TRAVEL BLOG & INFO

This trip through Germany and Poland was different from almost any trip I have taken. Over two weeks, I visited places I had wanted to see for years, experienced places I felt I needed to see, and tested a style of independent travel that pushed me outside my comfort zone. By the end, I can confidently call the trip a 100% success. One of the things that made this experience so unique was traveling with a longtime friend who grew up in East Germany. He planned the itinerary,

My final day in Germany brought me to Munich, and I decided to focus on two things I particularly enjoy when traveling through Europe: bakeries and history. Fortunately, Munich delivered plenty of both. We arrived using public transportation, which continues to impress me. Navigating the vibrant subway system: even with local expertise, unexpected hurdles abound. The trains have been efficient, timely, and an excellent way to travel. Would I have attempted all of this public

Today was another travel day—but not quite a departure day. We moved hotels to be closer to the Berlin airport because tomorrow morning we have an early flight to Munich, the final stop of this trip. Before making that move, however, we had one more full day to experience Berlin, beginning with something I certainly do not do at home: taking a train into the city to have breakfast on top of the Reichstag. We boarded the fast train from the airport toward central Berlin, and e

The rental car has been returned, which means we are now 100% dependent on Berlin’s public transportation system: buses, trains, trams, subways, and apparently anything else that can get us from Point A to Point B. I joked that bicycles and unicycles might be next.

Walking from the visitor center at Auschwitz toward the camp, we passed through a tunnel where the names of people murdered at the complex were being recited. Hearing name after name immediately changed the atmosphere. These were not simply statistics from a history book. They were individuals whose lives ended here.

Walking through Oskar Schindler’s former factory in Kraków is a strange and powerful experience. Most people know Schindler through the movie Schindler’s List, but standing inside the actual building makes the story feel much more real.

I can now confirm with 100 % certainty that the castle hotel where we stayed was not haunted. At least, no ghosts introduced themselves to me. It was actually a very comfortable place to spend the night.

Today I visited the Old Synagogue in Erfurt, Germany, one of the oldest surviving synagogues in Europe. Unfortunately, this was one of those travel moments when I arrived at the right place at the wrong time. The synagogue is undergoing renovations connected with Erfurt’s UNESCO World Heritage designation, so I was unable to go inside.

As a Jewish person, I have always felt a need to visit a concentration camp, not because I expected it to be easy, but because there are some places where I believe you need to stand and confront history for yourself. Today, I visited Buchenwald.

Walking through Dresden today, it is difficult to imagine just how much of this beautiful historic city was destroyed during World War II. Everywhere you look, there are magnificent churches, palaces, museums, and public squares. Yet much of what appears centuries old has actually been painstakingly reconstructed after the devastation of the war.

Some places make history feel immediate. Albrechtsburg Castle and Meissen Cathedral are two of them. Perched above the Elbe River, they form one of Saxony’s most impressive landmarks, combining dramatic architecture, centuries of political history, and sweeping views over Meißen and the surrounding countryside.

The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is less a traditional museum and more a combination of food hall, historical exhibit, and immersive 1950s Japanese streetscape. It offers visitors an entertaining way to learn about one of Japan’s most recognizable dishes while sampling ramen from different parts of the country.

Just outside Tokyo, Kawasaki Daishi offers a peaceful contrast to the energy of the city. Founded nearly 900 years ago, it is not simply a historic site preserved for visitors. It remains an active Buddhist temple where people come to worship, pray, and carry on traditions that have endured for centuries.

Mt Fuji revealed itself as we docked this morning, crisp, unmistakable, and almost surreal in its clarity. It is said the mountain is only visible about 20% of the time, so seeing it so sharply felt like a quiet omen for the day ahead, as if Japan itself was briefly lifting a veil to set the tone for what was to come.

My Japan cruise aboard Celebrity Millennium began with one of the easiest embarkations I have experienced. Although my assigned boarding time was 1:00 p.m., I arrived around 11:30 a.m. Nobody questioned my early arrival, and the entire process was exceptionally fast and efficient. I was prepared to wait my turn, but I was ushered onto the ship.

Visiting Nagasaki was one of the most sobering experiences of my trip to Japan. Today, it is a modern, green, and welcoming city, with trams gliding quietly through its streets and children’s voices drifting from schoolyards. Yet within the Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum, there are spaces where time seems to slow, and the memory of a single morning in 1945 presses heavily against the present.

Gyeongju, South Korea, is often described as a “museum without walls.” Throughout the city, reminders of the ancient Silla Kingdom appear in parks, neighborhoods, mountains, and along ordinary roads. Two of the area’s most memorable sights are its pyramid-like royal tombs and the historic Bulguksa Temple complex. Entering the temple grounds symbolizes the journey toward enlightenment. The large grassy mounds are sometimes compared to ancient pyramids because they were built a

Celebrity organized our Osaka excursions exceptionally well. We met in one central location, were divided into groups, and escorted directly to our buses. The smooth process eliminated confusion and made the experience feel organized and stress-free. Having two days docked in Osaka gave us an opportunity to explore more of the surrounding region. The area offers an impressive combination of temples, shrines, historic neighborhoods, and beautiful landscapes. One of our most me

One of the best parts of travel is discovering that a city can be completely different from what you expected. Yokohama sits only about 25 to 30 minutes south of central Tokyo by train, but it has its own personality. It feels more open, relaxed, and connected to the water. As I began walking, I quickly realized that the waterfront is not simply scenery. It is the reason modern Yokohama exists.

Walk into any souvenir shop in Germany (or an authentic German gift shop in Old Town Spring), stroll through a Christmas market, or sit down in a traditional beer hall, and you will likely see rows of colorful beer steins for sale. Many travelers think of these as decorative souvenirs or oversized mugs tied to Oktoberfest culture. What most people do not realize is that beer steins have a practical origin story rooted in public health concerns. Beer steins are more than just