Germany Archives - Page 4 of 10

December 20, 2009January 20, 2017

And the Snow Came Down

I wouldn’t consider myself necessarily a “snow person.” Then again I am not really a person for any particular weather. (Though 70 degree winter evenings in the desert were amazingly relaxing.) During college I only had a bicycle for transportation, so like the postal service of old, I would pedal diligently through rain, slush, snow, fog, locusts…anything nature decided to throw at me.

But this is my first Winter in Europe, and soon to be my first Christmas in France, growing to a list of “firsts” for all of us.

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December 17, 2009November 10, 2019

German Language and Identity (auf Deutsch)

Language is always a sticking point in the German immigration debate. Many times politicians say immigrants need to learn better German, to fully integrate. But not all foreigners are told this. Entertainers, for example, seem to have a special status in German society, and imperfections are part of the charm. This feature was produced in German for Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Translation provided by Katie Ganzer.

December 5, 2009January 20, 2017

A Trip-Trip to Baden-Baden

From Köln it takes about 2.5 hours to make it to Baden-Baden, with a short stop-over in Karlsruhe. The French influence is still present here, as this was French-controlled territory after WWII, and France itself is only 10 Kilometers away. Baden-Baden would probably be a different experience, I told my wife, if one were rich. I window-shopped and saw a wristwatch on sale for €27,000. There was a cheaper one for a respectable €5000. Rumor has it Egyptian president Muhammad Mubarak comes once a year to stay in a €300/night 5-Star hotel…

…so with my lunch money of €10 and my radio kit in tow, I ventured through the crowds of Swiss, Italian and French tourists to meet a colleague from Southwest German Radio.

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December 2, 2009January 18, 2017

Munich in December

The Angel of Peace

A mossy St. Christopher stands on a river bank.

Munich

Christmas Market at Marienplatz

The Angel of Peace

The Angel of Peace in Munich

The silhouette of a Greek statue in Munich

This bird stands watch over a river bank.

November 17, 2009September 26, 2021

What is Classical Music worth to us?

My colleagues at WDR3 asked me to compare the cities of Cologne and Phoenix in terms of classical appreciation. It is not an easy task, but this report attempts to make the comparison fair and accurately. In short, Europeans are much more willing to pay for cultural activities through taxes, whereas American organizations hope the locals will pick up the tab.

English translation below

November 14, 2009September 26, 2021

An American at Karneval

When the clock hits 11:11 on the 11 of November, Cologne becomes a party city, and costumed party-goers lose nearly all inhibitions until they drop. I ventured into the crowds and produced a short report with observations and musings from the belly of the beast. One thing was clear…there was much I had never seen nor experienced before. The report was spontaneous and impromptu, though still hopefully understandable.

**Translation provided by Katie Ganzer.

November 12, 2009January 20, 2017

Karneval’s Toll

The official start to Karneval is 11:11, on the morning of 11Nov, but the drinking began much earlier than that. Celebrants in costumes ranging from interesting (a giraffe) to ridiculous (smurfs, and fire hydrants) piled out of the subways and marched across the Roncalli Platz to find a brew–a morning elixir to make their dreams come true.

But this tangible inebriation came not without a price, and the Altmarkt (Old market) stood as a beer-soaked ruin.

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