
stories to feed your wonderlust
More than Markets
With Christmas season in full swing, Germany is aglow with holiday spirit. The air is heavy with spiced Glühwein and smoky bratwurst. Wooden stalls adorned with evergreen garlands glow under the twinkle of fairy lights. Friends and families huddle over steaming drinks, sharing laughter and stories. It’s a celebration of togetherness wrapped in the warmth and Gemütlichkeit of the season—a magic we savored to the very last drop (or was that the Glühwein?) on our recent detour.
The Dark Side of Christmas
Growing up in East Germany, the Christmas season wasn’t all sugar and spice and everything nice. Sure, we had St. Nikolaus, the bringer of treats, but we also had Knecht Ruprecht, the bearer of punishment. To a child, Knecht Ruprecht wasn’t just a name—it was a warning. Known by many names across regions—Black Peter, Schmutzli, or Krampus—he was the shadow to St. Nicholas’s light, the enforcer who ensured you stayed on your best behavior.
Commemorating D-Day
June 6, 1944 – 80 years ago, the greatest amphibious invasion in history unfolded on the beaches of Normandy. It was here that extraordinary courage paved the way for the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany. While the sacrifices of that day are well-documented, Dressler Detours embarked on a uniquely profound journey to honor these heroes, made even more meaningful by the young learners who joined us.
Strawberries & Landmines
“What was it like to grow up in East Germany?”
I get that question all the time. Just the other day a close friend sheepishly confessed to me, “I am somewhat confused about this inner-German wall you talk about. I always wonder, if The Wall separated East and West Berlin, why didn’t people just walk around it? You’re telling me it extended all along the East-West border? And you lived right next to it? What was that like?”
D-day turns 80
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, American forces faced some of the most intense and challenging conditions at Omaha Beach. The beach was heavily fortified with German defenses, including bunkers, artillery, machine-gun nests, barbed wire and mines.
Gemütlichkeit & clean boots
My childhood memories are rooted in the Thüringen forest in winter. A Brothers Grimm, fairy-tale kind of place, the dark forest was my playground that spilled into the glowing warmth of the village.