Doping

Germans are hilarious. And sore losers. Basically anytime someone mentions the Olympics, the topic of conversation eventually turns to...DOPING! And of course, everyone is doing it, but the main offenders are 1) anyone Chinese (because the Chinese only care about winning and their image--ends, not means), 2) anyone American who breaks a world record (read: sore losers), 3) any bicycler (the Tour de France has soured a lot of people--don't go anywhere near Lance Armstrong). Now I don't actually know how much athletes are really using performance-enhancing drugs, but the rabid accusations being made and the utter pessimisim and dissillusionment here are just comical. I think this might go along with general European outrage at things most Americans would yawn at, but I can't really get in the outraged mood about this. Unless, of course, the Chinese keep beating us...

Bild des Tages

I was adventuring around Rauschenwasser this afternoon and I discovered this adorable little abode. I think it's for a dog, but I could be wrong. It made me think of the little shrines in My Neighbor Totoro, and the effect was magnified by the fact that I was out in the woods and enjoying the natures and such. I think the resemblance of Miyazaki moves to old Europe makes me like the more and vice-a-versa.

Speaking of which!!! The Japanese trailer for Ponyo on the Cliff is out!! Of course, it looks adoreable and very Miyazaki-like. Can't wait to add this to my collection.

samstags in der stadt

what would saturday be without a nice bike/walk through the streets of the innenstadt (inner or old city area--filled with small shop with apartments above)? how is it that nashville (or any us city really) survives without nice little fachgeschäfte (small, specialized shops, usually with handmade items) and a big fußgangerzone (no driving area). abundance of german words because i find it pathetic that these things don't exist in the us.

obstkorbchen: small shop with fresh and dried fruit, nuts, vegetables.

delicious turkish pastries. i regret not getting the feta and spinach one, but there is always next weekend!

ice cream is everywhere here in the summer. as it heats up, everyone seems to have a cone in hand. this is my half-devoured stracciatella (which i never knew the name origin of--i really want to try both of the alternative meanings!). the panna cotta was sublime, however, and will probably get my .80 € next time (compare to 3 $ for maggie moos!)

flüsse in göttingen

i've come across several rivers in my travels:

die leine:
it runs through most of the valley and there is an amazing set of paths that let you bike along side of it. the leineradweg is a nice way to get around between bovendon and rosdorf.

it passes on the west of the city and there is a nice forest area right next to it. people come here to fish sometimes and also that most important of deutsch freizeitaktivität: wandern.

in places close to the city, the river has been tamed. there are a couple of water level stations and a few manmade lakes.

through town runs a canal that actually comes from the hills to the east of time. this mill is at the very edge. i don't know what it was used for, but i think it is a restaurant now.

i think pretty much every european city/village has next to or near it a river. it really makes for a nice system and pretty, quaint towns.

windräder des niederlands

on windmills: link. i'm going to the netherlands. soon.