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

A note from May 2025, when our travel plans had to change.

The plan had been Nepal: a month, flights booked with miles and years of mountain daydreams finally turning into something on the calendar. Then family matters called us back to Europe. Nepal would have to wait. The important part of the new plan was being near my family; everything else needed to fit around that.

A Pause in Thuringia – The Heart of Germany

We would be returning to my hometown in Thuringia, central Germany. There was comfort in the familiarity of the region—towns, forests and food I knew.

We hoped to fit in a walk or a little time outdoors. Familiar places can still bring small discoveries.

Possible Side Trips, Not a Fixed Itinerary

Switzerland was one possibility, with lakes and mountain views that had long appealed to us. Being in Europe opened up options, but an international trip was still something to plan, not a quick hop guaranteed to fit the day.

France also came to mind: Strasbourg, Alsace or perhaps Paris. There is a difference between enjoying the thought of a croissant somewhere lovely and deciding that a detour makes sense.

The Czech Republic was another possibility, particularly Prague or Český Krumlov. For once, leaving the map partly blank felt more useful than filling every gap.

Nepal: The Adventure on Hold

Nepal remained the dream. The Bavarian Alps had encouraged that curiosity for decades, and I still wanted to see the Himalayan landscape for myself.

After the knee injury at Hang Mua, we would need to reconsider how we travelled there. A mountain view does not require an ambitious trekking claim, but neither should a village be presented as an effortless outing without checking the access, terrain and our own mobility. We would choose the pace and route when we were ready, rather than promise an adventure my knee had not approved.

For Now, We Wait

This was where things stood when I wrote the note: Europe first, Nepal still hoped for, and family at the centre of the decision. A travel plan can be important without being the most important thing.