Page 82 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020 SPRING EDITION INTERACTIVE

The drive on the country roads and along Part of this century-old custom is that payment of the ransom. The most spec-
the open fields with poppies, corn flowers, one village tries to steal the maypole tacular theft occurred back in 2004 when
and wheat waving like an ocean in the from the neighbors. If they succeed, cunning thieves stole the maypole from
wind, is exhilarating. The sun bathes the the safe return of the maypole is up the top of the Zugspitze, Germany’s high-
landscape in a kaleidoscope of green, for negotiation with ransoms involving est mountain (9,718 ft) using a helicopter.
blue and yellow, dotted with white houses, copious quantities of beer and food.
black barns, and orange roof tiles. Many Maypole stealing is governed by a My next stop is Rothenburg ob der Tauber,
villages proudly display their maypole, a pretty strict code of conduct: sawing or arguably Germany’s best-preserved medi-
tall wooden pole traditionally erected to damaging the maypole in any way is eval town. It may be small but its reputa-
celebrate the end of winter. absolutely frowned upon as is a non- tion is huge, especially in Japan and the

82 WDT MAGAZINE SPRING 2017