Oh, wie schön ist Panama

One of my favorite stories growing up is a book called "Oh, wie schön ist Panama", an adorable children's book by Janosch.

The story revolves around two best friends: Baer and Tiger (I don't think I have to translate what kind of animals those are :-P) who live together and work together for their daily food. One day, Baer discovers a crate from Panama, and the two friends embark on a journey to what they believe is the land of their dreams. Along they way, they encounter other animals and all sorts of adventures, until one day they come across their own house! The surroundings have changed while they were gone-- plants overgrown, house in disrepair, so they don't realize it's their original house, and happily settle in.

I loved the story because it was a cute plot and because the illustrations are amazing. They so vividly captured the spirit of the characters, made them especially loveable. See for yourself:

Baer and Tiger set off on their way, leaving a sign post pointing in the direction of Panama

The pair interrupts a fox's dinner to ask for directions

Even when it rains, they manage to look on the bright side of things, grateful for the shelter they're able to construct

Happy dance! They've found Panama!

It's fairly obvious now that the "moral" of the story is that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, that it's all down to your frame of mind, your perception and acceptance of your current situation. As evidenced by the rainy scene above, even when their situation was glum, Baer and Tiger always remained positive and upbeat, choosing to focus on what they can be grateful for, rather than grumbling about what's going wrong. And clearly they were thrilled to be in "paradise" when they returned to their own home, because even though they weren't in Panama, they believed they were, and appreciated their surroundings with that frame of mind.

But as a kid, that lesson just flew over my head, yet I was still enchanted by the story and by the characters. Loveable Baer and Tiger and Tiger's wooden striped duck, aka Tigerente.

So you can imagine my squeal of delight when I discovered this little gem in the Nuremberg Toy Museum:

 

A plush Baer and Tiger!!

Maybe not an exact replica of how they're drawn in the books, but wow, did that bring back a flood of memories! And now I want a stuffed Baer and Tiger! :-D

How about you? What are some of your favorite childhood books? 

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

Pensione and Hotels and Hostels, oh my!

One drawback to traveling in the United States is that most hotels don't seem to cater to families very well. Your standard chain hotel is usually going to consist of 2 double or 2 queen beds. Unless you get a suite. And even then, "suite" often just means "living room", not "extra beds". You have to make arrangements for an extra rollaway bed (often at an additional charge).

Not so in Germany, where it was common to find hotels that offered a variety of room arrangements: double room (for 2), 3-bed room, 4-bed room, etc. I discovered a chain called B&B Hotels all throughout Germany, and that's where we stayed in most of the major cities.They seem to be a fairly new chain (i.e. built within the last decade), because the accommodations were clean and modern, the buildings well-built and insulated.

I favored the B&B Hotel chain not only because it was reasonably priced, but because it seemed perfect for families-- I booked a "family room for 3" at each one we stayed at, and there were enough beds for 3-4 people each time: either a double bed and a bunk bed, or a double bed and a single bed. Perfect for our little family!

In Dresden, we had a 3-bed room that looked like this:

 

 

And in Heidelberg, Nuremberg and Frankfurt, we had a 4-bed room like this:

 

 

Whenever there was a bunk bed, Todd slept on the top, and Allan slept on the bottom, meaning I had a nice, spacious double bed all to myself! :-D As you can see, the bunk bed is extra long-- so long that Allan had no trouble fitting in it!

In Berlin, however, I decided to try a hostel. I found one in a good location (within walking distance from Checkpoint Charlie and the Currywurst Museum), and it was an interesting experience! First, because the hostel was so centrally located, parking was extremely limited. We were lucky to get the last open spot, and then made sure to LEAVE our car there until we left Berlin. Secondly, the building is a lot older, which leads to other problems: the walls and floors are thinner and thus less insulated against noise and weather, the furnishings are old and creaky, the pillows lumpy, and the shower wouldn't drain properly. Finally, remember what I said about thin walls/floors? And remember that is a hostel, which primarily caters to younger folk. And what are younger folk really good at? Making lots of loud noise in the middle of the night without regard to others! Thank God for earplugs ;-)

Looking back, public transportation was so plentiful in Berlin that I should've just paid a little more to stay at one of the B&Bs there. But hey-- at least I've gotten to experience a hostel! Won't ever do it again, but at least I've tried it once in my life :-)

View of our room from the entrance. Bathrooms immediately to your left, closet to your right.

A closer look at the beds. This time, Allan and I shared the double bed and Todd got the rickety, creaky bunk bed. The stuffed animals got the bottom bunk ;-)

You can just make out the in-room sink. On the other side of the wall of the sink is the toilet, and next to it, in its own separate room, is the shower.

Finally, in the smaller towns of Lueneburg and Muenster, you couldn't find chain hotels like B&B. Instead, we booked rooms at small bed & breakfasts, which were really nice! Because the towns were smaller, it was much quieter. And because the facilities were likewise smaller, it felt more homey, especially at breakfast, where there was more of a homemade touch to the food. In each of the towns, we got a room with a double bed and a pull-out sofa (that pulled out to make a single bed).

Our room in our Lueneburg hotel looked exactly like this one. Cozy and with a door leading to a small back patio outside!

One final note on German hotels: most of them are seriously lacking in outlets! Each of our B&B hotel rooms had a grand total of three: one by the small table, one on the floor near the door, and one in the bathroom! So we had to get creative in divying up the outlets to charge our devices!

Todd just couldn't wait to play on his phone!

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

Sit n Pee

One thing I have never understood is why men need to stand when they pee at a toilet. They have to lift the seat, and, more often than not, their aim isn't entirely accurate. Even if the stream all goes in the right direction, there's still bits of spray to contend with, which, unless you scrub your toilet and mop your bathroom floor every day, results in disgusting gunk on the rim of the bowl and on the floor by the toilet. Nasty.

And riddle me this: when a man poops, he sits down, doesn't he? And if he's like most human beings, he'll also pee during this process. So if he can pee while sitting to poop, why can't he just sit down to pee ALL the time!?

As far as I'm concerned, barring a medical condition causing an inability to sit, there is NO valid reason to have to stand up to pee in a toilet (note that I'm talking about ordinary household toilets, not urinals, third-world holes in the floor, or the woods).

What does all of this have to do with Germany? Two things:

1. A hilarious sticker that has been in the bathroom of one of our old German friends (they were my parents' classmates at university when I was born) for as long as I can remember:

2. A YouTube video of German comedian Thomas Hermanns poking the website of MAPSU (Mothers Against Peeing Standing Up):




Yes, it's in German, but he reads portions of the (English language) website out loud, so you can get the general gist of it. Or better yet, look up the website yourself ;-)

Mothers Against Peeing Standing Up. Yup, that's a cause I can get behind!

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

The German language, in full force!

A few weeks ago I blogged about the German language, and last night I came across a Quora thread wherein the question asked was "Why do people think German is an ugly, harsh and rude language?" Just the title alone made me laugh, because that's exactly what I wrote in my blog post-- harsh and guttural-sounding to those who aren't familiar with the language.

My favorite illustration of this is a meme that takes a word that has a similar translation in various languages, contrasted against the long, harsh-sounding German word at the end. Observe:

Hilarious, right?

Guess what's even funnier... when it's acted out:

Admittedly, the German guy does exaggerate his pronunciation and his ferocity, but it made me giggle, anyway. The parts where they got to the super-long words was especially funny. And I am not sure why they included Swedish in some of the segments-- THAT sounds harsh/guttural to me! So I guess I have an inkling of what German must sound like to non-speakers ;-)

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

A Mobile Shop on Every Corner

We are loyal customers of T-Mobile, which offers the best rates of all the main service providers in the US. Shortly before our trip to Germany this past August, we switched from our old, grandfathered-in plan to their Simple Choice plan, which included an amazing roaming package: free data and texting in most countries, and only 20 cents per minute on calls. It worked superbly in Germany. Data was at least 3G speeds in most places we were (read: big cities), texting was useful when Allan and I needed to split up (or when we got separated on a super-crowded bus and I had to text him to let him know at which stop to get off), and when Allan's father passed away while he was still in Sweden on business, it was great to be able to call his family (and have them call him on his US number) without worrying about roaming charges.

I digress. As valuable as this plan was for keeping in touch with each other and with our families back home (and using Google Maps because our rental car's GPS was utterly useless!), it didn't help when it came to keeping in touch with our German friends, whom we were visiting during this trip. I mean, we could call them, but they'd be calling an international number to reach us! So one of the first orders of business was to get a German SIM card. Should be easy, right? Not quite, when you arrive on a Sunday when all the shops are closed and your schedule is jam-packed, with your first day in a medieval town known for its charming Christmas shops and not mobile shops :-P

We finally went SIM card shopping when we toured Nuremberg on Day 3. I had done my research ahead of time to figure out what provider offered the best bang for our Euro, but I was a little concerned about how we would find a shop that sold the best cards. My worries were all for naught, because as soon as we entered the Altstadt, we were bombarded by mobile shops. There must have been at least two on each corner! And we lucked out at T-Mobile, where we were able to get a SIM card for only 10 Euros, which gave us 250MB of data and around 150 minutes of talk/text time. Easy peasy!

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. Germany (and much of the rest of Europe, I'm sure) has been ahead of the US in the mobile phone world for some time. When I arrived in Germany in 1998, cell phones were becoming very prevalent, and when I returned to the US in 2001, the US seemed to be just on the verge of embracing mobile phones. I went from a country where everyone had a cell phone to one that, despite being a leader in world technology, still regarded cell phones as a novelty. Things rapidly changed, of course. And during this time, there is one thing about the US mobile phone system that irks me to no end: you pay for incoming calls.

I don't know that any other country in the world does it. When I was in Germany, most of my colleagues use prepaid cards. Once the money ran out, they could no longer make calls until they reloaded their card, but they could RECEIVE calls just fine. Nowadays, with US plans offering variations of unlimited minutes, it's less of an issue, but I remember having to be careful not to go over my alloted minutes each month, even if I wasn't MAKING any calls. How ridiculous is that!?

Even nowadays, I feel like my German friends have so many more options when it comes to phone plans, both pre-and-post paid, than we Americans do. Similar to us, they have 4 main networks, but there's also a wide array of sub-providers that rent the networks and offer sometimes-cheaper, often-more-flexible options. They would balk at what we pay each month for service, and we already pay amongst the lowest rates of all the US providers!!

As with other things, I think the US could learn a thing or two from Germany... alas, as long as money drives the decisions, I doubt that would ever happen. One can dream, though, right? :-)

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

German Castles

One of the most unique sights of Germany (as well much of Europe, with its long ancient history) is castles and palaces. You don't find such creations in the US. They are rich with history and the setting of many an enchanting fairy tale. Here's a small sampling of some of the ones I've visited and would like to visit.

The Heidelberg Castle was only a 20-minute drive away from Mannheim, so it was very easy to get to. It overlooks the Neckar River, and so boasts not only fascinating sights such as the castle ruins:

... a giant beer vat...

Yes, that's me with short, curly hair :-P

... but also a great view of the Neckar Valley:

Worth a visit!

Probably the most renowned of all the German castles is the Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria, made famous because it's what the Disney castle is based on.

And of course, the Zwinger in Dresden (more of a palace than a castle, but that's similar enough, no?)

Charlottenburg in Berlin:

Hohenzollern near Stuttgart:

And the Nordkirchen in my birthplace of Muenster, which has a pretty awesome aerial view:

If you ever visit Germany, be sure to include a castle or two in your itinerary!

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

German Food: Christmas Goodies

Christmas is probably a universally magical time, no matter where you are in the world. And since I've been waxing poetic for three separate posts on the wonders of German food, it's no surprise that German holiday goodies merit their own post :-D

First up is a classic that you've probably seen at Trader Joe's: the Adventskalender. From the first day of December through Christmas Eve, children happily look forward to opening up another door in their calendar and enjoying the goodies (usually chocolate) inside.

This one is clearly for mommies instead of the kiddies-- nail polish galore!

Next is Stollen, which is a kind of fruitcake. Now before you grimace in disgust, it's not like the stereotypically gross concoction, it's actually quite delicious! It's more "cake" than "jellied mass":

This next one isn't necessarily Christmas-specific and can be enjoyed any time of the year, but I tend to associate it with Christmas because that's when I usually eat it. Lebkuchen! It's akin to gingerbread, and is often coated in chocolate. It's delightfully delicious, that perfect blend of sugar and spice.

Spekulatius is another baked treat that, I believe, originated in the Netherlands (hence why you can usually find "Speculoos" at Trader Joe's or Cost Plus during the holidays). Spekulatius are thin, flat, crunchy cookies with spices like cinnamon and clove. If you've ever eaten cookie butter, you're basically tasting a creamy, spreadable version of Spekulatius :-9

 

All those baked goods would wash down really well with a hot drink, wouldn't they? While I enjoy drinking tea with them, nothing says "German Christmas" as much as their Christmas Markets, where shoppers wander through the open-air town squares and warm themselves with a glass of Gluehwein while they shop:

As the name suggests, it is made of red wine mixed with spices and heated up. I confess, I've never actually had Gluehwein, but just the sight and name of it evokes images of snowy, Christmas-y German town squares, and warm feeling of community.

What are some of your favorite traditional holiday treats?

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

Dresden Pictures

Some of my favorite pictures taken during our August 2014 trip to Germany. Specifically, our day in Dresden, which is best known for its massive destruction at the hands of Allied bombers in 1945.

Semperoper (Semper Opera House)

Semperoper (Semper Opera House)

Zwinger (a palace)

Zwinger (a palace)

Todd takes a photo of the photographer while we rest at a fountain in the center of the Zwinger's courtyard

Moving on to the upper levels of the Zwinger

View of the front entrance and courtyard

Interesting wooden model of a Chinese house greeted us at the top of the stairs. A bit of China in Germany??

Kunstakademie

Kunstakademie

Horse and carriage: neat way to tour the city!

Typical town square

Parts of the city are being rebuilt...

... while parts stand tribute to WWII history. At the Karl Pinkert stone monument in front of the re-built Frauenkirche

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

German Drinks

This post can pretty much be summed up in one sentence: the Germans like their fizz!

Seriously.

When I was stationed there and ate out in restaurants, I missed being able to order plain old uncarbonated water. Servers would look at me like I'd sprouted a second head if I tried to ask for it. So I often had to order juice, and even then, I had to enunciate loudly to emphasize that I wanted apple JUICE, not apple Schorle! 

What is Apfelschorle? It's a drink my son has grown to love, made simply by mixing apple juice with carbonated water. Aside from the bubbles (which I hate), it's not bad-- it's a good way to reduce the sweetness of apple juice, and it's better than plain fizzy water!

During our August trip, I thought I'd see if the drink options had expanded in the past 15 years. Well, sort of. They did have ordinary water available, but it was the bottled kind and it cost more than plain old juice! I learned that the hard way and stuck to ordering apple juice from then on.

German beer seems to have a reputation for being really good. I wouldn't know, as I don't really drink beer (most types are too bitter for my taste, and way too carbonated. Belgian Whites are about the only thing I can stomach), but obviously it beats out your average Bud Light. These days, though, American microbreweries are coming up with some really interesting and flavorful concoctions, and the tides are turning. At least, that's what I hear from friends who are more the "beer connoisseur" type, including Germans.

From what I understand, it's because in Germany you can't call it a "beer" unless it conforms to a strict definition, which includes certain ingredients and possibly even proportions of said ingredients (someone correct me if I'm wrong). This, of course, ends up restricting just how creative one can get with a recipe and still call it "beer". Still, when you consider the many varieties of German beers out there, it's pretty impressive what one can come up with on a restricted list!


Apfelschorle and Bier. Two things that immediately come to mind when thinking of uniquely German drinks!

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

Medieval Crime Museum

The picturesque town of Rothenburg is well-known for being home to the Kriminalmuseum, or Crime Museum, better known as the "Torture Museum" amongst Americans who lived there, for its prolific display of instruments of torture and punishment.

Here are a few shots we took while we toured the museum:

Todd and I arrive at the museum:

Don't you love the old buildings and cobblestone streets?

And are immediately shackled:

These criminals sure look cheerful!

Instruments of torture immediately greeted us as we entered the museum:

Wouldn't want to sit in this thing for too long!

I couldn't even begin to remember what these things did, but they don't look pleasant!

The sign says it all!

There were even plenty of old books describing how to mete out justice. The old script made it difficult to read, but you know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words? In this case, it definitely transcends all language barriers, as well:

There was the classic iron maiden, with its outer wooden casing worn from age, though you can see a drawing of what it used to look like, right behind it:

Physical torture wasn't the only form of punishment. Some of my favorite displays entailed punishment by public shaming. Like these masks, meant to be worn for infractions such as gossiping too much, lying, cheating, falling asleep in church, etc..

If you're a baker, you'd better not be caught swindling your customers (by selling them bread that is too light), else you'll face a public dunking in one of these as punishment:

 And if you're a quarrelsome married couple? Here's what's in store for you:

Is it me, or is this one of the more horrific forms of torture available?

The museum also had several miniature scenes depicting medieval life, from the town square to a private home to a school house. There, you could observe tiny replicas of punishments actually being enacted. See how many punishments/shamings you can spot in this picture:

Click to Enlarge

Our visit to the museum was quite enlightening. It's somewhat horrifying to see what instruments of pain and torture the human mind was capable of devising in those days. I like to think we've evolved since those darker days, but sadly, there are many still out there inflicting pain on others. The instruments may have changed, but human nature has not.

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!