Is it just me or did the summer of 2007 pass by way too quickly? Then again, don’t all summers vanish in the blink of an eye? If the German fall is as wacky as this past spring was, maybe there will be more 80 degree F days to look forward to. And maybe the UK’s wet spell will finally draw to a close. Those of you who might be suffering from oppressive heat, send some our way, please!

Planning to hit Oktoberfest this year? A rather quirky means of making your way down there would be to take the Oktoberfest-Partyzug, or party train.

There are times of the year when hotel rates in the greater Frankfurt area shoot way up, and booking a room becomes a difficult task. Why is that?

When I consider the things that make up an essential part and parcel of our world's cultural heritage, I usually consider those firmly fastened to a particular place- the Eifel Tower, Big Ben, The Colosseum. But happily, some things are portable, and an important collection is set to conquer the U.K. next month.

One of the first blog entries posted here was about staying in hostels and other budget types of lodging. From the responses that post garnered, I gather that many of Stripes readers prefer mid-range to out-and-out luxury accommodation when traveling. But booking a hotel on-line can be an iffy proposition, especially when searching out something from the “moderate” category. How many times have you booked an unknown but seemingly-OK-for-the-money 2- or 3-star place based on photos online only to check in, open the door to your room, and feel vague disappointment, if not utter dismay? What to do?

With today’s depressingly low U.S. dollar to British pound rate, anything cheap or free in London is certainly worth passing on.

I find walking a pleasurable way to get around. While I’ve never gone out for a Volksmarch, I do look at that column in Stripes’ travel section on Thursdays and think “someday.”

But on Friday, Aug. 10, my love of walking will be severely tested. My husband and I have signed up for the 38^th International Dodentocht, or Death March, which takes place in Bornem, Belgium, some 30 km southwest of Antwerp.