My New Love of German Engineering...And My Renewed Love of Hefeweisen!

So - I've been working a lot in Germany this past month. Though I haven't seen a lot of the country, I've gotten to know my client offices, the hotel, and the airport well. And in those three very confined spaces, I've gained a new found love of German engineering.

It's the sound. The cleanliness. The precision. Let me explain. In my client offices, the doors are heavy. Not so heavy like the wind holding a door shut tightly, but heavy that you feel like you are actually opening a door. And when you walk through into the next cooridor, you cannot help by smile as you hear thu-whunck. The door - ever door - makes the perfect sound as it shut. I was listening to Jeremy Clarkson's review of the new Cadillic. For those of you who've never heard of Mr. Clarkson - he's a UK celeb who runs a show called Top Gear. He's funny, he's smart, and he cannot stand American's or new American cars. He did a road test of the Cadillac, and loved how it handled, loved how it hugged, loved the velocity it created. What he hated about the car, was that it felt cheap - something which he said he could not put his finger on, but enough that made him not want to buy the care. I think I now understand what he means. Many new American car doors make no sound when you close them. There is no satisfaction, no thu-whunck when you get inside.

I found Germany buildings, cars, and generally their way of live to be precise, efficient, clean. The bathroom knobs, tile grout, you name it. All done with the same analytical care.

But alas - my new love for doors was not all I spent my time on in Germany. I also went skiing near the black forest, visited a castle in Heidelberg, went running in a snow-covered forest in Frankfurt, and enjoyed many pints of Hefeweisen beer (my favourite light beer). Here are some photos...

Hope you have a thu-whunck of a February. :-)

Suzy