Picture Buch // Bilder Book

Kinderfernseher / Children's Television

2007-07-04T04:16:00.000-07:00

I got into a very lengthy conversation with my friend Dan this weekend about the different TV shows we watched as kids. I already knew that Sesame Street can be seen in most countries, but I learned that Sesamstraße has always been produced in Germany, not just dubbed from the American version. Subsequently there are different characters and plotlines. They have Oscar (Oskar) and Grover (Grobi) but no Big Bird and no Snuffeluppagus. Let me tell you, it's pretty weird to describe those characters and nobody has a clue what you're talking about.

We did confirm, however, that many of the short cartoons and skits shown in each program often came from the U.S. And so, for those interested, I offer you Rubber Duckie auf Deutsch.

For those with less patience there's also ma nah ma nah (or menomena, however you want to spell it) which is identical to the english version, except for the intro.

Es droht zu regnen!

2007-06-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

It was at this point in our bike trip on Saturday that it threatened to rain. Then, it did. We got wet.

Kino und Pferde

2007-06-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

The open-air cinema at the horse-racing track in Leipzig. We saw "Schräger als Fiktion." I was aggravated by the fact that Emma Thompson's dubbing did not seem to have a British accent, something that plays into the plot of the film. I realize that you have to suspend disbelief sometimes with Synchronisierung but I know what a british accent in German sounds like, and that wasn't it. They should show Guys and Dolls.

"Development Porn" and NGO imagery

2007-06-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

The recent post on BoingBoing about the developing world being photographed by outsiders, i.e. photographers from the first world:

"Another interesting thing that this brings up is the relationship of the photo’s subject to the photographer. In the post, they mention the following fact: “Upwards of 90% of the images of the majority world that are seen in the western media are produced by white photographers from the USA or Europe.”

I'm not a photojournalist, and I've only barely stepped outside of the "western" world, but the topic still resonated with me. Taking photos of people I don't know always feels strange to me, regardless of the circumstances. When these two girls posed for me, it was because they had been taking pictures of us first. Maybe in Istanbul there's a few Turkish middle schoolers looking at a tiny cameraphone shot of a foreign tourist. Hopefully they're thinking she looks like she could be a native.

You can read the longer article about NGO imagery here. There is a picture in the article that also bears a striking resemblance to my own.

Posters, 2. Teil

2007-06-10T02:12:00.000-07:00

Nevermind that my first set of poster pictures were back in the fall. Here's what's being advertised on the Waldstaße circa one week ago.

Campus Fest Leipzig. The t-shirts for sale at the event featured a similar logo.

The World Pyro Award. I didn't go, but I did hear it while at the outdoor Kino the same evening.

Vanity Fair's G8 issue. They did five separate covers. The only German celeb featured was Claudia Schiffer.

"Ms. Merkel, you can make history at the G8 Summit. Put on the pressure, fight against poverty, hunger, and HIV/AIDS."

Wir Sind Helden, an extremely successful German band. One that, most importantly, sings in German.

Day of Liberation -- "The destruction of Nazism and its roots is our solution. The constrution of a new world of peace and freedom is our goal."

Auf deutsch zu singen, Teil 2

2007-06-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

I'm on a bit of a video kick, so here's another one.

Mia - Uhlala. This song is about as mainstream as it gets, but they've got elecctro roots, you can see it in her haircut. Basically I can't get over this video, it's like a shampoo ad. And also my dream Fahrradtour, through the forest and into the fields. And there are those energy-generating windmills in the background! That's how you know we're in Germany.

Auf deutsch zu singen

2007-06-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

As a general rule, I prefer it when German bands sing in German and not English. It's unfair for me to judge them based on my own preferences and sense of what the "dignified" language choice would be -- when they sing in German they've basically kissed their chances at international success goodbye. With the exception of lap-pop or electronic acts, where (ironically) the English doesn't bother me at all.

The thing is, I used to think that songs in German sounded funny. Don't get me wrong, I think the German language is beautiful. Maybe it was just radio songs about "du bist meine sonne" and "Ich vermisse dich so" that made me laugh (although if they had been in English they would have made me roll my eyes). But I also knew that lyrics in German could be more than "eins zwei drei vier." So, with that, let me offer a few clips for your consideration.

Fotos - Komm Zurück. It's possible that I would find this song utterly annoying were it in English. But I like that they can make the phrase "Ich denk an dich immer wieder" really swagger.

When I saw them play last night they said their favorite band was particular group of men who wear angular costumes, modulate their voices, and hawk techno beats, And are definitely not Kraftwerk.

Deichkind - RemmiDemmi

Fotos cover this song to great effect.

Fotos - RemmiDemmi, Live in Lingen. Bear with the shaky camera for the sound quality.

Irgendwann, irgendwie haben wir etwas geschafft

2007-06-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

Fotos beim Campus Fest Leipzig. Ich freue mich sehr, dass ich die Chance hatte, sie noch mal zu sehen!
Miri: hüpfen!

Cutie

2007-06-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Outside the University Library, the cute wide-headed boy who offered to carry your books for you.

Plattenbau

2007-06-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia auf Englisch defines Plattenbau as "the German word for a building whose structure is constructed of large, prefabricated concrete slabs, a method often found in communist architecture in central and eastern Europe. The word is a compound of Platte (slab) and Bau (building)."

In Leipzig most of the Plattenbaus have been "modernized," i.e. painted up in bright colors.

On the long drag of student dormitory Plattenbaus. This one looks like it is inhabited by families, though.

Same complex, around the corner.

My anti-Plattenbau sentiment is pretty strong, although for the German readers out there I recommend this essay froma young Wessi who learned to love Plattenbau. "Christina, 21, aus Hessen wohnt seit über einem Jahr in ihrer Traumwohnung im Plattenbau. Früher dachte sie, dass hier der Klassenkampf tobt. Heute gießen die Nachbarn ihre Blümchen." Tja.

May Showers

2007-05-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

We've been having some pretty goofy weather here in Leipzig. April was splendid, full of yellow-flowered fields.

I always wondered why we didn't have any Rapeseed at home, until I learned that we call it Canola. Think of that what you will.

In contrast, May has been one big gloomy raincloud.

Across the street from the current temporary bus stop in Grimma. That guy wants you to "read more."

Neue Wache / New Watchhouse

2007-05-14T00:18:00.000-07:00

When you love Berlin, you love Käthe Kollwitz. The light spot is being cast by an oculus in the ceiling, directly beneath which sits the sculpture.

Berlin has to deal with re-casting and re-defining every memorial within its city limits, so it's exciting when they get something really right. Read more about the Neue Wache and its history via Wikipedia.

from Eminönü to Uskadar

2007-05-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

My inital assumption was that the European sections of Istanbul would be modern, the Asian side conservative. This wasn't the case at all -- each neighborhood has its own character that certainly does not reflect the stereotypical east/west divide. Uskadar, just across the Bosphorus in Asia, was pretty quiet and headscarved. But several stops farther, in Kadikoy, were cafes and used book shops and people we wanted badly to befriend.

Buchmesse Leipzig

2007-05-12T02:10:00.000-07:00

This was actually in late March, so I'm breaking up my chonology a bit.

Leipzig's annual book fair is second to Frankfurt in size. What sets it apart is that it caters to the public and is very well attended. All of the national TV stations come and set up mini-studios in the main hall, and do special programming where they interview authors and publishers.

In the last few years the Manga world has taken the Buchmesse by storm. There were costumed teenage groups underfoot everywhere. I had no idea what most of them were dressed up like. I felt old.

There's a novel in that there tree. The Leipzig fair has a hall just for independent publishers, and they had their own stage with readings throughout the day. We like books, we do.

Several graphic arts schools from around Germany also had booths. Technically sales were supposed to happen in the "shop" section of the fair, but most stands were taking cash.

The HGB booth, representing Leipzig.

Events posters advertising readings (Lesungen) all around the city that weekend.

Outside the Neue Messe, on my way home.

Ilhara Valley

2007-05-12T01:58:00.000-07:00

I know this is a lot of landscapes, but sometimes you visit a place and it looks like another planet and you just can't get enough. Case in point.

Ilhara Valley, Cappadocia.

Craggy

2007-05-12T01:57:00.000-07:00

In Goreme National Park.

Hills like... you know

2007-05-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

There are many more specific pictures to post of Cappadocia, but this is the view that met us upon climbing over the first big hill in Goreme National Park. A centuries-old rock church to our left, no people in sight, and this landscape as far as you could see.

Hills and Minarets

2007-05-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

Near the Museum of Anthropology in Izmir.

Izmir in the evening

2007-05-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Izmir is just your typical big Turkish city without many tourists and a great promenade. Outside of the frame, to the left, is a massive statue of Ataturk, driving away the Greeks. Homer was there, sitting next to the pedestal, taking notes.

The most important things

2007-05-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

"When I visited New York were staying in a tiny room in Brooklyn. But we drank a lot of that cheap beer... PBR?"

"Pabst Blue Ribbon?"

"Yeah, it was good."

"You thought PBR was good?"

"Why, do you not think so?"

"Well, I mean... do you think it's better than Sterni?"

"Yeah."

"See, I definitely think Sterni here is better."

"Oh. Well... we did think it was really cool to drink beer out of a can."

Zuhal

2007-05-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

I wish Zuhal was a great bar, something that would denote my insider status, but as you can see the shop is closed, and I never walked down this street in the daytime.

Izmir

2007-05-02T08:47:00.001-07:00

Right after the early-afternoon prayers in the Mosque in the bazaar in Izmir.

die Beobachtete / the Observed

2007-05-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Every single school group we encountered was totally awesome and out of control. We caught these girls taking pictures of us with their camera phones, and so we fished out our own cameras. I don't know them, but I wish I did.

At the New Mosque

2007-05-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

I made the extra effort here and did the neck-wrap, instead of just tying my scarf under my chin like a babushka. (Although later I would see many Turkish women with their scarves done that way.) In German, bangs are called Pony. z.B. Wenn ich eine richtige muslimische Frau wäre, hätte ich bestimmt gar kein Pony. Curiously, I don't know what they call ponytails.

Furniture / Möbel

2007-05-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

A secondhand store in Beyoglu, Istanbul. (I would post the word for "furniture" in Turkish too, but I'd be pulling it from some online dictionary and probably just mess it up.)

The Fountain in Munich

2007-05-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

Germans call big portable stereo systems "Ghettoblasters." I found that term pretty offensive the first time I heard it, but I understand why nobody in Germany thinks twice about it. Anyway, these kids needed a Ghettoblaster. All they had was a little cell phone pumping out the tunes.

In Munich, shortly before Easter.

In the courtyard

2007-03-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

By the projects

2007-02-27T12:55:00.000-08:00

At the door

2007-02-27T12:51:00.000-08:00

At the Gallery

2007-02-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

Toddle-in Solu'shn

2007-02-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Under the ground

2007-02-25T08:14:00.001-08:00

On the beach

2007-02-23T03:49:00.001-08:00

To your left

2007-02-21T15:42:00.000-08:00

In St. Andrews. More photos from Scotland coming soon.

in das Fenster

2007-02-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

Kraft / Power

2007-02-14T08:32:00.001-08:00

Urban Curators

2007-02-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

I read about it on the internet:

The project achieves this elevation by literally hanging gold, gallery-style frames in derelict spaces within the city, framing objects and views that are of aesthetic or cultural value... Viewers are likewise encouraged to reconsider their prior conceptions of beauty and worth, understanding that the spontaneity of decay offers an alternative aesthetic to excessive design.

I know people who went to RISD, does that give me any chance at being this clever? Urban Curators Website

Twigs

2007-02-06T12:55:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the big storm we had a few weeks ago, the park is full of fallen branches. Different people have done different things with them. Yes, I went around and took pictures. View it as a slideshow here. Check out the whole set here.

Beeren / berries

2007-02-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

der Schild / the sign

2007-01-30T13:56:00.001-08:00

Eisenbahnstr. 66

2007-01-29T06:24:00.000-08:00

die Tür / the door

2007-01-27T02:54:00.001-08:00

Erleuchtung / Illumination

2007-01-26T10:36:00.001-08:00

Disko Rig

2007-01-25T01:02:00.001-08:00

die Schar / the flock

2007-01-24T09:12:00.000-08:00

der Blick von Linie 7 / the view from line 7

2007-01-23T05:25:00.000-08:00

In an unusual commute home, I rode the line 7 tram for 20 stops today. Starting at stop #3 I photographed each one. You can see the series as a slideshow on my flickr page. Link. To see the photos with their station names, start here.

Taeuschung / Deception

2007-01-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

Actually two buildings.

Construction actually happening next door.

Outside the Moritzbastei, Leipzig.

der grosse Mund

2007-01-21T02:11:00.000-08:00

"So, I have a question for you. What does the name "Bigmouth Strikes Again" mean?"

"You mean the Smiths song?"

"Yeah."

"Well, somebody who is a Bigmouth is somebody who talks all the time, somebody who gossips. Like, "Listen to you and your big mouth." And to strike is to attack... like with 'The Empire Strikes Back.' "

"Uh-uh."

[pause]

"It could mean, somebody has started gossiping about you, they've attacked you with gossip."

"Oh, that makes sense! You're now my resource when there's something in English I don't understand."

"I mean, it doesn't definitely mean that... some of those Smith lyrics and titles are pretty weird."

"Yeah, that Morrissey, he's a weirdo... I like the Smiths a lot, though."

"Me too."

Translated, liberally, from the German.

Kaufhof

2007-01-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

Christmas Lights / Weihnachtslichter

2007-01-04T05:29:00.000-08:00

As far as I can tell, they actually don't use the word "Weihnachtslichter" in German, but that's what these are.

Heppenheimers

2007-01-04T05:27:00.000-08:00

Playmobil Engel

2006-12-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

This Christmas display confirms that if life-size Playmobil figures roamed the earth, they would play with normal Playmobil figures as toys.

Mann, Maennchen / Man, Little Men

2006-12-16T07:41:00.000-08:00

On a wall in Grimma.

Kiste / Box

2006-12-16T07:40:00.001-08:00

Grenze / Border

2006-12-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

Gasse / Alley

2006-12-16T07:31:00.000-08:00

Weihnachtsmarkt

2006-12-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

The depths

2006-12-10T00:54:00.000-08:00

"See, when I'm more likely to say 'That's profound' than 'That's deep.' I'm taking words from latin, via Spanish."

"But that's good! It makes you sound smarter. Besides, people don't say 'That's deep' and mean it seriously very often."

"Really?"

"Nope... what's 'profound' in Spanish? 'Profundo'?"

"Yup."

"Oh man, I could learn Spanish EASY."

Fernseher am Sonntag / TV on Sunday

2006-11-30T12:32:00.000-08:00

I only just learned about the Global Edition of the Daily Show, and not a moment too soon. They do a "best of" from the previous week's shows, and Jon Stewart does a special little monologue with the live audience. This was the post-election show. "If you're living in the Middle East, we don't hate you as much as we used to!" He said. "And if you're living in Europe, now we can be friends again!"

When the show was over, I changed the channel to MDR, the station broadcast out of Leipzig.

Next up: a mash-up of these two programs.

Oper / Opera

2006-11-27T03:57:00.000-08:00

The opera house in Leipzig is an unexpected Soviet gem - which is to say that, in my opinion, the gems of Soviet architecture are few and far between. My camera and I really do not do it justice.

Blaetter / Leaves

2006-11-27T03:49:00.000-08:00

Most of the leaves are gone here, but every so often I see a tree that is holding on with all its might.

On the Brühlische Terrasse in Dresden.

Rebuilding / Wiederaufbau

2006-11-25T06:06:00.000-08:00

In the decades following the war, Dresden actually went on to rebuild almost all of the historical buildings and monuments that had been destroyed by the firebombing. Somehow everything really does look hundreds of years old, though. Thank goodness for acid rain.

Mural / Wandbild

2006-11-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

On the side of a communist-era building in Dresden.

Waschsalon / Laundromat, Part Deux

2006-11-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

"The last time I saw "From Dusk Til Dawn" I was in a Laundromat in Brooklyn."

"Oh! That must have been so much fun! Did you meet anybody cute there?"

"Oh no. Your roommate said the same thing the first time I met him. You all think Laudromats are someplace romantic, where you go wash your underwear at midnight at meet your true love. I was there at three in the afternoon on a Saturday, and they were showing "From Dusk Til Dawn," for christssake. It was totally weird."

"Well, I mean, that movie is violent, but it's also kind of funny."

Party

2006-11-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Boy was my camera drunk!

Sonderangebote / Special Offer

2006-11-08T23:47:00.000-08:00

The day I visited the Deutsche Bücherei, I also discovered what might be the largest used book store in Leipzig. They had several converted garages for the cheaper books.

Deutsche Buecherei

2006-11-08T23:41:00.000-08:00

I visited the Deutsche Bücherei one lovely October afternoon when I didn't have work. The library is sort of like the Library of Congress, only their goal is to have a copy of every book written in German, ever.

You have to pay a fee to be a member, but the guard was amenable to me just taking a look around, although he warned me sternly that I should not sit down.

This poster is advertising "The most beautiful German book 2006" contest, and subsequent exhibition on the second floor. Yes, the books were very pretty. Leipzig is historically a publishing and printing town, so they do crazy things like this. I don't suppose it's a coincidence that one of the three books tied for first place was an illustrated book of poetry about Leipzig.

Morgenrot

2006-11-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

"Morgenrot" literally means the red color of the sky at dawn. However, it could also be translated as "the red of tomorrow." If it makes you think of communists looking towards the sparkling bright future of their state, you've got the right idea. Let's get up first thing tomorrow and put a big red star on top of that old building, ok? Yeah, cool.

The alte Messe building in Leipzig, no longer in use.

Berlin Graffiti

2006-11-02T00:56:00.000-08:00

Probably there are sections of New York where graffiti is as ubiquitous as it is in Berlin, I just can't think of where. Most neighborhoods sport it everywhere that is within reach, and that reach can be pretty broad.

There is lots of ugly stuff, too, but when it gets cute I can't help but love it. Not a lot of paper art, but boy are stencils big.

Tasten / Buttons

2006-10-31T11:49:00.000-08:00

Bee & Flower

2006-10-31T09:25:00.000-08:00

I wasn't that into this band, but just going to the venue is worth the admission price.

Wechselhaftes Wetter

2006-10-31T03:06:00.000-08:00

Hotel Bar

2006-10-31T02:23:00.000-08:00

One of the things I like about Berlin is that there is always some new place that you haven't been to. And that place is awesome. From now on, I want to go to at least one new place every time I visit.

The Hotel Bar (not actually in a hotel). Who's that down below, with the guitar?

Weathering the Weather

2006-10-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

"Where are you from?"

"From the northeast. From Pennsylvania."

"What's the weather like there?"

"Like here, only a little bit warmer."

"So, like Italy?"

"No, not like Italy."

"Like France, then."

"Yes, like France."

[pause] "Do you speak French?"

"Uh, no. Only German."

Warschauer Neon

2006-10-26T02:20:00.000-07:00

The Warschauer Bridge in Kreuzberg. This instillation definitely involved miles of both duct tape and extension cord.

Gorky Park

2006-10-26T02:18:00.000-07:00

My favorite cafe in Berlin. Part Soviet Kitsch, but with legitimately good Russian food.

Flohmarkt / Fleamarket

2006-10-26T02:11:00.000-07:00

Denkmal fuer die ermordeten Juden Europas

2006-10-26T02:05:00.000-07:00

Construction on this memorial had only just begun when I was last in Berlin. Literally translated, it's for the murdered Jews of Europe. The brochure gives a very delicate explanation as to why they didn't include everybody else on this one. Memorials for murdered homosexuals, Sinti, and Roma are supposedly in the works.

Anyway, this memorial knocked my socks off. It pulls you in like the Vietnam Memorial, only more so.

Back from Berlin

2006-10-26T02:02:00.000-07:00

I just came back from my little vacation. Expect photos from all around the city over the next few days.

The view from my friends' apartment in Neukölln.

Waschsalon / Laundromat

2006-10-19T01:40:00.000-07:00

"I haven't yet seen a Laundromat in Germany. Or a dryer."

"I think there aren't any. I've never been in a Laundromat in my life."

"Really?"

"M-hm."

"What do you call Laundromats in German?"

"Waschsalon. I have this idea that it's this kind of romantic place, where you go late at night to wash your clothes and meet somebody."

"That's ridiculous. It's just what you see in the movies."

"But what was the Waschsalon in your neighborhood in New York like?"

"It really wasn't that nice... it was open 24 hours a day, and had hundreds of washing machines. It was really very sterile. [pause] But at college, we had a nice Waschsalon. I always went there on Sundays, put my dirty clothes in, and sat and did my reading for school..."

"See? [accusatory finger] 'Oh, it was so nice to go there and do my reading.' You feel the exact same way."

"Fair enough. But I never met anybody while I was there."

Translated liberally from the German by, er, me.

Doors in the Mountain

2006-10-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Neon Boardwalk

2006-10-12T05:08:00.000-07:00

More Jersey.

The Garden State

2006-10-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason, New Jersey has been coming up a lot in conversations here. I always want to tell them everything, about boardwalks, funnel cake, roundabouts, seagulls, skeeball, and the parkway. More than a get-to-know-you conversation can reasonably stand. I might just start carrying around photos of New Jersey in my wallet.

Der Schrebergarten

2006-10-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

Leipzig's Schrebergarten, or Kleingarten, are swaths of land divided into small plots, privately owned by residents of the city. Until today I had no idea how big Leipzig's Kleingarten system was. There are several different communities, and hundreds, maybe even a thousand separate plots.

The view from inside. None of these alleys are named, but the gardens each have a number, often incorporated into the gate design.

The eastward view, towards Gohlis.

Der Spielplatz

2006-10-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

I found this gem of a playground tucked away inside one of the Kleingartenverein. Let's get a closer look at that sign:

The German symbol for "don't do that" is a red ring around the image, speed limit, etc. This may seem ambiguous to you. It is. Just remember: red means no!

Die Eisenbahn

2006-10-08T07:40:00.000-07:00

When I emerged from the Kleingartenverein, I found myself on the bank of the canal. To the east of the canal I noticed an unusual, narrow-gage rail line.

Closer inspection confirmed my suspicions.

I caught up with this little guy at the station. It pulled 10 small open-air cars behind it and took a loop around the Auensee.

Das Selbstbildnis

2006-10-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

Das Risenrad / The Ferris Wheel

2006-10-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

The man standing there was the operator.

Enten / Ducks

2006-10-02T05:20:00.000-07:00

Abend / Evening

2006-09-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

"Bye, 'Til Tomorrow!"

2006-09-25T02:09:00.000-07:00

KIKA is like a German Nickelodeon. Only instead of showing old sitcoms at night, they go off the air completely at 9 p.m. The channel then switches to either ARD or ZDF, their two sponsor stations. What I was trying to take a picture of here was Bernd das Brot, who comes on the air between 8 and 9 p.m. I was just a little bit slow.

Meine Strasse / My Street

2006-09-25T02:07:00.000-07:00

This is across the street from my apartment building.

Turnhalle / Gymnasium

2006-09-22T11:25:00.001-07:00

Stadtteilrundgang / Neighborhood Tour

2006-09-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

As a part of the Intercultural Weeks program, I took a little tour of the Turkish section of town.

Tea.

Instant Tea.

The garden at the Mosque. The Mosque itself was an ordinary, unmarked building.

BMX Babies. Maybe as adults they will discover the Pittsburgh of the West.

Doors, 1. Teil

2006-09-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Belantis

2006-09-21T03:45:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I was invited to go to "Ostdeutschlands grösster Freizeitpark," a.k.a. Belantis. You can visit the website here, although be warned that there's a theme song lurking in the background.

This cute little guy is an oversized floral version of Der Sandmann, who appeared in his own cartoon TV show. Wasn't the Sandman supposed to be scary? The other teachers assured me that this was not the case, and that their kids loved Der Sandmann.

The pyramid ride is one of the main attractions.

The Odysseus ride. It takes you through a cave where there's a big Cyclops eye that blinks at you.

Endlich hab' ich mein Fahrrad / Finally I have my bicycle

2006-09-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

It is mine for the year. Note the two locks. No word yet as to whether a key for the old (yellow) one exists.

My bell has a leaf design on it. Today I rang it in excess.

Ein Besuch / A Visit

2006-09-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

Rachael and Anne spent 24 lovely hours in Leipzig. No doubt my roommate was a bit surprise when I mentioned I had some American friends who would be passing through town on Sunday.

We saw this tree and it struck us as unusual. Any arborists out there?

Kein Witz / No Joke

2006-09-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

13'' by 16'' in 4-bedroom apt, turn-of-the-century building, renovated, high ceilings, original moldings, 1.5 bathrooms, huge kitchen/living room. 10 minutes to main station, tram stop around the corner. $250/mo, heat, hot water, and electricity included.

Sorry, this room is actually already spoken for. And it's not my room, which is furnished, (a little bit) smaller, and of course even cheaper.

Das Klassenzimmer

2006-09-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Those are my teaching materials on the right.