Tourism in Germany — страница 4

discoveries you can make. The hosts of the farm will spoil you with regional delicacies like fragrant fresh breads, home-made sausages and cheeses as well as wine and juices from own vineyards. Diverse leisure activities for both young and old round off the whole experience in the country. Bed and Breakfast A Bed and Breakfast is typically a lower-priced alternative to hotels and inns. Instead of staying in anonymous hotel beds, you sleep in cosy, private guest rooms. You are welcomed cordially by your hosts who offer a pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy your stay. In the morning, breakfast is prepared just for you according to your taste. Your hosts take a personal interest in helping you with providing tips and information about the area, the country and the people. 4. Where

to go. 4.1.Festivals A) The Berlinale. From its beginning in post war Berlin, the Berlinale was designed to be an international rather than a national film festival. Over the years the festival has cemented its status as major European film festival and is easily as important as its competitors in Venice and Cannes. The Golden and Silver Berlin bear and many honorary awards are much sought-after. B) Love parade in Berlin German techno guru Dr. Motte and 150 of his closer friends started the rave in 1989. They met at Berlin's 'Ku'damm' to celebrate a party and to demonstrate for tolerance and love. Successfully: the mobile party attracts en-vogue DJs and an enthusiastic crowd. Some facts: In 2000, the loveparade's busiest year to date, 250 DJs on 53 wagons partied together with

over a million guests. Recently, Austria, Israel, South Africa and Mexico have joined the craze and organised their own love parades. C) Frankfurt's Bookfair Frankfurt a big player in global trade fair business. An annual average of 80 fairs and exhibitions attract numerous visitors from all over the world. One of the highlights is Frankfurt's book fair. The biggest book fair worldwide dates back to the 15th century. Its popularity has increased ever since. Today, more than 250,000 annual visitors flood the fair. The aim: information on a selection of the almost 400,000 books which are being presented. Readings, talks, interviews and other side events offer additional incentives for an interested public. Book industry, publishers, critics, readers and writers alike are under the

spell of the biggest book fair world wide. D) Carnival in Germany In Germany Mardi Gras ('Fasching') is also referred to as the fifth and foolish season ('die närrische Zeit'). It is a time of elaborate parades, masks, balls and election of Carnival king and queen and official madness. The exact time of celebration and the traditions vary from county to county, but it generally takes place in early spring. Munich, Cologne, Mainz are strongholds of Mardi Gras celebrations. Switzerland and Austria, too, join the party with enthusiasm following their own traditions. E) Munich's 'Oktoberfest' Even though it is called 'Oktoberfest', the festival actually takes place in September, as Bavarian autumn can be tricky and surprise with early cold and snow. Today, the 'Oktoberfest' is

the largest festival worldwide attracting a multitude of visitors. Apart from beer tents the festival offers amusements as diverse as roller coasters, circus appearances, festive parades and live brass bands. The ceremonial opening happens at noon. The mayor arrives in a festive coach followed by a decorated horse-drawn brewer's cart. Guests, staff and the numerous brass bands are all wearing traditional costumes (lederhosen and dirndls) for the occasion. At the end of the parade the major taps the first keg of beer and shouts, "o'zapft is!" (The keg is tapped). It takes good nerves and a solid stomach to survive the festivals 16 days of intensive partying. However, the festival is a huge success: Apart from attracting a multitude of visitors the festivals brand name

'Oktoberfest' has been exported all over the world. 4.2. National Parks A) The Jasmund National Park The Jasmund National Park offers many different landscapes within a very small area. Come and visit a cretaceous landscape with numerous bogs, wet grasslands and dry meadows. The most renowned attraction are the chalk cliffs surrounding the Königsstuhl which have been captured in paintings by the famous artist Caspar David Friedrich. Apart from the Königsstuhl, the highest point on the chalk coastline, the whole length of the chalk coastline is impressive. It stretches over a length of 10 km, reaches a height of 117 m and consists of both active and inactive cliffs, illustrating the dynamics of an active steep coastline. The national park offers a wide range of