GERMANY changed my mind
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- Culture shocks are real. I have decided to share my experiences of life in Germany as a Brit, as well as the beautiful places I am lucky enough to visit.
My meditative videos show a calming and artistic view of the places I visit and the quiet, peaceful wanders I take through them. Medieval villages, picturesque cottages, beautiful cities. Relax and escape with me from the busy bustling world to my dreamy and serene slow living way of seeing my surroundings. Experience the magic of peering into the past and being in a fairytale, just for a little while.
You can SUPPORT the CHANNEL! That helps me pay for the music I use and the editing software I need and I really appreciate it ❤️ www.paypal.com...
Here´s my Patreon: www.patreon.co...
DO NOT copy and re-upload any part of this video anywhere otherwise copyright strikes will be made! You do not have my permission to use this footage
❓ Is this what you thought Germany would look like?
Tell me what you think in the comments, I´d love to know.
👩🏻👋🏻 I´m Celtic, (Welsh), and I feel very much at home in beautiful Germany.
I feel a strong desire to share these moments of beauty with you, in the hope that it will also lift your spirits. All my videos will be calm and with no loud noises or sudden bright lights. 👼
❓ What to watch next❓
my MAGICAL Germany playlist
• Pure MAGIC in an encha...
A dreamy journey through the city of Lübeck: • That made sure I´ll ne...
Finding Germany´s MOST BEAUTIFUL village and searching for legends on a North Sea GERMAN ISLAND: • Germany´s MOST BEAUTIF...
💖 How you can support me
😊💖☕ I love coffee! ko-fi.com/laur...
📸 Instagram: / lauren_in_germany
Facebook: Lauren in Germany
If you like the music I use, you can enjoy one month free on Epidemic Sound with this link: www.epidemicso... This is a referral link. If you choose to buy a subscription after your free trial, I will receive a discount on my own subscription for a month. (No extra costs for you!)
#germany #culturaldifferences #lifeingermany
Any campers here? For me, having a campervan means freedom - what does camping mean for you? I´m so intrigued by how into camping Germans are, and I can´t believe you´ve made me into one! I am obsessed!
I hate camping on camping sites, but I love the freedom my Minicamper gives me, and I fully agree. So, I never go to camping sites, I only need disposal sites to get rid of my waste water and garbage once a week or so which are easy to find with the right apps. I want complete independence, and my camper is a true mobile home, incl. a real bed, cooking, office, etc., not some folding boxes in a trunk. For me, that's very essential, and I can basically stay off the grid indefinitely with all the comfort I need and independent of weather or season.
My favorite turf is France, and especially the mountains, the Alps or the Pyrenees, for biking. There is nothing like waking up on a mountain like the Mont Ventoux or on a pass like the Col du Galibier or the Col de l'Iséran and watch the clouds coming up to you, or the nights when the stars come out so clear and bright like you can never see them elsewhere. I like the fact that I can basically park anywhere without sticking out as a camper because my car doesn't look much like a campervan. So, I keep away from the main tourist spots as much as I can, and I keep away from other campers as much as I can, because unfortunately, there are too many who misbehave, annoy the locals, leave their waste behind, block parking lots with their big monster motorhomes, and lead to ever more restrictions. The best places are those where the natives were never bothered by the common camper tourist. ;-)
By the way, when your camper is up and running, do give France a chance, they are even more into motorhomes than Germans, and they have a great infrastructure for them.
Take care!
Talking to complete strangers as If you knew them. Sharing a beer at night and the clean air makes caravaning nice.
@@susannabonke8552 that sounds lovely!
Oh yeah, growing up near the Netherlands we went camping quite alot, I absolutly loved it, learned fishing, surfing and kiting there. Happy camping 😄
...going to Schrobenhausen Hairstyle... 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍lol Bei uns hier oben im Norden sagt man häufig: "Meine Frisur sieht aus wie ein geplatztes Sofakissen!" oder wenn man an einem stürmischen Tag am Meer war: "Vom Winde verweht". Viel Glück mit deinem Campermobil Projekt, es gibt auf UA-cam einige gute Kanäle die sich mit dem Ausbau von Fahrzeugen beschäftigen und auch DIY Videos zeigen.
😂 ich merke es selber nicht bis ich in die Kamera schaue! Und dann sehe ich, wie ich aus Versehen die Nordsee channele 🤣
Ja, ich folge Travelventure, Oskar the Explorer und Abenteuer Vanlife, z.Bsp! Man kriegt gute Tipps und Motivation zugleich.
I lived in Vilseck for a little while but
Nuremberg is my city!!!! I love and miss that place soooo much!!!!!
Aw, Heimweh is horrible! Even if it was only Heim for a little while.
Versuchen Sie nach Nürnberg zu ziehen👍✌️
@@darlenegruschewsky2045 Ich würde gerne dort leben!!! 👍😉
🙂Schöne Reisebilder. Danke.
Danke für‘s Zuschauen! Ich fand es so schön dort.
OK , so I order the "Gummibäume" and "Gummipfeiler" so you don't scratch The Camper !!!! 😇😇😇
LOL!!! I really laughed now! No, there´s no escape for any vehicle of mine... a friend offered to let me drive her beautiful sportscar. I said- NEVER. I know myself.
I love your videos 😂
Ha! Thank you!!! I love that you get my humour!
Smooth, very smooth. All the best.
Thank you!!
I totally agree that people miss out, if they haven't seen at least North-Germany😀🤩
I kind of want to keep it just for us, but nobody believes me anyway 🤣
Hello, my friend 👋 hope you are well 🌹
It's a pleasure to visit such splendid sharing 👍excellent, entertaining videos.
Your video is so impressive! I'm happy to be here!
Thanks for showing us these outstanding views 😊 much appreciated 😊🌹
Have a pleasant day ahead 🌹
God bless you and your family 🙏
See you again! Here is your friend Athir from Canada 😊 🌹🇨🇦
Thank you so much, Athir!
hot water and a french press. camper life is ready for you :)
Hee hee! No joke, Uli- the first things I bought for the van (during Black Friday week) were coffee making equipment… you know me so well!
I hope you’re ok 🤗
You made my day...can´t stop smiling because of the positivity that you transfer. Danke schön.
How lovely! Thank you, you made me smile, too!
Your sense of humor is very german! Yesss, that's a compliment 😄😁 ILY ❤️🌹💋🌹❤️
I am thrilled that I understand German humour! Being able to laugh at two kinds of things is as precious as speaking two languages! ILY2!
@@LaureninGermany ❤️
Hallo Lauren .. diesmal wieder in deutsch. Da Camping zwar englisch klingt aber doch sehr deutsch wurde... ich bauen gerade meinen VW Caddy zum mini Camper um. Ich wünsche viel Spaß beim Umbauen und hoffe das reisen wird einfacher dann .
Ah cool!!! Ich kann nicht warten, bis es etwas wärmer wird und ich insulieren kann - ich habe keine Halle/Garage. Dann geht´s so richtig los!
Oh well done you. There is a you tube channel called "wild she goes" and she has just kitted out her van herself. Might be useful for you. My husband and I have had 2 campervan trips in New Zealand and we loved it.
My initial inspiration is from Marina! I‘ve followed her since Pam the Van and Odie. I love her attitude! Thank you so much, Leigh!
Kein schöner Land !
Jolly good show. Ever since my parents took the family camping....I felt at home in Germany. Sometimes feel more at home there than my own country. (Belgium). So I know what you mean. Tschüss y'all ! (that's from the time I lived in Texas).
Oh that’s so nice to hear! I worked in Belgium and found it very welcoming, but I wasn’t there long!
I think you didn’t mean to write „kein“?! A little typo?! 😆
@@LaureninGermany No, it isn't a typo. It is the beginning of a German Volkslied and the name of a TV show. The english Wikipedia refers to the song as "Kein schöner Land in dieser Zeit" (No country more beautiful in this time).
@@Astrofrank aaahhhh! Danke! Thanks!
Great Idea!! Don't miss a "Trenntoilette" for an independant camper life ;-)
I´m too British to poop! LOL
@@LaureninGermany and I'm German enough to talk about it 😃
@@patricegraziano2303 nooooooo 😳😱 🙉
Perfect number plate!
Aren´t I cheeky??! Lol, the others I wanted were not available, so I thought: dream big, Lauren!
You're not sharing any history in this video? You shared making history. Great.
Aw, what a lovely thing to say! It feels like that for me!
ANOTHER lovely video from the lovely Welsh lady.... and she is a real LADY... that s my German point of view... from WEST to EAST... you could make a trip from AACHEN via Freudenberg, Fritzlar, Weimar .. and end up in Görlitz.... cheers
Aachen! I was there and I would love to go again! Thank you for the ideas! And for the lovely compliment. It means a lot to me.
Beautiful pictures and shots that you have their great work Lauren thank you for your content
Oh and I forgot to mention the choice of music it is also great most of the times really
Thank you, the music is really important to me for the videos!
Thank you so much!
I know a video is good when my feet are going along with the music. THANK YOU 👍👍😁😁😊😊
Lol! I know it when I find myself singing the tune even when I´m not editing! Then it was the right expression for that video! Thanks, David!
Oh Lauren😍
😀
Ha, Vanlife with Lauren.
That's gonna be a treat!
For me it was a scottish, a french and then a spanish cottage.
Didn't work out either.
Hi Peter! After the lockdowns, I was in a maybe now´s the time mindset, but - it wasn´t lol! It did make me realise that it´ll take a lot to get me away from Germany, though, so I´m happy that I checked it out. I love the idea of seeing more places like this!
And I get the appeal of a scottish cottage...!
Lauren, you most lovely of all lovely honorary ambassadors for Germany! You really need to put on the brakes here, you are becoming more German than we Germans with incredible speed! That van - every German is envious of your good catch. May your project prosper and turn out to be exactly as you envision! And to your hair-do: there is no way you could ever look anything less than lovely and amazing. Love and hugs!
100.000 YT followers: yes, you can! Unfortunately, I only have one YT presence and can only follow you once ... Lots of hugs!
You are soooo sweet!!! Thank you! One wonderful person following is worth so much to me.
most lovely of all lovelies..... such an apt description of her!!
@@shahlabadel8628 och, I‘m actually blushing! You’re lovely to me!
another nice video from you. Thank you for recommending northern Germany, the north is the most beautiful part of Germany, sun, wind, sea and nature. As a native North German, I like living in the north and wouldn't want to live anywhere else, the real north😘👌👍
I‘m hoping to spend my first trip in the van in the North, if I can get it ready enough (just enough!) in time. I can’t imagine anything better that hearing your wind and the pattering of rain outside, and sleeping well in that North Sea air after bracing walks! I know the cities of the North are beautiful, but the coast is heaven for me.
der echte Norden = Schleswig - Holstein... solange das WEtter kein SCHIETWETTER ist, würde ich dem nur beipflichten können... Stephan... greetings from Marbörg
@@habicht6 Ach dann zieht man halt eine Regenjacke über. Grüße aus Kiel
@@habicht6 I‘m strange, I know- I actually like Schietwetter…!
@@Metal-never-die1220 und als Waliserin, weh Du bietest mir einen Schirm an! Lol!
Wow, what a amazing project - or shall I say two projects?. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, but I'm already sure that you will succeed. I was just a bit scared you were about to buy that really messy blue car at 3:19 . I am curious to see which of the two projects you will complete first, the successful construction and expansion of the VAN or the number plate statement of "Now Developing" (ND) my UA-cam (YT) channel to 100 k subs. We'll see. 🌞👍🏻
Oh I love your ND version! I am certain the van will long be on the scrapheap, with many many miles more on the clock before I ever get anywhere near 100k!
The blus van smelled so nice, though! It had been a carpenter´s van. The back was clean and the only problems were it was a bit too small, and the engine wasn´t good enough. But it does look shocking on the video! The dealer could not believe I was interested! That´s why he said he wanted the Werkstatt to check the motor first and then said - no! I won´t sell it to you!
@@LaureninGermany Well, this ND version was just my first thought. Speaking in traffic terms (as it is a car's license plate) it could also lead to "Next Destination on the YT road to 100k... And it's nothing to be scared off - sometimes you might need to drive slower as there are potholes or bumps (slow increase of subs), sometimes you even might need to back up (loosing some lost souls) but there also will be times driving fast on the Autobahn (gaining a lot more sub/miles than usual in short time) as we've seen it already in the past. In the end you'll reach it, I'm positive.
@@Opa_Andre that’s so kind of you. You basically just hugged my heart with that comment.
Na dann, allzeit gute Fahrt und viel Spaß auf allen Reisen.
Vielen lieben Dank!!!
Erst einmal herzlichen Glückwunsch zu eurem Ducato und Willkommen in der Familie der Van Lifer.Da habt ihr euch eine große Herausforderung vorgenommen aber es lohnt sich.Nicht alles wird so funktionieren wie ihr das gerne hättet und es wird so manchen Rückschlag geben,aber am Ende des Weges werdet ihr euer Schätzchen lieben und jede Sekunde darin genießen.Also haltet durch und verliert nicht den Mut.Ich drücke euch beide Daumen.
Hallo Klaus! Danke! Ja, ich bremse mich selbst, inzwischen- zuerst habe ich das Ziel, eine Tournee an der Nordsee und Ostsee mit dem Ducato zu machen. Ich dachte, es wäre gut, den Van bereit dafür zu machen und dann zu schauen was fehlt oder besser gemacht sein soll. Da ich immer wieder in Hotels untergebracht sein werde, vielleicht ist das ein guter Anfang. Weil, ja, Du hast recht! Vieles funktioniert nicht so leicht!
@@LaureninGermany Klein Anfangen ist sicher nicht die schlechteste Idee.Falls ihr mal einen Rat braucht,dann frag einfach.Falls ich keine Antwort wissen sollte,dann weis ich aber wo ihr sie finden könnt.
@@klaushohmann1101 perfekt, danke sehr!
I also like travelling by Regionalbahn , the local railway..the slower mode is like meditating and you see creeks and villages ...
Yes! The views from the trains in Germany are wonderful! It always feels so free on the slow trains, doesn’t it?
Great, I just decided to the same way. Good luck with converting it into a camper van.
Are you converting one, too? Or will you get one that’s ready to go?
@@LaureninGermany I had the luck to be able to buy a new ready-to-go which I will pick up next Tuesday.
@@bernhardneef7996 fantastic! That’s the thing- each to their own. And one has to choose the right version for oneself. I wanted to build my own, and for some people that’s not fun!
@@LaureninGermany Yes, you are right Lauren, it will be always a compromise, either DIY or factory-built. You will never have all features you want to have.
@@bernhardneef7996 but you will have wheels and a place to lay your head! That´s the most important - all the other things I hope we can find on the road!
Our "Welsh fairy" has made a new video - thank you. Und die Frisur sieht doch völlig okay aus.
Omg I love that! And fairies have wild hair from all that flying around! Lol
Great video!
Since you've got what to do with the camper, good luck!👍
Thanks, Arno! I’m excited about the possibilities- am Bodensee gibt’s auch tolle Campingplätze, z. Bsp.! Have a lovely Sunday!
@@LaureninGermany Dir auch. Am Bodensee mußt du Plätze buchen, sonst wird es schwer.
@@arnodobler1096 ja, das glaube ich - danke, Arno, ich merke es mir.
Guten Abend!
@@sisuguillam5109 hi Sisu!
Great video as usual Lauren. Thanks for uploading. If you ever change your mind about buying a ruin in France i recommend the UA-cam channel "escape to rural France" .
👍
I‘ll have a look, thanks Hans! I like escapism.
@@LaureninGermany 😄 me too! The channel i mentioned are run by an English man. Dan. He's got more than 430.000 subscribers. Financing his whole project by UA-cam. As a professional builder i cant even Imagine that i have watched every one of his videoes every day for almost a year. It is like Norwegian "slow tv". But more fascinating!
Wow....imagine being able to finance your whoe renovation like that! I had a look, love it. Who knows what the future brings...? How cool, you´re a builder. Houses - wood or which materials? My house is wood, which is unusual for my village. I adore it.
@@LaureninGermany Dan and his wife moved from England to France because they wanted to buy a cheap house. They started with a small house first, then Dan bought the old Chateau. Dan is self taught. He started his first UA-cam channel as a gardener/handyman. I am a carpenter. Most houses in Norway are constructed in wood. In Denmark most houses are built of bricks.
Hach, deine Videos sind immer schön, aber noch schöner wenn Du Lübeck zeigst. ;)
Oh, did I…? I’m sure it was nur per Zufall…
😎😘
@@LaureninGermany schöner Zufall. 😉♥️👍
I`m glad to hear from you that you like Germany so much and that you like living here. But you can really spend wonderful holiday here from north to south Germany and don`t have travel abroad at all. Wales also looks very beautiful. I wish you a lot of fun with your Van. Lovely Greetings from northern Germany.🥰💞👍
Absolutely! I do like to leave the country sometimes, it makes you see everything differently. But everything you could possibly need for a lovely holiday is in Germany! Beautiful greetings up North! 😘
Schleswig-Holstein und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern sind die schönsten Ziele für ein Wohnmobil. Ostsee, baby!!!
Ich hatte nicht gesehen, dass Du es warst, dann lese ich Ostsee baby lol!!! Ich stimme Dir aber voll zu! Rügen stelle ich mir mit dem Camper traumhaft vor! 🤗😘❤️
@@LaureninGermany so! Jetzt heiße ich wieder Carlos. Dann erkennst Du mich auch wieder. ;)
I'll say _this_ much for it. Germany is an _incredibly_ scenic country. And your music complements it _wonderfully._
Thank you so much! Music is really important to me.
Great Great Grandmother came from Nothern Germany.Love the small towns but not the big citys as i was raised in the countryside of South Jersey.Just subbed to watch your adventures.
Wonderful, I´m very happy to have you here! Whereabout was she from? I am in Northern Germany often, and I might know the place, or be able to film there if I am near enough. I´m a country person/small town too. Big cities are ok for a a very short amount of time only.
@@LaureninGermany Hamburg way up on Northern Coast.
@@cliffordfreeman7829 ah- so she was from a big city! You come from special, tough stock. Have you ever been?
@@LaureninGermany No never been there yet.
The video is Great, but the music makes you think of Scottland. Lol
The music is my Celtic soul being really excited! I´m dancing a jig inside!
Hey. Good to see you again. Wow, great projekt in front of you. Exiting. You can spent many hours in there crafting. But in the end you should be happy about the result. Of course you deserve a lot more subscribers. You'll do it.
You are so right- everything takes hours, and I am sooo slow as I don’t know anything! But I try to take one little step at a time and enjoy it. It is exciting, conny!
I'm wishing you good success at refurbishing your van and lots of fun and joy using it. Bon voyage und schöne Erlebnisse!
Thank you so much! I´m very excited!
Great Idea!
Thanks Hilli! I’m so excited!
I so much enjoyed your excitement in your video. Thank You so much for sharing your journey on how you obtained your van and the plans that you have. I am looking forward to seeing your completed project. You are correct, all of Germany is beautiful and I enjoy each region of Germany so much. I am in Bavaria most of the time but even before the pandemic, I was venturing out to the east and north. I can't wait to get back to having more adventures in beautiful Germany. As always, it is great to see you babies (doggies). Again, Thank You for sharing :). BTW, you will get to 100,000 & more with your UA-cam channel I just know it :) !!!! :)
Hey Darion! Yay! Now you know my plans! You see, then it will be easier to be somewhere like the Eibsee!
I do understand though, if you just love the South, why shouldn’t you always go there? It‘s very different in the other parts, but maybe worth a daytrip!
Oh, and I don’t think I‘ll ever get so many subscribers 😂 I can’t imagine that with my videos!
Alles Gute für Euch und viel Spaß beim Ausbau des Fahrzeuges zum Wohnmobil. Es gibt vorgefertigtet Einrichtungen die man nach und nach einbauen kann. Viel Glück und Erfolg im Berufsleben und privat. Übrigens mit deinem Wohnmobil kannst Du sogar nach Amerika und Brasilien fahren ohne Deutschland zu verlassen.
...nach Rußland auch (in Niedersachsen gleich zweimal)...
Echt? Sowie Pohlen? 😆
Ja, ich habe von diesen vorgefertigten Elementen gehört, aber ich weiß nicht, wo man sowas findet. Ich hatte es vergessen- danke für die Errinerung!
@@andreas7937 Wahnsinn! 😆
@@LaureninGermany ich bin Segler und habe kein Wohnmobil. Im Netz und bei YT ist einiges zu finden. Viel Erfolg.
@@W220-v7u Segler?! Das kann ich mir sehr gut vorstellen, wie Du schreibst.
Good luck on van life. Hope the heavy dents and bumbs can be fixed. It might very rusty otherwise.
We´ve sorted most out already, it´s looking good, thank you! I´ll avoid the raindrops...
Thank you for the beautiful background music. It made me feel right at home 🤗
Are you Celtic, too, Elke? Or at heart, anyway?
@@LaureninGermany Oh Lauren, if I tell you the story you will call the men with the straight jackets.-- I tell you anyway: In my former life I used to be the wise woman of a village in Ireland. I lived like a hermit, had healing powers, very lonely but with certain gifts which multiplied in this existance.- I am an empath with psychic abilities and multible clairs. I see, feel, smell, hear the departed and can also predict dangerous events or situations. --And now you can kick me off your channel.😁
That sounds like a lot of work, please keep us updated on the process. Although I am not here for car content, I‘d love to see the progress of your dream car. Take care JP Performance, Lauren‘s coming for your subscribers ;)
Don’t worry, I will still be about travel more than van! I just thought it’s relevant and that people might like to see and share campsite tips with me!
JP Performance- have to look them up!
Hello Lauren, good luck with your van, nice film, I'm from Baveria but know I live in the Philippines.
Thank you! Servus to the Philippines!
Could watch this vid over and over and be it just for the music ♥️
Love your vids anyways though, huesd that's why I subbed.
Aww!! That’s great! I really love this one’s music, too! Honestly, I have to choose the music first, that expresses my feelings- then I make the video on top of it!
I can't wait to get there next concert season.
I´m sure you´ll love it here!
Lauren . maybe you like to Kalifornien or Brasilien ?? all in Schleswig - Holstein on the Baltic Coast ..
Haha! Really?! I must look for those!
👍👍👍 Good Luck with your new project. Wish I was still young enough to do the same, just driving after the nose directs you to. There is so much to discover on the way.
I live in Southern Westfalia, Sauerland, which is close to Hessia. My hometown Menden had a jumelage with Wrexham.
Our area, near Altena, is well known for metallurgical manufacturing, there were even mines in the Sauerland and Siegerland for iron ore and other metals.
There used to be intense trade between our area and Wales during medieval times. Altena has always made the wire for the knitted metal shirts under armours. Except for the seaside, our hill country should show many familiarities.
Maybe you will find the time and occasion to explore this with your camper van . 😻
It sounds fascinating! Thank you. Yes, time flies so fast. But I do see people of all ages getting campervans. Just one little step at a time is key. Have a look at a channel called Peace Love and Om. It’s very inspiring (not all but some!)
0:16 "When I was a teenager, living in Wales, I wanted to renovate a ruined cottage. Originally, I wanted to buy a French Palm House."
You still might, one day. Who knows?
"Then I discovered Italy and thought I would live _there,_ one day."
You still might.
Who knows..? But it would take something extraordinary to get me to leave Germany!
First amazing and beautiful sharing 8:04 enjoy your video ❤❤
Thank you!
Wow! What an adventure! Alles Gute mit dem Projekt! 😊
Thank you! I’m very excited!
What a great idea, it's really cool to see you doing this. An amazing project and I wish you a lot of fun, success and the best of luck. A wonderful way to explore Germany and the world. In Germany there are still so many regions you have to see, that deserve a visit to show you the variety of Germany. The state of Brandenburg for example offers more than a lot of people would expect.
Exactly, Robert! I am hoping to be able to see more this way. I’m always just wanting to get home and not drag my luggage into another guesthouse, when I’m on tour, but the hope is- it’s all ready set up, let’s find a campsite near xyz on the way back, and explore!
@@LaureninGermany
The countries around the Baltic sea are something that i would like to visit, a round-trip is one of my biggest targets on the list. Cities like Danzig, Riga, Tallinn and Helsinki.
@@robertzander9723 Tallin and Helsinki are on my radar- the others I don’t know! I‘ll check them out. Germany is wonderful but it’s always good to broaden your horizons. Makes you appreciate what you have more.
@@LaureninGermany Danzig or Gdansk is a very old Hanseatic city like Lübeck, Hamburg, Rostock or Wismar with Prussian roots.
She is famous for amber and called the golden city on the Baltic Sea.
@@robertzander9723 it sounds wonderful!
Guten Morgen!
Morgen!
If you continue like you do, you will reach the 100K subscibers. Your video's are worth it.
You are SO nice! What a thought… I just love the interaction with everyone here so much, it doesn’t really matter how many of us there are. Hauptsache: solche! ❤
@@LaureninGermany ❤
Great idea to explore Germany this way. I see your new nickame Caravan-Lauren 😊 or Lauren in Germany in a Van😛 Have fun and stay safe! You are a adorable positive sympathic person who deserves 100 000 subscribes. ❣
Thank you so much! I can´t see that happening, but who knows where everything will go?!
Before I retired from a job far away from my home village, I lived some years in a converted ambulance into a camper van. This saved me the expensive monthly rent for a small flat. I don't want to miss this time of freedom, independence and individuality. Good luck, good travel and good coming back home. Greetings from the pitoresque Mosel valley.
Oh wow! How cool of you! I agree totally about rent. I also think in my case that once I have bought it, I don’t need to think about hotel costs any more- I‘ve already spent it, so I might as well travel and enjoy life more. Greetings to the Mosel valley- so beautiful!
1:22 Is this Idstein?
I don‘t know what this is about or why it is like it is, but especially in Thüringen which I know a little from my visits there, has beautiful little towns and cities with old towns almost untouched by world war 2. While in West Germany you can see how the filled up the gaps in the city with ugly functional buildings from the 50th, 60th and 70th, there are also „Bausünden“ in the East, but also you can find more of those old buildings from medieval times or from the Jahrhundertwende. Perhaps East Germany wasn’t as fast with tearing down old buildings to replace them as they were in West Germany.
It is indeed Idstein- look: ua-cam.com/video/M857eEBw5D8/v-deo.html
Yes, I believe in the East they had to build a lot back up after the wall came down, though, as many of these beautiful buildings had fallen into disrepair. In West Germany I think they had to fight to keep the beautiful old buildings at all. You hear of many heritage societies fighting to preserve arwas, like in Hattingen (I also have a video about that gorgeous town).
@@LaureninGermany the reason why eastern germany you find more histrical Bausubstanz is because, the former DDR did not had the same amount of money as western germany had. So the DDR tried to repair or use the ruins too build up where possible, while in west germany, had the money they teared up and builded new. The spirit of the 1950s and 1960s was ugly modern houses. And because the most damged happpend in the biggest cities like Berlin, Frankfurt am Main or Cologne, you can see those ugly buildings there. Nuremberg or Munich wanted to reconstructed the old style. Mayn german cities wanted to be modern in the 1950s and 1960s. Thats the reasos why thse cities are so historical ugly.
WOW!
And owning a camper van, you may even be allowed to travel the Netherlands .... 🤣
I worked in the Netherlands and thought it was lovely - I might well do that!
@@LaureninGermany I only tried to make a joke on the cliche that netherland people always travel with caravans ....
@@pmfx65 oh shoot! I didn’t get it 🤦🏻♀️😆 Of course! I’m obviously under-caffeinated, and over-Mondayed.
Congratulations and the best of luck with your "new" van! I hope everything will go well. I hope you will keep us up to date as you make progress with renovating your vehicle. I'm sure it will be fun, as well as frustrating (now and then). Best wishes - Peter
Yes, the cold weather is already frustrating me, as I can´t complete the next step, insulation! Thank you, Peter!
At 3:06 the transcript (if turned on) says: „it might as well be a farts organ“. Can you please explain this a little more detailled, Lauren?
HAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh my GOD DAVE!!! You turn up, you comment…. And sowas! 😂 🤣 You‘d better subscribe now! 🤣
Ps- we are eating hot muesli right now!
I was among your very first subscribers! ❤
@@DavidPlateGuitar you are a star! It’s a long way to the top if you want to vlog and roll…
Wir müssen uns treffen. Wir bringen unsere Übernachtung mit… bald…
I‘m thunderstruck by your channel! Dirty Vids Done Dirt Cheap! Ride on, Lauren!
@@DavidPlateGuitar 😂 fabulous! I‘ll start my next video: „I’m gonna tell you a story…“
No wonder you needed to rest the other day! Working on the WoMo probably introduced you to muscle groups you hadn't met yet! Congrats! Am at the ready with my Ikeadübel to help out!
You will develop so many new skills during your renovation!
Thüringen is very pretty indeed!
I was using a Imbus thingie and had to think of you, Sisu! Baseball bats, crinolines and Ikeadübel...that´s our friendship equipment... (and a ripped bodice or two)
@@LaureninGermany makes us sound like the unlikely cast of an Austen novel gone Distopia! 😁
I love it!
@@LaureninGermany 😃
Da kann ich ja nur gratulieren, das ist ein tolles Projekt, was Du da in Angriff genommen hast. Ich freue mich jetzt schon auf tolle Reiseberichte von Dir. Ich habe mir angewöhnt jetzt immer wieder mal Kurzurlaube in Deutschland zu machen. Hier gibt es noch so viel zu entdecken, besonders ist jetzt einmal der Osten von Deutschland (Spreewald, Elbsandsteingebirge usw.) an der Reihe. Ich wünsche Dir viel Glück mit Deinem Wohnmobil.
Danke!!! Ich bin sehr gespannt. Nur das Planen macht bereits Spaß!
@@LaureninGermany Das weiß ich aus eigener Erfahrung, dass das Spaß macht. Wir haben mit 4 Mann während unserer Bundeswehrzeit 1966 uns einen Unimog Kastenwagen beschafft und in dieser Zeit dann umgebaut. Die ganzen Kameraden haben alle mitgeholfen, es waren ja fast alle Handwerker. Seitdem treffen wir uns alle Kameraden einmal im Jahr zu einem Treffen. Jetzt sind es leider nur noch 22 Mann.
@@heinzbrommer251 ach bittersüße Erinnerungen. Es war bestimmt fantastisch. Es tut mir leid, dass es jetzt nur noch 22 Mann ist.
@@LaureninGermany Das kann man wohl sagen. Wir Vier haben in diesem zum Wohnmobil umgebauten Wagen unvergessliche Reiseerlebnisse gesammelt. Wir sind quer durch Europa und auch noch Nordafrika mehrere Monate gefahren Davon zehren wir noch heute.
@@heinzbrommer251 Wahnsinn Wahnsinn!!! Wie cool ist das?! Ich schaue mir viele Leute in UA-cam an, die solche Sachen machen. Manche denken, sie seien blöd oder faul, aber ich finde sie sind so clever. Was erleben- die Zeit hier nutzen!
Here's my personal anecdote about the recent popularity of camping in Germany. In the summer of 2021 we were on holiday in a small town on the North Sea coast, and one day we rented a Strandkorb. We were informed, that after a certain time, maybe 6 pm, we were supposed to return the key at the camping grounds office. When we entered the office, the woman inside yelled at us, that they were completely booked out until November and we were just sheepishly standing there and said "We just want to return this key."
That sounds about right 🤦🏻♀️ but it’s not a recent… change in customer service friendliness… in my experience! But how good it must have felt when you said you only wanted to return the key 😆 Go on, tell me… where was it?
@@LaureninGermany The town was called Bensersiel
@@schuechen I know it! I’m often in Dornum and the area.
@@LaureninGermany I think we'll have to go back, because we didn't get to explore the surrounding area as much as we wanted, and the day we booked our trip to langeoog turned out to be very windy 😔We were only at the beach for a few minutes, because the sand was in the air
You are definitely getting more and more German... your way of thinking, your jokes... I can't get enough of your point of view of our beautiful country. Thanks Lauren! ☺
How unbelievably cool! When you find the humour funny- then you have integrated! Thanks Detlef!
@@LaureninGermany You're welcome. I hope you will fall in love with the North of Germany as well... At least here are no obstacles if you want to have a good view (some might call them mountains but for me there are obstacles) 😁
2:11 Erich Kästner (1899-1974): _Ein Bastler ist jemand, der mit völlig unzureichenden Mitteln völlig überflüssige Dinge herstellt._
Oh, ich glaube das stimmt aber nicht ganz, Mr Kästner!
So, do you have a name for your van? I see the sign on the side
" Bosch " for " Robert Bosch co." So I suggest you call him " Robert "
German pronounciation of course. :)
Cheers from Canada
That´s a great idea.... Robert... I do have a name in mind, but I am open for suggestions! Greetings to Canada, how exciting that you watched my little video from there!
@@LaureninGermany or Robby for short. My wife has a Mercedes SUV, she calls it " Karl "
As in Karl Benz.
@@LaureninGermany or Robbie :)
@@LaureninGermany Come on, it's an Italian. If anything, it must be "Roberto"! But there are so many names you could take from Italian operas. ;-)
Everyone is either clueless or mean in Italian operas!
(That might be a complete und inaccurate exaggeration)
Wenn du Zeit hast, solltest du ins Ruhrgebiet reisen...
Da war ich bereits! Gladbeck und Hattingen! Schau in meinen Videos nach, ich war begeistert. ❤️
Sorry, Dear, my parents dragged me to camping in the wilderness of Croatia. I am cured for live. The wife and me prefer 3 to 5 star hotels like castles, monestary etc.. As the wife is no "Hausfrau", I would have to do the cooking cleaning and so on.
Dear be safe and happy.
Elmar from Baden-Württemberg.
I think it’s different when you’re made to do it by your parents! And 5 stars… I don’t encounter enough of those when I travel for work and they are usually not in my budget. So I would rather have my nice clean bedroom with me, instead of staying in the often horrible guesthouses, where I don’t sleep well.
@@LaureninGermany Sorry, dear, I was showing off. We stayed at hotels, owned by the state of Spain, "Paradores", which were transformed in the end 20s into hotels for the rich British tourists. As a consierge said to me"we can not ask the prices the people think it costs, otherwise we would have no guests. But on my honor, we stayed in 3, 4 and one, I think 5 star hotel. It is living history.
I thank you for your videos and your nice stile of telling stories.
Be safe, dear.
Elmar.
If the odo doesn't indicate the distance between sun and earth yet, Ducatos are brilliant drives! Vans in the shaffordable price category always will look terrible, and shaffordable with them still equals an arm and a leg in Germany. I have been looking for one many a time and was shocked every time I did. Dents are better than age related corrosion damage to the body, and vans do corrode much worse than cars.
Exactly- I was looking for ages! That’s why I was soooo happy! We‘ve treated the dents for rust and the rest looks pretty good. Have you found one, yet?
@@LaureninGermany Nope. I binned the idea when I found my Zweispuermopped, A Renault Mégane I convertible. There is enough storage room for a tent in it, so… 🤗
@@zweispurmopped super! You can go anywhere like that!
@@LaureninGermany Indeed! And in dry weather the drive will be part of the event! Me, I am so very spoilt by driving a topless car nowadays! 🤗🤩
@@zweispurmopped it just sounds like freedom!
Hi Lauren, I'm sure you already know that, there are many youtubers out there who describe their van conversions, but imho, one of the best of them is Sven Mammach who converted a very similar Ducato van.
Of course, all depends on how "perfect" you want your van to be, but it always pays off to have a few nice examples of what is possible and how easy or how hard some things are. Though I did more like a Rene Kreher type of conversion of my Combo (and it's still not complete...), I got a lot of ideas from Sven's videos.
Unfortunately, my posts always get deleted when I post links even to this very platform, so you have to put the names in the search field yourself...
Take care!
Thanks, Mogon! I know Sven‘s channel already and I agree with you 100%! I certainly won’t be able to achieve his level of perfection but can take a lot of advice and apply it. Yes, links don’t go through- you wouldn’t believe what people post 😮🙈😆 so they are automatically blocked now 😅
@@LaureninGermany I don't know what "use cases" you have for your van, but maybe a few tips might help identifying them better.
One of the most important things to consider is whether you want to travel in the van in the cold seasons. If you do, insulation is really important, especially for the water tank(s), but also for the van itself. Also, you need heating. From the ease of installation and the price, a Diesel air-heater is probably the best idea. There is the Russian copy of a Webasto heater out there (Autoterm) for about 600 per kit. Works quite well for a reasonable price, but who wants something from Russia now. There is also a Chinese copy now, with E-number and all. It's even cheaper, under 400. The Webasto is in the range of 1200-1500 I think. Gas heating is in the same range, and you need annual or bi-annual checks from TÜV. Also, for that, you need a separate gas compartment, not easy to accomplish without deeper knowledge.
Then, are you planning to stay away from camping sites? If so, there are limits to water supply and energy. If you have a sufficient battery capacity and solar panels, and/or a DC-DC charger (engine charging), that is well possible. Personally, I have become a friend of the Ective Accuboxes. Those are basically power stations with a standard car-battery sized LiFePo4 battery and a 220V inverter. the smallest one is a bit more than 300Eur and is just the box with a 1000W inverter where you just put a standard battery in. The good thing is that you don't have to care much for cables, switches and fuses as that's already in the box, as well as USB plugs and 2 12V car plugs. A reasonable 100Ah/1280 Wh 12V LiFePo4 battery starts at 400. For instance, I got a semi-brand-name battery from Renogy for 376Eur on Black Friday, so you are at 700-800 altogether. Add 200-300 W of solar panels and a MPPT charger for 300-500 Eur, and you can stay off the grid indefinitely. I even have a microwave in my Opel Combo with that setup (a bit over the specifications with 700 W nominal and ~1100W input, but it runs perfectly). It's worth every cent for me. Of course, you can buy one of those expensive power stations from EcoFlow and the like. They have a lot of nice functionality that you will probably never really use, they cost twice as much per Wh, and the batteries cannot be replaced easily. Of course, a full-fledged electrical installation like Sven Mammach made it, is always possible. But it needs more planning, more expertise, more space, and it's not even cheaper. The accuboxes also have great connectivity for 12V through so-called Anderson plugs,. For instance, it would be possible to connect a bigger external inverter if needed. After I realized how easy they make it to use the battery box inside but also outside of the van, I fell in love with them. ;-) Big problem is, at the moment, they are victim to supply chain problems and are not available new, only used. But according to Ective, they will become available again.
Now, water is a problem. Do you want a shower and want to use it every day like me? Warm Water? That's even more complicated than electricity. And above all, how much water do you need on a daily basis? You can use an electric boiler, easy to install. 12V and/or 220V. But either you need a lot of electricity, or they are pretty slow. In my old WoMo, I had heater and boiler through gas (alternatively, there are sets to use the diesel heater with a boiler, check out to the "Tigerexped" website). Worked great, but there are drawbacks. For one, it used too much water. I was down at ten l a day. But I only had a 40 l fresh water tank. So I had to take water with me in extra canisters if I wanted to be independent for a few days. Not very convenient. Also, legionella are a thing if you don't use high enough temperatures in the system and don't disinfect from time to time.
Before I sold my old WoMo and bought the Combo, I tested whether I could live with wash cloths. No, I couldn't, I hate them. So I took 2 of those Aldi plastic bottles for cola and drilled two very small holes into one cap. I filled them with warm water and tried them for showering at home. Surprisingly, that worked. After that, I bought my Combo, and I installed a very flat showering tub behind the driver's seat which is covered under a board during the day so that it doesn't take away much space. I have to sit on a small seat and use a showering curtain, but it works. Instead of bottles, I take a 2 l plant-pump-sprayer, and THAT was the real big discovery. I boil about 0.8 l of water and fill that up to two l. With that, I just spray enough water on my skin, so that I can use shower soap bars (the same stuff as in the plastic bottles but with much less chemical waste in them, look at DM or Rossmann) and then I use the rest of the water to rinse the soap. I only have a 30 l waste water tank, but that's easily enough now. And I don't even need a fresh water tank, I use bottles or fresh water canisters. I feel just as clean and refreshed as with a normal shower. And if I had a big van, it would be even better because of normal standing height.
Cooking can be a problem. If you don't want to use a permanent gas installation like I do, the alternatives are electricity (induction stove or microwave), spirit (used Origo stoves from older WoMos if your local TÜV still accepts them, but expensive), or a mobile gas cooker with flame-out-protection for interior use (Campinggaz Bistro XL, I think, the keyword is "Zündsicherung" or "Stopgaz"), again, if it's accepted. The good thing is that you only need an installed cooker for the re-registration as a WoMo. After that, nobody will ever ask again.
And here comes the big question. Do you want/need a WoMo registration? If you do, check out the requirements with your local TÜV/Dekra *before* you start planning. Especially the cooking part is problematic. They'll usually accept a professional gas installation or a permanent electrical installation. The latter two of the above options, spirit and mobile gas cooker *may* be accepted by the TÜV guys if they are fixed in the van, but unfortunately, there is so much wiggle room in the regulations here that one examiner will accept it and the next one won't. Sometimes, you just need to know the right guy. If you don't need the WoMo registration, like me, everything's fine. ;-) But you should also check with your local TÜV whether they want the car empty for the bi-annual checks. Not sure about your "LKW", but since I have a five-seater, I have to put the seats back every two years before the examination, which is quite annoying. But I knew that before planning, so I planned everything to be easily removable. Have heard some examiners don't demand this, but I haven't found one yet.
By the way, "LKW", if you ever want to tow anything, like a boat, a camper, or anything else, keep in mind that you can't do that with an LKW on Sundays. That's why I had my Combo reregistered as a normal "PKW" as I have a little boat. Welcome to German regulations. ;-)
OK, that was way longer than I wanted to write. Hope there is anything interesting for you. ;-)
@@LaureninGermany Oh, and the most important thing of them all, install a CO detector, especially if you have a gas or spirit cooker, 15 EUR that can save your life. Goes along with a smoke detector, and optionally a CO2 meter. Air in such a small space can get bad very quickly. For a regular re-registration as WoMo, you would have to prove air ventilation of sorts, a hatch (the Ducato even has prepared spots for the hatches, and there are ready-to-use adaptors for any standard hatch) or an active ventilator.
Ah my dear Mogon - firstly I always think you are Welsh, because your name here sounds Welsh for me! But you are definitely German with your sweet and very exact comment! I am touched that you are being so helpful, thank you!
I have read both your comments - don´t worry, I already have a gas detector, (I was going to try out a camper, but the person cancelled, and I decided to get one anyway) and I bought a gas detector already then. And I have already installed a fan and a Heki window in the roof.
I will try to get the WoMo Zulassung. I have bought a little indoor/outdoor camping stove, which works with Kartuschen, which I will screw in, and I am planning on having a wetroom, with a Eccotemp shower, if I can make that work. I want to try some things first, and see if they are good enough before I spend too much money unnecessarily.
I will definitely look into the Accboxes, thanks. I think I will need more power eventually than I have planned for the first trip, but if I can manage I think after a two week trip, I will know much more! I think I´ll feel safer on campsites, but if I make to Scandanavia... well, maybe I´ll surprise myself and go wild!
@@LaureninGermany Yep, trying out what you need and what not is very helpful in this area. That's why I only switched to my Combo *after* testing my minimal water requirements. ;-) The hatch was also the first thing I installed. It's very liberating to saw off pieces of your vehicle, right? ;-)
Mogon is the Celtic god my native city of Mainz took its name from, so yes, we are kind of fellow Celts. ;-)
The interesting Accubox is the Accubox Xs, the one with the inverter but where you are free to put in whatever battery you like. The bigger ones with in-built battery are pretty expensive, and I don't really know how easy it would be to replace an old battery, though that shouldn't happen too often with a LiFePo4 (I have an aversion against anything where you can't replace batteries, I even don't buy mobile phones where you can't do that easily. I hate planned obsolescence...).
The Eccotemp showers are nice but I think they need a minimum water flow, so I would check the numbers from the specs and then try at home how long you would need to shower with that same throughput and how much water that is. With 4 l/min, your water tank can drain pretty fast. Another problem with that is that it's a flow heater, which is ok if you have a constant throughput, but maybe less convenient if you want to preserve your water and turn it off inbetween or if it falls under the minimum throughput threshold. Prepare for Kneipp-Kur moments. ;-) In most motorhomes, they usually install boilers for that reason, mostly 6 or 10 l. Also, I'm pretty sure the Eccotemp needs a permanent gas installation if you want the motorhome registration. Actually, it's completely illegal to have a gas installation in the vehicle without TÜV approval afaik. At least it can be an insurance problem if something happens.
Just as an idea, you could take a look at the Obelink website and check for boilers. They have a collection of different ones from Truma to Elgena, with gas as well as with 12V/220V. For the Eccotemp, you need an electrical pump or even a pressurised system anyway.
From one Celt to another, have fun with your motorhome!
P.S. Consider France as well for travelling. If you think motorhomes were a German domain, you've never been in France. ;-) They have much better infrastructure there...
lauren: in all my comments, i gave you in the past, i was every second so positive and behind your attitude. i understand you well, i tried to give you positive vibes, invited you for talking or going on a quick boat trip to weltenburg in spring.
not you alone, with your husband.
getting to know each other and talking about potential projects.
well, you decided to step back and your only reply was: germany made me...
lauren, you might be my age, i tell you one thing: i am not representing germany, just a one german man being accidentially have been born in this country. if you dare to discuss this, then i am not the right person.
i tried to hold you, keep up and support - all i've got was: this is what germany makes me.
good luck.
baerenkinder
i m so sick and mad about your answer last time, i think i sleep over it, before i say one wrong word.
You must stop watching my videos. I do not have any relationship with you. I will not meet you. Your comments are threatening and inappropriate. I will report you to the police if you continue to harass me. This is my last comment to you.
Ich habe die kulturellen Unterschiede in Europa immer geliebt und genossen. Auch mit fremder Währung zu zahlen war spaßig. Wir sollten uns jeglichem Einheitsbrei widersetzen
Absolut, wir können trozudem als Menschen uns gegenseitig respektieren und unterstützen, ohne dass alles gleich sei.
Dont get stolen in Polen😊
Naughty....!
Vergiss den Westen nicht 🥺 hier ist es auch schön. Vor allem die linke Rheinseite ❤
OMG ich habe so ein schlechtes Gewissen weil ich es nicht erwähnt habe! Irgendwie ist es für mich selbstverständlich! Schau nach, ich war in Goch, Hatteningen, Idstein (zeige ich auch im Video!)
@@LaureninGermany Alles gut 😁 aber der Südniederrhein und das Ahrtal sind auch eine Reise wert 😉
@@CavHDeu beide kenne ich nicht! Danke!
@@LaureninGermany der südliche Niederrhein ist das Gebiet um Mönchengladbach, da wo es das leckere Altbier gibt und das Ahrtal kann nach der schweren Flutkatastrophe 2021 jeden Gast gebrauchen. Es wird noch Jahre dauern bis es mal wieder so schön ist wie früher, aber es ist dort immernoch sehr schön.
Von Koblenz aus die Mosel hoch Richtung Trier, über Cochem, Zell, Traben-Trarbach, Bernkastel.
Pohlen 😂
I know, right 🤣
@@LaureninGermany there are many funny german towns name. some are even a bit "dirty" 😉