Sometime soon we will be off to see our friends and get another taste of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) activities in Japan.

Almost daily, I get updates on the weather there. The spring rains have not stopped yet, but we are not going there for the weather. We expect to see a lot of friends, more than we can handle at times, but there are also quiet times planned. Everyone hopes for the rain to stop by the time the cherry blossoms are in full bloom (early April).

One of my friends had put this very nicely in her e-mail: See, everyone, even cherry blossom, is waiting for you.

Then I looked at our own cherry blossoms right here in Germany.

Cherry blossoms in Germany

This would also make a good picnic spot… But for some reason, it just doesn’t compare to spring time in Japan.

Living in Germany and speaking English, we sometimes get inquiries from friends, family, and friends of friends on what to see in Germany.

German Autobahn signs

The latest one was this: I have a colleague who is asking for travel suggestions in Germany. I have no idea what they are looking for, but do you have any global suggestions?

This answer I had sent by e-mail, and thought it worth sharing now and for future reference as well:

I sometimes travel the world, but when it comes to Germany, I have not been to many places as we tend to visit family here  when we are free. But my traveling students have come back with the following recommendations.

Leipzig and Dresden are worth visiting. Others have claimed the Starnberger See (near Munich) and Munich are worthwhile. Schloss Neuschwanstein is a must for Asians, but a bit kitschig, IMO.

I think I would like the Black Forest and I have been to the Bodensee/Lake Constance (recommendable).

Hamburg has a great night-life from what little I remember from a trip taken there more than 25 years ago.

Berlin… visited twice, but could not really warm up to this city.

Frankfurt is great for being in the center of Germany and allows for many places to travel to by rental car or train.
Some foreigners also enjoy taking a Rhine river cruise. As a matter of fact, there are quite a few interesting places, all in the distance of one hour by car (Bingen, Heidelberg, Marburg, etc.)

Augsburg, so my friends say, is full of history. Also known for its witch hunt in the Middle Ages.

And there are so many nice places, unknown and inexpensive, off the beaten track.

I have always wanted to the visit the volcanic park in the Eiffel (bordering France and Luxembourg).

Tell your friends, wherever they stay, they can also get some recommendations locally. Ask your hotel and tourism office.

After a very mild winter, some snow in mid-December, and a green Christmas, we finally had our first snow of the year 2012 just yesterday.

Snow in Oberursel/Germany

This path leads up to our home. Some of these trees are protected by German law, because they provide nesting sites for wild birds.

Any kind of traffic in this area is foot traffic and therefore the snow usually stays white (except for the occasional yellow discoloration). Germans love their dogs, too.

Now the weather news tell us there is a Siberian cold front moving into Eastern Europe and it might move on to Germany. I just love the photo web. de provided. We can expect temperatures as low as – 25°C (- 13 F) in the next few days.

If you are a regular reader, you might already know I love winter and snow.

But if you are new and wondering about my sanity, in regards to my affinity for winter, then rest reassured. As a German, I just love the frische Luft in winter time.

On Facebook, we get to see photos of early Christmas decorations, such as lights strung in the windows. Granted, it is a bit early in my opinion, but only because we put up our deco and lights in late November. We wait till the plates with turkey have been cleared first.

However, when I got this flyer three weeks ago, announcing the first Faschingsparty of the season, I was more than astonished.

Don’t Germans usually wait with Fasching till after New Year’s Day? Even though Fasching season officially begins each year on 11-11 at 11:11 a.m., I think we should put away the St. Martin lanterns first, enjoy Christmas markets, and dig up the champagne glasses for New Year’s Eve.

But Fasching showed its distorted face once more when I got this notification in the mail: A Carnival Evening with a Difference.

I do not care for Fasching.

Most Christmas markets start on the First Advent, 27 November 2011.

The big town markets run for four weeks all the way up to Christmas Eve, whereas the small towns usually have it for a few days only (Thu – Sun) only.  Our local town of Oberursel/Taunus has its market running from 24 – 27 November 2011.

Plan your Christmas market hopping with the help of this excellent website List of German Christmas Markets 2011.

If you are not in Germany, then enjoy this armchair travel to the Frankfurt Christmas market.

Glühwein – Lebkuchen – Schnee – Lichter – Tannenbaum …