Germany Blog

Stories, tips, and reflections about life, travel, and culture in Germany.

  • Berlin Fashion Week Models Are Hungry?

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    Thanks to the folks at StilinBerlin.blogspot.com, we know a bit more about the Berlin Fashion Week.

    I see it as an annual migration of surly looking models (I think they’re just hungry), fashionistas from all over the globe, and designers looking to make it big like Karl Lagerfeld and Hugo Boss (my favorite) that flock to Berlin every July.

    Hey, at least the models for Ulla Popken can eat. This collection of fashion is designed for the size 16+ set.

    Come to think of it, I don’t see that “come hither if you’re a sandwich” look on any ad that featured Popken’s models. ;-)

    Jokes about models isn’t what I’m here for; and I do it all in good natured fun. But, what I am serious about is everything eco-friendly.

    So, it was to my surprise that there was an entire section on Fashion-Week-Berlin.com that talked about using eco-friendly materials and trade practices. Actually, they said “consumers are developing a preference for products manufactured in an ecological and socially responsible manner.”

    Hear! Hear! Well said folks at Berlin Fashion Week!

    What I don’t get is why they would have an entire section on their website on many of Berlin’s bars, clubs, and restaurants? If you eat, you can’t fit into all those designer clothes, or can you? ;-)

    Oh, there I go again. I’m just kidding. Just kidding. I don’t want some model to chuck a high heel at my head at next year’s event.

    Honestly though, there were many events held throughout Berlin’s Fashion Week. Had you gone, maybe you’d have gotten lucky to rub elbows with the likes of Heidi Klum or Claudia Schiffer. Wouldn’t that have been nice? Because what would a Fashion Week in Germany be without Germany’s top models (or former models)?

    Then again, what would Berlin Fashion Week be without German designers?

    In case you don’t know any, Betty Barclay, Strenesse, and Jill Sander are very well known too. And, chances are their models are going to be the hungry type.

    —Marcus

  • Steroid Scandal Within The FIFA Women’s World Cup Games

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    Now that the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011­™ is over, and the ladies have all packed up and gone home, I have to say for the most part that it was a fantastic competitive event. For the most part, being the key phrase in that sentence.

    Ohhhh, you naughty, naughty ladies. Did you know two women of the North Korean Women’s World Cup Team had made the news for testing positive for anabolic steroids during the games?

    That’s a big (huge) no-no. It’s also a big bombshell for what had been a pretty amazing competition. It’s high time you women finally get some serious respect in the world of sports; which is why when these two players from the same team tested positive, it kind of diminished all the hard work all the other women of the competition had done so far.

    So, what’s going to happen to Song Jong-Sun and Jong Pok Sim?

    Well, for starters they were taken off the lineup, and other team members have been subjected to FIFA testing them for the banned substance.

    But, does it really matter? I mean North Korea was eliminated from World Cup Competition; because of their game statistics — not because of the doping, mind you.

    Maybe nothing else will happen to them. I don’t see North Korea banning them from future competition, or anything.

    The two Jongs weren’t the only ones who have tested positive, either. A Colombian player tested positive two days before the official start of the World Cup.

    C’mon, what’s with the steroid use? Don’t you know that all samples of your blood are tested by the World Anti-Doping Agency? They’re also tested at the German Sport University (it’s in Cologne, in case you’re wondering).

    What? You know how methodical us Germans are. Did you really think we weren’t going to find it?

    That’s beside the point, actually. Theo Zwanzinger (president of the German Football Federation) has said that “there’s an inhumane system in North Korea to give athletes success… which could possibly be used for propaganda purposes.”

    Ouch, that was pretty harsh.

    Even non-sports playing folks can appreciate everything you go through to become the best of the best in your sport. Just think how much better you’ll feel (and gain all the respect and admiration of the public) to know that you’ve won your matches (games, whatever) on the world stage, without the use of steroids or any other banned substance.

    Yeah, that goes for the men too!

    —Marcus

  • Health Insurance Packages For Germany, Europe And Worldwide

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    You now can book travel health insurance here at MyGermanCity.com!

    It was when my today’s wife visited me in Germany for the first time. I researched extensively for the best travel health insurance available and this for a good price.

    Long story short, I decided for one of the largest travel health insurance companies, Care Concept, and am happily using them ever since.

    Now, I know that many of you are in a similar situation, searching for a travel health insurance company that takes good care of you if need be. So I talked with the folks at Care Concept to offer health insurance packages for my visitors that fit a number of different needs.

    So now you can book the following International health insurance packages here at MyGermanCity.com…

    • Au Pair Health Insurance — For au pairs and demi pairs who will spend time in Germany and Austria.
    • Student Health Insurance — As the name implies, this health insurance is for those who study in Germany and/or Austria. For example, ERASMUS, SOKRATES, DAAD, Working Holiday, Work & Travel and Work & Study programs, as well as other further education and study trips abroad.
    • Health Insurance Europe — This one is for those who don’t need or already have a Visa for the European Union (EU). The Health Insurance Europe package, a.k.a. Care Economy, you’re covered in the entire European Union (EU) and the Schengen States (ex., Switzerland).
    • Visa Health Insurance Europe — Similarly to the one just above, the Visa Health Insurance Europe package (a.k.a. Visa Protect) is for those who are applying for a Visa (or just received a Visa). Usually, you’ll need to show proof to the Federal Police at the airport that you’ve got a health insurance for your stay. This is the one that you’ll need then.
    • Expat Health Insurance — And for “the rest of us,” those who love to travel worldwide and are always “on the run” to the next big temporary stop, the Expat Health Insurance got you covered wherever you are.

    My hope is that the above International health insurance packages help free up your mind to concentrate on the bright sides of your travels.

    —Marcus

    P.S. We might receive a commission for each health insurance contract made thru the above pages. All commissions are being 100% reinvested to the development and maintenance of the MyGermanCity.com Web site and, in turn, get more valuable FREE Germany related information to our beloved visitors.

    Thank you very much for your support.

  • Germany Lives The American Civil War

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    There’s a good number of you Germanophiles (is that even the right word?) that love all things German, I’m sure. And I’m pretty sure there are a good number of you out there that can’t speak German.

    Good thing Germany’s news understand this, so over at the TheLocal.de you’ll get plenty of local Deutschland news in English.

    Believe it or not, one recent article is all about the US of A. Kind of makes no sense since I just said that it’s all about Germany, huh?

    But, hear me out. Did you know that almost a quarter of million soldiers in this “War of Northern Aggression” (that’s what the South called it) were German?

    And you don’t have to go all the way to Virginia, Pennsylvania, or some other United State to see a Civil War reenactment. Nope, you can do it within an hour north of Berlin at the El Dorado theme park in Templin.

    How cool is that?

    Who can resist a whole interactive theater-type extravaganza with hundreds of folks all dolled up in period garb? All right, some of the uniforms might look a little out of place considering you’ll even find some soldiers dating to the American Revolution.

    How fitting to bring this up now, since July 4th is the day America celebrates its war for independence, and it was 150 years ago this year that the American Civil War erupted at Fort Sumter.

    Sure, some have said (and I quote) “in Germany, its taboo to glorify anything military-related since World War II,” but I say why not? Civil War reenactments have been going on for years in the American South who were for secession and pro-slavery.

    Now don’t give me any flack for saying it like that, but this is very much a part of German history as it is an American one. Remember the number of soldiers who fought were German?

    Whether you know how or it turns out or not, I just wouldn’t expect TheLocal.de to report the outcome of a different winner.

    —Marcus

  • Denied, Munich Is Not The One For 2018

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    It’s official, Munich, Germany’s bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics has been denied. I won’t be a sore loser, so congratulations to Pyeongchang, South Korea on their success.

    Yeah sure, I do wish it was us though. ;-)

    I truly am sorry that this Upper Bavarian town won’t get to host the Olympic Games. Germany has hosted the Games on several occasions throughout the years of the modern games.

    We have the resources, we have the infrastructure (a top modern train system that’s prompt, thousands of hotel rooms, international restaurants, etc.), and we’ve shown that we can hold world-class sporting events.

    Germany’s hosted the 2006 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, international boxing matches; oh, and three Olympic Games in 1896, 1936, and 1972, just to name a few.

    Unfortunately, the country’s been turned down for hosting the games more times than it has been awarded them. Germany’s been denied for the 1960, 1992, 2000, and 2012 Games to just name a handful.

    Drats, foiled again!

    But, before I’ve gone off to sulk about Munich not hosting the 2018 Olympic Games; there’s still a chance to host the 2022 Games.

    And even detractors for Angela Merkel would have to hand it to her; she really pushed for Munich’s chance in 2018, as well as Katharina Witt (an Olympic Gold Medalist) and other big names in sports, going all the way to South Africa to make a last-minute push to hold the Winter Games.

    Hey, at least Munich has Oktoberfest to help drown out its Olympic woes. ;-)

    Hmm, do you think we could petition the International Olympic Committee to make beer drinking a sport? No?

    What about a bratwurst eating as an Olympic sport? Still no? Wow, this is a rough crowd — even rougher than the International Olympic Committee. ;-)

    We’ll all just have to hold our breath for the 2018 then, huh?

    —Marcus