Recent Adventures

If the small sample of my Google Reader is any indication, most blogs out there recently have had some sort of "I've been a bit of a slacker about posting lately because _____" post. 

This one is not much different.  For me, it's definitely a little bit of spring fever, a large dose of trying to adjust to working from home, and most recently an unexpectedly eventful adventure in LASIK  and allergies.

I'd been toying with the idea of LASIK for a few years, and even had the testing done a couple of years ago while in the US for Christmas. In the end, I partly chickened out, and partly thought it might be better to get it done in the city where I lived and could get followup care. However, that also meant doing it in Germany and, potentially, in German.

One thing you'll learn about me is that I might take a looooong time to make up my mind, but when I decide, I go full steam ahead and quickly. There were about 10 days between me calling for an informational appointment and having the procedure. Contacts just don't work for me, and glasses are difficult where sports (especially skiing and diving) are involved, or wearing sunglasses. But recently, I realized that my photography style didn't work well with glasses either, as I was constantly having to remove and clean off my glasses where they were smudged by being squished against my eyelids by the viewfinder.  After a little internet research, I found that the LASIK place in the neighborhood had an English version of their site and (best of all!) offer a sedative before the procedure. Really, it's better for everyone involved if I have a sedative before something like that!

Good Riddance, glasses and contacts!

So, all went smoothly (the "mild sedative" was far too mild, in my opinion, but I made it through with no problems) with the surgery. However, I neglected to mention Neosporin as an allergy. I'm not allergic to any real drugs and all the German doctors here that I had told of the allergy laughed it off and said "we don't use that here." Nor did I think it came in eye drops...oh, but it did. After a day and a half of using the antibiotic drops, it kept getting worse. By the time we were able to see a doctor on Monday afternoon, my eyes were half swollen shut and the skin around my eyes was badly blistered. Would have been a good Halloween costume, but was a bit concerning.

After several trips to multiple eye doctors and an allergist, we luckily learned that it was all an allergic reaction, not an infection. Poor Herr J...it took an entire week for me to go from looking like someone had beaten me badly to just looking like someone had made me cry! I tried to cover with sunglasses as much as possible so that he wouldn't get any evil stares, but he was a good sport. I'm finally almost back to looking normal. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Herr J was kind enough not to document the horror show with photos. He did, however, bring me food and make me milkshakes when I felt too sick to eat. Such a great guy!

The German medical system being as thorough as it is, the allergist insisted I come back this week for three more visits, for allergy testing. Every day is an adventure here...even the simple things!  I'm really happy I don't go into an office daily, since they won't let me shower from Monday morning till Thursday afternoon! Washing up in the sink is a little odd, and I'm planning on a long hot bath tomorrow after all the tests are finished! 

Since it appears all the tests are normal (not a surprise), we can just have the entire experiment for our amusement. After removing the plastic and patches (days 1-2), the nurses went to town on my back with a permanent green marker (days 3-4). It's like some bad, homemade tattoo of a board game or something!.  

Day 1 & 2

After 3 visits this week - well over 2.5 hours waiting, with a grand total of around 10 minutes of actual meeting with a doctor or nurse - the conclusion was that I'm not allergic to anything other than neomycin (key ingredient Neosporin). In a very common German medical move, the doctor issued me an "Allergie Passport" that I'm supposed to carry with me at all times in case I have an accident. I could see this if I had a life-threatening allergy or a lot of them, but somehow I think that if I'm in a hospital without the ability to communicate, Neosporin is really not going to be on the drug list... However, I guess I'll keep it in my wallet. 

As for the LASIK, I'm loving being able to wear sunglasses outdoors and trying to get used to not wearing glasses. Except for the allergy, I've been completely pleased with the results and so happy I finally decided to do it!

Now trying to get back to to fun of enjoying spring in Germany and writing about it.

Munich Sites - Nymphenburg Gardens

For another early morning photowalk, we decided to check out the spring flowers and birds at the Nymphenburg Gardens.  While it was a little early in May for all but the earliest babies, we did remember why this is such a great place to pass a few hours.

Of course, after arriving to find perfect sun and a view unobstructed by any people, it was just our luck that the front of the Schloss was covered in scaffolding. We'd been there just a week or two earlier to feed the swans in the afternoon and it was not under construction! 

   

The canals and garden are a popular spot for a stroll, and when the water freezes in the winter it becomes a venue for Eisstockshießen (similar to curling).

The number 17 tram lets off just in front of the canal leading up to Schloss Nymphenburg (the far right on the map below). We usually walk up this way to see the swans that live in the fountains and lake in front of the Schloss.

 

I'm not sure why some swans puff up their wings like classical, royal looking swans and others keep them flat, but the the ones here often hold up their wings and look quite majestic.  These two are enjoying a little morning preening or flirting or posturing...not sure whether it's two males or a male and a female, but it was mating season and they were all acting strange.

 

The palace itself long served as a summer palace for the Bavarian royal family. The first baroque castle was built around 1675, but was much smaller.  The major enlargements - especially the vast gardens - were added in the first half of the 1700's in the reigns of Max Emmanuel and Charles VII Albert. 

There are a variety of beautiful buildings surrounding the castle. 

You can tour the castle also, but the gardens and grounds are a nice way to spend a couple of relaxing hours (and with no admission fee).

Once you pass through the gates into the gardens, you'll see vast gardens (more walking gardens that tons of flowers) with fountains, ponds, and statues of Greco-Roman gods and goddesses.

Looking back at the castle from inside the gardens, we see a goose family out for a stroll (along with a lot of human families and dogs).

 

As you continue through the gardens along the canal, there are lovely tree-lined paths, leading to the Cascade (#23 on the map), a set of waterfalls and more statues of gods (Poseidon is hanging out there, of course). 

Throughout the park (especially on the north side), there are many little hidden beautiful areas, with small gardens, sculptures, and buildings from various eras. As well as wildflowers and various ducks, geese, and swans.  

 

  

And of course there's a lovely little cafe and restaurant, where you can stop for a meal, or a traditional snack of kaffe und kuchen (coffee and cake).

It's beginning already...

Oktoberfest preparations are underway. The official Oktoberfest 2011 poster has been released.

Most importantly, the beer prices now have been set! Munich residents hope year after year (in vain) for a year with no increase in the price of a maß. Alas, this year the average increase is around 4%, with all tents selling a Maß of Oktoberfestbier (or Radler) for €8.80 to €9.20. A Maß of Weißbier at the Weinzelt tent (primarily a wine and champagne tent) will run you an incredible €14.20!

How does this compare to the biergarten prices? Each one differs, but a Maß of helles typically runs from around €6.75 to €8.00 at a biergarten. (Keep in mind that a helles also has a lower alcohol content than the Oktoberfest Märzen, so part of the higher Oktoberfest price is reflected in higher alcohol content).

In a city serious about its beer, this is big news every year.

For me the bigger news would be that they're brewing the Olde Wiesn Jubliaumsbier again. I see it on the 2011 beer price list. Has anyone heard that they're planning to make it again? That stuff was soooo good - I'd be thrilled to have it again!

source: Abendzeitung newspaper

A few pictures to start the countdown to Oktoberfest 2011

Aspirational Ice Cream

German marketing traditionally has focused on quality differentiation and quantifiable data -  BMW's engine is x-times more efficient, Siemens' washing machine uses x% less water, Daimler's BLUETEC diesel has x% lower emissions, Porsche's sedan can accelerate from 0 to 60 in x seconds, etc...  

US product marketing generally employs a very wide arsenal of tactics, but still often relies on selling the consumer a dream. If I drink this beer, the women will want me....If I carry this phone, I'm ahead of the curve....If I buy x, I'm environmentally conscious but not wasteful with my money....

In Germany, we're starting to see the emotional and aspirational marketing creeping into the product selection. In the ice cream selection, they've gone far to the extreme. Langnese (the German brand for Unilever's ice cream - Walls in the UK and Asia, Good Humor in the US) currently is promoting two ice cream flavors where you can buy romance.  Like fire and ice, you can choose the "Eiskalt" romance of Dr. Zhivago or the fiery passion of Gone with the Wind.  

The Doctor Zhivago flavor is described as an "ice-cold" film romance of snow-white ice cream with marscapone, lemon ice cream, fine vodka-lemon sauce and tiny chocolate snowflakes.

Gone with the Wind, on the other hand, is a fruity raspberry and dark chocolate ice creams with fire-red raspberry sauce. (it also appears to have dark chocolate sprinkles on top)

While these are a special promotion, many of their other ice creams sell a similar dream - usually a dream of exotic and magical destinations. And, given the German love of travel, it seems like a pretty good aspiration to sell.

We haven't tried them yet, though they seem to be just a bit too much to me. Perhaps the cherry and chocolate one would be good, but the others have so many different flavors in there!

What are the flavors?

Kirschzauber: Cherry Magic: A magical combination of sour cherry and vanilla-poppyseed ice cream with sour cherry sauce and tiny chocolate flowers. (note: the "poppyseed" is a bit hard to describe. In Germany, it's "mohn," a common filling for pastries and cakes. While it is poppyseed, it's not crunchy like the ones commonly sprinkled on rolls)

Safari Afrika: Creamy chocolate ice cream, swirled with delicious vanilla ice cream, intense chocolate sauce, and tiny chocolate paws.

Andalusische Träume: Andalusian Dreams: Vanilla-orange ice cream, swirled with cherry-sherry saue with tiny chocolate hearts.

Dschungelzauber: Jungle Magic: Creamy pistachio ice cream swirled with delicious vanilla ice cream with chocolate-coconut sauce and tiny chocolate apes.

What do you think? Do you buy the ice cream dream, or just go for a good flavor? For me, Langnese also makes the delightful Magnum bars (thank you Thailand for teaching me about Magnums!!) with their rich chocolate and so creamy ice cream. The new Ghana Cocoa bar (milk chocolate shell with hazelnut ice cream and fudge swirls) is my second favorite ice cream bar ever. Doesn't quite beat the Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Cookie Dough bar, but I'm willing to test out all the competition! 

Ostrich. It's what's for dinner

I've been trying to stick to eating relatively low carb, low fat foods. (With the occasional pizza and ice cream, of course...both are soooo good in Munich, thanks to a heavy Italian influence).

While I do feel much better eating this way, I do get awfully bored sometimes and am searching for new options.

I was thrilled to discover something new at the store - ostrich filet! You will see it on menus here as strauss, strauß, or straußenfilet.  It's not exactly widespread, but not really unusual either.  Many a German has travelled to South Africa and enjoyed the cuisine there. In fact, the store periodically has Steinbock (antelope) and biltong (South African jerky).

It surprised me that ostrich filets were cheaper per kg than beef, and they're quite tasty and almost nonfat. All good things, but the big question was, what do I do with it??

Luckily we live in the age of Google, and the ostrich producers wisely realized that not knowing what to do with their product is a big obstacle to selling it. Klein Karoo has a long list of recipes available, ranging from a simple filet to ostrich goulash, ostrich sushi, and ostrich shepherd's pie.  For our first foray, we chose the simple steak, with a shallot redwine glaze recipe from The Ostrich Growers' recipe site.

I baked some cumin/chile sweet potato fries and some proscuitto-wrapped baby green beans (blanch beans, let cool, then wrap with proscuitto or bacon and bake in oven).  And we had some nice Austrian red wine from our trip to Vienna.

While it looks like steak and tastes similar (minus, the beefy taste), you cannot cook it like a steak.  Ostrich has almost no fat, thus will dry out very easily. For the same reason, it absorbs marinades quickly and will take on the taste of the marinade more than will a steak. 

The best way to serve ostrich (to be tender) is a bit on the rare side.

How to Cook Ostrich Steaks:

Let the meat warm close to room temperature and baste with olive oil or marinate for 30 minutes in an oil-based marinade (without any salt!!).

Sear filets on both sides in a hot skillet (around 1 minute per side).

Season meat AFTER searing, so that the salt and seasonings do not suck out the moisture.

At this point you can continue to cook in the skillet another 2 minutes per side (to be medium rare). Then wrap in foil to rest before serving.

Or, we wrapped the seared filets in foil and cooked for a few minutes in the oven around 120°C (250°F).

Red Wine Shallot Glaze:
from Ostrich Growers

•     2 Tbsp butter
•     2/3 cup finely sliced shallots
•     1 cup dry red wine
•     Salt

Heat skillet over high. Add butter and shallots and stir frequently 2-3 minutes (until shallots are limp)
Add wine and boil until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Add salt to taste. Add juices from the meat and serve over ostrich filet steaks.

Morning Observations

This morning we went for a really early (predawn departure) morning photowalk through Munich's Olympiapark.

After a few hours of walking, we stopped at Woerner's for a nice filling weisswurst breakfast. Munich at 8am on a weekend is pretty wonderful - there is some movement, but most people are still in bed and it's a peaceful time. It's also early enough to get prime seats in some of the restaurants and cafes!

As their outside tables weren't out yet, we secured a prime table by an open window overlooking Marienplatz (Woerner's cafe is a level up).

You'll always see some strange things if you watch the people on Marienplatz long enough. This morning, it was a man with a small trailer behind his bike. From our distant view, the trailer looked like a glass display case with a statue of Jesus.  He then parked his bike and trailer in front of the Rathaus, set up a video camera and began recieving guests.

Luckily Herr J had his 600mm effective lens and we could spy on the proceedings down below. Definitely not Jesus, but we're still at a loss for why this guy was towing around a glass cases with a sawdust statue of a woman in it.  He seemed to have several friends meet him out there, so there must have been some significance and interesting back story...

What we did realize was how handy Herr J's stealth lens is....Since he's using the  micro 4/3 standard, his 600mm lens weighs in at 1 lb and a tiny fraction of the price of the 11 lb, $10,000 behemoth lens Nikon offers for my camera. Plus, it fits easily in the man purse!

Silly Goose!

We've been visiting the English Garden the past few weekends to see the babies growing.  Last week we saw some unusual behavior from a Greylag Goose near the Seehaus.

First we see him happily swimming with his family.

 

But then another goose catches his eye and he quickly turns to go after it.

 

A goose snapping at something was not unusual in itself. These guys can be pretty aggressive with other birds and will persistently beg you for food by nipping the back of your knee to "let you know" that they want bread. They'll also eat it from your hand without hurting you - they're much rougher on other birds than on people. Obviously they understand "don't bite the hand that feeds you" quite well!

What was unusual was first, that the other goose swam underwater to evade attack

and second, how aggressively the attacker continued to pursue him, trying to catch and bite him.

 

 

By this point, they've zigzagged back and forth in front of us for a seemingly long time (probably under a minute), with the victim spending most of the time fully underwater (circled in orange) and kicking up a trail of muddy water. 

The strategy works, and clearly he can swim underwater much faster than his pursuer can on the surface.  Realizing this, our attacker changes tactics and tries to catch up with a quick flight and a divebomb.

And...he fails....

But decides to give it one last try!! (you can see the other one still underwater, below his left wing)

 

Finally he gives up on the chase

and returns to his woman and children...

 

...with a big spash! 

 

We could never figure out what started the attack - it seemed unprovoked to us, but we don't speak goose very well. All I know is that I'm eternally grateful I'd set the camera to shutter priority. It's the only way to get decent shots of things that are bundles of endless, unpredictable energy...like baby ducks and silly geese.