• It is easy for me to feel scared and overwhelmed navigating a new city alone when I don’t speak the language. This makes me wonder what it is like for someone forced to leave his or her home country and dealing with trauma at the same time. My heart grows with compassion for how this could effect their confidence and ability to cope.
• The Isar River and parkways along both of its sides, throughout Munich, is a treasure. It has been my favorite place so far to run.
• You can use google maps to search for a public bathroom but it won’t always be free. Once inside the stall it might take some time to figure out how to flush the toilet. I was in one today that only flushed when you opened the door to leave. 
• Google translate comes up with some very unhelpful translations sometimes, especially when looking at food labels. If you have food allergies you know why I am reading the labels.
• Grocery shopping is very slow when you use Google translate on each item because you don’t know the language. Carrots are carrots wherever you are and I love them.
• At the bus stop in Nantes, France a little girl and her mother were playing thumb wars just like I used to do with my boys when we had to wait. People aren’t so different.
• Germans value nature and have created some beautiful parks. Enjoy these sites below.

Thanks for traveling with me.

Love,

Ali