iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

It is insult to injury to be sick and have the body aches concentrated in your hips/butt. Not only do I feel like ass, but resting on my ass hurts.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I’m alive! I’m back in the US! My ass has gone numb from an 11.5 hr flight!

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

All airports are liminal spaces. Frankfurt airport is a special level of hell. Swear to god, it’s a rabbit warren of tunnels and halls, no windows, no shops or kiosks in places, just endless walking. The saving grace being lots of signage.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Awake early for the flight home. Had one of the few bad nights sleep of this entire trip, so I’m hoping this means I’ll sleep on the plane.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Also, I love this about bottles here. All caps remain attached. I know it annoys the crap out of some people, but I appreciate it.

A photo of an open plastic bottle of orange soda, but the plastic lid remains attached when unscrewed due to a small bit of plastic staying attached after unscrewing the top. This prevents the cap from fully coming detached and possibly being lost, but allows drinking.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Only complaint about Germany: why the hell is this ‘on’???

A photo of two flat, square light switches. The bottom of the switch is depressed, usually indicating ‘off’ in the US, but indicates ‘on’ in Germany.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Last night in Frankfurt. We’re pretty pooped, so we’re staying in and working on packing our bags full of stinky laundry and the few things we got. Sad to leave such a cool place, but looking forward to being home. Hugging my kids, my cats, my dogs, and my bed, in that order.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Things I will be wanting to include in my life more at home: - breakfast cheese - good bread - off-dry Riesling (not sweet, not dry) - fresh apples (going to the apple farm one morning when I get back) - spatzle (I will be hunting recipes) - I’ll try schnitzel, but lack of a deep fryer isn’t ideal

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Mad that the most basic of grocery stores here has amazing bread, and home is just sadness in the shape of bread. …also need to find a cheesemonger…

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Okay. Did a lap with spouse. That is stupid fun. I would never drive this on my own.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I gave up on predicting which car is going on the ring and which isn’t. I’ve seen several shoeboxes putt their way in. One transport van. A Miata with no one wearing helmets. Everyone is driving the ring.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

“This is not busy” my BiLs instructor says, as a million cars are all in a clusterfuck to get on the Nurburgring for public track hours. 😵‍💫

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Future SiL was in the bathroom, and the light switch is on the outside. So spouse messes with the light switch on her. Nothing. Spouse goes in, and I immediately start messing with the lights. All you hear is him yelling “DISCOTECH!” from inside. The other two guys waiting were very confused.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Officially obsessed with European Fanta. I’m going to miss it when we head back.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The Nurburgring is so weird. You’re just driving around in some pretty forested countryside, and suddenly there’s a racetrack and Porsches doing 100mph by you…

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Bought 2 apples at the farmers market for €1.5, two mini baguettes for €2, and a small pile of fancy cheese for €11, and now having a evening snack with spouse in our hotel room. 🥰 …also nibbling purse pretzels. 🥨

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Conflicting emotions… family friend of my in-laws passed away yesterday. After spouses great aunt passed a couple weeks ago. Both will have services next month. Sadness, and may not make it to either (spouse might go to great aunts, but I would feel like I was intruding).

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Are you truly a tourist if you haven’t shoved a pretzel in your purse before boarding the vineyard sky tram back to town so they don’t yell at you for bringing food on board?

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Stumbled on a farmers market. One stall only sells potatoes of different varieties. I require this in my life.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

In a German housewares shop, and tempted to buy a cheese slicer to replace the one we had when I was a kid… that thing was great. …don’t know if security would like it tho.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

You’d better have good shocks on your bicycle if you’re gonna ride it on cobblestone… 🫨

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Really gotta up my geranium game when I get home.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

German McDonald’s has cheese nuggets!! Yes I have ordered them, I will report back. (We’re doing a longer drive and I needed a pee break; McDs is fun on trips sometimes).

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Spouse hit 200kph on the autobahn, he let out a whoop.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Oktoberfest outside is like a very large fair. Inside a tent is chaos and beer. It’s impressive.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning. 😂

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

…I forgot to ask for the small… I guess I’m practicing for Oktoberfest tomorrow. 😅

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Welp, finally found a public restroom that was gross. 🤢 Good to know highway rest stops are sketchy everywhere.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Spouse and his brother, the whitest guys possible, are both singing Tupac at the top of their lungs on the road back to Munich. 🤣

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I haven’t found a potato yet that wasn’t delicious here. I obviously need a bigger sample size tho… 😬

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Modern technology means I can be a half a world away, and still scold my daughter for her 6th period grade. … though I’m not sure how she has an F in PE…

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I have been introduced to a Hugo spritz, and I’m a fan.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Spouse has discovered the joys of the autobahn. Not sure if this Peugeot has seen speeds like this before. 🤣

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I deeply admire the civility of German public restrooms. The doors are real doors with no cracks, and they’re so CLEAN. Even the dive bar bathroom last night was clean. Covered in graffiti, but clean.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Okay, got out of the bnb, got the rental car, and now having food. At the California Bean cafe. Chortling.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Delighted at the Japanese bartender at our last bar of the night (there were 4 total)(I am v. tired). Japanese, lived in the US for a few years, moved to Germany for work, quit because they wanted to move him back to Japan and is now a bartender. Also funny and kind.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I left the clothes I wore on the plane on a drying rack on the patio of the Airbnb, hoping to freshen them up without washing them. It rained. I guess they’ve been rinsed now at least?😅

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Delighted at the range of languages I’ve been hearing though. On the train yesterday was a mix of German, English, and Chinese; today was Italian as I walked down one of the streets. 🥰

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We got to our Airbnb, have successfully eaten foods and wandered town a bit. Now to bed and adventures tomorrow.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We panicked and got off at an early stop, but it was also hot as fuck on the train so I don’t mind the break. Now we’re just hanging out at a random train station, chilling.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Finally in Munich. I passed out completely for most of the (short) flight. But woke up in time for some pretty pictures.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Somehow even after over an hour in customs, we ran up to the gate at the departure time, and they let us through! Our departure from the us was an hour and a half late, we made up time in the air and only landed 30min late…

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Landed in Frankfurt. Probably going to miss our flight to Munich, but whatever.

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Erin the Kraken @irawyn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Stuck on the runway. Traffic jam, with at least 10 other flights lined up in front of us. And there’s a guy next to us already snoring. 😂

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