Christmas (Part 1)

Again, it’s been a while, but I’m totally and completely addicted to Skyrim.  Germany is the best country ever to celebrate Christmas in, and I did manage to leave my xbox long enough to enjoy it 🙂  This will be a two parter because I have tons of photos and a few recipes to post, and I don’t want to crash your computers.  So first, the Christmas Markets!

 

Köln Altemarkt

 

more at Altemarkt. There were so many people it was like walking in the ocean.

 

more Altemarkt

the new haircut

Köln Neumarkt

Gingerbread stall at Köln Neumarkt

Star shop at Neumarkt

There is nothing better on a cold day than warm, burnt almonds. Except for Glühwein.

Marienheide Forest-Market. This is my favorite of all of them! They had boar meatballs, smoked trout, bread baking in wood ovens and lots of mulled wine! It even snowed for us.

Clan Villani and booze

you could get trout straight out of the smoker. It was sooo good.

Cocoa with rum. It's nice to hang out with other bloggers, you're not the only one taking photos of random stuff!

And that’s that!  Part two, in which I learn how to salt a sheeps hide in Bavaria and eat Spanish style flaming rum sausages coming soon 🙂

 

Maybe there ARE dentists in heaven?

So living in different countries, you can’t help but have bizarre stories about visits to various medical professionals.  Sometimes you have to put the word professionals in air quotes.

For example, in Greece you get vaccinations over the counter.  As in, you walk in, McDonald’s style, put your arm on the counter and order a tetanus with a side of meningitis, and pray that the needle the pharmacist pulls out is actually going into your arm.  I have fond memories of leaning over behind the counter, next to the windows, getting a hep. A vaccine in my ass, surrounded by old greek gramdmas who alternately patted my arm and discussed how brave I was being (meanwhile the friend I had brought for moral support was too busy laughing to offer any consoling words. Thanks Heyam 🙂 )

Then there’s the time I tried to get a morning after pill in a Slovak clinic, without the necessary vocabulary to actually explain what happened. The friend I had brought for moral support also didn’t have the vocabulary needed, so we had to act out the events leading up to the clinic visit, using charades, to a very unimpressed older Slovak doctor.  The second she turned her back, her younger nurse winked at me and slipped the prescription over the counter.

Also a highlight in Slovakia is the total lack of personal space at hospitals.  People walk in in the middle of your exams, coffee in hand and have a chat with your doctor about their holidays while you’re getting checked out.  This made my yearly trip to the gynecologist a Very Special Experience.

Then there’s the time I desperately needed cold medicine while visiting Bulgaria, where nodding your head yes means no and shaking your head no means yes.  I pointed to my nose and sniffed.  The pharmacist pulled out what I needed.  I nodded my head. She put it back and pulled out another thing I didn’t need.  I shook my head.  She rung it up on the register. Rewind, and repeat.   Abbott and Costello would have been proud.

And then there’s Germany, where doctors are expected to explain, in detail, every single thing they’re doing while they’re doing it.  They’re so used to it that even if you beg them to stop, they continue without realizing it.  Dentists, who terrify me in the best of times, are the worst.  It’s like being tortured by the evil tooth guy from Alias. They’re all like, “see this? This is the massive fucking needle I’m going to cram into your mouth.  Now I’m cramming the giant needle into your mouth.  And see this? This is the massive scary drill I’m about to grind into your…” and I’m all like “DANTOOINE! The rebel base is on DANTOOINE!”

Which is the reason I feel duty bound to tell you that I found out today that the dentist’s doesn’t actually have to be a waking version of hell. Today, after 5 years of guiltily walking by dentists offices at top speed, I finally cracked a tooth and had to go.  I chose a new clinic that some of my clients had recommended, and it was amazing.  A trip to the dentist involving syringes and drills was actually amazing.  The clinic is all streamlined and shiny and modern, they have comfy black leather armchairs, and they serve espresso to you in the waiting area. Also, the dentists there are all so good looking I felt like I was in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy: Dentists Edition.  I mean seriously: 5 men and 1 woman working in a chic dental clinic in the city center? If that doesn’t have award-winning sit-com written all over it, I don’t know what does.  Also, my dentist ruled.  I got her at random and she was both completely nice, and all down to business.  She asks “comfy?” you say “sure!” and bam, she’s in.  No t.m.i, no exhibits of the torture devices, just fixed the tooth, made sure I was ok at regular intervals, and I was out of there in 3o minutes.  Also, the appointment started 5 minutes early.  Yes, early.  What’s more, she has a sense of humor.  I asked for her last name again so I could re-book her, and she answers with a grin: “of course, but you don’t really need it.  Just ask for the woman dentist.  That’s what everyone else does”.   And, to make things even more incredible, the check up, two x-rays and a patched up molar only cost 130 Euro. Love.

So if you’re in Cologne, and need your teeth fixed, go to the practice at Josef-Haubricht Hof.  It honestly might be the best clinic on the continent.

A Very Frankish Christmas

I was planning on keeping this blog updated, but had no internet access over the holidays (which was both scary and wonderful :-)), so you’re getting it all now.   First I’ll start with a photomanip.  I did two for January and never could decide which I liked better so I’ll give you both, one today and the other in the next week.

Here are my fab deviantart sources: Models: link by Katanaz-Stock and link by the-stock-project, Left side background: link by blackkitty666, Right side background: link by Tigg-stock, Owl horns: link by gurukitty, Squirrel fur: link by`radioPooh, Owl feathers: link by SalsolaStock, Fox fur: link by Momotte2stocks, Cardinal feathers: link by hortley, Snowdrop: link by Rita-Ria-Stock, Juniper branches: link by ~unpurrfect-stock, Ice: link by SusieStock, Berries: link by xcc-stock and link by marlene-stock, Texture: link by night-fate-stock Antlers: link by Irie-Stock

Winter:

The rain of Zeus descends and from high heaven

A storm is driven;

And on the running water-brooks the cold

Lays icy hold:

Then up! beat down the winter; make the fire

Blaze high and higher;

Mix wine as sweet as honey of the bee

Abundantly;

Then drink with comfortable wool around

Your temples bound.

We must not yield our hearts to woe, or wear

With wasting care;

For grief will profit us no whit, my friend,

Nor nothing mend;

But this is our best medicine, with wine fraught

To cast out thought. —Alcaeus

I spent Christmas with my friends in Franken again this year, and, like always, it was awesome.  They’re no-stress people, they stuff me full of pie and beer, and I get to sleep in front of a blazing traditional wood stove in a 200 year old half-timbered farm house.  The eggs for breakfast come from one neighbor’s farm, the bratwurst is hand made from another neighbor’s farm, last year another neighbor donated a rabbit for dinner. Kind of like heaven.

The view from my bed.

And then, after 2 years of celebrating with them, Martin finally decides to tell me that the area where they live has the most breweries per capita of anywhere IN THE WORLD.  And then his father suggests we get a case of beer and get different bottles from around the vicinity, which was the best idea of the year, as far as I was concerned.  We settled with beer from within a 20 k. radius around their house and ended up with these: 

I managed to make my way through all but the Bockbier and one of the darks.  Also, there was another kind of Göller we got.  Still, not bad for 3 days! :-)The only one I wasn’t so keen on was the Rauch Weizenbier, which surprised me.  Normally I adore Rauchbier (it’s a specialty of Bamburg where they smoke the hops before brewing the beer), but the Weizen version was a little odd.

In the Mosel region

Bingen

I also took some pictures from the train on my way down to see how my camera would hold up, and got some interesting results.  Unfortunately, most of the way I was on the boring side of the train (ie. the river and castles were not next to me)  Next time I’ll make sure to get a better seat :-):

This one is from the car from Bamberg to Unterküpps

And some of Christmas dinner.  Jess is one of the best cooks ever.  And yes, that is an oreo cheesecake. Don’t get me wrong now.  Germans do amazing cakes and sweets, but they don’t understand pies, and I love that Martin (who is German) and Jess (an Ami) still mix American and German holiday foods.

All in all it was a rockin’ Christmas! See you all in the new year! 

Berlin

And here are the pics from the weekend in Kreuzberg!  Every time I go I think it doesn’t get any better, but it always manages to 🙂  This time I managed to get a single room at an amazing hostel across the street from the seminar.  It’s a converted warehouse, called Die Fabrik.  Rooms are basic but it’s in a great location and the hostel itself is really cool.

the hostel lobby

the courtyard

the entrance

luckily I got in a bit early, and got a call from another of the seminar participants, and we decided to grab an ice cream just off of Schlesischestr.  It was incredible.

one ice cream to rule them all

I can never get enough of the street art in Berlin

Eating well is also never a problem.  Unfortunately I can’t remember the names of these restaurants, but I’m going to find out and post them soon…

the best Vietnamese food in the hippest restaurant.

A vegetarian restaurant...food and service were so so, but the restaurant itself is beautiful! Also, they have pink lemonade.

Saturday evening I spent at Alexanderplatz trying to buy a notebook.  In the end I gave it up as a waste of time and patience, but the square was at least interesting, and it was the first time I really saw a part of Berlin other than Kreuzberg.

Alexanderplatz

I do realize that most of my photos have no people in them…I personally detest having my picture taken, so I always feel guilty taking other peoples pictures 🙂 next time I’ll try to get more street life.

This and That, and Germany’s Ignored Renewable Energy Success

Just a few random observations from today…

First of all, people (at least here in Germany) are absolutely nicer to you when you’re hauling a 2o liter sack of potting earth around on public transport.  I’m serious.  They smile at you, offer you their seats, ask you what you’re planting, and so on, rather than the soul crushing “Germanic stare down of death” people usually give strangers here . A father with an infant actually got up and tried to give me his seat today.  I may make this my new thing, you know, tone muscles and make friends, all in one easy step!

I also wanted to post a link to this article on the European North Sea Supergrid, because it’s the most awesome thing I’ve ever heard of, and because I seem to be the only one, besides this one reporter, who even knows about it.   Here in Germany, at least (and I’m assuming it’s the same in Europe), people are riveted to the Big Disaster that is America right now, and all I’ve been hearing lately is how the world is going to hell and how no one is doing anything about it. So this week I did a study and asked all my clients at all my companies what they thought of the project.  Nobody had heard one thing about it.   The same goes for Rewe’s new sustainable supermarket in Berlin. It’s winning EU awards and yet, nobody seems to know about it.  This is a problem because it is an experiment. If it makes money they will build more and other supermarkets will follow suit.  If it’s a disaster, trust me that it will be a long, long while before someone else risks their money to do it again.  Germany is now also providing assistance to India to help it build its own solar parks.  Oh, and by the way, Germany is home to the second largest solar park in the world,  is neck and neck with Spain to be the world leader for wind power, and is the EU leader in implementing renewable energies.

Yes it is important to be realistic about our environment, and yes things are bad, but they never will improve unless people give things like these the attention they need.  More publicity will lead to better funding for such projects, and this, as we all know, is a Good Thing. It’s easy to say that companies and countries should be green as a matter of principle, but let’s face it.  People work for money, and if their work costs them money instead of bringing it in, they will stop doing it.  Shareholders will only invest if they think they might make some money, and green projects will not make money unless we keep our eyes open and  pay the extra 10 cents for cheese at the markets that promote sustainablilty, support the parties that will get involved in plans like the super-grid, stop complaining that wind turbines aren’t gorgeous, and so on. So consider yourselves informed.

"Solar park in Germany sits next to field of ripening rapeseed (canola). The solar panels are integrated into 6-panel units that sit on piers, each equipped with a tracking system to maximize exposure to the the rising and setting sun, much as sunflowers do. There is space between the piers to grow hay, graze sheep, plant vegetables or even grow grapes." --from EV World.

Christmas Markets and Vintage Hot Cocktails

Did I mention that I love Christmas?  Here are some pictures of the nearest market to me.

And in the spirit of the Christmas market, which is hot booze, I’ll leave you with some vintage  German cocktail recipes from Burda Moden, December 1974 (the translations are mine). Careful, these will seriously scramble your brain:

EISBRECHER (Ice-breaker)

In a pot heat, but don’t boil, 1/2 bottle of port and 1/2 bottle of white wine.  Add 1/4 liter of hot water, 3-4 shot glasses of rum and 3-4 tablespoons of sugar.  Garnish with lemon slices and serve in a heat-proof punch bowl.

SEELENTRÖSTER (soul-warmer)

For one glass:  Quickly boil 2 bags of black tea in 1/8 liter water, then cover and let soak for 5 minutes.  Remove the tea bags.  Add a tablespoon of brown candied sugar, 3 shots of raspberry liquor, the juice of one orange, and 2 tablespoons of frozen raspberries.  Heat till simmering and serve in a heat proof glass.

SNOWBALL

In a warmed coffee cup add a dash of cocoa powder, a teaspoon of sugar, a shot of coffee liquor and a shot of brandy.  Mix and fill the rest of the glass with black coffee. Top with whipped cream.

GLETSCHERBRAND (glacier burn)

In a heat proof glass add 3 cubes of sugar, 2 1/2 shots of hot rum and 1 teaspoon of anise.  Mix and fill the rest of the glass with hot coffee.

FEUERTAUFE (baptism of fire)

In a pot add 1 liter red wine, 1 liter of red currant juice, the peel of a lemon, 8 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick and 2 tablespoons of sugar.  Heat and let stand 15 minutes.  Pour into a punch bowl and add 1 wine glass of red currant liquor and 2 wine glasses of cherry liquor.

Seriously, though. Drink with caution.  These are not for lightweights 🙂