Familiar Travels: Highlights From A Week With Mom & Dad

In my previous post, I wrote about the joy that was spending six days with my parents here in Germany. It was a tremendous effort on their part, and I was so proud to share my new home with them. I also featured a guest post from my mom on the blog, and she touched on just about everything that made the time together so special. Both posts allude to some of our travels, but I haven't divulged full details about our jam packed days and eye-opening trips. 

I haven't heard from my parents what their absolute favorite part of the trip was, but I'm going to venture out and offer my own highlights. I'm sure their opinions aren't too far off. The list goes in chronological order, and while there is a whole lot I can't fit in, these will make a pretty decent summary of our adventures. 

Monday

The delightful displays in my favorite Bad Homburg chocolate shop

As we walked from Kirdorf into the Bad Homburg Altstadt on the first evening, the grey skies opened up to unveil a glorious sunset. Though the sheer excitement of having them in Germany with me was the ultimate highlight, our best stop was at Chocolate Plus--a one-of-a-kind handcrafted chocolate shop near the center of the city. I definitely get my love of chocolate from my mom, but at store like this one, we all drooling over the chocolates and hot drinks. 

Tuesday

On a day where we shared our time between Frankfurt and Mainz--the two closest big cities--the grey skies couldn't stop us from seeing and eating to our hearts' content. My favorite stop in Mainz was our lunch spot, a brewery called Eisgrub-Brau. Located in an old vaulted ice cellar with arched ceilings, the pub served big plates of traditional German food and offered a warm atmosphere. My parents couldn't go to Germany and not try Bratwurst and Sauerkraut!  

My Dad's first real German meal

The highlight from Frankfurt was a new adventure for me. After a lovely dinner of Flammkuchen and soup on Frankfurt's Burger Strasse, we met Nina and Simon for an evening at the English Theater. The small performance center does, as you guessed, plays and musicals in English. We happened to see a musical called "Sweet Charity." I'd never heard of it, but without going into the details, I found it to be incredibly entertaining. I never really appreciated professional stage acting until I saw "Death of a Salesman" on Broadway last spring with my AP English class. While the English Theater in Frankfurt is a little different than Broadway, I enjoyed the play start to finish. Heck, I haven't seen a musical by anyone older than high school students since I saw "The Lion King" half-a-dozen years ago. "Sweet Charity" capped off a busy and successful Tuesday. 

Wednesday

As I mentioned in my last post, we were able to visit Accadis and spend some time with the head P.E. teacher Darryl Cromier. I have spent a lot of time helping Darryl in his sports classes and we've developed a bond that I know will continue even after I leave. When I visited with my parents on Wednesday morning, he took his whole break period to talk with us and give a tour of the school. They got to see how fortunate I am to have landed at Accadis and that I get to spend my days with Darryl. By the end of our tour, they loved the school, and I was even prouder to be a volunteer there. 

Thursday

We left for Heidelberg in foggy skies, but as soon as we drove south of Frankfurt, the sun started peeking out. Soon there was plenty of blue, and by the time we reached our destination, there was not a cloud in the sky. Though it was about thirty degrees colder than my last visit in early September, the clear blue skies hadn't changed a bit. 

Panorama from the Heidelberg Castle in late afternoon

It's impossible to pick a favorite moment from the day, since our stops ranged from incredible stores along the Hauptstrasse to five different Christmas Markets to unforgettable breweries and eateries. I took my second trip to the famous Heidelberg Schoss (castle), this time via the steepest railway I've ever been on. We walked out to a lookout near the castle and enjoyed the full scope and beauty of the city in the orange sunset. 

I'm going to write about the different Christmas Markets I visit in another post, but for now, I loved the atmosphere and stalls in all of the Heidelberg markets. They gave wandering around the Altstadt a purpose, and between our meals we filled the time with stall-gazing and gift buying. I loved Heidelberg during my first visit, but that was back when I didn't know anything about German travel. Coming back with my parents confirmed my appreciation for the city and all of the big and not-so-big details that make it special.

Friday

I wrote earlier about our highly anticipated trip to Cologne. I'd never been to to city besides a transfer at the train station, but even the few glimpses I got left me yearning to spend a day there. We took the scenic route up--over the Taunus hills and down to Koblenz where we hit the Rhine. From there we chose the low road, which wound its way along the wide river. We saw the quaint German towns, steep hills lined with rows and rows of grapevines, and the occasional castle or palace. 

Cologne itself was a treat, despite the only rain of the entire week. There isn't the ancient feel of Heidelberg, but the tradeoff is incredible shopping streets, unique museums, and plenty of sights. One of the most jaw-dropping of these was the Hohenzollern Bridge and its locks. It's become a tradition for partners to engrave their names on a lock and attach it to the bridge's fencing. There's not an inch of space, and the bridge stretches 400 meters over the Rhine! 

And of course, there's the Dom. It was the single most impressive thing I've seen in Germany. I can say all I want about its size, design, and omnipresence, but it really has to seen to be believed. Considering that every inch of the cathedral was carved, sculpted, and arranged down to the tiniest details, I understand why it took so long to complete. (There were long breaks in the 600 years of building, though). I wish I had known a little bit more about the stained glass pictures and narratives described in the Dom's artwork, but at the very least, the time we spent there was unforgettable. 

Each arched doorway is decorated with the most intricate stone carvings

Lastly, despite some transportation issues, we reached the FC Koln stadium for an evening soccer match versus Bochum. Everyone came out for the Friday night football fest, and the big stadium was mostly filled by the 40,000 in attendance. We got to see a few goals, which each came with raucous celebration. I've now been to three games (in Stuttgart, Edinburgh, and Cologne) and the feel in the Koln stadium was the most fun. The match finished 3-1 to the home side, and though we got home late, it was well worth the effort. 

Saturday

I wrote about one of Saturday's highlights in my previous post, that being my soccer match. It was a fun game for my parents (and the whole Judson family) to see, and my teammates made me feel like it was my night. 

For our final evening together, we joined Nina and Simon for a goose dinner at a cozy restaurant in Bad Homburg's Altstadt. I'd seen hundreds of half-timbered buildings but had never been inside one. The inside looked just as old as the outside, but in an elegant way that made our final dinner special. The goose was one of the best meals I've had in Germany. Though we didn't celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey, the goose was a delectable substitute. 

Those were the moments I enjoyed most about the week: when all of us knew it was late in the evening, but we simply couldn't stop talking. Even though our families haven't spent too much time together, it feels like we've all been friends for years. I'm very lucky to have Nina and Simon looking out for me, and it certainly makes it easier on my parents. Still, there's nothing better than being with family. It was a week none of us will forget. 

Click here for all of the photos from my week in Germany with my parents.

Stuttgart, Courtesy of Blake Little

I'm a bit behind on posting about my travels, but I hope to catch up before I leave for Scotland on Wednesday. Last weekend I spent two days in Stuttgart, and I can infer it’s the type of city that takes a little bit of inside information to truly appreciate. Some cities or famous locations have a handful of attractions that are impossible to miss--enough to keep uninformed tourists content for a weekend. Others, like Stuttgart, are a little different. Maybe it was because I arrived in a downpour or that the train station is undergoing major construction, but I was initially a bit unimpressed.

But then, I met my host Blake Little.

Blake is a family friend through Dudley, and he was at camp when my mom was a staff member and my uncle was a camper. Like my uncle, he went to St. Lawrence. He’s always been involved in the teaching and athletic training world, but half-a-dozen years ago he left his home state of Ohio to teach at DODS (Department of Defense School) in the north of Italy. After a successful five years there, he moved to Stuttgart and is doing the same thing in a new country.

I had never met Blake before, but within a few minutes I knew he was going to be an excellent host. When you have Dudley as a common denominator, it’s easy to become quick friends. We talked as we made our way back to his (awesome) flat, and thought it was still raining when we got there, I could tell I was in good hands for my time in the city. I was with someone who had the inside information about Stuttgart, and that made all the difference. 

A quick run through of what we did 

Traditional German architecture in Esslingen

First off we hopped on the S-Bahn heading east out of the city to visit the historical town of Esslingen no more than ten minutes away. Would I have known that the small village contained some of the most fascinating and classic examples of traditional German architecture? Blake took me down the windy cobblestone streets and beside the small canals. Vineyards covered the steep hills on either side of the town--it’s amazing how every bit of available space is utilized.

We returned for lunch at Calwer-Eck-Brau--perhaps Stuttgart’s finest microbrewery. The second-story restaurant was near the center of the city, and some fascinating interior woodwork separated the main room into distinct sections. It turned out they serve an all-you-can-eat buffet on Sundays, so I filled myself with the German, and more specifically Schwaben, style food. From what I know, Stuttgart is the benefactor of Black Forest heritage, which lends itself to the region’s unique food and beverage. I, for one, really enjoyed it.

After biking through the city for a while (the clouds had separated while we were eating lunch and the sun had come out), we prepared for the evening game. Stuttgart was matched up against Bayer Leverkusen in a Bundesliga tilt--and I was going to see it! The Mercedes Benz Arena finished a long-term renovation a few years ago, and now the stadium is spectacular. There’s room for over 60,000 spectators, and while it wasn’t sold out for this match, it’s still pretty loud when 50,000 cheer for a goal. Our seats were in the upper and left section of the Cannstatter Kurve--behind the net where the true fans sit. Below us was standing room only--packed with the club’s most loyal (and inebriated) supporters. Men on platforms held microphones, megaphones, and drums; they insured that the noise did not stop for one moment.

Stuttgart currently sits near the bottom of the tables, and when Leverkusen scored a easy goal off of a goalie mistake, I wondered whether the team and the fans would let down. We found out soon after that this would not be the case. The home side earned a penalty kick and promptly buried it to tie the score at one apiece. As the cold air set in the stadium stayed warm with the energy of the fans. I must have heard the cheer "Scheisst Ein Tor! Scheisst Ein Tor! Auf Geht Stuttgart, Scheisst Ein Tor!" about a hundred times. Following halftime, Stuttgart came out and scored one of the nicer goals I have seen live. The left wing beat two defenders going down the sideline before taking it to the end-line and sliding it across for an easy finish. Though Leverkusen tied it soon after on a nice header goal, the energy remained high until the final whistle. Not a bad experience at all. I feel very fortunate that the game lined up with my trip to Stuttgart and that Blake was so willing to help with tickets.

Three-story statue at the Cannstatter Volksfest

The fun didn't just end there. It also happened that I visited during Stuttgart's Cannstatter Volksfest. The fairgrounds are located right next door to the stadium, so along with nearly every other fan in attendance, Blake and I walked over to the festival. At half the size of Oktoberfest, it feels a little less touristy. Still, the party can still get pretty wild at the second biggest of Germany's fall festivals. Blake knew one of the bands playing in a smaller tent, so we listened to them sing anything from traditional German songs to "Sweet Caroline" for an hour. It wasn't like Oktoberfest where every square inch was packed, which made walking around easier. We saw some of the bigger tents before heading away from the grounds to get dinner.

We took the S-Bahn to one of Blake's favorite pubs, which served delicious local cuisine and specialty beer brewed in the Black Forest to the south of Stuttgart. I tried Flammkuchen--the form of pizza found in Germany's southwest. It has no tomato sauce; instead, a "creme fraiche" coats the crust, with the cheese, onions, and mushrooms or meat on top. It was delicious--certainly a well earned dinner. 

Monday was all about seeing the city--from the highest points possible. Blake drove me around in the morning to both of the hill spines that frame the city. The sun was out, and it was prefect to enjoy a casual morning in a beautiful place. Blake talked as we explored, and it's that type of tour guide which I enjoy most. Blake took time to show me around and make sure I enjoyed myself. I'm finding more and more that people are willing to go out of their way to make me feel comfortable--helping me to make the most out of my time here. 

I closed out my Stuttgart trip with a hike up to the top of the train station tower. The old stone staircase spiraled upwards for ten floors. I was sweating (a lot) by the time I reached the opening to roof lookout. It was a cool way to say goodbye to the city, one which definitely made a big impact me over my short stay. 

Oktoberfest, Nothing Else Like It

There are a lot of things that have to be seen to be believed, and plenty of others that fit the must-see-before-you-die category. When it comes to being both, there may not be any truer example than Oktoberfest. Everyone can have his or her own opinion about the biggest party on the face of the planet, but I was nothing short of blown away. Having survived and absolutely loved my recent trip down to the Munich festival, I can honestly say that there's nothing else like it.  

First, a small disclaimer: I spent twelve hours in the Oktoberfest grounds--easily enough time to have one of the finest days of my life, but no where near enough to see the entire Theresienwiese fairground. As you'll come to see, a Friday at Oktoberfest is not exactly the best time to leisurely explore. I still saw plenty of sights, but I focused more on the little things that make the celebration so special. My account won't be a summary of everything the festival has to offer. It will not provide historical facts and figures. That's not what makes Oktoberfest so great. This celebration is really about the people--meeting up with old friends, finding new ones, and all enjoying the German traditions and culture together. So here we go with Oktoberfest account.

I woke at 4:30 on the morning of Friday, September 28 and was out of my house in Bad Homburg ten minutes later. Mornings aren't always the easiest for me, but I felt as awake and alive as ever. I walked to the bus in the dark, exited at the train station in the dark, got on the S-Bahn going to Frankfurt in the dark, and arrived at the Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, yes, in the dark. Just before 6 AM I made my way down platform eight and waited for the ICE train to pull in. I had actually reserved myself a seat for this ride, and it was nice knowing that I wouldn't have to search for one. The three hour ride to Munich couldn't have felt shorter. I ate my croissants, listed to music, wrote in my journal, and best of all, watched the sun rise out the window. As the crystal clear sky got lighter, my excitement grew. And from then on, each moment seemed more exciting than the last. 

I jumped off the train just past nine in Munich, and walked (very, very quickly) south towards the festival. Even early in the morning, the city was buzzing with men and women decked out in the traditional Oktoberfest dress: lederhosens and dirndls. I turned onto the final block and saw a mass of people flooding towards the entrance. Even so, when I passed under the "Willkommen zum Oktoberfest" banner, I was surprised to see the center strip fairly empty. Where was everyone? I soon found out. 

In front of the Hofbrau Festzelt tent

Let me pause for a moment and explain my plans to meet up with friends. Will Plumb is a fellow Camp Dudley leader studying in Prague, and I had been talking to him all week about trying to find each other. He goes to Richmond, and it turns out that three of his roommates in Prague study at Middlebury. There's nothing better than the Dudley network, and I'm benefitting from it for this entire gap year. Also at Oktoberfest on Friday was Kirk Horton, a soccer player whom I roomed with at a Dartmouth camp two years ago. We didn't stay in contact after the camp, but I got an email from him this past winter saying that he also got in early-decision to Middlebury, that he'll be playing soccer, and that he wanted to take a gap year and play in Europe. It's a bit of a coincidence, but it turned out that he decided upon Germany. So, Middlebury soccer has two guys coming in who both spent a semester playing in Germany--pretty crazy! Anyway, I got a text on the train from Kirk saying he'd be in Munich, and that he was planning on going to the Hacker-Festzelt tent, which is right next to the Hofbrau tent where I planned to meet Plumb. 

The sea of people inside the Hofbrau tent

Continuing with the day: I beelined it straight for the Hofbrau tent, where Munich's world-famous Hofbrauhaus beer garden entertains thousands upon thousands of visitors. It seemed big from the front, but there was no massive crowd waiting to enter. I peered inside and realized why. It turned out I missed the opening of the doors by five minutes, and there had been a mad rush to secure tables. Large corporate groups and people with connections can reserve tables and show up whenever, but for the general public, it's difficult to get a seat. Luckily, Plumb and his Richmond buddies had been standing in line since before 7 AM, and in the rush for tables he was kind enough to save me a seat. My wait was no more than five minutes before I entered the tent. I had to climb over a few railings and benches, but soon I was sitting at  Plumb's table. 

The tent was massive--hopefully the photos do it justice. When I arrived, the standing-only middle section was empty, and so was the upper level with reserved seating. But wow, the rest of the tables on the lower level were packed. The Hofbrau tent draws a young international crowd (i.e. Americans studying abroad). Our section felt like frat row. Richmond took up a bunch of tables around us, to the left Syracuse held some seats, UPenn had some representatives, and only a few tables away was a small Middlebury crowd. So much for experiencing German culture. The tables were so close together that the only way to navigate was to climb on top of the benches. I sat back to back with random people, as we all anticipated the first waitress to bring out the first drinks.

The Hacker tent--not quite so rowdy

I've witnessed a lot of incredible sporting events, but the adrenaline rush in that moment rivaled any spectacular play. The waitress appeared and without missing a beat the band began to play. Everyone jumped to their feet, and most stood on the benches and tables. It was completely and totally insane--and still only ten o'clock in the morning! Every time a waitress came near our table everyone went wild. For ten euros a liter, it's not a very good deal, but it's cool to think you're drinking the same exact beer as a thousand people sitting around you. A side note: those waitresses are strong. One mass, as they are called, is heavy--and they carry up to ten!

After the initial hype of the first beers, people started to settle down and move throughout the tent. I decided it was the best time to meet up with Kirk, because I knew by early afternoon the tent would shut its doors. It was actually very easy to find each other, and after roaming around my tent we moved outside to walk around the grounds. Like me, he wanted to take a lot of photos, so we stopped in some of the nearby tents and checked out each of those scenes. The atmosphere varies from tent to tent, because some put a premium on design, others advertise the best food, and the Hofbrau tent offers the craziest party. Kirk and I talked for over an hour--sharing observations about German culture and society and comparing our soccer situations. We are both really excited for Middlebury and our chances to play soccer there, and we agreed that taking a gap year will benefit us in more ways than we can imagine.

At Oktoberfest with Will Plumb

When I arrived back at my tent, the full scale of the party was on display. Previously clear walkways were clogged with people. Waitresses holding beers and food trays blew whistles over and over trying to push through. The band was still blasting German songs--some traditional and others more modern. They played "Tage Wie Diese"--still the only German song I know--and everyone at least attempted to shout out the chorus. Plumb and I talked for a while, and he introduced me to many of his friends. I talked EPL with a Richmond guy for what seemed an hour, and I also met Laura Canning--a Camp Dudley at Kiniya leader. If you've ever been to Dudley for a summer, you probably know the Canning family. We talked about camp and how much I loved Alex, Shane, and Regis Canning. It seems there is always another Dudley connection to be made.

I stayed in the tent until around nine o'clock. By this point many people were wandering around aimlessly, and those who had had their fill were heading for the exit. I stepped outside and everything was illuminated by bright, colorful lights. I can't decide whether I like the nighttime view better than the daytime one. At one corner of the grounds, the Bavaria Statue rises high above the tents. I climbed up the steps and found a seat, and like all of those around me, I took in the view. Sitting up there, it's easy to understand why Oktoberfest is so special.

The Bavaria statue at night

By 11 PM I was boarding my sleeper train home--completely exhausted, but still full of so many images and memories from the festival. As I said before, it's about the old friends, the new friends, and the collective spirit of the entire celebration. The day was a treat. I feel luck to have had the chance to go and so glad I seized the opportunity. Yes, you do have to see it to believe it, and I'm happy that I can now say I have been to Oktoberfest.

Click here to view all of my photos from Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest (No, Not the One in Munich)

Kirdorf Village, marked by its two steeples at sunset

Oh, Kirdorf...

Kirdorf is the small, northwestern neighborhood of Bad Homburg. Nothing about the village jumps out at you, save perhaps the twin steeples. I was told in my first week that if I wanted to get home, look for the two steeples. Though Kirdorf isn't gorgeous or flashy, it definitely has its own identity--something that I've grown to appreciate. When I make my bike ride home from school during the week, I always feel a small sense of satisfaction when I climb the small rise and pass through the traffic light that brings me home to Kirdorf. 

I experience this sense of identity every time I play soccer at the DJK. Though my club is called DJK Bad Homburg, it's true home is Kirdorf. This past Saturday, I got a chance to feel the true unity of Kirdorf in the DJK's Oktoberfest celebration. 

First, a bit about Oktoberfest 

The name "Oktoberfest" (and I shouldn't have to translate it for you) applies to any autumn celebration in Germany. There is the world famous celebration, The Oktoberfest, held in Munich, but it's not like the rest of the country doesn't join in the festivities. Stuttgart holds a version of Oktoberfest called Cannstatter Volksfest, which attracts a cool 3.5 million visitors to place second biggest behind Munich. But it's not only the big cities that host Oktoberfest parties: the tiniest villages, including Kirdorf, can hold their own celebrations. And I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that no matter the size, these parties are fun. 

I may make my way to some of the larger festivals over the next couple weeks, but the Oktoberfest I attended at the DJK is and always will be my first. 

Oktoberfest at the DJK

Following my match on Saturday afternoon and postgame shower and pizza, I walked down to the DJK clubhouse (cabin, as they call it here). The club usually serves drinks and small meals on the weekends, but for this occasion a big (and heated) party tent had been set up--doubling the capacity for tables and benches. Oktoberfest streamers and banners hung from the walls, as well as the DJK's full repertoire of awards, plaques, and posters. You have to feel some respect for an athletic association that's been around for 125 years. The back room had been transformed into a buffet serving only the most traditional German foods, and the bar area was full stocked with large glassware and specialty Oktoberfest beer on tap.  The beer is some of the lighter stuff you find in Germany, but unlike cheap light beer in the US, it's delicious. I couldn't have celebrated my first Oktoberfest without having a liter (grosse) beer. I have to say, it does make you feel pretty powerful.

Many of my soccer friends from both my junior team and the men's team were in attendance, so we stuck together for most of the night. It was easy to slide between groups of people; simply hold up your beer and say "Prost!" and everyone smiles, touches glasses, and takes a sip. 

This wasn't a party for only the soccer players--far from it. Many of the local Kirdorfers made appearances--decked in typical Oktoberfest outfits. And the traditions didn't stop there. The music that carried on through the night was the same songs that one would hear in Munich--and they probably haven't changed in decades! Everyone knew at least the chorus to the songs; (I felt like I did, too, since it seemed the same five songs repeated over and over for four hours). Men, women, and children sung and chanted, and I particularly enjoyed a song that prompted one table group to stand on their chairs, lift the table in their left hands, and gulp beer with their rights in between the slurred verses. 

I have nothing spectacular to report about the venue or any impressive displays the club put on. This celebration was the essence of what Oktoberfest in German culture is all about. It was so simple but so much fun. I can understand why Oktoberfest has evolved into such a tradition, because above all, it is a gloriously entertaining time.

Laternenfest

My Introduction to German Festivals

There's never a bad time to experience German culture, but I am here for what is casually referred to as the "fest season." Though summer vacation is over, the German people love to celebrate the waning warm days as they transition towards the colder months. For about six weeks beginning in mid-September and running through October, fest season takes over the country. All of the schools shut down for at least two weeks some time during this stretch; whether or not people head to Munich for the Oktoberfest, there are festivals to be enjoyed in nearly every city and town. 

This float signifies Laternenfest--literally, "Lantern Festival"

Bad Homburg gets an early start on the celebrations with Laternenfest--a four-day party that is unique to the city. It's a homecoming of sorts, and the people traffic over the past week has been barely tolerable. Literally, it's the "Lantern Festival." Beginning in the post war decades, Bad Homburg shops and restaurants hung lanterns outside their buildings when the evenings became darker to alert customers that they were open. Soon the tradition evolved into a festival, and now it's the city's biggest event of the year. 

The pedestrian-only Louisenstrasse fills up quickly each night

I enjoyed each of the four days differently, trying to get the full picture of this unique event. On Friday I spend a late evening at the center of the party with a few of my soccer teammates. Yes, Germany loves its beer, and yes, the drinking age is sixteen. And just like everything else, I am trying to handle it maturely. So far, German beer has lived up to the hype. The photo to the left was taken in one of the main festival areas; by sunset it was packed with people young and old--all having a good time. One item to note: all of the beer vendors charge as much or more for the bottle or glass than the alcohol. When you finish, you can return the glass and get your money back. This system goes great lengths to keep the streets clean and prevent broken glass.

Bad Homburg claims to be home to the oldest golf course in continental
Europe; while that may be true, the course is only a 6-hole par-3 layout. 

Saturday was the night of the parade. Every club and organization in Bad Homburg prepared a float, and as I ate dinner in a local pizzeria, I could see every float and marching band heading out to the edge of town to line up. It turned out that the parade began at the fire station only a block up the road from my house, so as darkness fell we lined up with the neighbors at the end of the driveway and watched the procession. The town is celebrating the hundredth year of the royal spa, so each float displayed a bit of history. Some of the floats had musicians performing, which reminded me of playing trumpet in the Westport, NY Fourth of July parade. Representing Camp Dudley in that event is always fun, but for an overall spectacle I would choose this one any day of the week.

The festival also features a typical fairground with rides and games

Sunday, Simon and I took Sebastian and Alex (the two middle children) to the fairgrounds. I remembered back to my 2009 summer in Germany when I went to the Hannover Schutzenfest; that fair had been spectacular, so I had high expectations for the one at Laternenfest. Everything at this fair was cool, and I loved the slight disregard for safety in order to cram more people onto the rides. Even with the huge crowds, we never stood in line for more than five minutes. And you can't beat a few rounds of bumper cars.

Laternenfest was capped off with a second parade and a firework show on Monday night. This procession was less flashy; a small crew of drummers leading a dozen men with torches. Behind them, all of the young kids in the district and their parents ambled along, chatting and trying not to lose one another. The students all had lanterns that they'd designed at school, and the glowing lights speckled the crowd. The parade meandered through the park and down one of the main roads before reaching the open field where the fireworks would occur. Around 9:30 the light show kicked off. The fireworks were orchestrated to fit the songs coming from the loudspeakers--everything from the German pop group Toten Hosen to U2. I was impressed, and the show left me very satisfied with my first German festival. I know that they will get bigger, but I'll remember Laternenfest for a long time. 

Click here to see all of my photos from Laternenfest