Hanne

5 April 2009

Some things never change between countries and one of those things, it would appear, is wannabe gangstas. Yes, a lowered cars spewing out gangsta beats drove past yesterday, through this sleepy family neighbourhood. I only glimpsed it briefly, but I am pretty sure it had mags too (there is a mags shop on the main street).

Actually, this weekend has had quite a lot to do with cars for me. Today we drove for 2 ½ hours through the Schwarzwald to the Bodensee (Lake Constance) to pick up a new car for Cara’s mum. Actually it was the same brand (VW), same colour (black), although the engine was slightly smaller, it was 8 years newer and it has 4 doors. But no central locking. We found that out when we went to look at the lake and had to lock each door individually ><.

There were lots of bikes out today though, the weather was lovely on the other side of the forest. Actually there was a café we passed that was aimed directly at bikes, with heaps of parking and a name with ‘bike’ somewhere in it… I also found out from Clara’s dad that there is a road near here that was SO popular with motorbikes that it is now closed to them over the weekend. The 10km twisties were getting too crowded and too dangerous because of the volume of motorcycles, and to try and dilute that bikes may only ride there between Monday and Thursday. I have never heard of such a plan before in my life!

The road signs were also interesting. There were signs warning of aquaplaning and also of an oil spill. Then there was the hugs ‘Sex Shop’ sign on the side of the road in them middle of a sleepy little village… Actually that village was close to the town where the Zeppelin was invented and as we drove through there was a zeppelin in the sky. You can rent it and go for tours over the Bodensee but it is super expensive, seeing as it is the last one working. they used to fly from Hamburg right over the Atlantic, before the Hindenburg disaster! That’s a long way for a giant balloon.

I also learnt a bit about the Schwarzwald over dinner the other night. There are cows there in summer, but not wild cows. Everyone laughed when I asked if there were ‘wilde Kühe’. That question was not as silly as it appeared though! Stephen and I did meet those 5 cows on the back roads of Miranda… And the other interesting thing I have to say about today is to do with a photo, the one of Stephen at his 21st with 7 girls on his arms. In German the saying for that is ‘Hühne im Korb’, or rooster in the basket (?). I thought it was funny that they have an expression precisely for what that photo conveys!

Tomorrow I will go into Freiburg to open a bank account, finalise my room, register with the police and enroll in the uni. Busy busy busy!

Bis Morgen,

Hanne