09) Two Days with Mom - Between proud Swans and delicious Cakes
- O Peregrino
- May 21, 2024
- 8 min read
Bread Varieties: Germans love their bread, and there are over 300 different kinds of bread in Germany. Each region has its specialties.
We didn't just travel to Germany to satisfy our insatiable urge to explore, to feast on the delicious German food on offer, or to ponder theoretically what German girls wear under their dirndls - but also to visit our 90-year-old mother/grandmother. So we decided to stay two days with Mom, only exploring the near surroundings and eat her delicious dishes and specially her marvelous supherb cakes which she bakes with devoted passion .
About Friedrichshafen we wrote enough and extensively in article 04 "FAQ - frequently asked questions". We don't want to bore you anymore about this theme. Buuut...You haven't red the article yet? Do you start a book from the middle? Hurry back to article 4!!!
In our constantly growing, truly unforgettable and unique travel blog, which already has four indomitable bookworms (including ourselves from the Beyond Borders Team), we constantly feed this exceptionally blog and his wonderful readers with previously unpublished facts, stories from exciting everyday life and profound insights into the colorful, diverse culture of a unique people.
What's new? Something we forgot todally (you also...). In this tumultuous and somewhat sick era of the Internet, we pick out only the best and now open a new chapter in our travel book with webcams. Have a look!
Maybe we thought it's better to write something useful if you pretend one day to visit Germany. The Beyond Borders Team Tips:
1. Act Like You Know German
First things first, brush up on your high school German. When in doubt, just add "wurst" (Sausage) to the end of every word. Need directions to the bathroom? “Wo ist die Toilettewurst?” Want to order coffee? “Eine Kaffeewurst, bitte!” Trust us, it’ll work. Or at least it’ll get you some laughs.
2. Embrace the Lederhosen and Dirndls
Why blend in when you can stand out? Rock those traditional outfits like it’s Oktoberfest every day. Bonus points if you accessorize with an oversized pretzel necklace and a stein of beer that you pretend to chug in every photo. Speaking of photos, ensure you’re strategically photo-bombing all the serious tourists trying to capture the “authentic” experience.
3. Pretend to Understand the Local Culture
Nod wisely at any cultural reference and say "Ja, ja, sehr interessant" (Yes, yes, very interesting) no matter how confused you are. Someone explains the significance of a historical site? “Ja, ja, sehr interessant.” A local is telling you about their favorite bratwurst recipe? “Ja, ja, sehr interessant.” They’ll be so impressed with your engagement!
4. Overdo the Souvenirs
Forget subtle mementos. Buy the largest cuckoo clock you can find and wear it around your neck like a Flavor Flav clock [1]. Acquire enough beer steins to start your own bar and pick up every single magnet, keychain, and snow globe you come across. Your suitcase might be heavy, but your heart will be light with all those amazing finds.
[1] William Jonathan Drayton Jr. (born March 16, 1959), known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper. When asked about the significance of his trademark clock necklaces, Flav responded: "The reason why I wear this clock is because, you know, time is the most important element, and when we stop, time keeps going."
5. Overenthusiastic Sightseeing
Be the most enthusiastic tourist ever. Climb every tower, shout “Wunderbar!” (Wonderful) at every view, and join every walking tour. Attempt to imitate the tour guide's accent and intonation – it’s all in good fun! If there’s a local legend about a haunted castle, demand a reenactment from anyone nearby.
6. Sample All the Local Cuisine... and Describe It Wrongly
Try every dish and then give it an entirely wrong description on your travel blog. “Schnitzel? Oh, it’s just German sushi.” “Spätzle? The German version of spaghetti.” And don’t forget to film your reactions for YouTube. “Eating German sushi, gone wrong” will be your highest viewed video.
7. Become the Ultimate Beer Snob
After your third beer tasting, start referring to yourself as a beer sommelier. Swirl your beer, sniff it dramatically, and make up tasting notes. “I detect hints of lederhosen, a subtle undertone of oompah music, and a finish reminiscent of a Bavarian sunrise.”
8. Overcommit to Folk Dances
When the oompah band starts playing, you start dancing. Perfect your polka and yodeling skills – but only do them together, because why not? Challenge locals to impromptu dance-offs and proudly proclaim yourself the “Dancing Wurst King/Queen” of the town.
9. Take the Scenic Route... Literally
Rent a bike and take every possible detour. Get lost on purpose to discover hidden gems. When asking for directions back, mime riding a bike and make exaggerated lost faces. Germans appreciate good pantomime skills, right?
10. Overdo the Efficiency
Channel your inner German efficiency. Schedule everything down to the last minute and express mild disdain when things don’t go as planned. “We were supposed to start the castle tour at 3:02 pm, it’s now 3:03 pm. Unacceptable!” Secretly enjoy the perplexed looks from the locals.
There you have it! Follow these steps, and you'll have the most memorable trip to Germany. Prost!
ADVERTISING
Ah, advertising - the fine art of making you believe that your life is incomplete without a product you never knew existed. It's like that one friend who constantly gives unsolicited advice: "You know what you need? A robot vacuum that also sings lullabies to your pet fish."
Why do we need it? Simple. Without ads, how would we know that our self-esteem is tragically low because our toothpaste doesn’t have activated charcoal, or that our lives are devoid of meaning because we don’t own a state-of-the-art avocado slicer?
Advertising is the poetry of capitalism. It's the relentless reminder that, no matter how content you feel, there’s always something you’re missing—a gadget, a cream, or maybe a blender with Wi-Fi.
In short, advertising exists to answer the age-old question: "What else can I spend money on to distract myself from the existential dread?" And really, isn't that a service worth paying for?
Now we begin the first but most important step: becoming famous! It's not about introducing a unique, previously unheard of artistic art to the partly media-obsessed and cell phone-addicted masses (our enthusiastic regular blog readers already stand out from this mass). It's about creating a significant brand. Slowly climb the steep steps to the grail of influence, filled with all kinds of obstacles. There is a saying, at least in Germany, that goes like this: "All beginnings are difficult!" Not with us, of course. International photo exhibitions of the highest level in well-known galleries have already started. Here are a few more photos from our Pfänder climb, which you can follow in the future article 16 in our great blog.
Our blog is free for those curious readers who threatened with extinction and want to delve a little deeper into our mysterious world.
But nothing is free - that's why the Beyond Border Team begins with fascinating, never-before-published advertising campaigns that you might not want to take very seriously.
A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.
Now we are letting the exhibition run slowly for the time being and will collect the first fruits (publications in magazines and newspapers) in order to start the second phase of our marketing strategy. It takes time until a fruit is ripe to pick. This means that you can follow the results yourself in article 11.
Last but not least: you've probably heard something about the Beatles. The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The telling title of a particularly sensitive song is called "All You Need Is Love".
But we'll from the Beyond Border Team go a bold but safe step further and assure you: "All You Need is Love - and Advertising!"
Eriskircher Ried
We stroll around the town and head towards Langenargen, where we cross the Eriskircher Ried, which is only one kilometer away from mother's/grandmother's house. The approximately 552 hectare (ha) large Eriskircher Ried nature reserve lies between the rivers Rotach and Schussen estuaries in Lake Constance, west and south of Eriskirch and east of Friedrichshafen.
The main purpose of protection is to preserve the unique natural area between the Schussen and Rotach estuaries with the extensive shallow water zone of Lake Constance, the reed areas, the marshlands, the backwaters and the culturally influenced landscape elements as a particularly natural breeding, resting and feeding area for many rare, partly endangered water birds, insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles, with a species-rich vegetation, in particular a diverse, particularly rich typical fen flora with partly endangered species.
The Eriskircher Ried, nestled along the serene shores of Lake Constance, is a tapestry of natural beauty woven with threads of enchantment and tranquility. As the first light of dawn kisses the landscape, a gentle mist rises, caressing the reeds and whispering secrets to the morning breeze. The lake, a mirror of azure and emerald, reflects the sky's ever-changing moods, from the soft pastels of dawn to the fiery hues of sunset.
Wandering through the Ried, one is embraced by a symphony of bird songs, the air alive with the fluttering of wings and the rustle of leaves. Wildflowers, in hues as varied as the dreams of lovers, carpet the meadows, their delicate fragrances mingling with the earthy scent of the wetlands. Here, time seems to pause, each moment stretching into eternity, inviting lovers to lose themselves in the embrace of nature.
The paths winding through the Eriskircher Ried are like verses of a love poem, leading to hidden alcoves where whispers of the past linger. Ancient trees stand as silent witnesses to countless tales of romance, their branches intertwined like the fingers of a prayer, casting dappled shadows on the ground below. The gentle lapping of the lake against the shore is a timeless lullaby, a soothing serenade that beckons one to sit and dream.
As the day wanes and the golden light of the setting sun bathes the landscape, the Eriskircher Ried transforms into a realm of pure magic. The waters of Lake Constance shimmer with a thousand hues, each wave a fleeting kiss upon the shore. In this moment, as twilight embraces the world, the Ried becomes a sanctuary for the heart, a place where love blossoms and the soul finds peace.
The Eriskircher Ried is not merely a place, but a feeling, a living ode to the beauty and romance that nature bestows. Here, amidst the reeds and waters, one can find a timeless connection to the earth and to each other, a bond as deep and enduring as the lake itself.
Watch the video in full screen here!
Typically regional
"Schwätzbänkle" - Maybe you, as a non-German, have spent three years studying German at the Goethe Institute or somewhere else for some reason. And you are standing in front of a well-kept wooden bench next to the Friedrichshafen town hall in front of a beautiful babbling fountain with statues of three flying Swans.
Although you already have your German diploma proudly framed in ash wood hanging on your eco-coloured beige wall, you are not getting anywhere. Even your Google translator is letting you down.
Well, you are in Swabia and the "Schwätzbänkle" is full-blooded shabby and means as good as "Chat bench". More than 60% of the Germans speak a dialect. And little Germany offers more than 20 dialects, enough to to make a graduated diploma German-speaking considerable a lot of headache. Only some examples for "Good Morning": Berlin dialect: Juten Morjen; Alsatian: Güete Morje; Hessian: Mosche; Cologne dialect: Morje; Odenwald dialect: Gemmorsche Siegerland dialect: Gemoje; Swabian: gudde Morge and Bavarian: Gumoang;
If you stay for some time in a special region of Germany it's good to learn some basic words in the typical regional dialect. You will quickly earn some extra points.
We are connected worldwide through social networks, but people find themselves in a precarious, impoverished emotional world due to technological isolation. We have closer relationships with our smartphones than with our neighbors. When social media has to suggest a "friend" to us, that is already a sad sign.
To counteract this shielding from the outside world, which particularly affects older people. "Schwätzbänkle" (chat benches) have been introduced in various cities. The idea comes from England: set up a bench in a central location so that people can talk to others there.
Published: 15/11/2024
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