Wander & Nest

About 3 weeks after we arrived in France we set out on our first trip within Europe. It felt a little daunting to be packing for a winter trip so soon after arriving, but it also somehow felt right because this is what this year is about. So we packed as lightly as possible for our 10 day itinerary:

• Day 1: Train from Toulouse to Paris
• Day 2: Hang out in Paris and see friends!
• Day 3: Train from Paris to Stuttgart, Germany
• Day 4: Hang out in Stuttgart
• Day 5: Train from Stuttgart to Fisbachau, Germany
• Days 5-9: Winter hiking trip with friends
• Day 10: Travel back to Toulouse via train and plane

About an hour before we needed to leave on day 1, Mara pulled over a heavy side table with a marble top and it landed on her foot! It was scary but luckily she’s just a bit cut and bruised on one foot. Wylie made a quick trip to the pharmacy for gauze and tape (luckily pharmacies are everywhere and open on Christmas Day!) and we were on our way.

Mara gets so excited when we take a train now so even a 4.5 hour ride is pretty easy. The fast trains in Europe are just so amazing, definitely the best way to travel. And the French trains are so nice! Clean, quiet, convenient, 5 stars!

We arrived in Paris on Christmas evening. Even with most things closed and few people out compared to normal times, it still felt like the bustling city we remember. We walked around a bit, picked up kebabs and wine, and headed in for the night.

We got to see some old friends during our full day in Paris, which was so nice and energizing. We started the day going to a playground in the center of Paris but Mara was entirely uninterested and very cranky. Once we met up with friends she was in a much better mood and ready for the day. We went to a random bistro in a pretty busy/touristy area but still had a great meal. Mara liked sitting outside the cafe with her own order of frites and playing a little cache-cache (hide and seek) behind the bistro sign with the server.

After lunch, we crossed the Seine and met more friends for coffee. Mara napped in the carrier through most of that, which was perfection. After coffee we walked back through the center of Paris and visited the Christmas market at Hotel de Ville. Despite crappy Paris weather, we all had a good time on the carousel and walking through the winter forest display. After all that, we still weren’t done with our day in Paris. We finished off at a bar where Mara was welcomed just like anyone else. We had a few drinks, played some games, and had a really good time.. at a bar.. with a 2 year old! Who knew that the answer was just to bring Mara along… I guess the French know that! We parted ways with our friends and the three of us walked back to our airbnb stopping for takeout dinner on the way. What a day!

Next up, we headed to Stuttgart, Germany for our next stop. We took the train from Paris and it was great once again. This time it was a German train which was not quite as nice as the French train but still an amazing way to travel. We learned that Germany is updating its rail system so there are pretty regular and considerable delays and tons of construction at the stations.

We didn’t have people to meet in Stuttgart, so we were just exploring on our own. Wylie lived in Stuttgart for 6 months during undergrad and we visited once when we lived in Paris, so it was somewhat familiar. We walked around the center of the city, through a big park, saw some cool birds, rode the HUGE Ferris wheel ,and took the metro to see some smaller neighborhoods. It’s so interesting how the look, feel, and overall culture is so different than France which is just a few hours away by train. Definitely what stood out the most was the food and beer. We ate everything from traditional Swabian food to doner kebabs. Neither one of us had been so full since we left the US, and then made mental notes to order lighter for the remaining time in Germany.

We left Stuttgart the next day and continued east to Munich, then to our final destination of this winter adventure. We arrived at Haus Hammer in Fischbachau, Germany on Dec 29th and pulled out our gear for the next few days. We’re definitely not in Paris anymore… more in pt 2!