Iceland 🇮🇸

For the finale of our trip, we took advantage of the Icelandair stopover to re-visit Reykjavik.✈️ We stayed in the same AirBnB as we did in 2019. The host, Siggi, is a retired mechanic and offers a car with the apartment, and pick-up at the airport for a fee (about a 45 min drive). 🚗 

Having started this trip in sizzling Greece, 🏝️and moving through toasty European cities, Reykjavik felt like Nova Scotia in Autumn. The extra clothing that had patiently waited in our suitcases finally saw the light of day (about 18hrs of it in early August). 👖😎

I hear that in the city, maybe in all of Iceland, each neighbourhood has their own, elaborate and affordable swimming & spa complex. 🧖🏼 It's important that all Icelanders learn to swim.🏊The facility in the neighbourhood of Seltjarnarnes is open-air, and has a huge lap pool, a shallow pool, a kiddie pool, four hot tubs of different heats, two cold-plunge tubs, a steam sauna, and heated water slide. We went there three times in three days. 

We drove to see the geyser, and stood around the water with hundreds of others waiting for the burst. It was comical and crowded, and a man standing behind me was so bold as to rest his wrist on top of my head while he took a video.🙄 It is pretty exciting when the water shoots 100 feet in the air and sprays a warm eggy mist -- not to be missed. ☔️

We spent a day at the beautiful Secret Lagoon, a natural hot spring pool which is considered the oldest in Iceland. The views are lovely, with surrounding hills and forest. A little boardwalk circles the pool. 🗻The change rooms are no place to be shy, and the signs posted everywhere insist that you shower in the buff -- in the big common shower room -- and clean those key bits with soap because they don't want you bringing in any products into the water. It's a culture shock for sure, and even at the pool complex, the people seem to take their sweet time to air dry before they get dressed. When in Rome, I guess... 🍑

We walked around downtown Reykjavik, and hiked along the coast, where the kids played on the giant cubic sculptures (allowed). We tried Fly-Over-Iceland and highly recommend it. It's a simulated flight ride that makes feel like you're paragliding over the whole country. It’s incredible.🦅

I can't forget the most decadent treat, "Caramel Sin" 😈-- artisanal donuts topped with ice cream at a shop called Loo.koo.mas. Rich. 🍨

(August 2019 : https://luckhoundstravelwithkids.blogspot.com/2019/08/norway-iceland.html)

Prague 🇨🇿

Understatement: Prague is a beautiful city. It’s really too much to take in. Having been spared destruction in WWII, the architecture tells about a thousand years of history. Medieval, Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance, Contemporary, et cetera. It’s all there, still standing, together as a visual feast. Everywhere you look, there is something intentional and interesting. 

We walked across the Charles Bridge to tour the Royal Castle complex 🏰🏰🏰. We roamed through giant halls and royal chambers, seeing artifacts from emperors and religious leaders through time.⛪️👑 It was key to set out early so that it wasn't too crowded. Prague is a tourist hub for good reason. As the day grew hotter, we took refuge in an air conditioned mall and the gals got manicures. 💅 

We got same-day tickets to see a symphony in the Art Nouveau Smetana Hall, from a balcony seat! It was an impulse-buy that turned out to be a blast for the whole family. We watched and listened while a robust string section played classics. 🎻🎶I appreciated the paintings and architecture, and couldn't help but think about action scenes from Looney Tunes. It's easy to get swept up in the music hearing Für Elise, Symphony No. 5, The Four Seasons, Hungarian Dance, and more, played live by pros, in an ornate hall. 🤩 It was surreal. 

  

We wandered the Old Town square in the evenings and the girls had chimney cakes. 🥮 I loved looking at the intricate puppets and toys in the shops. 🪁🪀🚂🧸 In case you're thinking there was a bit too much "pomp & circumstance", our AirBnB apartment, which was spacious and sleek, was above a Harley Davidson shop 🏍️, and next to a Hooters🦉. Prague offers juxtaposition at every turn. 

 

 

Munich 🇩🇪

It made me smile that our hotel in Munich shared a name with my dear late grand-père, Augustin. I can't imagine his reaction at such a modern, vibrant, bustling place. We thought the surf-themed lobby was random. 🌊🏄‍♀️🚙

At breakfast, we were surrounded by Swifties, there to see a concert that weekend. We would hear a North American accent, and a sparkly cowboy boot or an arm full of bracelets would surely follow. Eras t-shirst were ubiquitous. The breakfast itself was worth writing home about:🥚🌭 there were Le Creusets full of eggs, and frightening white sausages. There were yogurts, cheeses, dried fruits, nuts, and muesli as far as the eye could see, and the German bread and jam game is next level. 🥖🥨🥐🫐🍒🍓We fueled up and made the most of our three days. 

We visited Dachau, the first WWII concentration camp. With our kids, ages 12 and 14, we walked around the enormous memorial site, heavy with emotion for the people who suffered and died there. There was a lot to read, see, and think about as we made our way through different buildings. Photos, videos, and artifacts told the stories of horrifying cruelty. Although there were hundreds of other travellers from all over the world there, it was quiet and sombre, and there was a sense of shared grief, and humanity. We will continue to reflect on it. 

The modern art museum in Munich was a mental palate cleanser. We saw Picassos, Dalis, and a dizzying range of expression. 🖼️  We shook our heads at the cool, comical, and challenging exhibits. Ask me about the walk video someday. 🤣

We traveled around the city by subway 🚊 and clued in that paying for fares is totally optional. The toll gates are open, which is great. We rode e-bikes around Englischer Garten, stopping to watch the surfers 🏄🏄‍♀️ that line up to ride the consistent wave at the Eisbach River. So cool. 

  

We tried a different beer garden every day, where there was always a jolly crowd and plenty of great snacks— baked pretzels 🥨, fresh corn 🌽, bbq 🍗, salads 🥗, and sausages 🌭. We did a hurried walk through the oldest beer hall, Hofbräuhaus, just in time to listen to the rocking band. It was too packed to stay for long, but I’d love to return in the off-season someday. 🍻 I’d also like to time it right to get in on the monthly rollerblade event. The city blocks certain main streets and thousands of people skate around together. What a vibe. 🛼

Tyrol, Italy 🏔️🇮🇹

Our room at the inn, Garni Alpin, was on the fourth floor. The stairs were a great warm up for the days ahead. The area has endless trails through forests and pastures with beautiful views of mountains, farms, centuries-old churches.  ⛪️ 

On the first day we took a wrong turn so our two hour hike turned to three, but we ended up at a lake with an excellent pizzeria. We had a refreshing swim in the cool water. At the pizzeria we met a cool couple from Australia 🇦🇺 — Courtney & Keiran — so fun! 

The next day we took a gondola to the great pasture to hike around and take breaks at the restaurants along the way. Strudel & coffee set us up! It was a lot to see — the rolling hills, the surrounding mountains, the towns below, and hear — the cowbells ringing across the fields, the steps on the gravelly trails, the many languages being spoken by other hikers. Although there must’ve been thousands of people hiking the trails, it was never crowded and the fresh air was calming and invigorating at the same time. 🌬️

We returned the next day and took a different route — steeper and even more stunning. Our sneakers 👟 were kind of slippery but we made it. 

It was a privilege to see this part of the country, and the pizza, pasta and gelato were exquisite. The hiking and biking infrastructure was impressive. I'm sure the winter is as spectacular for skiers. I'd love to go back someday. Ciao.

⛰️Innsbruck, Austria 🇦🇹

I’m glad everyone in the family watched The Sound of Music before we got here. That way, any one of us could break into 🎶”Edelweiss”🎶. 

From Lindau we took a train 🚞 to Innsbruck and rented a car for a few days. Innsbruck was a stop on the way to Italy, and it was a lovely one. We walked around the downtown, looking at the historic buildings, the most unique being the palace with the golden roof where queen and king looked over their square. The city was bustling with tourists and we met the first of many Swifties in the area for Taylor’s Munich shows. With beer and wine cheaper than water around here, it was tempting to start a drinking game… take a drink when you see someone with an Eras T-shirt or a sequined outfit. My liver couldn’t.😝

Austria hosted the Olympics three times, and it was fun to check out their ski jump in Innsbruck. I was pretty good at the Wii ski jump myself, if I do say. To our delight we learned that jumpers can practice all year. We bought tickets up to the look off tower and before we got into the funicular, we saw a fella getting into position, then he flew by! 🚀 

We went into the massive tower and took in the views of the mountains, forest, and storybook villages. We had cake and coffee in the restaurant and planned the rest of our day: swimming at the Völser Badl, another outdoor swimming complex with — you guessed it — stainless steel pools, my new obsession. Four pools, a long twisting slide, clean facilities for changing and storage lockers, a licensed canteen, beautiful surroundings — what a place to relax. The landscaping was impeccable with rolling terraces, tall trees and topiaries. It was a great deal too.