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March 19, 2010

Top Ten Places to Visit in Germany

Filed under: Travel And Leisure — Tags: , , — kuru @ 12:59 am




If you’re looking for a place that’s rich with remnants of the recent past, then Germany’s the place for you. As you may well know, Germany was a key player in the previous world wars. Thus, it filled Germany with monuments to the stories of our grandfathers about times long past but never forgotten.

1.) Berlin Wall

There’s no other place in Germany that’s more suffused with charged up emotions than the Berlin Wall. You can just imagine the tears and the blood shed over this very wall. This remnant of the wars stands as one of the greatest monuments to democracy known to man - a sign that freedom will always come out victorious.

2.) The Romantic Road

Driving through the Romantic road would be one of the most pleasant drives you’ll experience in your whole life. This road is flanked by scenic landscapes on both sides. Occasionally, you’ll pass through a picturesque town, a beautiful gothic church, and sometimes, a quaint countryside inn.

3.) Augsburg

Passing through the Romantic Road will lead you to Augsburg, a town founded by the Roman Legions and named after the esteemed Roman emperor, Augustus. This picturesque town contains such historical places as St. Anne’s Church, the place where Martin Luther took refuge, and Dom, a very unusual Cathedral. You can also find here the Renaissance Golden Room, a sight that will make you squint with its shine.

4.) Neuschwanstein Castle

Did you know that Walt Disney used a castle found in Germany as his inspiration for the castle of Sleeping Beauty? It’s true, those alabaster walls and those high towers and wide parapets were all based on the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is now hailed as one of the most popular tourist spots in Germany.

5.) The Castles of Fussen

Like most of Europe, several castles are littered throughout Germany. It contains the other two of Ludwig’s castles, the first one being the Neuschwanstein Castle. This is a must-see for all those families who are traveling through Germany because the place literally looks like it’s been torn out of a storybook.

6.) Lake Constance

Lake Constance is both a tourist spot and an essential source of life for the Germans. Several areas in the country rely on this very lake for their drinking water, and this large lake is also a great place to swim and to go bird watching. Indeed, if you’re one for beautiful natural sceneries, then Lake Constance is not to be ignored.

7.) The Black Forest

The name looks like it has been taken from one of the fairy tales, doesn’t it? The Black Forest - it sounds like a place where evil witches reside and cursed trees grow, but don’t let that deter you though. If anything, the Black Forest can hardly be related to its name as it’s a sunny forest with tall and sturdy firs. It’s a great place to go hiking and a great place for picnics.

8.) Cologne

When you hear the word, Cologne, what comes into your mind? A beautiful fragrance, right? Well, meet the town that’s called Cologne for a reason, and indeed, the town of Cologne has its own peculiar fragrance that’s very pleasing to the nose. Also, there you will find a beautiful view of the River Rhine and the Cologne Cathedral.

9.) Dachau

Take a break from the fairytale castles and mystical forests and go to the place called Dachau. Dachau is a concentration camp - a remnant of Germany’s dark past where you can just imagine the horrors that took place in this very spot. However, you will also find there a statue bearing the inscription, “Never Again”, a solemn promise of the German people that they will ‘never again’ commit such unspeakable acts - another true victory for peace.

10.) Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest - technically, it’s not a place, but it’s just too good a festival to leave out of any ‘top ten list’ that concerns tourism and Germany. This fun-filled festival in the town of Bavaria is guaranteed to leave you intoxicated and euphoric. You can spend days on end just drinking authentic German Ale and just letting yourself loose.

March 17, 2010

Frankfurt Germany — 12 Insider Tips

Filed under: Travel And Leisure — Tags: , , — kuru @ 11:42 am




In the city with its international airport 650,000 humans live. It is a very modern large city and became the ‘ turntable of Europe ‘. In Frankfurt important industrial enterprises and wholesale dealer are resident like also many banks. Not only the German Federal Bank, but also the European Central Bank (ECB) resides here.

Famous ‘Kaiserdom’ (emperor cathedral), which documents loved ‘Roemerberg’ (Roman mountain) and the historical ‘ Paulskirche ‘, in which the first freely selected German parliament met, besides the political meaning of this fascinating city.

Yes, Frankfurt is a metropolis and full surprises as well as contrasts. Skyscrapers are directly apart from half timbered houses; culture and commerce form here a unit. In addition, Frankfurt is a fair city, a literature city and above all a culture city: here the cradle of the German jazz scene with many small music taverns, in which you cannot only ease, is appropriate but also into the night much fun to have canned. The moreover one you find many museums.

Frankfurt, because of its skyline also ‘ Mainhattan ‘ mentioned, is a large city in the country, between the mountain courses by ‘Taunus’ and ‘Spessart’ and surrounded by a wreath/ring of world-well-known health resorts, popular holidays areas and trip goals.

In the following I will give you 12 insider tips. Before I do it however you do the following: print out this side, so that you have it immediately available, if you come to Frankfurt. It is nearly impossible, everything that I wrote here to keep in the head and it would be unfortunate, if you are in Frankfurt and get to face only the ‘normal’ points of interest.
Besides that after your arrival you should go immediately to the tourist information. It is in downtown, near the ‘Roemer’. The road calls itself ‘Auf dem Roemerberg’ (on the Rome mountain) and the telephone number is: +49-69-21238800. Ask them for a city map. Without a city map you will lose yourself in this big city, and with the city map you will find everything I mention here.

Bars and restaurants

1. One of the best cocktail bars in Frankfurt is the ‘Strandperle’ (beach bead). Particularly the Caipirinha is unique! In the summer the bar surface expands to a terrace caf? high over to the river ‘Main’.

2. The smallest jazz restaurant of Germany is the ‘Mampf’. Since more than 30 years there are free concerts to German meals. Apart from jazz also Blues, Swing, Latin and Flamenco are played. Simply enjoy the good mood and fun inheres.

3. One of the few popular apple wine restaurants with yard garden is the ‘Lorsbacher Tal’. It is in the quarter ‘Alt-Sachsenhausen’ (old axle living) and has a very cosy ambience and solid German meals.

4. The restaurant ‘Pilar’ is at the same time a bar. Fine noodles, salads and original Mediterranean creations will be served. On the side panels of the restaurant hang sumptuous baroque paintings, which offer an interesting contrast to the simple Design of bar, leather seat and wood table.

5. In the elevated ‘Villa Merton’ (Mansion Merton) you find meals of the all-finest. If it permits your travel budget, go here. The employees speak English and recommend to you gladly the specialities of the house.

Sightseeing and culture

6. In the Goethe house and Goethe museum Goethe was born in the year 1749. He lived here until 1775. The house was outstanding reconstructed and contains paintings, handwriting and diagrams of the large German poet.

7. On the ‘Roemerberg’ (Roman mountain) regularly highlights and meetings take place. It is a long stretched, five-angular place and is gladly visited by humans. At this place is the ‘Frankfurter Roemer’ (Frankfurt Romans), the famous city hall of the city. It was reconstructed after the war. In the festival room of the Roemer pictures of German emperors are to be admired.

8. In the ‘Pauluskirche’ (Paulus church), which was established between 1787 and 1833, the first German national assembly met in 1848. It is a place of historical building method and historiography.

9. The ‘Senckenberg Museum’ is the largest scientific museum in Germany. You find here a descriptive collection of approximately 500,000 exhibits, which arrange for you an overview of the development of our animated nature over millions of years. It is simply impressing.

10. The ‘Palmengarten’ (palm garden) shows a domestic, tropical and subtropical Flora. The emphases of the 20 hectares large park are over 300 orchids, ‘Bromelien’ and about 1,600 different cactus species. Concerts also often take place here.

11. In the ‘Frankfurt Zoo’ approximately 6,000 animals (650 kinds) live together in extensive outdoor installations and houses. If animals interest you, you must go here. Plan however at least five hours for your attendance.

12. When it becomes evening, you absolutely MUST go to the ‘Berger Strasse’ (Berger road)! On 2 km (1.3 miles) you find taverns, Bars, Caf?s and restaurants for each taste! Here you surely will NOT become boring. If I am in Frankfurt, this road is a must for me, again and again.

Enjoy your trip!

March 15, 2010

Steins - Made in Germany - Is it Really?

Filed under: Home And Family — Tags: , , — kuru @ 8:58 am




I’m sure you’ve all seen it, you look at the bottom of a stein or German made product and it says “Made in Germany”. You think you’ve acquired an item that was made in Germany. Right? Not necessarily so!

Whether you are aware of it or not, there are some German manufacturers that actually have their steins manufactured in China! They are then shipped back to Germany where the relief decoration, pewter lids, etc. are applied and before the items are put on the shelf, they are labeled “Made in Germany”.

This practice was only discovered during the late part of last year. A company by the name of Ziler and Born, along with their attorney wrote to all the companies involved and threatened legal action. So far, two of these firms, Armin Bay Keramic & Prasente GmbH and DOMEX Geschenk-Manufactur GmbH, just recently settled out of court after admitting to what they were doing wrong. They have also agreed to pay approximately $26,500 for each future violation.

You may now be thinking that you have nothing to be concerned about, but you should be aware that the agreements signed by these two companies have no application in the United States and you, as an American consumer, really have no protection against the mislabeled steins.

So how do you deal with this problem? The best way is to limit buying steins to those that have the marks of German manufacturers who are well known to be making their own products. Avoid the companies that are known to be outsourcing their steins to China or elsewhere. Below you will see an Armin Bay logo on the bottom of a Chinese made stein and also a picture of a DOMEX logo which came from a stein also manufactured in China.

Another way to be safe about making sure you are getting a stein that was really made in Germany is to make sure that the “Made in Germany” is etched or embossed into the clay. This has to be done before the stein is fired and it is illegal to import into Germany any product which already bears the words “Made in Germany”.

In an article dated May 21, 1999 of the Westerwald Zeitung in Germany, the following was published (this has been translated from German to English):

“Gerz Sells, Only the Name Remains

SESSENBACH/HILLSCHEID. The name of the beer stein manufacturer Gerz, who went bankrupt in Sessenbach, remains preserved, however, apparently not the production. As the Westerwald Zeitung found out yesterday, the DOMEX Geschenk-Manufaktur GmbH in Hillscheid bought the Gerz “mark”.

This means that in the future DOMEX will sell ceramic vessels with the name Gerz. However, these products will no longer be produced in Sessenbach. Oliver Sahm, Managing Partner of DOMEX: “The production is Sessenbach is not profitable. We will purchase the Gerz articles worldwide and finish them in Hillscheid. As much as possible we will use local suppliers for that.” Sahm initially expects to create ten new positions in his company. At present he has sixty employees. In their heyday, Gerz employed more than 200 people.

These steins have already begun to reach the marketplace. Buyer beware!

March 11, 2010

A Trip to Germany - Small Towns

Filed under: Travel And Leisure — Tags: , , — kuru @ 7:55 am




When traveling to Germany one should not miss the famous German towns. I mean exactly towns, not the cities. Especially interesting are towns not larger than 50 000 of inhabitants. I think, there will be no surprise for each country that life in small towns and cities differs very strange but in Germany it is a really fantastic difference.

Life in big cities is a topic of a separate article, so even the comparison with them would take too much time, so we shall take a look from the point of view of a traveler at these marvelous towns in, let’s say, north-western part of Germany.

I wouldn’t be wrong if I would say that Germany consists mostly of such towns. No, of course there are such great cities as Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Dresden and many others, but if you take a look at this country flying in a plane that has not climbed very high yet or is going to land in Germany, yo will barely find a place without those famous small houses in small groups. Sure, there are forests in this country, and of course there is a highly developed agricultural infrastructure, so there are lots of farming fields, but if you just look from a plane - you would share my opinion. The sight is great: accurate houses with mostly red roofs scattered in small groups all over the horizon. By the way, if you would build a house in Germany, at least in western part of it, you would receive a list of requirements from the local town authorities and one of them will be the color of the roof. And I am 95% sure that it will be red, and not only red, but of certain hue and saturation. Only in towns where were already built some houses with black roofs, you will probably be granted a choice between black and red colors. But I’ve never seen any other colors of the roofs if we talk about personal living houses for a family or two.

If you are traveling with a car through the area, you would probably have a similar impression. Especially if you are using not the famous autobahn-roads, where you don’t see anything, just fly at speed sometimes limited only by the abilities of your vehicle, but regional roads, where the usual speed limitation is 100 km/h. Actually, you won’t be driving 100 because of the mentioned towns that the road goes through and you will have to slow down to 50 km/h. And this will give you the possibility to have a closer look at them.

These towns are at the same time very similar to each other and very unique, each one having it’s interesting and rare history and sometimes moments of unforgettable beauty. Almost each of them has been founded long ago and has it’s historical traditions, personal holidays, festivals and events.

Of course, to live a whole life in such a small town is a lifestyle. You should be a kind of person, loving peaceful and quiet life, but there are lots of people of such a kind, aren’t they? And they are usually very proud of their towns and would with pleasure tell you about the history of the place and toe most interesting moment to pay attention to. Some of them would be pleased to take you to a tour through the most interesting places or even invite you to a dinner at home. Actually, there is a great difference between people living in cities and small towns. In cities, people are cold and are placing an instant polite barrier between them and a traveler. In small towns they would greet you with German “hallo” and a friendly smile even if they don’t know you.

And of course, if you plan such a trip through German towns, you should better choose end of summer of the very beginning of autumn, because of the weather, that is normally good only in summer in Germany, and the variety of local autumn holidays and festivals in small towns. Such events are not always taking place in cities and of course, each town has it’s own set of events that are almost always worth to have a look at. Have a nice trip to Germany.

March 8, 2010

German Shepherd Mixed Breeds Originating From Different Regions in Germany

Filed under: Pets — Tags: , , — kuru @ 5:57 pm




The American Kennel Club has registered the German Shepherd dog in its club since 1908. Actually in the 19th century it was bred for herding, because of its strength, intelligence and its excellent temperament. At that time it was already a German Shepherd mix because it was a cross breed between three types of shepherd dogs found in three different regions of Germany. They were the long-haired, short-haired and the wire-haired shepherd dogs. Used extensively by the police and the army, they became excellent guard dogs and guide dogs. They were also used for search and rescue purposes.

The Shepadoodle is a new hybrid dog, which is a cross breed between a German Shepherd and a Standard Poodle. It is one of the recognized crosses of hybrid dogs by the American Canine Hybrid Club. There are other combinations of cross breeding with German Shepherds, but unfortunately not all purebred dogs are 100% purebred, and hence it often becomes a multi generation cross.

Another name for the German Shepherd is the Alsatian. This dog is known for its obedience and loyalty, and because of these characteristics it is often used as a working dog. It learns extremely fast because of its intelligence. It can be trained very well and is always eager and alert to learn. But it is mainly a bold and confident dog, which can be direct and fearless. It is more or less a family dog, sometimes even a one-man dog and dislikes strangers.

The German Shepherd mix could, like any other mixed breed, be freed from some of the genetic diseases which are typical of the German Shepherd breed. Such a disease is hip dysplasia and often in the German Shepherd Mix the genetic disease could be absent because of the mixed breeding. Normally mixed breed dogs live a healthier and longer life than the purebred ones. Of course if both the parents have the same genetic disease, there is a great possibility that the disease will be automatically transmitted to the German Shepherd mix.

One hears often of the cross breed between the German Shepherd and the Great Dane. The German Shepherd mix that results is also a very good guard dog, but is also affectionate. The combination gives them the trait of being hyperactive and yet cute and well loved to be a popular family dog.

Yet some combinations may not prove to be too ideal for families with small children, because the hybrid German Shepherd mix may turn out to be aggressive and dominant. Such problems can occur with cross breeding with purebreds like the Chow Chow, Akita, Rottweiler and the Doberman Pinscher.

Also cross breeding with the Golden Retriever, the Labrador Retriever or the Collie can be unsuccessful, because the neurotic characteristics of the German Shepherd totally overshadow the sweet temperament of the others. The hybrid dogs may turn out to be too shy or too aggressive. The Alaskan Malamute is an independent, stubborn and aggressive dog. When it is crossbred with the German Shepherd Dog, the German Shepherd mix can actually become a dangerous animal, and become difficult to handle.

Understanding **** Germany - Why it Happened

Filed under: Reference And Education — Tags: , , — kuru @ 9:56 am




If you would like to have more than a cursory understanding of **** Germany and why it happened I recommend the following course of action.

For starters read a history of Germany starting from medieval times to WWI. Learn about such people as Frederick the Great, Bismarck, and the German philosophers. Try and get an understanding of the German mindset. Don’t forget to read about German 19th and early 20th century royalty. Learn how they are related to the British royal family. Read books on WWI. Gain an understanding on why Germany was defeated. You are now ready to read a biography on Adolf Hitler, try John Tolland’s two volume book. You may want to read about some of the other **** leaders. You might want to read Mein Kampf although so many find this book boring you can learn about what ****** was planning. Read The Rise and fall of the Third Reich or some later books on the same subject. Learn how the ***** came to power. Try and find out what was happening in Germany to allow the National Socialists to come to power and launch the world into WWII. There is no shortage of books written about the **** era. Try and find some books written by Germans as to what happened. Get their viewpoint. Why did many Germans think that ****** was the solution for Germany’s problems? The events leading up to WWII are a sad but interesting time of the 20th Century. History does not repeat itself but there are many parallels.

March 7, 2010

Public Transportation in Germany

Filed under: Travel And Leisure — Tags: , , — kuru @ 3:02 pm




Once you arrive in Germany, if you are American, you will notice that the German public transportation system is much more efficient and cost effective than that of America. There are many more options and for the most part, you can get anywhere any time. Keep in mind that you can purchase a train ticket from your current location to your destination and this ticket is valid for the train, bus and street car. ie. Take a train from Darmstadt to Hanau then use the same ticket for a bus from Hanau to Frankfurt.

Taxi Cab: Taxi cabs can be found around any airport or public location. If you walk up to a taxi parking area and there is a row of taxi cabs go to the front vehicle first. The price varies but can be expensive at times. The weekend taxi fees are generally more expensive than the fees on a weekday. If you can avoid using a taxi cab I would recommend it. If you are relatively pleased with the service provided by the cab driver a one or two EUR tip would be sufficient.

Street Cars (Trolley): Street cars were the first mode of public transportation in Germany. Street cars make frequent stops and have a map layout of each stop. Check the route and be sure the stop you want is close enough to your destination, if not you may want to take the U/S Bahn, a bus or a taxi. Street cars are relatively fast, about the same speed as a normal car in the city.

Train: The European rail system is set up to be a very cost effective and efficient means for international European travel. With a vast number of inner-city trains running constantly during the day, the German train system is just as effective. When entering a train station (Bahnhof) you will need to purchase a ticket from the machine. You can only buy a train ticket with EUR but you can use any denomination below 20 including coins or bills. Simply select your destination from the list shown, enter the destination number and push the ‘Einzelfahrt’ button. Your change will fall along with your ticket to the tray. If you are planning to travel by train from Frankfurt to Paris, for example, you may choose to use the ICE train. This train is designed to get you from point A to point B much faster than a normal train. ICE trains are a little more expensive but may be the smart way to travel if you are planning inter-country travel in Europe.

U/S-Bahn: The U or S Bahn would be the equivalent to the subway in the States. The U-Bahn covers city areas where as the S-Bahn covers city areas and up to 60 kilometers outside the city. Normally you will only find U/S Bahns in bigger cities. The U/S Bahn normally makes more stops than trolleys making them the smarter choice for inner city travel.

You can also purchase an all day ticket which is good for trolleys, buses and the U/S-Bahn by pressing the Tageskarte button instead of the Einzelfahrt button. It is possible to board the train or trolley without purchasing a ticket but you will be fined 60 EUR minimum and these checks do occur regularly. You can purchase train tickets online from the official homepage of Deutsche Bahn at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en.

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