The "Romantic Road

   So since we discussed this "Romantic Road" this past week, I thought I'd do a little research on it, considering I had never heard of it before. To be honest, I was a little confused about what this road entailed. With that being said, maybe this post will offer some insight on those who were confused, too!

   The Romantic Road is the term for a theme route coined by travel agents in the 1950s to describe the 261 miles of highway in southern Germany, between Würzburg and Füssen. In medieval times, it used to be a trade route, connecting the center of Germany with the South. Today this region is thought by many international travelers to possess "quintessentially" German scenery and culture, specifically in towns and cities. The route is also known for passing a lot of castles, such as Burg Harburg and the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. You can find unspoiled nature, picturesque towns with city walls, towers, and half-timbered houses, hidden monasteries, medieval castles, and romantic hotels!

The Romantic Road is marked with brown signs along the road, like this one which is given in both German and Japanese!

Bits of Information About the Romantic Road You'll Want to Know

• The Romantic Road is the most popular German scenic drive and can get very crowded in summer - maybe a better time to visit is fall, winter, or spring.
• Starting Point: Würzburg, 75 miles southeast of Frankfurt

• End Point: Füssen (Castle Neuschwanstein), 82 miles southwest of Munich
  
• Getting There: Fly to Frankfurt International Airport
  
• Getting Around: The best way to enjoy the Romantic Road is by car, and you can get a rental car at the Frankfurt Airport. Take the Autobahn to Würzburg, the starting point of the Romantic Road, and from there just follow the signposts for your route.
  
• You can also book pre-arranged packages and tour the Romantic Road on a bus.
  
• The Romantic Road is part of the list Top 10 Things to Do in Bavaria.
  
  

Map of the Romantic Road and the towns you'll visit!

Cars, Cars, Cars!

Even though they have one of the best public transport systems in the world, a lot of Germans own a car. They love cars - just think of famous brands such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and the Autobahn where you can drive at 300 km per hour!

This goes especially for German men. Listen, in the pub, to men discussing how they take their cars for repair; an engine fault, a broken windscreen wiper is described with as deep concern as the broken ankle of a daughter. Women swap the telephone numbers of doctors and cosmeticians. Men – German men – discuss the merits of their mechanics. Only the very best are trusted with their cars. If a German man had the choice he would be buried with his Audi.

The Volkswagens, the Porsches, the Mercedes, the Audis, the BMW's- all German made. It is hard for Germans to fathom downsizing these precious cars to their environmentally-friendly brother and sister cars. How ever would Germans measure their masculinity? Despite the fact that cars have become a national identity for Germany, the damage they are doing to the environment is becoming an issue. One that most Germans are content with ignoring, as long as they get to drive their cars.

So when packing for your trip to Germany, leave your bike at home if you wish to fit in!

Oktoberfest!

I really couldn't go any farther without discussing one of the attractions for which Germany is known for most: Oktoberfest.

The Oktoberfest in Munich is the largest Volksfest (a German term meaning a combination of a festival and a carnival) in the world with over 6 million visitors annually. Despite the name, the Oktoberfest starts at the end of September until the first weekend in October. An important part of Bavarian culture, the festival has been held since 1810. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of rides and traditional fare such as Hendl (chicken, usually roasted!), Schweinebraten (German-style roasted pork!), Würstl (sausage!), Knödel (large, round, poached or boiled potato or bread dumplings, made without yeast!) and large quantities of German beer. Gotta have beer at Oktoberfest, yes?

Oktoberfest lasts 16 days, each day resembling one big, drunk party. Many other cities have Oktoberfest celebrations, as well, but are just mere attempts at the German original!

Come experience this world-famous festival that attracts millions of tourists and natives alike each year (if you dare)!

Easter in Germany

Since Easter is quickly approaching, I thought it was appropriate to do a little post about this holiday. In Germany, of course.

The celebration of Easter in Germany is probably one of the most important events of the year. Many of the customs associated with its celebration are actually originally from this country, such as the use of decorated eggs and the Easter bunny.

A few weeks before Easter Sunday in Germany, you can also see in many towns an Easter Market, called Ostermarkt in German, where they sell decorated Easter eggs, chocolate eggs and bunnies, spring ornaments and more Easter crafts. Germans love to decorate their house and garden with Easter decoration. But be careful about chocolate Easter eggs in Germany: many contain alcohol and are not suitable for young kids!

Interestingly enough, many of these Easter decorations come directly from the pagan Frühlingfest's (a spring party) symbols of fertility such as the egg and the rabbits that became the Ostereier (Easter eggs) and the Osterhasen (Easter bunnies). It is the Germans who brought these customs with them when they immigrated to North America. Other German Easter traditions include Easter trees and the Easter fountain, an old tradition designed to celebrate the importance of water as a life giver and its belief that the water that has been blessed on Easter Sunday has special powers.

Frohe Ostern! (Happy Easter!)