Germany: land of bread, beer and heady fests

Press, 29 June 1988, Page 6 (Supplement)

Germany: land of bread, beer and heady fests

To say Germany is a fair country is both literally and figuratively true. It would appear the Germans have over the centuries looked for every little chance to proclaim a day of feasting to be remembered annually.

Fairs and festivals abound. Every day in hundreds of German cities, towns and villages the locals are having some festival, fair or celebration.

And the good news is that they seem quite happy for visitors to join in on the fun.

It should be remembered, after all, that this is the country which brought the world its most memorable beer festival (the Munich October Beer Fest) and the classic Oberammergau passion play.

For Kiwis the many delights of colourful and fun-filled Germany are now much closer with direct air links.

Just experiencing a taste of all the excitement Germany has to offer can work up a healthy thirst. Indeed, looking through the brochures outlining what the country has to offer is a thirsty occupation.

But fear not, once you get to Germany, you will be in the right place to quench your thirst. With 709 wine festivals every year and 1350 breweries offering a dazzling array of ales it is difficult to remain thirsty for very long. If these mind-boggling choices have made you dizzy, think about fortifying yourself with over 200 kinds of bread and even more varieties of delicious “wurst” — the sausages Germany is famous for. Although many of us would like to, unfortunately we can not live by bread, wurst and wine alone.

Having so much fun and shopping around Germany requires a lot of stamina and a good place to rest between all the sightseeing. If you are on a budget, there are almost 2000 camping sites and 564 Youth Hostels in Germnay which offer clean, comfortable accommodation with all the facilities you need to rejuvenate yourself for the next day’s festivities. Accommodation can also be bought in conjunction with air travel through Air New Zealand’s accommodation arm, HOTPAC which offers good rates at a number of properties.

Throughout Germany you can enjoy the hospitality of guesthouses and for the romantics a stopover at one of the fairytale castle hotels is a must. If so far you have the impression that Germany is a busy barrel of fun and you will have no chance to get around to see it all in one trip, you are right! But it is surprising how fast and efficiently one can be transported around Germany. The country’s rail system is

By

CHRIS DESTRIEUX,

of Auckland

extensive and timetables well planned so you can virtually catch a train between any two pointe each hour — if not more often. The country has 28,000 km of railway lines serviced by comfortable Deutche Bundesbahn (Kiwis will recognise the trains by the familiar, thirst provoking, DB logo they wear). If your passion is to drive a Mercedes around this country where these fabulous machines are considered in the same mould as we think of Holdens, then there are 8196 km of autobahns with no tolls to take to. They will allow you to cruise without speed limits from carnival to carnival at your own pace. But be warned. The Germans are extremely courteous drivers and you will be expected to be the same. Visiting a country with such a wealth of history and culture, there may come a time when you wish to relax from the hectic pace and let the gentle, sophisticated arte wash over you. Germany is blessed with 153 classical orchestras and you can seek the peace and solitude (or be guided) through more than 2000 museums and art galleries covering wonderous exhibits as diverse as ancient Egypt to centuries old-European clocks.

Theatres and opera abound and there is something to match most tastes from neo-punk to Mozart.

The first three months of the year in Germany are a time of carnivals and kings and present some of the most colourful spectacles of the year. It is a carnival season — celebrated chiefly in Roman Catholic areas.

At Fastnet in South Western Germany celebrations have a much older history and more obvious link with pre-Christian spring festivals incorporating fools’ costumes, wooden masks, foxes’ tails, bells, whips, water and soot which protect against demons which are a particular threat between winter and spring. Fasching in Bavaria is influenced by the Carnival of Venice and is accompanied by the splendour of Viennese balls and the battle of the Flowers in Nice. And so each part of the country has its special feel and flavour.

Each month has its theme and throughout the country there is something special happening.

The German National Tourist Office, which has its closet branch to New Zealand in Sydney, can advise what is happening when, but travel agents arid Air New Zealand travel centres should be able to provide information about what is happening around Germany when you plan to visit.

Germany really is a fun place — fair go.