"I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself." ~James Baldwin

One of my favorite things traveling around Europe is the convenience of their rail/train system, allowing you to get to and from one city/country with relative ease. There are two things that make train travel so appealing to me personally, the first, is that it allows me the time to write on my journal in comfort, gathering my thoughts and experience from the previous days excursions. The other is meeting fellow travelers along the way, engaging in more than idle small talk about the weather, where often there is a shared connection about places visited and journeys yet to be fulfilled.

Travel Souvenirs

Germany-Austria-Czech Republic Handcrafted Travel Souvenirs. While I don't collect travel souvenirs bigger than lapel pins anymore, I do enjoy photographing the ones I convince myself not to buy LOL. However, I did pay for two items you see on this photo collage, but neither of them were for me. Can you tell me which ones? ;)

What kind of travel souvenirs do you allow yourself? Do you really enjoy collecting them, or are they just mementos to remind you (dare I suggest "others"? LOL) of where you've been? When I first started traveling, I bought embroidered patches (made in China) of cities/countries I've visited to sew on my "backpacker" bag and magnets (made in China) to adorn my refrigerator door...and guess what, I've never been to China! (I don't count Hong Kong or Guangzhou. LOL, the souvenirs on this collage are handcrafted in the region I visited). I was driven to collect patches and magnets to triumphantly announce to the whole world where I've been! ... But the backpack stopped accompanying me on trips, and magnets don't adhere to stainless steel refrigerator doors, and travel has become more of a personal journey of introspection.

I am afraid though that many of the lapel pins I own ARE made in China *facepalm*

Traveling light and being able to travel even lighter...

I am in awe and admiration of bicycle travelers. They need to travel light and be very efficient with what they carry with them. I've been trying to learn how to travel as lightly as possible every since my first backpacking trip to Europe over a decade and a half ago. While my back can no longer suffer efficient use of hiking/camping packs (the type backpackers are stereotyped with), I've been able to rock a 15 lbs-or-less rollable-carry-on case (which incidentally finally lost it's wheels after 4 month-long independent traveler trips in the past 4 years... here's hoping REI has a bag sale soon! LOL).

This image was taken at the tiny Rothenburg (Germany) train station with my Lensbaby Composer (I tried to keep the selective focus on the bike packs).

I managed to strike a conversation with the bike travelers and walked away with a desire to ride with them someday.

Copyright: Joel A. Marbella

Drindls and Lederhosens and Beer Steins Clanking

Chinese Tower at the English Garden, Munich. There was a brass band playing, people dancing, dirndls and lederhosens, and beer steins clanking in toasts of merriment and cheer. I am not sure if this is a daily occurrence in the summer in front of the Chinese Tower at the English Garden or just a carry over from the Kocherlball, the Cooks Balls, that take place every third Sunday in July (the Sunday that we were there) and started at 5AM that morning (this was taken past noon) where party goers come in traditional costume dressed as servants and kitchenstaff (who were the original Kocherlball merrymakers) . Whatever the case, I am glad I got to see some form of Bavarian beer garden celebration as I have yet to be lucky enough to attend an Oktoberfest. Perhaps I need to get fitted for my very own lederhosen to make that dream come true? :)

Special thanks to Dada Masa for showing my family around Munich and taking us to the English Garden for some hearty/heavy Bavarian-inspired lunch of backhandle (roasted chicken), schweinsaxe (rosted pork hocks/knuckles), bratwurst, bretzel, brotzeitteller (cold cuts and cucumber in a vinegar-based dressing LOVED THIS), and bread (Did I get it all correctly, Dada? LOL).
Copyright: Joel A. Marbella

POSTCARD: Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstatt (Salzkammergut), Austria. Such a charming town next to Hallstätter See (the lake). The town earned it's wealth through the production of salt from the salt mines which were in the shape of hearts due to the mining tool used (I think it was antlers). When the salt dwindled, the world passed it by, and as a result, the town was able to maintain it's small town appeal, and now is a tourist draw. Approximately 2 hours by car from Salzburg.

Copyright: Joel A. Marbella