Lifestyle

The words “Belgian chocolate” stir the imagination in a way that few other phrases do. You picture rows of delicate pralines and truffles behind pristine glass, and lose yourself in the idea that bliss lies inside each one of those small, delicious pieces.

Biking from village to village in the areas surrounding the KMC and Baumholder can be challenging and a little frustrating during weekend and holiday traffic times when you have to share roadways with cars and trucks that zip around you to pass. Sometimes they get too close for comfort, especially when it is illegal to use sidewalks, and you are forced to concentrate on staying so close to the shoulder of the road without being able to bail off quickly onto grass, rocks and gravel if you are on a road bike.

My family and I have been living in Kaiserslautern for almost three years. We have taken countless day trips and overnight trips, and we have had the privilege of visiting 12 different countries. There is one place on our list, however, that we still haven’t visited. It is only a couple hours away and has picturesque villages and scenery with an abundance of things to see and do all year round. So many of our friends have raved about all the things they have seen and done here, yet we have not been. What have we been waiting for? It’s time to visit the Black Forest.

It’s April. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and our homes are screaming for a good cleaning. Spring cleaning is an opportunity to freshen up our homes, weed out all the clutter, and get a fresh start for the new season. These tips will make cleaning your spaces a snap and much easier to maintain throughout the year.

If you are new to the KMC and have your dog(s) with you, depending on where you live you may not have a chance to let your dog run loose, or know great places in the surrounding area to do so. Living in an apartment downtown or on-base/post housing sometimes restricts you to a quick daily walk with your dog before and after work or on weekends. Don’t let this prevent you from getting out and trying something new and exciting while spending quality time with your dog as well as the entire family.

Let’s begin in the ivy-shrouded tea room at river’s edge. Located near one end of the ancient stone bridge that spans the river from the valley village of Llanwrst, it looks like a hobbit house or something from a fairy tale. But this place — the Tu-Hwnt-I’r Bont tea room — is sturdy and real. We duck through solid wooden stable doors and nestle up to a worn table near a crackling fire. Biting rain swirls outside, and no matter. Here, in the coziest spot in northern Wales, we take a cup of tea, a warm plate of bread and melted cheese known as Welsh rarebit, and get down to discussing the wonders that surround us.

Easter is a happy time. After a long winter, nature is finally in full bloom. Children are waiting for the Easter bunny. Employers usually manage to combine their free days into a long weekend. School is out for at least a couple of days. In the Christian tradition, Easter is the finale of Lent season. Last but not least, it represents the end of spring cleaning. Needless to say, next to Christmas, Easter is Germany’s most popular holiday.