Re: [Harp-L] Harmonicing in Germany

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

Mike,


You may have learned Hochdeutsch ("high" German, or proper German) at the university, but understand that southern region of Germany, the language has a "Southern Accent" (not unlike here in the US in the south). Some of the words will sound pretty weird to you.


Interesting enough, when I traveled to Trossingen, which is even further south, and even though I spoke fluent German, their southern accent was so extreme that I literally could not understand it.


Local beer and wine at each small German town is something to experience. You get high w/out the hangover after effect that we experience here from all the added sulfates.



-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Taylor <mjmt.taylor@xxxxxxxxx>
To: The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Mar 2, 2014 1:11 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Harmonicing in Germany


Hello All again,


Ben: Thank you for your kind offer of hospitality and contacts. I'm told that a bicycle tourer should never turn down a shower. I'm currently on the, can I afford it, with a likelihood of yes. Also, europe is much cheaper than Canada! Even considering that euros are more expensive than canadian dollars. Kind of shocking.


Frank: That would be very nice. Thanks for the help.


Iceman: I've been working on my german that I got from university. It would be a really silly and very presumptuous to go without any of the native language, don't want to be that kind of tourist. I will look for Heilige Geiste Kirche and I'm always happy to drink nice coffee, or beer, I expect Germany should be able to satisfy my appreciation for both. Also I like potatoes, another germany thing :).


Thanks All!
Mike 






On 2 March 2014 10:26, The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx> wrote:

Mick....


Not harmonica related, but if you go to Heidelberg and head downtown to the Old Square, you will see the Heilige Geiste Kirche (Chruch of the Holy Spirit - 14th Century) ...


In 1972, I worked with a small carpenter company - Hoffman Zimmerman. My job was to climb that church steeple to the top behind the big clock and hammer/crow bar out the rotted wood floor and replace it.


I returned in 1994. The steeple stairs are roped off with a guard. When I told the guard who I was and what I did, he smiled, pulled back the rope and told me I could go and see how my job is holding up.


Germans are portrayed as being stiff and serious. However, if you can speak German, you will find that they smile and are very warm.


The bummer for me was seeing in 1994 a McDonalds had opened up across from the church in one of the very old buildings.


btw, sit and have the best cup of coffee in that plaza in front of the church.




-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Evers <frank@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Mar 2, 2014 10:32 am
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Harmonicing in Germany


Hi

On Friday 28 February 2014 19:26:32 Mike Taylor wrote:
> I'm planning a bicycle tour of Germany and Holland in July/August
> that will last 5-6 weeks. I'm planning on starting in Karlsruhe.
> I'm planning to go north up to Amsterdam via Heidelberg and
> Cologne. Then I intend to go east hitting Bremen and maybe taking a
> train to Leipzig and cycling through Dresden and hitting the Seydel
> factory in klingenthal.
>
> The question: are there any good harmonica landmarks or particularly
> brilliant sessions that one can sit in either en route or that's
> worth stopping in on.