Wandern(Hiking) How I Fell in Love with Hiking in Germany
Growing up in Pune, walking was definitely not my thing. Until I was around 23, I barely walked anywhere—it was always an auto-rickshaw, my trusty scooty, or a car. Walking just for the fun of it? Absolutely not! That all changed when I moved to Germany. Without a local driving license, a car, or the budget for pricey taxis, I was left with just one option: walk, walk, and walk some more. 🙂 One day at the gym, I spotted a poster for an event called "Wandern on May 1st." I had never heard the word Wandern before, but a friend explained that hiking on May Day—a public holiday here—is a huge German tradition. The weather in May is usually gorgeous, so the idea of spending the day outdoors surrounded by nature instantly clicked with me. I signed up for the gym’s 15 km hike, and it ended up being an absolute blast! Around 40 of us trekked through lush forests and bright green fields under clear blue skies, stopping mid-afternoon at a cozy forest cafe for coffee and cake. I was ...