I have to admit, it wasn’t high on my list. That is, until I had to choose where to barge next year from 3 locations and started thinking. Germany was the barging location I chose for a few reasons.

First, Anywhere Art hasn’t explored Germany with our watercolors to paint what we see around us. Secondly, the scenery along the Main River which we will be cruising includes ; green hills, forests, grape vine covered mountain slopes, castles on hilltops and church spires reaching up into the sky. I thought we would all enjoying being on the deck of our private barge studying the scenery and perhaps sketching or painting a view of a castle on a mountain top .

The third reason is to learn about Germany’s history on the ground in Germany by speaking with the Germany people. I think we can benefit from learning about German history and perhaps reasons behind it from the people who experienced it first hand then we can from our textbooks. Also, seeing historic builidings makes history come alive. Many of us have relatives who emigrated from Germany. My father inquired about his German ancestors once by letter to an expert back in the 1960’s. He was told that his ancestors were either horse traders or horse thieves! Maybe I will have a chance to find out which group he descended from.

Fourth is Germany’s aesthetics. Germany has been home to some of the most glorious Art movements such as the Bauhaus, Art Nouveau and German Expressionism. You’ve got to want to explore a country, meet its people to understand what cultural influences could create amazing art and design.

Fifth is to learn about the German mind and education system that creates such well engineeed machines and products. My favorite art supplies made by Faber-Castell have a long history of being manufactured in Germany. We will have a chance to visit their factory, castle and showroom! If you are a fan of German cars this will be a chance to learn about German car engineering, manufacturing and its culture.

Sixth is that we need to to learn about the food and beer culture by tasting and sipping. Seventh is to learn about the current culture and politics from its people first hand . Eigth is to learn of the German language. Its always fun to return home from a trip and discover many of the words you learned in that country are used in your home country. The tenth reason is to experience the pleasant sensation of the movement of the barge, view the sights from the excellent vantage point of the boat as you cruise by them feelling the wind in your hair.

Sign on (or ask me questions about the trip) for the Germany Barge Cruise by emailing me at anywhereart4u@gmail.com