Just like every other country in Europe, August in Germany = vacation season! So, to celebrate Joe’s emancipation from the Uni we decided to vacation like the Germans!

When Germans im Urlaub gehen, they either head north or south. We went north…all the way north…to the Baltic Sea and Germany’s largest island: Rügen.

Despite having lived in Germany for three years, we couldn’t have felt more “American” on this trip.

Here’s why: 1) we covered all of our private parts during our beach experience, 2) we only used one bathing suit per day, 3) we failed to reserve our Strandkorb months in advance, 4) we left our socks in the hotel room, and 5) we only planned to stay for three days (instead of three weeks).

Only thing missing: American flags tattooed on our foreheads!

So it goes. What we lacked in Strandkenntnisse, we made up for in Mojito drinking!!

Amazing mojito (wild hibiscus!!), the BEST cheesecake I have ever eaten, and a scoatch of German beer.