Helene Sula started her travel blog, Helene in Between, in 2011. At the time, she wasn't sure if it would bring in any money. But after experimenting, and a few hits and misses, Sula finally found a way to monetize the blog. This allowed her the freedom to live out her dream of moving abroad.
The Dallas-born American had previously spent time traveling Europe with her husband, and she wanted to see more of the continent. The couple felt the best way to do this was to relocate to Europe. In 2016, just five years after she started her blog, Sula and her husband moved to Heidelberg, Germany - a city and country they'd never set foot in before.
Sula says many people had told her things about Germany before she moved there but not all of it was true. For one, the travel blogger was led to believe that German food was bad. “It's just potatoes and Sauerkraut,” is how they described it. Sula says while Germany does have that on the traditional menu, it's definitely not the only dish on offer.
"Germany food is divine. Some of the best meals I've ever had," she once wrote. "When we go out to eat we try to eat at the traditional German restaurants. Every single time I've had phenomenal food."
Sula adds that the best potatoes she's ever had in her life have been in Germany. This includes fries, potato salad, mashed potatoes, and any dish containing a potato.
"Some typical German dishes are Bratkartoffeln which is fried potato slices, usually with dried bacon," explains Sula. "Currywurst is sliced sausage, heavily seasoned, with fries. They serve a lot of hearty meals with meat and potatoes and a salad SWIMMING in dressing. That is one thing that I find hilarious, the salads have half a bottle of dressing."
Sula also says she was told that Germans are cold and unfriendly. "Even when we moved to Heidelberg, many people asked us if we were getting accustomed the rudeness," she reveals. "I have to say, I disagree emphatically with this. Germans are kind, genuine, and helpful."
However, the blogger says the service industry in Germany leaves much to be desired... "They do not really care about helping you, getting a tip (if service at a restaurant is truly exception you can leave a couple euros), or making sure you are satisfied. Not a thing here," she reveals.
Sula also praises the Germans for their fitness. "In general, Europeans are much thinner than Americans," she explains. "But Germans seems to really love the outdoors and being active. On Sundays, the stores all close (all of them), and they are seen riding, skating, and running the various paths."
Another difference she noticed after moving to Heidelberg was the culture of recycling. "They are NUTS about it here," she wrote on her blog. "We have 5 different trash cans for our apartment. It's insane. I do not agree with it because it's so confusing and ends up being such a hassle. I love the environment, but come on… 5 different trash cans?"
Elaborating on the 5 different trash cans, Sula explains that one is restmüll (trash), the others are for plastic and metal, paper, glass, bioabfall. "Oh, and you take in your plastic bottles (my Coca Cola Light bottles) in to the grocery store for a pfand (a refund)," she adds.
