Glamping in Slovenia

FREE APRIL 2019 WHAT’SWHAT TO SEE | WHAT TO DO UPSTUTTGART GERMANY’S TRADITIONS easter Day Trips in Germany Passau’s Spring Festival Glamping in Slovenia WHAT’S UP A Stars and Stripes Community Publication COMMANDER SEAN P. KLIMEK, Lt Col, USAF, PhD PUBLISHING & MEDIA DESIGN, DIRECTOR MARIE WOODS PUBLISHING & MEDIA DESIGN, MANAGER HEATHER BAIER WRITER-EDITORS ELIZABETH JONES, MARY DEL ROSARIO GRAPHIC ARTISTS CARRIE FARRELL, LAURA HERSH, ANDREA VARGAS ENGAGEMENT MANAGER KAREN LEWIS MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL COTTER MULTIMEDIA ADVERTISING, MANAGER DOUG DOUGHERTY MULTIMEDIA ADVERTISING, CONSULTANTS SEAN ADAMS, JAMES AFFLERBACH, HEIDI BAYFIELD, TOM KEYS, CLAUDIA STIER, JEFF TEESELINK ADVERTISING COORDINATORS AL GREEN, KRISTI KIMMEL COVER DESIGN BY ANDREA VARGAS ADVERTISING OFFICE Unit 29480, APO, AE 09211 Postfach 1980, 67607 Kaiserslautern, Germany +49(0)631-3615-9000 or email: dougherty.doug@stripes.com CONTACT US: Telephone: +49 (0) 0631-3615-9111 or DSN: 314-583-9111 Email: memberservices@stripes.com TO ADVERTISE CONTACT: HEIDI BAYFIELD STUTTGART AREA MULTIMEDIA CONSULTANT bayfield.heidi@stripes.com TEL: 0152-56725021 ©FOOTTOO/123RF.COM TIME & TRADITION 4 Dr. Charles A. Smith, DDS is an American trained dentist providing expert dental care with the newest and most successful techniques. Dr. Smith and his Team are proud to provide for your entire family, from infants to geriatrics, treatment to cover all of your dental needs. Our Team is available in two locations and we now have new extended evening hours in our Böblingen office! We look forward to your visit! Beginning on or near Ash Wednesday, you’ll start seeing beautifully- decorated eggs hung from the branches of live trees and bushes outdoors. ©FOOTTOO/123RF.COM ©FOOTTOO/123RF.COM TRADITIONSGermany’s By Shereece Spain For many, Easter is a sacred States, kids hunt for eggs and other treats on Easter morning. holiday commemorating Easter Bonfire Christ’s resurrection. Easter Tree Hay is put in a large wheel and set on It’s also viewed as a chance to welcome fire. It’s then pushed down a hill. If the spring. In Germany, that is no different than Beginning on or near Ash Wednesday, you’ll wheel makes it to the bottom intact, in the United States. However, our host start seeing beautifully-decorated eggs it is said that the harvest will be good nation offers its own customs and traditions. hung from the branches of live trees and that year. This tradition is only practiced Here are some you may experience. bushes outdoors. Some cut branches from by some northern areas of Germany, trees, put them in vases inside their homes, including Lügde in Weserbergland — the and hang eggs from them. Twisted Willow Osterradstadt (Easter city)— that has been Easter Market tree branches will be commonly used. Their following this tradition for more than a This is by far my favorite custom! Any beautiful spiraled patterns add a wonderful thousand years. whimsy to the decor. The eggs can be made season that includes its own special If you plan to attend church services, out of hollowed-out real ones, plastic or markets ranks at the top of my list. The Europe offers many world-renowned styrofoam. This is the perfect spot to hang main feature of these markets are artisan- cathedrals. For example, Notre Dame the collection you’ve made from Easter crafted eggs. They are handcrafted from a in Paris, Westminster Abbey in London, markets and any you or your family have wide range of materials, including glass, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Ulm made. Just like Christmas trees, who says wood and fabric. It’s fun to collect at Cathedral in Ulm, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in you can only have one? least one from each market you attend. Dublin and many more! Be prepared for One could liken these to the tradition of larger-than-normal crowds on these days, collecting Glühwein mugs. The Baked Easter Lamb) so arriving exceptionally early is a must. However you decide to celebrate Easter You can’t have a holiday without a this year, consider incorporating some of Easter Bunny traditional dessert to accompany it! In Germany’s customs into the mix. Frohe Germany, it’s das Gebackene Osterlamm, It is believed that the idea of the Easter Ostern (Happy Easter)!. n Bunny originated in Germany, with the which is a delicious cake in the shape of Germans and Dutch bringing it to the a lamb — not an actual baked lamb. Stop United States in the 1700s. Children make by your local bakery to order one for your and leave nests in their yards for the Easter Easter festivities or consider finding a Bunny to leave presents. Similar to in the recipe online to make your own. 6 RHEIN MAIN STUTTGART 19 19 20 20 GERMANY PassauDAY TRIP 8 GERMANY DAY TRIPS By Shereece Spain Welcome, spring! Oh, how I’ve missed you and the radiant sunshine you bring. I’m officially in the mood to start the 2019 festival season. The options are overwhelming. Let’s use this opportunity to discover a festival in the city of Passau. stroyed by war over the centuries. Guided tours Heavenly Ladder - Reflect in this unique religious A fest-tastic day are available, but at least take the time to head experience and marvelous views of the city while up the hill to traverse the grounds and soak up climbing the 321 stairs from the Innstadt to Pau- It’s time to dust off your lederhosen and dirndl the astounding city and river views. The castle line’s Fathers’ Monastery Mariahilf. and head over to Eastern Bavaria’s largest folk is celebrating its 800th anniversary this year, so festival, Passauer Dult. The over 300,000 square check the website for any other special events feet Messepark Kohlbruck is transformed into they may be having on the day of your trip. Getting there an amazing festival experience. It runs April 26 - May 5, so you may find yourself planning Passau is located approximately three hours Cafe Simon chocolate - A stop at this lo- more than one visit. You can enjoy a family out- from Bavaria and two and a half hours from cal, family-owned establishment is a must for ing or make it a girl’s or guy’s trip. Regardless, Grafenwöhr if you drive. The closest parking chocolate-lovers. Their assortment is almost everyone will find something — festival food, to the festival can be found on Dr. Ernst Derra overwhelming. To help me narrow down my carnival rides for kids to adults, desserts, games Strasse near the Eisarena. Taking the train is also choices when I travel, I opt for local originals. and more! an option. Passau Hauptbahnhof is the closest In this case, the Passauer Goldhauben Pralinen They have six glorious beer tents with out- station. I would recommend taking a taxi or standing entertainment and delicious food to choose from. Each tent is different. The menu, brand of beer and any other beverage options (wine, schnapps, etc.) can vary. Similar to most major festivals, advanced reservations are a must. Make sure you go online to check out what each tent offers and secure your seats. Beyond the festival If you’ve never been to Passau, you may want to explore other parts of the city. Consider arriving early to absorb these local experiences. ©FOOTTOO/123RF.COM IVANOV/123RF.COM ©ANTON River cruise - Donauschifffahrt offers a 45-min- The spring festival is also called Maidult. If you enjoyed your first ute “Three rivers” tour. It’s the perfect way to experience the Ortspitze, where the Danube, trip to Passau, consider coming back for the Herbstdult this fall to Inn and Ilz Rivers meet and get a unique view of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schaibling Tower (a close out the festival season and catch other parts of the city. 14th-century city watchtower). During peak sea- (Passau gold-hooded chocolate) is a must-buy son (late-April until October), tours leave every bus from the station to the Messepark because while you’re here. These sweet treats are fash- 30 minutes, so there’s no urgency to plan ahead. the station is approximately four kilometers ioned after the historic Passauer Goldhauben from the fest grounds. However, that would be (a type of women’s hat made of gold materials Veste Oberhaus - You can’t miss it sitting ma- one way to work off those extra calories you’re with a black bow worn in the 19th century in jestically above the city. It’s one of the largest about to consume.n surviving castles in Europe. This is hard to imag- Germany and Austria) and covered in a 23-karat ine after so many European castles were de- gold leaf overlay. 10 Olympia park, the venue of 3 the 1972 Olympics, transforms 5 2 into a bright open-air market TOP filled with an Easter egg hunt, egg painting, rides, crafts and much more! FIVEBy Mary Del Rosario Easter markets in Germany are filled with explosions of 5 colors along with decorated stalls, mouthwatering food, Hamburg precious crafts and of course, ornate Easter eggs. Get out This port city celebrates Easter in a unique way – with bonfires! What start- ed as a Pagan tradition is now an anticipated Easter one adopted by Chris- of hibernation and welcome the anticipated spring season tians. This ritual is held on the evening on Easter Saturday where a candle by heading to these five Easter markets! is lit from the bonfire into a darkened church. For those who would like to see a more traditional spin on Easter, head to the Hamburg DOM funfair, a spring fest that has a vast amount of attractions for the kids in addition to Nuremberg delicious sweets, beer, bratwursts and more! Dates: Through April 22, 2019 Known as the oldest Nuremberg market, this Bavarian city will be a sea of pastel hues.

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