St. Martin

We have homework! The 1st assignment for the kindergarten, collect 10-15 leaves and press them in a book. Once again, I was only told the day before, but I decide to do it with M. and soon realize that all the leaves she picks up are either dirty, torn, or defected. I am already thinking of final result, the perfect paper lantern for Nov. 11.




November 11,is the feast day of St. Martin of Tours. He started out as a Roman soldier was baptized as an adult and became a monk. It is understood that he was a kind man who led a quiet and simple life. The most famous legend of his life is that he once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, to save the beggar from dying of the cold.

A fresco of San Martin de Tours by Simone Martini

So on Feast of St. Martin, Martinstag or Martinmas, children in Germany participate in paper lantern processions. Often, a man dressed as St. Martin rides on a horse in front of the procession. The children sing songs about St. Martin and about their lanterns. The food traditionally eaten on the day is goose. According to legend, Martin was reluctant to become bishop, which is why he hid in a stable filled with geese. The noise made by the geese betrayed his location to the people who were looking for him.









The processional 'train' ends with a little feast of sweets (biscuits and fruit) and of course Glühwein (Mulled wine) to keep us warm, yum!

In Italy, the saint day was associated to the new wine. My mom told me of a saying in her dialect:"si prova (u vin) e si pilla". (you try the wine and tap it). So tonight, in honour of our new tradition (my mom also says "paese che vai, usanza che trovi" the country you go to, the customs you find ) and thanks to my friend D, I tried out this recipe .... what can I say, I couldn't find a goose!

The Bird Flies the Coop

After 9 months of waiting, it's finally here! I wasn't pregnant, so it's not what you think...kindergarten has finally begun!

Now back home in Mtl, kindergarten begins at age 5 and is that wonderful year we spent playing all day long, oblivious to all the 'learning and sitting' coming ahead in elementary school. Here, kindergarten begins at 3 years old and lasts for 3 years, and every child has a right to a spot. If you are looking for a childcare solution for a younger toddler, good luck!

Now all sarcasm aside, for children under 3, there is krippe. It is quite difficult to find a spot in this type of nursery and based on my mere experience, and lack of any German background or language, for the following reasons:
1- there are too many babies around (every woman my age has 3!) and not enough krippe
2- the bavarian government encourages moms to stay home for the 3year period (if you were employed when becoming pregnant, your position is legally held for you for that period).

The waiting list is so long that by the time she would get 'on' it, she would have to leave. A tip some mom gave me, put your name on the list before you are pregnant...I guess I'll know for next time!


After many months of hounding the daycares, I finally managed to find a spot in a private kindergarten (not state run) close to our home. It only runs till 2pm but it was the only one that would take her under 3 years. I must say G. and I were worried at first because it's only in German, but M. has adjusted quite well. Actually, she has extended her German vocabulary to 'nien'(no) 'danke schön'(thank you) and several verses to her favorite songs.



Since I don't speak German and the teachers don't speak English, I manage to communicate using some French, Italian and hand gestures when needed. They realized that I don't read the bulletin board (since I missed out on the first parent teacher meeting), so they try to inform me with little notes for any upcoming events. I was told on Monday that on Wedndesday the children would be celebrating Halloween. I mean I know it was coming but not that soon! And if you could please bring some food, that would be nice!



With only 2 days to come up with an idea, and then make it! I know, I guess I could just go out and buy it, but that's no fun :-) So Tuesday night after putting her to sleep I began cutting up an old sweater , (G. contributed one too, but he doesn't know it)and sewing her an outfit, while I whipped a batch of pumpkin muffins. A mom's job is never done!








M. being chased by her cousin E. the pumpkin.

So everyone asks me, was it worth the wait? Yes, even if it's for 4hours a day (I have to pick her up at 1, she's soo tired that I take her home to nap) I don't get much done, but at least I'm toddler free!

Oktoberfest, facts and figures

The Oktoberfest is known as the Largest Volksfest (People's Fair) in the World. Beginning with the first celebration in 1810 out on the 'Theresienwiese' site, today up to 6 million visitors come to celeberate.







Along with the ferris wheel and amuzement park attractions, 14 non permanent beer tents are set up on the 104 acres fairgrounds holding up to 100 000 seats. There is obviously a party atmosphere everywhere, and I must say, that although I hate amuzement parks, I do enjoy being in the tents ,it must be due to the 'Oompah band':-) But don't be fooled, it's very difficult to get inside, most visitors have reserved in adavance. If you are even lucky to get inside, don't be surprised to be sitted with other people on the benches ...but it won't be long before you are all up and 'drinking songs' in any language!





I wasn't able to download I video I had taken, so this will have to do.!




consumed (* based on last year)
Beer: appr. 69.406 hectolitres
Wine: 79.624 litres
Sparkling wine: 32.047 litres
Coffee, tea: 222.725 litres
Water, lemonade: 909.765 1/2 litres
Chicken: 521.872 units
Pork sausages: 142.253 pairs
Fish: 38.650 kg
Pork knuckles(yuk) 58.446 units
Oxen: 104 units


A Maß (pronounced mass)1 liter stein, goes for 8.80€, and it's sidekick, the large, doughy pretzels calls Brez'n — are sold from stands everywhere. Note that the heavy use of salt is no accident; after a few bites you'll want to drink more beer!

And just when you think, that things must get out of hand here, with all the alcohol, low and behold, the police, or as they say here POLIZEI, have their own tent, but it's permanent. (actually a nice piece of architecture)




The fact that it's called Oktoberfest and starts in September, well that's just logical: it's warmer and chances are you will want to drink more beer,PROST!

Tradition Thrives

200 years of tradition, in other words, Oktoberfest. It all began with a wedding, the royal wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12th October 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. The fields have been named Theresienwiese ("Theresa's fields") in honor of the Crown Princess ever since, although the locals simply refer to it as the "Wies'n". At that time, horse races marked the close of the event that was celebrated as a festival for the whole of Bavaria. A good time was had by all, so that they decided to repeat it annually.


Gradually with time, along with the agricultural fair, beer was introduced so visitors could quench their thirst and in 1896 the beer stands were replaced by the first beer tents and halls set up by enterprising landlords with the backing of the breweries. The rest of the grounds were occupied by amuzement (carrousels , rides, swings etc).

The festivties begin with a weekend filled with parades, the first being the Grand entry of the Oktoberfest landlords and breweries where decorated carriages, the magnificent horse-drawn drays of the Munich breweries, waitresses on decorated floats and all the beer tent bands parade.











And G. would like to point out that they (the people on the floats) are not pretending to drink their beer at 10am!


The following day , Oktoberfest Costume and Riflemen's Parade and almost everyone is out in their drindl and lederhosen (I will explain the clothes in another post)






M. and her carriage!











M and I cheering on...God save the queen, and princess for that matter!

The state of public H20

I have been saving this for a rainy day...to remind me of the summer that once was. It seems so long ago that I wore flip flops to ride my bicycle to the pool , I have been wearing socks and boots for weeks now (ok maybe only one but it seems like forever).



I must admit that I wasn't too enthusiastic about going to a public pool, but considering the other option (I will get to that one later) I had no choice when the barometer hit 30°C and M. needs to cool down.








Maybe it's the memory of my childhood summers spent in the pools back in Montreal, all that cement, with wobs of gum stuck to it, the screaming kids from summer camp, no room to run, the chlorine, the lack of shade. Well, I was very happy to find out that, here pools are the main attraction in the park! That is to say, they are not chainlinked into a park area, but are included in the landscape and the greenery defines the limits, the kids' playground, the lawn, the snack bar, WC are all included inside.


There are various outdoor pools located in the city, and are easily accessible by public transport too. They are all equipped with a children's wading pool and with lots of 'perks' to entertain them (slides,fountains,spurts,wheels etc), a middle sized pool for the waders and a big sized pool for the serious swimmers.



And I must mention that one pool even had their winter ice rink converted into a beach - filled with sand, bathers got the impression they were far away on some tropical island!

I must get the babysitter and look into the indoor pools, they also come equipped with saunas!

Opera Rocks

Most of us have preconceptions (BORING, fat lady etc..) when it comes to opera ...





....but here they have given it a new edge.



Pavilion 21 MINI Space Opera, for the duration of a month is the temporary mobile venue for new reflexions and experimentations in musical theater. Designed by the architects of Coop Himmelb(l)au,not unknown to the urban scene, for they have designed other modern monuments in Munich. The pavillion is set up in the Marstallplatz, just behind the National Theater, home of the 'classic opera'. (actually I see know where they took their inspiration :-)











And opera doesn't have to be expensive, Oper für alle, is a festival of opera free for the public to watch at the Max-Joseph Platz, just in front of the National Theater. This year, stage was set up, and hundreds of fan come with blankets and set up picnics as they watch and listen to the live broadcast of Puccini's Tosca being played inside. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me, but let me tell you that a great calm realms over the atmosphere and makes it even more stunning.

BOBBING

I don't know what else to call it. It's has been hot here lately too, not humid, just hot enough to get you to want to cool down. So in the famous English Garden, and the even more famous Eisbach, you can spot people jumping into the stream and watch them bobb along the way.

I guess you have to go with the flow !


P.S. And this is also forbidden.