texans on the autobahn: January 2006

Partying the Bavarian Way at the Nacht der Tracht…warning to my parents: proceed with caution!

This weekend we attended a party with our friends Tom and Vera at the Unterschleissheim Rathaus where we were required to dress in traditional Bavarian clothes. Robin wore his Bavarian jacket that I gave him for Christmas along with his Bavarian shirt and shoes. I had bought a skirt and dress early in the summer but I was afraid with the temps being well below zero that it would be too cold and the dress too summery, so I went to a local store and bought a skirt and shirt that I thought would be appropriate, but then again, I found out that what is appropriate in my mind and what I could have gotten away with were two completely different things. Depending on how you look at the situation, I was either underdressed or overdressed. . .

The evening started with dinner. Around 8 pm a traditional, or so it seemed at the time, Bavarian band marched into the hall playing all their brass instruments and completed their march by walking into the bar/disco just outside the hall. Shortly after that, the band came back from the bar and walked onto the stage. This was to be the musical entertainment for the evening. I couldn’t imagine listening to oompah music all night long, but we were pleasantly surprised as the evening went on and the music began to change.

Robin and I admired the dancers who took to the floor dancing to the traditional music with what looked like waltzes and polkas. I admired the beautiful dirndls (Bavarian dresses) and realized that not only was my outfit a bit plain, but I also wasn’t baring nearly enough cleavage! And you know, I have plenty of cleavage! How could I have possibly made the mistake of covering up too much? There were so many women in beautiful dresses, lots of cleavage, and they weren’t embarrassed one bit about it. I couldn’t do that in the US. Too many people gawk and stare when you reveal too much. Here, it is not a big deal. . .so as long as I’m here, perhaps next time, I’ll have a more appropriate dress. . .the story continues. . .

Another tradition at Bavarian parties is drinking Feiling. This is a sweet alcoholic drink that comes in small bottles and hold about as much as a shot glass. On the occasions where we have witnessed this event you have the small bottle, and you bang the bottle on the table for about 15 seconds. Once everyone is finished banging the bottle (and I don’t know the purpose of the banging, but maybe one of my friends here will tell me) you then remove the screw cap (some people then put the cap on their nose) then put the opening of the bottle between your teeth, tilt your head back and hands free drink the shot. . .it is a very sweet drink and is also 20% alcohol. By the end of the night, on many tables, there are many empty bottles; sometimes so many, they reach the length of 3 banquet tables.

The band continued, the dancing continued, and the drinking continued. During short breaks from the band, many people would go into the bar/disco where more music was playing. Here is where I learned more about the importance of cleavage. The girls said they were going into the bar and grabbed me and I went along. I told Vera, “please, don’t leave me!” While in the bar/disco, Sam’s soccer trainer approached me and the group I was with. He was in charge of photos for the event which would be placed on a website. He began to whisper in my ear something about taking photos and cleavage and the website. As it was hard to hear, and his English is accented, I put together that he was taking pictures of women’s cleavage and their faces in a separate photo which would then be used to play a game of match the face to the cleavage. . .apparently another Bavarian activity. I responded with my American surprise (short of outrage as that would not have been appropriate) “You want to do what with my cleavage?” as I quickly moved my hands to cover anything that might be showing! Then my friends explained it to me and they all happily posed for their cleavage shots even though the photographer snuck the shot of me! I think my friend Vera loved the look of shock on my face. (Before any of my American friends and family becomes outraged, it was not an abusive situation at all, and is now quite funny).

As I mentioned earlier, the band was really great and quite funny too. On a number of occasions, one of the male members of the band would come out to do an impersonation of a famous singer, usually a female. The first impersonation was not one I knew, but Tom told me it was a famous Greek female singer from the 70’s, who always wore long white dresses and had jet black hair, and who many thought actually looked like a man. The unfortunate part of this impersonation for me was that when the impersonator was coming out in his bad black wig, white dress with slits on the side, high heeled white shoes, and panty hose, he was being carried (not gracefully) out on the stage by another man. . this is where everything that could possibly be wrong with a man dressed like this could be seen. . .the slits on his dress provided little coverage and the exposing of what one should never have to see. . what a man looks like in panty hose under his dress! There is nothing I can find right about that at all!

Later, Cher was also impersonated, again by a man in a costume that just isn’t right for a man! Freddy Mercury, Elvis and some others that I didn’t know where also impersonated through out the night providing great dance music and comedic entertainment! It was really a lot of fun, and so many of our friends we have made through the boys soccer teams were there and so friendly to us. We even saw, though didn’t get a formal introduction to, the mayor of Unterschleissheim who opened the evening with a welcome.

Before the evening had gotten too late, probably around 10 pm I told Robin that we should call Sam because if we don’t he will get worried and call us and even wait up for us. Since Robin wouldn’t call him, I took that to mean he didn’t believe that would happen, however, around midnight, Robin’s cell phone rang and Sam wanted to know when we were coming home and why could he hear the song Amarillo (a really silly song on the pop charts in Europe) in the background. Robin assured him we were fine and for him to go to bed. Around 1:30 we had had enough and Tom and Vera took us home.

You know, we hear a lot, that Germans aren’t friendly and don’t know how to have fun. I can assure you, that that is false. If you take the time to get to know people, and become part of their community, you will find that in spite of the language difference (at this point mostly mine as Robin’s German is excellent now), that there is plenty of friendship and fun to be had with Germans! Our headaches the next day can attest to that! (MY headache was caused by the cigarette and cigar smoke!)

Getting ready to go to the Nacht der Tracht. . .

Sam all covered up in New Year's confetti. . .

My dear friend Vera!

at Tom and Vera's on New Year's Eve. . .

Dinner for one? Same procedure as last year?Having dinner with friends after watching the traditional "Dinner for One" on television.

The kids get their own table.

Watching fireworks in the snowy weather. . .

New Year's Eve in Lohhof

After returning from a great trip to Paris we arrived in Munich on the afternoon of New Year's Eve and our good friend Tom picked us up and took us home from the airport. We were going to be attending Tom and Vera's New Year's Eve party later that night. They had invited many of their good friends and their children for a night of barbecue from Tom's smoker. Apparently a big tradition in Germany on New Year's Eve is to watch a short old black and white English comedy film called "Dinner for One". Every year, tens of millions watch this old British television comedy sketch called "Dinner for One." The short sketch is just 11 minutes long, shot in black and white and entirely in English. In the sketch, a "dowager" and her butler enjoy a dinner celebration that's anything but routine. It reminded me a lot of a sketch that maybe Carol Burnett would have done. If you want to see the clip, you can try this web site http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8908622153579785434&q=%2522dinner+for+one%2522 = not sure if it will work but give it a try.

At midnight, Munich and I suppose most of Germany is lit up with fireworks. Children and adults alike are in the streets starting at midnight shooting off bottle rockets and fire crackers. They scare me to death, but apparently since they have grown up doing this, every one is safe and does it correctly. I still stayed far away and told Robin he was in charge of making sure Sam and Joe didn't do anything stupid! We enjoyed glasses of champagne as everyone lit the fireworks and welcomed in the year 2006!

A Wintry Parisian Holiday

We had hoped, and had thought, that although it would be cold in Paris the week of Christmas, that at least it should not be as cold as Munich. We were proven wrong, and much of the weather in the UK and Paris and Northern Germany was colder than it had been in recent history. But, we carried on, an enjoyed our planned Parisian holiday, seeing much of Paris each day and ending each evening watching 3 or 4 episodes of the Lost DVD’s my sister Dinah sent us for Christmas!

Our itinerary

On Monday, Dec. 26 we arrived at the Charles de Gaulle airport and took the metro to our hotel. It required only 1 train change and dropped us off at a metro station right in front of our hotel, the Holiday Inn Republique. It was a great hotel, unlike any Holiday Inn I have ever stayed at! We immediately dropped off our luggage and hopped back on the metro to head to the famous Eiffel Tower. I had read that it’s best to arrive at a place called the Trocadero and then walk to the tower. The Trocadero offers a spectacular first time” view of the Eiffel Tower. It is definitely something you want to see in person as it’s an amazing piece of architecture. The strangest thing though is approaching the tower and seeing armed guards with machine guns ready. I guess they were preparing for security for New Years. The sight was a bit disarming though.

We waited in line for about 30 minutes to get our tickets to ride the lift. I can’t even begin to imagine what the wait for tickets is like during peak tourist season in the summer months. We all rode up to the 2nd level and exited for some amazing sights of the city. Even though it was cold and overcast, we could see all of Paris. Joe and I wanted to finish to ride to the very top of the tower, but Robin and Sam chose to remain on the 2nd level and just wait for us. I must admit, it was a bit scary going that high up (and remembering the armed guards with machine guns). It seemed like the lift kept going and going, kind of like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when the lift finally went so high it just exploded out of the top. Fortunately for us, no exploding out the top, and we reached the final level. The area is quite small and we didn’t spend too much time up there as it is also quite crowded.

We returned to find Sam and Robin and then walked to the Hotel des Invalides where the tomb of Napoleon is housed. We walked through the basilica and then the war museum before heading back to the metro and our hotel.

On Tuesday morning, we headed out to the Champs-Elysees Quarter which is where the
Arc de Triomphe is located as well as lots of great shopping (at least great window shopping). Joe counted 276 steps that we walked to reach the top of the Arc. It was an incredibly cold day, with snow falling and when we reached the top it was icy and windy but we were able to take in the view before heading back inside and walking back down 276 steps. It was a triumph for me as it was the first monument I’ve walked up and down since my knee surgery, but it was not problem, I just went slow and held on to the rails. The stairs in these places are always circular so you need to be careful anyway.

After a short walk down the shopping area we stopped in a nice café known for being good for hot drinks and snacks before starting your walking again. 40 euros later we were on our way, yes an expensive couple of cups of cappuccino and hot chocolate, but we’re in Paris!

After shopping at the Virgin Mega Store and of course, the Gap, both stores we do not have in Germany, we headed towards a restaurant I had read about on Rachel Ray’s $40 a day show website, the Cremerie Polidor where we ate authentic French cuisine, pumpkin soup and Beef Bourgouine and Joe ate a Guinea hen, we told him it was chicken!!!

Of course, a visit to the toilet was in order before leaving, however, after seeing the hole in the floor that was the toilet, we left and headed towards the Starbucks down the street to use a proper toilet! Ah, the Europeans and their toilets! This isn’t the first hole in the floor I’ve seen for a toilet, but it was one I didn’t want to use!

On Wednesday a day of fun was in store with a long train ride to the outside of Paris to visit Euro Disney Paris. It was typical Disney, full of shops and everything Disney. Since we’ve been to Disney World in Florida and Disney Land in California, we knew what we wanted to ride first. Again, it was a very cold and snowy day, not the best kind of weather for riding rides at an amusement park. We chose our favorite rides and then left after about 2 hours to go to the Disney Studios, ride the Rock n Roll roller coaster and catch a few shows. When we went to Disney World a few years ago, Sam rode the Rock n Roll roller coaster and then proceeded to barf everywhere when it was over. He decided he wanted to try it again, and he was successful, though he wasn’t interested in riding again. However, Joe jumped back in line, just to have the ride closed down while he was riding because it had broken down. At least it didn’t malfunction while he was on it! A few shorts hours later, and frozen toes we decided it was just too cold, and we weren’t all that interested in Mickey Mouse anymore and we headed to Planet Hollywood for a hamburger before the long train ride back.

On Thursday, we headed out to the Louvre where we saw the Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa, the Glass Pyramid, and many of the famous works of art. The most amazing aspect of the Louvre to me, besides it’s enormous size, was the size of some of the paintings we saw. Picture in your mind the large size of your house, then imagine a painting that same size! One painting just this size, enormous, was a painting of Napoleon’s and Josephine’s coronation. Upon seeing it for the first time, even Napoleon apparently remarked about how it was a painting one could just walk into, referring to the lifelike size.

After leaving the Louvre we walked again strolling through the high end hotel district of Paris. Again we came upon military or police exiting their van machine gun ready. They didn’t appear to be looking for anything, but it is really disarming to see that. Anyway, we moved on and headed towards the Gallerie Lafayette Department Store a famous shopping store in Paris. We had lunch in the store and did a little shopping. They say a nice thing to leave Paris with is French lingerie, so I did. . .just a little sumthin, sumthin. . .We perused the wine department picking up some French wine and then strolled through the gourmet food area, though it reminded me of Central Market but it was much smaller here and more crowded, if you can imagine that if you’ve ever been to Central Market.

On Friday, our destination was Versailles, the famous palace where the Versailles treaty was signed. Of course, as it turned out this was the coldest day of the week and we had to wait in line for almost an hour in the freezing snow and sleet just to get in through security. Once in, the line for tickets was a breeze. We toured the art and architecture of three museums inside the building. There are acres and acres of parks at Versailles with fountains, but they were covered in snow and ice, and the fountains weren’t working. It is probably quite beautiful in the spring and summer, and you could easily spend the entire day there but not in the winter!!! We had a great lunch at a café on the way back to the metro station. The food was similar to crepes but the batter they said was made of buckwheat and wasn’t sweet and had a bit of a crunch to it. You could put whatever you wanted inside. It was quite delicious, including the ones for dessert that we had before heading back for our last night in Paris.

We had wanted to take a nighttime boat tour down the Siene to see Paris all lit up at night, but alas, it was just way too cold, so we ended up back at our hotel for an early evening and final 3 episodes of Lost!