Updated on March 25, 2025 by Angelika
February was a busy month - not only because I continued to deal with my move, but also because I was moved by some developments on my blog and in the world. Surprising Google figures, a trip to the Palatinate for the almond blossom and a visit to a museum in Stuttgart shaped the month. Unexpected news from the world made me very thoughtful at the end of the month. But first things first ...
1. Sudden Google Boom Due to Fake News
At the beginning of the month, my blog traffic was still stagnating as I hardly got around to blogging due to many personal issues, such as my move. But in the second week of February, page views skyrocketed. The reason? A blog article I wrote about Documentation Obersalzberg and the Eagle's Nest near Berchtesgaden, which I visited last summer during my trip to the Berchtesgadener Land . I looked at the search queries in detail: by far the most searched term in the Google search was "Eagle's Nest sold (Kehlsteinhaus verkauft)". My research showed that some fake news were spreading rapidly. A video falsely claimed that the Free State of Bavaria had sold the Eagle's Nest (Hitler's former tea house on the Kehlstein summit). I immediately included the disinformation in my article and warned my readers about it.
For the first time, I was able to experience live how fake news influence search behavior on Google. On the one hand, I was happy about the many new readers, on the other hand, I realized once again how important it is as a blogger to handle information responsibly.
The positive side remains: Google seems to classify my article as a reliable source, as it now ranks in the top positions for many relevant terms relating to Berchtesgaden, the Obersalzberg and the Eagle's Nest. And overall, my blog traffic grew by over 20 % in February - a pleasing development!
Blog Maintenance Instead of New Articles: Trier and Stuttgart Added to Beautiful Cities Post
There were no new blog articles in February, but I did revise existing content - including my post about Germany's most beautiful cities. New additions are Trier and Stuttgart.
- In Trier the rich Roman heritage inspired me when I visited the city for the second time on my Christmas market trip in December 2023. In the Rheinisches Landesmuseum, I marveled at the fascinating mosaics and enormous tombs that the Romans left behind in and around Trier. In June 2025, the UNESCO World Heritage City will open the major exhibition "Marcus Aurelius", which is sure to attract many visitors.
- Stuttgart, my home town, which I now see through the eyes of a travel blogger. Vineyards, exciting museums and six castles in the city area make the city much more worth seeing than I previously thought.
My article now covers 16 cities - but I still have lots of ideas in the pipeline.
4. Stuttgart ErlebnisCard: A Museum Year Begins
For €69 a whole year of culture and wellness - I treated myself again to the Stuttgart ErlebnisCard (Discovery Ticket) for 2025. My first stop: the Württemberg State Museum in the Old Castle.
I actually wanted to see the findings from the Celtic burial chambers, but then I was drawn to the new exhibition "Protest! From anger to movement" („Protest! Von der Wut zur Bewegung“) . It ranges from the Peasants' War to current climate protests and interactively invites you to join in - even with an "anger car" where you can let off steam with a foam rubber truncheon. Photos of human chains and the peace demonstration in Bonn's Hofgarten against the deployment of NATO medium-range missiles in the early 1980s evoked nostalgic feelings for me and some other visitors in my age group.
It wasn't until 2024 that I visited the Württemberg State Museum again after decades to see the Löwenmensch (Lion Man) and the Venus vom Hohle Fels, both of which belong to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Alb. Maybe I visit museums differently now than I used to, or maybe they are simply more appealing than when I was at school. In any case, I never get bored in this museum these days.
3. Family Time: A Touch of Spring in the Palatinate
I went on some lovely trips with my father and sister, including a day trip to the Lake Max-Eyth, a popular local recreation area in Stuttgart. But our biggest adventure took us to the almond blossom in the Palatinate.
Despite the icy temperatures, we stuck to our plan and drove to Neustadt an der Weinstraße. We were hoping for a few warming rays of sunshine and a weekend in pink. First highlight: lunch at the Restaurant 1832 in Hambach Castle, the "cradle of German democracy". We then explored the interactive museum, where we immersed ourselves in the history of the Hambach Festival, where the first black, red and gold flag was raised in 1832. Its meaning: from the blackness of bondage (black) through bloody battles (red) to the golden light of freedom (gold).
After we had taken our luggage to our nice rental apartment* in a quiet residential area just outside the city center of Neustadt an der Weinstraße, we drove into the city, where we joined a guided city walk . We learned that the German Wine Queen is crowned in Neustadt and discovered the art of the sculptor Gernot Rumpf. I was particularly impressed by the Elwetritsche Fountain,a homage to the Palatine mythical creatures. We finished off with a glass of wine in the courtyard of the Schwarzer Löwe, where you can certainly sit comfortably in summer - but we were frozen to the bones. Fortunately, we found a warm spot in Neustadt's oldest wine tavern, the Herberge, after our city walk, where I dared to try Handkäs mit Musik - but this will probably not be my new favorite dish.
You can find out what else we experienced on the German Wine Route in the next monthly review, as our next two days in Neustadt were in March already.
4. A Global Political Shock at the End of the Month
On the evening of our first day in Neustadt, February 28, we were sitting in our vacation apartment when we were shocked by the news: In front of the world, the US president verbally attacked the Ukrainian president in the worst possible way, and withdraw his support. This unprecedented perpetrator-victim reversal kept us busy all weekend.
I realized how fragile our world order has become. Values that seemed self-evident for decades are suddenly at stake. And yet there is a glimmer of hope: Europe is moving closer together. The fact that the UK of all countries, which left the EU in 2020 under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is now taking a leading role in supporting Ukraine shows that change is possible.
Maybe everything will work out somehow.
👉 How was your February? Have there been any surprises, special experiences or moments that have made you think? I look forward to hearing from you in the comments!
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Dear Angelica,
Thank you for your wonderful descriptions, which once again make me want to travel. But also the look behind the scenes of the experiences is exciting. For example, being involved in the preparations for the opening of a restaurant, which, with a historic building and existing inventory, brings many unexpected surprises to light and causes the planned opening date to be postponed again and again. Or enter into partnerships with associations and providers of tourist services in order to put together a complete package for day visitors and vacationers. And to tell the public about our own offerings at trade fairs and events. We are always delighted when our visitors end the day happy and satisfied. Your inspiring descriptions also contribute to this.
Cheers,
Reinhard
Dear Reinhard,
Thank you very much for your kind comment. You're right - traveling offers many opportunities to discover new things and pursue your interests. Your local railroad on the Alb is also a great option. I hope to try out a museum railroad in BW this year.
Cheers,
Angelika
Always worth reading and experiencing ... your blog articles. Many thanks for that. It saves a lot of research and whets the appetite for new things that weren't previously "on the radar"!
Thank you very much, dear Doris! I'm delighted if I can inspire you, even as a frequent traveler, to make new discoveries.
Cheers,
Angelika