International Destinations

Visit to Germany provides a surprise a minute

By Jane Stokes

Photo by Dieser Benutzer

(NC)There's no need to go looking for fun, adventure, and all the little culture nuggets in Germany. First impressions here are enough to make one's head spin.

Every minute spent walking, cycling, motoring, or river cruising through the rolling landscapes in this heart of Europe is a heady experience of an age-old folk culture mixed with new and trendy ideas, including the most recent talk of fear, reprisals and spies.

At first glance, every German village looks like a place in a fairytale. Even in a big modern city, the historic altstadt (old town) is at the heart with winding lanes, a cobblestone central square and chalet-style municipal houses complete with windows of hanging geraniums.

Here, there, and everywhere you can stroll to the local beer garden or wine cellar to raise a glass with villagers and feast on a menu of deli meats, wurst, potato salad and cheese. Or cycle to a park for a little inspiration by classical musicians and then window shop for some finery like tableware, jewellery, clothing and luxury cars.

Set your eyes on national treasures in galleries and museums and learn about the past and present, including the darkest wartime period and the Soviet rule consequences. So fascinating are the personal experiences here, try to plan it with no rush.

Why, for example, would anyone want to rush through the festivities in Munich, or past so many mountainside castles, or along the banks of turquoise Bodensee with its easy view of both Switzerland and Austria?

With several days at hand, you can ditch the speeds of the autobahn in favour of country roads for your own personal adventures.

A must see itinerary would include exploration of the romantic Neuschwanstein castle; the storied Black Forest; the mineral spas at Baden-Baden; the trend-setting streets of Stuttgart and Frankfurt with its chic residents, rollicking nightlife, and very shiny cars.

You will want to take a short, or long cruise on the legendary river Rhine with stops for wining, dining, and shopping in medieval Rudesheim and Heidelberg, or in the bright lights of Dusseldorf, Cologne and Bonn. Also not to be missed is the winding valley of the Mosel river with its swans and hilly vineyards (to many, the prettiest waterway in the world).

There's a lot to see and these are just the highlights of Germany west.

Move eastwards and you'll certainly need equal time, starting in Berlin. This astonishing city is a walk into the future and into the past, simultaneously.

In the neighbouring state of Saxony, the past and present clashes again, as seen in the remarkable restoration of war-demolished Dresden, alongside Germany's classical music centre, Leipzig.

It's been 22 years since the Soviet government released its grip on East Germany to allow reunification with brethren in the West. As recently as 1990, a visit to Saxony would be black-and-white, bleak. Now, the energy of freedom here is expressed in vibrant colour.

Same quality, less expensive

And there are bargains in the east. In Leipzig, for example home-of-choice for J.S. Bach, Schumann, Wagner, Mahler and Mendelssohn a casual dinner at Rizzi Bistro in the altstadt was $50 for two including a generous glass of wine and beer. A coffee break with cream cake at the famed Goethe hangout Auerbachs Keller was around $10 for two. Clean and comfortable bed-and-breakfast accommodation averages $70 double occupancy in high season. And even a four- and five-star splurge at the Westin Leipzig hotel or the Furstenhof hotel is a bargain at around $200 per night per room, including a lavish breakfast.

On the Elbe River, dramatically restored Dresden is also a surprise a minute. Do plan several days here during the Dresden Music Festival, May 18 to June 5, 2011, to see celebrated orchestras from around the world, hosted by the internationally acclaimed Jan Vogler. Tickets and information at: www.musikfestspiele.com.