Maria’s Beer Balcony in Germany

Yesterday afternoon, I invited friend Maki on an afternoon walk through the nearby forest. We were too early for chestnuts, but decided to meet once more on my balcony in the evening.

September evenings can still be quite pleasant in Germany. We watched the sun set behind the Taunus mountains, and before it got to dark, I called my daughter to take our photo with her mobile. My iPad is in Nottingham at the moment, on loan for a couple of days, only.

Maki and Maria

Maki from Fukushima/Japan, residing in Oberursel

Maki enjoys her life in Oberursel, but would rather live with her British husband of two years in the U.K. instead. Unfortunately, the U.K. immigration office makes her entry very difficult. Her first application has been denied, and now a second one is made with the help of a lawyer. This process is a real drag on the young couple.

She can stay in Germany, without having to be married to a German. She just started her third year of residency in Germany, all the while wishing to be with her husband in the U.K.

Some bureaucracy is full of flaws.

Maria’s Beer Balcony in Germany

This visit was actually for a good-bye beer. My fairly longtime English friend (we have been friends for about five years, which is long in expat circles) has since then moved to Munich, one of the cities claiming to be the Bierhauptstadt (beer capital).

Balcony with Jeannette

With Jeannette from Nottingham/UK

I hope to get to see Jeannette for a beer in Munich before she moves on again!

By the way, here is something I learned today:

*Take a nonalcoholic Weißbier, add Zitronenlimonade ( carbonated soft drink, especially sweet lemon-flavored drinks) and you have a Russ’n (coll. for Russen = Russian)

Wonder what a combination of an alcoholic Weißbier with Limonade would produce, a Tartar maybe?

Munich is famous for its Weizenbier (German), but in the southern regions of Germany and Austria, only ask for a Weissbier or you will get funny looks.

Maria’s Beer Balcony in Germany

Here we go again. This time, my best Japanese friend, whom I had met while living in Maryland in the early 90s, came by for a visit.

I have been to her parents’ home in Nagasaki a few times, but we seldom get a chance to meet up in the States (conflicting schedules). But this time around, at the end of her one-year-trip around the world, she visited us in Oberursel.

Balcony with Nobuko

Nobuko, originally from Nagasaki/Japan, living in the USA

The weather was not too grand around the end on June, but we still managed to do our Kanpai! (spelled with an n, but pronounced with an m) on the balcony.

A Good Reason to Travel

To be sure that your friend is a friend, you must go with him on a journey, travel with him day and night, go with him near and far.

– Angolan Proverb –

A Good Reason to Travel

You never leave someone behind, you take a part of them with you and leave a part of yourself behind.

– Author Unknown –

Kalahari Desert

Photo published with friendly permission by Thomas Shipley.

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