German Word of the Day: die Einfahrt

This must be one of the most beloved words for learners of German. The word Fahrt itself stands for drive, ride, trip, etc. Einfahrt means entrance, gateway to Autobahn, etc.

It has nothing to do with fart, even though most learners associate its sound with that. This can provide some giggles.

This photo was taken in Oberursel and it shows the entrance to a GetrÀnkemarkt (beverage shop).

alldrink – Einfahrt: entrance to Alldrink beverage shop

alldrink Einfahrt Oberursel

Cherry Trees around Camp King Oberursel

Recently, a friend of mine, who had lived in Camp King as a dependent in the late 60s, asked me whether the cherry trees were still around.

I wasn’t sure, and went out to take a walk around the neighborhood once again.

This one is on the Mountain Lodge hill in front of the chapel. Springtime in Germany.

These two were the only cherry trees I could locate.

We passed by on the foot path down the hill from the Mountain Lodge.

Mountain Lodge Camp King May 2021

I had another look at one of the two remaining original housing buildings and its garden area. Before the area got restructured into a German housing area, I had a friend living in one of the buildings. The garden behind the apartment building (see photo) stretched much further than what you see here.

We used to go there for BBQs in the summer, and sat under the trees which eventually got cut down to make room for this parking strip. It is empty today, as it is Sunday, and all the supermarket employees are home. Behind this strip, construction began for the first row of townhouses.

Have ‘A Cup of Sake Beneath the Cherry Trees‘ (Little Black Classics 11) from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3euX6AU

Snow on the Feldberg Taunus Mountain in March

Photo credits for this beautiful image go to Gregor Maier, who works at the Kultur und Geschichte des Hochtaunuskreises, and spends some of his free time exploring our local high lights for us couch potatoes.

The photo was taken on 14 March at the Feldberg Mountain.

Unfortunately, I had no chance to go up there myself at all this past winter, which was mostly due to blocked roads. Or some other excuse.

Life in Germany in the Time of Corona

My favorite word right now is fiddlefart*. I’ve got so much time on my hands, and I actually work through my to-do list, but there is not much to show for. This gives me an early taste of what retiring might look like.

I’m on Day 5 now, and we are still free to move. But there are restrictions, and as time passes, there are more to come.

Outdoor facilities such as playgrounds, pools, etc. are closed. This photo shows the playground at Camp King, with a red and white barrier tape at Camp King.

This morning at the super market seemed a normal one. Searching for batteries, I turned the corner into another aisle, and was reprimanded by someone in a closely standing group of three: “Bitte Abstand halten!” (Keep your distance!). Sure, this makes sense. Not.

I just nodded, smiled, and approached the batteries from the other end. The group remained there, and continued talking without keeping distance. Ja, ja, the little policemen are out there. 🙂

Some customers kept the recommended distance while waiting in line. One lady though was almost breathing down my neck, and before I could turn around to say something, her husband pointed it out to her. She then retracted, but not without chiding him first.

I saw an appeal on social media about giving health care workers, and all others assisting in this time of crisis, a big shout-out by applauding. This is supposed to happen by the open window, or balcony, every evening at 9pm. So far I have not heard anything around here.

This coming Sunday, 22 March at 18:00, a Flash-Mob from your Balcony event is planned. We are supposed to hear: Beethovens Schlusschoral Freude Schöner Götterfunken (Beethoven’s final chorale on Ode to Joy).

More information in German here:
Hessischer Musikverband e.V.

These are interesting times.

* to fiddlefart (verb): to linger aimlessly; to look busy while accomplishing nothing.

Life in Germany in the Time of Corona

Day 2 of my self-imposed isolation has begun. It is not a complete isolation yet as I plan on making one last trip to the pharmacy to pick up medication, which wasn’t available yesterday.

It is eerily quiet in our neighborhood. Once in a while I get up from my desk to step on the balcony to make sure the birds are still singing. Very few cars come through our residential area.

Day 3 is almost over.

  • Just heard on the news that the town of Mitterteich in Bavaria is the first city in Germany to have gone on complete lockdown. The city is in the district Oberpfalz (Upper Palatinate).
  • I enjoyed my last Korean lunch – sitting in a restaurant. As of today, some restrict their business to take-out only.
  • Every morning, I watch the Robert Koch-Institute (Germany’s public health institute) update at 10:00. For your information: https://www.rki.de/EN/Home/homepage_node.html
  • Many shops have closed or are in the process of closing. Playgrounds and parks are no longer accessible.
  • I’ve heard that our local supermarket is still out of toilet paper. 🙂

Last, but not least, there is a little German lesson.

die Ausgangssperre (curfew)

Other terms in English, depending on their restrictions, include: shelter at home, quarantine, lockdown;

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