What did you want to be when you grew up....

[Gandalph]

Very interesting write up Roman. I've never been to that part of Germany but it looks to be a very interesting place.

[catgate]

I remember a very funny thing happening to me in Saarbrucken in the late 70s.

I had gone to Saarbrucken with a couple of our purchasing chaps who were trying to negotiate a deal with a plastics molding company there. I had gone to do an audit of their quality control and good manufacturing practice before approving (or otherwise) the deal.

We were being treated right royally, and about mid-day it was announced, "the taxis are here.". We were ushered into three fawn coloured Mercedes taxis and away we went to a restaurant for lunch. Three taxis because we were each equipped with two "minders/guides/hosts.

We had an excellent lunch and were gently chatting away when "the taxis are here.". It just happened that I was first out of the restaurant and made for the first taxi. I opened the back door and was just getting in when this little old lady turned round and asked me in a frightened tone what I thought I was doing getting into her car.....Well it was the same colour and next to three others of the same colour ...and I do like German beer.

[Roman]

It seems like people like german stuff like the "German-beer" and the country itself. ;) But I adore the USA. I've never been there but I'd like to. I'd like sooo much to be there for at least 1 day. Going through the city Los Angeles or Las Vegas at night. Las Vegas looks very beautiful at night with all the lights of the casinos and stuff like that. I think that attracts people. Thats more interesting than the boring cities in germany!

[andsome]

OK, I live in the city "Saarbrücken". It is about 180 km(100 miles) southwest of Frankfurt and about 5-10 km away from the french frontier. But just take a look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saarbr%C3%BCcken

Most people from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy etc. prefer to move to germany. It is much easier to live here as in other countries.

I have passed through there a long time ago. When I did my national service in the R.A.F. I was stationed in Geilenkirchen.

HERE.

I came home on leave from there to get married. We returned and rented two rooms from a Dutch family in the village of Waubach, just over the border. I have travelled quite a bit in Germany, and I too like the place. We still keep in touch with the Dutch family, and visited them several years ago. We spent several days on a driving holiday with them, touring the Moselle valley. :D

[Irene]

I live in the city "Saarbrücken".

One of my long term friends has very recently moved from Switzerland to Goettingen, which I believe is in central Germany.

Personally, I have been to Germany only once, near to The Bodensee (Lake Constance). It was a beautiful area, being bordered by Germany, Switzerland and Austria. :)

[Roman]

Gosh! I've never heard about a city named "Geilenkirchen". I had to laugh when I read it! A lot of german cities have very funny names like Geilenkirchen. :lol:

"geil" means "randy" and "Kirchen" means "Churches". Sorry for these words but its just to show you how funny the names of a lot of german cities are.

[Irene]

A lot of german cities have very funny names like Geilenkirchen. :lol: "geil" means "randy" and "Kirchen" means "Churches". Sorry for these words but its just to show you how funny the names of a lot of german cities are.

Now you've got my interest!! :lol:

[Roman]

So that means you are you now interested in in german cities??? :lol: Maybe you'll find some further funny-named cities: :lol:

[rong]

The one that got my attention the first time I drove to Germany was Ausgang, I was thinking that must be a big place until my brother told me what it was.

[andsome]

I live in the city "Saarbrücken".

One of my long term friends has very recently moved from Switzerland to Goettingen, which I believe is in central Germany.

Personally, I have been to Germany only once, near to The Bodensee (Lake Constance). It was a beautiful area, being bordered by Germany, Switzerland and Austria. :)

A very beautiful area. I used to work for a company in Wales, and the parent company was in Reutlingen, just south of Stuttgart. One year when we went over for a sales meeting, they took us out for the day to Lake Constance. We had a trip on the lake, and were actually within the borders of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, all within the hour. We then went up a mountainside in a cable car, and had lunch in an excellent timber built restaurant. We had a table outside, overlooking the lake. A quite memorable day. I love visiting Germany, and I must disagree with Roman, in that the country and its towns and cities is far from boring. the beauty of German beer, is that like Belgian and Dutch beer, most of the breweries have not been taken over by huge corporations. Almost every town and city has at the very least one small brewery, and some excellent beers are made, both dark and light.

[Roman]

I must disagree with Roman, in that the country and its towns and cities is far from boring

I know, of course there are some very interesting cities. Very interesting even. But in comparison with the american cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco or Las Vegas, the german cities are not as wonderful as the american cities are. That's what I wanted to say. Sometimes when I see pics from L.A. or cities like that I'm like under a charm. They are so great and wonderful. What do you all think about such cities I mentioned? Dont you think that they are wonderful and worth enough to visit them? I would dream about it.

[catgate]

I must disagree with Roman, in that the country and its towns and cities is far from boring

I know, of course there are some very interesting cities. Very interesting even. But in comparison with the american cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco or Las Vegas, the german cities are not as wonderful as the american cities are. That's what I wanted to say. Sometimes when I see pics from L.A. or cities like that I'm like under a charm. They are so great and wonderful. What do you all think about such cities I mentioned? Dont you think that they are wonderful and worth enough to visit them? I would dream about it.

Asking a question like that on this forum could very easily lead to World War III.

[andsome]

San Francisco is well worth a visit, but that can equally be said for hundreds of thousands of places. Las Vegas does not appeal to me in the slightest. It's all a matter of personal taste. :D

[Irene]

OK Thos, your turn now. ;)

No excuse, just because you've been swanning around the Atlantic and the Pacific. B)

[Roman]

No! I couldnt! :lol: :lol: I can swear that this topic has nothing to do with the topic "something very funny about google". As I said, I'd prefer to take a ship to get there. :D

[Thos]

OK Thos, your turn now. ;)

No excuse, just because you've been swanning around the Atlantic and the Pacific. B)

OK then.

Not surprisingly, I disagree with andsome (and many others). I find San Francisco cold and touristy, once visited for me, that is enough. My favourite city in the US is San Diego. A dream of a place. Coastal area supreme, with beaches, sightseeing (Old Town), modest and fine hotels, shopping for the shopoholics and access to loads of interesting places. In particular, you can sit on the cliff tops in January and February and watch the Californian Grey Whales migrating northwards after giving birth in the warm waters of Baja California whilst humming birds flit around the trees.

Sheer perfection!

Leaving the cities, though, I love the National Parks. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Big Bend in Texas, the Rockies, the Everglades, so much beauty and so little time (and money) to see it all.

Re-reading the title of this thread, though, I wonder how we the topic has got to this. I always wanted to fly and was enrolled into the Fleet Air Arm at age 16. I was devastated when I was told that no more pilots were being recruited and, at age 18, gave up and joined the army. I have never lost my love of flying though.

Thos.

[catgate]

I didn't know the RFC had a Fleet Air Arm!!

Welcome back to sanity.

[Thos]

I have just read through this interesting thread. I was astonished at the number of putative chemists. It was one of the most disliked subects at my school and yet like many others on the forum it was a good subject for me. Like Irene, I got the chalk thrown at me and was, I thought, picked on and yet on our final end of term day, the chemmy master (nickname Tube) said "Only Thos amongst you is capable of being a scientist" Naturally, one remembers comments like that!.

Anyway, he recommended me to ICI, which had a chemical works nearby and I was taken on as a trainee Chemical Analyst. My entry into the Army got in the way after a couple of years and though by law, my job was held for me until demob, I never went back. Other lines of work opened up, I met my wife, and moved around the country (Gloucester being a favourite) finishing up in London where I shall presumably pop my clogs. (How do you translate that into German?)

Thos.

[Thos]

I didn't know the RFC had a Fleet Air Arm!!

Welcome back to sanity.

THIS is sanity???

I am looking forward to a pleasant hour or so reading your book reviews, Catgate, but I will wait until the jetlag wears off completely.

Thos.

[Roman]

(How do you translate that into German?)

What exactly did you mean with it? Do you want the german translation for the word "that"???

[Thos]

(How do you translate that into German?)

What exactly did you mean with it? Do you want the german translation for the word "that"???

Not meant seriously, but I meant how would a colloquial phrase such as "pop my clogs" translate. In fact, as you may know, it it a humourous way of saying "when I die". ( similar to "kick the bucket" or "turn up my toes")

Thos.

[Roman]

Ok now I know what that mean. "to pop one's clogs" means: --"den Geist aufgeben"-- (similar translation for "to give up the gost")

One example:

"I want to visit Los Angeles before -I pop my clogs-" german translation: "Ich möchte Los Angeles besichtigen bevor -ich meinen Geist aufgebe-" ;)

"den Geist aufgeben" can quite be used for what you're trying to say. So you can use that.

[andsome]

'Er indoors and me tried learning German at night school. We did OK in the first year, but got bogged down in the second year and gave it up.

[Roman]

'Er indoors and me tried learning German at night school. We did OK in the first year, but got bogged down in the second year and gave it up.

Was it too difficult or did you have lots of problems or....?

[Thos]

Ok now I know what that mean. "to pop one's clogs" means: --"den Geist aufgeben"-- (similar translation for "to give up the gost")

One example:

"I want to visit Los Angeles before -I pop my clogs-" german translation: "Ich möchte Los Angeles besichtigen bevor -ich meinen Geist aufgebe-" ;)

"den Geist aufgeben" can quite be used for what you're trying to say. So you can use that.

Right and thanks. I'll try that down at the pub tonight!

Thos.