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.

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.

Nestled on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in central Greece, Delphi stands as one of the ancient world’s most enigmatic sites. Revered as the navel of the world, this sanctuary dedicated to Apollo housed the Oracle, whose cryptic prophecies shaped the course of Greek history. While the mystical aura surrounding the Pythia—the priestess who served as the Oracle—has inspired myths for centuries, modern science has shed fascinating light on the phenomenon.

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.

The story of Persephone captures the heart of Sicily, a place where ancient ruins stand in symphony with modern mayhem, snow capped volcanoes paint the skyline, and the spice of life is present in everything from its cuisine to its language.

Who was Romania’s real Count Dracula? The truth may be more macabre than the legend! Dracula is a character woven into Romania’s history as both hero and shadow, embodying the mystery and allure of this land.

Why Finland could boast the best seats in the house for Northern Lights viewing in 2025.

Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is a tropical paradise that calls out to those who crave the perfect blend of relaxation, excitement, and ecological exploration. With its lush rain forests, misty cloud forests, active volcanoes, and pristine beaches, Costa Rica offers a bit of everything, but it’s the pura vida, or pure lifestyle, that animates the heart of this country.

“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?”

This month we collectively turned 100, celebrating our 50th birthdays the first week of August. We chose to observe this auspicious event in French Polynesia. This remote French territory in the South Pacific is reputed for its luxury overwater bungalows and paradise-perfect beaches, but we had a hunch there’s more to it than that.

As former tour guides, we were accustomed to living out of carry-on suitcases for long stretches. We understand how daunting it can be to compile the perfect carry-on composition for international travel.

When you visit Delphi for the first time—or the twentieth—the site’s natural beauty steals your breath, and you appreciate just how much of an aesthete Apollo was to select that particular hillside as the location of his most significant oracle.

Dotting the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily lay the Aeolian archipelago, a strand of seven volcanic islands cast amid expansive blue waters, white sands, and volcanic pumice.

Aeolus was the god and keeper of the winds who resided on the floating island of Aeolia. He helped Odysseus on his journey home from the Trojan War, warmly welcoming him and his crew and offering them hospitality for a month.

Polyphemus was one of the Cyclopes, a race of one-eyed giants, sons of Poseidon, the god of the sea and earthquakes. He lived in a cave at the base of Mt. Etna on the island of Sicily where he tended to his sheep.

"Know thyself" (gnothi seauton) and "Nothing in excess" (meden agan) are two famous inscriptions that adorned the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

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.

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.