Tag: Germany

Surfing in the city

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Living near the Odenwald – said to be the mountain range furthest from any sea in Europe – surf is kind of difficult to come by.  But I visited Munich a few years ago and came across an unusual phenomenon: inner city surfing.

The river Isar runs through Munich and is part of the famous Englische Garten, a huge urban public park.  At one point the Isar is split and the section known as the Eisbach (icy creek) has an artificial permanent wave, just before the Prinzregentenstraße bridges over it.  In summer, particularly during lunch time, there is a permanent crowd gathered – the surfers on the banks, the spectators among the trees and on the bridge. 

Eisbach

Eisbach

Eisbach

Eisbach

Eisbach

It’s no easy surf and a beginner wouldn’t dare to go in.  But even for experienced surfers it is no mean feat to pass before such a crowd – the uninitiated tourist and the skilled fellow surfers.

Linked to Friday Fun: Surf.

Memorial

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den Opfern

Very unlike the usual war memorials I know, this monument is dedicated to all the victims of the first world war.

It was inaugurated in 1920 on behalf of the City of Frankfurt.

Linked to Friday Fun: Memorial.

Throughout the ages

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2023 graffiti a

This mural was created in 2005 on the walls of an underpass by a dedicated arts class of the local Carl-Benz-Gymnasium in Ladenburg. It illustrates figures from the history of the town.  Here are the figures in historical sequence:

  • Ladenburg was founded by the Romans and an important centre from about 100 – 300 A.D.
  • The Roman period was followed by medieval courts with knights, ladies and jesters.
  • In the 13th and 14th century Ladenburg was the centre of conflict between the bishops of Worms and the Pfalzgrafen (Count Palatines).
  • In 1817, Karl  Freiherr von Drais invented a forerunner (sic!) of the bicycle and his first ride took place from Mannheim to Schwetzingen passing Ladenburg.
  • Transportation stayed important as Carl Benz, the inventor of the first automobile, lived here and his wife Bertha Benz undertook the first long distance ride of 106 km in 1888 in the area.
  • The next figures show children at play, a dog, a girl in a 50s pettycoat with a cigarette in her hand, an 80s punk, and a millenial – possibly a self-image of the creators of the mural.

And in case you missed the cat:

2023 graffiti l

For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: graffiti & murals.

CFFC

Picture windows

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2023 picture a

2023 picture b

2023 picture c

I found these covered-up windows in Wiesbaden-Biebrich.  They look so very art nouveau and although only put in later it almost certainly correlates with the age of the building.

Linked to Monday Window.  More windows of any kind are linked here.

Tourist magnet

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2021 lock down a

This is the old bridge in Heidelberg leading over the river Neckar last week.  Not completely deserted as the lock down in Germany has been lifted to some degree, was never as strict as in many other countries.

2021 lock down b

This is what it looks like in normal times, bustling with people at any given time.

Linked to The Cosmic Photo Challenge: The world in lock down.

 

Love on a hard concrete bench

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2020 love

For once a whole story with my Six Word Saturday photo.  I took this photo (and many others) in a not quite savoury part of Mannheim near the old harbour, an area bordering on the brink of gentrification.

While I was snapping away I heard a gruff voice in my back (please excuse the language, it was rather unsavoury, too): “Straighten your back and put your arse out!”  I turned round with clenched cheeks, unsure how I should react when I saw two burly, bearded men who could have easily posed for this sprayed graffiti and who were using an old bollard as a impromptu gym machine and urging each other on.

Double entendres everywhere.

Linked to Six Word Saturday where you can find more sixer with or without accompanying stories.

Long Louis

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Langer Ludwig

The central place in Darmstadt is the Luisenplatz with this 33 metre tall column supporting a bronze statue of Ludwig I, first Grand Duke of Hesse, erected in the middle of the 19th century.  The people of Darmstadt call it Langer Lui, meaning Long Ludwig, on account of its size (or length).

Today it is surrounded by buildings erected after the second world war as the centre of Darmstadt was almost completely destroyed in one night in 1944.  In the firestorm created by allied bombers approximately 11 ,000 to 12,500 of the inhabitants burned to death, and 66,000 to 70,000 were left homeless.  The palace behind the column was erased and in its place is now a shopping mall.

Langer Ludwig
Langer Lui

Ludwig from the bottom and almost at eye level from a neighbouring multi-storey car park.

Linked to Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: things that are long.