Easter in Germany - German Culture
Sitting here thinking about how to start with the topic of Easter in Germany, I received this dinner request in my inbox from my boyfriend: Maundy Thursday, it turns out, is called Gruendonnerstag in German, although it isn't clear if the name ... [... more]
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Proof-of-Purchase on Public Transportation - German Culture
There is one very important fact you should be aware of when visiting Germany and using the very efficient public transportation system: Most transportation services have inspectors that routinely and randomly check that each passenger has a ... [... more]
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Long-stay Holiday Lessons & Tips - German Culture
When you live in Germany, smack in the center of Europe, the vacation possibilities are endless. France, Austria, Italy, southern Turkey, Egypt, the Canary Islands, Scotland, etc. But this year, with airfares being so high, I thought staying in ... [... more]
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Cologne Germany - The Basics - German Culture
I was introduced to Cologne (Koeln) by a friend almost three years ago. Since then, I have been back to the city about 10 times for weekend trips. There is so much left to explore, it might actually take living there to experience it all. Before ... [... more]
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Altstadt Cologne Favourites - German Culture
Every time I visit Cologne there are a few places I make sure I drop into in the Altstadt (old city center). I have listed them here and recommend you give them a try when you spend a weekend in Cologne. This bar isn't really a museum, but it is ... [... more]
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Richard Wagner - German Composer - German Culture
Richard Wagner is most famous for his work Ring of the Nibelungen, a complex and stirring musical composition. Wagner lived from 1813 to 1883. Wagner was precocious from the start, showing his talents in art, music and literature early on. By ... [... more]
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Wine Tasting at G & M Machmer Weingut - German Culture
Every year a group of acquaintances (die Bekannten) in the Weinheim region of Germany gets together for an evening of wine tasting. They rent a bus and head out to G & M Machmer Winery in the town of Bechtheim to taste the current offerings from ... [... more]
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The Great Escape - A True Story - German Culture
Starring James Coburn, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and other greats, the Great Escape tells the true story of a massive prison break during World War II. A total of 76 men escaped, but only 3 actually made it to their homes. Most of the rest ... [... more]
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Steinway and Sons - A German-American Success Story - ...
When Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg and his family boarded the Helena Sloman in Hamburg in 1850 and set sail for New York City, they joined the five million Germans who would abandon their home country for the promise of political freedom and better ... [... more]
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Public transportion networks
Local and regional public transportation systems in Germany are, arguably, some of the best in the world. They are known for their efficiency, punctuality, safety, and cleanliness. Networks are carefully laid out and documented but figuring out ... [... more]
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Mittenwald
The town of Mittenwald is well-known for the paintings that adorn the exteriors of many of its buildings. In fact, the fronts of some buildings are almost completely covered in paintings. The murals tell about the history and religion of the ... [... more]
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Fatih Akin - German Culture
A German didn't win the Palm d'Or at last week's Cannes Film Festival but one did win the award for best screenplay. Fatih Akin's "Auf der anderen Seite" (titled The Edge of Heaven in English) is a contemporary ensemble film with young and old . [... more]
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