Author: fionasteel

Oktoberfest is the largest folk festival in the world. It is held annually in Munich, Germany and over 6 million people are expected to attend during its 16 day run. In 1810, Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig married Theresa of Saxony and so the happy townsfolk held a party in a large field to celebrate. It […]

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.  Hilaire Belloc I believe the most fulfilling consequence of travel is the opportunity to immerse myself completely and enjoy a different culture. As this visitor in another country however, I am constantly surprised at the change that overcomes me as I begin to assume a new […]

“I’m on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation” – The Carpenters How wonderfully exhillerating is this breathtaking country and its people? Ahhh…Deutschland… *sigh*   The highs are so extremely high and unlike anything I have ever previously experienced.  I visited the summit of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain at 2962m above sea level, […]

The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes “sight-seeing.””     Daniel J Boorstin   I recently decided to take on my role as a visiting tourist seriously. Yes, the time had arrived! I was ready to […]

I don’t mean Charlie Brown’s little feathered friend.    I’m wondering what has happened in the last 40 years since that well known three days of peace and music at Max Yasgur’s farm when Jimi played his version of that anthem and Country Joe and the Fish ragged on for a peaceful world while Janice […]

“Anything worth doing… is worth overdoing.” – Mick Jagger  “Everything in excess” – Fiona Steel Who knew that Mick and I had so much in common?  He has lips and I’d like some. He had energy and so did I once. He couldn’t get any satisfaction… oh well, two outa three ain’t bad …just ask […]

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” – Bilbo via JRR Tolkien When arriving in any new city, I feel it is the expected duty of all tourists to visit all […]

‘Mama always said life was like a box a chocolates, never know what you’re gonna get.’ – Forrest Gump The little unexpected experiences waiting just around the corner are what make life interesting. Sometimes they’re a pleasure and sometimes they can be a pain, but to me, they are the dark and light tones that […]

‘Don’t cry for me. I’ll be alright. I’ll be by your side, your precious guiding light.’ – Modern Error    Forget about the continental drift theory and let’s not allow the facts to hold us back any longer! Haven’t enlightened gurus often spruiked to each one of us, ‘think creatively’, ‘you have the power within you’, […]