Public Christmas Trees around Oberursel

About two weeks ago, I spotted this lovely little Christmas tree in our northern part of Oberursel. Since then, I have found out that this is an initiative organized by the city of Oberursel.

70 trees have been distributed throughout the town. Various shops, clubs, kindergartens, etc. have taken on the task of decorating the trees.

The initiative runs by the name TanneUffDieGass (Hessian German for: Pine in the Alley)

This is ours in Oberursel Nord. To make them climate-friendly, the potted trees can be replanted later, and to conserve energy, they shine without electric lights.

Buying a Christmas Tree in Germany

This afternoon, we drove up towards the Feldberg Mountain in the Taunus to buy our Christmas tree.

Driving towards the Feldberg/Tausnus

There are various types to choose from, but we always get a Nordmann Tanne (Nordmann fir).

My better half does need some time to choose the perfect one. That is where we differ, but we have survived 32 years of that. The helper was quite patient with us, and held up various trees to compare. I did leave him with a tip though for all his patience and good humor. Told him it was not Trinkgeld (lit: drinking money = tip), but in regards to the current climate, it was meant as Heizungsgeld (lit: heating money).

This is our tree going into the funnel, this means getting wrapped for transportation.

Last trimmings to insure a safe transportation in our car. This Nordmann fir was €65, and this was the same price as last year. This is one of the few items which hasn’t gone up in price.

I would prefer a small potted tree which could be reused every year. A big cut tree like ours has to get tossed every year after 6 January when the tree pickup truck comes by.

Traditionally, most Germans put up their tree in the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and keep it until Three Kings Day, 6 Jan. Then we move it to the designated pick-up spot on the sidewalk. We toss ours from the 4th storey balcony, and in our case, the Hausmeister drags it to the designated spot then.

Former U.S. Army Garrison in Heidelberg

Two weeks ago, we were invited to a friend’s birthday party in Heidelberg. As we drove around looking for the party location between Schwindstraße and Feuerbachstraße, I noticed a building with a four-digit number. Of course, this had to be a former U.S. building number left over from the army occupation.

German house numbers generally do not go over two digits.

This building was still standing as of 25 September 2022 (the day of our visit).

Camp King Oberursel and its Influence on Jazz in Hessen

The Cold War era and the deployment of American military at various bases during that time played an important role in the growing popularity of jazz in Hessen.

As a tribute to this, there will be a concert at the Oberursel Town Hall on 22 May 2022.

Visit History of Jazz in Hessen for more information.

Berthold Schinke, one of the organizers, has this to add:

“On this day, the focus is not so much on the history of Camp King as on the music from the time of the Mountain Lodge as well as stories and anecdotes that are not found in any history work. The concert begins on May 22, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. in the town hall of Oberursel, admission from 4:00 p.m.”

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.

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