What Comes Next? Europe First, Nepal Next (Hopefully!)

If you’d asked me a few weeks ago what’s next on our travel calendar, I would have replied without hesitation: Nepal! After years—no, decades—of daydreaming, scrolling through photos of prayer flags and snow-capped mountains, and watching every documentary on Everest and Annapurna, we finally bit the bullet. Tickets booked, miles spent, itinerary mapped out for a full month in the heart of the Himalayas. But, as life often does, it’s thrown us a curveball. Family matters are calling us back to Europe, so Nepal will have to wait a little longer. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that things aren’t too serious, and that we can make the most of our unplanned detour.

A Pause in Thuringia – The Heart of Germany

I suppose there are worse places to “pause” than Andi’s hometown in Thuringia. If you’re not familiar, Thuringia is smack in the middle of Germany—a region known for its rolling green hills, enchanting forests, and those fairy-tale half-timbered towns that look like they leapt straight from a Brothers Grimm story. There’s something comforting about this area: maybe it’s the scent of pine trees, or the way the old castles perch on hilltops, or even just the hearty Thuringian bratwurst you can get at any market square.

We’re hoping for some downtime here—reconnecting with family, wandering through cobblestoned streets, and soaking up a bit of that old-world charm. And if time allows (and family affairs aren’t too pressing), we’d love to sneak in a few side trips.

Short Hops: Switzerland, France, and the Czech Republic

One of the perks of being in central Germany is that everything in Europe feels just a train ride away. Fancy lakes and mountains? Switzerland’s an easy hop, and nothing beats the serene, mirror-like waters of Lake Lucerne or the jaw-dropping backdrop of the Swiss Alps—even if you’re not skiing or hiking, sipping coffee in a lakeside café is an experience in itself.

France is just next door, and honestly, who can resist the pull of a fresh croissant in Strasbourg or a lazy afternoon wandering through the Alsace wine region? Maybe we’ll even make it as far as Paris, where the antique markets and boulangeries are always calling my name.

And then there’s the Czech Republic, with its storybook towns like Český Krumlov and, of course, the always-mesmerizing Prague. I never get tired of crossing Charles Bridge at dawn, when the city is still sleepy and shrouded in mist.

Nepal: The Adventure on Hold

But back to Nepal—because, let’s be real, it’s hard not to get excited about what’s coming (eventually). This trip has been a long time in the making for Andi. The idea of waking up in a mountain village, surrounded by the mighty Annapurna Range, sipping hot tea while watching the sun light up the peaks—that’s the stuff of dreams.

A hardcore trekking adventure is probably off the cards; Andi’s knee made that pretty clear after just 500 steps at Hang Mua in Vietnam. Still, Nepal isn’t just for the super-fit and ultra-prepared. There are plenty of mountain villages—like Pokhara or Ghandruk—where you can soak up those Himalayan views without needing to strap on serious hiking boots. I imagine leisurely days spent exploring small Buddhist monasteries, chatting with locals, and just letting the sheer scale of the mountains sink in.

For Now, We Wait

Stay tuned for updates from the heart of Germany, and eventually (hopefully!) from the foot of the Himalayas.