All travels have ups and downs, goods and bads. Let’s talk about the snafus that happened on this one.

The Car Rental Dilemma

First off, the car rental place refused our US credit card for the deposit payment. They didn’t reject it because it was expired, but because it had less than six months of validity left. The bank had issued our new cards, but unfortunately, they were still awaiting forwarding from the US to Portugal. And of course, these companies enforce their policies with a no-nonsense, no-exceptions attitude.

Sure, we have a Portuguese credit card, but US cards offer a big advantage: they include a lot of extra cardmember benefits absent in their European counterparts. For one, they provide rental car damage waiver reimbursement. Since a rental company has burnt us before by hitting us with damage we didn’t cause, we prefer to have some level of insurance and protection. Alas, the situation forced us to purchase the rental company’s rather expensive coverage. Peace of mind isn’t free! 🙂

An Unwelcome Photo Op

The next snafu on this trip was a rather rude encounter with a speed camera. Aside from the stretches on the autobahn with no speed limit, you don’t see drivers in Germany going over the limit. Strategically placed speed cameras everywhere keep everyone in check.

We hit a section of road that dropped from 50 km/h to 30 km/h. Within 100 meters of the transition, a large camera, nicely tucked behind a tree, caught me going about 45 km/h. The bright flashing red light said it all — got you sucka! 🙂

Ghost Town Sundays

Out of all the countries we have traveled to, we feel Germany observes public holidays the most devoutly. If it is a holiday—or every Sunday for that matter—the entire town shuts down. Large cities are the only exception.

In small towns like Attendorn, the only open place we found was a 24/7 gas station, which luckily served some decent coffee and savory pastries to satisfy us until the afternoon. After midday, a few places open, but they mostly serve foreign foods like döner kebab shops.

Enough complaining, especially considering our struggles paled in comparison to all the vehicle troubles our friends Wayne and Pawn experienced as they drove their caravan from Braga to Germany. We have plenty of positives and good times to share. Attendorn is a beautiful town. Everything is so clean and well-maintained that it feels like a movie set. Walking around town and seeing all the picture-perfect cafes, beer gardens, and storefront displays was a wonderful experience.

Birthday Pickleball Camp

The main objective of this trip was to attend my first-ever pickleball camp. This was my birthday gift to myself! 🙂 I really enjoy the sport, so what better way to celebrate than to play it in a foreign country and explore a place we have never been?

Lost in Translation (But Finding Our Groove)

The coach did not speak English, which came as quite a surprise to us. But that is what we get for assuming English is everywhere—typical American mentality! 🙂 Luckily, a few of the other participants helped translate.

I don’t think I necessarily learned anything new, but the camp helped me identify and take advantage of my strengths. The repetitive drills also helped me reduce my mistakes. Overall, it was a really fun experience, and I would love to travel to more pickleball camps or tournaments.

It was really cool to meet people from another country who are just as passionate about the sport. We had participants of all skill levels, which actually made the drills more beneficial for me. When you play with someone at or above your level, they hit the ball hard and fast. While that helps your reaction time, it doesn’t leave you much time to think about mechanics and improve your form.

Top-Tier Facilities and Big Wins

The facility was super nice—a truly premier pickleball club. It featured:

• 4 indoor courts
• A locker room with showers
• A bar and restaurant
• An arcade, pool table, and even a bowling alley

After the second day of training, we all had dinner together and bowled into the evening. The ’80s and disco music completed the lively scene.

At the end of the camp, Wayne and I took on the club’s champions. They were very good; one of them could hit ATP (Around the Post) shots with ease. At first, they seemed to overmatch us, but we just played our game and played it well. We played so well, in fact, that we ended up beating them two out of three games. We felt really proud of the result.

Exploring Quaint Attendorn

Attendorn is a nice, quaint town in the Sauerland region of Germany. We enjoyed our rental apartment because it sat on the edge of town along some beautiful forest paths, yet remained only a 15-minute walk from the town center. One of the paths led to Burg Schnellenberg, a castle built in the 13th century. It offered a nice mix of nature and urban conveniences.

Local Eats and Sweet Treats

We ate our first meal at the Benediktiner Beer House. The beer and food tasted so good that we returned to eat or drink a total of five times during our stay! 🙂 My favorite dish, the pork knuckle (Schweinshaxe), featured tender, flavorful meat on the inside and incredibly crispy skin on the outside. Accompanied by potato dumplings, sauerkraut, and dark gravy, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Our favorite brews were:

• Weissbier dunkel
• Kellerbier
• Schwarzbier

For an afternoon treat, we stopped at a local bakery for coffee and a Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake). This traditional German dessert consists of a sweet yeast dough with a baked-on topping of caramelized almonds, filled with a thick cream.

Caves and “Biggie” Lakes

One of the top attractions in Attendorn is the Atta Cave (Atta-Höhle). We enjoy touring caves, so of course, we had to see this one. It did not disappoint, showcasing a lot of intact column formations.

Another great place to visit near Attendorn is the Biggesee lake/reservoir. I’m not sure what the name means in German, but it truly is a “biggie” lake. It’s a beautiful place to take in the scenery and walk around. A paved, mixed-use trail circles the entire lake—probably 20–30 km in total.

During our stroll, we came across a DIY bicycle camper trailer. It looked super heavy to pull, but it seemed to be the person’s home. The owner had decked it out with all sorts of interesting things, including some plants growing on the outside. We could even hear rave music jamming from the inside — definitely a unique lifestyle!

A Day in Cologne

On our final day in Sauerland, we visited the city of Cologne. It offered a nice change of pace from the rural vacation we had enjoyed thus far.

Looking Down at the Cathedral Gems

The Kölner Dom (the Cologne Cathedral) completely dominates the city skyline. While the stained glass is a masterpiece, the mosaic tile floors were the highlight for me—the level of detail was amazing. Because most people were looking up at the stained glass, I feel they missed the gem beneath their feet.

An Unforgettable Lunch

We had lunch at a Syrian place called Restaurant Orient Hof. It literally was one of the best meals of my life—one of those meals that will remain in my memory for some time. We love Middle Eastern food, and this was a very casual place full of a mix of locals and immigrants. The kitchen prepared the meat perfectly moist with a nice grill flavor and great seasoning, including a hint of cinnamon. Truly wonderful. I can’t give it enough praise. Experiences like these make us want to keep exploring new places and trying new things. It’s rarely the major tourist attractions that bring us joy—it’s the unassuming, off-the-beaten-path spots that surprise us.

The Botanical Finale

We only had a couple of hours to kill before our flight, so we hesitated to catch a train to the outskirts of town to see the Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln (Cologne Botanical Garden). I’m so glad we made the trip; it turned out to be one of the most impressive gardens we have ever seen. We really enjoy walking around parks and gardens during our travels for those zen-like feels.

Interestingly, robot lawnmowers managed the lawns. The immense main greenhouse looked stunning from the outside, but unfortunately, management had closed it for a few months.

Well, that concludes our holiday in Germany. Next up, Northern Italy and the Dolomites. Bye for now…