A Business Traveler’s Unexpected Journey with Travel Bloggers

By Dirk Ebener - October 7, 2025

I never imagined that a routine corporate trip to Frankfurt would completely transform the way I see the world, or the way I move through it.

There I was, suitcase in hand, arriving a day early before a trade show. I had come to Germany not only to represent my company at the annual global logistics summit but also to squeeze in moments of quiet exploration, review a few local restaurants, and maybe, if time allowed, post another entry on my food and travel blog—an outlet that, until recently, lived mostly in the shadow of spreadsheets and boardroom briefings.

The plan was straightforward: roam Sachsenhausen’s cobbled streets, seek out a welcoming Apfelweinwirtschaft, savor a plate of pork schnitzel or currywurst, and let my notebook and camera lead me. Yet, fate—and shared curiosity—pulled me into an unforeseen world where cuisine, freedom, and storytelling intertwined.

A Chance Encounter Over Apfelwein and Pretzels

It all began on a busy Saturday morning at Kleinmarkthalle, Frankfurt’s bustling indoor market that has been feeding the city since the 1950s. With its butcher stalls, spice counters, and international flavors, it captures the city’s diversity in one hall. I had just settled into a stall with a glass of freshly poured Apfelwein and a warm, salted pretzel when I noticed a couple at the next table. Their bench was crowded with camera gear—a DSLR, a drone case, and a gimbal.

They weren’t just shoppers; they were storytellers. Their laughter carried over the market chatter, and when the man caught sight of my open notebook, he leaned over.

“You a writer?” he asked in a friendly Australian accent.

“Part-time,” I admitted. “Mainly food and travel. But mostly spreadsheets during the day.”

The woman smiled knowingly. “A business traveler who blogs? That’s rare.

Most people we meet are either corporate through and through or fully nomadic. You’re living in both worlds?”

And that was how I met Amelia and Jack—semi-professional travel bloggers from Melbourne, slow-traveling their way across Europe. What began as casual small talk over pretzels soon turned into the beginning of something transformative.

Business-Class Meets Backpacker Mentality

That afternoon, I joined them for a walking tour they were filming in Frankfurt’s historic center. I traded my business blazer for sneakers and a canvas backpack I have used on most of my international blogger trips.

We crossed the Eiserner Steg (Iron Footbridge), its locks glinting above the Main River, before stepping into the medieval charm of Römerberg Square. Surrounded by timber-framed houses painstakingly rebuilt after World War II, it was a reminder that Frankfurt’s story is one of resilience. Just around the corner stood the Goethe House, birthplace of Germany’s most celebrated writer, where you can almost hear whispers of Faust. While I had planned to tick off a few sights on my own, seeing Frankfurt through Amelia and Jack’s eyes was different—less checklist, more connection.

They weren’t after Michelin stars or sleek modern bistros. They wanted rustic taverns where locals clinked glasses of Apfelwein and debated football or politics louder than the accordion music in the background. They celebrated small bites: slices of Handkäse mit Musik (a pungent regional cheese with onions), sausages from a Konstablerwache vendor, or roasted almonds sold in paper cones along the Zeil.

Through them, I rediscovered something I had been missing: the raw, unpolished heart of travel.

Frankfurt: A City of Contrasts

The next few evenings revealed more of Frankfurt’s cultural layers. One moment, we admired the skyline from the riverside—the “Mainhattan” of Europe, its financial towers glittering against the sky. Next, we ducked into Sachsenhausen’s narrow lanes, where cobblestones led to dimly lit taverns. It was as if two Frankfurts coexisted: one of global finance, the other of timeless tradition.

Amelia and Jack were fascinated by how a city known for banks and business could also embrace simple pleasures: sipping apple wine in a clay Bembel, tasting Frankfurter Rippchen with sauerkraut, or watching rowers on the Main at sunset. For me, who had always come here for conferences, this contrast was eye-opening. Frankfurt wasn’t just a hub—it was a heartbeat.

Shifting Gears: When Routine Meets Wanderlust

Over the next few days, I toggled between two distinct worlds.

By morning, I wore crisp suits and spoke on supply chain resilience, digital freight, and international project management at Messe Frankfurt’s sprawling halls. I shook hands, exchanged business cards, and operated in the structured rhythm of corporate life.

By evening, I became an inquisitive explorer—sharing Grüne Soße and boiled eggs at a tavern, or framing the skyline from Alte Oper as violinists played nearby.

The pace left me both drained and electrified. My blog drafts morphed from tidy reports into unfiltered reflections—on unexpected kindness, the quiet joy of solo meals, and the magic of sharing tables with fellow wanderers.

Lessons from the Road Less Linear

One night, over plates of Rindswurst and mugs of apple wine, our conversation turned reflective.

“For us,” Amelia said, “travel isn’t about rushing from one landmark to another. It’s about letting a city reveal itself slowly.”

Jack added, “We’re not tourists; we’re learners. We stay, we listen.”

I nodded, realizing how different my rhythm was. Business travel often meant condensed experiences—squeezing culture into evenings or weekends. But maybe that wasn’t a limitation. Maybe it was a gift.

“Business travel,” I offered, “teaches you to find depth in small windows. To find meaning in a single dish, a short walk, or a fleeting conversation.”

They both agreed. And that moment reframed everything for me: my trips weren’t “less.” They were uniquely mine.

The Travel Blogger Within

On our last day together, Amelia and Jack invited me to film a segment for their channel: How Business Travelers Can Travel Like Locals. They asked me about eating authentically near convention centers, using short breaks wisely, and finding inspiration even between meetings.

In return, they gave me a crash course in editing basics, blog SEO, and the art of quick storytelling on Instagram Reels.

We laughed, fumbled through translations at a bustling sausage stand, and forged a connection in that brief but profound way that only travel can spark.

A Changed Perspective

On the flight home, notebook open on my tray, I found myself skipping the usual notes on logistics panels and networking. Instead, I began a story about the magic of crossing paths—and how those moments can quietly change us.

I realized that travel isn’t about the length of stay, nor the style of journey. It’s about openness—to taste, to connect, to let the unexpected happen.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Balance Is Possible

   Even on corporate trips, you can explore if you embrace curiosity and intentionally make space for discovery alongside your work responsibilities.

2. Human Connection Is the Heart of Travel

   Whether it’s colleagues at a summit or strangers in a market, people define the journey.

3. Be Open to Unexpected Detours

   Some of the best memories begin with a pretzel and a shared table.

Final Thoughts: Blogging With a New Voice

Back home, I overhauled my blog. My next post wasn’t “Top 5 Frankfurt Dishes Near the Convention Center.” Instead, I called it: Frankfurt: Where Work Meets Flavor

It was honest and unguarded, a departure from my usual structured posts. Yet readers connected with it deeply. Some even wrote to say it had changed how they viewed work travel.

As for Amelia and Jack—we’ve stayed in touch. Maybe we’ll meet again, perhaps in Tokyo or Buenos Aires. And maybe I’ll be their “business traveler guest star” once more.

But wherever it happens, I’ll bring my notebook, my appetite, and this new way of seeing the world.

Because once you realize travel is less about schedules and more about serendipity, you find a new rhythm—one that blends duty with delight, purpose with play.

And you dance to it, one story at a time.

Dirk Ebener is the founder and creator behind the Food Blogger Journey website, drawing on over 40 years of international travel across more than 60 countries. His global adventures have deepened his understanding of regional cuisines, local customs, and the powerful connection between food and culture. From bustling street markets in Asia to quiet vineyard dinners in Europe, Dirk captures authentic culinary experiences through immersive storytelling. Through Food Blogger Journey, he invites readers to explore the world one dish at a time.

© 2025 Food Blogger Journey. All rights reserved. The experiences, opinions, and photos this blog shares are based on personal travel and culinary exploration. Reproduction or distribution of content without written permission is prohibited.

Follow the journey on Instagram @FoodBloggerJourneys.

Hashtags for Sharing

#BusinessTravelerLife #TravelBloggersUnite #FrankfurtStories #FoodAndTravelJourney #DigitalNomadsMeet #SlowTravelVibes #AuthenticTravel #WorkLifeWanderer #SerendipityInTravel #foodbloggerjourneys