I’ve tried to fit these into any of my previous city-dedicated entries, but found it difficult, as there are things, that are true to any place. Guess, this is why this entry. Few things that I think are worth making a note of about Germany in general and about Baden-Württemberg in particular.
Beer.
Undoubtedly the top one of all clichés about Germany. Even guide books gives you a hint. i.e. “travel advice” – when in Germany, don’t forget to taste local beer. Being diligent travellers, we did our best to follow the instructions. This didn’t help to feel healthy and fit, but at least I can now tsay with confidence: I'm not too fond of beer, but I do like the Bavarian one. It has some special taste so that when you sip it, a crowd of tiny elves comes to dance on your shoulders…
Dogs.
Why would I want to write about dogs? It’s actually, the dogs in Heidelberg that inspired these words. I have never seen that many of them in public places. Of course all the dogs were well behaved, clean and polite. Mostly of a small kind. But boy, weren’t they everywhere?! On the streets, on a bus, in our hotel, simply everywhere. There must be truly outside of norms, since it attracted my attention.
Trains.
Trains in Germany should definitely be acknowledged. For being the best in Europe, maybe even the best in the World, I don’t know. And I don’t mean just carriages, but the system that operates train’s network impressed me a lot. Even not knowing language, you can easily find out all the information you need, get a print out of your best route with all the changes, including the platforms, times, etc. Such machines installed on every station. The automatic service helped us a lot in planning and actually getting whenever we wanted. There are also electronic panels in every carriage of every train, showing the next stop. Very convenient. Germans trains deserved a Best Trains Award, a poem dedicated to them or even a sonnet declaring love.
Romantics
Who said that Germans are not romantic?! They gave us great poets and musicians. They gave us Goethe and Schiller; Brahms and Berliose. And many more others. Just to make a point of how romantic Germans could be, here is an example:
Nähe des Geliebten
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~
I think of you,
when I see the sun's shimmer
Gleaming from the sea.
I think of you,
when the moon's glimmer
Is reflected in the springs.
I see you,
when on the distant road
The dust rises,
In deep night,
when on the narrow bridge
The traveler trembles.
I hear you,
when with a dull roar
The wave surges.
In the quiet grove I often go to listen
When all is silent.
I am with you,
however far away you may be,
You are next to me!
The sun is setting,
soon the stars will shine upon me.
If only you were here!
If this is not romantic, what is?...
And to zest it up – click here for an overall presentation of my trip – I’ve pulled together some of the pictures.
Well, guess, this is the end of it then. And someone going to be sleeeeeepy at office tomorrow …or in fact, already in 3 hours today…:-(
Beer.
Undoubtedly the top one of all clichés about Germany. Even guide books gives you a hint. i.e. “travel advice” – when in Germany, don’t forget to taste local beer. Being diligent travellers, we did our best to follow the instructions. This didn’t help to feel healthy and fit, but at least I can now tsay with confidence: I'm not too fond of beer, but I do like the Bavarian one. It has some special taste so that when you sip it, a crowd of tiny elves comes to dance on your shoulders…
Dogs.
Why would I want to write about dogs? It’s actually, the dogs in Heidelberg that inspired these words. I have never seen that many of them in public places. Of course all the dogs were well behaved, clean and polite. Mostly of a small kind. But boy, weren’t they everywhere?! On the streets, on a bus, in our hotel, simply everywhere. There must be truly outside of norms, since it attracted my attention.
Trains.
Trains in Germany should definitely be acknowledged. For being the best in Europe, maybe even the best in the World, I don’t know. And I don’t mean just carriages, but the system that operates train’s network impressed me a lot. Even not knowing language, you can easily find out all the information you need, get a print out of your best route with all the changes, including the platforms, times, etc. Such machines installed on every station. The automatic service helped us a lot in planning and actually getting whenever we wanted. There are also electronic panels in every carriage of every train, showing the next stop. Very convenient. Germans trains deserved a Best Trains Award, a poem dedicated to them or even a sonnet declaring love.
Romantics
Who said that Germans are not romantic?! They gave us great poets and musicians. They gave us Goethe and Schiller; Brahms and Berliose. And many more others. Just to make a point of how romantic Germans could be, here is an example:
Nähe des Geliebten
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~
I think of you,
when I see the sun's shimmer
Gleaming from the sea.
I think of you,
when the moon's glimmer
Is reflected in the springs.
I see you,
when on the distant road
The dust rises,
In deep night,
when on the narrow bridge
The traveler trembles.
I hear you,
when with a dull roar
The wave surges.
In the quiet grove I often go to listen
When all is silent.
I am with you,
however far away you may be,
You are next to me!
The sun is setting,
soon the stars will shine upon me.
If only you were here!
If this is not romantic, what is?...
And to zest it up – click here for an overall presentation of my trip – I’ve pulled together some of the pictures.
Well, guess, this is the end of it then. And someone going to be sleeeeeepy at office tomorrow …or in fact, already in 3 hours today…:-(