Guten Abend from Germany

As part of my continued predilection with visiting the same 5 cities in Western Europe over and over again, I’m spending this week in Berlin. We’ve definitely gotten into the bitter cold portion of the year, but it sort of adds to the experience.

This is, however, the first time I’ve been in Germany around Christmastime. From what I can see, the Germans have single handedly been the source for all the commercialized aspects of Christmas that we enjoy in the States today. Huge monuments of St. Nicholas are being erected all throughout town, and, as you’d assume, many of them depict him drinking from a half liter of Berliner Pilsner. Ah yes, national pride, you’ve managed to surface through every orifice possible.

For those who subscribe to my out of office email messages, you may know by now that I’m in town for a research study. Imagine my dismay when it came time to order lunch at the facility, and they handed me a menu for an Italian restaurant. “Umm, I’ll have the spaghetti and bratwurst, ja?"

I made up for it last night with a big plate of goulash (a traditional Hungarian dish). And believe me, this is not your Labrador Mountain goulash. This goulash put at least 200 more hairs on my chest before making over half of them stand on end. Ready to eat your feelings, Berlin? Well, me too!

Alright, I think it’s about time I call it a night. Just got done downloading the Oprah… and Jesus podcast from church this past weekend; seems like a surefire way to get some nightmares, guaranteed.