Fasching, Fastnacht, Karneval – whatever it’s called in your region of Germany – is such a fun time of year. For me, as an American, it’s like Halloween and Mardi Gras all wrapped up into one. And although there are actually way more events that go along with Fasching than just the parade, it is probably the event most people are familiar with. But a parade is a parade, right? In some ways, yes, but there are some things it can be helpful to know about before going to your first Fasching parade, as well as tips and tricks to enjoy it like a German. Be Ready for a Few…
How to Make the Most of Your Visit to the Vulkan Brauerei
It’s no secret that Germany is the land of beer; although, they are neither the world’s largest consumer nor producer of beer as many people might assume. (False German stereotype #1 = officially squashed!) But they do take their beer very seriously, and I think that’s where a lot of the associations between Germans and beer come from. I think breweries especially take a lot of pride in their work and their creations. Here in the Eifel, most people know the Bitburger brewery, but there are actually a number of other – smaller – regional breweries that can be found in the Eifel. One of those breweries, Vulkan Brauerei, even…
The Weirdest Thing I’ve Learned About Germans
I’m pretty sure most people are familiar with the general stereotypes about Germans: they’re punctual, they don’t like small talk, they stare, etc. After living in Germany for a few years now, and being married to my German husband, I’ve learned a little bit about which stereotypes hold true and which are just totally wrong. But no stereotype ever prepared me for the most random thing I’ve learned about Germans. They freaking love cowboys and Indians. How in the world more people don’t know about this is totally beyond me. It All Started With a Fasching Parade So, the first time I noticed this was a few years back. My…
The Best Little Antique Store in the Eifel
Okay, guys. Raise your hand if you’re totally obsessed with Antiques Roadshow. It’s an interesting paradox, isn’t it? A TV show that you would only expect your grandma to watch that is somehow utterly fascinating. I’m a huge fan of Antiques Roadshow and not ashamed at all to admit that I spent many Saturday afternoons binge-watching back in Texas. So, where am I going with this? Well, what if I told you that there is an equally fascinating German show that has a very real, very special connection to the Eifel? Ah, now I’ve got your attention! Allow Me to Introduce Eifel Antik If you’re like me and love programs like Antiques Roadshow,…
Monreal: One of the Eifel’s Best-Kept Secrets
In the heart of the Eifel lies the most enchanting little village. Replete with all of the makings of a fairy tale, this tiny hamlet is one of the region’s best-kept secrets. A Real-Life Storybook Not too long ago, I found myself in the middle of a conversation with several Germans who are big fans of the Eifel region. Some of them lived there, too, but most of them actually didn’t. For them, the Eifel was their most beloved vacation spot. Of course, the Eifel is bigger than you might realize, and so I found that they all had different preferences for the specific parts of the Eifel that they…
This Expat’s New Year’s Resolutions (And How I Plan to Keep Them)
Mark Twain once wrote, “New Year’s Day: now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” Ouch. Kind of harsh, right? But if there was ever anyone who didn’t hesitate to tell it like it is, it was Mark Twain. (And that’s why we love him.) The crazy thing about his statement, though, is that it was written in 1863 – which means that we’ve been making and abandoning New Year’s Resolutions for more than 150 years. Now, a lot of people like to ask why that is. Just do a quick Google search and you’ll…
A Foodie’s Guide to the Trier Christmas Market
For me, Christmas Markets are all about the food and alcohol. I know, I know. There’s way more to them than that. But no matter how many Christmas Markets I go to, I always end up at the same places – the food and alcohol stands. And this is where it’s nice not just to have a husband who’s also a total foodie, but a German husband who knows which things one should eat and drink to fully enjoy the German Christmas Market experience. This past weekend, we started off the Christmas Market season with my husband’s all-time favorite, Trier. What to Eat & Drink My husband and I seem…
All Your Questions About Knecht Ruprecht & Krampus: Answered!
For a lot of people, Germany is the Christmas capital of the world. And not just because of the Christmas markets, Glühwein, and snow. No. They LOVE the fact that Germany also has this dark side to Christmas where ghoulish and menacing figures terrorize people under the happy twinkle of Christmas lights. But who, exactly, is doing the terrorizing? Knecht Ruprecht & Krampus: Your FAQ A quick note before we begin. The Knecht Ruprecht/Krampus figure has more names and variations than just these two. And it exists in other countries besides Germany. However, this post only deals with Germany. Who the heck is Knecht Ruprecht? Short answer –…
Top 10 Things to do in Beilstein
It’s no secret that Germany’s Moselle area is one of the most romantic places in all of Europe. It just has a magical, fairy-tale charm to it that bewitches people and draws them in. Nowhere else can you find such a breathtaking combination of castles, half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, rolling hills, and gorgeous river views. And while there are dozens of adorable villages worthy of a day trip, only one bears the nicknames “The Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle” and “The Mini-Rothenberg.” The Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle I can only describe Beilstein as something out of a movie. A Disney movie to be exact. Which is why it’s so surprising…
The Ultimate Eifel Bucket List
For the past year, I’ve been teaching at a university here in Germany. It has been amazing in so many ways, and it’s been really interesting to experience all of the differences between German and American higher education – seriously, you have no idea how different they are! But, what I’ve always enjoyed the most about teaching is getting to know the students. I recently had a rather *cough* enlightening conversation with a student who is originally from Berlin. We talked about cultural differences, struggles with learning the two languages, and how both of us ended up so far from home, and then this student asked me what part of Germany I…
