Germany's
Expo Extraordinaire

By Tom Bross

Expo 2000 Tops the Special-Events Calendar in Ever-Popular Deutschland

Osterstrasse, Germany's legendary Pied Pier town.

Germany's special events calendar is filled with noteworthy attractions throughout this first year of our new century. Futuristic pavilions sponsored by more than 190 countries and organizations focus on global solutions to third-millennium challenges, for EXPO 2000's theme is Humankind-Nature-Technology.

Typifying environmental awareness, for example, turbine windmills atop the Netherlands' five-level sandwich of trees, dunes and other natural elements demonstrate this alternative energy resource. Eleven exhibitions grouped in a 300,000 square foot Thematic Area explore pressing 21st-century problems and potential solutions affecting all of us here on Planet Earth.

In a lighter vein, fairgoers can taste-test culinary specialties of many lands and do some international shopping. Twipsy, Expo's cartoon mascot, adorns varied souvenir items. Musical entertainment ranges from youth choirs, discos and pop-and-rock groups to Classical Hall appearances by such high-profile orchestras as the Berlin Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and French National Symphony.

Due to EXPO 2000's predictably high attendance totals, many travelers will stay in conveniently reachable locales on rail-and-road routes linked to the hub city.

Lots of travelers like the liveliness of German cities. Other ongoing promotions draw attention to Germany's culinary appeal (wine as well as regional cuisine) and wellness sojourns at 300-plus thermal spas and health resorts.

© JAX FAX Travel Marketing Magazine