Mar 31, 2022

The Quest for Bunkers in Germany

Ever since the Russian invasion into Ukraine started, some Germans have begun hoarding groceries, buying emergency generators (some home improvement centers have sold out), and inquiring about renting or buying a bunker room.

I watched the German news today, and they had interviewed an entrepreneur who earns a living from renting and selling bunkers in Germany. Before the war with Ukraine, he said, he had four or five inquiries about renting/buying a bunker a week. Now he gets 400 inquiries a week.

Some shoppers around here have been hoarding mostly oil, flour, and toilet paper (among some other items).

My hometown of Schweinfurt (northern Bavaria) hosts a Bunkermuseum, and because of the current development, the number of inquiries for guided tours has been on the rise.

Autobahn in Germany

Feeling safe for now, and greetings from Germany.

Dec 31, 2021

New Year’s Eve 2021 in Oberursel, Germany

Our Silvester (German for New Year’s Eve) will be a quiet one, which is just the way I like it. Fireworks and big gatherings are also banned again on New Year’s Eve.

The road ahead should be taken the Welsh way:

“In Wales, people don’t move rocks out of their way. They step over them.” (from memory)

I’m grateful for the old year, and yet child enough to look forward to the next one.

Oberursel forest on 31 Dec 2021

Happy New Year, everyone!

Nov 25, 2021

New Role for Former Chancellor Merkel

Our chancellor Merkel is starting a new life today!

Merkel as a ‘Smoking Figure’

And yes, as of today, she is no longer chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. In my home, she now functions as a ‘Räuchermännchen’ (literal: smoking little guy). She arrived in the post this afternoon, so she was right on time for her new role.

It took me a while to figure out where the smoke might come from… the traditional ones have the smoke coming out from the mouth. In her case, it comes out near the bottom of her pants!

These traditional Christmas decorations and incense smokers are handmade in the Ore Mountains (German: Erzgebirge) in the eastern part of Germany.

In case you are interested, visit Seiffener Volkskunst.

Oct 18, 2021

German Idiom of the Day: Alter Schwede

When your former coworker, whom you haven’t seen in a year or more, greets you with ‘Alter Schwede’ (Old Swede), you might wonder what he is referring to.

This is an idiom, which was coined by the Prince Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg. During the 30-year war (1618 – 1648), he recruited Swedish soldiers to train his men. These Swedes were so popular with his German soldiers, they addressed them with a congenial ‘Alter Schwede!’

This idiom is still being used when we see an old friend after a long time. We also use it to express appreciation, respect, or amazement.

When speaking German, we use it with people of any nationality.

Sep 9, 2021

German Word of the Day: die Pflastersteine

In a conversation about last week’s Hof Flohmarkt (courtyard flea market), when most of Oberursel’s Altstadt (old part of the town) opened its courtyard gates to many visitors, I also mentioned to wear good shoes around the area as high heels make walking difficult.

The conversation turned then to farm house courtyards, and their original purpose. There is also a difference between the original cobble stones and the new ones to fit the Altstadt flair.

This is a sample of the old Pflastersteine (cobble stones), which are a significant part of Oberursel’s Altstadt.

Old cobble stones 13th century

These cobble stones look like they date from a more recent era.

This is another alley near St. Ursula Church, where only cobble stones are found.

Oberursel Hof Flohmarkt 2021

Around the Altstadt, even the stairways are made from cobble stones.

Stairway to St. Ursula Church, Oberursel

der Pflasterstein (Singular), die Pflastersteine (Plural)

But das Pflaster by itself is a band-aid.

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