Tag: Germany

Innocents abroad

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Mark Twain

When we came across this fellow, sitting quietly next to the river Ilmenau in Lüneburg, an American who happened to be standing next to me, felt the need to inform me – quite patronizingly – that this was a famous American writer and he wasn’t quite sure whether I might have heard of him.  I informed him – equally condescendingly – that I had read most everything that Mr Samuel Longhorne Clemens had written (which is not a lie, his collected works in English and German are amongst my most cherished books).   I added “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”  He recognised the quote and we proceeded to have an interesting conversation about Mark Twain.

For One Word Sunday: celebrity.

For more celebrity shots click here.

Let me lead you up the garden path

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In the town where I live there is a garden.  At 2.2 hectares in the middle of town, it is a small but wonderfully prolific botanical garden. The different sections and the paths are cleverly designed to give the impression of a much bigger place.

Albert-Ludwig-Grimm-Straße

When I was little this was my way to school.  I don’t remember that many cars parked there, if any, but the hedge on the right looked exactly like it does today.  It was old then, so it is at least 80 years old, possibly close to 200 years old now.  What lay beyond – this wonderful gem of a garden – was closed to the public.

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Since 1983, after the private enclosure was turned into a foundation, the garden became open to the public.  There is no entrance fee and the sights are wonderful at any time of the year.

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For Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge.

For more photos of paths, streets, roads, alleys click here.

For more information on the Hermannshof garden, click here.

 

OEG: Oh, ewiges Gewackel – O, everlasting jiGgling!

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One of the first tramlines between towns jn Germany (as opposed to inner-city lines) was the OEG (Oberrheinische Eisenbahngesellschaft) which ran (and still runs) on a circular track between Mannheim – Weinheim – Heidelberg.  Today it is connected to various other tram systems serving the larger Rhein-Neckar-area.  Locally, it is still affectionally known as OEG = Oh, Ewiges Gewackel, or O, Everlasting jiGgling, even though the carriages are much more comfortable today.  The official name – Linie 5 – has not caught on.

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Waiting for the ÖG.

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And here she comes. (Yes, this electric train is thought of as female.)

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For A Photo a Week Challenge: Public transportation.

More trains, trams, buses, and the like,  can be found here.

Woll

Refuse to sink!

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Cee gave me the idea for this entry into her Fun Foto Challenge when she asked for outdoor ways to move up and down: outdoor stairs, ladders, hot air balloons.

I took these photos a few years ago when hiking in the Eifel, a part of Germany to the west of Frankfurt.  The balloon came up and then descended in the valley in front of us only to fire up and get another lift.

More photos of outdoor ways to move up and down can be found here.

There is no elevator

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Stairs leading to the castle ruin Windeck in Weinheim.
Bavaria
Stairs leading up to the statue of Bavaria from the Oktoberfestplatz in Munich.
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Stairs in Mainz leading to the Oberstadt.
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Stairs in the dunes behind Bamburgh Castle.

Stairs are paths, too.

For Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge.  More paths, streets, roads, etc. can be found here.

Flowers and missiles

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I came across this mural in München, Germany (Munich).  Intellectually, I understand the juxtaposition between war/war machinery and the beauty found in flowers and traditional ceramics and porcelain.  But overall – I am not really convinced that it works for me.

For Monday Murals.  More murals can be found here.

 

Neckarbrückenblues

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Although Joy Fleming was thinking of a different bridge over the river Neckar when she sang her signature tune: Neckarbrückenblues, this bridge is about 20km upriver, and thus qualifies for Neckarbrücke.

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It spans the Neckar between Ilvesheim and Seckenheim, which is a suburb of Mannheim.

Here is clip of this German blues singer from Mannheim with the amazing voice, from 1980: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR6hKeCB4eQ

For Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge. More photos of roads, ways, paths, bridges and the like can be found here.

The best seat in the house?

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Rather rickety, don’t you think?

The Mad Hatter

Filigree- yes, comfortable – maybe, mad – definitely.

Hotel Kraft

Pseudo antique, old-fashioned elegance.43 seating b

 

 

A lonely, lovely bench in the woods.

 

 

 

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Not lonely, not really lovely.

 

 

 

 

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The best choice: A sit down with Mr Samuel Longhorn Clemens, next to the Ilmenau in Lüneburg, Germany.

 

 

 

For Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: any kind of seating.

If you want to take a seat with others – here they are.

Must haves at the Oktoberfest

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I found this First Aid vending machine at the fairground where the world famous Oktoberfest in Munich takes place each year.  It sells paper and desinfectant tissues, sticking plaster, antacid tablets, and condoms.  That should tell you something about what’s going on there each September (sic!).

This is for Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge.  More oddballs can be found here.