The Sratty Archaeologist

My first full day in Bavaria was spent fulfilling a lifelong dream, seeing the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. I decided to book a bus tour to the castle, I know #touristyaf, but it was the easiest way for me to see the castle and not have to worry about buses, trains, etc. I could also nap on the bus which was a total plus because after an exhausting week in Berlin my body was being pushed to its limit.
My trip was with Grayline Bus Tours. With my trip, I not only got to see Neuschwanstein, but I also got to see Linderhof Palace and the village of Oberammergau. You could tell that Neuschwanstein was the main attraction, at both Linderhof and Oberammergau the bus only stopped for an hour to an hour and a half at most while we spent four hours at Neuschwanstein, no complaints from me though. I enjoyed Linderhof and its Baroque/Rococo fashion and the extraness of Ludwig II's favorite palace. Literally, it was over the top with gilding and intricate scrollwork and porcelain figures and chandeliers. The gardens of the palace boasted a gorgeous fountain and pond as well as other pieces of landscaping. I have to admit I would have liked to see some more of Linderhof's gardens.




The stop in Oberammergau was very short and to be honest I could have skipped it. The village is home to the famed Passion Play the villagers put on every ten years. The tradition and history of this play dates back to the 1600's with the lethal combination of the Thirty Years War and the Bubonic Plague. In order to spare their village, the villagers promised and prayed to God that if their village was spared the plague and war they would perform a passion play for the Lord. Well, they were #blessed and they all survived. Keeping their promise, the villagers have continued to perform the passion play every ten years. The village is cute and charming but I could have done without it.





Now, what we've all be waiting for NEUSCHWANSTEIN!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited to tell you all about it? As the bus pull around a bend of the country road, I caught my first glimpse of the castle and my heart started pounding from excitement. As I mentioned before, we had four hours at the castle and our guide purchases tickets for a 3:05 tour. The castle is literally on top of a mountain so it does take some time to climb up it. Our tour guide suggested everyone get a leisurely lunch and then take a  bus up to the top since the walk was long and not super suitable for the elderly and those with physical limitations. For me, there was no question I was going to hike up and down that mountain and then make it up to Mary's Bridge to get my quintessential picture of the castle. No leisurely lunch for me. I got off the bus and darted to a Currywurst stand and probably finished my currywurst in less than five minutes. Did I burn my mouth, yes? Did I care, no. I digested on the go and began my ascent up the mountain. So the walk is supposed to take 40 minutes total, I made it up in 25 minutes. There is no other word for it, I charge up that mountain with a purpose. Two people actually commented on my pace, not realizing I could understand English. This feat would not have been accomplished without a large bottle of water, so I highly recommend packing one. When I finally made it up I was in awe. Here it was the place I've been dreaming about since I was a little girl watching Rick Steves and flipping through travel books in the back of the library. After taking it all in I began to climb toward Mary's Bridge. By the time I made it through the crowds of people on this questionably sturdy bridge, I had the perfect, and I mean perfect view of the entire castle. It was quite simply breathtaking. I'm not sure if my tears were from my legs, which at this point felt like jello, or from how utterly beautiful the entire scene was. I couldn't have visited on a more perfect day.



On my way back down to the castle from Mary's Bridge, I found an old man sketching the castle and selling some of his work. I bought one of his gorgeous pictures as my souvenir from my perfect day. I prefer buying from local artists, it feels much more special than getting a generic image from the gift shop and supporting local artists is also awesome. After making it back to the castle I bought a well deserved Coke for myself and just relaxed for a bit drinking in the view.
My guided tour of the castle began at 3:05. It was a very, very large group. Not only were the people from my bus tour, but other tours, and the general public. We each received an audioguide which our tour guide spoke to us through. The tour was very rushed due to the crowds of people visiting the castle, however, I wouldn't skip the tour as it is the only way for you to see the inside of the castle. Neuschwanstein has incredible artwork decorating the palace that tells the story of great operas of Wagner and other German artists and mythologies.
After the tour I made my way back down the mountain, breathing in the fresh air, stopping for some freshly made donuts at a stand on the path. I felt incredibly at peace. Something about the castle, the natural beauty that surrounded Neuschwanstein, everything about this experience was magical. I also felt a sense of accomplishment on finally visiting a place I had dreamed about since I was little. The two-hour bus ride back to Munich, I fell asleep and you can bet I dreamed about this perfect day.
If you're interested in what tour I did, click here!

While adventuring around Munich and Bavaria for a few days I made my home base the Platzl Hotel in Munich. This was a perfect spot to stay. Centrally located in the heart of Old Town Munich I was steps away from Marienplatz, the Residenz, Virkualienmarkt, and right near the S Baun stations that can get you to the train station and other areas of Munich.
When you enter the hotel the lobby is decorated with warm wood paneling mixed with modern light fixtures and the staff is dressed in traditional Bavarian garb. Adjacent to the lobby is the Jaffe Cafe and Bar.

I booked a Classic Single Room and was honestly expecting a twin bed and cramped quarters. I was pleasantly surprised when I entered what seemed to be a newly renovated room. I had a wonderful and comfortable full-size bed with fluffy pillows, a desk area to get some work done, a spacious bathroom, air conditioning, and best of all a fantastic view!

While the room was small it was perfect for a solo traveler. I didn't feel like I was climbing over my luggage while navigating the room. I had plenty of room to get ready in the morning in the bathroom and enough outlets to charge all my electronics. The one downside of this room was its proximity to the Hofbrau House Beer Hall. It was pretty loud until about midnight and sometimes later. Even with the noise I just closed the window and slept pretty soundly. Also, the room had an A+ mirror which I shamelessly used for mirror selfies pictured below.





When I first checked out the bathroom I noticed that the hotel had its own brand of soaps, shampoo, and lotion allegedly all made from beer. Of course, I tried these all out and I have to say, it didn't really remind me of beer at all maybe a slight after smell, but not super strong.

With my booking, I decided to add breakfast to my reservation. While it was a little pricey it was worth knowing that I had a solid meal to start the day. The breakfast buffet spread was very generous. There was a wide assortment of rolls, bread, pastries, cold cuts, cheeses, juices, and spreads for the baked goods. They even had a full honeycomb for fresh honey which was incredible. They even had a nice selection of loose tea that you could choose from each morning.
While I was staying the Platzl was still being renovated. While I didn't notice any noise, I did see some unfinished tiles in the stairwell and some guys were working on lighting by the elevator. I'm an early riser so it didn't bother me but if you slept late I'm sure you would have heard them working.
I would absolutely stay at the Platzl Hotel again if  when I return to Munich. You just can't beat the location and the comfort of the rooms!
Here is their website, check it out!
https://www.platzl.de/en/

One of my favorite things about traveling is getting a chance to try new foods. While my food allergies do make it hard for me to really go wild, having the opportunity to taste some local munchies is always a priority. Berlin is incredibly affordable food wise. Seriously. I paid 8 Euros for a big dish of pasta and a coke. I've compiled a list of foods to try while in Berlin that were my personal favorites. I hope you enjoy!

Currywurst


The ultimate on-the-go street food. This tasty treat is found all over Berlin at specialty currywurst stands ad even in restaurants. Currywurst is grilled pork sausage with a ketchup and curry powder sauce drizzled over it. The dish is usually accompanied by fries. The history of this Berlin staple comes from 1949 post-war Berlin. Taking curry powder and ketchup she got from English soldiers, Herta Heuwer mixed the two together and put it on her wurst. Thus the currywurst was born.

Sauerbraten

Travel is a huge part of my life between road trips and transatlantic flights I've learned how to pack smarter. So my makeup bag has also matured with me. I've condensed all my travel makeup and brushes into one small bag that can easily fit into my carry on or an overnight bag.

The bag itself is from Barry M and I purchased it in Edinburgh. I was attracted to the color, size, and cheeky saying on the bag. The bright pink stands out in the depths of my carry on or suitcase making it easy to find and access when I need it. The bag is also compact enough to fit what I need but limit myself to what I actually bring. The plasticky material that the bag is made of also makes it very easy to clean. I'm not sure if you can find this exact bag but here are some similar styles on the Barry M website.

For my base, I really don't like to cake up the foundation. I prefer a BB cream or CC cream which gets the job done. I've been using the It Cosmetics CC Cream. It's not super heavy and keeps my skin moisturized but provides excellent coverage. It is also buildable so if I need more coverage I could layer it up. The CC cream also has SPF 50 which is another awesome benefit. For concealer, I bring two along. One is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment concealer. This really covers up my dark circles and lasts throughout the day without caking. If I'm having a breakout or need to do some major covering up, I also bring my Makeup For Ever Full Cover Concealer. It's waterproof and lasts throughout the day, especially if I set it with a little powder.

On the rest of my face, I bring my Elf Translucent Mattifying Powder to set my under eyes and any places that I've spot concealed. This is also super helpful because it's in a compact and has a handy mirror which I can throw in my purse if I'm on the go. For bronzer, I bring along my Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer. I find that it's a cool enough tone to contour with if needed but also generally gives my face a nice natural warmth. For blush, I have my Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday gift. It's a small version of one of Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush in the shade Paaarty. It's very soft neutral pink which is great to wear day to day. For highlighter, I've been enjoying the Vintage by Jessica Illuminating Face Highlighter set. It comes with 2 highlighters, one a pinky tone another a light chocolaty color. The chocolatey one is nice and subtle, which is great for day to day use.

Perks of being a museum professions student? Field trips to new museums I've never been to. I'm very lucky to say that I live in a close proximity to New York City and have had the opportunity to visit a lot of museums. Even outside NYC, I love finding new places with a historical flare.
I was thrilled to find out I'd be visiting the Museum of the City of New York, a place I'd never gotten a chance to visit before. Founded in 1923, the museum's mission is to connect the public with the past, present, and future of New York City.
First off, the day we visited was absolutely beautiful. It was a solid 70 degrees and sunny in Manhatten. I went in a little early got myself lunch on the Upper East Side and channeled my inner Blair Waldorf as I made my way up to the Museum along 5th Avenue.
The museum is located right along the park on the Museum Mile. Although it seems like the building was at one time a luxurious townhouse of a gilded age socialite, the building was actually constructed to be a museum. It fits the aesthetic of the Upper East Side perfectly. I was particularly attracted to the white marble and brick combination. A few of us waited on the patio of the museum for our professor enjoying the sunshine.
The inside of the museum is all about contrast, which I love. The gorgeous historical interiors in all of its white marble glory contrasted with the modern art installment called Starlight. The three exhibition spaces off the main lobby were all very dark spaces as well.
My favorite exhibit was called New York at its Core. In this exhibition, the 400-year history of the city is documented through artifacts and the stories of the city's "big personalities" who helped shape the Big Apple. The use of technology was awesome in this exhibit. One particularly cool feature was a large touchscreen wall. As the silhouettes of these characters walked across the wall, visitors could touch the screen and learn more about the stories of these people and how they impacted New York City. Notable figures included Jay-Z, Dutch Schultz, and Gloria Steinem.
While the New York at its Core exhibition was very sleek and modern, my other favorite exhibition was a throwback to the how the original museum looked. The Gilded Age was exhibited as a period room, showing the luxurious life of the upper class during the early 1900s. Included in this small but sumptuous gallery were portraits, Tiffany glass, jewelry, opera glasses, and costumes. The room was wallpapered in purple damask and chandeliers hung in the small area. This was such a contrast to everything else in the museum, it made the exhibition really stand out.
Another perk of being a museum studies student? Behind the scenes tours. Since I was with my Archives Management class, we got a chance to speak with an archivist and take a tour of their archives as well as see what kinds of things they collect. Getting a chance to talk to current museum professionals is such a valuable experience.
The museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Check out their website. If you're in New York City, I'd highly recommend this museum.

Hello all or should I say Guten Tag! I'm very excited to announce that I'll be travelling to Germany this May! For the first part of my trip, I'll be with some of my fellow Museum Professions students learning about the museums and cultural institutions in Germany's capital. There's going to be some behind the scenes museum tours and workshops with German museum professionals. I'm very excited for those opportunities! The bust of Nefertiti is also housed in the Neues Museum on Berlin's Museum Island, and I've been DYING to see that bust in real life ever since I was a little girl. Love me some Egyptian artifacts!

http://www.egyptian-museum-berlin.com/c53.php

The second part of my trip, I'll be mostly on my own. I'm hoping to I'll get to see Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, Dresden,and maybe I'll even pop over to Vienna, Austria for a little bit.

www.neuschwanstein.de

I also cannot wait to have some authentic German food!Brats and pretzels and schnitzel,oh my!
I'll be posting my travel tips, plans, and reviews in the next few months. I cannot wait to share this adventure with you all.
If you have any recommendations on what to see, where to stay, what to munch on let me know!

During the Summer of 2013 my mom and I went on a British Adventure on Tauck Tours. We spent roughly three weeks travelling down through the countires of Scotland, Wales, and England.

At the end of my trip to Sweden I spent a world-wind 48 hours in the capital of Sweden, Stockholm. We stayed at Hostel Dalagatan which was far from the major attractions of the capital city but was in a safe neighborhood and conveniently located next to a pizza place, across the street from ICA ( a supermarket), and near a nice park. The hostel was incredibly clean and the people very friendly. Rachel, Julie and I had our own private room with our own bathroom and shower! This is not your typical hostel ladies and gents! The room was small but it worked perfectly for us since we were almost never in the room except to sleep! The only issue we found was that since our room had no windows, it was pitch black. This didn't help us get our early start adventuring as we hoped for. We slept until 10am on our first day there!

After some planning we decided to purchase the Stockholm Card. Basically the Stockholm Card is a necessity for tourists. You buy your card based on the amount of time you want  (24hr, 48hr, etc). For that time period you're able to use all public transportation free of charge, and you have free admission to the majority of the museums. It's a great deal. For our 48hr the card cost us 675SEK, which roughly equated to $90. Which although it was pretty steep for us, compared to what we would have spent on all the travel, museums, and other expenses, this was an incredible deal!

Our gateway to the city!