By Karen Bradbury
Published: May 26, 2011
Looking for a new destination for your summer holiday this year? Many of Europe’s best-known budget airlines and other types of carriers have opened a few new routes you might find of interest when planning your next getaway.
Germany
By Karen Bradbury
Published: May 17, 2011
A recent article appearing in the travel section of Stars and Stripes referred to Dresden as "Florence on the Elbe." I've been mentally collecting references of this type for some time now, so I was pleased to have another one to add to my list.
You may have noticed that nicknames linking one European city to a more famous cousin abound. They range from the obvious -- anyplace that ties itself to Venice probably boasts of a canal or two- to the far-fetched. I thought it could be an interesting exercise to see what labels are applied to places we know and love and those we've never heard of.
Venice -- many cities or neighborhoods within them bear nicknames suggesting similarities to Italy's watery gem. St. Petersburg, Russia, was coined "Venice of the North" by Goethe. But it's not the only one on the block. The title can also refer to Hamburg, Stralsund or Friedrichstadt in Germany; Stockholm, or Brugge, Belgium. "Klein Venedig" is an old fisherman's settlement along the Regnitz river in Bamberg, Germany, while "Venice of Brandenburg" refers to waterways found in the Spree Forest, some 60 miles southeast of Berlin. If you're looking for the Bavarian Venice, that would be Passau. Wroclaw is sometimes billed as "The Venice of Poland." A section of Colmar, France is known as "La Petite Venise."
By Karen Bradbury
Published: May 5, 2011
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 8. This is not only a U.S. holiday; the Germans celebrate their own moms on this day as well. That’s good, as it means there will be things to do- think restaurants with a special brunch menu, or wineries offering jazz bands in their courtyards. On the other hand, you could find yourself contending with larger crowds than usual. If you don’t want to deal with the masses, bear in mind some of these activities could be enjoyed not only on Mother’s Day but throughout the coming months.
If mom’s the type to enjoy the atmosphere of a carnival, the family could head out to Frankfurt’s Dippemess, which runs through May 8 this year. If Stuttgart is closer, the city’s Frühlingsfest is in full swing through May 15, as is Munich’s version of the same. Find it on the Theresienweise, where the Oktoberfest takes place. If Nuremburg’s the biggest city near you, catch the last day of its spring festival on May 8. Fireworks signal the event’s closing at 10:15 p.m. that evening.
