You are traveling along in Germany, and suddenly, on the side of the railroad tracks, there is a cluster of fenced-in tiny houses surrounded by small gardens. Are these actual homes? Is it a campground for seasonal workers? Is this where the Garden Gnomes live when they aren’t in your garden?? These little plots of land are called Schrebergarten or…
Author: karenanne
Berlin Food Tours- One City, a World of Tasty Food!!
One of my favorite things about visiting Germany is the Food. The bread, the sausage, the Souvlaki, the Sushi… Sound odd? But the BEST “ethnic” foods I’ve ever eaten were in Germany. As you can see from the image above, the city with the what has to be the most diverse restaurants in one small place is Berlin. Something about…
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson- My Review
“In the Garden of Beasts” refers to the Tiergarten in Berlin (which translates to Animal Park or Beast Garden). Much of the book takes place around this beautiful park, once the hunting ground for the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm, the Grosse. In the 1930s, the Reichstag, the US Embassy, the Brandenburg Gate, and Görings “city house” were nearby. The Tiergarten…
Dirndl Jewelry- German Style Jewelry for German Fests or Everyday
We are headed into German Festival Season… Maifests, Germanfests… and the king of all German Festivals … OKTOBERFEST! Whether or not you wear a Dirndl, it’s always fun to wear Dirndl Jewelry. Necklaces, chokers, bracelets or earrings can help you express your personal style… and show off your love for Germany! There are simple styles, and more elaborate statement pieces…
Symbolism of Maiglöckchen, Germany’s Lily of the Valley
On May the first, or Maitag, and throughout the month, you will see Maiglöckchen or Lily of the Valley everywhere you look. Flower shops sell bouquets and small posies. You will see images on cards, and people love to give them as a special sweet-smelling token of happiness, joy, and love. What made these little bell shaped flowers such an…
Visit the DDR Museum Berlin- An Interactive Museum of East Germany
Perhaps it’s because I loved the TV show Deutschland 83 and the film Goodbye Lenin, or maybe it’s because I’m forever haunted by the thought that a city can be divided by a Wall. It could even be the wild wallpaper, but the DDR Museum in Berlin ranks among my favorite German museums. This little hands-on museum offers a fascinating…
Aldi German Week- Searching for German Food in an American Aldi
I’m always getting messages and comments about how someone could get something from Aldi US… or NOT get something from Aldi US. For years, I didn’t live near an Aldi. My only Aldi experience until recently was in Aldi, Germany. HOWEVER! Wonder of wonders… my visit to my parents in Southern California, fell at the same time as Aldi German…
German Kinder Eggs- Delicious Chocolate Eggs with a Toy Inside
Seldom has a simple candy caused so much joy and so much frustration at the same time. German Kinder Eggs were such a HUGE part of my childhood. We loved getting those fabulous eggs made from smooth and sweet Kinder Chocolate, and as a bonus, there was a capsule inside containing a cute little toy that we could put together!…
The Best Currywurst in Berlin? What is Currywurst? And where to FIND it!
It’s not a shock, if you are looking for the best Currywurst Berlin is the place to go. After all, Currywurst was invented in Berlin… and there is a currywurst stand on every other corner. There is even a Berlin Currywurst Museum! On my last visit I tried as many as I could (in the name of science, you…
My Week in Berlin- Museums, Currywurst, and a LOT of Cake!
My daughter spent a semester as an Exchange Student in Berlin, and I decided it would be a good time to visit. Let me begin by saying… A Week in Berlin is not enough time to see/do/experience and EAT everything I wanted to. But! I’m proud to say that we did give it a try, and we managed to squeeze…