One thing that's made our pack list this time a watch - actually two. Neither of us typically wear one; i've actually only owned three in the last 20 years - the first, a high school graduation present from my parents that was stolen a few months into college; the second, a cheap, knock-off "Caspio" purchased in a market in Cambodia for $4 (it lasted just long enough for us to board our plane home two weeks later); the last, a new one bought just this weekend, especially for our upcoming trip. 

So often on our adventures we find ourselves straining to see something off in the distance. Whether its the intricate details of a mural on a church ceiling or the wildlife outside our train window as we roll past, it seems like something is always just out of sight. Instead of squinting our way through Europe again, we have decided that its time to purchase a pair of binoculars. 

One of our favorite things to do, traveling or not, is to check out local markets. Markets are a great way to familiarize yourself with a new place by trying local produce, sampling prepared foods and interacting with locals. Few other activities can connect you to the community the way a legit market can. 

This week's Pack Hack is about choosing the footwear that best suits your needs. Like our previous post on our favorite carry-on bag, shoes are a fundamental item for travel. Choosing the right shoes for your trip is absolutely essential. In our case, we were planning on being on the road for over three months, during the winter, while spending time at work exchanges in the country-side. It was important we had shoes that would be good for walking the cobblestone streets of an Italian hill town or working in the mud on a farm in France. Also, we were carrying only one small carry-on bag apiece so conserving space was very important. I brought 3 pairs with me and they worked perfectly for every situation we came across.

Our new weekly segment, Wander Land, will cover a local haunt from wherever we are at the moment. Right now we are in Minneapolis, MN and the spot is Pig Ate My Pizza. Located a few miles north of Minneapolis in the suburb of Robbinsdale, this pork-centric pizza and craft beer restaurant is easily one of our new favorite restaurants. With an open kitchen and chefs-turned-waiters on the floor, you really get a feel like you are a part of the madness going on all around you. Its a little loud and a bit warm but when the food starts coming to the communal table, all of that is forgotten. 

Under the old Schmidt Brewery buildings along the Mississippi River, polka music and the smell of sauerkraut carry on the breeze.  The sound of hammerschlagen, a game popular in Minnesota where the goal is to drive a nail into a piece of wood with one hammer strike, echoes through the crowd. Dachshund owners proudly wear their “I love Wieners” t-shirts in anticipation of the wiener dog races.  But this is a German heritage festival and that means one thing to me. Beer! Although the choices were fairly limited, I was able to try a couple beers I rather enjoyed.

Like we mentioned in our last post, change can be a scary thing. Making the decision to leave our jobs and spend time traveling far away from family and friends is one that scared us both. It is also a decision we will never regret. This journey has allowed us to experience things we didn’t know existed and accomplish things we didn’t know were possible. 

We are not cicerones and are definitely not beer snobs, so some of these choices may not score very high on Beer Advocate and may have no medals from the World Beer Championships. We're happy drunks with a fondness for beer and for pairing it with the finest moments in life. If you have a personal favorite you think we should try, leave us a comment and we will be sure to give it a go - we're always happy to try a new brew.

Anyone who knows me knows I love history. It's what I like to watch; it's what I choose to read. I go through phases, immerse myself in a specific era and learn as much as possible about the subject before moving on to the next topic that captures my interest - Ancient Greece, Roman legions and emperors, The Civil War, World War One, Vietnam - the list goes on. The one subject I always go back to and can never learn enough about is WWII.