Cultural Differences

Just when you think Europe is too Americanized, surprises spring up like a Jack in the Box. First surprise, Air France served free champagne, wine, and even cognac to the herd of us in tourist. I only opted for wine. Of course one isn't supposed to drink on long flights, but put the words "should not" in front of practically anything, and that is what I absolutely want to do.

Wine alone was the compromise. The food was fairly good for tourist class, too. I have already commented on CDG (Charles de Gaulle airport). One thing to be said: the signage is good.

Another difference: half the population is not constantly walking around their ears glommed to cell phones or texting like mad. A pleasant break.

German breakfasts haven't changed. The only sweet stuff is the jam and jelly; otherwise, it's breads, cheese, ham and other meats such as salami and (yum!) liverwurst along with various jams, honeys and spreads. The only spread I didn't see was margarine. The low-fat paranoid-about-every-bite lifestyle doesn't appear to have caught on. The most unfortunate word, "wellness" has. What can I say?

Wine by the glass is cheaper. Flowers at the florists are much cheaper. We saw a McDonald's in a half-timbered building. How is that for bizarre?

East Germany now seems quite similiar to West Germany and the differences are subtle.

I was somehow touched to revisit the scenes from The Shadow Warriors-- the Markt Platz in Goettingen, Handelstrasse and Merkelstrasse, and even the Kuhsiel outside Bremen. We stood in front of the hotel in Duderstadt where Peter wanted to take Emma. We drove by the gray university buildings where I put the "Institute for Advanced Computing." I couldn't find the Italian restaurant around the corner. It must be gone.

So. Things change. Things stay the same. Italian food has taken over, but not to the extent that one can't find local specialties. We ate a real Thuringer Bratwurst in Thuringen. Cooked on a grill on the street. Huge, juicy, on a hard roll with the proper mustard. My God, you couldn't buy that in Boston for love nor money.

When I was lying awake in bed at night due to jet lag difficulties, I plotted my book, trying out this and that in my head.

More anon. Lots of photos.

Grapeshot