Well, it is a Mispel (medlar). And when it becomes a drink, then it turns into a Mispelchen (small medlar).

The Mispelchen is a Hessian beverage specialty, which is mostly served in apple wine pubs around Frankfurt. This alcoholic drink is a combination of Calvados brandy and a marinated fruit, the so-called Mispel. 

But for this drink, the Japanese Wollmispel is used instead of the locally grown Mispel. 

The Japanese one actually does not belong to the Mispel family. It has a sweet and sour taste, and its aroma is mildly reminiscent of an apple or a peach.

70 trees have been distributed throughout the town. Various shops, clubs, kindergartens, etc. have taken on the task of decorating the trees.

The initiative runs by the name TanneUffDieGass (Hessian German for: Pine in the Alley)

This is ours in Oberursel Nord. To make them climate-friendly, the potted trees can be replanted later, and to conserve energy, they shine without electric lights.

There are various types to choose from, but we always get a Nordmann Tanne (Nordmann fir).

My better half does need some time to choose the perfect one. That is where we differ, but we have survived 32 years of that. The helper was quite patient with us, and held up various trees to compare. I did leave him with a tip though for all his patience and good humor. Told him it was not Trinkgeld (lit: drinking money = tip), but in regards to the current climate, it was meant as Heizungsgeld (lit: heating money).

This is our tree going into the funnel, this means getting wrapped for transportation.

Last trimmings to insure a safe transportation in our car. This Nordmann fir was €65, and this was the same price as last year. This is one of the few items which hasn’t gone up in price.

I would prefer a small potted tree which could be reused every year. A big cut tree like ours has to get tossed every year after 6 January when the tree pickup truck comes by.

Traditionally, most Germans put up their tree in the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and keep it until Three Kings Day, 6 Jan. Then we move it to the designated pick-up spot on the sidewalk. We toss ours from the 4th storey balcony, and in our case, the Hausmeister drags it to the designated spot then.

But the geese were clucking so loudly around Martin, that the town folks soon found him. Soon after, he was made Bishop of Tours.

The custom of eating Martinsgans (a.k.a. Martinmas Goose) on St. Martin’s Day has another reason as well.

In the farmers’ calendar, the day of St. Martin (11 November) has always been a special day. On that day, the farmers’ fiscal year ended. Therefore, wages, interest, and taxes were due, and animals got butchered. Often, interest was paid in the form of natural goods, such as geese. That way, they did not have to get fed through the winter time, and were served on St. Martin’s Day instead.

In addition, after 11 Nov (nowadays, the official beginning of the Fasching season), a strict time of fasting began towards Christmas. That way, people had the chance to have a last feast before fasting for the following six weeks up to Christmas.

German house numbers generally do not go over two digits.

This building was still standing as of 25 September 2022 (the day of our visit).

As a tribute to this, there will be a concert at the Oberursel Town Hall on 22 May 2022.

Visit History of Jazz in Hessen for more information.

Berthold Schinke, one of the organizers, has this to add:

“On this day, the focus is not so much on the history of Camp King as on the music from the time of the Mountain Lodge as well as stories and anecdotes that are not found in any history work. The concert begins on May 22, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. in the town hall of Oberursel, admission from 4:00 p.m.”

It has nothing to do with fart, even though most learners associate its sound with that. This can provide some giggles.

This photo was taken in Oberursel and it shows the entrance to a Getränkemarkt (beverage shop).

alldrink – Einfahrt: entrance to Alldrink beverage shop

I watched the German news today, and they had interviewed an entrepreneur who earns a living from renting and selling bunkers in Germany. Before the war with Ukraine, he said, he had four or five inquiries about renting/buying a bunker a week. Now he gets 400 inquiries a week.

Some shoppers around here have been hoarding mostly oil, flour, and toilet paper (among some other items).

My hometown of Schweinfurt (northern Bavaria) hosts a Bunkermuseum, and because of the current development, the number of inquiries for guided tours has been on the rise.

Feeling safe for now, and greetings from Germany.

This painted power distribution box features a hibiscus (also known as rose of Sharon), and was done by Marcus Janista (Canister.de).

The shop window on the left used to belong to PRESENT, and its premises have been converted into an art gallery for the moment.

About the shop and its window on the right – I don’t even recall what it used to be.

Mr. Canister, we miss you.

Years down the line, it got changed to the American pronunciation of the letter ‘a’. It sounds much better, I tell you.

The bus stop was added sometime after the new German housing area Camp King was completed in 2002.

This is the view from across the street (next to the U-Bahn tracks on the left). From here, you can see one of the remaining original US-army housing buildings. It is the only one with a slanted roof.

For many years, the building had been coated in a sandy color.

The bus route is heading the opposite way from here towards Bad Homburg.

I walked behind the tracks to get a better view of the former Camp King entrance. I got lucky and did not have to wait long for a car-free shot. This can be a very busy intersection at times.