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a feel good travel blog

The Salzburg Weinnachts Museum: Keeping Christmas (and Krampus) Alive since the 1800s

11/29/2015

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​Do you live, breathe and dream of Christmas? Do you dream of one day meeting Krampus? If so, when in Salzburg, visit the cute and quaint Weinnachts museum. Located in Mozartplatz, the museum features artifacts and handicrafts from the 1840-1940 era.
 
The exhibit features 11 themes that separate Christmas during the War years and self-contained areas to learn about the popular and devil-looking character, Krampus. What makes the museum special is that Ursa Kloiber collected the artifacts during a 40-year period.
 
You’ll discover everything from handwritten notes to Santa to 1800-style ornaments. Everything you see in modern day décor originated from historic treasures including cards, ornaments, mangers, cookware, games and more. I found it interesting how each era influenced the beauty and charm of Christmas decorations. I have to admit, I miss those authentic handmade gifts. Oh if we can only turn back time, right?
 
The most exciting aspect of the museum is Krampus. I’ve known about Krampus for a while, but Americans may not have heard about Krampus until an interview with Christoph Waltz on the Jimmy Fallon show.
 
Waltz mentioned that Krampus keeps the children in check and that Christmas also praises wisdom. And to that, I say “Willkommen Krampus” to teach modern day children about detaching from materialism. Krampus, the half goat half devil man, would take naughty children, place them in a bag and beat them around Christmas time. In the museum, you’ll see plenty of paintings and statues that show the best of this devil’s looks.
 
The museum also has a gift shop that sells Christmas items year round. If you are old-fashioned, I recommend buying the postcards that illustrate Christmas cards from 1890-1950. For Austria, the gift shop offers affordable and traditional German/Austrian artifacts including coned-incense Santa smokers to authentic Austrian Christmas cookbooks.
 
Attached to the museum is the Weinachts café that offers plenty of delicious cakes, coffees and teas. Compared to Germany, the café is more expensive. Two coffees cost approximately nine Euros.
 
For Christmas lovers and enthusiasts, the Salzburg Christmas museum displays the essence and class of Austrian culture and its history. It’s the perfect place to visit year round and to think, “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.”
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Cafe Katzentemplen in Munich, Germany: A Place for Kats, Kaffee & Kuchen 

11/25/2015

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​What is round, fluffy and tastes delightful? German kuchen (cake) of course! Although your furry fellow may claim a furball, I get really excited over trying vegan restaurants while traveling. I get UBER excited when a cat is involved. When searching for vegan cafes in Munich, I ran across the Katzen café and instinctively knew I needed to go here.
 
I walked into the café and surprised that every table was occupied except for one small table for two. I sat at the table located next to the cat tree and watched this gingerly fellow snore and sleep his day away. Damn, what a life, hey? That tiny little red headed cat inspired a dreamy cup of snoozle-berries to encourage me to curl up on the nearby couch with a blanket. I seriously needed a cat nap right about now.
 
In the mood for something warm, I ordered a vegan chai latte and watched the various cats’ run, rub and zip themselves throughout the store. The one cat loved the cash register and found her secret hideout on top of the kuchen (cake) case. 
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I think the funniest part about watching any animal is the toys. I find it cute yet hilarious when watching a kitty gnaw on a catnip fish or Santa lobster. Damn, this made me miss my little sweet kitten named Snickers.
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Luckily, I visited the shop at snack time. The waitress rustled a small cat treat bag as the little boy threw the treats in the open area. As fast as lightening, the cats skipped the tender love from the humans in hopes of catching a tenderloin kibble. Begging, pleading and meowing, the cats “nom nom-ed” on their treats and with a full belly went to find the closest comfort zone for another midafternoon catnap.
 
Although sunny outside, the cats and the chai warmed my soul to know that everything in life will be all right. Isn’t the power of pets amazing? Nothing is more healing than the vibrations of a cat’s purr roaming throughout the body.
 
The Katzen Café is one hundred percent vegan and sells various logoed products such as shopping bags and t-shirts. So just like the cat’s meow, make sure you visit the Katzen Café on your next trip into Munich. Even if you're having a bad day, its the place to go to when you need a quick "TLC" pick me up. 
Turkenstr. 29 | 80799 München, 80799, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
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Helsinki, Finland: From Polar Bears to Chic Cafés – A Fine Day to Get Lost in Scandinavia 

11/23/2015

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​Helsinki is one of those places that you’ll either love or visit once and never need to return. Visiting Helsinki directly from America is impressive to see its detailed architecture rest alongside the waterfront and to explore some of the most chic cafes in the world. There is something elegant and classy about Scandinavia – never half-assing the interior design of any shop.
 
I enjoyed my time in Helsinki, but the place didn’t rock my world like other European cities. That is surprising as I am an "urban-water" gal, but maybe Nice is more of my flavor? But, it is the perfect day trip from Tallin, Estonia. I took the first ferry to Helsinki and the last one back to Tallinn to get a full perspective of the city.
 
Visiting any European in the winter has its downside because of the weather, but in Finland winter is fucking cold. You can’t help but dip into a café every few hours to get jacked up on another 5-Euro latte.
 
But in reality, Helsinki has its charm and beauty like every other European city. Aesthetically pleasing, I meandered the seaside sidewalks that remind me of my hometown Seattle and other places like Hamburg. Even in the shit of winter, seagulls fly around looking for food, which shows that life is still alive in the winter, including the polar bears.
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​In search for a traditional Finnish sauna, I feasted my eyes on steaming hot Finns walking out of a sauna to t "polar bear" dip in the icy cold waters. I love the Baltic’s mindset about health and healing, which validates the benefit of using saunas, spas and teas to improve one’s health.
 
Feeling steamy, I checked out another café all which flaunt the latest modern trends. While people watching, I could not help but notice genetics between the various European cultures. I noticed the similarity between German and Scandinavian men all of which flaunted tall and lean bodies with thick heads of hair, perfect beards and piercing blue eyes.  Not to mention, the women too are the Barbie Dolls of Europe. From genetics to appearance, people looked good with their sense of fashion. Now, I love modern day trends, but am deeply rooted into Europe’s vintage and history culture. I would say I didn’t see much history with an 1800’s ladle hanging on the wall like you see more of in Germany.
 
But there are pockets of beautiful Classicism meets Functionalism architecture in Old Helsinki and plenty of veg-friendly food options including the cutest vegan food stand in Old Market Hall.
 
I had no plans in Helsinki, I just got lost. I meandered through markets, which showed the connection to their Viking culture that used animals for food and clothing. Although difficult for me to process in modern times, I wanted to learn more. And ironically, a Greenpeace boat stood adjacent to this market where liberals and people dressed as polar bears proudly educated people on why they should stop hurting animals in the Arctic.
 
At the national museum, I discovered more about this Viking culture. Brutal and harsh– these people were warriors and survivors of life and the most treacherous conditions.
 
Overall, I found Finland to be expensive, but not as pricy as I imagined. What is funny is that it is cheaper for the Finns to take a ferry and party in Tallin (and bring back cases of duty free beer) than it is to stay in town. If you get a chance you should check out Helsinki, but I would suggest spring and summer unless you are doing a spa and a winter Arctic trip up north. 
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17 Photos to Inspire You to Travel to Santorini, Greece

11/22/2015

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Santorini. What else can I say besides its absolutely beautiful! It by far exceeded my expectations and is one of my favorite islands in the world. I cannot wait to go back. I visited Santorini for a day to explore Perissa Beach, Oui and FIra.

I forgot my lens hood this day. Ugh! As the sun was shining and super hot, the saturation is not the best, but I like to show my unedited images because this is what the human eye really sees. If you can, you must visit Santorini at least once in your lifetime. Enjoy! 
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Submit Your Favorite Travel Photo – Enter to Win a Free Book

11/21/2015

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​As an author, I’d like to express my appreciation this Thanksgiving season by giving away two free autographed print copies of my travel memoir, Finding Om: An Indian Journey of Rickshaws, Chai, Chapattis and Gurus – a $23.00 value for free!
Traveling and living abroad is very near and dear to my heart. My experiences included living in Queensland, Australia twice, India and now in Hannover, Germany. Exploring the world and diving deep into every culture is how I became to understand the world and myself. I will select two winners as a token of thanks and appreciation this holiday season. The world is in need of a good read and remembrance on how beautiful travel and the world can be. You do not need the best photo. Sometimes the meaning and deeper layers of the picture speaks louder than a picture-perfect image.
Photography is my favorite hobby and would like to give back to those who find the same passion with photography and travel. Due to the recent world events and threats, including my temporary German hometown, Hannover, I am compelled to educate the world about health and travel.
To preview the first chapter of Finding Om, please click here. Please click here to read the synopsis of Finding Om that includes my journeys throughout Australia, New Zealand and India.
The Contest
Submit your favorite travel photograph and if it makes the top two you will receive a free print copy of Finding Om. I will select two photographs. One will focus on travel/natural scenes (landscapes, architecture etc.) and the other will be Travel lifestyle (café, sport, recreation etc.). Show me your favorite image and please provide no more than three sentences about the picture and why you think it should be selected. You can follow the hashtag #FindingOm
Photo Rules
Photographs do not need to be professional, but you must be the photographer. Images that are stolen or taken from Google will be disqualified. You can submit any smart phone or DSLR image. Images must be compatible to view on display in the email (.jpeg file). Racial, obscene, pornographic or hurtful images do not qualify and will be blocked. Only one photo submission per person.
What if I already own the book? You can still apply to win! This book can be the perfect holiday gift for someone looking for a good read. The two winning photographs will be shared on social media and credit will be given to your images.
Eligibility
Anyone from any part of the world is eligible to enter. There is no demographic focus, so images from any part of the world are welcome. Applicants must over the age of 18. To be eligible you must be a fan or “like” the Elizabeth Kovar Author Facebook Fan Page. Entering acknowledges the email address you supply will be added to the Elizabeth Kovar Fitness & Healing newsletter. One to three newsletters are sent every month and can unsubscribe anytime.
If you are selected, we will need your address to ship your free copy. Addresses will not be asked or accumulated if you are not the winner.
Submission & Deadline
Please submit your picture to erkovar@yahoo.com with “Finding Om Travel Photo Contest” in the subject line.
Contest ends Dec 1, 2015 at 12AM PST
Please share this contest even if you are not interested in applying. #SharingisCaring
Travel Safe,
Elizabeth
Your Quality of Life Advocate 
Trainer, Writer, Presenter & Leader
“Celebrating Movement. Celebrating Life.”
www.elizabethkovar.com
https://www.facebook.com/elizabethkovarfitness/ | @BrainBodyKovar
Author of Finding Om: An Indian Journey of Rickshaws, Chai, Chapattis and Gurus 
Blogger: www.lemontreetravel.com | www.mindbodysoul-food.com
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Vegan in Nice, France: De Gusa Italian Restaurant

11/20/2015

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Sometimes mistakes turn out to be the best thing ever. That is exactly what happened to us exploring De Gusa Italian Restaurant. We meandered through Old Town to discover every alley way and window with laundry hanging outside.
 
Famished, we stumbled upon “Place de Jesus” and entered one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. After exiting the church, we became famished and starved. Adjacent to the restaurant in De Gusa where we sat down, not knowing the restaurant was not officially open for 13 more minutes. The local waiters said, “Seven we open.” We contemplated walking around, but decided to stick around because of the affordable prices. 
 
I decided to order a chai from the Indian restaurant next door (by the way which was an authentic Indian chai) and wait until the clock struck seven. Starved, I became confused not knowing what to order. Everything sounded good and at least one-third of the menu was vegetarian-friendly.
 
Josh ordered the pesto pasta and I ordered the Napoli pasta and the soupe au pistou. I never tried this vegetable-based soup, and wanted to experience something new. The soup arrived and with two spoons we dug in and fell in love with the first bite. The simple soup contains the “pistou” which are herbs and olive oil that is placed upon the soup. The flavor and concoction was unmatched and I became determined to master this recipe.
 
Next, the waiter approached with the meals. Both our eyes perked up and belted #OMG to the Roman Gods and thanked them for our meal. The homemade pasta noodles and sauce were as authentic as an Italian Grandma cooking from her 1921 Italian kitchen. The pesto pasta was out of this world. The simple olive oil and basil was smooth and topped with whole pine nuts. It was not a cheese-type of pesto that is found in jars at the grocery store. They used the traditional lighter olive oil that hones an authentic taste.
 
The meal was extra special because we celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. The bonus included free water, homemade bread and Parmesan cheese that Josh mentioned was amazing. One of the best parts of French cooking is that they do not overload on the salt. So nearly saltless, I enjoyed controlling how much salt entered my food.
 
If there's any one European culture who knows how to eat and live, its the French and Italian culture. Here you get the best of both worlds that appeases the vegan palate. The most amazing part of Nice is the history. Once conquered by Greeks, Romans and Italians, you get the best of Italy set alongside the beautiful Mediterranean shorelines of the French Riviera.  If you are looking for something fresh, authentic and affordable in Nice, look no further than De Gusa.


Wander Seattle without getting lost! This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Vegan in Nice: De Gusa Italian Restaurant. 
 
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25 Images that Shows the Beauty of Parisian Culture & History

11/15/2015

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I post images to inspire people to travel to the places that I have visited throughout my travels. In the special time to remember the beauty of France, here are 25 images that show the best of Paris and its culture. Images are non-edited and are taken right from the camera. This shows what our real eyes can see...
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Berchtesgaden, Germany: A Historic Walk Down Memory Lane

11/13/2015

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How could such a small town have such big history? It’s not just big historical in textbooks, but this tiny Bavarian town has a large part of my heart’s history.

Both sides of my family come from the Ukraine, which also includes some Polish blood in our genes. Growing up I watched my Great Grandmother, who we called Baba, cook pierogies, kielbasa and sauerkraut, stuffed cabbage and borscht. Visiting her throughout my childhood, I always remembered her grandiose rose garden and her antique cabinet that contained painted Easter eggs, decorative plates and hand-stitched table clothes.
 
Although my Great Ukrainian Grandmother lived in Cleveland, she lived close to her Eastern European roots. Why does this matter? Because my family, including my grandmother, lived in Berchtesgaden, Germany for seven years before immigrating to the United States in 1951. During the War, my family was taken from their farm in the Ukraine and sent to Budapest, Vienna and later Berchtesgaden to live in displacement work camps.
 
I learned a lot from my Baba who lived an abundant life filled with family and grand children. Complete opposite of me, a driven for success type of person, I valued her simplicity to find happiness while being surrounding by her loved ones.
 
I felt those same feelings while walking through the time Berchtesgaden streets.  Besides its charm and beauty, the locals lived a simple life filled with strudel, kürbis soup and market vegetables.  Everything around had that German-Austrian flare that included class and delicate details. Houses on the hill were decorated with lavish flowerpots and ivy that trickled down the wooden walls. 
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Even the cemetery was beautiful, but also saddening. Young men who fought for the “Vaterland” during the World Wars lived short lives, some died as young as 20 years of age.  But, I guess its no different than today with young men serving overseas. Isn't the world ready for a change? What would happen if we took all the brain power and put it towards collaboration and not war?
 
This city is also known for Hitler’s retreat, Obersalzburg where his bunker and Eagle’s Nest home lies. Walking through the bunkers was an interesting experience.  We walked in the same rooms and hallways of such a dark historical figure. So much history occurred in the same hallways where Hitler and his one thousand SS troops once lived and stood. It was surreal to think that my family once lived, or maybe crossed paths, with the War’s most treacherous beings. But, somehow they survived everything. It's interesting to see such a beautiful place integrate the light and dark aspects of life - nature and war. 
 
Today, Berchtesgaden is a perfect Southern Germany getaway to escape the city life and stress. Surrounded by pristine nature, visitors can explore Königssee and the nearby national park for hiking and walking. It’s the perfect place to reflect about life, spend time in nature and discover the secrets of human history. 
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Salzburg, Austria: A Place Where Class, Elegance and the Sound of Music Collide

11/11/2015

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Germany opened my eyes to many things. Austria opened my mind to classy things. As an American living in Germany, I exposed myself to the rooted culture of European living. I saw how Germans  nicely hand paint dish-ware and create to the most beautiful cakes.  After spending a couple days in Salzburg, Austria, they certainly exceed the chicness of any Germany speaking culture.    
 
Upon entering the Old Town corridors, I fell in love with the cuteness of the streets, shops and cafes. Situated alongside a cliff wall, visitors see a different type of European city. Meandering the streets, my eyes noticed how precise their artwork is. Every cuckoo clock was etched with care and every hand painted egg contained unanimous patterns that exuded the energy and time spent to creating something beautiful. 
 
Walking past certain venues, I knew at one time or another aristocrats schmoozed here once before. Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, has no shortage of memorials signifying the brilliance of this 1700s musician. From squares to museums, the beloved artist’s energy is still alive. For those who want to experience the Sound of Music can book the “hop on and hop off” bus to see the most significant sites used during the film. 
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My visit occurred during Oktoberfest season where locals dressed in their authentic lederhosen and dirndls to frolic the streets with their horse named Fritz. Smelling the lebkuchen and snacking on giant brezels, Salzburg keeps getting better. 

The intensity of their elegance ignited upon entering the St. Peter’s Cemetary and Catacombs. Never in my life did I see such a beautiful cemetery that triggered my photogenic eye. Bountiful amounts of flowers rested atop of gold-etched crosses and tombstones while gazing at the beautiful Cliffside surrounding. 
 
And the views kept getting prettier, atop of the Hohensalzburg castle that dominates the hill towering above Old Town. How beautiful. How serene. How Austrian. It was almost surreal that a place this nice still exists in the world. During the warmer months, get a bite to eat or drink at the panoramic view café. 
 
I recommend visiting the castle near sunset to end the day on a perfect high note – along with some Mozart kugeln.
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Sonam’s Little World: A Little Place to Call “Om” in Hannover, Germany

11/10/2015

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Located in Hannover’s Altstadt, or Old Town, is the cute and quaint fair-trade shop, Sonam’s Little World. Open since December 2014, Sonam’s place offers handmade, high-quality clothes from India along with local and fair-trade service tea, coffee and chocolates.
 
After getting to know Sonam, her little world has become my home away from home. Not only serving up one of the best coffees in town, Sonam has a heart and vision that the world needs.
 
In 2014, Sonam had a surgery, which left her plenty of time to think about life. She realized that she did not see her brother for seven years. They agreed to meet in India and the inspiration struck to open a shop in Hannover’s Old Town from her family. Her family owns fair-trade shops in San Francisco and they encouraged Sonam to do the same.
 
Following her family’s footsteps, Sonam now travels to New Delhi, India one to two times per year to hand select products made from local families in India. She visits in search for the best summer and winter products that India has to offer. The company that she gets the clothes from has a limitation of outsourced customers to ensure that the products are genuine and handmade. Sonam selects products that are fair-made and use locally sourced materials. Her shop offers everything from jewelry to blankets to purses.
 
In addition to the products, Sonam also hand makes various vintage items such as purses, pillow cases and coin wallets. She takes the best of old material from India and hand stitches the material together to produce modern trends; thus, meeting the best of both worlds –east and west meets old and new.
 
All the jewelry sold is handmade. Specialty items such as the one-of-a-kind 100% wool blankets are hand painted with organic color. Sonam believes in quality, which is why synthetic fibered clothes are not found in the store.
 
Sonam’s is also a popular place to try an affordable organic cup of coffee or tea. They purchase coffee from a local vendor in Hannover who, for the last ten years, hand selects beans from fair-trade fields in South America and Africa.
 
Nestled across from Cafe Kränzchen, Sonam and her partner, Michael, are two of the friendliest shop owners in Hannover. Always wearing a smile, they welcome everybody and create a hospitable atmosphere. When looking for a gift or a fun place to sit and chat with friends over a cup of chai, look no further than Sonam’s Little World. It's definitely a place you can call home. 
Sonam's Little World
Knochenhauerstrasse 13 Hannover, Germany 30159 
www.facebook.com/sonamslittleworld
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Vegan in Nice, France: Nice Café International

11/4/2015

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Surprisingly, Nice is nice to vegetarians and vegans. Italians originally founded Nice and there is no shortage of authentic Italian food. Nice has several vegan restaurants, including the Nice Café International. After walking some three-miles from my hotel, I headed to the harbor in search of this vegan café.
 
Mesmerized by yachts and turquoise-blue water, I walked into the vibrant and stunning café. Owned by a Swedish girl, the interior homed a Scandinavian feel of orderly and chic design. Inside locals spoke English while sipping on almond milk lattes and energy balls. The café offers one main meal per day, hot and cold drinks, energy ball snacks and a vegan dessert.
 
The café offers an international book exchange and I read two Scandinavian cookbooks while I chowed down on a raspberry cashew cheesecake and almond milk chai latte. The owner handed me a cookbook that her friend’s mother published. I flipped through the cookbooks mesmerized by the food photography and the stereotype of the Scandinavian’s doing everything “nice.”
 
The café contains an upstairs for locals to lounge and read and a large back room where eco-conscious workshops take place. One of the most inspiring experiences was utilizing the bathroom. Inspiring quotes filled the wall tiles and door, which perked a smile on my face and a “you can do this” attitude.
 
I walked outside of the bathroom to notice the quaint and stereotypical Italian-style courtyard that attracted my camera lens to snap endless pictures of potted plants framed elegantly against a yellow wall. The only thing that is not nice about Nice are the prices. Eating out can be expensive and I paid 10-Euro for the drink and dessert, which is standard for Nice prices. But, it's worth it. The cafe has this vibe and energy about it that uplifts your spirit and allows you to believe that everything in life will be okay. 
 
So, “When in Nice” I recommend hanging out, reading a book and chatting with the ever-so-kind owner at Nice café.

To sign off, I’ll leave you with some bathroom inspiration –

“Life is like a movie and you are the director."
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13 Photos that Inspires Hannover's Beauty in the Fall

11/2/2015

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Do you love fall as much as I do? Hannover's impressive fall left me breathless on my many hikes and bike rides throughout the city. The best part of Hannover is that you can step foot into pristine nature all while being several minutes away from city center. 

Hannover is not only a beautiful city, but an accessible one. Many bike-friendly trails lead throughout the neighborhoods, which makes exploring fall foliage fun and accessible. These images were taken throughout the fall season and show the authentic beauty of Hannover. Images are straight from the camera and are not cropped or enhanced. Unfortunately, I accidentally messed up a couple of the images due to pushing the + - button on the focus. Oh well, that still doesn't take away from Hannover's true beauty. 
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Old Town Leaves
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Rathaus
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Loretta's near Rathaus
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Trail Connecting to Rathaus
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Linden Neighborhood
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Tree at Loretta's
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Scandinavians: Real People Who are Really Happy in a Crappy Climate

11/1/2015

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Helsinki - Yep, Clouds and Finnish Spa Goers Polar Bear Jumping into Iced over Waters
Do you get S.A.D. during the winter months? Born and raised in Cleveland, I lived in Seattle for four years (and one year in Walla Walla), and now in the epically clouded Northern German landscapes, I’ve seen my fair share of cloudy, rainy and dreary days. In fact, I keep wondering when life will “open doors” to live in a sunny climate like Greece, Australia (again) or Ibiza.

The first two years in Seattle were rough. I focused on the clouds and blamed parts of life and the clouds on “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” Most connect Seattle’s high suicide rate with the climate, and no doubt, people are affected by the weather. Humans need the sun and our biological clock known as the circadian rhythm is affected by light and dark situations.

After two years of living in Seattle, I took my reiki certification and was all sorts of pumped and jacked up on energy. I felt like I was on a holistic “Roid-Rage” from too much life force energy flowing throughout my body. All of a sudden, I stopped focusing on the weather and I did not notice or recognize that it rained ten days in a row. This mindset stuck with me until I moved to Germany where I (daily) pray to the Sun Gods (and the weatherman) to please have a sunny July and August. (Apparently, my vibration must be too low as they are not listening to me – always).

But, you know who has worse weather? The Scandinavian countries (and Iceland – Although not Scandinavian it is one cloudy mess over there). And do you know what cultures are the happiest in the world? The Scandinavian countries.

I’ve visited Finland and Denmark and let me tell you, these people suffer through months of clouds and misty rain with three weeks of complete darkness during the winter solstice. In fact, I’m sure these people don’t even know what a real summer is unless they vacation in Spain and Greece. On August 12, 2015, Oslo, Norway’s temperature is a high of 64-degrees and a low of 48-degrees Fahrenheit.  

Why are these people so happy when the weather is so crappy?

It’s simple, it’s about their mindset and social values. It’s no secret that Scandinavia is continuously rated as the happiest countries in the world. In Ibiza, I met two Americans and a Danish guy on a bus going to Destino’s opening party with Luciano. We joked about Denmark’s shitty weather pattern, but their thriving happiness and stable culture. The Dane mentioned that it is the culture’s way or belief to keep the country strong and stable. He said that they earn livable incomes and pay hefty taxes to better society such as taxes bettering the education system. It’s a nationwide vision, not a “what’s in it for me” viewpoint to pay staff low wages in order for the higher ups to profit. Did I forget the vacation time? That lucky Danish earns five to seven weeks of paid vacation per year.  

I know of an American journalist who often visits Copenhagen for his stories. He mentioned that the low-skilled McDonald jobs convert to about 27 US dollars per hour. I near fainted in disbelief thinking about my mom who waitressed most of my childhood making two-dollars per hour. Some slow days she made 36-dollars in tips while on a six hour work shift. So which life sounds more depressing? And wouldn’t that type of hard labor / struggle be more depressing in darker months?

Much of Scandinavia pays high taxes, but it is a “we’re in it together” attitude to keep society functioning.  One German teacher told me that Norway and Sweden prizes teachers on the same level as a doctor and lawyer. She explained that teaching jobs are competitive and they are very selective with who teaches their kids.

It’s a mindset difference and a cultural way of life. Their social system takes care of people and it functions beautifully. It seems that most of the world can benefit from this type of mentality. And people too can learn from this mindset. So, maybe the real issue at hand is not the weather but actually how good social values are. I mean, wouldn’t you be happy in a country where you know you couldn’t become homeless overnight? Or get slapped with a thirty thousand dollar medical bill because you don’t have health insurance? I guess it’s some food for thought. Although Scandinavia prepares for this weather with Vitamin D office lights, the mindset about life differs and those who can't handle it flee and move to a sunnier climate. 

Here are some recent articles about the happiest countries in the world.

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mef45ejmi/01-norway/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/07/03/24-7-video-wall-st-happiest-countries/29574217/

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    Author

    Elizabeth Rae Kovar is a Fitness Trainer, Author of Finding Om, Presenter, Yogi, Vegan & lover of the World. View her portfolio at www.elizabethkovar.comor health-based blog at mindbodysoul-food.com

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