Reason #19 Why I Love Germany: Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival

 The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is the largest pumpkin festival in the world with over 500,000 pumpkins!  Not only are there a lot of pumpkins, they are big.  The winner of the European Pumpkin Weight Championship came from Germany this year weighing in at 668kg!  You will also find all 450 kinds of pumpkins at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival - yes you read that right, there are 450 different kinds of pumpkins!

But what I really love about the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival are the whimsical creatures created entirely out of pumpkins such as the octopus and dolphin above. 

No surprisingly, the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is also a good place to buy pumpkins from all over the world.  I was so excited to see spaghetti squash that I bought 3, along with a pumpkin to make some pumpkin soup with.  Also be sure to try the tasty pumpkin soup and even pumpkin wine that they serve- yum! The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is definitely on my list of places to check out each year and is another reason why I love Germany.  For more info see 5 Reasons to Visit the World's Largest Pumpkin Festival.
If you love Germany, check out Monkeys, Mountains and Maultaschen.

Re; Please vote for my other blog, Living as an Expat in Germany

Today's post is different than my other posts.  My other blog, Living as an Expat in Germany is listed as one of the top ten travel blogs by Go! Overseas which is in itself an honor, but in addition, Go! Overseas is currently holding a reader's choice competition to see which of the top  blogs is THE Best Blog in Germany.  Please take a moment to check out the blogs, there are some good ones, and if you like Living as an Expat in Germany, please vote for it at The Best Blog in Germany, Living as an Expat in Germany.  All votes are sincerely appreciated and one vote per day is allowed.  Voting is open until October 20.    Thank you in advance!  Stay tuned for the 19th Reason I Love Germany, coming soon!

Reason #18 Why I Love Germany: Parks in Germany

The 18th reason why I love Germany are all the parks in Germany and the fact that the parks in Germany actually get a lot of use.  I find this different than in Canada where some parks get a lot of use but many don't.  My theory is that in Canada, many people have back yards where they can put swing sets, or sit outside on their patio, so Canadians enjoy the outdoors, but they just in their own backyards.

In Germany it's quite different.  Many Germans do not have a back yard as real estate in Germany is very expensive and perhaps this lack of outdoor space drives them to the parks in Germany.  Regardless of whether this theory is right, I enjoy seeing families and friends having a picnic at a park in Germany and seeing playgrounds filled with energetic children.  Parks in Germany are also frequently around historic sites.  In Stuttgart the Schlossplatz is a popular park in Germany where you get a front row view of the Neusschschloss.  The parks in Germany are another reason why I love Germany.  If you love Germany, check out Expat in Germany.

Parks in Germany photo above is of the Schlossplatz in Stuttgart.  Courtesy of author.

Reason #17 Why I Love Germany: Museums in Germany

The 17th reason why I love Germany is that while there are no shortage of museums in Germany (Frankfurt alone has around 40 museums) what I really like about the museums in Germany is how quirky and specialized they are.  There is the World's Largest Pig Museum in Stuttgart, the German Emigration Museum in Bremen, Germany's only Ostereimuseum (Easter Egg Museum) in Sonnenbühl, German Pharmacy Museum in Heidelberg, the Hammer Museum in Frankfurt, the Clock Museum in Furtwangen to name just a few. 

Stuttgart is also home to both the Mercedes Benz and Porche museums as well, along with more traditional types of museums.   I love the sole focus of these offbeat museums and learning about things I hadn't given much thought to previously.  Do most people really think about the history of the hammer?

I'm slowly making my way through some of the museums in Germany (last week it was the Eat Art Exhibition at the Kuntsmuseum) but realistically will never get to all of them, but I'm having fun exploring the quirky museums in Germany which is another reason why I love Germany.  If you're into quirky museums be sure to check some of these out.

Above photo is courtesy of the Schwein (Pig) Museum 

Reason #16 Why I Love Germany: Stuttgart 21 Protests

Stuttgart 21 is a large construction project that will make Stuttgart a central rail link between Western and Eastern Europe (see the history of Stuttgart 21) but Stuttgart 21 is surrounded in controversy regarding the costly project (a projected cool 4 billion euro, the 10 year time line and the demolition of part of the historic Haupbahnhof).  Stuttgart 21 protestors (mostly peaceful) have been coming out in the tens of thousands for months.  When part of the Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station) was demolished for the Stuttgart 21 project the protestors didn't give up, they came out in even larger droves, reaching over 30,000 protestors.  When 300 trees were to be cut to make room for Stuttgart 21, 30,000 protestors came out yet again.

Stuttgart 21 protesters at the demise of part of the historic Hauptbahnhof

 I admire that despite the government staying the course for the Stuttgart 21 project, Stuttgarter's have not given up, they are adamant that their voices be heard.  And finally their voices are being heard and there are now talks to revise the Stuttgart 21 project.  I admire this political advocacy, perhaps because I have not seen it in such full force before.  30,000 protestors for a city with a population of just over 600,000 inhabitants is rather impressive in my opinion.  Germans are known to be opinionated and occasionally argumentative, but it is these very traits and their willingness to stand up for what they believe in, that just may very well change the future of the Stuttgart 21 project and is another reason why I love Germany.  If you love Germany, check out Expat in Germany.

Stuttgart 21 protesters top photo courtesy of:  The Local
Stuttgart 21 protesters second photo courtesy of:  noinvite.com

Reason #15 Why I Love Germany: The Rose Garden at the New Castle in Stuttgart

The #15 reason why I love Germany is the rose garden on the side of the New Castle (Neue Schloss) in Stuttgart.  The New Castle in Stuttgart is stunning and the front of the castle rightly so gets all the attention with the Schlossplatz directly in front.  What could be better than lounging in front of a castle?  While this is one of my favorite things to do, I also love the more serene rose gardens on the side of the New Castle in Stuttgart.  Don't get me wrong, it's still busy, but its less busy and just seems more peaceful to me.  It must be all the roses that have the effect of making the space feel so tranquil and calm, even though it is just steps away from the bustling Konig Strasse.  Fortunately for me, it's right on my home from German school, and after a particularly frustrating day of trying to understand German grammar it never fails to calm me down after just spending a couple of minutes there.  Yes, the Rose Garden at the New Castle in Stuttgart is the 15th reason why I love Germany.   If you love Germany, check out Expat in Germany.

Reason #14 Why I Love Germany: Vineyards in Germany

Vineyards in Germany overlooking the charming city of Stuttgart

The 14th reason I love Germany are all the vineyards in Germany.  I am fortunate to live in Stuttgart, a charming city in a valley lined with vineyards, with over 250 different wines coming from the region, many of them very reasonably priced.  

Soon the vineyards in Germany will be a busy place - grape picking time!

An additional bonus of vineyards in Germany, is that many of them have walking paths through them so you can not only enjoy the great views offered by the vineyards, but also check on the status of the grapes, to see when next season's wine will be ready.  The Stuttgarter Weindorf is a wine festival held every August which wine lovers anticipate all year long. You can see why vineyards in Germany are another reason why I love Germany!  Prost!

Reason #13: Why I Love Germany: German Architecture, the Illertal Ost Rest Haus

Eye catching German architecture, the outside of the Illertal Ost Rest Haus

The #13th reason that I love Germany is German architecture, but this post takes a lighter look at German architecture in  the form of the Illertal Ost Rest Haus in southern Germany.  The Illertal Ost Rest Haus is a fully functioning rest haus that we stop at everytime we drive by.  It makes me smile every time I see it and the architect's zaney  imagination is clear as is his sense of humor - children will love it. The Illertal Ost Rest Haus may be unconvetional German architecture, but that's makes it so special.  Take a look at photos of the Illertal Ost Rest Haus and see what you think of this piece of wacky German architecture. 

Each section of the Illertal Ost  Rest Haus has a different theme in this unique piece of German architecture

Another section of the Illertal Ost Rest Haus

The Illertal Ost Rest Haus acts not only as a piece of German architecture, but is also very functional

Imaginative sculptures line the perimeter of the Illertal Ost

 See Google Maps for location of the Illertal Ost Rest Haus

What are your thoughts on this piece of German architecture?  If you want to see more of Germany, check out Expat in Germany

Reason #12 Why I Love Germany: Alpine Flowers

These beautiful alpine flowers were everywhere we went.

The #12 reason why I love Germany are the alpine flowers.  We went hiking in Germany this past weekend and even though we are well into September the alpine flowers were still blooming.  I love the long growing season here for alpine flowers, well all flowers actually.  But the alpine flowers can speak for themselves much better than I ever could:

A bright yellow alpine flower with dainty petals

I love the contrast of white alpine flowers against the green grass

Alpine flowers that have just finished blooming

More of these beautiful alpine flowers

I think you can see why the alpine flowers are another reason why I love Germany.

Reason #11: Why I Love Germany: Cow Bells

A cow proudly showing off her cow bell.

The #11 reason why I love Germany is that in southern Germany and northern Austria, you frequently hear the cling-clang of cow bells, also known as "Almgocke" in German.  There are a lot of cows in southern Germany and it can actually be quite noisy, but I love the sound of the cow bells, especially when hiking.  To a large extent, cows have free range of the hills so you can even hear the cow bells even when you are quite high up.  I find the sound rather encouraging as I hike higher and higher and grow wearier and wearier.



Another cow, another cow bell

 Cow bells serve the purpose of keeping track of any cows that are drifting too far away or those that have managed to get lost.  The cow bells make it much easier to find the cows.  Being from Canada, I must admit this concept is lost on me.  In Canada, especially where I grew up,  there are also a lot of cows in much bigger pastures than in Germany and the cows in Canada don't wear cow bells. 

While I love the sounds of cow bells, cows get up rather early, so I would not recommend camping near cows or sleeping with a window open near cows. 

If you do, you will most definitely not need an alarm clock as the cow bells will provide a nice 5:00 am ish wake up call.  As long as I'm not sleeping near cows, cow bells are another reason why I love Germany.  If you love Germany, check out Expat in Germany