Five days in NY, NY

In New York, we like to stay at the 'Millennium One UN' and preferably in the 35th floor - corner room - if possible. In this way, just standing and looking out the window gives the instant feeling of being part of the city.  Like all visitors I got adrenalized by the buzz of people, cars, busses, police sirens, hawkers. So pleasant then after the busy day to fly up on the elevator to the quiet hotel room.

When it was raining it gave the pleasant feeling of being cocooned in a cloud.  

When the sun rose in the morning, the clear view to the Empire State building made me think of what I learned in the Zeppelin museum: the idea of mooring an airship on its top!?!  

http://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/docking-on-the-empire-state-building-12525534/?no-ist

Zeppelin Museum

From Munich it is a good two hour drive to Lake Constance. We arrived and marveled again at the wonderful view of the snow covered mountain tops of the Swiss Alps on the other side of the Lake.

Next day was overcast with drizzle and a grey haze covered any view.  Good idea then to visit the Zeppelin Museum http://www.zeppelin-museum.de/846.html which is in the beautifully restored harbor railway station in Friedrichshafen built in 1933.

I had a vague idea about the airship LZ 127 - Graf Zeppelin because two of my uncles were involved in the building of this airship between 1926 - 1928.  But I learned that there was a regular transatlantic passenger service from Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst, New Jersey. Very popular for those who could pay for a ticket, because the crossing took only 111 hours!  The comparison of a model of the Zeppelin to a modern airplane was impressive. 

If you watch this 80 minutes documentary assemblage produced by BBC Four and narrated with the text of Lady Grace Drummond-Hay it brings you back to the pioneering flight around the world in the Zeppelin 1929.     http://youtu.be/d4jq7oRxw-g

Dirndls make a come-back

This Alpine peasant costume became widely known in the US when the Trapp family moved to the States and performed concerts dressed in dirndls (think Julie Andrews).  Today I read in the Munich newspaper that there is a new interest in dirndls, now styled in all sorts of fabrics. Cotton, linen, silk and taffeta all depending to which occasion it will be worn. A dirndl is ideal for festive events like weddings or Holiday celebrations.

I had looked at the rows of dresses in department stores and was tempted to try one but then realized that it would be wrong as somebody from the Baltic Sea….

There is the possibility to have one tailored in the colors, form and fabric one chooses and then has the time to wait at least two months. The waiting list is that long. A quicker solution is to make it yourself in a 3-day workshop.  http://www.muenchen-nach-mass.de/html/dirndl_nach_mass.html

The partner to a women in a dirndl has to wear lederhosen and a green hat with a Gamsbart…..

Another reason to just admire dirndls from a distance!

Book Temple

One of Europe's most important universal libraries is just around the corner from where we live in Munich.   http://www.bsb-muenchen.de/en/about-us/    From the outside it is one long stretched facade with relatively small heavy wooden doors. But then inside the splendor of the romanesque revival architecture unfolds.  This library was built between 1832 and 1843. During  WW II  85 %  of it was destroyed but it was then reconstructed and a modern south wing added.

In  this addition there is now a reading room with 535 seats and open from 8 am to midnight.  Best to come early to get a seat and quiet is strictly required.  No food allowed except a water bottle which has to be kept on the floor.  Compared to Boston College libraries, where food and talk is allowed, it is a pleasant return to previous times.

Easter Animals

The Easter Holidays are late this year and that may be one explanation that there has been a 8,4 % rise in sales of Easter bunnies made out of chocolate. With just 144 million chocolate Santas in 2013 against 206 million bunnies now, the chocolatiers ask themselves how that is possible. One explanation is that there are always too many Christmas cookies and Stollen offered and as mentioned that Easter this year is late and the chocolate bunnies have been for sale since February.

We remembered the other tradition which is a biscuit cake in form of an Easter lamb. It will be on our breakfast table both on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.  

Happy Easter - Frohe Ostern - to all.

Palm Sunday in Bavaria

The service today on Palm Sunday in St. Gabriel church in Munich started outside in the courtyard.
Children who are preparing for their first communion had bound on paper crosses symbolic palm leaves out of boxwood and pussy willows decorated with multicolored paper ribbons.

After a short ceremony we all proceeded in the church where Mass was celebrated. 

Later we left St. Gabriel church with a small bouquet to keep in our house.  We will guard it well until next year both as a remembrance and a blessing.

Magnolias

Flowering Magnolias made us think of Beacon Street in Boston. We wonder when they are starting to bloom after a long winter?  Here in Munich's Botanical garden one could admire them in their peak! 

'Augenfreude' is a suitable German word (treat for the eye?) and it comes to mind while slowly walking past the many flowers and plants.  Decorative additions are parrots, manufactured by the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory. They are placed in the different corners of the ornamental courtyard.   

Just like for the plants, signs give the cautionary advice:  Please, do not touch!

http://www.botmuc.de/en/garden/