My experience with Germany has been a little different than most people's. Instead of starting with Berlin, Munich, or Oktoberfest, my first real introduction to the country came on an Entrepreneurs' Organization river cruise through the Moselle Valley.
The Moselle winds through vineyard-covered hills, medieval towns, and castles that seem to appear around every bend in the river. We spent our days exploring places like Bernkastel, Cochem, Koblenz, and Rüdesheim, each offering a slightly different glimpse into a side of Germany I knew very little about before the trip.
One of the things I enjoyed most was that the cruise combined two things I naturally gravitate toward: meeting interesting entrepreneurs and exploring new places. During the day we'd be hiking, biking, walking through old towns, or visiting castles. In the evenings we'd reconnect onboard, share stories, and get to know business owners from different industries and parts of the world.
After the cruise, we made our way to Stuttgart for what was arguably the biggest highlight of the trip for me: touring the Porsche factory and museum. I've been a Porsche fan for years. A 911 was one of the first major purchases I made after my business reached the point where I felt comfortable rewarding myself, so getting to see the cars being assembled in person was a genuine bucket-list experience. Walking through the factory, watching the production process up close, and then exploring the museum gave me an entirely new appreciation for the engineering and craftsmanship behind the brand. For a car enthusiast, it's hard to imagine a better afternoon.
Between the Moselle Valley and Stuttgart, Germany ended up offering two experiences I never expected to find on the same trip: centuries-old castles and vineyards on one hand, and world-class engineering and manufacturing on the other.