tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82856429013690471642024-03-14T01:03:03.196-07:00American in OberurselAmerican in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-9134814363757223192009-08-18T09:37:00.000-07:002009-08-18T09:41:05.980-07:00Song Stuck in my HeadThe Banana Boat Song... enjoy!<br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M4eoMxGDEJA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M4eoMxGDEJA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-78078265405858472872009-08-07T11:20:00.000-07:002009-08-07T11:43:28.777-07:00Blackberry Temptation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4v9VYY0JlGheYhNxGJ3mt2J3whHSXFQSLCnJeITovnrW0HFwi6GLJmv7nduIkpyMLtG_gwrDhKIdI4JiNVEtqP4oZ0Lu8ZwUs4LyUGj6DAoh7UKyYz6nWC0wpZwcQiTkNO-3K4gAjpEu/s1600-h/Blackberries+013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4v9VYY0JlGheYhNxGJ3mt2J3whHSXFQSLCnJeITovnrW0HFwi6GLJmv7nduIkpyMLtG_gwrDhKIdI4JiNVEtqP4oZ0Lu8ZwUs4LyUGj6DAoh7UKyYz6nWC0wpZwcQiTkNO-3K4gAjpEu/s320/Blackberries+013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367289935114706754" /></a><br />As part of B's recuperation, we head to the nearby beergarten in the afternoon - he calls it his <a href="http://www.krusovice.cz/#hospoda">Krusovice</a> (in Czech) therapy. On our way there, we have noticed bushes laden with huge, sweet blackberries. Despite his leg injury, B resolved to pick some of them, crossed a ditch, climbed up a steep incline and managed to pick a bowl full of berries before sliding down the slope into a thicket of stinging nettle plants.<br /><br />While European <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle">stinging nettle plants</a> look the same as their North American counterparts, B claims they are about one-hundred times worse. For five hours, his arm looked like a Klingon disease, covered with huge welts. He was in a lot of pain for most of the night and was a bit worried about the numbness but, having been through this experience myself before, I reassured him that it would be gone the next day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKO0_NfxrHy3wF0tN6Of7nqSs9wvbCd_m-TEDHKEmc80ZDK6nAkzcrIqpWn0xMD3txMjBPuvv57nbdJVQVpkfO6gWLw32WEPsj3HBUWRG71KCpfZfKyrMf-JP_MLFoNz4HI6oL-Egfi-a3/s1600-h/MangoLassi+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKO0_NfxrHy3wF0tN6Of7nqSs9wvbCd_m-TEDHKEmc80ZDK6nAkzcrIqpWn0xMD3txMjBPuvv57nbdJVQVpkfO6gWLw32WEPsj3HBUWRG71KCpfZfKyrMf-JP_MLFoNz4HI6oL-Egfi-a3/s320/MangoLassi+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367291535384610770" /></a><br />We have been making mango lassies and adding the blackberries as decoration on top. The picture shows a wine glass filled with leftover from the blender (imagine blackberry on top). Recipe is as follows:<br /><br />1 ripe mango, peeled and cut into chunks<br />4 ice cubes, crushed in blender<br />1/2 container of 1,5% natural yogurt (see picture)<br />2 tsp powdered sugar (see picture)<br />1 cup of skim milk<br />1 blackberry (as decoration, optional)<br /><br />Combine all of the above in a blender and mix until smooth. Enjoy two tall glasses of mango lassi!American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-40942585000260309252009-07-27T09:38:00.000-07:002009-07-27T09:51:36.632-07:00On the MendLast week was spent in and out of the orthopedic department at the university clinic in Frankfurt. I wanted to give a glimpse into how treatment differs a little from the US. As detailed in <a href="http://amiinbadhomburg.blogspot.com/2009/07/lookey-lookey-italy.html">a previous post</a>, B's leg was broken in Italy.<br /><br />Upon our return to Oberursel, he first called up our "Hausarzt", or general physician. It is not unusual in the months of July and August to have to make appointments with alternate doctors because a lot of Germans (including physicians) are on a "Urlaub" (vacation). His general physician gave him a referral for orthopedic treatment.<br /> <br />B had to draw a number at the university clinic. We waited a while before the electronic display in the waiting showed his number and directed us to one of four "Schalter" or admission counters.<br /><br />Once there, we presented the referral form from the general physician, B showed his TK insurance card and explained the reason for his visit. And then we waited, and waited, and waited... Waiting became the name of the game for four days. We would wait to see an orthopedic surgeon, for X-rays, for MRIs, more MRI's and finally to have his leg brace fitted. Occasionally, we had to wait at other locations to have MRIs done, for example.<br /><br />Most striking was the fact that we only payed a total of 20 Euros co-pay for pain killers and the leg brace. Despite some of the waiting we had to do, we felt that B received good care, equivalent to the US. In fact, he got the MRIs immediately and they were better than one I had had in the US on one of my knees a number of years back. Plus, he got immediate results from a physician after the MRI, who then passed the information back to the orthopedic surgeon.<br /><br />Some points worth noting - German physicians seem to prescribe Tylenol (Paracetamol) more often than any other painkiller. You have to insist on stronger stuff if a) you do not tolerate acetaminophen or b) your pain warrants something stronger. Be sure to ask a physician or pharmacist for drug interactions. Medication is described in German and dosage may differ from what is described in the printed material that comes with it as opposed to what your doctor recommends.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-59054540662813919782009-07-17T08:19:00.000-07:002009-07-17T08:55:29.224-07:00Mad King Ludwig Lived Here<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Neuschwanstein?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_RUwnaTJsGOc/SmCYHb0kidE/AAAAAAAADR8/J4MYGFcemUY/s160-c/Neuschwanstein.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Neuschwanstein?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Neuschwanstein</a></td></tr></table><br />Funny how I have low expectations for places I know to be touristy and high expectations for places I've never heard of. <br /><br />I meant to blog about <a href="http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/index.htm">Neuschwanstein</a> and <a href="http://www.hohenschwangau.de/index.php?id=430">Hohenschwangau</a> before but never got around to it. We were pleasantly surprised upon arriving in Hohenschwangau by the fact that there weren't nearly as many tourists as we thought. The service in <a href="http://www.hotel-mueller.de/adressekontakt.html">our hotel </a>was very courteous and dinner (trout with parsley potatoes) was excellent. We had a perfect view of Neuschwanstein floating in a patch of fog at sunset.<br /><br />While some visitors opt to take the horse-drawn carriage up the hill, I recommend doing the 20-minute hike by foot unless you are medically unable to do so. The horse carriage doesn't drop you off the front door of the castle. You have to walk another ten minutes after getting off. Also, it takes much longer to wait for the carriage then it does to just walk up the hill. <br /><br />We arrived in the early afternoon on a Sunday and had pre-ordered our castle tickets through the hotel. Because we delayed by a traffic jam on our way to Hohenschwangau, we asked the hotel to change our pre-assigned tickets to the castle from 3pm to 5:45pm, the last time-slot for the day, and they were kind enough to take care of it for us.<br /><br />Order tickets a day in advance of your arrival and you should be fine. Also, I recommend to see Hohenschwangau castle before Neuschwanstein. Hohenschwangau is more complete and detailed in its presentation and it paints a whole picture of King Ludwig of Bavaria and his family. If you are fairly fluent, request the German tour as 95% of tourists are from elsewhere and lines for the German-speaking visitors are much shorter. Once you arrive at the castle entry point, your ticket number will appear on an electronic display for your time-slot and you file in the appropriate line. <br /><br />See Neuschwanstein castle from another angle by taking the path to the left of the exit and walking to the <a href="http://www.allgaeu-ausfluege.de/06tmarienbruecke.htm">Marienbrücke</a>, a bridge suspended almost 300 feet above the Pöllat waterfall. Also worthwile doing is the paddleboat (5 Euros for 30 min.) or canoe rental on the Alpsee nearby. <br /><br />Now I can say - been there, done that and liked it.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-44032099584579660662009-07-16T06:22:00.000-07:002009-07-16T07:50:00.006-07:00Lookey, Lookey Italy<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Italy?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_RUwnaTJsGOc/Sl8rTy3jP2E/AAAAAAAADKg/qsSrQBq-sHY/s160-c/Italy.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Italy?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Italy</a></td></tr></table><br />Traveling by train in Italy, you become very familiar with one word - ritardo. It means "delayed". And delays become even worse when there is a train strike, a common occurence in Italy.<br /><br />Vernazza, Venice and Bolzano were our planned destinations. We made two out of the three before our vacation was shortened in Venice. But more about that later...<br /><br />Vernazza, our first stop, is located in a very scenic part of the Cinque Terre region. A trail connecting five cliff-side towns is what draws nature lovers to this area. The five towns - Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manerola and Riomaggiore - are overrun by tourists (mostly Americans).<br /><br />The food in most of the restaurants was poorly prepared and pricey. If you are not shocked by paying 10 to 15 Euros for a plate of pasta, then maybe an unsolicited 3 Euro per person bread and seating charge will do the trick. You can refuse the bread but they will still charge you. <br /><br />Throughout this seven-day trip, we encountered various methods of being scammed and inconvenienced. In Vernazza, we went to a bakery and were harrassed by the owner for wanting one kind of pastry and not the one he suggested. He continued to harangue us even as we sat down to eat. At another restaurant, B ordered pasta with clams. What he got was mostly empty clam shells... <br /><br />Venice, our second stop, is full of illegal street vendors peddeling counterfeit handbags. It's illegal to buy them and illegal to sell them and you don't want to be caught doing either. B was run over in a narrow alleyway by an illegal street vendor who was being chased by police. This happened fairly early on so we did not see very much of the city.<br /><br />B was transported by ambulance boat to the hospital. An X-ray determined that his leg was not fractured and that he suffered contusions to his knee. On the second day, we had to find a place that sells crutches and we filed a police report against the vendor. The vendor had been arrested but they let him go with the ridiculous excuse that "he said he was under 18". He looked like he was in his late 20s. <br /><br />We got a couple of souvenirs from Italy - crutches and brown socks. B had to buy brown socks because his were stolen from our room in Vernazza. We are glad to be back in Germany after this experience even though it took us 14 hours and an expensive train ticket to get back.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-67482435561390096712009-06-05T04:00:00.000-07:002009-06-05T04:22:54.281-07:00Koblenz<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/KoblenzGermany?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_RUwnaTJsGOc/Sij167MnsiE/AAAAAAAACfY/Wh_Avx6MDac/s160-c/KoblenzGermany.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/KoblenzGermany?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Koblenz, Germany</a></td></tr></table><br />I visited the city of Koblenz a couple of weeks ago - much of it is under construction in preparation for the BuGa or <a href="http://www.buga2011.de/web/index.php">Bundesgartenschau 2011</a>. Preparations are under way for this huge event on both the river front, the <a href="http://www.festungehrenbreitstein.de/englisch.html">Ehrenbreitstein fortress</a> and the electoral palace. Entrance to the fortress was free, as it is undergoing construction. It was difficult to keep scaffolding and cranes out of my pictures so I didn't take that many. I had taken a video of the Rhine in Flames fireworks last year and it will take place again in Koblenz <a href="http://www.koblenz-touristik.de/veranstaltungen/highlights/rhein-in-flammen.html">on August 8</a> of this year.<br /><br />Oberusel has its own celebration this weekend called the <a href="http://www.oberursel.info/de/veranstaltungen/veranstaltungen/brunnenfest/">Oberurseler Brunnenfest</a>(in German). The three-day event includes music, food, even a couple of marathons.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-64324456231315042872009-05-17T04:12:00.000-07:002009-05-17T11:02:33.162-07:00Berlin - Rathen - Dresden<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Berlin?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RUwnaTJsGOc/Sg_0nXq7-XE/AAAAAAAACPE/tBIHAOvDrJg/s160-c/Berlin.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Berlin?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Berlin</a></td></tr></table><br />I have a new favorite European city. I LOVE Berlin! We spent 5 beautiful days in Germany's capital before venturing south to Rathen for a short hiking trip and taking the train to Dresden.<br /><br />We saw Berlin from above and below - literally. We went up on the <a href="http://www.tv-turm.de">TV tower </a> to get a panoramic view of Berlin and on <a href="http://www.berliner-unterwelten.de">an underground tour</a> of a defunct part of the U8. The "Berlin von unten" guided tour was unsual in that the 2.5 hour tour led us through dark tunnels of the underground and ended in a WW2 bunker in which part of a hallway was blocked off by an original piece of the wall. For this tour, we had to bring a bright flashlight and wear rubber boots (boots were provided for us).<br />While many tourists head straight for the museum island, we only saw two museums - the <a href="http://www.dalimuseum.de">Dali museum</a> on Potsdamer Platz with a large collection of Dali's drawings (no oil paintings) and <a href="http://www.ddr-museum.de">the DDR museum</a>, which provided a glimpse into what life was like in the former East Germany.<br />The weather was picture-perfect so we took a boat tour on the river Spree which is lined with cafes and beergardens.<br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Rathen?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_RUwnaTJsGOc/Sg__02sI2hE/AAAAAAAACVY/xSWayZPt484/s160-c/Rathen.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Rathen?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Rathen</a></td></tr></table><br />We then took the train to Rathen, a little town on the Elbe river known for the "Bastei", or sandstone rock formations, towering over it. Hiking in this area is just breathtaking and trails of varying degrees of difficulty lead through woods, towns, meadows and - inevitably - the next beergarten. We booked a room in a 13th century "burg" with a beautiful view over the river valley.<br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Dresden?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_RUwnaTJsGOc/ShA8morwQDE/AAAAAAAACcs/q5rpIJUbyj4/s160-c/Dresden.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Dresden?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Dresden</a></td></tr></table>Our last part of the trip was spent in Dresden. We went on <a href="http://www.kurtvonnegut-tour.com">a special 2.5 hour guided tour</a> that took us to Kurt Vonnegut's famous "Slaughterhouse 5". Vonnegut was a POW in WW2, survived the decimation of Dresden in the meatlocker of this slaughterhouse and later became a celebrated American author. Our guide, Grit, did a great job explaining the architecture of Dresden, its history and its ties to Vonnegut's novel.<br />Dresden is an eclectic mix of architecture - what's old is new and what's new is old. We were fortunate also to catch part of the Dixieland music celebration on the river. Dozens of dinner boats and a few real paddlewheel steamboats float up and down the Elbe while people listen to the music onboard and from the shoreline. The evening culminated in fireworks over the river.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-26000913423437944472009-05-05T04:10:00.000-07:002009-05-05T06:34:02.007-07:00To the Tulips<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/TheNetherlands?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RUwnaTJsGOc/SgAkU_McJ4E/AAAAAAAACJo/0-5oDHo8yfY/s160-c/TheNetherlands.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/TheNetherlands?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">The Netherlands</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />We spent a weekend seeing Delft, Amsterdam, the tulip fields and gardens and the seaside town of <a href="http://www.vollendam.nl/volendam_english/index.html">Volendam</a>. A boat tour of Amsterdam gave us a glimpse of the maze of canals and leaning buildings that line them. Also saw a tiny little bit of the red-light district.<br /><br />What Disney World is to kids, the <a href="http://www.keukenhof.nl/index/en/">Keukenhof Gardens</a> near Lisse, the Netherlands, is to tulip and bulb flower lovers around the world. Millions of bright-colored tulips and, apparently, no deer anywhere near them because all the bulbs and plants were intact. A must-see for any expat, just like the cherry blossoms in Washington D.C.<br /><br />We did a little shopping in Volendam - some Dutch specialties are sirup waffles, salty licorice and many different versions of wooden clogs.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-66403626533315630402009-04-02T04:34:00.000-07:002009-04-02T05:11:06.123-07:00The Frugal ExpatThe downturn of the economy is also affecting expats in Germany. Some of you may face layoffs and some may just want to cut down on spending because of recent losses in 401Ks and retirement plans.<br /><br />Below is a list of ideas on living frugally. Feel free to share comments and ideas on how to cut down on expenses:<br /><br /><em>1. Create a Budget</em><br /><br />Since no one is going to bail you or me out the way AIG or GM has been bailed out, creating an overview of your monthly expenses is the best way to start cutting costs. Put your Excel spreadsheet program to use and create a personal budget.<br /><br />Enter regular monthly expenses like rent, utilities, groceries, car insurance, gas -you know, the things you need to live on. The emphasis here is on "things you need" not things you want. As expats, our travel budget is an important one and some of us may forego on getting regular haircuts and save up for a one-night stay in a real, fortress-like castle complete with in-room suit and armor. The point is, be clear about your needs and wants.<br /><br /><em>2. Start cutting back on luxuries</em><br /><br />Do you really need a monthly pedicure? Can you buy your beer in the store instead of going out? Do you need to use the car or could you walk? Can you work out at home instead of the gym? Start trimming expenses from your budget that you can do without. <br /><br /><em>3. Spend wisely</em><br /><br />Once you have identified your expenses, look for creative ways to save on the things you need. In the US, I found newspaper coupons to be useful only if you wanted to fill up your shopping cart with junkfood. In Germany, I regularly see discounts on essential and basic food items like produce and meat. These are labeled with an "Aktionspreis" or discounted price.<br /><br />I also found that signing up to the frequent shopper points ("Punkte") was a way of getting brand-name items (from Villeroy and Boch or Fila, for example) for less at the grocery store. So instead of paying retail prices for brand name towels and luggage, I redeemed my points for these items at the grocery store. Ok.. this falls more under the "want" category rather than the "need" category.<br /><br />Look at your insurance coverages and see if there are areas to cut back on. If you drive an old car, can you lower collision coverage or could you lower life insurance rates.<br /><br /><em>4. Sell what you don't need</em><br /><br />I have not explored this yet but I can imagine that there is a good niche market for selling American things in Germany - i.e. desirable American brand names and items like the Levi jeans you never fit in or the Harley Davidson jacket hiding in the deep, dark corner of your closet. Check out <a href="http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/de">Craig's List for Germany</a>. Or contact your city hall to find out if you can participate at a Sunday flea market "Flohmarkt"), a popular way to sell a lot of your stuff at once. Some laid-off expats might have to pay their way back to the US and this is a good option to<br />lighten your load and reduce shipping costs.<br /><br /><em>5. Network</em><br /><br />Put <a href="http://twitter.com/">Twitter</a> to good use and inform your friends of sales, bargains and great finds. Who cares if you are you are picking the lint out of your belly button - tell me where I can find a good deal on summer tires in Germany or which store just opened and is handing out free samples of stuff. Better yet - tell me who is hiring.<br /><br />Use <a href="http://en-gb.facebook.com/">Facebook</a> and other online social networks in the same manner - network with people who are great bargain-hunters. <br /><br /><em>6. Little ways to save</em><br /><br />Think of every aspect of your daily routine as a way to save money. My list of examples:<br /><br />a. Cut down on the time you shower, shut off lights in the room when you leave and encourage your kids to do the same. Turn off PCs and unplug TVs in the evening.<br /><br />b. Take your lunch to work.<br /><br />c. Cut down on using your clothes dryer and drip-dry your clothes on a <a href="http://www.leifheit.de/en/leifheit/products/product-list/kategorie/trocknen.html">cool German clothes rack</a>. This will cut down on wear-and-tear of your clothes.<br /><br />d. Wear your clothes more than once, especially if you layer them.<br /><br />e. Instead of going out to eat, cook a healthy meal at home. Invite friends for coffee instead of going out to your corner coffee shop for a 3-Euro Latte Macchiato.<br /><br />f. Rent a movie at your local Videothek, instead of going out.<br /><br />g. Walk to the corner store and leave the car at home.<br /><br />h. If you must travel (and expats always do), check out travel bargains. Americans are cutting back on overseas vacations so hotels and airfares are coming down.<br /><br />i. Buy energy-saving bulbs and appliances. In Germany, fluorescent bulbs are less expensive than incandescent ones.<br /><br />j. Email and <a href="http://www.skype.com/welcomeback/">Skype</a> your relatives in the US more often. Regular mail and international calls are very expensive in Germany.<br /><br />k. Look for seasonal bargains in Germany called "Schnäppchen". Unlike the US where you have 70%-off sales at clothes stores all the time, in Germany retail stores will have winter and summer-type of sales and discounts.<br /><br />l. Haggle down prices whereever and whenever you can - be shameless about it. Think "AIG executive bonuses" when you do it. The worst that can happen is that someone will say "no".<br /><br />m. Trade books/videos/music/skills with other expats. Your DK France for my Rick Steve's Italy.<br /><br />n. If you have kids, encourage them to do all of the above.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-26568546715136537872009-03-16T08:41:00.000-07:002009-03-16T09:34:54.250-07:00Fulda<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://picasaweb.google.com/Americanin0berursel/Fulda#5313815909732536322"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313823458918060930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcyTgHSQKkR1Om5ro4IfXxrtjD9dHUHEjt7YZfsJwImOWvk6cU7iZvZ5FsGzPyIOuJYY2kvdsfae31ZTT_dBWIQcQhZagPWFtG_jod40e_Ei1Ar-dDPNHtJH_AUphzsjcHs2R0wtOMvFJ/s320/Old+Style+Street+Signs.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />This winter has been a long one and we were glad to get out of our apartment and take a half-day trip to <a href="http://www.fulda.de/en/living-in-fulda.html">Fulda</a> (English version of the site is not very complete). The town is located about 1.5 hours northeast of Frankfurt.<br /><br />We were surprised to find a big pedestrian area and baroque historical buildings, including a palace. One of the coolest structures is the "Hexenturm" or witches tower. We also found a street sign in the old-style German lettering. This being a university town, it is also very popular with students.<br /><br />I can't wait for spring to start!American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-12975503261942484492009-03-11T05:01:00.000-07:002009-03-11T06:04:45.221-07:00German School Shooting in Winnenden<strong>Winnenden German School Shooting</strong><br /><br />Hard to believe that <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,612612,00.html">this type of tragedy</a> (from Spiegel's website in English) happens in Germany almost as often as in the US given that <a href="http://www.waffenbesitz.de/">gun licensing</a> (in German) is much stricter and tighter than in the US. <br /><br />Having witnessed the aftermath of a shooting outside my own university dorm a long time ago (which resulted in an acquaintance of mine being seriously wounded and her ex-boyfriend committing suicide), I feel very strongly about gun ownership. I hope this opens the possibility of higher taxes for gun owners and making private gun ownership a much more difficult privilege to enjoy. I think banning guns will never be a reality as there are too many gun manufacturers lobbying to keep them around.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-46925092368994657752008-12-09T07:09:00.000-08:002008-12-09T07:16:47.058-08:00Birthday in GermanyIt's my birthday today and so far it has been pretty uneventful. I received a couple of phone calls, including one from a birthday twin and a really cool gift from B - a digital photo frame/alarm clock which also works in the US. <br /><br />I have been busy all afternoon sizing my favorite photos and making adjustments in Photoshop which I save to my 2GB SD-card that plugs into the back of the digital frame. I should be baking a cake but I am already baking a pumpkin pie tomorrow for a cookie exchange event on Thursday.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-52655574153764870652008-12-06T14:24:00.000-08:002008-12-06T15:01:15.787-08:00Happy Nikolaustag<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-c6de99412414b5df height=266 width=320 contentId="c6de99412414b5df"></OBJECT><br /><br />To get out of the house and the funk I have been in, B and I went to buy our Christmastree today. It's a potted blue fir with such sturdy, sharp needles that B put the lights on with his gloves. <br /><br />We also went to see the local Christmas market this afternoon. The atmosphere was just wonderful with a brass band playing Christmas music on the town square. Video above has music but it was Jingle Bells being piped through from somewhere and it wasn't really as noisy either but there were kids playing on gravel all around us. <br /><br />Today is Nikolaustag (St. Nick's day) and, traditionally, children clean their boots and put them in front of the door on the eve of Dec. 5 to find goodies in them on the morning of Dec. 6. If a kid has been bad over the year, which rarely happens, he/she receives boots filled with charcoals. We went to fill up the car with gas today and B actually got two free St. Nick chocolates from the station attendant. I guess, we've been good.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-51331995065761674642008-12-05T04:51:00.000-08:002008-12-05T04:56:42.624-08:00Winter BluesI don't know if it's the terrible weather or just the fact that I have cabin fever but I've got a serious case of the winter blues. I am spending an inordinate amount of time playing online pictionary with the world <a href="http://www.allgamesallfree.com/games1452-draw-my-thing.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I am in Xmas denial, postponing shopping and mailing cards. Along those same lines, I came across <a href="http://www.theprocrastinator.co.uk/timewasting">this web site - just to put off some more chores and waste more time</a>.<br /><br />B's company Xmas party is this evening. He asked what the dress code would be and they said anything from jeans to "Stoffhosen", which we take to mean dress pants. Or maybe, it's so people don't <a href="http://www.thelittlegerman.com/">wear their Lederhosen </a>(snicker!).<br /><br />My B-day is next Tuesday and I miss all my friends in the US. In a year of living here, we have not yet made any friends. Heck, we don't even know our neighbors because we rarely see them. I hear that complaint a lot from expats about Germany - it's difficult to make friends with locals. Maybe that will take another decade or so of living here....American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-39449340846817187892008-11-18T10:13:00.000-08:002008-11-18T10:24:52.383-08:00Klaatu barada nikto<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sIaxSxEqKtA&hl=de&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sIaxSxEqKtA&hl=de&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I am looking forward to seeing the remake of a great classic and my favorite movie of all times, "The Day the Earth Stood Still". Maybe the <a href="http://turm-palast-kino-frankfurt-am-main.kino-zeit.de/programm.php">Turm Palast movie theater in Frankfurt</a>, which shows English movies in their original version, will run it.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1665335321/">trailer of the remake</a> suggests this version will be much more apocalyptic. I hope the message of peace that Klatuu brings to Earthlings will not get lost in all the special effects. The classic movie had all the innocence of the 1950s-style movies which made it so special. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000206/">Keanu Reeves</a> stars in this remake and I wonder if it is coincidence that he should have chosen a character with a first name similar to his own(Klaatu/Keanu). Very appropriate for Reeves to star in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" because the acting involves the same kind of stoicism he displayed in the Matrix trilogy. "Klaatu barada nikto" is Martian for "go save Klaatu", but I think it also means have some popcorn and enjoy the movie.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-44689473225982633842008-11-14T03:40:00.000-08:002008-11-14T03:46:32.261-08:00Friday, November 14, 2008<strong>B got Blitzed</strong><br /><br />...and I don't mean, he got drunk. He was in a hurry to pick up medicine from the pharmacy and drove 40km in a 30km zone. This Kodak moment was captured in a flash ("Blitz") by a roadside camera. I am hoping that the soupy fog (see picture of horse in fog below) we have today will make it hard for him to be identified and through some great stroke of luck he will be spared a speeding ticket.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eI452TQnaYL28V5j_iRQggV7BWiIwQ35bqacJ_ezZ53yMe7KSLEiD-p0U201Iol9pucB38mGF2d6q6NrYi6z9GQwdRfi_kZ0xHzTnqNgEk1h5WCf1ZQ9YVmgVsGcfBDj7ML1Bm_Gdtg-/s1600-h/IMG_1491.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eI452TQnaYL28V5j_iRQggV7BWiIwQ35bqacJ_ezZ53yMe7KSLEiD-p0U201Iol9pucB38mGF2d6q6NrYi6z9GQwdRfi_kZ0xHzTnqNgEk1h5WCf1ZQ9YVmgVsGcfBDj7ML1Bm_Gdtg-/s320/IMG_1491.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268477861466865778" /></a><br />Our winter tires are mostly flat tires (see previous post) or at least, this is what the car's computer keeps telling us. Somehow, after installation, the new tire pressure has to be saved but it will not let us do this. If I could only find the car manual. Just looking at the tires, there is no noticeable sign that they are flat. B thinks the top of the tire looks smaller than the bottom but I cannot tell.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-36834032383722853742008-11-08T04:17:00.000-08:002008-11-08T04:30:22.691-08:00Saturday, November 8, 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9Kflar0nbgeSKbQqkS9kheHmnbmwFY9BkwD4XpuE1rkANHdn8CqfW5kBSfHxGa8D9UYWj8bLVLiFhq4V6Rx0dR4uYrsE8oi5lvKZFKU3s_xvsyN1tKhc0wgVf5ZQJPP5LpWAiaQfvWOF/s1600-h/IMG_1486.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9Kflar0nbgeSKbQqkS9kheHmnbmwFY9BkwD4XpuE1rkANHdn8CqfW5kBSfHxGa8D9UYWj8bLVLiFhq4V6Rx0dR4uYrsE8oi5lvKZFKU3s_xvsyN1tKhc0wgVf5ZQJPP5LpWAiaQfvWOF/s320/IMG_1486.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266260127740326850" /></a><br /><br /><strong>German Sushi</strong><br /><br />We ran out to get groceries at the <em>Real</em> supermarket today. Supposedly, <em>Real</em> used to be Walmart in Germany. I was really hungry for sushi. Whole Foods in the US carried a nice brown rice variety.<br /><br />The above picture is what I found. I love the soy sauce in the fish-shaped bottle and the Wasabi packet on the side. I had already squeezed some of the soy sauce on the sushi before I took the picture. Note the German compound word for wasabi preparation on the green packet. Gotta love those compound words.<br /><br />In the US, I have seen the ginger and wasabi placed on the side with the fake little green grass clipping. Ginger was either pink or white. The German wasabi was more mustard-colored and stronger in taste while the ginger slices were much milder. The peapod strapped to one of the rice rolls is a good indicator of freshness.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-59165087971972646562008-11-07T03:27:00.000-08:002008-11-07T03:40:00.963-08:00Friday, November 7, 2008<strong>Embedded Stuff</strong><br /><br />Hmmm, that Sheryl Crow video I added to my <a href="http://amiinbadhomburg.blogspot.com/2008/11/wednesday-november-5-2008.html">previous post </a>has been pulled. Why does YouTube offer the code to embed only for it to be pulled? Anyways, you can hear <a href="http://www.sherylcrow.com/">"Now That You are Gone" here</a>.<br /><br />Here, another tune playing in my head these days:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iWWgvkY8MTY&hl=de&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iWWgvkY8MTY&hl=de&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I like the crackling record player sound but it's like watching my Miele washer turn. After a while, you are hypnotized.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-48125013507344076762008-11-05T03:10:00.000-08:002008-11-05T03:12:30.301-08:00Wednesday, November 5, 2008<strong>Shrub, this is for you...</strong><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Llu2zqRofw&hl=de&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Llu2zqRofw&hl=de&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-34226993856584279772008-11-03T23:24:00.000-08:002008-11-03T23:25:44.175-08:00Tuesday, November 4, 2008<strong>Election Results Here</strong><br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/48f7b94a8845f8a3/490ff85c7daf0959/4905331bc4942126/225567a9/-cpid/d2e14f4080a525a" id="W48f7b94a8845f8a3490ff85c7daf0959" width="300" height="545"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/48f7b94a8845f8a3/490ff85c7daf0959/4905331bc4942126/225567a9/-cpid/d2e14f4080a525a" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /></object>American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-25403965966572558972008-10-31T04:52:00.000-07:002008-10-31T05:08:30.665-07:00Friday, October 31, 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKt7mx8pLo1ZWPmTjuWM6pa44KFFxpRYVYt6BdMpNhl3PYuYuthrUWqoQv9_MZDtqgSVUZo8JtZqPQBhcMrY2smpBVhT183DzsQyaQ4V67rq9cctaYJyf3C9siw8YDgLBCHTe_ccRE2x3/s1600-h/Oberursel3+045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKt7mx8pLo1ZWPmTjuWM6pa44KFFxpRYVYt6BdMpNhl3PYuYuthrUWqoQv9_MZDtqgSVUZo8JtZqPQBhcMrY2smpBVhT183DzsQyaQ4V67rq9cctaYJyf3C9siw8YDgLBCHTe_ccRE2x3/s320/Oberursel3+045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263285214391566946" /></a><br /><strong>Boo!</strong><br /><br />Oberursel celebrated Halloween last Saturday. There is a recurring theme to town festivities - stands offering cake and coffee or sausages and beer line the streets. A clothing store and a hair salon offered free face painting for kids dressed in costume. We saw lots of kids dressed as witches and wizards. I walked by one of the bakeries and took the above picture of colorful donuts sprouting gummibear eyeballs. They were sold in the blink of an eye - ha!<br /><br />B and I tried out a cooking class last night offered by the <a href="http://www.vhs-hochtaunus.de">Oberursel VHS ("Volkshochschule", or community college</a>) A group of 14 people showed up to bake a variety of breads topped off with several creative spreads. As the teacher explained the individual recipes, we enjoyed a glass of bio-Prosecco, an organic sparkling wine from Northern Italy, mixed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabuckthorn">sea-buckthorn</a> juice. I baked hazelnut bread rolls made with spelt flour and a vegan prune-almond jam as a topping. B made a spread from goat cheese, coriander, garlic and olive oil. After everyone completed their recipes, we enjoyed a huge spread and packed the leftovers to take home. This cooking course was a great way to meet locals, socialize and practice German.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-33793275538168626382008-10-30T03:09:00.000-07:002008-10-30T03:18:22.157-07:00Thursday, October 30, 2008<strong>The First Snow</strong><br /><br />Pictures of the first snowfall in Germany are <a href="http://wetter.rtl.de/redaktion/wettercockpit/index.php?md5=0a92fc66694dac11c3740c2473820af8">here</a>. No snow in Oberursel but people are lining up to have their snow tires mounted for the winter. Apparently, everyone waits until the last minute to have this done and it is next to impossible to get an appointment.<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.hr-online.de/website/specials/home/index.jsp?rubrik=16896&key=standard_document_20613446">this site (in German), </a>if you are caught driving summer tires during the winter, you have to pay 20 Euros. Even if you are not to blame in a car accident, but you are driving with summer tires, you have to pay a fine of 40 Euros. Some insurance companies won't even cover you in an accident if you drive with the wrong tires.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-15629565717955456922008-10-24T08:36:00.000-07:002008-10-24T08:51:16.241-07:00Friday, October 24, 2008<strong>'Tis that Season Again</strong><br /><br />Wow, I am amazed that the shelves are already filling up with Christmas stuff. It's not even <a href="http://www.hr-online.de/website/specials/extended/index.jsp?startrubrik=40054">Halloween</a>, which just in the last couple of years, has gained popularity in Germany. Don't the cookies and marzipan dry out if they sit around for that long?<br /><br />The mad rush starts even sooner than in the US! Just to get everyone in the mood and plan for their favorite German Christmas market, here is an <a href="http://www.weihnachtsmarkt360.de/">awesome site with 360degree panoramic pictures of markets </a>around Germany. To plan on where to go, check out this <a href="http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/culture_and_events/weihnachtsmaerkte_karte.htm">interactive map </a>from the <a href="http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/culture_and_events/christmas_markets.htm">German tourist office</a>. <br /><br />I asked my local post office about sending parcels to the US and I was advised to get them out by the end of November or first week of December. Here is the <a href="http://www.deutschepost.de/dpag?tab=1&skin=hi&check=yes&lang=de_EN&xmlFile=828">Deutsche Post site</a> (in English) but with a <a href="http://www.deutschepost.de/dpag/popup?tab=1&skin=hi&check=yes&lang=de_DE&xmlFile=1004909">German postage calculator</a>. Our postal office also carries cute Christmas-themed boxes.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.weihnachtsmanndorf.de">Countdown to Xmas.</a> Visit in November and practice writing your wish list to Santa in German. In December, they have a virtual advent calendar. <br /><br />And if the shopping gets you all tuckered out, sit down and relax for a little <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gl%C3%BChwein">Glühwein</a> (mulled wine) and Lebkuchen (ginger bread cookies). <a href="http://www.brigitte.de/tipps/specials/weihnachten/lebkuchentest/index.html">Brigitte online </a>claims that one of the best Lebkuchen brands available in stores is called Leysieffer.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-79554475736531750492008-10-23T03:08:00.001-07:002008-10-23T10:16:40.943-07:00Thursday, October 23, 2008<strong>Let There be Heat</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhIirqdivwdXCp2Kzs5MCOfVPK2JoHTTtcCjQGY2XS1WKI8dcJmaVdiubnBpqk8tE-jsGIVqKVGzRPVE5wlBrG5fmS3QfSl6-f1zPvsQ9MUzkJbwnxye7598Rf0Br-vViMae762RnxOhyphenhyphen/s1600-h/IMG_1350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhIirqdivwdXCp2Kzs5MCOfVPK2JoHTTtcCjQGY2XS1WKI8dcJmaVdiubnBpqk8tE-jsGIVqKVGzRPVE5wlBrG5fmS3QfSl6-f1zPvsQ9MUzkJbwnxye7598Rf0Br-vViMae762RnxOhyphenhyphen/s320/IMG_1350.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260289879936323394" /></a><br /><br /><br />After returning from our vacation on the Canary Islands, we had to turn on our radiators for the first time in about 8 months. We felt cold because we had just returned from a sunny, desert-like island with 80 degree weather to foggy, grey Oberursel and the radiators were not producing much heat.<br /><br />And so our introduction to the German way of heating began. I called the building manager and he ordered a heating company to take a look. Someone came two days later (yes, we were shivering for two nights) and bled the air out of most of the radiators by using a key ("Entlüfterschlüssel") to turn the nut on one side of the<br />radiator (see above picture). <br /><br />I asked the repairman where I would find such a key and he said I could get them in any home improvement center. It looks like the radiator in our bedroom is still not working properly because I hear dripping sounds at night.<br /><br />In our rental contract, it stipulates that the heating unit in the basement has to allow for us to maintain a temperature of no less than 20 degrees in our unit in the winter. This is a good clause to have especially if you live in a multi-story home.<br /><br />I love radiators for two reasons: a) forced air blows a lot of dust around b) towels, underwear and socks placed on a hot bathroom radiator in the morning feel soooo good when you get out of the shower.<br /><br />Update: Just for fun and since I have not embedded videos before, here is one from msnbc.com about what Germans hope for from the US elections:<br /><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26944650#26944650" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285642901369047164.post-80835266570321387022008-10-05T08:29:00.000-07:002008-10-05T08:44:17.923-07:00Sunday, October 5, 2008<strong>The German Tropics</strong><br /><br />If you have the itch to travel to a warm place outside of Germany in October but want to enjoy all the conveniences of your expat home, consider the <a href="http://turismodecanarias.com/en/islas/gran-canaria?gclid=CNaq4Mi2kJYCFQPWXgodbCz7Aw">Canary Islands</a>.<br /><br />We spent a week on Gran Canaria - Playa del Ingles to be precise. Although the name translates to "Beach of the Englishman", a more accurate description would be Playa de los Alemanes - "Beach of the Germans". Not once during the whole stay did we encounter one single American tourist. We were mostly surrounded by German retirees.<br /><br />There are no pictures to document our stay there because a) it was so windy on the beach on a couple of occasions that we worried about sand getting into our cameras and b) clothing was minimal and, at times, optional.<br /><br />Booking our trip through a discount travel agency online proved to be very frustrating. To make a long story short, be careful to read the "AGBs" (Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen) which spell out what you are legally on the hook for. According to this agency, flight information was subject to change and little did we know that change could happen as quickly as 5 minutes after booking online, putting us on a flight arriving at 1am instead of 12pm. Well, after much yelling over the phone and threats of reporting them to the German equivalent of the <a href="http://www.vzbv.de/start/index.php?page=english">consumer</a> <a href="http://www.vzbv.de/start/index.php?page=english">protection agency</a> and the German Tourism Board, we got the flights we originally requested.<br /><br />Many of the touristy spots around our hotel offered menus and translations in German first, then in English. We ordered German beer just about everywhere and if we wanted to we could even have our <a href="http://www.cafemozart.es/english/">coffee and cake right on the beach</a>. I think we heard more German spoken than Spanish.American in Oberurselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901768968308640531noreply@blogger.com0