heidelberg Castle. It displays a large collection of old equipment and medicines used in a pharmacy in past centuries.

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We have nothing to lose, and a world to see. #germany #wanderlust #travel #photography (at Besucherzentrum Geierlay, Mörsdorf)

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“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” #germany #germany🇩🇪 #wanderlust #travelgram #insta #photography #bucketlist #cavalierkingcharlesspaniel #mycavalier #thefinleys #AandJ #travel #adventure

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Dutch painting circa 1950s • • • • #art #painting #photography #travel #antiques #artwork #illustration #artoftheday #artsy #instaart #masterpiece #oldstuff #vintage #dutch #traveldiaries (at Caleb Sasser & Co Antiques Galleria)

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I tried a Stroopwafel for the first time today and it was by far the best thing I've ever eaten. When I was a kid I used to fall asleep in my pancakes and waffles, so I'm sort of notorious for being obsessed with breakfast. This is my new favorite dessert and I'm obsessed. I need to find the best recipe and forever be known as being the "cool mom" that has the best waffle cookies.

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3.31.18: We crossed two something's off our bucket list! 1) Cross the largest suspension bridge in Germany, the Geierlay & 2) Face our fear of heights! It took us two times to make it all the way across 😬 The first time Remy wasn't having it, so I had to carry him and I started to panic half-way across so we stopped and turned around! After a pep talk and snacks, James got me to try again and we crossed the whole bridge 😊👍🏻 Remy even walked by himself. #geierlay #germany #travelgram #photography #insta #architecture #suspensionbridge #wanderlust #bucketlist

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