Wanderlust: From the Netherlands to Prague
September 12, 2025:
Kinderdijk, Netherlands. A typical dictionary definition of a windmill states that it is “an apparatus that harnesses wind power for a variety of uses, e.g., pumping water and driving electrical generators.” Windmills are most closely associated with using wind to generate power to grind grain into flour.
September 13, 2025:
Gothic cathedral in Cologne. 70 % are Protestant and 30 % are catholic. The Nazi’s tried to bomb the cathedral so many times and it’s still here. The Nazi’s bombed Cologne heavily because it an industrial place. Kolsch is the famous beer here and it’s drank in a skinny cylindrical glass. The beer pubs don’t have televisions here; the drinkers talk to each other.
September 14, 2025:
Top of the fortress a view of Rhine River and the small town of Koblenz, Germany.
September 14, 2025:
Miltenberg, Germany. Altes Kathaus (often referred to a Altes Rathaus or Old Town Hall) is a historic 14thcentury sandstone building. The “3 boys sculpture in Miltenberg, formally named Staffelbrunserbrunnen (“Stair Piddlers’ Well”), represents the town’s humorous nickname.
September 16, 2025:
Wurzburg, Germany. This place is the birthplace of 4 Nobel prize winners for the advancement in sciences and knowledge. On the video is the bishop’s residence. Wurzburg has a large catholic community.
September 17, 2025:
Bamberg, Germany. Another fact: Germany has been antisemitism since year AD. The country had a rule that Jews cannot own houses and can only work as bankers and as lawyers cuz they were good at haggling. So now, they maintain that label.
September 18, 2025:
On our way to Bavaria and will be on the Danube River. Ocoberfest starts today, September 18 to the first week of October. Why September? Because it’s a better climate. Nuremberg, which was 90% bombed during the war due to its status as an industrial and logistical hub of Germany, had a policy to invite immigrants to fill jobs in the industry. The largest group of immigrants comes from Ukraine, followed by Syria, with Turkey being the third largest source. Approximately 4 million people have come here to work.
September 19, 2025:
Regensburg, Germany. Take a look at those houses; they remind me of Hansel and Gretel. The ground floor is built from stone, while the upper levels are timber. Kitchens are typically on the first level to prevent fire from spreading to neighboring homes. This style is common among poorer families. In contrast, wealthy individuals build their entire houses from stone, which is why we have the saying ‘stone rich.’ This is in Bamberg.
While Johnny was waiting for me on front of Regensburg Cathedral in Bavaria, an American tourist couple walked up to him and asked if he was from California, and he said, yes. The female then said you looked like a Californian. I asked where they were from, I forgot the state, but it’s somewhere in the south.
Regensburg, Bavaria. It sits at the Danube River
September 20, 2025:
Passau, Germany. Founded by the Celts more than 2,000 years ago, Passau is one of Bavaria’s oldest cities. Known as the “City of Three Rivers, it rests at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers.
The first Oktoberfest took place in Munich in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The celebration featured a grand horse race and festivities that lasted for two weeks.
In Passau, Germany, a town in Bavaria, beer drinkers enjoy their beverages from traditional steins. The bridges in the area are intentionally curved; this design historically made it easier to capture enemies during invasions, as it slows them down compared to straight bridges.
Gas prices are lower in Austria, around six dollars per gallon, while in Germany, it’s about seven dollars. This prompts many Germans living near the border to travel to Austria for cheaper fuel. Conversely, groceries tend to be less expensive in Germany than in Austria, creating a balancing effect.
In Germany, honking car horns is common to prevent potential accidents, while in Austria, it’s prohibited due to noise pollution regulations. You’ll notice more tall trees in Austria compared to Germany as well.
When it comes to building colors, it’s quite challenging to obtain permission from the government for exterior paint. A green building indicates a pharmacy, blue signifies wealth, and bakers often have their buildings painted a certain color despite charging the same price for small loaves of bread. Christians typically choose yellow and white, while red is used for military structures due to its association with that purpose. Historically, red pigments like vermilion from cinnabar are expensive, and purple, derived from seashells, is the costliest color, requiring extensive processing to create the final pigment. These color codes reflect traditions from the past.
September 21, 2025:
Melk, Austria. Melk Abbey and the town. This is Melk Abbey, the most famous abbey in Austria and the highlight of our visit to the Danube Valley. We strolled around the town and took a seat to enjoy this band.
September 22, 2025:
Vienna, Austria. Today was eventful—my birthday took a turn when I had an allergic reaction to a new food. My face and eyes swelled, and I experienced a panic attack with breathing difficulties. I asked the receptionist to go home, but she advised visiting the emergency room first due to my long flight. Viking arranged a taxi for me, and I paid with cash. Lesson learned: always carry an EpiPen.
At the hospital, I was seen in under two hours, received treatment, and was prescribed medication. I managed to pay for my prescriptions and taxi home with my credit card. I need to inform my primary doctor about my new allergies for reevaluation. Thankfully, the swelling has subsided, and I’ve decided to continue my journey to Prague. At least I didn’t end up like Johnny in Bondi, Australia! Happy birthday to me!
September 23, 2025:
Vienna, Austria. The Schonbrunn Palace was built to rival the Château de Versailles in Paris. The powerful Hapsburg Dynasty dominated from the 1500s until World War I, after which it collapsed. Maria Theresa, the only female of the Hapsburg, had 16 children, included Marie Antoinette, married to Louis XVI at just 14. Growing up in France, she bought lavish clothes to fit in. Marie Antoinette was eventually beheaded during the French Revolution. The Hapsburgs, who relied on strategic marriages for power due to their weak military, practiced inbreeding, which became legal in the 1500s and was only banned in August 2025. This resulted in distinct physical traits, like prominent chins among Hapsburg males.
September 24, 2025:
Budapest, Hungary. Hungary lost significant portions of its territory as a consequence of being penalized for its defeat in World War I, resulting in about one-third of its land being ceded to neighboring countries. Those are various types of fresh salami. In Hungary, they cure both pork and beef from longhorn cattle. and seasoned them with their own secret recipe. The small bottles contain traditional wines made from apricots and plums, known for being sweet and strong. They are called fruit brandy, ‘Palinka.’ We sampled different salami varieties and tasted the apricot wines. Yes, they are berries—specifically, peppers. These were hung to dry and then grind into a powder to create paprika.
September 25, 2025:
Prague, Czech Republik. The GNP of Prague is higher than in Hungary. I saw homeless people in Hungary. Graffiti’s everywhere in our trip😒
We attended a folklore dinner where we enjoyed chicken, beef, pork, potatoes, sauerkraut, potato soup, and apple pie.
Church of Bones in Kutna Hora, Prague. The Church of Bones in Kutna Hora is an eerie yet fascinating functioning Roman Catholic Church that houses around 40,000 human bones and relics. Most of these remain are believed to be victims of the Black Plague.”
