Movie Monday: Winning London

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To Europe With Kids presents Movie Monday as a weekly feature to recommend films that might expose children and their families to any small bit of European history, folklore, scenery, or animated imagery as entertainment, perhaps new knowledge, or just a couple of hours of electronic babysitting.

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If your children spent any time watching the Royal Wedding last week, perhaps they'd enjoy seeing more of the historical city of London on DVD.  Often kids are really thrilled when they recognize something in a movie, like Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey.  If you're up for it, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's film Winning London, a 2001 video, might just be a good choice for your next family movie night.

In this film, the teenage Olsen twins go to London, England, to participate in the Model United Nations competition and see all the sights, visit Parliament, shop, and fall in love with cute British boys with charming accents.  There is a brief kiss between boy and girl, but Winning London is rated G, so there's nothing to worry about.  Overall, it's predictable, entertaining, and humorous family fun.  You can watch the trailer here to check it out.

Other Movie Monday posts:

Sound of Music

The Waltz King

Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates

When in Rome

Percy Jackson & the Olympians:  The Lightning Thief

Madeline

Hogan's Heroes

Anastasia

The Moon Spinners

Heidi

Animated Heidi

Around the World in 80 Days

National Lampoon's European Vacation

Young Sherlock Holmes

A Mayday Call

Maypole in Mittenwald, Germany.

My 11 year old daughter took this (somewhat cut off) photo of a maypole in Mittenwald, Germany, because she thought it was pretty.  She didn't know what it was.  Dancing around a maypole is a lovely celebration that I was happy to explain to her and my son.

May Day, or May 1st, has been a traditional day of festivities for many centuries, and nowadays is most zealously celebrated in the Germanic European countries.  In many places it is a public holiday, which is important to know if you're a tourist because banks and museums may be closed, but also because various cultural activities may be available for you to enjoy.  Many of the May Day folk traditions include children and are especially entertaining for young visitors to a new country.

Maypoles are erected on May Day and decorated according to local customs.  For example, in Bavaria, Germany, they are designed with emblems depicting regional crafts or industries, and in England with garlands, painted stripes, flowers and flags.  Towns then usually hold a procession with perhaps a brass band, folk music and singing or a carnival.  Often a May Queen is chosen from the population of young women and she may be the one to officially commence the maypole dancing.

Traditionally, the dancers, often children, gather in a circle around the maypole, each holding a colored ribbon attached to the pole.  As the dance begins the ribbons are intertwined and wrapped around the maypole.  The dancers can then retrace their steps to unravel the ribbons, and the singing and merriment go on all day.

Depending on the local custom, the maypole may remain in place until the end of May, or, in Bavaria for example, may remain permanently, such as the one we photographed above in July.

Morris dancers

In England, May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, a traditional form of lively folk dancing performed by groups of men and women, often accompanied by accordion or fiddle playing.  Morris dancers often dress in traditional folk costumes or sometimes silly costumes when they perform at events.

As a child in Catholic school, every May Day we would pay homage to the Virgin Mary by adorning her with spring flowers and saying the rosary, and this is what my mother remembers from her youth in a small German village as well.  This custom is still practiced in many European towns.

Photo Friday: Thinking of the Windsors Today

Thinking of the Windsors today . . . .

(Photo of Windsor Castle taken by me in 1976.)

I feel compelled to publish an afternoon edit today about how much I enjoyed watching the Royal Wedding.  There's not much I'll willingly sacrifice sleep for, but I was up at the wee hours this morning with the TV on and a box of tissues by my side.  I even woke up my daughter as soon as the bride appeared from her hotel.  The wedding was extraordinary, and the epitome of joy for a Europhile.
God save the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Many thanks to DeliciousBaby.com for hosting Photo Friday every week.

Hotel Recommendation in Desenzano del Garda

Allow me to recommend the family-friendly hotel we stayed in some years ago in Desenzano del Garda, Italy, which I posted about yesterday.  Hotel City, just steps from Lake Garda and also from the historical town center in Desenzano, has Family Rooms and Junior Suites that accommodate a family of four.  These rooms cost from €140 to €195 depending on the size of the room and the season.  The Family Rooms have two separate bedrooms and two bathrooms - this is a great feature if you have older children!  Children under 4 years stay for free when using existing bedding, and cots for children under 2 years are free of charge.  Hotel City has free wifi, free parking, and yes, air conditioning!  A generous breakfast buffet is included in the price, too.

Lago di Garda in Italy

Sometimes you’ve gotta expect the unexpected when you plan activities on a trip.  My husband is an ardent windsurfer and was really looking forward to engaging in his favorite sport at one of Europe’s primo surf and sail hotspots, Lake Garda in northern Italy.  We loaded up the car with all the bulky, heavy, large (read excessive) gear that is essential for killer windsurfing and took off from Munich.  The northern tip of Lake Garda is exceptionally popular for sailing sports due to its consistent, reliable thermal winds – winds that are categorized by their direction and intensity and even have names:  the Ora, the Pelér, the Ponale, and the Balinot.
My cousin, a frequent windsurfing trekker to Lake Garda, was in the driver’s seat for the eager drive through southern Germany, Austria, and across the precarious Brenner Pass that stretches through the Tyrolean Alps.  But upon our arrival in Torbole sul Garda, the men were sadly disappointed in what was the most unseasonal, unexpected, stock-still weather anyone in Trento could remember.  Not even a ripple on the lake.  We never even unloaded the gear.

All was not lost that weekend years ago, however, because – windsurfing or not – we still found ourselves in the majestic lake region of northern Lake Garda.  The largest lake in Italy, Garda is located just about 70 miles south of the point where Austria, Switzerland, and Italy meet on the map.  The lake is a popular vacation spot for German, Dutch, Belgian, and other cold weather European travelers, who enjoy the destination for it’s beaches, sunshine, mild Mediterranean climate, and water sports.

View over Torbole

Different parts of the lake vary dramatically in both landscape and culture.  Upper Garda, in the province of Trento, lies at the foot of the Italian Alps, near the Dolomites, and the affluent towns of Torbole sur Garda and Riva del Garda are excellent family vacation destinations.  Summers here are warm but rarely hot and the beaches are wide.  Important to know though is that the beaches are shingle, not sand, so not only might the rocks be rough on your little ones' feet, but there's also no sand play.  Pick up a couple of rattan beach mats (sold in the local shops) for your family to lay on on the beach though, and the stretch becomes more comfortable.  Families can stroll along the 2 km long beach promenade in Torbole and enjoy the rich Italian atmosphere with its colored houses, bobbing fishing boats, and open-air cafés surrounded by sheer mountain cliffs.  The town of Riva has a wonderful medieval fortress, La Rocca, right on the lake and bounded by a canal with a lifting bridge.  Your kids will love it, and during the summer there are often concerts and other free activities.  Also, from Riva del Garda there are various boat trips to other villages and towns.  Ferries, hydrofoils, and motorized catamarans operate all year.

Long ago shot I took in Desenzano

As you drive further south along the shoreline of Lake Garda, you'll notice the landscape becoming drier and the scattering of pine trees growing fewer.  At the lower end of the lake, a popular spot is the town of Desenzano del Garda in Lombardy.  Desenzano has three large beaches (again - rocky, not sandy) and many hotels, as well as a shopping center with a designer discount outlet.  You'll have no trouble finding cuisine for your family as pizzerias and gelaterie are plentiful.  Ferries around the lake are available near the main port in Desenzano, and pedal-boats can be rented near Desanzanino Beach.  And, if the children are tired of nature and must be appeased, only a 30 minute drive from Desenzano is . . . wait for it . . . Gardaland, the third most popular theme park in Europe.  Personally, I haven't been there, but from the website it looks like it has a large variety of rides and attractions.  If you go there, let me know if it's worth it!

Movie Monday: Anastasia

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To Europe With Kids presents Movie Monday as a weekly feature to recommend films that might expose children and their families to any small bit of European history, folklore, scenery, or animated imagery as entertainment, perhaps new knowledge, or just a couple of hours of electronic babysitting.

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As I sat there over the weekend musing out loud, "What will be my Movie Monday post this week?" my daughter said, "Do animated movies count?  How about Anastasia?  It takes place in Russia and Paris!"  So Anastasia it is.  Thank you, dear daughter.  And since she just watched it last week, I had her write the summary:

When the evil villain Rasputin attempts to finish off the Russian Royal Family, only Princess Anastasia and her grandmother, Empress Marie, survive.  Marie escapes to Paris, but Anastasia is left behind in St. Petersburg.  After ten years in an orphanage, Anastasia sets off to discover her identity, with no memory of her royal life.  She finds two men seeking the reward money for turning in the Princess to the Empress in Paris.  The three of them take the train to Paris together.  However, Anastasia doesn't know that the men are only doing this for the money.  The Empress has already seen many girls pretending to be Anastasia and is tired of being disappointed.  But the characters' persistence convinces her to at least look at Anastasia.  After a joyful reunion and exciting events in the city of lights, everything ends happily ever after.  The characters sing a song about Paris and dance on the Arc de Triomphe and at the Moulin Rouge. They go up in the Eiffel Tower.  Because this is a Disney movie, it has the classic villain "scariness" that might not be appropriate for kids under six.

Authored by my daughter, age 14.

Other Movie Monday posts:

Sound of Music
The Waltz King
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates
When in Rome
Percy Jackson & the Olympians:  The Lightning Thief
Madeline
Hogan's Heroes
The Moon Spinners
Heidi
Animated Heidi
Around the World in 80 Days
National Lampoon's European Vacation
Young Sherlock Holmes

Happy Pääsiäistä

That's Finnish in the title, by the way.  Isn't that cool looking?

Here's wishing you a Happy Easter in a multitude of European languages:

Boa Páscoa - Portuguese

God Påske - Danish

¡Felices Pascuas! - Spanish

Pasg Hapus - Welsh

Joyeuses Pâques - French

Frohe Ostern - German

Gëzuar Pashkët - Albanian

Καλό πάσχα - Greek

Hyvää Pääsiäistä - Finnish

Bona Pasqua - Catalan

Easter Celebrations in Europe

Just like Christmas traditions, Easter and Holy Week customs throughout Europe vary from country to country and even region to region.  Most customs include religious rituals and church services, candy, feasting and family gatherings.  Easter festivities usually begin filling the streets, squares, and shops during Holy Week, the seven days before Easter Sunday, and it’s a colorful time to visit the Old World.  In some central and eastern European countries, Easter is a greater holiday than Christmas.

The Prague Easter market in the Old Town Square showcases over 100 stalls of handcrafts, toys, Czech crystal, regional delicacies and beer, and beautiful hand-painted eggs.  Folk dancers and residents in traditional costume provide a lively atmosphere.  For the children there are workshops for painting eggs and other activities.

In Romania, after the late evening church services on Holy Saturday, visitors can observe local peoples parading through the streets carrying lighted candles in a solemn procession.  In some villages, intricately decorated eggs are hung from tree branches, strung onto wires, featured in games, and taken to church to be blessed.

Unusual European customs include egg fights in Bulgaria, where whoever comes out of the game with an unbroken egg is the winner and assumed to be the most successful member of the family in the coming year, and the Hungarian tradition of Wet Monday, when boys throw buckets of cold water over girls to make them healthy for the rest of the year.

Wet Monday in Hungary.

Also, not to be missed, are the Holy Week festival in Braga, Portugal, and the Semana Santa processions in southern Spain, most famously in Seville.  The cities are crowded with tourists for the ancient traditions of floats in elaborate processions depicting the passion of Christ.

And, of course, the apogee of all Easter experiences would be in Vatican City.  Blessings, processions, vigils, and Masses in many languages are frequent throughout Holy Week.  A schedule of events is available on-line.  Be sure to check for closures of possible Vatican museum closures this week on-line here. 

Lastly, residents of every country enjoy food prepared for the Easter celebration.  Lamb, sweet breads, cakes, and eggs are traditional dishes for many.  In England, hot-cross buns are popular on Good Friday.  These are sweet fruit buns with crosses on top.  In Western Europe, the pretzel is eaten, and legend has it that the twists resemble the crossed arms of a person in prayer.

Photo Friday: A Holy Place, the Holy See, on a Holy Day

Today is Good Friday, a Holy Day, so here's a shot from the holiest place I've ever been.  St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  The piazza is relatively uncrowded early in the morning, which was when I took this picture 

from the dome of the Vatican.

Check out other great photos every Friday at Delicious Baby.com.

Easter Laughs

Herman the German

Herman the German Giant is not your typical rabbit found in Germany.  He's not of the variety Germans find nibbling at the cabbage in their garden or bouncing through the forest.  Herman is owned by a breeder in Germany who raises Grey German Giants, usually bred for fur and meat, and he weighs in at 22 lbs.  Just look at those feet!

Great Ad Campaign

I think Amtrak California's new ad campaign is very clever.  This billboard is my favorite:

You may experience a sudden loss of pressure.

I love it because, of course, I love train travel.  If only, if only, if only, we had a train system like they do in Europe.  Traveling would be so convenient and relaxing.

I also really like this one I found on a bus stop shelter:

If you have little ones you know what a bonus this is.  No waking up your kid to fasten his seat belt after he's just fallen asleep on a long flight.  No telling her to stay seated on her bottom hour after hour.  And no potty accidents due to them not telling you they had to go, since, "Mommy, the fasten seat belt light was on!"  (Speaking from personal experience here.)

Anyway, an extensive, high-speed rail system here in the U.S. is only a dream.  It would never be funded.  Plus, Americans are too attached to their cars.  Isn't Earth Day this week?  How about we all give up our cars for the day on Friday and hitch a ride on Amtrak?

Movie Monday: Hogan's Heroes

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To Europe With Kids presents Movie Monday as a weekly feature to recommend films that might expose children and their families to any small bit of European history, folklore, scenery, or animated imagery as entertainment, perhaps new knowledge, or just a couple of hours of electronic babysitting.

•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •

If you've never watched an episode of Hogan's Heroes, you might not believe me; but it really is a well-written, witty, entertaining show.  I actually loved watching it as a girl (I know, I know, we just didn't have a lot to choose from on TV back then) for the comedy and the intrigue and, of course, my serious crush on Colonel Hogan.  The show is still broadcast in syndication on various television stations and my 12 year old son has been hooked on it for over a year now.  Most boys his age are enamored with war (hence the popularity of video games as Modern Warfare, Call of Duty, and Battlefield Modern Combat) so he really enjoys the World War II setting of the show.  He's actually learned a bit from it - now familiar with the Luftwaffe, Allied forces, the Russian front, the Geneva Convention, Mein Kampf, Stalin, the BBC, and Stalingrad, he actually takes an interest in the war memorials and plaques found ubiquitously throughout Europe.

Typical World War II memorial plaque.
Dinkelsbühl, Germany

The show is designed to appeal to kids, what with the wisecracking, amiable Hogan and the blustering, inept Colonel Klink.  None of the prisoners are ever in serious danger, let alone shot; buildings, trains and cars blow up all the time but rarely does someone die.  It's a classic military sitcom, like M*A*S*H, only it takes place in a German POW camp.  (There have been misconceptions that the show is about a Jewish concentration camp, but that is incorrect.  Four of the actors with major Nazi roles in the show - Klink, Sgt. Schultz, Mjr. Hochstetter, and Gen. Burkhalter - were actually Jews, three of whom had fled Nazi Germany, and they demanded that there never be any Nazi sympathy in the program.)

Anyway, the most impressive aspect of the show is its production value and the performances of the actors.  Werner Klemperer (Colonel Klink) received six Emmy nominations for supporting actor on Hogan's Heroes, winning twice.  Richard Dawson (who plays Cpl. Newkirk) is adorably funny with his charming Cockney accent (it helps if you can forget his later creepy tenure as the kissing host of Family Feud).  The international crew of prisoners running their elaborate American intelligence operations provide great comedy with just enough absurdity to truly make Hogan's Heroes fun to watch.



Other Movie Monday posts:

Sound of Music

The Waltz King

Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates

When in Rome

Percy Jackson & the Olympians:  The Lightning Thief

Madeline

Young Sherlock Holmes

The Moon Spinners

Heidi

Animated Heidi

Around the World in 80 Days

100 Per Minute

Today I'll be spending most of the day getting CPR and first aid recertified.  I'm required as a Girl Scout leader to be trained before I can travel with my troop.  It's been four years since I was last trained, and I know everything has changed.  Now it's C-A-B (compressions, airway, breathing) instead of A-B-C.  I guess Resuscitation Annie and I will be getting reacquainted.  It's going to be a long day.

Photo Friday: Tow the Line

It's a great day when the kids are finally old enough to tow their bags themselves.

Lots of other travel photos are featured on DeliciousBaby.com

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