Blogs from Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany, Europe
July 10th 2011
Zadnji dan je bil, kot pritiče tradiciji, najboljši – v vseh pogledih. Zjutraj, že ob osmih, smo se skidali iz hotela proti železniški postaji. Na sveže spranih nedeljskih jutranjih ulicah smo bili edini, družbo so nam delali ne tu in tam kakšni mašni navdušenci. Ob 8.46 smo sedli na regionalni vlak do Ingolstadta, ki je znan po svoji proizvodnji Audijev, ampak mene je pritegnilo nekaj drugega – znova Deutsche Bahn. Res mi je nenzansko všeč, kako so vsi vlaki sodobno opremljeni, kako te na LCD-zaslonu redno obveščajo o hitrosti (povprečje tam nekje 118 kmh), kako te opozarjajo, na katero stran vagona bo postaja … Res je potovanje po Nemčiji totalno stress-frei, ker vse klapa, vse štima, vse je do potankosti naštudirano in zorganizirano. Kapo dol! Če bi not uletili še azijski prodajalci vsega živega okusnega in ... read more
September 26th 2010
Friday 17th September 2010 Today we caught the bus into Augsburg and visited its magnificent town hall the Rathaus with its Goldener Saal or Golden Hall ( see pix ). Augsburg took a pounding in WW2 being the home of some key armament factories and the Rathaus has been rebuilt from a shell that was left from allied bombing. We ( except Max who once again opted to stay on the ground ) also climbed the adjacent Perlachturm for a superb view of the city. The other interesting place here was the Fuggerei the first social housing in the world set up by Jakob Fugger ( I do not jest ) in 1521 as a social settlement for the needy of Augsburg. It is still in use for the same purpose today with 150 people housed ... read more
September 18th 2010
Thursday 16th September 2010 Creglingen to Augsburg on the Romantic Road A short drive from our overnight stop to Rothenburg ob der Tauber complicated by a closed road and a 10 mile diversion or Umleitung in the local parlance. Finally we see the town which rises high above Tauber Valley and has its complete covered wall and many medieval buildings. The local legend has it that on one occasion the town was taken by hostile forces and the conquering general offered to spare the city from destruction if anyone could down 3.5 litres of wine in one go. The mayor volunteered and succeeded saving the town - a feat that is celebrated every year. We then followed the Romantic Road south to Muhlhausen north of Augsburg. On the journey a literacy session then comprised creating a ... read more
February 22nd 2010
Die Reisevorbereitungen sind fast abgeschlossen und langsam stellt sich eine Mischung aus Nervosität und Vorfreude ein... obwohl die Nacht sehr kurz war, da noch bis um 4 Uhr Fußball auf höchster Playstation-Ebene zelebriert wurde... weltmeisterlich.... da bekommen selbst die Brasilianer ihren Samba-Mund nicht mehr zu. Jetzt wird noch der Rest gepackt, inkl. einer herrlichen Videokamera, für die ich mich an dieser Stelle noch einmal ganz herzlich beim Heinz bedanken möchte! Bevor dann das letzte Sach und Pack (inkl. Angela) eingepackt wird und es gen München geht, lass ich mich noch einmal nach Strich und Faden verwöhnen. Gutes herzhaftes Essen, eine Prise Schlaf und eine kleine Note an warmer Dusche, um die letzten Spuren dieser Kälte aus meinen Knochen zu schütteln. Darf ich an dieser Stelle meine Freude darüber Kund tun, dass sich für uns der Winter ... read more
January 19th 2010
Die Vorbereitungen laufen, Rucksäcke besorgt, Vietnam-Visa und Routenplanung im Auftrag. Noch 34 Tage hektisches Leben, mit der vollen Breitseite des Studenten-Lebens, Prüfungen und Hausarbeiten müssen geschrieben werden, nebenbei gibt es noch ein paar Schichten hinter der Bar zu erledigen. Dann wird es endlich losgehen und 7 Wochen Asien pur werden uns erwarten.... read more
September 17th 2009
A recent trip to a "karneval" (translation: carnival) led to some very interesting spottings of things I found hilarious. Not that you will, of course. Meh. The carnival was much more exciting than that introduction. Apparently the origin of the word "carnival" comes from "meat, good-bye", which is an awesome idea - a going-away party for meat. I imagine a few carrots and celeries sitting around a table comforting each other while a hamburger puts on a big backpack at the door and waves to his friends, sad to leave them behind, but looking forward to the trip ahead. The carnival in Augsburg, Bayern is called the Plaerrer, which, believe it or not, translates as "drunken yelling", or something along those lines. Remarkably appropriate. Take a look at some pics! We can see some friends of ... read more
July 5th 2009
The funny thing about travelling is that is requires a great deal of money most of the time. Actually, that's not funny, that's depressing. Funny is the Muppets, or the Sea Captain from the Simpsons. Usually, however, I have very little money. This limits my travelling and my goal of doing whatever I want, whenever I want (don't worry, these are mostly legal things). So I am always on the lookout for get-rich-quick schemes. None thus far have succeeded, and that is why I am typing this blog and not rolling about in 100L. of Swiss Chalet dipping sauce (see? Perfectly legal). Anyhow, my very good friend Chris has the same desire as me to get rich. He said his goal is not to have an alarm clock. I offered to smash his for him, but ... read more
And I thought they were insulting me...
Published: June 22nd 2009Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Augsburg
June 22nd 2009
The first picture is a photo from the "Floh Markt" (flea market) I recently attended and took part in in Augsburg. We can see that our fine neighbour is selling his favourite old record, "Wiener Blut", and I am sure he is devastated to part with it. Somewhat translated, it means "Wiener Blood", which almost sounds like a kiddie death metal band. But "Wiener" of course is the translation of "Viennese", that is, from Vienna. And the people on the cover certainly do appear to be distinguished Viennese, the "Viennese Blood", through and through. Which got me thinking: why did I take so offence when I was taunted as a "wiener" so often by my childhood classmates (well, childhood, teenagehood and early-to-midadulthood)? I took it to be the vulgar interpretation of the word, or, at best, ... read more
June 16th 2009
I mostly slept on thelfight to Frankfurt. Or at least tried to sleep. It was fine with headphones in and a little music playing, but as is to be expected, not that comfortable for long periods of time. I also managed to enjoy a couple of episodes of Extras, a couple of in flight meals, and a couple of tiny wines. Customs in Frankfurt was fun. I approached the passport checkpoint.... No questions asked. Thanks! I love European customs. They seem to just get it. Or at least they don't have the intense paranoia that we're used to seeing. Oh, and their H1N1 screening consisted of a sign, way off to the side (so I'm sure 98% of travelers didn't even notice it), and it just had some information on it. Pandemic what? We collected our ... read more
June 8th 2009
I find this particular creature fascinating. Half rabbit, half devil, all angry. And he wants you to drink his brew. It contains bee honey and red wine, he exclaims. 40% alcohol by volume. The "Wolpertinger" (translation: Wolper-thinger) is a kind of local legend, like the Yeti or Batman. No one knows if he really exists. I am not aware of any Wolpertinger sighting/hunting expeditions, but that might be a very good tourism idea. Venturing out into the night, with binoculars/hunting rifle, drunk on Wolpertinger, trying to find/kill a Wolpertinger. Actually, I am not sure if they are nocturnal. Maybe I haven't thought this through well enough. I shouldn't have drunk half that bottle. (Blogger's note: I am not aware of any type of honey other than bee honey, but he does specify. Do wasps make honey? ... read more
