After what felt like the longest stop in Prague, we finally moved on to Heidelberg, Germany. Unlike Innsbruck and Prague, which I had apparently barely experienced on my first IBI experience, I had many great memories from my time in Heidelberg, and I was excited to return.

Overall, my experience there this time felt more like a casual road trip than a bustling international adventure, but I was grateful for a slightly slower pace. Our IBIS hotel was on the edge of town, conveniently right next to the Hauptbahnhof (main train station, as well as a hub for the bus system). The rooms felt very small and cramped, particularly in relation to our relative luxury the week before in Czechia. But, such is the life for business [student] travel. I will say that the breakfast spread was one of the best, particularly for a budget hotel!

The first afternoon in the city, I walked into Old Town with a group of the students to get our bearings and find some food. We actually ended up in an Italian place that I remembered eating at previously—a trend that followed for the remainder of my days. My grandparents had visited Heidelberg when my grandpa was stationed in Germany in the early 60s, and I remembered being thrilled to be in a place where my family members had also visited and enjoyed. It is always special to share travel experiences with people you love!

While in Heidelberg, I revisited many of the shops, cafés and restaurants that I remembered loving (Mildners, Bäckerei Riegler, Red Die Grüen, Chocolaterie St. Anna) and was really impressed that they had endured for more than a decade (and through COVID). Proof, I suppose, that Germans are resilient and resourceful. I also really enjoyed another walk around Heidelberg Castle—or more accurately, its ruins and grounds.

Heidelberg felt sleepy and simple in a good way. It is a charming town, nestled into a valley created by the Neckar River. The cobblestone streets of the Old Town wind up the hills, through lovely narrow alleys to the foot of the castle. The newer parts of town boast interesting architecture and plenty of cafés and restaurants. I got the feeling that the vast majority of the people in Heidelberg were locals, particularly outside of the Old Town boundaries. And although my Duolingo-based German skills are VERY basic, I was happy to be around a language that was more familiar than Czech. I felt confident/courageous enough to even take two yoga classes (instructed completely in German) during our 6-day stay!

The Highlights

Tours of Mercedes Benz, Kärcher, SAP and Frankfurt Airport. Heidelberg Castle. Bowling. Sour cherry jam to go on baguettes for breakfast. In Touch Yoga. Falafel & donners. Charming streets & shops of Old Town. German snacks and treats.

SDG

p.s. Wondering the context of this visit to Heidelberg, Germany? This was one of the nine countries visited on the 2023 International Business Institute, for which I was the program assistant. Interested in learning more? Read about my own undergraduate experience on the trip when I participated in 2011.

LMB #11