Explore Europe Christmas Markets Podcast Episode Show Notes Is there anything better than living in Europe and especially Germany at this time of year. Nothing says Christmas quite like the traditional Weihnachtsmarkt that you will find in every big city, small town and even the tiny villages. We’ve recommended our favourite Christmas markets throughout this episode, but I’ll bet once you have visited a few, you will have your own. Everyone is unique and each one is worth a visit. Here are...

Explore Europe Dresden Podcast Episode Show Notes Dresden is the capital of the German state of Saxony. It's situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the border with the Czech Republic and was part of the former East Germany until reunification in 1990. The city has experienced dramatic changes since the early 1990s. It still bears many wounds from the controversial bombing raids of 1945, but it has undergone significant reconstruction and the buildings have been mostly restored to their...

Explore Europe Mont Blanc Trail Podcast Episode Show Notes The Tour du Mont Blanc is a unique trek of approximately 200km around Mont Blanc that can be completed in between 7 and 10 days passing through Italy, Switzerland and France. It’s one of the most famous and exhilarating treks in Europe. Hikers, climbers and mountaineers will love the authenticity of the overnights offered by mountain refuges and gites along the Tour du Mont Blanc. Our special guest, Kaiserslautern school music teacher...

Explore Europe Copenhagen in Denmark Podcast Episode Show Notes Home to the children’s story teller, Hans Christian Andersen, the city of Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and very much the beating heart of the country. It’s a very advanced city in terms of infrastructure, architecture, sustainability, tourism and culture. Which makes it such a joy to visit and get around. Copenhagen is one of my favourite cities in Europe and as I grew up reading Hans Christian Andersen Fairytales when I...

Explore Europe Paris Podcast Episode Show Notes Paris, the capital of France, is a global hub for art, architecture, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine. As well as landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the 12th-century, Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral, the city is known for its cafe culture and designer boutiques. Paris is just a 2.5 hour train journey from Kaiserslautern or London. So the only question is really,...

Explore Europe Oktoberfest & Volksfest Podcast Episode Show Notes Welcome back to the first episde of our second series. Today we're visting the most beer famous festival in the world, Oktoberfest in Munich!  But we're also sharing our insiders tip, which is to go to the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart for the exact same experience without the cost and hassle of getting to Munich with millions of other tourists.  Whichever festival you visit, make sure you dress up in traditional...

Explore Europe London in England Podcast Episode Show Notes You have to experience London two or three times whilst you are on tour in Germany, because it’s such an amazing city and you need to go several times to truly appreciate it. I hope this episode gives you some great ideas to get the best from the first visit as a reccie. I hope we have shown you that you don’t need to spend a fortune paying to get into famous landmarks or exhibits. There is a huge amount of London that you can see,...

Explore Europe Deutsche Weinstrasse Podcast Episode Show Notes In this episode, I welcome a special guest, Bret Helenius, CEO of AdvantiPro - publishers of the Find-It Guide and the Kaiserslautern American - to talk about the Deutsche Weinstraße - The German Wine Road.  There is so much of it to explore and wine to sample that it can be hard to know where to start. Bret’s tips and insider knowledge are just the perfect place to start discovering this beautiful region of Germany, that is...

Explore Europe Luxembourg Podcast Episode Show Notes Surrounded by France, Belgium and Germany, Luxembourg is it’s one of the worlds smallest countries yet its packed with medieval charm. The capital, Luxembourg City, has a fairy-tale quality thanks to its beautiful old town perched on top of sheer cliffs with incredible views across deep gorges where the rivers pass through the Ardenne forest.  Luxembourg is so close to the KMC that you really have to get out there and explore this...

Explore Europe Strasbourg, France Podcast Episode Show Notes Here are the show notes from our Explore Europe Strasbourg episode.  Strasbourg is such a picturesque place which manages to somehow balance the medieval architecture of winding cobble stone alleys and crooked half-timbered houses with the modern progressive EU Quarter and France’s second-largest student population. It is perhaps this unique style that seems to show case the very best of France and Germany.   Here are the...

Explore Europe Cambridge, England Podcast Episode Show Notes Here are the show notes from our Explore Europe Cambridge episode.  The University City of Cambridge comprises 31 Colleges and over 150 departments, museums and other institutions. Founded in 1209 and granted a Royal Charter by King Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's fourth-oldest surviving university. You will see stunning examples of architecture just by...

Explore Europe: Titisee-Neustadt in the Black Forest Show Notes Titisee-Neustadt is a great little town to start your Black Forest adventures because he has something for everyone. There is so much we could have talked about in this episode but didn’t have time for so I’m just going to encourage you to visit and find out for yourself! Podcast Conversation Timeline 0:44 - John and Michelle reveal where we will be exploring today.1:20 - When is the best time to visit the Black Forest?1:59 -...

Explore Europe: Budapest Show Notes Budapest is often called the Pearl of the Danube or the Paris of the East. It sits at the crossroads of Western and Eastern Europe and manages to combine old world charm, through its magnificent architecture and grand coffee houses with modern lifestyle, offering trendy cafés, bars and high restaurants and all for a really affordable price. Podcast Conversation Timeline 00:01 - Welcome to the Podcast1:46 - Where are we exploring today?2:31 - The History...

Explore Europe: Heidelberg Show Notes On this episode of Explore Europe we visit the beautiful and historic city of Heidelberg and discover it's charming streets, bridges, buildings and the castle. You can explore all the main attractions in one day so it's certainly worth putting into your diary.  Did you know that Heidelberg was host to the U.S. Military since the 7th Army moved it's HQ there in the 60s right up until USAREUR handed back the keys to all of the installations in...

Explore Europe: Berlin Show Notes This very first episode of Explore Europe starts in the capital city of Berlin. A fantastic city that is steeped in history, has a long association with the U.S. Military and is full of must-see sights. It's super easy to get to and very simple to get around. Simply put, Berlin is at the top of the list of places you should visit whilst based in Germany! Here are the links from our Explore Europe Berlin episode: For booking train tickets (aim for three...

Welcome to Explore Europe! If you are stationed in Germany, or perhaps even Italy or the UK, then this podcast is for you. Get the best out of your tour whilst you are based here. Explore a new location each week of the series and discover our highlights to help you plan your trip - including some key shortcuts, insider knowledge and suggested itineraries.