Leavenworth is a small town of approximately 2000 people a two-hour drive east of Seattle in Washington State. Although it has existed as a town for over 100 years it became famous in the 1970s, when facing a decrease in population, the town adopted a Bavarian theme to attract tourists. The bet paid off, and Leavenworth has become a great all year round destination for those looking for the flavor of Germany without traveling to Europe.

I visited recently and was very impressed by the authenticity of the building exteriors. The town also offers numerous sitdown restaurants and outdoor beer gardens to enjoy authentic German food. One can also browse an amazing nutcracker museum! On weekends, there is live German folk music performed in the main gazebo by locals. June also features an annual accordion festival. Other annual delights include a tree lighting ceremony and Christmas market in December as well as an extensive Oktoberfest.

I stayed across from the downtown core in a hotel called the Bavarian Lodge. It was extremely convenient as parking is an issue in the crowded downtown core which is comprised of only about six square blocks. The only challenge I faced was from the weather as central Washington State regularly has temperatures in the high 30s during the summer months. Leavenworth also offers impressive views of the nearby mountains which serve to bring people into the village during the winter months for skiing.  Hiking, rafting, kayaking and swimming are also on offer.

There is a lot of shopping to be had here as well. Specialty stores sell German style clothing, baked goods, sausages and cheeses. There is also a lovely tea shop and local wineries offer tastings on every corner. As Leavenworth is located in the US, there is also an abundance of tourist shops selling all variety of souvenirs. The only disadvantage of this charming village is the fact that no one speaks German!

My long-time dream came true this fall when I was able to visit Andalucía, Spain. The region has always attracted me with its wonderful history,  warm weather,  beaches, Mediterranean food, Pablo Picasso and other famous artists and especially the laid-back life style of the people.

It is both the most populated (8.4 million) and the most southern autonomous community in the kingdom of Spain (reino de España). It is also the only European region which has both an Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline. Over 70%  of its over 500 miles of coastline feature sandy beaches (playas), making it a very popular destination for tourists. Some of which stay in Andalucía for several months as the weather stays all year round sunny and warm.

Some of the cities to visit are Málaga, Sevilla, Granada, Marbella, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Cádiz. Sevilla (Seville) is the capital of Andalucía. It is also one of the warmest cities in Europe reaching temperatures over 40C in the summer. I especially enjoyed Málaga, home town of Pablo Picasso. This city’s biggest landmark is the Castle (Castillo) de Gibralfaro which dates back to the 14^th century with some stunning views (vistas) over the city. Also the Cathedral, Port (Puerto) de Málaga, Museum (Museo) Picasso and Constitution Square (Plaza de Constitución) are must see places.

The Spanish lifestyle calls you to stay up late into the evenings when people gather in the restaurants or coffee houses (cafés) to eat tapas or to drink hot chocolate and eat churros (fried dough pastries). Tapas (a variety of appetizers or snacks) are said to have originated in Andalucía. Popular tapas in all of Spain include shrimp, fried squid, cured ham, chorizo (spicy Spanish sausage), and potato omelettes (tortillas).

Table full of mediterranean appetizers, tapas or antipasto

The most enchanting feature of this region is the Moorish past, which has influenced the famous flamenco dance. The authentic flamenco song, sung a cappella (without musical accompaniment), is the cante jondo, an anguished lament expressing love, sadness, and loss.

Meria (Nina’s mom)

The Balearic Islands, or Las islas Baleares, are found off the eastern coast of mainland Spain. The three main islands are: Minorca, Mallorca and Ibiza. Taken together, this archipelago of islands is a province of Spain with Palma, Mallorca as its capital. Spanish and Catalan are the two official languages but German and English are widely spoken, as the islands are extremely popular with foreign tourists. With a total land mass just under 500,000 km² the islands have a year-round local population of around 1 million. However, millions of people from throughout Europe visit the islands all year round due to its warm temperate climate and beautiful beaches. Short, direct flights fly in and out of Palma to most European capitals every day and package deals make it a very affordable place to visit.

The main island of Mallorca boasts a long history in which it changed hands many times, at turns being under the control of the Byzantines, Romans, Vandals and Arabs. One can still see the Arabic influence in many of the buildings in the capital city of Palma especially the main downtown cathedral, featured above. With beautiful cobbled streets and an abundance of world-class shopping and restaurants, Palma is a beautiful place to visit. Owing to its varied history, the islands have developed unique dishes. For more information on local cuisine click here. 

Ibeza, the southernmost of the large islands is popular with partygoers, especially fans of electronic music. Since 2005, it has been host to the popular music event Ibeza Rocks drawing large numbers of musicians and bands from around the world. Minorca, the northernmost large island of the archipelago, is the most traditional of the islands. Its inhabitants still observe ancient holiday festivals throughout the summer season. A popular treat, the flaon, is found in bakeries throughout the island. These are a circular pastry often sweetened with honey especially popular around Easter time.

Salzburg is the capital city of the province of Salzburg in Austria. The city has an approximate population of 150,000 and is located along the Salzach River at the northern boundary of the Alps. The most prominent feature of its skyline is a fort or Festung located up on a hill. This iconic building overlooks the city and dates back to 1077! Salzburg is very popular with tourists year round owing to its beautiful old town or Altstadt, great café culture, and vibrant music and arts scene.

Salzburg’s long history is reflected in its architecture. Modern buildings are interspersed with beautiful examples of Gothic and Romanesque architecture from centuries past. There is much to explore among the meandering cobblestoned streets, the most famous of which is the Getreidegasse. This long street winds its way through most of the old town district and includes the birthplace of its most famous citizen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Mozart was born at Getreidegasse number 9 in 1756. A child genius and musical prodigy, Mozart began composing by the age of five.  As a child, he toured throughout central Europe with his father and older sister, also musicians. He mostly played the piano in the salons of the upper classes for a fee. By the time of his death at age 35, Mozart had produced over 600 works. His influence can be felt today in the numerous gift shops, restaurants and even the famous Mozart Kugel chocolate featured below.

Another claim to fame for Salzburg is as the home of the filming of the movie The Sound of Music. People from throughout the world who love this iconic film come to Salzburg to take part in one of the many tours that visit the sites where this film was shot. Music is still central to Austrian culture today. The best time to catch live classical music performances in Salzburg is during the Festspiele that takes place every summer at various venues throughout the downtown core. For the official German language website click here.