Some Great News From Lufthansa!

To keep up with ever-increasing demand, we’re extremely pleased to announce several expansions to our services, not only to our flights within Germany, but also to international destinations!

Starting this winter, we’ll be offering hourly flights from Frankfurt to Hamburg, Munich and Berlin. And vice versa of course. But that’s not all: At peak times in the mornings and evenings, we’re even offering twice-hourly services on some routes to make sure you can be where you need to be on time, with a minimum of waiting around for a later flight.Furthermore, the response to new flight destinations from Berlin has been so great that we’re planning to add three more destinations this winter. Since September this year, passengers have been able to fly non-stop to the wonderful Moroccan capital Marrakech, as well as Funchal, the capital of Madeira, a beautiful Portuguese island and popular holiday destination (both destinations are also served by Düsseldorf, by the way).For the enthusiastic skiers among you, you’ll be pleased to hear that from mid-December, we’re going to be flying three times a week to Innsbruck, the Tyrolean capital in the Alps. What’s more, Lufthansa will now transport your equipment for free! All passengers (except those travelling to the US or Canada) with a ticket issued on or after 1st June this year are allowed to take a pair of skis or a snowboard with them, free of charge (as well as their free luggage allowance). Lufthansa already flies to a multitude of alpine ski destinations, including Nice, Turin, Geneva, Zurich, Milan, Verona and Salzburg – and, of course, Innsbruck.We’re also introducing an extra connection to Tel Aviv! You can already fly there from Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin, but from 1st November, passengers can also fly direct to this second most populous Israeli city from Düsseldorf, too. That means we now offer a total of twenty-three connections from Germany to Israel and back. 

Passengers wishing to travel to Holland are no longer restricted to only Amsterdam – they can now fly to Rotterdam from Munich. This is another new route for Lufthansa, offering customers a quick and convenient service to the Dutch port city and the important surrounding economic area of The Hague.

Our other big new route that we’re so happy to announce is our service from Munich to Vancouver. Another first for Lufthansa, from next year we will offer a non-stop flight from Munich to the western Canadian city of 2.3 million people, a fantastic city popular not only with business travellers but also tourists and holidaymakers. From 16th May next year, this new route to British Columbia’s largest city will be served daily by an Airbus A330. This means that by next summer Lufthansa will now be able to offer direct flights to ten major cities in North America from our Munich base.Lastly, we’re always pleased to be able to see more of the “Queen of the Air”, the Boeing 747-8. And that’s exactly what we’re doing – alongside the three aircraft of this kind already in service on routes from Frankfurt to Washington, Bangalore and Dehli, we’re also going to offer the 747-8 on flights to Los Angeles. Additionally, Business Class on this young member of the Lufthansa long-haul fleet is equipped with convertible lie-flat beds. There are already six aircraft from our long-haul fleet fitted with these great seats, and we plan to have the entire fleet kitted out with them by 2015.So there you have it – a whole host of improvements and extensions to the Lufthansa flight plan, so whether your trip is for business or you’re off for some alpine adventures, or you need some relief from the cold in a warmer climate, there’s now even more flight possibilities to choose from in order to make your journey as easy and convenient as possible. 

No Need to be Glum: A Rainy Weekend in Stockholm

Sweden can be rainy sometimes, but that doesn’t effect us. We’ve sent blogger Elisatbeth Rank to Sweden to spend a weekend there and to explore Stockholm’s charming autumn.
During the all-too-short night before my flight, I dreamed of dancing cinnamon pastries, summer temperatures and tame Elks. The reality, as I woke to the sound of the alarm clock at five in the morning, looked pretty different. The darkness and cold sniffed around the streets of Berlin as we got into a taxi to Tegel airport. It took three coffees until I could just about manage to choose a newspaper to read on the plane. With an unexplained bout of optimism, I decided to stay awake during the flight so that I could read. With my “Süddeutsche Zeitung” newspaper and my half-asleep, mumbling friend, we boarded the Lufthansa plane.
The great thing about flying early in the morning is that everybody seems to be much quieter than usual; the people move slowly and don’t push and shove. Considering we’re at an airport, they’re uncharacteristically nice and polite to one another.  Even better than the general mood of sleepiness is the chocolate bear from the Lufthansa breakfast pack and the incomparably amazing view you get of the sunrise, if you can stay awake, unlike around 80% of the other passengers on the flight. At half-past eight, after an hour-long flight, Stockholm greeted us with drizzling rain, temperatures of 8°C and WLAN in the Airport Express.It didn’t stop raining for the next 40 hours, and so the magic of Stockholm was somewhat limited. My tally of hot chocolates drunk was a page long, and I guess you could say that you really shouldn’t make a trip to Stockholm and depend on the weather. The highlights of our 40 hours in the Swedish capital have been complied for you here:

Top 3 – Food & Drink

Hermans: In a small conservatory in the Södermalm district, you can remedy that cold tummy with some excellent warm delicacies. Once you’ve paid for the buffet, the vegetarian and vegan appetite knows no boundaries. Even though you already have a beautiful view over the Stockholm harbour and the “Gröna Lund” theme park, the lovingly decorated cakes and cupcakes are step even closer to heaven.

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Beauty de Janeiro!

It’s not long now until the world’s greatest party will be hotting up, and if you’re a fan of samba, parades, drums, dancing and generally all things Brazilian, the carnival in Rio de Janeiro is an experience like no other. As if this wonderful, world-renowned city didn’t already have more than enough to dazzle its visitors, the carnival is a chance to party with literally millions of other revelers, dancing solidly for four days straight in a dazzling array of music, magic, colours and festivities, all on an unprecedented scale.But you don’t have to be content with just being a spectator – you can even join in! Dancing with one of the many Samba Schools in the Rio Samba Parade is truly an incredible experience, and you don’t have to be a professional dancer either. All you need to do is get yourself a costume, which serves as your entrance ticket to the parade, then get to your school’s meeting point before the main event. From this point on just listen, watch and learn, as part of a giant wave of colour, all dancing to the intoxicating rhythms of the samba drums, makes its way slowly down the ‘Sambodromo’. Those of you who are lucky enough to have already such a spectacle invariably describe it as an unforgettable, once in a lifetime opportunity, so imagine what it’s like to actually be a part of it all! More information can be found on the very helpful official website of the carnival. 

And the fun doesn’t stop with the Parade – there are also a whole host of Balls to attend, most of which do not require a costume - although many people do go dressed up – why not?! Furthermore, there are open-air ‘blocos de rua’ street parties in practically every neighbourhood, each playing their own songs and generally partying pretty hard. Rio prides itself on the coming together of everybody for the carnival, irrespective of gender, race, sexuality, social standing – the carnival is a citywide party for everybody. 

But Rio isn’t just famous for its carnival. It’s one of the most iconic cities in the world! Aside from its breathtaking landscape, the ‘Marvelous City’ has some of the world’s best-known beaches; simply beautiful patches of soft white sand caressed by a deep blue sea and framed by the lush green of the forest, a picture that takes the breath away from even the most experienced traveller. Think “Girl from Ipenema” and you’re on the right track!You’re probably already familiar with the statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) atop the summit of Corcovado, the view from which is absolutely stunning (don’t worry, there’s a reasonably-priced funicular railway.) And, of course, the other famous peak is that of the Sugarloaf Mountain. The cable cars between the Pão de Açúcar and the Morro da Urca run every twenty minutes, and these glass-walled bubble cars offer passengers a 360-degree view over the city and surrounding landscape – an absolutely stunning panorama.

If your thirst for spectacular views hasn’t quite been quenched yet, a great place to discover a little more of the old-town Rio is the Santa Teresa district, an area with grandiose mansions, some crumbling and faded, and some newly restored. They attest to the fact that it was once a rather upper-class borough. Its picturesque winding streets are now home to more of an artistic, bohemian collection. If you’re feeling like a stroll, there is a great walk from Largo de Guimarães to Parque das Ruínas (the former mansion of heiress and socialite Laurinda Santos Lobo) that takes in some more fantastic views over the city.Whether you decide to hone your samba skills at carnival time February, or take a trip at any other time of year, let Lufthansa show you paradise on earth in the cidade maravilhosa, and let’s hope that a little of the laid-back spirit of Rio finds its way into your heart. After all, if Cristo himself towers above the city, arms extended to all, it must be pretty special. 

How about you? Have you been to Rio de Janeiro? Are you lucky enough to have been to the carnival? Share your experiences or tips (or samba dance steps) with the rest of us!

Our Feathered Friend - The Crane.

What a spectacular and majestic bird, shrouded in mythology and history, immortalized in ancient cultures from China to North America and everywhere in between. They say that birds of a feather flock together, and even though airplanes don’t actually have feathers, it’s little wonder that this beautiful creature serves as the inspiration behind the Lufthansa logo. When it comes to the art of soaring high, nothing comes close to the graceful eminence of a crane in flight. And now is a great time to catch one of nature’s great spectacles as these birds make their way south from Scandinavia down to warmer climes in Spain, France and Portugal.Cranes really are fascinating creatures. The species includes the world’s tallest flying bird, the Sarus crane, which can grow up to a whopping 180cm standing height, with a massive wingspan of up to 250cm. Their migratory route is often upwards of a 10,000 mile round trip, and Eurasian cranes are sometimes forced to fly at over 30,000ft, when there’s a small obstacle like a mountain range in the way. That’s roughly the same altitude as a typical long-haul flight in a 747. It’s pretty amazing to think of these birds soaring effortlessly above the clouds at the same height as a pressurized passenger aircraft – a fitting inspiration for the Lufthansa logo! Depending on thermals and air currents, on a good day they can cover a staggering 400 miles with relatively little effort, and have been recorded at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour! They’re still a fair way off their fellow Lufthansa flying machines, though – a 747 cruises at around 650mph. Then again, an airplane runs on a ‘diet’ that’s a little more explosive than a few small fish and some insects!  

Sadly, however, most species of crane are recognized as at least threatened, and for some sub-species, endangered, which is why the work of Lufthansa and other conservation groups is imperative to their well-being and resurgent population. It is of vital importance that the cranes’ breeding, resting and gathering areas are protected, otherwise a return to the dark days of very low numbers of these wonderful birds in mainland Europe (and elsewhere) may well return.Lufthansa is a proud member of “Kranichschutz Deutschland” (Crane Protection Germany), who promote measures to ensure safe and secure breeding and staging grounds for Cranes in Germany and further afield. What exactly are staging grounds, you might ask? Well, they’re safe roosting sites in shallow marshland that are good for foraging as the cranes regain energy and rest, before the next big push south. It’s a long, long way, and these areas are so important to their migration journey. 

And that’s not all; Lufthansa also supports the Crane Information Centre, located in Gross Mohrdorf on the Baltic Sea coast - an area of huge importance for the migrating cranes as a staging area, both on the way back from (in the spring), and on the way to (in the autumn) their warmer destinations. This time of year is the highpoint of the crane calendar, and following “The Week of the Cranes” at the end of September, mid-October will be gearing up for upwards of 40,000 cranes (as well as thousands more geese and ducks) around the Bock-Rügen area – a truly amazing sight!It’s always sad to read about any species of animal that is threatened or endangered, which is why it is so important for companies like Lufthansa to support conservation efforts wherever and however they can, and Lufthansa is proud to sport the majestic crane in its logo, and even prouder to be a part of its conservation and preservation as one of the most remarkable creatures with which we share our skies. 

All images © Dr. Günter Nowald

Sometimes There’s Just Not Enough Hours In The Day…

When planning a trip to a major European city, it’s only natural that one makes a long list of things they want to see and do. But perhaps it’s just as important to make time to see the city for what it really is, away from the big attractions and best-known sightseeing hotspots. After all, what makes a city special and what gives it its unique flavour is not to be found where the masses of tourists are, right? 

When in Rome…

As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and when it comes to visiting the Eternal City, you’d do well to adopt a similar approach to absorbing as much character as possible from Italy’s captivating capital.If we’re talking about breath-taking architecture, history, culture and atmosphere, the ‘Eternal City’ is simply second to none. It really is the top of the list, so much so that the entire historical centre of the city is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Such a vast amount and high standard of ‘things to see and do’ is actually quite overwhelming, but don’t panic! 

Even if your stay is a short one, you can get so much out of the city, whatever you choose to do with your time. This is Italy, after all - relaxing with a coffee in any one of a thousand Piazzas, soaking up the atmosphere, a bowl of the Roman specialty Gnocchi Giovedi – these are things synonymous with a way of life that’s woven deeply into the fabric of Italian life. The Pantheon isn’t going anywhere, St. Peter’s Basilica will still be there in a couple of hours, so why not take a load off, find a nice table and order yourself a Frascati (wine from the local Lazio region, usually white) and watch the world go by. 

The pick of the bunch would have to be the delightfully named Campo de’ Fiori (or the ‘field of flowers’ for those of us who’d have to say ‘Io non parlo Italiano’), situated on the eastern side of the Tiber in the rione Rigola, so named because this beautiful little square was once actually a meadow on the outskirts of the old city. A perfect setting for people-watching due to the fruit and veg market during the daytimes, or equally vibrant as an evening meeting spot for young couples or groups of friends in the cafes and bars. The Piazza’s centrepiece statue is that of Giordano Bruno, an astronomer and philosopher who met his grisly end by being burned at the stake for his heretical theories in this very square in 1600. Certainly something to think about over glass or two of wine at L’Angolo Divino, a wine bar with a real old Rome feel about it, offering not only a fantastic selection of local wines, but also platters of delicious salami, cheese and smoked fish. 

If the hustle and bustle of the market leaves you wanting a little more quiet, just a short walk north is the ‘Caffe della Pace’, or ‘Peace Café, well known as a day- or night-time hangout for painters, sculptors, writers, poets and the like since the late 19th century. It ticks all the boxes for a place to sit, relax and enjoy a drink on the terrace in perfectly Roman surroundings, casually accompanied by the soundtrack of locals and foreigners alike, discussing art, literature, politics and anything in between.You could – and in an ideal world, should - spend literally months, or even years, visiting the incredible landmarks that Rome can offer to its visitors, but it would be a shame to steam through the city on a crazed mission to cram as much sightseeing as possible into your trip, at the expense of experiencing the Italian lifestyle at its best – taking the time to absorb the surroundings, the people, the flavour of Rome. Let Lufthansa show you how to enjoy this wonderful city like one of its residents would.   

Paris, Je T’Aime!

Ahh, Paris, the city of light, love and an endless list of superlatives, but for good reason. Yes, the French metropolis has been described in infinite detail by pretty much every travel writer who ever picked up a pen, and the city itself boasts probably the world’s most recognizable landmarks. From the Notre Dame to the Champs-Élysées, you can barely turn a corner without coming across yet another astonishing example of grandiose Parisian architecture. So how do you even get started when you’re so spoilt for choice? By thinking like a Parisian, that’s how! And you won’t see many Parisians metro-hopping between five attractions in one day. Give your feet a rest, while you give your eyes, ears and taste buds something to think about as you get to know the city’s unique and captivating personality from the comfort of a bistro or pâtisserie.

As Jean Cocteau once famously put it: “In Paris everybody wants to be an actor, nobody is content to be a spectator”. What better place to lap up the everyday performances of the Parisian people than a market? The Rue Mouffetard, situated in the 5th Arrondissement (the name given to the districts of the city), is home to arguably Paris’ best street market, at the southern tip of the street. This is the real ‘old’ Paris – from your terrace seat on the cobbled street outside Le Vieux Chêne (at number 69) you can watch the Chefs from the local restaurants bartering with the farmers from out of town for the day’s ingredients. Le Vieux Chêne, incidentally, is thought to be Paris’ oldest bar, an institution on this street, still very popular with the locals, and holds informal jazz gigs on the weekends.

A quick trip north on the metro will land you in the 20th Arrondissement, just in time for a couple of evening drinks. La Cagnotte de Belleville (‘cagnotte’ means ‘kitty’) is a perfectly Parisian neighbourhood bar in Belleville, frequented by workers after a long day, alongside students and artists who may well have been nursing that same pastis all day long. Don’t expect to find a too chic and stylish place; this is a scruffy, lively bar and restaurant where you can soak up the lively chatter of real Parisians. As many people know, the French have a very strong sense of national identity, but even their fellow countrymen are not completely sure of what to make of the eccentric Parisians. All the more reason, in that case, to experience what Paris is like away from the renowned landmarks that the rest of the world knows inside out. Fly with Lufthansa to one of the world’s most iconic cities, not just for the remarkable attractions, but also for it’s remarkable citizens. 

¡Bienvenidos a Madrid!

Madrid is a city perhaps best known for it’s world famous artistic and cultural heritage, and although it enjoys a little healthy rivalry with it’s Catalan neighbour, Madrid is up there with any other European capital in terms of atmosphere and mystique, as well as it’s mesmerizing architecture and globally celebrated museums. But unlike Rome and Paris, Madrid doesn’t have a standout monument, like the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum. But it more than makes up for it with its passion for its way of life, which perhaps explains why Madrid is often described as the most Spanish of Spain’s cities.Perhaps the best way to get acquainted with the Spanish sensibility of the Madrilleños is to start at El Rastro, Europe’s biggest flea market. Yes, there are a fair few tables full of the usual junk, but this is a gigantic market that’s been going for half a millennium. The market is frequented by literally all walks of life looking for all kinds of bargains. Situated just south of La Latina metro station, El Rastro is held every Sunday and on public holidays. Every once in a while, believe it or not, an original Picasso or Goya turns up buried amongst the cheap clothes and antiques.

As well as the excellent Tapas stalls around here, you’ll also find yourself drawn to the rich, hypnotic aroma of chocolate – that’s Churros, a Spanish delicacy consisting of a kind of long, thin doughnut that you dip into hot chocolate. The Chocolateria San Gines is a short walk up the Calle del Toledo, and is famous with city’s residents for it’s excellent Churros.

But if you’re not feeling up to the clutter of the market, one of Madrid’s lesser-known squares is the Plaza de Olavide, or ‘people’s plaza’. In the heart of the Camberí neighbourhood, this is a square that isn’t especially touristy, and a great place to enjoy some typical Spanish food at one of the many fantastic restaurants and cafes around the outside of the Plaza, or just to sit on the benches in the middle by the fountain, and watch the world go by, the children playing on the swings, the elderly but stylish Spanish women chatting the whole day through, secluded from the busy Calle de Fuencarral shopping street a block away. 

If indeed you are hungry for some authentic Spanish Tapas, the Sagaretxe restaurant just to the north of the Plaza is highly regarded by locals and visitors alike.You’d be missing out if you didn’t visit Madrid’s wealth of Museums, art galleries, grandiose palaces and majestic boulevards, but it’s equally worth your time to take in a sense of the everyday here in the Spanish capital. Let Lufthansa help you on your way to discovering Madrid from the perspective of the real Madrilleños. 

Ambling around Amsterdam

Just like any other major European capital city, Amsterdam is not short of tired clichés, but it doesn’t take a genius to see past such stereotypes and discover that Amsterdam isn’t just a stunningly picturesque ‘Venice of the north’, but also a city that prides itself on its culture, creativity and innovation, and incredibly friendly citizens that make it such a popular destination for all kinds of visitors.As many people know, Amsterdam is a big friend of the bicycle, so if you really want to experience the city like a local, your best start would be to rent a bike from any one of the thousands of bike shops that offer a hire service. But if you don’t want to stand out as a tourist with brightly painted adverts for your bike hire establishment written in garish colours across your handlebars, you can’t do better than going to Bike City, situated in the trendy Jordaan neighbourhood. They pride themselves on ‘camouflaging’ the visitor with a very normal-looking city bike, so you’ll blend in just like a local. They also claim to be the ‘friendliest bike shop in Amsterdam’. No surprise, then, that the service is very good. 

If meandering about on a bike isn’t really your cup of tea, don’t panic - this city is just as good for walking, and the public transport is very extensive and affordable, with trams, busses, the metro and ferries to choose from, you can get around with a minimum of fuss.

Amsterdam has a truly excellent selection of museums, and the entire historic city centre is very beautiful and largely unchanged since the 19th century. But if the name of the game is avoiding the tourist hotspots, there are a few things to avoid if you don’t want to get mixed up with big groups of stag parties and boisterous partygoers. That said, Amsterdam is a huge city, and there is plenty of space to cater for all its visitors. 

A nice way to get acquainted with the city would be to have a stroll down the Haarlemmerstaat, also in the Jordaan district. It’s ostensibly a shopping street, but unlike the main shopping street in town, the Kalverstraat, instead of all the big name commercial shops you can find in any city, here you can peruse smaller independent shops, cafes and grocery markets. It’s busy, but considering its location, not too busy, and a lot of ‘Amsterdammer’ hang out here, day and night. You may have noticed the abundance of divine-looking cakes and pastries around the city, and if you’ve got a bit if a sweet tooth, Unlimited Delicious (at Haarlemmerstraat 122) is one of the best in the business. 

The Vondelpark is a huge (120 acre) urban park where a lot of the locals go for a picnic, a stroll, jogging, something to drink or even to rollerblade (you can hire them at the southern entrance of the park). Generally speaking the southern side of the park is much quieter than the north, and there’s even a free open-air theater and a film museum. And don’t forget to look out for the Picasso statue entitled ‘The Fish’. People generally think of Amsterdam as a very touristy destination, which it undeniably is, but, as with many such cities, there’s so much to discover away from the well-trodden paths. With so much emphasis on the tourist trade in certain parts of the city, it can sometimes be difficult to ignore the loud calls of the tourist traps. But it’s just as easy to explore the city on your own terms, and get to know its welcoming people and it’s delightful canals and back streets. Discover the allure of Amsterdam with Lufthansa, and find your own corner of the Dutch capital.

London: But I Thought The Games Had Finished?

Yes, it’s true: the world’s spotlight is no longer focused on the British capital. But the world keeps on turning, and London is still the vibrant, dynamic and multicultural city it was before the summer’s festivities began, and, after the draining commitment asked of a city that such a huge event demands, now is a great time to see Londoners reverting to a more relaxed frame of mind.London is huge. There’s no avoiding the fact that it’s a very big place spread over a very large area, yet still feels like a busy and bustling metropolis almost everywhere you go, perhaps due to it’s complex system of narrow, winding streets, crisscrossing through the city, connecting the dots. So how on earth do you even begin to tackle such a sprawling place? 

Well, finding a bit of piece and quiet is not as difficult as you might think. London is comprised of thirty-two boroughs, each one functioning almost like a self-contained town within the city itself. So it’s not unusual to venture out from the mega attractions in the city centre, and find a feeling of a smaller community to each of the different areas of the city.

One of London’s prettiest boroughs is Hampstead, an elegant and well-kept suburb of the city on the north side of the Thames. Taking a relaxed stroll around the Heath is a lovely way to get a feel for the area, and it looks beautiful at this time of year as the leaves turn a golden-brown in the autumn. Hampstead has, over the years, been the home of a whole host of London’s good and famous, and the Freud Museum, located at Sigmund Freud’s former residence, as well as the house of romantic poet John Keats are well worth a visit. And what better way to experience a cornerstone of English culture than enjoying a pint of bitter and Sunday lunch at one of London’s oldest pubs, The Spaniards Inn, a very typical London pub with more than a few stories of it’s own. 

And now for something completely different, as Monty Python famously put it. Camden has long been associated with the young, hip trendsetters of the City, and it’s a great place to go to experience a true cross-section of the diverse cultures that all call London their home. The market held here every weekend (but Sunday is still the busiest day) is a great place to wander around, where you can find practically anything for sale on the tabletops. Especially worth investigating is London’s rich culture of food on offer, thanks to the long history of people coming to the city from overseas over the years. Whether you’re in the mood for Caribbean fish, Indian curry or a trusty English bacon sandwich in a crusty bap, there’s something for everyone’s tastes. The market trader is an art form unto itself, as is the business of haggling – if you want to buy something, don’t be afraid of a little bartering with the stall’s owner. They usually expect it, and besides, they are almost always very friendly people, seasoned experts at the London banter that makes these markets such a colourful and vibrant experience.The Olympic games turned the world’s attention onto London for a few weeks in the summer, and, inevitably, when people think of London, they always bring the same collection of museums, monuments and historical attractions to mind. But experiencing the rest of the city, what makes London so special, is well worth your time, too. As the great author Dr. Samuel Johnson famously said, “By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show”. Fly with Lufthansa to one of the world’s truly great cities, and see for yourself what makes Londoners some of the greatest people around– despite the fact it’ll probably be raining.

A HISTORY OF SUPERLATIVES

Humans are, at heart, a competitive species. Competition fuels our innovations and vice versa. For every inspired individual that comes up with a breathtaking new idea, a new take on existing routines or a solution to a pressing problem, there is always at least one who sees it as a challenge. Doubly so for fields that deal with urgent crises or with mankind’s oldest dreams.

Even before the Montgolfier brothers launched the first manned flight in 1783, people all over the world had experimented with man-made flying objects. And after they had succeeded at making a human leave the ground, a regular free-for-all of innovation began, as did a race for superlatives: Who could fly the farthest? Who would be the first to really control his flying object? Who could stay airborne the longest?

With progress and history, new challenges came about. Fighter planes would need to be the most agile, transport planes would need to provide the most room for cargo, and passenger planes would need to be really and truly safe. This led to behemoth designs like Howard Hughes’ H-4 Hercules, a plane designated to transport war materiel and personnel across the Atlantic Ocean.

Unfortunately, the H-4 Hercules only made one test flight in 1947. Made almost entirely out of wood due to wartime restrictions, the plane posed enormous problems for its developers, and the gigantic project was not completed within wartime. Today, the only example ever built is a museum piece on display, more a flying cargo ship than a plane. However, it still boasts the largest wingspan of any aircraft in history.

With today’s state of technology, many of the superlatives of aviation history have become a matter of course. Our main concerns these days are safety and service. Still, we’re proud to say that two of the largest airplanes ever built are part of our fleet: The Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380-800. For info, details and many witty comparisons to help you visualize the true scale of these Queens of the Air, check out @Lufthansa_DE  on Twitter. We’ll regularly post interesting facts and tidbits on our fleet, from now on to be marked with the hashtag #fleettweet.

Celebrating the Legend – With Flights to Delhi

This year, Germany is in the grips of a very unreliable summer. Super hot days are rare and they can turn into thunderstorms within minutes. The short sunny moments breaking through the clouds every now and then? You really should not trust them.

Last Sunday a hot three-day summer came to a splashing end for the German capital. But even the heavy downpour could not spoil the fun for the visitors of Berlin’s first Holi Festival. If anything, it made for a richer experience. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is originally an annual religious festival in Northern India, a spring celebration full of tradition and symbolism and rituals.

Stripped of most of the religious aspects, Berlin’s Holi festival was a big party of people throwing colored powder at each other. The rain fueled the multicolor party with an extra helping of chaos, and the streets all around the festival site were crowded with soaking-wet party people straight from our most kaleidoscopic dreams.

Berlin’s Holi may have lacked true spirituality and an actual motive, but it surely was a fun day and the best use of a summer rain we have ever witnessed. But India’s Holi festival can offer you so much more. For starters, in some regions the festival may last up to sixteen days – and it comes with an abundance of rituals, local varieties and different interpretations of the underlying myths and legends.

Visit India, my friend. And if you don’t go there for the Holi festival, you can still experience a legend of its own: From August 6 on, our own majestic Boeing 747-8 will be deployed on the Frankfurt-Delhi route, creating a nonstop connection between the Indian metropolis and one of Europe’s busiest airports. Later this year, Bangalore and Los Angeles will be added to the Legend of the Skies’ schedule. So if you want to take a break from a cranky summer, do it in style and make it a legendary experience.

It’s a time of anticipation

All eyes on the UK: the world’s greatest athletes gather to compete in the British capital. The greatest sports event in the world is about to begin, and the city is buzzing with anticipation. Copies of the one-eyed mascots are popping up all over the city, and the world’s eyes are witnessing and commenting on every detail of the preparation – just as they are going to witness and comment on every success and failure of the athletes.

Wherever you are between July 27 and August 12 – you’d have to go to great lengths to avoid hearing about new world records and spectacular achievements. If you are on location, you might even find yourself smack in the middle of a competition: The Marathon, for example, will not be confined to a stadium, but rather spread out over the streets of the city.

If, however, you have visited the capital in other times than during this summer and the summers of 1908 and 1948 – the three years it was the sports capital of the world – you probably know that it has much more to offer. If you need a time away from all the competition, the hustle and the fight for world records, we have just the thing for you: “Strolling” is our theme of the month of Lufthansa.com – and the beautiful parks in and around the British capital are guaranteed to take your mind off sports for a while.

For more great tips on spending time – and for good accommodation, too – try our new Facebook app SceneSpotter. This exclusive crowd-sourced travel guide will show you the city’s sweet spots – the secret favorites of locals and some tried-and-tested places from our own travel experts. Read more on SceneSpotter in our recent post or just try the app.

You’re not on location, you say? But you still want to join in on the sports fun? Don’t worry, we have got you covered. Play a little Sports Bingo with us, keep up with the latest sports news and win one of our many grand and instant prizes.

Whatever you do, wherever you are: We hope we can make the next three weeks even more exciting and rewarding for you!

All photos © Andrea Artz

A flight of excitement: Our A380 takes you to the most inspiring cities worldwide.

They say that the journey is the reward, and Lufthansa always strives to make your journey as rewarding as possible. We are, however, very much aware of the fact that the majority of our passengers fly with Lufthansa to arrive somewhere, safe and sound, and to see and discover new cities and places. Which is why we’d like to give you a few tips regarding our destinations – great sights to see, great food to relish, great works of art to contemplate.

The A380 has been our flagship for two years now and it has surely made for a lot of rewarding journeys. This summer, the world’s largest passenger airliner will take you to inspiring places like New York, Tokyo, Johannesburg, and Beijing. To make your stay as rewarding as the journey, here’s what we recommend.

Movies, books, songs, friends who’ve been there: The world is full of sources for great tips for New York City. Most visitors come to the Big Apple with a list of definitive must-sees from the Statue of Liberty on to Central Park, and we’re sure you’ve already mapped the most effective routes. But what if you get hungry along the way? What if your stomach suddenly aches for one of New York’s finest snacks? You will find a Delicatessen on every street in New York – but we picked the best and wrote a short guide for you. Click here for Delicatessen bliss.

Tokyo is a metropolis impossible to describe in anything but superlatives. It’s a city of perpetual motion and constant change – a modern metropolis defined. Therefore it’s easy to overlook the scope and beauty of its incredible history, which is where the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is of great help. Since 1993, this museum has worked to preserve Tokyo’s historic sites and buildings and rescue them from the merciless pace of progress. Enjoy a few hours of time travel amidst a city absolutely engrossed in the future.

More often than not, South African capital Johannesburg is a transit town for tourists, a stopover en route to Cape Town or to South Africa’s national parks. Those who stop for a couple of days, though, get to explore a beautiful and adventurous city of many faces. You can go photo-hunting for wildlife at the Lion Park or capture great fashion pieces at the Nelson Mandela Square. For a truly original experience, however, you should dive into the city’s kicking music scene. The renowned Bassline, the cradle of South Africa’s signature music style Kwaito, is the perfect diving board.

Whatever your expectations are when boarding the A380 to Beijing: Prepare to be wrong. Beijing is different. As a city and capital, Beijing is unmatched by any other city in the world in terms of history and tradition, and the municipality has many sights to show for it. No matter what we recommend: Prepare for something different. Prepare to be amazed. And once you’re really overwhelmed, get grounded again with a bit of exquisite Western cuisine at the Maison Boulud.

We hope you enjoy your journey with our Flagship A380, and we certainly hope you enjoy your stay at one of our destinations. Or course, our tips are also just tips of icebergs, with much more awaiting you. Click here for even more A380 destinations!