Europe 2025, Part Four: Saturday 21st June - Wednesday 25th June

Saturday 21st June

Originally we’d be heading back towards Calais to leave on the shuttle tomorrow but because of the van issues earlier in the trip we’ve extended our holiday and will be back Wednesday, yayy!

We’ll have two nights at Camping Hirzberg. Then on Monday we’ll start heading back towards Calais. Glad we still have a few more days, I don’t like it when holidays come to an end.

First up. Hamma bakery. Cheeky pizza for breakfast & a cake to take away!

Almost at Ravensburg, 7 mins to go!

Really cute little place! We walked around, I got a present for Loki (judge me) a cute little snoopy dog bowl. We went up the tower for a great view, of course I forgot to mention we stopped for cake at lunchtime!

We went to the Ravensburger museum, very small and probably more for families with children but it was cool seeing the process of the games I’ve liked to play - like labyrinth.

We’re now making our way to Frieburg via a supermarket stop off. Snacks & other food acquired! Now we head to our campsite where we’ll be for the next two nights, 2hrs until we’re there.

We’ve arrived at the campsite! Good thing we booked ahead as they’re full! We’re scoping a plan for Monday, we may head to Dinant in Belgium then make our way to Calais on Tuesday, campsite dependant!

After some Riesling, and then spilling the last bit all over myself, classic - Angel cooked us a yummy veggie curry for dinner.

We played a few games of uno flip before getting into bed. It’s now 00:16 so I should probably sleep. We’ve booked a Thermae Spa for tomorrow…will let you know about that experience as the sauna part you can’t wear any clothing, for hygiene reasons (I’m talking naked. You are naked.) Of course this is normal to a lot of people but to me, it’s a weird concept. If it was just me and my sister less weird, but for me and Lee (my bro in law) it seems very strange.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Sunday 22nd June

Spa day!

Absolutely loved it! We eased ourselves in by doing the pool bit first as you wear your bathing suits. There were a lot of different pools, three colour coded the orange one was 24C, red was a toasty 40C and the cold pool was 30C. There was an outdoor pool, but it was too hot to be out there too long really in 35 degree heat. The indoor pool was great! It had this fun whirl pool effect and then a quieter pool indoor, really relaxing. We did a few hours here before moving into the nakey bit. After speaking to my friend Trix about it (who’s German) and of course this is a normal thing for a lot of people, very European. He told me about it and said you get used to it, and yeah, you do. I wasn’t sure at first when he spoke about it, but honestly I’d do it again. As soon as I walked in I had 4 men just naked in front of me just talking amongst theirselves, and I wasn’t bothered. It was actually quite freeing being naked in the sauna & steam rooms. I recommend, and would do it again! Who’s joining me? In fact it felt really weird when someone walked in wearing shorts and me and my sister were just there naked. I was thinking, did this dude not see all the signs saying ‘nudist’ zone?

It’s a weird thing as a Brit to get your head around, but I really suggest you try it before saying it’s not for you! It was a bit more awkward as my brother in law was also there, but we worked a system so that we didn’t leave or go in the showers facing each other lol.

You can do as you please, walk around to and from naked or cover up a little in a towel. I went for the latter but as soon as I entered the saunas and steam room that towel was gone! Of course make sure you sit on the towel for hygiene reasons, and also pretty sure that would be too hot on your skin anyway.

I loved it.

Loved it so much that me and Angel left our costumes hanging up in the changing rooms, oops. Time for a new one!

We’re just waiting for a tram into Freiburg im Breisgau (the hottest city in Germany, it’s no joke, it was 37degrees). The transport system here is so good! So clean, can you tell I’m loving this trip?? After a couple of rounds of drinks which went straight to our heads we went for food at Kartoffel Haus (potato house!) I had a salmon and spinach gratin, YUM. It was very hot in there, but the food was amazing.

As we spent most of the day at the spa, sadly we didn’t get a chance to look around here properly, but what we did see was very pretty. And the spa was totally worth it.

It’s 11:30pm now, Angel passed out quite early as we’re all very sleepy from the spa. Me and Lee watched an episode of The Big Door Prize before heading to bed.

Tomorrow we should be making our way to Dinant which is 5hrs away, I’ll keep you posted!

Monday 23rd June

We had breakfast in the van and now we’re setting off to head towards Dinant, Belgium.

But first, bakery.

It’s 24C today which is nice after a very hot 37C yesterday.

We’re 2hrs49 from the campsite near Dinant.

We just stopped off for lunch & a drink, another 2hrs left to go and we’ll be at the campsite. Weather isn’t so good driving through France atm!

We’ve arrived at the campsite, which is about 20 minutes away from Dinant, we will explore tomorrow! I’m excited, it looks super cute and is the birthplace of Adolphe Sax. One of my best friends being a saxophonist I’m very excited to check it out!

Just a chill eve now, so I’ll report back tomorrow!

Tuesday 24th June

We made our way to Dinant around 10am, it’s super cute. Nice little stop for a few hours! We had photos by all the saxophones we could find, walked around exploring for a bit and walked around the citadel.

The Adolphe Sax museum was free, it’s very small but informative so check it out if you’re ever here!

If you do visit, park at the citadel and you can get a cable car down into the city, very ideal - saves you walking and takes you into the heart of the city with a nice view on the way!

We’re now making our way to Calais, we have a campsite booked for tonight as we head home tomorrow 🥺.  We’re about 3 hours away, I’m really craving a croissant.

We stopped at a Carrefour along the way & arrived at the campsite around 645pm - a little late but Lee emailed them to let them know we’d be late - really friendly family run camping spot! We stayed here last year actually and he remembered us! It’s about an hour away from Calais if you ever need somewhere we recommend here (they also have goats, birds & are dog friendly)

Domaine du Bloemstraete

After setting the van into camp mode, Angel made us dinner and we sipped on some Riesling & Gewürztraminer - yum.

It’s 1:12am, we enjoyed the eve discussing our highlights of the trip, whilst piecing it together as we changed route a bit due to the van issues, but everything fell into place nicely anyway. We leave the campsite at 830am to head to Calais so goodnight!

Wednesday 25th June

Morning!

We had croissants delivered to our van dead on 8am as he said! Lee & Angel had pan au chocolates and I went for a croissant. We left the campsite just before 9, but soon after leaving had to pull up as Angel managed to step in poo after we put the rubbish in the bins. Classic.

“Beans did you fart? It stinks?”

“Umm no I didn’t Angel…”

“Someone farted, it really smells why can’t anyone else smell it?”

“Omg, it’s me, I’ve stood in shit”

Everyone, that’s my sister Angel. 😂

Now she’s cleaned and dealt with that situation, we’re now moving towards le shuttle, we’ll be there in 30mins.

We’ve gone through border control now, after a quick wee & a Starbucks to go…just waiting to board le shuttle.

After many rounds of uno flip, we were then in the UK! Super fast, also means that’s the end of the holiday, sad times.

We have a 3hr trip back to Bristol, Angel & Lee will see my parents a bit before their 3hr drive back to Sheffield.

Quick little lunch stop off & we’re an hour away from home now! I’ve not seen my parents for 5 weeks and I do miss little Loki, he’ll probably wee on me in excitement when I get home.

Although we had a rocky start and a few mishaps with the van, the holiday was epic as I knew it would be with my sis and bro in law. Don’t get me wrong, those days were really annoying to say the least.

Thanks again Angel & Lee for a great trip, for the laughs and memories and special thanks for my early birthday present!

As you know (if you read my blog from my trip last year) Switzerland has my heart.

But, this trip to Austria & Germany has been beautiful. (and the pit stop in Belgium!)

Austria - the mountains hit differently than Switzerland, but it’s still an incredible feeling and epic driving amongst them, beautiful.

Germany - you’re beautiful, and so so green!!! I need to come back asap, maybe I’ll do Berlin, Hamburg & Munich - meet some lofi artists - you know who you are! I fancy a solo trip, so maybe it could be this or maybe this and a future G-Adventures trip!

I’m home now, always sad when a holiday ends but I’m excited for my next trip to Italy later this year with some amazing friends. Soon we’ll plan next year’s van trip (maybe Copenhagen & Sweden, send me places to visit).

Happy to be back and reunited with my best pal Loki. Who yes, did a wee on me when I walked in 🤣

Until next time, keep smiling

Leena x