With a name like Nienhueser, you would know that someday I had to go visit my “homeland.”  I just returned from hosting a 10-day trip to Germany. The tour was themed around my Lutheran Heritage and traced the footsteps of Martin Luther. The main reason for the tour was to attend the Passion Play (Passionspiele) in Oberammergau, Germany. Germany is a fabulous country full of friendly people, beautiful sights and delicious food and German beer.

Brandenburg Gate - Berlin

The tour began in Berlin with a brief tour of the city. This included such sites as the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and of course, Checkpoint Charlie. There isn’t a lot to see at Checkpoint Charlie anymore – it’s more of a small tourist trap, but it’s one of those things that we should all see to realize the importance of what was happening during the times. In fact, I found out that the Berlin Wall was officially put into use on the day I was born. Not a huge honor, but a fact nonetheless.

From Berlin, we traveled to Wittenberg where Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church. I was disappointed to learn that they weren’t actually “nailed” to the door, but I am going to stick with what I learned growing up in the Lutheran church. From Wittenberg, we traveled on to Eisleben, Erfurt and Rudesheim. These great little towns/villages are rich in history and full of fascinating German architecture.  Erfurt was a favorite because we had a guide who had been living there for many years and she was very proud of her town and told us wonderful stories.  Having a great local guide can make or break a city tour and she was fabulous!

Rhine Cruise

Next, a Rhine Cruise was on tap (no beer pun intended) for the morning of the 6^th day.  I’m not sure that I have ever seen more spectacular scenery. There were castles galore, wonderful small towns along the river and amazing photo opportunities. After the cruise, we boarded a bus in Mainz and traveled on to Worms. Worms was of particular interest to me because I grew up attending a family church in the small town of Worms, Nebraska near where my grandparents lived. 

Heidelburg, Rothenburg, Augsburg and the beautiful church, Wieskirche, were next on the list.  Rothenburg was fun for the group because they went to a bar named Hell. Of course everyone had to laugh at the fact that day 8 was the day they had been to Hell and back. OK…maybe the group was starting to get a bit punchy by this time, but we enjoyed the joke!

The Passion Play at Oberammergau is amazing. It is difficult to describe because it is a magnificent spectacle that everyone should see once in their lifetime.  The Play depicts the life of Christ from Palm Sunday through the Resurrection.  This is the 41^st season that the play has been performed.  In 1633, during the middle of the Thirty Years War, after months of suffering and dying from the plague, the people of Oberammergau took a vow to perform a Passion Play every ten years if they would be spared from death. The community was spared and the first play was performed in 1634. The play is performed totally in German, but we had English translation books with which to follow along. The first act is three hours long, then there is a three hour break, followed by the second act which also lasted about three hours. It may sound rather lengthy, but the play is performed so well, you truly do not notice the time.

Marienplatz - Munich

The tour ended in Munich with a city tour given by another fabulous guide. He was a high school history teacher and a really fun character. If he had been my teacher in high school, I would’ve remembered a lot more about history!  Munich’s highlights include the Marienplatz (town square) with the Glockenspiel that plays three times daily.  It’s something you have to do when you are there. To some, it’s a bit disappointing because it’s rather hard to see since it’s up pretty high, but it’s still a must-do when visiting Munich. Another must do in my book is the Hofbrauhaus. This huge German beer hall is full of Germans and tourists and polka bands and lots of food and beer. What a great way to end a fabulous tour!

If you are traveling to Germany, you might want to take a crash course in German. It’s fun to know a little bit of the language, plus the locals get quite a kick out of us Americans trying to speak their native tongue. However, the locals do a pretty good job with English and even if some can’t speak it, they do pretty well understanding it.  Flight time to Germany from the East Coast is about 8 hours with most flights departing the US at night, arriving in Germany around 8 or 9 a.m. It’s best to ask for early check in at your hotel prior to arrival (never guaranteed, but you can always try).  Then, when you get there, nap for a couple of hours. Begin your sightseeing after the nap and try to get to bed at your normal time.  You should awake refreshed and ready to experience the beauty of Germany! Auf Wiedersehen until next time…

Kaylene Nienhueser, CTC, is the General Manager for AurTravel. She has been in the travel business for over 27 years and at AurTravel for six years. She began her career by hosting groups and planning group travel. Kaylene has traveled to all 50 states and extensively in Europe. She has also been to Hong Kong and much of the Caribbean. She and her husband, Jeff, are proud owners of their dog Ali.

Contact: 402.891.6949 / 800.304.1452 / knienhueser@aurtravel.com