Five Things You Can Do in Germany
(That you can't do in the U.S.)

By Elisabeth Wilhelm, 18, staff writer

	Six-hundred-year-old castles, beautiful forests, and all the oompah music you ever wanted. See why Germany has enchanted travelers from all over the world.

If Cinderella's castle and Epcot don't do it for you any more, maybe it's time to check out the real thing. Hopefully, you'll get the chance to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Germany—don't forget to try the lebkuchen (even if you're not a princess).

1. Wander into a Forest—Germany's urban planners built cities and towns connected by roads that run through forests like those described in Grimms' Fairy tales. No matter where you are, it takes only 10 minutes to get back to nature. On Sundays, you'll often see families taking walks on the meandering forest paths.
   
   
2. Dress Up for Fasching—Similar to French Louisiana's Mardi Gras and the Venetian Carnival, Fasching is a celebration complete with parades, succulent foods, and people in masks and costumes. Fasching takes place in spring before the Christian holiday of Easter; it's a tradition with roots in pagan traditions thousands of years old.
   
   
3. Listen to an Oompah Band—Sometimes found in restaurants and in the occasional biergarten (beer garden), an oompah band attracts a lot of old people to dance and make merry. You may have the treat of seeing women (especially in the southeastern part of Germany in Bavaria) wearing the traditional dirndl dress and the men wearing lederhosen. However, contrary to popular belief, people don't wear the costumes on a regular basis (how many people in Massachusetts walk around wearing clothing that Pilgrims wore?).
   
   
4. Walk the Halls of a Castle—Walt Disney was inspired to create his own castle in his theme park after visiting Bavaria's Neuschwanstein Castle, the most famous castle in the world. Built by a crazy king only several hundred years ago, Neuschwanstein sometimes hogs the limelight. Germany is full of castles, particularly along the Rhein River. Entire boat cruises are dedicated to pointing out the numerous castles that rise out of the river valley's walls.
   
   
5. Savor Lebkuchen—With the consistency of gingerbread (minus the cloying taste of ginger), lebkuchen literally translates into "liver cake" or "living bread." This tasty pastry is enjoyed around Christmastime in Germany. Legend has it that a king, in attempt to save his dying daughter, proclaimed his daughter's hand in marriage to whomever would cure her. The baker heard of the princess's plight, baked a pastry from a secret family recipe, and sent his strapping young son off to the castle. The moment the princess bit into the lebkuchen, she sprang out of bed, fully cured. Naturally, she fell in love with the baker's son and married him.

About the Author

At 18, Elisabeth Wilhelm has spent most of her life traveling and living abroad. As a member of Girl Scouts of the USA Overseas, Elisabeth is a self-proclaimed military brat. Her mother spent 20 years in the military as a doctor and her father is German. Elisabeth has lived in Germany most of her life (she only lived in the United States for three years) and speaks German and English fluently.

To learn about what it means to grow up global, check out Elisabeth's article at www.studio2b.org/life/self/.