In the travel industry, it pays to move fast. On August 7, our executive editor, Brian Jewell, asked me if I could go to Germany for a beer festivals article. On September 3, I boarded a flight for Frankfurt.
I toured three delightful cities in Germany: Augsburg, Regensburg and Erfurt. I discovered their medieval highlights, attended two amazing beer festivals, ate my fill of German sausages, met some wonderful people and was home a week later. It was a crash course in German culture, and I had a blast.
I traveled with Ted Keppler, who owns Inside Europe with his wife, Sandra Weinacht. They maintain residences in South Carolina and Germany and serve as U.S. representatives for Historic Highlights of Germany, a group of 17 smaller cities that showcase places outside its largest metros.
Before we parted ways, I asked Keppler which of his character traits he attributes to his German heritage. He ticked them off: “We’re hardworking. We follow the rules. We obey speed limits, except on the autobahn, where there aren’t any. We arrive on time. We’re organized.”
I could have written those myself after traveling with him in Germany. Travel is about culture first, I think. If you discover a place’s people first, they’ll show you the rest.
The next time you have a chance to drop what you’re doing and enjoy another culture, take it. Your own culture will be here when you get back.
