How did a warehouse district manage to get UNESCO Status? Well, the Speicherstadt Hamburg is incredibly photogenic. Rows of neo-Gothic brick warehouses tower over the water and are connected by bridges (fun fact: Hamburg has more bridges than Venice). But it’s more than just how it looks. Think of the Speicherstadt Hamburg as a city within a city. A customs-free…
Author: karenanne
Old World Village in Huntington Beach- A slice of Bavaria in California
Just 10 minutes from one of Orange County’s famous surfing spots, you’ll find the Old World Village in Huntington Beach. This special enclave of shops and restaurants was conceived and built in the late 1970s by Josef and Dolores Bischof to transport guests and residents to a Bavarian Village. Today, the cobblestoned streets, muraled buildings, flower baskets, and, of course,…
Germany and Coffee- Coffee Culture and History of German Coffee
“Komm, lass uns einen Kaffee trinken“… words I’ve heard my whole life. Come on, let’s drink a coffee. Mornings before a big day, the middle of the afternoon on a shopping trip, or just while sitting and chatting. Germany and coffee go hand in hand. Germans might actually drink more coffee than beer. They certainly import more coffee than any…
What is a Radler? – The History of a Drink Named for a Cyclist
I realize that this might be considered blasphemy, but I’m not much of a beer drinker. I just never developed a taste for it (apparently, I make an “eeewww” face from the bitter flavor when I drink it). And soda is just too sweet to be refreshing. Fortunately, an innkeeper in Deisenhofen, Germany, came up with a solution when he…
Dirndls from Rare Dirndl – Tradition with Modern Flair
My One-of-a-Kind Dirndl from Rare Dirndl My mother was visiting when the big box from Rare Dirndl arrived. She couldn’t wait to see what was inside, so we tore off the wrapping… and then I lifted the lid and pulled back the tissue. Inside was my special one-of-a-kind Dirndl from Rare Dirndl. Over the years I’ve purchased a few Dirndls,…
Titan-RT! Crossing the Longest Suspension Bridge in Germany
After spending time touring old buildings in Quedlinburg, it was time for adventure. Time for the Titan RT! Now, I don’t do well with heights. All the symptoms, shakes, sweats, nausea, wash over me in a wave. So, what was I doing on the longest suspension bridge in Germany? My fearless partner convinced me it “would be fun”. (Keep in…
Oktoberfest Party Ideas- Plan An Oktoberfest Party!
Even if you can’t make it to Munich, you can still celebrate! Plan an Oktoberfest Party at home with these Oktoberfest Theme Party Ideas! All you need is beer, food, music, and some fun Oktoberfest party supplies/ decorations to get everyone in the mood! You can go big! Rent a tent, hire a band, and tap a keg or two. Or…
German Slippers July 4th Sale! 25% off Sandals & Slippers
Happy July 4th! To celebrate, German Slippers is offering 25% off all Slippers and Sandals. Whether it’s hot or cold where you are, you’ll find the perfect slipper or sandal at GermanSlippers.com . They stylish and comfortable sandals incredibly “in” right now. Wear them with shorts, or even a dirndl! And the breathable wool slippers keep your feet warm, while…
Surfing in Munich -Landlocked Munich becomes a Surfing Mecca!
Things you expect to see in Munich- Beer, Lederhosen, churches, Biergarten. But, unless you’ve been clued in, you don’t expect to see surfing in Munich. Munich might be 300 miles from the nearest Ocean, but that doesn’t stop expert surfers from carving through the waves. It turns out, a manmade wave in an arm of the Isar on the edge…
Prime Day Deals for your German-American Home
It’s Amazon Prime Day/s, which means some interesting deals on all sorts of amazing products. I did some digging, and it turns out, Amazon has loads of Prime Day deals for your German American Home! Knives, a Spätzle maker, a Raclette oven, Brotzeit boards, language learning tools, Travel Adaptors, Puzzles, and more. Check out the assortment of goodies I found…