It’s travel season, so I’m getting a lot of questions about money exchange in Germany. Cash is still king in Germany! Around 80% of all transactions happen with CASH, so you should get used to walking around with bills. Changing money used to be a hassle… long lines at money changers who charged high fees. Today, getting Euros, the currency…
Author: karenanne
Bremerhaven Tourist Attractions- What to See in Bremerhaven
When I learned I was going to Bremerhaven, I was a little bit concerned. After all, Bremerhaven has a reputation for just being a working class city with a big port. (Sort of like Oakland, California). Many years ago I visited Bremerhaven, and at the time, it didn’t leave much of an impression (unless you like boats). But now I…
The Biergarten- A Bavarian Cultural Essential!
With the rise in popularity of craft beers, there has been a notable increase in the number of Biergarten around the world. But are they Biergarten? Or Beer Gardens? Is it just a spot next to a brewery with tables? Is it a patio carved out next to a bar? What is a Biergarten? And what makes them so special?…
Kaltschale Recipe – Chilled Fruit Soup for Hot Days
When I was growing up in Southern California, my Mother would make a cool and delicious “beat the heat” meal: Kaltschale, a Chilled Fruit Soup. The soup wasn’t dessert. It was the meal. And so refreshing. Over the past few days, we’ve experienced a heat wave in my part of the world, and I’ve started craving this cold and satisfying…
What was Peasant Life Like? Our Daily Bread: German Village Life 1500-1850
Our Daily Bread: German Village Life, 1500-1850 Most history books give you plain facts… you learn about wars, you learn who was king, and where the borders changed. What you don’t usually get, is what was it LIKE to be a peasant and have battles raging around you? To actually struggle to feed a family? What was German Village life…
St Paulus Dom in Münster- A Small Cathedral with an AMAZING Clock
Unfortunately, the St Paulus Dom Münster seldom makes it onto anyone’s must-see bucket list. It’s just not very big (compared to the Cologne Cathedral, it’s downright small). And, it has a lot of competition in Münster! As churches go, it takes second place to the much more famous Lamberti Kirche. (Face it, cages hanging off of the spire will lure…
Father’s Day In Germany- It’s NOTHING like American Father’s Day!
Germany is proof that fathers in Germany have it figured out. Think about it. On Mother’s Day, you get a card, a messy kitchen, and some flowers. In Germany, Fathers spend the day walking around in groups, drinking while pulling a Bollerwagon full of beer, wine, Schnapps, and grillable snacks. And! Since Father’s Day (Herrentag or Männertag) always falls on…
Deutsches Auswanderer Haus or Emigration Museum Bremerhaven
Wohin und Warum (Where to? And Why?) are the words that greet you in my favorite room at the Auswanderer Haus or Emigration Museum Bremerhaven. Known as the Gallery of the 7 Million, it is FILLED with names and stories. This room is a treasure trove of history, and it’s only a fraction of what you can see and experience…