Skip to content

other travel

germany: modern stained glass

Köln, World War II, destruction

Allied forces inflicted Germany with such heavy damage/retribution at the end of World War II that entire cities needed to be rebuilt. Religion also made a comeback & reached about the same number of Christian worshipers as in the 1920s. Reconstruction of Protestant & Catholic churches accompanied the housing boom… with decoration inspired by current trends rather than faithfully reproducing pre-war designs. As a result, modern stained glass panels became a common sight in churches throughout West Germany.

Read More »germany: modern stained glass

germany: lüneberger heide

Operación Verano Fresco, vacation map, Germany, Deutschland

While planning Operación Verano Fresco, I stumbled on a region that looked intriguing: marshy bogs, purple-flowered heath, charming hotels & lots of hiking trails. Lüneberger Heide promised to be a relaxing getaway after so many city days, but little did I know it would turn into one of the most memorable stays of our Germany vacation…

Read More »germany: lüneberger heide

germany: berlin

Germany, Berlin, Deutschland, bridge, Speer, river

Something rare happened during this trip: I failed to unravel what makes Berlin tick. Meeting Rafa for a four-day break in the midst of a guidebook research assignment, he planned to show me why he loves the capital so much. In fact, everyone I know raves about Berlin. We saw killer museums, found interesting World War II remnants & enjoyed beautiful architecture; however, something seemed to be missing. What could it be?

Read More »germany: berlin

germany: guidebook research 2024

Rick Steves, guidebook research, Germany, map

Deustchland? Not my typical Mediterranean home turf, for sure. I hadn’t been to Germany in at least 20 years, & all the cities above were completely new to me. With little time to brush up on some rusty, dusty German, I hoped for the best… & was pleasantly surprised. This book assignment helped me rediscover what a great destination Germany is. Let’s get going!

Read More »germany: guidebook research 2024