Category Archives: Germany

The Big Sleep

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Clare B. Dunkle

When we place a city on the imaginary globe in our minds, we tend to think first in terms of weather. Kaiserslautern, Germany, has a wonderfully mild climate: the average daytime temperature in winter here hovers several degrees above freezing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Germany, Rural scenery, Seasons, Weather | Leave a comment

The Last One Standing

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Clare B. Dunkle

It wasn’t the prettiest medieval castle on the Rhine, or the biggest, or the richest, or the most famous. But the Marksburg is the only castle in the whole middle-Rhine region that didn’t get destroyed. All the others had to … Continue reading →

Posted in German history, Germany, Tourist destinations | 2 Comments

More whimsical Germany

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Clare B. Dunkle

Speaking of that sense of magical fun and good humor that often emerges in German public art, here is a little charmer who resides two doors down from my apartment. She’s peeping out at the world from underneath the mailbox, … Continue reading →

Posted in Folk traditions, German art, German house decoration, Germany, Public art | Leave a comment

Whimsical Germany

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Clare B. Dunkle

From an American point of view, German culture often exhibits a streak of whimsy. My introduction to this came before I arrived in Germany, back in 1999. I was paging through a coffee table book on Hanover and encountered the … Continue reading →

Posted in Farm life, German literature, Germany, Public art, Village life | Leave a comment

Escape from the Dust

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Clare B. Dunkle

Why do I love northern Europe? Because I’m from Texas, the land of barbed wire, mesquite trees, and prickly pear cactus. The beauty of Texas is severe. And some years, there’s no beauty at all. This year is a dry … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, Texas, Weather | Leave a comment