What is it Solution. Item from a Korben-Gondorf Strassi

When Magda saw this at the straussi for Wiengut Freiherr von Schleinitz in Korben-Gondolf, she said that it was already a bit old fashion when she was a kid, but she did remember using such an item.

This is a hot water bottle. Although the usage was a bit different than the way that hot water bottles are used today. Water was heated and poured into the copper container. But because the copper would get so hot, it was difficult to handle and you could just leave it in the bed. That is were the loop at the top came into play. A stick or a hook could be inserted into the loop to carry the bottle to the beds. The bottle was then run under the covers of each bed to heat them up allowing people to go to sleep in a warm bed.

What is it? Item from a Korben-Gondorf Strassi

Found this hanging on the wall of a straussi that we visited last Sunday to listen to Celtic Music. Of course, that has nothing to do with the use of this item. Neither do the cow bell in the background or the rack underneath. What is it? If you know, add a comment. I'll publish the answer in a couple of days.

Hint: Although it could be used any time of the year, it was especially useful in winter.

Interesting German Words: die Katastrophe

The German word "Katastrophe" translates to the English word "catastrophe". In a lot of cases that translation is pretty correct. Where English speakers would describe the current flooding in Patistan and the BP oil spill in the Gulf as "catastrophes", a German speaker would say they are both "Katastrophen".

The difference is that use of the word "Katastrophe" occurs much more frequently in German than you would hear "catastrophe" in English. I think that if someone don't have clean socks to match the color of their pants, a German would describe it as a "Katastrophe". As in English for such a situation, this is usually done tongue-in-cheek, but the joke is so prevalent in German conversations that it seems to have lost at least some of its humor.

Freiburg, August 2010

Generally speaking, I have a more of a preference for the villages and countryside of Germany than I do the cities. In fact, I think I can say that about most countries that I have visited. I just think that is were you find the soul of the county.

However, Germany is blessed with a number of cities that have a sense of uniqueness to them making a visit worthwhile. One of those cities that we keep going back to is Freiburg. Freiburg, on the western edge of the Black Forest, is the major German city in the southwest corner of Germany. It was established around 1120 as a fortified market town of free citizens. This is the basis for the name of the city ("frei" meaning free and "burg' meaning a fortified citry). The city holds on to its roots as a market town in a couple of ways.

First there is a large market around the Freiburg Munster, Monday through Sunday. When we were there on a Tuesday at the beginning of August, I would estimate 30 framer stands selling fruits and vegetables, 4 selling flowers, another 2 stands selling meat, 4 stands selling cheese, 5-6 selling prepared food, 2 selling carved wooden items (a black forest specialty), and another 5-6 selling other items. Really a good size market, especially for an every day market.

The other connection to the roots as a market town is the availability of department stores and shops in the city. Freiburg has a huge pedestrian area that is lined with such stores. Shopping in Germany can be interesting. The sales people in the major department stores tend to be professionals who have been doing their job for quite a while. Many can look at you and tell you what your size is. Not only that they will know there stock and know if they have something that might be the right cut and color for you. If you try something on that is not a good fit or color, they will tell you and suggest you try something else. If they don't have anything, they will let you know that they have nothing that they can recommend.

The church at the center of Freibug is called referred to the Frieiburg Munster. Munster means that it is a major church but is not the seat of a bishop. However, this church has been the seat of archbishop of Freiburg since 1827 and therefore could be referred to as a cathedral. The church in transitional, having been started in 1200 as a Romanesque church but with construction switching over to the Gothic style about 1230. Although the tower is currently under reconstruction and is covered by scaffolding, I know from past trips that the climb to the top is well worth the effort for it's 360 degree views and the close-up look at the intricate stonework of the belfry.

There are a number of other reasons to like this city from the gutter system that dates back to the middle ages to support the fighting of fires, the remains of the wall that fortified the city,  the late Gothic Merchant's Hall and the City Hall from the 16th century, to the restaurants along Munsterplatz that have outdoor seating allowing you to enjoy a beer or glass of wine in the shadow of the Munster anytime of the year (in winter, each chair has a blanket or a sheepskin that you can wrap up in). Freiburg is also has one of Germany's oldest universities, which adds to the vibrancy of this city.

Air India

Returning from the US on Air India was a trip. Which is to say, it was an interesting experience.

I had decided that buying US to Germany air tickets with a 6 or 7 month durations was not the cheapest way to manage my returns to Columbus. Plus it required me to lock in my plans that far in advance, and that was becoming a problem. Of course, usually a one way ticket cost as much or more than a round trip. That is with the exception of Air India. They were offering a one way ticket for just about one half of what I was being offered a round trip. So I decided, why not.

The flight from Columbus to Chicago was on United. Checking in, I found that United could not give me a boarding pass on the Air India flight. I would have to go to the Air India check-in counter in terminal 5 and get it there. Which, of course might mean a standing in a line with other passengers checking in. United could check my bag all the way to Frankfurt, so at least I did not have to drag that along with me.

Arriving in terminal 1, I made my way to the train that connect the terminals and got to terminal 5. All the ticket counters seemed empty. I found a sigh directing me to the left for Air India and started walking pass one empty counter after another until I noticed at the end of the terminal a huge mass of people in front of one counter. You guessed it, in fount of the Air India counter. I have only seen lines like this checking in at Frankfurt. But this was different. Most of the people in this line seemed to be with a large family group, and each family had one or two carts overflowing with luggage. My heart sank as I figured that this meant a minimum of an hour standing in line to get a boarding pass. An hour and a half was more likely. I checked my watch to see how much time I had before the flight, I would still have to get through security. I wasn't sure that I'd make it.

Then a guy in a uniform asked what I needed. When I explained that I just needed a boarding pass, I got put in the line for first class passengers. In five minutes I had my boarding pass, problem solved.

Security was no problem. Surprisingly, the gate was not at the end of the terminal that way the check-in counter was. Although the gate was pretty full, I was able to find a seat to wait for boarding. After a little while, the same guy that had directed me to the first class line asked to see my boarding pass and told me that I was in group 3. I noticed that there was a team of about 5 people doing this to everyone at the gate.

Later, I found that this team where the "herders". Boarding began by calling group 1. As the line formed, one of the herders positioned themselves at the head of the line. Their job was to turn back anyone that was not in the correct group. Once the group 1 line had formed, the other herders went through the gate lobby and called group 2 into line. Then later, group 3. I didn't matter that to get into line, you had to leave the gate. Their job was to keep a continuous flow of people in the line. Never seen it done quite so forcefully.

 As I entered the main cabin, one of the stewardesses was positioned to greet each guest. The Air India uniform consisted of a black top, a white sari with black and red print, a red belt and a black sort of pill box cap. An attempt to appear modern, and still have a bit of the flavor of India.

The plane was a new one, a Boeing 777. The seating configuration was 3-3-3 instead of the 2-5-2 that I have usually seen. Each seat had a 10 inch screen and a control indicating a personal entertainment system. This might me fun. The only problem with these entertainment systems is that there is a box attached to the leg of the seat in front of you that takes some space. Why they cannot come up with a form factor that gets this out of the way of the passenger's feet, I don't understand.

As the plane started to taxi, the screen came on showing the view in front of the plane. They actually had a camera positioned so that the passengers can see the taxi and takeoff. During take off, the camera angle changed to show the ground directly below the plane, until we got above the clouds. I liked this idea.


I checked the available movies. Their where 4 relatively current US films, and about 6 classic US films. But their where about a dozen Bollywood films. I looked around, and these where definitely popular. There where also a number of games, music options and maps. There was a option to view the cameras out the front, down or sides. But these must have been turned off during the flight.

Dinner was a curry, not too surprisingly. Other than that, the in-flight service was pretty much what I have come to expect.

During the landing, the video screen once again showed the view from the front of the plane so you could see the runway breaking through the clouds and appearing to come closer up to touchdown. This is a cool idea.

All and all, I was happy with the flight. Thank goodness that I did not have to stand in that line in Chicago. Than might have changed my opinion drastically. And I wasn't all that thrilled about the feeling of being herded. But in-flight, everything was a good or better than any of the American carries I have used. Not that they are setting a very high bar to exceed.