The alternative to a vacation is to stay home and tip every third person you see.

- Author Unknown -

Work Your Way Around the World from Amazon.de

My husband and I try to go out every Friday night. Yesterday evening we managed to get away for an hour and a half which we spent at the only Irish Pub in Oberursel. I believe MacGowan’s Irish Pub opened in March 2009, or was it 2008?

The staff is very good and I should have complimented them for this yesterday evening, but I was too Guinness-happy when we left.  I had asked our waitress for a dinner recommendation and got an authentic one – the cooks are from Bangladesh, so why not try one of the Indian dishes? I did, and the Chicken Biryanni was excellent. My husband had a Lammhaxe (lamb chop in whiskey sauce) with homemade fries and he was pleased, too. This could very well become our regular early Friday night hang-out, especially if we can get a table near the fire place (try getting there before 8 p.m.)

Irish Pub and Restaurant in Oberursel

Once in a while, they have quiz night. Some people like it, some don’t, so check beforehand. Last time we were there, we had a gathering of Wer kennt Wen and it was difficult to get acquainted during quiz time. Nevertheless, I had fun and made second place!

A Guinness brew by the fire place

I like to take my out-of-country visitors to authentic German pubs, but this Irish Pub is getting added to my list of Places-to-show around Oberursel as well.

As modern Japan has changed its face so much, I do miss the traditional family-run shops which were still abundant in Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu-shi in the early 90s.

Nevertheless, the real antique shop signs could only be had from antique shops. On Sundays, when I wasn’t working, we would browse the antique shops around Kokura-ku and pick up an interesting antique (骨董品) here and there.

Advertising children's medicine

This store sign measures about 50 cm (20″) in width, and is carved from wood. Today it is hanging in our living room.

Advertising tea (茶)

This one measures about 60 cm (24″) in height, made from wood, and decorates another living room wall.

What a difference to these modern store fronts in Shibuya – Omotesando!

Whether you pick up the instant noodle soup in an Asian market in Germany or enjoy the authentic one at a train station in Japan, I’d suppose its price would range from 1 to 10 euro.

But Shoichi Fujimaki, a Japanese restaurateur and chef, has taken the art of ramen to new heights. Literally, as his creation of noodle heaven will cost a hefty 110 euro. The instant ramen soup takes three minutes in boiling water, Fujimaki’s version takes three days to prepare.

Considering the life span of food items, these ingredients must be getting antique (hence the price) by the time one gets to eat this concoction of 120 different ingredients.

Too expensive for me, but yet…. いただきます

Makes me wonder what I could do with a simple Bratwurst. Barbecue it for three days, spike it with more viands, add a balloon, and give it a name, such as Hanswurst (tomfool). We should consider turning street food into gourmet food ourselves.

No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one.

- Elbert Hubbard -

Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Reformers from Amazon.de