Getting Stamped by the Soviets at Checkpoint Charlie - The Traveling Storygirl

Getting Stamped by the Soviets at Checkpoint Charlie

For almost 30 years, the Berlin wall separated the oppressed Soviet Union from the free West Germany. Even though the wall fell in 1989, reminders of Berlin’s historical past can still be found throughout the city. Some people have commercialized upon Berlin’s history but there are a plethora of important sites throughout the city that…

A Day Trip to Lovely Little Liechtenstein

Nestled into a valley between the Swiss and Austrian Alps lies the sixth smallest country in the world – Liechtenstein. Few people have heard of this German-speaking nation but its natural beauty leaves you speechless. This tiny nation is roughly the size of Manhattan and has a population of 35,000. It is the only German-speaking…

Letter to Home After a Year Abroad

Hello, it’s me. Some of you may have forgotten about me while I’ve been gone. Or maybe not, considering I inundated your Instagram and Facebook feeds with pictures of my adventures. Sorry about that, I have only wanted to share my exciting adventures with the world. But I am finally returning home for the summer.…

The Top 4 Things to do in Heidelberg

I’ll admit it; this quaint little German town has stolen a piece of my heart after living here. There’s just something about the atmosphere and culture of the town that makes me want to move here permanently. Although I won’t be planting my roots here, I’ve learned the ins and outs of how to experience…

The Day that I Accidentally Saw the Pope and was Trampled by Old Italian Ladies

Whenever somebody travels to Rome, the first thing their friends usually tease them about is “oh are you going to see the pope?” My friends and family were exactly the same. So when I told my parents that I was going to Rome the weekend before Lent started, my dad gave me clear instructions to…

Venice – Then and Now

My parents, bless their hearts, were crazy enough to take an eight year-old to Italy. No normal parents would think that was a good investment and they took a risky gamble when they brought me to Italy for a week when I was only eight. Thankfully, their gamble paid off and I loved the trip.…

Reflecting on My First Semester Abroad

It’s been a long three months. 93 days to be specific. 93 days since I packed up my life and moved 7,000 miles away to the beautiful town of Heidelberg, Germany. Before stepping on the plane, I thought it was going to be the longest three months of my life. In some ways, it was.…

How NOT to See Vienna

This past week I have been in Austria with my class for an Educational Field Trip. The “educational” title is optional. I had been to Vienna once before but never left the train station so I was unsure of what to expect. Basically, I was not looking forward to being surrounded by the same people…