By Jordan Sapir
Each year I’ve lived in Germany, the month of August has been met with the boisterous cheers of school children and delighted neighbors preparing to head for the sea. The airports were packed with German tourists ready to embark on sandy beaches and foreign languages, while in the meantime, we’d head over the Atlantic to visit home. The bitter, grey, oftentimes depressing winters in western and eastern Europe call for its citizens to head south for the summer. This year is different. In the face of a pandemic, many Germans are choosing to stay local. Whether it is due to travel restrictions, interrupted work schedules, or a desire to stay within the borders, many are choosing to stick around this summer and explore Germany. Germany’s very own Ferragosto, will have Germans heading north, south, east and west.
Before you crank up Lana Del Ray’s, Summertime Sadness, read August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben’s, Wie freu’ ich mich der Sommerwonne. With landscapes as intricate as the language, sound the alphorn and rejoice because it’s summer in Deutschland.
With picturesque views of the Alps, flowing rivers, grandiose churches, castles and enchanted forests, there is so much beauty to explore in Germany; you’ll need several summers.
This month, Über Moms have explored Germany by sharing our favorite hiking routes, majestic mountains, and seasonal delicacies. Do you have a favorite destination in Germany? Have you taken the kids to Neuschwanstein Castle? Don’t sleep on travel within Germany; there is so much natural beauty to be seen. This is the year we show the kids just how malleable we Über Moms are. Let’s show them the sandy beaches of Wadden, the rolling hills in Stuttgart, the baroque villages around Heidelberg, and the snow-capped, breath-taking views from Zugspitz. While you’re up there, take a deep breath and inhale the frische Bergluft. Don’t forget to delve into its often neglected history. Pick up a copy of Germany: Memories of a Nation by Dr. Neil MacGregor, for a summer read. Polish up your der, die und das and get ready to Explore Deutschland. Viel Spaß!
Jordan Sapir
Jordan Sapir, mother of two glitter-laden girls, 2 and 5, studied Journalism and International Political Science in NYC, a place she once called home. She can slaughter five languages fluently. She has worked in a newsroom or two, walked a catwalk or three, and is all for an impromptu adventure. Having traded in her Prada for pretzels, the founder of Über Moms lives in Munich, where she is a stay at home mom and studying to become a certified nutritionist. She is a mommy on a mission and wants to help fellow mothers raise healthy happy families, and beat a PR here and there.