I love when my visit to Germany falls into Asparagus Season. Germans take White Asparagus very seriously, to the point where you might consider it mania! Restaurant menus offer special Spargel Karten (Asparagus Menus), and you can taste it prepared in dozens of dishes. When I tasted Kräuterpfannekuchen mit Schinken und Spargel (Herb Pancakes with Ham and Asparagus) in the…
Author: karenanne
Burg Maus- The Perfect Setting for a Mystery! Guest Post by Rachel Selle
Thanks so much to Rachel Selle, author of “Mystery at Castle Mouse” for writing this guest post to share the fascinating history of Burg Maus on the Rhine! (I do love when someone does my job for me). Enjoy the post… and then check out Rachel’s book series “The European Adventures” available in English AND German. Rachel gave a reading…
Underground in the Erzgebirge- An Abenteuer Bergwerk Mine Tour
sI’ve avoided dark underground spaces like caves and mines for most of my life. (The walls feel like they close in… brrrr) So why was I suiting up in a slicker and hard hat to tour a mine? Because THIS special mine is in the Erzgebirge. In previous posts, I’ve written about the Christmas decorations and toys, like Pyramids, Nutcrackers,…
The Nebra Sky Disc & the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle
The Nebra Sky disc captivated me the first time I saw a photo of it. While it looks like a simple blue disk with golden circles and crescents, the bronze disc reflects the heavens in a very specific way. I had the opportunity to see it in person at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, Germany. Fabulous. The breathtaking…
Wartburg Castle Tour- Wartburg Castle in Eisenach Germany
The Venn Diagram of reader recommendations and travel plans overlapped neatly this year, meaning I could put the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach on the itinerary. And I’m so glad. The Wartburg Castle Tour takes you on a journey through history from the 11th century to the end of the 19th century. There are rough and ready rooms for knights, as…
What is a Kaffeeklatsch? Therapy with laughter and Coffee
Americans missed out on a good thing by not adopting the “Kaffeeklatsch”. Honestly, meeting friends at Starbucks for a sippy cup of coffee on a tiny table just isn’t the same thing. Kaffeeklatsch, where friends come together for coffee and maybe some cake, and (esentially) a good conversation, is a lovely way to spend a few hours. In Germany, the…
Burning Beethoven: The Eradication of German Culture in the United States during World War I
I get messages all the time from people lamenting the lack of German shops and Restaurants, worries from readers because the German clubs are getting fewer, sadness from people wondering why German isn’t taught in their schools, regret that they never learned the language from parents or Grandparents, and that it was even “forbidden” in the home. I understand it’s…
Spreewald Kahnfahrt and a Visit to the Open-Air Museum in Lehde
South and slightly east of Berlin you’ll find one of Germany’s more unusual UNESCO sites, the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve. Formed during the last Ice Age, this inland delta of the Spree River, crisscrossed by 200 water channels and streams through bog land, forest, and meadows, is home to a group of traditional Sorbs or Wends, whose families have been making…
How to Apply to German Universities- Resources and Tips for a Successful Application
Studying abroad is a life changing experience. It opens our eyes to the rest of the world, and allows us to experience living in another place outside our regular comfort zone. And for many students.. it’s just flat out cheaper than studying at an American University. But getting over that first hurdle, trying to figure out How to Apply to…
Suppengruen- A Flavor Base for German Cooking
You’ll find an ingredient set at the base of every culture’s cuisine that adds a specific flavor profile to many dishes. This building block sets up a solid base for other ingredients. It’s seldom the star of the show, but the dish wouldn’t be right without it. In German cooking, this base is known as Suppengrün or Suppengemüse. A trio…