just because maybe you are bored at work and I'm in Munich

St. Martin

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:41:00 +0000

We have homework! The 1st assignment for the kindergarten, collect 10-15 leaves and press them in a book. Once again, I was only told the day before, but I decide to do it with M. and soon realize that all the leaves she picks up are either dirty, torn, or defected. I am already thinking of final result, the perfect paper lantern for Nov. 11.

November 11,is the feast day of St. Martin of Tours. He started out as a Roman soldier was baptized as an adult and became a monk. It is understood that he was a kind man who led a quiet and simple life. The most famous legend of his life is that he once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, to save the beggar from dying of the cold.

A fresco of San Martin de Tours by Simone Martini

So on Feast of St. Martin, Martinstag or Martinmas, children in Germany participate in paper lantern processions. Often, a man dressed as St. Martin rides on a horse in front of the procession. The children sing songs about St. Martin and about their lanterns. The food traditionally eaten on the day is goose. According to legend, Martin was reluctant to become bishop, which is why he hid in a stable filled with geese. The noise made by the geese betrayed his location to the people who were looking for him.

The processional 'train' ends with a little feast of sweets (biscuits and fruit) and of course Glühwein (Mulled wine) to keep us warm, yum!

In Italy, the saint day was associated to the new wine. My mom told me of a saying in her dialect:"si prova (u vin) e si pilla". (you try the wine and tap it). So tonight, in honour of our new tradition (my mom also says "paese che vai, usanza che trovi" the country you go to, the customs you find ) and thanks to my friend D, I tried out this recipe .... what can I say, I couldn't find a goose!

The Bird Flies the Coop

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:18:00 +0000

After 9 months of waiting, it's finally here! I wasn't pregnant, so it's not what you think...kindergarten has finally begun!

Now back home in Mtl, kindergarten begins at age 5 and is that wonderful year we spent playing all day long, oblivious to all the 'learning and sitting' coming ahead in elementary school. Here, kindergarten begins at 3 years old and lasts for 3 years, and every child has a right to a spot. If you are looking for a childcare solution for a younger toddler, good luck!

Now all sarcasm aside, for children under 3, there is krippe. It is quite difficult to find a spot in this type of nursery and based on my mere experience, and lack of any German background or language, for the following reasons:
1- there are too many babies around (every woman my age has 3!) and not enough krippe
2- the bavarian government encourages moms to stay home for the 3year period (if you were employed when becoming pregnant, your position is legally held for you for that period).

The waiting list is so long that by the time she would get 'on' it, she would have to leave. A tip some mom gave me, put your name on the list before you are pregnant...I guess I'll know for next time!

After many months of hounding the daycares, I finally managed to find a spot in a private kindergarten (not state run) close to our home. It only runs till 2pm but it was the only one that would take her under 3 years. I must say G. and I were worried at first because it's only in German, but M. has adjusted quite well. Actually, she has extended her German vocabulary to 'nien'(no) 'danke schön'(thank you) and several verses to her favorite songs.

Since I don't speak German and the teachers don't speak English, I manage to communicate using some French, Italian and hand gestures when needed. They realized that I don't read the bulletin board (since I missed out on the first parent teacher meeting), so they try to inform me with little notes for any upcoming events. I was told on Monday that on Wedndesday the children would be celebrating Halloween. I mean I know it was coming but not that soon! And if you could please bring some food, that would be nice!

With only 2 days to come up with an idea, and then make it! I know, I guess I could just go out and buy it, but that's no fun :-) So Tuesday night after putting her to sleep I began cutting up an old sweater , (G. contributed one too, but he doesn't know it)and sewing her an outfit, while I whipped a batch of pumpkin muffins. A mom's job is never done!

M. being chased by her cousin E. the pumpkin.

So everyone asks me, was it worth the wait? Yes, even if it's for 4hours a day (I have to pick her up at 1, she's soo tired that I take her home to nap) I don't get much done, but at least I'm toddler free!

Oktoberfest, facts and figures

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:20:00 +0000

The Oktoberfest is known as the Largest Volksfest (People's Fair) in the World. Beginning with the first celebration in 1810 out on the 'Theresienwiese' site, today up to 6 million visitors come to celeberate.

Along with the ferris wheel and amuzement park attractions, 14 non permanent beer tents are set up on the 104 acres fairgrounds holding up to 100 000 seats. There is obviously a party atmosphere everywhere, and I must say, that although I hate amuzement parks, I do enjoy being in the tents ,it must be due to the 'Oompah band':-) But don't be fooled, it's very difficult to get inside, most visitors have reserved in adavance. If you are even lucky to get inside, don't be surprised to be sitted with other people on the benches ...but it won't be long before you are all up and 'drinking songs' in any language!

I wasn't able to download I video I had taken, so this will have to do.!

consumed (* based on last year)
Beer: appr. 69.406 hectolitres
Wine: 79.624 litres
Sparkling wine: 32.047 litres
Coffee, tea: 222.725 litres
Water, lemonade: 909.765 1/2 litres
Chicken: 521.872 units
Pork sausages: 142.253 pairs
Fish: 38.650 kg
Pork knuckles(yuk) 58.446 units
Oxen: 104 units

A Maß (pronounced mass)1 liter stein, goes for 8.80€, and it's sidekick, the large, doughy pretzels calls Brez'n — are sold from stands everywhere. Note that the heavy use of salt is no accident; after a few bites you'll want to drink more beer!

And just when you think, that things must get out of hand here, with all the alcohol, low and behold, the police, or as they say here POLIZEI, have their own tent, but it's permanent. (actually a nice piece of architecture)

The fact that it's called Oktoberfest and starts in September, well that's just logical: it's warmer and chances are you will want to drink more beer,PROST!

Tradition Thrives

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:39:00 +0000

200 years of tradition, in other words, Oktoberfest. It all began with a wedding, the royal wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12th October 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. The fields have been named Theresienwiese ("Theresa's fields") in honor of the Crown Princess ever since, although the locals simply refer to it as the "Wies'n". At that time, horse races marked the close of the event that was celebrated as a festival for the whole of Bavaria. A good time was had by all, so that they decided to repeat it annually.

Gradually with time, along with the agricultural fair, beer was introduced so visitors could quench their thirst and in 1896 the beer stands were replaced by the first beer tents and halls set up by enterprising landlords with the backing of the breweries. The rest of the grounds were occupied by amuzement (carrousels , rides, swings etc).

The festivties begin with a weekend filled with parades, the first being the Grand entry of the Oktoberfest landlords and breweries where decorated carriages, the magnificent horse-drawn drays of the Munich breweries, waitresses on decorated floats and all the beer tent bands parade.

And G. would like to point out that they (the people on the floats) are not pretending to drink their beer at 10am!

The following day , Oktoberfest Costume and Riflemen's Parade and almost everyone is out in their drindl and lederhosen (I will explain the clothes in another post)

M. and her carriage!

M and I cheering on...God save the queen, and princess for that matter!

The state of public H20

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:38:00 +0000

I have been saving this for a rainy day...to remind me of the summer that once was. It seems so long ago that I wore flip flops to ride my bicycle to the pool , I have been wearing socks and boots for weeks now (ok maybe only one but it seems like forever).

I must admit that I wasn't too enthusiastic about going to a public pool, but considering the other option (I will get to that one later) I had no choice when the barometer hit 30°C and M. needs to cool down.

Maybe it's the memory of my childhood summers spent in the pools back in Montreal, all that cement, with wobs of gum stuck to it, the screaming kids from summer camp, no room to run, the chlorine, the lack of shade. Well, I was very happy to find out that, here pools are the main attraction in the park! That is to say, they are not chainlinked into a park area, but are included in the landscape and the greenery defines the limits, the kids' playground, the lawn, the snack bar, WC are all included inside.

There are various outdoor pools located in the city, and are easily accessible by public transport too. They are all equipped with a children's wading pool and with lots of 'perks' to entertain them (slides,fountains,spurts,wheels etc), a middle sized pool for the waders and a big sized pool for the serious swimmers.

And I must mention that one pool even had their winter ice rink converted into a beach - filled with sand, bathers got the impression they were far away on some tropical island!

I must get the babysitter and look into the indoor pools, they also come equipped with saunas!

Opera Rocks

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Most of us have preconceptions (BORING, fat lady etc..) when it comes to opera ...

....but here they have given it a new edge.

Pavilion 21 MINI Space Opera, for the duration of a month is the temporary mobile venue for new reflexions and experimentations in musical theater. Designed by the architects of Coop Himmelb(l)au,not unknown to the urban scene, for they have designed other modern monuments in Munich. The pavillion is set up in the Marstallplatz, just behind the National Theater, home of the 'classic opera'. (actually I see know where they took their inspiration :-)

And opera doesn't have to be expensive, Oper für alle, is a festival of opera free for the public to watch at the Max-Joseph Platz, just in front of the National Theater. This year, stage was set up, and hundreds of fan come with blankets and set up picnics as they watch and listen to the live broadcast of Puccini's Tosca being played inside. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me, but let me tell you that a great calm realms over the atmosphere and makes it even more stunning.

BOBBING

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:54:00 +0000

I don't know what else to call it. It's has been hot here lately too, not humid, just hot enough to get you to want to cool down. So in the famous English Garden, and the even more famous Eisbach, you can spot people jumping into the stream and watch them bobb along the way.

I guess you have to go with the flow !

P.S. And this is also forbidden.

unofficial BOM - Best of Montreal

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:11:00 +0000

It's been over a month since I have been back.. .and my trip seems like a distant memory. So I have made a list of my best of Montreal ...not in any particiular order.

1. friends and family (obvious choice)
2. bixing
3. the fact that cirque de soleil was born here

4. hab fever ( no one is ever complaining to stay home for this one)
5. standing on the corner of berri \mount-royal and seeing our famous and infamous domes at the same time (the moutain to the west and the big O to the east)
6. garage sales
7. unexpected snow in april (thanks uppercasechase1)
8. an unexpected peaceful stop at the Chirst Church Cathedral and contemplate that church was on stilts during its construction, of the underground that is)
9. maple syrup ice cream at Marché Jean-Talon
10. the rare classics that don't change (i.e. patitapatata,laika,reservoir... just to name a few)

the things I enjoyed less
1. not seeing nearly as many friends as I wanted to and spending more time with family (it's never enough!)

2. taking my daughter and her stroller on public transport... SUCKS. Honestly, their new campagin is about being green...but I just wanted to run out and use a car!!

3. little mom and pop shops closing up and making way for NEWER, CHICKIER, DESIGNY places...there is something about grit that i like. I feel that there is this massif cleanuup going on...the 'quartier des speactacles' for example ...seems like it wants to get rid of the red light district. Evicting a classic like 'Café Cleopatra' (not that I ever attended but now regret immensely) but it has been in business for more than 25 years now , you just don't kick them out because you have a master clean plan. I also noticed that they moved the 'Montreal Pool Room' to the other side of the street...well it ain't THE montreal pool room if you change location! So I ask you all, to help support the dying red light district, go see the shows or at least go to this site and check out the video by Eric Paradis, I think he says it better than I can.

I found this 'bijou' tucked away at the berri bus station...I hope they don't get to this one too!

indoor passage

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0000

As I try to stay calm and not think about the impending ash cloud that is threatening my upcoming trip back home (montreal), I realize that I ate my through 3\4 of the strawberry and rhubarb pie! (honestly it's a great recipe even if i didn't use tapioca!)

Enough is enough, I decide to head out for a walk for another calming activity, shopping! My husband G. is worried that a cancelled trip will get too expensive :-)
It's quite windy out, so after I have let M. run around wild in the center square, I decide to head home by a different route and use the 'indoor passageway'. I didn't realize this at first, but it is an actual shopping 'arcade' as they call it here...equivalent to Montreal's underground shopping network, except that you are at ground level. The masterminds behind the renovation of this area are Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron of Basel, Switzerland. It's called the Fünf Höfe, which means five courty ards, because it is literally an area of five connected courtyards. There is one courtyard that I enjoy strolling through, not for the shops but for the scenery above!

I am not sure if my photos capture the detail, but the plants are real and almost 10m long!

M. loves to stop and admire it herself!

balancing spring

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:06:00 +0000

So these guys never cease to amaze me....the snow has thawed and as I was riding my bicycle (my old atala..didn't buy or steel anyhing yet) through the Englischer garten. It was a gorgeous day and so many people were taking advantage, basking in the warm spring sun, walking, playing ball and I thought I saw what resembled volleyball nets like we have back home in mtl in parc jeanne mance. But as I rode up closer I noticed that they weren't nets but ropes. These guys tight rope walk for fun! and the riskier and (drunker:-) you are the higher up you walk!

bicycle thief

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:31:00 +0000

They stole my bike, again! The first time it happened in Montreal 5 yeas ago (see original story)

This time it happened in Munich, just by my house. I moved here from Milano with my loyal rusty Atala that I had bought in Rome, but I was itching to get a 'girly' bike so I could ride with my skirts.

It didn't take long before I had noticed these amazing bicycles around town...Gazelle. They are basic city bikes and have a very vintage look and made for tall people it seems, my friend M.C. would look so graceful on one of these.
Anyhow, they cost over 600€ a pop brand new! It was over my budget , actually not mine, but G's. I figure since I am not spending the money allocated for daycare right now, I could spend it on wheels and it wouldn't be like overspending :-) My husband says that I even make finance creative.

Anyhow, we were walking around the hood a few weeks ago, and I spotted yet another 'gazelle' by a tree. It was not tied up or anything..."What a calm city, you don't even have to chain your bike and it's safe," said G. But my eyes began to sparkle and G. said "Don't even think about it." I sighed and turned away.

So I decided to hunt them down on ebay. I managed to find quite a few, but every time I went for the bid, I was out bidded. It was hard to accept that these bikes were going for 200€ USED. So I decided that's it, if the bike is not chained, it can't even be considered stealing...it was abandoned, and actually the proprietor should be punished. I just want to give it a new home.

I went out with M. for a stroll...actually by the time I got close to 'the tree' I started to sprint, only to find out that the god damn bike wasn't there!
This frustrated STAH mom will just have to make the economy go round
$$schaching$$schaching$$

Le cordonnier mal chaussé

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:20:00 +0000

As most friends, family and peers know, I used to be a landscape architect... I say used to, because since the birth of my daughter, my professional life has been on PAUSE until I find daycare, or stop moving around(whichever comes first). Nontheless, I never had a green thumb, nor a passion for plants. In fact, as a child, I resented watering my parents' garden during the summer," you can't go out to play before you finish watering the tomatoes ?" ( I had an adorable foto to insert here but i left it in montreal)
I must confess , at times I wonder if I chose the right direction.

About a few months ago , I decided I wanted some greenery in the kitchen, although I know we don't have much(any) light, I bought a rosemary plant. Now most of you with common sense would say, you can't have a rosemary plant in the middle of winter...but me, with no common sense says : if they sell it, it must live! Needless (or needles less) to say after a few weeks the needles fell , one at a time, and then like clumps. At least, I recuperated the rosemary for our supper of baked chicken and potatoes!

While starring at M. eat her avocado, I remembered seeing children plant avocado pits to grow a plant. Well my brain went to work, if kids can do it so can I!

I have a very visual memory, and I rememberd seeing something with water and toothpicks. So I stabbed the pit with 2 toothpicks , at both extremes and propped it over a glass with water so that half of it was soaking in water. I waited a couple of weeks and nothing. My husband G. kept smirking every time he passed by the mirky glass of water ,"doesn't the organic waste go in the bin", he said. So I decided to get some help professional help...google.

A great video enlightened me and so I went to the kitchen and threw out the pit. Went back to the grocery store and decided to have another stab at it. This time , I followed the videos' directions, and seems like a got it right. Well they said to wait 1-2 weeks, and it's been a month because I just don't want to rush mother nature.

But last week, as I stared at the pits trying to send them my postive vibes, I had to face reality. I looked up at G. and said, "Se tu fai crescere la pianta dell'avocado, io lascio la professione." (if you can grow a plant from a pit, I will give up the profession).
He said, "Se tu fai crescere la pianta della noce, io divento prete". (If you can grow a plant from a pit, I'll become a priest.)

While debating if I want to live with a priest, we brought home a series of treasures (sticks, cones and some moss) from our walk in the park with M. yesterday . I decided to put the moss on the avocado pit (because it seeks humidity and that damn seed has been sucking water for a month) ...well after 24 hours it stuck! So I may not be able to get it to grow roots, but I gave the bald guy some hair!

In the end, I'm still battling with the question but in the meantime have discovered that a dozen tulips cost 3€ and last a week, a far better run for my money and effort!

winter... fun?

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:13:00 +0000

Just a few minutes away from our house, there is a beautiful park we love going to The Englischer Garten which has an artificial stream running through it called the Eisbach

'

and this is what the locals do for fun, if you have balls ... and size doesn't matter because I have seen girls do it too! Not to mention that surfing is forbidden ... life on the edge.

I, with no breasts, let alone balls, prefer a more subtle exercise routine...carrying my 10k M. in one arm and a sled in the other to the park :-)

Sign language is for the birds

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Although my daughter -M.is only 20 months old, she has quite a developed palate, in Italian we say buongustaio. At 9 months she decided that she was going to stop eating the mush, that most babies all around the world eat (she made that clear by throwing it on the floor).
At that point she started eating 'adult food'(cut up in smaller pieces btw, because she still didn't have any teeth) with her hands, why use cutlery, when you can lick your grubby little fingers...hmmm.

Now just because she eats with her fingers doesn't mean she has a fine palette, but the fact that she likes 80% dark chocolate' does. Back in Italy, one of her favorite dishes, was 'galletto con scarola' (cockerel with escarole lettuce). It may sound awkward but the meat is tender and makes an incredible savory broth. So the other day I decided enough of the 'wurst' (sausage) let’s go back to our mediterranean diet.

Not having a butcher close by, I decided to head to the only outdoor market in the center i know of, 'the viktualienmarkt', expecting and accepting to 'pay for it'.
I let M. run loose for awhile and when I finally found a shop that didn't only have sausages hanging from the window, I walked in. Obviously, the vendor didn't speak English so as I asked for cockerel, I had to flap my arms, like a bird. She looked at me strangely and pointed to some chickens....I said 'nien huhn' (not chicken) I looked at the poultry section, and came across, what looked like to me a 'galletto'. I pointed and she said 'Bird, from France, you know (flap flap with her arms), very famous'. Okay, close enough, I'll take it, the French are very picky eaters too!

Back home, I start to prepare the galletto as my mother in law taught me...oil, garlic, onions, sauté a little bit of tomatoes, then add the bird....and finally water and greens, and a parmesan rind as the final touch. I leave it alone while playing with M. and once she has run out of things to play with its done! I start to cut up the meat, and realize that it's rather brown. Maybe it's duck, I think to myself, but strangely the vendor didn't go 'quack quack' when she sold it to me?

I finally decide to use my German dictionary ...well 'junge taube' means young pigeon! And mine cost me 12€ probably because it flew in from France!

Needless to say, I am dropping the sign language and bringing a pocketbook dictionary, next time I go shopping.

Communication duhh...

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:57:00 +0000

The phone guy came today,more than punctual, he was early! So he was lucky to find me dressed, although I was already dirty from M. eating breakfast on me. Of course my phrasebook german didn't impress him 'Ich spreche keine deutsch, sprechen sie englisch?' (I don't speak german, do you speak english?) I think he answered no, but he rambled on and he could of told me ' lady you look horrible, and I hate my job so i won't do anything today so just sign here please'. He came in and went out back into hallway..and well I have no clue as to what he did, cause my phone still doesn't work......all I could muster up was danke! (thanks:-)

Just so you know why my last words will be ‘rosebud’

noreply@blogger.com (anna) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:32:00 +0000

We have had some nice snow fall and we live by a small hill where kids go sliding…. so I thought I'd go downtown to buy a sled ... m. and I take the metro without the stroller so we can return in the sled ... but the little one does not want to walk, then I take her in my arms and she’s crying that wants to get off when the metro is jammed with people ... you know, where it's less convenient!
So first store, sold out, store n°2 only has models for adults , at the 3rd store they’ll be arriving next week ... all the while she screams like a mad woman(seems crazy because all the other children who are German, are quiet and still) .. . m. keeps yelling SCENDE, SCEEEEEEEEENDEE (down) or BRACCCIO BRACCCIIOOOOOOOO (arms ) and then when I let her down she’s throwing down everything from the shelf! I keep mustering under my breathe…’why do I bother’? So the following day as m. and I were talking a quiet (she had already thrown the cappuccino on the floor in the café we had just been into) stroll (she’s in my arms and the stroller is empty) in the neighborhood I notice some toboggans at a bike shop – go figure! It cost me 100 € for a wooden sled so I hope that at least we have fun!

day n° 1 ... going no problem, m. seems to enjoy sitting back. .. I get on with her and she’s not scared to go down ... but she doesn’t seem to understand when we get to the bottom of the hill…she’s shouting ANCORA ANCORA (again) . that we must go to the top to do it again! So then she does not want to walk up, but BRACCCIO BRACCCIIOOOOOOOO ... ok .. we go on like this, I carry her up once we get down. Every so often she begins to cry MALE MALE (hurt) as she sees some boy fall from his sled ... then at some point starts to cry BRUCCI BRUCCI, (burns) I think that her hands must be frozen because she does not want put on her gloves, EVER. but no, she points to her behind, saying CACA CACA (no translation here) ... she doesn’t want to know anything about returning in the sled (obviously, if your bum hurts ...) so I take her 10kg in my arms while she continues to cry the whole way back (which seems to never end ).. . while the sled is empty . arrived home, no poo!

day n° 2 m. seems enthusiastic ... even when she sees other children fall ... we go even higher this time and she likes to squeal out like the others ... and this time she lets me pull her up the hill! seems almost perfect ... I decide to make a last run but while we are going down there’s a group of children in the way, for the life of me I can’t remember the word for 'GET OUT OF THE WAY’' and after 2 seconds I start to scream ACHTUNG (danger) thank god for U2! the first guy moves in time but the girl who was behind him, does not see us and I wasn’t able to maneuver in time…and then .... BOOM ... the girl went down. At first silence then WAAAAWAAAWAAA nothing happened to the girl (what a sport), but m. got scared ...I tried to calm her down ... but nothing to be done ... needless to say back home in my arms with any empty sled!

So if day n° 3 doesn’t get better ... by day n° 4 I'll have a sled for sale!