Funny Germany

In prior posts we found some humorous German advertisements, then poked a little fun at things in Austria, so it's back to Deutschland for more chuckles.

Now that warm weather is upon us, the street musicians come out in force.  Some go beyond do-re-mi and like to add extra pizzaz... with animals.  The first guy was in Nuremberg with his Santa outfit and best friend (also attired like Santa).  The second guy was playing on the streets in Stuttgart, and supposedly liked to give his pet bird the best seat in the house.

       

Next we have some not-so-subtle marketing images.  The first is for the German/Austrian version of Slim Jims, called landjaeger.  The couple on the package look so happy snacking on meat sticks!  The second item comes from the window of a bath and body store called Lush.  I guess if you're selling breast cream, why be subtle?  (At least they used the "black bar" effect.)

Now we have a poster on the wall around the Hofgarten.  I didn't bother to look up what it's for, but it says so much with so little.  It's the combination of German exactness (probably technically correct) with their love of getting the better of you.  You might be welcome!

Finally, I captured this photo on a Mayday hike (hiking is a tradition for many Germans on this holiday).  It was a blackboard outside a small village and there is clearly something going on...

Here's the translation:

Rudolf Z

Funeral Director in Starnberg

is

1)  A hypocritical catholic

2) Notorious "marriage breaker"

3) Does the dirty work for the CSU (largest political party in Bavaria)

4) Highly manipulative

5) A terrible father and will NOT get the divorce!

Posted by the family Zirngibl.

Wow.  Not much to say after that.

Funny Austria

On our weekend getaway in Vienna, we photographed some beautiful places in the city and at Schoenbrunn.  The items below definitely are not so nice.  Here are some of the funny and strange things we saw instead...

We went past the Prater Amusement Park (one of the oldest in the world) and noticed this bank machine ("geldautomat" in German).  Is somebody trying to tell us something, perhaps a scathing message about gross consumption?  What exactly is in the pig's right, um, hoof?  And why is he winking at us???  I have absolutely no explanation as to why the bank, neighborhood, or city would erect and keep this thing, but there it is!

OK, so these chips (sorry, crisps) are not Austrian, but they decided to stock them so they're fair game.  The brand is called Real Crisps and they certainly know how to get attention.  They offer flavors (sorry, flavours) like Roast Ox and Ham & English Mustard (seen below).  It's a little hidden, but the black bag with the picture of a rugby player is a flavor called Real Strong Cheese & Onion.  Probably want to brush the teeth after those.  By the way, they deliver worldwide!

We're still on food and drink, but this time it's not the item itself, but the presentation.  We were at Wine & Co looking for some Austrian wine to take back with us.  (Gruner Veltliner is a favorite of ours because it tastes great and is such a bargain.)  Frau A noticed that the "international" section had the wines from Germany!  OK, technically that's correct, but we think it's just a jab at their larger neighbors.

 

We had already tried "Pope Beer" (Papst Bier) but since Benedict XVI hails from Germany, the Austrians had to do something.  So they have the Twelve Apostles Wine.  The label also says "Papst Besuch Wien 2007" so perhaps it was vinted for the Pope's visit to Vienna that year?  It's a "special edition" per the label, and at six euros for the bottle you at least know God isn't trying to rip you off.

Finally, we have a little something from the Technical Museum.  We saw their awesome exhibit of musical instruments, but they also had extended section on music in general.  In this case, one room focused on music and pop culture, and it had "artifacts" from various pop stars or concerts.  The most interesting was this:  the McDonalds garbage that 50 Cent threw out after eating his meal on tour in 2004.  What can you say to this?  A museum immortalizing trash from 50 Cent?

 

German Pranks

Our Anglo culture does not always understand the German sense of humor.  The best (satyrical) summary I've ever seen is from "The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans", which says:  "The Germans take humor very seriously.  It is no laughing matter."  It's a good way to describe it.

I can speak the language quite well now, but it is hard for me to keep up with a comedian (they speak very fast, with lots of slang).  But hanging out with guys from work, I have learned that the humor is often quite directed -- they laugh "at" as much as they do "with".  And, as usual in the German culture, there is not a lot of subtlety to their humor... but when they do put together a skit or a prank they approach it like building a BMW.  All out.  As you'll see below.

Here are a few pranks from an old television program, "Verstehst du Spass?"  ("Do you understand fun?").  In the first, they set up a fake waterbed in a department store... and you know how everyone likes to try out beds (especially at 1:26 and 2:19).  The targets take it pretty well.

In the second, they use identical twins and a fake bathroom mirror to make other visitors think they don't have a reflection.  I especially like the end, where the girl has to remind her reflection to come with her (at 6:03).

The third skit is the longest and most complicated, but it's really worth it.  A guy is driving someone else's BMW, and thinks it rolls down the hill and sinks in water.  But then another guy drives a car over the same water, trying to convince him that it's just a large puddle (at 4:13).  There's even more, with a disapperaing person in the same "puddle" (at 5:07) - it's worth the time to see the whole thing, even without the benefit of understanding the language.

Finally, I have to share this classic.  It's not a prank, but a television commercial for Germans to learn English.  A German Coast Guard rookie has to help a ship in distress... Cheers.