A storybook vacation

Once upon a time -- last month, actually -- several American families were walking through the medieval German village of Alsfeld.

They meandered along the cobblestone streets, marveling at the flower boxes bursting with geraniums and the half-timber homes that seemed too precious to live in.

All of a sudden, a girl in a long red coat darted in front of them. She looked afraid, lost. She called out for her grandmother and then scurried away.

No sooner did she disappear than a wolf came charging down the street, hot on the girl's trail.

Sound familiar?

It's the story of Little Red Riding Hood, and it was playing out before our eyes on the very …