Month: July 2009

In which my neighborhood tries to offend you

Don’t you hate it when crap does that to you? Graffiti is a lot more common in Europe than in the US. Sometimes it will alarm our American visitors, leaving them wondering if they’ve wandered into a bad neighborhood. Nope, even the fancy ones have it. (This last photo doesn’t highlight the subject very well, … Read more

Scenes from Munich: little old lady fight

The other day I was walking home when I stopped at a crosswalk to wait for the light to change. Also waiting was a little old German lady. Not waiting was a small group of German teenage boys, who were wantonly crossing the street without proper permission from the little green man. The little old … Read more

Air Berlin: a bafflingly good airline

I’ve flown Air Berlin several times now, and I have to admit the airline confuses me. Its prices are often excellent, especially if you book during a sale (offerings such as 2-for-1 tickets can often be found on their website). The website is functional, allowing smooth and easy purchases and online check-in. On board, passengers … Read more

I’m talking about beverages. What are you talking about?

Thanks to shrewd marketing, Ficken* is finally gaining popularity in Germany. Of course, too much Ficken can make you tired. If this happens and you find yourself low on energy, you might want to try some Pussy**. I’m not sure if they have Pussy here in Germany. I didn’t find any at Christopher Street Day, … Read more

Ask the Expat: how to eat zucchini flowers

Do you ever post recipes? I had somewhere heard you could eat the zucchini with their flowers, but I’d never seen it done.

 

One of the reasons I was so excited to start a balcony garden was realizing that I could have a cheap and plentiful supply of zucchini flowers. Yum yum yum.

Zucchini flowers are quite easy to cook and eat. You can pick (easiest with scissors) male or female* flowers, preferably on the day they bloom. Wash them gently, inside and out, and pat them dry with paper towels. Pluck out the sexual organs inside, if you’re so inclined. The flowers can be refrigerated and kept for a day or so, but it’s best to eat them the same day you pick them.

Read moreAsk the Expat: how to eat zucchini flowers

4th of July with the expats

I can’t remember the last time I observed the 4th of July, but who can resist a BBQ by the river with friends? The banks of the Isar River are extremely popular in the summer, especially in the area near the Tierpark. There were multiple groups of Americans out celebrating their independence here yesterday, and … Read more

WTF photo of the day

I can kind of see how someone in Germany decided to name a receptacle for feminine hygiene products a “Lady Bag”. Certainly, much worse offenses against the English language exist here. My ability to comprehend this item, however, ends at the graphic. Any ideas?

Porvoo: small-town Finland

OK, back to last month’s trip north. The charming little town of Porvoo made for a perfect day-trip from Helsinki. It’s about an hour away, and the bus service is frequent. One of the quintessential sights of the Nordic countries is a row of colorfully-painted wooden houses, and Porvoo had plenty of them. The helpful … Read more