Europe String

What do you want from a wine for your Thanksgiving dinner? It should be approachable, easy on the palette. It should pair well with turkey and all your fixings. It should be cheap, but not taste like it. Even if you’re not a wine aficionado, you want something that at least won’t be noticed. At best, it brings the whole meal together.
Of course there are the standbys: Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay. But here are some wines you might not have considered:
Your Red Wine:
Beaujolais Nouveau: This wine is bottled on Nov 3 and shipped …read more

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Yes, autumn has definitely moved in to Europe. But that doesn’t mean the cultural calendar is shutting down for the winter. Check out these interesting festivals happening around the continent. Even if you aren’t big on the the festival’s theme, they are a great way to mix with the locals, meet some interesting craftspeople and enjoy a (often) free afternoon of entertainment.
October 3 is the Day of German Unity (on this date in 1990 East and West Germany were reunited.) If you happen to be in Berlin, you have the opportunity to partake in the festivities. This is a …read more

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Looking to celebrate beer this fall? Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany is the biggie. Dates are September 20 to October 5, and if you were thinking about popping in, think again – tents are already sold out. This is also not a very budget-friendly event. However, depending on the entry fee, and how much you drink – visiting a local festival is often an inexpensive way to spend the day, hanging out with locals and participating in one of their special celebrations. No crying in your beer over Oktoberfest though; there’s more drinking fun to be had around the continent …read more

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Flaming shrimp at the Brazilian music festival Caliente, which takes place every summer in Zurich, Switzerland. Coming up July 4-8, 2008.
More Photo Friday: Fire
Photo source: personal collection

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I had a fabulous time at Queen’s Day in Amsterdam last week, on April 30th. Queen’s Day is a huge celebration of the (former) queen’s birthday, and there is fun to be had all over the country.
In Amsterdam, DJs and bands were set up on stages all over the city on the evening before Queen’s Day, and the city felt like one big outdoor party. The celebrations continued early the next morning, with people getting up extra-early to take part in the free market – anyone is allowed to set up shop and sell items on this day. It’s kind …read more

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This past weekend Zurich celebrated Sechseläuten, a couple days of parades and other festivities cumulating in the burning of the Böögg (a giant snowman-like creature) at 6pm on Monday evening. The time it takes for his head to explode is said to determine what kind of summer Zurich can expect. This year it took a long time, so a cold, wet summer has been predicted.
For more on Sechseläuten, see these posts on my personal blog from when I attended two years ago:

The Sechseläuten parade
The burning of the Böögg

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Onion alarm clocks at the Onion Festival in Bern, Switzerland.
See more ‘fragile’ Photo Friday entries here.
Photo credit: personal collection.

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If you can’t make it to Ireland’s festivities, I hope you at least get to enjoy a little green beer and Irish folk music today. I celebrated with a little Irish cheddar and stout fondue myself.
Photo source: personal collection

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In honor of Tavern Day, here’s a little post about drinking in Munich. (I know what you’re thinking… “There’s drinking in Munich ?” I was shocked, too.)
This weekend we partook of the annual Munich Strong Beer Festival (or Starkbierfest), a fabulous Bavarian tradition. Each year for a few weeks during Lent, the local breweries open their banquet halls and cellars for this festival celebrating Starkbier – a heavy, sweet, dark brew thought up by fasting monks who wanted some nourishment (but weren’t so interested in sobriety). These days each brewery produces its own brand of Starkbier, with names that usually …read more

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Valentine’s Day is not so big in most of Europe. Yes, you’ll see heart-shaped boxes of chocolate here and there, and flower sellers do notice a nice boom in red rose sales today, but it’s not quite become the giant commercial romance-fest that it is in the US.
What this really means is that Valentine’s Day is a great time to whisk your sweetheart off for a romantic European holiday. Mid-February is peak low season for travel to Europe (with the exception of ski areas), so there are great deals to be found all over the place. Fabulous dinner reservations aren’t …read more

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