I’ve been thinking about this post for a while. And like everyone, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the one year mark of the pandemic. How surreal, no?
At the most basic level, I’m grateful to be here and grateful that those I love most are safe thus far. But from there, my mind wanders to questions like…we’re a year into this thing: Why am I not fluent in German yet? Should I have gotten a Master’s during this time? Why haven’t I started playing my keyboard? There is some wistfulness, some guilt about what this year could have been.
I usually try to capture my thoughts and reflect on the simple pleasures of this past year: more time outside than I’ve ever spent since I was a child. Hikes, walks, bike rides…despite the pandemic, another international move, health issues, etc.
This post is not to engineer false positivity or say things weren’t hard for you or I because damn – they were – and they still are. But I hope these photos lift your spirits.
March 2020
A bike ride along the Nidda River in Frankfurt, a hike up to Burg Rheinstein along the Rhine River, a hike to a watchtower in the Taunus Mountains just outside Frankfurt.
April 2020
A hike around some castle grounds and a gorgeous loop hike about 45 minutes from Frankfurt.
May 2020
Heidelberg urban hike, hikes and bikes in the Mosel valley, a bike ride along the Rhine river towards Rüdesheim.
June 2020
Black Forest near Baden-Baden, Germany
July 2020
The Netherlands is QUITE flat but we still managed some long walks though I wouldn’t call them hikes!
August 2020
A very busy month moving to another country during a pandemic! These were mostly walks but one final hike to the Rüdesheim wine cabinet and one other hike with a friend.
September 2020
Our first full month in Vienna we conquered Vienna city hiking trail 1.
October 2020
Vienna city hiking trail 2 and Höllfall hike
November 2020
Vienna city hiking trails 3 and 4 and bike ride along the Danube in the Wachau Valley.
December 2020
Vienna city hiking trail 8 (very muddy) and lots of city walks!
January 2021
Vienna city hiking trails 1a , 5, 9, and Lanzer Tiergarten hike
February 2021
Semmering hike, RAX mountain range snowshoeing, and Vienna city hiking trail 2 once again!
Shall we end with a poem about the woods? This was one of my favorites as a child.
The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost – 1874-1963
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Berlin in Frankfurt 
Oh my dear, you should have no regrets! What a wonderful life you and Jeff have made for yourselves! I really hope Ed and I have a chance to come and visit while you guys are still in Europe—we are looking forward to seeing you both again! ❤️
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