Free Time in Freiburg

Freiburg is known for many things; It's Black Forrest Cake, Schwarzwälder Kirch (cherry liquor), and it's beautiful buildings. Freiburg is located in Baden-Württemberg near the Black Forrest. Not only are there many places to visit in the city itself, it's only a short drive to the famous Black Forrest, where one can hike and enjoy the idyllic scenery. If you are able to spend a few days in Freiburg, consider keeping these options at the top of your "must see" list.

Schwarzerwälder Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbaurenhof

Main Farm House

The Schwarzerwälder Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbaurenhof, also known as the Black Forrest Open Air Museum, allows visitors to be transported back hundreds of years to beginning of the settlement of the Black Forrest. At the Schwarzerwälder Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbaurenhof, visitors can explore houses and buildings that were built as early as the 1600s. One can see how people lived, what clothing they wore, how they cooked, and much more. The museum has plenty of interesting information scattered throughout the buildings. It's also very kid friendly, offering interactive components like learning how to do craft work from hundreds of years ago. If you're a fan of the Bothers Grimm or Disney films, this museum is a must see. Many of the Brothers Grimm's fairy tales are located around or in the Black Forrest and the main farm house in the museum was actually the inspiration behind the seven dwarfs' house in Disney's Snow White.

Freiburger Münster

View of the Tower

The Freiburger Münster should take one of the top spots of any traveler's to-do list in Freiburg. This cathedral was started in the 1200s and completed in the 1300s. This cathedral is extraordinarily detailed. Each statue, symbol, and picture tells a story or represents a concept from the Catholic traditions. The Münster is built in a Romanesque/ Gothic style and is adorned with many gargoyles and arched windows. Some of the main features of the Münster are the clock tower and the many stained glass windows within the church. The cathedral also has nineteen church bells dating back from the 1200s through the 1950s. If you are lucky enough to be in Freiburg on the weekend, you will be able to hear the bells ringing. 

Archway over an entrance to the cathedral

Rheinland-Pfalz

When you are ready to explore regions other than Baden-Württemberg, consider going to the area of Pfalz in the neighboring region of Rheinland-Pfalz. Pfalz not only has the Pfälzer Wald, which has numerous trails through beautiful country side, but also has several castles and interesting cities.

Die Reichberg Trifels

Tower of Reichberg Trifels

Die Reichberg Trifels is a castle situated on top of a mountain in the Pfälzer Wald. Originally built sometime in the 11th century, the castle had fallen into ruin by the time of the Second World War. The Nazi Party reconstructed the castle and most of what can be seen today comes from this reconstruction. There are still a few areas in the castle where one can see the original stone work and castle walls. In it's prime, die Reichberg Trifels served not only as a castle for the king, but also served as the imperial treasury.

Inside the castle, one can explore the prison, thrown room, and towers. One of the towers contains the replicas of the crown, septer, globus cuciger (orb with a cross on top symbolizing power), and several other objects that once belonged to the rulers of the castle. While these are only copies, they are still beautiful and give the visitor an idea of the wealth and power that these kings once had. The original objects are located in a museum in Vienna (but that's a trip for another time).

Replica of the crown

Arguably the best feature of die Reichberg Trifels is the view from the top of the tower. From the tower, one can see everything from the surrounding castles on other mountains, vineyards, towns, and the Pfälzer Wald. The view seems to go on and on and every area you look over is more beautiful than the last.

Die Reichberg Trifels is also famous for imprisoning King Richard III of England. King Richard III was held captive for three weeks inside the castle. According to the legend, the king of Trifels demanded 23 tons of silver as ransom for King Richard's release. The castle reenacts this dramatic story at 15 o'clock in the throne room.

View from the top of the tower

Neustadt

If you are in the area in the fall, consider visiting Neustadt for the Weinfest (Wine Festival). Pfalz is home to the second largest wine region in Germany. To get to Neustadt, one must drive down Weinstraße which contains miles of vineyards on either side. Once in Neustadt, one can sample the many different kinds of wine and food at the Weinfest. Make sure to get a spot along the street for the Weinfest parade. The parade has over a hundred floats and can last over two hours. Each vineyard in the parade has a Wine Princess, but the most important floats contain the new Wine Queens of Neustadt. Make sure to bring a cup with you because vineyards willingly give out samples of their wines to anyone on the street to sticks out an empty cup.

Marching band members

Oktoberfest in München

The weather is getting colder. The leaves are starting to turn. It's that special time of the year known as Oktoberfest. And there is no place as famous for throwing a good Oktoberfest as München. Here's some tips on how to make your Oktoberfest experience even better.

Bring Cash and Lots of It

Oktoberfest is expensive. Oktoberfest in München is very expensive. One beer at Oktoberfest is 9.85 € and food can be up to 8 € or more. It's best to have mostly 10 € bills on you when you visit the beer tents. The tents are extremely crowded and the waitresses are very busy trying to deliver beer to all their thirsty customers. The waitresses will not be very happy if they have to take the time to give you change for 50 €. Larger bills are fine at the food stalls, where it is easier for the waitresses to give you change. 

Make sure that you not only have plenty of bills on you, but also plenty of coins. The waitresses in the beer halls work hard. They maneuver through crowds of people, while carrying 7 or 8 glasses of beer, and all without spilling a single drop. While tipping is not a necessity like in the United States, the waitresses greatly appreciate it. Giving the waitress a .50 € or 1 € tip every time she brings you beer not only shows her that you are thankful, but also may convince her to take your order faster and be more attentive to your table.

Drink Water

One beer at Oktoberfest

It's easy to become dehydrated very quickly at Oktoberfest. One beer at Oktoberfest is 1 liter. Imagine filling a Coca-Cola bottle with beer and you would have one serving of beer at Oktoberfest. Because German beer is often times stronger than U.S. beer, drinking one serving of beer at Oktoberfest is equal to drinking a six pack of Budweiser. There is no such thing as free water in Germany. You always have to pay for water and water at Oktoberfest is expensive (about 4 €). Fill up several water bottles to bring with you to Oktoberfest. You will not be allowed to drink your own water in the beer tents, but drinking your own water anywhere else is fine. Bringing your own water bottle will not only save you money, it will help prevent headaches by keeping you hydrated.

Book a Table

Oktoberfest is always crowded, even on a week day. If you are looking to get the full Oktoberfest experience of a beer hall, reserving a table in advance is the best option. Unless you plan to start drinking at 9 a.m., finding a free table will be almost impossible. There will be plenty of space outside of the beer tents, but those areas lack the atmosphere and traditional bands that are inside the tents. Reserving a table in advance will guarantee that you will have a warm place to drink, eat, and sing the night away.

Talk to the People Around You

Part of the excitement and fun of Oktoberfest is talking with strangers at your table. Oktoberfest attracts all sorts of people from all over the world. It's a great opportunity to learn about other people's cultures. Most people will be more than happy to talk with you and want to learn as much about your culture as you do theirs. There will be plenty of Germans who will be more than happy to tell you about German politics, culture, and more. It's also a great opportunity to practice your German speaking skills. Because their are so many tourists who come to Oktoberfest, Germans are surprised when a tourist can speak any German. Even if your German isn't perfect or even good, most Germans will be thrilled to talk to you in their native language. They are also very happy to speak slower and use simpler words so that you can follow the conversation.

Heidelberger Herbst

Performer in the opening parade

On the last Saturday of ever September, Heidelberg celebrates the fall season with the "Heidelberger Herbst". From 11 o'clock through the night, there are celebrations, flea markets, and bands set up through out the Altstadt (Old City) in Heidelberg. At 11 o'clock, the day starts with small parade consisting of the the Mayor of Heidelberg, the Queen of Wine, the Perkeo (the first court dwarf/butler in Heidelberg), and flag bearers waving the flag of Heidelberg.


Along both sides of the Hauptstraße, there are booths selling traditional German clothes and artisan craft work. You can find anything from Lederhosen to original artwork. Also along the Hauptstaße (and around all of the Alt Stadt) are booths selling traditional German food. The first thing one notices while walking through the Alt Stadt are the smells. There are Würste (sausages), Lebkuchen (gingerbread), french fries, roasted pig, baking bread, and so many other delicious smells. The Hauptstraße is also crowded with all kinds of people including those dressed in traditional German clothing.

Food stand selling Lebkuchen and candy

The folk-band "Dudelzwerge"

If you move along the Hauptstraße to Universitätsplatz, you will find the square is dedicated to Medieval Germany. All the people who work there, and many who are visiting there, are dressed in Medieval clothing. Many of the food stalls have outdoor ovens, and you can watch them baking the bread and cooking the food over an open fire. There are medieval style games for children and artisan products such as homemade soap or traditional clothing for adults.This area also has many stalls that sell beer and wine from local breweries. There are plenty of places to sit while you enjoy your food and drink while listening to local bands.

Once the festivities in the Alt Stadt are finished (around 11 p.m.) you can still stay out and have fun at the Heidelberger after party. The After Party has live DJs, food and drink, and a dance floor. There are free shuttles that run from the party to main areas of the city. The Party runs from midnight until four in the morning.

Surviving the first week abroad

Studying abroad is one of the most amazing and wonderful experiences you will ever have. Everything is new and exciting.  New people, new food, new sights and sounds. You will meet people from all over the world: Laos, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Japan, France, England, Turkey, and  the list goes on and on. Every time you get out of bed in the morning will be the start of a new adventure.

However, if your not prepared for the first week in a new country, it can be overwhelming. To help make your transition a little easier, I've come up with some tips for surviving your first week abroad.

1. Consider Taking a Shuttle

Getting from the airport to where you need to get your housing can be difficult. You can take a train from the airport and then a bus to the meeting place. It's a pretty cost effective method of travel, but you have to carry your luggage (up to 50 pounds or more) on the train and bus. The trains and buses can sometimes be crowded depending on what day and what time of day you arrive.There is also a Lufthansa shuttle but you still will have to take a bus to the meeting point. I took a shuttle bus (TLS) from the Frankfurt airport to the meeting point in Heidelberg. The driver met me and a few others at the airport and helped us with our luggage. The driver was very nice and informative. He dropped us off write at the meeting point. The shuttle was not too expensive (about 35 euros). You can book a shuttle online as late as three days before you arrive in Germany. The shuttle is slightly more expensive, but it does make your first hours a little less stressful.

2. Ask Questions

Make sure you ask any questions at the meeting point. When your are in a new country, there are literally no stupid questions. It's always better to be 100% sure than being unsure of what to do or where to go. Also, do be afraid to ask local people for directions or help. In my experience, most people are very willing to help you IF YOU ASK THEM. They are not as likely to come over to you and ask if you need help. If your German skills are not good enough to ask what you need to ask, make sure to politely ask the person if they speak English before you start talking to them in English. People seem to be more responsive if you do so.

3. Keep in Contact with Friends and Family

Before you make new friends in Germany, it can get a little lonely. Skyping and emailing is a great way to keep in touch. Skyping is great because it allows you to see your family and friends. Seeing a familiar face can be very comforting in the first few days. Another great way to keep in contact is creating lots of Facebook posts. Posts allow you to share your experiences with your family and friends. Posts will allow your friends and family to talk about what you are experiencing and them feel just a little less far away.

4. Get Lost

One of the best ways to get to know a city and make it feel like home is getting lost (make sure you bring a map with you so you can get back home from your adventure). Pick a location and only use back streets. Going down back streets will really help you get a better sense of the city. If you take the back streets, you will also find a lot of cool little shops and locations that you might not find if you stick to the main streets. There are some great bakeries, local bars, and restaurants hidden away in back allies. There is also some great architectural details on people's houses that you can't find on a commercialized street. Once you have been lost and forced to find your way back, you will not forget that area of the city. If you go exploring enough, you will be navigating the city like a local in no time.

The first few days can be rough, but if are willing to go with the flow and have an adventurous spirit, you will quickly adapt to your new home and be on your way to having the most fun of your life.