Tag: Europe
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Oberammergau, Germany: Woodcarvings, Bavarian Attire, and the Passion Play
For the next few months, we’ll be hanging our warmest hats in Oberammergau, a town located in Germany’s Alps. Oberammergau is most celebrated for its Holzschnitzer (woodcarvers), colorful frescoes (Lüftlmalerei), and Passion Play. This theatrical production is held every ten years. Some residents in Oberammergau still occasionally wear feather-adorned, green wool hats; custom-tailored Lederhosen; or Dirndls…
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Pumpkins, Proceratosaurus, and a Palace: Perusing the World’s Largest Pumpkin Festival
The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival (Kürbisausstellung Ludwigsburg) feels like a quirky fairy tale. The setting is an 18th-century Baroque palace, and each year, the festival has a different theme. Over the years, organizers have paid homage to undersea critters, dinosaurs, and even Switzerland (where I imagine there might have been timepieces fashioned out of pumpkins). The…
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A Toast to Munich’s Oktoberfest
“Ein Prosit, ein Prosit, Der Gemütlichkeit. Ein Prosit, ein Prosit, Der Gemütlichkeit.” A traditional German beer drinking song wishing good health and cheer to companions. I was first exposed to Germany’s Oktoberfest culture when I was eight years old. During a whirlwind trip to Munich, my parents’ German friends whisked us away to what seemed like every famous city landmark.…
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Photo du Jour: Strolling Silhouette – Prague
Prague is, without a doubt, one of my favorite European cities, thanks to its incredible blend of architectural styles, its sweeping views, and its intriguing history. As a child, our dear family friend and my first piano teacher, Erna, shared fascinating tales of what life was like in Prague in the 1930s. These anecdotes about…
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Vivacious Venice: The Third Time’s a Charm
It is often said that the third time’s a charm… Though I don’t believe that even the most hapless travel endeavor could ever be classified as a failure — since the opportunity to learn about oneself or the world is too great — my third visit to Venice was nevertheless the most enchanting. My first…
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Photo du Jour: Peep Hole Overlooking Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik, Croatia is seen through an ancient wall’s peep hole. The walled city is often referred to as “Pearl of the Adriatic,” and it’s no wonder why, given the city’s commanding views and strategic location. The city’s economy was once based on maritime trade.
