The death of a loved one can be a bittersweet sorrow.
I just found out that my Dad's godmother passed away two days ago. My Tante Gretel is gone.
She was an amazing woman. I'm glad I had the opportunity to know her. She would stand in line for hours for a loaf of bread to bring home to my dad's family. When government officials made a last minute demand for American dollars before allowing my dad's family to leave Poland she vanished - only to show up a couple hours later with the money. What she had to do or sell to get that money, I never found out.
I visited her a number of times in Germany. She'd given me a bagful of jewellery - telling me the history behind the special pieces. One of my favourite pieces is an necklace of metal spirals - a present from a male friend. I've never seen anything like it.
I can only begin to imagine all the hurt, sorrow and devastation she'd seen in her life. She never married - from some of the stories she told me and the look in her eyes as she'd let a sentence trail off - I'm not sure that the decision had been hers to make.
She lived through World War II. On my last visit with her she told me stories about life before the war. Stories of how life changed when Hitler came into power. The sports centre was re-named after him, as were a number of other prominent landmarks in her town. She'd go quiet and then with a slight shake of the head she'd continue talking.
Of the war itself she was vague and I didn't want to pry. "Es war schrecklich. Furchtbar."
One of the things that saddens me most about her death, is that as far as I know, no one was there for her. Her entire life she'd lived helping and looking after others, but when her time came, no one was there.
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Formula 1
Scammed the Formula 1 system out of nearly €2000 today...I was one of 12 who walked straight through with out shelling out a single Euro cent. Amazing experience.
In other news, I am still alive, but Internet is sporadic so don't be expecting regular updates.
Tomorrow is Heidelberg.
Tuesday we haven't planned yet.
Wednesday is Rome.
In other news, I am still alive, but Internet is sporadic so don't be expecting regular updates.
Tomorrow is Heidelberg.
Tuesday we haven't planned yet.
Wednesday is Rome.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
I’m sitting on the train leaving Vienna , destination Stuttgart , Germany
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Candle making
I've been couped up inside for the past few days as I'm in the middle of studying for my Information Architecture final exam. Thought I'd post a few pictures of candle making in Valbert Germany.
The history behind this shop is that one of the owner's son's godmother was a candlemaker. She felt that she was getting too old to continue and was going to throw out her all her supplies. The parents of her godson figured it was a shame to throw out all the equipment so they bought it from her. The wife started talking with other women in the town and a few of them banded together to buy a little shop. The enterprise has grown into six women who are all full time mothers and wives but business women on the side.
The candle making equipment has it's own little room and from what I understand is the most profitable venture. However, one of the ladies is a bee keeper so there are different types of honey for sale: Waldhonig (honey from the forest) and Wiesenhonig (honey from the meadow) - and yes, there is actually a difference in taste, smell and apperance. Another lady works with plant (onions, dandy lions, grapes, etc.) dyes so there are a number of hand dyed scarves, shawls and bags. I'm guessing that a third must own sheep because there is also spun wool available.
The store hours are based on the womens' schedules and each woman is expected to work a certain number of hours per week. The store hours are Mon-Friday 15-18 and then another three hours on Saturday. It doesn't sound as if that would be enough to keep the place running but apparently it is. More and more people are hearing about the business and coming out to support community entreprenuership. While we there a quilter brought some of her quilts - apparently they are going to be priced and then go up for sale. I'm thrilled to see a little shop like this that's thriving. Next time you're in the area be sure to check it out.
One of the candles pairs I made - you have to dip the candles in hot wax about 30 times.
Looking from the candle dipping room (through a window in the wall) into the rest of the shop.
Coming into the shop.
Mmm....carrots....
Hang on? You sure those are carrots?
The history behind this shop is that one of the owner's son's godmother was a candlemaker. She felt that she was getting too old to continue and was going to throw out her all her supplies. The parents of her godson figured it was a shame to throw out all the equipment so they bought it from her. The wife started talking with other women in the town and a few of them banded together to buy a little shop. The enterprise has grown into six women who are all full time mothers and wives but business women on the side.
The candle making equipment has it's own little room and from what I understand is the most profitable venture. However, one of the ladies is a bee keeper so there are different types of honey for sale: Waldhonig (honey from the forest) and Wiesenhonig (honey from the meadow) - and yes, there is actually a difference in taste, smell and apperance. Another lady works with plant (onions, dandy lions, grapes, etc.) dyes so there are a number of hand dyed scarves, shawls and bags. I'm guessing that a third must own sheep because there is also spun wool available.
The store hours are based on the womens' schedules and each woman is expected to work a certain number of hours per week. The store hours are Mon-Friday 15-18 and then another three hours on Saturday. It doesn't sound as if that would be enough to keep the place running but apparently it is. More and more people are hearing about the business and coming out to support community entreprenuership. While we there a quilter brought some of her quilts - apparently they are going to be priced and then go up for sale. I'm thrilled to see a little shop like this that's thriving. Next time you're in the area be sure to check it out.
One of the candles pairs I made - you have to dip the candles in hot wax about 30 times.
Looking from the candle dipping room (through a window in the wall) into the rest of the shop.
Coming into the shop.
Mmm....carrots....
Hang on? You sure those are carrots?
Monday, April 9, 2007
High heels, pink and yellow, and a lost camera
You ever worn high heels? Ever spent ten hours in them? What about ten hours walking through cobblestone streets in said heels? I have. Last Monday. I woke up and thought, "Yes, today I am going to spend ten hours exploring Köln in almost brand new high heels." Ok, not quite. But close.
You see Gisela and I were in Köln for the day and felt that we really ought to soak up the scenery and the sunshine. (Sidebar: Gisela is my pen pal of eight years or so. I met her for the first time three years ago so this was the second time meeting her. We get along great and as you might have guessed we have a tendency to follow through on seemingly brilliant ideas that are actually far less than brilliant.)
Anyways, the sun was shining and everything seemed so fresh and wonderful that we figured we'd dress up for our excursion. Skirts, blouses, scarves, purses, thin jackets just in case and of course, high heels.
As Gisela is studying in Köln so our first stop was the University. Secretly I had hoped for some stunning architecture or some equally admirable scenery. Alas, everything I saw was very square and practical. The sweeping arches and detailed ceilings that I'd become used to in Vienna would have been out of place here. It was nice, but not beautiful. It could have just as easily been the U of C campus.
After the university we walked down the Schildergasse towards downtown. Schildergasse seems to be Köln's Mariahilferstrasse - lots of shops, buskers and people milling about. We wandered through a few shops and had a salesperson try to sell us a whole outfit (dress, jacket, shoes and jewelery) but we managed not buy anything. As nothing really caught our attention we changed directions slightly and headed towards the promenade (the Rhein river flows right through Köln and there is a long promenade along the river bank).
By now we'd been on our feet for a few hours so we made a pit stop at an Eis Cafe (Ice cream shop - very common in Europe and extremely delicious) Don't like ice cream? I don't either. I can count on one hand the times I had ice cream last year. But in Europe? The ice cream is nothing like what North America has to over. You must visit an Eis Cafe in Europe - no exceptions - you'll be blown away by the freshness, the intensity and the variety of the flavours.
Gisela and I enjoyed our ice cream while swinging our feet over a low stone wall running parallel to the river. Before us was the promenade with people parading up and down in the sunshine. One fashionable couple caught our attention. The mother looked like she stepped off the runway in Milan - cream blouse with melted milk chocolate pants and pointy crocodile leather sling backs. Thick dark brown hair fell down her back. Her husband was even taller than she was and strode beside her. His hair fell just past his shoulders and matched his chestnut trousers. As an accent he wore a cherry blossom pink shirt. She pushed a stroller in front of her. He clutched an open beer bottle. A family outing - European style.
Finishing our ice cream cones Gisela and I strolled along the walk way. Every so often we stopped to snap a few pictures. The promenade is picturesque. There are a number of old houses that front the river and narrow little cobblestone streets that open out onto the promenade.
By the time we reached the pathway leading to the Kölner Dom the sun that had been warming our backs was now accompanied by a cool breeze. We slipped into our jackets walked up the stair way. For some unknown reason some 'brilliant' sculptor was asked to create a sculpture to greet tourists as they climb the stairs toward the Kölner Dom. For some reason this 'brilliant' sculptor decided to sculpt a slightly larger than life completely nude male gazing towards the river. Now. Michelangelo I can appreciate. But a slightly larger than life completely nude male statue...in pink with yellow hair?!? Right. Reminded me of the old dirty Ken barbie dolls you sometimes see in second hand shops. Personally I'm questioning the 'brilliancy' of this sculptor. Pink and yellow. Yes, as in faded (but definitely pink) barbie pink...with yellow hair. As you walk up towards the back of the Kölner Dom. Someone at the city development office was apparently not thinking quite clearly.
Both Gisela and I had been inside the Kölner Dom before so we wandered around outside and snapped a few pictures. Last time I was here there was a group of teenagers on Rollerblades who were using plastic Ikea tumblers as markers for a Rollerblade course. A group was there today. We watched as they raced through the course weaving in and out between tumblers. The vitality of the young people provided an interesting contrast to the heavy walls of the Dom. On the one hand was the colour and life of the future and on the other hand the firmly rooted traditions and cultures of the past.
Our feet were aching so we stopped at the tourist information centre for awhile and gathered interesting bits of information. Did you know that Köln has a hockey team? The Kölner Haie (Cologne Sharks). Unfortunately they had just played last night, otherwise we would have bought tickets. Another intersting fact - did you know that Köln at one point belonged to Napoleon's Empire? We gathered a few other facts, wandered throught the gift shop and then left.
Outside I realized I'd lost my camera. Oh no. Gisela and I emptied our purses and pockets - no camera. We said a quick prayer and started to retrace our steps. Did I leave it by the tourist information counter? No. In the gift shop downstairs? No. Oh no. Would I have to go buy a new camera? Gisela and I figured the only thing we could do would be to leave our names and numbers at the tourist information counter in case it was returned later on. One of the other service personnel walked past and overheard our conversation. She pulled her coworker aside and the two of them started grilling us about my camera: make, model and colour. Turns out someone had returned it. What a relief. Gisela was quite shocked - she's originally from Russia where nothing is ever 'found' - items just receive new owners. Praise the Lord for honest people.
Our search for the missing camera over, we headed back into downtown. It was already early evening and Gisela wanted to buy a few groceries before heading back to her apartment. My soles had been arguing with me for hours already and now Gisela's heels were complaining too. Instead of walking the 45 minutes or so to the grocery store and then home we took the tram.
Shortly after eight, we arrived at Gisela's apartment and collapsed on the bed. We laughed about our adventures and planed our next excursion - needless to say, next time we're going to think twice about wearing brand new high heels.
The view from the promenade looking in towards the altstadt Köln: the Romanesque style church Gross St. Martin (in the background are the towers of the Kölner Dom).
You see Gisela and I were in Köln for the day and felt that we really ought to soak up the scenery and the sunshine. (Sidebar: Gisela is my pen pal of eight years or so. I met her for the first time three years ago so this was the second time meeting her. We get along great and as you might have guessed we have a tendency to follow through on seemingly brilliant ideas that are actually far less than brilliant.)
Anyways, the sun was shining and everything seemed so fresh and wonderful that we figured we'd dress up for our excursion. Skirts, blouses, scarves, purses, thin jackets just in case and of course, high heels.
As Gisela is studying in Köln so our first stop was the University. Secretly I had hoped for some stunning architecture or some equally admirable scenery. Alas, everything I saw was very square and practical. The sweeping arches and detailed ceilings that I'd become used to in Vienna would have been out of place here. It was nice, but not beautiful. It could have just as easily been the U of C campus.
After the university we walked down the Schildergasse towards downtown. Schildergasse seems to be Köln's Mariahilferstrasse - lots of shops, buskers and people milling about. We wandered through a few shops and had a salesperson try to sell us a whole outfit (dress, jacket, shoes and jewelery) but we managed not buy anything. As nothing really caught our attention we changed directions slightly and headed towards the promenade (the Rhein river flows right through Köln and there is a long promenade along the river bank).
By now we'd been on our feet for a few hours so we made a pit stop at an Eis Cafe (Ice cream shop - very common in Europe and extremely delicious) Don't like ice cream? I don't either. I can count on one hand the times I had ice cream last year. But in Europe? The ice cream is nothing like what North America has to over. You must visit an Eis Cafe in Europe - no exceptions - you'll be blown away by the freshness, the intensity and the variety of the flavours.
Gisela and I enjoyed our ice cream while swinging our feet over a low stone wall running parallel to the river. Before us was the promenade with people parading up and down in the sunshine. One fashionable couple caught our attention. The mother looked like she stepped off the runway in Milan - cream blouse with melted milk chocolate pants and pointy crocodile leather sling backs. Thick dark brown hair fell down her back. Her husband was even taller than she was and strode beside her. His hair fell just past his shoulders and matched his chestnut trousers. As an accent he wore a cherry blossom pink shirt. She pushed a stroller in front of her. He clutched an open beer bottle. A family outing - European style.
Finishing our ice cream cones Gisela and I strolled along the walk way. Every so often we stopped to snap a few pictures. The promenade is picturesque. There are a number of old houses that front the river and narrow little cobblestone streets that open out onto the promenade.
By the time we reached the pathway leading to the Kölner Dom the sun that had been warming our backs was now accompanied by a cool breeze. We slipped into our jackets walked up the stair way. For some unknown reason some 'brilliant' sculptor was asked to create a sculpture to greet tourists as they climb the stairs toward the Kölner Dom. For some reason this 'brilliant' sculptor decided to sculpt a slightly larger than life completely nude male gazing towards the river. Now. Michelangelo I can appreciate. But a slightly larger than life completely nude male statue...in pink with yellow hair?!? Right. Reminded me of the old dirty Ken barbie dolls you sometimes see in second hand shops. Personally I'm questioning the 'brilliancy' of this sculptor. Pink and yellow. Yes, as in faded (but definitely pink) barbie pink...with yellow hair. As you walk up towards the back of the Kölner Dom. Someone at the city development office was apparently not thinking quite clearly.
Both Gisela and I had been inside the Kölner Dom before so we wandered around outside and snapped a few pictures. Last time I was here there was a group of teenagers on Rollerblades who were using plastic Ikea tumblers as markers for a Rollerblade course. A group was there today. We watched as they raced through the course weaving in and out between tumblers. The vitality of the young people provided an interesting contrast to the heavy walls of the Dom. On the one hand was the colour and life of the future and on the other hand the firmly rooted traditions and cultures of the past.
Our feet were aching so we stopped at the tourist information centre for awhile and gathered interesting bits of information. Did you know that Köln has a hockey team? The Kölner Haie (Cologne Sharks). Unfortunately they had just played last night, otherwise we would have bought tickets. Another intersting fact - did you know that Köln at one point belonged to Napoleon's Empire? We gathered a few other facts, wandered throught the gift shop and then left.
Outside I realized I'd lost my camera. Oh no. Gisela and I emptied our purses and pockets - no camera. We said a quick prayer and started to retrace our steps. Did I leave it by the tourist information counter? No. In the gift shop downstairs? No. Oh no. Would I have to go buy a new camera? Gisela and I figured the only thing we could do would be to leave our names and numbers at the tourist information counter in case it was returned later on. One of the other service personnel walked past and overheard our conversation. She pulled her coworker aside and the two of them started grilling us about my camera: make, model and colour. Turns out someone had returned it. What a relief. Gisela was quite shocked - she's originally from Russia where nothing is ever 'found' - items just receive new owners. Praise the Lord for honest people.
Our search for the missing camera over, we headed back into downtown. It was already early evening and Gisela wanted to buy a few groceries before heading back to her apartment. My soles had been arguing with me for hours already and now Gisela's heels were complaining too. Instead of walking the 45 minutes or so to the grocery store and then home we took the tram.
Shortly after eight, we arrived at Gisela's apartment and collapsed on the bed. We laughed about our adventures and planed our next excursion - needless to say, next time we're going to think twice about wearing brand new high heels.
The view from the promenade looking in towards the altstadt Köln: the Romanesque style church Gross St. Martin (in the background are the towers of the Kölner Dom).
The front of the Kölner Dom. Construction on the Dom began in 1248 and continued on and off until the late 19th century.
603 years ago...
This gate was built.
The gate itself - Hirtentor (Shepherd's gate) in Blankenheim, Germany - was built in 1404. That's 88 years before Christopher Columbus. The coat of arms is from 1512.
(And to think that in Western Canada we get excited about First Nations settlements and RCMP forts)
The gate itself - Hirtentor (Shepherd's gate) in Blankenheim, Germany - was built in 1404. That's 88 years before Christopher Columbus. The coat of arms is from 1512.
(And to think that in Western Canada we get excited about First Nations settlements and RCMP forts)
A Sunday afternoon stroll
Sunday (April 1) the weather was beautiful so after lunch we strolled through the countryside. Here a few pictures - I know they don't do the countryside justice but at least you can get an idea of what I saw. This is in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany - about an hour (by train) east of Köln (Cologne).
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Happy Easter
I'm back from my vacation. Here's an Easter picture taken last week while visiting friends in Germany. I have to go unpack but will post more tomorrow and through out the week - I have lots of stories and photos to share.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Please note: tomorrow morning I take the train to Germany for Easter break. I'm not sure what my Internet connection will be like, so if I don't post anything don't panic. I'm still alive, just busy playing tourist, visiting friends and most importantly, on a reconnaissance mission for blog worthy incidents.
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