Bamberg needs to be on your “to visit” list. After years of hearing stories about the beautiful city from my father, who was stationed there in the 60’s, I finally had the opportunity to visit while on a Beer Tour. I’m so glad I did! We were there to sample the famous smoked beer, but there are many other things…
Author: karenanne
What is Reifendrehen- Making Toys at the Seiffen Freilicht Museum
Before our trip to Seiffen, my friend Richard told me, “Do NOT MISS the Reifendrehen.” I was confused; what is Reifendrehen? Wheel turning? Do people in Seiffen watch wheels spinning? Reifendrehen is a special technique for making toys and other small objects known mainly to Seiffen and the surrounding area of the Erzgebirge. When the local mountains no longer produced…
Rüdesheim Coffee Recipe – Make Rüdesheimer Kaffee at HOME
One of my favorite souvenirs this summer was a Rüdesheim Coffee Recipe. Rüdesheim on the Rhine is best known for the many Wein Stuben that line the Drosselgasse. But wine isn’t the only popular Beverage in town. Since 1957, Rüdesheimer Kaffee, generously flavored with Asbach Uralt, has been lifting the spirits of tourists and locals alike. So, naturally, when my…
German Apple Pancake Recipe- Apfelpfannekuchen
My mother made Eierkuchen for us quite often when we were children. We usually ate them with Jam or Nutella. On special days, she would make this extra delicious Apfelpfannekuchen or German Apple Pancake Recipe. Swoon It’s essentially the same recipe as Eierkuchen (German Pancakes), BUT there are slices of apple cooked into the pancake. So good. Top with a…
German Beer Brewing Witches? The Dark History of Women Brewers
Did our current image of witches (pointy hat, broom, cat, cauldron) come from Medieval female Beer Brewers? Did German Witches Brew Beer?? Were female brewers WITCHES? Or were they victims of worldwide hysteria? There has been some interesting speculation lately, so I wanted to share the bits and pieces I found. After all, Germany does have plenty of witch stories……
Belonging by Nora Krug – A German Reckons with History and Home
Now and then, a book comes along, and my first reaction is, “I wish I had written this.” Belonging by Norah Krug is one of those books. The book pulled me in from the first section because it was so relatable. I tore through the book in 2 afternoons. “Belonging, A German Reckons with History and Home” is not your…
Stolen Treasure of Quedlinburg- An International Treasure Hunt
These days, the treasure room of the Collegiate Church of St Servatius in Quedlinburg is kept dark, with low lights mainly reflecting off of the gold and jewel-encrusted books and containers. (It’s the kind of room where people whisper.) But it wasn’t so long ago when the rooms were empty, and the stolen treasure of Quedlinburg left a gaping hole.…
Freimarkt in Bremen- A Market and Fair with 1000 years of History
Most people have heard about Oktoberfest in Munich, but it’s not Germany’s only big Fall Festival. The Freimarkt in Bremen, which starts the second week of October, attracts over 4 million people yearly over its 17 days! What is the Bremen Freimarkt? This 1000-year-old festival is the largest in Northern Germany. Although it started as a “Free Market“, meaning that…
Castle Frankenstein in Germany- A Castle Swirled in Mystery and Legend
In 2019, my partner joined my daughter and me in Germany. Since he had never been to Germany before, and because I have a strange sense of humor, AND because Frankenstein was my daughter’s favorite book when she was younger, we decided to take him straight from Frankfurt Airport to the Frankenstein Castle. It was a beautiful Summer’s day (still…
What is a Froebel Star – German Paper Folded Christmas Stars
While researching Moravian Stars (aka Herrnhuttersterne), I came across sweet little folded German paper stars. While they didn’t look like the pointed Moravian stars, although that’s what many resources called them. In Germany, they are called Fröbelsterne or Froebel Stars. (Other names for the folded stars: German Star, Advent Star, Danish Star, Nordic Star, Polish Star, Pennsylvanian Star, Christmas Star,…