{"id":16452,"date":"2026-01-06T17:51:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/angiestravelroutes.com\/?p=16452"},"modified":"2026-01-15T13:18:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T12:18:06","slug":"2025-year-in-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/angiestravelroutes.com\/en\/jahresrueckblick-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Year in Review: A Year of Decisions, Upheavals, and New Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"

2025 was not an easy year\u2014but it was a groundbreaking one. It was marked by big decisions, organizational feats, farewells, and new beginnings. It was a year in which many things fell into place at once: my home, my financial situation, my working life, and my outlook on the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to all this, there were trips that left a deep impression on me, books that had a lasting impact, and blog projects that grew despite all the turbulence. This review is my attempt to bring all of this together\u2014and the fourth annual review I've written as part of the legendary \u201eJahresr\u00fcckblog\u201c challenge by blogger coach Judith Peters<\/a><\/strong> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>My topics and highlights in 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Moving into my own apartment!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After almost 16 years in the same apartment (a record for me!), I was about to move for the 16th time in January\u2014this time into my own apartment. I have already written about the background to this in my 2024 Year in Review<\/a><\/strong> . My friend Jutta from northern Germany, who had already painted my new apartment at the end of 2024, was back here for the move, and gave me her full support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On moving day, January 15, of all days, there was black ice in the morning. It was slippery as glass in front of the house, and we briefly feared the worst. But the movers were professionals and transported everything safely to the moving truck without any injuries. My sister came to help after work, and by the end of the day, at least the most important cabinets had been unpacked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have to admit: moving house is one of the most stressful events in my life. The inner and outer chaos they bring with them is particularly stressful for me. Before the move, I lugged countless boxes to the recycling center and the bookcase, and after the move, I organized furniture pickups, complained about damaged new purchases, and coordinated replacement deliveries. The usual madness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since this time it was residential property, moving in was by no means the end of the story. Right up until shortly before my vacation in May, I was busy dealing with the notary, the land registry, and the bank. Almost until the last minute before my flight to Hanoi, I was unsure whether the financing would be finalized in time. Of course, everything worked out in the end\u2014but the last few weeks were very emotionally demanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost everything has found its place now, the paperwork is done, and I have settled in. It is a great relief to know that I no longer have to worry about whether I can afford a nice apartment in the future. Thank you, Dad, for making this possible!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"My
Jutta took care of the finishing touches during the move.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Me
First breakfast in my new apartment\u2014amidst the chaos, but in good spirits.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I am retired<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While sorting out my mortgage, I was eagerly awaiting my pension notice. I had already applied for my retirement pension starting April 1 back in November 2024 \u2013 and by early April, I still hadn't heard anything. So I gave them a call. They said everything was fine on their end, there were just some delays. If necessary, my April pension would be paid in May. Great. The notice finally arrived on April 19\u2014Easter Saturday and just two days before my departure for Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a pensioner has its good and bad sides. The financial security is good for me\u2014and yes, I've earned it after 43 years of contributions, a burnout, and a long working life. I am one of the many baby boomers who are now retiring. There were always a lot of us, and we had to fight hard for jobs, status, and recognition. At school, there were over 30 children in a class. The quiet ones\u2014I was one of them\u2014didn't have it easy. We were overlooked by our classmates and teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our parents were children of war, refugees, and displaced persons<\/strong>, who compensated for their traumas through work and thus created the German economic miracle. We children of the 1960s learned early on to conform, not to stand out, and to function\u2014even later in our professional lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I became a mother, I took just six months off work\u2014financially, I couldn't afford to take any more, as child benefit at that time was only 600 German marks. After my divorce, as a single parent, I soon went back to working full-time. In the past, I often asked myself why I and many women of my generation, when it came to mothers' pension <\/strong>have fallen through the cracks. My daughter was born in 1986, before 1992, which is why I now benefit from the new mothers' pension. Even if I'm not otherwise a S\u00f6der fan: I think he's right on this point. 20 euros more pension per month doesn't make up for the thousands of Deutschmarks in daycare fees or everything I had to do on my own as a working mother - but it's better than nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started this blog because I can't live without work. But I am very aware that today, at almost 64, work only works for me on my own terms. The pressure I put on myself is the only pressure I can still handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, now I've digressed. Actually, I just wanted to say: I have worked hard for my pension.<\/strong> and now I'm happy about the reliable monthly transfer \ud83d\ude02.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good thing about retirement is the security. The difficult thing is that you suddenly become acutely aware of your own mortality. The pension is both a consolation and a mission<\/strong>: to be mindful of the time we have left, to enjoy it\u2014and to avoid as much as possible anything that could unnecessarily shorten it (even if Gen Z might not like to hear that \ud83d\ude01).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My travels in 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My year of travel brought many discoveries, both big and small\u2014from previously unknown corners of the Swabian Alb to unforgettable days in the Blue Land, the alleys of Hanoi, and the karst caves of Halong Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the February <\/strong>my sister and I spent a few wonderful days with our father in New Town on the Wine Route.<\/strong> The almond blossoms were still waiting to bloom due to the cold weather, but we found plenty of cozy wine bars. A highlight was our visit to the Hambach Castle,<\/strong> which is closely linked to German democratic history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly before my trip to Vietnam, I spent two days in Frankfurt<\/strong> \u2013 a city that I have only really discovered for myself in recent years. The rhododendrons were in full bloom in the Palmengarten, and I marveled at the impressive dinosaur skeletons in the Senckenberg Natural History Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnam<\/strong> was a long-cherished bucket list goal and fulfilled all expectations. Together with my friend Paula from Melbourne, I spent three weeks in the country. By chance, we were in Hanoi on the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. The streets were full of people, flags, and national pride\u2014it was loud, crowded, and fascinating at the same time. You can find out more about this trip in my Monthly review May 2025<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From June <\/strong>numerous excursions in my home region followed: for example, to Lichtenstein Castle<\/a><\/strong>, to Sigmaringen, the Princely Park Inzigkofen<\/a> <\/strong>and to Grafeneck Memorial<\/a><\/strong>. These and many previous tours resulted in my comprehensive guide to the 52 highlights of the Swabian Alb<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the August <\/strong>I traveled with my sister to Regensburg:\u00a0<\/strong>. City tours, Thurn und Taxis Castle, Walhalla, the Danube Gorge, and Weltenburg Abbey made these days a real summer highlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The October<\/strong> was marked by my first Educational leave \u201eOn the trail of National Socialism in the Alpine region\u201c <\/a><\/strong>with the Georg-von-Vollmar-Akademie<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 combined with a trip to Blue Country<\/strong> around Murnau. <\/strong>Thanks to a stroke of luck, I met Tour guide Jac-Peter T\u00f6lkes<\/a><\/strong> who gave me a very personal introduction to the town and the Murnauer Moos. A real gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the December<\/strong> followed by two short trips to Augsburg and Aachen <\/strong>\u2013 with Christmas markets, UNESCO World Heritage sites, intense impressions, and a long-awaited personal meeting with the Travel blogger Anja from Travel on Toast<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Hambach
At Hambach Castle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Hambach
Hands-on station at Hambach Castle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Me
First cocktail in Hanoi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Me
Japanese bridge in Hoi An.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Paula
Hustle and bustle on the boat trip in Trang An.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Quiet
Quiet boat trip on the Van Long Lagoon .<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"On
On a cruise in Halong Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Young
In front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Restaurant
Favorite restaurant: The Chan in Hu\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Mai
Mai Chau Viewpoint<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"With
The Walhalla near Regensburg.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"With
Stopover in Ansbach...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Tour
With Jac-Peter T\u00f6lkes in the Murnauer Moos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Me<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Historian
Site inspection at Obersalzberg.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Final
Final photo of the study trip.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Anja
With Anja from Travel on Toast in Aachen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

My year as a travel blogger<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, I published significantly fewer articles than in the previous year\u2014due to moving, organizing, and personal stress. Nevertheless, there were important milestones: my first CMT<\/a><\/strong> with a press pass, new contacts, lots of ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My most comprehensive article was devoted to the Highlights of the Swabian Alb<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 52 destinations, researched over several months. More regions are to follow, with the Blue Land coming next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My new Pinterest workflow was a major step forward. Instead of using external tools, I now work directly with Canva and spreadsheet imports. In October, my peak month, I achieved over 63,000 impressions and more than 1,100 clicks on Pinterest alone. I achieved most of my Pinterest clicks with a single pin to my article about the most beautiful christmas markets in Germany<\/a><\/strong>, closely followed by the article on Excursion destinations around W\u00fcrzburg<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My article on Educational leave with the Georg von Vollmar Academy<\/strong> <\/a>\u2013 arose spontaneously, but met with a great response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November, as part of the The Content Society <\/a><\/strong>Advent calendar challenge, I developed my newsletter advent calendar with city tours through historic old towns in Germany. The first digital products are to be created from this in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My favorite books of 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, I didn't read novels, I listened to them \u2013 thanks to my Audible subscription, which accompanied me on walks, train journeys, and long evenings. When you listen to stories, the voice and rhythm give them a power all their own. Three of the 27 audiobooks have stayed with me in particular \u2013 and those are the ones I'd like to briefly introduce to you here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Florian Illies: When the sun goes down<\/strong><\/a><\/strong>*
Florian Illies recounts the summer of 1933: a time of transition, repression, and fatal misjudgments. The focus is on Thomas Mann, who travels to the C\u00f4te d'Azur with his Jewish wife Katia and their children\u2014without realizing that their exile will be permanent and that the villa on Poschingerstra\u00dfe in Munich will be lost forever. Illies shows the tensions within the family and the grueling wait, while political events come to a head in the background. The result is a dense panorama of these weeks \u2013 both private and historical at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T. C. Boyle<\/strong><\/strong>: No Way Home<\/strong><\/a>*
T. C. Boyle tells stories about people on the margins of society, moral gray areas, and decisions that cannot be undone. The characters find themselves in existential conflicts that reveal how thin the veneer of security and civilization can sometimes be. Boyle's writing is pointed, ironic, and at the same time mercilessly honest\u2014and that is precisely what makes the book so powerful. What remains is a lingering sense of unease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caroline Wahl: Wind force 17<\/a><\/strong>*
\u201eWindst\u00e4rke 17 is the sequel to 22 Bahnen \u2013 this time told from the perspective of the younger sister, whereas the older sister was the focus of the previous novel. After a profound change in her life, the protagonist is drawn to the coast, where the wind, sea, and physical labor become an outlet for her grief, anger, and feelings of guilt. Caroline Wahl's writing is clear, unvarnished, and emotionally dense. Although the two novels build on each other, they can also be read independently of one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>More wonderful and special moments in 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"My
Family outing to the B\u00e4rensee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Portrait
Sunny birthday at the beginning of March.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Me,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"My
Excursion to Solitude Palace.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Blogger
TCS live event with Judith Peters (center) in Stuttgart.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Paula
By bicycle rickshaw through Hanoi Old Town<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"With
In the northern highlands of Vietnam near Mai Chau.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Karin
Karin and Jac invited me over for dinner, and the sky celebrated with a spectacular display of red clouds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"My
Day trip to Lichtenstein Castle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Anja
Anja and I ate what were probably the most expensive cupcakes of our lives in Aachen...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Me
\u20ac8.40 for this raspberry cheesecake\u2014but it was delicious.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"My
Santa Claus on the phone...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Anna and Cookie need to rest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Family
Our traditional family photo on Christmas Eve.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

My conclusion on 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What I am proud of<\/h3>\n\n\n\n