There are a lot of things Europe is known for: good food, history, and, of course, great public transportation. If you’re heading to Germany without a car, the upside is that the public transportation there is fantastic. There’s a particular app, however, that can make buying and storing your tickets even easier: DB Navigator.

The DB navigator app has access to all the train routes to get from city to city in Germany. You can purchase tickets directly through the app and have them stored there for easy access when you go on your trip. Plus, you’ll get in-app updates in the event of delays or scheduling changes.  

DB Navigator was a lifesaver for me in Germany this year, but if you use it, make sure you can access mobile data or WIFI so you can pull up your ticket when the conductor comes around (they always do). I also recommend taking a screenshot of it just in case you have trouble with the signal. The DB Navigator app is free to download, and you can remove it after your trip is done when you no longer need it. 


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The real purpose of my European holiday was actually a very important event for our family. My oma (grandma) was being honored in a ceremony in her hometown of Ilpendam in the Netherlands.

My oma, Hillegonda Donker Zwarensteyn, was a champion speedskater for the Netherlands in the 1930s and known professionally as Gonne Donker. Ilpendam would be naming a town square after her, complete with a statue. I always knew my oma was a speedskater, but rediscovering this side of her in such an impactful way was incredible. Oma passed away in 2005, so it meant a lot that we could be there for her. 

Ilpendam is a short trip from Amsterdam – maybe 20 minutes tops. It was a gorgeous day. The last time I saw Ilpendam was 2008 and our first visit was marked by cold temps and abundant rain. So this time around, I could really get an idea of just how beautiful it is. The whole village came out for this event, along with TV news crews. 

The man who organized it is Andre Klaver, and the sculptor is Rob Cerneus. It was incredible just how welcoming everyone was. They really went all out. Even the mayor spoke! It was so amazing to see Oma get recognized this way, and I know it would have meant the world to her. 

Even though it was a happy day, I started crying as the ceremony began, and it was as if every emotion I had inside me about missing my oma started coming out my eyeballs. It’s been nearly 20 years since she passed, but it never stops hurting. The only thing that helped was to focus on taking pictures and video.

I took some time by myself after the ceremony to get out my tears and compose myself before it was time to meet at the town restaurant for dinner. 

We had a great dinner at Het Wapen van Ilpendam – I’m pretty sure it’s the only restaurant in the village. While the meal was great, the dessert was practically life-changing. I ordered cinnamon ice cream, expecting just some ice cream in a bowl. Nope. It was a full-on display: the ice cream was accompanied by sugared bread and whipped cream. Seriously, one of THE best desserts I’ve ever had. 

After an amazing day, it was time to make our way back to Amsterdam for the night. This was also my last full day in Europe. The following day, I returned home to Los Angeles. What a finale to this incredible trip. 

Oma, I miss you every day.

And to anyone reading this, let me know if you check out Gonne Donkerplein in The Netherlands. Thanks for reading this extra-personal blog entry.