Welcome! I am glad you stopped by. Grab a drink, sit down and get ready to explore Gatlinburg, TN, the 6th destination in my Travel Bucket List Series.
Gatlinburg is considered the heart of the Smoky Mountains. Once a dirt road, now is the most visited mountain town in the area. Incorporated in 1945, 2020 marks 75 years, and we are so excited to visit this summer and join in on the celebrations! Gatlinburg is a 14-15 hour drive from our home in Massachusetts. My husband is not a big fan of road trips. The long hours in the car are not his idea of fun. To help make the ROAD trip part of this trip enjoyable, we plan to make a couple stops both down and back. The first stop is Natural Bridge, VA.
Natural Bridge, VA, is an unincorporated community of Rockbridge County. It sits in the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley and on the edge of the Blue Ridge mountains. It is home to the enormous rock bridge, The Natural Bridge. The bridge serves as a gateway to Natural Bridge State Park. In the state park, one will find the beautiful Cedar Creek Trail and the Monacan Indian Living History Village. There is also Natural Bridge Caverns, museums, and restaurants that surround this beautiful park.
We are spending two nights in Natural Bridge. I made it easy and booked us a room at the Natural Bridge Hotel. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and close to The Nature Bridge and the Natural Bridge Caverns, it seems like the perfect place to lay our weary heads for a couple of nights..
Gatlinburg
We will arrive in Gatlinburg that Sunday and plan on spending five days/nights exploring the city, neighboring towns, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Our home for the new few days is an adorable cabin located in the heart of Gatlinburg. A friend recommended Mountain Shadow Rentals & Resort.
Here is the description of the of cabin taken directly from the website.
“Upon entering, you’ll step into a large great room with spacious living, kitchen, and dining areas. Looking up at the cathedral ceilings from either side gives you a diamond-shaped view of the exterior hillsides. The kitchen features all stainless appliances with the meal prep utensils you need to prepare a variety of meals. The range features a natural gas stovetop for the best cooking experience as well as a gas oven for baking. Directly across from the range is an island with granite countertop and sink. Owners Pat and Ruthie have taken the utmost care in stocking the kitchen with many essentials, including cookware, countertop appliances, silverware, cutlery, utensils, and dishes to make for the most pleasant cooking dining experience in your cabin. A large flat-screen Smart TV sits atop the mountain stone gas log fireplace. Spectrum cable and high-speed internet service are available. There is a closet in the kitchen with a washer and dryer for your convenience. On either side of the great room are bedrooms that are entered through beautifully custom-crafted sliding barn doors. Each bedroom has a flat-screen TV, a king-size bed, a chest of drawers, a closet, a private bathroom, one with a stand-up shower, and a combination tub & shower. From the living area step out onto an expansive covered porch with large outdoor hot tub, relaxing rocking chairs, and a high-quality gas grill. There is so much to enjoy in Cubs in the Treetops. Relax and enjoy when the oohing and aahing are over!”
I can’t wait to have my coffee on the deck looking out at the mountains.
Once in Gatlinburg, we have received a list of recommendations to try. These are our top picks.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the United States. It is 520,000 acres with 244,000 acres of that in the state of Tennessee. There is a lot to see and do. It is known for its waterfalls that you can either hike or drive to. There are over 800 miles of trails and 400 miles of roadway. There is plenty of wildlife to view, such as deer, elk, black bears, birds, and more. The park is filled with historical buildings. Over 90 historic structures—houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools, and grist mills—have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park.
Cades Cove Loop Road
Cades Cove is a valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. Some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing is here. The Cades Cove Loop Road is an 11-mile loop that circles the cove. You can go at your own leisure and pull off the road to see the sites.
Gatlinburg SkyPark & Bridge
We will take the SkyLift to the top of Crockett Mountain and take in the sweeping views. For more amazing views, the brave ones in the family will cross the SkyBridge. The SkyBridge stretches 680 feet across a deep valley in a single span. After the terrifying walk across the bridge, I plan on relaxing in an outdoor chair on the deck and having a drink.
Hollywood Star Cars Museum
My husband is a huge car buff so when I saw this museum listed, I knew I had to weave it into our itinerary. It may be a place that the three boys explore while I go shopping!
Ripley’s Aquarium
The aquarium is the home of a 340-foot underwater tunnel. Come face to face with sharks, sea turtles, swordfish, and other sea animals. Though currently closed due to COVID, we hope to experience their new, indoor Glass Bottom Boat Adventure!
Pigeon Forge
Alcatraz East Crime Museum is a must-see. I am a big true crime fan, and I could spend hours in a museum related to crime. We will dive deep into criminal profiles, the penal system, victims’ stories, crime prevention, forensic science, law enforcement, and our justice system. The museum is 25,000 square feet and includes over 100 interactives.
In addition to the activities above, time permitting we hope to do the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, Dollywood, and more. There is just so much to do and see.
Asheville, NC & the Biltmore Estate
Before we head home, we are going to spend two days in Asheville, NC. I have always wanted to see the Biltmore and explore the grounds. We have made a reservation at the Omni Grove Park Inn and Spa. A little pampering before a long drive home is exactly what we (I) will need.
Renting a vacation home is, by far, one of my favorite things to do. I am an hour away from the beautiful beaches of Cape Cod and have stayed there many times. This summer, we were skipping the vacation home and headed north to the Canadian Rockies. Then COVID hit, and all our summer plans were canceled. We have all been home since March, and a much-needed change of scenery is in order. We rented a beach house in July for two weeks, and I can’t wait!
Over the last few years, I have learned a thing or two about what to look for in a beach house.
Here are seven things to look for when renting a beach house.
- Rent from a reputable source. The company should offer protection policies and guarantees. It should have updated photos on its site.
- Location, Location, Location. We prefer to be right on the ocean. If that was not feasible, we like to be at least within walking distance. Our rental this year is 1/10th of a mile from the beach, so not too bad. Another tip about location, stay close to town. It allows for easy access to restaurants, the grocery store, ice cream shops, and more. We can drive or choose to walk to these places.
- Prioritize your amenities. Do you plan on doing laundry while on vacation? If so, make sure the house has a washer and dryer. Do you plan on eating meals in or out? A fully stocked kitchen is vital, along with a nice grill for BBQing if you plan on eating at home. Does the house come with linens, beach toys, and beach chairs? If you are driving to your destination, it may not be a big deal to bring these items, but if you are flying, you want to make sure the house has these items. Does it have air conditioning? Some homes on the Cape do not have air conditioning. No air conditioning is a deal-breaker for me!
- Two words, NO CARPETS! It makes such a difference when the kids come traipsing through with wet, sandy feet. We prefer hardwood and tile floors in our rentals.
- Delegate the space ahead of time. This is particularly important when traveling with another family. A house may sleep 10, but 4 of those beds may be in one room. This may not work if you have a mix of older and younger kids or males and females. If the house has more than one bathroom (which I highly recommend by the way), assign each family their own bathroom.
- Outdoor shower. Keep as much sand out of the house!
- A shaded area outside to eat, sit, and relax. The sun can be brutal, so always nice to have a shady, cool spot waiting for you.
I hope these tips have given you some ideas of what to think of when renting your next beach house. If you have any of your own ideas, you would like to share, and please do. I would love to add them to my list. Happy vacationing!
On October 9, 2019, I wrote a blog post titled 235 Days. In a nutshell, it was about the count down to my oldest son’s graduation day. Today is the 235th day. Today my son ends one journey and embarks on a new one.
Two hundred thirty-five days ago, we had a vision of what senior year would be like. First, there were the college visits and eagerly awaiting for the acceptance letters to come in the mail. The new year arrived, and 2020 was full of excitement and promise. Robbie applied and was accepted to all six schools. He narrowed it down to three and was looking forward to the accepted student days at each one. Winter was winding down, and there were two months of school left. There were so many things to look forward to, prom, senior skip day, the final bell, and all the senior events leading up to the big one, graduation.
Little did we know that with 80 days left until graduation, March 12, 2020, would be the last day Robbie would step into the high school. The place he had called home for four years would be no more. Sure, like everyone else, we thought this would blow over. The school was closed for deep cleaning. Surely we would be back to business as usual soon enough. The kids were told this was NOT a vacation. This was not the time to hang with friends. They were to stay home and socially distance themselves. If they did, they would go back to school. Okay, breathe, we got this.
However, our numbers began to climb and to be safe, the superintendent shut down the school until April. E-learning was put into place, and the kids were now learning from home. It was a whole new world for all of us.
It was at this point; I began to get nervous. The accepted student days were canceled and held virtually. College students were being sent home for the remainder of the semester. Massachusetts cases of COVID-19 were climbing at an alarming rate. We were predicted to go through a surge sometime in late April. Late April?? The kids were supposed to go back to school. It was then I started to see my son’s senior year disappear before my eyes. Sure enough, the Governor put a stay at home order in place until May 4th. May 4th??? The seniors finish classes mid-May! It was not looking promising. By April 22nd, 2020, it was a done deal.
Norwood Public School Buildings Closed For the Rest of the 2019-2020 Academic School Year
Per the order of Governor Charlie Baker, all Massachusetts schools will be closed for the rest of the academic school year. Remote learning will continue in the Norwood Public Schools.
All that he had and let’s face it, I had been looking forward to, was gone. There would be no prom, senior skip day, elementary school walk, or senior breakfast. They would not hear the final bell in the school that they loved. It was heartbreaking. Though, it turns out it was more heartbreaking for me than him.
No sooner was it announced that senior events canceled, our town kicked it into high gear. First, the wonderful staff at the high school delivered lawn signs. A Facebook page was created called Adopt a Norwood Senior. Families adopted other kids and spent the month delivering gifts to their homes. Their senior photos were featured on a jumbotron and shown for the world to see. Finally, graduation day arrived, and it was better than we could have imagined. We had a police escort to the high school where every teacher lined up to wave and say goodbye. There were decorations all around the school. Each student was announced, received their diploma, and took their photo in front of the “school on the hill.” It was a fantastic day.
Though all of these things mentioned above contributed to a beautiful day, what really made it special was my son.
Since day one of this pandemic, he never complained about what he was missing out on. Sure, he would have loved to skip the school work, but he knew it had to be done. He works part-time at a supermarket, and as his mother, I was not thrilled he was spending 20-30 hours a week there. He took his job as an essential worker seriously and went to work each day.
Do you think deciding which college to attend is easy on a good day? How about trying to decide which college to attend during a pandemic, where all accepted student days were virtual. Yet, that did not stop him. He weighed his options, had some good discussions, and made his choice. We could not be happier.
As I sit here thinking about the last couple of months, I am no longer dwelling on what he lost, but what he has reminded me. Life moves on. We need to roll with the punches and make the most of a crappy situation. Do our part to make this a better place. Our country is in turmoil, and these young adults are our future.
Though I may not be quite ready to share him with the world, in a few short months it will be time. Until then, I plan on enjoying every last moment with him.
Greece and its people have always fascinated me. Since the time I was a child, I loved learning about Greek history and its culture. Of course, I love the movies My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Mamma Mia. LOL! In a couple of years, I turn 50, and what better place to celebrate this milestone than Greece. There are so many beautiful places to see in this country. Our trip will be at least 12-14 days long. The first stop on this dream trip, Athens!
Athens
Our trip begins in the beautiful city of Athens and the Electra Metropolis Hotel.
The Electra Metropolis is a 5-star hotel and located in the heart of the city. The hotel has stunning views of the Acropolis and the old neighborhood of Plaka. In the mood for a drink? Head to the rooftop bar for a drink and a breathtaking view of the Parthenon.
Athens serves as the capital of Greece and is its largest city. It has a history spanning over 3,400 years, making it one of the oldest cities. Athens is referred to as the cradle of western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Its port, Piraeus, is the largest passenger port in Europe. Did you know Athens was the host city for the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896?
Fun Fact– the first marathon was 24.8 miles, not the 26.2 miles that it is today.
Acropolis
The Acropolis is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Over the centuries, the Acropolis, located high above the city of Athens, has been home to kings, a mythical home to Gods, a citadel, religious center, and tourist attraction. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the famous Parthenon.
Parthenon
The Parthenon was built in the 5th century B.C. and dedicated to the Goddess, Athena. It sits upon the top of the Acropolis. The Parthenon was the center of religious life in the once-great city of Athens. It was a symbol of the power, wealth, and culture of Athens. It was the largest and most lavish temple the Greek mainland had ever seen. Today, it is one of the most recognized buildings in the world and a symbol of Ancient Greece.
Panathenaic Stadium
This multipurpose stadium is the only one in the world made out of marble. Initially, it was built as a racecourse in 330 B.C. It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus by 144 A.D. It was abandoned in the 4th century but refurbished and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern-day Olympics. The stadium has been used on and off over the years. In 2004 it was the finishing point of the Athens Classic Marathon.
Fun Fact– The Panathenaic Stadium is where the flame is handed over to the host nation of the Olympics.
Plaka
Plaka is an old historical neighborhood of Athens. It is known as the neighborhood of the Gods, given its proximity to the Acropolis and other archeological sites.
Here you can find restaurants, cafes, and shops. It is considered one of Athens’ nicest neighborhoods, its small community, off the beaten path in the middle of a large city. Most streets are closed to traffic so people can enjoy the street musicians and vendors.
Sounion
Sounion is 43 miles southwest of Athens. It is along the western coast of the Attica Peninsula and overlooks the Aegean Sea. It is home to the Temple of Poseidon. The temple was constructed in 444-440 B.C. Originally, it had 36 columns and now has 5. The temple is immortalized in Homer’s Odyssey.
Fun Fact- Legend has it was here that Aegeus King of Athens leaped to his death, giving the name to the Aegean Sea.
Santorini
The next stop on this bucket list trip is Santorini. An island in the Aegean Sea is the site of the largest volcano eruption in recorded history. While in Santorini we will stay at the Majestic Hotel.
Fira is the capital city of Santorini. The landscape and architecture are beautiful. I look forward to exploring this city and spending some time getting to know the culture and people.
Nea Kameni- Volcanic Island
Nea Kameni is an uninhabited volcanic island. It has formed over two millennia through the repeated eruptions. You can climb a gravel pit to reach the top of the 426-foot high volcanic crater. Also, we plan on taking some time to enjoy the hot springs.
Akrotiri Archaelogical Site
Akrotiri was once a major city in the Middle and Late Bronze Age. In 1627 a volcano erupted, and the city was covered in ash. Since 1846 this has been a popular excavation site for archaeologists. While visiting, take some time to explore the ruins and visit the museum that houses many of the artifacts found.
Oia
Lastly, we are sure to visit Oia, a small village in Santorini. It is one of the most famous towns in Santorini. It is known for its blue-domed churches and fantastic sunsets. It has plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Oia has been called one of the most picturesque villages in Greece.
Crete
The next stop is the island of Crete. Crete is the largest island in the country of Greece. It has something for everyone, from white sandy beaches to mountains for hiking. Crete is also home to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement.
In Crete, we plan to stay at the Porto Elounda Golf and Spa Resort.
We will start our visit to Crete with a boat ride over to Spinlonga. It is an island north of Crete. It was once used as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. Today it is uninhabited. Besides a leper colony, it is known for its small pebble beaches. It is currently under consideration to be a world heritage site.
Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos is located just south of modern-day Heraklion near the north coast of Crete. The palace was the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan Civilization and culture. It dates back to 7000 B.C. up into 1380 and 100 B.C.
Fun Fact- The palace was never a residence for royalty, yet had rooms suitable for a king or queen.
In addition to these two spots, we plan to explore the countryside, take in the beautiful beaches, attend a Tsaziki making class and make Komboloi.
Mykonos
Last but not least, Mykonos. As you can see, we have jammed packed this itinerary. I like to end my vacations with a little rest. I plan to do so here, on Mykonos. There will be plenty of beach time, along with relaxation by the pool. We will do a bit of exploring, but the point of this stop is to recharge before heading back to the real world.
Have you been to Greece? What time of year did you go? Comment below and help me decide what time of year we will take this bucket list trip!
Another month has concluded. We are also on week 8 of a stay at home order. Crazy! How are you holding up? I hope you are all safe and healthy.
As I mentioned back in April, March was a bit of a cluster. As the world began to shut down, I lost my motivation. I knew I had to kick it up a notch in April, but also was going to give myself grace when I needed it. Like many of you, we have had a lot of travel plans canceled, the workload in my day job became overwhelming, and I had to oversee social distance learning. Life was a bit chaotic, but I was determined to make something work and that I did!
Review of April’s Goals
Blog
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.- NOPE – still did not happen
- Write and post 4 new blog posts.- YES
- Grow social media platforms by 5%.- Yes on a 2 of the 4. Not bad!
- Finish blog course work.- One down, 2 to go.
Work
- Find work-life balance- It can be hard to shut it down when working from home. I am setting my hours, and rarely will I make exceptions. I need to treat it as if I am going to the office every day.- YES! Though I was busier than usual, I did a much better job of this.
Personal
- Move my body 30 minutes every day. When I am in the office, I reach my 10,000 step count most days, without counting my exercise. Since working from home five days a week, that has not been the case. The result is tight hip flexors, a sore back, and feeling like a slug. Again, I need to treat my day as if I am in the office.- YES! I hit my step goal 22/30 days. I also moved my body 30 mins each day.
- Get up, shower, and put something on besides running clothes or yoga pants.- I would say I did this 75% of the time.
- Though I maintained my weight, my goal was to lose weight. I am going to give myself grace and aim for 5lbs, rather than 10lbs.- I lost 2.5 lbs, so half.
- My goal race, the one I was training so hard for was canceled. Yes, I had a pity party, but again, this morning, I said no more. I picked a fall race, and that will be my new goal race. My new training plan for that will start late May, but in the meantime, I have a short term training plan I am following for all my runs leading up to then. Plus, I still have summer races that have not been canceled yet.- YES! I ran 76 miles in the month of April
- Save all money not being spent on gas and entertainment and put toward our next vacation.- Half of what we are not spending went toward future vacations. The other half went toward some online shopping. LOL!
Household
- Finish organizing the cabinets in the kitchen.- YES
- Clean the fridge.- Nope
- Start cleaning and purging my scrapbook room, so we can renovate by the end of the year.- Nope
Miscellaneous- all were accomplished!
🌟 More doggie 🐶 walks.
🌟Scrapbook.
🌟Try new recipes.
🌟Read more books.
🌟Cherish the additional time I have with my boys being home.
Did I attack the month with gusto? Hummm..gusto is a bit strong of a word. I certainly had my days where Netflix came before everything else. I also took more time to do things that relax me. There were lots of walks. I read a couple of books and was able to scrapbook more of 2019. All wins in my mind.
Now, what will the month of May look like? Assuming we will remain under a stay at home order, I plan on more of the same, with a few additions.
Blog
I will build on what I did or did no do in April. Moving forward, I think four blog posts a month will be the norm. I will chip away at my courses and will try to do ONE session of SEO a month. I am not letting go of this goal; I am trying to make it attainable.
Personal
- I will build off my 2.5lb weight loss and aim for 2-5lbs this month.
- Continue to move my body 30 mins a day.
- All my summer races were canceled, but I plan to run them virtually.
- Research vacation options for summer to replace our canceled Canadian Rockies trip.
Household
- Purge Nicholas’s room.
- Begin the basement (scrapbook room) project.
- Clean out my garden boxes and start my veggie garden.
I am trying to be realistic with my list. I tend to take on a bit much and then get frustrated when I don’t accomplish them all. I have to remind myself that these need to be SMART goals- specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
Tell me, did you reach your goals for April? If not, what did you do to readjust? What is your plan for May? Please, let me know below.
Stay safe.
Heather
Welcome to the 4th edition of My Travel Bucket List Series. For those of that are new to my blog, at the beginning of the year, I published my top 30 destinations I would like to see in my lifetime. You can see the complete list here. Today we are going to experience some good old southern hospitality in the city of Savannah, GA. Of course, being a beach lover, I have added a couple of days on
Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia and 5th largest in the state. The city is known for its cobblestone streets, historic landmarks, and southern charm.
Accommodations
For this trip, we plan on staying at the Cotton Sail Hotel. Once an 1800’s cotton warehouse, the Cotton Sail is located in the historic district of Savannah and minutes away from the riverfront. Amenities include a fitness center, an on-site restaurant, and a rooftop bar. This boutique hotel only has 56 rooms, with either a city or a river view. I love the idea of the river view.
Length of Stay
Including our stay on Tybee Island, I plan on 5 full days. Three days will be in the city of Savannah and two days on Tybee Island. I suspect our days will be jammed packed with activities.
Things to Do & See
Tours
There is no shortage of walking tours in the city of Savannah. I have reviewed quite a few, and when the time
In addition to the walking tour, I found two other tours that sound fantastic. First is a carriage ride at night tour. How does a ride in a horse-drawn carriage under the twinklings lights of the city sound? Amazing!
Have you ever taken a ghost tour? We did here in Boston. However, I have never seen anything quite like this. A tour in a hearse?? Sign me up!
Forsythe Park
Forsyth Park is a large city park that occupies 30 acres in the historic district of Savannah. Within the park are walking paths, children’s play areas, recreational areas for soccer, basketball, tennis, and more. An interesting feature of the park is a Fragrant Garden for the blind. The garden consists of plants with scents and textures that appeal to those with limited sight.
River Street
River Street has over 75 shops and restaurants to explore. This area of the city was once cotton warehouses. River Street is where we plan on spending our evenings, looking for some yummy southern food. I think a steamboat ride will be on the itinerary as well.
Wormsloe Historic Site
Here lie the ruins of Wormsloe, the colonial estate of Noble Jones. These ruins are the oldest standing structure in Savannah. Mr. Jones was many things, including command of a company of Marines charged with defending the Georgia coast from the Spanish. The Jones family owned Wormsloe until the state of Georgia acquired it in 1973.
In the park, visitors can interact with costumed guides and view a museum with artifacts found at Wormsloe. There is a nature trail that leads to the tabby ruins over to the Colonial Life Area. This area is similar to a living museum where guides in period dress exhibit the tools and skills of colonial Georgia.
Fort Pulaski National Monument
Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on Cockspur Island, between Savannah and Tybee Island. It was during the American Civil War, that the Union Army successfully tested rifled cannons in combat, the success of which rendered brick fortifications obsolete. Sights not to miss are Battery Hambright, John Wesley Memorial, Construction Village, and the cemetery.
Tybee Island
I can’t think of a better way to end a few days of sightseeing than some beach time. Tybee Island is located off the coast of Savannah. It is both a city and a barrier island. We plan on calling Beachside Colony and Resort our home for the remainder of our trip. The only beachside resort on the island.
I would love to know, have you been to Savannah? Is there anything I should add to my list?
Check out the previous editions of my Travel Bucket List series.
In mid-March, life as we know it came to a screeching halt. Schools were closed, non -essential businesses shut down. Many of us were asked to work from home, homeschool our kids for the first time and social distance from everyone we know and love. These are stressful times.
So how do you release your stress? A significant stress reliever for me is exercise. Exercise lifts my mood and helps me keep a clear head. Running is my anti-depressant of choice for the reasons I just described and many more. If you would like to read more about the mental benefits of exercise, you can do so here.
Perhaps you are not a runner. Or maybe you like the gym and desperately missing it right now. Even though I run, I have to incorporate strength training in my routine to prevent injury. How do I do this? From the comfort of my own home.
Beachbody on Demand (BOD) is a streaming service that provides hundreds of workouts to assist people in achieving their health and fitness goals. BOD can be streamed on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Members can also stream BOD through a TV using Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast, or via the Beachbody On Demand app for iOS and Android. Apple Watch users can stream their workouts on their iPhone or iPad, and Apple Watch will project real-time heart rate and caloric burn on those screens. Take a peek.
This is the perfect alternative to the gym, and I feel I have not skipped a beat in my fitness journey. Also, for those of you looking for help with nutrition, BOD includes easy to follow nutrition plans. Click here to get started. I love my membership, hence why it is my love of the week!
On our Rhine River cruise, we toured the city of Heidelberg. Heidelberg is located along the Neckar River in south-west Germany. It is approximately 50 miles south of Frankfurt. It is a college town and home to Heidelberg University, one of Germany’s oldest universities. It dates back to 1386. It is a hub for the arts and attracts many poets, writers, and other artists. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network has as designated it the “City of Literature.”
Fun Fact #1 – US Army General George Patton had a car accident in the nearby city of Mannheim. He later died in Heidelberg, US Army Hospital. He is buried in Luxembourg.
Heidelberg Palace
During the 13th century, the palace was once the residence of the Prince of Electors of Palatinate. Though due to war and natural disasters, it saw much destruction. In the 17th century, the Palatinates were involved in the Thirty Years and the Nine Year Wars. The Prince no longer had any interest in the destroyed palace and moved his residence to Mannheim. The castle continued to fall to ruins from neglect and two lightning strikes.
Taken from Wikipedia, here is a timeline of events at the castle.
Timeline of events for Heidelberg Castle:
- 1225: first documented mention as “Castrum”.
- 1303: mention of two castles.
- 1537: the destruction of the upper castle by a lightning bolt.
- 1610: the creation of the palace garden
- 1622: Tilly conquers city and castle in the Thirty Years War
- 1642: renewal of the Castle plants.
- 1688/1689: destruction by French troops.
- 1693: renewed destruction in the Palatinate succession war.
- 1697: (start) reconstruction.
- 1720: transfer of the residence to Mannheim.
- 1742: (start) reconstruction.
- 1764: destruction by a lightning bolt.
- 1810: Charles de Graimberg dedicates himself to the preservation of the Castle ruins.
- 1860: first Castle lighting.
- 1883: the establishment of the “office of
building of castles of Baden.” - 1890: stocktaking by Julius Koch and Fritz Seitz.
- 1900: (circa) restorations and historical development.
We were fortunate enough to have a guided tour. The guides dress from different historical periods. There are 150 guides and tours are offered in 20 languages. It is quite a process to become a guide. There is a 3-month training program with an exam at the end. Our guide was funny and never broke out of character.
Though you can tour both the interior and exterior of the palace, we only had time for the exterior. Just another reason to go back, right?
The tour was interesting and just long enough that it held our interest. Though we did not tour the inside, we were able to go into one building, the Fassbau (wine cellar), from 1590, which houses the largest wine barrel in the world, Heidelberg Tun, which holds 58,124 gallons of wine.
Fun Fact #2- Mark Twain, who visited the castle and later, on a boat trip, he wrote a chapter to his famous book, Huckleberry Finn.
Old Town Heidelberg
Altstadt is the oldest part of the city and sits right below the palace. The Hauptstraße is the main road through the Altstadt and is where most of the shopping is centered. Other points of interest that can be found in the Altstadt include the Marktplatz, the Kornmarkt, the Church of the Holy Ghost, the Palatinate Museum, Synagogue Square, The University, Marstall, Heuscheuer, the Friedrich Memorial, and the Old Bridge.
Philosopher’s Walk
Philosopher’s Walk is a path located along the banks of the Nect
Heidelberg is beautiful and I would have loved to have seen more. Another place I want to return to someday.
Fun Fact #3 – College is free in Germany and open to anyone, regardless if a citizen or not.
If I am honest, March was a cluster! I went in with good intentions and a plan. Ha! That blew up in my face when the schools shut down, my company mandated we work from home, and the only time we could go out was to the grocery store, pharmacy, and to exercise. Then after a mild winter, spring arrived, but Mother Nature thought it would be funny not to play along. The weather has been cold and rainy. April has to be better, right?
Well, not so fast. If you look at the world around us, April is going to be pretty much the same. The schools shut down, and working from home continues through May 3rd. We can still only go to the grocery store and pharmacy. We are doing our part to flatten the curve, and I am okay with that. What I am not okay with is my lack of motivation, and using this as an excuse not to accomplish many of the goals I set out for myself last month and for the remainder of 2020. Today that has all changed. I drew a line in the sand and developed a plan.
Never in my adult life have I spent so much time at home. I think I was in denial at the beginning and kept thinking it would end soon. Instead of wallowing in my sadness over missed trips and races, I am going to concentrate on my 2020 goals. I am going to use this time to do things I keep putting off or never seem to have the time to do.
This morning I grabbed my coffee, my planner, my work calendar, the school work schedule, and my to-do list and spent over an hour planning my month. However, before I could move forward with new goals, I needed to look back and revisit the ones I set for myself in March.
March Goals
- Blog
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.- NOPE
- Write and post eight new blog posts.- I wrote 6, so calling it a win!
- Grow social media platforms by 10%.- NOPE
- Finish blog course work.- NOPE
- Personal
- Lose 10lbs.- NOPE, but at least I did not gain.
- Strength train four times a week.- Nope
- Continue with weeks 11-15 of my training plan for running.-I ran, but not per any plan as my races were canceled.
- Call a dermatologist!- Not taking appointments due to COVID-19
- Sit Robbie down to discuss a savings plan for college.- Yes
- Household
- Organize kitchen cabinets.- 1/2 way done
- Try two new recipes.- Yes
Ahhh, I had such high hopes for the month, especially when it came to my blog. Instead of beating myself up, I am looking at this new month as a time to get it done. Besides work, all other activities for me are on hold. Time is there for the taking. I need to make the most of it and not waste a moment.
April’s Goals
Blog
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.
- Write and post 4 new blog posts.
- Grow social media platforms by 5%.
- Finish blog course work.
Work
- Find work-life balance- It can be hard to shut it down when working from home. I am setting my hours, and rarely will I make exceptions. I need to treat it as if I am going to the office every day.
Personal
- Move my body 30 minutes every day. When I am in the office, I reach my 10,000 step count most days, without counting my exercise. Since working from home five days a week, that has not been the case. The result is tight hip flexors, a sore back, and feeling like a slug. Again, I need to treat my day as if I am in the office.
- Get up, shower, and put something on besides running clothes or yoga pants.
- Though I maintained my weight, my goal was to lose weight. I am going to give myself grace and aim for 5lbs, rather than 10lbs.
- My goal race, the one I was training so hard for was canceled. Yes, I had a pity party, but again, this morning, I said no more. I picked a fall race, and that will be my new goal race. My new training plan for that will start late May, but in the meantime, I have a short term training plan I am following for all my runs leading up to then. Plus, I still have summer races that have not been canceled yet.
- Save all money not being spent on gas and entertainment and put toward our next vacation.
Household
- Finish organizing the cabinets in the kitchen.
- Clean the fridge.
- Start cleaning and purging my scrapbook room, so we can renovate by the end of the year.
Miscellaneous
🌟 More doggie 🐶 walks.
🌟Scrapbook.
🌟Try new recipes.
🌟Read more books.
🌟Cherish the additional time I have with my boys being home.
That is it, folks. This is my plan. The time is now. So if you have some things you want to accomplish, take advantage of being “stuck” at home. Now I know some of you may not have that luxury, as you are working on the front lines. I thank you for that and our nation thanks you for that. However, if you do have the time, make the most of it and report back. I would love to hear what it is you have accomplished.
Be well my friends.
Heather
Wow, what a crazy last few weeks. Here in Massachusetts, we are on day 18 of being in our homes. School is closed until May 4th, and I am working at home through mid-April. Though, I suspect this will be extended. As much as I like being home, I love to travel. If you a regular visitor to my blog, you know I love adventure and being able to go out and about. Staying confined to our home, not being able to socialize and see family and friends is hard. In times like these, I am so grateful that I am a runner. I enjoy going out and moving my body. It has been a lifesaver over the last couple of weeks. It was also a lifesaver as I watched my mom slip away six years ago. Running or any form of exercise, for that matter, has a tremendous impact on our mental health. I thought this would be the perfect time to discuss the five mental health benefits of running.
1) Lowers Stress
Running decreases anxiety and rids of brains of negative thoughts. Running or exercise in general, creases the body’s concentration of norepinephrine, a chemical that moderates the brain’s response to stress.
2) Helps with the Depression
Exercise produces endorphins and is a natural anti-depressant. There is a saying “Wow, I regret that run/workout.- Said No One Ever. Is this a cure for depression? NO! However, it can help. Want an extra boost? Go out and run on a sunny day. The shot of vitamin D will also help with depression.
3) Improves Sleep
Running helps regulate our circadian rhythms. It increases the amount of time spent in deep sleep. Deep sleep, should make up 20% of our sleep a night. Deep sleep restores the body physically and also helps boost immunity. Also, running regularly manages stress levels, which can impede our ability to get to sleep and have a restful night’s sleep.
4) Increases Energy Levels
Have you ever noticed the more we sit around, the more sluggish we become? The opposite is true; the more we move, the more energy we have throughout the day. So if you can, start your day off with a run or whatever form of exercise that gets you moving.
5) Helps with Self-Esteem
Running has done wonders for my self-esteem. It has shown me what my body and mind are capable of, especially during the hard times. By setting goals, accomplishing said goals, and conquering obstacles in the way of these goals builds confidence. Confidence builds our self-esteem, and we feel great about ourselves.
During this challenging time, I urge you all to take some time and move. If running is not your thing, that is okay. Take a walk, do some yoga or stream an exercise video from your computer. Whatever you do, have fun and breathe. This too shall pass.
Be safe my friends.
