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,…
Author: karenanne
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…
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…
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…
Roman Limes in Germany – Borders of the Roman Frontier
Cover photo by Michael Graber used with permission The first time I saw the words, “Germanic Limes”, I immediately flashed to those tart green citrus fruits… but I couldn’t have been further from reality. The Roman Limes in Germany are remnants of border fortifications from the days when Germanic Tribes and Roman Troops were keeping a sharp eye on each…
German Basic Law – 75th Anniversary of the Grundgesetz
“The state is there for the sake of people, not people for the sake of the state.” I’ve been thinking a lot about the Constitution and how it compares to German Basic Law. Until the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) went into effect on May 23, 1949, Germany was still a divided, occupied country under martial law. How much did the…
German S’mores! Why NOT play with your Food?
German S’mores are what happens when I’m alone in the kitchen and craving the flavors of childhood. To be perfectly honest, and because I know lots of people will point this out, German S’mores aren’t a real thing. But I think they should be, and now, they CAN be! When I was a child growing up here in the US,…