Nuremberg, Germany Travel Experience

If you were to ask me if I ever wanted to visit Germany out of all of the places I wanted to visit, it would not be at the top of my list. I have day dreamed of going to many places around the world but not Germany. Not to say Germany is not a wonderful place. It’s just never a place I have daydreamed about going to. So you might ask me, how did you end up visiting Germany?

Well the answer to that question is my husband had to have a work trip there. I happen to be on a career break and a housewife, so we decided to go together so I can keep my husband company while he was there. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Germany specifically Nuremberg and Frankfort. Since my husband was there for work, I had to anticipate and plan being alone all day in a foreign country. This is when my journey of getting a taste of what solo traveling would feel like.

Solo Traveling

Although I actually was not truly solo traveling. I did spend many days in the country alone, while my husband was at work. He would get off work around 3:30pm and arrive to the hotel around 4pm. I was alone all day and had to plan my days accordingly.

Most mornings I started with enjoying my hotel accommodated breakfast. Then I had the opportunity to explore the village. To give some context I live in the Southern region of America and never used public transportation like a subway or train alone. In order to explore the town center, I had to get on the local train to get around. I have to admit, I was so afraid to get on the train. I was afraid I would get lost or abducted, I know very dramatic.

I asked the hotel staff to help give me some clues on where to get off and how to get in the train. The lady was nice and reassured me I could travel the train alone and be okay. She gave me a map and circled the station I needed to get off to arrive at the desired destination, she circled the number and also circled the right stop I needed to get on to get back to the hotel.

The train station was across the street from the hotel. When I finally got the courage to walk across the street. I had to buy my train ticket to get on the train. I had this tiny little voice saying. Don’t look like your scarred, don't ask anyone to help you. What if they figure out your alone and foreign and use that to make you a victim. These thoughts were in my mind, I felt vulnerable and thought of all the lifetime stories and movies my parents always showed me growing up .

They always instilled a caution of the potential threats and hazards I could come across as a child. They would never let us go on trips as a young adults, we were not allowed to spend the night at anyone’s homes and they always reminded us of horror stories of woman going on vacations in foreign places and never coming back home.

My heart was beating as I walked in the train station suspicious that a predator was waiting for someone like mean easy victim. I got on the train and tried my best not to make any eye contact with anyone. I called my best friend and let her know I was on the train. Once I was on the train I felt a sense of ease. I just needed to get off at the right spot and hopefully land in the city I googled that looked so beautiful. My husband and I went there the first day we arrived, we didn’t explore the area for long because we were so tired from our trip and jet lagged. This was my first time going there alone.

Once I realized I was most likely going to be safe, I felt like I could actually enjoy my day. The first thing I did was just walk around and window shopped. Then I did what always makes me feel safe and cozy. Which was to go to a coffee shop. I spent a lot of time there. After my adventure of getting on the train. I felt brave and spontaneous, so I decided to try something new and I got a pistachio latte. To my surprise, it was so delicious and rich in flavor.

Comfort In Coffee

As an Ethiopian it is only natural I love coffee. If you do not already know. Coffee originated and was discovered, brewed and injected first in my great home of Ethiopia. This is something most of us are all proud of and some of the history our parents always to make sure to share and pass down.

And The Peace Begins

I know I sounded so dramatic from my earlier experience. I had to let you know the lack of peace I had when I first started exploring the town alone. But once I got over my fear and got comfortable and felt safe after I arrived at the coffee shop, my defenses were temporarily down. I had a sense of peace and enjoyment that I initially wanted to have but couldn’t because I was hyper aware and felt vulnerable.

I felt peace when I no longer was thinking those intrusive thoughts. I could finally sit down and enjoy my latte. The people were nice and friendly, which helped ease my distress. When I took a glance of my surroundings and grounded myself. I saw everyone else there was simply minding their business, present and enjoying their time.

I spent many days alone in Nuremberg. And had to develop a routine. I know when I am home I have my slow morning rituals. I had to establish that in Europe as well. I find having a routine especially first thing in the morning helps make my days feel so much better.

I first would have my morning breakfast at the hotel. Once breakfast was done, I would go back in the hotel room and get ready for my day. After surviving the first day alone on the train. I built the confidence to get on the train and was ready to explore the day. It was quite fantastic.

I did not have any set plans or an agenda but I had a goal. My goal was I wanted to explore, have lunch, coffee and come back to hotel safely. Preferably right on time for when my husband got off work. During the day I looked for sovereigns ,hanged with strangers and chatted with some of the locals. I even had lunch and cocktails by myself.

I felt very safe and the people in Nuremberg were friendly and warm towards me. After a while I felt like it was my second home. I memorized all the buildings and eventually it did not feel like a foreign land to me.

The holidays is an important time for me and my family especially now creating a new family. I wanted to bring that Christmas tradition home. So before I even step foot in Germany I was already making mulled wine. It was nice to actually drink the beloved mulled wine in Germany like my husband did years before we met. It was even more special drinking that mulled wine together in Germany and making that memory there together. Now we can talk about our memory in Germany.

It’s clear to see that I can go on and on about the beautiful experience I had in Germany. I can’t wait to go again when my husband has to go for a work trip. I will chat about my experience in Frankfurt Germany in my next blog. I convinced my husband for us to go make a stop in Germany and meet my long lost cousin. She came and visited us in the states when I was in high school. She was in NYC, NYC for an internship for college. My husband thought I was strange for wanting to randomly meet my long lost cousin, who I haven’t seen in twenty years but why not I was in Germany? It would be strange to me if I didn’t attempt stop by and say hi. That trip to Frankfort Germany was amazing as well. I hope I didn’t bore you with this long blog.