Germany has worked hard to process and overcome the violent and tragic legacy of the Third Reich. The country’s post-war constitution declares Holocaust denial to be a crime. Persons responsible for atrocities committed under Hitler’s regime have been brought to trial and are to this day prosecuted under German law. Most recently, a 90 year old former Wehrmacht officer was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Italian civilians during the final days of World War II.
Yet there has also been great discomfort with displaying and discussing reminders of these dark and evil times. When it comes to public history, Germany has not always openly addressed its past link with the Nationalist Socialist Party. Textbooks held abbreviated history, Nazi-built structures were torn down or quickly reused with little acknowledgment of their former significance. Brushing over controversial history is not unique to Germany. Until recently, few preservation efforts were made regarding the history of racial segregation in my own country. Now those in the fields of historic preservation and museum studies in the United States are making concerted efforts to educate the public regarding segregation and other controversial history.
Returning to Germany, the city of Nürnberg, itself the center of Nazi propaganda activities, has recently opened an impressive museum addressing what much of the country has previously ignored. The Dokumentations Zentrum, or DokuCenter, is housed on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds. The exhibition space is laid out in the north wing of the Kongresshall. This building was constructed by the National Socialist Party to house 50,000 spectators at party rallies and conventions, but the massive building was never completed.
The Doku Zentrum museum itself presents the activities of the Nazi Party as objectively as any museum could. Upon paying a small fee, visitors are given hand held auditory guides in their language of choice. The museum is self-guided. Both permanent and temporary exhibits occupy the north wing. “Fascination and Terror,” the permanent exhibit, documents the rise, context and consequences of the Nazi Party. The primary focus lays with the impact of the National Socialists in Nürnberg. The main exhibit is divided into nineteen, chronologically placed areas. Topics such as the history of the party rallies, architecture of the National Socialists, the “Nürnberg Racial Laws,” and the “Nürnberg Trials” are all addressed in great detail. The Exhibit panels are hung suspended from floor to ceiling, with the text written both in German and English. Numbers are assigned to corresponding panels so visitors can enter these digits into their auditory devices to listen to the text. The museum is visually based, laden with historic images and well-positioned monitors playing newsreels, interviews and other film clips.
What is most impressive about this museum is the manner in which the National Socialist Party is discussed. Members and supporters of the party, which in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s meant nearly everyone, are neither vilified nor victimized. The visitor is given blunt facts and left to interpret the information as he or she chooses. More and more cultural institutions are approaching controversial history in this manner. Rather than spoon-feed their audiences, they allow people to leave their exhibitions ready to form their own opinions. The Holocaust and other horrendous atrocities committed by the Nazis are presented in the exhibit, but so are propaganda materials and examples of the fervor the National Socialists brought to Nürnberg. And the museum also acknowledges the difficulties the city and the whole of Germany, for that matter, has with preserving and interpreting the architecture of the National Socialist Party.
Before touring the exhibit, the visitor is invited to watch a short film depicting 21st Century youth skateboarding amongst ancient looking buildings. Once the camera pans out, these structures are revealed to be construction remaining from the Nazi party rally grounds. Such buildings exist here and elsewhere in Germany and until recently have been decaying and ignored by the country. The Doku Zentrum has taken great steps in breaking the polite silence and publicly addressing this period in Germany’s history and presenting the significance of architectural, visual and auditory remainders of the time.
Related posts:
- Nürnberg, Germany has Many Stories to Tell …
- Historic and Authentic Bamberg, Germany …
- Erlangen, Germany: A Food and Beer Crazy City …
Written by Travel News on August 18th, 2009 with no comments.
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The term Eco-friendly and being green may be new to the travel world, but Ireland has a long history of sustainable, nature based and culturally sensitive travel choices. If you are looking for Eco-friendly activities, transport, accommodation and organic food, Dublin, Ireland is a good choice for your next holiday. Upon arriving in Dublin, the largest city in Ireland, Eco-conscious travelers will find a large selection of green options to choose from.
Eco-cab offers “free” short distance city center travel everyday between 10am and 7pm, it’s emission free and free of charge! Or you can brave the city on your own (not advisable) and rent a bio-diesel car with Atlas or Dan Dooley car rentals. The local public light rail transportation and biking are recommended.
There are many hotel options such as the 4 star Stillorgan Park Hotel that recently won the Silver Green Hospitality Award 2 years in a row. This hotel is stylish yet committed to implementing practices which prevent waste and encourage a green lifestyle. Maybe you are a backpacker and want an Eco- friendly hostel. The Avalon House Hostel is 3 star and located in the city center, only five minutes from Temple Bar, the heart of Dublin’s nightlife. This hostel uses wind energy to power the hostel and has full recycling facilities.
Dublin is a great base from which you can take one day Eco Tours. No crowds in large coaches and you can discover the hidden back road’s of Ireland. There are many companies offering tours such as Hiking to Slieve League ( highest sea cliffs in Europe) or surfing on the coast in Donegal. Visit the Rock of Cashel or Kiss the famous Blarney Stone. All of these tours are offered via veggie-oil fueled Eco Bus !
This year in October Dublin host’s the Eco Expo. Here they will showcase their Eco companies offering Eco tourism, renewable energy and organic products. These companies are about educating and providing you with the information you need to enjoy your holidays in a more ecologically and socially conscious way. The buzz in Dublin is how Ireland’s seaweed could help to power the cars of the future!
Last but not least, is the abundance of organic and local market type restaurants popping up all over the city. Fantastic food options are a must for any memorable vacation to Europe and Dublin does not disappoint. Recently featured on Anthony Bourdain’s no reservations show, the King Sitric Seafood Restaurant in the East Pier Howth district is committed to fresh, local and quality seafood. Listing the fish offered on the menu in six languages! In addition, the Alexis Bar & Grill, The Mermaid Cafe and the newly opened Dawsons are all restaurants where you can find vegetarian, organic and local fare.
Ireland’s natural beauty has always been it’s biggest attraction and so the locals and tourists are fighting to keep it that way. Go Raibh Maith Agaibh (Thank You in Gaelic) to Ireland for keeping the Emerald Isle green for the next generation of travelers!
Related posts:
- How to Travel Green …
- You’ll Get a Warm Welcome in Ireland …
- Dublin Hotel Recommendations …
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On the way back home to Nice (France) after spending the week in Italy, my travel companion turned to me and asked “Do we need to pick up groceries? Parma’s the next exit.” And so began the best one-stop “foodie spree” of my life. Of course, the three famous foods associated with Parma are Parmesan cheese, prosciutto (flavorful cured ham), and handmade pasta (specifically tortellini, cappelletti and anolini). However, Parma is also home to fantastic espresso, tantalizing pastries, and first-rate eateries.
With so many delights to choose from, we had to figure out where to begin. First things first; it’s all about the cheese. While speaking with the owner of a local cheese shop (in a combination of broken English, French and Italian), I learned that Parmesan cheese can take on different flavors depending on whether it was produced in the winter, spring or summer. Winter cheeses tend to have a deeper and earthier flavor than their vernal cousins, which are typically lighter. Parmigiano reggiano (the official cheese of Parma) is typically aged between 24-36 months to acquire the distinctive flavor savored by foodies around the world.
I also learned that the cheese and pork industries in Parma are directly linked; the pigs of Parma drink the good whey that is drained from the curds during cheese production. No wonder that ham tastes so good! When it comes to ham in Parma, there are many choices. Culatello is cured, boneless ham produced from the tastiest muscles, the rounds (the top and bottom round of the pig’s hind leg). The piece of meat next to the round is used to make fiocchetto. Authentic Parmesan pancetta (made from pork belly) is made with red wine and garlic, a divine flavor combination.
But wait! There’s more goodness to be had. Parma is home to some of the best tasting pastries in Italy. You must try cornetti, the regional specialty that is often eaten at breakfast. Cornetti are small pastries filled with fruit preserves. The most common flavor is apricot, but Pasticceria Torino 61 Strada Garibaldi Giuseppe, serves up a host of tempting flavors such as peach, strawberry, black cherry and blood orange. Pair them with a cup of authentic regional espresso and you’re set for the morning.
If you’re looking for a nice dinner out in Parma, La Greppia 39/A Strada Garibaldi will not disappoint. The gorgeous interior and impeccable details (starched linen tablecloths, sparkling wine glasses) are rivaled only by La Greppia’s transcendent cuisine. The restaurant also appeals to my feminist streak; I learned (after eating here) that Chef Paola Cavazzini only hires women to work in her kitchen. In terms of quality, service and value, it doesn’t get much better than this Parmesan gem.
Buon Appetito!
Related posts:
- Italy’s Best Culinary Experiences …
- Review of Trattoria La Grotta – Cortona, Italy …
- The Heart of Italy …
Written by Travel News on August 18th, 2009 with no comments.
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Striking not only for its spectacular location in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains, (part of the Carpathian Mountain range), but for the traditions that its townspeople keep alive, Zakopane, Poland is a trip back in time as well as back to nature.
Zakopane is located in the south of Poland, near to the border of Slovakia (of which, the Carpathian Mountains stand as markers), and is both off the beaten path and easily accessible. Trains and buses leave for Zakopane from Krakow, taking anywhere from two-five hours. Buses are often faster, though renting a car is the fastest way to Zakopane, while giving you even more freedom to explore the incredible countryside. If you are staying in the town center, all of its gorgeous features are within walking distance.
You can’t ask for much more from a town located at the base of 2,500-foot mountains. Immediately impressive is the folk architecture, with its elaborate, multifarious eves and door and window frames. It is so unique that it has its own name: the Zakopane style. And most likely, it won’t take long to see locals dressed in the traditional clothing from centuries back. This is not a reverting to days of old, or a day of theater: The people of the Goral culture have inhabited this area for centuries and they celebrate the ways of their ancestors each and every day. The beautiful cobble stone streets are filled with traditional artisans and street performers who do everything from unbelievable birdcalls to breath-taking fire dances. The sounds from a gentle-rushing, picturesque stream that runs through town, reminded me that, not too long ago, this water was snow thousands of feet above.
I arrived in Zakopane in early June to go hiking. Bus and car services are available to take you to the hiking trails. We chose a car service because it was inexpensive and it was offered by the bed and breakfast in which we were staying. The trails were surprisingly crowded when we arrived at ten in the morning, and the first mile or two was simply a long line of hikers. But at higher altitudes, the trails were much less busy.
First, waterfalls cascaded from icy-cliffs on all sides. I’d never seen such streams of water bursting forth from snow and ice. Second, even though the mountains were snow-covered (waterproof hiking boots are recommended but not essential) the air was warm, and we hiked in shorts and t-shirts.
One of the first resting places we came across was a large, ice-covered lake located in the crux of two mountains. A lodge was set up at the lake’s edge where traditional food and drink was served. Nothing like a hot apple tart, (szarlotka), to keep one’s energy up. As we hiked on, we began to see tiny wild flowers poking up from the patches of green in a blanket of snow. In the afternoon, we found a dry plot of rock high up in the mountains and had a hearty picnic looking down on everything below.
The trail looped and near the end we came across another icy lake with a lodge. Several horse-drawn carriages were parked outside. The exceptional beauty seemed never-ending. When we made it back to the trailhead, we took a bus back to Zakopane, where, after a memorable day of hiking, there was nothing else to do but eat a big plate of pierogi!
Related posts:
- Hiking Italy’s Amalfi Coast …
- Hiking, Biking and Lodging on Scotland’s Isle of Skye …
- You Can Do It All In Lenzerheide …
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As August heats up with family vacations, it’s a good time to think green. Our Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel offers 50 tips on how to travel responsibly and still have fun. Here are a few:
Book accommodations responsibly. Let hotel operators know that environmentally sound management and stewardship programs matter to you by staying at eco-friendly properties. Consider a Green Seal certified hotel. Also, check out our Stay List for accommodations with responsible practices.
Bring your own water bottle. According to the Container Recycling Institute, more than 60 million
plastic water bottles are thrown away in the United States each day.
Recycling or reusing those bottles instead would save enough energy to
power a 60-watt light bulb for an entire day in 15 million households.
Don’t pre-heat or pre-cool. Since hotel visitors tend to spend more time out of their room than in
it, setting the thermostat at a comfortable setting when you are
actually in the room is one of the easiest steps you can take to save
energy.
Buy from local artisans. Support the local culture by purchasing artwork or handicrafts–which make great souvenirs–directly from the artisan whenever possible.
Go car-less. Having a car leads to using a car, even for very short trips. So
instead of renting a car or driving your own car, come up with
creative, car-less ways to get where you need to go, such as public
transportation, hotel shuttles, and biking and walking paths.
Hike a historic cemetery. A historic cemetery offers visitors peaceful respite and a completely
non-commercialized view of the past unlike that available anywhere else
in the community.
Eat local foods. Patronize restaurants and shops offering fresh, local produce, meats,
fish, breads, cheeses, pastries, and other items to help save energy,
and experience the authentic flavors, ingredients, spices, and dishes
unique to each area you visit.
Share the wealth (of information). If it’s paper, pass it on. When we travel, we accumulate research and
reading materials–maps, guidebooks, magazines, newspapers, paperback
books, brochures, and so on. Instead of abandoning these at the
hotel, in the airport trash bin, or in the seat-back pocket on the
plane, share them with fellow travelers along your journey.
Got tips of your own? Share them with us in the comments section below.
Photo: iStockphoto.com
Written by Travel News on August 18th, 2009 with no comments.
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National Geographic Books editorial assistant Hunter Braithwaite spent his vacation helping former laboratory research animals in a Wyoming sanctuary.
We wake at dawn to black coffee. A murderous sun will soon beat down. Vultures, wafting in the carrion breeze, cast the only shadows. Handguns are loaded with shot shells to keep the rattlesnakes at bay. But all is well on the Kindness Ranch: it’s pool day for the pigs.
My girlfriend and I spent July volunteering on this 1,000-acre Wyoming sanctuary for research animals. At the moment, this unique institution is home to 55 animals. These dogs, cats, sheep, pigs, and horses have spent much of their lives in laboratories. Almost all of them are up for adoption. The ranch is obviously pro-animal, but the animal testing debate is tiptoed around. Since the primary goal is to better the life of an animal, criticizing laboratories doesn’t lead to cooperation.
The Kindness Ranch is located off State Highway 270, about eight miles from the nearest town, Hartville (pop. 76). All in all, it’s a pretty straight shot from the East Coast. Just stay on Route 80 for the entirety of the Brothers Karamazov on tape.
On the property are an arena, a barn, two yurts for the cats and dogs, six guest yurts, and a yurt castle belonging to the founder. My girlfriend and I came with the understanding that we’d be staying in the cat yurt, but somehow we were blessed with a vacant guest yurt. They normally go for $100 per night, a steal, but the price drops precipitously for those willing to clean up after the horses.
Written by Travel News on August 18th, 2009 with no comments.
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- Feast on this: JetBlue has unveiled a veritable travel buffet with its month-long All-You-Can-Jet Pass. For as little as $599 you can have unlimited travel to more than 50 cities from September 8th to October 8th. Last day to purchase the pass is this Friday, August 21st. Flights must be booked at least three days prior to scheduled departure, though also of note is that booked flights may still be changed three days prior to departure free of charge. Check out all the details at JetBlue’s site. If you’ve been wondering what to do for Labor Day, hold off a few more days and take advantage of this fantastic deal. [via Springwise]
- The BBC has put together an audio slide show on its website entitled Remembering Woodstock, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the iconic music and art festival. With song clips, archival photography, and commentary by organizer Joel Rosenman and singer Joni Mitchell, the four-minute slide show is a nostalgic retrospective of the festival’s highlights–or should we say a “trip” down memory lane?
- North Korea has announced it will re-open its southern border to South Korean tourism. The decision will enable South Koreans to cross freely into its northern neighbor, while also allowing Korean families separated since the early 1950s to reunite starting October 3rd, the local Thanksgiving Day. We know what you’re thinking but, unfortunately, JetBlue does not offer flights to Korea–so don’t bother trying to squeeze in one last All-You-Can-Jet flight there.
Map art courtesy of JetBlue Airways
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In conjunction with his upcoming book, Here Is Where: In Search of America’s Great Forgotten History, we’re following historian and Legacy Project founder Andrew Carroll as
he drives, flies, walks, boats, buses, bikes, and hikes to seek out
little-known historic sites in all 50 states. Bookmark all of his posts here.
After leaving Palestine, Texas, to pursue an extraordinary story I’d heard concerning the Columbia Space Shuttle explosion in 2003, I needed to photograph a site in Dallas related to one of the nation’s greatest Blues singers.
I told the hotel concierge where I wanted to go, and, after noticing my camera and video equipment, he warned me: “Be careful.” Be careful? “The building you’re going to is near a homeless shelter, and it’s a pretty rough area.”
I appreciated the head’s up but wasn’t terribly concerned. Yes, when I got there I definitely encountered some scowls as I began setting up my tripod in the middle of the street to photograph 508 Park Ave. By the time I looked up from the viewfinder there were about half a dozen guys around me.
“Hey man, what’s going on?” one of them asked–not in a threatening way, but his tone wasn’t entirely welcoming either.
“I’m traveling across the country to find little known historic sites,” I explained, “and that building is the last place where Robert Johnson recorded his music before he died.”
“That’s right, that’s right,” another guy said.
“Not just Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton recorded there too,” an older gentleman added. I didn’t know that.
Written by Travel News on August 18th, 2009 with no comments.
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In film, oftentimes a city becomes more than just the backdrop, but a character itself. Perfect example: New York, I Love You set to hit theaters this October. Following the same pattern of Paris, je t’aime, New York, I Love You is a string of short films each painting a portrait of life and love in the city. The film features a star-studded ensemble including Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Shia LaBeouf, James Caan, and many others. Here at Traveler, where we herald destinations with an authentic “sense of place,” I can’t wait to see this film which embodies that essence.
Written by Travel News on August 18th, 2009 with no comments.
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Despite having been born and raised on the East Coast and spending most of my adult life in its major cities (Philly, New York, and finally, D.C.), I’d never been to Ocean City, MD, before last weekend when I hung around there with my husband and his family.
My mom’s a big beach-goer and is pretty particular on her sunning spots. I may dare say she’s a beach purist. She likes broad expanses of sand; spindly egrets; tufted, virgin dunes; and minimal crowds. Her favorite beach spot along “the shore” (what we Pennsylvanians and New Jersyians call the Jersey shore) is Cape May, NJ. She prefers it for its busy but manageable beach and homey snack shops but mostly for its well-maintained, brilliantly hued Victorian homes, most turned into lucrative B&Bs. I respect her high standards and now see they’re probably why I’d never before been to Ocean City, MD.
Having said all of that, I didn’t expect much from Ocean City as we arrived and finally extracted ourselves from our too-hot car after four hours on the road from D.C. It was busy and commercial and built up. It smelled too strong of the vinegar doused generously on the ever-popular boardwalk fries. I looked around, went for a dip, sat with the family, watched the world go by, and had two pepperoni slices and a cold beer. It was a fine day but considering Ocean City through the lens of what we at IT and Traveler espouse–authentic, cultural, and sustainable travel–I thought Ocean City fell short. But did it?
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Yet there has also been great discomfort with displaying and discussing reminders of these dark and evil times. When it comes to public history, Germany has not always openly addressed its past link with the Nationalist Socialist Party. Textbooks held abbreviated history, Nazi-built structures were torn down or quickly reused with little acknowledgment of their former significance. Brushing over controversial history is not unique to Germany. Until recently, few preservation efforts were made regarding the history of racial segregation in my own country. Now those in the fields of historic preservation and museum studies in the United States are making concerted efforts to educate the public regarding segregation and other controversial history.
Before touring the exhibit, the visitor is invited to watch a short film depicting 21st Century youth skateboarding amongst ancient looking buildings. Once the camera pans out, these structures are revealed to be construction remaining from the Nazi party rally grounds. Such buildings exist here and elsewhere in Germany and until recently have been decaying and ignored by the country. The Doku Zentrum has taken great steps in breaking the polite silence and publicly addressing this period in Germany’s history and presenting the significance of architectural, visual and auditory remainders of the time.
