A Sef Efrican Boytjie in Germany
I think most of us have heard that expression, “Travel the world and broaden your mind” – or something like that. Well, it’s true, and I find it to be even more apt when one doesn’t take expectations and opinions along, then mix in where and how you’ve been raised (which really can’t be avoided anyway) and it can be a real eye-opener, plus enormous fun.
Back in 2010, thanks to some wonderful folk, I got to spend a few months in Germany. Most of my time there was spent next to the Rhine River in a small town called Bad Godesberg - Bath Godesberg - near Bonn, but we also managed a memorable and interesting long weekend in Berlin.
I’d always wanted to visit Germany; possibly influenced by our German family lineage (my great, great, great grandfather and his family landed on South African shores back in 1859), and it’s always exciting visiting another country, experiencing the culture and … you know, doing that ‘travel thing‘ … ‘broadening the mind’.
Germany certainly was no exception in that department, which I guess was made even more so for me because … well, it’s all about perspectives, right?
For example, I like cold beer - I don’t really get the idea of beers one drinks off the shelf - and it’s even nicer still if the beer remains cold throughout the drinking of it. So, after hiking up to the restaurant at the top on the Drachenfels – one of the Siebengeberge (seven mountains) other side the river from Bonn - and seeing the beautiful snow-laden tables outside I had this lightbulb moment and just had to buy a beer to show off natures’ incredible, and natural, beer cooler provided just for me in that moment.
Talking ‘out in the country’, we visited one of the many medieval fairs that appear to happen there regularly, in the summer months when it’s warn enough, and I discovered some cows that hail from the 70’s.
Well, what do you think I’m going to think? Incredibly chilled, long hair and a bit of grass … eh?
And so it was to Berlin for a long weekend; and what a happening place that is. It’s young and vibrant and unusually for a big city, the capital at that, not more expensive than the rest of Germany, in fact probably generally more competitive.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time there on the whole, but being a Sef Efrican Boytjie (South African boy) who does enjoy the odd braai (barbecue) and a good cup of coffee can you imagine my disappointment and surprise when I saw these two signs near the centre of town?
Okay so I’ll concede, it’s probably a good idea to discourage everyone and sundry from setting up for a braai in the city centre … but there was no way I’d venture in there for a coffee. Maybe ‘ballbag’ means something different in German? … huh uh!
And then there’s the ‘Wall’. Of course all the history and the seriousness of what it stood for makes it a have-to-see tourist destination, but what is really interesting is how they turned it into a space for certain invited artists to express their thoughts on the whole affair. There certainly is some clever and interesting artwork to be viewed along its length.
Some weeks later and a little downstream from Bonn in a village called Bad Honnef - Bath Honnef; lots of baths in that area! - relaxing alongside the Rhine River watching the barges ply their trade up and down … and then? … isn’t this simply awesome?
It’s not every day one gets to see an amphibious car come putting past – with picnic basket, sun umbrella and life preserver!
Casually putting past us to a ramp leading out of the water and just as casually continuing up onto the road and driving off to wherever next … fascinating!
We know Germany is at the forefront of technological advances, and so it would appear within the recreational front too. You think then we can ask them to find a way to get that nifty table-top keep-your-beer-cold cooler to work here in South Africa?
