Eat, Pray, Sleep

Kloster Eberach, a former Cistercian monastery just set outside of Kiderich offers a complete experience for people of all appetites, well beyond being only a religious sanctuary. A visit to the monastery offers a complete experience and an invitation to peek the senses. Kloster Eberach is ideally situated on a serene and well manicured forest that offers the formality of old Italy. The visual beauty and  an picturesque scenery makes for a perfect spot for photographic aficionado to practice their hobby.

The monastery’s simplistic beauty of plain plaster walls and lack of embellishments, is not only visually appealing but tells the story of monks whose life was devoted to hard work and service to their Creator. A history buff will also enjoy glancing into the past as they explore the untarnished Romanesque and Gothic buildings from the 12th-14th century.

Life for the monks also included the development of the Wine Estate of the former Cistercian Abbey. This centuries-old tradition has led the Eberbach Monastery to become the largest German estate, a tradition carried on after the monastery‘s secularization in 1803.

The monastery's impressive collection of old winepresses bears witness to a viticultural tradition that spans nearly nine centuries. Wines can be sampled year round in the Vinothek or the restaurant on the grounds. Germany is well known for their production of Riesling, however, the Kloster Eberach also had selections of other varietals including blush and Pinot Noir. I found the Pinot Noir to be a positive experience for the palate with its savory and more complex flavors opposed to the more common fruity taste of Pinot Noir. The wine bears evidence of its forest environment with its mushroom, earth, and smoky flavors.

No day would be complete without finishing off the experienced the cuisine at the Kloster Eberach restaurant. The menu offers typical German Cuisine ranging from Schnitzel with Mushroom sauce to quiche. The quiche listed on the menu actually appeared to be more like the German Pizza, Flammkuchen. Regardless it was delicious. I am embarrassed to say I ate the whole thing, guess that’s why for the last week my main meals have been composed off mostly salad and veggies.

Kloster Eberach is a place you one will want to make a habit of going again and again. It is host to many celebrations including the Easter Market and biannual wine auctions.

 

The Whistle Blows for Wissembourg

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
― Ernest Hemingway

The joy of traveling is in the journey and getting there is half the fun. If heavy traffic and finding a parking spot trouble you why not ride the train? Train travel also creates a relaxed atmosphere that is conductive to unwinding and socializing. Sharing the travel experience makes it more fun and meaningful while it also provides opportunity to walk around and break up the monotony of a long trip. I met three others who work at the military hospital that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the pleasure to meet.   The train is also conducive to multitasking and provided more space per passenger than a plane.

Train travel in Europe is much more common place than in the states. There are few places in Germany that can’t be reached by train. If one is going to stay in Europe for any length of time it is wise to learn the ins and outs of travel. What better way to become skilled at train travel than to embark on a Learn to Ride the Train Trip, sponsored by the USO (United Service Member Organization).  The USO offers numerous opportunities for military service members and their families to understand how to navigate the train system to varying locations monthly. The trip is accompanied by a USO escort who is familiar with the initial challenges of learning to make connections purchase tickets at the best fare.  Being with a knowledgeable guide for my first trip was a confidence booster because she provided an opportunity for me to utilize the machine to purchase my ticket without the risk of ending up in Kalamazoo.  One of the German rail (DB) special fares, I was able to glean from the USO guide was that a with the purchase of a  Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar (VRN) day ticket up to four other people can travel at fifty percent off  the normal ticket price. Weekend and family tickets are also another source of savings. For example, children under fourteen may ride with another adult free.   I also discovered that train travel in Europe isn’t locked into just one basic type of train. There are a variety of trains with varying speeds, price and accommodations depending on your need. For example the Intercity Express (ICE) traveling at speeds up to 200 miles an hour is ideal for reaching Paris from Kaiserslautern in 2 hours and 28 minutes.

 Traveling through Europe by train is one of the best ways to soak up eye-popping scenery and old world charm without the responsibility of operating a vehicle. A train ride between Kaiserslautern and Wissembourg would be hard to resist. The train traveled through the rural Alsace with snow peak hilltops, vineyards, and forests, highlighted with between quaint villages.  I can only image the ambiance in the spring with trees and flowers in full bloom.