Stop 4: Munich, Germany

Where to go

Munich, Germany

How to get there

Again, if following my route I recommend flix bus. It is not too long of a bus ride and very affordable, my ride was $10! The flix bus stop in Salzburg is difficult to find…when entering the train station go all the way through out the back to a side street and there is a small sign saying flix bus where it will pull over. Ask around for help if you can’t find it!

What to see

I 100% recommend staying at Wombats hostel. It is in a great location, cleanest hostel I’ve been too, lively bar with happy hour deals, and so much more! I was in a 8 bed mixed dorm and met people from London, Canada, Austria, and China…it was so interesting!

Spend a while at the English gardens. It is a huge and beautiful park in the middle of the city. You can find live music playing, different beer gardens, swimming areas, and people surfing in the river…yes surfing!

We went on a brewery tour while in Munich which we enjoyed. If you are interested in learning about how beer is brewed and the whole process I’d recommend. My favorite part was at the end when we went to the top floor and had homemade pretzels, beer dip, and got to taste Germany’s finest beers with a great view and awesome company. Beer really is more than a drink in Germany I learned a lot about how it has influenced their history and culture. If you are interested book one through Expedia for a better deal!

One of Germany’s biggest attractions is the Neuschwanstein Castle. I would recommend going and here’s how to do it:

1. Go in the early morning!!! We got there around 1pm and it was WAY too crowded with tourists.

2. Don’t go through a tour to get there. If you’re traveling with more than yourself you can buy a train ticket to Fussen for 25 euros, for every additional passenger it’s 6 euros so for 2 people it would only be 31 euros, 15 each for there and back…great deal!

3. There’s an option of going inside the castle once you’re there….I’ve heard from others it’s not worth it to pay but if you’re very interested I’d say do it. You need to book it in advance though so be prepared for that!

It truly has spectacular views, it was magical! Travel fact: The castle was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom!

Check out the Hofbrauhaus for an afternoon. They have 1 liter beers, huge pretzels, and live music!

If you like to shop, you’ll love Munich. We walked down several main streets that had dozens of big stores and smaller shops.

Munich is a huge city with lots to offer, my number one recommendation is plan out your trip and what you want to do before hand because it can get overwhelming. Oh, and drink lots and lots of beer!

Stop 3: Salzburg, Austria

Where to go

Salzburg, Australia

How to get there

If following my route, take FlixBus again. Buy your tickets in advance! The cool thing about this ride is it had a connection where we switched half way through and boarded a European train. It was very nice and a romantic way to travel across the countries.

What to see

Stay at Yoho hostel. This is the nicest hostel I’ve been to so far. They offer free lockers for your stuff, coffee in the morning, salad bar during happy hour, and a free shot of an Austrian liquor upon your arrival! The rooms and bathrooms are very clean as well.

Spend at least a day walking around downtown Salzburg. There are a ton of shops and outside restaurants.

One of my favorite parts about the city is how everyone rides bikes! I did not end up doing it, but renting a bike would be a great way to see the city as well.

Mirabell garden is a beautiful place to walk through while you’re there. Great place to take pictures as well and it’s free to go to!

Along the side of the river in town there is a grassy bank. Grab a bottle of wine and watch the sunset one of the days you’re there.

I would definitely take a day trip ton St. Gilgen and the Wolfgangsee lake. To get there from Salzburg get on bus 150 at the bus stop in town. It is about a 40 minute drive and is truly beautiful. You can rent a little boat for $20 an hour and go around the lake which was well worth it. Go swimming in the cool water and float on your back, looking up at the mountains and blue sky around you.

Secret travel spot: walk about a mile up past the town towards Salzburg until you come to a pullover spot for cars. Here you will see a sign for Furschee lake. It will take you on a pretty difficult hike through the forest until you come to a clearing. Follow the signs as you go. You will walk through valleys and little villages, it’s almost like a free tour of the sound of music! To get back to Salzburg take bus 150 at a bus stop in the town by the lake, Mondale.

Depending on the date you’re traveling, there is sometimes music in the Kurpark downtown Salzburg. There is yummy food stands, great music, and relaxing vibes.

Last but not least, try the Schnitzel of course!

Stop 2: Prague, Czech Republic

“Czeching it all out”

Where to go

Prague, Czech Republic

How to get there

If coming from Budapest use Flix Bus tickets are around $25 if you book a couple months in advance. You will get off at Florenc station which is very close to downtown.

What to see

Stay at Hostel Orange . This is in Wischmester Square with lots to do and close to all big attractions. It has clean beds, free coffee, bar crawls, and other festivities during your stay. We stayed for 3 nights in Prague but we wish we would’ve stayed for 4.

Go to Old Town Square, it has magnificent historical buildings. Dinner is rather expensive in the square but you can easily eat on a side street for a much more reasonable price.

Spend at least a half day on the other side of the river. There you will find the Prague castle which is beautiful. Checkout the Letna beer garden while over there!

While District 1 in Prague is the most popular, take some time exploring the other areas of the city.

Budget tip: Water is more expensive than beer at most restaurants. Pack a water bottle for the day!

If you are into European football, go to Dubliner Irish Pub to watch a game! There are TVs on all sides and it’s a great atmosphere. We watched Manchester City vs Arsenal and the pub was full.

Sbohem Prague! Hallo Salzburg!

“Hungary for an adventure”

Where to go

Budapest, Hungary

How to get there

If flying, use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights. If you are coming from a surrounding country I recommend using FlixBus which I will be posting about soon!

While in the city I recommend mostly walking because there is so much to see. When it is too far to walk, take the metro…it is safe, fast and cheap!

What to see

I would stay at Hopstel Hostel. Fairly close to downtown & has an amazing atmosphere. Take two steps out of your door and you are in a square of the biggest multi tap craft beer bar & gastro-garden in Hungary! Rooms are only $30 a night! If you’re looking for affordable and convenient this place is for you.

You definitely should checkout Gellert Hill which has a spectacular view of the city!

Walk down Vaci Street which has a ton of outside authentic restaurants, high end shopping, and live music.

Budapest is famous for its thermal baths and there are many to choose from. I recommend the Szechenyi Baths. Go on a weekday for cheaper prices! Make sure to bring water sandals if you have them to stay clean.

For a cheap dinner, grab a Gyro from one of the stands and take it to one of the bridges on the Danube River. You can sit on the edge of it watching the sunset!

Hungarian food is very unique, I recommend trying an authentic meal at least once..very tasty!

Venture to the other side of the Dunabe River (Buda side) and you will find many historical sites, the Buda Castle, incredible views of the city, & Dracula’s Castle! You can see a ton of stuff for free…the tours aren’t necessary if you are traveling on a budget.

Viszlát Budapest you were a city to remember. Ahoj Prague!

Today is a great day! We Are One just made the second donation to Global Giving. Check out where the donation went & how it will make a long term positive impact for many lives!

Here is more information from Global Giving!

Challenge

South Africa is a highly unequal society. It is a middle income country, yet approximately 40% of young children in South Africa grow up in conditions of abject poverty and neglect. Children raised in poor families are most at risk for infant death, stunted growth, poor adjustment to school, increased drop-out rates and to end up in crime. Children in the townships can only access vital ECD services through community based organisation like ours.

Solution

Afrika Tikkun invests in ECD because the protection and development of children not only safeguards their own well-being but is also the best guarantee of future peace, security and prosperity. The program offers quality care and preschool education to the most vulnerable children in the 5 communities where we operate. Taking into consideration the socio-economic conditions under which the targeted children live, the program is integrated with family support, primary health care and nutrition.

Long-Term Impact

Children who participate in well conceived Early Childhood Development programs like Afrika Tikkun’s tend to be more successful later in school, are more competent socially and emotionally, and show higher verbal and intellectual development than children who are not enrolled in high quality programs. Ensuring healthy child development, therefore, is an investment in a country’s future workforce and capacity to thrive economically and as a society.

I am smiling because Adam Kuborn and I are done planning for Europe! The first steps we took are below:

1. Choose the cities you want to travel to. Even if you want to “go with the flow”, you definitely need to have a path in mind. A travel trick I found was using this map which has lines connecting major cities. Even if you don’t use the trains it still is helpful to see cities that are relatively well connected to the rest of the continent.

2. Transportation. This was one of the most difficult parts of planning for us……Eurorails, buses, taxis, flights, boats….so many options to choose from! I would recommend booking long distance transportation prior to departure to save on money…I will post soon about what I think is the cheapest and best way to get around Europe based on the type of traveling YOU are doing!

3. Set a budget. If you start planning and pay for way too pricey of hostels in the beginning you won’t have enough for the end of your trip! Stick to your price limits and your bank account will stay happy (: I like using a chart on google docs to plan this out and calculate my totals.

I have traveled many times but this is the first time I have gone longer than a month so this planning is a little new to me! I will post throughout my travels on what went well and what I recommend, but also the mistakes I made so you can learn from them!

One of my favorite activities to do is hike and be in nature. When I found Madera Hammocks I knew I had to join their team and purchase one myself! With every purchase of a hammock the company plants two trees which I think is so great! There are so many awesome products on their website including clothing, watches, hiking gear, and more! I have been so happy with my hammock purchase that I decided to become an ambassador for the company. Use this link to get yours today! Contact me if you have any questions on which products to buy or how to get even more discounts!

“We must take time to define our own path. Too quickly we can find the world defining it for us.”

I have exciting news! I will be running away for a couple months to go backpacking with my boyfriend in Europe. We both recently graduated and have been planning it in the little amount of free time we have had between school and work. I will be posting travel information: Where to go, How to get there, and What to see in an affordable way throughout the trip! I already have learned SO much about planning out your travels and I am excited to share that all with you! 8 countries, 60 days, limitless experiences. The adventure awaits!

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place to visit in California. It has incredible blue water and so much to do! Here is what I recommend while here:

1. Stop at Kings Beach where you will find a very large beach, kayaking, swimming, local shops, restaurants, and more!

2. Spend a while at Emerald Bay State Park. You can access it by walking down a long pathway from the parking lot or hike down through the rocks. There is clear blue water, mountain views and waterfalls!

3. Checkout Tahoe City which has lots of shopping including name brand stores and local shops. Eat at Azul which has the best Mexican food and live music right next door! Budget tip: they have a great happy hour so go before 6!

If anyone has been to Lake Tahoe please comment if you have any recommendations on what to do while here!

“We rise by lifting others.” -Robert Ingersoll

We are so excited for the first donation that was made from the We Are One Necklaces! To those who’ve already purchased, see how you have made a long term positive impact with your donation to Global Giving!

Challenge

Despite considerable economic progress in India in the last couple of decades, poverty has continued to pervade rural areas. Children in rural areas have been denied access to proper education with schools lacking basic facilities, teachers being unmotivated and frequently absent. Even those who eventually make it through twelve years of schooling graduate lacking even basic skills, making it impossible to seek gainful employment or pursue higher education.

Solution

Education is the only ladder for these rural children to climb out of poverty. Isha Vidhya creates a bright future for 7158 rural children in its 9 rural schools providing quality infrastructure, computers, joyful learning aids, English language program (Karadi Path) & holistic development through sports, yoga & nutritious noon meals. The schools actively promote girls education. The schools teach health & hygiene. Isha Vidhya also provides support for 60 govt. schools impacting 40000+ children.

Long-Term Impact

Children passing out of the school would have received a good quality education with English and computer literacy and holistic development, which would enable them to realize their full potential in any field they choose. This education is the key to lifting them and their families out of the vicious cycle of poverty. Teacher augmentation, English & remedial teaching in Govt. schools lead to improved quality of education producing more confident & educated children.

-This information is provided by Global Giving

We Are One. Together our lives have meaning. We will see the unexpected and conquer the impossible, lifting each other to reach endless possibilities. Unified we are accepted, loved, and have no boundaries. Wear this necklace to symbolize your connection to the world around you. We Are One.

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