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Tuesday, September 1, 2009 10:41:40 AM


This is about music, video clips, playing the guitar, books, poetry, quotes, movies, art, theatre, coffee, wine, travelling, life, learning English and going out. Have a look at what I like and what I came across.

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My new photo album Wissembourg, France

Sunday, February 5, 2012 8:11:35 PM

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In April 2009 I've been to the French city Wissembourg which lies in the very northern Alsace. The album "Wissembourg, France" in the photo section shows some cell phone images from this trip. The photo on the left shows the old cloister next to the church Saints Pierre et Paul. There isn't much left of the former abbey in Wissembourg, just that cloister and the old chapter house. Otfrid of Weissenburg (German for Wissembourg) who lived from about 800 until about 870 was a monk there. He is the first German writing author whose name is known by his work, the Evangelienbuch which shows the use of rhyme and which is written in the South Rhine Franconian dialect of Old High German instead of in the then used Latin. There still exist four contemporary manuscripts of this religious poem. So, the abbey church Saints Pierre et Paul and the city Wissembourg itself have grown around that Benedictine abbey (founded in the 7th century).

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Alejandro G. Iñárritu: Amores Perros / Movie tip

Sunday, January 8, 2012 12:43:51 PM

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"Love's a Bitch" (or "Amores Perros") by Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu with Gael García (Mexiko 2000)

First of all, Happy New Year to everybody! Today this movie came to my mind. If you haven't seen it yet, watch out for it. It's great! Below you have the trailer of that film.

Trailer: Amores Perros

7 comments

Elephants in Mole National Park, Ghana

Thursday, December 8, 2011 8:41:12 PM

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In May 1998 I did a walking safari in the Mole National Park and took this photo of two elephants. This wildlife refuge is located in northwest Ghana and you can see hippos, buffalos, crocodiles and many other animals there, as well.

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A photo from Niger, West Africa

Friday, February 18, 2011 10:44:39 AM

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A long time ago, in August 1998, I took this picture in Niger, West Africa. At those days I didn't use a digital camera, but finally scanned the photographic print today. Soon, I'll publish some more photos that I took in Africa. This photo above shows the typical architecture of a courtyard house in the area next to the desert.

6 comments

Melodie from Album für die Jugend by Robert Schumann

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 7:47:00 AM

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Last night I've experimented / played around a bit with my acoustic guitar and some sound effects on my computer. Below there's a link to an audio file. You can listen to me playing the little piece of music "Melodie" by the German composer Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856).

"Melodie" is part of the collection "Album für die Jugend" by Schumann, originally composed for the piano. For my guitar playing I used the transcription and fingering by Karl Scheit.

Here's the file / Quick Time:
Melodie by Robert Schumann

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Cities I've visited / Städte, die ich besucht habe

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 5:59:17 PM

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    6 comments

    A. Christie: Hercule Poirot, ... / Bilingual book review

    Monday, March 1, 2010 7:00:52 PM

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    Agatha Christie: Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and ... - Three Whodunits
    Buchbesprechung auf Deutsch

    Erschienen in der Reihe dtv zweisprachig und übersetzt von Angela Uthe-Spencker.


    Double Sin / Die Doppelsünde ...

    ... ist ein netter unspektakulärer Kriminalfall. Hastings überredet den Detektiv Hercule Poirot zu einer Woche gemeinsamen Urlaubs im englischen Ebermouth. Poirot hat unterdessen etwas im nahe gelegenen Charlock Bay zu erledigen und die beiden nehmen den Überlandbus dorthin. Auf der Fahrt lernen sie die hübsche, junge Mary Durrant kennen, die ihnen erzählt, dass sie eine kostbare Miniaturenreihe im Auftrag ihrer Tante, einer Antiquitätenhändlerin, zu einem Klienten bringe. Während eines Busstopps scheint Mary zu beobachten, wie sich ein anderer Fahrgast an ihrem Gepäck zu schaffen macht.

    Nach der Ankunft in Ebermouth sucht Mary dann Hastings und Poirot in deren Hotel auf und berichtet, dass die Miniaturen gestohlen worden seien. Und in der Zwischenzeit hat eine Dame, die sich als vom Antiquitätengeschäft kommend ausgegeben hat, dem Interessenten die Miniaturen verkauft. Poirot klärt den Fall auf und es stellt sich heraus, dass der Schein oft trügt.


    Greenshaw's Folly / Greenshaws Wahn ...

    ... ist eine Mordgeschichte. Miss Marple klärt den Mord an einer älteren exzentrischen Dame namens Greenshaw auf. Miss Greenshaw wird mit einem Pfeil erschossen und es scheint zunächst, dass keiner der Verdächtigen die Tat begangen haben kann.


    Philomel Cottage / Landhaus Philomele ...

    ... handelt von einer Frau, die feststellen muss, dass ihr Mann ein Psychopath ist, der plant sie umzubringen. Doch sie weiss den Plan ihres Mannes zu durchkreuzen. Dies ist die spannendste der drei Geschichten im vorliegenden Band. Aus einer scheinbar bürgerlichen Idylle (Philomele ist die "Freundin des Liedes" bzw. auch die Nachtigall wird manchmal so genannt.) wird nach und nach ein Albtraum voll von Misstrauen und Todesangst. | © Elmar Driver


    Agatha Christie: Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and ... - Three Whodunits
    Book review in English

    This book was published in Germany in the bilingual book series "dtv zweisprachig". The translations from English into German have been done by Angela Uthe-Spencker.


    Double Sin / Die Doppelsünde ...

    ... is a nice story about a rather unspectacular crime. Hastings talks the detective Hercule Poirot into going together to Ebermouth and taking a one week holiday. Then Poirot has to go to the nearby Charlock Bay because he wants to settle some things over there. So, together they take the bus to Charlock Bay. On the trip, they meet the pretty and young Mary Durrant who tells them that she is carrying some precious miniatures to a client of her aunt who is a dealer in antiques. During a bus stop, Mary seems to observe that another passenger is tampering with her baggage.

    After their arrival at Ebermouth, Mary calls on Hastings and Poirot in the hotel to tell them that the miniatures have been stolen. And meanwhile, a lady, pretending to have been sent from the antique shop, has sold the miniatures to the client. Poirot resolves the crime and it shows that appearances are often deceptive.


    Greenshaw's Folly / Greenshaws Wahn ...

    ... is a murder case. Miss Marple resolves the murder mystery of an elderly eccentric lady called Greenshaw. Miss Greenshow has been shot by an arrow and, at first sight, it seems that nobody of the suspects could have committed the crime.


    Philomel Cottage / Landhaus Philomele ...

    ... is about a woman who finds out that her husband is a psychopath with the plan to kill her. However, she knows how to foil his plan. This story is the most thrilling one of the three stories in the book. In the beginning everything seems to be serenic and idyllic (Philiomel also is another name for the nightingale.) but then it becomes a nightmare of mistrust and agony. | © Elmar Driver

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    Le Cadet Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Vin de Pays d'Oc

    Wednesday, February 24, 2010 5:23:32 PM

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    Deutsch:

    Le Cadet Cabernet Sauvignon, Jahrgang 2004
    Vin de Pays d'Oc
    Mis en bouteille à 33112 par Baron Philippe de Rothschild S. A. - Négociants à 33250 Gironde - France
    13,5% vol.


    Informationen auf dem Etikett:

    "Issu des raisins du seul cepage Cabernet Sauvignon, ce vin a eté dégusté et assemblé par les œnologues de Baron Philippe de Rothschild, S.A. Selectionné dans les plus grands terroirs du Pays d'Oc, l'une des plus anciennes régions productrices Françaises, le Cadet Cabernet Sauvignon, étonnant par son fruité et son équilibre, témoigné d'une belle charpente et d'une grande finesse. Il peut être consommé jeune."

    Übersetzung des vorherigen Satzes: Ausschließlich bestehend aus den Trauben der Rebsorte Cabernet Sauvignon, wurde dieser Wein von den Weinkennern der Firma Philippe de Rothschild abgeschmeckt und zusammengestellt. Die Trauben werden gelesen in den größten Weinanbaugebieten des Pays d'Oc, einer der ältesten Erzeugerregionen in Frankreich, und der Cadet Cabernet Sauvignon überrascht mit seinem fruchtigen sowie seinem ausgewogenen Geschmack und bezeugt eine gute Struktur sowie eine großartige Finesse. Er kann jung getrunken werden."

    Schmeckt nicht schlecht, leicht säuerlich. Daher würde ich ihn eher zum Essen empfehlen. Interessant fand ich, dass er beispielsweise gut zusammen mit Pistazien geschmeckt hat.


    English:

    Le Cadet Cabernet Sauvignon, vintage year 2004
    Vin de Pays d'Oc
    Mis en bouteille à 33112 par Baron Philippe de Rothschild S. A. - Négociants à 33250 Gironde - France
    13,5% vol.


    What the label says (translated into English):

    "Solely made from the grape variety Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has been tasted and composed by the oenophiles of the company Philippe de Rothschild. With grape harvests in the most famous wine-growing districts of the Pays d'Oc, one of the oldest wine-growing districts, the Cadet Sauvignon has a surprising fruity and balanced taste. It indicates a nice structure and an amazing finesse. This wine can be drunken as a young wine."

    The Cadet Cabernet Sauvignon didn't taste bad but a very little sourly. Therefore I would have it together with a meal. I noticed that it goes quite well with pistachios.

    2 comments

    Espresso sorts by Joerges

    Wednesday, February 17, 2010 7:02:55 PM

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    Deutsch: Espresso-Sorten von Joerges

    Die Kaffeegroßrösterei A. Joerges aus Frankfurt gibt es seit 1847. Eine Internetpräsenz gibt es hier. Ich habe bisher von Joerges zwei Espresso-Sorten probiert.

    "Gorilla Bar Crema" (1000g, heile Bohnen) ist eine Arabica/Robusta-Mischung und durchaus empfehlenswert. Diese Sorte ist, meiner Meinung nach, gut geeignet für die Zubereitung eines Espresso Lungo bzw. Café Crème.

    "Gorilla Super Bar Crema" (1000g, heile Bohnen) ist ebenfalls eine Arabica/Robusta-Mischung und hat mir noch etwas besser geschmeckt. Dieser Espresso hat eine schön dichte Crema. Da ich milde Sorten sehr gerne trinke, hat er mir eigentlich gut geschmeckt, wobei ich ihn eventuell dann aber doch schon etwas zu neutral im Geschmack finde.



    English: Espresso sorts by Joerges

    The German roaster A. Joerges comes from Frankfurt and was established in 1847. You'll find their website here. So far, I've had two sorts by this company.

    "Gorilla Bar Crema" (1000g, whole beans) is made with Arabica and Robusta sorts and I liked it. In my opinion, "Gorilla Bar Crema" should be well-suited for an Espresso Lungo or Café Americano.

    "Gorilla Super Bar Crema" (1000g, whole beans) is made with Arabica and Robusta sorts as well and I liked it even better. It has a nice crema. As I like those mild espresso sorts, I really enjoyed it. However, it might have almost too little flavour then.

    3 comments

    Espresso sorts by Pellini

    Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:52:29 AM

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    Deutsch: Espresso-Sorten von Pellini

    Bisher habe ich zwei Sorten des italienischen Kaffeerösters Pellini probiert. Pellini hat seinen Sitz in Verona.

    Der "Espresso Superiore" (100 % Arabica, erhältlich im 500g-Beutel, heile Bohnen) von "Pellini - Il pallino del caffè" hat mir allenfalls mittelgut geschmeckt.

    Auch von Pellini hergestellt wird der "Leone Oro Espresso" (1000g-Beutel, heile Bohnen), der mir etwas besser geschmeckt hat. Das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis ist aber nicht so toll. "Oro" steht bei den italienischen Röstern übrigens meistens (so auch hier) für reine Arabica-Mischungen.

    Ich bin gespannt auf die anderen Pellini-Sorten, wie beispielsweise "Leone Super Crema Espresso" und "Pellini Espresso Gran Bar" - und guter Dinge, dass ich an diesen Sorten mehr Spaß habe.



    English: Espresso sorts by Pellini

    So far, I've tested only two sorts of Espresso by the Italian roaster Pellini from Verona.

    The "Espresso Superiore" (100 % Arabica, comes also in a 500 g package, whole beans) by "Pellini - Il pallino del caffè" was medium quality to me.

    The "Leone Oro Espresso" (1 kilo, whole beans) comes also from Pellini and I liked it a little better. But the value for money isn't a really good one. "Oro" in the name stands most times for a pure Arabica blend, here as well.

    I'm looking forward to try some other sorts by Pellini, i. e. "Leone Super Crema Espresso" and "Pellini Espresso Gran Bar". And I think that I'll enjoy those more.

    6 comments

    My new photo album Altenstadt, France

    Friday, January 1, 2010 11:21:12 PM

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    Last spring I've visited the small town Altenstadt. Today Altenstadt is a suburb of the bigger town Wissembourg, that lies in the northeast of France, close to the German border. Wissembourg is a very nice place, too. The reason I went to Altenstadt was the Romanic church there called Saint Ulrich. It dates from the 11th and 12th century. The photo album "Altenstadt, France" shows some pictures of it and the photo on the left shows the building as well. I really liked it. The church Saint Ulrich marks the beginning of the so-called Route Romane that is about Romanic landmarks in the Alsace region. And this church is also the oldest Romanic church in this region. In the 12th century there were Benedictines in Altenstadt who took care of the church then. Another nice thing to do in Altenstadt is walking along the river Lauter. It'a a calm and relaxed place to be. Coming from Wissembourg this small river flows finally, not far away from Altenstadt, into the river Rhine. Like most of the times I used my cell phone for taking these pictures.

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