Is it just not Halloween for you without a pumpkin patch? If you find yourself in need of a gourd fix, head on over to what is billed at the world’s largest pumpkin exhibition, which is taking park in the Blühendes Barock Park in Ludwigsburg, Germany, through Nov. 1.

Years before I began working at Stars and Stripes, back when I was based in Rome, I found myself looking for a lake not too far from the city that offered swimming, fishing and camping. I looked on a map and identified Lago di Bolsena as a possibility. A few clicks of the mouse later, I found some helpful English-language information that helped me identify a town along the shores of the lake boasting a campground, restaurants and plenty to do in the vicinity. It sounded like a congenial place, so off we ventured for what turned out to be a pleasant, laid-back weekend getaway. As I realized years later, this was my first encounter with Stars and Stripes’ Quick Trips.

Because my language skills aren’t quite up to snuff, I don’t generally read much of the German press. However, while waiting for my mechanic to wind up some auto repairs a couple weeks ago, I thumbed through the Bild newspaper and stumbled upon an informative article concerning the rights of passengers traveling on German rail. Should your German be at a level allowing you to understand it, see Bild’s informative “Mit diesem Formular bekommen Sie Geld zurück”. Otherwise, here are some of the key points concerning passenger’s rights when encountering significant delays on long-distance journeys on German Rail, as I understood them.