[ajmat]

Originally Posted by sumanth_mk

Translations please ...

Did the Doctor come ?

[Mpower]

Looks very nice and picturesque when it snowed in!

Do they have snow trucks to shovel out the snow from the roads. Last time I was in Munich in winter, I noticed they put sand on the roads to help with grip.

[Sam Kapasi]

I wake up late and do not have the energy to do much. Fever has set in today.

I am really annoyed. What a place to fall ill, really. But then again, where could we have gone in this dreadful weather? Bah.

I spend all morning in bed. One aspirin complex later I feel a little better.

TheOne® wants to go to the cemetery to visit a loved one. I decide to accompany her.

I expect a typical cemetery (well, as typical as a cemetery can be, I guess), but instead I see Bad Nauheim's beautiful graveyard. I let TheOne® stand in peace, pay her respects and walk around, breathing in the peacefulness of the place.



Unlike many people, I do not associate graveyards with sadness or morbidity. I find a great deal of peace and some degree of comfort at a place of death. But that is a topic for a whole new tale that I do not wish to tell.

Instead, I will share with you photos of the town cemetery and some beautiful graves. I mean no disrespect to those that are deceased and their loved ones.
I am just happy that those who are dead are resting in a beautiful place.

Later TheOne® joins me and we walk through this picturesque place.























Later we drive off in the Opel and head off to the old part of town.

[AyAn!]

Beautiful snaps and lurid narration Sam! I can really feel the chill!

As lovely as it may seem out there,it must feel awfully dank too,more so with your fever.Get well soon!

[Sam Kapasi]

We drive on in the Opel Signum. To be honest, even though this is not a new car, I am impressed by the fit, finish and the high level of OE convenience inside the car.

Here's what it looks like (not the actual car - this photo from Wikimedia)



Pretty big!


We park near the Rathaus (the town hall) and visit a small but beautiful shop for some home stuff. You know, beautiful-things-for-your-home shop.
A short walk through town is next.

















Yes, this is a picturesque and quaint little town. Even though my head hurts and now I've got the sneezes, my spirits are high.

In Germany, Christmas is celebrated almost entirely on Christmas eve, on the 24th of December.

And that is tomorrow!

[rkbharat]

awesome pics Sam dear, and narration as usual is class ahead

[ambivalent_98]

Sam,
In the walk in town , why is there no sign of life ? Traffic , kids playing in the gardens etc ? Was it on the day of Christmas ?

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by ambivalent_98

Sam,
In the walk in town , why is there no sign of life ? Traffic , kids playing in the gardens etc ? Was it on the day of Christmas ?

Population is fairly low in Germany. The town of Bad Nauheim has 30,000 people and it is considered to be a big town.

Population has been on a decline in germany. To quote wikipedia

Germany's population is characterized by zero or declining growth, with an aging population and smaller cohort of youths.

The Government encourages people to have children and even subsidize you with a small allowance (equivalent to a few thousand rupees) for every child you have and an extra bonus for the third child.

There are many towns with populations of a few thousand and even well below a thousand.

That said, summertime is when you can see a lot of people on the streets (a lot is relative, especially for Indians) -- in winter people either drive to work (hence in their cars), work in the office or stay at home.

Of course X'mas vacations are on so no chance of office, but definitely people prefer to stay indoors. Also Germans are extremely home oriented, love their families and homes, do their best to have a beautiful, clean, well-furnished, warm home and spend almost the entire winter at home with their families while it is freezing cold outside.

[sinner]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Well that's that then. We rush onto the flight, engines running, all passengers waiting for the 15 late cheapskates from Mumbai.

Don't you just hate it when this happens..

[tsk1979]

Waiting for 24th evening... and whether you had a true white X-Mas!

[dadu]

I would also like to understand these traffic signs for clarity. anyone??

[ph03n!x]

^^ One looks like "No pedestrian crossing allowed" and the second looks like a warning fo rthe vehicles - "Achtung! Pedestrians crossing ahead"

[Sam Kapasi]

I hate it.

Despite all my efforts, this has turned out to be positively the worst cold I have ever had in my life. To make matters worse, much worse, my left ear is also completely blocked.
My eyes are watering, my head is killing me and it is really an effort to get out of bed.

We are to go for brunch to TheOne®'s father's home. I don't think I can make it, but the idea of being by myself at home on Christmas is worse than sickness.

Onward Soldier! We make it to the Pharmacy. Of course it is closed, but the notice board information on which Pharmacy is open and where it is (a typical German thing to do, doctors and chemists usually are on holiday, but take turns on being open so at no point are you actually in an emergency without either)

Some medicine later, we're on our way to the small(er) town where the Father lives.
I reach his door and look at the fields outside.

Let me answer your collective question in 3 photos. Was it a white Christmas? Yes it was. Here is the view from his door.







Me? How am I doing? I am ill enough not to take any photos. And that is bad.

I take some food from the kitchen.

The table looks lovely and very inviting


While the kiddies open their presents, we eat.





After food we exchange presents. Yes, as always there are some for me too.

I'm feeling a little better already.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by dadu

I would also like to understand these traffic signs for clarity. anyone??

Attachment 284657

Attachment 284658

Hi dadu,

In germany any sign with a red line across means "zone ends" - Example:

Suppose there was a section with a speed limit of 60. You would see a sign with a 60 on it - indicating that from here the speed limit zone begins.
When the zone has ended, you will see a sign with a 60 on it, but a diagonal line across indicating end of zone, speed limit has ended.

The sign you pointed out indicates "residential area with children playing and pedestrians - go slow and be alert"
The second sign with the diagonal line across indicates end of the above zone.

The second sign above indicates a dead end T-junction ahead.

Yes I know, lol. They're Germans, what to do?

[Sam Kapasi]

I've returned home and am lying down in bed, listening to my iPod and reading.

This evening we're invited to TheOne®'s sister's home for dinner. She lives in Bad Naheim too in a lovely 100 year old house.

We're greeted by a beautiful table, promising us a feast of traditional German Christmas food.




Of course we say hello to everyone, making sure we don't forget to say hello to Rosalie, the Albino baby snake.
Rosalie's friend (I don't know his name) is not in the mood to say hello and prefers to hide.





She's just a baby, but will be 2 to 3 metres long eventually.


Lots of interesting conversations and a lot of great food. Proper traditional German Christmas food.
I cannot hear very well because my left ear is completely clogged up.

I've switched off, not even trying to understand the spoken German. I am comfortable and at peace. Comfortable with the people I eat with and enjoying the fine food and drink and company.









Dinner goes on for hours, more talking less eating. Very enjoyable.

The plan is now to go, all together to TheOne®'s older sister's house to exchange presents and sit around together, having a good time.

But first the babies must eat.

What do they eat then?
Baby mouses.
Baby mice?
Yes mice, thanks.
From where?
Frozen baby mice.
Frozen??
Frozen. Can buy it on Internet.
And then?
And then freeze it.
In your freezer?. I point.
Yes He grins.
Doesn't she object? I point to TheOne®'s sister.
Not any more. She is used to it.
She rolls her eyes. We laugh like little boys and go off to feed the babies.

How many mice can you freeze??
You get a box of 50. They need to eat only once in a week.








Rosalie instinctively tries to crush and kill the frozen little mouse before she eats it.





Her boyfriend couldn't care less. He opens up and goes for it.

Say! How do you know that Rosalie is a girl snake?
Uhh. I don't.

We both collapse on the floor laughing. I know it doesn't seem funny to you right now, but it was bloody hilarious then. Thinking that Rosalie may be a boy-snake called Rosalie. Ha ha ha... uhhh..

Oh nevermind.