The Address Nov-Dec 2014 (The Festive Issue)

From left: The well lit Christmas market at St Mary Square next to the cathedral;
Overview of an evening at the Christmas market
LOVE FOR THE LAND - I tell you this because I did not get to
experience Germany until 2006 and I was astounded by how
much I loved the place. Of course my holiday was amplified
by the fact that it was Germany who were the World Cup
hosts. The first place I visited was Cologne which was buzzing
with love (with the exception of a few hooligans). I loved
the fact that you could get a coffee (or a beer) at 4am, provided
with great table service from a guy in his 40’s, dressed in a
traditional waiter’s uniform. Everyone was polite if not a little
direct. The German’s are straight talkers, sometimes lacking
a sense of humour but rarely in the mood for small talk as it
is considered insincere. At least you know where you stand.
When I was at school we learned history like most students
around the world. But what we learned was not so much an
accurate breakdown of events but more a patriotic adaptation
of England’s involvement in various Wars, inclusive of essential
dates and prominent figures. Needless to say, Germany was
clearly a neighbour that England was not fond of and so I never
grew up with the desire to visit the country. This is also emphasised
by the fact that many English love the sun. We dream
of it every day and spray fake tan on our skin to give the impression
that we have travelled to a hot climate. And when we
do actually get to sunny destinations, we tend to bake in the
sun like lobsters. Pretty much the opposite to everyone over in
South East Asia.
BAVARIA - On my next trip to the Fatherland, my wife and
I visited friends in Munich for what was quite possibly the
most magical December I have ever experienced in my adult
life. Christmas markets in Germany epitomise Christmas for
me. That is to say, the Christmas experience away from the
family home. Bavaria is almost a state that stands alone, they
think of themselves as independent. The educational system
does not abide by the same rules as the rest of the country and
cultural differences can be found everywhere. Munich is the
capital, a title the city certainly deserves. Huge investment has
been made to keep the city clean including the the Isar river
that flows 295km from Austria to Germany. The river is more
than just a feature in the city. The water is so clean you could
catch a fish for your dinner from it. This is not something I
would dare to do in KL or London for that matter. ➢
NOV/DEC 2014 | TA 69