Travel and Dream

In the north of Germany, you’ll find the beautiful Hanseatic city of Bremen. This city along the river Weser is the eleventh most populous city of Germany and has a rich history which you can still experience in full glory in the old center of the town. This makes Bremen a perfect location for a spontaneous weekend getaway.

On a sunny September’s weekend, we travel to Bremen with Flixbus, an intercity bus service with a very convenient direct bus line between Groningen and Bremen. After checking into the hotel right in the middle of the city center we immediately start exploring. We walk from the city’s main square with the beautiful City Hall and the majestic cathedral to the famous Town Musicians of Bremen, a statue referring to the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm. This bronze statue shows a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster standing on top of each other. The easiest way to find it is to locate the place where all the big tourist groups are. It is said that touching the front hooves of the statue will make wishes come true. So naturally, every single tourist has to touch the statue.

Little do they know that it is also said that holding just one leg of the donkey means that one donkey is shaking another donkeys hand.

So, don’t be a donkey. Grab both legs and smile at the camera for the most touristy picture you can make in Bremen.

Later, we take a stroll on the banks of the river Weser and we end up in the cozy neighborhood of Schnoor. Here you can almost taste the history. The tiny little streets with the old crooked houses are home to charming little shops, cafés, and restaurants. Roam around these streets during the day, but definitely also at night when the small alleyways are much less crowded. Germany is famous for its massive pieces of cake. The cafés here in Schnoor are probably the best place in town to sit down, relax, and enjoy a cake with a nice cup of tea.

For dinner we choose to go German all the way, meaning Beer and Schnitzel. (Yes, with capital B and capital S). We head to the Hofbräuhaus and take place at one of those long tables with long benches. When the waiter, traditionally dressed in German lederhosen, shows up, we order a half a liter of beer each (smallest size they serve) and a 250-gram schnitzel (again, the smallest size they serve). So much food, but it tastes great!

After this meal, we are completely satisfied, not just with the meal but also with our entire day in Bremen. The German hospitality, the great drinks and food, and above all, the beautiful city, make Bremen a perfect city trip destination!

Haus Schütting on the Marktplatz

The cathedral

Bremer Stadtmusikanten

I love these charming streets of Schnoor

Simply love it!

More Schnoor!

When in Germany, do as the Germans do

Have you ever been that spontaneous to pack your bag for a weekend getaway to Bremen or any other city? I would love to hear your story in the comments below.

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There are numerous hikes you can take in Yosemite National Park. We were there only for a couple of days during our great road trip through west USA. For this reason we chose to do the iconic Mist Trail, Yosemite’s signature hike. It will lead you to not just one, but two magnificent waterfalls with fabulous views scattered all along the trip.

The trailhead is located at Happy Isles (shuttle stop 16). To get there you can park your car in Curry Village and take the free shuttle. However, we decided to walk the 1.6 kilometers to the start of the trail.

Mist Trail part I: Vernal Fall

The first part of the trail is a well-paved path alongside the beautiful Merced River, but it is a bit crowded with people wanting to get a glimpse of the first majestic waterfall, the Vernal Fall. After one kilometer we reach the footbridge over the Mercer River with a spectacular view of the Vernal Fall. A drinking fountain and restrooms are also located here.

The first glimpse of the astonishing falls

We continue the trail for another kilometer until we hit the impressive granite stairway carved into the canyon wall leading to the top of Vernal Fall. This is the most exciting part of the trail! Here we also discover how the Mist Trail got its name. The spray from the waterfall will get you soaking wet, whilst going up the hundreds of granite steps. A nice refreshment during this strenuous uphill climb.

This part of the trail can get very crowded, and the obvious lack of preparedness of some people can be a bit frustrating. You will see people on flip-flops going down the slippery wet steps, holding on to anything they can find because the fear (of heights) got the better of them. Our advice: Come prepared, and do not underestimate this part of the hike.

Lots of traffic on the beautiful granite stairway

The stairs are pretty steep too..

... but the view is A-MA-ZING!

After we reach the top of the Vernal Fall we take a moment to catch our breath and enjoy the amazing view looking down the waterfall.

Mist Trail part II: Nevada Fall

From this point, you have 3 options on how to proceed your hike. You can head back the way you came, or you can return to the trailhead by taking a longer route via the John Muir Trail. But, if you’re up for it, you can also continue the Mist Trail to the top of the amazing Nevada Fall, with the extra bonus that the trail will be far less crowded from this point on. We chose the last option of course!

Standing on the edge (don't worry, there's a railing)

The next kilometer leads us through a beautiful pine forest along the Merced River. Here you have a perfect view of the Nevada Fall. We keep walking through the forest until we run into a set of steep and rocky switchbacks that will take us up to the top of the 180 meters long Nevada Fall. The view that you get from these switchbacks is absolutely magnificent and is well worth the climb. At the top of the fall, we take again some time to rest and enjoy the beautiful view over the Yosemite Valley.

Nevada Fall. Wow!

Keep your food close. The wildlife at the top are sneaky little thieves

Now it’s time for the trip back. Again you can return back down the way you came which is about 4 kilometers. But we choose to go via the John Muir Trail, which is a bit longer, about 6.5 kilometers. A good choice, because it offers a stunning view of Nevada Fall with the Liberty Cap and the back of the Half Dome in the background. The remainder of this trail is a peaceful and easy descent through a shady forest back to the footbridge where the trail started.

What a view!

Facts:

Distance: The Mist Trail to the top of the Vernal Fall is 2.8 kilometers, and back via the John Muir Trail is around 6 kilometers. The Mist Trail to the top of the Nevada Fall is 5.3 kilometers, and back via the John Muir Trail is around 12 kilometers.
Elevation change: The elevation at the trailhead is 1.2 kilometers. The top of the Vernal Fall is at an elevation of 1.5 kilometers. The top of the Nevada Fall is 1.8 kilometers. So for the full trip a total elevation change of 600 meters.
Difficulty: National Park Services rates the trail as strenuous
Trailhead: Happy Isles shuttle stop
Weather: The water level in the Merced River is depending on the seasons. For the highest flow and most powerful waterfalls, we recommend hiking this trail in the spring or early in the summer, when the winter snow is melting. In the winter the Mist Trail is closed because of icy conditions.

Tips:

Bring plenty of water, especially in the summer it can get very hot.
Wear appropriate hiking shoes with lots of traction; no sneakers, Converse or flip-flops!
Start this hike early in the day to avoid the crowds and the midday heat
Do not swim or wade in the river. The river looks much less dangerous than it actually is. In fact, the current can be too strong to overcome, and it can sweep you right over the waterfall.
For more information about the route, click here.

Have you hiked to the Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall? If so, let me know in the comments below!

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Zion’s Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes for adventure seekers. During our road trip through west-USA, we visit Zion National Park, just so that we could cross the Angels Landing off our bucket list. Hiking this trail quickly became a highlight of our road trip.

The trailhead is across the road from the Grotto Picnic Area. We take the free shuttle from the visitor center to get here. From the Grotto shuttle stop, we cross the river and road to get to the trailhead. Here you get a clear view of the Angels Landing and where we will be standing in a few hours.

Let's go to the top

Let’s start

The first kilometer is a steady uphill climb over a wide trail. After a while, we hit the steep switchbacks that take us up to Refrigerator Canyon. As the name suggests, this narrow and shady canyon is always cool with a comfortable breeze. A pleasant place to cool off and catch your breath after the hot and sweaty first climb.

The first set of switchbacks

Next up, we encounter the second steep climb of this trail, Walter’s Wiggles, a series of 21 tight switchbacks carved into the face of the cliff. After this, we quickly rise to the top of the ridge at Scout Lookout. From here we get a pretty good preview of the last kilometer of the hike along the ridge. This is where you can decide if you want to pursue the last ridiculously steep but most thrilling part of the hike or that you want to turn around and head back down.

Walter's Wiggles from the top

From this point on it will get really interesting!

But be careful! Six people have died already on this trail

Don’t look down

On the ridge, we experience ourselves why this trail is not for the faint-hearted. The path gets smaller and smaller, eventually to only a few feet wide, with drop-offs on either side. Eventually, we find ourselves holding on to the chains more often. On certain points you really don’t want to let go of the chains, when you’re stepping from one sandstone boulder to the next, dangling 300 meters above the ground. If you dare to look down, you’ll see the valley and the river getting smaller and smaller. This is the most exciting part of the trail and will definitely give you an adrenaline rush.

Don't look down!

At the top of the ridge, we are treated to the most magnificent view over the Zion Canyon. Together with some crazy chipmunks and lots of fellow hikers, we enjoy the view for a while before we make our descent.

Incredible view from the top of Angels Landing