Euskal Herria

People ask me why I keep going back to the same places (Basque Country, Germany, Europe in general), our for that matter, why travel? I think my reasoning breakdown looks like this: 40% friends (old and new!), 40% food, 20% culture, history, and all that good stuff.

Stuttgart Preview and Quiet History

I am realizing throughout this trip just how amazing my friends are. It isn't really news (they've always been great), but every once in a while it hits me even harder. I spent a few days in Stuttgart this week, and it was one of those moments.

Myself, Anne, and Bea in Heilbronn

Anne, Bea, and I hung out Thursday evening in Heilbronn for pasta, ice cream, and swapping stories an a mash up of English and German (I think Anne is the only person who got 100% of it!)

Lower Austria (Niederösterreich)

After a drizzley but historically rich weekend in Innsbruck (castles! armor! art!), I took the early train across Austria to see Ulli, my former tandem (language partner from UniGraz) in Lower Austria.

Darmstädter Hütte

After a late night at the mountain film festival, we weren't in a rush to get out the door Friday morning. At 11 Andreas (Herr Birkl) came home from work, picked up Christoph and I, and pointed the car up the Moosthal towards Darmstädter Hütte.

The sun breaking through

Komstanzer Hütte Hike

I have heard about the amazing hiking in the alps, but want really prepared for the past two days. Based from the Birkl's house in St Anton am Arlberg, we have hiked both days to the south side of the valley for some wunderschön views.

Buckley the Wandering Bison visits the Alps

Into the Alps

I'm currently camped out at Gästehaus Kolp in the Dorf (village) of St Jakob, at the edge of the ski town St Anton. My friend Christoph from Graz invited me to come stay, and it is his parents who have the house. I woke up in my own apartment with rugged mountain peaks scraping the tips of the window frames.
Despite wet weather yesterday, I couldn't wait to go out hiking. The closest trail was literally out the front door and so well signed I didn't even need a map.

Coming out of the forest and onto the Alm

Getting Lost, Tomatoes, andTwirling Ladies in Dirndl

*I think I fixed the problem with commenting, so go ahead and give it a try! Thanks to Cait for pointing it out to me!*

I arranged to go to a crossfit gym Sunday evening and get my first workout in since Göteborg, but for the second time I found myself of the edge of the map and unable to find my desired destination. I was off the U-bahn with 20 minutes to get to class and two missed lefts and an hour later I was on a bus back to the Ostbahnhof (train station), defeated.

And then I noticed the festivities happening across the street.