Category Archives: Tourist destinations

56th Miesau Horse Races (Pferderennen)

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Clare Dunkle

This weekend, Joe and I took a drive out to Miesau to see the 56th running of the horse races there. We weren’t entirely sure where the event would be held, but it proved easy to find. It’s just off … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Festivals, Recreation, Sports, Tourist destinations | 1 Comment

Museumsdorf Bayerischer Wald, pt. III: Faith of Our Fathers

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Clare Dunkle

Bavaria has been overwhelmingly Roman Catholic for centuries. Even today, Bavaria contains the highest percentage of Catholics of any state in Germany, as the following map from the German Bishops’ Conference (Deutsche Bischofskonferenz) shows. This faith helped define the identities … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches and religion, Europe, Folk traditions, German art, German history, German house decoration, Public art, Tourist destinations, Village life | 1 Comment

Museumsdorf Bayerischer Wald, pt II: Life before Plastic

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Clare Dunkle

The word plastic means, more or less, “pliable” or “moldable.” Plastics are so pervasive in our lives that it’s hard to remember how recent they are. The first modern plastic was only invented in the 1850’s, and it wasn’t until … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Folk traditions, German history, German house decoration, Recreation, Tourist destinations, Village life | 2 Comments

Museumsdorf Bayerischer Wald: History in the Open Air

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Clare Dunkle

This wonderful open-air museum lies in the village of Tittling, twenty minutes north of Passau, in southeastern Germany. The large, grassy park contains a hundred and fifty buildings that, according to the website, date from 1580 to 1850–a nice bit … Continue reading →

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The Spirit of Bavaria

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Clare Dunkle

If you take the walk suggested in yesterday’s post from the Königssee to the Obersee in Berchtesgaden National Park, you will soon come across a rugged wooden sign. For those who don’t read German, here is a translation. “At the … Continue reading →

Posted in Folk traditions, Food and drink, German language, Recreation, Rural scenery, Tourist destinations | 2 Comments

If you travel to Bavaria or Austria, you’re likely to notice that every other town name ends in “-au“: Ramsau, Schönau am Königssee, Lindau, Oberammergau, Grainau, and the list could go on and on. That’s because, in this stony, mountainous … Continue reading →

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Clare Dunkle | Comments Off on die Au

The Most Beautiful Place on Earth

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Clare Dunkle

In my fifty years, I’ve been to twenty-one countries, and I’ve done my best to see the best they had to offer. Two weeks ago, I saw the best of the best: the Königssee and Obersee in Berchtesgaden National Park. … Continue reading →

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To the Heart of Winter

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Clare Dunkle

In February, Joe and I spent a happy four days near Feldberg in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald). It didn’t snow while we were there, but it had just finished snowing, and the stuff was lying around everywhere. This utterly fascinated … Continue reading →

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Almond Blossoms

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Clare Dunkle

This is why we came to Edenkoben, Germany: to see the almond trees in blossom. A herald of spring, the almond trees bloom while many other trees are bare, sometimes as early as February. Like Easter, they promise rebirth. But, … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals, Gardening, Recreation, Rural scenery, Seasons, Tourist destinations | 3 Comments

The New St. Vith

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Clare Dunkle

I’ve always loved the high rounded hills and wide valleys near Spangdahlem Air Base. They’re colorful even in the middle of winter. This is the Eifel, a land of strong winds, big sky, and beautiful scenery. Thousands of years ago, … Continue reading →

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