other travel

Let’s get started with the first post about a 2025 trip to Sicily. Once again I helped train a new guide for Rick Steves’ Europe & found myself in awe… mainly because the whole island resembled southern Spain in so many ways. I fell in love with Trapani at first sight because it felt just like Cádiz to me!

Not originally included in Operación Verano Fresco, the excursion to Bremerhaven was a last-minute decision… thinking we’d have a quick look around & return to Bremen for the city hall tour. But we soon realized that the city had so much to see & decided to forfeit our pre-paid Rathaus tickets. That beautiful waterfront, a preserved trading ship from 1380, a World War II U-boat & an emigration museum kept us busy all day!

Allied forces inflicted Germany with such heavy damage at the end of World War II that entire cities needed to be rebuilt. Religion also returned with about the same number of Christian worshipers as in the 1920s, so reconstruction of Protestant & Catholic churches accompanied the housing boom… with decoration inspired by current trends. Modern stained glass panels became a common sight in churches throughout West Germany.

While planning Operación Verano Fresco, I stumbled on a region that looked intriguing: marshy bogs, purple-flowered heath, charming hotels & lots of hiking trails. Lüneberger Heide promised to be a relaxing getaway after so many city days, but little did I know it would turn into one of the most memorable stays of our Germany vacation…