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Once upon a time … of course an article about Rothenburg would have to start this way, considering how much the place reminds one of fairy tales … once upon a time, many German towns looked like this: cosy half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, all this surrounded by a wall with many towers. Unfortunately, many towns tore down their medieval fortifications to make way for progress. Not Rothenburg, though. In this former “Free Imperial City”, time seems to have stopped.

Rothenburg is located in southern Germany, about 110 miles southeast of Frankfurt. The old town is situated on a hill overlooking the Tauber river, and it is very compact. You can walk around the entire town in half a day, though you better bring comfortable shoes, as the cobblestones and the steps leading to the battlements can be hard to navigate, particularly in rainy weather.

The town became a “Free Imperial City” in the 13th century and developed into a major regional trading center. During the Thirty Years War (1618-48), it escaped being sacked by enemy troops, when ex-mayor Nusch accepted a challenge by the enemy general and downed almost a gallon of wine in a single draught, an event that is being re-enacted during a festival every spring.

You could say that all of Rothenburg is a time capsule, with numerous historical buildings at every corner, but some buildings stand out. There is the imposing townhall, St. Jacob’s church with its famous altar by Riemenschneider, and the Crime Museum, which documents ancient (and often barbaric) forms of punishment.

If you are travelling in Southern Germany, Rothenburg is an ideal destination for a day trip. Don’t forget to try the local cuisine and the excellent Franconian wine. A local dessert specialty are “snowballs”, made of deep-fried dough strips sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

Summer is the main tourist season, and Rothenburg can get extremely crowded then, so it would be a good idea to go in spring or fall, even though the weather might be cool and rainy.

Pamela Bruce lives in Austin, TX. She is the owner of Love Beads Unlimited and sells the sterling silver and Swarovski crystal bead jewelry she designs and creates both in her eBay store (http://stores.ebay.com/LOVE-BEADS-UNLIMITED) and on her website at http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com, where you can also download the free e-book “A Consumer’s Guide to Buying Bead Jewelry Online”.

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Remember the days when you could throw a few things in a suitcase and hop on a plane? Now that you are a parent, things are more complicated. Flying with a baby or toddler is not for the faint of heart or the unprepared. But, with careful planning, you can make your next airplane ride smooth sailing.

Tips for air travel with a baby:

Check with your pediatrician to make sure your baby does not have an ear infection
before leaving on a trip. One of the most common causes for a crying baby on a
flight is ear pain.

Give your baby something to suck on during take off and landing to relieve ear
pressure. (breast, bottle or pacifier)

Traveling at night or during nap time increases the odds that your baby will sleep
during the flight. Make sure you also have along their favorite blanket or snuggle
toy.

Most parents find it worth it to buy a seat for their baby and bring along a car seat.
Most airlines only charge half price for a child under 2. Not only is it safer, but you
will have more room.

Covering the car seat with a blanket (draped like a bird cage) can block out the light
and help your baby fall asleep more easily.

Travel non stop if at all possible.

Prepare for the unexpected. Remember to bring plastic bags to seal poopy diapers
in and extra wipes for messy diapers which are no easy feat to change on a plane!
Extra clothes for baby and mom are also helpful.

A bag of Cheerios goes a long way. If you need to bring a meal, be sure to pack
disposable feeding supplies.

Pack plenty of small, light weight toys for entertainment. Suction toys that can
adhere to the tray are especially good.

Use an umbrella stroller or stroller in which the car seat snaps onto the wheels.
Strollers can be checked at the gate just before stepping on the plane

Look into renting large items such as pack and plays or high chairs rather than
taking them with you on a flight. Call Baby’s Away at 800-571-0077 for more
information.

Tips for air travel with a toddler:

Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and terminal. Your toddler picks up
on your stress and will likely react in a manner that will bring you even more stress.

Let your child do something active before you leave for the airport. Wearing them
out physically increases the chances of them sitting still or sleeping on the flight.

Bubbles are a good distraction while waiting for the plane to arrive.

Request bulkhead seating. There is more room here and your toddler can play on
the floor if necessary.

Take your car seat! Not only is it the safest place for a child to be, but your child is
used to being confined to a car seat. They are more likely to stay content being
confined in their familiar seat and are more likely to fall asleep there than in a
strange place.

Pack comfort items such as a blanket or stuffed animal in an accessible place.

Letting a child drink out of a sippy cup or suck on a pacifier helps relieve air
pressure during take off and landing. Many moms also swear by using an
antihistamine to relieve the air pressure. Be careful though, about 10% of kids have
the opposite reaction to the drowsiness an antihistamine usually produces. If your
child is in that 10% and gets “wired” from the antihistamine, it can be a long trip!

Using a backpack to carry supplies and your purse frees your hands for other tasks.

Bring lots of single size snacks. Bring them out every 30 minutes or when they
become restless. Things with lots of little pieces such as Cheerios or Goldfish last
longer.

If you are potty training your child, be sure to request an aisle seat and insist that
your child wear a pull up. This is not the place for an accident!

A laptop or portable DVD player with headphones can distract a toddler for quite a
long time.

Bring a yard or two of 1/4 inch elastic. Tie one end to your wrist and the other end
to a toy. This way you can “reel” it in when your toddler throws it instead of
spending the whole trip searching under your neighbor’s seat. You can also create
other games with the elastic that your child will enjoy. Be sure to supervise to
reduce the risk of choking.

Pack plenty of new toys or toys and books your child hasn’t seen in awhile. Keep
them small and inexpensive and wrap them if you want to add to the excitement.

Toddler favorites for the plane: cups with ice in them, play dough with a plastic
knife, puppets, colored paper clips for making chains & bracelets, big, fat crayons &
a coloring book, travel Magna doodle, velcro (which can be attached to anything
small and lightweight) and a piece of felt to stick it to and stickers.

Susan Stewart is a professional organizer and the founder of Perfectly Placed
Professional Organization and Design in the Phoenix area. Perfectly Placed specializes
in bringing peace and order to busy families through organization. You can find out
more about Susan and Perfectly Placed at her website: http://www.perfectlyplaced.org

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The Dutch Wadden Islands

The west coast of Holland is almost a beach from north to south. The natural protections against the sea are the dunes. These products of wind, sun and water are one of Holland’s most interesting creatures of nature. They are the natural habitat of endanger species and therefore well protected by the Dutch government.

The northern parts of the Dutch shore are the Wadden Islands. These Islands, Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog are now considered as World heritage. This decision has a great impact of the people living on these islands. Due to the new regulations it will be more difficult to build, or to propose for building, industry or business permissions.

The Dutch Wadden islands are very popular among the German and Belgium tourists. Texel is the biggest Dutch Wadden Island, and is also the island with the most possibilities. The island can be reached by a ferry which leaves from Den Helder.

It’s a short journey by the ferry takes about twenty minutes. Texel is famous for its vast flocks of sheep and birds, and for the pleasant villages. The variation in landscape on Texel is such that the island is often termed as ‘the Netherlands writ small’. These landscapes are worth seeing, too. Because
of their special value, the dunes of Texel have been designated as a National Park.

Vlieland is Next Island close To Texel. A great sandbank between Texel and Vlieland is the breading chamber of seals. Texel, Vlieland and Terschelling are situated close together. Yet those visiting these islands will discover completely different worlds. It’s possible to hop between these islands by small ferries.

Between the islands and Holland is the Wadden Sea. The Wadden Sea is teeming with life. Twice a day, the current of the flood tide brings water from the North Sea, rich in sediment and plankton, much of which sinks to the sandy bed.

In addition, the shallow water of the Wadden Sea warms up rapidly in summer. This means that algae and seaweeds are able to grow quickly. They form the basis of the enormous wealth of food that supplies the inhabitants of the Wadden Sea -countless fish, birds and seals.

It’s worth visiting the Wadden islands of Holland. To reach the islands you must to take a ferry from Den Helder for Texel. A ferry from Harlingen for Vlieland and Terschelling, A ferry from Holwerd for Ameland and a ferry from Lauwersoog for Schiermonnikoog.

Gert Folkerts operates the http://www.hollandtravelweb.com site where you can find comfortable Netherlands Travel Info, recreational, and vacation information and information on Hotels and flights.

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