For a few days, I wasn’t just a visitor. I lived a slice of the small-town German rhythm—jogging through morning landscapes, sharing moments at the community bazaar, and absorbing the unhurried pace that gives Nettetal its charm.

I did step into two places that embody Berlin’s modern identity: the Futurium and Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Together, they told me plenty about how this city looks forward while staying connected to its role as a European crossroads.

There are few places in Germany where the past feels so present as in Xanten’s Archaeological Park (APX). As I walked through its gates, the modern world fell away, and I found myself wandering streets once belonging to the Romans. This was not just a museum or a ruin—it was an entire city reborn, where echoes of ancient Germania still linger in stone, earth, and imagination.

I spent a day exploring Burg Reichenstein as part of a Rhine Valley trip, and it quickly became a highlight of my journey.

When I landed in Frankfurt last month to begin my whirlwind European adventure, I expected the city to simply be a transit hub—efficient, functional, and a place to pass through. What I discovered instead was a modern gateway into Europe that offered not only convenience but also an unexpected mix of culture, history, and warmth. Frankfurt became both my entry point and my farewell stop, and in many ways, it framed my entire European journey.