Friday, March 26, 2010
Happiness is a warm gun
I guess that I thought about the word "happiness" coz I don't really feel so happy now. Then the first song that came into my mind was this one.
It's funny. I wrote the last post about work in Germany and in Israel, coz I've started questioning my work place. Our conditions there keep getting worse. It happens very very slowly, so I can't really say that it's all so bad. But if you compare it to what it was about a year ago, and to other jobs, it's not that great.
I don't really want to go into details about it here, but I just wanted to write that my job is a bit annoying at the moment, and that I wish I had the language to just say "fuck it!" and go look for a new one. In today's situation, I can't do it. Not yet. First I need to realize where we're going to live in the next few years, what I want to do with my life and so on. Till then, I'm kinda stuck in this job.
It makes me a bit miserable, but I guess that I'll just have to cope... Maybe starting to study again now will help. I sure hope so.
So... till then, enjoy the Beatles. I'm home, trying to not let the strong winds banging on our crappy windows bother me. And that wasn't just a metaphor.
Have a nice weekend everyone, I'll be working tomorrow :-(
Friday, March 19, 2010
working in Germany vs. working in Israel
I started writing this post at work, when I had a couple of minutes for myself (something that didn't really happen lately, since we're under staffed and it seems like we're working much harder than before...).
I will try to compare my working experience in Israel with the one in Germany, as well as comparing working with Germans vs. working with Israelis...
1. Payment:
Although living expenses are not much higher in Germany than in Israel (in average of course), the salary in Germany is much higher. In Israel, for example, I got about half as much as I'm getting now per hour, for the same job (in the same company). Oh, and what I'm getting now is lower than the average salary for this type of job in Germany.
On the other hand there is no minimum wage law in Germany, which leads to a lot of jobs that pay very little (especially students' jobs, what they call here "under 400€ jobs" - coz this amount is the amount ppl don't have to pay taxes for).
2. Holidays:
In Israel it works like in the USA: the law says that one should get a minimum of one day off per month, for a full time job. Therefore, most ppl have 12 days a year, that they can take off (not including the bank holidays of course). In certain cases, governmental offices give more days off every year of working, up to a certain maximum of course. My mother, who's been working for the same gov. office for more than 20 years now, has about 24 days a year, to take as holiday when she wants. Remember this number.
In Germany it's a bit different. The law is a bit more complicated. It basically says that the minimum of days off one should get is 1 and a half days per month of the year (that's the absolute minimum). That makes 18 days a year. It also says that for a normal 5 day week, one is entitled to at least 20 days off a year.
I got here 24 days off the first year that I worked here. Remember this number? Every year I get one day more till I'll reach 30 days.
I'm much younger than my mom, have much less work experience, and still have more days off a year than she does.
How does this effect one's life? In many, many ways.
Obviously, the more days off payed by your company, the more days you have to relax and go on vacation, meaning, doing everything else but working. Knowing that you have these days, and actually using them, makes you, as a worker, much happier, and of course much more satisfied in your job. It also allows ppl to have a life next to work. Helps develop hobbies, helps make ppl a bit more interesting and interested.
This brings me to the next point:
3. Working hours:
I only have experience working for this one company in Germany, but I do look around me, my husband works in a German company, and I have friends around. Here, although it's starting to change to the worst a bit, ppl work for money and for living, not the other way around. They go to work, most of them start around 8, they have lunch together, have a real break, and then they go home around 17:00. They have hobbies, do sports, take care of pets, or spend some time with their families.
In Israel I had a totally different experience.
Ppl are slaves to the job, answer phone calls on their cell phones at all hours, even if it's at 20:00 at home, whilst tucking your kid to bed. There are no borders about these things or limits, it's all Kosher.
I'm making a huge generalization here, I'm very well aware of the fact that there are both kinds of working ppl in Germany and Israel, but that's the big picture.
These were all just thoughts of mine lately at work, I must say that it's not all bad working in Israel. for example: ppl there are much more flexible, much much much more open to new ideas, and give you much more freedom in choosing your path, weather it's inside a company, or when hiring you. In Germany ppl are scared to death from "holes" in their CV (for example a year of traveling etc.). They are so afraid of that they never dare to go outside of the "path", of the "box". They try doing everything by the book, otherwise, they wont even be invited to the next interview. I miss being a bit more creative, having a bit more say about little things that make a difference. I miss the flexibility of the ppl, and their open mindedness.
Yeah, it seems as if in Germany ppl don't judge you for who you are or what you did (when you compare German reactions to stories with Israeli ones), but that's only coz the Germans would just not tell you their opinions right away. Inside, they would think: wow, she's too old for this job, and what a waste of time was her traveling around the world working here and there, and she doesn't have a diploma we know, how weird, we can't afford to take a chance on a person like that.
and yes, again, I know that I'm generalizing everything, but- these are just my impressions and experiences... I really hope that life would surprise me and show me how different things can be here :-)
I will try to compare my working experience in Israel with the one in Germany, as well as comparing working with Germans vs. working with Israelis...
1. Payment:
Although living expenses are not much higher in Germany than in Israel (in average of course), the salary in Germany is much higher. In Israel, for example, I got about half as much as I'm getting now per hour, for the same job (in the same company). Oh, and what I'm getting now is lower than the average salary for this type of job in Germany.
On the other hand there is no minimum wage law in Germany, which leads to a lot of jobs that pay very little (especially students' jobs, what they call here "under 400€ jobs" - coz this amount is the amount ppl don't have to pay taxes for).
2. Holidays:
In Israel it works like in the USA: the law says that one should get a minimum of one day off per month, for a full time job. Therefore, most ppl have 12 days a year, that they can take off (not including the bank holidays of course). In certain cases, governmental offices give more days off every year of working, up to a certain maximum of course. My mother, who's been working for the same gov. office for more than 20 years now, has about 24 days a year, to take as holiday when she wants. Remember this number.
In Germany it's a bit different. The law is a bit more complicated. It basically says that the minimum of days off one should get is 1 and a half days per month of the year (that's the absolute minimum). That makes 18 days a year. It also says that for a normal 5 day week, one is entitled to at least 20 days off a year.
I got here 24 days off the first year that I worked here. Remember this number? Every year I get one day more till I'll reach 30 days.
I'm much younger than my mom, have much less work experience, and still have more days off a year than she does.
How does this effect one's life? In many, many ways.
Obviously, the more days off payed by your company, the more days you have to relax and go on vacation, meaning, doing everything else but working. Knowing that you have these days, and actually using them, makes you, as a worker, much happier, and of course much more satisfied in your job. It also allows ppl to have a life next to work. Helps develop hobbies, helps make ppl a bit more interesting and interested.
This brings me to the next point:
3. Working hours:
I only have experience working for this one company in Germany, but I do look around me, my husband works in a German company, and I have friends around. Here, although it's starting to change to the worst a bit, ppl work for money and for living, not the other way around. They go to work, most of them start around 8, they have lunch together, have a real break, and then they go home around 17:00. They have hobbies, do sports, take care of pets, or spend some time with their families.
In Israel I had a totally different experience.
Ppl are slaves to the job, answer phone calls on their cell phones at all hours, even if it's at 20:00 at home, whilst tucking your kid to bed. There are no borders about these things or limits, it's all Kosher.
I'm making a huge generalization here, I'm very well aware of the fact that there are both kinds of working ppl in Germany and Israel, but that's the big picture.
These were all just thoughts of mine lately at work, I must say that it's not all bad working in Israel. for example: ppl there are much more flexible, much much much more open to new ideas, and give you much more freedom in choosing your path, weather it's inside a company, or when hiring you. In Germany ppl are scared to death from "holes" in their CV (for example a year of traveling etc.). They are so afraid of that they never dare to go outside of the "path", of the "box". They try doing everything by the book, otherwise, they wont even be invited to the next interview. I miss being a bit more creative, having a bit more say about little things that make a difference. I miss the flexibility of the ppl, and their open mindedness.
Yeah, it seems as if in Germany ppl don't judge you for who you are or what you did (when you compare German reactions to stories with Israeli ones), but that's only coz the Germans would just not tell you their opinions right away. Inside, they would think: wow, she's too old for this job, and what a waste of time was her traveling around the world working here and there, and she doesn't have a diploma we know, how weird, we can't afford to take a chance on a person like that.
and yes, again, I know that I'm generalizing everything, but- these are just my impressions and experiences... I really hope that life would surprise me and show me how different things can be here :-)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Winter Wonderland
The winter here this year is a real nice winter. It actually snowed so much that the streets are white for the past month or so (on and of with some rain sometimes, but basically snowy most of the time). I really like it.
There's nothing like the cleanliness of the snow. So pure. Makes the streets so quiet and calm.
The muddy snow that is left over after it melts a bit, isn't as nice, but as long as the temperatures stay under zero, it still looks like whipped cream that is covering everything. Like frosting on a cake.
We went skiing a few times already, once in the middle of the week and once for a weekend in Austria at Rob's grandma's. It was so much fun, I get better and enjoy it more and more every time. It's also really good sports.
Here are a few pics from the first time we went skiing this season:
that's me! look how amazing the view is
me next to a snow blower
(which is probably out of work this winter)
more amazing views.
There's nothing like the cleanliness of the snow. So pure. Makes the streets so quiet and calm.
The muddy snow that is left over after it melts a bit, isn't as nice, but as long as the temperatures stay under zero, it still looks like whipped cream that is covering everything. Like frosting on a cake.
We went skiing a few times already, once in the middle of the week and once for a weekend in Austria at Rob's grandma's. It was so much fun, I get better and enjoy it more and more every time. It's also really good sports.
Here are a few pics from the first time we went skiing this season:
that's me! look how amazing the view is
me next to a snow blower(which is probably out of work this winter)
more amazing views.It's so nice to ski down the hill and stop sometimes just for a quick look at the view. You breath in, breath out, and just enjoy that moment, that specific moment.
Skiing, you don't thing about anything. Your mind is a total blank. You just think about this moment you live- this second you need to ski down and look around and make sure you come down safe. You think about the white snow, the nice weather (when it's nice) and the bad weather (when it sucks). You think about the next turn you'll take, and then the next slope you'll choose. You think about your body, you think about the view, you think about today and now. Nothing else. It's so liberating. You feel so free of all the things that usually tie you down.
I feel the same doing Yoga sometimes, but not for such a long intensive time. Doing Yoga I can be relaxed and think about nothing else, for maybe half an hour. Skiing- you think about nothing else- for the whole day.
***
I got a flight ticket to Israel in May- going alone this time, and can't wait to be there- with no plans but to see my family and friends! only 3 months to go.
That's it for now, going to bed, really tired after a weekend of skiing and a day of work,
will try to write again soon!
Skiing, you don't thing about anything. Your mind is a total blank. You just think about this moment you live- this second you need to ski down and look around and make sure you come down safe. You think about the white snow, the nice weather (when it's nice) and the bad weather (when it sucks). You think about the next turn you'll take, and then the next slope you'll choose. You think about your body, you think about the view, you think about today and now. Nothing else. It's so liberating. You feel so free of all the things that usually tie you down.
I feel the same doing Yoga sometimes, but not for such a long intensive time. Doing Yoga I can be relaxed and think about nothing else, for maybe half an hour. Skiing- you think about nothing else- for the whole day.
***
I got a flight ticket to Israel in May- going alone this time, and can't wait to be there- with no plans but to see my family and friends! only 3 months to go.
That's it for now, going to bed, really tired after a weekend of skiing and a day of work,
will try to write again soon!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Argentina part V and last
Last thing I wrote was about the Peninsula Valdez. We drove there in the morning, and first of all went to get a room in the only town on it. So we got a room and headed to the dirt roads that we "love" so much in Argentina. We drove all day on the peninsula and saw all kinds of animals, like sea lions and sea elephants, penguins and other birds, sheep, an armadillo (which ran to us and tried eating our food!) capybaras running away from us on the road to the field, big guanacos also- crossing our way running so elegantly and more. We finished our round on the half island and went to the town where we slept. We had really good sea food for dinner, and a nice walk in sundown on the beach. It was really quiet and calm.
The next day we drove back to Puerto Madryn and tried to take advantage of the day. I must say that I don't really remember what we did that day :-) I guess that we just relaxed. I remember meeting a nice Argentine girl in the hostel, who was traveling alone. We had a chat over lunch.
From there we took a flight back to Buenos Aires, for a few last days in Argentina, in which we ate a lot of really good steak (got really good tips from a friend who lived there a couple of years ago), I especially recommend the restaurant La Cabrera, which makes steaks to almost gourmet food (their side dishes that come with the meal are amazing and the meat itself was the best we had in Argentina). We also shopped and bought some nice stuff for both of us (I could stay there and shop till I drop, but you know... my bank account is not unlimited... sadly!) There are such nice and original things in Buenos Aires. They really have nice taste in clothes, very individual but still stylish and up to date. It is really fun walking through the nice stores in Palermo, and browsing through the Argentine designers shops.
We enjoyed our last days there a lot, just a shame that on the last day our hostel experienced an exploded water pipe, which resulted in no water for more then 24 hours. we were sent to take a shower in their other branch 10 min walk away. But never mind. We felt as if it's a sign for us to leave, to make us a bit less sad that we have to go back home, from lovely summer to winter...
Argentina is a great place to go visit. It's different landscapes, it's amazingly nice people, it's really nice food, it's great shopping and huge variety of things to do that can fit just about any tourist... It's really a dream... Highly recommended!!!
I'll see how I put pictures, whether I just add some to the posts I wrote or give a link to an album.
That's it about Argentina, I still want to write a post of thoughts about it at some point, but not right now.
The next day we drove back to Puerto Madryn and tried to take advantage of the day. I must say that I don't really remember what we did that day :-) I guess that we just relaxed. I remember meeting a nice Argentine girl in the hostel, who was traveling alone. We had a chat over lunch.
From there we took a flight back to Buenos Aires, for a few last days in Argentina, in which we ate a lot of really good steak (got really good tips from a friend who lived there a couple of years ago), I especially recommend the restaurant La Cabrera, which makes steaks to almost gourmet food (their side dishes that come with the meal are amazing and the meat itself was the best we had in Argentina). We also shopped and bought some nice stuff for both of us (I could stay there and shop till I drop, but you know... my bank account is not unlimited... sadly!) There are such nice and original things in Buenos Aires. They really have nice taste in clothes, very individual but still stylish and up to date. It is really fun walking through the nice stores in Palermo, and browsing through the Argentine designers shops.
We enjoyed our last days there a lot, just a shame that on the last day our hostel experienced an exploded water pipe, which resulted in no water for more then 24 hours. we were sent to take a shower in their other branch 10 min walk away. But never mind. We felt as if it's a sign for us to leave, to make us a bit less sad that we have to go back home, from lovely summer to winter...
Argentina is a great place to go visit. It's different landscapes, it's amazingly nice people, it's really nice food, it's great shopping and huge variety of things to do that can fit just about any tourist... It's really a dream... Highly recommended!!!
I'll see how I put pictures, whether I just add some to the posts I wrote or give a link to an album.
That's it about Argentina, I still want to write a post of thoughts about it at some point, but not right now.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Argentina part IV
So... where was I? I think we were on that Peninsula for a hike. Walking to the end of it was really nice. It´s 13km, that took us a bit less than 3 hours. We had a nice picnic in a nice quiet little place, and then headed back. On the way back, after about 2km of walking I realized that my hiking boots give me really bad blisters... the way back took about the same as the way there, although most was down hill. I got really bad blisters, that Rob had to pop open so I could even walk on my feet. But the next day we mostly drove, only walked a bit to see a cool glacier (black one), and so my feet heeled a bit.
We drove to a town called El Bolson, a small town in Patagonia, that is known for being a hippy town, but to me looked more touristic than cool. non the less it was really nice there. We did a short hike the next day, in the woods. After a while the scenerey all looks the same, and although it´s still really beautiful, we were really ready for a change. Luckily we were going back to Bariloche (were I wrote the last post), and took a night bus to Puerto Madryn, a small town on the Atlantic. It´s nice to be next to the beach :-)
Tomorrow we´ll be driving around the Peninsula Valdez, where we´re supposed to be able to see all kinds of animals. But I´ll tell you about it afterwards!
till then I´ll be enjoying the sun and the warm weather!!!
We drove to a town called El Bolson, a small town in Patagonia, that is known for being a hippy town, but to me looked more touristic than cool. non the less it was really nice there. We did a short hike the next day, in the woods. After a while the scenerey all looks the same, and although it´s still really beautiful, we were really ready for a change. Luckily we were going back to Bariloche (were I wrote the last post), and took a night bus to Puerto Madryn, a small town on the Atlantic. It´s nice to be next to the beach :-)
Tomorrow we´ll be driving around the Peninsula Valdez, where we´re supposed to be able to see all kinds of animals. But I´ll tell you about it afterwards!
till then I´ll be enjoying the sun and the warm weather!!!
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Argentina part III
Where was I? I can´t remember when was the last time I posted, or rather, I can´t remember where I was the last time I posted something. Was I in Cordoba? Oh, yeah, we just arrived to Mendoza from Cordoba. So I can tell you a bit about Mendoza and the Andes, and then about what we´ve done in the last week.
Mendoza is a tricky city. It´s not the nicest one, but around it there´s a lot to do. We got there on new year´s eve, and in the evening we tried to find a nice restaurant to have dinner in, but since the Argentines, just like the Spanish, eat dinner on that evening with their families and then, after midnight, go out and party all night, there was maybe one restaurant open where we could eat. So we ate and then wondered the very empty streets of town, and then sat in one of the Plazas and watched the fireworks. It was nice, and we were already tired, so we didn´t stay in town to party, and just went back to our B&B (which was really not the best one in town).
On the first day of this year we got up late and then we went white water rafting. It was really great!!! This time, since we did that in Austria as well, I was really not nervus or afraid of falling into the water, although there were a lot more rapids than when we were in Austria, coz I knew what I have to do to get along. It was really fun! The river is really fast and brown from the soil there, and the mountains around it are all brown and dry, since it´s in the middle of the desert.
The next day we did a little trip with a group to the wineries around Mendoza, and we met two nice guys to spend the day with. The wine was nice, and we also visited an olive oil factory.
The last day in Mendoza we took another trip with a group and went towards the mountains, to see some known spots, and above all to see the Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas. It was a great day and a great trip, really worth it. The views were amazing, we went up to 3100 meters above see level, and altough in the middle of the desert, on the Chilian border in summer- it was really chilly.
After that we took a night bus to Bariloche, in Patagonia. The view change a lot on the way. At night, from the bus we saw an amazing thunder storm from far, and millions of stars.
Bariloche is a really nice town, with lots of good chocolate and ice cream and local beer. We spent the night in a really nice hostel on the lake, and the next day took our own car and drove around it all over the national park Nahuel Huapi. The amount of water around here is unbelievable, and the views are simply divine. So much green, and so much just nature.
On the next day, after driving around the whole park almost, we went for a hike on a peninsula, that took us the whole day. It was really nice walking in the woods on a half island.
I gotta go, so I´ll continue another time, promise!!!
Have a nice weekend!
Mendoza is a tricky city. It´s not the nicest one, but around it there´s a lot to do. We got there on new year´s eve, and in the evening we tried to find a nice restaurant to have dinner in, but since the Argentines, just like the Spanish, eat dinner on that evening with their families and then, after midnight, go out and party all night, there was maybe one restaurant open where we could eat. So we ate and then wondered the very empty streets of town, and then sat in one of the Plazas and watched the fireworks. It was nice, and we were already tired, so we didn´t stay in town to party, and just went back to our B&B (which was really not the best one in town).
On the first day of this year we got up late and then we went white water rafting. It was really great!!! This time, since we did that in Austria as well, I was really not nervus or afraid of falling into the water, although there were a lot more rapids than when we were in Austria, coz I knew what I have to do to get along. It was really fun! The river is really fast and brown from the soil there, and the mountains around it are all brown and dry, since it´s in the middle of the desert.
The next day we did a little trip with a group to the wineries around Mendoza, and we met two nice guys to spend the day with. The wine was nice, and we also visited an olive oil factory.
The last day in Mendoza we took another trip with a group and went towards the mountains, to see some known spots, and above all to see the Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas. It was a great day and a great trip, really worth it. The views were amazing, we went up to 3100 meters above see level, and altough in the middle of the desert, on the Chilian border in summer- it was really chilly.
After that we took a night bus to Bariloche, in Patagonia. The view change a lot on the way. At night, from the bus we saw an amazing thunder storm from far, and millions of stars.
Bariloche is a really nice town, with lots of good chocolate and ice cream and local beer. We spent the night in a really nice hostel on the lake, and the next day took our own car and drove around it all over the national park Nahuel Huapi. The amount of water around here is unbelievable, and the views are simply divine. So much green, and so much just nature.
On the next day, after driving around the whole park almost, we went for a hike on a peninsula, that took us the whole day. It was really nice walking in the woods on a half island.
I gotta go, so I´ll continue another time, promise!!!
Have a nice weekend!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Argentina Part II
Hello again!
or shall I say Hola?
anyway, hello to you from Mendoza in Argentina, right next to the Andes.
We arrived here this morning, after a 10 hour bus ride from Cordoba. I slept 8 hours of it of course :-)
In the last few days we travelled around with a car in the Cordoba province which is in the Sierras. It was fantastic! So many beautiful sights, mountains of all kinds, animalls (Condors!), lovely little restaurants and a nice small B&B. The views were amazing, and we were really glad that we took a car for these days. The first day we had a walk in a national park for a few hours, was really really nice, although we both got a sun burn on our necks. We´re both red necked now. LOL
On the second day we wanted to go to some natural swimming pools, but the weather at night and in the early morning wasn´t the best for that. So we took the car and drove around the little towns there. Was worth it for sure. Long roads, big mountains on the one side, small hills on the other, everything here is amaizingly GREEN, everywhere. Totally looks like the promissed land.
Argentina has unbelievably nice landscapes and really nice people. Oh and of course, the food is great.
Today we´re having an easy day, and tomorrow we´re going white water rafting. I´ll let you know how it all went again in a few days.
Till then, have a happy new year you all, I wish you success and health in 2010.
Adios!
or shall I say Hola?
anyway, hello to you from Mendoza in Argentina, right next to the Andes.
We arrived here this morning, after a 10 hour bus ride from Cordoba. I slept 8 hours of it of course :-)
In the last few days we travelled around with a car in the Cordoba province which is in the Sierras. It was fantastic! So many beautiful sights, mountains of all kinds, animalls (Condors!), lovely little restaurants and a nice small B&B. The views were amazing, and we were really glad that we took a car for these days. The first day we had a walk in a national park for a few hours, was really really nice, although we both got a sun burn on our necks. We´re both red necked now. LOL
On the second day we wanted to go to some natural swimming pools, but the weather at night and in the early morning wasn´t the best for that. So we took the car and drove around the little towns there. Was worth it for sure. Long roads, big mountains on the one side, small hills on the other, everything here is amaizingly GREEN, everywhere. Totally looks like the promissed land.
Argentina has unbelievably nice landscapes and really nice people. Oh and of course, the food is great.
Today we´re having an easy day, and tomorrow we´re going white water rafting. I´ll let you know how it all went again in a few days.
Till then, have a happy new year you all, I wish you success and health in 2010.
Adios!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Argentina part I
Hello you all!
I´m posting this from Cordoba, Argentina. The weather is great! it´s about 25 degrees here and it´s so cool to wear summer clothes in December!
We landed in Buenos Aires on Friday night, and spent Saturday there. The city is huge, so we didn´t get to see much, but we have another 3 days there in the end of our trip.
Today we flew to Cordoba, a nice city in the Sierras of Argentina. We saw some of the city today, which has a lot of cultural things to offer, and tomorrow we´ll do the same and just have fun and relax.
While walking the streets of Cordoba we bumped into a friend of Rob´s from Sweden, which was totally funny. We´re having dinner with him and his friends tonight.
It´s my first time on this side of the planet, so I´m excited about the fact that the water in the toilet flush swirling against the clock. hahaha
anyway, I´ll continue having fun, you take care
cheers!
I´m posting this from Cordoba, Argentina. The weather is great! it´s about 25 degrees here and it´s so cool to wear summer clothes in December!
We landed in Buenos Aires on Friday night, and spent Saturday there. The city is huge, so we didn´t get to see much, but we have another 3 days there in the end of our trip.
Today we flew to Cordoba, a nice city in the Sierras of Argentina. We saw some of the city today, which has a lot of cultural things to offer, and tomorrow we´ll do the same and just have fun and relax.
While walking the streets of Cordoba we bumped into a friend of Rob´s from Sweden, which was totally funny. We´re having dinner with him and his friends tonight.
It´s my first time on this side of the planet, so I´m excited about the fact that the water in the toilet flush swirling against the clock. hahaha
anyway, I´ll continue having fun, you take care
cheers!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wasserburg am Inn
On one of the last Saturdays we went to a lovely little town called Wasserburg am Inn (= Wasserburg on the river Inn). It is known for it's x-mas market so we went to check it out.
The town itself is a typical German little town, with nice houses and a river.
We parked next to the old train station, just in the entrance of the town, and walked in. I was sitting in the car for so long, not moving, that I really almost froze when we went out.
But after a walk through the really small but nice x-mas market, I warmed up a bit.
After looking around and seeing what's up, we stopped for lunch. We saw a fish stand, and had the most amazing fish sandwich I've ever eaten. I had a lightly fried trout in a baguette, with horse radish and cream spread and one lettuce leaf. Rob ate a Saibling tartar (it's a mouse from a kind of fish that is quite common here, in English it has two names that I don't really know: Fingerling & Samlet) and he also had the smoked salmon. The guy that sold it to us told us that he breeds the fish on his own, and also cooks them and everything. I wish I could eat at his stand every day. Yes. It was that good.
After that we were thirsty and went to the next stand that sells mulled wine and hot apple cider. We chose the cider. We got it in the most cute cup I've ever seen. It was a typicall blue glazed ceramic cup, but it looked like a little shoe! It looks like this one, but in blue with x-mas and snow painting on it: http://www.hood.de/img/thumbs/1828/18283360.jpg
I liked it so much, that I insisted on asking the lady if we could take it with us, in exchange of not getting the diposite back. I knew she's probably going to want a bit more for the cup, since it is such a nice one, and so she asked for an extra Euro and that's how I got the cuttest cup that ever entred my house.
That day ended in a really nice cafe, in the old city hall. We had the German Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) and then we went back home.
I really recomend a stroll in this x-mas market if you're in the area :-)
So here are a few pictures from there:
The town itself is a typical German little town, with nice houses and a river.
We parked next to the old train station, just in the entrance of the town, and walked in. I was sitting in the car for so long, not moving, that I really almost froze when we went out.
But after a walk through the really small but nice x-mas market, I warmed up a bit.
After looking around and seeing what's up, we stopped for lunch. We saw a fish stand, and had the most amazing fish sandwich I've ever eaten. I had a lightly fried trout in a baguette, with horse radish and cream spread and one lettuce leaf. Rob ate a Saibling tartar (it's a mouse from a kind of fish that is quite common here, in English it has two names that I don't really know: Fingerling & Samlet) and he also had the smoked salmon. The guy that sold it to us told us that he breeds the fish on his own, and also cooks them and everything. I wish I could eat at his stand every day. Yes. It was that good.
After that we were thirsty and went to the next stand that sells mulled wine and hot apple cider. We chose the cider. We got it in the most cute cup I've ever seen. It was a typicall blue glazed ceramic cup, but it looked like a little shoe! It looks like this one, but in blue with x-mas and snow painting on it: http://www.hood.de/img/thumbs/1828/18283360.jpg
I liked it so much, that I insisted on asking the lady if we could take it with us, in exchange of not getting the diposite back. I knew she's probably going to want a bit more for the cup, since it is such a nice one, and so she asked for an extra Euro and that's how I got the cuttest cup that ever entred my house.
That day ended in a really nice cafe, in the old city hall. We had the German Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) and then we went back home.
I really recomend a stroll in this x-mas market if you're in the area :-)
So here are a few pictures from there:
and a closer look:
Sunday, November 15, 2009
NEW
We got our couch!!!
It's actually a sofa-bed, but it's great. It's comfortable as a couch and as a bed (well, not from our own experience, but was the most comfortable one we tried in the stores). It's red and it's really nice! It's so nice to own your own couch, you can't believe it. We haven't had one since we were in China, there we had a really bad and ugly Ikea (we think) couch that used to sink in the middle, where ppl sat on it most of the time.
And what else is new?
We got tickets to Argentina!
We're going for a honeymoon there for 3 weeks! I'm so excited!
Now all we have to do is decide what we wanna see there and what we'll have to leave for the future, hoping we'll be back there at some point in our lives, coz Argentina is huge and seems like there's way too much to do there! Any tips will be appreciated.
So that's really nice, I wish you all a great week!
It's actually a sofa-bed, but it's great. It's comfortable as a couch and as a bed (well, not from our own experience, but was the most comfortable one we tried in the stores). It's red and it's really nice! It's so nice to own your own couch, you can't believe it. We haven't had one since we were in China, there we had a really bad and ugly Ikea (we think) couch that used to sink in the middle, where ppl sat on it most of the time.
And what else is new?
We got tickets to Argentina!
We're going for a honeymoon there for 3 weeks! I'm so excited!
Now all we have to do is decide what we wanna see there and what we'll have to leave for the future, hoping we'll be back there at some point in our lives, coz Argentina is huge and seems like there's way too much to do there! Any tips will be appreciated.
So that's really nice, I wish you all a great week!
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