FEATURE March 30, 2018

48 Pages·2017·62.6 MB·English

feature feature feature SportS
Hiking and biking apps, Follow the German Street food markets — moving feasts Royals get 4th straight DODEA crown,
page 4 Timber-frame Road, page 10 you don’t want to miss, page 11 page 12
March 30, 2018 | Volume 42, Number 13 Read the KA also online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
Photo by Dominik Hladik / Shutterstock.com
Page 2 KaiserslauternAmerican March 30, 2018

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Flea markets — hunting for treasures ������������������������������������������������������������3
Hiking and biking apps ������������������������������������������������������������������������������4-5
Romance on a budget �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6
Wine Festivals Fairs
• Freinsheim: Blütenfest Looking for a little more adren-
Discover the Black Forest in a Porsche 911 �������������������������������������������������7
Apr. 14 – 15 aline than the average town ‘Fest’
• Flonheim: Trullo in Flammen offers? Visit these fairs for carnival
A newbie guide to food and fun in the KMC �������������������������������������������8-9
Apr. 20 rides like roller coasters, free fall
• Bad Dürkheim: Mai-Weinfest towers, haunted houses and more.
Follow the German timber-frame road — part one ���������������������������������10
Apr. 21 - 22, 28 - May 1
• Bad Bergzabern: Fest der • Mainz: Rhein-Frühling
Street food markets — moving feasts you don’t want to miss ��������������������11
Mandelblüte until Apr. 8
Apr. 27 – 29 • Frankfurt: Dippemess
Another comeback helps Ramstein topple Kaiserslautern ��������������12-13
• Kallstadt: Fest der 100 Weine until Apr. 15
Apr. 27 - May 1 • Kaiserslautern:
K-Town commits new energy to rivalry �����������������������������������������������������13
• Hambach: Andergasser Fest Wochenmarktfest
Apr. 27 - May 1 Apr. 21
Dog-friendly hiking in the KMC �������������������������������������������������������������������14
• landau: Maimarkt mit • stuttgart: Frühlingsmesse
Weindorf Apr 21. - May 13 m
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Religious Services������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20 • nMeauys 4ta –d t1: 0Haardter Weinfest • KMiarcyh 1h3eimbolanden Maimarkt Photo by
• eckelsheim: Tag des offenen
Special Spring offers �������������������������������������������������������������������������������21-24
Dorfes
May 20
Off the beaten path — Day trips to some of Germany’s hidden gems �����������25
• Flonheim: Weinmarkt
May 26 - 27
At the movies ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������26
Was ist los? Cultural highlights �����������������������������������������������������������������������27 by Leonie Milde
contributing writer
Neunkirchen Zoo — An experience for the whole family �����������������������������28
Spring is upon us with exciting festivities in tow. Though
Cooking with Klaus — Marinated Lamb ������������������������������������������������������29
spring festivals may be sneakily disguised as Weinfest, Stadtfest,
Frühlingsfest, Frühlingsmesse and other blossoming terms, we
Kids Korner �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������30
have uncovered their true identities: sunny and delicious fun
for the whole family. Find culinary delicacies, regional wine,
Ad pages ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������31-44
kids entertainment and live music along with unique shopping
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Photo by Dominik Hladik / Shutterstock.com Photo by Ks
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Flea markets
TTrreeaassuurreess
—— hhuunnttiinngg FFoorr
by Thomas Warner
Eguelshardt, where you can also enjoy historic
contributing writer
castle ruins and beautiful hiking trails in the
Moselle region.
A huge brocante is held once a month
W
e live in an area where lots of attention in Metz and other ones much further away
is given to the reselling of old goods. happen in towns along the east coast on the
If flea markets are your thing, there is a wide Atlantic. These might seem too far with regard
selection of places to go and look around from to driving distance but they afford chances, too,
weekend to weekend. Some markets happen to find inexpensive lodging along the way and
in giant fields while others take place inside explore some of Europe’s historic areas. Check Photo by Matej Kastelic / Shutterstock.com
buildings. The European way is also to see out the site www.agendadesbrocantes.fr for
market settings with vendors taking up space info as you plan your trip.
on the sides of long streets.
Belgian
Flea Markets
Local
Flea Markets
One of the best area markets happens at
Locally in the Kaiserslautern Military Silenrieux, Belgium, operating every Sunday
Community, each weekend there is a flohmarkt and featuring lots of antiques and collectibles
(flea market) staged in the parking lot of the in a large, indoor market hall. The market has
REAL mall complex in west Kaiserslautern, grown immensely from the days in the 1970s
across the street from Kleber and Daenner and 80s when cars would just pull up, throw
kasernes on Mannheimer Strasse. Another open the trunk, and sell whatever they had.
flea market in an enclosed hall in Ramstein Today, there are often close to 150 vendors
village is open every Saturday while near offering their treasures. Photo by g215 / Shutterstock.com
the library on Ramstein base, a market with In Rochefort, Belgium, visiting the brocante
about 30 vendors happens one Saturday each is worth it if only for the time spent in the
month. In the Saar region, a popular market quaint little village and surrounding area. Red
happens on the first Saturday of each month marble quarries in the area offer tours, and scat-
in Homburg. Another good one takes place tered small breweries offer locally brewed beers.
in Saarbruecken, however dates vary. Check Rochefort has an annual outdoors flea market
the regular Was ist los feature in the paper for Sunday, this year July 15, and will have up to
local flea market listings. 80 vendors. Household goods to collectibles to
Still, these pale in comparison to what you antiques are for sale, the only thing is there is
can find if you have a bit of time up your sleeve no electricity to test appliances, so there is no
to drive a little. Many people routinely enjoy guarantee it will work when you get it home.
driving into France and Belgium on weekends, In Tongeren, Belgium, it was previously
heading to various markets they know about. possible to buy an entire solid wood office set,
There are trade papers and community bulletins including a swivel chair and beautiful desk, plus
that come to mailboxes advertising where many shelving for less than 300 dollars. Vans contain-
good flea events take place. ing all types of office furniture arrive early in
the morning on market days to set up their dis-
French plays. Tongeren also has a lot of newish-looking
Flea Markets
clothing that sells cheap and there are booths
with lots of household furnishings.
Called “brocantes” or “braderies” in French,
flea markets attract people who seek to find A good number of French and Belgian bro-
bargains on antiques, post-modern home fur- cante listings can be found on the Internet at
nishings, household goods, and other bric-brac. www.quefaire.be/brocantes or www.francebro-
These are events that have something for just cante.fr/. Be sure to use a browser that allows
about anyone who truly enjoys flea markets. translation to English. The site is easy enough
At these types of markets, sellers must to read and discern information about where
obtain permits with local authorities and are and when to go to specific markets. Planning
generally asked to pay a small fee in order to ahead and doing research to find out if you will
do business on the day of the market. Brocante make a long weekend out of it, or just a day
and braderie dates are good for local economies trip, is the top priority when trying to get the
and the fee for the seller is usually not too high best experience from your brocante quest. And
for this reason. of course always ensure you have plenty of euro BIO-CLEANING VAT-forms
A medium-sized but super market hap- with you and don’t forget to bargain for that PET ODOR REMOVAL accepted
pens once a month 30 kilometers south of gorgeous piece. Spittelstr. 3 (near Stiftsplatz) • 67655 Kaiserslautern
Zweibruecken, in the French town of Happy haggling! Tel: [phone]
Page 4 KaiserslauternAmerican March 30, 2018

Photo By Dudarev Mikhail / shutterstock.com
to modern-day exploration.
Hiking and bik- ing apps that can
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It’s an essential piece of survival gear. But only if you know what apps to
preload and have enough backup bat- tery power.
I have downloaded and used a variety of hiking and biking apps that give a
detailed description of available options. Too much information and time-con-
suming thumb use is the reason that I narrowed down the below apps for you to
spend more time on the trail, and less time navigating your outdoor experience via
technology.
by Ronnie Juhans
MAPS 3D PRO
contributing writer
I found this app to be a great tool for all season outdoor adventurers. You can
As an oldschool outdoor adventure guide, I am used to leading hiking and bik- record trails and use them offline if you have no connection while in remote loca-
ing adventures throughout Europe based on knowledge of the trails, terrain, points tions. You can also see your surroundings in 3D so that you know your elevation.
of interest, rest stops, and evacuation routes in the event of an injury or medical Great for biking, hiking, and navigating your way through city streets, as well as
emergency. a variety of Winter sports. The only drawback for me is that the search function
However, not everyone wants to pay for a guide and be led around all day with- is not on the main screen. Although it’s only a menu below I don’t like stopping
out being able to explore on their own. You are the risk takers, adventurers, and and having to figure out how to find an option especially if there is an emergency
explorers that stumble upon hidden caves, rock formations, wildlife eco-systems, in the field. Maps 3D PRO is a 22MB download, but data requirements grow as
and quiet places to get away from civilization for a few hours. you download those detailed maps.
What seems only a few years ago was the introduction of handheld GPS units MAP MY HIKE
with options such as a compass, viewing your coordinates, tracking your steps,
marking waypoints to get you back on track, and Geocaching. That was a great Map My Hike is another GPS mapping app that tracks your route and dis-
device. However, the options are limited and becoming obsolete when it comes tance. You can also connect with friends, compete with them, get feedback on your
March 30, 2018 KaiserslauternAmerican Page 5

Photo by Jens Ottoson / Shutterstock.com
Photo by Maxpro / Shutterstock.com
progress. A great app to track your progress during your ture that takes you from home, a campsite, or start points from
outdoor adventures. Audio feedback, choosing different a parking lot or train station. After 2 years of trial and error and
sports, saving favorite paths, and tracking your pace, distance, trying out an extensive list of hiking and biking apps, View Ranger
duration, calories burned, and setting personal goals are also is my number one pick.
notable features. However, there are a lot of discrepancies when it View Ranger Buddy Beacon (internet connection required) allows you to
comes to distance traveled, time, location, and more. I have been using share your actual location with friends and family via phone and computer. This
GPS devices for years and know that you get different feedback based on option allows others to know your last location if contact was lost with you, there
your surroundings and losing signals. However, when I put this app to the test is an emergency, and where to dispatch a rescue team. It also provides you with a
by hiking the same trail 3 times with friends that had different phones and using PIN protection so that only certain people know who you are and where you are.
Android and iPhone versions of Map My Hike, we were not too impressed while Other features include Go Anywhere that works offline without mobile
comparing data. This could be a great app if a little more work can be done by get- and data signals. Worldwide Maps that include streets, aerial, satellite images,
ting out in the field with groups and seeing reality. Topographic as well as a Skyline feature to pan the landscape using your phone
ALL TRAILS camera. No need to have a separate GPS device to see your location on a map,
record tracks, go to points of interest, and track time, speed, bearing, sunrise, and
All Trails is packed with over 50,000 maps, review, and photos for hikers and sunset because View Ranger handles those tasks faster and more accurate.
bikers. You can also find trails that are a dog, kid, and wheelchair friendly. You can If you want to track your workouts such as steps, heart rate and more the View
also check out ratings, photos, share adventures with friends on social media, and Ranger allows you to transfer your data to Apple Health and owwther high-tech
track your progress, download maps to review offline, and more. One of my favor- fitness apps.
ite options are the filters that let you quickly narrow down the trails that you are These are a few of the many View Ranger features available with this hiking
interested in or capable of trekking if there are many in your area. The accuracy is and biking app that is my favorite app when it comes to exploring areas nearby or
great, and the app is easy to use. In addition to the above features, you can subscribe while traveling around Europe.
to All Trails Pro, which gives you access to a variety of National Geographic infor-
mation on maps, trails, and routes that have been tested and reviewed by outdoor Instead of making a choice based on my reviews, take the time to search around
adventurers from all over the world. for more apps, and find out what suits your needs instead of paying for a bunch of
VIEW RANGER mind cluttering, battery draining options that you will never use. Be sure to also
check out system requirements. Prices to download vary on options as well as one
View ranger is an amazing app that allows you to search for trails and maps time or monthly fees. Go to Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon for the
with very little effort. A must for creating your own daytime or weeklong adven- best information. Most apps will let you figure out your needs with free trials.
Page 6 KaiserslauternAmerican March 30, 2018

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MERRY Paper Art / Shutterstock.co
Photo by KENG
by Sallee Miller
contributing writer
ed walk in a
beautiful place is the
No one disputes the plain fact that goal! There’s nothing wrong with
relationships are hard, especially when walking in the snow either! It’s beauti- certainly) and
there are children involved. Day-to- ful and usually quiet for your whisper- will add a spark to your rela-
day life becomes a series of logistical ing to each other. Near Ramstein you tionship. Edelweiss Lodge Photo by Dragon Images / Shutterstock.com
challenges, where one of you is asking could go to Am Seewog for a walk and Resort in Garmisch is
the other to pick up this, take the kids around this small lake and then have a definite favorite, winter or
there, make that yummy thing for a some delicious pizza at the place (Am summer.
school party and after all that you’re Seewog Holzofen Pizzeria) right across Of course, the “go-to” for
supposed to find romance?! the street! In the summer months, you romantic moments are to be place. I hear they
can eat outdoors on their deck. had beside any large body of have a great happy hour.
Right. Not going to happen. There is a trail around this lake that is water…a lake, an ocean, or even a small These are just a few ideas to develop
Hopefully, you got through this last beautiful in spring and summer. When body of water – poolside. Bostalsee into your own special time with your
Valentine’s Day unscathed. You could you’re both tired, relax on the deck at the Reservoir is a fantastic place to “play” partner.
plan ahead now to make next year’s spe- restaurant. in the water. Bostalsee is a municipality Connecting over something other
cial day memorable, or you could make With a bigger budget for special of Nohfelden in northern Saarland but than the details of raising a family is
a plain old Saturday special…in June… occasions, try the Ölmühle Hotel and really only takes about 45 minutes from what you want to do. If you don’t con-
or September…or once a week for- Restaurant in Landstuhl. You are guar- Kaiserslautern. The length of the lake is nect in some manner or fashion such as
ever. If you want to keep your relation- anteed to have a special night when you about 500 meters so it’s definitely big the ways described above, it’s going to be
ship pleasant and rewarding for both are dining at this beautiful place instead enough for all kinds of water activities. It a sad day when you have nothing left to
of you, it can be done. You just have to of grabbing something quick on the way even has an amusement park and camp- talk about except those pesky logistics.
be creative and plan ahead. It doesn’t home. Take a couple hours, linger over ing. Camping can be quite romantic but Don’t let that happen between you and
require artistic ability, glue sticks or glit- your wine and your meal. Look into don’t forget the bug spray! your sweetheart!
ter (though that would be fun too!) and each other’s eyes and really talk. It’s a bit of a drive to the seaside in Plan a date… lunch and walking
the element of surprise is almost always A weekend event that could require Belgium but you will be rewarded by barefoot in the grass, a surprise weekend
welcome. Show your partner that you’re a substantial dollar commitment, would beautiful boardwalks along the beach- with/for your partner, or putting on your
thinking about them and you are mak- be to make reservations at a hotel/B&B/ front to allow you time to spend togeth- good clothes for a fantastic dinner out.
ing an effort to please them, make them lodge out of town and don’t tell your er. Again, holding hands and smiling Something. One doesn’t cost but a few
happy, and make them feel special. You’ll partner where you’re going. Most people at each other might seem like obvious dollars and might even be the BEST
create something that will also make you love surprises but you know your partner advice but think about how often you choice! The others might cost more
happy! and if they don’t, give them substantial actually do that! Laughing together is but the return on your investment will
One suggested little surprise, and one hints so they know what kind of clothes a guaranteed good evening. Find some- be worth it. Intimacy, laughter, shared
that takes into account a limited budget, to pack, and what kind of activities (gen- thing to laugh about that happened that experiences. Make it a priority for your
might be to pick up lunch and go to erally speaking) are planned. The exact day or even just watch some stand-up relationship.
your partner’s workplace. Whisk them locale could still be a surprise. Speaking comedy on Netflix!
away for 30 minutes to a park where for myself, the more surprises, the bet- There’s a very nice lounge in down- Sallee Miller, CPC is an American
you can eat and maybe take your shoes ter! I just need to know if it’s going to town Kaiserslautern, on the 21st floor short story writer who has been writing
off and walk in the grass (while holding be cold or hot there and how long we’ll of the Rathouse, called 21Twenty One about her experiences in Germany since
hands of course). In Germany this could be gone. The fact that you had the idea lounge and if you want to stare at each the summer of 2017.  Her home prior
be tough at any time other than sum- all on your own and then saw it through other and out the window to a beautiful to Kindsbach, Germany, was in Seattle,
mer but you get the idea. An unexpect- to fruition will be appreciated (almost view of the city lights, then this is the Washington, USA.
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March 30, 2018 KaiserslauternAmerican Page 7

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Photo by ER_09 / Shutterstock.co
by EPIKdrives
Stretching from the spa town Keep it simple instead and Visit the Hohenzollern Castle — the crown
of Baden-Baden in the north, all stick to Road B500 on your of jewel of the Black Forest with over 1000
the way down to the Swiss border map. And in only two days years of history is still owned by the family of
in the south, the landscapes of of driving you can visit many Hohenzollern, offering spectacular views over
the German Black Forest made of the enticing attractions the the forest out of splendid state rooms.
Photo by Sergey Novikov / Shutterstock.com
of gently rolling hills, valleys, Black Forest has to offer.
blue lakes and of course endless Ideally start your driving tour Stay classy at Baden-Baden — a small elegant
trees are truly inviting. However, from Stuttgart, where two of town with thermal springs and maybe the
the cuckoo clock idyll with the the most important car muse- most beautiful casino in Europe. The charm-
scary name that refers to slight- ums, the Porsche-Museum and ing town was often visited by the Russian tsars
ly threatening evergreens can be the Mercedes-Benz Museum, where they spent their summer holidays, and
so much more then a charming are based and take your chance somehow the town has managed to preserve an
postcard picture. to visit holy halls of the fin- air of that long-gone era.
Photo by EPIKdrives
The fast sweeping roads of the est German car brands. At the
Black Forest are just as inviting Porsche and Mercedes museums Eat well — Germany is not necessarily famous
as any of the hiking trails. And you will get even more inspired for haute cuisine, but when in the Black Forest
those roads are here to impress. for a drive trough the Black eat like the locals and enjoy some of the best
Imagine exploring those fantastic Forest. Soon after leaving the stews, soups and Spätzle you have ever had.
driving roads in a convertible car. city of Stuttgart on a short, but
Photo by EPIKdrives
It feels right to choose a Porsche derestricted stretch of German
911 being so close to the car Autobahn you will find yourself Paddle Boating — after all that delicious food
brand’s home in Zuffenhausen, surrounded by wonderful driv- stop at one of the many lakes in the Black Forest
near Stuttgart. Your main ori- ing grounds and a scenery out to do some paddling to get rid of some of the
entation point should always of a Brother Grimm fairy tale. extra calories that without a doubt will sneak up
be the almighty Black Forest However you decide to discover on you while discovering the Black Forest.
Photo by Oscity / Shutterstock.com
High Road, don’t waste any the Black Forest, under no cir-
time trying to pronounce cumstances you should miss to For those who want to save time on researching the best routes the
the original German name incorporate the following into driving tour agency EPIKdrives has it all planned out for you. What gets
“Schwarzwaldhochstrasse.” your itinerary: your pulse racing? If you dreams are about a Porsche 911, Mercedes AMG
or Lamborghini, these guys have it and put you on the best roads in the
Black Forest. You can check out what they have to offer and discounts on
epikdrives.com. Gute Fahrt!
Photo by EPIKdrives
Page 8 KaiserslauternAmerican March 30, 2018

A newbie guide to
food and fun
in the KMC
by Katie F. Boltuch
taste buds, Safari is the place. With a
contributing writer
variety of meal options from lamb to
chicken to vegetarian, and vegan, Safari
One of the most difficult aspects of moving to a new area, especially an entirely also offers interesting drink choices from
new country and continent, is figuring out the “usual” or “favorite” spots. The places their incredibly strong coffee (served in
that the locals and residential veterans know but a recently PCS-ed person or fam- a thimble-sized cup) to the Dju Dju
ily has yet to find. Beer that comes in Banana, Mango, and
The good thing is, there are a ton of amazing places near the KMC that are Pineapple flavors. All meals are served
excellent for food, entertainment, and adventure. The only bad part is that you with injera (a sourdough-risen flatbread
might not get to visit all of these amazing places prior to your next PCS. That being with a slightly spongy texture) as a form
said, the options introduced in this piece are just a small selection of the “good of utensil. Don’t worry, though, they do
Photo by Dereje / Shutterstock.com
finds” in the KMC area. Your best bet is to ask your neighbor or work associate for offer regular utensils if you prefer not to
suggestions. That’s how I found most of these gems. eat with your hands.
The staff is incredibly kind and welcoming. The atmosphere is designed to bring
Food
you to Africa with a slideshow of pictures from the continent. A typical meal for
If you’re a creature of habit and prefer to stay on post or base, there are just a two can cost anywhere between 25 Euro to 40 Euro, depending on what is ordered.
few options available to you – Chili’s, Macaroni Grill, etc. But if you’re ready to eat Reservations are encouraged, as they get incredibly busy. Try to call a few days
some of the best food of your life, go – go now to these places! ahead of the desired date. Or you can always press your luck at the tiki shaped bar
where it’s first come first served.
Safari Restaurant
Bonus: If you enjoy the food (I have a hard time believing you won’t) and you
What can I say about this place? Everything. If you look on Trip Advisor for enjoy cooking, you are in luck! Just down the street, Greenland Afro & Asia Shop
the best restaurants in Kaiserslautern, Safari is number 2 (some days it is num- sells most of the ingredients and spices you’ll need to cook your own Ethiopian cui-
ber 1). Safari is a family-owned and operated Ethiopian restaurant in downtown sine. It’s guaranteed you’ll find what you’re looking for because Greenland is owned
Kaiserslautern. If you’re looking for an adventure and something to wake up your and operated by the mother of the Safari Restaurant’s owner.
March 30, 2018 KaiserslauternAmerican Page 9

Mr. Lian EntErtainmEnt
If you have a hankering for sushi, One of the great things about living in the KMC area is there are plenty of
the majority of people will probably activities and experiences to be had. Conversely, figuring out how to partake in said
tell you to go to Mr. Lian. Now in two activities can be difficult and overwhelming. That being said, the following options
locations (downtown Kaiserslautern are just a smattering of what the KMC has to offer its newest residents.
and Einsiedlerhof), these restaurants
1.FCK – Football Club Kaiserslautern
are usually packed! Open seven days
a week, it is recommended to call Due to the time difference, it can be
for a reservation on the weekend. pretty tough to keep up with your favor-
Serving the traditional to extrava- ite sports team back home. What about
gant, the sushi is always fresh and if adopting another? 1.FCK or 1st Fussball
you’re lucky, your plate will come with Club Kaiserslautern is the local soc-
a dry-ice volcano! If you prefer your cer team. Their home games are played
food cooked, Mr Lian offers several at Fritz-Walter-Stadion on the cusp of
hot dishes as well as traditional Pho. downtown Kaiserslautern. Although their
Photo by Oleksandr Osipov / Shutterstock.com
Carnivores and herbivores have many season started in August, there are still
menu options. plenty of home games to attend through
Aside from the creative food dis- May. Fun for the whole family and tickets are pretty inexpensive.
plays, be sure to try the freshly made
lemonades that include but are not For more information on match dates and times, visit their website at www.fck.de.
limited to Thai-basil, apple, and ginger
FSZ Saar (Sky diving)
flavoring.
A typical meal will cost two people Skydiving season begins April 1. For those that are looking to kick it up a notch,
anywhere from 30 Euro to 60 Euro, just about an hour away from the KMC area is the FSZ Saar Skydiving Center.
depending on drinks and appetizers. Take the biggest leap of your life from 4,000 meters (just over 13,000 feet)! Tandem
The atmosphere is dark and cozy. It jumps are required for all newbies. All tandem instructors and jumpers have had at
can get rather warm, so be sure to least 500 jumps of experience and most of the staff are former German paratroop-
dress in layers. As the weather gets ers. Knowing that you’re safe isn’t even the best part – it’s jumping out a plane and
warmer, the Einseedlerhof location being able to see both Germany and France all at once. Appointments are required
offers outdoor seating on their porch. for jump planning purposes.
Mythos Von Delphi Greek Restaurant
For more information, check out their website at www.fsz-saar.de.
Besides Mr. Lian and Safari,
The German Wine Road
Mythos is a must-visit restaurant.
A hidden gem, literally – Mythos is Germany has some of the best wine
tucked away on a side street from and a large portion of that wine comes
Sankt Martin’s Platz. Just off the main from right here in Rheinland-Pfalz. The
fussgangerzone, or walking street, German Wine Road is the country’s
Mythos Von Delphi is an incredible, oldest scenic drive, spanning 50 miles.
family-owned Greek restaurant. From One of the most charming parts of the
the greeter (who is also the owner) to experience is the cute old towns and
the cook, everyone that works there villages you’ll drive through. Towns like
Photo by nnattalli / Shutterstock.com
is family. Bad Duerkheim, where in September
Their pièce de résistance is the the largest wine festival in the world is
Photo by Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com
mushrooms. The stuffed mushrooms hosted, and small villages like Rhodt unter Rietburg, known for being the world’s
are on the menu as an appetizer but oldest vineyard (more than 400 years and still producing fruit), are just a few gems
can take the place of an entire meal. Stuffed with your choice of shrimp, lamb, along the way. Bonus Tip: Every last Sunday in August, the wine route is closed for
or just cheese – these are an absolute must-try! A simple description does these traffic and only open to walkers, hikers, bikers, and in-line skaters who can visit the
incredible pillows of tastiness no justice. Go and experience them for yourself. open-air wine bars on the way.
You will not regret it.
Of course, there are plenty of other options on their menu. As it is a Greek For more information visit www.germanwineroute.com
restaurant, lamb and beef are very prominent. And if you can save some room
Gartenschau Kaiserslautern
for dessert, the Baklava is hand-made and out of this world.
A typical meal for two will cost between 25 Euro and 50 Euro, depending Families and singles are sure to enjoy the Gartenschau, located close to the center of
on drinks and dessert. Kaiserslautern, offering something for everyone! Kids of all ages will enjoy the sports areas
that include a skate park, beach volleyball area, basketball courts, miniature golf, a soccer
Spinnraedl
field, playgrounds and a variety of children’s programs. As the temperature heats up, there’s
As delicious as the aforementioned restaurants are, maybe you want to expe- even a water playground to cool off on a hot day.
rience traditional German food. While there are hundreds of options to choose If you’re more interested in a stroll and to literally stop and smell the flowers,
from, it’s usually best to go where it’s busy and the locals go. Open seven days Neumuehle Park is right up your alley. Located in Gartenschau are these well-kept walk-
a week, Spinnraedl is a great place for anyone and everyone from couples to ing trails surrounded by beautiful flowers, cacti, and dinosaur replicas. When you’re ready
singles to families. Known for its friendly service and Oma-style (grandmoth- for a break, there are plenty of shady areas to rest as well as a beer garden. In warmer
er-style) cooking, it’s no wonder this place is always busy. months, you can often find open-air theater and free classical concerts on the weekends.
Offering German classics such as liver dumplings and juicy rump steaks,
every week there is a new menu of specials. Palates of all kinds will be pleased For more information on opening times and ticket prices, visit their website at
with the variety of large portions - from spinach dumplings to the traditional www.gartenschau-kl.de.
schnitzel and fried potatoes. Spinnraedl is located in downtown Kaiserslautern
near the Stiftskirche. About the author: Katie teaches English Language Arts at Kaiserslautern High School. She is
A meal for two will cost anywhere from 40 Euro to 60 Euro, depending on an avid runner, reader, and writer.  In her free time she spends as much time as possible with
drinks, appetizers, and desserts. her husband and newborn daughter.
Page 10 KaiserslauternAmerican March 30, 2018

Follow the German
Timber-frame Road
m
w / Shutterstock.co
1. Stade: Photo by travelvie
by Ruth Cuevas
to 1000 years old and some, older. Beginning at the was quickly able to begin rebuild-
contributing writer
Timber-framing involves building a northernmost tip of the German ing. During this period, it devel-
structure with notched beams secured Timber-Frame Road, and oped its own style of half-timbered
For many a road-tripper, travel- by wooden pegs. The gaps between about 45 km west of Hamburg construction. Diamond cuts at
ing through Germany evokes images the beams are called panels (Facher in (approximately 650k north of the ends of the horizontal beams
of storybook villages surrounded by German). The panels are filled with Kaiserslautern), is the village of and projecting bays mark the
lush forests, castles perched high on any of a variety of materials that con- Stade. Stade sits on the river Elbe, construction style of this period.
mountaintops, or mysterious Roman tain insulating properties such as: brick, in Lower Saxony. The first men- In addition to being one of the
or Celtic artifacts in unsuspecting sticks, hay, or more commonly, wattle tion of Stade was in 934, but three cities in Germany known
locations. Aside from having some of and daub. The coating of daub has traces of human settlers have been for holding the most important
the best road conditions throughout many recipes, but generally was a mix- found in the area that date back collections of church treasures,
Europe, Germany has taken a lot of the ture of clay and chalk with a binder to 30,000 BC. If you’re plan- Quedlinburg houses the tomb
guess-work out of planning by naming such as grass or straw and water or ning a trip along the Deutsche of the 10th Century German
routes that highlight particular inter- urine. The panels were then covered Fachwerkstrasse, Stade is a good King Henry in the Church of St.
ests. Would you like to see castles? Take with a type of plaster and sometimes place to begin, especially if your Servatius. Quedlinburg is located
a drive on the Burgenstrasse (German painted, but the timber beams were left trip is only going to be one-way. approximately 500 km north of
Castle Road). Want to travel in the exposed, creating a stylistic effect. https://www.stade-tourismus. Kaiserslautern, direction Leipzig.
footsteps of the Romans? Follow the In Germany, the timber structure de/en/home http://www.quedlinburg.de/en/
Romantische Strasse (Romantic Road). usually sits on a base of concrete or the_romanesque_route.html
2. Quedlinburg:
Do you like medieval villages or tim- brick so that the exposed timber beams Southeast
ber-framed houses? If you answered, begin well above ground level. These of Stade and slightly off the About the author: Ruth Cuevas is a
yes, then read on. historical half-timbered structures are Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse, is the freelance writer, Adjunct Professor and
The Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse protected in Germany and should the village of Quedlinburg. In 1994, Yoga instructor who has lived in six
(German Timber-Frame Road) was owner of a historical timber-framed UNESCO designated the village countries in three continents since 2008.
created in 1990 by the Historische house want to renovate, they must first of Quedlinburg a World Heritage Her writing can be seen in ATOD
Fachwerkstadte e.V. or ARGE seek approval from the German gov- site. Even though it is not located Magazine www.atodmagazine.com and
(Association of Historic Timber- ernment. on the Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse, Elephant Journal www.elephantjournal.
Framed Towns). The ARGE connected Many of the villages on the German the village of Quedlinburg deserves com. You can follow her travels on
historic villages from the northern- Timber-Frame Road remain intact a mention and to be added to instagram at @mymotorcyclediaries. Her
most part of Germany to the south- even after hundreds of years which the list of the most beautiful goal is to keep her blog updated www.
ernmost tip overlooking the Bodensee. only helps to draw tourists and increase German timber-frame villages. mymotorcyclediaries.net.
The German Timber-Frame Road is their popularity. Below, is a list of ten Like much of Germany,
approximately 3,000km long and is of the most beautiful timber- Quedlinburg suffered Read more in next
divided into seven sections and crosses frame villages in Germany, extensive damage
through six states. most of them, can be locat- during the 30 Years’ week's edition!
The process of timber-framing is ed along the Deutsche War. However,
one that has clearly stood the test of Fachwerkstrasse: the village
time. Many of the timber-
framed villages in
Germany are
close
Photo by Raymond Thill / Shutterstock.com