Tag: Germany

Boys we almost stand in fear of

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The epitome of naughtiness are these two rascals, called Max and Moritz.

Max und Moritz Wilhelm Busch

The poet and illustrator Wilhelm Busch brought their story to paper with his characteristic drawings and accompanying rhymed couplets.  To this day their mischievous pranks delight children and adults alike.  Many Germans can quote part of the story.

It is undisputed that Busch was a direct ancestor of all comic books.  Max und Moritz inspired the cartoon strip Katzenjammer Kids in the US and from there his influence spread.

Max und Moritz Apotheke

Many shops and restaurants are named after them.  Here it is a pharmacy.

Max und Moritz erster Streich

And here a restaurant which is fitting because their first prank involved first killing and then stealing and eating the chicken of a widow.

2011 naughty a

However, chips weren’t invented yet in 1860 when Busch wrote and illustrated the story.

Linked to Friday Fun: naughty.

 

 

 

Look at the clouds

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Clouds – rain – spring – river – sea – evaporation – clouds – rain – – –  the circle of life.

2009 clouds a

Can you see the newborn Lion King?

2009 clouds b

Clouds over hills and dales –

Wiesn

Clouds over the empty festival grounds which are home to the world largest beer festival once a year, the Münchner Oktoberfest.

2009 clouds d

And one big thick cloud and not nothing else.

2009 clouds e

A host of clouds behind a silhouette of trees.

2009 clouds f

And again stretching over hills

2009 clouds g

offering a peephole into the sky.

For Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Clouds.

 

Framed!

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“Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts.”

Garry Winogrand

2009 frame d

Step through the frame and find out (Leazes Park in Newcastle).

2009 frame f

And he stepped through the frame.

2009 frame e

In Ladenburg they have these signs all over town to show how the landscape was changed to make paths and parks more inviting.  On the left are photos of what it looked before and it can be compared with the reality today.  It was found that just putting up the photos wouldn’t be enough, so a frame was offered, similar to the frame of the old photograph to make the views comparable.  Because a frame changes things.

A frame also helps to focus the attention.  Or possibly, it allows people to cope with nature if they are used to seeing things only framed ?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Linked to Travel with Intent.  More photos inspired by the quotation by G. Winogrand (what a wonderful name!)  are collected here.

Perpetuum repairé

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Heidelberger Schloss

The landmark of Heidelberg – the castle above the historical town – was destroyed during the 17th and 18th century, by war and fire and fires caused by war. It has been partially rebuilt but its fame is founded on its pictorial decay.  Yet even this decay now needs care.  The castle is hardly ever without some kind of scaffolding.  A few years ago it was even advertised in the local newspapers that it would be free of any kind of visible building activities for a whole of two weeks.  On the next rain-free day my sister and I went to take pictures of this unusual event.  Alas – look closely:

Heidelberger Schloss

Heidelberger Schloss

Linked to One Word Sunday: Restoration.

Old, but not ancient

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2008 100 e

It’s difficult to see the building that is only about 100 years old in this photo.  The ruin of castle Windeck in the middle is approximately 1000 years old, the tower on the far left, part of the old town wall, is several 100 years old.  But the castle, called Wachenburg, right on top of the Wachenberg is pretty exactly 100 years old.  The building was started in 1907 and completed in 1928.

2008 100 a

It was meant to look like a medieval castle.

2008 100 d

And althought the overall effect is just that, close up it looks just a bit too well preserved.

2008 100 b

It was commissioned by a convocation of fraternities of students and they still have meetings up there.

2008 100 c

If there are not there, it is used as an event location with a restaurant, and in summer beer garden.

Linked to A Photo A Week: 100 years or older.

 

Windows from Schifferstadt

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Schifferstadt is a town on the Rhine near Ludwigshafen.  The old part has many half-timbered houses dating back several centuries – many are restored or are in the process of being restored.

2006 Schifferstadt a

Traditionally, these houses show the contrast between the dark brown or black wooden beams and the whitewashed mortar pieces in between.

 

2006 Schifferstadt e

Sometimes these colours are offset by colourful, often red, shudders.

2006 Schifferstadt b

Green is also a favourite, for shudders as well as for window frames.

2006 Schifferstadt c

However, in recent years more and more half-timbered houses have started to sport a coat of paint, ranging from soft pink like the one below to really dark or bright colours.

Dieses Haus erbaute

Often the panels are accentuated with two-tone coloured paint.  The writing on the beam reads: Joseph Maier and his wife Katharina built this house in the year of the  Lord 1835 (Dieses Haus erbaute Joseph Maier und seine Ehefrau Katharina im Jahre Christi 1835).

2006 Schifferstadt d

Blue is a fashionable tint for half-timbered houses these days.  It goes well with green climbers and red geraniums.

Linked to Monday Window.  For more windows, click here.

 

To print, to publish, and to brew

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Where would we be without books?  Where would books be if Johannes Gutenberg hadn’t invented movable letters?  Probably not in a very different position than today.

Peter Schöffer Buchdruck

No, this is not Gutenberg but Peter Schöffer.  An early collaborator of Gutenberg who scholars today think was more than an apprentice but quite essential in the devolopment of book printing and publishing.  The wikipedia article in German on him is much more detailed than the English one but for what it is worth if somebody is interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sch%C3%B6ffer

This statue stands in Schöffer’s hometown of Gernsheim, about 50km south of Mainz, where Gutenberg lived.  And as an aside: I like his legacy. It’s a very tasty beer!

And the connection to culture and alcohol is never far away in a wine growing / beer brewing area.  Rheinhessen advertises this on the cable car, pure and culture rhyme in German.

Rheinhessen

Linked to One Word Sunday: Culture.