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Blog
Destinations
Travel Tips
- Flying RyanAir: Our First-Hand Budget Air Travel Experience
Lifestyle
Food

Travel Tips

Flying RyanAir: Our First-Hand Budget Air Travel Experience

hellograciemo

Follow me day to day @Hellograciemo

Spring Break over the last few years…through pho

Spring Break over the last few years…through photos.
Spring break during our time here in Europe has always been a fun, family road trip for us.
Our first year here in 2019 we hit the road running by road-tripping our way through Croatia marking off Slovenia, Bosnia, and Montenegro on our list for that trip. This trip was our first big European trip outside of Germany.
In 2020 and 2021 we missed out on Spring Break due to the pandemic.
Last year, in 2022, was all about road-tripping our way through Italy, because even though we’ve been to Italy already, we marked off places we’ve missed and it was worth the repeat country visit!
This year will be slightly different. Not much road-tripping, but definitely exploring a new country.
By far, our first trip to Croatia will forever be my favorite Spring Break trip. That trip was our first trip outside of Germany and set the stone and our comfort level for more travels in Europe beyond that.
For the next few IG posts (along with some Israel posts I still need to share), I’ll be sharing a few favorite places we loved from our Spring Break trips.
Tell me, what’s been your favorite Spring Break trip?
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#springbreakgetaway

Happy Spring! Here’s to warmer weather, more s

Happy Spring!
Here’s to warmer weather, more sunshine, and more flowers for the season.
Just a few of my favorite blooms in Germany during Springtime… Cherry blossoms, Rapeseed flowers, and of course, my favorite… tulips.
Enjoy the new season!
What’s your favorite Spring blooms?
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#spring

Israel continued… The jewel on top of Temple Mo

Israel continued…
The jewel on top of Temple Mount, the gold plated…Dome of the Rock.
Probably one of the most photographed temple in Jerusalem and a symbol of the city.
The gold plated dome covers a slab of stone sacred to both the Jewish and Muslim faiths.
The Jewish believe this is where Abraham sacrificed his son. While in Islam, this is the spot where the prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven.
This was one spot our walking tour took us to during our visit to Jerusalem. Visitors aren’t allowed to enter inside the temple, only those of Muslim faith can enter. However, when visiting the Temple Mount, visitors are allowed to walk around the premises, but wear modest clothing. Me and two other tourists in our group were given a long skirt to wear when entering Temple Mount. We were wearing legging like pants which were not allowed.
I’ll showcase where our tour guide took us on a few more future posts, but I figured this photo on Temple Mount deserved the first viewing.
It’s such a beautiful landmark.
Have you visited this sacred temple? Isn’t it beautiful?
Circa 1/2023
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#jerusalem

Snippets from Berlin. We marked a big city off

Snippets from Berlin.
We marked a big city off our Bucket list in February!
There’s so much to see and do in Berlin, I don’t think we scratched the surface of the entire city in 3 days!
Here’s what we did as shown:
↠ Kadawe Shopping Center (fun to walk around and
explore, eatery at the top floor is worth checking
out.
↠ Kreuzberg district
↠ Arminius Market Hall in Moabit
↠ Sunday Flohmarkt and food trucks in Mauerpark
↠ Walked to tons of historical sites – You’ll see the
Original Berlin Wall Metal Structure still standing
↠ Used Public Transportation to get around the city
↠ Brandenburg Gate
↠ Admired the Reichstag from outside (unfortunately,
we were too late to book tickets to climb the
inside↠ tip: book way in advance)
↠ Memorial to the Murdered Jews
↠ Walked around MuseumInsel
↠ Climbed the Berliner Dom with a view of the City
↠ Admired the Graffiti at the East Wall Gallery
↠ Obberbaumbrücke bridge
↠ Saw the World Clock at Alexanderplatz
↠ Berliner Fernsehturm (TV tower)
↠ Enjoyed the Spy Museum (Must Do with Kids)
↠ Saw the first traffic light in Berlin
↠ Checkpoint Charlie
We did a lot, I mean, a lot of walking and sightseeing. What made it even fun, was we toured the city with our good friends, which IMO made the trip!
Berlin in February was fun, but I would save it for warmer weather. The weather in February was unpredictable with rain and cold.
Is Berlin on your list? If you’ve been, what’s been your favorite thing about Berlin?
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#Berlin

📍Lago di Braies, Dolomites, Italy circa 3/2

📍Lago di Braies, Dolomites, Italy
circa 3/2022
You know that famous, beautiful, deep aquamarine alpine lake in the Dolomites that you’ve seen featured on tons of travel feeds?
Have you ever seen it frozen?
This was a quick stop at the end of March last year on our way to Venice. I was expecting to see the lake in its majestic beauty, but was pleasantly surprised to see it frozen and still breathtaking.
We saw people walking on the solid frozen lake, so we CAREFULLY followed suit, but stayed close to the shallow side.
Though I was disappointed we didn’t get to see the beautiful green colors of the Lago di Braies that it is famously known for, it is called the “Pearl of the Dolomites” for a reason, I still found it picturesque and stunning in all its glory.
It may not always be frozen during the wintertime, but to see the frozen lake amongst the snow capped mountains is still worth the trip, IMO.
Have you been to Lago di Braies? What’s been your favorite season to visit this beautiful lake in the Dolomites?
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A snippet from last year’s trip and perhaps inspiring you to visit this place in a different season.
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#dolomites

“I’ve got a little over a year left,” I keep

“I’ve got a little over a year left,” I keep telling myself.
That’s how long we have left with our oldest daughter until she heads off to college.

I can’t believe I’m even saying that. It feels weird because not too long ago, she was just in my arms, looking at me with her big brown eyes (one side lighter than the other), showing me how to be a mother at the young age of 22.
I had her young; my husband had just graduated from college a year before and started his corporate job, and me on my last year of Nursing school. But she, she pushed me to finish.
And now, here we are, looking at Colleges, big Universities, and her future, and all I can do is silently cry inside or hold back tears whenever the thought comes to mind that she’s leaving us soon to go off on her own.

I don’t think she realizes how much she has taught me to be a mom, but I’m clearly not ready to let her go quite yet.
So, in the meantime, I still have about a year left with her, and we’ll take advantage of that.

So, the moral to the story, enjoy every minute with your littles. Before you know it, they’re getting ready to start College planning. And then, it’ll hit you that they’ll be leaving to go off on their own soon.

Excuse me while I go cry some more.
If you have a teen heading off to college or to be on their own in the next few years, please send me some of your tips for how to prepare for when that time finally comes. I’m so not ready.
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#momlife #teenlife #life #momsofteens

Just a rainy day in Potsdam, Germany. From this p

Just a rainy day in Potsdam, Germany.
From this past weekend’s trip. We spent one night in Potsdam and explored the following morning before heading to Berlin for the rest of the weekend.
Cute area, with lots of boutique stores in cobble-stony streets and tons of history. I wish we could have ventured longer, but the rain and time got the best of us.
Overall thoughts… save Potsdam for warmer weather. It’s cute, but the rain wasn’t. It’s a wonderful day trip from Berlin, or a perfect area to stay overnight if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Berlin (it’s only about an hour’s train ride away); easy to get to via public transportation or if you’re driving.
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#potsdam

**Swipe to see a video at the end** Because I’m

**Swipe to see a video at the end**
Because I’m not sure if we’ll make it to a Fasching celebration this year, here’s a peek at our first Fasching celebration in Germany the year before C*vid put a temporary stop to it, until this year!
Fasching, Fastnachts, Karneval whatever you wanna call this Pre-Lenten celebration is Germany’s version of Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, or Carnival that dates back to the Medieval Ages.
We attended our first Fasching Parade in Wiesbaden back in March 2019.
↠ What we’ve learned about this celebration:
↠ lots of booze
↠ everyone in onesie, clowns, police/FBI or Halloween outfits minus the scary stuff
↠ Helou (like “hello”) is a common phrase during the parade
↠ lots of German candies and goodies thrown at you 🙂
↠ the music... that is unexplainable it was catchy but annoying yet enjoyable at the same time lol (we didn’t understand a word obviously but we danced to it) - see the video at the end 🙂
↠ it’s not just a fun parade, it’s a big party, and we loved it!
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Circa 3/3/19
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#fasching

Probably one of our favorite outdoor adventures in

Probably one of our favorite outdoor adventures in Israel, finding a desert oasis in the Judean Desert.
**Watch till the end to see what we found.
If you’re planning a day in the Dead Sea, I recommend taking part of your day to enjoy the Judean Desert, right next to the Dead Sea (literally we had the Dead Sea on our right side, and the desert on our left).
We set aside part of our day to visit Ein Bokek via the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, a canyon in the Judean desert where the Bokek River runs through and into the Dead Sea.
We chose the Wadi David trail (there are two trails- Wadi David and Wadi Arugot- which you will need to buy separate tickets to hike each).
Wadi David is an easy hike through the Canyons. My friend’s pre-school age kiddos were able to do it, so it’s definitely family friendly.
It took us a little over an hour to hike through it and back.
It was definitely one of the highlights of our Dead Sea day-trip getaway from Tel Aviv! Plus, the weather for mid-January was perfect, we didn’t feel the heat of the desert and it was probably in the mid 50s-60s.
Highly recommend Ein Gedi!
Are you adding this to your Israel list?
📍 Ein Gedi, Israel
#eingedi #visitisrael #judeandesert #deadsea

France is always a good idea for a day-trip with f

France is always a good idea for a day-trip with friends, and the sun was added bonus.
#nancyfrance #februaryadventures #france #daytripping

Floating in the Dead Sea ✓ We couldn’t pass u

Floating in the Dead Sea ✓
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Dead Sea while in Israel!
Besides being the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea is also one of the saltiest natural bodies of water on Earth.
With the high salt content, it’s so easy to float effortlessly in the water! Believe me, I didn’t have to try to float on my own! It was pretty neat!
** Tips for enjoying the Dead Sea:
↠ Find a designated area to swim into, not all beaches are open to the public for swimming. The 3 beaches I looked into were Ein Bokek, Neve Midbar, and Kalia. We visited Ein Bokek which was a free public beach.
↠ Don’t shave at least 2 days before your trip, it will burn!
↠ Don’t get water in your eyes, don’t dive, or splash water around
↠ Don’t drink the water
↠ Wear an old bathing suit, the water content will cause your swimsuit to fade in color
↠ The recommended amount of time to swim in the Dead Sea 20 minutes or less, staying too long can cause dehydration
↠ Stay hydrated
↠ Make sure you rinse off after your swim, the salt can be irritating to the skin. Ein Bokek had free showers and dressing rooms on site at the beach.
↠ I recommend watershoes in the water, we were mainly walking on salt in the water and it was uncomfortable.
↠ I don’t recommended wearing any jewelry in the water
↠ Don’t forget to rub some Dead Sea mud on you.
↠ Finally, don’t forget to just float, laugh, and have fun! Seriously,no effort needed to float! It was so fun!
Definitely a fun day trip from Tel Aviv for us! And surprisingly the weather and water temperature in mid-January was perfect!
Is the Dead Sea on your list?
#israel #deadsea #lowestpointonearth

The vibrant colors of Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market.

The vibrant colors of Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market.
Blog is up for tips on how to enjoy your visit at the market. ***Link in bio.
This is one market you shouldn’t miss in Tel Aviv.
Would you visit this market?
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#carmelmarkettelaviv

Follow me through Tel Aviv, Israel’s Carmel Mark

Follow me through Tel Aviv, Israel’s Carmel Market!
This is authentic Tel Aviv! The vibe of this Market
Shuk in Hebrew) is busy and lively!
This market has everything from souvenirs like handmade jewelry and local arts to fresh fruits and vegetables to many local delicacies!
First opened in 1920, Carmel Market is an integral part of Tel Aviv’s history. The Market is located on one long street with side streets of hidden bars, restaurants, and smaller vendors.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy your Carmel Market Experience:
↠ It’s free to enter; the top end of the Market is
traditionally focused on fashion and electronics.
   The lower part is mainly food and fresh produce
stalls.
↠ It can get very crowded, so be prepared to walk
through a sea of people.
↠ Avoid the crowds on Fridays. We went on a Friday,
which was very busy at the end of the day as
families were preparing for Shabbath (from Friday
sundown to Saturday sundown, businesses shut
down for the Hebrew Shabbath -a day of rest and
prayer). The market was overwhelming and
extremely crowded on Friday afternoon, and I felt
squished. Also, it was difficult to stop at vendors
to shop because the crowd kept me moving.
↠ if you have small children, I recommend holding
their hands and keeping them close. I almost lost
my family through the crowds.
↠ keep your wallet and phone close to you
↠ Check your change after a purchase
↠ I recommend buying from vendors who have their
prices on display
↠ It doesn’t hurt to barter or haggle with the price;
we only did this with the box of baklava we bought
and even scored an extra container of baklava
↠ be sure to find a bank ATM for shekels, the money
currency in Israel; some vendors accept credit
cards, but not all.
↠ Have fun and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells
of the market; it really is an experience and I loved
the vibe of this market!  The locals are also very
welcoming and kind and everyone mostly speaks
English!
↠ Hours-open daily except Saturdays for Shabbat
Would you visit this market?
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#carmelmarket #telaviv #israel

Welcome to the Holy Land of Israel! Israel surpr

Welcome to the Holy Land of Israel!
Israel surprised me in so many ways! As my first Middle East country I’ve visited, I was taken away by the beauty of the country, it’s diversity, and of course how kind the people of Israel are! From the lovely city of Tel Aviv, to the Dead Sea, and holy Jerusalem, this country has much to offer, and I can’t wait to share what we discovered!
Have you visited this beautiful country? If so, what was your favorite thing about it?
Don’t forget to follow along my stories for more Israel!
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#visitisrael

Just a few days late…. Welcome 2023 and lots of

Just a few days late…. Welcome 2023 and lots of new things to look forward to!
New beginnings, new small goals, new adventures, and keeping it simple in life…that’s what I’m looking forward to.
What are you looking forward to in 2023?
📍 Alberobello, Puglia Italy
Circa June 2022
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#newyear

A send off to 2022! What a year full of adventur

A send off to 2022!
What a year full of adventures for our family and finally feeling like the world has come back to normal from the past few years of pandemic woes!
I tried to fit all of our adventures in this one reel, so here are our favorite moments from this year!
- @centerparcs_allgaeu getaway and skiing fun!
- Bad Wildbad couples spa day
- driving around the German countryside
- going to an FCK football (soccer game)
- Spring Break Italy road-trip (see below)
- Walking on a frozen Lago di Braies in the
Dolomites
- Spending a few nights in Venice
& enjoying a gondola ride
- Visiting a cave in Fegora, Italy
- Driving into an Italian city
- Rome
- finding the lost city of Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy
- staying in a Tuscan farmhouse
- biked our way to the beach in Maremma, Italy
- Back to Bad Wildbad at the Baumwipfelpfad
Treetop walk and suspension bridge
- Puglia
- champagne tasting in Épernay, France
- Normandy, France
- Shopping at Costco in France!
- Food tour on a girls trip to Naples, Italy in July
- Amalfi coast
- Rulantica indoor waterpark in Germany
- Czech Republic
- Beer bath in Prague
- Rafting Césky Krumlov in Czech Republic
- Almatrieb cows come home in Austria
- Pumpkin picking in Germany
- Kusel castle
- Dresden Christmas market and ice skating
Definitely one for the books! Trying to take advantage of travel time as much as we can while we are here in Europe ❤️
Cheers to many more adventures in the New Year everyone!
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#goodbye2022

We’ve had several amazing views this year, and t

We’ve had several amazing views this year, and this one was one of my favorite ❤️!
📍 This is Magliano in Toscana in Tuscany, Italy. We visited in April 2022 at the start of the Spring season. Everything was just turning green and all the buds on the grapevines and trees were starting to turn all over Tuscany! We stayed at an Italian farmhouse and this view was 😍!
Where’s your favorite view from this year?
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The stockings are hung with care, Santa’s cookie

The stockings are hung with care, Santa’s cookies and milk has been put out, and reindeer food sprinkled onto the lawn…. We are ready for Christmas. Ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
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#christmastree

The oldest Christmas Market in the World, dating b

The oldest Christmas Market in the World, dating back to the 15th century, is known as the Striezelmarkt in Dresden, Germany.
Legend states, the market was first set up in 1434 and the name Striezelmarkt came to be, where the specialty bread originating in Dresden called Stollen, was sold.
Today, the market is located in Altmarkt (the oldest square in the city), where knight tournaments were once held. There are over 200 vendor stands selling special authentic gifts, foods, and is kid friendly, and magical in every way.
I’d say, I truly enjoyed this Christmas market, especially in the evenings. It was magical and so authentic! You can pair your visit with the other charming Christmas markets in the city, most within walking distant in the Alstadt.
I highly recommend this one if you’re wanting to visit the oldest Christmas market in the world. This market goes on till December 24!
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4 more sleeps until Christmas. We escaped to Dre

4 more sleeps until Christmas.
We escaped to Dresden this past weekend and the Christmas markets were magical!
This is one of 9 Christmas markets, Neumarkt, right in front of the church, FrauenKirche in Alstadt (old city area).
Small, but cute, nicknamed Advent market, it has tons of craftsmanship gifts and classic Dresden products like glass hand blown products (hand blown right there in front of you) and food staples. It’s worth checking out along with the other Christmas markets nearby along Dresden’s Alstadt, most within walking distant.
More to come.
Have you been to Dresden’s Christmas markets?
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#dresdengermany

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Welcome! Mo here! Thank you for stopping by and taking an interest in my blog and travel journal! Please join me and my family as I write about our travels and our tips, adventures in life, food, motherhood, and navigating living in another country.

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hellograciemo

Follow me day to day @Hellograciemo

Spring Break over the last few years…through pho

Happy Spring! Here’s to warmer weather, more s

Israel continued… The jewel on top of Temple Mo

Snippets from Berlin. We marked a big city off

📍Lago di Braies, Dolomites, Italy circa 3/2

“I’ve got a little over a year left,” I keep

Just a rainy day in Potsdam, Germany. From this p

**Swipe to see a video at the end** Because I’m

Probably one of our favorite outdoor adventures in

France is always a good idea for a day-trip with f

Floating in the Dead Sea ✓ We couldn’t pass u

The vibrant colors of Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market.

Follow me through Tel Aviv, Israel’s Carmel Mark

Welcome to the Holy Land of Israel! Israel surpr

Just a few days late…. Welcome 2023 and lots of

A send off to 2022! What a year full of adventur

We’ve had several amazing views this year, and t

The stockings are hung with care, Santa’s cookie

The oldest Christmas Market in the World, dating b

4 more sleeps until Christmas. We escaped to Dre

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