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“It’s a small world and Frankfurt is a village”, many people here say. When a street fair or some other bigger event takes place in Frankfurt, then I can be sure to meet someone, who I know. Although I really do not know hundreds of people. It does not only happen to me. At a comedian’s performance in the full Frankfurt stadium, only two rows in front of us, my friend discovered one of his buddies who he had not seen in months. On the way home, a friend met an old classmate, who had gotten married in the meantime. A few days ago, as I was on the way to a brunch with friends, I experienced a very special form of this coincidental reunion.

With me, an older woman, around 70 years old, stepped into the almost empty bus. I sat down in one of those spots in a four-seated area, where another older woman sat across from me. After the first older lady had bought her ticket, she sat herself next to the second older woman. The first older woman placed her bag on her lap, in order to put her ticket into her wallet. After a short glance over to the left of her towards the other older woman, she saw that both had the exact same bag made out of material with horses embroided on it. “A lovely bag you have there”, she said chuckled to the other.

A conversation developed naturally: where they bought the bag, where their way was heading, where they lived in Frankfurt. Only three stops further on, they discovered their joint past: they went to the same school. And if that was not enough of coincidence – they even had math class together. More than 50 years later they were not sitting in the same class room, but in the same bus. With a loud, heartfelt laughter about this coincidence, both of the ladies got off the next stop and walked to the next bakery to grab some coffee together.

I went on for two more stops, until I left the bus. With a smile and thoughts about what the two ladies would be talking about now. Several jobs, passed romances, developed families and almost forgotton memories. It’s a small world…full of wonderful encounters.

Exactly one month ago, I surprised my knight on his birthday with a day trip to Stuttgart. Since there is no better present than spending time together and discovering new places, right?

We left Frankfurt very early, so that we first had breakfast at this wonderful café directly at the market place. The sun was shining at 10 am already, which promised that it was going to be a beautiful day. We had coffee and a breakfast special for two people, which was simply amazing. Croissants, rolls, meats and cheeses, melon and yogurt with fresh fruit. Especially yummy were the homemade jams: peach and strawberry. Only because of them, the café is worth a visit. But Stuttgart has more to offer than extraordinary breakfast.

With our tummies stuffed, we began a small sightseeing tour. From the marketplace we walked to Koenigsstrasse, the shopping street of Stuttgart. This street, with all the stores we know from Frankfurt, directed us to an old, pretty castle. What rather impressed us though was the garden, which belonged to the castle. It was big and we spent over an hour at the water in the sun. After enjoying the weather and surroudings, we went on the search for some coffee and drove to the actual destination of the birthday present: the Mercedes Benz Museum.

(Photo left: Side view on castle ©CBMP; Photo right: Old Mercedes Car ca. 1960 © CBMP)

It was my second, my knight’s first, visit to the museum. Eight floors full of vehicles, motors, facts and historical happenings all around the business with the star. At first, one takes the elevator all the way to the top, where one looks at the first motors built for Mercedes and then walks down in a snail form where each floor displays a specific time range. The last floor shows the newest model and formula one cars. On the ground floor, one can actually sit inside a formula one car, which Mika Hakkinnen once sat in – pretty cool! For an admission of 4€ (Student rate) it is really worth a visit!

On the way back to the car, we literally bumped into a soccer game from the second team of VfB Stuttgart playing against SG Sonnenhof Grossanspach. We watched it for a good 20 minutes and it was actually good. But I was pressing to head back towards Frankfurt, since I had planned a small surprise party for my knight with our closest friends, with which the day ended.

A day trip to Stuttgart is definitely worth it. Spending more time in Stuttgart I cannot see doing without going to a musical of some sort. I think, you have seen Stuttgart in a day. My highlights: the garden at the castle and the Mercedes Benz Museum. All in all, Stuttgart is a nice city, if you wish to relax and like to walk through a city.

Lively Main river.

Just don’t move too much: Tree upside down.

Spring Fever?!

Street corner with a garden.

Old and New in Frankfurt.

(all photos shot and copyrighted by me!)

This year I went against my traditions – I did not stay up late and rather laid in bed sleeping while the Academy Award ceremony took place. From what I have heard afterwards, it was a good decision, since the Oscars seemed to have been not surprising and some what even boring. But the good news was that I was fit enough the next night to go out with my university girls to the movies. As exemplary English majors we chose “The King’s Speech” in English, since we all figured it would win at least one Oscar. And how we were right: “Best Picture”, “Best Performance of an Actor in a Leading Role”, “Best Director” and “Best Original Screenplay”. Now it was time for us to see, if we thought the same way about the movie and if the Oscars were legitimate.

Cinestar.de describes the movie as followed:

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond.

General: It was the first time that I went into an English movie at its new premises. The Frankfurt movie theatre, which showed all movies in its original language closed last year and the big movie theatre here in Frankfurt then started showing them. Unfortunately, “The King’s Speech” hat subtitles in German as well, which drove me crazy the first half hour of the movie. Not only because of being distracted by wording on the bottom of the screen, but also by the really bad translation into German. Other than that, the directing and shots of the movie are extraordinary in several parts.

Cast: I have only seen Geoffrey Rush in mainstream movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean”. After seeing him in “The King’s Speech”, I definitely need to watch more movies with him. Him in the role of a speech therapist was very convincing and he gave the character a certain edge, which I liked very much. His gestures and facial expressions, as well as his emotions, were amazing. Too bad that he did not win the Oscar for “Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role”! But even better, and therefore well deserved owner of the Oscar, was Colin Firth. I cannot imagine, how difficult it must be to stutter. In no scene throughout the whole movie did I question his acting or found him not convincing. Everything seemed so real and simply great. Hats off for Colin!

Upshot: Granted, it is a Historic Film, but the focus is very much set on the characters themselves, so that even a non-history-fan can enjoy the movie. The acting achievements in this movie are simply extraordinary and therefore the characters came across very real and authentic. Together with an amazing script, “The King’s Speech” is a must-see movie, even if one only watches it, to pay tribute to a great cast!

10/10

When I sat in terminal 4 at JFK International Airport in New York City on a Wednesday evening, I was fine. When I started boarding, I was still fine. But when the plane started to take off and we flew over the glittering lights of the city, I was not fine anymore. A big knot developed in my stomach and my neck felt like it was being strangled by a rope. I was gloomy.

Two and a half months I had lived in the city, which has always been my American home. But this time, I worked and really lived there, instead of simply visiting and vacationing for six weeks. This time, I had a routine. Every Thursday I met for coffee with B.; on weekends we did stuff in the city. I drove through Manhattan by car, without getting lost and being able to find the best Italian Pizza place in town without any long instructions. I had meetings with business people and wrote texts for University. But most of all: it was fun. And all that was over now.

But the my lovely company reminded me of the things that are waiting for me at the end of my flight: Family. Friends. Frankfurt. Finally being able to do things together again; being closer than 6205km. Receiving a call: “Want to meet for coffee in 15 minutes?” and being able to do it. And several other little things, which are very important to me. For I have lived in Frankfurt for ages.

Now, almost on the day three months later, I am comfortable being back in Frankfurt. Here I have my friends and family around me, who I see regulary and have fun times with. I feel as content and level-headed as I have not been in a long time. I am happy. And when I do not do anything at all and am alone with my thoughts, I just think of my other home, which awaits me on the other side of the ocean. No worries, home, I will be back.

For all together ten days I escaped the German winter almost eleven flight hours away to South Africa. Now, I returned, together with many new impressions. The country is extraordinary and it will take a few days until I can grasp all the things I actually saw there.

During my vacation, my little, black piece of life was carried along, as so often: my Moleskine calender. In it I wrote down things, which I noticed throughout my stay in the Eastern and Western Cape. Things, which were different, especially interesting or funny. Photographic impressions will follow within the next days. Because fascination and enthusiasm ends in 1840 photos with me…

• Salt is in the shaker with the lesser holes, not pepper. My first dinner was very spicy.
• Lots of personnel: three waiters for two tables at a sports bar.
• Parking helpers on each street and public parking areas to assist drivers into parking spaces.
• Workers at a gas station stand at the entrance with a finish flag, wanting you to get gas at their station.
• Rather than saying “You’re Welcome” after a “Thank You”, people answer “Pleasure”
• Fanta actually is orange and not a weird yellow color.
• Traffic lights are called robots.
• Instead of cows and deer on the side of streets, you see baboons and ostriches.
• Very proud of their heritage and country.
• Driving on the left side of the road also means going around a roundabout clockwise.
• “Dankie” is “Thank You” in Afrikaans.
• Crossing signs exist for: Penguins, Elephants, Antelopes and Baboons.
• Wimpy’s is a South African version of McDonalds; but you actually get waited on, too.

It is simple: I believe that New Year’s resolutions do not make much sense. Surely, the new year is like a re-boot for most people (“All will be better in the New Year.”; as if someone pressed the reset button and everything begins from scratch. But why wait for a new year to begin, to develop resolutions?

Up until a few years ago, I always made some New Year’s resolutions. How many was I able to fulfill? Right, actually none. But once I wanted to succeed in something, say in May or September, I was more successful in it.

Why? Because the pressure, which lies on the New Year’s resolutions are just too big. The resolution is not something what one wants to succeed, but has to succeed. And for me personally, only fun and the own will leads to a successful resolution.

That is why my answer to the question during New Year’s festivities: “And, what New Year’s resolutions do you have?” will be: “I do not have any. Let’s see, which will develop throughout the year.”

I wish all my readers (who are hopefully still there after my long writing absence) a wonderful new year and a great evening! May the new year be filled with more blogging activity on my part.

(Note: Since it was pretty quite around here the last almost two months, I will also be writing about stories and happening, which lay further back in the past. But they are all still in my heart and deserve some kind of attention. So stay tuned…)