Ice Fest

I would guess almost everybody in Michigan has heard of or has been to Frankenmuth. It is regionally famous for at least 3 things.

1. Chicken. All you can eat...family style. Chicken, dressing, green beans, carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy, noodles, soup, cranberry relish, and stollen bread. Sounds delicious...but it is a little too salty for me (and I like salt!), and you tend to eat too much.

2. Bronners Christmas Wonderland...open every day of the year except Christmas (ironic), and Easter. Everything Christmas under one roof. The sights and the sounds are almost overwhelming.

3. Their German heritage. Every direction you turn...you see alpine architecture, glockenspiels, and schnitzel shops. Even the waiters and waitresses at the chicken places wear those cute little "Heidi" outfits.

The snow and ice sculptures were just so-so. Our recent snow really covered up a lot of the details, especially on the snow sculptures. Plus...ice or snow against a snow white background is not so hot for pictures. The horse and pelican were part of the student competition...not the experts.

At one of the chicken places...I bought a 2-for-1 deal of cherry turnovers in a downstairs bakery. One of the "Heidi" women saw my bag and asked..."Oh...is that stollen?" I answered back..."No...I paid for it." She again said..."No sir...you don't understand...Is that stollen?" I raised my voice just a little..."Listen...Heidi...I PAID FOR MY STUFF!! BACK OFF BEFORE I PULL YOUR PIGTAILS!!"

I tell that joke every time I go to Frankenmuth. It never gets old. Stollen bread is a white bread filled with hunks of fruit, sometimes with a white frosting on top. Tasty.