No, I am not talking about some new metal band. Nor am I referring an industrial city that has seen better days. I am talking deodorant here. Weird huh?
A friend of mine recently shared an article regarding the cancer connection to environmental toxins as well as things we put in our bodies and on our bodies. Skin is the largest organ of the body. It reminded me I wanted to share some great alternatives to traditional deodorants and antiperspirants. Brace yourself. Just kidding! I am not going to get all preachy here, it’s up to you to investigate and decide for yourselves. Our family made the switch a couple of years ago to deodorants free from Aluminum, parabens, petrochemicals, Propylene Glycol, and artificial fragrances and synthetic dyes. If you are like me, when you switch to something you haven’t tried before, you try them all. These remain my favorites for various reasons and I switch back and forth between them.
A few of my favorite alternatives to traditional deodorants and antiperspirants
The Healthy Deodorant: This smells the best! I love it. LAVANILLA or vanilla and water for Peace. This one for sure will make you feel like you have just stepped out onto the most beautiful beach. I found this at Sephora before we left CONUS. It is available online on their website.
Lafe’s: Active Citrus & Bergamot. One of the complaints of natural deodorants is they don’t keep you from perspiring. Well guess what folks! You are meant to perspire. Expelling toxins out of your armpits is natural. This product does a great job for active people. I found it of all places at Giant (local grocery store in VA)
Schmidt’s: Rose + Vanilla and Charcoal Magnesium, how could you go wrong? The Rose and Vanilla has ingredients like baking soda, coconut oil, cocoa butter and vitamin E. My son brought me this after I had used and liked the other one. I prefer the Charcoal Magnesium even though it has a more masculine scent. But they both work about the same. These can be found at TJ Maxx or online at Amazon.
If you have tried any products such as these please share in the comments on Facebook or here on Poppy’s Loaded Purse. I am always on the hunt for good products we all can love!
When we moved to the UK in 1999 my children were one, three and five. It was our first time living abroad and I wanted to see and do everything. We tried, a lot. We saw Thomas the Tank Engine and road on one of the trains, we went to Stratford Upon Avon to learn about Shakespeare and Teletubbies. We went to Legoland Windsor, Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, Stonehenge, Cardiff, Warwick, Edenborough and beyond. I had the pages of the National Trust Publication dogeared. I can’t remember when it occurred but somewhere in the first two years the older boys said one Friday “Mummy what are we going to do this weekend?” I replied, “Lever Castle”. Then hear respectively “not another castle!” and “not another castle!” like little parrots.
Were we having fun? I thought so but when I thought about it again, some weekends my aggressive schedule of seeing everything to infinity and beyond was a bit aggravating. Not just for them, but me too. Many times, it rained. Many times, we got pouty. Many times, we just plain weren’t having fun. I knew I had to come up with a better plan.
And then I discovered Center Parcs. Brilliant! Even more exciting is the amount of Center Parcs in Europe in all the right places. Center Parcs are holiday villages centered around an Aqua Mundo (indoor water park) complete with shops, restaurants, groceries and gaming in a large tropical setting. Many parks also have outdoor pools, and or lakes. Usually there are lake activities like boating, fishing, banana boats and swimming, and paddle boards. Inside, the Aqua Mondo offers lazy rivers, giant water slides, wave pool, dive school, white water rafting and snorkeling. Outside activities range from tennis, soccer, archery, zip line, bike rental,s family bikes and golf. Some have indoor pirate ship with endless amounts of sand play, high ropes courses, bowling and disco. You can sign up for kids clubs, cooking class or scuba diving. Others offer elaborate spa features and fine dining options. There are simple villas or VIP villas, boathouses and treehouses. Each property is relatively unique but offers the indoor tropical paradise. It really is a resort destination in and of itself.
We moved around from UK to Turkey then back to the US. Eventually we moved back to Europe. This time I had one littler one and a huge age gap. How do we satisfy all palates of travel? Not to mention small crowded hotel rooms with not enough beds. The answer is simple. In Amsterdam you can see Anne Frank House, take a canal cruise, shop the market, eat at the floating Chinese Restaurant and still be back in time to surf in the Aqua Mondo at De Emhof. In Belgium, you can spend one day in Brussels, see the Manneken Pis, the Flower Carpet and still enjoy lovely afternoons and nights at De Vossemeren. At Bispinger Heide in Germany you can hit an amusement park, visit a village lost in time on a carriage ride through the Heide and still make it back to Center Parcs for tropical fun.
What I realized as a mom was, if I wanted to see and do the things we wanted to see and do as adults here in Europe we needed to make it just as fun and enjoyable for our kids. I could go to the Flanders Fields/ WWI museum or Bastogne by day and still promise my kids afternoons and evenings of endless fun relaxing, swimming and playing in a lovely destination. They came to love them and look forward to the “boring old things” and “stupid sites”. The other beauty is I could do them myself if Superman was TDY or such. Superman’s, like other servicemembers or military civilians, job required quite a bit of travel away from us. It became my travel passion to help military families get some balance, sanity and recreation during long separation from their spouse.
Center Parcs can be booked well in advance to get a great
deal. They offer short and long breaks and mid-week options. If you need a
winter break that gets you out of the cold or a summer holiday that gets you
the most out of your family time, pick a park! A really great time to go is during American
school Holidays vs. European school holidays. It’s a great option if you are
coming from the US also. You can select a few in different countries and see as
much as possible. Take my word for it, if there are things you want to see and
do here and have children who might not enjoy a full itinerary of city, culture
and the like, Center Parcs is for you.
Great for families with babies, young children, older kids who like a bit of variety and active adults. Don’t let bad weather, small kids or whinny tweens and teens stop you! Maybe you know someone you want to share this with, please do. And Lastly, get Packing!
“You cannot come to
Italy once and never visit Tropea”
Tropea is in the what is known as the Costa degli Dei, “The Coast of the Gods” and is one of Italy’s finest summer holiday destinations. Its historic center sits high above the sea on a rocky cliff. This seaside village is as interesting as it is large on sites and serves as a good base for a week-long holiday. That is what we found to be true one summer we spent a week at its beaches and sites and the other week in Rome, Naples, Pompei, Pisa and Milan. Yes, it is true, we raced through Italy so we could park our family at this amazing beach paradise.
Getting here is quite easy. The nearest airport is Lamezia Terme. The train from the airport takes about one hour and is super cheap. Renting a vehicle in my opinion is the better option. We drove down from Germany which afforded us the ability to stay in a lovely holiday villa in Zambrone.
Looking East from Zambrone
The beach down below from Villa Jenna
I cannot say enough good things about Villa Jenna. In fact, my guest comment still exists on their webpage. This holiday villa is British owned. The day we arrived the property manager a British expat met us for the keys and gave us a ton of information and insight of what to see and do and how to get around. The views were spectacular, the beach was right down the hill, along with local restaurants and a grocery store. Between the books (I read 2 whilst there), family games/puzzles, and a well outfitted kitchen we could not want for anything. Tropea was a short drive as well as other villages along the Costa degli Dei which made Villa Jenna the perfect venue for our summer holiday. We considered a purchase in this villa quad until one night a brush fire came up the hill about 300 yards away. It jumped the road and traveled to the villa at the top. When the fire brigade arrived with what looked like a garden hose and the owner came out beating the fire with a broom, our thoughts? good for the week but no thanks on the purchase.
Tip: always buy trip insurance for major holidays.
Sunset our first evening in Villa Jenna
Stromboli Island from Villa Jenna
Check out the views from Villa Jenna. Adventure Trekking on Stromboli Island is possible and will only set you back around 190euro. That includes an overnight, half-board and up close and personal view of an active volcano!
Also found in Zambrone is Capo Cozzo, ranked as a number one
nature site, when you arrive you will get it. It is a lovely place to enjoy a day of quiet sunbathing
on the rocks, snorkeling and swimming. You will find it well hidden from
aggressive tourism on a rough road. Park in the blue spaces, tickets available
at the tobacco shop or walk from the train station. You will not want to miss
this day out. Also close by is the Mariner’s Cave. Shipwrecked with nothing to
do and not much hope of being rescued, mariners spent endless days carving in their
grotto home. Parking here is a little shiftier. You can pay a young man to “watch”
your vehicle whilst you climb down into the cave site.
Tip: Go early morning to beat the crowds and wear a light jacket inside if you tend to get cold.
The true unique gem of this area is Tropea itself. It is consistently listed as an Italian Blue Flag beach. But there is more to meet the eye than just the beach. High on an island rock sitting almost on top of the beach is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola. Entrance fees are two euros which for the pictures alone is well worth it. Fun awaits you down below from the beach. Imagine my sons delight when they discovered you can walk along the rocks on the side and when you reach the back there is a jump off spot into the gorgeous blue water. We spent hours here. Also, underneath you can walk through a cavern to the other side where there is yet another beautiful beach. Like many Italian beaches, you can rent your umbrella and chairs for the day, a paddle boat (bring water and a hat), or just enjoy playing in the water. Dramatic views can be enjoyed in any direction from the beach as well as the end of the pedestrian stroll high above the cliff.
Santuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola
View of Monastary from the beach
Walk along here to an amazing jump off point
A natural pool exists at the back. Perfect for endless jumping and swimming in the beautiful azure waters
From TripSavvy: Blue Flag Beaches in Italy. The blue flag is awarded to beaches based on stringent criteria including water quality, the beach’s code of conduct, environmental education and management (including cleanliness of beach and availability of toilets), and safety services (including adequate lifeguards and wheelchair accessibility).
It is truly a gorgeous site
End of the Corso Vittorio Emmanuale
The historic center is home to a winding maze of streets peppered with shops and cafes. Market day was an interesting mix of old and new, from dish soap, and kitchen cutlery to small antiques. As a family of six speaking English we felt like well welcomed unicorns! The Corso Vittorio Emmanuale is café lined street that dead ends at a barrier of metal railings where you can look over and take in the beauty of the sea. Many locals and tourists alike are usually seen roaming up and down enjoying passeggiata, people watching or just sitting with a coffee or drinks. My favorite time to enjoy this was at night. We could not figure out what everyone was doing at first. It felt like being in a school of fish until we reached the end of the street and saw the incredible view. The Piazza Ercole is the bustling central square of Tropea. Here you can find the tourist information center and places to book additional travel over to the Aeolian Islands or Stromboli. Also found in the historic center is the Duomo, Palazzo Vescovile, many lovely old and brightly colored homes, and remnants of old walls of protection from days long past.
Speaking of Stromboli (it’s cheesy then puny), my family’s
goal each time we go to Italy is to eat pizza and gelato every day. You will
for sure find an abundance of these in Tropea along with seafood and other regional
or Mediterranean fare. I tend to lean towards seafood by like the 2nd
day, that’s just me though. But you
cannot leave Tropea with out trying the Cipolla di Tropea gelato. That’s right,
Onion Gelato. Tropea is known for its sweet red onions. How genius to make it
into a gelato!
Let me preface with I am not a souvenir shopper. I did however make a heavy purchase here I just could not resist. In many Italian villages, artist have been turning ceramic roofs tiles into art. Friends, these may fit in your checked bag if you learn how to pack light. I will add a few tips here and you can follow my page for future tips for packing light. Or if you are a seasoned packer leave a tip in the comments.
Italian home carved in ceramic
A more traditional piece of art on authentic roof tile
Lastly, you will leave this place relaxed, refreshed, and
sun kissed. Tropea and the Costa degli Dei is truly a well-loved, less traveled
beach holiday destination with cultural delights you will remember for a lifetime
and be glad you did not miss!
Tips: book a place with a washer/dryer so you can bring less clothes (have a game/card/book night just once so you don’t feel like you are doing laundry on holiday). Consider wearing an outfit more than 2 times, you are not going to run into the same people and who cares anyway. It’s summer, pack your light weight cotton dresses that can be worn anywhere. Shoes! Wear a pair, bring a pair, that is it!
Naturally everyone who comes to southern Germany wants to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, aka Cinderella’s Castle, the model for Disneyland/ World. Another a popular stop is Linderhof, King Ludwig’s Palace or residence as it were. Living this close to both, I have had the pleasure of going already multiple times. The natural landscape and scenery are equally fantastic as the exterior architecture and interior opulence. Not to mention the opportunity to spend hours hiking, picnicking, taking photos or just relaxing around the grounds. Both castles from the reign of Ludwig II do not disappoint.
Fog surrounds Neuschwanstein
On the way home from picking up our vehicle from the Army Installation
at Stuttgart one day last fall, we made a magical discovery. The A7 will take you down into Austria where
you will eventually head east around the mountains and back into the valley in
Germany where Garmisch-Partenkirchen sits. About twenty minutes into Austria
the sky was clear and as we came around to the east, I first saw not one but
two imposing castle ruins, high above the valley below. As we came closer, I
looked up and saw a most magnificent feat of German Engineering, Highline 179.
A steel suspension bridge soaring above the roadway. I am not sure if I gasped
or snorted. Most certainly I vowed to never get on it. Although in hindsight
that was probably in my head.
When we arrived in this area nearly six months ago up until
now, I have never heard a single mention of Ehrenberg Castle. Officially known
as Burgenwelt (castle world) Ehrenberg, it is described on its website as
Ehrenberg Castle Ensemble. It includes
four structures or once mighty fortifications, Klaus Fortifications, Ehrenberg
Castle ruins, Fort Claudia and Schloss Kopf Fortress. Now Fort Claudia is
across a deep valley where the motorway cuts through. The key to get here?
Highline 179. What an ensemble indeed.
Now when visitors ask me “can we see a castle or two”? Of course, we can! All in one day! A recent trip in the fall brought us first to Neuschwanstein. Reserve tickets which are highly recommended are available on line for both Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau (King Maximillian’s home and Ludwig’s boyhood residence) across the street, for 25 Euro. Book the earliest time and knock these beauties off your bucket list first thing in the AM.
From there we venture south twenty minutes into Austria to the village of Reutte. Here we find Burgenwelt Ehrenberg. This is no ordinary castle ruin where you spend ten minutes imagining what it used to look like, thirty minutes of your kids trying to climb walls creating an international incident, then everyone gets back in the car and asks, “that’s it?” This is Ehrenberg Castle Ensemble, a place that leaves nothing to the imagination and most definitely has something for everyone. Tickets, a handy map and the entrance to the museum are in the first building which is part of the Klaus Fortification. There is also a ticket kiosk on the outside of this building.
The Alps in the background give an idea how high up Ehrenberg is.
The Klaus Fortification is a unique building in and of itself. It has been modernized to have a full banquet facility in the Arena, Cellar and Tavern. It was treat the day we were there in the fall to see a bride, her maids, groom and groomsmen being entertained with a medieval style banquet and band. The music was lovely and could be heard all the way up to the Ramparts of the Ehrenberg and the Highline experience. I felt both entertained and terrified all at the same time. More on that in a moment.
Being a mom of four busy kids in different seasons of life, this is surely the kind of place, sightseeing, attraction, active day out, for me. I was always on the hunt for places that would wear those boys out whilst still offering just enough for young and old. This place has it all on offer. Once through the fortification, past a huge play area and a lovely restaurant you will find the first path to one side of the ensemble. People, you will be walking uphill mostly on a cleared path. They are in the process of adding a cable car to the top but at this writing it is not available yet. About 1/3 of the way up the path branches left and right. To the left, it will become a bit steeper but that leads to the to where the Schloss Kopf Fortress sits. This will take about thirty-five minutes to summit. To the right, a further twenty minutes will take you to the Ehrenberg ruins and the highline entrance. If you chose this route you can still reach the Schloss Kopf Fortress from a separate path from Ehrenberg which will take about fifteen minutes. Either way it is a beautiful hike through the woods and great exercise to boot.
Ehrenberg may be a ruin, but I have never seen such breathtaking views from a ruin. Some of the walls are accessible to get the most unique photos. There are placards that tell the tale of former residents, past inhabitants, and of a life gone by. If you have packed a picnic or backpack it is a great place to prost or refresh or move about and explore. Once you have climbed every stone, explored the nooks and a gazillion pictures later….the entrance for the highline awaits. Scan your ticket and enter through the turnstile for a harrowing, I mean exhilarating experience.
Reutte in the valley below
Reutte is surrounded by mountains
I am going to fess up here. I cried. Not kidding. Remember when I said in my head, I am never getting on this. Well, it was never a thought down in the ticket kasse. I just paid for all of us without even thinking. Now I am through the turnstile and I am coaching myself. I tell myself “you love thrills”, this is true. Before two brain surgeries, I loved roller coasters, loved active sports like skiing and martial arts. I can’t even sled now so I must get my kicks, somehow right? I tell myself “you paid eight euro for this, don’t waste your money”, this is true too, I am too thrifty to not use the ticket and there will not be a refund waiting for me at the bottom. So, we begin the journey over to Fort Claudia.
Highline 179
On the right side you can see people. Yes those are people. They look tiny.
Highline 179 is 406 meters long and 114.6 meters high with a width of 1.2 meters it holds a max of 500 people at a time. That is a lot. It weighs 70 tons. It’s website brags “The slender and open construction gives visitors a unique feeling of floating”. It has been recognized but the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge in the World in Tibet Style”. Whatever. Why did I not read up on that before?
When I said this place had something for everyone, I meant it. Obviously, this bridge is optional. Fort Claudia is accessible by taking a path that leads out of the far parking lot and up the wooded hill on the other side. This trail is a red dot trail. Which to me means wear proper shoes and bring a bottle of water. Or if you are unsure, skip it.
Back to my wimpy self-tale.
It must have been only about twenty feet in and Superman says, “I am not
sure about this” Are you kidding me? You are the rock, my rock. I am still in thrifty coaching mode at this
point bound to not turn back. There were two men in front of us who at some
point slowed and started to show some doubt. If I was going to finished what I
started I needed to pass them. So we did.
I don’t remember at any point looking all the way down. I wanted to as I could hear the lovely flowy faint music from the medieval party below. At the halfway mark Superman was much surer of himself but still asked me if I wanted to turn back. Nope. I might be a bit stubborn too, after all surely we are having fun. Well my son was for sure. He is snapping pictures left and right, down, in my face. I am sure in some of them I looked terrified or like an angry cow. Then he says “Look down Mama. The cars on the motorway look like matchbox” And that my friends, is where, I lost it. Fortunately for me it was controllable and not a blubbery ugly cry. In fact, here we were passing many eighty-year-olds with their grands, none of which looked the slightest bit distraught. My son of course thinks this is hilarious. I am quite certain he snapchatted a video of me and my tears. He did walk with me arm in arm after that with Superman brining up the rear with his hand on my back. I made it. Even had a good laugh about it after. I might even do it again. Might.
We did opt to hike down the other side on the trail through the woods instead of taking the highline back. It was a little more intense than the trip up the other side but not quite as scenic as the last third of the way down, you exit the forest and onto the roadway to the back-parking lot. Next time I will make the exhilarating trek back over the suspension bridge. Maybe.
Who’s in? This day out will not break the bank. You might need to wake up early, will end your day probably with a Bavarian Gatorade and a stick to your ribs dinner but I can assure you four castles and two fortresses later, you will sleep like a baby. And so will your kinders, grandma and anyone else you travel with. Wish you were here today!
Bavaria was hit hard by the plague. People all around had been affected by disease, death and sadness. In 1517 a tradition was born when Barrel Makers or Coopers took it upon themselves to bring joy back to the villages. They paraded through the streets with rings wrapped in evergreens and played music and brought merriment. The people knew it was safe to be back in the streets again.
Every seven years since from January 6th, Dreikönigstag or three Kings Day, to Shrove Tuesday March 5th (2019) the Schäfflertanz or Cooper Dance is performed. Our local took place this past Sunday in the Marienplatz next to St Marten’s Church at the entrance to the Fußgängerzone or pedestrian zone. It was quite an amazing and free event.
The Barrel Makers Dance has evolved into it’s present form about 130 years ago. The clowns move about mingling through the crowd whilst the dancers perform. I tried to hide as best as I could but was rounded up along with a nun, some children and several others to dance around the circle during the performance. I did not quite get the hang of it although my clown insisted it was an “English” dance. What a clown! The Schäfflertanz is usually performed by men. This particular group included 3 women who play in the band. There are traditionally 20 dancers, 2 hoop twirlers, a flag bearer and 2 clowns. Ours had quite a few more of each. They paraded into the Fußgängerzone with a full band.
barrel makers
She carries the alcohol basket
this clown made me get out there and dance
dancers
One of the things I find most fascinating about these old traditions is you see all ages participating. There is something to be said about a 500+ year old dance that is still being passed on among the younger generations.
twirlers spun the rings around with filled shot glasses in them.
The dance lasted about 20 minutes. I saw some breaking a sweat until they formed a large circle around the barrel. The barrel makers came and “hammered” the barrel. Next, two twirlers who went one after the other stood on top the barrel and twirled circles with filled shot glasses around inside of them. It was quite the feat! In the meantime a clown came round with a full bottle and poured alcohol into the mouths of every last thirsty ……dancer. I bet you thought I was going to say on looker! Once the ceremonial drinking was done, they danced back into formation and paraded away. Some of these performers live here so they mingled in with their neighbors. Some quite possibly are descendants of original performers.
Great traditional dress, great performance, many laughs, amazing tradition all for free. I can’t help but reflect on what those thoughtful barrel makers of long ago started and if they ever would have thought this lovely old tradition would still be carried on to today. Even better, we walked there. It’s 1.5 miles round trip to the Marienplatz from our house. Easy on the purse and good exercise to boot.
Another exciting event that marks the end of the plague and the sparing of an entire village is taking place in 2020. The Passion Play is a tradition acted out every 10 years in Oberammergau, Bavaria since 1633. This time around every single villager (over 2000) is set to be involved in the play. The original manuscripts date from the 15th and 16th century. It is done completely in German but non German Speakers can get translations to follow along. It runs every day from end April to October. The most recent format is 1430 to 2200 with a dinner break in between. You must have dinner reservations in order to buy a ticket. If you would like more information about how to book and attend in 2020 ask me in the comments or use the contact form.
It’s not like I forgot. Life. It became a little busy and things got complicated. Then it all changed and here we wound up in a real life fairy tale. That is the short story!
I will be brief here because I intend to update my bio, eventually. So in between then and now, our son got married to our beautiful daughter in law, I had a second brain surgery, spent months recovering ( it took it’s toll on me for sure), then I dusted off my skirt readjusted my ponytail and started a great job on a contract in Quantico. Too short lived, well enjoyed and just like that …..poof, Superman gets a job offer in the beautiful Garmisch- Partenkirchen Germany. And so the next chapter of the tale begins, abroad. Living in the GAP.
Here we are in our Drindls- A traditional dress for Bavarian women and girls. We opted to find a less expensive shop outside the center of the village proper. I am hooked however and there are a few more I might add to my wardrobe whilst we are here. Oh and not to mention the beautiful Alpspitze and Kreuzeck in the background- Wish you were here Today!
Okay so why am I telling you this? I am so excited to add three more elements to Poppy’s Loaded Purse! Look for new titles under “Meet me at the Weekend” -a blog focusing on short weekend travel finds and hidden gems, “Wish you were here Today” -blog posts for day travel and exploring for expats and enthusiasts, and lastly “quirks and life anomalies living abroad”- because let’s face it, some things are different, difficult and weird, and it’s healthy to have a good laugh about it.
A day ago I ran into a sweet friend I had not seen since the holidays. Naturally I asked what she had been up to. She says ” the other day I went to Dublin for the day ” …….and viola! something sparkled inside me. Actually more like firecrackers under the squirrels bottoms inside my incredibly large brain.
Now those of you who know me well, know two things. One, my brain was herniated outside of my skull for a number of years. Does that mean it is large? Well, I like to tell myself that. Quite possibly it is a bit squirrelly. Two, I love travel, any where. But especially off the beaten path, where no one knows where I am, I could pop in anywhere, that is where you will find me. I even like getting lost and finding my way. In fact, I probably have been told to get Lost!
This is our 5th duty station overseas. I am looking to add to my 22 countries visited. Some will be repeats. I promise to keep it fresh and new. In interest of OPSEC most everything will be after market. Between the fun and chaos of the last year and a half, lil Mama and I have picked up some interesting finds. All things we can Love. I will share those too. It’s the whole point really! I am so excited to get started on what I started two summers ago! Thanks for joining me. I hope you stick around.
New ideas, new places, new ways to load your purse, your backpack, your beach bag and overnight bag. Get packing! Let’s go explore things we love together on Poppy’s Loaded Purse.
