Did you ever struggle with word in a foreign language, finally get around to looking it up, and realize that the English equivalent leaves you equally baffled? It’s been like that for me with the German words Bärlauch (bear’s garlic?) Sanddorn (sea-buckthorn?), the Russian brusnik (lingonberry?), kvas (bread drink?), and a host of others.

The Berlin Airlift was launched on June 26, 1948, following a blockade imposed by the Soviet Union on the Western zones of the divided city of Berlin. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the date, numerous events are in the works by both American and German organizers.

When you next walk through the streets of a major European city, spare a thought for all that might be lurking just under your feet. Beyond the obvious public transportation networks, electricity grids and water canals, you may well be strolling over bones of plague victims and buried artifacts. For a true change of pace, why not visit that underworld? Here are some cities that offer tours of what lies beneath:

Every year throughout Germany you will find Sundays when main roads in scenic areas are closed to motorists, and the streets are ruled by cyclists, walkers and in-line skaters. The villages along the route welcome the tourist traffic, and you can usually find plenty to eat or drink along the way. The best-organized events will even offer first-aid stands or emergency bicycle repair services.

Of course, you need to somehow get to the starting point with your bike or gear in tow. I’ve always used trains to do so, but you could just as well drive to not only the start or end points but any small town along the route. You may have to walk or ride a bit from where you park, but isn’t that the whole point?

If you live in Germany and have experience with traveling by rail, you probably are somewhat familiar with the discount cards that can save you significant money on your journeys. These cards are available in two amounts, one offering you a 25% savings, and the other 50%, on all tickets purchased. The cards are generally valid for one year from date of purchase. If you’ve been wavering about whether you could use such a card, now might be a good opportunity to test the waters.

So, you’ve explored the museums and architecture of Europe’s greatest capital cities. You’ve seen the Alps, the Mediterranean and the North Sea. You’ve gone hyper local and sampled the wares at your town’s wine fest, braved the rides at your local fun fair, and you know the bike trails in your town like the back of your hand. In short, you’ve done Europe.

Now that you’ve gotten that out of the way, why not find the time to celebrate some other cultures of the world? If that appeals, Europe throws on a slew of events that can help you on your way.

Don’t you just love how you can depend on your favorite European festival or event to pop up on just about the same date year after year? You know if you happen to miss it one year, you can easily catch it the next. But there are some popular events that occur less regularly, a few of which will be coming around in 2008, and you won’t have the chance to experience them in 2009. Here are the happenings that make this year just that much more unique:

If “swank” is your preferred mode of travel, consider booking a cruise on the brand-spanking-new Premicon Queen. This river-cruising ship will raise anchor for its first sailing on June 28, 2008, from Düsseldorf, Germany, en route to Basel, Switzerland. From there on, the Premicon Queen will ply the waters of the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers on cruises from two to 10 nights long.